Monday, September 30, 2019

Education of Girl Child Is Burden Essay

The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad[2] and commonly known as London 2012, was a major international multi-sport eventcelebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, as governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It took place in London, United Kingdom, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. The first event, the group stage in women’s football, began two days earlier, on 25 July.[3][4] More than 10,000 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated.[5] Following a bid headed by former Olympic champion Sebastian Coe and then-Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, London was selected as the host city on 6 July 2005 during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore, defeating bids from Moscow, New York City, Madrid and Paris.[6] London was the first city to host the modern Olympic Games three times,[7][8] having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.[9][10] Construction for the Games involved considerable redevelopment, with an emphasis on sustainability.[11] The main focus was a new 200-hectare (490-acre) Olympic Park, constructed on a former industrial site at Stratford, East London.[12] The Games also made use of venues that already existed before the bid.[13] The Games received widespread acclaim for their organisation, with the volunteers, the British military, and public enthusiasm praised particularly highly.[14][15][16] Theopening ceremony, directed by Danny Boyle, received widespread acclaim.[17][18] During the Games, Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, winning his 22nd medal.[19] Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei entered female athletes for the first time, so that every currently eligible country has sent a female competitor to at least one Olympic Games.[20] Women’s boxing was included for the first time; thus, the Games became the first at which every sport had female competitors.[21] By 15 July 2003, the deadline for interested cities to submit bids to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), nine cities had submitted bids to host the 2012 Summer Olympics: Havana, Istanbul, Leipzig,London, Madrid, Moscow, New York City, Paris and Rio de Janeiro.[22] On 18 May 2004, as a result of a scored technical evaluation, the IOC reduced the number of cities to five: London, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris.[23] All five submitted their candidate files by 19 November 2004 and were visited by the IOC inspection team during February and March 2005. The Paris bid suffered two setbacks during the IOC inspection visit: a number of strikes and demonstrations coinciding with the visits, and a report that a key member of the bid team, Guy Drut, would face charges over alleged corrupt party political finances.[24] Throughout the process, Paris was widely seen as the favourite, particularly as this was its third bid in recent years. London was seen at first as lagging Paris by a considerable margin. Its position began to improve after the appointment of Lord Coe as the new head of London 2012 on 19 May 2004.[25] In late August 2004, reports predicted a tie between London and Paris.[26] On 6 June 2005 the IOC released its evaluation reports for the five candidate cities. They did not contain any scores or rankings, but the report for Paris was considered the most positive. London was close behind, having closed most of the gap observed by the initial evaluation in 2004. New York and Madrid also received very positive evaluations.[27] On 1 July 2005, when asked who would win, Jacques Rogge said, â€Å"I cannot predict it since I don’t know how the IOC members will vote. But my gut feeling tells me that it will be very close. Perhaps it will come down to a difference of say ten votes, or maybe less.†[28] On 6 July 2005, the final selection was announced at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore. Moscow was the first city to be eliminated, followed by New York and Madrid. The final two contenders were London and Paris. At the end of the fourth round of voting, London won the right to host the 2012 Games with 54 votes to Paris’s 50.[29] The celebrations in London were short-lived, being overshadowed by bombings on London’s transport system less than 24 hours after the announcement.[30] The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games used a mixture of new venues, existing and historic facilities, and temporary facilities, some of them in well-known locations such as Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade. After the Games, some of the new facilities will be reused in their Olympic form, while others will be resized or relocated.[38] The majority of venues have been divided into three zones within Greater London: the Olympic Zone, the River Zone and the Central Zone. In addition there are a few venues that, by necessity, are outside the boundaries of Greater London, such as the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy some 125 miles (200 km) southwest of London, which hosted the sailing events. The football tournament was staged at several grounds around the UK.[39] Work began on the Park in December 2006, when a sports hall in Eton Manor was pulled down.[40] The athletes’ village in Portland was completed in September 2011.[41] In November 2004, the 200-hectare (500-acre) Olympic Park plans were revealed.[42] The plans for the site were approved in September 2004 by Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney and Waltham Forest.[43] The redevelopment of the area to build the Olympic Park required compulsory purchase orders of property. The London Development Agency was in dispute with London and Continental Railways about the orders in November 2005. By May 2006, 86% of the land had been bought as businesses fought eviction.[44] Residents who opposed the eviction tried to find ways to stop it by setting up campaigns, but they had to leave as 94% of land was bought and the other 6% bought as a  £9 billion regeneration project started.[45]

Sunday, September 29, 2019

How It Feels to Be Colored Me †Arguement Essay

In â€Å"How it Feels To Be Colored Me†, Zora Neale Hurston presents her attitude about racism while growing up as an African American. Hurston’s views are very similar to Dr. Martin Luther King jr.’s. When talking about racism, she uses her heritage to help present her attitude. Her feelings toward the white folk aren’t hostile, but they aren’t exactly agreeing either. Hurston’s views are like those of Dr. Martin Luther King jr.’s. Both of them acknowledge that they are different than everyone else around them. They are an individual. They don’t agree that they should fit in and be the normal, African American. Both overcome hard times and discrimination and had successful parts of their careers. Hurston uses her heritage to discuss her views on racism. She grew up in a town full of blacks, so she was basically the same as her neighbor. She says she never felt colored until her family moved to Jacksonville. Then, she was constantly reminded how she was the descendant of slaves. She tells about how she was always so alone. She also discusses how she escapes the prejudiceness and gets away by going to listen to music, though; some white folks come in and make conversations with them. She speaks about her feelings towards the white folks. Hurston talks about how â€Å"among a thousand white persons, I am a dark rock†, she feels as though she is different, and she sticks out. She speaks about how she is her, she has no race. Though, she also doesn’t understand how someone could be so prejudiced against someone’s skin color. She makes a point of how they get along Hurston presents her views in a very understandable way. She speaks about how she feels about the white folk. She uses her heritage to help her deal with racism. Her views are almost the same as Dr. King’s. I feel the same way Ms. Hurston does about Racism..

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Strength in Numbers

Brandee English 111 October 8, 2012 Strength in Numbers â€Å"Hi. I’m Jordan and I’m an addict slash abuser, I guess. † I watch my son shrug his shoulders and hunch over, clasping his hands in his lap after uttering these words. He speaks the words quietly, but his apathetic tone and body language read loud and clear. He doesn’t believe the words he’s saying and is merely being cooperative. After a loud and cheerful â€Å"Hello Jordan! † the group turns their attention to me. â€Å"Hi. I’m Brandee, and I’m Jordan’s mom. † We continue like this around the circle until every patient, parent, sibling and friend has been introduced and welcomed.Despite the warm, welcoming nature of everyone here, there is nothing pleasant about this. My 15 year old son is in rehab and this is family group therapy. We sit in a large circle in cold, hard plastic chairs with shiny metal legs. The room is large and cold with white painted concrete block walls and a stage at the front end. It feels less like a hospital and more like my sons elementary school auditorium. The large banners above the stage boldly spell out the â€Å"12 Steps to Recovery† and â€Å"The Serenity Prayer† and are a harsh reminder to me that this is no place a school play would be performed.There are about 20 of us altogether: 8 or 9 teenage patients and their loved ones, as well as Matt, the head counselor for this group. Most of the kids, the patients, are wearing sweatpants and socks or slippers. There is no need for shoes since they won’t be leaving tonight with their family members. Some of them won’t be leaving for a very long time. I sit in the circle for 30 minutes or so listening to the stories. Every patient has their own story, as it’s referred to by the staff. It’s their own personal truth about their journey into drug or alcohol use and subsequent abuse.They are encouraged to own up to th ese truths and reveal them to their loved ones and the group. One boy, just slightly older than my son, is leaving the hospital tomorrow. He sits with his mom and we all listen as he reveals his fears about returning to his old environment. Matt gives him some suggestions and advice and we move on to another patient. There’s a girl without any family present for this evenings group. She’s been in and out of programs several times already at the age of 16. This time it was a court order that placed her here for treatment and it will most likely keep her here for a long time.Another boy, Keldon, is around 17 years old and sits between his dad and his older sister, with his step-mom on the other side of his dad. He looks terrified and pale. He had overdosed the night before and almost died. Fortunately his family was able to have him transferred to this facility after the immediate medical need was attended to. The stories continue with horrific and elaborate tales of ove rdoses and multiple arrests for various reasons. Some were arrested for vandalism while under the influence. Some had stolen from their parents or even from stores.All had difficulties in school. Initially, I felt a bit of relief as I began to realize that my son’s story was so much less colorful than what I was hearing. After all, he’d only been arrested once, by my own doing, for sneaking out a window when he was grounded. I almost felt out of place and began to think maybe I had gone too far by bringing him here. What were either of us supposed to gain from sitting here listening to these kids sharing horror stories? I had brought him to this place searching for answers and I was only getting more fearful for his future with every person that spoke.When my son began to speak, to tell his story, all the frustration I had felt over the past several months began to rise to the surface. There was something about the way in which he told it that actually angered me. He s poke as nonchalantly as if he were reporting the weather on the local six o’clock news. He gave his truth, but with no emotion or expression whatsoever. I desperately wanted him to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation. His choice to use and distribute drugs had been the cause of so much stress in our home and in this moment I found myself feeling almost entitled to see him express a little bit of remorse!I was already familiar with Jordan’s story. I had lived through it all first-hand. My discovery of his drug use had come via text messages and they had revealed to me far more than I had ever wanted to know. He had never thought to erase his messages, and the previous summer I had reason to confiscate his phone. Because it was unexpected, there had been a very incriminating text left on the screen when I grabbed his phone from his hands. I was compelled to read others stored on that phone and over the course of two days I read things that I don’t know to this day how to process completely.My sweet, quiet son had been living a secret double life for several months and I didn’t have a clue. How could this have been going on behind my back? Where were all the usual signs every parent reads about in parenting magazines, the ones I had always kept a watch for? I never considered myself naive and had such an open way of conversing with all three of my boys, and their friends. Ours was the house that all the kids gathered at. The core group of them had been friends since the second grade and I knew them all so well. If drugs could be brought into an equation like that, they could be brought in anywhere.Right under my nose, under my roof, on my watch, these kids began to experiment with various prescription drugs and marijuana. At the time of my discovery he was not only using drugs but was also playing the role of middle man, acquiring marijuana for his friends from some adults who were dealing in his father’s neighborhood. In this new, expanded group he was no longer the witty but quiet kid in the background. Here he was the â€Å"go to† guy and that power was something I feared would be as addicting and dangerous to him as the drugs he was involved with.A few months after the discovery, he was rushed to Riley Hospital with a spontaneous lung collapse. Thankfully, he healed quickly but we were told that he was prone to another collapse due to a condition on both of his lungs. The doctors warned him that any type of inhalation on his part would most definitely bring on another collapse and possibly even cause death. He had ignored the warning! He chose drugs and his new lifestyle over his health. He felt he had done well by cutting back on his almost daily marijuana use, but he was using alcohol as a substitute.He began binge drinking and it was a close call with alcohol poisoning that had led me to find this place. And now he sat in this circle and despite his cooperation with the program by te lling his story, he was behaving as if none of it mattered and I had overreacted. As all of this came back to me, I knew for the first time for certain that I had been right in bringing him here. My son was in denial and I no longer would doubt the certainty that I now felt about that. When he finished talking, I found myself unable to control my emotions or my words any longer.I started yelling at him and crying. â€Å"How can you sit there and behave as if this is all no big deal? †Another shoulder shrug. One thing I had noticed since we had first arrived the day before is that he would not look up at me. He would not even attempt to look me in the eye. Perhaps it was a sense of guilt he was feeling that caused this reaction, but to me it appeared he felt nothing at all. To me and everyone in the group he appeared quite apathetic. He simply could not see how any of this program applied to him.I sat there speechless, feeling completely helpless until suddenly Keldon’s step mom broke the silence and addressed Jordan directly. â€Å"What do you dream about doing, Jordan? † she asked him very gently. I wish I could say that this question tapped into something in him that made him aware of other interests and hopes and dreams that were being wasted on drugs. It didn’t. What I can say, however, is that one question, posed by a stranger, at that moment, had a profound effect on me. This woman’s son had almost died less than 12 hours prior and she was focused on reaching out to my son!The amount of genuine concern that she expressed with that one question is indescribable. The support and empathy continued to flow in our direction from other members of the group. These peoples’ stories may have advanced to a more extreme place than ours but they had all begun from almost identical places. They had all been there, done that, and completely understood the helpless feelings I had been experiencing I’ve never felt like sh aring my personal problems in a group setting would be beneficial for my own growth or healing.It seemed like an unnatural concept for complete strangers to open up to each other about their problems and feelings so readily. I, like my son, had come and participated because the program required me to do so. This place, this group, changed that perspective for me. I now know how empowering it can be to be surrounded by a group of people who understand because their stories have similar chapters as yours. I suddenly realized that the answers I had desperately hoped to find here would not come.There would be no answers given for how to get him to recognize and learn how to cope with his attachment to things that could harm him. Those were answers he would have to choose to search for when he was ready to accept them. The purpose of this group, and so many others like it that are held all over the country at any given time of day is to help people recognize they are not alone in their s earch for answers. A topic like drug and alcohol dependency is not something anyone feels comfortable discussing with even their closest friends and family.It is a subject that is dark and depressing and filled with far too many emotions to allow you to feel comfortable with openly talking about it. Unless you have been personally touched by addiction in some way there is not complete understanding of the fear and guilt combined with frustration and anger. It takes a group of strangers, brought together and sharing their stories, to bring comfort and support when there really are no answers. It took this group of strangers to show me how to accept a situation I can not change or fix and how to survive it.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Dirt Bikes Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dirt Bikes Management - Essay Example The company has since customized its products to racing and off-road recreational activities. The company does marketing through involving or participating in staged races with it bikes. The most renowned dirty bike staged races in the United States include the Daytona Bike Week competitions and Barstow-Las Vegas race. The company has four services that include the Enduro 250, the Enduro 550, the Moto 300 and the Moto 450. d) How many employees are managers, production workers, or knowledge or information workers? Are there levels of management? The company has since grown from two employees that it started with as its owners to the current 120 employees that include design, engineering, and production teams along with 3 engineers and 3 full-time product designers. Additionally, the company has 20 employees in line with corporate sales and administrative staff. The company also has 4 person parts department. The departmental employees form the company’s management team that in clude 5 employees in the shipping and receiving department, 1 marketing manager, 1 controller, I accountant, 1 administrative assistant, 2 HRs, and 2 information system specialists. The above listing and categorizing of employees show that the company has well-articulated levels of management. e) What kinds of information systems and technologies would be the most important for a company such as Dirt Bikes? Information systems and technologies are vital in facilitating decision making both at high and low levels of management.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Sombrero Case study Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sombrero Case study - Assignment Example The total monthly fix expenditures for the entire business venture is six thousands seven hundred UAE Dirham (UAEDh 6,700). The total operating expense is ten thousands three hundred UAE Dirham (UAEDh 10,300). The entire expenditure is seventeen thousands UAE Dirham (UAEDh 17,000). Without any marketing budget mentioned, the only drawing power of the SOMBRERO venture is its price. Without any comparative data about any competition that is mentioned in the study, the only indication for the competitiveness of the SOMBRERO fruit drink price is its raw material cost versus price ratio which is about four hundred percentile (400%). However, including the other direct operation cost the cost to price percentile would be at fifty nine percentile (59%). The small revenue as compared to the cost would indicate that it is competitive. Fruit Drinks do not have any cultural sensitivity that is why no matter the race or even the origin of any potential customer its acceptability would always be high. The trend amongst young adults particularly those attending college is to live healthy. This would include drinking less carbonated drinks and reverting back to fruit drinks. This translates to a steady stream of customers from the University during school days which could increase the potential sales at that time. A steadier income that will be provided by mall visitors three hundred thousand potential customers is much more promising. Considering that the Mall is the only one of its kind within the area there will be no competition as far as Mall market share is concerned. The only issue now is the visibility of the SOMBRERO booth. It should be noted that the booth is located in the food court of the Mall this will provide a common area where solid foods will be served. Solid foods or main courses has a requisite of a liquid intake this would make the SOMBRERO booth’s location essential. There will always be a demand for food every day from

Working Capital Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Working Capital - Research Paper Example If the current asset of the firm was less than the current liabilities, this will mean that the firm has a deficit working capital and the firm will not be in a position to convert its asset into cash even if the company is making profits. (Livingstone 2002) It is defined as the company’s ability to meet its short term obligations. These means that the higher the ratio the more liquid is the firm. The current ratio of a firm is calculated as a current asset divided by the current liabilities, the interpretation on these is that if the current asset of a firm is twice the current liabilities, then the firm is considered to have a significant good short term financial strength. But if the firm’s current asset are less than the current liabilities of the firm, then the result will be a firm having a problem in meeting its short term financial problem. Therefore, looking at the balance sheet of superior company the current ratio is as follows 1.97 in 2001, 1.95 in 2002, 1.83 in 2003 these shows that the company is in a position of meeting its short term financial obligation for the ratio is a positive figure and the current asset are approximately twice the current liabilities. These are short term loan and have a short maturity usually one year or less, in the balance sheet these amounts are indicated along the current liabilities section. They are mainly due within a year, if a company has more short term debt than the cash or investment to cover the bed payment then the firm will be forced to apply for more debt and this will be disadvantageous for the firm financially. (Droms 1990) Based on the presented balance sheet of superior company its short term debts are 1,200 in 2001, 1,300 2002 and 1,450 in 2003. Meaning therefore, the firms short term debt are less than the cash of the company and hence, the company has no intention of acquiring more debt for it is able to finance for the debt it has. These are

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Consumer Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Consumer Behaviour - Essay Example As per definition, WOM refers to the process of oral communication between two individuals where the individuals increasingly communicate important values or related information pertaining to a particular category or brand. The advantage of WOM over standards methods of advertising is that the WOM marketing happens mostly through the process of communication of two individuals at a significantly lower price as compared to that of advertising. The word of mouth marketing has significantly high level of benefits on the development of the brand value for the product as well as the company2. For globally renowned Fiskars, it can be said that the company can leverage a lot of advantage out of the word of mouth marketing technique by maintaining high end quality for its products as well as introducing innovativeness in the product design. A vital point is that though the company’s product mostly falls under the consumer durables category, it increasingly caters to three business areas like the home division, the garden division and the outdoor division. The products especially for the outdoor division are extremely critical in nature and needs supreme durability and consistency in quality. As a matter of fact, a highly reputed brand that provides consistent quality will automatically lead to higher sales especially for this division, if accompanied by the consumer driven word of mouth marketing tool3. There are significant steps that have to be followed by the company, in order prevent negative impact due to the word of mouth marketing for the company’s products. A very important factor is the fact that the company needs to secure its distribution network across the global markets in the wake of various fluctuating scenarios of macro economic conditions. The company also needs to secure the flow of various raw materials

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Ethical Issues in Outsourcing and Off-shoring of Jobs in the Essay

Ethical Issues in Outsourcing and Off-shoring of Jobs in the Telecommunication Industry - Essay Example cation industry, a majority of global firms tend to target economically backward or developing countries which enable them to reduce the overall operational cost by availing requisite resources at a much cheaper cost. In this regard, the process of offshoring business operations also facilitates the organizations to obtain resources, especially the manpower, in a lower cost as compared to the economically developed countries. Due to the fiercely growing competition in the global telecommunication industry, organizations often tend to practice outsourcing and off-shoring of their business operations from and to the other under developed or developing countries. In the present day context, it has been apparently observed that the global marketers seek to relocate their business operations in order to attain greater convenience in terms of paying lower wage which can also facilitate the organization to fulfill the expectations of its potential stakeholders in a cost effective and resour ceful way. With regard to the present business strategy in the telecommunication industry, it can be observed that a trend of expansion is highly practiced by the organizations with the aim of accomplishing considerable economic growth and strengthening their global presence in the competitive market scenario (Jaruzelski, Katz & Ribeiro, 2004). While discussing about the current trend of outsourcing and off-shoring in the telecommunication industry, it can be observed as emerging and widely accepted strategies by the modern organizations. This continuous emergence of outsourcing and off-shoring strategies within the global telecommunication industry has been witnessed to be influenced by. For instance, the lower penetration rate of the services in the telecommunication industry is one of... This report makes a conclusion that in accordance with the modern business competitiveness, it has been witnessed that the practice of outsourcing and off-shoring of jobs considerably provides adequate facilities to the telecommunication firms. For instance, it rewards the benefit of reducing operational costs to the organizations by acquiring resources, especially in terms of the potential labor of the firm. Moreover, the trend can also facilitate the telecommunication firms to reduce possible constraints relating to the legal aspects, working regulations as well as social responsibility related guidelines by taking the virtues of globalization. In addition, the outsourcing and off-shoring of jobs in the telecommunication industry can also enable the firms to improve the standard and quality of its services through integrating skilled employees at a lower cost. However, the trend of outsourcing and off-shoring can also create significant ethical issues which may affect the image as well as reputation of the firm. This paper stresses that the nature of outsourcing and off-shoring significantly focuses on replacing workforce of the organization with newly appointing workers from another culture and regional background which can be stated as the major concerning factor which might be termed as a major causing factor for the diminishing financial benefits of the existing employees. Moreover, overlooking prior communication process regarding outsourcing and off-shoring might also be treated as unethical in nature that hinders the career prospects the employees. It is worth mentioning in this context that hindrances in terms of employee dissatisfaction, management complexities and cultural conflicts are few of the most apparent ethical issues witnessed by telecommunication organizations when implementing off-shoring and outsourcing initiatives.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Hot and Cold Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Hot and Cold - Lab Report Example Introduction It is a common phenomenon that whenever there is a chemical reaction in a system at constant pressure while, at the same time, there is no energy gained or lost to the surrounding; it is always evident that the system would either decrease or increase. In the first instance, energy will be lost in the form of heat if the reaction is exothermic when the system gets into thermal contact with the surrounding. On the other hand, energy will be gained in the form of heat if the reaction is endothermic when the system’s temperature decreases. Enthalpy, denoted by H, is the change in heat energy of a system at a constant pressure. The SI unit of energy, which is joule (J), is similar to that of enthalpy (Hughes). Enthalpy is known to be a safe function, and can be denoted as shown below; Heat absorbed = increase in enthalpy = H = Hfinal - Hinitial -----------(i) Adiabatic conditions arise when a system is configured in such a manner that there is no heat gained or lost b y the system. Therefore, in adiabatic processes the heat absorbed is always equal to enthalpy change, which is zero. Enthalpy can be changed by changing the temperature of water or even by a chemical reaction under adiabatic conditions as shown below; Hsystem = + Hdue to reaction = 0 ----------------(ii) Hdue to reaction = - -------------------(iii) Thus, enthalpy change can be calculated as follows; = Specific heat capacity x mass x T -----------(iv) Where; T = Tf - Ti For exothermic reactions, T is always positive and negative for endothermic reactions. If the measurement of change in temperature of any chemical reaction is taken under adiabatic condition then change in enthalpy due to the reaction, can be ascertained from the enthalpy change producing the change in temperature (Hughes). Enthalpy is an extensive property that in many occasions depends on the amount of reaction that occurs. Therefore, in order to obtain an intensive property in the comparison of various reactions, the enthalpy change is always related to the amount of one of the products or reactants. From this explanation, the enthalpy reaction may be given as shown below; H = ----------(v) The SI unit for Hrxn is given as J/mol, even though reaction enthalpies are normally said to be in kJ/mol. Species A may be taken as the limiting reagent since some of it needs to be reacted. In addition, reaction enthalpies are known to be calculated from values that are tabularized at standard molar enthalpies of formation, from tabulated combustion enthalpies, and from calorimetry data (Hughes). The experimental calorimetry data is the method that is chosen for this lab experiment using the various principles discussed above. The Calorimeter A calorimeter is a device that can be used in measuring the enthalpy change in a system during a reaction, but at the same time taking caution of the increase in temperature (for exothermic reaction), or decrease in temperature (for endothermic reaction) (Hughes). There are several types of calorimeter, but for this experiment the calorimeter used is the Styrofoam cups and plastic lids. Moreover, the foam between the surrounding and the liquid helps as the thermal obstacle in preventing heat loss from the reaction to the surroundings. The reactions will take place in a cup of aqueous solution, and the temperature monitored with the thermometer. There are two assumptions that ought to be made about the system and the calorimeter. First, the Styrofoam cup

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Valu of Time Essay Example for Free

Valu of Time Essay â€Å"Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why its called the present† . Gifts of God to Human being. Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have so spend it wisely†. Time is like an ice cream -use it before it melts. Time is very important in our life; it helps us to plan our daily lives and activities, so that we can live more organized, productive lives. We all are just dependent on time. With out time we are nothing. Time applies in our every walk of life. From womb to tomb life is a journey in the lap of time. Time never wait for any one. We have to move with the time. Everybody has 24 hours in whole day. Its our duty to manage the whole time. If we are not managing our time table or working in a proper schedule, we will face the problem in the end. So time management is very important. Luck always knocks the door of that person who realizes the value of time. Try to be punctual in every thing. Ordinary people think merely of spending time. Great people think of using it. God has created this world for a reason and if we closely observe the nature, we would find plenty of things that come on time. The sun, moon, stars and planets continue their motion in specific orbits and in fixed times. Sun rises from east at fixed time on every day and then sets in the west. Similarly a child is born in this world and dies at its time. If we follow the principles of God we will be successful. The time is the most important factor of all. If we abide by it, we can never be penalized. Take an example of our daily life. Our whole day activity if performed at time will be fruitful and results will be magnificent. Our name will be called in the School Annual Function Day. We must attend our school, in time to make the most out of it. If we take our breakfast, lunch and dinner in time, we shall have good health. If you reach your goal in time, you will be rewarded. If you sleep and get up in time, it will enhance your ability to work effectively. Your punctuality is the key of your success. The person who follows the principles of nature does always feel satisfied, content and above all victorious. Time is a key of success. If you do not give the importance of time than time will not importance to you. Time is something we do not realise when it is with us but when we realise it is very late as it has fled away. Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity. † Time waits for none and time once lost cannot be re-created so it is important for everyone to make the best use of the present time. What we do today, determines where we will stand tomorrow and the person who makes the best use of time today gets the best of life in the future. Time has created kings as well as beggars. Riches turn into rags and rags to riches over a matter of time. Every wok that we do requires time and time cannot be negotiated or replaced. The best use of time will most likely give you the best in life. Realizing the value of time is perhaps one of the primary things which all successful people in the world stress on. They know how important contribution the right use of time has attributed to their success in life. You know what is the difference between Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Bill Gates, Kalpana Chawla, Sunita William, Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa with any common people; why they made a great achievement in their life while some of others make average. The answer is time; those great people know the importance of time management for their life achievement. Time is the school in which we learn, time is the fire in which we burn. Time is important because Time is limited. The time can not be stopped. The time is irreversible. The time is abstract. You should know the importance of time management since time is the resource that you cannot see, you can not hear, you cannot touch, you can not store it in a place nor you can secure it as you wish. But its existence is real, have no time means you do not have life. The time is precious. The time is a gift from god to every one free. That is why; many people did not realize its preciousness for their life until they missed many precious things in their life due to lack of time. Time = life; therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life. Lost wealth may be replaced by industry, lost knowledge by study, lost health by medicine, but lost time is gone forever. When a work is delayed, definitely somewhere time is wasted. Time once lost is lost forever. Many cases of poverty which are due to lost opportunities and deferred tasks. Sometimes we have to pay a heavy price for the time we wasted. For example delay in the treatment of a disease may lead to something very serious. The student who keeps postponing his studies will regret at the eleventh hour. Rather than burning the midnight oil, we must make proper use of the time. Slow and steady wins the race, Story of Tortoise and Hare is known to every body. It will avoid mental strain during exam time. There a few similar proverbs which indicate the value of time such as â€Å"make hay while the sun shines† â€Å"strike when the iron is hot† and â€Å"a stitch in time saves nine†. Take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves. It is always said never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. If man takes care of his minutes then the hours and days will take care of themselves. Time is more precious than money. Time is universal and eternal. We all grow in time, live in time and ultimately perish in time. Time may not be defined exactly, but we all know what it is and how valuable. We all want fame, success, happiness, and prosperity but only a few are able to achieve this because only they make the best use of their time. Time and tide wait for none. They cannot be commanded. They are to be used in the best possible manner. We should be prepared to make the best use of an opportunity when offered. Time once lost can never be recovered. â€Å"Trust no Future, how’re pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act, act in the living Present! Heart within and God overhead! † Be like the clock. Always keep on ticking by involving yourself in various things and learning new things. These small knowledge and experience modules will perhaps one day take us to our bigger goal. Make use of time for positive, social, innovative work. Live for others as â€Å"they alone live who live for others, rests are dead than alive. † They say Time and Tide waits for no man. If so, now stop brooding over past and utilize your time effectively! Take the time to work, for it is the price of success. Take the time to think, it is the source of strength. Take the time to play, it is the secret of youth. Take the time to read, it is the seed of wisdom. Take the time to be friendly, for it brings happiness. Take the time to dream, for it will carry you to the stars. Take the time to love; it is the joy of life. Take the time to be content, it is the music of the soul. Prepared By –Prarthana Das IX A, Sacred Heart School, Jamshedpur..

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The Culture That Defines Germany

The Culture That Defines Germany Talking about the culture in Germany means we have to clarify where culture in general comes from, how it relates to certain regions and how to detect it. There is great complexity associated with culture. Culture is an ever evolving process that may change from generation to generation There are substantial cultural differences within each region. Berlin is one of the most open minded and liberal cities in Europe. Bavaria maintains a cultivation of heritage and traditions Food, Beer and soccer are what come to mind about German culture. Germans have a saying Breakfast like an emperor, lunch like a king, and dine like a beggar Beer greatly ingrained into German culture. Soccer is the most popular sport in the nation. One of the largest national soccer associations in the world. The sport brings the country together in support of the national team. National pride in Germany has been a taboo topic since military defeat in two world wars A race who historically was not second class individuals Germans felt eminence shame and guilt for the heinous crimes the Nazis had committed. In 1990 the fall of the Berlin wall The reunification proved more difficult than expected Cultural assumptions and expectations on both sides Changing mind-set among the German people Slowly the German identity was found, just merely asleep and not died German Identity, Long Dormant, Reasserts Itself. Conclusion: A nation with such a rich history, some of which are the darkest know to mankind. The people of Germany still find a way to reemerge as one of todays great economic leaders. The culture itself has had many transformations in recent history. Post World War II being the most influential with the nation brought to its knees and stare at in shame the atrocities the Nazis had committed. The War spit the nation in two, controlled by two separate super power nations with opposite mind sets. The Nation, decades later reunified. However, the different in social, economics and norm made for a painful reunion. Through all of this, the German people in recent years began to find the nations identity and find pride in their nation while they grow let go of the past. SSG Babb, Christopher D. SFC Ruelas, ADA ALC Class# 033-13 22 October 2012 The Culture that defines Germany Germany is one of Europes most successful and influential nations. A nation famed by its achievements in engineering, it has also catalyzed many of the worlds great composers, poets and philosophers. Germanys vast culture has many influences that shaped it into what it is today. German Culture varies from region to region showing diversity the way its people think. Established for centuries and continues to thrive despite many obstacles. The nation and its people have endured two world wars, a disunion that spit the country into two nation-states and the reunification of East and West Germany. Talking about culture in Germany means one must clarify where culture in general comes from, how it relates to certain regions and how to detect it. It is not only a matter of understanding the multifarious individual aspects but of comprehending how every single character intermeshes and complements with one another until it forms a culture. There is great complexity associated with culture. Hofstede defines culture as the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another (Hofstede) One must determine culture is learned and not hereditary. With this being said, there are many aspects that form a culture, everything from the language, religion, cuisine and past historical events to name a few. Culture is an ever evolving process that may differ from generation to generation. As the world changes and new social issues arise, a society will adapt and overcome. By doing so, they will create new norms and the everyday life will then gradually change over time. Germany is a descended of the Latin word Germania. However, the German language name Deutschland derived from Germanic roots meaning people. Germany is located in Central Europe with 9 countries at its borders. It consists of sixteen Bundeslaender also referred to as federal states with Berlin the capital being in the north east region of the country. There are substantial cultural differences within each region. Germans refer to Berlin as a center for politics, media, science and culture. They describe it as a collection of youth and creative minds providing the city with its cosmopolitan atmosphere, allowing Berlin to be one of the most open minded and liberal cities in Europe. On the other side of the scale, located in the southern region of Germany, Bavaria maintains a cultivation of heritage and traditions holding a conservative mind set throughout the region. The older generation expresses the importance of their heritage to the youth by involving them in the traditional events such as the October fest where the sauerkraut eating, beer drinking and lederhosen wearing German cultural stereotypes derives from. Food, beer and soccer are what comes to mind with German culture. The Roman historian Tacitus described the Germans as a warrior nation, hard-drinking, honest and hospitable. He spoke of German cuisine as simple but hearty (Tacitus), this still holds true today. Bread alone has over 600 different types, while there are over 1500 types of sausage. Sausage making has a long tradition, having more than 100 different regional variants. Germans have a saying Breakfast like an emperor, lunch like a king, and dine like a beggar (1) meaning that they typically eat a large breakfast consisting of breads, cheese, cold cuts and jams. Lunch would be traditionally the only warm meal in the day. This normally contains of meats, potatoes, salads and soups. This may vary in different regions. Finally, dinner is mostly light with rolls, cheeses and salads served with a beer or wine. Beer is ingrained into German culture, so much so that nearly each village, town and city contains multiple breweries with dozens of different types of beer. According to the German Beer Institute, Germany has approximately 1,200 breweries generating more than 5,000 brands of beer, mostly of regional styles. Germans take beer seriously jokingly saying that it is the National beverage. Radeberger Gruppe displays the importance of beer by saying beer is the peoples mood barometer and their anchor. It is consumed with extreme passion.(Radeberger) Germans drink beer more as a social event rather than to get intoxicated. Groups throughout the community may come together a few times a week to enjoy each others company with a couple of beers. Many time just to talk about normal casual day to day events. Along with the evening beers, Germans converse about sports. They follow most common sports but there is no other cherished more than soccer. Soccer is the most popular sport in the nation. The Deutscher Fussball Bund is one of the largest national soccer associations in the world with more 25,000 registered soccer clubs and approximately 6.8 million members. The league has more than 2,500 divisions in a pyramid system. The high number of participates demonstrates the significant influence the sport has on the culture. Not only are Germans loyal to their regional teams, the sport brings the country together in support of the national team. Events such as the Euro Cup and the World Cup bind the people as one with their flag. They organize and follow the team to such events no matter the distance, wearing their national colors with pride. Germans raise their flags and sing the national anthem in the one occasion they feel allowed to show pride in their country, as the people of Germany remain hunted by past historical event. National pride in Germany has been a taboo topic since military defeat in two world wars and the unraveling of their society, with the vast majority of Germans accepting that they cannot express any form of patriotism. Post World War II saw the use of national symbols being subdued to the point where it would be difficult to find a store that one could buy a German Flag. It was a damaging defeat with catastrophic effects on the German psyche. A race who historically was not second class individuals, Ebey Soman states in a web article, German men have had profound impact on the world. From religious reformers such as Martin Luther to notables such as Beethoven, Nietzsche, Max Born and Werner Von Braun, German men made immense contributions to every field.(Soman) However, their defeat in World War II emasculated them. They emerged feeble and worn from the war. Germans felt eminence shame and guilt for the heinous crimes the Nazis had committed. That guilt, and fear of what would happen if patriotism is taken too far, molded the modern German understanding of National Pride. In 1990 the fall of the Berlin wall had finally, reunited USSR controlled East Germany with the Republic of West Germany. The unification was rejoiced by thousands of Germans from the east hopeful to enjoy the same freedoms of the western world. However, the reunification proved more difficult than expected. A complex process with social, political and economic issues was not foreseen. This was due to cultural assumptions and expectations on both sides. Many East Germans felt their norms, values and traditions were devalued, as West Germans expected the east to conform to the norms of the west. Laura Heuvinck states in 20 Years of German reunification Ostalgie. Many East Germans felt themselves to be under-represented in the reunified Germany and felt like second-class citizens dismissed by West Germany. (Heuvinck) This still is a significant social issue today 20 years later. Although the physical was brought down, many of the psychological walls still exists between East and West Germans today. The unified nation found its self in economic depression after the fall of the Berlin Wall, with a growth rate of -1.6 from 1992 to 1993 and unemployment at 20% in some regions of the country. Despite these problems, the process of unification slowly moved ahead. In an article by Rod Hall Many see a changing mind-set among the German people. A growing self-confidence and assertiveness is emerging 65 years after World War II and two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany.(Hall) The newer generation, with no recollection of the horrific atrocities of the Second World War feel as if there have gotten past it. This is evident with a shift in patriotic German flags flown from houses and German music played on the airwaves. Slowly the German identity was found, just merely asleep and not died. The country has now awakened, ready to celebrate its economic ingenuity, its cultural treasures and the unsullied stretches of its history. (Kulish) Stated by Nicholas Kulish in German Identity, Long Dormant, Reasserts Itself. A nation with such a rich history, some of which are the darkest know to mankind. The people of Germany still find a way to reemerge as one of todays great economic leaders. The culture itself has had many transformations in recent history. Post World War II being the most influential with the nation brought to its knees and stare at in shame the atrocities the Nazis had committed. The War spit the nation in two, controlled by two separate super power nations with opposite mind sets. The Nation, decades later reunified. However, the different in social, economic and norm made for a painful reunion. Through all of this, the German people in recent years began to find the nations identity and find pride in their nation while they grow let go of the past.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Pauls Ministry to Thessalonica Essay examples -- Bible Christianity R

The Apostle Paul was a traveling man. One must simply look at the various places where he preached and established churches to confirm this fact. The letters of Paul found in the canonical Bible establish connections with Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Thessalonica. Paul was heavily involved with the formation of the church in the final location, a city now known as Thessalonki, and continued to support it through his letters. The church in Thessalonica dealt with much oppression and persecution during its formative years. That kind of beginning contributed to much uncertainty in the young church, especially considering that Paul, its founder, was not always with them. Paul’s ministry to the church can be found in the recordings of his initial visit to Thessalonica, found in Acts 17, and his subsequent letters, 1 and 2 Thessalonians. These sources show a minister trying to answer the questions of new converts dealing with persecution, the second comin g of Jesus Christ, and what their faith actually meant. The very beginning of the church in Thessalonica was bread in violence and persecution. According to the book of Acts and the apostles first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul and Silas first came into Thessalonica on the heels being beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. Despite such an event, Paul continued to preach once he arrived in the city. The author of Acts states that the apostle found a synagogue And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.[1] Over several weeks, a diverse gro... ...nnotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version. [4] 1 Thessalonians 3:4, New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version. [5] Bridges, Linda McKinnish, 2 Thessalonians, Mercer Commentary on the Bible, (Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press, 2005), 1247. [6] 2 Thessalonians 1:4, New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version. [7] Bridges, Linda McKinnish, 1 Thessalonians, Mercer Commentary on the Bible, (Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press, 2005), 1245. [8] 1 Thessalonians 4:15, New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version. [9] Bridges, 2 Thessalonians, 1249. [10] Bridges, 1 Thessalonians, 1245. [11] Ibid., 1245. [12] Ibid., 1245. [13] 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22, New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version. [14] 1 Thessalonians 2:17, New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Origin of the Work of Art Essay -- Literary Analysis, Heidegger

In The Origin of the Work of Art, Heidegger attempts to the answer the question of what art is, as well as try to find the origin of art itself. In his attempt Heidegger distinguishes between his ideas of â€Å"Work† and â€Å"Equipment†. While, central to his argument within The Origin of the Work of Art, these ideas are important within themselves in Heidegger’s Philosophy. In this essay I will define as well as compare and contrast these two concepts. I will also explain the ideas of â€Å"Earth† and â€Å"World† presented by Heidegger in order to facilitate this goal. Finally, I’ll conclude the paper by summarizing the key concepts and their relationship to one another. In order to accomplish the goal of defining and explaining both â€Å"Equipment† & â€Å"Work†; I’ll need to introduce and explain two other prevalent concepts in Heidegger’s work. These are the concepts of â€Å"World† and â€Å"Earth†. First I’ll start with the notion of â€Å"World†. Heidegger writes, â€Å"The world is not the mere collection of the countable or uncountable, familiar and unfamiliar things that are at hand† (Heidegger, pg.170). Heidegger is stating that the â€Å"World† isn’t merely an ontical concept that most of us perceive of, a totality of matter existing within the material conception of â€Å"World†. Heidegger clearly explains, â€Å"The world worlds, and is more fully in being than the tangible and perceptible realm in which we believe ourselves to be at home† (Heidegger, pg 170). Heidegger defines â€Å"World† as an ontological concept, in which a web of significant relations exists between Dasein and all that is ready-at-hand. For example, a coffee table exists in a web of significant relations for it points to those who regularly sit at it, which then can branch of to the various conversations ha... ...e work lets the earth be an earth† (Heidegger, pg 172). He then adds, â€Å"The opposition of world and earth is strife† (Heidegger, pg 174). We finally have the criteria of what â€Å"Work† is. Heidegger explains that work sets up a world and sets forth the â€Å"Earth†. â€Å"The work is an instigating of this strife† (Heidegger, pg 175). That strife opens truth or as Heidegger puts it, â€Å"Aletheia† to the observer of the â€Å"Work†. The struggle or â€Å"Strife† is the process of a work of art taking place within the art work itself. In conclusion, the concepts of â€Å"Work† and â€Å"Equipment† that Heidegger presents in The Origin of the Work of Art can be summarized as follows. â€Å"Equipment† defines itself by its use and â€Å"Work† is grounded upon the â€Å"Earth† and â€Å"World† it was created on. Whose essential importance cannot be understated in order to understand Heidegger’s message within the text.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Heroism, Divine Support, and Greek Unity Displayed in the Persian W

In early fifth century BC Greece, the Greeks consistently suffered from the threat of being conquered by the Persian Empire. Between the years 500-479 BC, the Greeks and the Persians fought two wars. Although the Persian power vastly surpassed the Greeks, the Greeks unexpectedly triumphed. In this Goliath versus David scenario, the Greeks as the underdog, defeated the Persians due to their heroic action, divine support, and Greek unity. The threat of the Persian Empire's expansion into Greece and the imminent possibility that they would lose their freedom and become subservient to the Persians, so horrified the Greeks that they united together and risked their lives in order to preserve the one thing they all shared in common, their "Greekness". The Persian War stemmed from the Ionian Revolt which began in 499 BC. The Ionians became a part of the Persian Empire in 546 BC, but after many years desired to break away from this forced bond. Therefore, the Ionians sought help from the mainland Greeks. The Athenians and Eretrians responded by sending ships, but eventually became more involved. "What began as a relatively minor involvement in the revolt became more serious when the Athenian and Eretrian forces aided in a surprise attack on Sardis, during which the city was set afire" (Demand 1996, 184). Although the Ionian revolt was ultimately unsuccessful, it sparked the anger of Darius, the King of Persia, that the Athenians dared to interfere with his vast empire. Herodotus writes he was so angry that he "ordered one of his servants to say to him three times every day before dinner, 'Sire, remember the Athenians" (Hdt. 5.105.2). Whether Darius really said this is questionable, but it is clear that either to exact venge... ...reeks won a war of unbeatable odds because they had both everything to lose and everything to gain - their very survival. Works Cited Crane, G., ed. The Perseus Project. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/text?lookup=trm=ov&vers=english&browse=1 Demand, Nancy. A History of Ancient Greece, Indiana University. McGraw-Hill, Janson by Ruttle, Shaw & Wetherill, Inc., 1996, pp. 185-196. Dillon, Mathew, and Garland, Lynda. Ancient Greece: Social and Historical Documents from Archaic Times to the Death of Socrates. Routledge International Thompson Publishing Company, 1994, pp. 179-215 Lefkowitz, Mary. "You Are There- A novel set in ancient Greece revisits a key battle between Sparta and Persia". The New York Times Book Review, Nov. 1, 1998 Pressfield, Steven. Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermpoylae. New York: Doubleday

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Anthony Burns Essay

Imagine being a slave during the time of the fugitive slave act. Would you run away or would you stay and continue being a slave? If you ran away and you ran to Massachusetts and your master found you would you run from him? The man in this story did, listen as I tell you the sad story of Anthony Burns. Anthony burns was an educated slave that had a white father. His mother was a breeder which meant she had a baby every year. Anthony’s first master treated him like a sun early in the morning and gives him a horse ride. Anthony was very smart. One day his master threw him of his horse in mid air Tony did a somersault and landed on his hand and he flipped over. At the age of nineteen, Anthony Burns escaped slavery in Richmond, traveling by ship to Boston in 1853. In Boston he worked for â€Å"Coffin Pitts, clothing dealer, no. 36 Brattle Street. † On May 24, 1854 he was discovered â€Å"while walking in Court Street† and arrested. As a hub of resistance toward the â€Å"slave power† of the South, many Bostonians reacted by attempting to free Burns. President Franklin Pierce made an example of the case to show he was willing to strongly enforce the Fugitive Slave Act. The show of force turned many New Englanders against slavery who had passively accepted its existence before. On May 26, before Burns’ court case, a crowd of abolitionists of both races, including Thomas Wentworth Higginson and other Bostonians outraged at Burns’ arrest, stormed the court house to free the man. In the melee, Deputy U. S. Marshal James Batchelder was fatally stabbed, becoming the second Marshal to be killed in the line of duty. The police kept control of Burns, but the crowds of opponents, including such African-American abolitionists as Thomas James grew large. While the federal government sent US troops in support, numerous anti-slavery activists arrived in Boston to join the protest and continue the faceoff. It has been estimated the government’s cost of capturing and conducting Burns through the trial was upwards of $40,000. He was eventually taken back to Virginia where he went to a slave prison for a year. Afterward he was sold in North Carolina. Where his friend bought him and sent him to Canada where he lived the rest of his short life. He became a pastor and preached and lived peacefully.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Cultural Issues in Middle School Essay

Middle school is one of the most difficult situations of transition. Middle schoolers are awkward, hard to deal with and confused. They aren’t children but certainly not adults. They are egocentric to say the least and have little concern for the consequences of their actions. Yet, they are also one of the best ages to work with, if one is willing to try to understand their difficult lives. The culture in middle school can be broken down as such: sexuality, intellect, and social status. Sexually, these students have to deal with their changing bodies and feelings. They also have to try to understand how these feelings and changes fit in appropriately within the community. This is the area they are most sensitive toward. Intellectually, students have to decide if being â€Å"smart† is something they are willing to do. In some environments, being smart is cool, so those students who are gifted have no trouble fitting in. In other schools, these students are outcasts. When it is not cool to be smart, many students have a hard decision to make. If they show their gifts, they may sacrifice social standing. When it is cool, the struggling students feel even more left out and troubled. At times, these students may even act dumber to try to hide how much they truly struggle. Social status varies with each school environment. Wealth, possessions, address, family legacy and athletic ability are all indicators of success. Middle school is a contest and students are constantly scrutinizing each other to see who will win, popularity being the prize, of course. There are leaders and followers; the status symbols then change as the leaders themselves change. Whether it is the newest clothing label, shoe or track star, the culture of middle school is dominated by judgment. Evaluation The Illuminative Model of Evaluation rests its assessment on process. It appraises based on qualitative analysis of a situation in order to understand its initiation as clearly as its conclusion. Thus, in order to evaluate a situation, one must observe the effects of the process not simply look at data. The following tools of assessment are based upon that model and are applied to the curriculum overall. Several lessons will be used that typify the learning environment created within the classroom. Evaluation One: How does this lesson provide skills that work outside the testing environment? To evaluate this lesson, the calendar of lessons was assessed. Questions were asked such as, how do the lessons flow and what overall messages are the students receiving? Can they define, find and apply the concepts discussed in class? Upon reviewing the lessons, they seem to present isolated concepts. The entire unit is research process and narrative writing techniques which are two genres and should be taught separately. These lessons are trying to do way too much too fast. Middle school students are more successful when you break the process down and connect it to real world reasons for completing the work. If they would’ve started with day five, â€Å"reading the memoir,† then they could use the text to help define and find the language. Once they can do that, then they can apply the concepts such as writing dialogue, good word choice and using sensory language. The lesson plans as they are, present interesting skill sets but they aren’t connected to the question of, how do I apply this to reading and writing outside school. These skills might help them pass a test, but if you ask them to write dialogue, they will not know how. The non-fiction author board is a great idea but is not developed. They are completing tasks that have a function. This project should be enhanced by having students read Georgia authors and doing actual research and a research project on their author. This schedule needs to be totally revamped in order to serve the real world needs of the students. Evaluation Two: Does this lesson connect to a home environment? As is, there is no connection with the home environment. This will lessen the importance of the work and disconnect the families from what the students are learning. To enhance the process, when having the students write narratives, why not have them collect narratives from family members? This validates the home environment while creating an interest in the school environment at home. For the research section, they could research their family tree or conduct a survey at home regarding their family’s favorite authors. The greater the involvement from the home, the greater opportunity to work with the family for the student’s well being. Evaluation Three: What purpose does technology serve? This also needs improvement. There is no use of technology which works against evaluative point number one. In the larger society, students must be technologically literate. Students should research using the internet, present their projects via power point, and utilize online oral history collections to hear memoirs. Computers should not only be used to type in language arts but should be used as a tool for diversification of learning styles and presentation methods. Conclusion Overall, the learning process in this curriculum model needs to be improved. The questions of evaluation, based on the Illuminative Model, show that the process is flawed. Although there are many interesting lessons, they don’t flow together to teach an entire concept that can be applied to a real world learning situation. The terms need to be taught as part of an entire concept. Students can then define, find and apply what they have learned rather than simply be occupied for a 45 minute block of time. According to this model, students are more successful when the process is improved. The product should be the last point of evaluation rather than the first.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Starbucks’ Mission & Strategic Choices

Starbucks' Mission and Strategic Choices: Are They in Alignment? Executive Summary This paper examines strategic management, which encompasses business decisions and actions that: define the organization's mission and objectives, determine the most effective utilization of organizational resources, select best courses of action to meet its mission, and seek to assure the effectiveness of the organization within the environment. This case study evaluates the strategic management process, and applies those concepts to a practical case study of Starbuck’s mission statement. This case study is presented in the format of a formal business report – prepared by a consultant and presented to the Starbucks' Board of Directors and CEO – that provides an analysis of Starbucks' mission and strategic choices, and a summary of the alignment of those strategies to its mission. This report is based on a critical review of the Starbuck mission statement, goals, and objectives, which is then compared against the strategic choices that Starbucks has made (e. g. product differentiation, research and development, operations) to determine how well Starbuck’s strategic choices are aligned to the company’s mission and vision. Finally, this study answers the question: Will the company continue its past  success? Randy Tanner, 2009 Starbucks' Mission and Strategic Choices: Are They in Alignment? Cover Sheet: Starbucks Corp. 2401 Utah Avenue South Seattle, WA 98134 Phone: 206-447-1575 Fax: 206-682-7570 Web Site: http://www. starbucks. com Business Plan presented to:Howard Schultz, Chairman of the Board, President, CEO Starbucks Board of Directors Prepared by:Randy S. Tanner Statement of Purpose:Analysis of Starbucks' Mission and Strategic Choices: Are They in Alignment? Table of Contents Executive Summary4 Background4 Company Description4 Starbucks' Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives. 4 Strategies. 5 Management Team. 6 Business Model. 6 Infrastructure7 Offering. 7 Revenue Model. 7 Pricing. 8 Customers. 8 Competitors. 8 Stakeholders. 8 Marketing Strategy. 9 Financials. 9 Analysis10 Company Analysis. 10 Current Marketing Mix Strategies (Product, Price, People, and Promotion). 10 Current Target Markets10 Market Analysis. 10 Competition & SWOT Analysis. 11 Competitive advantage. 12 Financial Analysis. 12 Conclusion13 Are Starbucks' mission and strategic choices in alignment? 13 Will the company continue its past  success? 13 Executive Summary Are Starbucks' mission and strategic choices in alignment? Yes. The strategies of innovation, product differentiation, and customer experience are directly aligned with Starbucks published mission â€Å"to establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world,† while â€Å"inspiring and nurturing† the spirit of their customers. Starbucks continues to apply strategies to expand its product offering in both breadth and depth. Coupled with this strategy is the expansion of alternate distribution channels to multiply the potential in increased revenues. Each offering in the product portfolio reinforces the brand name and quality experience described in the company’s vision statement. The recent focus on increasing profits in existing stores is not a shift of business strategy, but more of a symptom of business maturity – less waste equals more profit. The corporation has tempered its original goal of market dominance by saturation – slowing its growth in new stores – to market dominance with more efficient and more profitable stores with its strategy of disciplined expansion in key markets. The strategy of using the Seattle’s Best segment, vice Starbucks to expand the base of corporate customers also supports Starbucks’s prime mission. This elevation of Seattle’s Best does not create a corporate-sponsored competitor to the nearby Starbucks stores, but does serve as an alternate distribution channel for the company’s expanded product line. Therefore, this strategy supports the overall brand quality of Starbucks as the â€Å"premier coffee,† yet captures additional customers that do not seek the branded Starbuck experience and would likely choose one the niche competitors. This strategy can cater to a slightly different clientele – in both coffee stores and supermarkets – and increase overall corporate revenues. Will the company continue its past success? Yes. A continued emphasis on customer satisfaction, coupled with effective strategies that develop new product lines, will stimulate revenue growth and stabilize share prices. The current vision and path summarized by Starbucks president and CEO, Howard Schultz, is a commitment to â€Å"continually improving our customer experience as the roadmap to renewed growth and increasing profitability,† with emphasis on continued application of previously successful strategies, â€Å"we will continue to innovate and differentiate, two perennial hallmarks of the Starbucks brand. † (Starbucks Financial Releases, 2009) Background Strategic management is â€Å"a company-wide process that includes  a long-term plan of action that assists in achieving  an  organization's objectives and  fulfills company vision,† (course material) and is comprised of four major elements: situation analysis, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and strategy evaluation. (Bushman, (2007) This Strategic Management process includes the following steps: (Luca, 2009) 1. Developing a Vision/Mission/Goals and Objectives 2. Analyzing the environment company (internal and external) 3. Identifying internal Strengths and Weaknesses and external Threats and Opportunities (SWOT) 4. Articulating  strategic choices at the business, functional, and corporate levels 5. Selecting a strategy or strategies, based on in-depth internal and external analyses, to accomplish vision and mission goals. These strategies may exist at several levels: business, functional, corporate, and global. Company Description According to the company’s Factsheet (2009), Starbucks was founded in 1971 in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. The original name of â€Å"Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spices† was later changed to â€Å"Starbucks Coffee Company. As quoted from Google Finance (Starbucks Corporation, 2009), Starbucks, together with its subsidiaries, â€Å"purchases and roasts whole bean coffees and sells them, along with fresh, rich-brewed coffees, Italian-style espresso beverages, cold blended beverages, complementary food items, a selection of premium teas, and coffee-relate d accessories and equipment, through Company-operated retail stores. Starbucks also sells coffee and tea products and licenses its trademark through other channels. Starbucks produces and sells a range of ready-to-drink beverages. The business segments of the Company are United States, International, and Global Consumer Products Group (CPG). The CPG segment includes packaged coffee and tea sold globally through channels, such as grocery stores and operates through joint ventures and licensing arrangements with consumer products business partners. † Starbucks' Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives. Mission statements are â€Å"fundamental to the survival and growth of any business,† (Analoui and Karami, 2002) and â€Å"set the direction and goal for the long term, reflecting the strategic intent. (course material) According to Germain and Cooper (1990), an appropriate mission statement serves to â€Å"promote a sense of shared expectations amongst employees and communicate a public image of the firm to important stakeholders and groups in the company's task environment. † Starbucks’ mission statement as stated in the corporate Factsheet (2009) is â€Å"To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles as we grow. The company’s stated Vision, Goals, and Objectives may be found listed as â€Å"Our Starbucks Mission† in the corporate website (The Company, 2009). This vision is expressed as â€Å"To inspire and nurture the human spirit— one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. † Some of the company’s objectives – referred to as â€Å"guiding principles† – included in that strategic vision focus on: 1. Quality of the coffee 2. Robust partnerships 3. Human connection to customers 4. Unique atmosphere of the retail stores that encourages social interaction 5. Being accepted as neighbor in the community 6. Obligation to shareholders (long-term success and profitability) Strategies. The original focus since the company’s beginning has been on product differentiation, in both the product and the store setting. This strategy emphasizes a premium product served in a unique atmosphere. Some claimed tactics employed to execute these strategies are to: (Factsheet, 2009) †¢ Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity. †¢ Embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business. †¢ Apply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting, and fresh delivery of our coffee. Develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time. †¢ Contribute positively to our communities and our environment. †¢ Recognize that profitability is essential to our future success Historical Strategies for business growth noted in the 2006 shareholder’s meeting included continued expansion of retail stores, and exp ansion of the company’s portfolio of unique and innovative products â€Å"to appeal to a broad consumer base. † (Business Wire, 2006) These products included: †¢ Premium and proprietary food offerings as a component of the Starbucks Experience. Introduction of warm breakfast items in Company-operated stores by 2008. †¢ Joint venture with Apple to launch a Starbucks Entertainment Area on iTunes. †¢ Introduction of a heated-on-demand vending initiative, †¢ Expansion of its Kraft relationship to distribute Starbucks coffee into supermarkets. Recent changes to this original approach – which were in response to the recent economic downturn and drop in share prices – are aimed at retaining customers, rather than gaining new ones. According to Howard Schultz, the company’s CEO, â€Å"The issue at hand†¦ is the cost of losing your core customer. (Adamy & Wingfield, 2009) These changes in business strategy shift the focus from mark et saturation with additional stores to: (Starbucks Newsroom, 2009) 1. Increasing profits in existing stores, 2. Expanding the product base, and 3. â€Å"Disciplined global store expansion in key markets. † While continuing with the strategy of product expansion (to even include some non-food products), Starbucks has tempered its desire for continually opening new stores. This â€Å"disciplined† approach includes more niche targeting in key markets and even opening, or converting to, a Seattle’s Best vice Starbucks. Some of the new tactics announced at the 2009 Shareholders Meeting to implement this strategy include: †¢ A $500 million structural expense reduction to align the company’s cost structure to its current business strategy †¢ Focused efforts to improve operational efficiencies with technology investments, and better training for store managers †¢ Emphasizing the concepts of value and quality to the customer with selective price incentives †¢ Launching VIAâ„ ¢ Ready Brew instant coffee to tap the $17 billion instant coffee market †¢ Expanding alternate foodservice channels Management Team. Corporate organization and key management team members include: (Reuters, 2009) Howard SchultzChairman of the Board, President, CEO Troy AlsteadChief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer Arthur I. RubinfeldPresident – Global Development Martin P. ColesPresident – Starbucks Coffee International Clifford BurrowsPresident – Starbucks Coffee US Paula E. BoggsExec VP, General Counsel, Secretary Michelle GassExec VP – Marketing and Category Olden C. LeeInterim Exec VP – Partner Resources, Director Dorothy J. KimExec VP – Global Strategy, Office of the CEO Peter D. GibbonsExec VP – Global Supply Chain Operations Culver, JohnExec VP, President – Global Consumer Products, Foodservice & Seattle's Best Coffee Business Model. According to Osterwalder, Pigneur, & Tucci (2005), a company’s business model includes: infrastructure, offering, customers, and revenue model. 1. Infrastructure – the core capabilities and competencies, partnership network, or business alliances, and value configuration (what makes it mutually beneficial for a business and its customers). . Offering – the value of products and services offered for a specific customer segment, and how it differentiates itself from its competitors. 3. Customers – includes (1) the target audience for a business' products and services, (2) the distribution channel used to reach the customers (includes marketing and distribution strategy), and customer relationship management. 4. Revenue model – the cost structure and revenue flows that define the company’s income. Infrastructure. Starbucks infrastructure (sales & distribution model) began as a basic shopkeeper model[1]; brewing and serving fresh, premium quality coffee in a relaxed â€Å"neighborhood† atmosphere. This model chooses a location frequented by targeted customers, employs low-wage workers, and establishes repeat business based on customer satisfaction and ease of access. Recent strategic management emphasis is trending toward, or adapting part of the Loyalty or Service Quality model to reinforce the perceived quality of the product. Part of this model is based on the belief that it is cheaper to keep customers than gain new ones. Offering. The Starbucks brand portfolio is marketed as premium and, therefore, is luxury goods, relying on â€Å"consumer discretionary spending to drive sales. † (Hattery, 2009) This portfolio includes Starbucks Entertainment, Starbucks Hear Music, Tazo, Ethos water, Seattle’s Best Coffee, and Torrefazione Italia Coffee – offers a variety of products and services through its retail stores and other channels, including: †¢ 30 blends of Coffee †¢ Handcrafted Beverages – fresh-brewed coffee, hot and iced espresso beverages, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages, and Tazo ® teas. Merchandise – home espresso machines, coffee brewers and grinders, premium chocolates, coffee mugs and accessories, and gift items. †¢ Fresh Food – baked pastries, sandwiches, and salads. †¢ Starbucks Entertainment – selection of music, books, and film from both emerging and established artists. †¢ Global Consumer Products – bo ttled Frappuccino ® beverages, Discoveries ® chilled cup coffee, DoubleShot ® espresso drinks, Starbucks ® Iced Coffee, whole bean coffee and Tazo ® teas, Starbucksâ„ ¢ Coffee Liqueurs, and a line of premium ice creams. †¢ Starbucks Card – a reloadable pre-paid debit card. Revenue Model. Starbucks’ revenue model includes its cost structure and revenue flows. Starbucks operating costs are directly influenced by fluctuations in the commodity prices (milk and coffee beans) which have risen sharply in the past. Starbucks purchases teas and primarily Arabica coffee beans directly from international markets in Costa Rica, Africa, Asian Pacific, and China. The wholesale price of coffee beans is unstable and often susceptible to dramatic price changes from a variety of weather and political events that may, or may not, affect global production. These reactionary prices can remain elevated for several years. Coffee prices in 2008, for example, were 20% higher on average than 2007, resulting in Starbucks paying an average price of $1. 42 per pound of green (unroasted) coffee. The price of Milk futures also rose dramatically from $13 to $18 per hundredweight in March, 2007, falling only recently to $17 in September, 2009. Starbucks’ revenue flow from its company operated coffeehouses relies on discretionary consumer spending, and can be affected by negative economic conditions. In fiscal 2008, Starbucks generated $10. billion in revenue through the sale of whole bean coffee, food, equipment, and beverages. The distribution channels included both its retail stores and specialty operations. [pic] Figure 1 – Revenue Categories Company operated retail stores (7,238 stores in North America and 1,979 international) generated 84 percent of the total revenue. (Hattery, 2009) The remaining 16 percent was generated through the specialty operations segment, which is chartered to â€Å"develop the company's brand through third parties outside the traditional coffeehouse. This segment channels, and percentage of specialty operations revenue generated, include: 1. Licensed Stores (48 percent) located in airports and supermarkets that generate licensing fees, royalties, and retail revenue from coffee, tea, and CDs. 2. Foodservices Operations (25 percent) sells Starbucks coffee to restaurants, offices, hotels, and Barnes & Noble Cafes under different licensing contracts. 3. Packaged Tea and Coffee (21 percent) sold at various food stores. 4. Branded Products (4 percent) like ready-to-drink beverages and ice creams sold through partnerships with Pepsi and Dreyer's. Pricing. Starbucks has maintained a premium pricing strategy for its branded premium quality coffee beans and unique customer experience. Customers. Starbucks serves approximately 50 million customers a week in its stores. The target market is defined as â€Å"young (25-to-45 years old) professional men and women, in higher income brackets with stressful lives (at work, home, or both). Most members of this target market live in the suburbs and commute to work in urban areas. † (Holmes, Bennett, Carlisle, Dawson, 2002) Competitors. Although Starbucks maintains a â€Å"dominant position in the specialty coffeehouse market and has no single clear rival in the sector,† (Hattery, 2009) competitors include other specialty coffee shops, doughnut shops, and restaurants. The closest specialty coffeehouse competitor is Caribou Coffee, with only 415 stores, with the major competition being â€Å"dispersed among the thousands of independent or small-chain coffee shops (i. e. , Die drich Coffee, Inc, Coffee Heaven Intl. , Autogrill S. p. A. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, Inc), and McDonalds Corp[2]. Stakeholders. Starbucks’ organizational stakeholders include both individuals and groups â€Å"who have an interest (give-and-take) relationship with the firm. † (course material) These internal and external stakeholders of Starbucks are identified as: shareholders, employees (including board members, executives, managers, supervisors, and baristas), customers, suppliers, local communities, and global alliance partners[3] Marketing Strategy. As described in VoteForUs (n. d. ), since the company’s inception in 1971, its marketing strategy has â€Å"ignored the traditional advertizing avenues of billboards and commercials and focused on seven fundamentals to differentiate Starbucks from other cafes. † These fundamental areas of marketing focus are: (VoteForUs, n. d. ) 1. Perfect Cup of Coffee – an emphasis on product quality (rich, delicious taste and aroma) to support the premium pricing structure. 2. Third Place – creating the â€Å"third place† for everyone to go to between home and work. This is another differentiation technique, aimed to create a unique and relaxing experience or atmosphere with which Starbucks could be branded. 3. Customer Satisfaction – ensure that customers feel the uniqueness of enjoying their Starbucks coffee experience. 4. Creating a Starbucks Community – this marketing strategy has even expanded to create a community around their brand. On their website, individuals are encouraged to express their experiences with Starbucks history, and the company strives to â€Å"personally† join in the discussions. 5. Smart Partnerships – create strategic partnerships that expand business opportunities and increase sales. 6. Innovation – a strategy to continually create new products or services that support their customer base or add new customer segments. (different coffee flavors, more food on their menu, and one of the first to offer internet capability in their stores) 7. Brand Marketing – The Starbucks marketing strategy has always focused on â€Å"word-of-mouth† advertising and viral marketing, letting the high quality of their products and services speak for themselves. Financials. Evaluating the company’s financial statements since the economic low point of May 2008 – with its first quarterly decline in profit, and 38 percent stock plunge – Starbuck’s has managed to maintain a healthy balance sheet. Consolidated company revenues for Q3 2009 were $2. 4 billion, compared to $2. 6 billion in 2008, reflecting a five percent decline in store sales. Quarterly financial sheets verify the reduction in operating income and corresponding slight increase in net profits. With the cost realignment scheduled to be completed in 2009, operating costs are expected to drop further. Total revenues for Q2 2009 show a positive rebound with a sustained upward trend over the last two quarters. Share prices – which bottomed around $8. 00 during Dec08 through Mar09 – have stabilized around $19. 00 for the last quarter. In response to the implemented cost reduction strategies, Standard & Poor’s raised the company’s short-term debt ratings (from â€Å"A-3† to â€Å"A-2) and â€Å"revised its outlook to ’stable’ from negative,† (Ogg, 2009), reaffirming the â€Å"BBB† corporate credit rating. According to Ogg (2009), â€Å"S&P believes that the company’s performance will continue to stabilize and that the credit metrics will continue to improve or remain at the current levels. † Analysis Alignment in the framework of strategic management refers to the mutual agreement and enforcement of the company’s vision, mission, and goals with its business strategies. These strategies are employed to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage in the market segment, and ensure long-term profitability for the company. Company Analysis. This company analysis focuses on three factors or issues involved in maintaining a competitive advantage. These factors and issues are: (1) current target markets, (2) current marketing mix strategies, and (3) the strengths and weaknesses of the Company. The company's marketing mix strategies are discussed in relation to the Five P's of Marketing. The elements of Five P's of Marketing include product, price, place, people and promotion. (Nimetz, 2009) These factors are explored in comparison to Starbucks’ published mission, vision statements, and guiding principles. To establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles as we grow. †¢ To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. † Current Marketing Mix Strategies (Product, Price, People, and Promotion). Starbucks built its coffee stores on the principle product of Arabica coffee beans. T his product was marketed as a premium quality item that â€Å"† The pricing scheme followed the premium quality scheme, offering the customer more than a cup of coffee. Starbucks stores became the â€Å"third place† to go to and enjoy a unique atmosphere. One new strategy that CEO Howard Schultz brought with him was the emphasis on the role of sales clerks, or Barristers who brewed and served the coffee. Specialized training for employees reinforces their role in the customer’s perceived value of the product – the unique Starbucks experience. The promotion tactics employed by Starbucks broke with traditional concepts and avoided advertising, relying on word-of-mouth or viral advertising techniques where satisfied customers willingly share with others, and promote the Starbucks experience. This viral advertising has proven quite effective. Current Target Markets. For most Starbucks most consumers, coffee is not just coffee, but more of a ritual – a deserved reward. However, although the targeted market of professionals contains a significant percentage of higher-income professionals, the recent decrease in sales (and corresponding drop in shares) implies that they too are affected by the economic downturn and willing to reduce their â€Å"rewards. † Market Analysis. A market analysis reviews the specific market segment being targeted, and examines the demographic and social data required to â€Å"know your customer. This required information concerning the targeted customer includes: †¢ Who they are †¢ Where they are †¢ How to reach them †¢ Identifying their needs (what justifies premium price) †¢ Size of market †¢ Percentage of market captured †¢ Market growth potential Starbucks market for its coffee stores is targete d at 25- to 45-year-old professionals looking for solitude, or social interaction, without alcohol. This higher-income crowd of young, college-educated represents a group which tends toward higher luxury-consumption levels. The failure to successfully add drive-through service to its stores clearly differentiates its clientele from McDonalds or Java Hut customers whose needs or to grab a quick caffeine jolt on the way to or from work. According to Euromonitor International Plc,[4] Starbucks has captured 52 percent of the global specialty coffee market. According to Mintel (global consumer research firm in Chicago) Starbucks controls 43 – 73% of the U. S. market share[5] in coffeehouse sales in 2005, with its closest rivals being Caribou Coffee, and Peet's Coffee and Tea. Competition & SWOT Analysis. The SWOT analysis identifies and evaluates a company’s internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities, and threats). This analysis helps to focus on key issues to consider in strategic planning. The following details are an updated paraphrase of the SWOT analysis from Marketing Teacher (2007): Strengths. †¢ Starbucks Corporation is a very profitable organization, earning in excess of $459 million in 2008. The company generated revenue of more than $10. billion in 2008, exceeding revenue for 2007. †¢ It is a global coffee brand built upon a reputation for fine products and services with approximately 9000 cafes around the globe. †¢ Starbucks is know as a respected employer that values its workforce, and was one of the Fortune Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2005. †¢ The organization displays strong ethical values and an ethical mission statement that emphasizes its commitment to environmental lea dership. Weaknesses. †¢ Starbucks has a reputation for new product development and creativity. However, they remain vulnerable to the possibility that their innovation may falter over time. †¢ The organization has a strong presence in the U. S. with more than three quarters of their cafes located in the home market. An increased percentage of international cafes would help to spread business risk. †¢ The organization is dependant on a main competitive advantage, the retail of coffee. This could make them slow to diversify into other sectors should the need arise. Opportunities. †¢ New products and services can be retailed in their cafes, such as Fair Trade products. The company has the opportunity to expand its global operations with the emerging markets for coffee in India and the Pacific Rim nations. †¢ Additional co-branding with other manufacturers of food and drink can be pursued. †¢ Capitalizing on the Seattle’s Best brand in both the retail and franchise markets could diversify revenue streams and spread business risk. †¢ With recent economic conditions, and dwindling disposable income, Starbucks could pursue a larger market share of the home-brewed coffee market with increased advertising. Pursuing additional partnerships with manufacturers of other goods and services has potential to decrease Starbuck’s dependency on it single competitive advantage in retail coffee. Threats. †¢ Starbucks has been branded and marketed as a luxury item, relying on the disposable income of its targeted customers. Regional, or national economic instability can be reflected quickly in revenue loss. †¢ Future growth of the coffee market is uncertain. A change in the current fad of coffee shops would significantly impact Starbuck’s major source of revenue. †¢ Starbucks is exposed to unpredictable cost increases in wholesale coffee and dairy products. Recent growth in the coffee house market has attracted many competitors, including copy cat brands and national restaurants that pose potential threats to S tarbuck’s competitive advantage. Competitive advantage. Starbucks established an early dominance in the market segment of coffee houses, and sustains its competitive advantage[6] through differentiation[7] by capitalizing on a unique experience that offers ambiance and unusual product variety. The primary strategies employed to establish market dominance were branding, creativity, and saturation by store expansion. 1. The branding strategies include quality product, personal service, a sense of community, and environmental responsibility. This strategy is strengthened by market and demographic analyses to slightly customize each store to the local city/community personality. 2. The creativity strategies emphasize â€Å"constantly looking for new ideas, new products, as well as new experiences for guests. † (Thompson & Gamble, 1999) Successful products are retained while weaker products are eliminated in a continuing cycle of process improvement. 3. Although growth in the store expansion strategy has peaked, new stores are still being added. This strategy has been modified from saturation by area concentration, to a more disciplined approach, that identifies key markets, based on market analysis that emphasizes individual store profitability. (Adamy & Wingfield, 2009) Financial Analysis. Starbucks has a solid financial status with multiple revenue streams from multiple coffee related products. A look at Starbucks Profit and Loss and Cash Flow tables[8] (shown in Table 1) reveals a slight dip in gross revenue, but a positive trend for increased net income. This is probably a result of the recent cost restructuring and emphasis on store profitability. Future revenue streams from coffee house sales are expected to increase from a combination of stable sales and higher efficiency. Revenue streams from alternate distribution channels show a slight, but steady increase, further bolstering Starbuck’s solid financial foundation. |In Millions of USD |Jun 2009 |Mar 20099 |Dec 2008 |Sep 2008 | Jun 2008 | |Revenue |2,403. 90 |2,333. 30 |2,615. 20 |2,515. 40 |2,574. 00 | |Total Revenue |2,403. 0 |2,333. 30 |2,615. 20 |2,515. 40 |2,574. 00 | |Gross Profit |539. 10 |470. 20 |481. 80 |393. 50 |452. 60 | Total Operating Expense |2,199. 90 |2,292. 40 |2,497. 50 |2,501. 20 |2,595. 60 | |Operating Income |204. 00 |40. 90 |117. 70 |14. 20 |-21. 60 | |Income Before Tax |217. 30 |34. 90 |98. 30 |-1. 20 |-33. 20 | |Net Income |151. 50 |25. 00 |64. 30 |5. 40 |-6. 70 | |Table 1 – Quarterly Financials Conclusion Are Starbucks' mission and strategic choices in alignment? Yes. The strategies of innovation, product differentiation, and customer experience are directly aligned with Starbucks mission â€Å"to establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world,† while â€Å"inspiring and nurturing† the spirit of their customers. Starbucks continues to expand its product offering in both breadth and depth. Coupled with this strategy is the expansion of alternate distribution channels that will multiply the potential in increased revenues. Each offering in the product portfolio reinforces the brand name and quality experience described in the company’s vision statement. The recent focus on increasing profits in existing stores is not a shift of business strategy, but more of a symptom of business maturity. Less waste equals more profit. The corporation has shifted its goal from market saturation – slowing its growth in new stores – to market dominance with more efficient and more profitable stores with its strategy of disciplined expansion in key markets. Using the Seattle’s Best segment, vice Starbucks to expand the base of customers for the greater corporate good requires close examination. As a corporate-sponsored competitor to the nearby Starbucks stores, this strategy seems in conflict with the prime mission. However, as an alternate distribution channel for an expanded product line, this strategy supports the overall brand quality of Starbucks as the â€Å"premier coffee,† yet can capture some additional customers that do not seek the branded Starbuck experience and would likely choose one the niche competitors. Seattle’s Best can cater to a slightly different clientele – in both coffee stores and supermarkets – with a different set of customer needs, while increasing overall corporate revenues. Will the company continue its past  success? Yes. A continued emphasis on customer satisfaction, coupled with effective strategies that develop new product lines, will stimulate revenue growth and stabilize share prices. The current vision and path summarized by Starbucks president and CEO, Howard Schultz, is a commitment to â€Å"continually improving our customer experience as the roadmap to renewed growth and increasing profitability,† with emphasis on continued application of previously successful strategies, â€Å"we will continue to innovate and differentiate, two perennial hallmarks of the Starbucks brand. (Starbucks Financial Releases, 2009) References Adamy, J. & Wingfield, N. (2009). Starbucks brews new strategies to fight slump. Wall Street Journal (Europe), p. 4. Retrieved July 11, 2009, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1662578621). Analoui, F. and Karami, A. (2002). CEOs and development of the meaningful mission statement. Corporate Governance, 2(3), 13-2 0. 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Retrieved August 22, 2009 from http://www. starbucks. com/aboutus/overview. asp. Thompson, A. and Gamble, J.