Marketing Higher Education: Theory and Practice Essay

Applying marketing knowledge Products can be classified as either consumer or business products. How would you classify the following products? (a) Johnson’s baby shampoo, (b) a Black & Decker two-speed drill, and (c) an arc welder. Johnson’s baby shampoo. (A consumer product.) Black & Decker two-speed drill. (A consumer products) Arc Welder. (A business product.) Are Nature Valley Granola bars and Eddie Bauer hiking boots convenience, shopping, specialty, or unsought products? a.) Nature Valley Granola Bars. (Convenience product.) b.) Eddie Bauer hiking boots. (Shopping product.) Based on your answer to question 2, how would the marketing actions differ for each product and the classification to which you assigned it? Nature Valley Granola bars: Since this thing is probably going to be accessible to purchasers wherever nourishment and nibble items are sold. Dissemination of this item would incorporate basic supply, accommodation, and mass stock stores and presumably candy machines since openness is imperative in the buy of any comfort thing. Eddie Bauer hiking boots: Shoppers who need this item will look for climbing boots, contrasting the points of interest and weaknesses of a few brands. Since Eddie Bauer will be looked at against different brands, it is vital to bring up the distinctions that make the Eddie Bauer climbing boot a decent incentive for the shopper. In terms of the behavioral effect on consumers, how would a computer, such as an Apple iMac, be classified? In light of this classification, what actions would you suggest to the manufacturers of these products to increase their sales in the market? Classifying personal computers: At the point when initially presented, the PC was an intermittent development. Utilizing a PC for diversion, charges, formulas, and training of kids was not normal. The customer needed to take in an absolutely better approach to connect with a machine keeping in mind the end goal to get the coveted outcomes from the product. Actions of manufacturers: For the manufacturers of these products, education became a major obstacle, and product trial was particularly important to overcome consumer fears or hesitancies. Today, these desktop computers are far easier to do personal computing, but they can be considered continuous innovations. Now Apple’s and other PC marketers’ task is to sell prospective buyers on the competitive points of difference of their respective laptops. What methods would you suggest to assess the potential commercial success of the following new products? (a) a new, improved ketchup, (b) a three-dimensional television system that took the company 10 years to develop, and (c) a new children’s toy on which the company holds a patent. New, improved ketchup: In the test advertising of another ketchup, utilization of a buy research facility may be the most beneficial technique to survey the item’s feasible achievement. Aggressive impersonation of the item would be a genuine dread for the organization since impersonation would rush to follow in a test showcase circumstance. Three-dimensional television system: The three-dimensional TV may be an item that would require field-testing. Expecting that the innovation was adequate to create an astounding picture, genuine shopper acknowledgment and buy would be critical. Besides, since the improvement of the innovation took the organization such quite a while, it would be far-fetched that a contender could rapidly copy the item. New children’s toy: The company holds a patent for the children’s toy. In this instance, field-testing is not a problem. Concept testing is an important step in the new-product process. Outline the concept tests for (a) an electrically powered car and (b) a new loan payment system for automobiles that is based on a variable interest rate. What are the differences in developing concept tests for products as opposed to services? Electrically powered car: The idea test for an electrically controlled auto would portray the item regarding comparative automobiles, however, would feature the distinctions from existing fuel fueled motors from the purchaser’s viewpoint. New loan payment system for automobiles: An ideal test for a variable rate intrigue auto credit would need to indicate how the regularly scheduled installment for the advance would change as the loan cost list factor changes. The significant distinction in idea tests amongst items and administrations is that administrations are more hard to idea test. It is harder to relate an elusive support of customer involvement keeping in mind the end goal to clarify a reason or new idea (additionally elusive).

“Jane Eyre” and “Hard Times” as Bildungsroman Novels Essay

The traditional Bildungsroman novel is autobiographical in form and displays similarities with the author’s own life, mostly with regard to childhood experiences. The novel displays a single individuals growth and development within the context of a defined social order. In most cases the protagonist is orphaned and experiences some form of loss or discontentment in order to spur them away from the family home or setting. The education of the main character is another aspect, which is crucial to their growth and development within the novel. It states in Todd (1980; 161) 1. that? ‘Ideally Bildungsroman heroes, who continue to pursue their own adolescent ideals and inclinations, are expected to conform eventually to a predetermined identity and become integrated with the society whose values are creating and molding them’. Charles Dickens wrote Great Expectations and described Pips childhood experiences in great detail. It has been argued that most of the child characters Dickens portrayed in his novels resembled that of his own childhood experiences. Like Pip, Dickens received very little in the way of formal education. Charlotte Bronte uses many similarities in Jane Eyre that could be argued resemble her own experiences. She too like that of Jane was the daughter of a clergyman and was sent to a school called Norwood, which bares many similarities with that of Lowood. She also became a governess and this suggests that her own experience of a middle class working woman fighting to find a place in Victorian society was used to express her own views of life in that of Jane Eyre. In Great Expectations, Pip is typical of the main character in a Bildungsroman novel, as he is an orphan. Pip is brought up in a working class environment with his older sister and her husband, Joe Gargery. Pip rejects Joe as a substitute father and looks on him as more of a friend. This is evident in the passage when Joe states?’you and me is always friends’ (12;ch.2) 2. The absence of a father figure for Pip reinforces the need for him to find some sense of identity and belonging in society. The possibility of a better life becomes apparent to Pip on his first meeting with Estella and Mrs. Haversham at Satis House. It is at this stage in the novel that Pip realises for the first time that he is of a lower social status. It is evident that Pip is aware of his social status when he says ‘I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands before; but I began to consider them a very different pair’ (60;ch.8) 3. In Jane Eyre, once again the main character is typical of the Bildungsroman. Jane is an orphan living with her relatives, the Reeds. However she is brought up in a middle class society but is reminded that she is an outcast. Jane’s struggle with her identity and place in society began before she was born, with her mother marrying a poor clergyman, who was considered beneath her by her family. Jane also experiences conflict within class structures in society. This is evident when the Reeds attempt to bully and suppress Jane at every opportunity they can, reminding her that she has no money that she can rightfully call her own. Jane’s struggle is not only to find a place in society but also to find a place in society as a woman. Jane is aware from an early age that she has no power as a female of her social status, while John Reed is fully aware of his importance as a male. Thus Jane’s educational growth begins when she is unjustly locked in the red room at Gateshead and is sent away to Lowood to be educated. Once again although Jane receives a formal education, she embarks on her own educational growth in life towards maturity and finding an acceptable place in society. Jane’s struggle and discontentment is evident in the various stages of the novel. Firstly as already stated at Gateshead and again at Lowood, where she was subjected to terrible humiliation and degradation at the hands of the Reverend Brocklehurst. It seems that Bronte was suggesting that all men in society, even holy men, treated woman unjustly. Even Jane’s relationship with Rochester at Thornfield remind Jane that as a middle class woman, who had to earn her own living, she did not fit into conventional society. Being a governess meant that Jane was educated to the extent of a lady but being  paid a salary put her almost at the level of the servants. Even though Jane loves Rochester she is not prepared to become his mistress, as he is already married to Bertha, leaving Jane no alternative but to leave Thornfield to embark on the next stage of her journey within the novel. It is clear that she was searching for her own identity when she states to Rochester? ‘I tell you I must go?Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think that I am an automaton? ?a machine without feelings? And can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong’ (252;ch 23) 4. Whilst at Moor House, Jane’s relationship with St John Rivers, once again reminds Jane of her status within society. She is not in love with St John and he is not with her but he still tries to repress Jane by expecting her to marry him and accompany him as a missionary’s wife to Africa. Jane is not prepared to marry him and is well aware of the implications if she is to go away with him, as a friend. Although Jane struggles to find her rightful place in society she always believes that she is equal to those around her. Pip’s education begins not in the formal sense of the word but within his own personal growth. He feels sure that if he were to become a gentleman, it would make him a better person and he would better himself within society. His ultimate goal is to become a gentleman and win Estella’s love. It is this desire that makes Pip unhappy with his life at the forge and the prospect of becoming a mere blacksmith. Pip’s education was very limited and although he was sent to evening school whilst he apprenticed to Joe, he learnt more in terms of a formal education from Biddy. He states?’At last I began, in a purblind groping way, to read, write and cipher’ (44;ch7) 5. Pip’s education is again typical of the Bildungsroman in that he is unassisted and self-educated. His desire to leave the forge is fulfilled when he is visited by Mr. Jaggers, who tells Pip of his inheritance and the  mysterious benefactor, whom Pip believes is Miss Haversham. This becomes evident in the novel when Pip states?’Miss Haversham was going to make my fortune on a grand scale’ (138;ch18) 6. This change from poor working class to a rich gentleman is once again typical of the Bildungsroman but not in the traditional sense. Usually a man has to work to earn his money and become a gentleman, which is contrary to the way that Pip has earned his fortune. Pip’s inheritance changes Pip from a likeable innocent character into one that desires unrealistic expectations for his life. Due to his good fortune, Pip now looks down on his family as beneath him and considers Joe to be common and uneducated. This is evident when he tells Biddy that Joe? ‘Is rather backward in some things. For instance in his learning and his manners’. (148;ch19) 7. Jane’s material wealth is once again inherited but this is in the final stages of her development as a character within the novel. This is where the similarities end between Jane and Pip, concerning money. Jane is fully aware of the value of money since she has had to work to provide for herself. By inheriting she manages to secure her rightful place in society. Pip however does not know the true value of money and thinks that it is the answer to all his problems. His snobbery becomes evident when he realises that his true benefactor is Magwitch, the convict, who he encounters in the first stage of the novel. On realising this fact he is disgusted that his benefactor is a murderer, a twist in the novel, which seems to teach Pip a lesson about gentleman in society. Pip realises that money does not make you a gentleman and real gentleman have qualities, which money cannot buy. Once again as seen with Jane Eyre, Pip leaves his home to embark on a journey of education, leaving the forge, which is situated, on the marshes, near the Thames for London. Again this conforms to the typical Bildungsroman novel, where the main character will embark on a journey, usually leaving a small provincial town for the big city, in order to find his trade or occupation. Often this will be a disappointing experience, where hopes and dreams are shattered and a realisation of what they had left behind them was not so bad. Although with Pip he does not work when he gets to London, Jane has to  work as a governess in order to survive. It is in London that Pip embarks on the next stage of his educational growth, in order to find his real self. Pip squanders his money socialising in order to establish himself as a gentleman but by doing this he only succeeds in getting himself and his roommate, Herbert Pocket into serious financial difficulty. Pip feels sure that Mrs. Haversham intends him to marry Estella and the realisation that this is not so, does not enter Pip’s head until his encounter with Magwitch in London. Pip states?’Miss Haversham’s intentions towards me, all a mere dream; Estella not designed for me; I only suffered in Satis House as a convenience.’ (323;ch39) 8. Once again the similarity with Jane becomes apparent in that Pip experiences disappointment in matters of love. This conforms to the Bildungsroman, where the individual will encounter love affairs or sexual encounters within their educational journey, which are disastrous. In the final stages of the novel there is usually, according to the traditional Bildungsroman, a lesson to be learned before the character is fully matured. Pip learns just how wrong he was about what qualities make a true gentleman. This is apparent when he finds out his benefactor is Magwitch, the murderer. Although at first this was a shock for Pip, he realises just how much Magwitch has sacrificed for him by returning to England and risking capture by the police. Pip also feels guilty about the way he has snubbed Joe when he came to see him in London and the fact that he felt ashamed of him. This embarrassment was evident when he stated that?’If I could have kept him away by paying money, I certainly would have paid money’ (218;ch27) 9. Pip realises the error of his ways and tries to make amends by helping Magwitch escape his captures. He also finds out that Estella is Magwith’s daughter, which is ironic as Estella frowned upon the working classes, only to be the offspring of something far worse, a criminal. Although Magwitch dies, Pip was by his side and gave him comfort in his last hours. After his illness he returns to the forge to Joe and Biddy, penniless since the crown  reclaimed his inheritance. He has learnt a valuable lesson and has come full circle by returning to his roots without a penny, fully matured and understanding the real qualities of a gentleman. Jane also returns to her roots by attending the side of her Aunt Reed at her deathbed, only to find that the Reeds have suffered and lost most of their wealth at the hands of John Reed. John Reed has received his comeuppance and died at an early age. When Jane inherits her Uncle’s money and discovers who her real family are, she returns to Rochester only to find out that he has been maimed in the fire at Thornfield. It seems that Jane has also returned to her past to find happiness with Rochester. She is now a lady and is accepted as Rochester’s wife in society. Jane had to be a woman in her own right in order to be able to conform to society. Although Jane has fought for most of her life against the social order, in the end she does not challenge but upholds the values of society. Dickens and Bronte both express strong opinions in their novels about Victorian society. Dickens implies through the development of Pip that middle class values were hypocritical. He suggests that moral values such as generosity and kindness were far more important than being rich and powerful. Dickens reinforces this by allowing Pip to become rich and then lose his money. If Dickens had allowed Pip to stay wealthy, then he would not have been able to emphasise his point to the reader. He also questions moral values through the character of Magwitch. He illustrates that people of low social status are capable of possessing better qualities than that of the rich and powerful, who were considered to be far superior as human beings. By doing this he goes one step further and insinuates that the justice system is corrupt. He does this through the character of Magwitch, who is killed at the hands of the law and possesses the qualities that Dickens promotes. Bronte suggests that patriarchal society was hypocritical since men preached values that they could not uphold themselves. The rules were made by men and were allowed to be broken by men. Rochester is allowed to take mistresses, which is accepted in society but if had Jane become his mistress, she would  have been considered an immoral woman. Brocklehurst expected the patrons of his school to look plain, yet his own wife and children were decked with frills and curls. Bronte suggests that Victorian society promoted values that were one sided and treated women unjustly.

The Impact of the Stamp Act on the American Revolution

The Impact of the Stamp Act on the American Revolution The Stamp Act was essentially a tax on all printed materials and commercial documents. This also included newspapers, pamphlets, bills, legal documents, licenses, almanacs, dice, and playing cards. These materials had to carry a special stamp which needed to be purchased. This tax, along with the Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, Quartering Act, and the Quebec Act, made up the Intolerable Acts.The Stamp Act was created to help cover the 10,000 soldiers left in the colonies after the French and Indian War. The war had put Britain over ? 130,000,000 by 1764. It was created by George Grenville and went into effect on November 1, 1765. This was the first direct tax imposed on the colonists by the British. When news of the Stamp Act reached the colonies in May, the Virginia House of Burgesses stayed in session to pass a set of resolutions protesting the tax.More newspapers throughout the col onies circulated Virginia’s Resolves. As it made its way around the colonies, resolutions grew more numerous and radical. Massachusetts’s legislature circulated a call for a unified response. In October 1765, 27 delegates from 9 colonies met in New York City. This group came to be known as the Stamp Act Congress. On October 19th, the congress adopted 14 resolutions. These resolutions were then forwarded on to the King and the Parliament. It was repealed on March 18, 1766.This was the same day the Declaratory Act passes. This act gave Parliament the right to make any law for the colonies. Unrest in the colonies died down after the Stamp Act was repealed, but the committees that it had created remained. These committees included the Committees of Correpondence, Sons of Liberty, and the boycotts were refined and used later to protest future British taxes. These acts along with the issue of taxation without representation led to the American Revolution.

Comparison between The Given Day and The Short Happy Life of Francis Essay

Comparison between The Given Day and The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber - Essay Example The Theme of Masculinity Masculinity is the dominant theme in Hemingway’s short story. His works are always repleted with masculine pursuits like war, sports and hunting. In The short happy life of Francis Macomber, he also depicts a masculine setting in which all the characters are engaged in an African Safari. They are involved in lion hunting, controlling the buffalos and things like that. The protagonist has decided to be a part of Safari in mid-thirties and seems to have achieved his sense of manhood in this specific part of his life. â€Å"Wilson considers that Macomber has been reborn into manhood, for the latter’s transformation is more of a change than any loss of virginity. Fear gone like an operation† (Strychacz 14). Though the show of cowardice in lion-hunting episode temporarily snatches from him this sense of fulfillment but he regains this sense when he engages with the buffalo. â€Å"We seem on firmer interpretive ground with the assertion that i n the final scenes Macomber becomes a fully self-controlled and self-determined man† (Strychacz 16). The whole prologue of The Given Day also encompasses a masculine pursuit of baseball games in which the writer has imagined a baseball game between legends of America. Lack of Female Characters The prologue to the Given Day is devoid of any female characters and there is no specific mention of any feminine pursuit or activity. All that has been described belongs to the domain of man. On the other hand, Hemingway’s story presents Margot, â€Å"an extremely handsome and well-kept woman of the beauty† giving the story at least a feminine touch but the overall setting and the situation diminishes her womanhood and we find her engaged in masculine pursuits along with her husband ( Hemingway 2). Minute Detail Both the works beautifully describe the characters and setting and the writers give minute details of the incident that happen during the course of the story. Hemi ngway’s description of the hunting episodes show that the writer is giving a realistic account of the event and is well acquainted with the rules of the â€Å"game†. The minuteness is visible even in the description of characters. Wilson’s character has been described as a man who â€Å" was about middle height with sandy hair, a stubby mustache, a very red face and extremely cold blue eyes with faint white wrinkles at the corners that grooved merrily when he smiled† ( Hemingway 2). Similarly, Lehane’s immaculate detail of the baseball hint towards writer’s minute observation of the sport. Following is the fine example of his descriptive style† The ball hadn’t finished arcing toward the right fielder’s feet (Ruth knew he’d miss it before he did) and the whippet was already rounding first. When the ball hit the grass, the right fielder bare-handed it and didn’t so much as stutter step before planned and let h er loose† ( Lehane 11). Game in Both of the Works Game is the key word in both of the pieces, though the connotations are different in both of the stories. In Hemingway’s story game takes the form of hunting and acts as a unifying force between the otherwise conflicting interests. Similar the unifying force in the Lehane’s prologue is the game of baseball which brings together the people who are involved in emotional

Gender Discrimination Problem in US Orchestra Company Research Paper

Gender Discrimination Problem in US Orchestra Company - Research Paper Example Any case on sexual harassment needs immediate action to be taken by the authority. They should be encouraged to undertake positions of leadership in order to instill equality of opportunity. The previous paper has already raised the instance of gender bias in the United States especially in the orchestra companies or the music industry. Several instances of discrimination take place especially with respect to promotion, hiring or even granting of leaves. Since compliance with local laws is a major requirement of corporate social responsibility sometimes corporate social responsibility (CSR) norms might be in a dilemma when local laws permit some form of discrimination. This is mainly the case with corporate houses having offices around the world. CSR norms look forward to avoiding or overrule any kind or expression of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, etc (Idowu, & Filho, 2009, p. 39). Women working in the male domain are often assumed to be overly ambitious. Problems might arise when the woman begins asking for maternity leaves. The Philadelphia case mentioned in the previous paper highlights one of the major outcomes of such gender bias – sexual harassment. The lawsuit in case of the Philadelphia Orchestra Company suggests that the issue of gender bias and rather sexual harassment has not been given adequate importance by the company. Instead of making an attempt to deal with the case the victim, Kathleen was compelled to resign the orchestra with a certain sum of money as compensation. The company was more worried about the unity about workforce rather than business ethical conduct. The equal work situation is a basic issue to be taken care of by a corporate house in order to maintain business ethics. After conducting a primary survey and some background research on the issue it is now time to analyze the problem and put forward some solutions to this problem.

MIS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

MIS - Assignment Example One is able to follow through the procedure where the supply supplies the business goods and they are paid by the accounts clerk. On receiving the goods, the store is updated (ordered) and the good s available for sale can be sold to a customer. Note that the same location may be shown on successive processes (e.g. Order Clerk in the case of processes 1 and 3). The reason for breaking them down is to show that a decision is taken and the second process is dependent on that. In this case, for example, not ALL orders result in activation of the reorder process - only those where the order requires new stock to be ordered. When creating the DFD caution has to be excised when balancing the data flows. For instance once the store is out of stock, more goods are ordered then purchased. Similarly, numbering system is just a simple way that enables one to tell which processes decompose.It is important to note that those process that decompose are simply broken down but may be joined again at a higher level. Though the diagram does not give a detailed account of some other processes such as what would happen in the event that a credit check fails, it gives a general idea of what basically happens when transactions are made within the business

Border security issues (week 8) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Border security issues (week 8) - Essay Example Human smuggling involves transporting illegal immigrants across the border. The difference is that in human trafficking, people are forced to migrate, but in human smuggling, the illegal immigrant gets transported after exchanging a sum of money or any other expensive items (United Nations, 2012). The other difference is that in human trafficking, as noted in the first paragraph is that the relationship between the trafficker and the victim continues, but in human smuggling, the relationship between the smuggler and illegal immigrant ends once the person reaches their destination. However, there are those cases when a smuggled illegal immigrant ends up becoming a victim of human trafficking if the relationship continues with the smuggler, in which case it now becomes human trafficking case not human smuggling. The two illegal activities involve transporting illegal immigrants into another state. Therefore, they are likely to be eliminated or reduced using similar strategies. Some of the short-term strategies of reducing or eliminating human trafficking and smuggling involve identifying those policies that are likely to reduce them (The OAS Anti-Trafficking in Persons Section, 2005). It is also easier to broaden awareness and understanding to the people in Amexica, detailing how the problem affects them. The long-term strategies are likely to take time before they are implemented effectively. Some of the long-term strategies involve implementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The other long-term strategy is to effectively implement the UNTOC through its protocol to prevent, suppress and punish the trafficked people. An inclusive international approach is also necessary in the country where people get trafficked from that is Mexico and the count ry of destination such as United States. United

Cultural Event Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 28

Cultural Event Report - Essay Example Buell theatre was full of all sorts of personality where in attendance including Senator Nancy Todd hence government was fully represented. The Shen Yun festival was all about Chinese culture and music. The set up was amazing it was like being on avatar movie (Fritsch 17). The Shun Yun performances are arts and entertainment based on the 5000 years of Chinese culture it’s a series of events including music and dances about China and the impact and its revolution. The dances express history and past ways of life .the revolution also is expressed. The orchestra is conducted by Antonia Joy-Wilson. While the dances vary from classical dances to story based. Animations are also included in portraying the full message of Chinese culture. Performances began at 8:00 am. First to perform were a group of Chinese ladies approximately sixty dancers. They performed a classical dance, there costumes were superb silk clothing and ribbons with bright colors there dresses where red white and green. The dance involved turns, leaping air flips spins and side ways movements in a well choreographed pattern. What followed was a group of other female dancers with white attires and pink ribbons was like the first dance involved less dancers but very colorful. The third dance was story based performed by male dancers , it portrayed one general who was heading to war while a woman probably his wife or mother holding his right hand while fighting with his left hand. All dancers were dress in brown attire except the woman who is in red one (Fritsch 109). Most are dressed like accident combat men. Then it followed a performance of ancient drums. The artists where dressed in orange tops, black boots and white trousers, the performed differ ent arts. Each rhythm came about with changes in the background representing the Chinese landscapes, buildings and different cultures. It showed the transformation of china over the

Citizen Engagement in development research Essay

Citizen Engagement in development research - Essay Example Its purpose is to contribute in meaningful ways to specific public policy decisions in a transparent and accountable manner". (Phillips, 2002) Around the period centering 1970s, the different governments, especially of the Western nations, more profoundly thought of extending the responsibilities of the citizens and gradually increased and spread the application of the plans in various arenas primarily including the social and infrastructural bodies to address more deeply the quintessential aspects of education and health. Citizens were encouraged to intensively participate and monitor in many small developmental projects and related campaigns in their respective community areas.  Lack of substantial civilian involvement at that period prompted many theories to be developed and scrutinized at this very context. There have been several approaches and detailed theoretical study and discussion regarding literature of public involvement in developmental affairs of the governance. Many such views were studied exhaustively and dissected minutely to frame administrative policies across the nations of the world. One such view to understand the role of civilians in attaining developmental goals was the neo-liberal market approach. The main argument of the neo-liberal market approach is a continually sustained moderation of the government authority through a proper mix of privatization and decentralization policies (Gaventa, 2007). In this particular framework, the main critic is the civilians are mechanically.

Three common physiological disorders manifested in developing Coursework

Three common physiological disorders manifested in developing countries - Coursework Example The most common physiological disorders manifested in developing countries include diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and Alzheimer’s disease. High blood pressure is often regarded as silent killer due to its significant risk for causing heart attacks. Similarly, diabetes caused by increased content of sugars in blood and Alzheimer’s disease caused by mental disorders such as loss of memory affect human health on a wide scale. The rapid rise of casualties due to these chronic or so-called non-communicable diseases has surpassed casualties due to other diseases in the people of developing countries and has been listed by Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) in their report on global health, to be cured properly and on urgent basis. Diabetes, one of the prominent metabolic syndrome, occurs when level of glucose (sugars) in blood gets increased (Haslam and James, 2005) either due to inadequate production of insulin or inability of body to respond to insulin and even sometimes, due to combination of both factors. The common treatments available to cure for this disease include treatment with insulin in order to control blood sugars along with increased physical activities and stringent control on diet and weight. The intake of a balanced and nutritious diet that is low in fat,  cholesterol, and simple sugars may be quite helpful in regulating levels of blood sugars. Diabetes can be monitored by checking blood glucose levels on daily basis. It can be screened in patient due to its easy recognizable symptoms such as  frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, injuries that do not heal, tingling in hands and feet, male sexual dysfunction and fatigue. Diabetes is closely linked to increase in obe sity which may further lead to several cardiovascular diseases. During diabetes, the glycosylation (addition of sugars) of some advanced

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Research Paper

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Research Paper Example PPACA will impact small, medium, and large businesses. In addition, this paper brings into light the impact of PPACA on the current and future employees in small, medium, and large businesses. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is a health care reform act officially signed into law by Barrack Obama, the current president of the United States (Timby and Smith 4). PPACA is also referred to as Obamacare. This act was drafted with the main objective of making available a cost effective or inexpensive health care to individuals in the U.S. who until that time could not afford health care insurance. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited by Timby and Smith shows that "Prior to its passage, approximately 47 million Americans had no access to healthcare, and another 30 million had inadequate healthcare coverage" (4). It is of significance to note that those individuals already covered by healthcare insurance before the enactment of PPACA ar e likely to observe only slight changes in terms of their health insurance coverage. (Timby and Smith 4). Estimates explicated by Timby and Smith shows that approximately 32 million individuals in the United States were anticipated to have healthcare coverage by the year 2014 as a result of Obamacare (4). There are a number of issues stipulated in the PPACA act. Firstly, the act obligates individuals in the U.S. who can afford health insurance to pay for their cover or otherwise pay a fine (Timby and Smith 4).

Aspects of human behavior Essay Example for Free

Aspects of human behavior Essay There are some aspects of human behavior and mental processes that would not be ethical to study even if the participants freely consented to be studied. Ethical standards with regard to experimentation are subject to governmental regulations where federal funding is apparent (Kornblum, pg. 41). The text lists 5 key ethical issues revolving around human psychological research, including: Freedom from coercion, informed consent, limited deception, adequate debriefing, and confidentiality (Lahay, pg. 48). According to Lahay, requirements for institutions conducting research include approval from a board of outside scientists (pg. 48). I believe there are certain aspects of behavior and mental processes that should not be studied even with the participants approval. Study of subjects that were involved with committing crimes would be at the top of the list. For example, a study involving naturalistic observation of a kleptomaniac in action seems to me as unethical practice. While the observer is not taking part in the crime, he is not actively preventing it either. Furthermore, there may be a possibility that the said criminals need to steal is heightened due to the researchers requirement for consent. Another example of studying behavior or mental processes that may present itself unethical might involve studying children. Even though parental consent may be given the child would not necessarily have to be informed of the study. An example might be a study where a badly behaved child is seated next to a compliant child to see if the behaviors change. Regardless of the effect on the badly behaved child, the compliant child could quite possibly experience higher levels of stress or anxiety. I think that good example of not ethical experiment would be little Albert. John Watson, the founder of behaviorism, conducted an influential early study of generalization. Watson and Rosaline Rayner examined the generalization of condition fear in an 11 month old boy Albert. Like many babies Albert was initially unafraid of a white rat. Then the Watson and Rayner paired the presentation of the rat with a loud, starting sound. Albert did show fear in response the loud noise. Five days later, boy was exposed to other stimulus that resembled the rat in being white and furry. Alberts fear response to other white, furry objects (rabbits, a dog). My opinion is that children should not be used in research. Another type of experiments, that I think are unethical, are Near-death experience is the perception reported by a person who nearly died or who was clinically dead and revived. They are somewhat common, especially since the development of cardiac resuscitatation techniques. For example, in one, a woman accurately described a surgical instrument she had not seen previously, as well as conversation that occurred while she was clinically dead. I think that death or dieing is something that we as a human should not be involved in.

Reflective Account Of Diversity And Team Performance Nursing Essay

Reflective Account Of Diversity And Team Performance Nursing Essay This reflective account concerns my experiences of participating in a diverse team of people from different nationalities, which was formed for the achievement of specific outcomes over a specific period. The opportunity to work in this team arose in the course of an assignment for syndicate group work. The importance of management of team performance is steadily gaining recognition in the area of modern day organisational behaviour. With modern organisations and operations becoming increasingly complex and dynamic, organisational performance is being driven by specialised employees who are organised into and work as teams. Salas, et al, (1992 p 4) defines a team as a distinguishable set of two or more people who interact dynamically, interdependently, and adaptively toward a common and valued goal/objective/mission, who have each been assigned specific roles or functions to perform Organisational experts have for long been intrigued by the fact that whilst team work is now an accepted tool for improvement of organisational efficiency, many firms that arrange their operations around teams with such expectations find, much to their disappointment, that (a) use of teams has little impact on productivity, and (b) such use of teams can furthermore lead to reduction of productivity (Bolin, et al, 2006, p 2). It is also frequently seen that teams with high performing individuals fail, even as teams with far less impressive members greatly exceed expectations. The performance of the Detroit Pistons basketball team in 2004 and 2005, when they won back to back NBA championships with a roster of unimpressive players illustrates the team performance paradox (Bolin, et al, 2006, p 2). The continued performance of the Ferrari racing team would not have been possible without the efforts of its back up staff (Robbins, et al, 2010, p 3). Such team performance paradoxes are evid ent across the world, with innovative start up teams with networking capabilities humbling huge established corporations with far superior technology and resources (Bolin, et al, 2006, p 2). Understanding the mechanisms of team work is an integral component of modern day learning in organisational behaviour. I was required to participate in a team of members from different nations with different academic, cultural and social backgrounds in the course of syndicated group activity for a period of 6 weeks. The experience gave me the opportunity to participate in an actual team environment, even as I was increasing my academic knowledge of team dynamics and processes. This reflective account details my learning experiences during the process of my participation in a diverse multi cultural team that was required to perform specific tasks and achieve particular objectives and outcomes over a specific timeframe. The essay is structured into sequential sections that take up the functioning of teams in its different aspects, the use of the IPO model for assessment of team effectiveness and the working, evolution and outcomes of our team over a specific 6 week period. Whilst academic theory on teams and assessment of team effectiveness is taken up in some detail, greater emphasis is placed upon my practical experience of participating in an interesting and enriching team environment. The essay ends with a concluding section that attempts to sum up my learning experience and details the ways in which I have gained from this experience in team work. Team Work Modern texts on organisational behaviour identify specific characteristics of teams that differentiate them from general groups (Buchanan Huczynski, 2004, p 7). These characteristics include (a) joint sharing of aims and objectives, (b) mutual dependency and trust, (c) overt expression of emotions, feelings and disagreement, (d) consensual decision making, (e) coordination, cooperation and cohesion, (f) management of trust feelings and conflict between team members, and (g) the creation of a collective and synergistic impact (Buchanan Huczynski, 2004, p 7). Hackman (2002, p 11), states that teams also have very clear boundaries for membership, relatively stable memberships and defined authority to manage their activities and processes. Team performance by and large represents the extent to which teams achieve their specific objectives (Hayes, 2002, p 43-46). Whilst such indicators of team performance are important for organisations because they assist in assessment of the extent of achievement of team goals, many teams, more particularly in business situations do not have targets that are clear and quantifiable (Hayes, 2002, p 43-46). Even where such targets are available, team members and managers can improve their performance in future if they are provided with a richer picture of the ways in which teams function (Senior, 1997, p 32-36). Teams, to be truly effective should thus have some understanding, not just of team outputs, but of the ways and means in which team members work together (Senior, 1997, p 32-36). The Input-Process-Output (IPO) model provides an approach to the understanding of team work and team performance. Inputs, in the IPO model, are seen in terms of issues concerned with group composition like leadership, size, term and diversity, along with factors like autonomy, training and resources that are provided to teams (Ilgen, et al, 2005, p 517-522). Internal team processes comprise of factors like the motivation and commitment of team members, the cooperation and communication between them and their skills of leadership, conflict resolution, decision making and problem solving (Ilgen, et al, 2005, p 517-522). Outputs on the other hand are largely depicted as team objectives or the larger concept of team effectiveness that includes a range of interrelated outcomes in areas of attitudes, behaviours and performance. Such outcomes can occur at the level of individuals, teams and organisations (Ilgen, et al, 2005, p 517-522). The theoretical paradigm behind much of research on team effectiveness comes from the application of the open systems theory, which states that team inputs (skills and abilities) are transformed into team outputs (the quality and quantity of team outcomes) through various interaction processes like utilisation of skills, effort and past strategy. The basic IPO model is flexible enough to be applied to a range of team settings and is illustrated in the figure provided below. A general set of factors for assessment of team work in the context of the above discussion thus needs to include (a) the attitudes, behaviours, thinking, roles and skills of individual team members, (b) team objectives and purposes, which include the setting, clarity, commitment and achievement of goals, (c) team processes like generation of ideas, making of decisions, management of controversy and conflict, communication style, allocation of responsibilities, planning of action and leadership style and (d) the organisational context with regard to structure, culture and associated issues. Working and Evolution of our Team Our experience of team work came about on account of participation in group syndicate activity for a period of 6 weeks. Our team was made up of six members and we were required to work together to (a) generate slogans for organisational use, and (b) achieve improvements in team working in areas of attitudes, behaviours and performance. I aim to assess different aspects of the working and functioning of our team, in terms of the IPO model, and deal sequentially with inputs, processes, and outputs. Inputs Our team consisted of six members, A- myself, B, C, D, E and F. As the oldest and most experienced member of the group, I was the automatic choice for its leader. The chart provided below gives basic details and personality types of group members. The personality ratings have been determined by organisational tests conducted on individual members. Member A B C D E F Nationality British Chinese Cyprus Indian Pakistan Nigerian Sex Male Female Female Male Female Female Education BA Hons History International Business And Management Business and Management Bachelor of Technology Graduate in BA BSC Logistics Profession leading public and private businesses Software Engineer Extraversion 3.8 1.9 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.5 Agreeableness 4.6 3.5 4.0 4.1 4.1 4.3 Conscientiousness 4.1 3.9 2.4 3.9 4.3 2.9 Neuroticism 2.7 3.4 3.1 2.4 3.2 4.1 Openness to Experience 4.5 2.8 3.5 3.8 3.9 2.3 As evident, our team was diverse with respect to nationality, gender, education, and work experience and personality types. Contemporary academic literature on organisational behaviour agrees on the advantages of diverse teams in various areas of organisational work. Diversity in teams, organisational experts feel, results in the availability of a range of perspectives and skills, which, if harnessed properly, can result in greater creativity in generation of ideas, alternatives and solutions than with homogenous teams and lead to better performance. Whilst diverse teams by and large have wider and better range of skills and abilities, it is often challenging to make them function in a coordinated and collaborative manner, in comparison with homogeneous teams. Such challenges to collaborative and coordinated working can arise because of differences in language, attitudes and perceptions of team members. The members of our teams came from different parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. Th eir academic backgrounds ranged from disciplines in the liberal arts to applied sciences, technology and management. Two of us, F and I had some working experience, even as the other four were fresh from college. Whilst the personality types of individual group members are different, all of us scored high on the agreeableness index and were happy to work and bond with each other. As the oldest and most experienced member of the group, its leadership automatically devolved upon my shoulders. This development occurred, without my asking for it, because the other group members looked towards me for advice, suggestions and direction on the functioning of the group. We were at the time of formation of the group provided with specific tasks requiring the generation of a number of slogans for ultimate organisational use. Apart from have to deliver such specific services, we were informed that we would be judged twice, once half way during the course, i.e. after three weeks and finally at the end of six weeks; on completion of the group activity. Various group factors like (a) innovative climate, (b) participation, (c) clarity of objectives, (d) reflexivity, (e) interdependence, (f) autonomy, (g) boundedness, (h) role clarity, (i) task conflict, (j) relationship conflict and (k) team satisfaction would be taken up for assessment during these occasions. We were inform ed to us that our progress would be made available to us at the middle and at the end of the syndicate activity in order to help us in organising our activities and improving our processes. Processes Leadership style is an important component of team work processes in the IPO model. Most texts on organisational behaviour stress on the importance of leadership in the efficient successful functioning of teams, even as the majority of both team successes and team failures are attributed to leadership decisions (Robbins, 2005, p 17-21). Fiedlers theory on leadership states that the adoption of leadership styles is often contingent upon situational circumstances and effective leaders alter their styles in line with situations, attributes and skills of team members, and team objectives (Fiedler, 1967, p 4-8).Leaders are otherwise expected to provide clarity regarding roles to members, communicate effectively, and generate feeling of inclusiveness by asking for comment and by expressing appreciation for contributions of team members (Stacey, 2003, p 15-19). Contemporary research on organisational behaviour also indicates that whilst leaders set the tone for definition of group activitie s, their subsequent responses are distinctly affected by their ongoing interaction and communication with team members (Stacey, 2003, p 15-19). Whilst the role of leadership devolved upon me without my asking for it, I did not ignore my responsibilities and worked towards the development of a committed, clear and collaborative team. I allocated responsibilities to each member and made constant efforts to improve and ensure communication with members on various issues associated with our team objectives as well as other areas of common interest. Although my efforts to communicate with group members were made easier by their general agreeableness, I often found B, the Chinese member to be reticent in her communication with the rest of us. She was not just very shy but also disinclined to explore new opportunities and experiences. These difficulties were however greatly made up by her conscientiousness towards her work. Our group activity and objectives required extensive discussions between member, generation and bouncing off of ideas, and long hours of brainstorming. Many of such sessions resulted in small and big disagreements, some of which ended with members refusing to talk to each other for some time. F, the lady from Nigeria whilst otherwise friendly and agreeable, was prone to excessive argumentativeness, and even hysteria, if her views were not supported by others. Conflicts between her and other members also arouse because of her lack of dedication towards group work and occasional proneness to shirk her responsibilities. We were fortunate that conflicts among group members were restricted and did not erupt frequently. Whilst friendly disagreements over work continued to happen, serious conflicts arose only on three occasions, all of them involving F. I felt conflict resolution to be one of my major responsibilities and was constantly looking for signs of disagreement and trouble. Whilst I would let constructive discussions and disagreements continue and sometimes even encourage them further, I took pains to ensure that personal bitterness between members did not set in and they refrained from making offensive statements towards each other. I am happy with the fact that all members, including F started bonding with each other by the end of the fourth week, started respecting each others point of view, and developed a healthy regard for their team mates. Output All our team members were delighted to find out that our group ended the activity practically at the top of the class, both in the number of generated slogans and in the originality of the two selected slogans. The result proved once more that a diverse team can do very well at creative work in an environment of transparency coordination and communication. We were otherwise pleased to know that we had made good progress in all activity areas, except for boundedness, team and relationship conflict and team satisfaction. I feel that our problems in these areas essentially relate to the inability of our team to manage the disputes and disagreements that often surfaced around F. As the leader I take responsibility for such failures and do feel that I should have tried to use my position as leader to communicate more successfully with F and quell her various mental insecurities in working with people who were possibly more hardworking and gifted than she was. Such an approach would have improved group communication, collaboration and outcomes. Conclusions This reflective account deals with my experiences in a diverse team of 6 persons that was formed for the achievement of specific objectives over a particular timeframe. The significance of team performance is progressively increasing in the discipline of organisational behaviour. With contemporary organisations becoming increasingly complex, organisational performance is now ever more driven by specially formed teams. Team performance normally represents the degree to which teams attain their particular objectives. Whilst such gauges of performance are necessary because they help in assessment of attainment of team goals, teams should also achieve some understanding of the ways in which team members work together. The Input-Process-Output (IPO) model represents an approach to understanding team work and has been used by me to assess the functioning of our team. Our team was diverse in many respects. Diversity, it is felt, leads to greater and to better performance. As the oldest and most experienced team, I became the team leader without asking for the position. I tried to live up to my responsibilities and worked towards the development of an effective team. We were fortunate that conflicts among members were limited and I tried to ensure that personal bitterness between members did not set in. Our team ended the activity at the top of the class with regard to set objectives. We also made good progress in all areas except in team relationships and satisfaction, where our progress was average or even less. I feel that such problems arose from our inability to manage disputes and disagreements. I take responsibility for such failures and feel that I should have tried to communicate more successfully with certain members. My experience of team work has however helped me immensely in maturing as an individual and as a professional and I am grateful for the experience.

Porter Five Forces Model Of Taj Hotels Tourism Essay

Porter Five Forces Model Of Taj Hotels Tourism Essay A Hotel may be defined as per the British law as A place where abonafide traveler can receive food and shelter provided he is a position to pay for it and is in a fit condition to be received. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries are collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and is recognised as one of Asias largest and finest hotel company. Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Mr. Jamsetji N. Tata, the company opened its first property, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Bombay in 1903. The Taj, a symbol of Indian hospitality, completed its centenary year in 2003.   Taj Hotels Resort and Palaces comprises more than 60 hotels in 45 locations across India with an additional 15 international hotels in the Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States of America, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa, the Middle East and Australia. Spanning the length and breadth of the country, gracing important industrial towns and cities, beaches, hill stations, historical and pilgrim centres and wildlife destinations, each Taj hotel offers the luxury of service, the apogee of Indian hospitality, vantage locations, modern amenities and business facilities. IHCL operate in the luxury, premium, mid-market and value segments of the market through the following:   Taj  (luxury full-service hotels, resorts and palaces) is the flagship brand for the worlds most discerning travelers seeking authentic experiences given that luxury is a way of life to which they are accustomed. Spanning world-renowned landmarks, modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts, authentic Rajput palaces and rustic safari lodges, each Taj hotel reinterprets the tradition of hospitality in a refreshingly modern way to create unique experiences and lifelong memories. Taj also encompasses a unique set of iconic properties rooted in history and tradition that deliver truly unforgettable experiences. A collection of outstanding properties with strong heritage as hotels or palaces which offer something more than great physical product and exceptional service. This group is defined by the emotional and unique equity of its iconic properties that are authentic, non- replicable with great potential to create memories and stories. Taj Exotica  is resort and spa brand found in the most exotic and relaxing locales of the world. The properties are defined by the privacy and intimacy they provide. The hotels are clearly differentiated by their product philosophy and service design. They are centered around high end accommodation, intimacy and an environment that allows its guest unrivalled comfort and privacy. They are defined by a sensibility of intimate design and by their varied and eclectic culinary experiences, impeccable service and authentic Indian Spa sanctuaries. Taj Safaris  are wildlife lodges that allow travelers to experience the unparalleled beauty of the Indian jungle amidst luxurious surroundings. They offer Indias first and only wildlife luxury lodge circuit. Taj Safaris provide guests with the ultimate, interpretive, wild life experience based on a proven sustainable ecotourism model. Upper Upscale Hotels  (full-service hotels and resorts) provide a new generation of travelers a contemporary and creative hospitality experience that matches their work-hard play-hard lifestyles. Stylish interiors, innovative cuisine, hip bars, and a focus on technology set these properties apart.   The Gateway Hotel  (upscale/mid-market full service hotels and resorts) is a pan-India network of hotels and resorts that offers business and leisure travelers a hotel designed, keeping the modern nomad in mind. At the Gateway Hotel, we believe in keeping things simple. This is why, hotels are divided into 7 simple zones- Stay, Hangout, Meet, Work, Workout, Unwind and Explore. As travel often means more hassle than harmony, more stress than satisfaction, modern travelers are looking for smarter choices. Driven by passion for perfection, Taj welcomes its customers to a refreshingly enjoyable and hassle-free experience, anytime, everywhere. Offering the highest consistency in quality, service and style the hotel set new standards and take the unwanted surprises out of traveling. Tajs warm welcomes make guests feel at home, away from home and its crisp and courteous service empowers them to get more done with greater effectiveness and control. And through Tajs unrivalled network it provide service that is effortless, simple, never overwhelming, always warm. Ginger  (economy hotels) is IHCLs revolutionary concept in hospitality for the value segment. Intelligently designed facilities, consistency and affordability are hallmarks of this brand targeted at travelers who value simplicity and self-service. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is committed to replicate its domestic success onto international shores with plans to build an international network of luxury hotels, which will provide an exemplary product-service combination and in the process create a global brand. The current international portfolio includes luxury resorts in the Indian Ocean, business and resort destinations in the Middle East and Africa, serviced apartments in the UK, the first hotel in Australia and three a top-end luxury hotels in the US. Throughout the Companys expansion, its mandate has been twofold: to infuse a sense of Indian heritage and culture within each diverse property, while also anticipating the needs and desires of the sophisticated traveller. Over the years, the Taj has won international acclaim for its quality hotels and its excellence in business facilities, services, cuisine and interiors. The Taj strengthened its presence in the Indian Ocean rim with the Exotica Brand. The Taj Exotica was evolved as part of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces intent to position it as a brand that is clearly differentiated by its product philosophy and service design. The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, in Maldives is centered on high-end accommodation, intimacy and an environment that allows its guests unrivalled comfort and privacy. Taj Hotels further expanded its global footprint by securing management contracts at Palm Island, Jumeirah in Dubai, Saraya Islands in Ras Al Khaimah, Aldar Group in Abu Dhabi, UAE Langkawi in Malaysia and Thimpu in Bhutan. The most significant additions to the portfolio have been The Pierre, the iconic landmark hotel on New Yorks Fifth Avenue, Taj Boston and Blue, Sydney. The presence of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces internationally has been developed through a network of Taj regional sales and PR offices in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Dubai, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Russia and the United States of America. At the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces luxurious living and fine dining find common ground. Whether it is introducing exotic world cuisines to India or taking authentic Indian fare to the world, the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is renowned for the eclectic culinary experiences it brings to its guests. Through a vast repertoire of award-winning restaurants, legendary recipes from royal kitchens and celebrated food festivals, the Taj has pioneered innovation in fine dining across the world. Taj Hotels also promise a whole new experience of tranquillity and total wellness, through  Jiva Spas  a unique concept, which brings together the wisdom and heritage of the Asian and Indian Philosophy of Wellness and Well-being. Rooted in ancient Indian healing knowledge, Jiva Spas derive inspiration and spirit from the holistic concept of living. There is a rich basket of fresh and unique experiences under the Jiva Spa umbrella of offering, Yoga and Meditation, mastered and disseminated by accomplished practitioners, authentic Ayurveda, and unique Taj signature treatments. Royal traditions of wellness in service experiences, holistic treatments involving body therapies, enlivening and meaningful rituals and ceremonies and unique natural products blended by hand, come together to offer a truly calming experience. IHCL operates  Taj Air, a luxury private jet operation with state-of-the-art Falcon 2000 aircrafts designed by Dassault Aviation, France; and Taj Yachts, two 3-bedroom luxury yachts which can be used by guests in Mumbai and Kochi, in Kerala. IHCL also operates  Taj Sats Air Catering Ltd., the largest airline catering service in South Asia, as a joint venture with Singapore Airport Terminal Services, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. Additionally, it operates the  Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad  since 1993. The institute offers a three-year diploma, designed with the help of international faculty and has affiliations with several American and European programmes. CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSBILITY As a part of Tatas; Indias premier business house; Taj Hotels, have always believed in society and environment being integral stakeholders in our business along with its shareholders, customers, vendors and others. Over the last decade, the movement towards ecologically sound tourism has gained urgency and importance across the globe and we recognize that responsible practices in vogue are as diverse as the geographies.   Taj promote corporate citizenship through our strategic public-private partnerships which encourage building livelihoods of less-advantaged youth and women. The causes they promote include reducing malnutrition, promoting indigenous artisans and craftsmen and enhancing employability of identified target groups by sharing our core competencies as a leading hospitality company. Taj have the unique scope and opportunity to develop raw potential into a skilled workforce that is immediately employable by various players in the industry. A majority of its community projects are focused around extending its key strengths in food production, kitchen management, housekeeping, customer service and spas to promote economic empowerment of candidates from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds. The group is fully committed to the cause of building a sustainable environment by reducing the impact of its daily operations on the environment and improving operational efficiencies, resource conservation, reuse and recycling of key resources.   A  glimpse of indicative projects  undertaken by Taj group   Tajs sixth  Corporate Sustainability Report  was submitted to the United Nations Global Compact society in August, 2009. The United Nations Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, safety security, environment and anti-corruption. This Corporate Sustainability report also serves as their GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) as well as Triple Bottom Line report. The report focuses on identified priorities at IHCL and responds to key stakeholder needs. Taj plan to continue and further strengthen its commitment to the environment and societies in which we operate.   EARTH In an endeavour to reinstate its vision and efforts to boost sustainable tourism, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces presented EARTH (Environment Awareness Renewal at Taj Hotels) this year. Implementing schemes such as the Gangroti Glacier Clean-Up Expedition, as well as designated Earth rooms, which minimise environmental impact, Taj is one of Asias largest group of hotels to commit to energy conservation and environmental management. EARTH has received certification from Green Globe, the only worldwide environmental certification program for travel and tourism. The Taj began a century ago with a single landmark The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai. Today, the various Taj hotels, in all their variety and historical richness, are recognised internationally as the symbols of true Indian hospitality. The Companys history is integral to Indias emergence into the global business and leisure travel community; and looking to the future, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is well positioned to meet the increase in travel activity with the rapid expansion of the Indian economy.   Hotel Leisure and Other Services include: 24 hrs Front Desk Airport Transfer On Request Astrologer On Call Banquet Facility Bar restaurants Barber Shop Beauty Salon Bell Desk Services Car Rentals Currency Exchange Express Check in Check out Facilities For the Physically Challenged Florist Health Club Health/Ayurveda Centers Hotel Safe Internet Access Available in Rooms Internet/E-mail/Fax Facilities Interpreter Services Laundry Services Library Lounge Luggage Storage Medical Services-Doctor on Call Phone-Two Telephone Lines in Rooms Postal/Parcel Services Room Service-24 Hrs Shopping Arcade Travel Desk Ticketing, Tours MARKETING MIX STRATEGY OF TAJ HOTELS Products Room Restaurant and Bar. Meeting room and Banquet facility Amenities Services Safe deposit box Special services Courier Child care Laundry Pet Internet Travel desk Babysitting Wake-up call PRICE Taj hotel has set its price of the room on the basis of Business, Leisure and Luxury class. PLACE Location of the hotel is the most important business decision for the hotel. Present in metro cities in India Global presence (Maldives,London,Dubai,Colombo) PROMOTION STRATEGY Promotional schemes are carried on regularly the hotel has many loyalty programe,clubes,membership,previlage etc some of them are The Taj Inner Circle. The Taj Junior League. The Taj Club. Taj also offer Taj surprises including weekend savers,value vouchers,book early get more, ADVERTISEMENT Business news paper(E.T, Financial Express, Bombay Times) T.V channels like STAR NEWS,CNN and CNBC. Magazines like THE OUT LOOK TRAVELAR,GO NOW and TRAVEL. Porters 5 Forces Model The state of competition in an industry depends on five basic forces, which are diagrammed above. The collective strength of these forces determines the ultimate profit potential of an industry. Whatever their collective strength , the corporate strategists goal is to find a position in the industry where his or her company can best defend itself against these forces or can influence them in its favor. Contending Forces Threats of Entry: New entrants to an industry bring new capacity, the desire to gain market share, and often substantial sources. Companies diversifying through acquisition into the industry from other markets often leverage their resources to cause a shake up. The seriousness of the threat of entry depends on the barriers present nd on the reaction from existing competitors that the entrant can expect. There are six major sources of barriers to entry. These are: Economies of scale Product differentiation Capital requirements Cost disadvantages Independent of size Access to distribution channels Government policy Suppliers: Suppliers can exert bargaining power on participants in an industry by raising prices or reducing the quality of purchased goods and services. Powerful suppliers, thereby, can squeeze profitability out of an industry unable to recover cost increases in its own prices. The power of each important supplier group depends on a number of characteristics of its market situation and on the relative importance of its sales or purchases to the industry compared with its overall business. A supplier group is powerful if it is dominated by a few companies and is more concentrated than the industry it sells. Also if it poses a credible threat of integrating forward into the industrys business. This provides a check against the industrys ability to improve the terms on which it purchases. Buyers: Customers likewise can force down prices, demand higher quality or more services, and play competitors off against each other- all at the expense of industry profits. A buyer group is powerful if it is concentrated or purchases in large volume. Large volume buyers are particularly potent forces if heavy fixed costs characterize the industry- as they do in metal containers, corn refining, and bulk chemicals, for example- which raise the stakes to keep capacity filled. The product it purchases from the industry are standard or undifferentiated. The buyers, sure that they always can find alternative suppliers, may play one company against another, as they do in aluminium extrusion. Another case can be when the products the buyer purchases from the industry from a component of its product and represent a significant fraction of its cost. The buyers are likely to shop for a favorable price and purchase selectively. When the products sold by the industry in question is a small fraction of buyers costs, buyers are usually much less price sensitive. Substitutes: By placing a ceiling on the prices it can charge, substitute products or services limit the potential of an industry. Unless it can upgrade the quality of the product or differentiate it somehow, the industry will suffer in earnings and possibly in growth. Substitutes not only limit profits in normal times but also reduce the bonanaza an industry can reap in boom times. The producers of fiberglass insulation enjoyed unprecedented demand as a result of high energy costs and severe winter weather. But the industrys ability to raise prices was tempered by the plethora of insulation substitutes, including cellulose, rock wool and Styrofoam. Rivalry of Taj among established firms: Oberoi hotels Leela hotels ITC Grand Le Meridien Bargaining power of buyers is very low. Bargaining power of suppliers is moderate. Threat of new enterants: For Taj, competition in Mumbai has turned fierce as a result of new hotels, such as ITC Grand Maratha, Le Meridien and Hyatt, coming up close to the airport, and enjoying tax benefits too. However in Bangalore, Taj continues to remain at the No.1 position because of the booming IT sector and lack of five-star rooms, chiefly to accomodate international passengers. Potential Entrants Global hotel groups entry Buyers Global tourists Medical tourists Industrialist people Substitutes Small lodges THREAT: HIGH (because of new class, Low otherwise) Customers Need Good Hospitality Hygiene food and environment Success factors for Taj hotels: Technology related:-Used of advance technology in hotel premises. Manufacturing- related:- High utilization of fixed assets. Quality control know-how. Serving customer according to their specification. Distribution-related:- Presence of hotel chain at various places. A strong network. Marketing related:- Breadth of product line and product selection. Personalized customer services. A well-known and well-respected brand name. SWOT Analysis of TAJ Hotels Strengths : Brand loyalty Credibility Huge Reputation Patent protection Weakness: High cost service Not proper network in semi- urban Lack of safety measure Opportunity : Rising income Globalization New Geographical location Threats : Fluctuations in international tourist arrivals Increasing competition Terrorism CONCLUSION Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is one of Asias largest and finest group of hotels. The Company is rapidly emerging as a global brand by integrating an international network of luxury hotels within the chain. Taj Hotels is part of the Tata Group, Indias premier business house. Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, India was the subject of many newscasts since November 26,2008.The terrorist attacks not only killed and wounded many, but also caused major damage to the iconic hotel. Tata, a pioneer industrialist and philanthropist, conceived the idea of building a hotel in the wake of the bubonic plague which had devastated Bombay in the late 1890s.Tatas sole wish was to attract people to India, and incidentally to improve Bombay. The severely damaged hotel has to be rebuilt. The sixth floor is gutted, and many of its restaurants, including the famous Wasabi, burnt and the splendid dome is shaken because of the many explosions. The antique chandeliers and priceless artwork are all lost forev er.   But the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower stands as an icon of the city of Mumbai, a symbol of both independence and dignity. It will also stand in the future as a representation of the indomitable human spirit of the people of Mumbai displayed in the face of the greatest adversity.

In what kind of community does Arthur Miller root John Proctor? :: English Literature

In what kind of community does Arthur Miller root John Proctor? In Arthur Millers Salem the community is very religious and pious. They might be religious but their actions are bad. The community is a puritan community this means that they are keen on helping the church or making it better. The community is lead by the church so it is a theocracy. Only by one example you can see how religious the community is because the church leads it. The community is scared of other people coming and changing the whole way of their lives so they want to keep their way to themselves. In Arthur Millers Salem, Salem society is very repressive in other word it is controlled and strict. They want it strict so they can keep the community from falling to pieces. The society of Arthur Millers Salem is very strict and severe. For instance when Abigail and the other teenage girls were caught in the forest dancing by Parris. When Abigail was at home with Parris. Abigail says to Parris in Act 1 Page 7 "I think you best go down and deny it yourself." Parris replies back by saying "My daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest?" You can see here now that Parris is calling Abigail heathen who means non-Christian. Parris is calling Abigail non-Christian only for dancing. It is so severe that Abigail said on Act 1 Page 7 "Uncle, we did dance: let you tell them I confessed it-and I'll be whipped if I must be. Then Mary says on Act 1 Page 14 "Abby we've got to tell. Witchery's an hanging error†¦you'll only be whipped for dancing and other things we must tell the truth." You only can see by this how strict and severe the community is, if you dace you get whipped sixty times. You can see the society is strict and only by the few examples I have given. They gave severe punishment to anyone who broke their rules. The beliefs of the people are strong and they stand up for their beliefs. Because the existence of witches etc are mentioned in the Bible. Proctor says in Act 2 Page 57 "I have no knowledge of it: the Bible speaks of witches and I Will not deny them." Proctor is saying that he does not know if witches exist, because the Bible mentions witches so he has full belief in them. All of the community is religious and they will have total belief in the Bible. They are very quick to call each other witches or that some one is bewitched.

Exploring Subjectivity in Teaching Philosophy :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Exploring Subjectivity in Teaching Philosophy ABSTRACT: In the teaching of philosophy, we need to be connect with everyday life. Students in introductory courses can be more motivated when philosophical problems have personal significance. Take the topic of 'selfhood.' Introductory textbooks generally begin with the oracle at Delphi: "Know thyself!" But this motto is usually treated as the search for general knowledge of the individual or of human nature. Is it possible for a student to acquire some knowledge about him or herself during this course and reflect on it in a philosophically relevant way? Can personal experience help in understanding philosophical concepts such as this one? These are the questions which I address. Since I think that philosophers have yet to develop didactical tools for these purposes, I will present techniques derived from Gestalt therapy which can be useful for the teaching of philosophy. The aim is not change but experience itself, with awareness serving as the basis for philosophical analysis. The characteristics of this experience-based pedagogy are: (1) three dimensional inquiry: questioning basic concepts or assumptions and opening new questions, both based on personal experience; (2) experiential work involving a problem, a theory, and an example; and (3) mutual influence between theory and experience, i.e., an interrelationship between the personal and the 'educational' gestalt. "Know Thyself!" This oracle at Delphi which was Socrates' motto inspires many philosophers but also psychologists and even psychotherapists. Each of them has good reasons for insisting that this is his domain. Several questions could be raised: Was Socrates a philosopher or a 'psychologist'? What kind of knowledge is this self-knowledge? How do these domains differ and do they have something in common? How are they related to spirituality? And many others. My interest, however, is more narrow. Although we can suppose there is an overlap between philosophy, psychology and psychotherapy, in this paper I will focus on the overlap between teaching philosophy and psychotherapy. More precisely: how can Gestalt principles and techniques help in the teaching of the topic of selfhood. I will outline some theoretical background of the importance of Gestalt in relation to didactics of philosophy and describe some possible applications. When I ask whether Socrates was a philosopher or a psychologist, this is also a question about what kind of knowledge is involved. Do I really want to know myself or do I just search for general knowledge about human nature?

Optical Fiber Corp Case Analysis

Case Analysis: Optical Fiber Corporation Introduction Optical Fiber Corporation (OFC) is a financially successful, albeit relatively small manufacturer of multimode optical fibers. The company was founded in 1990. The founders were able to enter the market largely on the basis of acquiring patent licenses from larger optical fiber firms. These licenses restricted competition between the entities and provided OFC with instant access to optical fiber technology. In return, OFC’s customer base is limited by the license agreements and royalties of 7% on sales of licensed products (recently renegotiated to 9%) are paid to the licensors.Despite these handicaps the firm has grown in size and profitability. OFC makes several types of multimode optical fiber including specialty niche products they have developed outside of any license agreements. All customers are cable manufacturers that convert the fibers to optical fiber cable. Three such firms account for over 70% of OFC’s r evenues. Focusing on customer service, quality and product design and process improvements has proved a winning business model to date. OFC now faces a variety of challenges including the expiration of many of the patents that afford most of its profits.This raises the real possibility of new competitors in the market. Further, while in the past multimode and single mode optical fibers have generally been used for data communications and telecommunications respectively and as such were not in direct competition with each other, the advent of cheaper manufacturing processes for single mode fibers coupled with their inherent ability to transmit data more efficiently over longer distances may make them a more appealing choice for some of the uses that historically have favored multimode fibers.OFC is at now at a crossroads where they must decide if they are to stay in the multimode fiber business only, begin producing single mode fibers as well, or even enter the cabling business with a forward integration strategy. Competition in the Optical Fiber Industry The optical fiber industry is perhaps best considered as two industries that are closely related, the multimode fiber and the single mode fiber industries. The multimode industry in which OFC specializes is very competitive. The United States’ 2001 total optical fiber market was approximately 3. 5 million kilometers only 330 thousand of which was multimode.The value of the multimode market was $65 million that year, only a fifth that of the single mode market. Within the multimode market and a number of fiber manufacturers. The main rivals for OFC are the two licensors to whom they pay royalties. These firms are considerably larger and have greater resources with which to compete. Further, they have a competitive advantage in that they are the recipients of royalty payments rather than the firm making those payments. Also they are in a position to control the extent of OFC’s market penetration at least with respect to their licensed products.OFC has responded by creating high quality products and providing exceptional customer service. In addition, OFC has made improvements to the basic design of some of the licensed fibers making them, in a real sense new products. The R and D department at OFC has also been successful at developing new and less expensive manufacturing processes, which has helped to offset the added overhead of the royalty payments. Finally, OFC has developed specialty fibers with medical, aircraft, aerospace and extreme environment applications.These new fibers will not be subject to royalty payments, competition from new entrants until patents expire years in the future, and generally afford higher profit margins than other optical fiber products. New entrants to the market are a threat to OFC and all other fiber producers. New firms must contend with the high capitalization costs of this technologically demanding and exacting industry. One of the costs of optical fiber production is the R and D required to bring successful products to market. Between 1999 and 2007 the patents for many of the basic fibers produced by OFC and its licensors will expire.New firms entering the market will be free to produce the products once protected under those patents without having incurred any R and D costs. These firms will also be free from royalty payments to licensors or any restrictive covenants such as those under which OFC operates. The industry in general, and OFC in particular, must contend with the purchasing power of its buyers. Optical fiber is converted into optical fiber cable. In the United States there are twenty companies that perform this function. OFC sells over 70% of their fiber to just three.The loss of any of these accounts could be devastating for OFC and places them in a weak position when negotiating prices, at least when the products are those which are readily available from other multimode fiber producers. It is doubtf ul that switching costs would be high for buyers. Favoring OFC and the optical fiber market are the projections for increased demand for multimode optical fibers at least through the mid 2000’s. Sources of increased demand for multimode fiber are anticipated to include: cable TV, undersea cables, local area networks (LAN) as well as general data communications growth such as computer uses.As noted the single mode optical fiber market is much larger than the multimode market. It too, is expected to see significant growth over the next several years. Single mode fibers have the advantage of efficiently transmitting data over long distances, faster transmission rates and other desirable optical properties but until recently have been more expensive to produce. The advent of cheaper production methods will allow single mode fibers to enter markets that were once dominated by multimode fibers.Production of these fibers requires expensive specialized manufacturing equipment and a s ignificant commitment to R and D. The industry includes one of the OFC licensors. Substitute products for single mode fibers include microwaves, and satellites for telecommunications. Impact seems limited. Copper wire can be used as a substitute for the fiber-to-home and fiber-to-curb applications of either multimode or single mode fibers but by the mid 2000’s the lowered cost of production of single mode fibers will likely make this the preferred choice for these functions.Finally, it should be noted that suppliers are unlikely to exert competitive forces on the fiber optics markets. The materials used in the production of fibers are commodities of low value such as glass, certain gases and oxide particles. OFC Strengths OFC has many strengths. The firm is financially strong with record sales and earnings for the last year as well as increased manufacturing capacity. Furthermore, there was a $20 million backlog for optical fibers in the last year and orders are increasing. T here was net income of $6. 1million on revenue of $48. million in 2002. The Quick Ratio, a measure of a firm’s ability to meet short-term debt obligations (Current Assets – Inventories)/Current Liabilities = ($31. 0m – $6. 6m)/$12. 5 = 2. 0 is very solid. Return on equity (Net Income/Equity) = $6. 1m/$44. 0m = 13. 9% is also very impressive. OFC has developed new specialty products for medical, military, commercial aircraft, aerospace and severe environment uses. These are likely to receive patents and will not require royalty payments and will be protected from competitors for years to come.The firm has a variety of options to confront the challenges of the changing market place. OFC has patent licenses to produce optical cables that would allow for forward integration if they chose to move in that direction. Engineers at OFC have been able to find new ways to produce old products more efficiently reducing production costs. They have also developed adaptations of existing products to create new and unique demands for those products. OFC is in an industry that is expected to enjoy strong growth for at least the next several years.That demand will come from a variety of industries adding stability to the market. The equipment needed to produce optical fiber is expensive and the expertise demanding creating, a relative barrier to entry. Copper wire as a substitute is relatively expensive and as technological advances decrease the cost of optical fibers copper will become a non-entity. Perhaps most importantly, OFC has a strong reputation for quality, service and competitive pricing. OFC Weaknesses OFC is a small company. They were only able to enter the market by virtue of other firms’ products and license agreements.Those licenses have protected OFC from competition but have also limited the scope of its customer base and added significant fixed costs in royalty payments. Royalties will now increase to 9% (after paying a one time $3 million fee) on 85% of sales. Furthermore, while OFC is paying royalties to use these patents new entrants may soon be competing as patents expire. These firms will have essentially no R and D expense and of course no royalty payments potentially allowing them to produce at costs below those of OFC.OFC must also contend with a limited number of buyers. Over 70% of sales are to just three cable producers. The ability of OFC to increase prices to these large purchasers is doubtful. If even one of these customers were lost to an alternative fiber optic producer the effect on OFC could be dramatic. OFC operates in a competitive industry that will become more so with time. Copper wire manufacturers will turn to optical cable production to stay relevant. Overseas producers, already sources of competition to OFC, are likely to play a larger role in the future.Finally, OFC’s success has been built on quality, service and innovation. One or more competitor can potentially offer all of these. OFC’s Core Competencies OFC manufactures multimode, high quality optical fiber for cabling companies that convert that fiber into cable for a variety of data communications uses. The firm has a reputation for low prices and excellent customer service. Much of their success can be attributed to their R and D program, which has developed cost saving production technologies as well as product innovations.More recently, OFC has shown itself to be an innovator, developing entirely new multimode optical fiber products that fill a variety of unique niche functions. To continue producing and selling multimode optical fiber successfully, OFC needs to prepare for increased competition as patent protections expire. As new entrants begin producing many of the higher volume OFC products, likely at lower cost given their lack of R and D and royalty expenses, OFC will need to spend additional resources on developing decreased costs of production if they are to continue selling those products profitably.They will need to maintain their focus on quality and customer service. In part that will require continued product testing. They may wish to explore, however, if testing 100% of products as is current policy is necessary or if testing samples from each batch would serve as well and save money. OFC will need to continue to support R and D to develop new products and patentable improvements on existing ones. Options Available for Growth Pursuit of Niche Markets OFC has already demonstrated an ability to develop marketable niche multimode fibers. Previously created are fibers able to withstand high radiation nvironments for nuclear reactor and military applications, a fiber that can tolerate deep underwater submersion and a third tolerant of high heat conditions. They have also successfully experimented with a fiber capable of transmitting UV light and another with unique medical and scientific uses. To continue their development program for specialty fibers will require annual R and D spending increases of $400,000 and an additional annual expenditure for three new staff totaling $325,000. Outside firms can be hired to handle sales for 10% commissions.When sales volumes are adequate, salaried OFC employees can be used instead. The calculation as to when this makes financial sense for the firm is simple; when 10% of sales exceed the salary and benefit expenses of the needed in-house sales force then sales should become an OFC operation. The advantage of niche products is the lack of competition and relatively higher margins. Develop Single Mode Fiber Capacity OFC could choose to enter the much larger single mode fiber market. It is estimated that this will require a capital investment of $4 million for new plant and equipment.It will take a year for the new facilities to be operational. There will also be a reported one time R and D expense of $2. 5 million. This is a first year expense so it cannot be capitalized. It can reasonably be assum ed that there will be additional R and D expenses going forward although presumably these would be considerably lower than the initial expense. Entering the single mode market places OFC in competition with larger firms than it currently faces with greater resources to sell products with thinner margins and would divert OFC resources from their core business functions.Forward Integration A third option for OFC is to produce optical cable. The required patent licenses are available. Two options for this forward integration strategy exist. OFC can commit $5 million in capital investments and plan on spending an additional $500,000 annually for R and D or they can simply purchase a cabling company for an estimated $10 – 15 million in capital expenditure. There is currently an excess supply of cable and cabling firms and several are in danger of bankruptcy and so an acquisition should be feasible. Forward integration raises several concerns.Regardless of the approach taken, enter ing the fiber optic cable business will be expensive for OFC. This is a market that is already experiencing an excess of capacity so it can be assumed that at least for some time to come profits in the cabling industry will be squeezed. This is not a core business function of OFC but to pursue cable production will be so expensive as to necessarily draw resources away from some of the firm’s core activities, activities that are likely to be more profitable and entail less financial risk. Finally, one needs to consider that all of OFC’s customers are cable producers.If OFC enters this market they will become a competitor of their customers. It seems highly probable that at least some of these optical fiber buyers will respond in a retaliatory manner and switch to alternate suppliers. Most of OFC’s products are not unique and can be supplied by their licensors. The three large buyers would seem in a particularly strong position to adversely respond to any entry in to the cabling market by OFC. OFC Policy Statement In choosing a direction for the future growth of OFC several considerations should be kept in mind. First, OFC has been successful in large part because of its focus on quality.Any efforts at growth should not come at the expense of producing high quality products. Second, the firm must continue to provide a high level of customer service. This should include responsiveness to customers’ needs for new products and product features when those offerings are commensurate with the firm’s vision, available or attainable expertise and when economically viable. Finally, the firm should continue to fund R and D efforts to allow for a continuous pipeline of new products and improvements to existing ones in an effort to maintain a unique competitive position in the market.OFC has been successful in competing against larger firms by avoiding head to head competition. Initially this was accomplished through license agreements alon e. Later, the firm was able to create unique improvements to existing products and processes that gave it an advantage. Most recently OFC has created unique patentable products. These represent three different ways of avoiding direct competition. Despite their growth, OFC remains a relatively small firm in the optical fiber space and should continue to eschew direct competition when possible, realizing that the market is dominated by larger and better-funded firms.Recommendations OFC should stay out of the cable producing business. This market is the least profitable, most expensive to enter and likely to have the lowest return on investment. It is also likely to result in retaliation by current customers and reduced sales. The single mode market is much larger than the multimode market but as a consequence will bring OFC in contact with larger firms that already have the equipment and knowledge base to produce these products. A small firm with limited resources should not leave its core competencies behind to take on firms that are already in place.OFC needs to continue to make niche products whether they are improvements on old multimode fibers or new fibers with unique properties and functions. This firm will never be a big player in the highly competitive optical fiber industry, they arrived too late and don’t have the capital to displace the dominant firms. Given that projections are for most of the increased demand for optical fibers to occur through the mid to late 2000’s OFC may want to watch for an opportune time to sell to one of these larger entities, perhaps a single mode fiber producer to whom the OFC product line would prove complimentary.