Thursday, November 28, 2019

Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization Essay Example

Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization Paper Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization Name University of Phoenix MKT / 421 April 18, 2011 Instructor Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization In 1998 Kathy Kudler, who specializes in gourmet foods, founded Kudler Fine Foods; opening the first location in La Jolla California. Later Kathy opened two additional locations; in 2000 Del Mar and in 2003 Encinitas, California. Kathy had an idea to offer a shopping atmosphere for those people who cook gourmet style. Kudler Fine Foods would carry a variety of seafood, meats, produce, dairy, cheeses, and wines. For the convenience to the customers, Kudler Fine Foods has separate departments; meat and seafood, bakery, produce, cheese and dairy, and wine. Each department shows advertisement to draw the attention of the customer. Kudler Fine Foods mission is to offer a large variety of selections, expertise, and knowledgeable staff giving the customer a joyful shopping experience. Kathy has a marketing background from working for a large defense contractor (University of Phoenix,  2010). Developing the marketing background experience, Kathy can move the company forward and expand services. Kathy goal will to identify any areas of weakness and creating a marketing strategy, which will entail competitive intelligence and analysis. Marketing Research Marketing indicates the actions engaged in the progress of products and services from manufacturer to consumer. The development starts with establishing the wants and needs of the consumer. Kudler Fine Foods should create products to please the consumer’s wants and needs. We will write a custom essay sample on Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Kudler Fine Foods Virtual Organization specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Kudler Fine Foods must make certain the desired products are available that the company knows when and where customers want them and Kudler Fine Foods informs potential customers of their availability. Marketing also includes financing the behaviors that facilitate the exchange of products and services. Marketing is a key notion in business and every person involved can participate. Marketing helps to promote Kudler Fine Foods products offered to the consumer. Market research involves the collection and analysis of data relating to consumers and his or her buying behavior. Market research attempts, among other things, to define trends in sales and sales potential for specific products or services, to identify those customers who are the most likely purchasers of the Kudler Fine Foods products, and to identify which factors motivate consumers to buy certain products. Market research also assists in determining how and where a product is purchased, thus enabling Kudler Fine Foods to develop the appropriate channels of product supply. One of the most important determinations to be made in market research is who buys Kudler Fine Foods products, that is, who may benefit from his or her purchase and why. Demographics play a significant role in the research process. Demographics refer to population characteristics, such as geographic distribution, age, sex, family structure, and income. Marketing Weakness Weaknesses in a business is have the lack of marketing experience, area of the business, poor quality of products, or a poor reputation. As with any competition Kudler Fine Foods must have knowledge of the competitors weaknesses, including their own, is an important aspect in building a successful business. Kudler Fine Foods should observe the competitors to see if they are keeping up with the current trends. Kudler Fine Foods would have an advantage to visit the competition to acquire a thorough understanding of the development, menu plans, pricing, promotional information, and class instruction periods. If neighboring competition is not present, marketing researchers must venture out to observe the similar competition to compare information with his or her business. Much can be learned in other areas that could be worked into the day-to-day business functions. An in-depth investigation is required to decide if reduced cost actions can be put into practice. At this time, Kathy herself order the products needed for each of her stores, requiring her to work seven days a week and constantly move from location to location. By observing the purchases made by the customers, and examine the contracts with the distributors, Kudler Fine Foods could cut down on the frequent ordering of products, giving Kathy more time to concentrate on other functions of the business. Competitive Intelligence and Analysis Competitive intelligence and analysis is an important part of a business. Competitive intelligence is the art of defining, gathering, analyzing, and distributing intelligence about products, customers, competitors, individuals, concepts, information, ideas or data needed to support executives and managers in making strategic decisions for a business. This includes a broad array from government intelligence to market intelligence to business intelligence (Competitive Intelligence,  n. d. ). Competitive intelligence can include competitor analysis, knowledge management, market research, and business strategy and business research. Competitive intelligence can be used as an everyday business tool to analyze stocks or look for weaknesses in the competitor (Competitive Intelligence,  n. d. ). If Kudler Fine Foods is trying to figure out what it means for a small business it is seeing where or how the competition advertises. Kudler Fine Foods should receive the competitors distribution list or sign up for any e-newsletters they may be sending to see what they are saying and what additional things they are doing to create relationships in the local area. If the competitor is a retail location, an employee of Kudler Fine Foods should visit it, see how the window displays are created, what kind of people are in the store, how much traffic do they receive, is the competition displaying any brochures, postcards, etc. hat promote other local businesses (MRC World ,  2009). When researching the competition ethics plays a large role. Information obtained must be done legally. Obtaining information from an insider is acting unethically. Kudler needs to obtain information collected through the Internet, store visit, or customer surveys. The majority of the information should be collected by shopping the competitor; this will help to see how displays are created, store layout, special offers, products offered, et c. Conclusion Kudler Fine Foods has created a strong marketing plan covering a strategy and tactics to build a stronger business. Kudler Fine Foods present marketing strategy has improved with creating a customer survey asking opinions and suggestions from the customers to help make his or her shopping experience more convenient. Kudler Fine Foods has also researched what the competitors are doing to keep up with the trends. Kudler Fine Foods is a growth oriented business that prides itself in constantly reaching the customers with honesty and integrity. The companys continual success and rapid development is due in part to the motivation to offer the customers with the quality products and service that he or she desires in a timely manner. Kudler Fine Foods are on their way to building a successful business. References Competitive Intelligence. (n. d. ). Competitive Intelligence. Retrieved from http://www. competitiveintelligence. com/ MRC World. (2009). Marketing Question. Retrieved from http://www. mrcworld. com/marketing-question/ University of Phoenix. (2010). Kudler Fine Foods [Computer Software]. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, Simulation, MKT 421 website.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

[WATCH] How to use yoga principles to find your career path

[WATCH] How to use yoga principles to find your career path If you find yourself overwhelmed by your professional life, or even life in general, you’re not alone. Rebecca Foon, co-founder of the international climate change advocacy group, Pathway to Paris, sat down with Daily Fuel at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Â  There she discussed all she learned in her 20’s regarding the pressure we tend to put on ourselves for immediate results and immediate answers, and how self-destructive that approach can so often be.Listen to Rebecca share what she’s since learned; that taking a step back, and taking a deep breath, and letting life come to us and sort itself out can indeed be the pathway to fulfillment.Source: [DailyFuel]

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Effects of a chilld owning a dog Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Effects of a chilld owning a dog - Essay Example Dog ownership is the easiest way for a child to develop friendship with the same in a natural way. It helps a child to consider the dog as a lifelong companion. Jack Canfield states that dog ownership plays a vital role in a child’s overall growth and development (Canfield 366). Besides, it will help the child to learn the basics of healthy social interactions and relations. At the same time, dog ownership helps a child to build friendship with his/ her peers because a person who considers his /her pet as a lifelong companion can never neglect others. Dog ownership helps a child to learn more about how the dog keeps its emotional equilibrium by balancing it feelings. For instance, emotions are not stable for a dog. When it feels anger, it begins to bark. But this does not prove that dogs bark all the time. At the same time, a child learns from its dog that emotions are not constant but will change according to situations. The very term ‘ownership’ is symbolic of leadership. For instance, dog ownership helps a child to learn the basic lessons of leadership. Besides, it helps the owner to be a good leader and a follower. For instance, in some critical situations, dogs guide their owners and leadership is automatically transferred to the follower (say, the dog). So, dog owning is really helpful for a child to be a real leader in future life. Summing, one can see that dog ownership exerts positive influence on a child and is helpful for overall development. Besides, growth and development in social interactions, emotions and leadership qualities is equally important. So one can see that pet ownership teach a child to acquire certain essential

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Comprehensive service delivery plan Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comprehensive service delivery plan - Case Study Example The plan is expected to facilitate Sunny in obtaining assistance from authorized agencies, which could provide her with adequate parental education, medical care and adaptive equipment. Through this plan, attempts have been taken to assess Sunny’s potential strengths and her needs towards Assistive Technology (AT) and Augmentative Communication (AAC) abilities to help her succeed in her education. In addition, adequate information has been provided about the responsibilities of parents, guardian, friends, classmates and educational specialists towards Sunny in the plan discussed henceforth. This comprehensive service delivery plan outlines access to appropriate agencies that could provide parent/guardian support, owing to the fact that the role of family in medical care of a child is crucial. The professionals of ‘American Academy of Pediatrics’ also focus towards the recognition of a family, as family members are child’s primary source of health and support. In addition, informing parents or guardians of Sunny regarding her care needs and thereby, obtaining their support as a principal collaborator in care coordination is linked with the achievement of improved health results. In the US, special firms, such as Catholic Guardian Services, have been observed to provide parenting education and support services for the welfare of disabled children. One such organization is Federal Office of Special Education, which governs the norms of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA provides principle grants to various states, targeting the hi gher educational institutes and other non-profit organizations to deliver technical assistance, personnel development and parental training in the interests of disabled children. In this regard, Partners in Policymaking has been a pioneering and capability based headship curriculum for adults and parents of young disabled children (Arizona

Monday, November 18, 2019

Police Ride Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Police Ride - Assignment Example Officer Franz explained that he loved his job and that he loved people, and that he planned to stay with the police force for as long as possible. His career choice was to gain about 3-4 more years of experience on patrol. After that, he would take the civil exam and hopefully move up the ladder in rank. Officer Franz then took a break from answering my questions to explain the numerous safety rules for me to follow, which in all honesty I did not mind, as he truly did seem to have my best interest and safety at heart. I had to wear a standard-issue bulletproof vest, which brought home the reality of the ride-along immediately due to the heaviness of the garment. Officer Franz also explained that I would not be allowed to get out of the car at any time during the ride-along, and again stressed safety above everything else. The area he would be patrolling (with me along) was known as Zone 104, which was primarily a college area, with burglary and robberies being somewhat common calls received. He explained that though anything could come up, most often other than those two types of incidents were calls in which adults were possibly taking advantage of college students, college students throwing loud parties and breaking the local noise ordinances, and local juveniles making mischief. Since it was not a high-crime area, he explained that he would be patrolling alone, as was department procedure, though he did emphasize that two officers patrolled together in the high-crime areas. The shift then began with a roll call for all officers, which lasted about 15 minutes. Most of this involved a report from the previous shift, letting the officers know what to be on the lookout for. Areas of interest, including any to watch closely, are passed on from one shift to another for continuity and continuance in investigations. During the ride-along, I had the opportunity to see police procedure in action three times. Two of the incidents that occurred were minor traffic viola tions, yet they gave me an opportunity to ask questions about procedures behind them. The third incident of alleged gang-rape was not minor and in fact caused me to have to remain with Officer Franz an hour longer than my shift was originally scheduled due to its nature, however, upon explanation, I believe you will agree with me that there was no way to avoid this happening. The first incident was a traffic accident involving two vehicles. Officer Franz handled this quite speedily and professionally. He took the car information and licenses of both drivers and ran it through his computer, which turned up nothing in the way of background information that would cause either of them to be placed under arrest. Given this information, Officer Franz then gave both drivers their information back along with a police report number and an incident number and sent both on their way. I found it interesting to learn that there was a keyboard printer in the patrol car. Officer Franz explained it s uses, which the main use is for printing out tickets and citations. He also explained that there was a central computer program used by the police force, Intel, which kept them informed about data available from crimes in the surrounding area. For example, there was a car stolen in Colony and had he pulled over a car with the same make or model.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Analysis of Islamic Architecture

Analysis of Islamic Architecture The eternal principle behind modern Islamic architecture is about the story that evolves from ancient times of Islam architecture and move towards modernism. Modernism began to slowly grow since Industrial revolution started. Since the period, it has turn Islamic architecture to explore in depth with the use of mass production. At the same time, continuing the richness of Islamic architecture elements and forms with influences from Euro and how it brought to Singapore, which is known to be one of the elite modern countries. The spread through revolution is rapid and challenges occur in Islamic architecture to keep up with the modern times and also embracing its cultural identity. The comparison between Euro and Singapore Islamic architecture for religious building carries the same element of projecting modernism as religious spaces. As well as modification of few elements of Islamic form into simplistic manner that fits in the society that lives in. Academic building as modern Islamic architecture reveals representation of different materials and colours to interpret Islamic perspective. The differences in the application use by Egypt and Singapore were selective yet portray the element of Islamic architecture. Commercial building in Islamic and Singapore as multi-cultural country sets different challenges. The application of the elements are achievable, however in site context, attraction as identity and carrying the character may be difficult due to the society that lives in, and how they perceive it differently. Introduction The variety of artistic developments in todays Islamic Architecture is influenced by both traditional forms and by modernism. There was a greater openness of Islamic architecture to European styles, also varied and distinctive new approaches to the analysis of their own tradition. Whether or not it ranges from secular to religious, Islamic architecture carry the same element of style such as the geometric shapes and repetitive art. Standing still in this modern era, Islamic architecture has been famous for its traditional forms. For example the concept of art rests on a basic foundation of calligraphy, geometry and, in architecture, the repetition and multiplication of elements based on the arch. Usually there are allied and parallel floral and figural motifs. Other element such as the water and light are also important for Islamic architecture decoration as they contribute in generating layers of pattern for surface decoration. With these surfaces, they are able to transform space. Since surface is articulated by decoration, there is an intimate connection in Islamic architecture between space and deco. Analysis Modernism in Islamic architecture will be covered in three aspects such as religious architecture, academic as well as commercial spaces.To begin with, the aspect of modern Islamic architecture of religious spaces such as the Mosque shows a great departure from traditional to futuristic look. Resulting in hybrid buildings where traditional facades of arches and domes are grafted onto modern high-rises. 2.1 As a case study of Euro-Islamic architecture, the Penzberg Islamic Centre built in a small German town between Munich and Alps, boldly demonstrates the compatibility of mosques and modernism. minarets are shortened and serve no purpose unlike minaret of traditional Islamic Mosque that is tall in height are usually use as a way call people for prayers. However, The building in night scene. The minaret serves its purpose as light which illuminates the ornamental decoration wrapped around. The idea shows the model notions of enlightened Islam. Apart from the shortened minaret, whose colours sets it apart from the course being sandstone facade, the centre is not obviously marked out as a typical religious building. The exterior already hints at the contemplative atmosphere of the prayer hall inside. The main entrance that is made to stand out by slanted concrete slabs symbolizing the pages of a book, on which words from the Koran can be read. Whereas on the right, the interior has shows the modernist idea of working with the simplest means by having no huge chandeliers and no exuberant ornaments. Adding dynamic quality to the architecture is by playing with lights. The same key element uses often in Islamic architecture. The way the light falls draws attention to the ceiling and wall panels, where ornaments are applied to the unclad concrete that can be read as expressions of divine boundlessness. The abstracted star motifs contain The 99 Names of God such as The Most Merciful and The Utterly Just in calligraphy. Modern Islamic Architecture can exist anywhere in Europe since Europe society can keep with constantly developing innovation and the idea of understanding faith but not tradition that is set in stone. In Europe, the mosque of today must represent a distinct type that reveals the 20th century that is when it meets the fitting choice for future generations. Modern Islamic architecture may took over in Europe, going back to local context, Euro-Islamic architecture are also influencing Singapore. Singapore is well known for here and now architecture building that surrounds the entire city. Modernity is what Singapore falls under. Overshadowing the historical sites, modern Islamic architecture in Singapore is becoming more dominant. The second case studies in local context for religious building are the Assyafaah mosque located at Admiralty lane in Singapore. The Assyafaah Mosque The Assyafah Mosque uses a contemporary interpretation of the arabesque, a universally recognizable symbol of Islamic Art and Architecture, to create an original identity for the modern mosque. The use of the positive arabesque, a double arabesque to make the notions of overlapping geometries more explicit and negative arabesques are seamlessly incorporated in the design of this mosque. The architects state that the use of the arabesque patterns to symbolize the Qurans attributes provides a link to the past. The minarets were done in modernist way. It is similar to Penzberg Islamic centre minaret which is done in a simple form. The minaret of Assyafaah mosque is a symbol of alif which is the first letter word of Arab language. The idea of integrating letters as minarets further emphasize Islamic architecture elements rather than using complex calligraphy form. The column free prayer hall framed by its ribbed and arched fairfaced concrete structure rising from the floor and opening upwards towards the quadruple volume in front of the mihrab wall The three-dimensional arches, which serve the purpose of transferring the structural loads of the upper three storeys help provide a column free span in the lower prayer space. The concrete arches are a great prove of how the architect explores usage of material which look as raw yet prove to be aesthetically pleasing. At the same time, they serve to guide the eye of the user towards the four-storey high marble clad mihrab wall, bathed in natural light. The light filtering through, very much a-like to Tadao Ando style of playing with lights. Again, the nature of keeping elements of Islamic architecture by using natural light to seep through the calligraphy patterned frames which act as light filtering, making the facade to look more lacy by trapping some light and diffuse it with most subtle gradations. The uses of geometrical facade assure the Islamic architectural method of using optical effect shows how different thicknesses of frame define the sophisticated effect. 2.2 Apart from religious building, academic buildings in Islamic architecture are as well influence with modern contemporary architecture. The third case studies for academic buildings are the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt. The structure illustrates the rich historical and rapid modern evolution of the Islamic past. The design portrays the idea of openness, containment and all encompassing knowledge in its main geometric form, the circle. Partly, Islamic elements such as the geometric patterns permitted an interrelationship between the parts and the whole building complex. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina Exterior facade The stone walls of the library The idea of openness with the integration of water. As an influence of Islamic architecture, water reflects architecture and also serves its means by emphasizing the visual axes. Like the mirror, they give fluidity, dynamic yet show the static architecture. Besides having literal water elements, another way to represents Earth element reflected in one of the Modern Islamic academic architecture in Singapore which is Al-Mukminin Madrasah located in Jurong East. Exterior building of Al-Mukminin For the fourth case study is about the building as total modernization of Islamic architecture. Arabesque pattern is not evident in this building, however, the building play with colours despite no vivid traditional form. The underlying exploration of this facade is the use of Islamic colours to represent water, sky and ground. The multi-shade colours also gives an optical illusion effect from far, creating dematerialisation which is one of the technique element that from Islamic architecture usually use in traditional times. 2.3 The last aspect besides Religious and academic building are the commercial building. One of the examples for commercial building for Islamic architecture would be the museum of Islamic Art in Qatar by I.M Pei. He uses geometrical forms and symmetry applied for the design concept. Clearly, it is not a hybrid futuristic building which usually uses metal and glass cladding as the facade. Instead, he uses limestone marble which gives the smooth touch against the solid form building. As compared to traditional times of using mud brick construction, the limestone marble gives off the modernistic look and also how the block are arranged in sequence manner in parallel. Museum of Islamic Art Exterior Front and Interior The front view of the museum shows two pillar which look like the modern minarets. Traditional domes are not seen evidently, however in the interior, tall arches are not seen instead walls slanted in symmetrical direction toward the ceiling in geometrical forms that creates spherical domes made up of geometric shapes. The dome also gives a hint of natural light to pass through. Elements of Islamic principle are still applicable to commercial spaces. The aim to enhance space through patterns proves dynamically interesting for a modern Islamic building. The solidity of the forms made up is in repetition direction along with different proportions which then allows the eternal principles of Islamic architecture of rhythmical movement. The last case study for Commercial buildings as modern Islamic architecture is the Haniffa, a famous textile company originated from India, the building is located by Keng Lee road, Singapore. The building shows strong influence of Euro-Islamic architecture. Conclusion In conclusion, the desire for rapid development has brought in influences from Western architecture to Islamic architecture due to the Industries revolution that pushes the Islamic architecture to move forward by understanding the essence Islamic principles in architecture and then allows modern building technology to be the tool in the expression. Tool of expression in terms of the mass production of materials has become an advantage for designers to explore with the possibilities of transforming forms by moving away from traditional techniques into modern ways. Such application is strongly reflected on Singapore context for Islamic architecture. Most Islamic architecture buildings in Singapore were made in modern ways. However, the challenge that is set for Singapore is how it may stand apart from other non-Islamic architecture tall buildings that have been the ultimate identity of Singapore. In order to create modern Islamic architecture identity should be more evident, and the re levance to eternal principle of Islam is important. This can be achieve by creating forms in relation with traditional Islamic elements that evolves through modern approach and at the same time carry its own characteristic. Hence, the regional identity of Islamic architecture will then become an evolution to modern Islamic era. List of references James Steele [1994] Architecture for Islamic Societies Today, Academy Editions / The Aga Khan Award For Architecture, St.Martins Pr, United Kingdom Cristian Welzbacher [2008] EURO-ISLAM Architecture (The New Mosques in the West), Sun Publisher,Saudi Arabia Renata Holo, Hasan Uddin Khan [1997] The Mosque The Modern World, Thames Hudson Publisher, Australia Markus Hattstein, Peter Delius [2004] ISLAM Art Architecture, Konemann, New York Richard Ettinghausen, Oleg Grabar [2003] The Art and Architecture Of Islam 650-1250 , Yale University Press, Connecticut Phillipa Baker [2004] Architecture Polyphony Building in the Islamic World Today,Thames Hudson Publisher, Yemen Bibliography http://www.miesarch.com/index2.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=10Itemid=16obraid=251 http://www.architecture-page.com/go/projects/assyafaah-mosque-singapore__all http://www.bibalex.org/english/aboutus/building/architecture.htm http://www.fivefootway.com/2009/06/30/forum-architects-madrasah-addition-to-al-mukminin-mosque-blends-traditional-values-with-contemporary-colour/ http://de51gn.com/design/the-museum-of-islamic-arts-by-im-pei-opens-in-Qatar/

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Swirling Colors :: Essays Papers

Swirling Colors Psychological research has shown different colors to arouse or symbolize different emotions or states of mind. In a color reaction test, the warm colors, most significantly red, but also yellows and oranges, were found to represent an active state of mind. The cooler colors, most significantly blue and green, and also purple, were more passive and calming. â€Å"warmth signifies contact with the environment, coolness signifying withdrawal into oneself.† (Sasaki) Red specifically can also symbolize aggression, warning, or danger, or cause an agitated state of emotion. Likewise, green can symbolize passivity, or safety. Blue can signify guilt, and violet or purple a sense of calmness and appeasement. The most opposing of these two are red and green, colors complimentary to eachother due to their contrary positions on the color wheel. In Hitchcock’s Vertigo, all these colors play a role in character development, contrast, and symbolism, each character having a colo r with which they are associated, with a striking emphasis on the contrast between red and green, and a later omnipresence of blue. Midge, one of the first characters seen after the opening chase scene, is associated with yellows and oranges, the colors in which her apartment is decorated, and also wearing red glasses. This signifies that Midge is in contact with her environment, according to Sasaki. The next scene is in Elster’s office, with hues of red and reddish tones. This is a fitting color for the representation of Elster, who, though rarely seen, is the one person in any position of true control in the film, though once his story is played out, he disappears entirely. The first introduction to the character of Madeline, regardless of her true identity, is her in a green dress contrasted with the voluptuous red plush walls of the restaurant. The next time she is seen is getting into her car, appropriately green, completing for the viewer the association of this color with that character. Throughout the film she is amongst green things, such as the green box in the flower shop she enters. She even mentions that she loves the green of the trees, ironically in the Redwoods, another striking contrast of the two colors, though only verbal. The color plays into the mystery and trickery of the story more to fool the reader as well as Scottie as this is a color signifying passiveness.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Statistics for Public Administration: Practical Uses for Better

Maureen BernerAs a public administrator, you need to be able to analyze and evaluate policies, and understand analysis and evaluations done by others. This means having a solid working knowledge of how to apply statistics to the types of data used in local government so that you make good decisions. Statistics for Public Administration: Practical Uses for Better Decision Making, a completely updated edition of Statistics Unraveled, focuses on demonstrating how statistics can help you do your job better, rather than on a mastery of statistics.The goal of this book is to make you, as a public administrator, an educated consumer of statistical information—and an effective translator of statistical information. You get the tools you need to design an analysis, gather, analyze and interpret data, present results, and make recommendations. This book is a hands-on, practical, and easy-to-understand introduction to the basic concepts and methods used to analyze data in local governmen t. Vignettes at the beginning and end of each chapter illustrate the concepts through the dialogue of fictional local government employees as they attempt to identify and solve problems. Packed with tables, charts, figures, and review questions to reinforce the concepts, the author’s conversational tone and casual style will set you at ease and make you forget any math phobia you might have! With this book, you’ll be able to understand the general approaches and problems with public sector research and data measurement, conduct basic statistical analysis of raw data using a variety of methods, and evaluate the validity of statistical research performed by others. No other publication is aimed at explaining statistics specifically to the local government audience. There are other books with the purpose of simplifying statistics for a broad audience, but Statistics for Public Administration: Practical Uses for Better Decision Making, uses specific government examples and problems to make the concepts in the book both concrete and applied for local government readers. You get a solid understanding of how data and data analysis can make you more effective in your role in local government. And you’ll see how the sometimes theoretical sounding concepts in analysis can be used to create concrete solutions to everyday problems. About the Author Maureen Berner first joined the School of Government in 1998, teaching program evaluation, statistics, and budgeting. Between 2003 and 2005 she directed efforts to provide new outreach activities for local governments based on the UNC model at the University of Northern Iowa. In 2005 she returned to teaching and writing for MPA students and public officials at the School of Government. Berner has been active in research and teaching in both academia and in government, and her publications include a variety of books, textbooks, and journal articles. She worked for four years with the Budget Issues Group at the U. S. General Accounting Office, including a rotation to the U. S. House of Representatives Budget Committee while serving as a Presidential Management Intern. Berner received an MPP from Georgetown University and PhD in public policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin.

Friday, November 8, 2019

John Winthrop - Colonial America Scientist

John Winthrop - Colonial America Scientist John Winthrop (1714-1779) was a scientist who was born in Massachusetts and was appointed as the head of Mathematics at Harvard University. He was recognized as the preeminent American astronomer of his time.   Early Years Winthrop was the descendant of John Winthrop (1588-1649) who was the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He was the son of Judge  Adam Winthrop and  Anne Wainwright Winthrop.  He had been baptized by Cotton Mather. While Mather is remembered for his support of the ​Salem Witch Trials, he was also a keen scientist who researched in hybrids and inoculation.  He was extremely smart, finishing grammar school at 13 and going to Harvard through which he graduated in 1732. He was head of his class there. He continued studying at home before eventually being named Harvards Hollis  Professor of Mathematics and Natural  Philosophy.   Preeminent American Astronomer Winthrop gained attention in Great Britain where many of his research findings were published. The Royal Society published his works. His astronomical research included the following:   He was the first to observe sunspots in Massachusetts in 1739.  He followed the movement of Mercury.  He determined the accurate longitude for Cambridge where Harvard was located.  He published works on meteors, Venus, and solar parallax.  He accurately predicted the return of ​​Halleys Comet in 1759.  He was the first colonist sent out by a colony to complete a scientific expedition to observe the transit of Venus from Newfoundland.   Winthrop, however, did not limit his studies to the field of astronomy. In fact, he was a kind of a scientific/mathematical jack of all trades. He was a highly accomplished mathematician and was the first to introduce the study of Calculus at Harvard. He created Americas first experimental physics laboratory.  He increased the field of seismology with his study of an earthquake that occurred in New England during 1755. In addition, he studied meteorology, eclipses, and magnetism.   He published a number of papers and books about his studies including  Lecture on Earthquakes  (1755),  Answer to Mr. Princes Letter on Earthquakes  (1756),  Account of Some Fiery Meteors  (1755), and  Two Lectures on the Parallax  (1769).  Due to his scientific activities, he was made a fellow of the Royal Society in 1766 and joined the American Philosophical Society in 1769. In addition, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Harvard both awarded him honorary doctorates. While he did serve as the acting president twice at Harvard University, he never accepted the position on a permanent basis.   Activities in Politics and the American Revolution Winthrop was interested in local politics and public policy. He served as a probate judge in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. In addition, from 1773-1774 he was part of the Governors Council. Thomas Hutchinson was the governor at this point. This was the time of the Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party that occurred on December 16, 1773.   Interestingly, when Governor Thomas Gage would not agree to set aside a day of Thanksgiving as had been the practice, Winthrop was one of a committee of three who drew up a Thanksgiving Proclamation for the colonists who had formed a Provincial Congress led by​​ John Hancock. The other two members were Reverend Joseph Wheeler and Reverend Solomon Lombard.  Hancock signed the proclamation which was then published in the  Boston Gazette on October 24, 1774. It set aside the day of Thanksgiving for December 15th.   Winthrop was involved in the American Revolution including serving as an  adviser to the founding fathers including George Washington.   Personal Life and Death Winthrop married Rebecca Townsend in 1746. She died in 1753. Together they had three sons.  One of these children was James Winthrop who would also graduate from Harvard. He was old enough to serve in the Revolutionary War for the colonists and was wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He later served as the librarian at Harvard.   In 1756, he again married, this time to Hannah  Fayerweather Tolman. Hannah was good friends with Mercy Otis Warren and Abigail Adams and carried on correspondence with them for many years. She along with these two women were given the responsibility of questioning women who were thought to be siding with the British against the colonists.   John Winthrop  died on May 3, 1779, in Cambridge, survived by his wife.   Source:  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Ã¢â‚¬â€¹harvardsquarelibrary.org/cambridge-harvard/first-independent-thanksgiving-1774/

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The Impact of New Media and Social Networking on Entertainment the Entertainment Industry

The Impact of New Media and Social Networking on Entertainment the Entertainment Industry On 14th of February, 2005, the entertainment industry entered a new era that would henceforth change its future. On that Valentine’s Day, Youtube.com was registered on whois.com. Six months later, the social site was launched and since then, it has continued to shape the interpersonal interaction between people in different parts of the world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of New Media and Social Networking on Entertainment the Entertainment Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More From that time, many other social media sites have been launched in the market, in effect altering the experiences of consumers with regard to television, film, and music (Belloni 2012). Social media has significantly influenced the tastes and preferences of consumers in the world market. Most contemporary consumers base their consumption and spending behaviours on global conversations taking place over the internet an d such other social media (Schultz, Block Labrecque 2012). Furthermore, the activities of people on social network sites influence their decision making processes, as well as their behaviour. In this regard, studying the behaviour of consumers and underlying motivational factors can assist organisations in finding out how they can design their programs and corporate strategies (Andzulis, Panagopoulos Rapp 2012). The current essay is written against this backdrop. The major objective of the essay is to determine how social networking and new media have impacted the entertainment industry in general and the filmmaking industry in particular. A social networking service refers to an online site, platform, or service, whose main objective is to create social relations or social networks among different persons. The networking service targets individuals who share activities, interests, real-life connections, or backgrounds. The service takes into consideration, among others, the indiv idual’s personal profile and their social links in the society. Social networking services and platforms keep the members connected to each other. They give them the opportunity to keep in touch in real time over the worldwide web through, among others, instant messaging services (IM) and e-mails. The sites allow people to share their ideas, events, interests, and activities within the network.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are various social networking sites available today. The three most popular social networking sites are Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus, all of which are based in the United States of America (Scott 2010). According to Belloni (2012), 47 per cent of all Americans are members of social networking sites. Some individuals are members of more than one networking site. For example, an individual may have an account with Facebook, and another account with Twitter. New media is a term used to describe on-demand content access. The consumer is able to access the content from anywhere and at anytime through the use of a digital device, such as a computer or a phone. The consumers can access the content through community formation, user feedback, and creative participation with such content (Scott 2010). Sago (2010) provides another definition of the term ‘new media’. The scholar is of the view that the concept can be used to refer to the creation of unregulated content. According to Sago (2010), new media technologies are expected to be digital, interactive, compressible, dense, and networkable. The user should also be able to manipulate such technologies. The various technologies include the internet, computer multimedia, websites, CD-ROMS, DVDs, and video games. Television programs, magazines, feature films, books, and paper-based publications do not constitute new media (Brogan 2010). According t o an exclusive poll conducted by the Penn Schoen Berland research firm, 88% of individuals regard such social networks as Twitter and Facebook as forms of entertainment (Godley 2012). In addition, the research highlighted that listening to music and social networking is the major form of Generation-C entertainment. Bruce, Foutz Kolsarici (2012) note that social media is like a connective tissue that helps consumers to connect with each other and share their opinions on different entertainment experiences. Moreover, 83 per cent of viewers connected to TV search the internet as they watch television programs, while 41 per cent tweet about what they are watching. Brogan (2010) is of the view that in its own capacity, social networking is an online reality show.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of New Media and Social Networking on Entertainment the Entertainment Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ther e has been a long controversy about the influence of digital media. However, it is clear that digital media has the ability to change the behaviour of a person. For instance, people who are tweeting about movies determine the behaviour of their Tweeter followers. That is why a third of all connected TV consumers go to a theatre to watch a movie after reading posts on social network sites (Manjoo 2011). Sago (2010) reported that horror movies and other genres targeted at young people are the largest beneficiaries of social networking publicity. For instance, 8 per cent of all the respondents included in the Penn Schoen Berland survey watched Paranormal Activity 3 after being influenced by online posts and conversations (Godley 2012). On the basis of findings made in psychological studies, the behaviour patterns associated with social commerce are determined by social proof or the fear of missing out (FOMO) (Sago 2010). Another interesting finding is how social networking tends to enh ance the entertainment experience in the theatre. Nowadays, almost all movie theatres have to plead with movie goers to avoid using mobile phones in the theatre as the movie goes on. There are two reasons for that: the sound distraction caused by ringing phones and the light distraction from the phones, which affects the darkened room (Lipsman, Mud, Rich Bruich 2012). A recent study has, however, found that social networking is prevalent during both home and theatre movie watching times (Jamar 2012). The study found that 56 per cent of people who go to the movies have sent a text during one or more movies. The study also reported that most of the people aged between 18 and 34 years believe that the use of social network in the theatre (as they watch a movie) enhances their experience in the movie theatre. Close to half of the persons interviewed pointed out that they would choose a theatre that allows web surfing and text messaging over those theatres that did not allow such activi ties. However, this behaviour is only observed among individuals aged between 18 and 34 years, but not among all consumers. The reason for this is because 75 per cent of individuals who were included in the Jamar (2012) reported that using mobile phones in the theatre distracts them. Furthermore, 21 per cent and 24 per cent of informants had posted on Twitter and Facebook, respectively, as they watched a movie in a theatre (Jamar 2012). Generation-C is often identified, falsely, as having a short concentration span. However, in most cases, they focus on many things at the same time, as long as these are things that fall under their list of interests. Individuals falling under the category of Generation-C are different.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Instead of working so hard to debunk the values of this generation, there should be an understanding of the role of multitasking in enhancing their experience. Lica Tuta (2011) found that the two most popular activities during social networking are watching TV programs (66%) and watching TV movies (50%). Eleven per cent of the respondents noted that they network as they watch movies in the theatre. The question is what these people do on social networks as they watch programs and movies. Evans (2008) found that social networking is a give and take affair because 33 per cent of people on social networks post their own thoughts and opinions, while 67 per cent are either reading or listening and responding to what others are saying. Television marketers are currently striving to determine how they can use social media to woo viewers. According to Johnson (2011), serendipity contributes in getting viewers to tunes of some of the most important news that broke on social media before air ing on the television or newspapers include the killing of Osama bin Laden (Twitter), the death of Whitney Houston (Twitter), and the Egyptian uprising (Facebook). In addition to television programs and movies, the peer-to-peer influence seems to have invaded all the other major forms of entertainment. Musicians are benefitting from posting their music on social networks, especially YouTube. In a study conducted by Filice Young (2011), 70 per cent of the respondents pointed out that they listen to music depending on what their peers are posting on social networks. In this regard, the fans of a certain musician have the duty to popularise his or her music on social media. One way of doing that is by sharing what they are listening by blogging, Facebooking, tweeting, or posting their videos on YouTube. Andzulis et al. (2012) compared the advantages and disadvantages of the two most popular social network sites, Facebook and Twitter, to the entertainment industry. Out of all the respo ndents included in the study, 98 per cent of were on Facebook, while 56 per cent were on Twitter. egarding daily visits, nine out of ten informants visited their Facebook account each day, while half of the respondents visited their Twitter accounts on a daily basis. Andzulis et al. (2012) asked the respondents what or who they followed on Facebook and Twitter, and they gave varying responses. Andzulis et al. (2012) made a very interesting observation from their study. They concluded that Twitter is the main social media site that people use to connect with others, while Facebook is the one that people use to connect with shows, movies, and brands. It is important for marketers to keep track of these developments. For example, they should analyse the way people are creating communities and fandoms online (Andzulis et al. 2012). Based on the behaviour of all consumers engaged in social networking and news media, it is the role of marketers to determine how the sites impact on consump tion of goods and services. Clark Roberts (2010) found that social media is significant in determining how people watch movies and share their experiences. However, the choice to purchase a movie still largely depends on the traditional marketing strategies of firms. Previews and trailers are the main determinants of whether a person buys a movie or not. The consumers can watch trailers on YouTube, movie websites, TV, or at the theatre. The previews and trailers influence about 40 per cent of the consumers, while TV adverts and word of mouth influence 20 percent and 18 percent of the consumers, respectively. The influence of social media is placed at 9 per cent (Bruce et al. 2012). In conclusion, it is important to note that new media and social networking have a significant impact on the entertainment industry. In particular, the two influence how people are watching movies and programs on the television, as well as how they are listening to music. In addition, social media have e merged as important sources of breaking news. Marketers can take advantage of the influence the new media and social networking services has on consumers. For example, by using social media, marketers can gather information on what consumers want by sneak-previewing their public conversations. References Andzulis, J Panagopoulos, N Rapp, A 2012, A review of social media and implications for the sales process, Journal of Personal Selling Sales Management, vol. 32 no. 3, pp. 305-316. Belloni, M 2012, The social media poll, Hollywood Reporter, vol. 418 no. 9, pp. 64-66. Brogan, C 2010, Social media 101: tactics and tips to develop your business online, Wiley, New York. Bruce, N Foutz, N Kolsarici, C 2012, Dynamic effectiveness of advertising and word of mouth in sequential distribution of new products, Journal of Marketing Research (JMR), vol. 49 no. 4, pp. 469-486. Clark, L Roberts, S 2010, Employer’s use of social networking sites: a socially irresponsible practice, Journa l of Business Ethics, vol. 95 no. 4, pp. 507-525. Evans, D 2008, Social media marketing: an hour a day, Wiley, New York. Filice, M Young, S 2011, From mainstage to movies to media: sustaining the live and performing arts through artistic convergence and the Balaban and Katz philosophy of continuous performance, International Journal of Arts Management, vol. 14 no. 2, pp. 48-56. Godley, C 2012, THRs social media poll: how Facebook and Twitter impact the entertainment industry, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/facebook-twitter-social-media-study-302273/1-social-media-as-entertainment. Goel, S Miesing, P Chandra, U 2010, The impact of illegal peer-to-peer file sharing on the media industry, California Management Review, vol. 52 no. 3, pp. 6-33. Hearing, G Ussery, B 2012, The times they are a changing the impact of technology and social media on the public workplace, Part I, Florida Bar Journal, vol. 86 no. 3, pp. 35-39. Hennig-Thurau, T Henning, V Sattler, H 2007, Consume r file sharing of motion pictures, Journal of Marketing, vol. 71 no. 4, pp. 1-18. Hettche, M Clayton, M 2012, Using social media to teach social media advertising: how to leverage student prior knowledge and word press blogs, Journal of Advertising Education, vol. 16 no. 1, pp. 45-55. Jamar, SD 2012, Copyright aspects of user-generated content in the internet social networking context, Journal of Internet Law, vol. 16 no. 5, pp. 3-13. Johnson, RL 2011, Corporate strategy and the social networking phenomena, Journal of Service Science (19414722), vol. 4 no. 2, pp. 1-10. Lica, L Tuta, M 2011, Predicting product performance with social media, Informatica Economica, vol. 15 no. 2, pp. 46-56. Lipsman, A Mud, G Rich, M Bruich, S 2012, The power of Like: how brands reach (and influence) fans through social-media marketing, Journal of Advertising Research, vol. 52 no. 1, pp. 40-52. Manjoo, F 2011, The great tech war of 2012, Fast Company, vol. 160, pp. 106-146. Sago, B 2010, The influenc e of social media message sources on millennial generation consumers, International Journal of Integrated Marketing Communications, vol. 2 no. 2, pp. 7-18. Schultz, D Block, M Labrecque, L 2012, Consumer retailer preference and facebook: friends or foes?, International Journal of Integrated Marketing Communications, vol. 4 no. 1, pp. 7-18. Scott, D 2010, The new rules of marketing and PR : how to use social media, blogs, news releases, online video, viral marketing to reach buyers directly, John Wiley Sons, London.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Critical, Close Reading Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games Essay

Critical, Close Reading Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games - Essay Example The major strengths of this paper is the use of examples, drawn from the novel as well as real life examples on how authoritarian rule caused rebellion. However, the area I would like to improve on is the analysis section. One of the major themes identified in the novel is power. The main source of power is the authoritarian government that is situated in the Capitol. This is because the Capitol contains majority of the wealth of Panem (Egan and Suzanne, 10). The government also uses this city to control the citizens of Panem. This is by holding the hunger games, whereby teenagers are chosen from the 12 districts and forced to fight to death. The major aim of holding these games was to thwart any form of rebellion from the people. It was also aimed at creating divisions within the districts, and infighting amongst the members of the 12 Districts in Panem (Balkind, 33). This in turn would prevent the citizens of Panem from rebelling against the government. However, these games did not succeed in preventing the citizens of Panem from rebelling. This paper takes a stand that the authoritarian use of power is a motivating factor for rebellion. It identifies circumstances where the citizens of Panem rebell ed against the authorities of the Capitol. This is through the two civil wars that occurred in Panem, and the actions of Katniss Everdeen. Originally, the country of Panem had 13 districts, but due to the authoritarian rule of the Capitol, the first civil war emerged. This was referred to as the Dark Days rebellion, and it was led by the 13th district. However, during this war, district 13 was able to gain independence, and formed its own rule. This is because its military was advanced, and it had threatened to use nuclear weapons to destroy Capitol (Collins, 7). The Capitol and the 13th district signed a secret ceasefire deal that granted district 13 independence. During

Friday, November 1, 2019

CHRYSLER LLC Business failure Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CHRYSLER LLC Business failure - Research Paper Example ed in making decisions, technological and global competitiveness, mergers and the acquisitions, rethinking business processes and alliances among others. The reasons behind the failure of the company were a result of a complex combination of organizational, managerial and leadership factors. The use of organizational behavioral theory helps in explaining why the company failed in the achievement of its strategic and operational goals. This was a clear example of ineffective leadership, poor organizational structuring and imbalanced management (Stephen, 2004). From 1940s to the beginning of the 21st century, the company underwent a series of changes but these changes did not help in ensuring its sustainability over time. The failure of the company can be dated back to the 1950s whereby it failed to survive the competitive and organizational pressures of the time. The company experienced lack of adequate organizational support and ended up relying on external consultants. The company w as transformed and followed the patterns adapted by General Motors whereby each division of the company had its own executive who had the powers to decide and authority over everything under its division. Unlike the case of the General Motors, the executives at the company felt that this decentralization was unfamiliar to them and as such did not welcome it (Robbins, 2003). Another factor which led to its failure is the merger with Daimler as mentioned earlier. At the time, the company was experiencing rapid organizational advancement, high profitability rates as well as huge opportunities in business. Before the merger, the company executives had already got used to working as a team and the merger destroyed this with many executives departing the company. As such, this organizational... Further still, poor leadership was experienced in Chrysler and the company failed to form a better corporate image and failed in overcoming its market and operational challenges. With considerations on the management and the departure of effective leadership, and the effect of the organizational culture of Daimler, there was a huge gap in the leadership and management of the company. The merger led to a crash of the cultures of the two organizations. The attribution theory can explain the failure in the Chrysler LLC Group. The attributions theory explains the actions of other individuals, the employees and stakeholders. These attribution processes are perceptional in nature and not motivational. It analyses how the attitudes of the individuals affect their actions as the views enable individual to filter information and choose the one to believe (Scott, 2007). The failure of the company was due to the perception of the leaders of their positions within the company. The differences in the perceptions of the executives and the stereotypes each of them had became a barrier to them effectively cooperating in the management of the business. The business failure of this company confirms the importance of organizational behavior and illustrates how poor leadership, mismanagement and ineffective organizational restructuring can result to the failure of a business.