Argument Essay Student Samples Corporation Essay

For corporations, sponsoring a school’s sports teams or facilities is a way of community outreach, where for a good turn, a company’s name and logo are disseminated more freely among the populace. For schools, sponsorship is a way to pick up extra cash-to buy books, renovate classrooms or make sure the soccer team has up-to-date equipment. In most public school systems, the taxpayers can’t provide all that. While cities cry foul for the supposed corporate â€Å"brainwashing† that takes place when a business writes a check to a nonprofit, it is quite clear they are the beneficiaries of such generosity. Sure, giving away money is a smart public relations move, as it often garners a newspaper article or two and the logo stamped on a kid’s t-shirt, but this is a far cry from the monopolization of the mind that some are so worried about. Here’s exhibit A. At my high school. The football team wears under-Armour exclusively. AS a bulk package from a smaller company, the athletic department gets a discount, and is able to provide uniforms at considerably lower expenses than if individuals purchased everything on their own. The â€Å"cost† of corporate influence is a small â€Å"UA† under the collar of every kid’s t-shirt, Under Armour’s marketing department gets a slap on the back for successful outreach to an important consumer group, and both sides are satisfied. The relationship is mutualistic the corporate â€Å"parasite† is AWOL. Exhibit B: my previous high school. As a freshman, I attended a small, Catholic school, with a student body of roughly 300 students. What kept the doors open and the lights on was partially from tuition, but that barely made a debt in overall costs. In the gym were about twenty billboards of moderate size with a logo. A phone number, and a tag line for the business that provided financial support to the school. Thanks to the businesses, who gave a little tog et a little, the place was still running last time I checked. Despite these tales of cozy, appropriate relationships between corporate America and America’s schools, sometimes things go too far. In past years,  Coca-Cola held a contest to see which school in Atlanta could produce the most coke â€Å"patriotism†, presumably for a cash prize for the school. One year, two kids wore Pepsi shirts on the designated â€Å"Coke day† and were suspended. Whether it’s the story if the cash strapped school or just overzealous administrators doesn’t matter. Somebody went to far. However, if the tabloids are any suggestion, this doesn’t happen with great frequency. The corporate sponsoring of a TV channel at school meant to solely advertise, or a billboard the size of Texas in the lunchroom, cross the line, but on balance, the relationship is mutually beneficial. Extra money traded for brief recognition at a game or a little embroidery on the back of a t-shirt, most would agree, is worth everyone’s time. As with all things moderation is the key—but none should be denied a new classroom, sports jerseys, or anything else, for that matter because it came from corporate America. Score: 9 Clearly defines the issue of corporate sponsorship for schools Shows a full awareness of the pros and cons of the issue Develops a clear, thoughtful position between extremes Makes effective use of two appropriate and convincing examples based on personal experience Uses syntactically varied and sophisticated language with impressive control throughout The advertisements that corporations place around US schools these days are ubiquitous. Around every corner in a school is vending machines encouraging kids to buy a coke or some other product the machine may sell. The money that comes from these corporate ads maybe helpful in funding the modern school, but has a negative affect on the students that see advertisements every day. A school in today’s society has a huge financial burden placed upon it that corporate money helps ease. School’s have to buy textbooks, computers, over-head projectors , say TVS, maintain the physical condition of the  school and many may other financial costs are needed to support a school. Buy allowing corporations to advertise in the school, funding all the costs of running a modern school becomes possible. Coco Cola has huge, multi-million dollar contracts with many schools and has vending machines in them. Many other corporations like Subway and Chick-Fil-A also pay schools to see their food in the school’s cafeteria’s. The money gained from these contracts allow schools to have desks and chalkboards. And many new modern technological advancements in school materials. Buy advertising for these companies, schools essentially gain the proper funds to function. Although schools are able to provide students with a proper learning environment through corporate funds, the advertisements themselves paradoxily make the school environment less about learning and more about marketing. Students already advertise for companies on their own through the clothing they wear, the shoes they buy, and other commercial products they have in their possession. The advertising in school is only promoting students to buy certain products and only encourages them to let their mentality of consumerism grow. School is about learning and that should be what the aim of a school feels like. Walking to a school should not be like entering a city mall like is today. Students walk around the campus as if it were full of shops and stores; they buy cokes before class or pick up a subway sandwich before the bell rings and next period begins. Schools should not be a zone where consumerism takes the place of learning. A thought on a student’s mind should be â€Å"how do I take the derivative of 3x squared minus 8x?† or â€Å"I really learned a lot from that lecture on Vietnam.† They should not be thinking â€Å"do I have time to buy a coke before 2nd period?† Advertising in the school setting also turns students from children that work on education into marketing groups that companies use to gauge the success of their products. This is essentially what schools have become. Students buy foods and drinks that are there to advertise for certain corporations and depending on what sells and what does not, companies change their products so they will be more affective in making a profit. Students are not test subjects that are meant to be studied. They are the future leaders of the world and should not be labeled as a lain demographic as corporations do by advertising in schools. Focus groups that many companies also use consist of volunteers. Students do not get to choose whether they want to be part of market research or not. They are put in these marketing groups just by going to school. Corporations are changing schools from learning environments to controlled research for their products. Education is the most important aspect of a school and companies and their advertisements are changing this. Students should be able to go to school and learn without being bothered by corporations who only want to gain a profit from these students. Modern schools function today largely in part because of the money they receive from corporations that advertise in them. Bat funding should not take precedence over learning. New ways to give schools an adequate budget need to be explored so schools can once again become a place of education. As schools are now, they are only getting students trapped in the world of consumerism and marketing. Score: 8 Effectively dramatizes the increasing prevalence of corporate ads in schools In paragraph two, explains why corporate sponsorship is increasing In paragraphs three through five, presents and embraces the opposing view, that ads â€Å"make the schools less about learning and more about marketing† Draws upon brief, useful examples of marketing in schools Uses language that is effective and controlled Essay # 3 Corporate partnerships have been becoming much more prevalent in our schools today. The Under Armor logo seems to be on every single baseball, football, and volleyball uniforms even at my own school. The money received by the school for endorsing the company than is used in a variety of ways to improve the school and its facilities. This is why these partnerships have become a necessity for cash-trapped schools. Others, however, frown upon schools, which accept these partnerships, as they believe schools should provide an ad-free environment for the students. Corporate partnerships are beneficial to schools, because they provide the funds to further the students’ educational opportunities and the advertisements have no negative effect on the learning environment. I personally am very familiar with the relationship between schools and â€Å"corporate sponsorships†. Having lived in South Korea for over ten years, I have heard many arguments about the â€Å"special relationship† between schools and sponsors. In South Korea, contributions of huge sums of money to schools by individuals, families, and corporations are prohibited, contrary to American schools. Here in America, universities accept large amounts of donation from outside sponsors in exchange for an easier admission. This is seen as outrageous and corrupt in South Korea. However, I believe that many South Koreans disregard the tremendous benefits that result from these sponsorships . One of the biggest reasons why numerous students, who come from a poor economic background, can even dream about attending colleges is that universities utilize the money received from sponsors to give scholarships. In South Korea, students without money cannot go onto college. The benefits of these corporate sponsorships greatly outweigh the drawbacks. These relationships are greatly help schools of other level such as high schools. Although no many high schools will utilize the money through scholarships (as public schools are free), the money can be used for basic necessities of the 21st century such as up-to-date computers, textbooks, and other school facilities. With these advancements and improvements, students will be able to access more resources and have better chances of success. This is fitting especially for under funded schools across America. These sponsorships could be exactly what they need to lift themselves out of the stagnation they have been trapped inside for numerous years. Corporate logos may distract a student from paying attention in AP English Language and Composition. However, the advertisements’ influence is limited. Seeing products and logos that we as students already see daily outside of school will not have significant effects on the students. Sure, we may choose to drink more Pepsi than coke since we see more Pepsi logos and products at out schools. But what harm is done through that? With the  benefits that can be obtained through sponsorships money greatly overpowering the drawbacks of increase in Pepsi sales, schools should and must be allowed to maintain corporate sponsorships. Score 7 Develops both sides of the corporate partnership issue Contrasts (not altogether clearly) South Korea and US attitudes towards corporate sponsorship Develops an adequate rationale in support of corporate partnership, using appropriate evidence Demonstrates a mature prose style with few lapses Some argue that corporate sponsorship or school exposes students to ads and corporate influence, and that schools should be an envirornment free of these things. However, the money that comes from these corporate sponserships could be extremely important to schools and so these sponsorships do more harm than foul. The real world is full of ads and corporate influence. Even if companies and products were not highlighted in schools, students would be exposed to the same products elsewhere. Marketing is so advanced and successful these days, that a company will do whatever it takes to reach their target market. If their idea benefits a school, why not create a partnership? Also, a school will only allow certain companies to partner with them. A school may be one of the best places for a student to be exposed to ads because they are school appropriate and considered thoughtfully. It is not like Marlboro or Coors are trying to create partnerships with school, so why not expose students to normal companies they might already buy into, and earn money doing it? Partnering with Coca-Cola may establish brand loyalty among teenagers, but it is not introducing them to soft drinks. By high school age, pretty much every American has at least tried a Coke and/or Pepsi. Although the argument promoting corporate sponsorships with school is stronger and has more positive effects, it does have a few instances that  could be argued with. Some could argue that teenage years are too young to be establishing brand loyalty, which is the company’s objective in partnering with the school. Parents could argue that they want their children experiencing different types of soda instead of only drinking the one offered at school. Or buying clothes from other companies. Or listening to other radio stations. Pretty things, that in comparison look even more petty to receiving money for the school, which could go toward computers, more teachers, more supplies, a better school. Regardless of the exposure to ads and corporate influence, partnerships provide money for schools; a way fro schools to improve, and have a more positive, more helpful effect on students. Students are already going to be exposed to companies, regardless of it they are found at their school or on the commercial of their favorite TV show or the bus stopped in traffic in front of their faces. A corporate sponsorship is a smart way for companies and schools alike to get what they want. Score 6: Shows an understanding of the issue and evaluates pro and con adequately Argues that corporate sponsorship will do no harm because ads are pervasive in our society anyway Presents appropriate evidence and reasoning, though without strong, specific examples Uses generally clear prose but contains some syntactic awkwardness and lapses in diction Unfortunately money is needed for the majority of things to be successful. Both public and private schools need money for their various programs and facilities. Corporations for years have sponsored school sports team, but now have moved on to other school facilities and negotiating contracts with food, drink, and clothing companies. While some argue that this is a necessity to pay for certain aspects of the school, others claim that the school environment should be ad and corporate influence free. Corporations should be able to advertise within schools so that school can receive funds. To argue that schools should be corporate influence free one must first evaluate the actual influence ads have. Right now I am in my school’s gym writing this essay and the scoreboard has a Coke logo avout it. Am I really going to go buy a coke after this test just because Coke was written on the wall? No. I do not like coke, nor do I want one. The fact that there is an advertisement above my head does not change the fact that I do not drink soft drinks. Similarly my sister goes to a private school that only sells Pepsi products because of a contract with a Pepsi company. She does not like the taste of Pepsi and is not going to pay money for something she does not want just because it is there. Most people will buy what they need or want regardless of a sign on the wall. For the School newspaper last summer I was required to sell five hundred dollars worth of ads. In every issue the ads are at the bottom of the page, but no one looks at them. Whether or not schools should be ad free is a trivial question because the majority of the people do not notice those ads around them. Since ads do not have a negative influence upon students schools should be able to accept necessary funds from corporations. Without advertisements the newspaper staff I am on could not publish or distribute our paper, sports programs would not have as much money and would not be as efficient, drinks for students would cost more. Corporate support makes things that might have been impossible originally, possible. Corporate funds are necessary for a successful school. Corporate support through advertisements and contracts should be allowed so that schools can attain money needed for various programs. Advertisements have little to no influence on students, but the money they bring in can make a world of difference. Score: 5 Opens with a statement of the basic issue, indication support for corporate sponsorship Acknowledges the opposition to corporate sponsorship in schools but does little to evaluate this position Develops a tenuous argument that is somewhat tangential to the central issue-that ads are acceptable in schools because people don’t pay attention to ads anyway Makes some use of  personal anecdote as evidence Contains language that conveys the writer’s ideas but lacks maturity Advertisements are seen everywhere, everyday and by everyone. They stimulate the economy and make products and services know to the public more and more, companies are sponsoring schools in order to get their product known. Some say that schools should be â€Å"an environment free from ads and corporate influence,† but the ads provide necessary funding for schools which benefits the students. There is not reason there shouldn’t be advertisements in schools. The companies give the school money simply to show their logo or sell their products. The money given to the schools goes towards new computers, new technology and better teacher. If the money is given to the sports teams it goes towards new uniforms, equipment and better coaches. All of these things benefit the student in everyway the student has better resources and is more motivated to do well and succeed. Many schools in less fortunate areas receive a majority of their funds from companies that need to advertise. Say for instance the school needed to make changes or repairs to the facility, where would the money come from? Since the parents, students or community members wouldn’t be able to donate, the companies have to step in. without the corporate funding, repairs to facilities, new technology and better resources become available to the students that otherwise wouldn’t have the access to them. In conclusion, there is no legitment reason that advertisements should not be allowed in schools. It is all around beneficial for the students, teachers, and the school itself. The advertisement or products placed in the schools are informative to the students and staff, and allow east access to the product. If not, the ad can simply be ignored just as in everyday life. The money given to the school greatly outweighs any negative of advertising.  The money allows for better facilities, teachers, resources, and equipment, which enevitably allows the students to do better. Don’t you want your child to succeed? Score 4: Makes an assertion about the pervasiveness of advertising Briefly mentions the view opposing ads in schools but does not evaluate or elaborate on this position Argues in favor of corporate sponsorship but is inadequate because of its simplistic development Prose suggests immature control of language Should corporations be allowed to influence students at school with ads? Schools need money to have certain programs. Corporatiosn are allowed to give schools money to sponsor sports, libraries, music rooms, cafeterias, hallyways and textbooks. It takes a lot of money to have sports teams. Schools have to pay insurance, coachs, buses to take teams to games, repairs in equipment, and buying equipment. Schools also have to pay for extra activities, books, and other expanses. Corporations that sponsor some of these expanses are helping the schools. The only price to pay is logos and ads. Now school is suppose to be a safe learning environment. Children are not suppose to be exposed to other influences while they are learning. Colorful ads and logos are distracting. While schools might need the money, their should be a limit to the inference of some partnerships. Like the soda and chip companies. Vending machines with unhealthy foods should not be allowed in schools. It is a common fact that schools need money and are influenced by their partnerships with corporations. There should be a limit to ads and logos. Having them in gymnasiums and football stadiums is okay. Having them in classrooms and other places in the school where education should be the  primary and only influences is not a position schools should be in. A line needs to be drawn. Score 3: Acknowledges pros and cons of corporate sponsorship but evaluates them inadequately and superficially Moves abruptly from one position (paragraph two) to the next (paragraph 3) Presents a position on the issue, stating that there are some circumstances in which corporate sponsorship is appropriate, others where it is not Contains weak, often labored writing, showing poor syntactic control It is true that corporations have long supported high school athletics. For one, athletics require the most outside money, due to the nature of expenses. Other than that, there is usually nothing corporate about high school. However, that is slowly beginning to change. The extent to which corporate support is unsolved in schools is increasing and is very beneficial to the school. Schools have logos all over. Most advertise â€Å"goings-on† within the school. Others simply say â€Å"THIS IS SPARTA!† And others have corporate backings. These last ones are beneficial to schools in that they draw in money for the school. Budget cuts and things of that nature continuously seem to plague the public school system. Score 2: Demonstrates little success in evaluating and taking a position on corporate sponsorship Substitutes a simpler task than the prompt calls for, merely attempting to explain the need for corporate help rather than developing a clear position Offers little development Shows some syntactic ability but generally weak in control of language Essay # 9 Sponsorships between schools and corporations are indeed beneficial. There are all sorts of expenses to worry about for sports teams, and in turn the partnership helps businesses. The exposure to such business may even influence students who want to pursue a similar career. Advertising plays a vital role in sponsorships. By seeing the logos around school and on uniforms, more customers are brought into business. Score 1: Claims support for corporate partnerships does not develop the position Does not evaluate pro and con Uses simplistic, repetitious language

Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument Essay

The organization I last worked with is an IT/ITES company, which is one of the fastest growing fortune 500 companies. The organization has a balanced out structure however there is a little dominance towards ‘The Market’. As per my experience I can say that the reason for this is that the organization is relatively young and striving to compete with the best in the industry. This requires leaders to be competitive and to an extent demanding. Also the employees are dedicated towards the company’s vision and hence strive to achieve the goals and targets set for them. Culture – Strong. People are focused on innovating and brainstorming towards ideas that the management can implement and improve their processes. The company is people oriented which in turn creates a high commitment level from the employees. The organization has leaders who are efficient and ensure smooth running of the company. The company is sensitive towards the clients and customers and goes an extra mile to deliver better than the expectations. This is the reason for them to be able to retain customers and get new businesses. Another fact that I am aware of is that the organization has not till date fired any employee unless in extreme ethical sensitive issues. An example of people being valued and everyone considered equal is that when I joined the company as a fresher some of my friends who ad joined along with me sent a mail to the CEO regarding a certain issue and got a reply from him with the action that would be taken. Since mostly the organizational structure is balanced out there is not much discrepancy. I would however like the company reduce its dominance in the Market style and according to me that will happen with time. Yes there is a cultural congruence and that is mainly because the company’s culture was same as my expectation.

Microsoft’s Diversification Strategy Essay

1. Why did Microsoft, the most successful computer software company, choose to remedy its strategic disarray? Microsoft is a multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services related to computing. The company was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975. Microsoft is the world’s largest software maker measured by revenues. It is also one of the world’s most valuable companies. However, after a string of bad news seriously undermined the future growth of Microsoft, the bad impression was arisen. Microsoft tried to remedy its strategic disarray, because in the high-technology industry, standstill is equal to commit suicide. IT industry is really a highly competitive industry. Microsoft must to solve their problems as soon as possible. Microsoft was the most successful computer software company. However, if they ignore its strategic disarray, they may be defeated. I would like to use SWOT analysis to illustrate my views why Microsoft chose to remedy its strategic disarray. Strengths: Microsoft is the world’s largest software company with global name recognition and strong reputation for innovative products. Microsoft’s Software products have high name recognition, broad-based corporate and consumer acceptance (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), and numerous powerful features that are in use worldwide, thereby promoting standardization and competitive advantage through their ease of integration and cost-effectiveness. Windows 95, 98, 2000 series are globally known as the PC desktop operating system with a market share of about 88%. What’s more, Microsoft has relatively rapid product development processes that allow for timely updating and release of new products. Weaknesses: Between1990-1995, Microsoft leadership failed to correctly anticipate the growth or popularity of the Internet. In addition, it perceived by many as a cut-throat competitor that uses its dominant market position to marginalize competition by stealing/destroying the competition’s products, stifling product innovation, and decreasing the availability of competitor products. Furthermore, Microsoft had its strategic disarray in the early 2000s. Opportunities: In the early 2000s, the demand for personal computers in American and global markets remains strong despite the growth and increasing popularity of personal handheld devices. Moreover, cheaper global telecommunication costs open new markets as people connect to the Internet. Threats: From the case study, basic office software had been challenged by a string of start-ups. Between 1993-1995, Sun Microsystems, Netscape, Oracle, IBM, AOL, and other companies moved into the Internet space and defined it while Microsoft failed to anticipate its growth or popularity. These new competitors were able to churn out popular programs such as e-mail, desktop search engines, and instant messaging over the Internet much faster than Microsoft. So Microsoft need reinvent itself. For instance, Red Hat, the one of key competitors of Microsoft, dominated the market for Linux, went public in 2000. Red Hat became famous. What’s more, in 2001, Red Hat expanded its software products and included database applications and an e-commerce software suite designed for average-sized businesses. Nevertheless, a string of bad news undermined the future growth of Microsoft since the early 2000s. If Microsoft didn’t remedy its strategic disarray, Red Hat or other competitors may surpass Microsoft in the future. Furthermore, from the case study, according to a study conducted by McKinseyï ¼â€ Co. in 2004 on IT spending trends, although IT spending had increased since 2003 after three years of decline. 2001 is the first annual decline since 1958. Customers would expect to get more out of their technology investments. Companies had been more concerned about the value of IT and enforced stringent rules and guidelines for IT spending. Therefore, Microsoft would have less opportunity to develop in the U.S. Moreover, Apple and Linux threaten Microsoft’s 88% market share of the desktop operating market. Linux influence growing from 7% in 1998 to 17% in 1999. In addition, Personal computers, mobile-phones, personal digit assistants, entertainment-oriented hand-held computers, and similar wireless products for Internet access do not require Window operating system products. And Software piracy of commercial and consumer applications software on a global scale threatens revenue streams. In general, the weaknesses and threats outweigh the strengths and opportunities in the early 2000s. At that time, Microsoft was threatened by a series of challenges, both external and internal. That why Microsoft choose to remedy its strategic disarray at that time. 2. How did Microsoft grasp market chances to diversify its operation beyond its comfort zone, fighting all the way with its major competitors? Microsoft chose to diversify its operation beyond its comfort zone since early 2000s. Diversification marketing strategy is a corporate strategy to increase sales volume from new products and new markets. Diversification can be expanding into a new segment of an industry that the business is already in, or investing in a promising business outside of the scope of the existing business. As what we have learned in the textbook, diversification strategy has many advantages. Diversification strategy can help Microsoft to limit risk. This is because a diversified portfolio is not overexposed to a single industry and therefore is somewhat insulated from downturns and volatility — or market fluctuations — in that industry. In addition, diversification limits an investor’s risk extending from an individual company or type of investments. In addition to limiting downside risk, diversification strategies also have the effect of maximizing portfolio returns. This is in part because risk is limited — by avoiding exposure to major losses, the portfolio can be more likely to make money. Microsoft was moving beyond the personal computer (PC) software business and expanded its product lines into enterprise software, consumer products, and services markets. It got into other devices such as mobile phones, television setup boxes, and game consoles. Microsoft had ventured into the services market through MSN in order to generate new revenue. MSN is a collection of Internet sites and services provided by Microsoft. It was a Web portal that offered a wide range of online services including: news, information search, e-mail, instant messaging, online shopping and games, chat rooms, and message boards. Based on its success in MSN, Microsoft had hoped to leverage its experience to transform its Windows-based services for consumers and enterprises. Moreover, Microsoft also leveraged MSN to generate revenue through traditional advertising on its Web site, and also sold text-based advertisements to compete with Google’s AdWords and AdSense, and Yahoo! Search Marketing. In the enterprise software market, Microsoft deliberately chose not to compete with leading enterprise applications providers such as SAP and Oracle for large multinational companies. Instead, the software giant aggressively pursued opportunities with small and midsized enterprises. In 2001, Microsoft acquired Great Plains Software, a long-time partner and a specialist in accounting applications for small and midsized businesses. In 2002, Microsoft acquired Navision, a Denmark-based enterprise software maker. Therefore, Microsoft Business Solutions offered a wide range of software applications. This kind of strategy is really shrewd. If Microsoft competes with leading enterprise applications providers at beginning of the extending stage, it is impractical. Microsoft used acquisition method to enhance its strength in order to compete with leading companies in the future. Microsoft entered the video gaming business in 2001 compete with Sony. After the first launch of the video game console, Xbox, Microsoft is in the distant second place behind Sony’s Playstation 2. Microsoft tried to challenge Sony’s dominant position. First, the software giant’s Xbox 360 was launched several months ahead of its rivals’ products: Sony’s Playstation 3. Some believed that the success of Sony’s Playstation 2 had been partly due to its advantage in reaching the market earlier than its rival s. Hence, Microsoft copied this marketing trick by becoming the first game console in the new business cycle. It is called, dominating the market by striking first. We can learn from the Microsoft that capturing initiative is important in the business. Second, learning from the flop of the original Xbox in Japan, this time Microsoft worked closely with the producers of the Japanese games in the hope of neutralizing the traditional advantages of its two main rivals. I can learn from this case, we should learn from failure as Microsoft did. Avoiding backwards and developing merit. Third, Microsoft abandoned its previous approach of using off-the-shelf parts provided by Intel and Nvidia. Although efficient, that approach lacked the flexibility that Microsoft’s rivals enjoyed in reducing the consoles’ costs and increasing the profit margins during their lifetime. For example, Sony had gradually reduced the number of chips required by its Playstation 2 without sacrificing its performance. So Microsoft adopted a new design for Xbox 360, hoping to achieve a new degree of flexibility that could help integrate various components and profitability in the future. Microsoft also ventured into the mobile communications market. Microsoft went to the mobile operators because of the exclusion of the mobile handset manufacturers. At that time, many mobile operators, particularly in Europe, started to leverage original design manufacturers (ODM), mostly in Taiwan, to produce handsets that would bear their own brand names in order to create market differentiators. Meanwhile, Microsoft spotted this opportunity and persuaded the operators and handset manufacturers to develop phones based on its Windows Mobile operating system. In 2002, HTC launched the first Windows-based smart phone. HTC is a leading ODM in Taiwan. Other operators followed suit after that. In late 2005, Palm (Microsoft’s rival in handheld devices) decided to adopt the Windows Mobile software and replace is Palm OS with its Treo smart phone. This move further signaled Microsoft’s success in penetrating the mobile and handheld market segments. From this case, we can learn that the company should be sensitive to the business environment and grasp the chance in time. Microsoft spotted and grasped the opportunities to further establish itself in the industry. Microsoft had struggled for many years in the television market. At the beginning, many competitors were concerned that once Microsoft entered the market it would repeat its monopolistic practices of the PC business in the cable industry. In this situation, Microsoft had formed strategic partnerships, hoping to improve its position in the cable market. In this way, Microsoft established itself as a leading IPTV technology provider. Through this arrangement, a number of leading telecom operators adopted Microsoft’s software for their IPTV services. Hence, understanding how to cooperate with competitors is also important for doing business. In 2009, Microsoft created Bing as a search engine competed with Google. Microsoft grasped chances to be successful in the Chinese market to the best of its faculty. When entering the Chinese market, challenges remain for those looking to do business in the country. Intense competition, corruption, business etiquette and language are some of the barriers that can be faced. However, challenges are opportunities to some extent. Microsoft realized that when entering the Chinese market, the product may not sell like it does in the United States or Europe. In terms of Microsoft and China, the country has a strong censorship in place for its citizens, and Microsoft tried to come to an agreement to partner with a Chinese company to make the browser effective. Microsoft has signed a deal with Baidu, the biggest search engine in China, to provide English-language search results to improve its market share. In addition, Microsoft knew that Chinese government’s demands are significant. Microsoft Company censored the search results to relevant department to meet the Chinese government’s demands. The announcement of the deal is a boost to Microsoft, which has been struggling to boost the position of its Bing search engine against Google’s dominance in almost every country around the world. Sometimes, Bing trumps Google in touch-accessed services designed expressly to help iPhone and iPad die-hards have cooler experiences shopping and finding restaurants online. It will also be a boost for Baidu, which has ambitions internationally. In 2012, Microsoft launched panel computer, Surface. Ballmer redefined panel computer at Surface’s New Product Presentation in June, 2012. Surface is different from iPad. Surface is closer to the idea of ​​Bill Gates. This is a panel computer that can work in the company. This is in harmony with Bill Gates’ definition to the panel in the beginning. Apple thinks panel is a mobile terminal. Microsoft Surface is more inclined to think is personal computers. I can see this point at the choice of the operating system. Apple is using iOS system for iPad. On the contrary, Microsoft is using Win8 for Surface. Moreover, Surface’s design is directed against for the iPad’s weaknesses. Microsoft used differentiation strategy. iPad’s input system is inconvenient, but Surface has a detachable keyboard, which makes Surface use like a computer. Meanwhile, Surface’s design is directed against for iPad’s App Store. App Store’s application depth is not enough. Nevertheless, Surface Pro is using the X86’s Win8 operating system, it can use more compatible operating system. One of Microsoft’s largest competitors is Apple Corporation. At the first competition between Apple and Microsoft, the winner is Microsoft. Windows operating system has good compatibility. Different brands and types of the computers around the world are installed in the same system. Despite it has shortcomings, but it can not hide the plebification characteristics. In contrast, Apple is pursuit of perfection and strict exclusiveness. Only Apple can install Apple’s system, but also only be installed such systems. Although Apple produce a good product, but can not win the favor of consumers. What’s more, Microsoft faced the challenge actively. In 2011, Skype was purchased by Microsoft Corporation for over $8 billion, and now operates as a division of Microsoft. Skype is a proprietary Voice over IP service and software application. Skype has expanded into education, as numerous classrooms worldwide now use the service to video conference with instructors, other student, and even other institutions. This will allow Skype to have a leg up in the future, when they decide to push even further with their subscription plans. What’s more, with Microsoft’s efforts in 2010 like apps store, Bing search engine, Yahoo-deal for ad-sharing, Zune platf orm and Project Natal, will undoubtedly compete with Apple and others effectively. 3. What can you foresee or what suggestions can you think about its growth of new area in the future? As far as I’m concerned, the growth of Microsoft’s new products will increase smoothly. However, Microsoft will face some challenges. Xbox, Kinect and Xbox Live continue to emerge as a rich hub for games, sports, movies and TV shows that can be accessed via touch and voice controls. And these controls are being increasingly integrated into all manner of screens: HDTVs, smart phones and tablets. â€Å"Two years ago, very few services connected,† says Frank X. Shaw, Microsoft’s vice president for corporate communications. â€Å"Now if you have an Xbox, you can see Bing, access Sky Drive (cloud storage) and use your Windows Phone to have a better experience, because the services are shared.† They are all products of new area. Their marketing foreground will be rosy. In my opinion, in all new products, Microsoft should focus on Bing. The key competitors of Bing, Google and Yahoo!, had adopted the application-as-services model coupled with a new advertising-driven funding approach, which enabled them to develop open-source and free software products for the general public. In particular, in the case, Google and Yahoo! had formed partnerships with various telecommunication or cable service providers in order to position their respective portals as the default entrance to the Internet. Microsoft should find methods to provide Internet users a range of services from search to e-mail and discussion blogs to news in order to compete with competitors. In the entertainment and consumer markets, Microsoft’s Xbox Live had been a leader of online gaming. The system provided classic arcade games, game trailers, and upgrade packs that were downloadable. However, the Xbox game console and the ventures in mobiles and IPTV, these products should be more consumer-oriented. The big competitors, Apple and Sony, their products are much more consumer-oriented and media savvy. For instance, Apple’s iMac and iPod products, and iTunes services were designed to cater to the high-end media centric consumers. Sony’s video games and entertainment business remained one of the strongest in the industry, particularly in the consumer electronics segment. If Microsoft’s products be more consumer-oriented, in my views, the Xbox game console and the ventures in mobiles and IPTV will be the star products in the future. However, Microsoft should pay attention to its major area, that is, personal computer software business. The superiority and proprietary advantages will be diminished if Microsoft ignored its major area. Japan and South Korea joined China in 2012 on a project to jointly develop a new operating system based on Linux as an alternative to Microsoft’s Windows. Thailand and Malaysia have instigated programs to offer low-cost PCs to citizens with Linux operating systems. It is the Butterfly Effect on global pricing. They’re being helped along by Microsoft competitors such as Sun Microsystems, which has signed a deal with the Chinese government to supply its Linux desktop operating system and office program to as many as a million PCs there. In Apple Company, Steve Jobs wants to overwhelm Microsoft in the field of operating systems. It is worth noting that, Apple’s computer hardware performance has been unmatched. However, Apple chose to â€Å"kill† Microsoft in the field of software. It means Apple was warning Microsoft intentionally: Not only IBM can be a threat to Microsoft, but also Apple. Microsoft’s competitors are trying to improve their market share in China and all over the world. Microsoft should not relax vigilance. It is still a long way to go for Microsoft. In my view, Microsoft should forge its own product culture. Apple is pursuit of elegant products. Apple adheres to creativity and uniqueness. Eventually become a model for other companies to emulate. Microsoft should find its own development route and set up unique product culture. Only in this way can Microsoft have its own distinguishing features and lead the industry. Microsoft used diversification strategy and it had entered various new markets in which it had no proprietary advantages. Facing with a bunch of new challenges, Microsoft should not confront alone. It should have new partnerships. The impression of people to Microsoft is a little bit haughty. So Microsoft should form more strategic partnerships in the future and learn more from the competitors modestly to capture opportunities in these new markets.

Traveling to Foreign Country Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Traveling to Foreign Country - Essay Example This has given me a different perspective on traveling to a new land. The anxiety that I felt upon moving to America mostly centered on my children. As an adult, I knew that small changes could be dealt with and that time tends to heal most wounds. But my anxiety for my children was immense. I did not want them to be at a disadvantage because they were new in this country. I wanted them to learn the language and social skills they would need to be successful. I needed to find work right away, so that meant finding a good day care for the children. As I approached the first day care center that would grant me an interview, my heart was pounding with nervousness. I had faced much more stressful situations in my homeland, but so much was weighing on this decision. At least that is what I thought at the time. The large brick building was a Christian church that had a day care center on the bottom level. Entering the day care center door, I could smell the strong smells of plastic and dis infectant. Janice, the director greeted me warmly. She shook me by the hand and spoke very loudly and slowly. Too loudly. I immediately felt dumb and wondered if I had made a good choice. As it turns out, Janice was a lovely person. She gave me a walking tour of the day care center, where children of all colors were engaged in play. Everything was neat, clean and child sized. The workers were playing with the children. Janice stopped talking so loudly when I made it clear through my speech that I was OK at understanding English. By the end of my visit, I no longer felt dumb. My children were enrolled in a day care center that was clean and affordable. Janice became the first friend I made in America. My anxiety concerning my children slowly began to slip away. My next task was to purchase transportation for my family. This experience left me confused and not nearly as satisfied as the day care experience. Actually, in many ways the experiences started in a similar way. I entered a b uilding full of conflicting smells. Walking into the dealership, I could smell an odd combination of roasting hotdogs, coffee, motor oil and the unmistakable smell of tires. The food odors came from a lounge area inhabited by noisy children and bored parents waiting to have their cars serviced. The other, more expected smells were from the cars in the showroom. Lawrence, the salesman greeted me and began talking very fast. He wanted to know about my family, my job, my homeland and me. He thought it was wonderful that I had just moved to America, explaining his parents had moved from Belgium when he was a small child. Finally, he started to talk about cars. I told him the amount of money I could spend but he said that was not the most important consideration. He explained that in America, cars were more than transportation. He said cars are a way of telling people about you. I honestly did not understand what he meant. He continued this way for some time, talking fast and showing me one bright, shiny car after another. I began to grow impatient. I had not come to look at cars I could not afford. I just needed to find a car that could get me to work and the kids to day care. Finally, I let Lawrence know that I was running out of time and I needed to see some cars I could afford. He began to talk about how easy the financing was and how low my payments could be each month. Every figure he suggested was more than I could afford. Lawrence grew persistent when I gathered my

Q3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Q3 - Essay Example It is important in improving the organization’s competitiveness through ensuring that the customers are loyal to it as well as the optimization of innovative products and services from the organization (Day et al 2000). More over, management as well as employees use this technology to put together and evaluate data obtained regarding customers for the purpose of developing a strong relationship between them and the customers. This strengthens the basis for new product development as well establishing market for the organization’s products. It is clear that customer relationship management is the core technology for the organization due to the fact that without it, banks may not be able to obtain essential information concerning customers, which affects the banking system in one way or another. Any organization is usually concerned with enhancing its competitiveness in the market. CRM technology helps in solving issues regarding competitiveness, thereby making it possible for an organization to accomplish its goals. This technology has encouraged innovativeness in the organization (Percival 2006). The availability of information and the use of the customer oriented approach, which is enhanced by the CRM technology, have made product differentiation in the organization possible through innovativeness. This has increased the organization’s competitive advantage, which is a major factor that contributes to profitability. Technology that is core or enabling to an organization is identified through critically evaluating whether it is capable of assisting in the realization of organizational goals. It is also important to assess whether communication regarding the organization’s strategy is acquired in order to ensure that the organization has a basis for establishing the technology that is regarded as the core to the organization’s success. Such technology is usually understood by every employee in the organization who understands

Interpretations of Tsuru no Sugomori Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Interpretations of Tsuru no Sugomori - Essay Example Upon my first two listens of the Japanese song Tsuru no sugomori (Nesting Crane), I found the song to be slightly therapeutic, while at the same time a bit irritating. I could make out the sound of a flute, and a stringed instrument. The flute at times seemed subtle then grew to be slightly annoying, as it raised in pitch. The stringed instrument tended to maintain a subtle pitch throughout the song, but it would occasionally increase in frequency. Being I can only judge from a western perspective, the song as a whole initially reminded me of what little I know about Eastern culture. I have a very extensive history listening to music. I’m a fan of multiple contemporary genres, such as Indie, Hip-Hop, Jazz (New wave down tempo and classic), classic rock etc†¦ I even played in a high school orchestra, in which I gained an understanding of multiple instruments. This experience has enhanced my appreciation of music. This must be taken into consideration when assessing my eval uation of the music. My initial reaction to the piece was one that embodies what I know of ancient Japanese or samurai culture. It specifically reminded me of the 1969 Japanese film Double Suicide in which the two main characters commit the sacred act of Shinju (double suicide) to profess their love to one another.

Mandatory Military Service Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mandatory Military Service - Essay Example The researcher states that then thought of every able bodied person serving in the military elicits mixed reaction in different societies and other quarters, where some are for while others are against it. Engaging in military service for able bodied raises debates world over, which makes it crucial to assess the options between service or lack of it, whether mandatory service is more beneficial as compared to lack thereof. Mandatory military service should be recommended for every nation and state for different reasons that are only for the benefit of its people and the enlisting individuals, as a whole. One of the main reasons is that taking part in military service is an act of loyalty, and the right thing to do for everyone as a citizen. This is a duty in which every citizen should participate rather than wait for other members of the society to step forward risking their lives to protect those of others. This service ensures ignorance is eliminated from all members of society, a s they all know their responsibilities and what the military goes through. This is before they get to criticize the works of the military prior to understanding the implications of handling conflict, both armed and unarmed. In such cases, responsibilities of protecting the nation should be shouldered by all able bodied persons as without the mandatory system, the entire military would be a professional one. This is where the cost becomes overwhelming since the military wants to retain as many personnel as possible, which is not the case with mandatory service. Mandatory service ensures that the military is always ready with personnel and trains reserves since those that leave the military become reservists. These reservists are equipped with skills that benefit all members of the society regardless of conflicts as the same skills can be applied in life situations. Moreover, mandatory military service for every able bodied citizen is crucial to creating a patriotic nation and instill ing a sense of nationhood amongst the people (Imran). Serving in the military serves as an opportunity to inculcate a sense of pride in serving their country thus allowing them to fight for it and guard it under all circumstances. Although there are many other options from which one can choose to instill patriotism, mandatory military service instills pride and should, therefore, be practiced. It is also one of the ways through which one can serve his or her country; before going into the world to serve one’s own needs and interests. As such, it creates a sense of identity with the men and women fighting for the country by connecting with them. This connection is because the citizens know what it takes to be in the military, and how patriotic it is of them to serve in it. Serving in the military, therefore, should be enforced for every able bodied person for a defined period in which one evaluates his or her loyalties. However, mandatory military service should not be practic ed for clearly visible reasons that decapitate the values of the society, any society that is. This is provided the society in question follows a democratic view that should allow its people to make their own choices by joining the military. Furthermore, it ruins the social system by having the military leaders and other leaders with the power to influence the military have their own way. Hence, mandatory military service ensures that there are no reforms in the military, a heavy consequence for the people and the nation as a whole. This is because this service leaves people who are exempt from the service as lesser members of the society as compared to those who are enlisted. Therefore, they are discriminated against and used to achieve the means of recruiting and assigning officers (Connolly). Those that do not enlist in the military are required to serve mandatory community service that involves the providing cheap labor for other members of the society, as is the case of Germany . It is for this reason that every able bodied

General Custer's Last Stand Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

General Custer's Last Stand - Research Paper Example Those that were left would pass down the story of the battle from generation to generation, until it became a legendary part of history. The main controversies leading to the battle were a band of what was considered to be renegade Sioux Native Americans and the fact that the settlers were once again pressing in on the lands previously given to the Sioux. A treaty was signed in 1868 and the Great Sioux Reservation was created; it included the Black Hills, lands considered sacred to the tribe2. Custer himself, however, had led expeditions into the country in 1874 and discovered rich reins of gold, which, of course, were wanted by everyone other than the Sioux3. Complicating things were a band of Sioux that had never considered themselves reservation Native Americans, and lived freely on buffalo hunting grounds4. Led by Chief Sitting Bull, these Sioux were finally issued an ultimatum, which was to move to the reservation by January 31, 1876, or be considered hostile and have military action taken against them5. The stage was set for a spectacular finish, and the Native Americans would not go quietly. Accounts of Custer himself are conflicted. His own writings depict that he believed Native Americans were hostile, and that they would break any treaty made before the ink was dry from their marks6. However, there are other accounts that portray him as friendly towards the Native Americans, wishing nothing more than to be considered a frontiersman7. It cannot be denied that he had clashed with Native American tribes before, as he had achieved victory over Cheyenne tribe at the Battle of the Washita in 18688. He had also done battle with Sitting Bull, as well as Sioux Chief Crazy Horse in 1873, when guarding railroad workers’ surveying land for new tracks at the Yellowstone River9. Custer, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull would once

The Death Penalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Death Penalty - Essay Example In 2000s, Texas was ranked as the leaders in death penalties across the nation. However, it is the Eighth Amendment in the U.S. Constitution which is the centre of all debates made on capital punishment, and which makes it impossible to come to a conclusion. It is clear that the Eighth Amendment prohibits ‘cruel and unusual’ punishments, but the interpretations to this amendment are unclear and inconclusive. The courts have presented many interpretations in different cases and in general terms the word cruel means excessively brutal. This means that the punishments that are torturous come under this heading. The term unusual has a broader meaning and it refers to those punishments that are not usually associated with a common type of crime, but rather they are applied arbitrary in severe crimes. Another interpretation of this article is that punishments should be given proportionate to the seriousness of the crime committed. The article, according to some interpretations , prohibits life imprisonment for crimes such as shoplifting and theft. This is not because the punishment is cruel or unusual, but because it is not imaginable and acceptable for such a crime (Stearman 143). Under this article comes the issue of death penalty which has been addressed by the Supreme Court many times. The general definitions of the terms used in the article are considered by the Supreme Court quite often. Up till today, the court has never completely and clearly ruled out the use of death penalty as unconstitutional. The major issue regarding the amendment is the time period when it was written. The courts have often argued that the meaning of the eighth amendment can change over the time as society changes, modernization takes place and norms change. The amendment was made in 1700s and at that time whipping was considered and recognized as an acceptable punishment because of the society values. But these practises may not be applicable today due to the changes in th e values and cultures. Many times the court has addressed that death penalty hold the public support and can be used as a remedy for the serious crimes (Gardner 201). The Supreme Court has considered that the death penalty is not considered to be a cruel punishment for some serious crimes, however if it is ruled off if the application is unusual. The issue here is again the proportionality of the crime committed. Cases decided in 1972 and 1976 are the two major ones about the death penalty issue. The case of Furman v. Georgia was decided in 1972 which concluded that application of death penalty by arbitration and the disproportion seen in minorities are the factors that make death penalty unusual. In response to this decision, the death penalties in row were cancelled and there were no death penalties for about four years in the U.S. Because the courts did not rule the death penalty as unconstitutional, the state legislatures were free to make statutes for death penalties (Clear 543 ). The critics of the death penalty have ruled that it is commonly used as discriminatory against the minorities, ethnic groups etc. They argue that death penalty should be ruled off since long in the history they have been used against the minorities. This has been observed in U.S. and in other parts of the world too where death penalty is still applied. The critics argue that this is merely unconstitutional and it infringes the

Summary and response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Summary and response - Essay Example of the 21st century depends directly on its young generations’ ability to make use of the knowledge that was presented to them in schools and other educational and training institutions. He remarked that not only scientific and technical, but also purely economic and business advancement of the U.S. are strongly dependent on the new generations’ capacity for making rational and creative decisions. And for this end, the high-quality education, and the students’ resolve to attain it, is indispensable. I would note that Barack Obama’s speech underscored the planned administration’s policies aimed at boosting the youngsters’ resolve to follow through their school years without dropping out. The main concern that may have been discerned in the speech is that over the youth’s contribution to the society’s performance in such fields as the economy and science. Both fields are greatly affected by the current crisis; therefore, it is natural that the President should draw attention to them in his

Understanding the Education System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Understanding the Education System - Essay Example Additionally, the tuition for technical courses (such as nursing, medicine, and engineering) is extremely higher. Most university students are more likely to incur additional costs on activity fees, accommodation, supplies, and health insurance. As a result, the overall annual cost may increase to $12000. Additionally, the costs are constantly increasing when the university administration adjusts for inflation. The cost education has increased by more than 20 percent from 200 to 2012. The increase comes at a time where the median family income increases by less than 10 percent. Furthermore, the number of charities subsidizing the cost of tuition by providing scholarships to students has decreased. The competition for the limited opportunities is very stiff and results in few students attaining a college education. Moreover, a number of student loans are quite low and may fail to finance all costs. Upon graduation, the students have also to face additional challenges of attaining empl oyment and paying the student loans. The federal government has a responsibility of ensuring all high school students attain post secondary education. The government must implement policies that ensure that students obtain tuition subsidies. Furthermore, the university administrations must ensure that the cost of tuition charged to the students is fair and reasonable. The parents have a responsibility of ensuring that their children have education insurance policies to cover their education (Laura, 2013).

Critical thinking Essay Example for Free

Critical thinking Essay In academic writing, an argument is usually a main idea, often called a â€Å"claim† or â€Å"thesis statement,† backed up with evidence that supports the idea. In most college papers, one needs to make some sort of claim and use evidence to support it. One’s ability to do this will separate a good paper from other papers. We use argument in everyday life to convince somebody of my ideas or opinion, convince our teachers we deserve a better grade. A better argument is accomplished if no emotion is involved. One component of argument is logic. Claims are statements about what is true or good or about what should be done or believed. Claims are potentially arguable. For example, recent tax cuts should be abandoned another is the civil war is caused by slavery. In making an argument one must use reason to support the claim. Reason is a statement that supports a given claim or in other words â€Å"why do you say that claim?† support is the evidence that we use; one example of evidence is statistics. When making an argument we must remember to use warrants which is influences or assumptions that connect the support to the claim. A very important part when making an argument is to come across to the audience as a credible speaker or arguer that has sufficient evidence, that the evidence is based on research or scholarly articles. It is important to also remember that every argument has a counterargument. Which the argument more interesting and also strong its not one that everyone agrees with.

Influence of Social Media on Political Views

Influence of Social Media on Political Views Social media’s influence on citizen’s democratic beliefs and political ideology and impact on elections From the beginning the internet has been used as an archive tool for human behavior. Around the globe, social media has provided an outlet and has made it easier than ever in allowing individuals to voice their opinions and beliefs about government; to talk about issues, mobilize around causes, and hold various leaders and lawmakers accountable. This review will attempt to summarize how the spread of beliefs and opinions by others on social media very much influence the those who use social media as a source of getting news as well as if social media is changing the way we view a democracy. It is just recently that in the year 2011, social media took a vital role in the Arab Spring uprisings in places such as Egypt and Tunisia as it was proclaimed a liberating technology. A considerable amount has changed from that point forward. The 2016 US presidential election conveyed to the fore the dangers of outside meddling and fake news and political polarization. The impact of web-based social networking on legislative issues has never been so significant to observe. The majority of this brings up a critical issue: what impact does social media have on people’s democratic beliefs, values, and political ideology? By and large, 20% of social media clients say theyve adjusted their position on a social or political issue on account of material they saw on social media, and 17% say online based social networking was the underlying factor that assisted in changing their perspectives about a particular political hopeful (Anderson 2016). Among online-based social networking users, Democrats and liberal Democrats specifically are more likely than Republicans to state they have ever changed their perspectives on a social or political issue, or on a specific political candidate, as a result of something they saw via the internet. The Pew Research Center conducted a survey asking respondents a time where they can recall social media having an effect of their views on the 2016 presidential election. â€Å"Many of the responses we received in this survey, conducted this summer, mentioned one of the major presidential candidates as the â€Å"political or social issue† they changed their minds on. Around one-in-five users mentioned either Hillary Clinton, 21% or Donald Trump, 18%, and around one-in-ten referenced Bernie Sanders†. (Kent 2016). In addition to asking whether they had changed their opinion in this way due to what they saw on the internet, social media, the survey also asked respondents to tell share in their owns words the time when this change occurred. â€Å"I saw a video on Reddit †¦ that ultimately swayed me from voting independent in this election to voting for Hillary Clinton.† â€Å"I thought Donald Trump was leaning one way on an issue and a friend posted something that was opposite of what I believe. This caused me to think less of him than I once I did.† â€Å"Originally, I planned on voting for Hillary Clinton in the election, but then I found out about Bernie Sanders through social media. I decided I would vote for him instead.† (Staff P.S 2016)    It is evident that there is no deficiency of challenges at the intermix of online networking and democracy. â€Å"As of August 2017, 67% of Americans claimed that they get in any event some of their news via social media with two-in-ten doing as such frequently, as indicated by a review from Pew Research Center† (Shearer and Gottfried 2016). Note that this is only a slightly modest increase from the middle of 2016 during the peak of the primaries where 62% of U.S. adults revealed getting news from social media. A strong correlation is evident that the use of technological applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and support of civil liberties. People who spend more time self-publicizing on the internet appear to value freedom of expression highly but also value the right to privacy; in contrast to those individuals who use social media less often. A cross-sectional survey was then conducted to determine the connection between online behavior, political attitude, and social media use in 2010. 913 people were surveyed with questions that pitted concerns about security and safety. In order to see a measure of these civil liberties Swigger then designed a test to measure individual’s support for privacy and freedom of expression against concerns of security and safety. In conclusion of this test, among online socializations came back with a negative attitude for the right to privacy and to note the results seem to be spearheaded by respondents 25 and younger. (Swigger 602: 2013) This pattern suggests that social media may be altering American’s attitudes and beliefs about democratic values (Swigger 590: 2013). In contrast to conventional media such as television and newspaper articles where the audience passively pays much attention to, web based social media is designed to encourage users to create and share content about their lives which formerly would only be shared in private face-to-face conversation. This change in behavior has led to people livening their lives in the light of the public. With regards to the 2009 German election, a study was conducted by the research institute Forschungsgruppe Wahlen and an analysis of more than 100,000 messages containing a reference to either a political party or a lawmaker. The results demonstrate that Twitter is utilized widely for political pondering and that the even a small number of party mentions precisely mirrors the race result (Tumasjan 2011). The tweets assumption (positive and negative feelings related with a lawmaker) compares similarly to voters political preference. In the examination 104,003 tweets examined between 13 August and 29 September 2009 prior to the German election. Of those tweets analyzed, about 70,000 of them mentioned the political party and about half of them referenced specifically the politicians name. Given the large samples size, a sentiment analysis was used, an automated mechanism to quantify the information contained in these messages. To extract such data, they used Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC2007). LIWC2007, a text analysis software developed to assess emotional, cognitive, and structural components of text samples using a psychometrically validated internal dictionary (Tausczik & Pennebaker, 2010). In particular, this product determines the rate which certain cognitions and feelings are present in the text. There appears to be two facets to assess in determining if Twitter can fill in as an indicator of a race result. The foremost being the share of attention the political parties gets on social media, specifically Twitter, with the results of the 2009 German election. The latter being whether tweets can forecast the ideological ties amongst parties and potential political coalitions post-election. The MAE (mean absolute error) of six research institutes published election polls in the sample period, ranges from 1.1% to 1.7%. Thus, Twitter comes close in mirroring these accepted results. It is noteworthy to mention the predictive accuracy when compared to the historical backdrop of the IEM, a prediction market whose sole purpose is to predict election results. The IEM produced a MAE of 1.37% in U.S. presidential elections and 2.12% in non-U.S. elections based on election eve market prices (Berg, Forsythe, Nelson, & Rietz, 2008). In conclusion, the negligible number of tweets saying a political party can be viewed as a plausible reflection of the vote turnout and its prescient power even approaches conventional election polls (Tumasjan 2011). â€Å"Overall, our results demonstrate that Twitter can be considered a valid indicator of the political landscape off-line† (Tumasjan 2011). On the off chance that theres one essential truth about social media’s impact on democracy it’s that it  amplifies human intent  (Toyama 2011) both good and bad. At its best, it allows us to express ourselves and take action. At its worst, it allows people to spread misinformation and corrode democracy. References APA Anderson, M. (2016, November 07). Social media causes some users to rethink their views on an issue. Retrieved March 06, 2018, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/07/social-media-causes-some-users-to-rethink-their-views-on-an-/ Davis, D. W., & Silver, B. D. (2004). Civil Liberties vs. Security: Public Opinion in the Context of the Terrorist Attacks on America.  American Journal of Political Science,48(1), 28-46. doi:10.1111/j.0092-5853.2004.00054.x Forsythe, R., Rietz, T. A., & Ross, T. W. (1999). Wishes, expectations and actions: a survey on price formation in election stock markets.  Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization,39(1), 83-110. doi:10.1016/s0167-2681(99)00027-x Kent, D. (2016, November 04). When social media changes minds. Retrieved March 06, 2018, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/07/social-media-causes-some-users-to-rethink-their-views-on-an-issue/ft_16-11-07_socialpolitics/ Shearer, E., & Gottfried, J. (2017, September 07). News Use Across Social Media Platforms 2017. Retrieved March 06, 2018, from http://www.journalism.org/2017/09/07/news-use-across-social-media-platforms-2017/ Staff, P. S. (2016, November 08). Your Friends Unhinged Political Facebook Rants May Actually Make a Difference in the Election. Retrieved March 07, 2018, from https://psmag.com/news/your-friends-unhinged-political-facebook-rants-may-actually-make-a-difference-in-the-election Tausczik, Y. R., & Pennebaker, J. W. (2010). The psychological meaning of words: LIWC and computerized text analysis methods. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 29, 24-54 Toyama, K. (2011). Technology as amplifier in international development.  Proceedings of the 2011 iConference on iConference 11. doi:10.1145/1940761.1940772 Tumasjan, A., Sprenger, T. O., Sandner, P. G., & Welpe, I. M. (2011). Election Forecasts with Twitter How 140 Characters Reflect the Political Landscape.  SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.1833192

Ethical Issues to Consider When Doing Research

Ethical Issues to Consider When Doing Research Negotiating Access and Research Ethics Shaban IBISH Table of Contents (Jump to) Abstract Introduction 1. Problems associated with access 1.1. Why gain physical access is difficult? 2. Strategies to gain access 2.1. Summary of strategies to gain access: 2.2. Allowing yourself sufficient time: 2.3. Using existing contacts and developing new ones: 2.4. Providing a clear account of purpose and type of access required: 2.5. Overcoming organizational concerns about the granting of access: 2.6. Possible benefits to the organization of granting you access: 2.7. Using suitable language: 2.8. Facilitating ease of reply when requesting access: 2.9. Developing your access on an incremental basis: 2.10. Establishing your credibility with intended participants: 3. Define research ethics 3.1.Ethical issues that affect the research process generally 3.2. Ethical issues related to the analysis and reporting stages 3.3. Check List of Requirements for Informed Consent 4. Natural and scope of Ethics 4.1. Ethical issues that affect the research process generally 4.2. Ethical issues during he design and initial access stages 4.3. Ethical issues during the data collection stage 4.4. Data protection and research 5. Conclusion 6. References Abstract From a mainly access and ethics are critical aspects for the conduct of research. Insufficient attention may therefore be paid to gaining access and even less to the likelihood of  ethical concerns arising in relation to the conduct of the research project. In this context, such considerations are important whether you are using secondary data, or you are collecting primary data using Internet-mediated or other methods. Over the past decade, concerns about the ethics of research practice have grown dramatically. There are many ethical issues to be taken into serious consideration for research.Research ethicsinvolves the application of fundamentalethicalprinciples to a variety of topics involvingresearch, including negotiating access. Introduction First of all to clearly understand the idea of negotiation ethics, we must first define what it means to be ethical. To be ethical, or to haveethics, simply means being in accordance with the rules or standards for right conduct or practice, especially concerning the standards of a profession.With this in mind, negotiation ethics is the application of ethical behavior during pertinent negotiation positions. Many students want to start their research as soon as they have identified a topic area, forgetting that access and ethics are critical aspects for the success of any research project. Like the sub-contractors used by Procter and Gamble, you will need to think about how you are going to gain access to the data you need, and how you are going to explain to those from whom you are obtaining data why you need that data. Such considerations are important whether you are using secondary data, or you are collecting primary data using Internet-mediated or other methods. Over the past decade, concerns about the ethics of research practice have grown dramatically. Consequently, you need to think carefully about how you will gain access to undertake your research and about possible ethical concerns that could arise in relation to the conduct of your entire research project. These are aspects that require careful attention at the outset of any research project. Without paying careful attention to how you are going to gain access to the data you require and acting ethically, what seem like good ideas for research may flounder and prove impractical or problematic once you attempt to undertake them. 1. Problems associated with access Your ability to collect data will depend on gaining access to their source or to appropriate sources where there is a choice. The appropriateness of a source will of course depend on your research question, related to objectives and strategy. The first level of access is physical access or entry. Gaining physical access can be difficult for number of reasons 1.1. Why gaining physical access is difficult Organizations or individuals may not be prepared to engage in additional, voluntary activities because of the time and resources required. The request for access and cooperation may fail to interest the person who receives it. The organization may find itself in a difficult situation owing to external events totally unrelated to any perceptions about the nature of the request or the person making, so that they have no choice but to refuse access. Physical access to an organization will be formally granted through its management. Access may also refer to your ability to select a representative sample of organizational participants in order to attempt to answer your research question and meet your objectives in an unbiased way and to produce reliable and valid data. Cognitive access will lead you to gain access to the data that you need your intended participants to share with you in order to understand their social reality and to be able to address your research question and objectives. Access is likely to be a problem area, in terms of gaining permission for physical access, maintaining that access, and being able to create sufficient scope to address fully the research question and objectives that guide your work. The extent to which feasibility will affect the nature of your research, or at least the approach that you adopt. A request to undertake research may involve you seeking access to a range of participants based on an organizational sample. 2. Strategies to gain access The need to identify a feasible research question and objectives, from the perspective of gaining access. Personal entry to an organization will be less applicable where you send a self-administered, postal questionnaire to organizational participants, in situations where you do not need to gain physical access in order to identify participants. 2.1. Summary of strategies to gain access: Allowing yourself sufficient time Using existing contacts and developing new ones Providing a clear account of purpose and type of access required Overcoming organizational concerns about the granting of access Identifying possible benefits to the organization in granting you access Using suitable language Facilitating ease of reply when requesting access Developing your access on an incremental basis Establishing your credibility with intended participants. Potential ethical issues should be recognized and considered from the outset of you research and be one of the criteria against which your research proposal is judged. Ethical concerns are likely to occur at all stages of your research project: when seeking access, during data collection, as you analyze data and when you report them. Qualitative research is likely to lead to a grater range of ethical concerns in comparison with quantitative research, although all research methods have specific ethical issues associated with them. Ethical concerns are also associated with the power relationship between the research and those who grant access, and the researcher’s role (as external researcher, internal researcher). The use of the Internet and email to collect data may also generate ethical concerns. 2.2. Allowing yourself sufficient time: Physical access may take weeks or even months to arrange, and in many cases the time invested will not result in access being granted. If you are able to contact a participant directly, such as manager, and exchange of correspondence may be sufficient to gain access. In the situation where your intended participants are not the same people who grant you physical access, you will need to allow further time to gain their acceptance. Once you have gained physical access to the organization and to your participants, you will be concerned with gaining cognitive access. 2.3. Using existing contacts and developing new ones: The use of known contacts will depend largely on your choice of research strategyand approach to selecting a sample, as suggested by your research question and objectives. You will need to be able to identify the most appropriate person to contact for help, either directly or indirectly. You may consider making a direct approach to an organization in an attempt to identify the appropriate person to contact in relation to a particular research project. 2.4. Providing a clear account of purpose and type of access required: Providing a clear account of your requirements will allow your intended participants to be aware of what will be required from them. Establishing your credibility will be vital in order to gain access. 2.5. Overcoming organizational concerns about the granting of access: Concerns about the amount of time or resources that will be involved in the request for access. Sensitivity about the topic. The confidentiality of the data that would have to be provided and the anonymity of the organization or individual participants. 2.6. Possible benefits to the organization of granting you access: A discussion may allow them to think through an issue and to reflect on the action that they have adopted to manage it. The intention would be to provide each of your participants with something of value and to fulfill any expectations about exchange between the provider and receiver of the research data, thereby prompting some of those whom you approach to grant access. Where access is granted in return for supplying a report of your findings it may be important to devise a simple contract to make clear what has been agreed. 2.7. Using suitable language: Some researchers advise against referring to certain terms used in relation to research activity when making an approach to an organization for access, because these may be perceived as threatening or not interesting to the potential participant. Use of language will depend largely on the nature of the people you are contacting. 2.8. Facilitating ease of reply when requesting access: The inclusion of a simple pro forma for recipients of you written requests for access to use generally ensures a reply. It may not be suitable in all cases, and should be designed to fit the research method being used. 2.9. Developing your access on an incremental basis: Reference has been made above to the strategy of achieving access by stages: The first stage involved a request to conduct interviews. The next stage involved negotiating access to undertake observation. The final stage was in effect an extension to the second stage and involved gaining permission to tape-recorded the interactions being observed. There are potentially a number of advantages related to the use of this strategy. Using an incremental strategy at least gains you access to a certain level of data. As you establish your credibility, you can develop the possibility of achieving a fuller level of data. A further advantage may follow from the opportunity that you have to design your request for further access specifically to the situation and in relation to opportunities that may become apparent from your initiallevel of access. But the incremental process will be time consuming, and you need to consider the amount of time that you will have for your research project before embarking on such a strategy. 2.10. Establishing your credibility with intended participants: Just because you have been granted entry into an organization, you will not be able to assume that those whom you wish to interview, survey or observe will be prepared to provide their cooperation [1]. Feasibility has been recognized to be organizations and to intended participants within them have been described and discussed. Research ethics refer to the appropriateness of your behavior in relation to the rights of those who become the subject of your work or are affected by the work [2]. 3. Define research ethics The conduct of your research may be guided by a code of ethics. A code of ethics will provide you with a statement of principles and procedures for the conduct of your research. You may also be required to submit your research proposal to a faculty or institutional research ethics committee. Researchers need to be sensitive to the way in which the granting of access affects this type of relationship. In addition, as a research in an organizational setting you will need to remain sensitive to the fact that your presence is a temporary one, whereas the people from whom you collect data will need to work together after you depart. 3.1.Ethical issues that affect the research process generally Privacy of possible and actual participants Voluntary nature of participation and the right to withdraw partially or completely from the process Consent and possible deception of participants Maintenance of the confidentiality of data provided by individuals or identifiable participants and their anonymity Reactions of participants to the way in which you seek to collect data Effects on participants of the way in which you use, analyze and report your data Behavior and objectivity of the researcher. 3.2. Ethical issues related to the analysis and reporting stages The maintenance of you objectivity will be vital during the analysis stage to make sure that you do not misrepresent the data collected. The ethical issues of confidentiality and anonymity also come to the fore during the reporting stage of your research. Embarrassment and even harm could result from reporting data that are clearly attributable to a particular individual. This discussion about the impact of research on the collective interests of those who participate brings us back to the reference made above to the particular ethical issues that arise in relation to the analysis of secondary data derived from survey research. Where you are aware that your findings may be used to make a decision that could adversely affect the collective interests of those who were your participants, it may be ethical to refer to this possibility even though it reduces the level of access that you achieve. [1]. 3.3. Check List of Requirements for Informed Consent What is the purpose? Who will undertake it? Whether it is sponsored Sampling of participants; The progress of the research; The information required from the participants; How the date The information required from the participants; How the date will be collected; How much time how many occasions; The target dates; recognition that participation is voluntary; Dissemination of the results; How will anonymity and privacy will be observed at this stage? What will happen to data after the project is completed? What safeguards will be built in to preserve the anonymity in the future? [4]. 4. Natural and scope of Ethics 4.1. Ethical issues that affect the research process: Privacy of possible and actual participants, Voluntary nature of participation and the right to withdraw partially or completely from the process, Confidentiality of data provided y individuals and their anonymity, Reaction of participants to the way in which you seek to collect data, Effect on participants of the way in which you use, analyze and report your data, Behavior and objectivity of the researcher, Privacy is significant, Power relationship in business and management research, Harassment of any kind, Netiquette,Consider the applicability if Internet as a means to collect data. 4.2. Ethical issues during the design and initial access stages Take care of the Law for private data, Take care how you obtain and use secondary data, If somebody agrees to participate in the research it does not mean that he agrees, about the way you discuss the data received. 4.3. Ethical issues during the data collection stage Right to privacy, Netiquette, Confidentiality and anonymity, No chat rooms with the results, Careful with the observations – be objective and not subjective, Habituation, Debriefing. 4.4. Data protection and research Process personal data fairly and lawfully, Accurate and keep up-to-date, Keep securely, Do not transfer outside the country [3]. 5. Conclusion The process of research can be painstakingly time consuming. It can involve the overcoming of many obstacles and may unfortunately need to be revised several times as you progress through the steps. In this concept research methods in negotiating and ethics is so important. Many students want to start their research as soon as they have identified a topic area, forgetting that access and ethics are critical aspects for the success of any research project. Like the sub-contractors used by Procter and Gamble, you will need to think about how you are going to gain access to the data you need, and how you are going to explain to those from whom you are obtaining data why you need that data. 4 main components of negotiating access and research ethics are : Problems associated with access, Strategies to gain access, Define research ethics, Natural and scope of Ethics. Finally, research ethics refer to the appropriateness of your behavior in relation to the rights of those who become the subject of your work or are affected by the work. 6. References [1] Tang Weijun Shanghai Jiao Tong University (2008). [2] Saunders, M. N. K., Thornhill, A., Lewis, P. (2009). Research methods for business students, 5/E. Prentice Hall. [3]https://www.google.com.tr/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=2ved=0CCwQFjABurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iuc-edu.eu%2Fgroup%2Fsem1_L2%2FPDEVR2010%2F_8_Negotiating%2520access.pptei=ygTnUo_ALum1yAOox4HgCQusg=AFQjCNEMxZmCZPymxnmWI-hn3AG-lxgROQcad=rja [4]http://www.iucedu.eu/group/mba_learning/2011%20research%20methods/Research%20methods%205.pdf

Fast Cars and a Clean Environment Essay -- Environmental Ethics Ethica

Fast Cars and a Clean Environment Many people would love the idea of having the fastest car ever or just having a speedy and sleek sports car to drive around for that matter. The idea of being able to â€Å"flex† the power of your car every time the light turns green make people long for a high-speed car. Many automakers are making faster and faster or cars with more horsepower for this demand. For instance, BMW’s E36 (1996- 1999) M3 models peaked at an amazing 234 horsepower and 226 pounds per feet of torque, but this wasn’t enough for many BMW enthusiasts. So in 2001 BMW came out with its E46 M3 model that housed an astonishing 333 horsepower and 270 pounds per feet of torque engine, which is an increase of almost 100 horsepower from the previous E36 M3 models. This dealt with the demands for faster cars (1). There is a great price for living out this dream. The earth’s already depleting supply of fossil fuel and damage to the environment, such as the ozone layer, is being further injure d from the combustion engines of cars. With the combination of more and more people learning about the environmental problems caused by combustion engines and the raised prices for gas caused by the huge demand for oil, automakers are now working on environmentally safe cars that consume less gas. Then why isn’t everyone driving an environmentally safe car right now if they know that they are killing the environment as they drive? One of the main reasons that many people have no intentions of ever purchasing these cars is simply because of the fact that these cars are known to have almost twice as less horsepower as an average car and therefore accelerate almost twice as slow. Many car enthusiasts, who love to drive fast cars, will have no reason... ...s_47915.asp 4.Karim Nice, How Fuel Cells Work, howstuffworks.com, 10 Nov. 2003, http://science.howstuffworks.com/fuel-cell.htm 5. Karim Nice, How Rotary Engines Work, howstuffworks.com, 10 Nov, 2003, http://auto.howstuffworks.com/rotary-engine1.htm 6. Roger Schreffler, Japan Carmakers Show Fuel Cell, H2 I.C. Concepts, Prototypes at Tokyo Motor Show, 2003, The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Letter, !7 Nov. 2003, http://www.hfcletter.com/letter/November03/ 7. California Clean Air Act Streamlining AB 3048 (Olberg), 2003,California Environmental Protection Agency, 17 Nov 2003, http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Legislation/1996/ab3048.htm 8. Clean Air--California's Successes and Future Challenges,2003,California Environmental Protection Agency, 17 Nov 2003, http://www.arb.ca.gov/ba/omb/50thfinal/tsld009.htm 9 . Dinan BMW, 10 Nov. 2003, http://dinancars.com/default.htm

Ibn Battutas 1331 Journey to West Africa Essay -- Gender Roles, Mecca

Ibn Battuta’s 1331 journey to West Africa provides a contrast of two worlds: Battuta’s pre-modern Islamic culture conflicting with African societies’ interpretation of Muslim beliefs and tribal traditions. He is especially critical of the various roles of women he observes—thus, allowing us insight into his own judgments formed by his culture and society. A brief summary of his life is paramount in the understanding of Battuta’s impressions and reactions to West African society. Abu Abdallah ibn Battuta was born in Morocco in 1304. By 1325, Battuta embarked on his first hajj, or pilgrimage to the holiest Islamic city of Mecca at age twenty-one (Hamdun, King, p. 1). Although expected to complete this religious duty at least once in his or her lifetime, Battuta accomplished the hajj, â€Å"six or seven times, each time presumably accruing divine merit† (Dunn, p. xvii). Battuta was a part of the ulama, an elite class of Muslim religious and legal scholars who, â€Å"traveled to make the hajj or to further their education in the religious sciences (Dunn, p. xii). Battuta traveled extensively for nearly thirty years, visiting around fifty countries, often multiple times (Dunn, p. ix). He chronicled his lengthy expeditions in the Rihla (Book of Travels), allowing some of the first and only written accounts of Sub-Saharan Afri ca in the 14th century. Battuta’s beliefs regarding status of women in Islamic society is perhaps first alluded to in his account of the MassÃ… «fa of Ä ªwÄ lÄ tan. He chides, â€Å"The condition of these people is strange and their manners outlandish†¦None of them derives his genealogy from his father, but on the contrary, from his maternal uncle† (Battuta, p. 37). Battuta disagrees with the MassÃ… «fa’s tradition of matrilineal derive... ...and counted among his associates eminent scholars, royal officials, rich merchants, and Mongol Kings† (Dunn, p. ix). It is these experiences that also allow us to also extrapolate some of the realities and experiences of the pre-modern Muslim woman. It is these same experiences during this formative period of Islamic society that established and shaped the contemporary Islamic world. Today, just as Ibn Battuta was able to observe other cultures through caravans on camelback, Muslim men and women are now exposed to various cultures in our globalized world through technology without having to travel far. And also just as Battuta, these same men and women are also experiencing the both strengthening and testing of his or her cultural and religious identity. The social constructs of Battuta’s era are being challenged through revolutions and uprisings throughout Islam.