Marxism: Different Stages of History

Dialectic AnalysisThe basic premise of dialectical analysis is the theory in which society is treated as a historically evolving and systemically interrelated whole, has had a profound impact on political science, economics and sociology. This dialectical method, which seeks to uncover the full context of historically specific social interactions in any given system, is used by Marx as a tool for understanding class relationships under capitalism, and as a means for altering such structures fundamentally.   Uniting theory and practice, Marx declared in his ‘Theses on Feuerbach’:The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it’[1].Dialectical materialism is essentially characterized by the belief that history is the product of class struggle and obeys the general Hegelian principle of philosophy of history that is the development of the thesis into its antithesis.[2]Basic Premise of Materialistic TheoryThe materialist th eory of history starts from the proposition that human beings are creatures of need, and hence that the material side of human life, physical needs and economic action to satisfy them is primary and basic. Historians and social philosophers until then had focused on the actions of states and rulers only and had not considered   the importance of economic developments.According to Marx, every society is composed of certain forces of production (tools, machinery and labour to operate them) with which are associated particular social relations of production (property relations, division of labour). These together constitute the material `base' of society, upon which arises a `superstructure' of political and legal institutions, and ideological forms to include art, religion and philosophy. He further added:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the contrary, their social beings which determines their consciousness†[3].The development of productive forcesThe development of the human race from crude stone tools to the bow and arrow, and the subsequent improvement from the life of hunters to the domestication of animals and primitive pasturage; the transition from stone tools to metal tools resulting in a corresponding transition to tillage and agriculture; a further improvement in metal tools, the introduction of the blacksmith's bellows, the introduction of pottery, with a corresponding development of handicrafts, the separation of handicrafts from agriculture, the development of an independent handicraft industry and, subsequently, of manufacture; the transition from handicraft tools to machines and the transformation of handicraft and manufacture into machine industry; the transition to the machine system and the rise of modern large-scale machine industry   are all the characteristic stages of development   of the productive forces of society in the course of man's history.This development and improvement of the instruments of production had been effected by men who were related to production, and not independently of men; and, consequently, the change and development of the instruments of production was accompanied by a change and development of men, as the most important element of the productive forces, by a change and development of their production experience, their labor skill, their ability to handle the instruments of production. In conformity with the change and development of the productive forces of society in the course of history and   men's relations of production, their economic relations also changed and developed.Phases of Materialistic HistoryAt any given historical period the relations of production provide the social framework for economic development. The developing forces of production give rise to increasing conflict with the existing relations of production and these conflicts are reflected as class struggles. `From forms of development of the productive for ces these relations turn into their fetters. Then begins an epoch of social revolution' in which social relations and `the entire immense superstructure' is transformed.[4]Accordingly, Marx concluded that all nations go through five economic stages: primitive, slavery, feudalism, capitalism, and socialism.Primitive PhaseThe basic tenet of production in the primitive phase of human history is that the means of production are community owned which is consistent with the character of the productive forces of that period. Primitive tools and weapons like stone tools and the bow and arrow had limited efficacy and lethality, a major factor which precluded the possibility of men individually combating the forces of nature and beasts of prey. In order to fulfill the routine activities like gathering fruits from the forest, catch fish or game, or to build any form of inhabitation, men were obliged to work in communities or groups to obviate the possibility of death due to starvation, or fall victims of beast of prey or be killed by rival groups.Community form of labour and work led to a community based consumption of the produced yield. At this stage the concept of individual ownership of the means of production did not yet exist, except for the personal ownership of certain implements of production which were at the same time means of defense against beasts of prey. Hence, there was neither exploitation, nor any class structure in place.Slave PhaseThe primitive phase was followed by the Slave Stage which is based on the theory that under this system, the slave-owner owns the means of production and the workers in the production chain. Such relations of production correspond to the state of the productive forces of that period. In this stage, the slave owner has all the rights over the slave- whom he can sell, purchase, or kill as though he were an animal. During the slave stage, the primitive stone tools and   Ã‚  primitive husbandry have been replaced by metal tool s and pasturage tillage respectively .The primitive man who till now was in the possession of the most basic tools   now possessed the means to conduct farming , handicrafts and tillage, and a division of labor between these branches of production. There appears the possibility of the exchange of products between individuals and between societies, of the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few, the actual accumulation of the means of production in the hands of a minority, and the possibility of subjugation of the majority by a minority and the conversion of the majority into slaves.At this stage, the common and free labor of all members of society in the production process is replaced by the forced labor of slaves, who are exploited by the non-laboring slave-owners. The main aspects of this stage is the appearance of the slave owner(the prime and principal property owner), the increasing existence of the rich and poor, exploiters and exploited, people with full rights and peo ple with no rights, and the beginning of a   fierce class struggle between them.Feudal StageThe basis of the relations of production under the feudal system is that the feudal lord owns the means of production and does not fully own the worker in production. This implies that the worker of the slave stage has progressed and he can no longer be owned, bought or sold by the slave owner. Alongside of feudal ownership there exists individual ownership by the peasant and the handicraftsman of his implements of production and his private enterprise based on his personal labor[5].Such relations of production correspond to the state of the productive forces of that period. Further improvements in the smelting and working of iron; the spread of the iron plow and the loom; the further development of agriculture, horticulture, viniculture and dairying; the appearance of manufactories alongside of the handicraft workshops; have all led to enhanced importance of the worker who is now a skilled artisan. The new productive forces demand that the laborer/worker/artisan shall display some kind of initiative and inclination in production and for work.The feudal lord therefore discards the slave, as a laborer who has no interest in work and is entirely without initiative, and prefers to deal with the serf (artisan), who has his own husbandry, implements of production, and a certain interest in work essential for the cultivation of the land and for the payment in kind of a part of his harvest to the feudal lord.In this stage, private ownership is further developed and the affects of exploitation is slightly mitigated. A class struggle between exploiters and exploited is the principal feature of the feudal system.Capitalist StageThe basis of the relations of production under the capitalist system is that the capitalist owns the means of production, but not the workers in production[6] – the wage laborers, whom the capitalist can neither kill nor sell because they are pers onally free, but who are deprived of means of production and in order not to die of hunger, are obliged to sell their labor power to the capitalist.Due to the rapid strides in the technological and the industrial aspects, there is an increased importance of the technologically intensive means of production like the factories, mills and the huge capitalist farms run on scientific lines and supplied with agricultural machinery. This rapid change in the means of production has an adverse impact on the workers.The private property of the peasants and handicraftsmen in the means of production being based on personal labor is rendered insignificant and they have to submit their labour to the owners of the means of production. The new productive forces require that the workers in production shall be better educated and more intelligent in comparison to the earlier workers, in the sense that they understand machinery and operate it properly. Therefore, the capitalists prefer to deal with wa ge-workers, who are free from the bonds of serfdom and who are educated enough to be able properly to operate machinery.Transition to CommunismThe division of society into classes gives rise to political, ethical, philosophical, and religious views of the world, views which express existing class relations and tend either to consolidate or to undermine the power and authority of the dominant class. Marx clarifies it further:â€Å"The ideas of the ruling class are, in every age, the ruling ideas: i.e., the class which is the dominant material force in society is at the same time its dominant intellectual force. The class which has the means of material production at its disposal, has control at the same time over the means of mental production.†[7]However, oppressed classes, although hampered by the ideological dominance of oppressors, generate counter-ideologies to combat them. In revolutionary or pre-Revolutionary periods it even happens that certain representatives of the d ominant class shift allegiance. New social relationships begin to develop within older social structures and result from contradictions and tensions within that structure at the same time as they exacerbate them.For example, new modes of production slowly emerged within late feudal society and allowed the bourgeoisie, which controlled these new modes of production, effectively to challenge the hold of the classes that had dominated the feudal order. As the bourgeois mode of production gained sufficient specific weight, it undermined the feudal relations in which it first made its appearance. â€Å"The economic structure of capitalist society has grown out of the economic structure of feudal society.The dissolution of the latter sets free the elements of the former.†[8] Similarly, the capitalist mode of production brings into being a proletarian class of factory workers. As these men acquire class consciousness, they discover their fundamental antagonism to the bourgeois class and band together to overthrow a regime to which they owe their existence. â€Å"The proletariat carries out the sentence which private property, by creating the proletariat, passes upon itself.†[9]  the process of industrialization concentrates working people in factories and cities, hence the working class develops from being an unorganized and unconscious mass through its struggle with the bourgeoisie to being an organized and conscious political force, a force which is ultimately destined to be the `gravedigger' of capitalism and to inaugurate a new mode of production: socialism[10]SocialismThe conquest of political power by the working class will lead to the creation of a socialist state in which the working class is the ruling class and which functions in the interests of the working class. In this way the `dictatorship of the proletariat' will replace the `dictatorship of the bourgeoisie'. Its main purpose is to abolish the private ownership of the means of producti on, and hence the social and economic basis of class divisions. As the   material basis of class divisions is dissolved, class differences will gradually disappear, and with them the need for the state as an instrument of class rule and as a distinct coercive force. In the higher stage of full communism, the state is destined ultimately to `wither away'[11], as Engels puts it, and `the government of people will be replaced by the administration of things'[12]ConclusionDuring the present century, history itself seems to have provided a remarkable confirmation of the main outlines of Marx's thought. At one stage in modern history, the prediction that capitalism is destined to be restricted to a particular and limited historical stage which will be superseded seemed to be justified by the succession of revolutions which removed a large part of the world from its grip. The collapse of the regimes of Soviet and Eastern European communism in 1989, however, has proved that Marxism is now dead and that its prediction of a historical stage beyond capitalism is an illusion. Nevertheless, it remains the most comprehensive and powerful theory for understanding and explaining the capitalist world.[1] Marx, Karl (1845) Theses on Feuerbach, in Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, Selected Works, New York: International Publishers, 1968, pp. 28–30.[2] Marx, The Poverty of Philosophy, [1847a], London: Lawrence & Wishart, 1955, chapter II [3] Marx, Karl A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy(1859),PP 389.                                                                            [4] Ibid 389-90[5] G.A. Cohen, Karl Marx's Theory of History: A Defence, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1978,pp65                        [6] Ibid [7] Marx Karl, Selected Writings, ed. D. McLellan, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1977 [8] Ibid[9] Ibid [10]Marx and Engels The Communist Manifesto [1848], Selected Works, V olume 1, Moscow: : Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1962 [11] V.I. Lenin, State and Revolution, in Selected Works in Three Volumes, Volume 2, Moscow: Progress Publishers, revised edn 1975,10-14                                                                                                                                                                                  [12] Capital, 3 Volumes [1867, 1885, 1894], London: Lawrence & Wishart, 1961-71

PTLLS Unit 012 Principles of Assessment in Lifelong Learning Essay

Produce 1 Written Rationale of 1000 words for all areas of research in 1 to 3. 1.1 Analyse how types of assessment are used in lifelong learning: â€Å"Assessments should be a regular process; it might not always be formalised, but you should be observing what your learners are doing, asking questions and reviewing their progress throughout their time with you†. Gravells A. Page 113. Assessments are used to track not only learner but tutor progress. Below I have documented some utilised in my everyday teaching life: Initial Assessment Undertaken prior to a lesson or course is delivered and helps direct my session planning to meet learner’s expectations. Ideally this identifies prior knowledge, individual learner’s current levels and any special requirements. Undertaken using a combination of the following: * Observations * One-to-one evaluation ‘Is the learner is on the right course’ ‘Will they successfully complete all requirements to pass this course’. * Competency tests (Functional Skills). Is there is any weakness? Additional modules to aid the learner. Formative Assessment An on-going process taking place during sessions taking the form of: * Quizzes and puzzles. Helps ascertain knowledge absorption. * Verbal question and answers. Helps see if the learners comprehend the topic. * Journals. To help the record feelings, what went right and what can be improved on. This helps me assess teaching to the correct level or beneficial I adjustments to my plan and methods. * Observations. I can walk around the room and observe the learner’s work. Summative Assessments Carried out at the end of a course to measure how much has been retained usually through: * End of course formal tests or exams. To see what they have learnt. * Portfolio: This is a collect ion of the learners work throughout the course. 1.2 Analyse how assessment methods are used in lifelong learning: To identify what prior knowledge a learner has, I would create a self-assessment questionnaire that requires specific answers, (tick boxes). I would then build this into my session plans. Diaries or Learning Journals are used to document on-going learning from each session. Progress is measured and any gaps in teaching or learning addressed. Simulation is used to see if learners are able to understand instructions and reproduction of what they have seen or heard in everyday life situations. Assignments evaluate how well learners are able to research particular subjects then put their findings into words. Discussions are a good vehicle for assessment and understanding when other methods may be difficult to manage. Peer feedback where fellow learners give their comments and ask questions for clarity. 1.3 Evaluate strengths and limitations of assessments methods to meet individual leaner needs: Quizzes and puzzles can be used informally to assess if learning is taking place. However if the purpose is to measure individual learning the questions need to be varied. The most effective way is to have the assessment computer generated though this is not always possible if the correct software or facility is not available. Diaries aid literacy and language skills. The learner would also be able to reflect back on what they have learnt; building their confidence to self-assess. In order for this to work, there needs to be clear aims and objectives. A portfolio is a formal way to gather evidence produced over a period of time covering all topics taught. This needs to be checked for things such as plagiarism and if information used is current and correctly referenced. Role play is another assessment method. The learners are given a scenario from their lesson which they have the opportunity to act out linking theory to practice. There needs to be clear explanation given, this can be time consuming and not all learners may feel comfortable playing roles. Examinations can assess what learners have retained by just recalling information. The down side of this is that learners may have only been taught what is needed to pass the exam and not retain any of the other theories they may need at a later stage. 2.1 Evaluate how to involve learners in the assessment process: As a tutor I will carry out various methods of assessment to maintain continuous improvement; I also involve my learners in the process. By giving my learners clear guide lines they undertake peer to peer assessments, where they give verbal feedback to each other. This stimulates focus on the subject being taught; encourages communication skills and the discovery of common ground. Sometimes comments coming from a peer can be better received than from the tutor. Checking their own work and progress through self-assessment is useful as this gives learners an opportunity to step back and reflect on their objectives and whether they’ve attained them. I also conduct one to one tutorials in an informal manner where we discuss objectives, progress and development. This demonstrates positive and individual inclusion. As stated by Wilson L. (2009). page112 â€Å"Assessment is a term given to checking that learning has occurred. It may happen at any stage during the learner’s progress through their qualification†. Assessments are also a tool to motivate and boost the confidence of learners. 2.2 Analyse the role of peer and self –assessment in the assessment process: Peer assessments are a good means of confirming and sharing ideas. During teaching sessions I am able to describe my observations and justify how I reached conclusions. My peers may agree or get me to look at what I’ve expressed in a different way thus through discussion we come to a consensus. Looking at peer assessment on my micro-teach session. I was pleased with the feedback. It clearly showed what I am confident in; what I need to improve on and what I should consider for future delivery. Their feedback was encouraging and it has confirms I have made the correct decision career-wise. I found putting into practice what I already know with what I have learnt over the past few weeks very useful. There were some challenges I had when creating my own micro-teach session, this is all part of the learning process for me. Both during but predominately as session come to an end I to do a mental self- assessment leading to putting down my own thoughts on paper to aid improvement going forward. 3.1 Explain the need to keep records of assessment learning: Assessments should be documented create evidence of learning, how it is evaluated and progress made. Records also serve for the purpose of verification for audits, for quality assurance and for regulatory bodies. * Assessment tracking can be used to show development and learners requirements being met. * Feedback and action records are used to show that a learner has had feedback, what was agreed and when it is carried out. * Learning styles results will aid with inclusiveness when reviewing or creating session plans. * Enrolment forms to confirm the learner’s details, emergency contact, whether they are permitted to study and what the learner signed up for. 3.2 Summarise requirements for keeping records in an organisation: All government, legal and organisational guidelines should be followed and regularly audited. Confidentiality must be maintained at all times by any persons holding/using personal data in line with the ‘Data Protection’ and ‘Freedom of Information’ Acts. Records should be accurate, legible and current with specific rules regarding storage, access and removal of obsolete information. All methods should be to an agreed standard irrespective of who, whom and how undertaken. WORDCOUNT: 1089 Bibliography Gravells A. (2012) Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector 5th Edition, London: Learning Matters Wilson L. (2009) Practical Teaching A Guide to PTLLS & DTLLS. Cengage Learning EMEA

Orbital Engine Company

CASE STUDY: Orbital Engine Company CONTENT (1)Executive SummaryP. 3 (2)Introduction of Business BackgroundP. 4 (3)OEC’s objectiveP. 4 (4) Key issues HighlightsP. 5 4. 1Two Wise DecisionP. 5 4. 2Large Car Manufactures Appeared not ready to adopt OCP EnginesP. 5-6 4. 3 Marketing Lessons Can be Learned P. 6 4. 3. 1Marketing Mix and 4P sP. 6 4. 3. 2OEC’s Porter Five Forces P. 6 4. 3. 3Licensing and Joint VentureP. 7 (5) ConclusionP. 7 (6)ReferencesP. 8 (1)Executive Summary In this severe economic environment the management of time, in the meaning of the ability to pioneer the market with new products or services, becomes crucial. OEC was in the favourable position of being able to provide customer with solutions that incorporate the latest state of technology; however, OEC was slow reactions to shifts in customer needs and technological advancements which did not allow OEC to realize economies of speed, even though customers are willing to honour fast reactions with higher prices. Furthermore, being the first on the market with an innovative product creates a temporary monopoly and brand recognition. In this market situation the pioneering company is relatively free to set adequate prices in order to recover the usually considerable cost for research and development. Once other companies come up with similar products prices drop immediately, due to the increased competition. In this situation, it becomes much more difficult to repay investments in research and development. Finally, being innovate creates a positive image among customers and, thus, strengthens the competitive position of OEC in the marketplace. During the process, OEC had experienced the changes and made some wise decisions. OEC is a potential company which has a lot of opportunities to diversify its products in cope with the market change through licensing, joint venture and product diversification. According to Porter’s model, increased bargaining power of suppliers would lead to increased costs for major input factors, exerting heavy pressure on the critical success factor costs. This also enhanced bargaining power of customers requires companies to consider customer needs to a larger extent. Basically, the same effect derives from the increased rivalry of existing competitors within the same industry. The severe competitive situation is even enhanced as the higher probability of new entrants increases the demand for low costs, flexibility, and economies of time. Finally, the market implies an increased threat of substitutes. Thus, OEC needs to improve their cost and quality position in order to stay competitive. (2)Introduction of business background Orbital is an international developer of innovative technical solutions for a cleaner world. Orbital’s innovative design and its product development and operational improvement services are attracted to the world’s car makers and end users of engines. Orbital’s headquarter is based in Perth, Western Australia, and is traded on the Australian Stock Exchange (OEC). OEC is a pioneer for engine innovation that it keeps on trying to improve the product in cope with the market change and need. With its breakthrough of fuel injection and electronic combustion process (OCP) for two-stroke design, it benefits to both vehicles and engines becomes cheaper in price and lighter in weight, which leading to a big saving on the fuel consumption with lower emission levels. This report provides a discussion of the consequences of OEC’s marketing strategies and its activities that I think what OEC is making their wise decisions on, why has OEC failed to have its engine adopted by any major Car manufacturer at the time of the case, in spite of the engine having many apparent benefits, and what marketing lessons can be learned from the fact that some of OEC’s technology has been adopted by the makers of marine outboard motors in the US. At each point, I will give my recommendation and suggestion on the marketing point of views to help the company making decision. 3)OEC’s objective OEC’s key objective was to get the major car manufacturers in the US to adopt their new engine. (3) Key issues Highlights 3. 1Two Wise Decision (261) OEC had made at two wise decisions to get the major car manufacturers to adopt their new engine in the US. First of all, OEC developed a pricing policy for its intellectual property at the early stage tha t it built up a series of licence options for car manufacturers, such as General Motors, Ford, Fiat, Jaguar and Volkswagen to evaluate the technology and needs before converting into their final licence agreement. Kotler et al (2007, pp. 318, 590) mentioned that, â€Å"A method of entering a foreign market in which the company enters into an agreement with a licensee in the foreign market, offering the right to use a manufacturing process, trademark, patent, trade secret or other item of value for a fee or royalty†¦More and more for-profit and not-for-profit organisations are licensing their names to generate additional revenues and brand recognition. † This brand recognition of licensing became one of the key profit generators for OEC. Secondly, OEC made another wise decision on joint venture with Brunswick Corporation, the parent of Mercury Marine in January 1995, became METEOR. This joint venture helped to develop, manufacture, market and sell Orbtal’s SEFIS to the global market for low emission two stroke engines, which was threatened by the US anti-pollution regulations (ULEV). Kotler et al (2007, p. 591) advocated that, â€Å"The most common form of manufacturing-based entry into overseas markets for Australian firms is that of joint venturing. The local partner could provide access to the distribution network due to their knowledge with the local marketing environment while OEC brought in their joint venture technology and production know-how. Since the first step of joint venture, there were numerous of other joint ventures happening which helped OEC to push the two stroke engine to the market in cope with the US emission standard. 3. 2Large Car Manufactures Appeared not ready to adopt OCP Engines After discussing about the wise decisions, there were also obstacles for OEC to push their OCP engines into the large car manufactures. The core reason why OEC had failed to have its engine adopted by major car manufacturers was because OEC spent too much focus on R&D than really focusing on analyzing its product was able to be adopted or pushed to the market. The marketing mix was unclear and OEC was failed to identify car manufacturers’ concerns and their potential interest of products. This lack of knowledge of customers’ needs and wants was leading to the failure. The market need was four strokes and OEC focused on two strokes. Kotler et al. (2007, p. 239) stated that, â€Å"In order to design effective marketing mix strategies, the marketer must understand what factors within the organisation influence the purchase (or non-purchase) response of potential customers. † OEC should first create a need-satisfying market offering and then found out the real-value for their customers. In addition, Manley (1994, p. 66) asserted that, â€Å"Learning is a particularly critical for Orbital in the sense that the company was operating in a turbulent and complex environment as reflected in: emission legislation reviews begin undertaken internationally; the number of actors in the global car industry and structural changes in the industry caused by the changing nature of international competition. In response, the company’s innovation process exhibits orga nisational flexibility, anticipatory capabilities and responsiveness to change. â€Å" Because of the above, OEC was not able to sell its technology to those large car manufacturers at that moment. . 3Marketing Lessons Can be Learned From this case study, there are several marketing lessons can be learned, such as marketing mix and 4Ps, Porter Five Forces, Licensing, and Joint Venture. 3. 3. 1Marketing Mix and 4Ps OEC had spent a lot of time and money on R&D on OCP and which neglected to understand what the customers’ need and want which is difficult to position the company to the targeted segmentation and its market. Because of that, OEC almost risked themselves into bankruptcy before 1989 if they could not gain the financial support from BHP and Australia Government. It is essential to under customers’ wants and need and then market the right product, right place, right promotion and right price. 3. 3. 2OEC’s Porter Five Forces According to this concept, the intensity of competition in an industry is rooted in its underlying economic structure (Porter Strategy 1998, pp. 3). This structure is expressed by five basic competitive forces which determine the ultimate profit potential of the respective industry. The five competitive forces are threat of new entrants, threat of substitutes, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, and intensity of rivalry. As of June 1994, OEC already had acquired 854 patents and its applications, but it sat on it without further development which missed out a lot of business opportunities as a pioneer in the market. Kotler et al. (2007, p. 101) asserted that, â€Å"The implication is that the firm should influence the balance of forces through strategic moves, thereby strengthening the firm’s position. Alternatively, the strategists might reposition the firm so that its capabilities factors underlying the forces and respond to them, thus exploiting change by choosing a strategy appropriate to the new competitive balance before competitors recognise it. 3. 3. 3Licensing and Joint Venture Through OEC’s success in licensing and joint venture, it gave the company a business breakthrough to position themselves in a strong market place. Most of its earnings from OEC is from licensing, development and supply agreements. In addition, investing and expanding the business in foreign countries, th ere are various laws and regulations that investors should pay highly attentions, and thus, cooperating with a joint venture company locally would be the most fast and easier way to explore the market; especially OEC has its technology know-how. 6) Conclusion To conclude, in this report, I have shown the effects of OEC’s marketing strategies on both wise and failure decision. These effects mainly consist of substantial alteration of the competitive environment in the form of unclear industry boundaries, increased rivalry, and a reduced relevance of traditional success factors. With the strategic marketing concept, it enables OEC to compete successfully in this altered economic environment. 7)References Kotler, P. , Brown L. , Adam S. , Burton S, Armstrong G. , (2007), Marketing 7th Edn, Pearson Education, Australia. Manley, K. J. , 1994, Factors Leading to Offshore Manufacture of Australian Inventions: The case of The Orbital Combustion Process Engine, Murdoch University, Wes tern Australia. Porter, M. E. : ‘Competitive Advantage. Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance’, 2nd Ed. , New York et al: The Free Press 1998.

Celia, a Slave Book Review Essay

Celia, A Slave is a story that takes many different historical facts from the era that the book was placed in, and uses a slave named Celia’s story to tie them all in and show how these events that didn’t directly affect her, would indirectly affect her, and the other slaves in this time as well. The author, Melton A. McLaurin, not only wrote the story of Celia in his book, but he also focused on other historical events taking place at the time to support his thesis that Celia’s case demonstrated what was happening on a global scale. He used facts such as the slave revolts in Haiti and the Dred Scott decision to make a case on why things were so hard for slaves at the time in the United States, and how they affected Celia, and her case. McLaurin also used different people and organizations like the Border Ruffians and the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid company to show the culture and society of the time and place of Celia’s story. The slave revolts in Haiti would indirectly affect Celia. Because the slaves revolted in Haiti, and actually won, it came as a wakeup call to the southerners. They knew that the slave population outnumbered their own, and if they revolted against them, they weren’t sure if they would be able to stop them. This made the Southerners even stricter when it came to slavery, and less lenient when it came to any types of escapes, or breaking of laws. This made it impossible for the jury in Celia’s murder case to believe that it she truly killed him in self-defense. The Dred Scott decision would directly affect her, because of the fact that the decision was still valid, and she, along with all the other slaves, weren’t protected by the U.S. Constitution, and were not considered U.S. citizens. This ruled out any argument that John Jameson, and the rest of her defense, would come up with arguing her constitutional rights. Instead, they brought up things like, how it would’ve been possible for her to kill a man of his size, and how it was possible that the body would’ve been completely disseminated in a fire in a matter of hours. Thomas Shoatman also tried to testify that after she striked Newsom the first time â€Å"he threw his hand up to catch her†, but the judge sustained prosecution objections to the defendants testimonies, because a majority of the jury and the judge himself were all slave owners. This even came as a problem for John Jameson at first, because he was defending a slave when he had some himself. The t hing that really allowed him to relate to Celia though, was the fact that he had a daughter, and he wouldn’t have wanted the same injustice fall on her if the roles were reversed. The Border Ruffians showed the culture and society of the time in Missouri. The border ruffians would cross over into Kansas and vote for all things pro slavery related, and would beat Kansas citizens into voting for pro slavery as well. This was an example of the people that resided in Missouri, and how intent they were on making slavery legal in as many states as possible. The Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company also showed the culture of the time, but from the aspect of people who didn’t want slavery. The company took advantage of the Kansas Nebraska Act to try and get anti-slavery supporters to settle in the Kansas territory, to try and make it a slave free state. The company was crucial in settling Kansas, and making it a free slave state. The book was a good read, though a bit repetitive at times, and educated the reader about different issues at the time of Celia’s case that would affect her, and also affected slaves lives in at the time. It also would educate the reader to what it was like to live in the time of Celia’s case, and get an insight on what it was like for her, and others.

Difficulty of Predicting Terror Attacks in the United States Essay

Difficulty of Predicting Terror Attacks in the United States - Essay Example The paper explores the reasons that make the prediction of terror attacks in the United States a difficult affair. Difficulty of Predicting Terror Attacks in the United States Introduction Modern times have witnessed a transformation of terror groups into barbaric and more determined groups. The present terrorism model differs from the previous models as it is characterized by loosely articulated political objectives, indiscriminate attacks, and efforts to attain maximum psychological and social disruption. The differentiations between the present and past models have left serious gaps in preventing and disrupting terror attacks. This has come in the backdrop of a growing Islamic resentment of the United States, which has become entrenched within the world. The significance of understanding terrorism in the United States was heightened in the wake of 9/11 attacks. America’s sense of immunity to large-scale terrorist attacks within its own borders suffered a massive blow with 9 /11 attacks. The attacks were a traumatic awakening to America. The success of the 9/11 attacks was grounded in three prominent capabilities that terror organizations such as Al-Qaeda still retain. These include the capability to exploit vulnerabilities of the enemy, effective employment of deception, and the application of suicide attacks to enhance success (Bullock, Haddow & Coppola, 2012). Despite the focus, little is known about general patterns of terror attacks within the U.S. Terrorists have honed their capability to gather intelligence, employ technology, and identify security gaps. As a result, predicting terrorist activities has become a tall order. Making assessments on future likelihood or consequences of terror attack is in essence an elusive undertaking (Pillar, 2011). This is mainly compounded by the fact that there are limited statistical data detailing terrorist attacks from which to parameterize terrorism risk. Besides, relevant variables influencing terror underta kings such as target type, weapon type, and target (geographical) location are hard to pin point. Terrorist threat is perpetually changing in ways that make it dangerous and difficult to counter. While most terrorist activities were traditionally confined in conflict- prone areas, especially in the last decade, terrorist activities have attained a global dimension. The main focus of terror attacks centre on inflicting massive civilian casualties and causing lasting economic damage. This propels the urgency in attaining capability to predict and pre-empt such attacks (Forest, 2007). The impact of terrorist attacks in the society has been so severe to the extent of becoming imperative to predict and disrupt the attacks. Most of the successful terrorist attacks exhibit common features such as meticulous long-term planning, cautious target selection, access to destruction means, and effective support in terms of logistics. The overriding question in those circles is not if but when. Irr espective of the mode and scale of attack, few Americans doubt that time is quickly running out. Nevertheless, this view tends to be contestable and may even be exaggerated. It is difficult or even impossible to predict terrorist intentions. Indexing of potential terrorist attacks is based on criteria such as motivation of terrorists, presence of terror groups, efficacy of the groups in undertaking terror acts, the scale and frequency of previous

KFC And Burger King Strategies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

KFC And Burger King Strategies - Case Study Example The company's core products are Buckets, Burgers and Twisters and Colonel's Crispy Strips chicken with home-style side dishes. The first 'Soul Food' product to hit the stores was 'Warm Chicken Salad'. The success of this salad led to new variants being developed, and more 'Soul Food' products continue to feature on KFC's menus. . The 'Soul Food' philosophy has also made a real impact upon KFC's retail estate, manifesting itself in all aspects of communication, from window posters to the menu boards and staff uniforms. (www.kfc.co.uk) In case of Burger King, the philosophy of "One size fits all" does not fit with its customers, as customisation is king for them. The target segment is core 18- to 35-year-old "burger-and-fries-loving" customers. To appeal to a broader customer base, it offers a variety of food options, such as a full line of breakfast products, salads, BK VEGGIE burgers, desserts and more. This strategy involves making modifications in the product characteristics so as to stimulate sales. (Kotler, 367).KFC is committed to serving foods that meet the changing needs of its customers. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has slashed the amount of dangerous trans fats in its foods in the UK. It uses a low trans fat blend of cooking oil in its 713 British and Irish stores. Previously the company used a partially hydrogenated rapeseed oil. The fast food chain says the switch means that all of its products will contain less than one per cent trans fat. The trans fats have been removed without sacrificing the great taste that is the foundation of KFC brand. Trans fats occur naturally in small amounts in dairy products and meat, but they're also formed artificially when manufacturers hydrogenate liquid vegetable fat or oil. (KFC slashes trans fats on UK menus) Product Line Extension This strategy involves adding new products or services to the existing product line (Onkvisit, Shaw, 384). Burger King has planned to build a chain of Whopper Bars in Britain, which will sell a variety of its signature hamburgers in a hipper, more adult setting. THE "barbell strategy "is being used by Burger King to beef up profits, pushing higher-priced products and cheap items on the same menu. Burger King has plans to build Whopper Bars in places such as airports and other venues with limited space (Rushe , 2008). Product Innovation This strategy involves introducing new products from time to time so as to cater to the changing needs of the customer. KFC and Burger King have followed this strategy. Burger King launched The Angus Steak Burger, which was differentiated based on higher quality beef, while TenderCrisp Chicken Sandwich gave BKC a product in the chicken sandwich category where it was traditionally weak. KFC launched The Wrapstar with delicious ingredients for the young, busy adult who eats lunch on the go.(www.utalkmarketing.com).KFC would launch a revolutionary finger lickin' new menu addition -- Kentucky Grilled Chicken This great tasting product will help KFC continue to evolve and increase its relevance among consumers looking for nonfried menu options. It's the latest and most exciting of many recent menu innovations at KFC and would deliver the great flavor that the customers expect.Even the Colonel's iconic bucket

Mark Rothko Chapel and Diego Rivera Paintings Term Paper

Mark Rothko Chapel and Diego Rivera Paintings - Term Paper Example The paper "Mark Rothko Chapel and Diego Rivera Paintings" discusses Mark Rothko Chapel and Diego Rivera Paintings. Approaching from the south, one would also see a steel sculpture written Broken Obelisk standing in the middle of a pool of water. Inside the building there are painting on a majestic scale which cover each of the eight walls. Little is there to barge in their power, just a few benches, eight to be precise, bare plaster and some few cushions on the floor. It is also amazing that the building appears to have doorways, but don’t lead anywhere, except to a small alcove which has nothing. I also noticed that the building has no modern lights fixed but only illuminated by the skylight from the afternoon sun. What I learnt of the building was that it was designed to house the paintings of Mark Rothko, a Russian abstract expressionist. The Chapel is also considered sacred but a non-denominational place of worship. The fourteen paintings in the Chapel are just astonishing . The paintings are dark, in black hues while others are purplish. I learnt that there is a reason why Rothko did the paintings in this manner. The patron I found in the building explains that they are ‘sort of a window to beyond’. In this regard, she explains that bright colors are meant to stop your vision at the canvas, where dark colors go past. After making a first glance at the paintings, it appeared made of solid, dark colors. A closer look revealed that the paintings are made up of several uneven washes of pigments.