Marketing Concept Consumer Loyalty essay

Marketing Concept Consumer Loyalty essay Marketing Concept: Consumer Loyalty essay Marketing Concept: Consumer Loyalty essayConsumer loyalty is a feature of subjectively-positive approving consumer attitudes to a company, its brands, products and services, personnel, and other aspects, expressed through commitment. Under a loyal customer, marketers understand a person who makes regular repeat purchases, consumes a wide variety of company’s products, attracts other buyers, and does not respond to competitors’ offers. In general, consumer loyalty to a company largely determines the success of business and its assessment in the eyes of competitors and partners, as well as provides a strong foundation for stable sales. Further, we will focus on the essence of this marketing concept by studying both theoretical understanding and practical applications of loyalty mechanisms.Basically, loyalty is expressed in the fact that a consumer gives preference to company’s goods or services for a considerably long period of time (usually, over 1 year), almost w ithout asking for similar solutions from company’s major competitors. In this case, the concept of loyalty behavior includes the following categories (Reichheld Teal, 2001, p. 41): 1) action factors (purchase); 2) intention (subsequent actions; the probability of repeat purchases); 3) recommendations (the probability of recommendations of other people); 4) sensitivity (insensitivity to the actions of competitors); and 5) inertia (willingness to find other new options). The key force pushing a customer from stage 1 to subsequent stages is a positive experience after acquiring a product. For example, if a consumer is fully satisfied with the quality of a product of a particular company and service by company’s personnel, next time, with the rest factors stable, he/she is highly likely to make the same consumer choice in favor of this brand (further, we won’t consider the basic preconditions of loyalty, assuming that a company is competitive enough to provide them ). Besides, this favorable attitude will also be transferred to all the new products of the company. Furthermore, the strategy of strengthening customer loyalty is justified through the recent research results showing that the attraction of one new customer costs 5-10 times more than retaining an existing one (Reichheld Teal, 2001, p. 137), while a satisfied customer typically informs an average of 3 friends about a successful purchase, and an unsatisfied client shares one’s annoyance with about 10 friends (Reichheld Teal, 2001, p. 151).From the standpoint of company’s financial success, consumer loyalty leads to the following results (basing on Reichheld Teal, 2001; Dooley, 2011; and Velzquez et al., 2011):1) consumers become less sensitive to price, which means that a product (or service) can be charged at a higher price without the risk of losing the part of the turnover;2) the cost of sales to existing customers is lower than sales to the new ones. As a result, company’s profitability may grow up, even though the price is pulled down. In this case, a client can be offered a range of additional services (products) on the basis of cross-selling, thereby increasing the turnover of the company. Indeed, as Hallberg (1995) states, approximately 80% of their incomes companies receive from 20% of their customers, whereas the increase in the share of regular customers by only 5% results in the profit increase by 50% or even more (Reichheld Teal, 2001, p. 213).That is why, today more and more companies come to the idea of creating and implementing measures aimed at strengthening customer loyalty, primarily by means of personalized sales. For this purpose, companies provide the opportunities leaving feedback through which their consumers articulate their complaints or questions about the quality of a product/service, as well as introduce special programs to encourage consumption such as various seasonal discounts, gift certificates, birthday presents and sales on national holidays. Another effective approach is the development accumulative cards or club memberships for consumers.The latter method allows companies to not only attract new customers, but also greatly improve the quality of interaction with regular partners. One of the world’s first programs of this kind was the AAdvantage developed by American Airlines, which guaranteed passengers a substantial discount on next ticket after accumulating a certain number of miles. Today, similar programs are widely adopted in key airline services, as well as in hotel and restaurant chains. In a subconscious fear to lose alluring opportunities, consumers vigorously collect their loyalty points. As a result, Hilton clients rarely switch for Marriott (Velzquez et al., 2011). Studies have shown that loyalty programs using some type of bonus cards result in a decrease in consumer turnover by 30%, and an increase in the volume of business by 10%, while holding only 5% of t he total number of customers over time lead to 25-85% increase in profit obtained from them (Reichheld Teal, 2001, p. 183-87). At the same time, as Velzquez et al. (2011, p. 70) rightfully claim, bonus programs may be easily copied and therefore cannot provide a decisive competitive advantage.According to Garth Hallberg (1995), differentiated marketing strategy should also involve highly profitable direct communication and feedback based on efficient database systems. For instance, such large companies as Procter Gamble and Kraft Foods have already collected databases numbering more than 40 million records of individual households (Rungie et al., 2013, p. 1672), and the effectiveness of this strategy is proved experimentally. In particular, studies show a significant increase in the positive image of the brand and the volume of its purchases by those customers who have participated in direct communication programs on increasing loyalty. A typical program aimed at potentially high- profit consumers leads to an increase in sales inside this group by nearly 25% (Dean, 2007, p. 165). It is also important to mark that a substantial increase in company’s fame, image and frequency of purchases in the case of direct communication with consumers had a long-term effect. In many studies (Reichheld Teal, 2001; Dean, 2007; Rungie et al., 2013), changes were recorded even 2-3 months after the program implementation, while about 80% of the U.S. television audience cannot remember a particular advertisement they have seen the day before.On the other hand, in their long-term perspective, bonus cards turn to be unprofitable, and direct communication is often annoying. In this regard, one of the most vivid examples of an effective strategy is Apple, Inc., known for its most loyal customers. Despite several considerable declines, Apple has managed to achieve unprecedented loyalty by competently playing on â€Å"tribal instincts†. This amazing loyalty was surely bu ilt of many factors including advanced design, original products and technologies, user experience, creative marketing, etc. However, there is also an unexpected element, which, according to Roger Dooley (2011), played one of the key roles: the creation of an enemy to compete with. In its marketing fights with Samsung, Apple has been persistently building the social image of Apple users, which would differ dramatically from the rest of consumers. The result of using basic social archetypes was the emergence of Apple cult. Similar contradistinction strategy also used to be applied by such competitors as Nike and Adidas, IBM and Microsoft.Here, basing on Rungie et al. (2013) and Dooley (2011), a current trend should be stressed again: contemporary consumers react positively primarily on companies offering ideas â€Å"beyond known†, i.e. new technologies and bold features. Other non-material forms of consumer loyalty strengthening may involve company’s transparent policie s, clear corporate social responsibility policy, green and eco-saving innovations, newly discovered ways to connect on media, possibilities of the uniqueness of samples or their full compliance to individual specific requirement, as well as their multifunctionality. For instance, the Sportline Company has recently invented an interactive bottle equipped with a display. The smart vessel not only dispenses liquid, but also tells the time of the next portion, and demonstrates current indicators to monitor the level of water need in the body. The Life cycle of such products might be short, but the loyalty accompanying will be high proportionally. Attracted by markets gamification, consumers are often ready to follow their idols to the end.In sum, a loyal customer is always valuable in financial terms: he/she regularly buys company’s products, attracts new customers, requires much less attention, is already familiar with the company’s range of products and offerings, as wel l as more resistant to price fluctuations and is prone to overpay a little rather than buy unfamiliar goods. Therefore, the crucial task for any company consists in consumer retention, the inadmissibility of consumer’s departure to company’s competitor. In this regard, consumer devotion should be rewarded with an excellent service, personal attention, personalized discounts, bonuses, and gifts, in a row with relevant policies on constructing consumer’s social image, and considering personal feedbacks, interests and tastes in developing new product lines.

10 Tips for Taking Notes

10 Tips for Taking Notes 10 Tips for Taking Notes 10 Tips for Taking Notes By Maeve Maddox Winston writes: On my job, part of my responsibility is doing transcription. Often I attend scientific meetings and have to [take notes]. The notes/minutes are written as indirect quotes. Can you please give some guidance on taking meeting notes and minutes? The purpose of taking minutes at a meeting is to create a record that can be used later to verify what took place. Minutes need to be accurate, but they dont need to be lengthy. My suggestions are based on the idea that the notes are going to be handwritten. 1. Keep your notes together. Use a bound notebook like a school composition book. Loose sheets of paper are easy to lose and its easy to tear out the wrong page in a spiral notebook. 2. Have more than one pen or pencil with you. 3. Sit close to the podium or wherever most of the speaking will take place. 4. Have a clear idea of what you plan to do with the notes youre taking. The purpose of a conference-goer is not the same as that of a club secretary. 5. Take advantage of the kindness of others. For example, if youre taking notes for a club or a business meeting, pass around a sheet for attendance. Ask officers and members to give you copies of their reports and motions. 6. Follow the agenda. Begin by noting the place of the meeting and the time at which it begins. Take things down as they happen. You can always rearrange things in a more logical order when you type up your notes. 7. Write down the exact words for motions. 8. Write legibly. Write as fast as you can, but dont scribble. If you dont know shorthand, youll need to use your own symbols and abbreviations. Dont be too creative. What you meant by AGMP may not be so obvious the day after the meeting. 9. Be accurate. Spell everyones name correctly. If youre taking notes in a chemistry course, youd better get the names of the chemicals right. If necessary, buttonhole people after the meeting to double check on anything youre not sure of. 10. Type up your notes as soon as possible after the meeting. Cold notes are hard to decipher. Type them up the same day if possible. Bonus tip from Sharon in a previous DWT post. Here are some web sources that go into the subject in more detail: Taking notes at a business meeting Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:"Because Of" and "Due To" Latin Words and Expressions: All You Need to KnowIs "Number" Singular or Plural?

Analysis of Hong Hong Property Market and Suggested Policies Thesis

Analysis of Hong Hong Property Market and Suggested Policies - Thesis Example (Rovnick 2012). This research essay will look into Hong Kong’s property market in general , its history , its earlier booms and bursts , HK government’s role in planning the housing policy , the reasons for skyrocketing prices of housing in HK , how to overcome the future housing burst and suggested reforms to be introduced in the HKs housing policies with a detailed analysis of HKs housing market scenario and will suggest suitable policy reforms in the sector. Due to its hilly topography, the development of housing in Hong Kong has always been viewed as challenging. Hong Kong, in the early years, remained as a trading port and hence, housing developments in Hong Kong were concentrated on both sides of Victoria Harbour. In the early days, there was an upsurge in demand for housing due to the continuous influx of immigrants thereby giving rise to the surfacing of tenement building, into which many households were stuffed. After the Japanese invasion of China in 1937, there was an influx of 750,000 refugees immediately following the four years of that invasion in Hong Kong, which deteriorated the scenario of housing in the region. Due to availability of limited housing and just for a bed space, those who were residing in the crowded tenement building had to pay abnormal rents. Those who could not afford to pay high rents had to take shelter in crude and simple squatter huts constructed upon hillsides or on rooftops. Due to the civil war in China between 1947 and 1949, more than 1, 00, 000 people sought for refugee status in HK and the population of HK was reported to be around 2 million at that time. Due to this, all the present accommodations were fully occupied, and yet more peoples crowded into the spacious quarter provinces on the hills. It was projected that 300,000 people resided in squatter huts across the Kowloon peninsula and the hills of Hong Kong Island during 1950s. On

Diagnosis Related Groups Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Diagnosis Related Groups - Essay Example A patient is assigned this category of DRG when all the operating room procedures performed on this patient are unrelated to the major diagnostic category of the patient's principal diagnosis. DRG 468 thus pays for discharge in which the patient undergoes an operating room procedure entirely unrelated to this admission's principal diagnosis. This is against the PPS classification of discharges of clinically coherent groups. Although this is possible in some cases, DRG 468 can be an example of DRG creep. The attending physician may misspecify the principal diagnosis, secondary diagnosis, or the procedure on the attestation sheet. It can also be the result of miscoding, where the hospital assigns an incorrect numeric code to the diseases or procedures which had been correctly attested by the physician in charge. In some cases to avoid investigation, the hospital may substitute a secondary diagnosis for the correct principal diagnosis. Therefore for appropriation of facts, auditing and review is necessary that would identify discharges in which coding rules are either ignored or not applied appropriately. DRG 468 is assigned when all the operating room procedures are unrelated to the major diagnostic category for which the patient had been admitted. Most often, these patients are admitted with a principal diagnosis that does not need any surgery. ... To assess the appropriateness, the ICD-9-CM coding guidelines should be applied to do the initial coding and for auditing if such has been used. The principal diagnosis is always the reason for admission, which should be backed by records indicating circumstances at admission, diagnostic workup, and therapy provided. The scenario is not an admission of the patient to treat two conditions, it is rather two conditions present during admission. While auditing and reviewing, it is to be determined whether the principal diagnosis was the reason for admission and treatment. If at admission, there were more than one diagnoses, use of guidelines for selecting the principal diagnosis would be used with consideration of circumstances at admission, diagnosis workup, and the therapy provided. The principal procedure must be performed for definitive treatment, not for diagnostic purposes, exploratory purposes, or for a complication. If there are two procedures done, then the one most related to t he principal diagnosis would be selected as the principal procedure. The procedure must be significant as defined by the Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set would be used, and for this to qualify, it must be surgical under anesthesia with the operator being specially trained. The audit must look at the detailed documentation in the medical record. There must be enough proof and substantiation that it was medically necessary. The coding should be done from the narrative description of the procedure, not from the written title of the procedure. The approach and closure of the procedure are integral part of one significant procedure, not two separate

Environmental Engineering Essay Example for Free

Environmental Engineering Essay It involves  waste water management  and  air pollution  control, recycling,  waste disposal, radiation protection, industrial hygiene, environmental sustainability, and  public health  issues as well as a knowledge of  environmental engineering law. It is a related study of environmental science. Main task of environmental engineers is to protect public health by protecting (from further degradation), preserving (the present condition of), and enhancing the environment. Some work of Environmental engineers: Conducts hazardous-waste management  studies to evaluate the significance of such hazards, advise on treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps. Design municipal water supply and  industrial wastewater treatment  systems. Address environmental issues such as the effects of  acid rain,  global warming,  ozone depletion, water pollution and air pollution from  automobile exhausts  and  industrial sources. Environmental science  is an interdisciplinary  academic field  that integrates physical and biological sciences, (including but not limited to  Ecology,  Physics,  Chemistry,  Biology,  Soil Science,  Geology,  Atmospheric Science  and  Geography) to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems. Environmental science provides an integrated, quantitative, and interdisciplinary  approach to the study of environmental systems. Environmental science came alive as a substantive, active field of scientific investigation in the 1960s and 1970s driven by the ff. ssues: (a)  Ã‚   the need for a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze complex environmental problems. (b)  Ã‚   the arrival of substantive environmental laws requiring specific environmental protocols of investigation. (c)  Ã‚   the growing public awareness of a need for action in addressing environmental problems. Related areas of study: environmental studies   incorporates more of the social sciences for understanding human relationships, perceptions and policies towards the environment. 2. environmental engineering focuses on design and technology for improving environmental quality. Components of Environmental Science: Ecology  is the study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. Ecologists might investigate the relationship between a population of organisms and some physical characteristic of their environment, such as concentration of a chemical; or they might investigate the interaction between a two populations of different organisms through some symbiotic or competitive relationship. For example, an interdisciplinary analysis of an ecological system which is being impacted by one or more stressors might include several related environmental science fields. In an estuarine setting where a proposed industrial development could impact certain species by  water  and  air pollution,  biologists  would describe the flora and fauna,  chemists  would analyze the transport of water pollutants to the marsh,  physicists  would calculate  air pollution  emissions and  geologists  would assist in understanding the marsh soils and bay muds. . Atmospheric sciences  focuses on the Earths atmosphere, with an emphasis upon its interrelation to other systems. Atmospheric sciences can include studies of  meteorology,greenhouse gas  phenomena,  atmospheric dispersion modeling  of airborne contaminants,[3][4]  sound propagation phenomena related to  noise pollution, and even  light pollution. Taking the example of the  global warming  phenomena, physicists create  computer models  of atmospheric circulation and infra-red radiation transmission, chemists examine the inventory of atmospheric chemicals and their reactions, biologists analyze the plant and animal contributions to  carbon dioxide  fluxes, and specialists such as  meteorologists  and  oceanographers add additional breadth in understanding the atmospheric dynamics. 3. Environmental chemistry  is the study of chemical alterations in the environment. Principal areas of study include  soil contamination  and  water pollution. The topics of analysis include chemical degradation in the environment, multi-phase transport of chemicals (for example, evaporation of a  solvent  containing lake to yield solvent as an air pollutant), and chemical effects upon biota. As an example study, consider the case of a leaking  solvent  tank which has entered the habitat soil of an  endangered species  of amphibian. As a method to resolve or understand the extent of  soil contamination  and subsurface transport of solvent, a computer model would be implemented. Chemists would then characterize the molecular bonding of the solvent to the specific soil type, and biologists would study the impacts upon soil  arthropods, plants, and ultimately pond-dwelling organisms that are the food of the endangered amphibian. 4. Geosciences  include  environmental geology,  environmental soil science, volcanic phenomena and evolution of the Earths crust. In some classification systems this can also includehydrology, including  oceanography. As an example study of soils  erosion, calculations would be made of  surface runoff  by soil scientists. Fluvial geomorphologists would assist in examining  sediment transport  in overland flow. Physicists would contribute by assessing the changes in light transmission in the receiving waters. Biologists would analyze subsequent impacts to aquatic flora and fauna from increases in water turbidity. Ecology study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. starts as early as 300 BC with the Greek named Theophastus, his interest with the interrelationship between organism and the living environment, become his as the Father of Botany. Environment refers to the sum of all the external forces and conditions acting on an organism or community of organism. oekologie was coined by the german zoologist, Ernst Haeckel, comes from the greek word oikos, meaning home or a place to live in. defines as the relationship of animals both to the organic as well as the inorganic environment,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   in the mid-1900’s two group of botanist, one from the Europe and America, become interested in the study of plants communities, the Europeans concentrated on the composition, structure and distribution of plant communities, on the other hand the Americans concentrate to the development of plant, eventually they become interested at the animals as well, and gave a greater emphasis on inter-relationship of animals and plants. This become the birth of ecology as the formal field of study. British economist, Thomas Malthus, gave special attention to population in the early 19th century, his the first one o recognized the conflict between expanding population and earths capability to supply it. scope of ecology, organism (eg. Proto-plasma, cell, tissue, organ, organ system), population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere. Organism: Levels of organization of life (inside the organism): Protoplasma – it makes up the living substance of the cell. Cell – basic unit of life Tissue-group of cell performing specific functions Organ- group of tissue carrying a particular functions Organ system – group of organ doing s specific function. Levels of organization of life (inside the organism): Population – group of organism of the same kind or species occupying a particular place at a particular time. Community – a group of populations occupying a given area. Ecosystem    basic unit of ecology, refers to the interaction between the organism and environment. It includes population, communities, habitat (the place where the organism lives) and the environment. eg. forest, grassland, river, etc. ) Biosphere – world of life. It is the portion of the earth where in life on its any form existed. Components of ecosystem: Biotic – they are the living components of ecosystem consisting of plants, animals and bacteria. Abiotic – they are the non living component that consist of substratum, ligh t, rainfall, nutrients, soil, temperature, etc. Biotic Components: Green plants   Ã‚  Ã‚     known as the producers. They capture the energy coming from the sun and together with the CO2 in the air and H2O converts this into food energy. They are called autotrophs (self nourishing), they manufacture their own food through the process of photosynthesis. There are also microscopic green plant called phytoplanktons, they give the green color to the bodies of water such as lake and rivers    Animals Known as the consumers. Obtain other food sources to other plants and animals they are called heterotrophs. Three types of consumers: Herbivores – that eat plants only Carnivores – animals that eat other animals. Omnivores- eat both plants and animals. Bacteria and Fungi They are called decomposers. They eat the dead bodies of plants and animals, where they get their energy and convert it to other nutrients back into the environment. They are popular called the janitor of the nature. Abiotic Components: Soil   the upper layer of the earth’s crust affected by plants and animals serves as the habitat and pool of nutrients for many organism. Humus dark decaying organic substance found in the soil. Physical characteristic of soil: Color The color of the soils is influence by the element present in the soil. Soil color and element presesent: Grey (lacks of iron) Brown red (rich in iron) Texture   the texture of the soil affects the amount of water and nutrients the soil can hold. Texture of the soil: Sandy (composed of coarse particles) Clay (consist of fine particles) Silt (composed of medium size particles. ) Loamy (mixture of clay, sand and silt) Moisture Water content of the soil. It is influence by factors such as: Texture Amount of rainfall Slope of the land Underlying rock type. pH The concentration of hydrogen ions on the soil. The soil which contain a large amount of lime is alkaline and with large amount of granite id acidic. pH value raging from 1-6 is acidic and 8-14 are basic while those with 7 reading is neutral type of soil. Structure Refers to the arrangement of it’s particle which build up larger amount of soil structure is called peds. The peds damage will result to the poor drainage of water to the soil. 2. Water Importance of water in ecosystem: It comprise of a large percentage of the tissues of all living organism. Required by plants to support their non woody tissues. Used by the plants as a vessel of nutrients from the soil. It is absorbed by the plant and release in the environment which produces the cooling effect. Plant adaptation to water: (Based on the tolerance of plant to water. ):   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   *   Hydropytes (Plants that grow in water and waterlogged soils)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   *   Halophytes (Plants that grow in saline environment. )   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   *   Xerophytes (Plants that grow in dry or arid condition. 3. Temperature Affects the plant and cooled blooded animals by controlling their metabolism. Affect the water loss of the organism. Most organism function at temperature between 0 degree to 50 degree centigrade.. 4. Wind An agent of pollination and seed dispersal. It also affects transpiration in the plants by causing faster evaporation with in their surroundings. Pathways of energy: Energy It is needed by the organism for growth, maintenance and repair and for life. Organism obtain their energy by two ways: Autotrophy (producing their own food) Heterotrophy (eating other organism) Food Chain Consist of the sequence of organism that eat other organism through which energy is transferred. Every food chain starts a producer and end with decomposers. Trophic levels of food chain: First trophic ( producers) Second trophic (herbivores called primary consumers) Third trophic (carnivore that eat hervobores) 4th trophic (carnivores that eat carnivores) In food chain the energy transferred from one trophic level to another is decreasing. Food web Consist of several interlocking food chain. It is a transfer of energy involving several pathways. Nutrients cycle: Classification of Nutrients: Macronutrients – those that are required by organism by large quantities. Ex. Oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen Micronutrient – are needed by the organism by smaller amounts. Ex. Sulfur, potassium, iron, and phosphorus. Water Cycles: Evaporation (from bodies of water) Respiration ( from animals) Transpiration (from the trees) Condensation   (accumulation of all the vapors, transpiration and respiration) Precipitation (for rain) Runoff (water run from the higher grounds) Carbon and Oxygen cycle: Carbon is mostly present in the environment by cabon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is present at: It could be found at dead organism. Volcano eruption. Respiration of animals. Oxygen is abundant in plants transpiration, it is release in the air as a waste product and absorbed by animals. Nitrogen Cycles: Nitrogen constitutes 78% of air in the atmosphere. Plants used it as a nitrates, and nitrogen converted it by two process: The action of lightning. Process of action by specialized organism such as legumes. Communities Community Group of different kinds of organism or species living together in a particular place. Worlds Major communities: 1. Dessert Biome Bushes and shrubs for vegetation Sandy, dry and loose type of soil. Less than 10 cm of rain fall in a year. Lizards, snakes, eagles, owls, toads, insects and small

How Being in Love can Change People :: essays research papers

â€Å"How Being in Love can Change People†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the three marvelous works, Matchstick Men, Punch-Drunk Love, and â€Å"Mama Day†, people are all changed greatly, and for the better by romantic or father/child love. How everyone knows that there is no one on Earth who is perfect, yet when there is love, we come so close to it. Within these three works of art, one can analyze how there is actual change through people when there is love present.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cocoa states in Gloria Naylor’s â€Å"Mama Day†, â€Å"When I had come to New York seven years before that I had wondered about the need for such huge buildings. No one ever seemed to be in them very long; everyone was out on the sidewalks moving, moving, moving- and to where?† Cocoa starts out as a lost cause, going to New York as a resident tourist. Meeting George saved her vision of New York . . . . He knew what it was really about, â€Å"New York wasn’t on those Manhattan sidewalks, just the New Yorkers. My city was a network of small towns, some even smaller than here in Willow springs. It could be one apartment building, a handful of blocks, a single square mile hidden off with its own language, newspapers and magazines- its own judge and juries. You’d never realize that because you went and lived on our fringes.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cocoa was living in New York and had resided there for seven years, but was she seeing the real New York? Or was she seeing a New York fantasy world? †¦A forever-tourist New York resident. George insists that New York is much more than its’ buildings or looks, it’s the little things, â€Å"To live in New York you’d have to know about the florist on Jamaica Avenue who carried Yellow roses even though they didn’t move well, but it was his dead wife’s favorite color. The candy store in Harlem that wouldn’t sell cigarettes to twelve year olds without notes from their mothers. That they killed chickens below Houston, prayed to Santa Barbara by the East River and in Bensonhurst girls were still virgins when they married.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the reasons why George offered to show Cocoa around New York was because she needed a â€Å"guide†. She had lived in New York for seven years and still had thought like a tourist, the same way of thinking she had had when she arrived seven years earlier.

Harvard Business Review Case- Revere Street Essay

After analysis of Mr. Alexander’s proposal, it is obvious why he should take advantage of a real estate investment opportunity. The experience he would gain coupled with the added income would establish a solid foundation for making more investments in the future. To this end, however, I find Alexander’s plan for the Revere Street property falls short. A major deficiency is that his projections are almost entirely predicated on estimates and assumptions that are neither conservative nor reliable. In a similar vein, Alexander’s â€Å"DIY† approach is not only exemplar of naivetà ©, but also suggestive of many implications that were overlooked in his proposal. And, even more discouraging, a best-case scenario analysis reveals that even without complication, there is little room for error afforded by the plan. Therefore, I would not advise Alexander to move forward with his investment strategy, as its potential for reward is far outweighed by its risk. In a vacuum, Alexander’s proposal would be very feasible and attractive, but in reality the real estate and rental industries are incredibly volatile and hard to predict even for specialists in those fields. The success of Alexander’s proposal is not just contingent upon a host of variables, but variables forecasted by an amateur lacking a sense of conservatism. To begin, the projected costs of the project include no allowance for incidentals. This is a giant red flag. Even if Alexander outsourced certain responsibilities to experts, the likelihood of error and unforeseen costs in bidding for a property, closing the sale, major construction and renovation, and managing a rental property is almost certain. So, without a contingency reserve, the problems are obvious. But even worse, Alexander, a nonspecialist in any of these pursuits, is the one handling a majority of these functions- this means it is no longer a question of will there be unforeseen costs, but actually how much should be anticipated? On this front alone I am incredibly skeptical of the proposal. To bring this project to fruition and realize the gains projected, the following processes need to occur without incident: Alexander’s bid must be accepted by the seller, which requires that he obtain an appropriate mortgage, and avoid forfeiting his deposit, which could be something to the tune of $17,500 or more. For the closing sale of the property to go smoothly, there mustn’t be any lien issues from the existing bank withholding loan proceeds to the architect, since the construction was not finished. After this, the construction needs to be essentially error free and at an expedited pace to be complete by the four month timeframe set- and this is without a professional general contractor. Additionally, the job must not exceed the $165,000 figure that was given by a non-independent contractor, who very likely may have given a low-ball estimate to seem like an attractive candidate. The last architect was off by $115,0001, indicating that the scope of the work necessary to complete the job may be deceptive and much greater than anticipated, however there is no reserve beyond budgeted amount, making this possibly the hardest mission to accomplish. If, however, the project is completed within the four allotted months, and without going over budget, the next phase is filling vacancies, which Alexander is also planning to have accomplished by the end of the fourth month. This means that during the construction process, Alexander must also be actively marketing vacancies, searching for, interviewing, and selecting tenants, and securing leases. These tenants must also be willing to accept the rental rates to achieve Alexander’s target level of rental income, which are almost $10,000 higher than the current owner’s figures. If this is not accomplished, he could be losing $2,000 per month on each unoccupied unit. Beyond these start-up efforts, Alexander’s plan will only be successful if the operating costs do not exceed what is specifically budgeted for in his cash flow assumptions- these do not include costs of fixing up the units between tenants, updates, reserves for evictions, bad tenants, or law suits, and any other unforeseeable expenses. Though possible, it is incredibly hard to imagine that the stars would align so perfectly that all the aforementioned conditions are met as forecasted and result in triumph. It seems much more likely that some unforeseen incident will paralyze the process, creating a rippling effect that throws off virtually all of Alexander’s predictions. For example, a delay in the closing process would delay construction, delaying when tenants can move in and therefore when income can start being generated, and so on. The plan is contingent upon virtually incident-free operation that is somehow achieved under the direction of an amateur- this is fundamentally flawed. As such, I believe Alexander’s proposal is far too deficient in and of itself to be used as a viable plan. Beyond the limitations of the actual plan, another shortcoming of pursuing this opportunity on Revere Street are the serious implications associated with Alexander’s â€Å"do-it-yourself† approach. By not outsourcing responsibilities to experts, he may be avoiding the explicit employment costs, but he is likely to pay more for doing the job himself later. For example, hiring a general contractor would ensure that the building is constructed to code, would be more efficient because the GC would know how to best handle subcontractors and manage the overall project, both of which would help expedite the process and give Alexander time to do other value-added functions. If not, Alexander risks serious code-violation liabilities, will probably manage less effectively, and the project could therefore take much longer than anticipated, which has the same rippling effect as in the aforementioned. Additionally, Alexander may have seriously underestimated how demanding the project will be, and did not consider anywhere in his proposal how this may compromise his current full time job. Even with a general contractor hired, he will still be tasked to find tenants to fill the vacancies, while juggling the rest of the logistics, and it seems like a tall order. Since it is already included in the budget, I would hire outside management at least for the duration of construction to help find tenants. One of the major issues being an amateur in this field is determining good tenants from bad, and the costs associated with bad tenants could be significant, and again are something that Alexander did not include in his projected costs. Management would be instrumental in mitigating this risk, as they are usually well versed in landlord-tenant laws that Alexander may not be aware of, and also add more time for Alexander to focus on other important responsibilities. In general, I disagree with Alexander’s plan to save costs by doing work himself, because this generates a greater risk for both explicit and implicit costs- i.e. bad landlord-tenant relationships could taint Alexander’s reputation and dissuade other potential tenants from renting. He also risks compromise to performance at his current job, general welfare, and all of his time. By outsourcing some of the responsibilities, many of these issues could be avoided. But, if problems do arise, is it worth the consequences? Though the risks are significant and abundant, the potential for profit is always worth considering before dismissing an opportunity. To assess the profitability of Alexander’s plan, I ran a best-case scenario analysis. By exclusively using the figures as set forth in the proposal, and excluding the additional costs I outlined above but were overlooked by Alexander, I determined the ceiling for profit potential. Exhibit 1 shows the cash flow assumptions, including costs and cash not included in Alexander’s cash flow statement, but included in his proposal. Holding all other factors constant, year 1 of operations would realize only $2,113 in NOI and year 2, and all subsequent years, would see $15,610. On a $99,000 cash investment, his pretax return in year 1 would only be 2.13%, and then 15.8% in subsequent years. However, this is a best-case scenario, and given the major caveats discussed in the aforementioned, I believe that Alexander will actually not break even in the first year, and be looking at a significantly lower rate of return in years to come. So, even if everything were entirely feasible and it didn’t come at such an immense risk, I would not say that the effort put into this project would even be worth it. One of the biggest risks concerning insolvency is that should Alexander not be able to cover his debts, under the bank’s law, he is personally responsible, which means that this investment could end up in devastation for him and his family. With so much uncertainty, and not a big return, the risk is just too great to justify pursuit of the reward. In sum, because of faults with the plan itself, the major implications of Alexander’s DIY approach, and a return greatly exceeded by the associated risks, Alexander should not invest in the Revere Street property. However, I do agree that pursuing a real estate investment opportunity is wise, but under certain conditions. One of the biggest conditions that must be met is that he base his projections and make his plans off of expert opinions- he should invest in help and recognize that as an amateur, he is neither qualified nor capable of making the best decisions, and would benefit from seeking expert advice. Similarly, he should place more emphasis on the value of outsourcing to professionals, and less on blind trust in his own capabilities. This will also help to see the inherent value in outsourcing as the opportunity cost of not doing so might eventually end up being greater. Lastly, Alexander should invest in a property where the reward   is worth the risk, and make more conservative estimates to determine profitability. By following these steps, I believe he will be able to successfully gain the experience and equity base in real estate that he was seeking.

Review of Tom Englehardt’s The End of Victory Culture Essay

Like many young men of his generation Tom Englehardt is the son of a World War II veteran and was raised in the shadow of Allied victory over Japan and Germany. It was an era of clearly evil enemies and clearly honorable victors. America was a â€Å"winner†, but according to Englehardt â€Å"between 1945 and 1975 victory culture ended in America† and he â€Å"traces its decomposition through those years of generational loss and societal disillusionment to Vietnam, which was its graveyard for all to see† (10). According to Englehardt’s cover-jacket promotion, â€Å"this remarkable and unexpected history of our time†¦reconstructs a half-century of the crumbling borderlands of American consciousness†¦a nation living an afterlife amid the ruins of its national narrative† (cover-jacket). Further, he presents the question of whether there is â€Å"an imaginable America without enemies and without the story of their slaughter and our triumph? † (Cover-jacket). Perhaps since its publication in 1995 Englehardt has had a chance to reflect on his version of American history and consider how it is that America has lived through its â€Å"afterlife† and despite incredible adversity continues to not just survive, but thrive. Englehardt begins his version of post-war American history with what can only be described as the academically-required survey of All That Was Wrong With America. There is a great value in discovering and analyzing policies and actions in a postmortem sense, for the obvious reason of improving what worked and reworking what failed. There is a great disservice in reviewing history within the context and framework of contemporary thought and morality. The reader gets Englehardt’s version of the European White Man’s conquest of indigenous Americans, the depredations of slavery and lynching, and the unworldly horror of American atomic destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There is little, if any doubt in any rational person’s mind these were not exactly shining examples of Americana. But his recounting of these events raises questions he is unable to answer. First, and truly not callously, how long should America apologize, if that is what Englehardt demands? Second, with American â€Å"manifest destiny† and the bombing of Japan, just exactly what were the alternatives at the time? Finally, with slavery and the civil rights movement, where is the relevance to Englehardt’s central thesis? At some point realizations are made that we cannot undo historical fact, no matter how unsavory the events were, and ultimately, as a person and as a nation we must move on. Throughout his book Englehardt exhibits a not-so-subtle bias, evident from the onset and which must be taken into account. One need look no closer than the jacket promotion: Englehardt is careful to use the word â€Å"slaughter† in reference to America’s enemies, not â€Å"defeat†. Englehardt traces the â€Å"victory culture† through the media, beginning with the World War II era â€Å"Why We Fight† documentaries and Hollywood’s active war-time production of â€Å"hero† movies (51). In the post-war era â€Å"pride in on-screen westerns and war culture was any boy’s inheritance† (52). Englehardt believes the culture was based â€Å"on an ambush that could touch all but the imagination in only the most limited ways. Now for the first time since the earliest days of the European invasion of North America, the ambush (by nuclear weapons) threatened actual extermination† (52). Again, Englehardt is careful to use the word â€Å"invasion† instead of â€Å"migration† or colonization† preferring to impart a negative connotation whenever possible. For him â€Å"the military-industrial complex grew to monstrous proportions† leading to the first real nuclear standoff in the Cuban Missile Crisis (52-3). Englehardt does not supply any reference to support his claim that â€Å"nothing could rally Americans for such a war† (53). Englehardt writes in a very disjointed manner, alternately discussing the bombing of Japan, the Korean War, communism and McCarthyism, and his father (73). He devotes chapters to children’s toys and his own collection of war figurines (85). He discusses the impact of television, and declares that by the end of the sixties â€Å"war as myth and play seemed to have been swept clean out of American culture† (89). In the span of less than thirty pages Englehardt manages to discuss, and apparently relate, Malcolm X, George Kennan, the Cold War, vampires, Broken Arrow, UFO’s and The Incredible Shrinking Man (90-112). Apparently these all relate to the pronouncements of Malcolm X and Kennan, respectively: â€Å"the whole world knows that the white man cannot survive another war† and Kennan â€Å"marking the spot where his own society threatened to leap of some cliff† (111-112). Englehardt continues his review of the media culture of the late fifties and sixties, once again in a very haphazard and distracting style. It seems he is bent on throwing in every facet of American culture as if to miss any one item would spoil his entire recipe. The reader is left to his discussions of anti-communism and Cuba, juvenile delinquency, civil rights, Dobie Gillis, Mad Magazine, Bill Haley and the Comets, television advertising, Rebel Without a Cause and Happy Days. His chapters read more like the answers to a huge game of Trivia Pursuit than any historical reflection of substance. All he is missing is the game cards: question: who played Josh Randall in Wanted: Dead or Alive? answer: Steve McQueen (152). Somehow, according to Englehardt, it is all related to the demise of victory culture. When after approximately two hundred pages Englehardt finally decides to discuss Vietnam he does so with an expected emphasis on horrors and atrocities. But first he must take the reader through GI Joe (Englehardt takes pains to describe Hasbro’s late entry with â€Å"Negro Joe† and â€Å"She-Joe†), Sergeant Roc, Kennedy assassination conspiracy theory, and Fail Safe (175-187). Any review of substance of the war in Vietnam will by necessity be a huge undertaking, and Englehardt is not to be criticized for discussing what amounts to a â€Å"worst of† list of horrors that faced the Vietnamese, the American soldiers, and the American public. Unfortunately for Englehardt â€Å"the mineshaft has been thoroughly mined† and he brings no new information or analysis to the table. Vietnam was a tremendous â€Å"media war† in terms of coverage and indelible images. A few images, such as the young naked napalmed girl running in fright or the point-blank assassination of a captured Viet Cong soldier, seem to crystallize all of the horror and insanity of that war. Englehardt decides to provide the literary simile, with quotations from veterans describing the horrors and atrocities of My Lai and other villages. It is in a sense gratuitous and repetitious, and serves little purpose other than to reinforce the general negativity of the entire book. Before Englehardt turns his attention to the Desert Storm/Desert Shield operations he first makes the point that previous military operations in Panama and Grenada were unnecessary exhibits of force and quickly dismisses them as â€Å"exaggerated, over referential event(s)† (281). He prefaces his discussion of the Gulf War as â€Å"(in) the new version of victory culture, the military spent no less time planning to control the screen than the battlefield, and the neutralization of a potentially oppositional media became a war goal† (290). It is always remarkable that reporters and journalists who steadfastly claim they have either been manipulated or denied access manage to produce analytical and critical volumes assessing what they allegedly were not allowed to witness. Englehardt reaches the conclusion that in a sense â€Å"the Gulf War was a response to the Japanese and European economic challenges in that it emphasized the leading-edge aspects of the country’s two foremost exports: arms and entertainment† (295). Englehardt finishes his book by revisiting his friend GI Joe, who has â€Å"been running hard to survive in a confused world† (302). In closing he states â€Å"what path out of the ruins may be neither Joe nor we understand† (303). It is doubtful Englehardt is on anyone’s â€Å"short list† of consultants to contact regarding the contemporary framework of war. His work is well-researched and thoroughly documented with page upon page of footnotes and references. However what is telling is what is absent from his index. It reads like an encapsulation of American pop culture, as would be expected, with countless references to movies, television, and American icons. It reflects an insulated viewpoint of American â€Å"culture of victory† as seen only through American media. There is a much greater awareness of the geopolitical effects of any conflict, and it is difficult if not impossible to simply pigeon-hole war in outdated terms of American cultural â€Å"heroes† or â€Å"victory†. Ultimately he can take credit with the foresight to see the end of a culture of victory, but events since publication have drastically changed the meaning of â€Å"victory† in war, and unfortunately decrease the relevance of his work. Today’s battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan reflect America’s greater engagement in a global War on Terror. There is little, if any similarity in the dangers faced today compared to previous military engagements or World Wars. Global terrorism brings a previously unknown dimension to military theorists and analysts. Certainly there is a popular swell of support for the defeat, if not â€Å"slaughter† of Osama bin Laden and the terrorists responsible for the death of civilian non-combatants. But there is less a sense of a desire for a â€Å"victory culture† as there is for a â€Å"survival culture†. Without saying as much Englehardt could stand for the premise, as any wise man would, that pacifism is preferred to war, and in war the victors are often vanquished as well. That takes a world far different from the one that exists today. There is no doubt America is the superpower but it does not operate in a vacuum; today there is a broader and stronger global mandate for peace than any American desire for victory in war. At the time of publication The End of Victory Culture may have reflected â€Å"a confused world† with â€Å"paths not understood†. Since September 11, 2001 events have given clarity to any confusion, and the path to safety and survival must be followed.

Free Essays on School In Athens

â€Å"SCHOOL IN ATHENS† The philosophical significance of Raphael’s â€Å"School in Athens† is quite obvious to me. In the very center Plato and Aristotle are made to stand out more than anyone else in the painting. Raphael choose to put these two walking down the center carrying their respective famous works. Plato is pointing to the heavens while he carries theTimaeus, and Aristotle who is carrying the Ethics is pointing outwards in my opinion to the Earth. These two men are the main characters in ancient philosophy; they explained where we came from and the earth that surrounds us. The many people surrounding them could be followers of the two different thoughts each on their respective sides of Plato and Aristotle. I also believe that this painting is also a fantasy. Raphael was fantasizing about what the school must have been like. People all over the place involved in very deep dialogues about life, where we came from, and where we will end up. This painting was done during the Renaissance which was a time of looking back on ancient philosophy with almost wishful thinking. Raphael included himself in the painting and I think he did this because he wished he could be with these men in their discussions, and their thoughts. Other noted philosophers are included in the painting but are not as detailed or focused as Plato and Aristotle. They are; Socrates, Pythagoras, Euclid, Alcibiades, Diogenes, Ptolemy, Zoroaster. This was done to show that they did have some significance to ancient philosophy, but were not anywhere as important as the two greats, Plato and Aristotle. This painting in my opinion is a salute of reverence, recognition, and gratitude to the two men who were possibly the greatest thinker on Earth.... Free Essays on School In Athens Free Essays on School In Athens â€Å"SCHOOL IN ATHENS† The philosophical significance of Raphael’s â€Å"School in Athens† is quite obvious to me. In the very center Plato and Aristotle are made to stand out more than anyone else in the painting. Raphael choose to put these two walking down the center carrying their respective famous works. Plato is pointing to the heavens while he carries theTimaeus, and Aristotle who is carrying the Ethics is pointing outwards in my opinion to the Earth. These two men are the main characters in ancient philosophy; they explained where we came from and the earth that surrounds us. The many people surrounding them could be followers of the two different thoughts each on their respective sides of Plato and Aristotle. I also believe that this painting is also a fantasy. Raphael was fantasizing about what the school must have been like. People all over the place involved in very deep dialogues about life, where we came from, and where we will end up. This painting was done during the Renaissance which was a time of looking back on ancient philosophy with almost wishful thinking. Raphael included himself in the painting and I think he did this because he wished he could be with these men in their discussions, and their thoughts. Other noted philosophers are included in the painting but are not as detailed or focused as Plato and Aristotle. They are; Socrates, Pythagoras, Euclid, Alcibiades, Diogenes, Ptolemy, Zoroaster. This was done to show that they did have some significance to ancient philosophy, but were not anywhere as important as the two greats, Plato and Aristotle. This painting in my opinion is a salute of reverence, recognition, and gratitude to the two men who were possibly the greatest thinker on Earth....

Appositives and Possessives

Appositives and Possessives Appositives and Possessives Appositives and Possessives By Jacquelyn Landis Are you planning to go to a writers conference? Or is it a writers’ conference? Is the Saturday market in the town square a farmers market or a farmers’ market? This is a construction that often perplexes writers. The first instance in each example is an appositive: a noun phrase consisting of a plural noun that modifies another noun that follows it. The form with the apostrophe is a possessive, a noun that â€Å"owns† the noun that follows it. So if the conference is one that is organized for writers, it’s an appositive. But if it’s a conference organized by writers- one that belongs to them- it’s a possessive. Likewise, if it’s a market for farmers, the proper construction would be the appositive farmers; a market owned by the farmers would be the possessive farmers’. The trouble with such noun phrases is that they frequently are ambiguous. Lacking insider knowledge, you’re often left to guess whether it’s an appositive or a possessive. Furthermore, there are plenty of commonly accepted constructions that defy appropriate construction. Children’s Hospital is a case in point. Clearly, the children don’t own the hospital; it’s a hospital for children. But you’ll see the possessive apostrophe on just about every such hospital in the country. One in San Diego seems to be aware of the problem and has hedged its bet. Instead of an apostrophe in its logo, a blue kite with a tail occupies the apostrophe slot. You can choose to read it as an apostrophe or simply view it as a decoration. An example of an entity that got it right is Publishers Weekly. This is a publication for the publishing industry, not owned by it. The key is to do your best to determine possession (or not) and punctuate accordingly. So if it’s the boys football team, it’s an appositive. But if it’s the boys’ football uniforms, it’s a possessive. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:English Grammar 101: All You Need to Know7 Patterns of Sentence StructureWhat the heck are "learnings"?

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

Obesity - Essay Example On the other hand, some of the psychological problems include low level of confidence and inferiority complex. To comment on the proposal, which suggested that parents who have obese children should have their children taken away or have other rather severe consequences. The research was extremely necessary to be conducted because parents of obese children generally have little or no awareness of the consequences of childhood obesity. Some parents do not know what impact obesity can have on their children in future. There is a big need of an in-depth research on the issue of childhood obesity which should not only highlight the impact of obesity on the future of children but also should made parents aware of the ways that they can use to prevent or deal with this health problem. Childhood obesity creates many risks for the future of children. Obese children do not live a healthy life. Smith (1999) states, â€Å"Obese people do not live as long as other people† (p. 5). Parents of obese children should not take this problem light because it can affect the psychological and physical development of their children. Parents should not let obesity take away their children rather they should deal with this problem effectively to help their children come out of this serious medical condition. Some of the major health risks or consequences of childhood obesity revealed through research were high blood pressure, joint pains, high level of cholesterol, heart problems, and decrease in stamina. On the other hand, some of the major psychological problems found in obese children were lack of self-confidence and low self-esteem. Some of the main ways using which parents can help their obese children include making children do physical exercises, stopping children from taking sugary drinks, providing balanced diet to the children instead of junk foods, and making children adhere to the principles of good body