How Appropriate Were The Various Sampling Design Decisions

Describe the sampling strategy. How appropriate were the various sampling design decisions? Sampling strategy is a focus on a smaller group to determine the conclusions of the larger population (Cooper Schindler, 2014, p. 338). In this instance, the McMahon Group employed both focus groups and mail surveys as strategies to gather information and the dual approach produced relevant and valuable data for researchers. Flexible and inexpensive, focus groups consist of six to ten participants (Hartman, 2004, p. 408). Additionally, a moderator guides the discussion among its panel members that allows researchers to observe real-time verbal responses and nonverbal cues (Hartman, 2004, p. 402; Cooper Schindler, 2014, p. 160). Focus groups moderators also have the ability to introduce new ideas to gain a greater understanding of concerns from respondents (Hartman, 2004, p. 402). However, a concern with focus group is the lack of anonymity due to the face-to-face participation. Also cost effective, the mail surveys specifically targeted the members and their spouses. Postal surveys can target specific people (necessary for the member and spouse data collection), and allow respondents the ability to answer the survey at their leisure. On the other hand, mail questionnaires are a slower data gathering method as compared to internet surveys (Hoonakker Carayon, 2009, p. 359). Similarly, the possibility of response-based error may occur if respondents do not correctlyShow MoreRelatedTeamwork Paper1195 Words   |  5 Pagestopic, which includes how a female employee is paid in comparison to a male employee. The pay-gap between the average pay of men and women has been an issue for the past decades. â€Å"The main explanations for the gap are occupational which confines women to the least well paid jobs and industries methods of pay determination which work against equal pay â€Å"(Doherty amp; Stead, p. 17). The peer-reviewed articles summarize within the hotel and catering industries itself; variations were found in the pay inRead MoreQualitative Research Analysis Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome And Co Existing Psychological Illness1177 Words   |  5 Pagesmeaning. This assignment is a critical appraisal of the qualitative research article written by Dainty, Allcock and Cooper (2014) entitled: â€Å"Study of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Co-Existing Psychological Illness†. The hermeneutic phenomenology design used throughout the study to understand the individual’s personal experience, the meaning of those experiences, and multiple realities in people’s minds. The researchers used unstructured methods for data collection and thematic analysis to answerRead MoreResearch Study On The Field Of Specialisation1473 Words   |  6 Pagesdetailed analysis of an article for review is an important step to addressing the author’s objective for the review. Study Purpose The study’s aim was to assess understanding of UK weaning guidelines in a sample of UK mothers and to ascertain the various sources of weaning advice accessed by first time mothers in the UK (Moore et al, 2014). Parahoo (2014) states that the aim should be stated clearly for each research undertaken. This study clearly stated the purpose of the research and what it hopedRead MoreThe Goal Of The Examination Essay902 Words   |  4 Pagesaccessible in the business sector 2. To distinguish purchasers identity and inclinations 3. And contrast it and the portable PC brand decisions Type of research Descriptive research: According to Ghauri and Gronhaug, expressive exploration is directed with the end goal of discovering answers to the organized inquiries like, who, what, where, when, why and how. It helps in clearing the peculiarity of a populace or a watched truth. It for the most part incorporates the utilization of techniquesRead MoreUnit 10 D1 + D21604 Words   |  7 Pagesin order to gain a better insight onto how aspects of their website are rated, and how it compares to their competitors. In addition to this, I will evaluate the findings that were gained from the research method used by the researchers at Pinewood Hotel. Procedure The information used in this report was gained from several different sources. For example, I have used information from my P4 survey, as well as my P3, M2 presentation and my M1 table of various data collection methods. Findings To beginRead MoreWhy Statistics Are Part Of Everyday Life1248 Words   |  5 Pagestesting, selection of appropriate statistical tests and evaluating statistical results. The intent is to discuss the application of the elements in analyzing and making decisions about data. Our book states that there are many kinds of descriptive statistics. 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Sampling and Design Focus Groups The use of formative research byRead MoreGolf-Course: Teeing Up a New Strategic Direction1533 Words   |  7 PagesGIVEN THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS INFERRED FROM THE ABOVE (SEE BELOW), HOW APPROPRIATE WERE THOSE MEASUREMENT QUESTIONS? In, My opinion Questions are not as appropriate as it should be. Since the first priority of every golf-club is to provide better Golf service. However MGCC service was not meeting the expectations of members for golf-club and also dining services. Questions were very general and cant make any profitable final decision for MGCC by surveys result. Since, most of the questions are very

US Economy Free Essays

The Jan aura release of the most current GAP became available showing that the fourth quarter GAP was 4. 1 . While with recent government regulation they lowered the first quarter GAP to 2. We will write a custom essay sample on US Economy or any similar topic only for you Order Now 5 percent. However, following the report will include a statement about my personal prediction for the remainder of the 2014 fiscal year using sets of very complex variables and skilled opinions. Unemployment Rating: The unemployment rate in the United States as anticipated by the IIS Federal Bureau of Economic Analysis is around 6. 7 percent as of the beginning of the 2014 in February as demonstrated on the graph pictured above. This number s estimated using the numbers given for persons in the United States that have been actively looking for job opportunities as a percentage of the labor force. This number has been gradually decreasing since July 201 2 and will continue to decline as the job market continues to expand with new technologies and education. Although, during the holiday seasons the unemployment always goes down, but as soon as they end, such as after Christmas and thanksgiving the number increases by almost 2 percent. The number of federal employees in 201 2 decreased to almost 22 million jobs which is . Percent less than the year before. Due to the fact that these numbers are only compiled every five years, this . 5 percent decrease is quite shocking to many people. These employees include policemen, nurses, and teachers along with many more. While the number of unemployment among the youth continues to increase, the percentage of adult men and women without health insurance will also continu e to rise with the execution of Obama care. Unemployment Rate February 2014 Month/Month Year/Year National 6. 7% +0. 1 Florida 6. 2% 0. -17 As shown in the chart above, the unemployment rate of Florida is demonstrated versus the rest of the United States. Governor of Florida, Rick Scott announced that Florist’s statewide unemployment rate for May 2013 dropped to 7. 1 percent, the lowest rate since September 2008. Florist’s rate was down O. 1 percentage point from Aprils rate of 7. 2 percent and continues to fall below the national average, which went up to 7. 6 percent in May. As Florida continue to distance itself from the national unemployment rate it is clear that the state government will succeed in growing opportunities for Florida families. Due to the incredible successes that Florida communities had experienced, Florist’s unemployment rate is well below the national average. Gross Domestic product (GAP)I The gross domestic product (GAP) measures of national income and output for a given country’s economy. The gross domestic product (GAP) is equal to the total expenditures for all final goods and services produced within the country in a stipulated period often. The Gross Domestic Product (GAP) in the Lignite States was worth 15684. 80 billion US dollars in 2012. The GAP value of the United States represents 25. 30 percent of the world economy. GAP in the United States is reported by the The World Bank Group. From 1960 until 201 2, the united states GAP averaged 5725. 9 USED Billion reaching n all time high of 1 5684. 8 USED Billion in December of 2012 and a record low of 520. 5 USED Billion in December of 1960. At the beginning of the first quarter of 2014 the GAP was 2. 4 percent due to the recent government sanctions to promote businesses and services locally instead of internationally. Although, the US Federal Bureau of Economic Analysis states that the United States represents 25. 30 percent of the world’s economy. The increase in real GAP in 201 3 primarily reflected positive contributions from personal consumption expenditures (PACE), exports, residential fixed investment, nonresidential fixed investment, and private inventory investment that were partly offset by a negative contribution from federal government spending The deceleration in real GAP growth in 201 3 primarily reflected a deceleration in nonresidential fixed investment, a larger decrease in federal government spending, and decelerations in PACE and in exports that were partly offset by a deceleration in imports and a smaller decrease in state and local government spending. How to cite US Economy, Papers

Hip Hop Influences free essay sample

Hip hop Is a musical genre which developed alongside hip hop culture, defined by key stylistic elements such as rapping, Digging, sampling, scratching and beating. Hip hop began in the Bronx of New York City in the asses, primarily among African Americans, Jamaican Americans, and, to an extent, Latino Americans. The term rap is often used synonymously with hip hop, but hip hop denotes the practices of an entire subculture. Rapping, also referred to as Mincing or emceeing, is a vocal style in which the artist speaks lyrically, in rhyme and verse, generally to an instrumental or synthesized beat.Beats, almost always In 4/4 time signature, can be created by looping portions of other songs, usually by a D], or sampled from portions of other songs by a producer. Modern beats incorporate synthesizers, drum machines, and live bands. Rappers may write, memorize, or improvise their lyrics and perform their works a capable or too beat. We will write a custom essay sample on Hip Hop Influences or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The roots of hip hop are found in African-American music and ultimately African music. The grits of West Africa are a group of traveling singers and poets who are part of an oral tradition dating back hundreds of years. Their vocal style Is similar to that of rappers. The African-American traditions of signifying, the dozens, and Jazz poetry are all descended from the grits. In addition, musical comedy acts such as Rudy Ray Moore and Blowfly are considered by some to be the forefathers of rap. Within New York City, grist-like performances of poetry and music by artists such as The Last Poets, Gill Scott Heron and Gala Mansard Unhurried had a significant impact on the post-civil rights era culture of the asses and 1 sass.Hip hop arose during the asses when block parties became increasingly popular in New York City, especially in the Bronx. Block parties incorporated Des who played popular genres of music, especially funk and soul music. Des, realizing Its positive reception, began Isolating the percussion breaks of popular songs. This technique was then common in Jamaican dub music and had spread to New York City via the substantial Jamaican immigrant community. A major proponent of the technique was the godfather of hip hop, the Jamaican-born DC Cool Here.Dub music had become popular In Jamaica due to the Influence of American sailors and Rhythm Blues. Large sound systems were set up to accommodate poor Jamaican who couldnt afford to buy records and dub developed at the sound yester. Emigrating to the united States from Jamaica In 1967, DC Cool Here became one of the most popular Des in New York City In the asses. Because the New York audience did not particularly like dub or reggae, Here quickly switched to using funk, soul and disco records. Due to the fact that the percussive breaks were generally records. Turntables techniques, such as beat mixing/matching, scratching (seemingly invented by Grand Wizard Theodore) and beat Juggling eventually developed along with the breaks, creating a base that could be rapped over. This same techniques undistributed to the popularization of remixes. Such looping, sampling and remixing of anothers music, sometimes without the original artists knowledge or consent, can be seen as an evolution of Jamaican dub music,[8][9] and would become a hallmark of the hip hop style.Jamaican immigrants also provided an influence on the vocal style of rapping by delivering simple raps at their parties, inspired by the Jamaican tradition of toasting. Des and Masc. would often add call and response chants, often comprising of a basic chorus, to allow the performer to gather his thoughts (e. G. one, two, three, all, to the beat). Later, the Masc. grew more varied in their vocal and rhythmic approach, incorporating brief rhymes, often with a sexual or scatological theme, in an effort at differentiating themselves and entertaining the audience.Hip hop music was an outlet and a voice for disenfranchised youth as the culture reflected the social, economic and political realities of their lives. These early raps incorporated the dozens, a product of African American culture. Cool Here the Hercules were the first hip hoppers to gain major fame in New York, but the number of MS teams increased over time. Often these were collaborations between former gangs, such as Afrikaans Bombasts Universal Zulu Nation now a large, international organization. Melee Mel, a rapper/lyricist with The Furious Five is often credited with being the first rap lyricist to call himself an MS. During the early asses breakfasting arose during block parties, as b-boys and b-girls got in front of the audience to dance in a distinctive and frenetic style. The style was documented for release to a world wide audience for the first time in documentaries and movies such as Style Wars, Wild Style, and Beat Street.

Philosophy of Libertarianism

The word libertarianism comes from the word liberty. It is a political philosophy advocating for liberty, freedom, voluntary and peaceful association of individuals without any form of coercion. Believers in libertarianism appreciate and try as much as they can to see that all human beings maximize their various opportunities to attain their goals in life. They argue that, human beings should be left on their own to do what they desire without coercion or intimidation.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Philosophy of Libertarianism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Those in this paradigm shift agitate or rather advocate for a society that is self-governed or to be governed by a small government. This is because every human being has his own life to live as well as property and therefore, society should respect this by leaving everybody to determine the course of his life. Everybody in the society should show respect to one another. They therefore believe that every individual has freedom to do what they feel but not to infringe on the rights of others. Libertarianism is therefore a combination of liberty, responsibility and tolerance. Liberty implies the freedom to live one’s life in peace as one chooses, responsibility implying not to use force against other people except when defending yourself and tolerance implying that one should honor and respect the peace of other people. The strides that the world has made today can be attributed to the liberty people have been provided. For instance, liberty has contributed to respect of civil liberty, free markets and self-ownership. Without liberty, many people would still be prisoners of others. Furthermore, without liberty, the notion of free markets could be non-existence and therefore people could not be able to sell their products across their boarders. The proponents and historian also had their thoughts about libertarianism. Libertarian ism was also viewed by historians such as Woodrock as the means through which revolution and reformation was to be achieved. This implied that the society was to be reformed through democratic means, consensus and not dictatorship. Likewise, other philosophers understood libertarianism as a form of governance whereby the center of power was to be decentralized to individuals. Individuals were to take control of their lives and not the government. Therefore, in conclusion, it is imperative to note that the proponents and philosophy of libertarianism meant or advocated for liberty and freedom of the people. Society has no obligation to be governed by an authority but people are supposed to enjoy their freedom as well as respect others’ rights. This essay on Philosophy of Libertarianism was written and submitted by user Caroline Noble to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Platinum Facts on the Periodic Table of the Elements

Platinum Facts on the Periodic Table of the Elements Platinum is a transition metal that is highly valued for jewelry and alloys. Here are interesting facts about this element. Platinum Basic Facts Atomic Number: 78 Symbol: Pt Atomic Weight: 195.08 Discovery Its difficult to assign credit for the discovery. Ulloa 1735 (in South America), Wood in 1741, Julius Scaliger in 1735 (Italy) all can make claims. Platinum was used in relatively pure form by the pre-Columbian Indians. Electron Configuration: [Xe] 4f14 5d9 6s1 Word Origin: from the Spanish word platina, meaning little silver Isotopes Six stable isotopes of platinum occur in nature (190, 192, 194, 195, 196, 198). Information on three additional radioisotopes is available (191, 193, 197). Properties Platinum has a melting point of 1772 Â °C, the boiling point of 3827 /- 100 Â °C, the specific gravity of 21.45 (20 Â °C), with a valence of 1, 2, 3, or 4. Platinum is a ductile and malleable silvery-white metal. It does not oxidize in air at any temperature, although it is corroded by cyanides, halogens, sulfur, and caustic alkalis. Platinum does not dissolve in hydrochloric or nitric acid but will dissolve when the two acids are mixed to form aqua regia. Uses Platinum is used in jewelry, wire, to make crucibles and vessels for laboratory work, electrical contacts, thermocouples, for coating items that must be exposed to high temperatures for long periods of time or must resist corrosion, and in dentistry. Platinum-cobalt alloys have interesting magnetic properties. Platinum absorbs large amounts of hydrogen at room temperature, yielding it at red heat. The metal is often used as a catalyst. The platinum wire will glow red-hot in the vapor of methanol, where it acts as a catalyst, converting it to formaldehyde. Hydrogen and oxygen will explode in the presence of platinum. Sources Platinum occurs in native form, usually with small amounts of other metals belonging to the same group (osmium, iridium, ruthenium, palladium, and rhodium). Another source of the metal is sperrylite (PtAs2). Element Classification Transition Metal Platinum Physical Data Density (g/cc): 21.45 Melting Point (K): 2045 Boiling Point (K): 4100 Appearance: very heavy, soft, silvery-white metal Atomic Radius (pm): 139 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 9.10 Covalent Radius (pm): 130 Ionic Radius: 65 (4e) 80 (2e) Specific Heat (20Â °C J/g mol): 0.133 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 21.76 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): ~470 Debye Temperature (K): 230.00 Pauling Negativity Number: 2.28 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 868.1 Oxidation States: 4, 2, 0 Lattice Structure: Face-Centered Cubic Lattice Constant (Ã…): 3.920 References Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001)Crescent Chemical Company (2001)Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952)CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics (18th Ed.)

Angelo Buono, the Hillside Strangler

Angelo Buono, the Hillside Strangler Angelo Anthony Buono, Jr. was one of the two Hillside Stranglers responsible for the 1977 kidnap, rape, torture and murder of nine girls and young women in the hills of Los Angeles, California. His cousin, Kenneth Bianchi, was his crime partner who later testified against Buono in an effort to avoid the death penalty. The Early Years Angelo Buono, Jr. was born in Rochester, New York, on October 5, 1934. After his parents divorced in 1939, Angelo moved to Glendale, California with his mother and sister. At a very early age, Buono began showing a deep disdain for women. He verbally assaulted his mother, a behavior that later intensified towards all women he encountered. Buono was brought up as Catholic, but he showed no interest in attending church. He was also a poor student and would often skip school, knowing that his mother, who had a full-time job, could do little to control his activities. By the age of 14, Buono had been in a reformatory and was bragging about raping and sodomizing young local girls. The Italian Stallion Beginning in his late teens, Buono married and fathered several children. His wives, who were at first attracted to his macho self-proclaimed Italian Stallion style, would quickly discover that he had a deep loathing for women. He had a strong sexual drive and would physically and sexually abuse  the women in his life. Inflicting pain seemed to add to his sexual pleasure and there were times that he was so abusive, many of the women feared for their lives. Buono had a small, semi-successful car upholstery shop attached to the front of his home. This offered him seclusion, which was what he needed to act out his sexual perversions with many of the young girls in the neighborhood. It was also where his cousin, Kenneth Bianchi, came to live in 1976. A Career Jump Into Pimping Buono and Bianchi embarked on a new career as small-time pimps. Bianchi, who was more attractive than his wiry, large-nosed cousin, would lure young runaway girls to the home, then force them into prostitution, keeping them captive with threats of physical punishment. This worked until their two best girls escaped. Needing to build up their pimp business, Buono purchased a list of prostitutes from a local prostitute. When he figured out he had been scammed, Buono and Bianchi set out for revenge, but could only find the prostitutes friend, Yolanda Washington. The pair raped, tortured and murdered Washington on October 16, 1977. According to authorities, this was Buono and Bianchis first known murder. The Hillside Strangler and Bellingrath Link Over the next two months, Bianchi and Buono raped, tortured and killed another nine women ranging in ages from 12 to 28. The press named the unknown killer as the Hillside Strangler, but police were quick to suspect that more than one person was involved. After two years of hanging around his piggish cousin, Bianchi decided to return to Washington and reunite with his old girlfriend. But murder was on his mind and in January 1979, he raped and murdered Karen Mandic and Diane Wilder in Bellingrath, Washington. Almost immediately the police linked the murders to Bianchi and they brought him in for questioning.  The similarities of his crimes to those of the Hillside Strangler was enough for the detectives to join forces with the Los Angeles detectives and together they question Bianchi. Enough evidence was found in Bianchis home to charge him with the Bellingrath murders. Prosecutors decided to offer Bianchi a life sentence, instead of seeking the death penalty, if he gave full details of his crimes and the name of his partner. Bianchi agreed and Angelo Buono was arrested and charged with nine murders. The End for Buono In 1982, after two lengthy trials, Angelo Buono was found guilty of nine of ten Hillside murders and received a life sentence. Four years into serving his sentence, he married Christine Kizuka, a supervisor at the California State Department of Employee Development and a mother of three. In September 2002, Buono died of a suspected heart attack while in Calipatria State Prison. He was 67 years old. Interesting Note: In 2007, Buonos grandson, Christopher Buono, shot his grandmother, Mary Castillo, then killed himself. Castillo was married to Angelo Buono at one time and the two had five children. One of the five children was Chris father.

Any topic you like Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Any topic you like - Essay Example These religions are based on monotheism and do not worship another God apart from the One Power, the Almighty . In Judaism and Christianity, the son’s of Abraham has significance whereas in Islam Abraham is seen as the first Muslim .All these religions has connection to Israel as Abraham is from Israel .Moreover , these three religions share the concept of original sin conducted by the son of Abraham. 2) Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are self described monotheistic religions. None the less, each understands God in different ways. Compare and contrast the three religions in terms of their understanding of God. A)It is a fact that Judaism, Christianity and Islam are monotheistic religion but each has a different understanding about God which give them separate identity. Judaism straight away follow that Abraham is their ancestor and Yahweh as their God. In Case of christianity, the son of the Father(Yahweh) Jesus Christ is their God. In the case of Islam, Allah, the supreme authority or Almighty is their God. Moreover, the ways in which salvation can be attained differ in these three religions. In Judaism the understanding of Abraham with God is considered sufficient to bring salvation to the religion .While in christianity the deepened understanding of Jesus and worshipping him lead to the salvation. In Islam the strong faith in Mohammed lead them to salvation. Here we can see the differences in belief of God are unique though the foundation of religions is same. A)Even though, the three religions Christianity,Judaism and Islam have common origin, their belief of afterlife is different from eachother.In Christianity the deed of every person is counted by the Almighty , which can fall into two types; good and evil. Christians believe in the Day of Judgment, a time when we have to face God alone. This is the time when the good and evil deeds will be assessed and heaven or hell will be rewarded to

Philosophy and Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Philosophy and Art - Essay Example He is a philosopher obsessed with clarity and light.Thus, if a discussion in which light, vision, and its abstract are constitutive of its very logic may be called ocularcentric, then it would be difficult to deny that Descartes' philosophy exemplifies ocularcentrism (Levin 1993). This essay discusses the ocular metaphoric and the part in plays in the lives of the contemporary American society today. It will demonstrate the extent to which vision constitutes the essential analogical figure in the readings of Jay, Bryson and Lacan. The paper will examines the role visual imagery plays in these writers main arguments, analyzes why it is so important to their theoretical framework, and considers the rhetorical work it is used to carry out. This essay will attempt to discuss how ocularcentrism shapes the understanding of what is central to the American society and what is peripheral; what is "visible" and "invisible" within the theoretical framework, and what the nature and limits of it are. Thus, the inherited advantages and disadvantages of this belief in ocularcentrism will be discussed, along with its effect on visual art. It is impossible to separ... modernity to be changed in its concepts, Jay asks for it to be seen as a diverse and complex body rather than a harmonious body of theories and practices. This essay claims that maps and plans are necessary to explain the components of modernity. He goes on to divide the body of the essay into three parts: Cartesian perspectivalism, seventeenth century Dutch art and baroque art. In his essay Jay refutes the concept of Cartesian perspectivalism to be the reigning form of any kind of visual model for modernity. While this claim is amongst the first to be made by critics, it does have its flaws. For starters, Jay refuses to create an argument that can fit into a specialized field of visual presentation. It aims at acknowledging local and international ideas which touch a large cultural stratum. The scale implied by Jay is coarse in its ability to touch such a large and dynamic field which is known not only for its various models but because of the centuries of art it covers. Thus, while Jay's argument can be considered inspiring in its attempt to break the routine form of ideological thinking, it is flawed in its ability to cover such a diverse cultural body. Instead, Jay could have used a concept which is smoothed down to a finer level thus allowing the subtle distinctions that arise in different pieces to be observed. Philosophy is a subject which changes over time. As the world develops, old problems fade away and new ones take their place. Art is a perfect display of the different developments in human sciences. It is representative of the cultural forms in any given society. However, another shift has also occurred bringing down the possibility of the art form from a means of human science or public culture. In American history this can be traced back to the 1980's

Examining the Bhagavad-Gita Essay Example for Free

Examining the Bhagavad-Gita Essay Before examining the Bhagavad-Gita I believe it is necessary to have a general understand of the fundamental teaching of Hinduism. I have some knowledge of Hinduism from friends, but really have no understanding of what it really means to be Hindu. The comment that a Hindu friend of mind made to me once about Hindu is that it is not really as much of a religion as much it is a way of life and respect for it. I know that Hindi worship many different gods and revere some animals as sacred, but I have never really understood the fundamental of this religion. I am grateful that this assignment has given me the opportunity and motivation to examine the Hindu religion and one of it great literary works. The first thing to realize about Hinduism is that it is not strictly a region. It is based on the practices of Dharma, the code of life. Dharma name means universal religion. Unlike other religions Hindu did not originate from a single source, such as a person or book. It did not start at a discernible point in time either. Hinduism is an ancient religion that was inspired by the ancient rishis and the principles where discovered through their meditations. The oldest writings are about 4000 years old. Below is a statement that captures the foundation of Hinduism. Hindu religious thought is based upon the belief in the Ultimate Reality, faith in the reality of the spirit, and faith in the spiritual order or the world. (The Hindu religious tradition -Stachidananda) I can now turn my attention to the Bhagavad Gita, with at least a general concept to forge my understanding. The Bhagavad Gita is widely known and renowned work of Indias spiritual wisdom. The Gita has seven hundred concise verses that are a definitive guide to the science of self realization within the universe and the Braham-Atman. The story of Bhagavad begins with Krishna driving Arjunas chariot into the middle of a battlefield. The battle was between Duryodhana (Pandavas) and Arjuna (Kauaravas) for the right to rule the country. The Gita if full of symbolism; everything represents or stands for something. The battle  represents the struggle between good and evil. This would relate to the inner struggle that we all have within ourselves of our good and bad character traits. The first chapter of the Gita deals with the despondency of Arjuna. When Arjuna starts make war, he becomes overwhelmed with emotional attachments to the people he is battling. These people were once his friends, family and teachers. How could he destroy them? He stops in the middle of the battles and then battles within self not to fight these people. He tries to talk himself out of the situation. The lesson learned in the first chapter is that sometimes we lose sight of the truth when we have emotional attachments to a situation. In the next few chapters of the Gita, Arjuna starts down a path of self awareness, a key fundamental belief of Hinduism. As he battles with in himself as he struggles to find an answer. At this point, he realizes he doesnt have an answer and turns to Krishna, on of the many forms of God. He learns that sometimes an individual has a higher purpose and we must have the wisdom to acknowledge this and discover it. We must withdraw from our senses and move to an awareness where we control our mind. At that instance we will have complete self awareness and the clarity to move forward with conviction and wisdom. When continuing to read the Gita it becomes apparent that many daily practices of Hindus are derived from it. The Gita served as the foundation for the caste system. There has been much controversy over the caste system, but the original purpose and meaning was beautiful. It was meant to help individual be aware of their inborn temperaments, talents and capacities. Again, the Gita is teaching self awareness. Another remarkable fact about the Gita is that it gives a person a roadmap to live by. It teaches individuals to give themselves over to and devote their lives to the supreme God, Braham-Atman. The Gita teaches how to surrender to Braham-Atman and how to become enlightened. With enlightenment we escape from karma have rebirth and entrance into Nirvina. One of my favorite chapters of the Gita is Chapter 17 Yoga of the Three-fold Faith. This chapter deals with the practical applications of faith. Faith is a strong discipline in Hinduism. Because of faith they worship the Supreme God and many other deities with great devotion. It is in this chapter that one can begin to understand reasoning for Hindu believe of reincarnation. This chapter explains that those who are twice-born are traditionally dedicated to spiritual knowledge. This chapter also elaborates on many rules that Hinduism and other religions use to live by. Examples of these are to be clean and keep you body and sprit clean, be kind and speak kindly to others and gifts should only be given if it is the right thing to do. After reading the Bhagavad-Gita I am astonished. I can see so many parallels between it and the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament. I can also begin to see how Hinduism is the Universal Religion. The Bhagavad-Gita and the symbolism that is contains either reinforces much of the Hindu religion/philosophy or may have even set the standard. It is hard for me to tell at this point, but it makes me want to study this religion even more. The Gita is part of a greater Hindu writing call the Upansides, which evolved from an oral tradition that began over 4000 years ago. In the early oral tradition, the Guru (teacher) sat with his followers and recited the verse. The followers then memorized the verse and passed it down through the generations. The verses are written in poetic or lyrical form because poems are committed to memory then prose. Also it is though that the singing of the verse took on a magical quality when used in ritual. The content of the Gita is amazing and what is even just as amazing is the way it is written. The Gita contains 18 chapters with each having numerous versus. After personally reading the Gita I have been emotionally and intellectually moved. The setting of the story and the even the personal anguish of Arjuna is enough to gain ones interest on the surface. Once the symbolism and the deeper meaning that are represent it truly becomes a lyrical piece of literature. The piece of literature is phenomenal and to  think it was written thousands of years ago. This just shows that Humans still struggle with the same issues as one thousands of years ago. We may of advance technological, but intellectually we are still adolescents. References Campbell, Joseph and Eliade, Mircea. The Universal Myths Heros, Gods, Tricksters and Others. New York: Truman Talley Books/Meridian, 1976 Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli and Moore, Charles A. Indian Philosophy. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1973 Stachidananda, Sri Swami. The Living Gita, The Complete Bhagavad Gita 5th Edition. Yogaville, Virginia: Integral Yoga Publications, 2003

Essay --

My 20 year old cousin has been informed that I have recently taken a class in Aids and Epidemics. This course was mainly used to inform me about how risky HIV transmission can be. As well how easily it may be spread from one person to another. My cousin has asked me to inform her about HIV and how it could effect her. There are many ways to avoid the spread but it requires taking proper precautions which I will inform you about as you read along. It’s safest to try and be in a monogamous relationship so you and your partner know who each of you are sleeping with. There are many ways at which you could be at risk and don’t even know it. The safest way to protect you is to wait for sexual intercourse until the person is either checked or each of the individuals are virgins and commit to each other. This will ensure that neither one of you is sleeping with anyone else nor you’re both clean. As you read the essay below I will inform you on how exactly HIV can be tran smitted, how you could be at risk, and what measures you should take in order to protect yourself. This is a very scary v...

Agro Processing Industries Essay

Rural Entrepreneurship through Agro-Processing Industries Mrs. P. Geetha, Lecturer in Economics, Sri GVG Visalakshi College for Women, Udumalpet, TamilNadu, India In India there are about 6. 3 million villages and 340 million workers in rural unorganized sector who contribute 60% of national income. About 75% of populations who live in villages have to utilize the village resources. In rural areas mainly three types of economic activities are being undertaken. These activities are: primary, secondary and tertiary activities. When we talk of rural development, the emphasis is on the development of agriculture, industry, trade and service sectors. Among these activities, agriculture till now is the main occupational activity in the rural areas as most of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood and employment. A small stimulation will dynamite the rural economy and lead to improved quality of life. Rural areas must try for better utilization of human resources to improve the rural economy. Promoting agro-based industries, cottage and small-scale industries would serve the purpose of rural entrepreneurship development. Importance of Agro-Processing Industries Agro processing could be defined as set of techno economic activities carried out for conservation and handling of agricultural produce and to make it usable as food, feed, fibre, fuel or industrial raw material. Hence, the agro-processing industry is regarded as the sunrise sector of the Indian economy. Properly developed, agro-processing sector would not only encourage rural entrepreneurship but also can make India a major player at the global level for marketing and supply of processed food, feed and a wide range of other plant and animal products. Categories of Agro – Industry i) Village Industries owned and run by rural households with very little capital investment and a high level of manual labour. Ex. pickles, papad, etc. ii) Small scale industry characterized by medium investment and semi-automation. Ex. edible oil, rice mills, etc. iii) Large-scale industry involving large investment and a high level of automation. Ex. Sugar, jute, cotton mills, etc Prospects The agro processing sector offers scope for development of several industries such as solvent extraction, oleoresins, kinnow/orange juice, malt extracts, floriculture and a host of other items.

Correlation of Fast food culture

Correlation of Fast Food Culture and the High Rate of Teenage Obesity Nowadays, food is easily accessible In the united States. All we have to do to obtain food Is open the refrigerator, go to the supermarket, or stop at drive- through (Closer and Wilson 208), Fast food even became a trend replacing regular food since decades ago. Every time when we stand In front of a fast food shop, the typical smiling face of a cartoon Like Ronald McDonald always warms our heart. The golden-fried chip, big, juicy, meaty hamburgers together with different sorts of sweetened icy beverages could easily appeal to our appetite.They come fast, delicious and satisfying, which makes it hard for us to resist. However, when we taking the money out of our pocket to purchase for a big luscious meal, we often ignore the sweeping adverse effects that ensue from this kind of sweet, salty and fatty food. As the time went by, the occurrence of fast food was changed from a positive purpose of providing rushing cust omers a convenient halfway stop for food to a problematic culture that arise various physiological problems, with obesity being on the top of the list.According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there as been a remarkable escalation of obese people In the US, from averagely 10% to 14 % In 1990 to over 30% In 2010. Although fast food Is Indeed a shortcut to cater for our fast working pace, It alters our traditional way of eating homemade food. The phenomenon of overconfidence on fast food passes onto the next generation, shaping people's preference for a wider acceptance of the convenience brought along by it at the expense of their health.As everyone knows, fast food culture attracts mixed audience, from children to middle-class white-collar workers as well as high- level officials. But with the chains' cent tactic marketing strategy on kids and parents' attitude toward pampering their children, adolescent obesity rate is remarkably escalating. Many chains now mostly set children as target consumers due to the multiple profits brought along by them.Those restaurants certainly know the theory to achieve a successful business Is to give away toys, which Is the most attractive come-on for children. Companies usually Introduce different versions of the same toy, so that kids will nag their parents to evils the same store again, whose act can bring in both parents that the adults try every means to satisfy their kids' desires regardless of their health. In most cases, both parents and kids fall prey to the selling strategies of fast food chains.Restaurants take the money and the public risk their health. It can be seen there is a close relationship between the marketing tactics on kids and the compromising temptation of parents toward the kids' excessive Correlation of Fast food culture By Aliquot food is easily accessible in the United States. All we have to do to obtain food is open Every time when we stand in fro nt of a fast food shop, the typical smiling face of a orator like Ronald McDonald always warms our heart.The golden-fried chip, big, has been a remarkable escalation of obese people in the US, from averagely 10% to 14 % in 1990 to over 30% in 2010. Although fast food is indeed a shortcut to cater for our fast working pace, it alters our traditional way of eating homemade food. The Those restaurants certainly know the theory to achieve a successful business is to give away toys, which is the most attractive come-on for children. Companies usually introduce different versions of the same toy, so that kids will nag their parents to visit

Pretend You Dont See Her essays

Pretend You Dont See Her essays Title: Pretend You Dont See Her Pretend You Dont See Her is one of my favorite murder mysteries that I have ever read. My favorite part of this novel is that the ending is very unpredictable. This story started out when a real estate agent in New York, Lacy Farrell, who was assigned to a new client, Isabelle Waring. Isabelle's daughter, Heather Landi, had died in the previous year and it was Heather's apartment she decided to put on the market. Isabelle would have never sold it, but her ex-husband, Jimmy Landi, said that it was time for them to move on. Ever since Heather's death in a car accident Isabelle knew that it wasn't an accident. When she was going through Heather's things so they could get the apartment ready to sell she came across her journal. The night before Lacy was supposed to show a potential buyer the apartment Isabelle called her sounding concerned and said that she had proof that her daughter's death wasn't an accident. Lacy didn't want to rush over to the apartment at that late hour, so she told Isabelle that she would talk to her in the morning. The morning came and Lacy went over to show the apartment to Curtis Caldwell, the man who was an interested buyer. Later on that evening Lacy decided to go over to the apartment and see what Isabelle was talking about on the phone. When she got there she was frightened by a scream and hid in a downstairs closet. She had the door opened a crack and saw Curtis Caldwell exiting through the front door with Heathers journal in his hands. She ran upstairs and found Isabelle bloody on a bed and she was holding some of the pages of Heathers journal. Her last words were, Lacy, give Heathers journal to her father. Only to him.....swear that....only to him. Lacy didnt know what to do so she hid the journal pages in her briefcase and called the police. The police men came over and asked her everything that she knew and they got a...

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

#1 - Assignment Example In addition, the efforts put by the government during the period also made citizens appreciate institutions in general. The article is of the assumption that since the terrorist attack the society perception of the social circles and institutions has never changed. In the article The Strange Disappearance of Civil America, the American population is created with an image that depicts its ignorance on social relationships. Different from ancient American social setting, the modern day society do not value the significance of creating social relationships. Putman acknowledges this trend to numerous factors that derail persons from participating in social activities (2). For instance, the author cites the increased role of women, economic constraints, family acquaintances and technologically based distractions. According to Putman the trend is growing (10). Children are more inclined to television and other technological advances thus ignoring the importance of social circles. With society preferences changing to suit more personal needs, the traditional social setting would never be embraced by the modern

Sustainable tourism and educating the tourist Essay

Sustainable tourism and educating the tourist - Essay Example With such high and definitely increasing demand, protection of culture and environment has become imperative. "Sustainable tourism in its purest sense is an industry which attempts to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems. It is responsible tourism which is both ecologically and culturally sensitive" http://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/eco-tour.html ST makes maximum use of environmental resources without disturbing natural heritage and biodiversity, respecting socio-cultural authenticity of the region, and ensuring long term economic wellbeing of the stakeholders. In relation to mass tourism, sustainable tourism is a specialised branch. Mass tourism is economically beneficial, easy to market, but is rather harsh on attractions. It no doubt cares for environment and cultural attractions; but not enough. It does not involve local communities as stakeholders and there is hardly any dialogue between communities, tourists and tour operators. It is a positive force for poor countries, which can, if allowed to go unbridled, also can harm local culture and environment. Pope John Paul II thought mass tourism was another way of exploiting local communities, even though mass tourism is vital for many countries. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/1468503.stm). Responsible tourism like ST minimises the damage that could be caused by mass tourism to environment and culture. MEDITERRANEAN Spain and Mediterranean coastlines offered mature mass tourism for decades now. Mass tourism has created complex issues like demands and pressures and new policies and planning techniques. It has also created the necessity of sustainable tourism application in this area. Uncontrolled tourism almost ruined the freshwater basin here. Italy and Greece too were adversely affected by mass tourism. "The mass model of sun and beach tourism which is characteristic of the Mediterranean coastline has caused both the spectacular urban, demographic and economic growth of small coastal towns once inhabited by farming and fishing families who eventually came to make their living from tourism, and the increasing degradation of their natural setting" http://geographyfieldwork.com/TourismMatureDestinations.htm This statement is true as the involved countries have only recently woken up into the enormity of the problems that tourism has created. Mediterranean holidays deal with all major holiday brands and depend on seasonality. But in recent years, it had been seen as a single major threat to the pristine coastline and equally destructive to valuable wetlands even though tourism is the most important vehicle of growth. STAKEHOLDER Under these circumstances, Sustainable tourism that involves the local community in safeguarding and protecting the cultural and environmental assets of the region comes into picture and gives new hope. ST believes in the economic benefit of the region because tourism is connected with productivity, mobility, communication facilities and broadened horizons. "Obviously, these factors are interrelated, but a greater weight probably should be assigned to productivity than to the others," Smith (1989, p.41). Without further opportunity of productivity, it is difficult to

Annonated Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Annonated Bibliography - Essay Example The conclusive issues stated in the articles chosen below are not dependent on personal feelings or prejudice. The articles contain knowledge that has been presented after critical examination of the available facts with no potential for discrepancies. It is quite obvious that the knowledge contained therein exists independently. The articles were chosen specifically due to the fact that they contain knowledge that is factual just like any objective knowledge. The information is quite independent that even after being researched from various authors, the deduction is independent on any prejudice or personal feelings. It is a reality that cancer exists and is caused by all the causes stated in the documents. The palliative care for patients suffering from the various types of cancer is quite explicit and almost similar. Almost all the authors have the same ideas about cancer as a family health concern and its significance to the nursing profession. The first article is authored by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario who state that environmental pollution can lead to cancer giving an excellent reason why they believe so (RNAO 2008). Echoing these sentiments is the Center for Disease Control; they also go further giving explicit explanations and evidences on the same (CDC 2012). These among the many articles utilized in this research fulfill the characteristics of objective articles on cancer. Nursing has been viewed as more of a female suited kind of profession, a good reason why it is dominated by females. According to Converse (2010), feminism has both negative and positive effects in nursing. Apparently, this profession being a potent and easy target for feminist attacks, it became quite ambivalent with the group. This led to a few changes in the profession. The author looks at feminism in terms of power which serves as an easy source of information. A good example stated by the author is on the

Artifical hydration in pallitiaive care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Artifical hydration in pallitiaive care - Essay Example 2). The palliative care in the UK is grounded on three developmental stages that are significant in comprehending the modern palliative care setting. The initial phase of evolution is concerned with the creation of a haven for dying individuals and giving of terminal care. The second level of advancement is the growth of contemporary hospice lobby. The last stage concentrates on the change from hospice to palliative care (Have & Janssens 2001, p. 85-86). As argued by Have & Janssens (2001), in the UK, palliative care is mostly provided to patients suffering from cancer although other patients that have terminal illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Parkinson’s disease, and advanced heart disease among other conditions that cannot be cured also qualify for the care (p.94). The national umbrella organisation, that facilitates palliative care in the UK, are NCPC (National Council for Palliative Care) and SPPC (Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care). This paper will discuss the artificial hydration in palliative care, its advantages and disadvantages and significance for the patient and end of life care. The discussion revolves around a community setting in the UK. The community palliative care teams provide palliative care in the rural areas. Most of the patients attended to in the community are those that decided to die at home. The services given receive funding from individua l charitable bodies and others by the National Health Service (NHS) (Have & Janssens 2001, p. 94). The artificial hydration in palliative care refers to the administration of fluids into the patient’s body through parenteral routes, nasogastric tube, gastrostomy and nasojejunostomy as a key necessity for nourishment. The truth is that artificial feeding cannot match the natural way of eating through the mouth

Impact Of Barriers To Entry On Market Strategy

Impact Of Barriers To Entry On Market Strategy Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review previous research and to propose a model for the impact of barriers to entry on the market strategy of an entrant firm, where product/market scope and product differentiation are central strategy components. The paper asks, what is the impact of barriers on market strategies of entrants? Are early and late entrants affected in different ways? Design/methodology/approach A model and propositions are developed-based on a review of previous research. The model applies the contingency perspective and company cases exemplify the model. Findings It is proposed that a firm that enters a market late and faces extensive barriers would choose a broader product/market scope and differentiate its products to a larger extent than an early entrant. It is also proposed that incumbents market strategies indirectly affect the market strategy of an entrant firm as incumbents market strategies interact with barriers, and the effects are due to entry timing. Research limitations/implications The study contributes theoretically as it extends current knowledge of the impact of barriers to entry on strategy. Management of entrant firms are advised to strive for a fit between barriers and market strategy and consider the propositions. Originality/value The model and the propositions concern barrier effects on two key components of the nmrket strategy of an entrant firm: product/market scope and product differentiation. Another important value is that the model accounts for interactions between incumbent strategies and harriers to entry, and effects on the market strategy of an entrant firm. Keywords Market entry, Marketing strategy, Competitors Paper type Literature review Introduction Barriers to entry have been a popular field of research since the seminal work of Bain (1956). Barriers are obstacles preventing entrant firms from being established in a particular market (Porter, 1980). However, despite the practical and theoretical importance of the matter, we still have only limited understanding of the impact of barriers on the market strategy of an entrant firm. A deeper empirical exploration of the issue calls for a reliable model that clarifies expected relationships. An empirical example is the comprehensive work that takes place within the European Union in order to create unified rules for international competition and reduce the impact of barriers originating from government regulations. Industries such as telecommunications are subject to these unification processes (Pehrsson, 2001). A general aim is to encourage the establishment of both domestic competitors and competitors stemming from other countries (Karlsson, 1998). But what is the expected impact of barriers on market strategies of entrants? Are early and late entrants affected in different ways? In theoretical terms, we need further knowledge of a relation between conditions external to the firm and the firm strategy, and, therefore, application of the contingency perspective (Hambrick, 1983; Peteraf and Reed, 2007) is appropriate. The central view is that a fit between external conditions and firm strategy provides a basis for competitive advantage and high performance (Miller, 1996). According to the review by Peteraf and Reed (2007), an earlier central criticism of contingency theory was that contingency research was reductionist (Meyer et aL, 1993), and empirical models did not account for the impact of interactions among central elements. However, recent studies on internal alignment focus on interaction effects among firm attributes and impact on firm performance (Kauffman, 1993; Levinthal, 1997). Yet, we still have very limited knowledge of interactions among external conditions and the impact on firm strategy. This paper applies the contingency perspective and focuses on the impact of barriers to entry on the market strategy of early and late entrants. The purpose is to review previous research and to propose a model for the impact of barriers on strategy where product/market scope and product differentiation are central strategy components. The resulting model addresses external firm conditions and proposes direct effects of exogenous and endogenous barriers and indirect effects of incumbents market strategies. These constitute the frame for barriers that originate from incumbents behavior, and incumbent strategies assumingly interact with barriers to entry. Although, for example, the performance impact of barriers to entry has been widely investigated (Marsh, 1998), only a few studies have focused on the impact on the market strategy of entrant firms. Robinson and McI)ougall (2001) studied entrants and found that the negative performance effects of three barriers (scale effects, capital need, and product differentiation) were particularly important when the product/market scope was narrow. Further, Pehrsson (2001) observed that deregulation in the telecommunications industry caused adjustments of the product/market scope of market entrants. Finally, Han et a!. (2001) and Salavou et at. (2004) found that a need for capital stimulated the mnovativeness and product differentiation of entrants. We therefore need to continue to study the impact of barriers on the product/market scope and product differentiation of market entrants. More precisely, there is a lack of knowledge of direct and indirect barrier effects on entrants product/market scope and product differentiation. The fact that competitors may constitute a primary source of barriers has largely been neglected, and incumbents market strategies most probably indirectly affect the strategy of an entrant firm. Competitors are crucial here as they demonstrate certain market strategies and thereby create customer loyalties and other barriers (Porter, 1980). Also, the literature indicates that the effects are due to entry timing Karakaya and Stahl, 1989), and the effects on the strategy of an early entrant may not be the same as those for a late entrant. The paper is organized in this way: In Section 2, I review previous research on barriers to entry and the strategy impact of barriers; in Section 3, I present the model and propositions about relationships in the model; Section 4 presents illustrative company cases; conclusions and implications follow in Section 5. Literature review This section of the paper first presents important exogenous and endogenous barriers to entry that have been observed by scholars. The section then reviews previous studies on the impact of barriers on product/market scope and product differentiation, and the impact on entry timing. Important barriers to entry A barrier to entry can be categorized as either exogenous or endogenous (Shepherd, 1979). Exogenous barriers are those that are embedded in the underlying market conditions and, in principle, firms are not able to control exogenous barriers. On the contrary, endogenous barriers are created by the established firms through their market strategies and their competitive behavior and are thus based on incumbents reactions to new entrants efforts to become established. However, Gable ci a!. (1995) observed that frequently the barrier types are mutually reinforcing, and they may be difficult to interpret. Table I lists important barriers to entry that have been observed in the literature, with studies cited by author and publication date. As regards the exogenous barriers, incumbents cost advantages are considered important by several authors (Gable et al., 1995; Han et al., 2001). This barrier means that incumbents may possess absolute or variable cost advantages, forcing the entrant firm to achieve scale effects and low costs. Incumbents product differentiation (Pehrsson, 2004; Schlegelmilch and Ambos, 2004) is another important barrier as it creates loyalties and relations among buyers and established sellers, and accompanying obstacles for the entrant trying to access customers Gohansson and Elg, 2002). Furthermore, the extensive need for capital in order to be firmly established in a market is an important exogeneous barrier emphasized by many authors (flarrigan, 1981; Siegfried and Evans, 1994), and the importance is also valid for customers switching costs (Gruca and Sudharshan, 1995; Karakaya and Stahl, 1989). This barrier is due to the costs that any potential customer faces trying to switch from one supplier to another. For example, costs may be allocated to employee retraining or changes in product design. Available distribution channels might not be anticipated by the entrant firm, or they may be controlled by competitors, creating customer access obstacles (Han el al., 2001; Pehrsson, 2004). Other barriers may include incumbents brand loyalty Q Endogenous barriers are created by the competitive behavior of incumbent firms in accordance with their market strategies. Important endogenous barriers may originate from excess capacity. This is generally accompanied by increased advertising or promotional activity (Demsetz, 1982; Gable el aL, 1995) or pre-emptive pricing resulting in price competition (Guiltinnan and Gundlach, 1996; Simon, 2005). T A B L E It is thus appropriate to view endogenous barriers as established firms reaction to new entrants (Karakaya and Stahl, 1989; Yip, 1982). In fact, incumbents may deter the entry of new comers simply by creating expectations of fear for the incumbents post-entry reaction (Karakaya and Stahl, 1989). However, Gable et a!. (1995) found that exogenous and endogenous barriers are mutually reinforcing. They studied entry barriers in retailing and found that incumbents frequently increased advertising and sales promotion when reacting to market entrants. These measures enhanced the degree of product and service differentiation attributed to the incumbent, while the measures also provided a method for an existing retailer to increase the costs of entry to a potential competitor. The observed endogenous barriers of increased advertising and sales promotion thus reinforce the exogenous barriers of capital need and product differentiation. Further, a number of studies (Karakaya, 2002; Karakaya and Kerin, 2007; Karakaya and Stahl, 1989; Siegfried and Evans, 1994) have explored the relative importance of individual barriers. Karakaya (2002) examined the importance of 25 potential barriers to entry in industrial markets. The majority of the executives in the survey considered the most important barriers to be incumbents cost advantages and the need for capital to enter markets. The impact of barriers on strategy Researchers have studied the impact of barriers to entry on two strategy components, namely product/market scope (Bonardi, 1999; Delmas and Tokat, 2005; Haveman, 1993; Pehrsson, 2001, 2007; Robinson and McDougall, 2001), and product differentiation (Delmas ci at, 2007; Russo, 2001; Schlegelmilch and Ambos, 2004) including innovativeness (Han ci at, 2001; Salavou ci at, 2004). Table TI summarizes key findings of the studies of strategies of market entrants and incumbents. As regards product/market scope, Pehrsson (2007) studied perceptions of expansion barriers in 191 subsidiaries of incumbent Swedish manufacturing firms in Germany, the United States and the UK. I-Ic found that the impact of balTiers was due to the breadth of the product/market scope of the firms. Hence, obstacles to access customers affect performance in a negative way if the firm has a narrow product/market scope. One reason why the obstacles are not significant if the scope is broad may be that different customer types and delivered products in this context are associated with more degrees of freedom in choosing customers. Problems in accessing a certain customer type may thus be balanced against limited problems regarding other types. Robinson and McDougall (2001) established a similar pattern. They studied the moderating effect of product/market breadth on the relationship between entry barriers and performance of 115 new ventures. Three barriers were closely studied: economies of scale, capital need, and product differentiation, It was found that the negative effect of capital need on return Ofl sales was smaller for ventures pursuing a broad scope. Further, the negative effects of all barriers were smaller for broad-scope ventures as regards shareholder wealth. Government policy changes manifested by, for example, deregulation or other institutional changes stimulate adjustments of the product/market scope of incumbents (Bonardi, 1999; Delmas and Tokat, 2005; Haveman, 1993; Pehrsson, 2001). Haveman (1993) showed that many firms in the savings and loans industry had expanded into new areas as a result of deregulation. Further, Pehrsson (2001) found that choices of customers made by both incumbents and entrant firms followed deregulations in the British and Swedish telecommunications industries. As regards the product differentiation component of market strategy, Han el al. (2001) and Salavou et al. (2004) found that market entrants innovativeness reduced the impact of capital need. A finns innovativeness reflects its way of pursuing product differentiation relative to competitors (Kustin, 2004). The literature also addresses changes in barriers to entry due to deregulation and their effects on rncuinbents differentiation Dehnas el aL, 2007; Russo, 2001; Schlegelmilch and Ambos, 2004). Delmas et a!. (2007) observed a variety of differentiation efforts in response to deregulation in the US electric utility industry, while Schlegelmilch and Ambos (2004) studied strategic options in such industries. In particular, Russo (2001) found that technology differentiation was a common effect of deregulation in the utility industry. Delmas et a!. (2007) advocate that, in fact, differentiation is common in industries that is subject to deregulation. The impact of barriers on entry timing Makadok (998) and Pehrsson (2004) underscore that the entry timing advantages of first- and early-movers seem to be resistant to erosion by the entry of additional competitors in a market. Once a new competitor has entered the market, it is difficult to match the performance of the incumbents due to extensive customer loyalties established previously. For the entrant firm this creates severe obstacles to customer access. Karakaya and Stahl (1989) studied the effects of barriers on the timing of market entry of 49 firms delivering industrial goods and consumer goods. The researchers particularly found that switching costs of potential customers is perceived as more important for late entry than early entry in both industrial goods and consumer goods markets. This finding supports the notion that late market entrants will face extensive obstacles to access customers due to previous loyalties between sellers and buyers. A model of the impact of entry barriers on strategy The model presented in this section proposes relationships between barriers to entry, incumbents market strategies and the market strategy of an entrant firm (Figure 1). The model applies the contingency perspective Hambrick, 1983; Peteraf and Reed, 2007) and proposes that an entrant firms market strategy is contingent on the external conditions of barriers to entry (P12 in Figure 1). It is also assumed that competitors constitute a main source of barriers; therefore, the model proposes indirect effects and interactions between incumbents market strategies and barriers (P3). Further, entry timing is important; the propositions suggest that strategies of early and late entrants differ. This section first defines the key concepts of the model and continues with motivations and presentations of the propositions. The concepts in the model The term barriers to entry stems from industrial organization literature and refers to obstacles that firms have to face when they try to establish themselves in a market (Porter, 1.980). Advantages of incumbent firms established earlier correspond to the extent to which the incumbents can raise their prices above a theoretical equilibrium without attracting other firms to enter the market (Bain, 1956). Barriers are exogenous or endogenous and are mutually reinforcing (see the literature review above). Entrant firms and incumbents demonstrate certain market strategies. Miller (1987) found that the dominant content components of strategy were product/market scope, product innovation, differentiation, and cost control. Product/market scope corresponds to the breadth of business activities and is manifested by the breadth of the range of product types and customer types. As product innovation is a way of differentiating the product in relation to competing products, I include innovation in product differentiation (Kustin, 2004). Further, as cost control is an ingredient of price, and customers are generally more concerned with prices than firm costs, prices are frequently subject to differentiation (Porter, 1980). rrherefore product differentiation in the model also includes pricing. However, product differentiation does not only refer to the physical product core. Usunier (1993) suggests that services linked to products such as after-sales services are central to differentiation, and Pehrsson (2006) further emphasizes flexibility attributes. Th attributes combine with other attributes in order to meet individual customer needs, and include, for example, solutions to customer problems and distribution features. Differentiating products in relation to products of competitors may thus give the firm competitive advantages. In essence, Porter (1980) convincingly argues that differentiation is a way of creating layers of insulation against competitive warfare and increases the odds of achieving high financial performance. Direct effects of barriers to entry Pehrsson (2007) and Robinson and McI)ougall (2001) found that the effects of barriers were less severe if the product/market scope of a market entrant was broad. Based on the findings, the researchers argue that product/market breadth of market entrants generally moderates the relationship between entry barriers and performance. Theoretically, a market entrant that has to face extensive barriers to entry would prefer a broad product/market scope. In that way, the entrant may be able to exploit the degrees of freedom that accompany the broad scope, and balance obstacles in accessing a certain customer type against obstacles relating to other types. However, research has shown that late market entrants tend to be exposed to more comprehensive barriers than early entrants (Makadok, 1998; Pehrsson, 2004). In particular, customer loyalties and customers switching costs (Karakaya and Stahl, 1989) constitute key competitive advantages of early entrants. A late market entrant would, therefore, theoretically have to face more severe obstacles in trying to access customers than would an early entrant: P1. A firm that enters a market late and has to face extensive barriers will chxse a broader product/market scope than an early entrant. In accordance with the results of Han el at (2001) and Salavou el at. (2004), market entrants frequently use product innovations to overcome market entry barriers. As innovativeness manifests product differentiation, it is logical to propose that a market entrant may use product differentiation in order to respond to barriers, and that comprehensive differentiation efforts follow extensive barriers. As a late entrant is theoretically exposed to more extensive barriers than an early entrant, this leads to the second proposition: P2. A firm that enters a market late and has to face extensive barriers will differentiate its products to a larger extent than an early entrant. Indirect effects of barriers to entry P1 and P2 do not pay attention to indirect effects, crucial interactions among barriers to entry and other important conditions external to the entrant firm. However, we can expect that barriers interact with incumbents market strategies. This expectation relies on the necessity of observing competitors as they pursue certain market strategies, and are able to create customer loyalties and other barriers (Porter, 1980). If we pay attention to incumbents, a strategy that promotes the development of brand loyalty, for example, focuses on a factor that create barriers (Krouse, 1984). Further, entry timing advantages of first- and early-movers (Makadok, 1998; Pehrsson, 2004) generally stem from the firms opportunities to penetrate potential customers, start to differentiate products, and develop customer relationships. If successful, the customer relationships and accompanying loyalties become effective barriers to competition. Theoretic-ally, late entrants therefore have difficulty matching the performance of the early entrants. We may therefore propose that the interaction affects early and late entrants in different ways: P3. Incumbents market strategies indirectly affect the market strategy of an entrant firm as incumbents market strategies interact with barriers to entry. The effects are different for early and late entrants. Illustrative cases Deregulation and unification of rules pertaining to firms operating telecommunications networks caused operators to reconsider their market strategies in Europe (Pehrsson, 2001). Unlike many other European countries, Sweden has never legalized a monopoly for the establishment of telecommunications networks or for the offering of services. However, Televerket (the Swedish public telecommunications administration) historically had a monopoly-like hold on many sectors of the market. This organization was converted in 1993 into a company group with a parent fIrm, Telia. As there are no regulations protecting Swedish interests or restricting foreign operators from establishing themselves in the country, many firms have entered the market. Any firm with a desire to enter the market will have to face the barrier of capital need in terms of the arrangement of infrastructure. For example, Tele2 entered the market early and addressed this need for capital by cooperating with the Swedish State Rail Administration. The background for Kinneviks establishment of Tele2 is that Kinnevik had gained experience from mobile telephony in the USA (NetCom Systems, 1994). Parallel with these activities, preparations began within traditional telecommunications for voice and data in the 1980s. A gateway for data traffic was opened in 1986, and in 1989 an agreement was concluded with the Swedish State Rail Administration for joint investments in a fiber optic network. Tele2 was formed in 1987 with the intention to offer stationary telephony primarily to households based on low prices. When the deregulation of the telecommunications market accelerated in 1993, Tele2 was able to act fast and reached second place after the incumbent, Telia. I)otcom l)ata Telecommunications entered the Swedish market late and had to face the extensive barriers caused by the dominance of the incumbent and early entrants. By the end of the 1990s, Dotcom was the only operator in the Swedish market with telecommunications operations that were not part of the original corporate core business Dotcom Data Telecommunications, 1995). The product/market scope was dominated by local data networks and included also stationary telephony, leased lines, office exchanges, extensive communications systems, support systems and so on. Middle-sized companies, large companies, and public administrations were the main target groups. In sum, the case of Dotcom Data Telecommunications illustrates P1. The firm was exposed to extensive barriers due to the firms late market entry and chose a broad product/market scope. In that way, the firm was able to exploit the degrees of freedom that accompanied the broad scope, and balance obstacles in accessing a certain customer type against obstacles regarding other types. Further, Dotcom Data Telecommunications tried to avoid price competition and, instead, strived for long-term customer relationships. As there were six phases of the delivery chain (analysis of needs, systems design, installation, education, service, and financing) there were many options to conduct product differentiation. A comparison with the limited low-price differentiation of Tele2 illustrates P2. However, in accordance with P3, both entrants had to face the barriers caused by the incumbents cTelias) strategy of keeping its market dominance and loyal customers. Conclusions and implications Despite the limitation that there may be more important external conditions beyond incumbents market strategies that interact with barriers to entry, we are now able to conclude the a firm that enters a market late and has to face extensive barriers probably would chxse a broader product/market scope and differentiate its products to a larger extent than an earlier entrant. Also, it is proposed that incumbents market strategies indirectly affect the market strategy of an entrant firm as incumbents market strategies interact with barriers, where the effects are due to entry timing. In sum, the model extends our knowledge as it accounts for the direct impact of barriers to entry on product/market scope and product differentiation, and specifies central conditions external to the entrant firm. Also, the model accounts for entry timing effects. In accordance with the contingency perspective management of entrant firms would be advised to strive for a fit between barriers to entry and market strategy and thereby bear in mind the proposals put forward in this paper. Of importance are not only direct effects of barriers on product/market scope and product differentiation, but also the way incumbent strategies interact with balTiers. It would also be advisable for each firm to evaluate the relative importance of barriers and acknowledge that a late entry is generally accompanied by more extensive barriers than an early entry. Further, as exogenous barriers and endogenous barriers are often mutually reinforcing, attention needs to be paid to combined effects. Further empirical research should be conducted in terms of applying the model developed in this paper. A suggestion for future research is to explore how management perceives barriers to entry, and how this perception contributes to the emergence and sustainability of competitive advantage. Also, it would be interesting to explore managerial knowledge of barriers in early and late phases of market entry.

How Toy Story Helps Children Navigate Technology Essay -- Technology

Technology is rapidly growing â€Å"to infinity and beyond† from games to cars, modern technology fully encompasses our daily lives leaving society helpless without it. In the early 90’s, society knows little of how much this new technology eventually influences their children’s lives, so parents portray outwardly no problems with having companies heavily advertising new electronic products to children. The results change the world. Now, technology intertwines with the fast-paced lives of the society, leaving some frustrated parents finding it difficult on ways to teach their children to balance both modern technology and manual labor. Wisely, parents start to rely on the first thing that originally got them into them mess - the magical world of Pixar. The original Toy Story focuses on the societal view of the celebration towards the advancement of technology during the time the movie releases in 1995, which is what society needs at that time. However, by Toy St ory 3(2010), young adults actively disengage in the usage of the consumerism for the latest-and-greatest technology, so the tone of the movie sequel changes. Toy Story 3 actively encourages youth to enjoy the makings of the past without overlooking the new technological advancements. Toy Story, one of the first cartoon using the new animation technology, highlights one boy’s (Andy’s) first experience with technology, Buzz Lightyear, the most popular and advanced toy at that time. Andy is quickly amazed at the impressive high-tech features of Buzz and excited about the technology of Buzz. Andy starts losing his love for his old manual toys like Woody; Woody fears that Buzz is the new favorite toy in Andy’s life. At this time, the society starts to bring the technology into th... ...etc.) Back in 1995 when companies start releasing technology like computers, cell phones, and media players to the general public, Toy Story tries to encourage, introduce, and make technology interesting for kids; allowing them not to be afraid of the inevitable surge of technological advancements late 90s-early 2000s. In today’s modern-life, there is no huge need of encouragement for people to use the technology; although, there is a need to remind society that don’t over let technology overrun your life no matter how useful. Works Cited O'Neill, Charles A. "The Language of Advertising." The Contemporary Reader. By Gary Goshgarian. 9th ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. 146-52. Print. Toy Story 3. Dir. Lee Unkrich. Perf. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. Disney/Pixar, 2010. DVD. Toy Story. Dir. John Lasseter. Perf. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. 1995, .1995. DVD.

Virtue in Several Dialogues

Plato presents Socrates views on the question whether virtue can be taught in several dialogues, most notably in Protagoras and Meno. In Meno Menon puts the question to Socrates this way: â€Å"Can you tell me, Socrates–can virtue be taught? Or if not, does it come by practice? Or does it come neither by practice nor by teaching, but do people get it by nature, or in some other way?† [35]. Socrates claims to not â€Å"know the least little thing about virtue† and unable to speak as to its qualities. Moreover, he claims to know no one that does. [29]. There follows a discussion as to whether Gorgias, the Sophist, might not be such a person. Both Socrates and Menon know Gorgias' teaching. Menon obviously has a higher opinion of Gorgias' teaching than does Socrates. It is agreed, upon Socrates suggestion, that the conversation should proceed to explore what Menon, not Gorgias, knows about virtue. And so Socrates, puts the question to Menon: â€Å"[W]hat do you say virtue is?† [29] Menon finds â€Å"nothing difficult† in the question and attempts, forthwith, to answer it. But there are complications with the answer, for Menon has suggested that men, slaves, children, women all demonstrate a different kind of virtue, and concludes that there is a virtue â€Å"for doing each sort of work† associated with being a slave, a child, a woman, a free man. Menon's idea of virtue is what we would call role specific. Socrates attempts to show that Menon's initial answer misses the point because it does not show what is common to the virtues of these various actors. If the virtue of men and women, free men and slaves, does not share something in common then it cannot be said to be the same thing and one would necessarily call the one virtue, and the other something else. As Socrates puts it, â€Å"Even if there are many different kinds of them [virtues], they all have one something, the same in all, which makes them virtues.† [30]. Menon accepts Socrates criticism and argues that it is indeed one thing of which he speaks. In order to determine what the common quality of virtue is, Socrates observes that Menon has associated virtue with the ability to manage public affairs well. Socrates now sets out to question Menon on whether virtue would be present in the management of public affairs in the absence of temperance and justice and Menon readily agrees that it would not. Socrates has already disclaimed any personal knowledge of virtue and he has steered Menon away from a discussion of Gorgias' view of virtue. But when Menon fails to provide a persuasive account of his conception of virtue, Socrates poses a question with substantive content. Socrates may know nothing about virtue, but he knows enough to ask whether virtue can be present without temperance and justice. The question suggest that it is Socrates rather than Menon who knows enough about virtue to keep the conversation going. Socrates interrupts the dialogue to make a brief statement about the conversation he has been having with Menon. He distinguishes the conversation he is having with Menon from those where the questioner is â€Å"one of those clever fellow, who just chop logic and argue to win.† Questions such as the one that Socrates and Menon are discussing — whether virtue can be taught? — are best left, says Socrates, to â€Å"friends† who wish to talk together. In such a relationship argues Socrates, â€Å"I must answer more gently and more like friends talking together; and perhaps it is more like friends talking together, not only to answer with truth, but to use only what the one who is questioned admits that he knows.† [34] Socrates, in rapport with Menon, tries to clear up a possible confusion as to whether it is possible to seek that which is bad. Socrates suggests, as he does in other dialogues, that we â€Å"all desire good things.† Menon has responded to Socrates question by saying that one can desire bad things. Socrates tries to clarify this point by asking whether one desires that which is bad because of a mistake, that it is assumed to be bad. But Menon does not pick up on the point and contends that one desires the bad both as a result of a misplaced assumption as to its value and we can also desire the bad even when it is known to be bad. But upon further questions, Menon agrees with Socrates that no one seeks to inflict injury and misery upon himself, and it is injury and misery that are the results of that which is bad. Socrates summary of their agreement goes like this: â€Å"Then it is plain that those who desire bad things are those who don't know what they are, but they desire what they thought were good whereas they really are bad. . . .† [37] Menon has mentioned in passing that virtue consists of the desire of good things and to provide the good. Menon admits that one good thing it is possible to desire is â€Å"to possess gold and silver and public honour and appointments.† [38]. Socrates inquires now whether the virtue of possession of gold and silver must be qualified so that its possession is fair and just. Menon agrees that it is not a virtue to have such possessions if they have been unjustly acquired. On the contrary it would be a vice. â€Å"It is necessary,† Socrates says, â€Å"to add to this getting, justice or temperance or piety or some other bit of virtue, or else it will not be virtue, although it provides good things.† [39] Socrates rebuffs Menon for trying to talk about virtue by looking at it piece by piece and drawing into the discussion a sense of virtue that he has not yet presented. Menon agrees that it is a problem and comments on his reaction to what has gone on: Well now, my dear Socrates, you are just like what I always heard before I met you: always puzzled yourself and puzzling everybody else. And now you seem to me to be a regular wizard, you dose me with drugs and bewitch me with charms and spells, and drown me in puzzledom. I'll tell you just what you are like, if you will forgive a little jest: your looks and the rest of you are exactly like a flatfish and you sting like this stingray–only go near and touch one of those fish and you go numb, and that is the sort of thing you seem to have done to me. [40] Socrates response to Menon's description of his puzzlement is that he himself is â€Å"not clear-headed† when he puzzles others, and that he is â€Å"as puzzled as puzzled can be, and thus I make others puzzled too.† [41]. And where can the conversation go from here? Socrates says, that he wishes to investigate virtue with Menon's help so â€Å"that we may both try to find out what it is.† [41] Socrates argues that there is no such thing as teaching, only remembering. This notion of teaching comes out of Socrates belief in the immortality of the soul. The soul dies but is reborn and thus never destroyed. (This is given by Socrates as a reason for why â€Å"we must live our lives as much as we can in holiness. . . .†) â€Å"Then, since the soul is immortal and often born, having seen what is on earth and what is in the house of Hades, and everything, there is nothing it has not learnt; so there is no wonder it can remember about virtue and other things, because it knew about these before. For since all nature is akin, and the soul has learnt everything, there is nothing to hinder a man, remembering one thing only–which men call learning–from himself finding out all else, if he is brave and does not weary in seeking; for seeking and learning is all remembrance.† [42] After questioning the slave boy about geometry Socrates seeks Menon's concurrence in the proposition that the boy, shown to have been in error about geometry, is better off now, that he too is numbed but has knowledge about the limits of what he knows. By being numbed by the sting of Socrates' conversation the slave has come a step â€Å"onwards, as it seems, to find out how he stands.† [29]. Menon answers yes, when Socrates asked: â€Å"Then do you think he would have tried to find out or to learn what he thought he knew, not knowing, until he tumbled into difficulty by thinking he did not know, and longed to know?† Menon agrees, that he does not think he would and thus gains from being numbed. Menon takes up again his original question, whether virtue can be taught, or one gets it by nature or in some other way. Socrates agrees to proceed but contends that they need a common ground as neither of them can say at this point what virtue is. Socrates has Menon agree that if virtue is knowledge then it can be taught, and if not a knowledge then it cannot be taught. (Conclusion: All that is taught call be called knowledge.)

Best Journal Article Award Essay

Academic journals are periodicals in which scholarly material relating to a certain academic discipline is published and reviewed. These peer-reviewed periodicals provide a platform through which new topics or ideas pertaining to that particular discipline can be introduced, researched and debated upon. The articles published are details of original research conducted by one or a group of stakeholders, reviews of book publications related to the discipline, and are therefore sometimes commonly referred to as professional magazines. They range from journals of science to applied technology, journalism, social sciences and humanities. In the professional circles, there is a habit of any willing interested party making unsolicited submissions of their research and discoveries, opinions or articles to these professional magazines. Usually, a bench of editors peruses the submitted entries to determine their quality and relevance and therefore choose which entries they are going to publish and those that are going to be published. Once an article has been published, any interested parties are free to respond either in support or criticizing the information published therein. This is what is called peer reviewing (Effs. org, 2009). Reviewing involves the checking of progress on the research of topics published in these professional journals. This process covers progressive research either on a long term or short term depending on the topic concerned. The reason for journal awards is that the prestige of an academic journal’s award establishes itself over time; the dominant academic journals consequently receive the highest number of submissions and are consequently the preferred choice of seeking the relevant information and opinion regarding a certain topical issue. It is for this reason that certain journals dominate over others in terms of relevancy and credibility. For example in the United States of America, the American Historical Review and the Journal of American History have been able to stamp their authority over most of the other related journals. The ranking of journals is based on the prestige derived from their accuracy, relevance and professional reverence of their most frequent contributors. In the fields of technology and applied science, it is easier to establish the top most journals but when it comes to the social sciences, it becomes very hard to rank these journals mostly on account of the diverse nature of the opinions available and the scope of the discipline. The approach used here is estimating the impact factor, that is counting the total number of submissions following the publishing of all particular original submissions and also counting the number of citations based on the publications (Carl, 2000). The duration through which submissions are continually cited, also called the half life, is an important criteria of gauging the impact of a particular journal. In virtually every professional discipline, it is very important that the industry players get a feedback to gauge the standards and the levels of professionally time over time. To increase competitiveness, progress and professional integrity, different foundations have initiated programs of awarding excellence (Clapp, 2003). Individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary professional standards are awarded depending on merit and this acts as a source of motivation to the recipients but also to their competitors and partners to put the specific industry on the course of achieving greater heights. The importance of the media on contemporary society cannot under any circumstances be underestimated. It is the media that is on the forefront of creating awareness on the most relevant topical issues directly affecting people. From politics to the economy, human rights to diseases and education, the influence of the media is the most significant. It is not a surprise that most people base their interpretation of topical issues almost always based on how the media has put the facts on paper (Wheeler, 2009). It is for this reason that there has been a lot of effort geared towards ensuring that the media is impartial, relevant and correct on the issues that are of most significance to society as its role in determining how they are received by society in general is insurmountable. To increase integrity in this important industry, very many civil, corporate, governmental and even private organizations have come up with numerous awards all aimed at rewarding excellence and increasing journalistic standards. Among these, perhaps the most significant is the award gala night organized by the International Centre for Journalists (ICJ). Each and every year, the ICT holds an award dinner in honor of the achievements and feats accomplished by its fellows. These awards honor those journalists who have, for the preceding year, demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the cause and have exhibited the most commendable professional standards (Mackenzie, 2007). This colorful event brings together those journalism professionals from the United States of America as well as from overseas countries, who have made the headlines, constantly putting their lives and safety on the line to bring in the news as it is from the harshest and most hostile locations around the world. They are a perfect demonstration of a passionate commitment of excellent news collection and pointblank reporting. Another significant excellence award by the journalism industry is held by The Canadian Journalism Foundation. Started just over ten years ago, the Excellence in Journalism Award has continued to gain credibility over the years. It is now one of the most prestigious journalistic awards held annually and is the only award of its kind given to a media organization for exhibiting an overall excellence in journalistic performance (Chism, 2006). The Excellence in Journalism Award aims to recognize an outstanding dedication to the cause of journalism. Sponsored jointly by the Jackman Foundation and the Canadian Journalism Foundation, the Excellence in Journalism Award has the overall objective of embracing and enhancing the social and political ideals of citizenship under a working democratic system, rigor and professionalism in journalistic practice, honesty and independence in ideology, accuracy in information collection and accountability (Fredrick, 1995). The award also rewards initiative and an artistic flair in information presentation and clarity. The excellence in Journalism award has winners in two separate categories. One award is dedicated to small and medium sized media houses from the locality (that is within Canada) and the North American region while the second category is for the large national and international media houses. The next awards are scheduled to be held on the fifth day of March this year. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Journal Awards are the other main journalistic awards. Specifically targeting the radio broadcasting industry, he awards are aimed at recognizing those radio companies that have stood out from among their competitors in terms of successfully using the technology of Radio Frequency Identification. The RIFD journal, to ensure a relevant and trustworthy, has put in place a panel of qualified judges who undertake the work of evaluating all competitors and eventually choosing the winner (Burnett, 2000). The aim of these awards is to encourage the application of the radio frequency identification in radio broadcasting and award the winner in this sector. The RIFD has five distinct award categories fro the best implementers of the radio frequency identification technology, the company that has best used frequency identification to enhance their service and the quality of their service to their clients and a special achievement award (PressRelease. com, 2009). Other influential journals include the Harvard Law Review, The Academy of Management Journal and the American Journal of Sociology for the discipline of Social Sciences, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and the Proceedings of the Royal Society and Science in the area of general sciences. In the specific sciences, the leading journals are the Archives of Sexual behavior, Industrial Engineering and Industry Research and the Journal of the American Mathematical Society (Wankat, 2005). The reason why journals hold award giving events is to award leading contributors for their commitment and research in a particular discipline and therefore encouraging research and progress. The prestige of any intellectual society is directly derived from the relevance and applicability of their findings; therefore by awarding leading researchers, there is every potential of encouraging further leaders and nurturing the aspirations of future scholars and therefore ensuring intellectual continuity.