Sunday, November 24, 2019

pH, pKa, Ka, pKb, and Kb Explained

pH, pKa, Ka, pKb, and Kb Explained There are related scales in chemistry used to measure how acidic or basic a solution is and the strength of acids and bases. Although the pH scale is most familiar, pKa, Ka, pKb, and Kb are common calculations that offer insight into acid-base reactions. Heres an explanation of the terms and how they differ from each other. What Does the p Mean? Whenever you see a p in front of a value, like pH, pKa, and pKb, it means youre dealing with a -log of the value following the p. For example, pKa is the -log of Ka. Because of the way the log function works, a smaller pKa means a larger Ka. pH is the -log of hydrogen ion concentration, and so on. Formulas and Definitions for pH and Equilibrium Constant pH and pOH are related, just as Ka, pKa, Kb, and pKb are. If you know pH, you can calculate pOH. If you know an equilibrium constant, you can calculate the others. About pH pH is a measure of hydrogen ion concentration, [H], in an aqueous (water) solution. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A low pH value indicates acidity, a pH7 is neutral, and a high pH value indicates alkalinity. The pH value can tell you whether youre dealing with an acid or a base, but it offers limited value indicating the true strength of the acid of a base. The formula to calculate pH and pOH are: pH - log [H] pOH - log [OH-] At 25 degrees Celsius: pH pOH 14 Understanding Ka and pKa Ka, pKa, Kb, and pKb are more helpful for predicting whether a species will donate or accept protons at a specific pH value. They describe the degree of ionization of an acid or base and are true indicators of acid or base strength because adding water to a solution will not change the equilibrium constant. Ka and pKa relate to acids, while Kb and pKb deal with bases. Like pH and pOH, these values also account for hydrogen ion or proton concentration (for Ka and pKa) or hydroxide ion concentration (for Kb and pKb). Ka and Kb are related to each other through the ion constant for water, Kw: Kw Ka x Kb Ka is the acid dissociation constant. pKa is simply the -log of this constant. Similarly, Kb is the base dissociation constant, while pKb is the -log of the constant. The acid and base dissociation constants are usually expressed in terms of mole per liter (mol/L). Acids and bases dissociate according to general equations: HA H2O ⇆ A-Â   H3OHB H2O ⇆ B OH- In the formulas, A stands for acid and B for base. Ka [H][A-]/ [HA]pKa - log Kaat half the equivalence point, pH pKa -log Ka A large Ka value indicates a strong acid because it means the acid is largely dissociated into its ions. A Large Ka value also means the formation of products in the reaction is favored. A small Ka value means little of the acid dissociates, so you have a weak acid. The Ka value for most weak acids ranges from 10-2 to 10-14. The pKa gives the same information, just in a different way. The smaller the value of pKa, the stronger the acid. Weak acids have a pKa ranging from 2-14. Understanding Kb and pKb Kb is the base dissociation constant. The base dissociation constant is a measure of how completely a base dissociates into its component ions in water. Kb [B][OH-]/[BOH]pKb -log Kb A large Kb value indicates the high level of dissociation of a strong base. A lower pKb value indicates a stronger base. pKa and pKb are related by the simple relation: pKa pKb 14 What Is pI? Another important point is pI. This is the isoelectric point. It is the pH at which a protein (or another molecule) is electrically neutral (has no net electrical charge).

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The recruitment, selection and training of LVMH Essay

The recruitment, selection and training of LVMH - Essay Example The study looks to focus on the recruitment, selection and training and development programs of LVMH. Recruitment can defined as the process by which the employers attract, screens and selects qualified applicants for the job. Selection can be described as the process used by the companies to hire suitable individuals to fill up vacancies in an organization. Training can be viewed as the process of changing behavior and attitudes of the employees to achieve organizational objective. Development on the other hand is some learning activities that are directed towards the potential future needs of the company (Armstrong, 2006). Summary of Findings The recruitment and selection at LVMH is based on the needs of high degree of professionalism. During the recruitment and selection process technical, inter-personal, communication skills are assessed. In dept analysis is used to selection the right person for the right job. Majority of the employees, more than 70% work internationally and int ernational recruitment is of extreme importance to the company (Armstrong, 2000). ... The company also provides career management (Mondal, 2009). Limitations The study has been conducted over a relatively shorter period of time. Therefore findings of the study should be regarded as indicative only. Also the type of data collected is totally secondary and qualitative in nature. Hence, the findings of the study may not represent a holistic picture but rather an indicative picture of the recruitment, selection, training and development process of LVMH. Implications of the Study The study focuses on the importance of training and development as well as recruitment and selection towards the achievement of organizational objectives. Training and development as well as recruitment and selection are not just part of HRM strategy. Rather the training and development as well as recruitment and selection are part of the overall corporate objective. In the modern day business where employees are treated as the biggest asset; it is important for the companies to select the right e mployees to do the right job. Therefore the overall training and development as well as recruitment and selection are of extreme importance. The goes up criticality and importance of training and development as well as recruitment and selection when an international business unit like LVMH is taken into consideration. In that case the company has to consider international cultures, values and needs and demands of the internal (employees) and external customers (consumers) (Goswami, 2010). Recommendations From the findings above it can be easily seen that LVMH has a well designed recruitment, selection and training and development plan. However, while critically analyzing the model it can be suggested

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Adam Smith Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Adam Smith - Term Paper Example The behaviour of the economy and its interaction with the agents and actors of the economic system of a particular country has been noted and studied by various economists. This paper shall discuss one of the most noted and prominent economists, along with his contribution, background, and school of thought for the subject. Adam Smith Adam Smith has been one of the most prominent and noted economists of his time. He was born in Kirkcaldy Scotland in 1723, and, later, went to Oxford at the age of 17. In the year 1951, Smith was appointed at Glasgow as a professor of Logic, and within one year, he was made the Chair of Moral Philosophy. Besides being a Scottish social philosopher, Smith was also the founder of the political economy. He had proven to be one of the chief personalities of the Scottish Enlightenment, and had also authored some major academic works including An Inquiry into the Nature, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, 1759, and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, 1776. His spec ial achievement, The Wealth of Nations, is generally regarded as the very first of the modern works in the contemporary economic society these days (Butler, Eamonn, 2007). Through this work, Adam Smith has attained huge respect and reputation, this works has been ranked the most prominent, and significant works ever published in the field of economics. Smith is broadly known as the father of capitalism and modern economics. Later, in the year 2009, the Scottish television channel (STV) ran votes and the economist and writer, Adam Smith, was ranked as the 'Greatest Scots' of all time. School of Thought There are various challenging and competing schools of thoughts commanding different opinions and viewpoints of the economic philosophies. The chief division in the classes of schools of thoughts includes the Classical and Neoclassical schools. Adam Smith was the pioneer of the Classical school of thought, which fundamentally stressed upon the notion of creating economic value and dist ributing the wealth of the economy between various classes including the capitalists, landlords, and the workers. One of the prominent branches of the Classical school is the Marxist school of thought. Economic Theories Just like all other economists, Adam Smith also held his own viewpoints and perceptions regarding the economic cycle that moves the world around. Due to his emerging thoughts on the subject of economic, he introduced the economic theories which included one of the significant economic theories, the Invisible hand theory. The Invisible Hand Theory Adam Smith believed that there was an â€Å"invisible hand’ in the marketplace which has always operated in order to make the markets of a self-regulating nature. This metaphor stated that all the consumers have a free will to select what to purchase and each manufacturer is free to decide what to produce and sell. Such a marketplace sets the distribution of the products and the prices which are of benefit to the ind ividuals in the community and to the community in a collective manner. This is the involvement of self-interest which forces the actors to behave in a beneficial way. The profits are maximized using efficient methods of production. Revenues are maximized through charging lower prices and the returns are maximized by investing in the urgently required industries. Thus, all the effects in the markets occur automatically and dynamically, and this occurrence, Adam Smith has mentioned, exists due to the ‘benevolent invisible hand’. All these effects take place dynamically and automatically (Helen, 2001). Contribution to Economics Adam Smith gave major contributions in the field of economics through

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Proposal for Academic Achievement and Parental Involvement Essay

Proposal for Academic Achievement and Parental Involvement - Essay Example They must communicate with their children to develop an understanding with then so that they share with them all problems that they might be facing in their education. Working parents also need to stay regularly in touch with their children’s teachers so as to get informed about their progress. They should be a great help for their children, both morally and physically. Epstein (2001) asserts that working parents or those who live far away or fathers are â€Å"less involved† in child’s educations â€Å"unless the school organizes opportunities†¦in various times and in various places† (p. 407). This proves that as compared to house wives, working mothers and, especially, fathers are often non considerate toward their children’s educational achievement because they do not have enough time to spend with them. Thus, there is a great need to address the issue of working parents and their involvement in their children’s academic lives, so that the latter are able to show better achievements in their education. Alternatives Epstein (2001) suggests that â€Å"caring communities can be built intentionally† that allows working parents to participate actively in their children’s educational activities (p. 408). ... Another important alternative is that teachers should make it compulsory for children to have their homework reviewed and signed by their parents daily or every two days so that the parents are kept involved. School events must be scheduled â€Å"at different times of the day† (Brown, 2000) to make it convenient for the working parents to attend these events. Working parents can make their homes a good learning environment by conversing with their children over dinner; taking them out on educational trips on weekends; and, providing them educational activities on computers. Epstein (2001) provided types of parental involvement all of which should be practiced by all parents including working parents. He says that parents should be made to attend special training classes so that they learn how to establish a learning environment at home. Parent-teacher communication through notices, conferences, language translators (in case of language gaps), phone calls, newsletters, and memo s, is very useful. Volunteer programs for parents should be arranged so that parents are encouraged to provide their help and support to the teachers. Teachers can also visit working parents at their homes to make them aware of their children’s progress. Proposed Solution Since too much lies in the hands of school authorities to make efforts to achieve collaborative partnership with the parents, the most feasible and workable plan to involve working parents in their children’s academic life is to arrange parent-teacher meetings at weekends or in the evenings of weekdays. The process should involve notifying the parents a week before the meeting is to be held, and discussing with them over the phone or through written form of

Friday, November 15, 2019

Global toy market

Global toy market 1.0 Background 1.1. Global toy industry Scenario More than 80% of global toy market is generated by three Continents i.e. Europe, North America and Asia. With the recent financial turmoil, the value of toy industry has decreased in two consecutive years, from US$78.67 billion in year 2007 to US$75.033 billion. The shrinking market size is mainly attributed by Western countries, particularly Europe. On the side of the world, Asia registered upward trend in market share for toy market. Chart 1 World Toy Market Scenario NPD analysts attribute the downward trend in global market value for toy industry to the following reasons Low unit price particularly in year end, which intensified further by the financial crises Cannibalization by other games categories namely video games, electronic games etc. In developed market, the per capita usage for toys is high as they are considered to be an important aid in a childs development vis-a-vis a wasteful expenditure in developing nations. The scenario is illustrated in below table:- Table 1 Toy expenditure Country Kids population in 2008 (million) Spending per kid in 2008 (US$) Total available market in 2008 (US$) United States 61.6 $281 $17.31 billion Japan 17.4 $286 $5 billion China 267.4 $17 $4.5 billion United Kingdom 10.3 $348 $3.6 billion France 11.9 $293 $3.5 billion Germany 11.4 $223 $2.5 billion Brazil 52.9 $38 $2.01 billion India 361.4 $5 $1.8 billion Mexico 32.6 $53 $1.7 billion Italy 7.9 $185 $1.5 billion Source: NDP Group, 2009 1.2 Toy Industry Structure Toys are classified into four broad categories, namely Traditional Toys which consist of action figures, dolls, playsets, stuffed animals, models, and other related products Board games Video Games Casino Games Accessories. Globally, the market is dominated by four large players viz: Mattel, Lego, Hasbro Bandai with Mattel the largest and selling toys under the brand Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price etc. Table 2 Global toy makers product portfolio Toy maker Traditional toys brands Board games Video Games Licensing product Mattel Barbie, Break the Safeâ„ ¢, Hot Wheels ®, Matchbox ®, American Girl ®, Fisher-Price ®, Little People ®, Rescue Heroesâ„ ¢, Power Wheels ® UNO Barbie CareNCure, UNO, Barbie Girls, Hot Wheels etc Disney, Warner Bros., Pixar, Viacom International Inc., Sesame Workshop Hasbro My Little Pony, SpongeBob, Toy Story Monopoly, Pictureka, Scrabble Monkeybar Transformer, G.I. Joe, Incredible Hulk, Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, Star Wars, Wolverine, Disney, Iron Man Bai Dan Ben 10, Power Ranger, Dragon Ball, Digimon, Blue Dragon NIL Kamen Rider, Harumika, Tamaguchi, Mugen Pop PopTM Ben 10, Power Ranger, Dragon Ball, Ultraman MGA Entertainment Bratz range, Zapf Creation, Little Tikes, Baby born, Chou Chou, MGA games, My-ePets 3D, Resue PetsTM NIL NIL NIL Disney Disney characters NIL Disney characters Disney characters LEGO LEGO bricks NIL LEGO NIL Takara Tomy Plarail, Pocker Moser, Transformers, Tomica die-cast vechicles, Yumel and Nerul, Licca doll line Jinsei Games Tasinoko Production, Game software Disney characters There are several market signals have impacted to toy market. Globally, toy manufacturers are partnering with companies from other sectors, like fast-food chains in their merchandise promotion campaigns, e.g. McDonald Mushrooming of dedicated malls/stores for toys is becoming increasingly visible e.g. Toy â€Å"Râ€Å" us Retail consolidation in overseas markets has changed the landscape for toy exporters. Production of movies based on toy characters for television audience is a unique trend for promoting toy sales in the US. Toy makers are entering into licensing deals with movie studios to make products in the image of film characters e.g. Disney, Sony Picture, Bai Dan etc. 1.3 Mattel Inc. 1.3.1 Mattel Inc. founded by Harold Matt Matson and Elliot Handler (hence the name matt-el) and incorporated in 1948 with Headquarter in Hawethorne, Los Angeles County, California and later relocate to El Segundo, CA in 1990. Barbie was brainchild by Elliot and Ruth Handler co-founders of the Mattel Toy Company. Ruth came up with the idea for Barbie after watching her daughter, Barbara Handler, play with paper dolls. The three-dimensional model for Barbie was a Germen doll Mattel refashioned the doll into an all-American version and named it after Barbara, who was then a teenager. Barbies boyfriend, Ken, was introduced in 1961 and named after Barbaras brother. 1.3.2 Since establishment, Mattels product portfolio has grown from its flagship brand, Barbie, to toy cars, board games, dolls, cuddly toys and education toys – Mattel offers comprehensive product lines to cater for different age groups – new born to adult segments. This can encourage repeat customer and attract different customer profiles with its range of different toys. Table 3 Mattel Inc.s product range by market segments Market segment Brand Infant Pre-school School Kids Tweens @ Pre-teens Teens (12 years above) Adults / Parents Barbie P P P P Fisher Price P P P Hot Wheel P P Tyco Toys P P P American Girls P P Sesame Street P P P UNO P P Scramble P P P MyScene Dolls P 1.3.3 Mattels Corporate Structure 1.3.4 Business Model Broadly, Mattel Inc.s businesses are segmented by geographically – domestically and internally. Mattels presence at Canada, Latin America, European, Asian countries, Australia, and New Zealand. 1.3.5 Along its establishment in the market, Mattel has gone through several hypes and downs†¦ Table 4 Mattel Inc. Events in chronological order Success stories Failures * 1959 – Barbie debut * 1965 – Enters Educational Market with See ‘N Say * 1968 – Hot Wheels Introduced * 1977 – Ventures into Electronic Game Market * 1993 – Merges with Fisher-Price * 1996 – Introduces Tickle Me Elmo * 1998 – Fisher-Price takes control of Infant and Preschool Character Brands * 1998- Acquired Pleasant Company, the maker of the American Girl collection, which is a series of historical dolls, books and accessories * Mattel says the average American girl owns ten Barbie dolls, and two are sold somewhere in the world every second * As a teenage fashion model, Barbie has worn many fabulous fashions. Beginning with her trademark black and white striped swimsuit and swirled ponytail, Barbie has followed style trends as well as blazed her own fashion trail. She even inspired some of fashions top designers * Barbie celebrates her 50th birthday in 2009. * Mattels Barbie opened her first flagship store on March 6, 2009, six-story showpiece at Shanghai . The store will also be a testing ground for new marketing strategies and services, including a design center where visitors can create their own dolls * Sold The Learning Company at a lost in year 2000 * Toxic Toys Scandal. Recalled millions of China-made toys as potential hazards from parts of the toys which were colored using lead-based paint that may have exceeded the US Federal limit of 600 part per million. 18.2 million items were recalled in total in year 2007. 2.0 Mattels Vision and Mission Jennifer 2.1 Mattels Philanthropic Vision To make a meaningful difference, one child at a time. 2.2 Mattels Philanthropic Mission Mattel makes a difference in the global community by effectively serving children in need. Partnering with charitable organizations dedicated to directly serving children, Mattel creates joy through the Mattel Childrens Foundation, product donations, grant making and the work of employee volunteers. We also enrich the lives of Mattel employees by identifying diverse volunteer opportunities and supporting their personal contributions through the matching gifts program. 2.3 Mattels Philanthropic Values We intend to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children in need around the world through our interactions how we play with our communities, our partners, and our volunteers. Play with Passion: By making a meaningful and lasting impact on children globally. Play Together: By forming deep partnerships to enrich the communities in which we work and play, and engaging Mattel employees in our efforts. Play Fair: By acting with unwavering integrity in all aspects of our work. Play to Grow: By striving to make long term differences in the lives of children in need and seeking continuous improvement. 3.0 The External Assessment Ezuan Issues to discuss: Opportunities An alliance with an Asian company, Bandai Weakening dollar makes Mattels products more affordable in many of these new markets greatest pressures to adapting products with the constant changing of society * etc Threats Children abandon tangible toys such Hot Wheels and Barbie for more interactive and technological products. Need extreme careful to protect customers legal and moral reputations by respecting the privacy of the children and their families, which is put in jeopardy every time the website asks a minor to provide information. Global recession problems breaking into foreign markets due to cultural barriers After-effect of Toxic Toys Scandal with 18.2 million items were recalled in total in year 2007 Etc External Factor Evaluation (EFE) matrix Key Internal Factors Weightage Rating Weighted score Opportunities 1. Barbie an recognizable brand worldwide 0.1 4 0.4 2. Weakening dollar makes results market affordability 0.1 3 0.3 3. Favorable US tariff law 0.05 3 0.15 Threats 1. Children abandon tangible toys for more interactive and technological products. 0.1 1 0.2 2. Global recession cause reduce spending or down trading for toy 0.05 1 0.1 3. Cultural barriers hinder market penetration 0.1 1 0.1 4. High product substitution 0.1 1 0.1 5. Government Regulations and Environmental Quality 0.05 2 0.2 6. Higher bargain power from retailers 0.05 2 0.2 7. Raw material subject to price fluctuation 0.05 2 0.1 8. Highly seasonal business 0.05 2 0.1 9. Rising in ‘cyber @ virtual games 0.1 1 0.1 10. Unpredictable shift in the play patterns of Gen X kids ‘Netizen 0.1 1 0.1 Total 1.00 2.15 Note: Weight factor: 0.0 (not important) to 1.0 (very important) Rating scale: 1 = Major Weakness 2 = Minor Weakness = Minor Strength 4 = Major Strength. Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM) for Mattel Inc. Wght. Mattel Inc. Hasbro Bai Dan MGA Ent. Disney LEGO Takara Tomy Rating WS Rating WS Rating WS Rating WS Rating WS Rating WS Rating WS Global Market share 0.10 4 0.4 3 0.3 3 0.3 2 0.2 4 0.4 3 0.3 3 0.3 Product Quality 0.10 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 Product variation 0.15 4 0.6 4 0.6 3 0.45 2 0.3 4 0.6 2 0.6 3 0.6 Price competitive 0.10 3 0.3 3 0.3 4 0.4 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 Technology Innovation 0.10 2 0.2 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 Management Experience 0.10 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 Financial position 0.10 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.3 3 0.1 Customer loyalty 0.15 2 0.3 2 0.3 2 0.3 2 0.3 2 0.3 2 0.3 2 0.3 Global expansion 0.10 3 0.3 4 0.4 4 0.4 2 0.3 4 0.4 4 0.4 2 0.1 Total 1.00 3.0 3.1 3.05 2.7 3.2 3.2 2.7 4.0 The Internal Assessment Ezuan Issues to be discussed: Strengths Long history in toy industry Preferred brand by customers Releasing new product annually follows a code of ethics, as well as requiring ethical actions of their suppliers. contributes to the communities merged with or struck licensing deals with a number of other established brands, including Disney, Fisher Price, Nascar, and even Microsoft. time delivery of products to retailers has soared in recent years from 50% to 90%, due to improvements in information systems and warehouse facilities. product availability has been improved in specific market with collaborative efforts with international firms, specifically Bandai Co. of Japan. able to simultaneously cater products to each markets taste, and maintain high flexibility and low costs by simplifying packaging strategies etc Weaknesses * Until the acquisition of Fisher Price, most of Mattels attempts to expand beyond their primary market of childrens toys were largely unsuccessful  · Etc Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) matrix Key Internal Factors Weightage Rating Weighted score Strengths 1. Barbie as a long established brand – 60 years 0.05 4 0.2 2. Recognizable brand portfolio 0.10 4 0.4 3. Wide product range to cater various life stage 0.10 4 0.4 4. New product launch annually 0.05 3 0.15 5. Business Integrity 0.05 3 0.15 6. Corporate Social Responsibility 0.05 3 0.15 7. Strategic partnership with Microsoft, Disney, BanDai 0.10 3 0.3 8. Energetic management team 0.05 3 0.15 9. Efficient automation of SCM 0.05 3 0.15 10. Trade names and trademarks as significant assets 0.05 4 0.2 Weaknesses 1. Unprofitable mergers and acquisitions 0.05 2 0.1 2. Slipping popularity of their core product, Barbie. 0.10 1 0.1 3. After-effect of Toxic Toys Scandal 0.10 1 0.1 4. History of management struggles and uncertainty 0.05 2 0.1 5. Royalty expense for license agreement 0.05 2 0.1 6. Liquidity problems or bankruptcy of key customers Total 1.00 2.75 Note: Weight factor: 0.0 (not important) to 1.0 (very important) Rating scale: 1 = Major Weakness 2 = Minor Weakness = Minor Strength 4 = Major Strength. 5.0 Strategies in Action Jennifer 6.0 Strategy Analysis and Choice Ismi Strengths [S] Weaknesses [W] Opportunities [O] Threats [T] 7.0 Implementing Strategies 7.1 Background The growth plan for Mattel Inc will be:- Maintaining its Corporate Social Responsibility – sustain its commitment to children, business partners, suppliers and environment Expending its territories with product diversification and business sustainability – strengthen and gain market share Zero product recall to boost up its brand image Below illustrate the direction for Mattel Inc. to concentrate in:- 7.2.0 Mattel Inc.s Direction 7.2.1 Management Operation Strategies The massive recall incidence in 2007 Christmas season will be an occasion to be remembered for Mattel Inc. Thus it is essential for Mattel to enhance its working relationship with their suppliers and business partners. Mattels product lines are manufactured in both company-owned facilities and through third-party manufacturers and the market demand is highly seasonal driven. In order to mitigate, it is crucial for Mattel to ensure just-in-time inventory practices to reduce backlog of orders. Mattel is committed to executing Global Manufacturing Principles (GMP) policy in all areas of its business, i.e. to all parties that manufacture, assemble, or distribute any product, or package bearing the Mattel logo, and, will only engage business partners commit to GMP. Mattel will ensure full compliance of GMP by its business partners, and will assist them in meeting GMP requirements. The GMP principles are to ensure there is a holistic approach that all the key stakeholders are being well care off. To ensure the closed monitoring the third party manufacturers, Mattel need to set up Centre of Excellence (CoE) in selected geographical areas strategically. The main function of the CoE is to embark manufacturing intelligent and ensure smooth execution of GMP and developing best practice in the manufacturing for their strategic partners. 7.3 Marketing Strategies 7.3.1 Segmentation Currently, Mattels product range is catered to wide range of age group, Market segment Brand Infant Toddlers Pre-School Kids Tweens @ Pre-teens Teens (12 years above) Adults / Parents Barbie

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Laertes in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay -- GCSE English Literature Cours

Laertes in Hamlet  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   In the Shakespearean tragedy, Hamlet, the reader or viewer meets a dashing young man who is key to the climax of the tragedy, and key to the fulfillment of the Ghost’s admonition to Hamlet. He is Laertes, whose character forms the subject of this essay.    Marvin Rosenberg describes Laertes in his essay, â€Å"Laertes: An Impulsive but Earnest Young Aristocrat†:    Laertes is a dashing, romantic figure who excites striking, spectacular moments in the play. Not much attention has been paid to him by scholar-critics and theatre observers; for all his activity in the later acts, he is not much cursed with inward struggle – while being surrounded by others fascinating for their infernos of inwardness. After Laertes’ brief, bright introduction in I,i and I,iii, he disappears from the play – and Denmark – until he returns at the head of a rebellion in IV,v. . . (87).    Laertes makes his appearance in the drama after Marcellus, Barnardo and Horatio have already seen the Ghost and have trifled with it in an effort to prompt it to communicate with them. Horatio and Marcellus exit the ramparts of Elsinore intending to enlist the aid of Hamlet, who is dejected by the â€Å"o’erhasty marriage† to Hamlet I’s wife less than two month’s after the funeral of Hamlet’s father (Gordon 128). After this scene, Laertes is one of many in attendance at a post-coronation social gathering of the court at Elsinore. Laertes, like Fortinbras a rival of Hamlet (Kermode 1138), comes with his father, Polonius, who manipulates both him and his sister (Boklund 122).G. Wilson Knight says, â€Å"Instinctively the creatures of earth—Laertes, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, league themselves with Claudius... ...on Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ: Univ. of Delaware P., 1992.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html    Ward & Trent, et al. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1907–21; New York: Bartleby.com, 2000 http://www.bartleby.com/215/0816.html    West, Rebecca. â€Å"A Court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1957.    Wilkie, Brian and James Hurt. â€Å"Shakespeare.† Literature of the Western World. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Directed Writing Essay

Judging from the letter you sent me last week, you seemto be doing just fine. I would like to apologize for not writing sooner; the ton ofholiday homework I received from school made it virtually impossible for me topen a reply any sooner than today.My answer to your question would definitely be a yes. I think that youwould make an excellent Head Prefect. Your out-going and down-to-earthpersonality should be enough to convince you of your undoubted capability totake on this task. Your friendly  and helpful  nature would make it easy foryou to get along with the students and reprimand them in a tactful way. I am also sure that you would take your responsibilities seriously as you are one ofthe most responsible people with whom I have made my acquaintance.Furthermore, your academic performance outshines your peers makingit clear that you are an intelligent and hardworking student. This in itselfproves that you are capable of dealing with heavy workloads. Goodnessknows, with the subject combination that you are taking, your workload isanything but light. Plus, I know that you especially have a knack for solvingproblems. Though being a Head Prefect is without doubt a tiring job, theexperience you have gained from being actively involved in co-curricularactivities should help you to pull through. Being the Captain of the BlueHouse  should give you a vague idea of what it is like to lead the school, while as the secretary of the English Language Society  , you should be an expertat handling paperwork and organizing events. Besides  that, by virtue of youbeing a school debater  , your speeches would surely be outstanding.The strategic  location of your house  should also give an extra shovetowards running for the past. As it is within walking distance from theschool, you would be able to sacrifice time and effort in carrying out yourduties as Head Prefect. Your academic performance would also beunaffected as you are a consistent student with good study habits. Inaddition to that, you have a further advantage of being popular among thestudents as well as the teachers  .Having read of all your good qualities should make it an easy choice foryou now, don’t you think? I hope I have helped you to make up your mind, butremember that no matter what choice you make, I will be rooting for you. Letme know of your decision. Till next time, bye!Your friend,Hisha

Friday, November 8, 2019

Biography of Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico

Biography of Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico Maximilian I  (July 6, 1832–June 19, 1867) was a European nobleman invited to Mexico in the aftermath of the disastrous wars and conflicts of the mid-19th century. It was thought that the establishment of a monarchy, with a leader possessing a tried-and-true European bloodline, could bring some much-needed stability to the strife-torn nation. Maximilian arrived in 1864 and was accepted by the people as Emperor of Mexico. His rule did not last very long, however, as liberal forces under the command of Benito Juarez destabilized Maximilian’s rule. Captured by Juarez’ men, he was executed in 1867. Fast Facts: Maximilian I Known For: Emperor of MexicoAlso Known As: Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph Maria, Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph von Hapsburg-LorraineBorn: July 6, 1832 in Vienna,  AustriaParents: Archduke Franz Karl of Austria, Princess Sophie of BavariaDied: June 19, 1867 in Santiago de Querà ©taro, MexicoSpouse: Charlotte of BelgiumNotable Quote: Oh, God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams. Early Years Maximilian of Austria was born in Vienna on July 6, 1832, the grandson of Francis II, Emperor of Austria. Maximilian and his elder brother Franz Joseph grew up as proper young princes: a classical education, riding, travel. Maximilian distinguished himself as a bright, inquisitive young man, and a good rider, but he was sickly and often unwell. Aimless Years In 1848, a series of events in Austria conspired to place Maximilian’s elder brother Franz Joseph on the throne at the young age of 18. Maximilian spent a lot of time away from court, mostly on Austrian naval vessels. He had money but no responsibilities, so he traveled a great deal, including a visit to Spain, and had affairs with actresses and dancers. He fell in love twice, once to a German countess who was deemed beneath him by his family, and a second time to a Portuguese noblewoman who was also a distant relation. Although Marà ­a Amalia of Braganza was considered acceptable, she died before they could become engaged. Admiral and Viceroy In 1855, Maximilian was named rear-admiral of the Austrian navy. In spite of his inexperience, he won over the career naval officers with open-mindedness, honesty, and zeal for the job. By 1857, he had modernized and improved the navy greatly and had founded a hydrographical institute. He was appointed viceroy of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, where he lived with his new wife, Charlotte of Belgium. In 1859, he was dismissed from his post by his brother, and the young couple went to live in their castle near Trieste. Overtures from Mexico Maximilian was first approached in 1859 with an offer to be made Emperor of Mexico: He initially refused, preferring to travel some more, including a botanical mission to Brazil. Mexico was still in shambles from the Reform War and had defaulted on its international debts. In 1862, France invaded Mexico, seeking payment for these debts. By 1863, French forces were firmly in command of Mexico and Maximilian was approached again. This time he accepted. Emperor Maximilian and Charlotte arrived in Mexico in May 1864 and set up their official residence at Chapultepec Castle. Maximilian inherited a very unstable nation. The conflict between conservatives and liberals, which had caused the Reform War, still simmered and Maximilian was unable to unite the two factions. He angered his conservative supporters by adopting some liberal reforms, and his overtures to liberal leaders were spurned. Benito Juarez and his liberal followers grew in strength, and there was little Maximilian could do about it. Downfall When France withdrew its forces back to Europe, Maximilian was on his own. His position grew ever more precarious, and Charlotte returned to Europe to ask (in vain) for aid from France, Austria, and Rome. Charlotte never returned to Mexico: Driven mad by the loss of her husband, she spent the rest of her life in seclusion before passing away in 1927. By 1866, the writing was on the wall for Maximilian: His armies were in disarray and he had no allies. He stuck it out nevertheless, apparently due to a genuine desire to be a good ruler of his new nation. Death and Repatriation Mexico City fell to liberal forces in early 1867, and Maximilian retreated to Querà ©taro, where he and his men withstood a siege for several weeks before surrendering. Captured, Maximilian was executed along with two of his generals on June 19, 1867. He was 34 years old. His body was returned to Austria the next year, where it currently resides in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna. Legacy Today Maximilian is considered somewhat of a quixotic figure by Mexicans. He had no business being Emperor of Mexico- he apparently didn’t even speak Spanish- but he put forth a solid effort to rule the country, and most modern Mexicans today think of him not as a hero or villain so much as a man who tried to unite a country that did not want to be united. The most lasting effect of his brief rule is Avenida Reforma, an important street in Mexico City that he had ordered built. Sources MadMonarchist. â€Å"Monarch Profile: Emperor Maximilian of Mexico.†Ã‚  The Mad Monarchist, 1 Jan. 1970.Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. â€Å"Maximilian.†Ã‚  Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 8 Feb. 2019.â€Å"MAXIMILIAN I, Emperor of Mexico.†Ã‚  MexicoOnline.com.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Low attendances are a worry for game in UAE

Low attendances are a worry for game in UAE Introduction There is need for organizations to understand the composition of international marketing to enable managers come up with successful strategies that can work within the global market. Operation of business activities sometimes takes place in complex environments where the businesses face high risks and uncertainties. This calls for necessary knowledge and skills in marketing and business activities that enables effective competition of the firm with others within the market (Doole and Lowe 3).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Low attendances are a worry for game in UAE specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Marketers in sporting events are faced with the challenge of finding out important factors that lure people towards or away from sporting events. High pricing of the tickets is considered one of the major factors affecting match attendance in UAE stadiums. The games receive poor publicity in the medi a leaving the people with the notion that the tickets might be selling at very high prices. There is almost no advertising of these games and considering also that few people are either interested or play the games. The slow processing and sale of tickets is also one of the contributing factors for lack of motivation towards the games within UAE. Also tight security around the stadiums which sometimes leads to confiscation of spectator items is one of the discouraging incidences contributing to low match attendance (AFP 1). The rate at which people attend matches in stadiums is one of the potential sources of revenues. According to Cunningham and Kwon (139), the factors affecting fan turn out should not only be looked at theoretically but should be reviewed practically. There is the problem of marketing sports in UAE due to complexity in consumer behaviours and communication procedures. United Arab Emirates experiences low attendees in stadiums during matches because the people are cultured towards watching cinemas and visiting shopping malls. The attendance to football games have dropped drastically in the recent times with the number recording few hundreds of spectators per match. The entertainment sectors like cinemas are more popular in UAE than the games. This calls for effort by marketers in designing strategies on how to market football culture within UAE. The passion of football need to be restored back to the culture, this can be done through empowerment of youths, and creation of strong relationship between sports heroes and the fans. Concerning the tight security round and within the stadiums, sports management should provide alternatives to fans, like introduction of open glasses of water to the fans (Rivzi 1). Poor promotion of the domestic leagues makes fans not to be informed about the games and the venue of matches. There is need to adopt other marketing mix elements like communication to replace the traditional free entry to football.Advertisi ng Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Problem Statement This research seeks to answer the question as to why football fans in United Arab Emirates do not attend matches at the stadium. From the sports administration view the sale of match tickets to fans is one of the important ways of raising revenue and also helps in promoting sporting activities within the country. Literature review There are many factors that affect the level of attendance on matches hosted in stadiums. Cunningham and Kwon (127), showed some factors which include the existing relationship between attitude and the reasons of attending a match. There is suggestion that teams should increase the level of interaction between players and fans. It is also important for teams to advertise their historical background which can act as a pulling factor to some fans. It is the responsibility of sports manageme nt to identify some of phenomenon that goes with sporting events that may be of interest to the satisfaction of fans needs. UAE football association was established in the year 1971 and has since struggled with the issue of maintaining good fan base. The association has so much focused on sponsorship driven football, where they invite European top team players for the purposes of improving public relations between sports and the people (Madichie 308-318). According to Coughlin and Erekson (180-185), football is one of the most attended games and its contribution acts as the primary determinant of revenue contribution to the sporting department. The ability of converting regular attendee of matches in UAE to season ticket holder and attract more fans depends on a number of factors which include the ability to field winning teams (DeSchriver). This seems tricky on the side of administration since it is not easy to maintain winning team on a yearly basis. The sports games must be made more interesting to keep the fans at the level where they long for more of such experiences seasonally. There is also a lot of concern by fans on the physical surroundings of the stadiums and security. According to Bitner (57-71), the physical environment of any sporting stadium matters a lot and determines the level of consumer turn out.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Low attendances are a worry for game in UAE specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The type of services plays important role towards determining the rate at which consumers frequent the any leisure setting. In applying the type of services concept to social settings, Wakefield and Blodgett (66-71), experimented with two Baseball stadia and found out that most of the fans who commented positively on the quality of type of services were most likely to frequent the stadium for future events. This is contrary to those who had negative comments on the stadia services, since they were less likely to be back for future events. Quality services of a stadium are mostly determined by the crowd capacity it can contain comfortably in one match setting. Other factors like team loyalty were found to be one of the factors that affect fans’ desire to frequent games at given stadiums. There are other variables like parking space, spectators control and the quality of food served within the stadium restaurants. This shows that sports arena is one of the major factors that affect the rate of attendance of matches within stadiums and the decision by fans to purchase more tickets in future games. Study on the attendance behaviour during games is considered to be influenced by psychological, economic and social factors. Kelman’s Functional Psychological theory of attitudinal Influence measures the motivational tools that influences match attendance in stadiums. This theory applies some constructs such as sense of obligation and iden tification with the victory (Kahle, Kambara and Rose, 51-60). Then there is the social theory that uses the concept of casual social nature of human being. This stresses the fact that sporting events should be utilized as places for healthy interactions between people of diverse backgrounds. The games should have clear definitions on the nature of fans and the duration of matches. There should also be clear sense of fanaticism for specified events and enough room for socialization. Boundaries are drawn concerning the level of noise from the crowd within the stadium and the level of interactions between players and fans. Restrictions should be made on some negative behaviour like smoking and high ticket prices (Kahle, Kambara and Rose, 51-60). Hypothesis The rate of attendance in any match in UAE stadiums is dependent on the value fans attach to tickets based on the level of quality entertainment brought by the game There is no relationship between the value of the ticket and the qu ality of entertainment that fans attach to games Research methods Telephone surveys were conducted to randomly selected fans who were asked to explain on what motivates them to attend matches. They were also asked on their frequency on game attendance. Research was conducted on some households to ascertain on the influence of community beliefs on certain aspects of games. This revealed that community disapproval of any game affects the general view and attendance towards the game.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Variables related to stadium services such as parking space, security of fans and quality food were examined. The data was finally analysed using SPSS package which showed any relationship that existed between independent and dependent variables. Correlation research was used to determine the level of similarity between dependent and other independent variables (Gall et al). Correlation is the most preferred method since it helps in revealing the factors that determine frequency of attendance of fans to matches hosted within stadiums. The only disadvantage associated with correlation research design is that it gives more descriptive results than those given by use of experimental methods. Results The findings identified several categories of fans, those who were highly involved in sporting activities, those who are significantly involved and those not very concerned about sporting activities. The first category of highly motivated fans considers matches as point of influence from wh ich they can build their sense of importance. This kind of fan enjoys the matches and appreciates the entertainment that goes with it. In this case the marketers can utilize marketing of specific events with detailed information about the teams to attract such like fans. The second group were found to be attracted by the organization and setting of the stadium during the matches. Then the third group of lowly motivated are only attracted to the game leaders or highly rated players. This calls for marketers to consider serious marketing on league leaders, top scorers or highly rated players. Conclusion There is call for sporting managers to strategise on how to build stadiums that are more comfortable for fans. The stadiums should include adequate ventilation space and temperature regulators that make it conducive for interactions. Marketers should focus on how to provide promotions that enable easy interactions between fans and top players and also create spaces that allow the fans to air their views through media. This helps in promoting fan identification which increases the level of enjoyment that accompanies sporting activities within the stadium. There is need to introduce prize draws for attraction purposes. This is where valuable products are presented to winners at sporting events. Though there is still belief that the best way to attract fans is through signing high profile players and involving participation of top continental teams within the sporting events, the use of incentives is still applicable (Rivzi 1). AFP. Confusion, apathy explains poor games ticket sales. 2010. https://www.emirates247.com/ 26th October, 2010 Bitner, Mary. â€Å"Type of services: The impact of physical surroundings on customers And employees†. Journal of Marketing, 56 (1992): 57-71. Coughlin, Cletus. Homer, Erekson. â€Å"An Examination of Contributions to Support Intercollegiate Athletics†. Southern Economic Journal 51(1984):180-195. Cunningham Kwon. â⠂¬Å"The Theory of Planned Behaviour and Intentions to Attend a Sport Event†. Sport Management Review 6(2003): 127-145 DeSchriver, Timothy. â€Å"Factors affecting spectator attendance at NCAA Division II Football contests†. International Sports Journal, 3(1999):55-65. Doole, Isobel Robin, Lowe. International marketing strategy. South- Western Cengage Learning, London, 2008 Gall, Mark, Wiener, Borg Gall, Cheryl. Educational Research: An introduction (6thed.). White Plains, NY: Longman Publishers USA, 1996. Print Kahle, Lynn, Kambara, Rose. â€Å"A functional model of fan attendance Motivations for college football†. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 5 (1996): 51-60. Madichie, Nnamdi. â€Å"Professional Sports: a new ‘services’ consumption mantra in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)†. The Marketing Review, 9 (2009a): 308-318. Rivzi, Ahmed, 2009, Low attendances are a worry for game in UAE. 2009.  Web. Wakefield Blodgett. â€Å"The importance of typ e of services in leisure Service settings†. The Journal of Services Marketing, 8(1994): 66-76.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Enviromental science Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Enviromental science - Movie Review Example The director asks this family to keep their every scrap of the garbage for three months. Later he shows the family where it all goes and what its doing to the world. This documentary film is definitely an eye opener for everybody. The theme, which attracted me very much from this film, is the injudicious consumerism and tis consequences. Uncontrolled consumerism is one of the biggest curses facing by the current generation at present. Since modern generation do not have much financial problems compared to the older generation, they consume many wanted and unwanted things. For example, it is the habit of many people to purchase latest mobile phones even if they have good mobile phones in their hand. In other words, many of the current consumers purchase goods not because of necessity but to keep their social status. While purchasing new things, they throw away the older ones. It should be noted that mobile phones like electronic goods have many toxic elements, which has the potential to destroy our environment. For example, the lead batteries of the mobile phones have the ability to cause major environmental problems. This film warns the public a bout the negative effects of uncontrolled or injudicious consumerism. This film warns the public that â€Å"from organic waste to the stuff they flush down the potty, the plastic bags they use to the water they drink out of bottles, the air pollution they create when transporting the kids around, to using lights at Christmas, the McDonalds discover that for every action there is a reaction that affects them and the entire planet† (Nisker). The biggest drawback of this film is that it gives us many problems and failed to give ample solutions. In other words, the film mainly focussing on the problem side of uncontrolled consumerism and it says less about the possible solutions. For example, it says that 1 trillion plastic bags are used in the world every five minutes. However, it says little about the alternate options

Friday, November 1, 2019

Persuasive apology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Persuasive apology - Assignment Example I am also a family man with a lovely God-fearing wife and a son and have great respect for them. I have constantly taught my son the value of being polite and honest as well as not letting emotions overcome the situation. I clearly let my emotions for failing the course repeatedly take control against my better judgment. I sincerely pray that you may find it in your heart to forgive my actions and words and not throw me out of the school. The book of First John 1: 9 says that â€Å"If we confess our sins†¦he will forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness.† My actions have been unrighteous and I seek forgiveness. The good book also says in Mathew 6: 14 â€Å"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, the heavenly father will also forgive you.† Your forgiveness to me will mean a lot to not only me but my family and the Lord our father. I assure you and the entire fraternity that I will be an obedient, honest and honorary student from now henceforth if you only find it in your heart to grant me another chance to complete my remaining