Scientific Method Essay Example for Free

Scientific Method Essay The scientific method has four steps 1. Observation and description of a phenomenon. The observations are made visually or with the aid of scientific equipment. 2. Formulation of a hypothesis to explain the phenomenon in the form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation. 3. Test the hypothesis by analyzing the results of observations or by predicting and observing the existence of new phenomena that follow from the hypothesis. If experiments do not confirm the hypothesis, the hypothesis must be rejected or modified (Go back to Step 2). 4. Establish a theory based on repeated verification of the results. The subject of a scientific experiment has to be observable and reproducible. Observations may be made with the unaided eye, a microscope, a telescope, a voltmeter, or any other apparatus suitable for detecting the desired phenomenon. The invention of the telescope in 1608 made it possible for Galileo to discover the moons of Jupiter two years later. Other scientists confirmed Galileos observations and the course of astronomy was changed. However, some observations that were not able to withstand tests of objectivity were the canals of Mars reported by astronomer Percival Lowell. Lowell claimed to be able to see a network of canals in Mars that he attributed to intelligent life in that planet. Bigger telescopes and satellite missions to Mars failed to confirm the existence of canals. This was a case where the observations could not be independently verified or reproduced, and the hypothesis about intelligent life was unjustified by the observations. To Lowells credit, he predicted the existence of the planet Pluto in 1905 based on perturbations in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. This was a good example of deductive logic. The application of the theory of gravitation to the known planets predicted that they should be in a different position from where they were. If the law of gravitation was not wrong, then something else had to account for the variation. Pluto was discovered 25 years later. Limitations of the Scientific Method Science has some well-known limitations. Science works by studying problems in isolation. This is very effective at getting good, approximate solutions. Problems outside these artificial boundaries are generally not addressed. The consistent, formal systems of symbols and mathematics used in science cannot prove all statements, and furthermore, they cannot prove all TRUE statements. Kurt Godel showed this in 1931. The limitations of formal logical systems make it necessary for scientists to discard their old systems of thought and introduce new ones occasionally. Newtons gravitational model works fairly well for everyday physical descriptions, but it is not able to account for many important observations. For this reason, it has been replaced by Einsteins general theory of relativity for most celestial phenomena. Instead of talking about gravity, we now are supposed to talk about the curvature of the four-dimensional time-space continuum. Scientific observations are also subject to physical limits that may prevent us from finding the ultimate truth. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that it is impossible to determine simultaneously the position and momentum of an elementary particle. So, if we know the location of a particle we cannot determine its velocity, and if we know its velocity we cannot determine its location. Jacob Bronowski wrote that nature is not a gigantic formalizable system because to formalize it we would have to make some assumptions that cut some of its parts from consideration, and having done that, we cannot have a system that embraces the whole of nature. The application of the scientific method is limited to independently observable, measurable events that can be reproduced. The scientific method is also applicable to random events that have statistical distributions. In atomic chemistry, for example, it is impossible to predict when one specific atom will decay and emit radiation, but it is possible to devise theories and formulas to predict when half of the atoms of a large sample will decay. Irreproducible results cannot be studied by the scientific method. There was one day when many car owners reported that the alarm systems of their cars were set off at about the same time without any apparent cause. Automotive engineers were not able to discover the reason because the problem could not be reproduced. They hypothesized that it could have been radio interference from a passing airplane, but they could not prove it one way or another. Mental conceptual experiences cannot be studied by the scientific method either. At this time there is no instrumentation that enables someone to monitor what anybody else conceives in their mind, although it is possible to determine which part of the brain is active during any given task. It is not possible to define experiments to determine objectively which works of art are great, or whether Picasso was better than Matisse. So-called miracles are also beyond the scientific method. A person has tumors and faces certain death, and then, the tumors start shrinking and the person becomes healthy. What brought about the remission? A change in diet? A change in mental attitude? It is impossible to go back in time to monitor all variables that could have caused the cure, and it would be unethical to plant new tumors into the person to try to reproduce the results for a more careful study. Critical Thinking The scientific method relies on critical thinking, which is the process of questioning common beliefs and explanations to distinguish those beliefs that are reasonable and logical from those which lack adequate evidence or rational foundation. Arguments consists of one or more premises and one conclusion. A premise is a statement that is offered in support of a claim being made. Premises and claims can be either true or false. In deductive arguments the premises provide complete support for the conclusion. If the premises provide the required degree of support for the conclusion then the argument is valid, and if all its premises are true, then the conclusion must be true. In inductive arguments the premises provide some degree of support for the conclusion. When the premises of inductive arguments are true, their conclusion is likely to be true. Arguments that have one or more false premises are unsound. Fallacies Arguments are subject to a variety of fallacies. A fallacy is an error in reasoning in which the premises given for the conclusion do not provide the needed degree of support. A deductive fallacy is a deductive argument where the premises are all true but reach a false conclusion. An inductive fallacy consist of arguments where the premises do not provide enough support for the conclusion. In such cases, even if the premises are true, the conclusion is not likely to be true. Common fallacies are categorized by their type, such as Ad Hominem (personal attack), and appeals to authority, belief, fear, ridicule, tradition, etc. An example of an Ad Hominem fallacy would be to say You do not understand this because you are American (or Chinese, etc. . The national origin of a person (the premise) has nothing to do with the conclusion that a person can understand something or not, therefore the argument is flawed. Appeals to ridicule are of the form: You would be stupid to believe that the earth goes around the sun. Sometimes, a naive or false justification may be added in appeals to ridicule, such as we can plainly see the sun go around the earth every day. Appe als to authority are of the form The president of the United States said this, therefore it must be true. The fact that a famous person, great person, or authority figure said something is not a valid basis for something being true. Truth is independent of who said it. Types of Evidence Evidence is something that provides proof concerning a matter in question. Direct or Experimental evidence. The scientific methods relies on direct evidence, i. e. , evidence that can be directly observed and tested. Scientific experiments are designed to be repeated by other scientists and to demonstrate unequivocably the point that they are trying to prove by controlling all the factors that could influence the results. A scientist conducts an experiment by varying a single factor and observing the results. When appropriate, double blind experiments are conducted to avoid the possibility of bias. If it is necessary to determine the effectiveness of a drug, an independent scientist will prepare the drug and an inert substance (a placebo), identifying them as A and B. A second scientist selects two groups of patients with similar characteristics (age, sex, etc. ), and not knowing which is the real drug, administers substance A to one group of patients and substance B to the second group of patients. By not knowing whether A or B is the real drug, the second scientist focuses on the results of the experiment and can make objective evaluations. At the end of the experiment, the second scientist should be able to tell whether the group receiving substance A showed improvements over those receiving substance B. If no effect can be shown, the drug being tested is ineffective. Neither the second scientist nor the patients can cheat by favoring one substance over another, because they do not know which is the real drug. Anecdotal, Correlational, or Circumstantial Evidence. Where there is smoke, there is fire is a popular saying. When two things occur together frequently, it is possible to assume that there is a direct or causative relationship between them, but it is also possible that there are other factors. For example, if you get sick every time that you eat fish and drink milk, you could assume that you are allergic to fish. However, you may be allergic to milk, or only to the com bination of fish with milk. Correlational evidence is good for developing hypotheses that can then be tested with the proper experiments, e. g. drink milk only, eat fish only, eat fish and milk together. There is nothing wrong with using representative cases to illustrate an inductive conclusion drawn from a fair sample. The problem arises when a single case or a few selected cases are used to draw a conclusion which would not be supported by a properly conducted study. Argumentative Evidence consists of evaluating facts that are known and formulating a hypothesis about what the facts imply. Argumentative evidence is notoriously unreliable because anybody can postulate a hypothesis about anything. This was illustrated above with the example about the channels of Mars implying intelligent life. The statement I heard a noise in the attic, it must be a ghost also falls in this category. Testimonial Evidence. A famous football player appears on television and says that Drug-XYZ provides relief from pain and works better than anything else. You know that the football player gets paid for making the commercial. How much can you trust this evidence? Not very much. Testimonials are often biased in favor of a particular point of view. In court proceedings, something actually experienced by a witness (eyewitness information) has greater weight than what someone told a witness (hearsay information). Nevertheless, experiments have repeatedly demonstrated that eyewitness accounts are highly unreliable when compared with films of the events. The statement I saw a ghost last night. is an example of testimonial evidence that probably cannot be verified and should not be trusted. On the other hand, the statement I saw a car crash yesterday. can be objectively verified to determine whether it is true or false by checking for debris from the accident, hospital records, and other physical evidence. Make full use of your senses. Making use of your senses is the subjective part of the Methodology. This is the stage where your special sensory skills can be put to use. If you have extraordinary hearing, use it. If you have a photographic memory make sure that it gets used for most of your problem solving. Nobody else has your s pecific impressions of your environment. Your point of view and your observations are unique. Part of using your senses may involve using instrumentation or interaction with others. Lucky charms, divining rods, and other magical devices that do not have reproducible and verifiable functionality do not count as instrumentation. If you dont have perfect eyesight and you need to see something clearly, use your glasses. Make observations from several points of view to get good depth perception and to confirm impressions. Take photographs if you need to remember something in great detail. Use a tape recorder or a notepad to record your observations for later review. Make sure that your senses are at their best by avoiding intoxicants that affect your perceptions. Interaction with others may involve using another being (not necessarily human) to make the observations for you. For example, a blind person may use a seeing-eye dog to get around, a truck driver may use directions from someone else when backing up into a tight spot, a hunter may use a dogs sense of smell for tracking game, or a miner may use a canary to warn him of pockets of unbreathable odorless gases. Whenever you trust someone elses perception more than your own you may find that the conclusions that you reach are unsatisfactory. How many hunters have been led astray by dogs that followed a rabbits trail rather than the foxs? And how many truck drivers have crashed while backing up because they misinterpreted their helpers signals? Reliance on your own senses is the only way to avoid such problems, but you dont always have this choice. The application of logic may be necessary to determine which perceptions you can trust. Let us say that you are not under the influence of any drugs and you see an apparition of a dead person, what should you do? How do you distinguish hallucinations from real perceptions? How do you know if your senses fool you or if your observations are real? One time-honored test is to pinch yourself to make sure that you are not dreaming. If you should tell someone else about your experience and they dont observe the same things, does this mean that you are crazy or that something is wrong with you? Or does this prove that you have more refined perception that enables you to see things that others do not see? What would it be like to live in a world where only you have color vision and everyone else is colorblind? The difference between real perceptions and hallucinations is that you can repeat and reproduce results from real perceptions but not from hallucinations. In a world where you are the only person with color vision, you would eventually be able to prove to everyone else by objective means that colors, or at least different frequencies of light, do exist.

Choosing and Describing Applications and Hardware Essay Example for Free

Choosing and Describing Applications and Hardware Essay Hardware is any piece of computer equipment which can be physically touched. All hardware can then be split into four major categories: o Input o Output o Processor o Storage Some examples of hardware are: o Mouse Input device o Keyboard Input device o Monitor Output device o Tower Processing/Storage device o Printer Output device o Scanner Input Device Software is a coded program which can only be used while the computer is running. It is a non-physical thing which cannot be physically touched. Without the software, a computer would be useless. Some examples of software are: o Microsoft Word o Microsoft Excel o Pain Shop Pro o Microsoft Access o PhotoFiltre HARDWARE: 2. Input Devices The types of input devices available to me were: Input devices Advantages Disadvantages Keyboard Allows the entry of number, letters and punctuation by the user pressing keys corresponding to each symbol. o A wide range of different symbols can be produced o It is quick and easy to do it you can touch-type o It is simple to learn how to use one o Speciallist keyboards can allow more detailed and comfortable typing o Most computers have one attached as default o Inputting data can be a very tedious process, especially if the user is not a touch-typer o Errors can easily be made by accident by the users hand/fingers slipping o It cannot be used to easily access menus and change settings of the software Mouse A standard pointing device which allows the cursor to move by moving the physical object. A ball is placed in the base of the mouse, and its movements are proportionate to the movement of the cursor. It also has two buttons on it to press on-screen buttons. o It comes as standard with most desktop computers (not laptops) so no additional cost is incurred o It is very simple for the user to learn how to use one, which means the majority of users can use them o They are normally attached by a wire to the computer, so the mouse needs to be near the computer o A flat space is needed to use it properly o It is not compatible to use with all types of hardware e.g. notebook or palmtop computers Digital Camera This is a device which allows the user to take photographs of scenes. It works by a array of light sensors, and when a picture is taken the colours are converted to digital signals by these sensors. These picture can then be transferred to a computer when necessary, and they can also be printed. They come is a variety of resolutions. o Pictures can be taken, and then deleted immediately if they are not liked/needed o No film is needed, and it contains RAM which is good because it allows pictures to be taken off the camera, and more pictures can be put on again in the RAM o Editing the images is very easy and quick o Images are easily transported from one piece of software to another o They are becoming more and more easy to buy in shops (commercial) o The cameras are more expensive than normal ones, and the price is normally proportionate to the resolution, which means good quality cameras are extremely expensive o Memory is expensive, so images often have to be compressed to allow a suitable number of pictures to be stored, the pictures are normally very large (e.g. 3KB) Or only a few pictures can be taken if they are not compressed Scanner A scanner copies text or pictures which are placed inside the lid. It works by shining a beam of light onto the paper you are copying and the light is then changed into a digital image. This device comes in lots of different resolutions and the pictures can the be stored onto the computer and special software can modify the picture to make different effects. There are two types of scanner: flatbed scanner and handheld scanner. o They can be very accurate because they normally have a very high resolution, far higher than digital cameras o Any of the images produced can be put onto the computer and enhanced to make different formats of picture and to produce different effects of the picture o It is one of the only ways to get a detailed picture of a piece of paper onto a computer o Images are normally very large and tend to take up a lot of space, which either means they have to be compressed to allow more pictures to be stored or only a few images can be stored o The quality of the final image is normally dependent on the quality of the original piece of paper, which has some limitations o Some scanners can be large and take up a lot of space o A flat area is needed for a flatbed scanner which may not always be available It is important that data is entered correctly because accuracy is extremely important. If telephone numbers are entered incorrectly, this would mean that customers would be unable to contact the organisation if needed. This could be detrimental to the number of enquiries it would receive. This could be harmful to the amount of profit gained by the organisation, which could have been easily prevented if this human error was picked up earlier. It also makes the organisation become sloppy and unprofessional if problems like this are not spotted, and if work is not proof read before it goes to print. I could check that the data has been correctly entered by proof reading everything several times, and getting an unconnected person to read it through to spot any errors. This would prevent any misunderstandings and confusion. I could also use the Spelling and Grammar Checker which is on most of the Microsoft programmes, which could pick up lots of mistakes. But this does not pick up missed letters or missed words which would cause even more confusion. This can again be resolved by proof reading. The choice of data entry method can affect speed and accuracy because typing is normally a very slow and tedious process which takes up a lot of time. This method of entry means that it is also easy to make a typing error, which not always be picked up upon, which is inaccurate. If a microphone was used, alongside a voice recognition programme, it would be a much quicker and efficient method of entering data. But this software is expensive to purchase but once up and running, it is easy to use for most people. 3. Output Devices The types of output devices available to me were: Output devices Advantages Disadvantages Monitor This is the most common piece of equipment for displaying information, and the picture is made of pixels, and the resolution is dependent on how dense the pixels are. Typically they are of 17inch size, but some are larger, and more expensive! o They normally come default with a standard computer o They are very reliable o It allows to user to know what they are doing o It can display text and graphics all at the same time, in complicated layers o Flat screens do not take up excessive amounts of space o New screens are normally light and they do not reflect a lot of sunlight because of the specially designed screens o It is not a permanent copy, if items are not saved they will be lost when the computer is switched off o The screens are normally made of glass so they can be fragile and reflect a lot of light which can make the screen hard to read o They are not suitable for users with visual problems o The screen is only a certain size, which limits the amount of information that is able to be shown at one time Laser Printer Their function is to put ink onto paper, so that a hardcopy of the document can be produced. It works by fusing powdered ink onto paper. o They can produce a very large quantity of prints in a very short amount of time e.g. 10 20 ppm sot hey are very efficient o The quality of the printouts are very good, with a high resolution e.g. 600 1200 dpi o The device is almost silent when running and when printing, which is good because it means it doesnt disrupt work o Even though the toner cartridges are expensive, they last a very long time which means the running costs are relatively low o The printers nearly always have a high start-up cost, especially the colour ones o The hardware used is very complex and they are hard to repair if they break, which can be costly o They are very bulky and take up a lot of space which means not everyone would be able to have them o Only certain sizes of paper can be used in them, which can cause problems Inkjet Printer Its function is to put ink onto paper, so that a hardcopy of the document can be produced. It works by letting ink flow out of a nozzle onto the paper. o They are cheap to buy and run, which means they are suitable for most householders and small offices o They have a relatively good resolution, which means their prints are of a good quality e.g. 300 dpi o They are quiet so they dont cause a nuisance to workers o They are not as bulky or heavy as Laser Printers which makes them easier to store and use o They are slower compared to Laser Printers, which means they are not necessarily suitable for bigger offices, colour prints can take up to 30 seconds per page o The general cost of the cartridges is more than those of the Laser Printers o Cartridges also need to be replaced much more frequently than Laser Printers o The ink takes a few minutes to dry and it can easily be smudged if the wet ink is touched o Cartridges can easily dry out if left for a long period of time The similarities and differences between these are 4. Hardware used (for input and output) The hardware I used to make my system included In the computers that I used, they all had a 40GB Hard Drive which means that the computer can store 40GB worth of programs and games for it to function properly. The Hard Drive stores all the computers information and protects it all when the computer has been turned off. The computers also had Pentium 4 Processors in them, which are microprocessors, which allows a much higher bandwidth than on computers with the old Pentium 3 Processors. It also has 256MB RAM, which allows the computer to do all the necessary tasks needed, when the computer is turned on. All these components are more than are actually needed, but they just allow the user have an easier time while carrying out tasks on the computer. 5. Reasons for choosing this hardware. I decided to choose this hardware because it was the only option available to me in school. But the 6. Alternative hardware. I could have chosen different hardware to use: Hardware Advantages Disadvantages Suitability for my problem Track Ball This is similar to a normal mouse but instead of moving the object to make the pointer on the screen move, your fingertips move the ball which is on top of the object. It also has two buttons on it so buttons on screen can be clicked. It is normally used with CAD. It is an input device. * It uses up very little space when being used, because the actual object just stays in one place and does not move around like a mouse does * They are useful for computers that have limited spaces as the ball can be built into the keyboard * The user has to learn how to use it which can be difficult if they are used to a normal mouse * They do not come standard with a computer and have to be bought separately at an extra cost It would be very suitable to use when doing my project because once the user is used to using it, the process would be much quicker. It would also be useful because it is small and can carried around to be plugged into various computers at different locations. Graphic Tablet This is a flat pad which is placed on the worktop and a special pen is used to write on it. This allows much more accurate/detailed pictures to be produced on the computer compared to a mouse. Designers normally use this hardware and it is a input device. * It is an easy way to input hand-drawn pictures into the computer without using a scanner * It is easy to use, just like writing on paper * Letter/word recognition software can be installed to make a easier method of inputting text * They can be expensive to buy * It is harder to click on menu buttons than with a regular mouse * The pictures they produce will normally be a .jpg file which can be hard to edit once on the computer This wouldnt be very suitable because there is no need for detailed pictures top be put on the computer that cant be created via another method. It would also be too expensive for me to buy personally so it would have to be provided by a second party. Speakers These are a type of hardware which is used to listen to sounds and music. They either come within the computer (internal) or they can be placed next to the computer and attached with wires (external). * Everyone can hear the sounds, so it is especially good for making and presenting presentations. * If special software is used, text can be converted into sound which is especially helpful for sight-impaired users. * Headphones can normally be attached * External customers can end up being very expensive * Space is needed next to the computer for external speakers to sit * The speakers could disturb other people working This piece of hardware would be helpful to use because it would have allowed me to add sounds to my presentation which I could hear in the making of it. SOFTWARE: 7. Software used The software I used to create my system was: Software Advantages Disadvantages Microsoft PowerPoint This is normally used to make basic presentations, and animations and sounds can be added to make the presentation more effective. This was used to make my main presentation. * The program comes with the standard package of Microsoft Office, so no extra charge is incurred to purchase it * Most people are familiar with the program * The controls on the program are relatively easy to use, so many people can use them * The program does not have very good graphic settings, so normally another program had to be used to manipulate pictures etc * Illiterate users may find it hard to use * It is easy to make mistakes when producing presentations PhotoFiltre This is a complex graphics package, which is used to make and manipulate pictures, and is often used to create logos etc. I used this program to produce my logo for the Health Centre. * The controls on the program are very easy to use * Pictures can be manipulated easily, as to improve the effect of the graphic * This is not a default program of the Microsoft package, so an extra charge is incurred for the user to purchase it * Many users are not familiar with the program, so they may have to learn to use it or they may turn to an easier program 8. Alternative solutions. Software Advantages Disadvantages Suitability for my problem PaintShopPro This is another graphics program and could be used instead of PhotoFiltre. It could be used to create my logo. * This program is more well known than PhotoFiltre, so more people would be able to use it * There is more advanced versions available which allow more complex manipulation to take place * This is more expensive than PhotoFiltre, and can often cost hundreds of pounds * It is hard to use unless you have been trained in using it This would be very suitable for my problem as it does the same job, just in a more efficient and quick way- because the controls are a lot more complex. But this program was not available in school.

Market Leader In The Sports Clothing Industry Marketing Essay

Market Leader In The Sports Clothing Industry Marketing Essay Nike is widely recognized as the market leader in the sports clothing industry with good quality of its market share, profitability and universal reach .It was created by Phil Knight and his coach at Oregon University Bill Bowerman. Nikes goal then was to distribute low- cost, high-quality Japanese athletic shoes to American consumers .Nike maintains established and non-established distribution channels in more than 100 countries. Nikes targeting its main market regions: United States, Europe, Asia Pacific. Nikes utilize over 20,000 retailers As a result, for the fiscal year end 2011, Nikes 20,700 employees generated almost $18.8 billion in revenue. Products Nikes prime product focus is the athletic footwear designed for particular-sport and leisure uses . Nikes also sell athletic clothing carrying the similar trademarks and brand names as many of Nikes footwear lines. Nikes most accepted product categories include the following: Running , Basketball , Cross-Training , Outdoor Activities , Tennis , Golf , Soccer , Baseball , Football , Bicycling , Volleyball , Wrestling , Cheerleading , Aquatic Activities , Auto Racing , Other athletic and leisure uses. Mission Statement Nikes mission is to be improved than all others in the athletic industry. In order to retain position by providing excellence footwear, attire and equipment to traditions and individual consumers of all ages and lifestyles . To manufacture Nikes products straightforward available worldwide through the develop of retail outlets, mail order and Nikes company website. Values Statement Nike always focuses its promise to all stakeholders by continuing to make steps towards being a company that sets the patterns in social responsibility. Nike is constantly making efforts to make sure that all employees and members of its surrounding communities are satisfied in a behavior that is in line with Nikes mission. Nike has through many alliances with human rights associations in an effort to guarantee lab Nikes rights for employees of the manufacturing overseas. They are devoted to treating Nikes employees with the greatest respect, which is revealed in Nikes recompense and human Resources Nikes the policies. Nicks also loyal to making sound decisions in regards to Nikes environment, and the scrap against pollution. Long-term Corporate Objectives The following are Nike Inc.s 5-Year long-term corporate objectives: Continue Nikes progress in stockholders return on equity to achieve a 20.0% return in 2010. This would be an raise of almost 6.5% from 2011. Increase earnings per share to $2.70 per diluted share of 2008 in an overall effort to encourage the long-term resilience of Nikes stocks value. This would surpass Nikes 2007 record high. Market Characteristics :- The athletic footwear industry is a demanding and immersed market. Severe competition, fashion trends, and price conscious consumers have considered growth in this industry. Manufacturers are struggling listless sales with primary new styles, along with offering more styles at lower price aims. Organizations are looking for new ways to increase sales by capitalizing on direct Internet sales to customers. Therefore, companies with strong brands will progressively turn to international markets for development. Customer and Customer Knowledge In 1972, Nike proposed at positioning its product to the niche market of serious competitive athletes. As a result targeting and segmenting their markets for people aged in their 20s, which led Nike to focus on developing high recitation running shoes. They cooperative the customers request and understanding with the existing technology and transform that into a knowledge based core competency. All together the Nike swoosh logo expanded attractiveness amongst athletes and Tele-adverts and so was fashion, which resulted in people impersonated their heroes and bought Nike more as a fashion statement. This helps Nike learn a lot about the perform Nikes s of the younger generation and realized that. As a result connecting them Nike today is the world leader in athletic footwear. COMPETITOR : Reebok, in the conditions of their products, is not completely different from Nike. Reebok is concerned with the design and marketing of both athletic and non-athletic footwear and clothing, as well as other various fitness projects. Reeboks market share is an isolated third in the footwear industry at 11.2% (compared to 30.4% and 15.5% for Nike and Adidas respectively). Reeboks financial position has been steadily slipping for a number of years. This is obvious in their declining stock price, which has reduced by over 80 percent in the last Nikes years. THE STRATEGIC PLAN Grand Strategy : Nike Inc. Can develop the complete structured approach to select a grand strategy in carrying out beyond the corporate objectives. Nike has such a strong history of effective marketing in explanation global regions. Market development strategy for consideration due to Nikes capability to geographically raise Nikes product offerings. The strategies are very directly linked. To decide which would succeed in Nikes prevailing strategic position, Nikes evaluation criteria were biased according to the companys strategy: distinctive competency, culture, timing, and demographics. With a total weighted score of 4.40 product development exceed second placing, concentration, and third place, market development. Marketing and Advertising Nike marketing and advertising campaigns are a big and its Nikes one of the competitive advantage. Nike is well-known best of its strategy of using celebrity athletes supports. They simply want the best of the athletes in the world to be related to them. The procedure used by the associates at Nike would be dominant on potential signers. Not only do they intimidate the star but also create an overpowering response. This helps them to strengthen their bargaining power and attract its sign to aspire to being in such great company . Design Development/Innovation -According to Mark Parker (2010) In his CSR report confirmed that when they recognized their 2 core competencies design and innovation, it was through in order to bear about social and environmental change. According to Phil Knight ( 2010 ) believes that there are 7 brand succession in order to stay ahead, consequently enormous expenditure on continuous strategic knowledge development and innovation. Since Nike had already taken place gaining attractiveness amongst the young people along with being there for athletes, they attained 2 key strategic decisions, One was expanded their existing range of products for athletes and move into different sporting groups. Secondly they improved their overall apparel range for both competition and informal wear as well. Design and development turn into their core competencies. They recognized they had a considerable market in terms of fashion as well. Innovation is in the strength of Nike, Incs business strategy tod ay. Supply Chain Management According to Stonehouse Minocha (2008) Nike as a brand fast comprehend through its value chain process that its force put down in design and Development, marketing and structure customer relationships. They identified manufacturing is something they didnt attempt on, so once they developed a new product in Portland, they manufacturing to China, Taiwan and Brazil while imposing insensitive excellence standards, Nike over the years has guaranteed its partners over the years with its brand name and its services. Not only do they contribute to their customer knowledge with them but also share a munificent premium price. They concentrated their retail stores from 32 to 5 in Europe with its head office in the Netherlands and warehousing in Belgium in order to make the in general supply more successful based on demand. According to Lewin (1952) stated that change is an important part of any strategic evaluation and implementation. He developed a 3 stage model in order to describe the process which included à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Unfreezing of current attitudes: which recognizes the change à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Moving to a new level: effect the change à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Refreshing attitudes at the new level: change is supported by behavioral changes When investigating the process of strategic change, we usually come across the nature of the change and the amount of the change. According to the Scholes Whittington (2008) In the case of Nike, the development of strategic change is incrementally transformational and the type of strategic change is Evolutionary, Nike states that moreover they can move fast now in order to classify themselves for the future of a sustainable economy or soaking expression at risk of being forced to change. Since Nike has been on the objectionable realizing the impacts of environmental change, further rising cost of peaking oil prices, rising population. Early in 1990 the firm taking place to centered on environmental issues with a small group of employees in the Nike environmental develop them. They primarily started with recycling programs but placement 1998, recognized their own sustainability policy. Their development from a standard compliance move towards to an across the board corporate sustaina bility strategy including sustainable design concepts which led them to strong financial, brand and environmental benefits. According to IEHN (2010) Not only they direct to adjust the environmental challenges as a competitive advantage but also envisioned a sustainable business strategy. Their timing couldnt have been improved as they were criticized in the 1990s for being an environmentally careless and sloppy company for operating sweatshops in Asia using underage workers . Nikes also been charged of using chemicals in less industrialized countries in consequence polluting their waters. Nike rapidly responded to this by working with outside agencies like sustainability partners, focusing on product designs since innovation is their prime strength. They also guarantee their global suppliers adopted exacting environmental standards in manufacturing processes, by keeping costs low and improving product quality. They set up computer structure for their Asian suppliers in order to calculate investment costs for environmental projects. They optimistic away from adverse toxic substances to an encouraging list of substances. Their involvement with the Natural Step led to 65 new pilot projects which resulted on sustainable product design. They effectively produced a total savings of $4.5million by mid 2000, which ultimately benefited approximately 180,000 workers in more than 37 factories in Asia. They in fact resolute PVC from the footwear and looked major criticism from the Vinyl industry but then again they managed to reduce the PVC content to 2% in 2004 from 33% in 1999. This made them more dependent on unprocessed cotton and they ended up join forces with roughly 50 companies to form an organic exchange, with the goal of raising the global organic share of cotton from 0.05%-10%. Facilitating change The vision of Phil Knight the CEO himself, to make Nike a scalable and sustainable business model in order to succeed as leaders of the clothing industry . The observation of the BOD, executive leadership team to identify the potential implications of their business to come forward as a survivor with a competitive structure. Make sure that the sustainable business and innovation team underline on key business priority, which consist of, sustainable -products, manufacturing and marketplaces. A team of 130 committed employees working directly with sustainability specialists from other departments such as retail, logistics and IT. Nikes also diverse employee base of 30,000 people, irrespective of their cultural backgrounds, successful on creativity, innovation and development of strategic knowledge. Having a aptitude strategy focusing on coaching, mentoring and online learning.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Heavy investment made by HR depth in areas of sustainable talent exercises and infrastructure.. Increased overall efficiencies and reduced waste and costs. Managing adverse publicity for the brand, with a quick response from the senior management. Leaders including Nikes age employees to think creatively-both strong and informal work ethic. Blockages According to Scholes (2008)Now looking at the way Nike functions and the way it changed strategically one recognize the strength at Nike being its work force. The culture which subsists at Nike shows that the company succeeds in innovation of new products in a sustainable way Nike in order to continue being the leading athletic brand in the world. Nike its not all about doing business businesses with others, but its all about recognizing prospect sustainability through productivity. They expand their bench strength while their HR Dept focuses on resourcefully. Culture: According to Scholes (2008) Phil Knight is an ex athlete of long distance organization and this culture can have its manage on the strategy itself, since organizations can be disposed by their culture which is made up of the people leading it. Managers expressed by this change are most positively likely to understanding with it with what they recognize . Now this in the case of Nike was when Phil Knight apprehends this while being criticized for his ways in the late 1990s regarding young workers in Asia IEHN (2010). Nike immediately developed a strategy of becoming more environmentally sustainable and welcoming. Put in stricter process and implemented them severe environmental standards across its development processes. Going back to the cultural web at the company Their leaders regularly work daily in order to make sure that Nike as a company realizes its potential to Nikes more than 30,000 of its workers to achieve their potential .This is their way of doing things on a daily basis to issue their employ potential and has been effective for them since they reconsidered their strategy back in the 90s. They have an aptitude strategy were in their focus on task planning and manager accountabilities in order to train and advise and also offers classroom learning and online learning. Their ability reviews are straight linked to their business strategic precedence. The HR Dept of Nike has been seriously spent in talent programs and communications. They had a guided workshop which is to be commenced in FY 10 which will focus on how assortment drives creativity and innovation. In FY08 the DI team formed the culture as a transgression in order to discover how Nike could use their customs as their Competitive Advantage. They had a whole day of workshops where members of the strategy panel spoke to the new crew at Nike. This assisted them share their point of view with the high level assessment makers. The CAO model is being used efficiently as a model for intergenerational dialogue. Nike has a powerful construction wherein they utilize their middle management to correspond ideas in a bottom up move towards which thus offer the executives with the capability to put together strategic plans. They have the understanding of design, innovation and creativeness and their manufacturing is also a Competitive Advantage to them. Recommendations:- Nikes strategy would be to function in a congested loop model according to Nike (2010) which is to attain zero waste by entirely recycling all materials. They need to spend in sustainability as an input innovation/RD main concern, beside fast track innovation during concerted investments. They would need to begin the GreenXchange program in order to contribute to intellectual possessions in order to fast track the changes. A support body is needed to encourage large scale policies investing in sustainable innovation as a main enabler for financial competitiveness. I consider to the Macro environment they need to atrium the environmental policies, since they believe thats essential for their existences . Theyre functioning like a trading company in order to get around currency fluctuations to have time for a financial remodelling would be favorable to them. Keeping their core competencies of design and innovation in brain, they need to maintain investing closely in consumer knowledge by repeatedly segmenting the market to comprehend the demand customers needs. Their competitive advantage is their customers, their marketing, design and innovation beside with their supply chain, which adds importance at each level. Their potential business objectives bearing in mind in mind these factors of competitive advantage and their shift of an evolutionary transformational change make sense, since they rapidly foresighted their business model back in 1990s after their reflection was troubled in the sweatshops. Word Count : 2592

The Long Shadow of Little Rock: The Story of Elizabeth Eckford :: Civil Rights,

In 1950's America, there was a uprising that would sculpt the world into the place we now inhabit. The particular event in question is one concerning the black communities plight in 1950's America, with names such such as Rosa Parks, Emmett Till and (most importantly), Elizabeth Eckford Heading the list of names who took a stand, and, in turn, made America the place it is today. As the years went by, details of the many riots the segregation incurred were documented. The focus of this essay will be on a particular documentation titled 'The Long Shadow of Little Rock', a book published in 1962 on what happened to Elizabeth Eckford in Little Rock, Arkansas. However, just what can we learn from this Document? Firstly however, before we start, we need to scan the documentation, and see what Elizabeth Eckford's recreation of the day in question events was. The basic story she portrays, is that of her eventful first day at Little Rock High School. Elizabeth was one of 9 black students, specially selected by the colleges authorities, in a bid to banish racism within its high school. The reason Elizabeth was chosen was due to her amazing academic results. So, the plot is set, now we need to start the analysis. To start off with, we need to look for any obvious factors associated with the documentation that could affect the accuracy of the document. In the case of 'The Long Shadow of Little Rock' one of these obvious factors would be that this documentation was written by the victim. Now this factor is a double edged sword, Elizabeth could either be brutally honest about her plight (in the hope that somebody would listen), or she could exaggerate what actually happened in an attempt to shock the reader and in turn gain attention and support in the form of a higher authority. The second factor we can infer is that the crowd that greeted her was firstly bigger 'the crowd began to follow me', secondly she was in some way segregated from the other 8 black students to join on that day 'the crowd began to follow me' and last but not least we can infer (most importantly) that this 'mob' that had singled her out were violent white racists with quotes such as 'Lynch Her! Lynch Her!' coming from the crowd in pursuit of her. When we read further on into the text, we see just how massive a risk the college took by enrolling these 9 black students into their segregated school.

Frankenstein-value for modern readers :: essays research papers

Frankenstein-value for modern readers Mary Shelley’s text, Frankenstein is a text, which is highly regarded in today’s society for its outstanding literary worth. However, the text as it was seen during the time of Shelley and its appearance and appeal today, most certainly differ. The most significant difference is that over a hundred years ago, the text was seen as a popular text, our modern day Simpsons, if you like. Conversely, today it appeals to the cannon of high culture. Its gradual change over time has been based on a number of deciding factors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Frankenstein’s immediate audience was that of a popular audience. Such an audience purely relied on a story, which would indulge them with exhilaration or apprehension. In the case of Frankenstein the audience was introduced to the horror thesis. The story told delved piquantly into the tragic ordeals of Victor as his fiend wreaked destruction and devastation to all those, who were close to Victor. This story line is symptomatic of a popular audience, as they craved a story, which would invigorate passion and tragedy. Vast arrays of appropriations have sprung from Shelley’s text, which influence as to why the text still remains today. The main source of today’s appropriations has been drawn directly from the figure of the monster itself. As, technology advanced and the idea of the stage was subjugated with the growing trend towards cinema, the figure of the original idea of the monster diminished. The figure slowly morphed into a hideous being, possessing green, stitched skin with bolts in the side of the head (lacking the original parallels to Adam). Unfortunately, the birth of cinema and its immediate success led to the demise of the philosophies and principles, which were initially at the crux of Shelley’s Frankenstein. A modern day appropriation of Frankenstein is The Rocky Horror Show, which draws directly from the creation of a monster, yet puts it in a satirical context, once again abating the traditional philosophies. The birth of the horror theme was partly due to She lley’s text and though the horror theme is carried through today, it differs greatly as society now expects a different form of horror. Shelley envisioned a strong sense of humanity in her novel. She encapsulated the quintessence of the period in which she lived by expressing ideologies, such as humanity’s relationship with God and the hypothesis of nature versus nurture. The relationship with God was vividly changed during the industrial era.

Achieving Goals in The Corrections by Johnathan Franzen Essay -- essay

Jonathan Franzen is the author of many books such as The Twenty-Seventh City and Strong Motion. He is probably best known for his book, The Corrections. This book mainly explores a variety of themes such as adversity and resilience, family unity and coming of age. The main characters are members of the Lambert family, who live in the Mid-West. Although each character is at a different stage of their lives, all of them are going through hardship. Gary, the eldest son, is the only child with a family of his own. By taking on most of the responsibilities, Gary is having trouble running his own family while experiencing clinical depression. Chip, the middle child, lost his job as a university professor and is working for a criminal warlord in order to make a living. Furthermore, the parents of these children are facing difficult time trying to reunite the family. Enid, the mother, suffers from harassment and distress in an attempt to bring all her children home for one last Christmas. Al though the situation seems abnormal, it can actually be seen to be that of a typical family in America. In his novel The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen uses point of view to reveal that everyone can achieve their goals despite of their difficulties. Although Gary appears to have a clear vision of his life, it is through the use of his and other characters’ point of view that Gary’s ability to achieve his goal in spite of his difficulties is shown. One of Gary’s main problems is his clinical depression. For instance, when Gary’s wife says to him: â€Å"I’m tired of living with a depressed old man,† (Franzen, 184) Gary knows that he is going to have trouble bringing his family back to St. Jude. With disapproval from two of his sons and wife, Gary feels that... ...her goal regardless of other people’s criticism. Once again, through the use of point of view, the author reveals that goals can be achieved despite difficulties. As it can be seen, Jonathan Franzen’s use of characters’ perspectives reveals that everyone’s objectives can be met in spite of their obstacles. Point of view is one of the best ways to express a character’s difficulties as readers can gain insight to his/her thoughts and feelings. At the same time, it is also possible to show a barrier that one faces through another person’s point of view. Whether it is a mother who has little control over her family, a son that takes advantage of his father’s paten, or a man who has lack of vision about life, everyone has common aims. There are many barriers that distance people from their dreams, but difficulties will always be part of the journey to reach one’s goal

Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe

Icon of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe is also known as Our Lady of Guadalupe or the Virgin of Guadalupe. It is a most famous and most popular Roman Catholic image of a Virgin Mary in Mexico. The legend says that Virgin appeared to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, an Indian convert, in 1531 and the witness of that miracle required commemorating it by erection of a church, known as a Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  There were two apparitions of the Virgin Mary and after the second an icon was painted which is, actually, now one of the most famous in Mexico.This event was historically significant as following it a great number of Indians of Mexico converted into Christianity. According to the information provided in encyclopedia Britannica â€Å"in 1754 a papal bull made the Virgin of Guadalupe the patroness and protector of New Spain, and in 1810 she became the symbol of the Mexican independence movement when the patriot-priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla raised her picture to his banner .† (Encyclopedia Britannica)The story of Virgin’s apparition is derived from the Nican mopohua which is thought to be the original source of that event.   Nican mopohua, written in the indigenous Nahuatl language gives an account of the encounter between Virgin Maria and Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin in 1531 on Tepeyac. It says that a widowed convert Juan Diego was traveling to â€Å"attend to divine things† the woman in a bright shine appeared in front of him and said that she was a mother of God and asked Diego to tell the Bishop about her request to build a temple on this hill. She promised to come to those people who, would pray in this temple, and help them.The Nican mopohua is not the only work related to the apparition but it is considered to be the most explicit and most trusted. There is another work relating this story, but this time it is the first Spanish-language apparition account written by Miguel Sanchez. It is this document that for the first time refers to Our Lady of Guadalupe as to a symbol of Mexico. He mentions it in the context that â€Å"this New World has been won and conquered by the hand of the Virgin Mary†¦[who had] prepared, disposed, and contrived her exquisite likeness in this her Mexican land, which was conquered for such a glorious purpose, won that there should appear so Mexican an image† (Brading 2001).When in 1810 Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and his army fought for the independence of Mexico they used the image of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe as a sign on their clothes and also as an insignia of their campaign. After Hidalgo’s death a mestizo priest led the army during revolution. He also relied on the holy image and as Krauze in his book states he was confirmed that â€Å"New Spain puts less faith in its own efforts than in the power of God and the intercession of its Blessed Mother, who appeared within the precincts of Tepeyac as the miraculous image of Guadalupe that had come to comfort us, defend us, visibly be our protection† (Krauze, 1997).The Mexican calendar even contains the holiday to honor the Virgin, that is December 12, inscribed by the priest-revolutionary. (Matovina, 2001) Thus during the independence struggle people treated Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe as the symbol and patroness of patriots. They offered up numerous prayers at moments of difficulties and used her image on their ensigns. In this way, Brading observes, political exaltation intervened with religious faith â€Å"to produce a vehement fervor in favor of the sacred cause of liberty. The veneration for this image in Mexico far exceeds the greatest reverence that the shrewdest prophet might inspire† (Brading, 2001). In this way the icon of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe became not only the sacred symbol of Mexico but also it acquired a profound political implication, the embodiment of the struggle for the independence, so desired by the Mexican people.Though there are still a lot of disputes as regards the verity of the legend about Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparition its authority still remains very strong in Mexico. In addition to the reputation of the image which inspired people to fight for independence the Virgin is also the symbol of Catholicism in Mexico. As it was stated before the temple was build on the place were Saint Mary was met by Juan Diego, and it was the starting point of active conversion of indigenous people, Aztecs, to Christianity. Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe is still a sound support to the Catholics in Mexico and in other parts of Latin America.Starting from 1737 Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe was recognized to be a saint protectress of Mexico City and then almost two centuries later her protection spread all over the South America. Nowadays, hundreds of people pilgrimage to the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe located on the Cerro of Tepeyac. There are even cases when people do not just walk but crawl on their knees to the church to p ray to Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, as it is believed that in this way they can merit the cure for their sickness or gain help in the hardship. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe said to have been miraculously imprinted upon Juan Diego's cloak is displayed there.The woman depicted in this image dresses and looks like an Aztec maiden of the early 16th century. She has brown skin; Meso-American features, and is clothed in a turquoise tunic and a rose colored robe. In short, Our Lady of Guadalupe looks like the Aztecs and not like their European oppressors. The iconic resemblance between themselves and the woman depicted in that image was frequently noted by the contemporary Mexican pilgrims. Many Mexicans love their protectress and often call her with diminutive Virgencita. Pilgrims visit the basilica not only because of where it is, but also because of what it has. The Mexicans often feel admired that she is just like them dark-skinned with black hair and brown eyes.The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is much more than a mere depiction of the woman Juan Diego claimed to have seen in his visions. It is also a complex collection of floral symbols, astronomical imagery, and other signs that are distinctively Aztec (Barber, 1997; Castillo, 1995). These symbols reinforce the indexical and iconic connections between Our Lady of Guadalupe and the non-Christian religious traditions of the Aztecs. The floral designs that adorn Our Lady of Guadalupe's tunic are symbolic as well as decorative (Barber, 1997).In accordance with the conventions of Aztec glyphs (standardized pictographic designs used by the Aztecs to convey symbolic meanings) the flowers are rendered with a flatness that allows viewers to see them in full. One of the flowers included in the image, the quincunx, appears only once. It is positioned over the Virgin's womb. According to Barber, this flower represented: the four compass directions of the world, with heaven and the underworld vertically encountering earth in the canter, in the â€Å"navel† of the world, or, to use the metaphor, in the navel of the moon, as they call the Valley of Mexico. (p. 72)The placement of this flower over the woman's womb signifies that she bears an important child. That the Virgin is pregnant is also indicated by the black sash she wears around her waste, an Aztec symbol of pregnancy (Castillo, 1995). Located just below the sash is another floral symbol, the nagvioli. According to Castillo, this flower â€Å"represented Huitzilopochtli, the great ferocious sun god of the Aztecs† (p. xix). Our Lady of Guadalupe is thus symbolically linked to Coatlicue, an aspect of the goddess Tonantzin, who was the mother of Huitzilopochtli. This link acknowledges her connection with the goddess she is supposed to have replaced.Also included among the image's floral imagery are nine large, triangular, heart-shaped flowers–the Mexican magnolia–which were traditionally used to represent the nin e levels of the Aztec underworld. In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, the name for these flowers is yolloxochitl. As explained by Barber, â€Å"Yollotl, is `heart' in Nahuatl, and xochitl, `flower'† (p. 76). According to Barber, â€Å"Yolloxochitl was an Aztec metaphor for the palpitating heart torn from the body of sacrificial victims† (p.76).Human sacrifice played a prominent role in the pre-Christian Aztec religion. Barber goes on to state that yolloxochitl can also be â€Å"read as another glyph, too: tepetl, hill, and precisely, Tepeyac Hill† (p. 76), the hill upon which Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego and the location of the shrine of Tonantzin that had been appropriated by the Spanish missionaries. This flower, then, ties the Virgin to Tepeyac, the hill's previous pre-Christian tenant, and to ritual practices valued by the Aztecs. Some of the flowers that adorn the tunic of Our Lady of Guadalupe are connected with the Aztecs' rich astrono mical symbolism.According to Barber the eight-petaled flowers: can be identified with a Nahuatl glyph for Venus, the Morning and Evening Star. Venus as Morning Star was associated with their god and culture-hero, Quetzalcoatl, who after his self-immolation was taken up into heaven as the  morning star. (p. 73) The image's astronomical symbolism is not limited to flowers that adorn the Virgin's tunic. There are also solar, lunar, and stellar symbols. The most significant of these is the crescent moon upon which the Virgin is situated. To the Aztecs, this symbol represented the Valley of Mexico, their geographical, cultural, and spiritual center.Once it officially affirmed Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Church embraced her with a great show of public enthusiasm. Over the years, the Church has assigned to her such honorific titles as Patroness of Latin America and Empress of All the Americas.Works Cited ListBarber, J. â€Å"The sacred image is a divine codex.† In A handbook on Gua dalupe (pp. 68-73). New Bedford, MA: Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, 1997Brading, D.A. Mexican Phoenix. Our Lady of Guadalupe: Image and Tradition Across Five Centuries. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.Castillo, A. â€Å"Introduction†. Goddess of the Americas/La Diosa de las Americas: Writings on the Virgin of Guadalupe Ed. A. Castillo (pp. xv-xxiii). New York: Riverhead Books, 1995.Krauze, Enrique. Mexico, Biography of Power. A History of Modern Mexico 1810-1996. New York: HarperCollins, 1997Matovina, Timothy â€Å"Hispanic Catholics: ‘El Futuro' Is Here† Commonweal. 128. 15. September 14, 2001â€Å"Guadalupe, Basilica of.† Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.   22  Mar.   2006  ;http://academic.eb.com/;