Social Norm Paper Free Essays

Erika Lamberson Mrs. DeRoussell Psychology April 9, 2013 Social Norms P1. To be accepted by society people have to follow the norm. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Norm Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now When you step outside of the mainstream you are considered â€Å"different† no matter how right you are. That’s why when someone starts a movement people are against him, until enough people start do it his way and â€Å"it becomes the norm†. It is also called trying to fit in because if you do something out of the norm, you are pretty much an outsider. People get others to do things out of the norm every day, it just goes unnoticed. Most of the time people don’t do it in public because it isn’t something they want to draw attention to. I am choosing to violate the social norm of going through a drive-thru forwards in a vehicle. I am doing this to find out what kind of reactions I get when I do something out of the ‘social norm’. Going through the drive-thru backwards, whether it is at a fast food place or a bank is not said to be normal. Normally, people pull up to the window with their vehicle facing forward. When I do this social norm violation, I expect to get a lot of responses. This experiment will be very hard for me to do considering I will have to drive my vehicle in reverse. I predict that the responses will be to get weird looks or possibly laughed at. People don’t normally see someone coming through a drive-thru with their car faced backwards. Not only is it not normal, it can also be dangerous and embarrassing. My only concerns about completing this experiment are that I get it done safely without hurting myself, my vehicle, or anyone else for that matter. Since I will have to go through the drive-thru backwards, this is going to be a challenge. I will have to watch out of every mirror I have and also pay attention to the people behind me. P2. My plan to complete this social norm experiment is to go through the drive-thru at two different restaurants. The first one will be at a place called Taco Bell. The second will be at Burger King. This will be difficult because I have never gone through a drive-thru in reverse. I will order at the ordering station, and then pull up to the window, pay for my food, receive my food, all while driving in reverse. I will be observing the way the employees and customers act. Depending on how good this experiment goes, they will all understand why I am doing this. P3. The first thing I did when I pulled into Taco Bell was drive to the back of the restaurant and park my truck. I did this so I could make sure that there weren’t going to be a lot of people going through the drive-thru. The time of night is around 9 at this point, so there weren’t a lot of people out. I started to back up and go to the ordering station. The first curve to the ordering station is a little sharp so of course I had trouble while trying to drive in reverse. I had my boyfriend with me so he could help observe and order for me. After I got to the ordering station a car pulled up next in line. I couldn’t really see the look on their faces because their headlights were shining right in my eyes. The employee takes our order and we proceed to drive to the window. When we get to the window, the look on the girls face was priceless. When we received our food, we continued to drive backwards like nothing was wrong. Then came the hardest part of the experiment at Taco Bell, pulling back out onto the main road in reverse. My boyfriend and I made sure that no one was coming from either way just to keep from causing a wreck. I had to quickly pull out onto the main road and turn around as fast as possible. The second restaurant I did the social norms experiment at was Burger King. This place is never very busy so I decided I would go around lunch time. I also had my boyfriend do this one with me. It was around 1 PM on a rainy Saturday. The drive-thru of Burger King was way easier than Taco Bell because it is a lot wider and doesn’t have a sharp turn. I came to the ordering station and my boyfriend began to order our food. By the time we got to the window to pay for our food, there were 3 people standing there wondering what in the world we were doing. I explained to them why I was driving backwards, and they agreed that they thought it was a fun idea. After we got our food, they laughed and started talking about how they had always seen on the internet someone driving through a drive-thru backwards but hadn’t ever seen it in person. P4. The responses I got were very different at both places. I am not sure if it was because of the employees working or if it was just the time of the day that I went. The people at Taco Bell didn’t really have that much of a reaction. I got the hint that they just thought I was a stupid teenager that was trying to be cool. I did see one person in the back cooking that laughed and gave me a thumbs up. At Burger King they were so much more interested in what I was doing than anything else. They all gathered at the window and were laughing and carrying on and asking me all sorts of questions. I think I had very different reactions because it was late at night for Taco Bell and all the employees just wanted to go home. P5. The experience of violating a social norm was definitely thrilling. I don’t think I would have ever thought to do something like this without the realization of how important ‘social norms’ are. The experiment left me with more knowledge about how important social norms are to people. To go against a social norm is looked down on most of the time. I was really great to go out and do the opposite and see what the reactions were. Even though you don’t get a good reaction, another place may laugh with you. You should never be too embarrassed to try something out of the norm. How to cite Social Norm Paper, Papers

Creating and Managing Sustainable Competitive Advantage

Question: Discuss about the Creating and Managing for Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Answer: Introduction The whole idea of competitive advantage requires an ability to seize opportunities when they present themselves. Every company in the 21st-century era is investing heavily in value adding activities that add value to its competitive position. According to Schoemer (2010), competitive advantage is the ability of a firm to be top of a market, superior to all other competitors and producing the most desirable product or service at very low costs. Michael Porter defines competitive advantage as the favor a firm receives about market response as a result of low costs and unique products. This paper aims at reviewing Michael Porter's view and analysis of competitive advantage and the contemporary strategies to gain a competitive advantage so as to contribute to the knowledge of strategic implementation. Literature reviews on competitive advantage It may be easy to formulate a strategic plan, but it is the application framework that becomes an issue since it is more of a craft than a science (Hrebiniak, 2006). The early founders of this school of thought include Michael Porter who has been greatly credited for his contribution in business development. Further research has since then been conducted to add to the existing knowledge. According to Schoemer (2010), the theory of competitive advantage by Michael Porter tries to integrate the basics of comparative advantage by David Ricardo with the business strategies. Michael had his book titled competitive advantage. According to Porter, (1998), Porter gives rise to three generic strategies that enhance the strategic positioning of a company in the market; these include the lowest cost, differentiation, and focus. Figure 1 Porter 1998 showing the generic strategies of competitive advantage This can is explained according to West, Ford Ibrahim (2015), stated that a company could outdo its competitors if it is providing the market a product or service of value at more efficient means than competitors with low costs. Also, if they are designing their products and services at a more differentiated strategy that gives the customers more value than competitors (Porter, Levison, 1980). According to Schoemer (2010), there are two methods of gaining the advantage through costs which are increasing the profit to cost ratio and also lowering prices to get a larger market share. According to differentiation strategy is more applicable if the company produces customized products and services and aims for customer convenience which aims at reaching repetitive purchases. Differentiation should be based on methods that are hard to imitate (Kim, 2000; Porter, 2001).According to a definition by Schoemer (2010), differentiation involves making products and services according to the exp ectation of a particular customer base such that they find the product or service unique and therefore prefer its use. Research by Amit and Zott (2001), the various methods of product differentiation include design, performance, the speed of delivery, brand image, and product features. Companies using differentiation can enjoy premium prices of their unique products thus aiding in the achievement of a good competitive advantage (Merrilees, 2001). According to Hrebiniak, (2006), companies should analyze their value chain to determine where to apply the differentiation. According to Porter (2001) the market focus strategy aims at distinguishing the needs of a particular market segment and then producing goods and services that best suit the customer segment requirements. This approach is usually followed by smaller firms which cannot compete against the already established companies enjoying economies of scale. Kim et al. (2004) argue that the cost and differentiation strategies are most applicable in e-commerce and highly competitive environments since it is easier to target customers on online domains and to reduce prices in a crowded industry. However, according to Porter (1980) a firm will not necessarily gain a competitive advantage by combining the two strategies since they are conflicting in resources needed and also implementation, they may therefore be better off applied independently. Most studies have contrasted this view of Porter (Booth and Philip, 1998; Glazer, 1991; Hill 1988; Murray, 1988).The scholars say that the application of the cost and differentiation strategy is more efficient in unstable environments which call for flexibility in operation than consistent ones which may depend on only one strategy to survive. Kim (2004) also recommends that the combination of strategies is the most efficient way. Porter outlines five major forces that enable the establishment of the three generic strategies that can help in the implementation of various strategies in businesses. The five aspects of the model contribute to determining who will cover the market value and how they will do it. The diagram below is a representation of the five forces according to (McGrath, 2013) Fig 2. The five force model by Porter (1998) According to McGrath, (2013), the five forces are what determines the industries weaknesses and strengths and can help in identification of gaps in the market for strategic implementation. The approach states that the competition is not about who is the biggest but the most profitable. Profitability is determined by the five aspects of the model. There are the buyers who always want to buy more and pay less; the second determinant is the suppliers since they always want to provide less and earn more. Then there are the substitute products or services that are equal to what a company produces. The new entrants also introduce new competition to the industry. Then there are the real rivals who make competition intense and thus lower the customer coverage of a company. According to McGrath (2013), a company should analyze these five forces so as to establish which approach to use for the marketing strategy. In the contemporary world, a lot of diversions and improvement have been developed so as to enhance existing marketing strategies and survive the intense competition. According to McGrath (2013), companies cannot survive while operating in domestic markets only; they need to expand in the global scene. According to Jagdev, Browne, Brennan (2004), global marketing is being used by companies to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals. According to Rahman, (2008), global marketing refers to when managers and marketing department use various channels and techniques to reach customers in the international market. According to Jagdev, Browne, Brennan (2004), globalization as a strategy to gain competitive advantage has led to the production of more quality goods and services due to the intense competition. According to Rahman, (2008), the blue ocean strategy is a new approach that is being used by companies to determine their place in the market and what can be done to improve the market position. Globalization has become most appropriate especially for manufacturing enterprises that target the markets in developing countries where there is a deficiency in manufactured goods (McGrath, 2013). According to Lynch (2006) joint venture and alliances are among the modern business strategies to control most of the market and gain a competitive advantage. When companies join forces, they can combine resources, capabilities, and information thus leading to better production and marketing opportunities (Lynch, 2006). Companies that may not be involved in joint ventures are also applying methods like outsourcing and resource-based competition to reduce costs of operation. According to Rahman, (2008), outsourcing includes the alternative by a company to make a product instead of buying it, if its production is more expensive than ordering the product from another company. Another major strategy is the ethics and corporate social responsibility which ensure order and discipline. According to Dwivedi (2010), the approach has been proven to improve a company's image and thus giving it favor over part of the market. Corporate social responsibility refers to initiatives taken by businesses to ensure that the environment is kept safe and that the welfare of the citizens is empowered (Jagdev, Browne, Brennan 2004). The internet analysis as a competitive strategy has evolved in the recent years, and many companies are now using e-commerce for part of their activities and operations (Dwivedi 2010). The internet has become a hub of business activities making the world look like a small village. Companies like the Amazon can reach market segments of customers all over the world and therefore gain a sustainable competitive advantage over other companies not using the internet for their operations. Technological advancements and investment in innovation have become like a must do for companies seeking competitive advantage. According to Pattinson Low (2011), technological investment not only provides organization better methods of production and marketing but also influences the cost structure of a company. This way a company that invests in appropriate technology can operate on economies of scale thus enhancing its position in the market and improving its chances in sustainable competitive advantage. Emerging trends in the business world of competition Michael Porter made a lot of contribution toward the achievement of competitive advantage (Leng Hsu, 2015). The aim of this section is to analyze how the contemporary world has put these suggestions into practice and if the methods are useful. Competitive strategies require strategic planning and implementation (Dwivedi,2010). For this to happen, then the three foundations of Porter need to apply. The new trends in driving competitive position are diverse, but all converge at adding value to the customer goods and services, marketing channels and the overall production process so as to gain competitive advantage (Herschel, 2012).The trends can be categorized into value adding strategies, cost reducing strategies or both. The stream of technological innovation continues and will continue to provide the companies with up to date technologies that enable the reduction of costs and also add value to the production process which in turn leads to the production of quality goods and services. Technology is also allowing for the development of online marketing which enables companies to access more customers and make more sales. According to Pattinson, Low (2011), the major limitation with this strategy is that companies may not be aware of the most appropriate technology and may make random investments that may lead to losses since there will be little or no returns to investment. The game theory as a strategy for competitive advantage is being used by companies to gain an advantage. According to Pattinson, Low (2011), the game theory analyses the current trends in the market, and thinks ahead to the future whereby there is consideration of what the competitive market will be. The process is like a game of chess whereby a company checks their possible moves and those of the competitors and then assess which move is the most appropriate for a later win. This way a company designs techniques to emerge in a good market position. All that is required is that an organization should know the players, scope of competition, added values, and tactics and also be aware of the rules so as to be able to make the right move (Pattinson, Low 2011). The main areas in the application of the strategy include research and development, new product innovation, pricing and advertising. By understanding the current and future trends of this then an organization can come up with a game changer that acts to their advantage. A limitation is that the process is complicated and may involve some risks since it is involved with mere assumption but if done correctly the results are expected to be fruitful Hyper-competition is emerging as a trend in the modern world. According to Herschel, (2012), hyper competition is a strategy that has developed and which aims at destroying the competitive initiatives of a rival. Competition has become like a political game whereby some of the environments are losing the ethical professional practices and instead of working their way to being the most productive companies, they have opted to destroy that which makes a rival more competitive (Isik, 2013). Supply chain management and retailer values are emerging as a trend in the competitive arena as some of the new methods of conducting supply and procurement have improved and this is enabling companies to be able to reduce their costs through effective bargaining and use of cheaper and convenient supply channels (Pattinson, Low 2011). This strategy mainly applies to multi-national companies like Coca-cola which operate in most parts of the world and which require complexity in distribution. Another emerging trend which is very common is the mass customization which involves the production of customized goods and services that are personalized using manufacturing techniques that allow for low costs and mass production. According to Hsu (2015), Customization involves making alterations to a product for it to suit consumption needs of a particular group. According to Li,(2014), there are four forms of customization, the first is collaborative customization whereby the company engages customers in talks aiming to find out their need and how they wish products would be designed to best suit their needs. Adaptive customization is involved in the production of one standard good that allows for flexibility and which can be customized to suit dynamic needs (Li, 2014). Pennsylvania's Lutron Electronics Company is an excellent example of a company with adaptive techniques since they produce customized light bulbs that are adjustable to give various forms of lamination since some o f its customers believe that different lighting creates different moods (Netland, Aspelund,2013). The colour of the light can, therefore, range from bright white to dark blue among others and is adjusted according to the required atmosphere. Cosmetic customization is where a company uses different advertising techniques to various groups according to the structure and composition of the group to create the desired awareness to all customer groups (Li, 2014). The Planters Company (Nabisco) makes various adverts in response to the different product demands. According to Li, (2014), transparent customization is a move by companies to produce goods for specific markets without necessarily letting them know that the products are made for them. An example is Ohio's Chem Station that provides various soaps for different markets like soap for scrubbing floors in factory's and cleaning toilet bowls. Mass customization is enabled by well-established distribution channels and also the advancement in technology. Challenges with mass customization occur when a product is returned or when the supply chains are not efficient (Li, 2014). Nike is a company that has been employing globalization as a competitive advantage strategy for the last decade and more. Nike has made their foreign operations effective by participating in sponsorship and corporate social responsibility so as to gain favor over local citizens. The most common one is the sponsorship with Manchester United where they sponsored their matches and other necessities. Nike is located in over five continents and continues to prosper. In the past years, Nike has engaged in mass customization of their products so as to enhance the competitive position. The company is making customized shoes and products to satisfy the growing needs of customers and other businesses. The process has been a success though the initial costs of setup and operation were high. Returns to investment are expected to rise as the products gain more and more popularity. Coca- Cola company is also a multi national company that has had a competitive advantage in the market for a long time and whose products are distributed by almost every company in the world. No company has been able to outdo the goods and services of the enterprise. The company seems to have established a sustainable competitive advantage for itself. The Google Company is an online service company that is popular among its users due to the production of customized services that include advertising, web design, and search engines all which are aimed to suit the needs of various companies. The company also gains an advantage over its rivals due to constant investment in technology and research which enables them to reduce costs of production and making production more efficient (Herschel,2012). Knowledge integration The business environment has evolved significantly since the days of Michael Porter among other scholars who contributed to the understanding of competitive advantage. The generic strategies by Porter that include gaining competitive advantage through techniques of lowering costs, differentiation and market focus (Pattinson, Low 2011). The question to be asked is, are these contributions still valid or not in the contemporary world or has everything changed? Modern strategies to outdo competitors and acquire a favorable position in the market are based on the very foundation that Porter built. Many of the strategies aim at reducing costs and being unique while focusing on market segmentation to understand the needs of the various market components. Globalization, for example, is a strategy that aims at gaining competitive advantage as it allows focus on diverse groups in different countries (Hughes, 2001), through international operations a company can understand the nature and comp osition of the market and thereby establishes gaps in the provision of goods and services in which it invests. Mass customization is a new method which is also based on the focus and differentiation strategies postulated by Porter. The mass customization is characterized by lowering costs and increasing mass production which is the theory of Porter (Stojkovic,Djordjevic,Sajfert,2012). The use of technology aims at improving means of production that allow for brand uniqueness or differentiation of products, marketing and also to lower the costs of production. The game theory is an emerging trend in the business world that involves making an analysis of the environment which is similar to the five-way model by Porter that describes the components of the market that affect the competitive position of the company (O'Shaughnessy,1996). Joint ventures and alliances are intended to collaborate resources and information so as to reduce costs and increase the scope of operation in an attempt to experience economies of scale. The principal aim of outsourcing is to buy products which the company deems expensive to produce, and thus Porters cost reduction is observed (Dwivedi, 2010). Porter talked about value to customer initiatives which are what the latest methods are aiming at doing, providing customers the best value of goods and services to gain their loyalty (Alfadda, 2010). All these are strategies by companies to gain a competitive advantage by applying the basic ideas given by Porter. It is true to say that, yes, the theory of Michael Porter is still relevant to the business world since it provides a basis for companies to exploit and develop competitive strategies (Dwivedi, 2010). Porter made an excellent contribution in the five sources of competition for the business, and so the contemporary world has benefited since they know the value of studying the environment before they formulate a strategy. References Alfadda, B. (2010). Institutional renewal and adaptation (IRA): Creating and managing sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) (Order No. 3475086). Available from ABI/INFORM Collection. (899758960). Available at https://search.proquest.com/business/docview/899758960/1F9E1203D8C04B7APQ/1?accountid=45049 Czinkota, M. R., Ronkainen, I. A., Kotabe, M. 2009. Emerging trends, threats, and opportunities in international marketing: What executives need to know. New York:Business Expert Press. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=ir9ncyTsTB4Cprintsec=frontcoverdq=Emerging+trends,+threats,+and+opportunities+in+international+marketing:+What+executives+need+to+knowhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwiJnoLRwPbOAhVpB8AKHfJVBBsQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Emerging%20trends%2C%20threats%2C%20and%20opportunities%20in%20international%20marketing%3A%20What%20executives%20need%20to%20knowf=false Dwivedi, R. S.2010. Textbook of human resource management. New Delhi: Vikas Pub. House Pvt. Ltd. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=03dCMgQcPbsCprintsec=frontcoverdq=Textbook+of+human+resource+managementhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwjfi83wwPbOAhUsDsAKHW8GASEQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Textbook%20of%20human%20resource%20managementf=false Herschel, R. T. 2012. Organizational applications of business intelligence management: Emerging trends. Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=FdNJhlMUxFECprintsec=frontcover0dq=Organizational+applications+of+business+intelligence+management:+Emerging+trendshl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwiom_iMwfbOAhXkJcAKHUzfBkoQ6AEIJTAA#v=onepageq=Organizational%20applications%20of%20business%20intelligence%20management%3A%20Emerging%20trendsf=false Hughes, S. 2001. International collaboration as a strategy to gain competitive advantage in the automotive components supplier industry, Nova Southeastern University. In Leng, H. K., In Hsu, N. Y. 2015. Emerging trends and innovation in sports marketing and management in Asia. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=LizhBgAAQBAJpg=PR16lpg=PR16dq=Emerging+trends+and+innovation+in+sports+marketing+and+management+in+Asia.source=blots=4rIctZmTPsig=uALhSigXUbFVFcZIoIWW9x_VuEMhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwjl64aYwvbOAhXCVRQKHRoBCFsQ6AEIMjAE#v=onepageq=Emerging%20trends%20and%20innovation%20in%20sports%20marketing%20and%20management%20in%20Asia.f=fals Isik, C. 2013, "The Importance of Creating a Competitive Advantage and Investing in Information Technology for Modern Economies: an ARDL Test Approach from Turkey", Journal of the Knowledge Economy, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 387-405. Available at https://search.proquest.com/business/docview/1458213934/7B7BB3F9BE484FCCPQ/1?accountid=45049 Jagdev, H. S., Browne, J., Brennan, A. 2004. Strategic decision making in modern manufacturing. Boston: Kluwer Academic. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=vE3TBwAAQBAJprintsec=frontcoverdq=Strategic+decision+making+in+modern+manufacturinghl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwje0_LRw_bOAhUIDMAKHcB8D0kQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Strategic%20decision%20making%20in%20modern%20manufacturingf=false Lawton, T. C., Doh, J. P., Rajwani, T. 2014. Aligning for Advantage: Competitive strategies for the political and social arenas. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=RHEVDAAAQBAJprintsec=frontcoverdq=Aligning+for+Advantage:+Competitive+strategies+for+the+political+and+social+arenas.hl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwjnipnlw_bOAhWECMAKHZa7AhQQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Aligning%20for%20Advantage%3A%20Competitive%20strategies%20for%20the%20political%20and%20social%20arenas.f=false Li, S. 2014. Emerging trends in smart banking: Risk management under Basel II and III. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=sOVGAwAAQBAJprintsec=frontcoverdq=Emerging+trends+in+smart+banking:+Risk+management+under+Basel+II+and+IIIhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwiwgreLxPbOAhVLKMAKHV3_AOMQ6AEILzAA#v=onepageq=Emerging%20trends%20in%20smart%20banking%3A%20Risk%20management%20under%20Basel%20II%20and%20IIIf=false Lynch, R 2006. "Corporate Strategy." Prentice Hall-Financial Times, Essex. Magretta, J. 2012. Understanding Michael Porter: The Essential Guide to competition and strategy. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business Review Press. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=kjBQVUcM5asCprintsec=frontcover#v=onepageqf=false McGrath, R. G. 2013. The end of competitive advantage: How to keep your strategy moving as fast as your business. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business Review Press. Available at https://hbr.org/2013/08/the-end-of-competitive-advanta Netland, T.H. Aspelund, A. 2013, "Company-specific production systems and competitive advantage", International Journal of Operations Production Management, vol. 33, no. 11, pp. 1511-1531. Available at https://search.proquest.com/business/docview/1462451923/E4F0FD6B8A524E51PQ/1?accountid=45049 O'Shaughnessy, N.,J. 1996, "Michael Porter's Competitive Advantage revisited", Management Decision, vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 12-20. Available at https://search.proquest.com/business/docview/212077040/42E60D3E7ED54B38PQ/1?accountid=45049 Pattinson, H., Low, D. R. 2011. E-innovation for competitive advantage in collaborativeglobalization: Technologies for Emerging e-business strategies. Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=w73CWYrGoKMCpg=PA296dq=E-innovation+for+competitive+advantage+in+collaborative+globalization:+Technologies+for+Emerging+ebusiness+strategieshl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwjOoJLMxfbOAhWK7BQKHbgiAp4Q6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Einnovation%20for%20competitive%20advantage%20in%20collaborative%20globalization%3A%20Technologies%20for%20Emerging%20e-business%20strategiesf=false Porter, M. E. 1998. Competitive strategy: Techniques for analyzing industries and competitors; with a new introduction. New York, NY [u.a.: Free Press. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=Hn1kNE0OcGsCpg=PT190dq=Competitive+strategy:+Techniques+for+analyzing+industries+and+competitors;+with+a+new+introductionhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwj4_aT2xfbOAhXFuBoKHdxzCWkQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Competitive%20strategy%3A%20Techniques%20for%20analyzing%20industries%20and%20competitors%3B%20with%20a%20new%20introductionf=false Porter, M., Levison, J., Kettle's Yard Gallery. 1980. Michael Porter. Cambridge (Northampton St., Cambridge CB3 OAQ: Kettle's Yard. Rahman, H. 2008. Developing successful ICT strategies: Competitive advantages in a global knowledge-driven society. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=eFFqcMZZZlMCpg=PT15dq=Developing+successful+ICT+strategies:+Competitive+advantages+in+a+global+knowledgedriven+societyhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwj5t5jgxvbOAhVEnBoKHSsxBzYQ6AEIHzAB#v=onepageq=Developing%20successful%20ICT%20strategies%3A%20Competitive%20advantages%20in%20a%20global%20knowledge-driven%20societyf=false Schoemer, K. G. 2010. Change is Your Competitive Advantage: Strategies for Adapting, Transforming, and Succeeding in the New Business Reality. Cincinnati: F+W Media.Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=bBMSHSeigQcCprintsec=frontcoverdq=Change+is+Your+Competitive+Advantage:+Strategies+for+Adapting,+Transforming,+and+Succeeding+in+the+New+Business+Realityhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwic0ueLx_bOAhUB1RQKHf7fAgQQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Change%20is%20Your%20Competitive%20Advantage%3A%20Strategies%20for%20Adapting%2C%20Transforming%2C%20and%20Succeeding%20in%20the%20New%20Business%20Realityf=false Stojkovic, D., Djordjevic, D., Sajfert, Z. 2012. "Customer relationship management concept and competitiveness of companies from western balkans." African Journal of Business Management, vol 6. no.12.pp 4413-4422. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.5897/AJBM11.1337 West, D., Ford, J. B., Ibrahim, E. (2015).Strategic marketing: Creating competitive advantage. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=CpueBwAAQBAJprintsec=frontcoverdq=marketing+strategies+for+competitive+advantagehl=ensa=Xredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=marketing%20strategies%20for%20competitive%20advantagef=false.

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Supernatural Elements in Julius Caesar Essays

Supernatural Elements in Julius Caesar Essays Supernatural Elements in Julius Caesar Paper Supernatural Elements in Julius Caesar Paper Essay Topic: Cymbeline Julius Caesar Write note on the use of Supernatural Elements in Julius Caesar Or, What part does the Supernatural play in Julius Caesar? Undoubtedly, the first name in English literature is that of an Elizabethan poet and dramatist? William Shakespeare? whose skill in transforming human character and action into art created a world of unforgettable people, phrases and incredible situations. He is considered to be the master of human psychology and employs several agencies to heighten the dramatic actions in his plays. The supernatural elements and superstitions in ‘Julius Caesar’ have been introduced to reflect the prevailing social beliefs and taboos, and to cater to the crude taste of the groundlings. The people living in the age of Shakespeare believed in black magic and supernatural appearances. They believed that the ghost, witches and fairies actively interfered in human affairs and controlled the destiny and actions of man. This belief was shared by even the most learned man of 16th century. The dramatist has made use of this belief in his plays for a dramatic purpose and with miraculous results. The introduction of the supernatural in his plays adds an element of mystery and deeper moral significance to the drama. It stands as a symbol of mysterious relationship existing between the world of matter and the world of spirit. He has very successfully employed it in his many plays. The supernatural machinery plays an important role in the plays like ‘Hamlet’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Cymbeline’ and does it most effectively in ‘Julius Caesar’. In ‘Macbeth’, it intensifies human action. In this play the supernatural agency does not originate any course of action. It quickens the impulse which is already in the mind of the hero? Macbeth. But in ‘Julius Caesar’, the ghost of Caesar gives a definite shape and intensifies some elements always present in the mind of Brutus. It intensifies the sense of failure present in Brutus’s mind and urges him a step forward towards his doom. The ‘ghost of Caesar’ has evoked considerable interest among the Shakespearean critics. They are of the view that the ‘ghost of Caesar’ is subjective rather than objective. It is the fear-haunted and anguished mind of Brutus. The ghost did not appear objectively. They prove their contention on the basis of the argument that none except Brutus saw the ghost of Caesar. The ghost was a mere creation of the troubled mind of Brutus is proved by the speech of Brutus himself when he says: â€Å"Now I have taken heart, thou vanished. † Hudson cites this line as an evidence of the contention that the ‘ghost’ is subjective. Caesar’s ghost has also a symbolical significance. It symbolizes the vast posthumous power of the great dictator. The living Caesar dominates the 1st part of the play. The angry and revengeful spirit of Caesar dominates the later part of the drama. So the unity of the play is achieved through the supernatural machinery? the introduction of the ghost of Caesar. Another example of the use of supernatural in the play is the storm, tempest and the unnatural portents preceding the murder of Julius Caesar. The storm too stands as a symbol of the political and psychological turmoil of Rome and in the mind of the conspirators. The tempest dropping fire, the common slave with his flaming hand, the surly lion, the owl hooting in the marketplace during daytime, the sacrificial beasts lacking a heart? all these supernatural factors are clubbed together as a â€Å"preface to the catastrophe of the Ides†. One can very well notice apprehensions of the bad omen in the mind of Caesar’s wife: These ill-omens pre-occupy the mind of Calphurnia and she asks her husband not to go â€Å"A lioness hath whelped in the streets, And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead. Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol. The noise of battle hurtled in the air. Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. O Caesar! These things are beyond all use, And I do fear them. † to the Senate. Her reason is: â€Å"When beggars die there are no comets seen. The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of King. † But Caesar is misguided by Decius and goes to the Senate to meet his doom ‘on the Ides of March’. Soothsayer’s warning is of no use for Caesar. Even in the battlefield, the ghost of Caesar appears in Brutus’s tent at the dead of the night and says it would meet him again in the battlefield. Next day when Brutus is engaged in bloody fight, it reappears and hastens the doom of Brutus. Not only this. The prevailing superstitions are also used by the dramatist to intensify the dramatic effect. Prophecy is the part of Roman people. The warnings given by Soothsayer and Artimideorous which suggest supernatural intervention in human affairs are highly ignored by Caesar. He dismisses it by saying: â€Å"He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass† But these words rebound on the speaker with catastrophic effect and the audience is thrilled by its dramatic irony. Even Caesar is not above superstitions. He makes his wife stand in the course of the race so that Antony might touch her while on the run. The superstition was that, touched in that manner, the barren mother would cast off her barrenness. Believing in dreams is another instance of the prevailing superstition of the age. Calphurnia’s dream of the statue of Caesar spouting blood and the Romans washing their hands with it has been very symbolically treated in the play. The dream suggests the premonition. It prepares the mind of the audience for the oncoming murder of Julius Caesar. Similarly, dinner with a dead man was ominous. Cinna did have it and the day proved fatal for him. Thus we see supernatural elements and superstitions play very important roles in the life of a man. The dramatist has shown this contemporary belief very, very successfully in Julius Caesar with his deft artistic touches.

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 14

Management - Essay Example Contingency models vary according to what theory they hold. As such, Vroom- Jago suggests that the effectiveness of the group demands a match between the style of the leader and what the situation needs. This is the same with Fiedler’s model which holds that the leader can influence how the group acts toward a given situation, at large. The mentioned models are just two of the variants of the contingency theories. Focusing on their similarities and difference can give a clearer view and understanding of a good leadership and be able to apply them on real life situations. Fiedler’s Contingency Model is proposed by Fred Edward Fiedler who is an Austrian psychologist. The model focuses on the personality of the leader and how he handles a given situation. It means that the performance of the leader depends on the situation where he or she operates. Fiedler integrates the efficiency of the leader to the factors in the environment that contributes a lot on how the leader manipulates the group (Fiedler 6). On the other hand, Vroom- Jago Contingency Model focuses on the consideration of many factors in order for the leader to come up with a decision. It is a contingency model that caters on changeable levels of participative leadership and how it influences on the quality and accountability of the decisions of the leader. Fiedler’s Contingency model is similar to the point of Vroom- Jago model through the idea of relating the decisions of the leader into the essential key factors. However they are different on how they act as a leader to the group. Fiedler points out that tight situation make the decisions come out more efficiently. Yet, a stress- free situation can make intelligence the key to success, but Fiedler believes that a stressful situation can boost the performance of the group and strive hard which will allow the group to express their performance to the highest level. In Vroom- Jago contingency model, the leader

PPBE (Planning, programming, budgeting, and execution) Essay

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International Finance Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Finance - Term Paper Example Such as a skewed change rate can create a business's exports inexpensive as compared to their foreign counterparts, although for a nation to attain this artificially, they have to trade their own currency by borrowing against the country's assets to pay for another country's currency. If exports or all investment is in high demand, a nation's currency will increase in value due to the demand for that currency to fund exported commodities, services, as well as investment. Companies that depend on exports can find their goods unexpectedly competitive - or excessively costly - in a foreign country’s markets as exchange rates rise and fall. In the same way, businesses that depend on imports can see the charges of these imports fluctuate with the exchange rate. â€Å"Exchange rates directly affect the realized return on an investment portfolio with overseas holdings. If you own stock in a foreign company and the local currency goes up 10 percent, the value of your investment goes up 12 percent even if the stock price does not change at all† (Levi, p. 201, 2009). The study of international finance usually refers to trade and foreign investment as alternative policies. This replacement can however be called into uncertainty as the need to struggle on several foreign markets taken into account. With reference to the theory of international trade, classical conclusion of Mundell has been challenged because of inadequate competition. In addition, macroeconomic series of foreign investment and trade emphasize that these two approaches of internationalisation are complements evidently. â€Å"If foreign investment displaces trade, exports will be at least replaced by local sales on foreign markets, detrimental to the domestic industry of the investor. On the contrary, if trade and foreign investment are confirmed as complements, investing abroad might lead to greater competitiveness in foreign markets, which is beneficial to exports from the investing country and thus to its industry. In order to clarify these relationships, a bilateral and sectoral empirical approach is proposed based on a matching of trade and foreign investment data authorising a break down by industry and partner country. It permits to control for joint determinants of trade and foreign investment such as market size, per capita income or regional integration, or conversely for economies of scale having an opposite impact on both forms of internationalisation† (Sercu, p. 184, 2009). With the most disaggregated data, the finding of complementarities involving trade and foreign investment flows is legalized for many industries. Outward foreign investment is linked further exports and imports, within the industry considered, in comparison with the state of investment. However, in view of the fact that the previous rise more as compared to the latter, investment in a foreign country is linked with a trade excess. On the other hand, inward foreign investment is lin ked with a trade deficit of the host nation. Overflows between industries are substantial. The impact of foreign investment on trade is much higher as these overflows are accounted for, even if the international trade surplus stays comparable with the one approximated on the industry of investment level. A huge share of the complementarities between trade and foreign investment at the macroeconomic level can be clarified by huge overflows between i