Monday, September 30, 2019

Whole Foods Value Chain

Team O Financial Performance Analysis of the financial performance Team O through periods 0-4, highlights the company performance scorecard, market share, brand contribution, the overall performance of the brand and the brands position in the BCG matrix. The two brands are SOLD and SONO and at the end of period 0, SOLD has 11. 9% market share and SONO has 5. 6%, SOLD has the largest market share In High Earners at 29. 9% and Pros at 19. 5%. SONO’s highest market share is in Buffs at 16. 2% and has 42. 4% in specialty stores, 39. % in department stores and 25. 2% in mass merchandisers. SONO was 42. 5% in specialty stores, 38. 1% in department stores and 24. 1% in mass merchandisers. Period O the market capitalization was 276,287 with a net contribution of 13,644. In period 1, SOLD has slightly decreased to 11. 8% while SONO’s overall market share grew to 6. 5%. SOLD’s High Earners decreased to 27. 6% while Pros increased to 21. 6%. SONO significantly increased in Buffs to 25. 6% as the goal for SONO is to become a cash cow in Buffs and withdraw from other markets.SOLD is focusing on High Earners and Pros to steadily increase market share while the market capitalization increases to 322,185. The net contribution for period 1 totaled 21,089 and the stock index rose to 1,166. The distribution coverage in period 1 was more wide spread as each brand had an overall mean of 34. 6%. In period 1, what was most successful for Team O was SONO and the increase in Buffs market share percentage. Period 2 The overall market share for Team O decreased to 11. 4% and 6. 3% for SOLD and SONO. However, team O captured the highest overall market share at 21. % over competitors. In SOLDs most important markets of High Earners and Pros there was a decrease to 23% and an increase to 24%. SOLD also has an increase in Buffs at 8% which the brand SONO continues to increase market share to 31% and remain non-existent in the other markets. The market capitalization rose to 363,906 ranking 3rd among competitors in the stock market. The company performance key indicators show team O with the largest number of retail sales each period. Team O in period 2 has a steady increase in the Buffs and is continuing to be a cash cow in the Buffs.Period 3 Market share for SOLD dramatically increased as efforts were set on increasing High Earners and spreading to gain market share in all markets. Buffs increased to 12. 8%, Singles increased to 4. 6%, Pros decreased to 17% and High Earners increased to 29. 6%. Resulting in an increase in net contribution to 38,594 and market capitalization at 434,919 gives Team O the highest stock index at 1,574 ranking first among its competitors. SONO continued to increase its market share in the Buffs at 37. 6% and becoming a cash cow.Success in period 3 is contributed to the diversification of SOLD increasing overall sales much greater than a steady increase in one or two market segments. Period 4 The overall market share for SOLD decreased as the decision to enter the Vodite market was made. SOLD’s Pros was significantly reduced to 6. 7%, High Earners to 23. 5%, Buffs 9. 1%, Singles 2. 3%. SONO continued to grow at 40. 1% in Buffs. Team O has expanded with VOLT to the vodite market capturing 100% of the Innovators, Adapters and Followers.The ability to do this was beneficial as no loan was incurred to cover the costs of a new product. The financial performance of Team O shows significant potential and establishing the market dominance with SONO in Buffs as well as being the first to enter the Vodite Market creating brand loyalty and capturing significant sales. SOLD continues to be a successful brand and contributes the majority of retail sales to Team O. Evaluating the BCG matrix SONO has become a cash cow, SOLD becomes a question mark and VOLT remains a question mark with high potential.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Milk & Food Coloring Lab Report (Importance of Surfactant)

Importance of Surfactant Introduction Surfactant is an essential component for the respiratory system to function properly. Knowing the physiology of surfactant in the alveoli is important to know when learning the structure of the air sacs and how they work. This experiment is designed to make the understanding of surfactant in the alveolar film easier to learn, because it's not very simple. Surfactant is a detergent-like substance produced by the Type II alveolar cells in the walls of the alveoli. Surfactant is produced to reduce the surface tension of the water molecules that primarily compose the walls of the alveoli.For this experiment, we will be using milk and food coloring to represent the water (milk) and gas (food coloring) in the respiratory system, as seen in the liquid-gas boundary of the alveolar wall (water) and its volume (gas). We will place the milk in a shallow dish so that it completely covers the bottom of the dish. Drops of food coloring are going to be added in to the milk at the center of the dish, and then observed. Drops of liquid dishwashing soap, representing surfactant, are then added to the center as well. Once the soap drops are added we will observe what changes happen to the food coloring and milk.Because I know milk is non-polar and food coloring is polar, my hypothesis predicts the two will not mix voluntarily at first, but the soap acting as a surfactant, when added, will help the two liquids mix together. Materials and Methods For this experiment, I used a 16oz milk, 4 different color food coloring bottles, liquid hand soap, and a small clear dish with approximately 5 inches in diameter. I placed the dish in a flat steady surface. I then poured the milk making sure the whole bottom of the dish is covered and still remained shallow.Next, I added about four drops of food coloring to the milk at the center of the dish. Lastly, I added about four drops of the liquid hand soap in the same exact place where I had added the food col oring. Results When the food coloring was added into the milk, there was no reaction. The food coloring did not mix into the milk, it just sat there clumped together like oil in a lava lamp. After adding the drops of liquid soap, the food coloring droplets rapidly mixed into the milk by running in every direction. It looked like an explosion of color.The color streaks continuously span slowly in the milk. Discussion As my hypothesis stated, the milk and food coloring did not mix voluntarily because of their polarity. Non-polar molecules want to bond with other non-polar molecules (London dispersion forces) and polar molecules bond with the polar molecules (Dipole-Dipole forces). Think of all the milk molecules acting as very powerful magnets between each other, and the same with the water molecules. In this case, the soap –acting as the surfactant- broke the surface tension between the two liquids allowing them to mix together.In other words, it reduced the magnetic attractio n between them. As we stated, the milk molecules are non-polar and the food coloring molecules are polar. Soap is one of the awesome liquids that is both polar and non-polar. Its molecules have a polar head, which attracts other polar molecules, and a non-polar body, which attracts other non-polar molecules. When the liquid soap molecules were added to the solution, they attracted both the milk and food coloring molecules causing them to mix like they did.In the alveoli, the gas is non-polar and the water in the walls of the alveoli is polar. Surface tension in the alveoli is very high because of the liquid/gas boundary. This surface tension draws the liquid molecules closer together and reduces their contact with the gas molecules; this way the alveoli do not collapse. The water in the walls of the alveoli help the alveolar walls come together during exhalation (when the oxygen leaves the alveoli), so that they stick together and allow the alveoli to reach their smallest size.The s urfactant that is secreted aids the walls to be able to come together, but not with the attraction of their potential because it’s too strong. If they came together with their normal attraction, the walls would stick together and their strong surface tension would not allow them to unstick. A collapsed alveola will have to be completely re-inflated during each inspiration, which takes a lot of energy to do. With the surfactant, during inhalation the incoming gas is able to split the walls open because their attraction is not as strong.This way, the walls are able to come apart easier and make more space for the oxygen that fills up the alveoli. If our alveolar cells did not produce surfactant whatsoever, breathing would be very hard. Each inhalation would not have the easy flow it has now; it would take a lot of energy and not to mention be tougher. Conclusion Just like the water and gas in our lungs, the milk and food coloring would not have been able to mix. Both the liquid soap and the surfactant reduce the magnetic force that unites liquid molecules- in this case allowing milk and food coloring to mix.Without this experiment, we’d be overlooking one of the many underrated ways our bodies get away with remedies for making our daily routines easier. This experiment helps us understand the importance of surfactant in the respiratory system. Liquid molecules have a very high surface tension that is not easy to get rid of. But, as we observed, savvy Mother Nature blessed us with surfactant and soap that can easily break bonds. Literature Cited Marieb, Elaine N. , and Katja Hoehn. Human Anatomy ; Physiology. 9th ed. Pearson, 2012. Print.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

How do employment relationships impact on the overall success of an Essay

How do employment relationships impact on the overall success of an organisation - Essay Example Although it might be argued that the employer is the source of all the funds which makes the firm operational, the firm is still, by and large, operated by the employee. The increase in international competition and the rapid technological advances are favoring organizations which are more efficient, innovative and productive. These external factors are forcing firms to alter their administrative and management structures. The intensified pressures have generated major challenges in managing employment relationship (Noer, 1993; Herriot, Manning and Kidd, 1997). The basic principle behind the concern for this field is the ‘friendlier’ and ‘more responsive’ the employee governance system is, the greater will be the probability of employees being actively engaged in their work. The idea stems from the notion that, as you build trust and friendship with and among the employees, the employee will reciprocate the effort thru his work. In this paper, we will be exploring whether there is truth in this claim. Employees joining an organization are usually characterized by enthusiasm, commitment and advocacy for their new employer partly because of the thought of receiving a salary and partly due to the pride of belonging to an organization and doing something productive. Suffice it to say, at the start of employment, they are highly engaged. When we say highly engaged, we mean that they are actively participating in the organization. 2. Not-engaged employees are those who have essentially become disinterested with their work. They spend time but not energy and passion into their work. They are not necessarily negative or positive about their company but they take a wait-and-see attitude toward their job, their employer, and their co-workers. The commitment is simply not there anymore. Many empirical studies have demonstrated a relationship between

Friday, September 27, 2019

Osteoporosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Osteoporosis - Essay Example Such process continues until one reaches the age of 30 when the bone mass or density peaks. (Anderson) However, when osteoporosis sets in, the normal replenishment of old bone tissue is substantially disrupted ("The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia"). Given this disorder, the calcium and protein from the bone are depleted. This results in abnormal bone quality or reduced bone density. As such, bones inflicted with osteoporosis can be severely fractured through cracking or collapsing with only a minor fall or injury that would not usually lead to a serious bone damage. ("MedicineNet") One of the primary causes of osteoporosis is related to age. After age 30, the normal process of growth of new bone and absorption of existing bone by the body starts to reverse. Deemed as part of the aging process, bone dissolves and is absorbed at a faster rate that new bone is made, thus, bone becomes thinner. This condition is also aggravated by insufficient consumption of calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus. ("American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists") Another cause of osteoporosis specifically in women is the decrease in the production of estrogen, a hormone considered to provide protection against bone loss. The increase in bone loss is said to occur around menopause ("American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists"). In the same way, men become more prone to suffer from osteoporosis when production of testosterone declines. With this, men aged above 65 typically experience osteoporosis. Risk Factors As mentioned, the probability of developing osteoporosis is augmented as one ages due to the thinning of the bones. Note that both men and women lose around 0.4% of bone per year on the average after reaching age 30 ("American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists"). However, osteoporosis does not usually have an effect on afflicted patients until they reach 60 years old ("WebMD"). In terms of gender, women generally have relatively smaller frames and lighter bones as compared to men. As such, women are said to be almost four times more likely to contract osteoporosis that men (Anderson). The reduction in estrogen and testosterone also increases the risk of osteoporosis in both women and men, respectively. The decrease in the production of these hormones that help maintain normal levels of calcium and other minerals required for normal bone regeneration, usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. ("American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists") Other risk factors identified include smoking and alcohol use. Based on studies, smokers are observed to lose bone thickness faster than non-smokers. Meanwhile, excessive consumption of alcohol is said to cause bone growth reduction and increased risk of falling. It should be highlighted though that studies also show a correlation between moderate alcohol use and higher bone thickness. With this, most doctors prescribe limiting but not completely eliminating alcohol consumption. ("WebMD") Moreover, sedentary lifestyle or lack in weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, stair climbing and dancing among others increase the risk of bone-mass loss ("The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia"). In line with this, a diet consisting of protein and

Thursday, September 26, 2019

SPSS Assignment only Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SPSS Assignment only - Lab Report Example None of the relationships is significant because they have a p value that is greater than 0.01. There is a weak positive correlation between math achievement in 8th grade and socio-Economic Status. This is because the data points are highly scattered and the trend of the data points seems not to be linear. Based on the scatter plot for math achievement in 8th grade and math achievement in 12th grade, what direction is the relationship? How strong is the relationship? Be sure to explain you answer. (2 points) There is a strong positive relationship between math achievement in 8th grade and math achievement in 12th grade. The trend of the scatter plot clearly shows it’s linear whereby the variables are directly proportional How does whether the State has a waiting period for handgun purchase influence the handgun homicide rate for that State? Remember to describe this relationship in terms of existence, strength, and direction. How does having a waiting period, unemployment rate, and number of executions influence the handgun homicide rate of a State? Remember to describe these relationships in terms of existence, strength, and direction. Number of execution has a negative influence while the unemployment has a positive influence on the handgun homicide rate of a state. Both have a weak relationship with the handgun homicide rate of a

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Ethics in research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethics in research - Essay Example Two: Do voluntary participation, informed consent, risk of harm, confidentiality, and anonymity (Trochim) pretty much cover the bases for ethical research on human subjects? Whether quantitative or qualitative research approaches are employed to study human phenomena, the knowledge quest rests on the thing of the quest--the object of study. Whether researchers, ethics committees, the public, or others like it or not, human subjects become objects in the service of discovering, confirming, or advancing knowledge. Objectification comes with all that is the research enterprise. If, however, in a clinical or confidential study, a subject, or we can now say object, is not treated per proper procedure and respect, there may be cause for complaint. Any ethics violation may then have to be determined by those closest to what was actually proposed and done. Davidsons question seems more philosophical than practical. It may not be nice or politically correct to objectify people in some ideal world or in some contexts, but in the end for research we do it, just as we do it elsewhere in our lives (e.g., picture the finals in a body building competition). Voluntary participation, informed consent, risk of harm, confidentiality, and anonymity are not the only matters for care in planning and conducting research involving human subjects. No doubt any ethics committee or listing of standards, rules, or procedures would specify these and others, and in some detail. However, there is at least one additional base to cover regardless of the group to be satisfied or the expectations to be met. The expectation or standard should be articulated that ethics should be addressed whenever researching human subjects. This may seem redundant, but if not stated in whatever fashion the governing or advisory body wishes to, not having some self-referential language about the

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Direct And Database Marketing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Direct And Database Marketing - Case Study Example They are now starting to pursue the natural progression relationship marketing, where their marketing communication to a customer will be defined according to the nature of that customer. Secondly, they sell through an indirect channel, yet their efforts can be defined as direct marketing because it is done to customers with the goal of a direct response in return (Tapp 2004 p4). To reach the wide customer base currently served, Lawson uses indirect sales via 1600 independent sales representatives. As their sales channel is therefore highly granular as well as being independent, information flow back to Lawson is limited, in particular for analysis of customer data or tracking of marketing campaigns. The industry sector is also one that typically does not exploit the possibilities of database marketing, although in the light of the competitive situation, this may change (RRW 2008). The company saw that more effective marketing was required and hired executives with marketing skills to address the situation (Adcock et al 2001). These new members of the company realised that instead of treating all customers as the same, it was necessary to capture customer details in order to build a relationship with that customer and by personalising the treatment given, to maximise the possibilities of repeat business (Tapp 2004 p4). ... The company's data at the time was distributed in an ad hoc fashion between spreadsheets, smaller databases and mailing lists. Although it gave personal customer data and purchase data on what different customers had bought, it lacked the data on what communication or sales campaign history was and what responses the customer might have given. It was in this sense not a full marketing database (Goldwag 2003). A number of related software applications were implemented to address this situation, including applications to cleanse data, analyse it, store it in an SQL database and provide reports. The cleansing of the data is to prevent duplication of records as well as invalid addresses or customers who have requested that no contact be made. The analysis is currently done to assess the effectiveness of Lawson's life cycle marketing with particular emphasis on customer retention. This is a time-series method, which as a short-term measure is relatively fast and precise for the prediction of customer response and sales revenue (Tapp 2004 p59). The conclusions that Lawson has reached so far are that there is considerable turnover of customers and therefore lower customer loyalty, and that customer defection happens rapidly and therefore demands a rapid response from Lawson. This is the short-term answer until the marketing team refines a model that not only let them exploit the end customer's growing wish to have direct contact with the manufacturer of the good that they purchase, but also uses this direct marketing to add value to products such as rivets and screws that are often perceived as a commodity offering (Tapp 2004 p15). A figure for the return on investment on the efforts made so far is unavailable. Lawson's evaluation of the benefits

Monday, September 23, 2019

UPS Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

UPS - Case Study Example The last part of the paper will sum up the main points discussed and recommendations will be given with regards to the measures that can be taken in order to effectively deal with the problems discussed. Description of the organization and problem identification United Parcel Service was founded in 1907 in USA and it specifically dealt with delivering an assortment of parcels and goods sent through its office to different clients. It started from humble beginnings where all packages were delivered by foot, street bicycle as well as street car. However, the company re-engineered itself to become a state-of-the-art delivery service when it introduced its first delivery car, a Model T Ford in 1913. The organization witnessed positive developments and went through different stages until 1980 which saw the passage of the passage of Motor Career Act which deregulated the whole trucking industry. The organization even introduced air services as it sought to diversify its activities to counter competition which was intensifying as a result of the deregulation exercise of this industry. However, increased competition as a result of deregulation compelled the organization to allocate large amounts of capital to modernize its data processing department. The deregulation of the freight industry also posed immense challenges to UPS given that the emerging entrants utilized low cost services such as the Federal Express Corporation. As such, it has been observed that data processing operated with poor equipment and the service provided was poor given that it fell beyond the competition that existed in technological and programming capabilities. Up until 1981, the department of information faced unprecedented challenges of technologically more advanced competition from Federal Express and RPS. It was realized that in order for UPS to remain the dominant carrier package delivery service, it had to join the competitors in the age of computer technology. Whilst UPS had the most extensive ground network, it had apparently been left in core areas such as technological innovations which included scanning, radio-dispatched pickups, package tracking, and data-acquisition devices. Despite the mission which was meant to â€Å"to provide management with the information it needs to meet the company’s goals in a responsive manner and at a reasonable cost,† the company fell short of achieving this goal given that it had limited numbers of employees with the requisite skills to execute the information requirements of the company. The main problem facing UPS is that it has to implement changes in order to meet the marketing and technological challenges that have been co mpounded by the deregulation exercise in this industry. It is facing a dilemma particularly in making decisions to hire or recruit talent from within the company or hire experienced people in information systems from outside. The problem with locating talent within the company is that most of the employees have experience in hub and package centers and have less experience in the new dispensation of information and communication technology. On the other hand, the problem related to hiring people from outside is related to re-orienting them to fit in the culture of the organization, training them, matching their expectations and helping them grow to meet the expectations of the organization. Stakeholder analysis The main players in this particular case are the employees who are responsible for executing all the tasks within the organization. Any change to the

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Stay at Home vs Working Mothers Essay Example for Free

Stay at Home vs Working Mothers Essay I have been fortunate enough to experience being both a stay at home mom and a work away from home mom. Currently there is a societal debate on which approach raises a healthier and better adjusted child. On that I cannot comment as I have not yet raised a child to adulthood, but having my own mixed feelings on this topic I can clearly see the vast differences to each method. Does working away from home make a more secure and adaptable child? Does staying home form a stronger bond? Does working away from home leave a child to be raised by a daycare provider with different values than your own? Does staying at home compromise social skills and personality? These are the questions that most parents face when they are trying to balance raising a happy and healthy family with paying bills and providing adequate food and shelter. Is one choice really better than the other? I will attempt to use my humble experience to compare these two approaches, not in an effort to decide which the ideal is, but simply to point out what I see to be the differences between each. Each morning as I headed to work, I stopped off along the way to drop my child off at a carefully chosen home daycare facility. From day one, I was fortunate enough to have a child that was easy going enough to leave me for a few hours each day to learn and grow in an environment where learning was first and foremost. I’ve never had to deal with the crying and leg-clinging torture sessions that many children and parents go through almost every-single-day. As a new parent I agonized over the decision to go back to work and send my baby to daycare or stay home and live in poverty because I couldn’t bear the separation. I thought that I was doing my child a disservice by leaving her and creating an insecure environment. On the contrary, I felt that leaving her in the care of someone that I have carefully screened and interviewed has made her a more secure little being. She was secure knowing that mommy leaves her in the morning for a fun filled day of activities and story time and will come back every evening like clockwork to pick her up. She knows that I will always come back. Being a stay at home mom, with all its merits, doesn’t give a child the opportunity to experience his parents leaving and coming back. The routine is not a routine, mommy is always home and there s never a need to worry because she is there to immediately respond to every irrational need and desire. In this scenario a young child never has to experience separation or getting used to a different style of care. Sometimes while at work I get emotional; am I missing out on my little ones formative years? Is she missing out on a mommy that should be there with her at this crucial time? I am! She is! It is me who should be taking her to the park, teaching her to go down the slide and to not let go on the swing. Is she forming a stronger bond with her provider than with his own mommy? Is she feeling so comfortable at daycare that she is not comfortable at home?. Those stay at home moms no doubt have a different kind of bond that working moms don’t have. They are home all day every day to attend to each bump and scrape; to sleep train and potty train on their own terms with a consistency that will foster a strong, unbreakable bond. Oh, don’t get me wrong, working moms have strong bonds with their children too, but they are just following the instructions that someone else is leaving for them. There are six things to consider when deciding whether or not to go back to work or to stay at home with your child or children. They are as follows: 1. Money- Consulting with a financial planner would help you to make a responsible decision because it is important that you are able to afford to stay home if that is your decision. 2. Personal Preference-It is crucial that you understand your own feelings concerning staying at home vs. going back to work because these feelings will affect your children’s lives. 3. Your Significant Other-Your partner’s support in your decision is important and crucial. 4. Social Network- Find a group of friends who are doing the same thing you are doing.  This will be a circle of friends who will provide you with a huge amount of support. 5. Career Workplace-How family friendly is your workplace and your boss? 6. Culture- Think about how your family has raised all the children in the past. How will you let family tradition influence your decision? Above all, it is important to remember that Mother is not spelled p-e-r-f-e-c-t-i-o-n. All our children ask us to do is love them and take care of them. Working vs. staying at home is a decision that you have to make for your whole family keeping everything above in mind. For now, from my stand point there is no right or wrong answer, responsible parents do what they need to do to take care of their children. In this day and this economy being able to stay at home is a luxury and it may not always be the best option. And while being a working mom has definite emotional drawbacks it has strong arguments for being a healthy alternative. In any event there is no reason for one side to bash the other. Either can work if you allow it to . If parents provide love, comfort and security and plenty of quality time, we can be sure that this generation will be just fine.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Teenage Wasteland Essay Example for Free

Teenage Wasteland Essay Many mothers make mistakes with their first child. They may not give them enough attention, or they may give them too much attention. In the two short stories â€Å"I stand Here Ironing† by Tillie Olsen and â€Å"Teenage Wasteland† by Anne Tyler, both of the mothers reflect back on the struggle they had raising their first child. They talk about how they handled situations and what they would change if they could do it over. Both â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing† and â€Å"Teenage Wasteland† depict a mother struggling with guilt, thereby showing the difficulties involved in raising children. Lastly, both stories depict mothers struggling with guilt over past decisions made concerning their first child. In â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing† the mother regrets that she didn’t have the knowledge then, that she does now. She shows this when she says â€Å"My wisdom came too late† (Olsen 813). The mother feels that she did better raising her other children, and only made mistakes concerning her first child. When she looks at her daughter’s life she finds herself wishing she could have done more for her. Just like in â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing† by Olsen, â€Å"Teenage Wasteland† by Tyler also depicts a mother struggling with guilt over decisions she made while raising her son. The author shows the mothers helplessness by saying â€Å"Had she really done all she could have? † (Tyler 1170). The mother felt helpless in the problems with her son, and feels guilty for not trying to do more. She also wonders if she had really done all that she could have to help her son or if she pushed him too much. Both mothers struggled with guilt and the consequences of their decisions concerning their first child. There are many difficulties that arise while raising children; these short stories are about two mothers that both struggled with the guilt of their decisions involving their first child. The majority of new mothers make mistakes with their children that they later regret. It’s all part of learning the best way to do things and finding the way through unfamiliar territory.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Unethical Marketing In The Food Industry Marketing Essay

Unethical Marketing In The Food Industry Marketing Essay 1. Introduction The increase of obesity all over the world has lead to ongoing discussions about the responsibility of the food and beverage industry. Where food used to be a pleasure, it is now beginning to get more and more evil; consumers like to blame the industry for being overweight and diet-related diseases. The marketing departments of the businesses in the food industry seem to be ideal to blame when it comes to the responsibility for the well being of the consumer. False or misleading claims on products, selling harmful products, unfair target marketing and unfair prices: all part of the unethical-marketing fad that is happening at the moment. It is time to take a closer look at these unethical practices. The main goal of this paper is to discuss the responsibility of the businesses in avoiding unethical marketing and, to a certain extent, to take care of the well being of the consumer. To come to this point of discussion, first it is necessary to develop a broad view of what unethical marketing is and responsibility really means. The paper starts with a theoretical view of the meaning of the word ethics: what does it mean if something is ethical? From there, the second chapter is about unethical marketing. The last chapter is about the responsibility: since this is such a broad term, in order to use it in the discussion, a closer look needs to be taken to the different forms of responsibility. After these three chapters, it is easier to come to a discussion about the responsibility from companies in the food industry from the consequences of their marketing. Since the subject is so controversial and there exists many different opinions about the responsibility of the business, it is almost impossible to give a conclusion at the end of the paper. The last chapter therefore contains a discussion whether or not it is possible and necessary for businesses to strengthen their position on the market and to make a better profit using marketing, without hurting the consumer. 2. Ethics Since the term ethics is a so-called normative term with many different possible definitions, it is important to start with a clear definition of the ethics talked about in this paper. Furthermore, this chapter will give insight to the way ethics can be applied in business: what are marketing ethics? 2.1 General One of the most known definitions of ethics is the one from Aristotle: Human actions from the point of view in their rightness or wrongness (Gaski, 1999, p. 316). Ethics should concern personal virtue and with every decision, one should be honest, good and caring. A definition that is so idealistic and simplistic is not helpful in finding a solid definition: right and wrong are probably just as normative as the term ethics. When we try to give a definition of the term ethics it appears from the literature that you can look at it from two different philosophical views, also know as ethical dualism. The first view is the teleological view, also known as the consequentialist view or utilarism, which is based on the results of certain actions taken. Whereas the other view, deontology, is more based on average behaviour and obligations to other people (Gaski, 1999, p. 315). Teleology is based on the ethical valuation of the consequences and deontology has to do with the ethical values of the principles (Van Luijk, 1996, p. 36). Of course there are a lot of philosophers who oppose to this relatively simple classification but since this is the most common, it is not within the reach of this paper to name them all (White, 2003, p. 92). The teleological way of judging ethics is more based on science and has less to do with general norms and values (White, 2003, p. 92): the purpose is to determine if something is good and not if something is equitable, as with deontology (Binmore, 1998, p. 353). The main thought behind teleology is that every new question should be reached and judged with an eye on the future, without looking back at the consequences of similar actions in the past (Brady, 1995, p. 571). It is important to notice that in this way, it is not about a certain action being ethical in itself but really about a judgment of the consequences of the action. These consequences can be judged on whether they are ethical or not by making a distinction between the following two categories (Sidgwick, 2000, p. 253): Ethical egoist (teleological wrong) This person or entity is only concerned with his or her own good and tends not to keep in mind the consequences from his or her action to their environment. They will do everything possible to accomplish the best consequences for them (Vittel a.o., 2003, p. 152). Local or cosmopolitan utilitarism (teleological right) Ethical in a way that behaviour is right when the biggest advantage for the biggest group of people can be reached. This biggest advantage can be seen within companies or within a certain group, local, or for society in general, cosmopolitan (Argawal and Malloy, 2000, p. 143). The other way of judging ethics is deontology, also called formalistic ethics (Van Luijk, 1996, p. 36). In this context one should not take into account the consequences, outcomes or results of a certain action but merely the moral status of the true action taken (White, 2003, p. 92). It is based on a categorical imperative, peoples decisions can be only ethical if they are based on a feeling of free will, not because somebody else forces them to do it (White, 2003, p. 91). Within these decisions people are expected to be rational and personal consequences should play no role in making an ethical decision. 2.2 Marketing ethics Ethics within businesses can be found in many fields, such as accounting, human resources, competition, business-to-business relations and marketing. For now we are only interested in marketing ethics, one of the most popular subjects these days in business studies. Ethics within marketing can be defined as the way in which the moral standards of a company are being reflected on marketing decisions, behaviour and attitudes (Gaski, 1999, p. 316). Within marketing ethics both of the views described above play a role, the idealistic view of the behaviour of a business creates a perfect balance and is known as the Janus-Headed Model (Brady, 1995, p.368). This model is named after the famous Roman god with two faces (one looking forward, and the otherone looking backward) who protected the entrance of Rome. In the model the teleological way is associated with the head that looked forward and Januss head looking backward signifies the deontological way. For the teleologists this means that they tend to look in the future for results, chances and innovations while trying to find a human solution which also covers the best results (Brady, 1995, p. 569). Deontologists do the opposite; they look in the past, or are at least interested in following traditions and written or unwritten laws and rules (Brady, 1995, p. 569). Their decisions and outcomes are based on other decisions in the past. By looking at marketing ethics, corporations engaging in unethical marketing give a slight preference to the head of Janus looking back. As long as their marketing plan complies with the law or codes of conduct of their company and other companies, they see no reason for it to be unethical. They know consumers have the right to know to a certain extent, and they provide the minimum information about the product they sell. On the other hand, they refuse to look from a teleological point of view: creating the greatest good for the greatest number of people (consumers) is often not what they reach with their marketing programs, especially not through their advertising. Unethical marketing in this paper is therefore not something that is against the law, but something that might be harmful to the consumer. It is in the marketing in which the company might be called an ethical egoist with more self-interest than common interest. They do not look at the consequences of their actions (teleological) but only at the right or wrong of their base decisions (deontology). It is not said that this is by definition wrong, and that the corporations should take responsibility for their consumers. Before discussing this, we will first look at some examples of unethical marketing. 3. Unethical marketing In this chapter we will take a broader look at the phenomenon of unethical marketing. This chapter tries to explain what we mean by unethical marketing and how it can be found in the food and beverage industry. 3.1 General To get a better understanding, the first question that pops up is What is marketing and why does it exist?. Marketing is the way in which the products are linked to the consumers: from market research to the ability of the product to penetrate the market. The most known and controversial aspect is putting the product under the attention of the consumer through advertising. The best way to look at marketing is to follow the marketing concept of Philip Kotler. From this concept the purpose of marketing is to discover what the consumers want and to respond by offering the right products, priced in a way where it delivers value to the buyer and profit to the seller. This means that marketing is a mutual concept that is very important for an ongoing economy to satisfy the demand of the consumer (Kotler, 1996, p. 35). This concept raises the question whether or not it is possible to combine social responsibility for the consumer and survival on a competitive market, something we see in the discussion later on. If you follow the concept where the main purpose is to satisfy the demand of the consumer, you can expect that it is sometimes harder for the enterprise to act in an ethical way. By this you can imagine what happens if the consumer wants something that is not good for them, or a product that has negative consequences for society or particular groups of society. Bringing these products to the attention of the consumers by advertising is mostly seen nowadays as the unethical marketing described above. You can think of many forms of unethical marketing, organised in the following way (Gaski, 1999, p. 317): 1. Selling dangerous or harmful products. This contains the marketing of products that are known to be harmful for the consumers, or products with unknown risks that are made attractive by marketing. 2. Misleading the customers. The businesses can mislead their customers with several tricks, for example: oversize packages, undelivered promises, deceptive advertising or personal selling. 3. Unfair pricing. This is the case if the businesses do not respect one or several of the following rules: the consumer should get fair value for money spent, price should be fully disclosed, price should not be artificially high; price fixing is not ethical and neither is predatory pricing. 4. Practices against the law. Businesses should not damage the environment, commit bribery, extend preferential treatment to a customer or manipulate the availability of a product. 5. Behaviour out of own good. This is where the self-interest of the company crosses the border, they should pay attention to providing accessible means for customer complaints, not over-recommend the product quality level to the customer and not humiliate the competitor. 3.2 Unethical marketing in the food and beverage industry Since the marketing in the food industry is all about selling products, the main way to market the product is advertising and labelling, bringing them to the attention of the consumer. The first two of the points described above play a big role. The first one is misleading the customer: it covers a broad range of slick tricks used by manufacturers to sell their products to the public. The second one, selling harmful products, is much worse. Hereby the businesses use the so-called meta-preferences of the consumers as described by the philosopher Kant: the consumer has preferences that are higher than their basic preferences. With food this can mean that the preference of the consumer is to eat everything that is fat and tasty, but above that, the consumer has the opportunity to push the other preference away (White, 2003, p. 97). In the marketing process of these products, the industry understands that if they put enough effort into the advertisement, the consumer will put their preferences aside and they will buy the fatty and tasty product, lead by these meta-preferences. Before we answer the question of who is responsible for undermining the temptations of the consumers, we will take a closer look at the tricks used by marketing departments, also known as the seven sins of marketing (Consumentengids, October 2005): 1. Misleading the customer: A priori doesnt contain anything bad. It often happens that manufacturers put claims on the packages of products that say that it doesnt contain a certain ingredient, even when it is completely normal for this particular product not to contain the ingredient. This way they can move the attention away from the bad ingredients: naturally contains no fat, for example, does not mean that the product contains no sugar. 2. The healthy product. By this you can think of claims that are formally true but aim to confuse the consumer. For example if they advertise that their product contains real fruit, the consumer links this with a healthy product, which is not necessarily true. 3. The demi-truth. This means that manufacturers are changing the truth to make the product more attractive. Most of the time they use the ingredients the product does not contain. A popular use of this sin is, for example, 90% fat free: this looks attractive for the consumer but might just as well contain 10% of fat. 4. Bluffing. When manufacturers do this, they are actually exaggerating their product features. You can recognise these products when they say prepared withà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦: this does not mean anything and can even point to a minimal content of this certain ingredient. This sin also contains claims on products that might be a little too difficult for the consumer to understand, like all sorts of different bacteria and complexes: the consumer does not know them, but since proved by science (?) they might be good, so the consumer buys them. 5. Illusion Manufactures are not obligated to name their product after the main ingredient: something that can be very confusing for the consumer. This is most evident in the meat industry: some frozen products like chicken fingers could just as well be made out of turkey. In marketing this is also known as the claim-belief interaction: the manufacturer using the potential misunderstandings of the product, claims to sell their products (Thompson, 2002, p. 359). Most of the time they make the essential information as small as possible on the packages of products or even omit them totally. Selling dangerous or harmful products: 6. The rose-coloured glasses. This sin looks a little like the second one but this one is even worse because it makes the consumer think they are actually eating a healthy product while the product is in fact unhealthy. Examples are the products that contain certain food additives and artificial sweeteners that can damage your health, like those found in low-fat products. The consumers think they are healthier because the fat is removed; but they forget there might be other ingredients that can be harmful. Manufacturers market their products in a way where the consumers link fat free with healthiness, something which is not always true. 7. The push to over consumption. This is mostly caused by little presents offered to the consumer when buying the product, which have little to do with the food. Hereby you can think of: competitions, high profile or cartoon endorsements, in-pack promotions, convenient packaging (e.g. the lunchboxes), discount buys (2 for 1) and multi-buy packs. The biggest problem with this push to over consumption is that certain groups of consumers are more vulnerable than other groups. The reason for this is that these groups of people have lost their critical thinking skills to evaluate media warnings. You can think of target marketing to women (indoctrinated by the ideal view of an anorexic woman), elderly (willing to do everything to lengthen their lives), ethnical minorities (discriminatory advertisement) and of course the famous marketing to children who are nowadays seen as plenary consumers (Cui Choudhurry, 2003, p 1). 4. Responsibility It is not at all easy to decide what the responsibility of an enterprise for society is. Responsibility in general means that someone is to blame, something has to be done or some kind of trustworthiness can be expected (Goodpaster and Matthews, 2000, p. 133). But to which extent can a corporation have these human characteristics? To make it easier to discuss this so-called corporate social responsibility it is necessary to divide it into four different sorts of responsibilities: economic responsibilities, legal responsibilities, ethical responsibilities and discretionary responsibilities. You can see these four categories in the form of a pyramid, as shown in the figure below. Source: Caroll (1991) (Carroll, 1991, p. 40). The only question is how far the company should go when climbing this pyramid and how steep the pyramid should be. To discuss this question in the last chapter it is necessary to take a closer look at the different levels of the pyramid. 4.1 Economic responsibilities In short, the economical responsibility for a company is to be profitable (Carroll, 1991, p. 42). Historically, the sole task of a business was to produce goods and services that consumers needed, and try and gain a profit as high as possible. This is not only important for the business but also for most of its stakeholders. A successful business is one that produces constant profits to reach a strong position in the market, and be as efficient as possible (Carroll, 1991, p. 40). This is quite controversial when it comes to social responsibility and therefore it is usually not where the pyramid ends. Although some economists, like Milton Friedman, had the opinion that this is indeed the point where the responsibilities should stop (Friedman, 1970). Friedman claimed that the only responsibility of a business was to make a good profit. He had the opinion that only people can take real responsibilities and that, since a business is an entity and not a person, the business could only have fictive responsibilities and no actual ones. These responsibilities lie in the hands of the manager of the enterprise and Friedman stated that its sole responsibility was to take responsibility for its employees and shareholders. In other words: to make profit so they can get paid. The only reason a manager could be seduced by corporate social responsibility (ethical of philanthropic forms) would be to calm its own conscience. This is not very practical in the eyes of Friedman because it would result in less profit, thereby lowering the ability of the business to take responsibility for its employees and stakeholders. Social responsibility would have more to do with political mechanisms than with market mechanisms and would therefore not be interesting for corporations (Friedman, 1970, p. 1). 4.2 Legal responsibilities Complying with the law can be seen as a social contract between businesses and society where the firms are expected to pursue their economic missions and economic responsibility within the framework of the law (Carroll, 1991, p. 42). The rules of the game are made by federal, state and local governments and should be the ground rules for how a company should act. It can also be the beginning of ethical responsibility because the law actually gives the basic ethical points. A successful company at this level of the pyramid is the one that accomplishes its economic objectives and does not break the law, including the production of products and services that satisfy legal demands (Carroll, 1991, p. 41). 4.3 Ethical responsibilities Ethical responsibilities refer to the obligation to do what is right, just and fair and to avoid harm (Carroll, 1991, p. 42). With this form of social responsibility, it is important that the way of doing business is consistent with the expectations of the social and ethical norms and values. These expectations of what is ethical and what is not have been described in the foregone chapters. In a broad sense we can say that from a deontological view this means that the company follows the general rules; from teleological view this means the company tries to reach the best outcomes for every party involved. Ethical responsibility concerns the actions that, even though not constrained by law, are expected or disapproved by society. In general, society expects the industry to do extra things not forced by Legal obligations (Carroll, 1991, p. 41). It is very difficult for corporations to assess how big this responsibility should be, because it is impossible to find clear lines about norms and values since they fluctuate and change within a society. Businesses in the food industry might have difficulties with how far they can push the boundaries: one consumer will feel mislead much quicker than the other. Ethical responsibility in the food industry is mainly centered around the question rather the businesses can be pointed as guilty for the recent trend in obesity. 4.4 Discretionary responsibilities The last form of responsibility goes strictly against the theory of Milton Friedman and claims that the company should be a good citizen by engaging in acts or programs to promote human welfare or goodwill (Carroll, 1991, p. 42). This corporate citizenship, also known as marketing citizenship, means actively participating in programs or actions like charity projects or voluntary work and in the food industry: in health campaigns. There is a social expectation that businesses donate a certain amount of their money, facilities and employees to humanitarian purposes (Carroll, 1991, p. 42). Even though it is not regarded as unethical by society if corporations do not take this sort of responsibility, it is something that is often silently expected. The problem is that it is quite easy for businesses to replace their ethical responsibility by their discretionary responsibility: donation money might be seen as a redemption sum to hush unethical business practices. It is an ideal way for bu sinesses to drag the attention away from scandals-to-be, giving the consumer the picture of being very socially responsible by just donating a great sum of money. For example, by taking responsibility for the little children in the third world countries by paying a sum of money, they can avoid losing profit by taking responsibility for their own children who are suffering from obesities because of their products (Weber, 2002, p. 553). 5. Discussion: the business, ethical egoist, local or cosmopolitan utilitarist? Now that we looked at this unethical marketing we come to the more interesting part: can we blame the businesses for the way they market their products, misleading the consumers and sometimes even hurting the health of their consumers? In other wordsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ What is their responsibility? The first form of responsibility is the economic responsibility. This is a responsibility businesses have to take and are of course very willing to take. With this it is important not to see the business as an ethical egoist but as a local utilitarist: they need to take this responsibility for their stakeholders. Funnily enough, stakeholders include employees, investors, suppliers, directors But also the consumers. In the food industry these products might sometimes be the products that are bad for the consumer, but we have to make a distinction between preferences and meta-preferences here. There is no problem listening to the preferences of the customer, but it is not ethically right to strengthen the meta-preferences, this would make the business an ethical egoist. This is where the overlap with ethical responsibility begins: businesses will claim at all times that metapreferences do not exist and if so, they have nothing to do with them. By definition, food is never bad for you and it depends on the way you use it. If the consumer is not rational enough to make their own choices the businesses dont see how they can be responsible for this. They hereby forget that it is not impossible to have both, a concern f or profits and a concern for society. When it comes to legal responsibility there is absolutely no question that companies forced by law should try to avoid products which are known to be risky for the consumer, on average: they do. Not only because it is forbidden, but the products dont sell anyway if they are known to be dangerous. But the products that are not yet proven to be possibly harmful, soà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Not harmful, are questionable. Is it the responsibility of the business to take care of this possible harmfulness? Legal responsibility is an issue of deontology ethics and mixing it with teleology is too confusing for the consumers and for the businesses. When it comes to health risks, doubts should be minimised. Of course we are not talking about over consumption but about ingredients or artificial additives that cause harm. Restraining the consumption of their own product is not very tempting for the manufacturers: why should they want to reduce their own profit? Even though most people are reluctant when it comes to the invisible hand being replaced by the government hand I think they should at least make proper laws concerning the marketing of proven harmful products and about labeling in all honesty. Ethical responsibility for the consumer is the one businesses claim not to see. How can businesses come away with their extremely misleading marketing tricks? With most forms of unethical marketing the businesses use the bounded rationality of the consumer (White, 2003, p. 100): the consumer has certain obligations to themselves but will not always have enough character to obey to these obligations. The moral dilemma for companies is to what extent they have to take responsibility for this character. This is where their self-interest has to stop and they have to become cosmopolitan utilitarists instead of local utilitarists. They have to deal with the fact that they are not alone on this planet and that it is not only their profit that counts. It is also the point where the government hand has to withdraw, for me intervening at this point is taking away the free choice of the society. The businesses do not produce these products for nothing, the consumers likes them even though they might be a risk for health. Taking the products out of the market does not only hurt the businesses but also the consumers who actually like the products. But what to do about the consumers who like the products too much? Should the businesses help them in trying to avoid overusing the products? Many people compare the food industry with the tobacco industry and claim businesses have to put warnings on their products. In my opinion this is not something you can compare because nobody needs cigarettes but everybody needs food. Thereby I dont see any business doing this out of self-regulation: since probably not every competitor does it, putting the claims on the products will make it look like they are to blame and not the product. Consumers will just buy the same unhealthy product but from a different manufacturer. But businesses could at least try to be honest to their customers, if only out of respect. The last responsibility is the discretionary responsibility. This might sound very noble, but I think this is only a way for the businesses to skip the ethical floor of the pyramid. It seems that most businesses, perceived as practising unethical behaviour, confuse these two responsibilities. Of course they dont confuse them, it is actual a very well considered decision. It is a perfect way they can hide the fact they dont want to take ethical responsibility because they are afraid of what might happen to their profits. It would be nice and easy to say that businesses and the government are the only ones who need to take responsibility, unfortunately this is untrue. There are three different parties that I think could take responsibility as well. The first party are of course the consumers. Costumers seem to ignoremarketing tricks, it doesnt matter if they know the claims might not be so true or useful after all, they like to believe in it so they buy the products. It is not only the business acting out of self-interest, the consumers know how to do this to. They want tasty food that is not only cheap but also healthy and literally wait until the businesses give this to them. This is quite difficult to produce but an invitation for businesses to promote their product as if it has all the three character treats: unethical marketing. The consumer will not be satisfied enough, since we all got a little spoiled, and instead of changing their three demands, it blames the company. If we continue blaming, we will end up convincing ourselves that we are not to blame and, like a vicious circle, we will do not hing to change our behaviour because it was meant to be and forced up on us. Why have we become so passive when it comes to eating? It is too easy to blame the change of lifestyle, forced up by the food industry. We just have to accept our lifestyles have changed and try to make the best out of it, by ourselves. The second party is the part of the food industry that distinguishes themselves as selling healthy products: where is the marketing for the apple? Even though it might sound like unnatural to the producers of natural products: why not advertise for things like fruit and vegetables? If Kelloggs can put star wars toys in their packages, why cant we put a Mickey Mouse sticker on an apple? The third party are the supermarkets and other shops were the food is sold. If consumers think they are to weak to make their own rational decisions why not put them in a rational environment when they do there daily shopping? Supermarkets should become more open, less seductive and more ordered. It is hard, and dangerous, to come to a conclusion on a subject this controversial, with this little background so I will not do that. To come with a real conclusion it would be necessary to first take a closer look at the actual consequences of unethical marketing and to take a look at market of the food industry more profoundly. For now, it appears to me that the clichà © is true and that everybody is responsible and everybody likes to blame someone else for its responsibility. Businesses should take their economical and legal responsibility, helped by the government, and up to a certain extent also their ethical responsibility. This last one doesnt necessarily mean they have to change their marketing strategies or the content of their products but they have to inform the consumer about the product as good as possible. To avoid confusion, discretionary responsibility is not very important, but might become more interesting when businesses hav

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Analysis of The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencher Jo

Analysis of The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencher Johnson The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard, Ph.D. and Spencer Johnson, M.D., seems like a practical simple plan on managing people and there for other areas of one’s life, however I must admit I am a little skeptical. The three philosophies do make sense especially once analogies are used to put them into more simple terms. Being in the work force for more than fourteen years I have witnessed many types of mangers. I have worked for hostile managers, calm caring managers and managers who fit somewhere in between. My skepticism with this theory is simply applying its use. On paper this method sounds great and makes a lot of key points, but again after seeing first hand the types of people in management positions I think the challenge comes from undoing current behavior. My observation of people in general, is that they unwelcome change and find it uncomfortable. The first philosophy â€Å"One Minute Goal Setting† makes tasks assigned to the individual clear and precise. The manager first expresses goals that need to be accomplished. Once an agreement is made, each goal is written down in 250 words or less. It is strongly held that it should take no more than a minute to read. You should reinforce each goal throughout the day. Also take time to look at your performance and see if your behavior matches your goals. I agree with this theory and think there should be more interaction at the beginning of an assignment. With One Minute goal setting everything is out on the table. There is no dispute on what should have been done or didn’t get done. The bowling analogy used has a lot of truth to it. If there were a sheet in front of the pins with a supervisor standing behind it, it would be hard to tell how well your doing because you can’t see the pins or goal. Only the supervisor knows your score. I see this a lot in staff meetings. There are usually conflicts between my manager and staff because of misunderstandings on the task assigned. This is where the conflict resides. The employee feels they did exactly what was asked while the employer thinks the job was done incorrectly. This usually causes my boss to criticize the work and most if not all people take it personally. Then, once the meeting is over, my peers will get defensive and complain t... ...my relationships with family, friends and loved ones I have a habit of not dealing with disappointing feelings right away because I don’t want to cause conflict. My feelings begin to fester and I become more sensitive to other things that normally wouldn’t tick me off, but do, because I am still upset about the first problem. Before you know it, I blow up and everything comes out anyway. Usually the person I am upset with has to hear about what they did a month ago and everything in between. This puts that person on the defense and nothing really gets accomplished until a few days later when we all calm down to discuss the issue. So logically if I dealt with my feelings in the beginning, the blowouts could be avoided and I could calmly get my point across with little conflict. Overall the â€Å"One Minute Manager† concept seems like a dynamic way to keep employees happy and content in their jobs. In my opinion, I think the theory appears too good to be true. I am skeptical because managers would need to struggle with changing their current behavior. I think for me to be convinced that this would work in the real life of business, I would need to experience it first hand.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Analysis on Fahrenheit 451 :: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Analysis on Fahrenheit 451 One of the major themes in the novel Fahrenheit 451 is censorship. In One of the major themes in the novel â€Å"Fahrenheit 451† is censorship. In the novel, books are forbidden to read and own in the future world. If anyone reads books, or possesses books in their homes, it’s illegal and if they are seen with books, the firefighters would come and burn the books to ashes. The people in this society did not want to think, they did not care about everything else, and they watch TV, listen to radio all day long and do not enjoy nature. They let the government think for themselves instead of think individually. Montag was one of them. However, after he met Clarisse, the old woman, and Faber, he began to lose faith in his job and started to wonder are books really bad or actually good for people. In Bradbury’s novel, society has become an extreme that all literature is illegal to possess. No longer can books be read, not only because they might offend someone, but because books raise questions that often lead to revolutions and even anarchy. The thinking that arises from reading books can often be dangerous, and the government doesn’t want to put up with this danger. Yet this philosophy, according to Bradbury, completely ignores the benefits of knowledge. Knowledge can cause disharmony, but in many ways, knowledge of the past, which is recorded in books, can prevent man from making similar mistakes in the present and future. The book was written when Senator Joseph McCarthy was trying to destroy the rebellious elements in the U.S., they had made Hollywood one of their major targets, convinced it was a hotbed of communists’ sympathizers and saboteurs. This was known as the McCarthy era. Bradbury’s novel was targeted toward the McCarthyism, and he was

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Character study of Rosalind from As You Like It Essay

Rosalind, throughout William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, uses her ability to control language to attain her goals. Using creative speech, Rosalind enables herself to control and manipulate every situation that she is involved with, especially those concerning Orlando and Phoebe. Rosalind dominates many scenes in As You Like It and, ultimately, everything that Rosalind wants to occur does. She even changes her identity to do so. By using ingenious language, Rosalind facilitates the accomplishment of all of her objectives throughout the play. The first situation in which Rosalind displays her dominance in language is in the Forest of Ardenne, disguised as Ganymede, a male. She, knowing that Orlando is yearning for her love, comments on his obvious unrequited love, saying, â€Å"Then there is no true lover in the forest; else sighing every minute and groaning every hour would detect the lazy for of time as well as a clock.† (111) By implying that Orlando’s love is not true love, she immediately inspires Orlando to prove her wrong. Orlando, becoming a little suspicious, inquires why her accent is not rough as a result of her living in the secluded forest her entire life. She retorts almost immediately with an elaborate story in which she states, â€Å"But indeed and old religious uncle of mine taught me to speak, who was in his youth an inland man, one that knew courtship too well, for there he fell in love. I have heard him read many lectures against it.† Although a lie, Rosalind uses this sly and deceptive speech to give herself the excuse to sound educated and the ability to discuss love. Rosalind sets up this situation from the beginning, enabling herself to discreetly mention true love in order to get Orlando’s full attention. Rosalind goes on to obtain Orlando’s undivided attention by saying, â€Å"There is a man that haunts the forest that abuses our young plants with carving ‘Rosalind’ on their barks, hands odes upon hjawthrons and elegies on brambles, all, forsooth, the name of Rosalind. If I could meet that fancy-monger, I would give him some good counsel, for he seems to have the quotidian of love upon him.† (113). Rosalind proclaims herself as an expert of love in order to give herself an excuse to meet with Orlando and help him cope with his situation She knows Orlando will surely agree to meet with her to discuss his love. He says that he is truly in love, but Rosalind states that â€Å"there is none of my uncle’s marks upon you. He taught me how to know a man in love.† Orlando retorts, â€Å"I would I could make thee believe I love.† By implying that Orlando may not even be in love at all, and promoting herself as an expert, she is enabling herself to â€Å"counsel† Orlando. She leads Orlando to want to prove he is in love with Rosalind. The major fact that she is interested in is observing how deeply Orlando is in love with her and how desperate he is to be with her. By leading Orlando on to believe that she is an expert when it comes to matters that concern true love, Rosalind allows herself to find out what Orlando is thinking about her from a third person, and unbiased, perspective. Rosalind also creatively uses language to manipulate situations that contain Phoebe, Silvius, and her own disguised character, Ganymede. Although Silvius deeply loves Phoebe, she continues to reject his brutally. However, Ganymede gets involved to defend Silvius, saying to Phoebe, â€Å"Who might be your mother, that you insult, exult and all at once over the wretched? What though you have no beauty-as, by my faith, I see no more in you than without candle may go dark to bed-must you be therefore proud and pitiless?† (131). Ganymede goes onto criticizes Phoebe even more by saying, â€Å"‘Tis not your inky brows, you black silk hair, your bugle eyeballs, nor your cheek of cream that can entame my spirits to your worship.† However, instead of getting Phoebe to realize she should appreciate Silvius’ love, Ganymede unintentionally obtains Phoebe’s love. Phoebe states to Ganymede, â€Å"Sweet youthm I pray you chide a year together. I had rather hear you chide than this man [Silvius] woo.† 133. Phoebe becomes attracted to Ganymede not realizing that Ganymede is really Rosalind, a woman. Rosalind, realizing this, continues to insult and criticizes Phoebe. She knows that she can eventually trick Phoebe into loving Silvius. Seeing an opportunity, Ganymede continues to insult Phoebe in order to continue to attain her love. Also, Rosalind sees that Silvius’ love for Phoebe is deep and true, despite that Phoebe rejects and ignores him. She sees the opportunity to manipulate Phoebe into loving Silvuis. As a result, she continues to lead Phoebe on, preparing for the time in which she ahs the chance cajole her to love Silvius. Rosalind uses her creative language one final time in dealing with the weddings. She is able, through the use of witty language, to arrange each marriage, and those who are involved, to her liking. Orlando reveals to Ganymede that he â€Å"can no longer love by thinking,† and now, more than ever, needs to be with Rosalind. Ganymede then responds by saying, â€Å"I have since I was three year old, conversed with a magician most profound in his art and yet not damnable. If you do love Rosalind so near the heart as your gesture cries out, when your brother marries Aliena shall you marry her† By assuring Orlando that Rosalind would marry him the next day, Ganymede then proceeds with the second part of her plan. She realizes that Phoebe has an attraction towards her as Ganymede She uses this fact to persuade Phoebe to marry her, with one stipulation. If Phoebe for some reason decides that she does not want to marry Ganymede, Phoebe would then be obligated to marry Silvius. Ganymede obtains Phoebe’s agreement on their marriage, stating, â€Å"If you do refuse to marry me, You’ll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd [Silvius].† Ganymede goes on to state: [To Silvius] I will help you if I can. [To Phoebe] I would love you if I could-Tomorrow meet me all together. I will marry you if I ever marry a woman, and I’ll be married tomorrow. [To Orlando] I will satify you and you shall be married tomorrow.  Eventually, Ganymede reveals herself as Rosalind, and, accompanied by Hymen, prepares to marry Orlando. Aliena reveals herself to be Celia and weds Oliver. Phoebe, realzing that her lover, Ganymede, is really a female, then agrees to wed Silvius as a part of he pact with Rosalind.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Psy-240 Week 2 Assignment

Inside the womb we start out as an egg, but one of the first major structures that begin to form is the brain. The brain itself is a complex structure that leaves much to be learned from it. It controls a person’s entire body function and movements whether it be walking, talking, or even going to the bathroom. What most people do not know is that there are five major structures of the brain. The first of the five is the myelencephalon ( the Medulla). The Myelencephalon (or medulla) is the posterior portion of the brain stem.Not surprisingly then, the medulla is composed largely of tracts carrying signals between the rest of the brain and the body. An interesting part of the myelencephalon from a psychological perspective is the reticular formation. It is a complex network of about 100 tiny nuclei that occupies the central core of the brain stem from the posterior boundary of the myelencephalon to the anterior boundary of the midbrain. It is so named because of its netlike appe arance (reticulum means â€Å"little net†).Sometimes the reticular formation is referred to as the reticular activating system because parts of it seem to play a role in arousal. The various nuclei of the reticular formation are involved in a variety of functions, however — including sleep, attention (definitely important for language), movement, the maintenance of muscle tone, and various cardiac, circulatory, and respiratory reflexes. Accordingly, referring to this collection of nuclei as a system can be misleading.Generally, the myelencephalon does not play an important role in language production or comprehension. The second major structure is known as the metencephalon. The Metencephalon houses many ascending and descending tracts and part of the reticular formation. These structures create a bulge, called the pons, on the brain stem's ventral surface. The pons (â€Å"bridge† in Latin) is the bridge to the cerebellum. It has many millions of neural fibers w hich cross the base of the brain stem, connecting to locations in the cerebellum.The cerebellum (meaning â€Å"little brain†) is the large, convoluted structure on the brain stem's dorsal surface. The cerebellum is an extraordinarily complex structure which though smaller than the cerebral cortex probably has even more neurons. It has long been believed to function primarily for motor coordination, but recent studies indicate that it also is an important sensorimotor structure. Cerebellar damage eliminates the ability to precisely control one's movements to adapt them to changing conditions.Although the metencephalon surely plays a role in the precise movements of the tongue and lips required for language production, it is generally an unimportant structure with regard to the study of language and the brain. The third major structure inside the brain is the mesencephalon. The Mesencephalon has two divisions- the tectum and the tegmentum. The tectum (â€Å"roof†) is the dorsal surface of the midbrain. In mammals, the tectum is composed of two pairs of bumps, the colliculi (â€Å"little hills†).The posterior pair called the inferior colliculi, have an auditory function; the anterior pair, called the superior colliculi, have a visual function. The tegementum is the division of the mesencephalon ventral to the tectum. In addition to the reticular formation and tracts of passage, the tegmentum contains three colorful structures- the periaqueductal gray, the substantia nigra, and the red nucleus. The periaqueductal gray is the gray matter situated around the cerebral aqueduct, the duct connecting the third and fourth ventricles. The periacqueductal gray plays role in mediating the analgesic effects of opiate drugs.The substantia nigra (â€Å"black substance† and the red nucleus are both important components of the sensorimotor system. The mesencephalon is generally an unimportant structure in the study language and the brain. The fourth s tructure is named the deincephalon. The Diencephalon is composed of two structures: the thalamus and the hypothalamus. The thalamus is the large, two-lobed structure that constitutes the top of the brain stem. One lobe sits on each side of the third ventricle, and the two lobes are joined by the massa intermedia, which runs through the ventricle.Visible on the surface of the thalamus are white lamina (layers) that are composed of myelinated axons. The thalamus comprises many different pairs of nuclei, most of which project to the cortex. Some are sensory relay nuclei — nuclei that receive signals from sensory receptors, process them, and then transmit them to the appropriate areas of sensory cortex. For example, the lateral geniculate nuclei, the medial geniculate nuclei, and the ventral posterior nuclei are important relay stations in the visual, auditory, and omatosensory systems, respectively. The thalamus seems to be a relay for sensory input as well as an important part of other pathways, including motor and sensory pathways and those between different parts of the cortex and the cerebellum and other subcortical structures. The thalamus and the cortex are profusely interconnected by reciprocal connections, which play an important role in the generation of rhythmic patterns in the brain and in attention, and may also be involved in top-down effects in perception.By virtue of bidirectional connections between the thalamus and every region of the cortex, these rhythmic patterns sweep regularly and rapidly through the cortex. They, therefore, provide a possible source for the rapid pacemaker hypothesized for high-speed inner sequencing. The rate of speed of these thalamocortical rhythms ranges from twenty to eighty Hz (Hertz: cycles per second) in the waking state and as slow as from four Hz to less than one Hz in deep sleep. The hypothalamus (Greek hypo-, cognate to Latin sub- â€Å"under†) lies under the thalamus.It plays an important role in the regulation of several motivated behaviors. It exerts its effects in part by regulating the release of hormones from the pituitary gland, which dangles from it on the ventral surface of the brain. Two other structures appear on the inferior surface of the hypothalamus — the optic chiasm and the mammilary bodies. The optic chiasm is the point at which the optic nerves from each eye come together. The mammillary bodies are a pair of spherical hypothalamic nuclei located on the inferior surface of the hypothalamus, just behind the pituitary gland.The hypothalamus apparently does not play much of a role in language. The fifth and final structure is the telencephalon. The Telencephalon (the cerebral hemispheres) is the largest of the divisions of the human brain, and it is what subserves language — at least the aspects of language which are of interest to linguistics and most other people. In fact, the same can be said of the just the cerebral cortex, only one of the fou r parts of the telencephalon according to the traditional division given previously.Of the subcortical and interior portions of the telencephalon, the basal ganglia, which partially surround the diencephalon, participate in motor functions, including articulation of speech, and the hippocampus and the amygdaloid nucleus, which lie deep within the lower part of the cortex, are very important in emotional expression. As stated previously, the brain is a complex structure. It also performs many functions for the human body such as walking, talking, running and even writing.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Information Systems and Information Technology Essay

A combination of hardware, software, infrastructure and trained personnel organized to facilitate planning, control, coordination, and decision making in an organisation Contrast IS and IT: What is the difference between Information Systems and Information Technology? In: Computer Terminology, Technology, Information Technology[Edit categories] Answer: Information Systems is a large umbrella referring to systems designed to create, store, manipulate, or disseminate information. Example of an information system is a pencil and a piece of paper. The two objects themselves are just tools, but together they create a system for writing (information). The term Information systems has been around a lot longer than the computer, or the term information technology. These days the two are sometimes thought to be synonymous, but that, in most cases is a misconception. Information technology falls under the information systems umbrella, but has nothing to do with systems per say. IT deals with the technology involved in the systems themselves, e.g. an information system like wiki.answers.com contains many information technologies. Servers, server operating systems, web-server software (IIS, Apache, et al), and code written for the web-server software (PHP, C#, VB, PERL, Ruby, et al). Even your computer and browser make up part of this information system. Like the pencil and paper example, each one of the mentioned parts of this information system in itself is an information technology. That being said, most people in the profession no longer make a distinction. Moreover, companies call their IS/IT department a wide range of titles based on more on culture and tradition than anything else. Assist With Business Processes Information systems aid businesses in developing a larger number of value  added-systems in the company. For example, a company can integrate information systems with the manufacturing cycle to ensure that the output it produces complies with the requirements of the various quality management standards. Adoption of information systems simplifies business processes and removes unnecessary activities. Information systems add controls to employee processes, ensuring that only users with the applicable rights can perform certain tasks. Further, information systems eliminate repetitive tasks and increase accuracy, allowing employees to concentrate on more high-level functions. Information systems can also lead to better project planning and implementation through effective monitoring and comparison against established criteria.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Organic Chemistry Laboratory †Formal Report Essay

Introduction The study is about distillation. Distillation is a process of converting a liquid to a vapor, and then, collecting the distillate in another container. This technique is used to separate components in a liquid mixture which have different boiling points, or to separate a component that is not volatile. It is one of the methods used when purifying liquids. For example, it is used to concentrate alcoholic beverages. The four distillation methods include simple distillation, fractional distillation, vacuum distillation (distillation at a reduced pressure), and steam distillation. The objective of the study is to differentiate simple from fractional distillation, separate the components of the alcohol beverage used, and to calculate the percentage of ethanol in the beverage. Simple and fractional distillation are the methods to be used since it is the most efficient to be used in this experiment. Since the experiment worked only on the two methods, the other two methods will not be studied. Methodology The equipment used are the condenser, boiling stones, beaker, thermometer, distilling flask, alcohol lamp, iron stand, wire gauze, iron clamp and test tubes that were calibrated. Vodka is the substance that was distilled. First, the group put up the distillation set up by assembling the instruments, heating the alcohol lamp, turning the water on and then heating the vodka which was contained in the distilling flask with the boiling stones. Then the group waited for the first drop of the distillate and then recorded it. After heating and getting a lot of distillates, the group stopped when the temperature reached 98 degrees Celsius. The group then tested the first and the last drop of the distillate. It was tested by placing it in an evaporating dish then igniting it with a match. The first drop was proved that it contained ethanol because it was combustible. The last drop however, was inflammable. Results and Discussions During the experiment, the group observed that the first drop of the distillate was collected when the thermometer reached 78 degrees Celsius. This shows that the volatility of ethanol is 78 degrees Celsius. Distillates were collected every time the temperature increased by 1 or 2. The group stopped at 98 degrees Celsius because if it goes beyond that, water, with a volatility of 100 degrees Celsius, will also evaporate. References [1] Bayquen, A., Cruz, C., De Guia, R., Lampa, F., Pena, G., Sarile, A., Torres, P., (2009) Laboratory Manual in Organic Chemistry.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Censorship in Huck Finn

Many people claim that the novel is racist due to the frequent use of racial slurs and the disrespect and mistreatment of the character Jim who is a runaway slave. Mark Twains famous novel is not a racist text because it is a historical account of the south during the 1840s, when racism was commonplace. The books purpose was to emphasize real life and mock the faults in human nature. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a young boy named Huckleberry Finn runs away from his life and travels down the Mississippi River with his friend Jim, a runaway slave. The story follows Hucks moral growth and maturity throughout his many adventures and experiences. The major turning point of the book is when Huck realizes that Jim cares about him, and that he cares about Jim in return. As a child, Huck is taught that Jim isnt a person because of his skin color and that he does not deserve respect, but Huck discovers that Jim is a person and deserves more respect than most people Huckleberry met on his journeys. He comes to this decision because Jim cares for him and treats Huck better than his own father. Huck says â€Å"All right, then, Ill go to hell. when he decides to go against the racist teachings of his childhood and help Jim get his freedom (Twain 216-217). The book was written to show what life was like in the 1840s and successfully revealed the way people viewed each other and people of other races. In the beginning of the story, Huck treats Jim poorly because he is taught that Jim isnt a real person and he could get away with it. One of the many tricks Huckleberry plays on Jim was hiding a snake in the cave they were living in, but the snake bites Jim and Huck realizes how cruel his trick was and begins to feel sorry for how he treats Jim (Twain 55). Events like this are the reason people believe that Mark Twains book is racist, but without these examples the books purpose is muddled and the historical reliability is gone. The book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered a controversial text because it contains derogatory language and examples of disrespectful behavior towards people of color. Speech and actions like the ones in the book were common in the setting of the book (Knab 1). People want to ban or edit the original text of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, because of these elements, but they still allow these remarks in other literary works. Fredric Douglass used the same language in his narrative that was published in 1845, forty years before Twain published The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but people dont challenge his work because he was a slave and his story is a historical account of a slaves life (Bowker). The two stories are based in the same time, are about the same topic, and both aim to be realistic portrayals of everyday life in the 1840s, yet one is constantly challenged while the other is allowed to be as it is. People today are concerned with being â€Å"politically correct† and â€Å"non-offensive†, but they have reached the point where they are willing to change history to protect the feelings of certain people (Kay). If these â€Å"racist† remarks and actions were removed from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the message of the book would not be evident, its historical accuracy destroyed, and the book would just be a meaningless childrens story. Censorship is useful to an extent, it allows people to keep mature information from children, but when it is used on history it takes away from the importance of knowing about and learning from the past. The reason racism is so important to avoid now is because of the negative effects it had in the past. If people dont learn about these effects, then they can not understand the importance of equality now. When books are censored, their historical accuracy is lost and they are unable to educate people on the importance of the past to modern-day (Kay). Without learning about the good, bad, and ugly of the past, people wont be able to comprehend why the world is the way it is and how they can avoid the mistakes of the past. If the offensive content of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is removed, then people will not be able to see the severity of racism during the 1840s (Bosman). If the book is censored, then the point where Pap starts ranting about the â€Å"injustice† of a well educated black man being able to vote will not have the impact it should, representing the opinion of the average white male in the south (Twain 28). The novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is seen as a masterpiece (Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) and a classic (Robert OMeally) due to the original riting and arrangement. Without these elements, that people want to change, the book would not be as renowned or highly regarded. Although The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn may have some content that offends some people and they believe that it would be better to remove the offensive content, it would take away from the plot and meaning of the story. If the novel really offends someone, then they do not have to read it again or even finish reading it, but they do not have the right to change the words of someone else to suit their own ideals. The words of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were all carefully picked by Mark Twain to carry the message of his story and editing them would be defacing his hard work. Twain often complained about his proofreaders and editors changing his work (Kurutz). The book was written by Mark Twain and if he saw the need to add these controversial elements, then we should not interfere with his decision or his historical accuracy (Kay). Then novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is not a racist text, nor is Mark Twain a racist himself. Mark Twains novel was written as a historical account of life in the 1840s and as a result, any content that could be considered offensive to some is all added to make the literary work more realistic and a more accurate portrayal of life in the setting. Without these elements, the story of Huckleberrys moral growth would not be as developed and the message of the book will not be as prominent. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should not be censored because the way the book is written provides an accurate account of life in the 1840s and without the writing staying as it is, the whole integrity of the work will be diminished. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered a classic because of how it was written. Changing the text changes the whole book and since the book is so highly regarded as it is, it should remain the same. When people claim that a book is racist, they make this assumption based on the content of the book. What people need to note is when the book is set, its publication date, and the purpose of the offensive content. With The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the story takes place in the 1840s when racism was very common. It also was published in 1885 when people in the United States were struggling with racism after the Civil War. The offensive content of the book is used to portray what life was like in the 1840s and to mock the behavior of the people of that time. When the book was written, language like that used in the text was still common and not seen as offensive as it does now. Mark Twains novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is not racist, it just contains racist content, and this content makes the story what it is and develops its meaning. To take away this major element of the literary work to protect the feelings of some individuals would ruin the story and would hurt more people than it would help. To censor The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn would take away a valuable source of historical knowledge that allows us to see the importance of how our society has changed and developed. Without this knowledge, people will forget the importance of the progress humankind has made and will not be able to avoid the mistakes we have already made as a whole in the past. Because of these reasons, changing the great literary work of Mark Twain Is unnecessary because The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is not a racist text and exposure to the harsh realities in the story will help the people of today to truly understand our past as a whole and improve our future. Works Cited Page Bosman, Julie. â€Å"Publisher Tinkers with Twain. † National Post. 4 Jan 2011. Print. Bowker, Gene. â€Å"Mark Twain, racism and Huckleberry Finn. † Examiner. com. Web. 9 Feb 2013 lt;http://www. examiner. om/article/mark-twain-racism-and-huckleberry-finngt; Kay, Barbara. â€Å"We Shouldnt Censor History. † National Post. 10 Jan 2011. Print. Knab, Jakob. Racism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. 2011. Print. Kurutz,, Steven. â€Å"A Twain Scholar Reacts to the New, Censored Version ‘Huckleberry Finn’. † National Post. 9 Jan 2011. Print. PBS. â€Å"Mark Twains Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. † Web. 9 Feb 2013 lt;http://www. pbs . org/wgbh/cultureshock/flashpoints/literature/huck. htmlgt; Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003. Print.

Questions answer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Questions answer - Essay Example In addition, the European press always presented war in a romantic analogy. Diplomacy was mainly tied to alliance systems between the central and the allied powers. The Central Powers comprised of Germany, Italy and Austro-Hungary while the allies included France, Britain and Russia (Shaara 8). In fact, according to the print media, warfare was a matter of nationalistic pride. This war was also facilitated by the ignorant nature of the citizens and their apathetic nature to foreign affairs. Additionally, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand beefed up the war in Europe. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand in the summer of 1914 led to the outbreak of the war which involved a Bosnian terrorist who was seeking Bosnian independence. In this period, the Europeans were eager to experience the war. Some of them were even willing to risk their life by fighting in the war. This is because most of the youths and students inculcated the spirit of patriotism and devotion to the state. There are some prominent individuals who influenced the citizens substantially in believing that the war encouraged togetherness in the country (Shaara 9). Question #2 In the 1920s, there was a great reaction in the world which was caused by the wars in the world. The Great War is also known as World War I. According to most individuals, the Great War was a unique war because it involved several countries. Further analysis also depicts that the Great War involved huge life losses. Approximately 10 million men were killed. In fact, the Great War differed from the expectations of the generals and the majority of the Europeans. Most individuals thought that the war would last a single winter. However, the war lasted for four years. The main reason why the Great War differed so much from the expectations of the generals and the Europeans was because; both the military and diplomatic plans of the political leaders had failed in Europe (Shaara 18). In addition, the technological innovations had cha nged the warfare at the battlefield. In this period, the introduction of machine guns, battleships and airplanes significantly affected the war both at sea and on land. The machine guns favored most of the defense schemes employed by countries. The airplanes were mostly utilized for the survey but, bombs were not used in the war. The main warfare took place in Northern France, Southeastern Europe and Russia. In these areas, most of the people who were killed were the men. This is because the individuals in the warzone were not able to predict the extensiveness of the war. This war also created a gulf between military and civilian populations (Shaara 10). Question #3 Total war was a military quarrel whereby numerous countries mobilized all the available resources in order to destroy the ability of other nations to participate in war. This practice of total war was significantly utilized in the 19th century. Total war was also recognized as a separate class of warfare. Research assert s that total war was mainly caused by industrialization. It is quite prevalent that World War I influenced the birth of total war in the industrial age. During this period, soldiers faced each other in battlegrounds that had become extremely lethal due to the advancement in warfare machinery. There was no war witnessed in history such as the First World War. The main reason why this war was significant as opposed to other wars was because it had a long-term effect on the industrial revolution. According to various