Automatic Fare Cards free essay sample

A paper which studies the difficulties facing the Chicago Transit Authority following the introduction of Automated Payment Systems and a possible solution. The Chicago Transit Authority has in the recent past completely abolished all non-electronic forms of payment for travel. This paper analyzes the effects of the introduction of electronic payments and problems that have arisen from their use. These problems include a lawsuit and what is commonly regarded as a poor marketing performance. The Chicago Transit Authority oversees public transportation for the city of Chicago. This company manages bus and train lines throughout the city and some nearer suburbs. Any company that deals with the general public must be careful when instituting new policies. Minor changes that, in theory, only affect a minority of customers could turn out to have unwarranted side effects. In many cases putting the right spin on events can make the negative effects much smaller. Proper marketing techniques can be used to fulfill this goal. We will write a custom essay sample on Automatic Fare Cards or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One of the biggest changes to take place at the CTA was the introduction of electronic fare cards. This system was initiated in the summer of 1996 and has undergone a number of changes from its introduction .

Haber Conjugation in Spanish, Translation, Examples

Haber Conjugation in Spanish, Translation, Examples The verb haber has two different uses and meanings, as well as two different conjugation patterns. Haber is used as an impersonal verb to mean there is or there are, and it is also used as an auxiliary verb. This article includes haber conjugations as an impersonal verb in the indicative mood (present, past, conditional, and future), the subjunctive mood (present and past), the imperative mood, and other verb forms. You can also find the conjugations in which haber is used an auxiliary verb. Haber as an Impersonal Verb Haber can be used as an impersonal verb that is translated to English as there is or there are. The fact that it is an impersonal verb means that there is no subject, and it is thus only conjugated in the third person singular form. For example, Hay un estudiante en la clase (There is a student in the class) or Hay muchos estudiantes en la clase (There are many students in the class). This form of haber can also mean to take place, Habr una reunià ³n maà ±ana (A meeting will take place tomorrow), or to occur, Ayer hubo un accidente (Yesterday an accident occurred). The verb haber is also used in several idioms, such as haber de and haber que, which are both followed by an infinitive verb and express the need to do something. The tables below show the conjugations of haber, and you will notice that since it is an impersonal verb, haber cannot be used in the imperative mood. Also, you can see that with this meaning of haber, in all the different verb tenses, only the third person singular form is used. Haber Present Indicative The form of haber in the present indicative tense is completely irregular. Hay there is/there are Hay una fiesta en mi casa.Hay muchas fiestas en mi casa. Haber Preterite Indicative This verb is also irregular in the preterite indicative tense. Hubo there was/there were Hubo una fiesta en mi casa.Hubo muchas fiestas en mi casa. Haber Imperfect Indicative The imperfect indicative conjugation of haber is regular. Habà ­a there was/there were Habà ­a una fiesta en mi casa.Habà ­a muchas fiestas en mi casa. Haber Future Indicative The future indicative of haber is irregular because instead of using the infinitive as the stem, haber, you need to use the stem habr-. Habr there will be Habr una fiesta en mi casa.Habr muchas fiestas en mi casa. Haber PeriphrasticFuture Indicative Remember to conjugate the periphrastic future with the present indicative conjugation of the verb ir (to go), followed by the preposition a and the infinitive of the verb. Va a haber there is going to be/there are going to be Va a haber una fiesta en mi casa.Va a haber muchas fiestas en mi casa. Haber Present Progressive/Gerund Form The gerund or present participle is formed with the ending -iendo (for -er verbs). It can be used to form the present progressive, although the verb haber is not very frequently used in this way. Present Progressive ofHaber est habiendo There is being/There are being Est habiendo una fiesta en mi casa.Est habiendo muchas fiestas en mi casa. Haber Past Participle The past participle of haber is formed with the ending -ido. Present Perfect of Haber ha habido There has been/There have been Ha habido una fiesta en mi casa.Ha habido muchas fiestas en mi casa. Haber Conditional Indicative Just like the future tense, the conjugation of the conditional is irregular, since it uses the stem habr-. Habrà ­a there would be Habrà ­a una fiesta en mi casa si no estuvieran mis padres.Habrà ­a muchas muchas fiestas en mi casa si no estuvieran mis padres. Haber Present Subjunctive The conjugation of haber is irregular (similar to the present indicative conjugation). Haya that there is/that there are Mis amigos quieren que haya una fiesta en mi casa.Mis amigos quieren que haya muchas fiestas en mi casa. Haber Imperfect Subjunctive Notice that there are two options for conjugating the imperfect subjunctive. Option 1 Hubiera that there was/that there were Mis amigos querà ­an que hubiera una fiesta en mi casa.Mis amigos querà ­an que hubiera muchas fiestas en mi casa. Option 2 Hubiese that there was/that there were Mis amigos querà ­an que hubiese una fiesta en mi casa.Mis amigos querà ­an que hubiese muchas fiestas en mi casa. Haber Conjugation as an Auxiliary Verb Haber is the most common of the auxiliary verbs in Spanish, as it is used to form the perfect tenses. It is the equivalent of the English have as an auxiliary verb- but it shouldnt be confused when using have with the meaning to possess, which is usually tener. The tables below show the compound tenses in which haber is used as an auxiliary verb. The examples use the past participle of the verb hablar (to talk) to demonstrate the auxiliary function of haber. Present Perfect Indicative Yo he hablado I have talked Yo he hablado con el jefe. Tà º hashablado You have talked Tà º has hablado todo el dà ­a. Usted/à ©l/ella hahablado You/he/she has talked Ella ha hablado italiano. Nosotros hemoshablado We have talked Nosotros hemos hablado por telà ©fono. Vosotros habà ©is hablado You have talked Vosotros habà ©is hablado conmigo. Ustedes/ellos/ellas hanhablado You/they have talked Ellos han hablado un rato. Pluperfect Indicative Yo habà ­a hablado I had talked Yo habà ­a hablado con el jefe. Tà º habà ­ashablado You hadtalked Tà º habà ­as hablado todo el dà ­a. Usted/à ©l/ella habà ­ahablado You/he/she had talked Ella habà ­ahablado italiano. Nosotros habà ­amoshablado We had talked Nosotros habà ­amos hablado por telà ©fono. Vosotros habà ­aishablado You had talked Vosotros habà ­ais hablado conmigo. Ustedes/ellos/ellas habà ­anhablado You/they had talked Ellos habà ­anhablado un rato. Future Perfect Indicative Yo habrà © hablado I will have talked Yo habrà © hablado con el jefe. Tà º habrshablado You will have talked Tà º habrs hablado todo el dà ­a. Usted/à ©l/ella habrhablado You/he/she will have talked Ella habrhablado italiano. Nosotros habremoshablado We will have talked Nosotros habremos hablado por telà ©fono. Vosotros habrà ©ishablado You will have talked Vosotros habrà ©is hablado conmigo. Ustedes/ellos/ellas habrnhablado You/they will have talked Ellos habrnhablado un rato. Conditional Perfect Indicative Yo habrà ­a hablado I would have talked Yo habrà ­a hablado con el jefe si hubiera tenido tiempo. Tà º habrà ­ashablado You would have talked Tà º habrà ­as hablado todo el dà ­a si te hubieran dejado. Usted/à ©l/ella habrà ­ahablado You/he/she would have talked Ella habrà ­ahablado italiano si hubiera aprendido bien. Nosotros habrà ­amoshablado We would have talked Nosotros habrà ­amos hablado por telà ©fono si no fuera tan tarde. Vosotros habrà ­aishablado You would have talked Vosotros habrà ­ais hablado conmigo si en realidad lo quisierais. Ustedes/ellos/ellas habrà ­an hablado You/they would have talked Ellos habrà ­anhablado un rato si no tuvieran que marcharse. Present Perfect Subjunctive Que yo haya hablado That I would have talked A Carlos le sorprende que yo haya hablado con el jefe. Que tà º hayashablado That you would have talked A mà ­ me molestà ³ que tà º hayas hablado todo el dà ­a. Que usted/à ©l/ella hayahablado That you/he/she would have talked A Marà ­a le gustà ³ que ella hayahablado italiano. Que nosotros hayamoshablado That we would have talked A Pedro le encantà ³ que nosotros hayamoshablado por telà ©fono. Que vosotros hayishablado That you would have talked A la maestra le gustà ³ que vosotros hayishablado conmigo. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas hayanhablado You/they would have talked A Juan le agradà ³ que ellos hayanhablado un rato. Pluperfect Subjunctive Option 1 Que yo hubiera hablado That I would have talked Carlos esperaba que yo hubiera hablado con el jefe. Que tà º hubierashablado That you would have talked A mà ­ no me parecà ­a que tà º hubieras hablado todo el dà ­a. Que usted/à ©l/ella hubierahablado That you/he/she would have talked Marà ­a no creà ­a que ella hubierahablado italiano. Que nosotros hubià ©ramoshablado That we would have talked A Pedro le hubiera gustado que nosotros hubià ©ramoshablado por telà ©fono. Que vosotros hubieraishablado That you would have talked A la maestra le sorprendà ­a que vosotros hubieraishablado conmigo. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas hubieranhablado You/they would have talked Juan preferà ­a que ellos hubieranhablado un rato. Option 2 Que yo hubiese hablado That I would have talked Carlos esperaba que yo hubiese hablado con el jefe. Que tà º hubieseshablado That you would have talked A mà ­ no me parecà ­a que tà º hubieses hablado todo el dà ­a. Que usted/à ©l/ella hubiesehablado That you/he/she would have talked Marà ­a no creà ­a que ella hubiesehablado italiano. Que nosotros hubià ©semoshablado That we would have talked A Pedro le hubiera gustado que nosotros hubià ©semoshablado por telà ©fono. Que vosotros hubieseishablado That you would have talked A la maestra le sorprendà ­a que vosotros hubieseishablado conmigo. Que ustedes/ellos/ellas hubiesenhablado You/they would have talked Juan preferà ­a que ellos hubiesenhablado un rato.

Project Management 10 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Project Management 10 - Essay Example nately, Terry was bombarded with detailed engineering-related questions about the specifications and production issues hence she gets frustrated and close the presentation leaving the meeting. Terry presentation however, shows us that she was not prepared well for this presentation and that through various questions she was asked from the audience shows that the presentation was not appropriate. Before presentation, one needs to dedicate his her appropriate time which is a crucial part of marking a successful presentation (Steele, 2009). Terry was supposed to think carefully about the message to communicate and this could have played a role in boosting her confidence as well. A good presentation incurs distinctive elements including the objective, subject, and the nature of the audience, the place, time and length of the talk which makes a presentation successfully. Terry however, at the start of her presentation would have critically articulated clarity on whether and when she should be answering the questions from the audience. She should have told the audience to raise their questions when she completes her all slides explanation of the project. This help a lot since the some of the audiences questions can be well answered as go along the presentation. The decision to walk away from presentation was null. As a project manager, it is better to explain engage divisibly with the audience and assure them to get their questions answered as soon as possible once the problem have been resolved since nature at times takes into

AIM in London Stock Exchange Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

AIM in London Stock Exchange - Research Paper Example The main advantage of this system is that it has reduced the regulatory barriers and constraints and has been able to attract new firms in the market and lot of investment in the market. Alternative investment Market is required to comply and abide by certain specified rules and regulations that has been established in accordance with the rules and regulations that has been established by the act of Financial Services and Market. The Alternative investment market does not include the corporate governance and therefore it has been advised that the NOMADS are required to follow the principles or regulations that have been introduced by the London stock exchange. The rules and regulations includes that the Nomads must be the member of the firm that is associated with professionals of corporate finance and it is required to be approved by the London Stock exchange. The exchange has also provided benefit for the private regulators that is an incentive will be offered for enhancing its value in the market. The main objective behind appointing the Nomads are that it is appointed as the private gate keepers or as the watch dog in deciding whether the companies that are willing to list their shares in the market are appropriate or preferable for the market and they are the supervisors for monitoring the companies or the firms for ensuring that the standards related to the exchange that is regulated by the corporate governance are fulfilled. The needs and requirements of AIM are very flexible in nature and it does not require market capitalization and also trading requirement. It measures the appropriate value of the cost of the investors. The regulators of Alternative investment market that is the nomads are engaged in the preparation of the working capital report, pro forma financial information, historical financial information and also the report on the financial procedures. The importance of AIM can be observed from the fact that AIM is flourishing and its

Integrated marketing communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Integrated marketing communications - Essay Example Relationships can be enhanced through the web efforts (Gurau, 2008). 6 IMC (Integrated Marketing Communications) is entirely a new way of looking into the business related communication process. The paper aims to discuss the roles that e-communication plays in the integrated marketing communication strategy. The paper begins with the short introduction of the IMC. It describes in detail the importance and the role of IMC in the organisation. E-communication plays a vital role in IMC. It has enabled the companies to promote the brand over the internet itself commonly known as I-branding. It has also allowed an organisation to perform the marketing functions like promoting, distributing, segmenting, targeting and selling the goods to the ultimate consumers. The paper in the next phase looks at the literature review which is the study that has already been conducted by the other researchers. At first it demonstrates about the integrated marketing communication strategy then it ultimately talks about the role of e-communication in IMC. The paper will also discuss about the benefits and role of the e-communication strategies in an organisations daily activities. For the purpose of this short case study will be presented and then a thorough discussion on the case study will be conducted. The paper is beneficial in understanding the features and usability of e-communication strategy implementation in order to assimilate the various marketing efforts into a collaborated strategy. According to Tom Duncan (2002), integrated marketing communication can be stated as â€Å"a process for managing the customer relationships that drive brand value. More specifically, it is a cross-functioned process for creativity and nourishing profitable relationships with customers and other stakeholders by strategically controlling or influencing all messages sent to these groups and encouraging data-driven purposeful

Impact of Public Smoking Ban

Impact of Public Smoking Ban For decades, Malaysia has severe problems with cigarette-smoking issues (Mackay 1996). Currently, smoking has been recognized as the major drug killer in Malaysia, bringing with its huge human and economic costs. As a result, afflictions caused by cigarette smoking have taken the lives of around 3,500 Malaysian citizens in each year (Facts About Tobacco Smoking 2008). There are 3 types of smokers, namely social smokers, casual smokers and chain smokers. The Malaysian government enforces laws to reduce smoking rates so that Malaysian citizens can enjoy healthy lifestyles. Cigarette smoking accounts for a massive 25% of all deaths in Malaysia, with smoking-related deaths making up of three out of five of the top causes of death in Malaysia (Mackay 1996). In addition, a research shows that the percentages of lung cancer incidents have been increased at a rate of 17% a year (Smoking Statistics 2002). According to the result of a survey on cigarette smoking rates in Malaysia, there were 3.6 million smokers in the year 2000. Nevertheless, the number is expected to rise dramatically by 2025. It was also found that about 49% of Malaysian males smoked cigarettes in the year 2000 while the number will be expected to reduce by 30% by the year 2025. By 2025, it is estimated that 4% of all Malaysian women who smoke cigarettes are those of 15 years of age and above. The research also shows that most of the smokers start smoking in their youth. Therefore, it is clear that the smoking rates are the highest among the younger generations (Prostar n.d.). 1.3 Aim of research The aim of this research is to identify the different types of smokers and evaluate the effectiveness of law implementation on cigarette smoking by the Malaysian government in order to reduce smoking rates and possibly to ban smoking in Malaysia for the benefit of Malaysians health. 1.4 Methodology A survey was conducted to collect the data about the different types of smokers namely social smokers, casual smokers, chain smokers and the opinions of smokers towards cigarette smoking with a questionnaire. A sample of 20 participants between 11 and 50 years old was taken for this survey. 2.0 Types of Smokers 2.1 Social Smokers Social smokers are defined as people who smoke mainly or only in social settings and in the presence of others (New Straits Times 1997). Social smokers are also known as occasional smokers (Morley et.al 2006). In addition, social smokers are much more likely to have relatives or friends who smoke than those who have never smoked. Figure 1 above indicates that 27% of smokers are social smokers. 2.2 Casual Smokers Casual smokers are defined as people who smoke on many but not all days and also smokers who know how to control on their smoking, going from smoking daily to only smoking occasionally (New Straits Times 1997). Based on the research, it was found that only 9% of smokers are casual smokers (Figure 1). Therefore, the problem with casual smokers is that they do not think that they are addicted. They think that they can switch their desire to smoke on and off and that they have a full control over whether or not they want to smoke (Turner 2008). 2.3 Chain Smokers Chain smokers are also known as addicted smokers who smoke in a chain of cigarettes, one after another. Chain smoking is the practice of lighting a new cigarette immediately after one is finished, sometimes using the previous cigarette to light the next one. It is a sign of addiction and gives the smokers a constant source of nicotine that allows smokers to feel a sense of calmness (Windale n.d.). Based on the survey, 64% of the smokers are chain smokers which contribute the largest number of smokers in this survey (Figure 1). 3.0 Advantages of cigarette smoking 3.1 Economical Contribution The tobacco industry has contributed to the countrys major economy in terms of employment (be it in manufacturing, agricultural and health sectors), earnings, exports and taxes (The Economics of Tobacco Policy n.d.). It was shown that RM1.8 million in indirect taxes and RM683 million in corporate taxes had contributed into Malaysian government revenue. Based on a research, it was indicated that 7.8% of the Malaysian governments income tax revenue was contributed by indirect taxes from the tobacco industry while approximately 3% of the Malaysian governments income tax revenue was derived from corporate taxes within the tobacco industry. 3.2 Mental Relief 3.2.1 Stress Relief Based on the relief survey conducted in figure 2, 38% of the smokers consume tobacco to relieve their stress. Therefore, cigarette smoking is one of the stress management tools for those who suffer from work-related stress as well as family-related stress. A cigarette contains over 4000 different chemicals which could cause cancer (Healey 2001). The poisonous and addictive drug in tobacco which is nicotine could reduce smokers stress levels and it could increase heart rates up to 21 beats per minute and also stimulates the nervous system to make the smokers feel a sense of relief or relaxation (Healey 2001). Besides, smoking creates a numerous conditions that could help the smokers with anxiety and depression (Smoking and mental health 2007). 3.2.2 Memory improvement It is found that nicotine in cigarettes may improve memory and prevent Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases. Other than that, it is proven that nicotine can help in improving learning ability and memory problems associated with hypothyroidism. In addition, Victorian doctors also recommended smoking as a means of sharpening the wits and boosting concentration (Derbyshire 2008). Based on the survey conducted, 43% of the smokers feel that smoking cigarettes can help them to improve their memory (Figure 2). 4.0 Disadvantages of cigarette smoking 4.1 Health effects 4.1.1 Lung cancer In Malaysia, lung cancer is now an increasingly significant cause of death. It is classified as the most common cancer caused by cigarette smoking in Malaysia. Based on the 2003 National Cancer Registry of Malaysia report, lung cancer accounts for 13.8% and 3.8% of all cancers in males and females respectively. To be more precise, Malaysia has faced 1,758 cases of Malaysians who are diagnosed with lung cancer annually in 2003(Acting against lung cancer 2006). 4.2 Environmental effects According to Tobacco Control, the research shows that cigarette smoke usually produces more air pollution as compared to the diesel car exhaust. From the scientific research, it shows that a cigarette contains over 4000 different chemicals including many toxic substances (Healey 2001). Therefore, the cigarette can create air pollution, the cigarette buds are also a major blow to the environment hygiene (Impact of Butt Littering n.d.). In addition, cigarette smoke also causes potential fire hazards if the lighting cigarette is not put out immediately (Slovenian Young Minds n.d.). In addition, about 3,000 lung cancer deaths in non-smoking adults each year are caused by the exposure of tobacco smoke from smokers. Also, an increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections is recorded in infants and young children whose parents smoke in their presence. 5.0 Actions taken by the government 5.1 Legislation 5.1.1 The Control of Tobacco Products Regulation 1993 The Malaysian government has tried to curb smoking among Malaysians by implementing the Control of Tobacco Products Regulation in 1993. This regulation was enforced in 1993 under the Food Act 1993, which all direct advertising and sponsorship are prohibited as well as the requirement of fixed health warnings, and also ceiling levels of tar (20mg) and nicotine (1.5mg) are displayed(Tobacco Unit Malaysia 2003). Besides, smoking restrictions are applied at public places and specific places such as air-conditioned places. Those places are normally set as no smoking zones while tobacco sales to any person under the age of 18 years old is strictly prohibited. This regulation is also amended to strengthen the restriction towards the total ban of tobacco-related promotions, the requirements of more effective health warnings, and the limitation to the availability of cigarettes, and the lowering of tar and nicotine levels in order to extend the existing non smoking zone. 5.1.2 Tobacco Control Act This act will be replacing The Control of Tobacco Products Regulation 1993 to be the prominent comprehensive legislation for tobacco control in Malaysia. The function of this act is to fit in all relevant provisions and country obligations stated in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (Tobacco Unit Malaysia 2003). 5.2 Augmentation in taxation of cigarettes According to the Maybank Investment Bank Berhad, raising taxes on tobacco is one of the most effective ways of reducing the amount of people who smoke. Therefore, the Malaysian Government has taken steps to increase the tobacco taxes by at least 11 per cent in 2009 in order to discourage smoking among Malaysians and cuts its budget (Malaysia may raise tobacco taxes n.d.). ÂÂ  Meanwhile, the Malaysian government also tends to raise cigarettes price by 40% (World Health Organization 2008). Albeit the decision of the Malaysian government has diminished demand of smokers but government revenues need were not affected. 5.3 Restriction on advertisements and other promotions The advertisements and promotions of smoking or tobacco products should be restricted in Malaysia. In Malaysia, some restrictions have been implemented for the descriptive labeling of cigarettes, such as lights, ultra lights, low tar or mild on their packaging. Besides that, cigarette manufacturers are forbidden from promoting cigarettes (Government puts the squeeze on cigarette makers 2008). Therefore, to argue against the cigarette advertisements, the Malaysian government has intervened to introduce anti-smoking campaign to promote the dangers of smoking by placing advertisements during prime time warning. Based on statistics, it was indicated that among 4 million smokers, 1,000 smokers died due to tobacco-related diseases every year. In this case, the Malaysian government had implemented all kinds of legislation to reduce the percentages of death from tobacco-related diseases. 5.3.1 Packaging and labeling ÂÂ  http://www.smoke-free.ca/warnings/warningsimages/malaysia/Malays4.jpg ÂÂ  http://www.smoke-free.ca/warnings/warningsimages/malaysia/Malays12.jpg Diagram 1: Samples of health warning on cigarette packages The Malaysian government has amended the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2004 on World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), May 31 to urge tobacco manufacturers to display health warnings on cigarette packages. The health warnings such as lung cancer, mouth diseases, heart diseases and unhealthy infants graphics should be displayed on cigarette packages to warn smokers of the consequences of smoking (Health Ministrys tobacco rules get thumbs-up 2008). In addition, all packages are required to include pictorial warnings that could cover 40% of the front of the packages and 60% of the back of the package (Government puts the squeeze on cigarette makers 2008). 6.0 Conclusion More effective actions should be taken by the Malaysian government to ban smoking in public areas such as hospitals, clinics, public lifts, toilets, air-conditioned restaurants, public transport, government premises, educational institutions, petrol stations, internet cafes and shopping complexes. Heavy fines could be an alternative to punish those who smoke in public areas. Besides, the Malaysian government could include the reinforcement of rules and regulations on smokers who continue to smoke. Even though tobacco contributes significant tax revenues to Malaysian government, we should also be aware of the increasing costs on health care to curb health problems derived from smoking. We cannot totally ban smokers from smoking cigarettes, our government should play a leading role to educate all generations about the negative effects of smoking. Incentives and taxes should be imposed to curb health problems such as heart diseases and lung cancer. Therefore, the Malaysian government sh ould enforce tougher laws on tobacco smoking in order to have healthier Malaysian.

International Relations of Asia Essay -- Cold War Triangle Foreign Aff

International Relations of Asia STRATEGIC GEOMETRY   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "This is the only region in the world where so many combinations and permutations of two- three and four- and even two plus four or three plus three- power games can be played on the regional chessboard with all their complexities and variations." introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The concept of strategic geometry comprises the notion that that the interactions and interconnections between a number of political actors within a particular system of international relations, either global or regional can be seen in terms of geometric patterns of strategic configurations. It can be a case of simple geometry, in which A interacts with B: but in a more complex system such as that of Asia, with the presence of more than one major actor, each with their distinct, sometimes conflicting political agendas, the interaction between A and B will be likely to affect C or influenced by C.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The concept of an international ‘system' itself implies that events are not random, and units within the system are interrelated in some patterned way. This ‘patterning' maybe envisaged or conceptualized as patterns of strategic geometry.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Any attempt to analyze the transition from a Cold War system of international relations to a post Cold War one, will incorporate an analysis of the general nature of the system itself, in this case the system of international relations in Asia; of the actors involved and their respective roles; how changes in the political environment and in specific policies of the actors shape the evolution of a new system; and finally the nature of the new system with its own actors, their new roles, and new concerns.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The concept of strategic geometry enables us to understand these changes in the political dynamics from one system to another, in our case the transition from the Cold War to the post Cold War era, by serving as an analytic tool. If we view the international relations of Asia, more and the interactions of the main actors in terms of strategic configurations and geometric patterns of alignments and oppositions, then we can assess changes in the political system over time by way of the changes in the strategic geometry. Some strategic configurations change, others remain the same, while new patterns of strategic geometry appear, as the old forms dissolve--the e... ... emerging will be permanent. According to Mandlebaum, "we have not seen the end of their rivalry." On the other hand, is the view that neither country has much the other needs, with both looking towards Japan and America for capital. Economics is the name of the game in East Asia, and Russia looks like a minor league player to Chinese, coupled with a deep level of cultural suspicion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  On the other hand, the most crucial of the Cold War triangles, the Russia-US-China triangle seems to hold relatively little significance. However, two political games of today, might still substantiate the existence of this triangle 1.the crux of Chinese analysis-- that there is an inherent conflict between Moscow and Washington, on matters of aid and weapons build down which will provide openings for its own diplomacy 2. the weapons issue-- "the US fears China's success in skimming cream of weapons experts from Russia." The latter is a very Cold War type of concern: the issue of military strength, which continues to interlock the three major military powers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In reference to the US-Japan-Russia triangle, the Japan-Russia part of the triangle still remains quite undeveloped.

The Clifton Suspension Bridge

FunctionThe Clifton Suspension Bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and completed in 1864. The span spans 214m across the Avon Valley Gorge from Clifton to Leigh forests as shown in figure 3. The towers are 26.2m high and the span concatenation has a breadth of 6.1m Centres to center. There are two vehicle lanes and two prosaic waies. The prosaic paseo is to boot used as a sing topographic point along the Avon gorge. There are about 10,000 autos traversing per twenty-four hours with a gross vehicle weight bound of four dozenss. The toll for the span is presently 50p ( 27/11/09 ) . Bing an historic span, the construction requires changeless services which the tolls fund. The velocity bound on the span is presently 15mph and the weight bound is controlled utilizing a modern weight beam ( Mitchell-Baker, D. Et al 1988 ) . The span was designed to originally take the weight of Equus caballuss and passenger cars. The site location was chosen because of its short and flat span.St ructureThe span takes the signifier of a convention suspension span. This signifier was ambitious at the clip of design and if it was completed on agenda it would hold been the longest suspension span in the universe. The suspension span was a suited pick for two chief grounds. The first ground is that the tallness between the deck and the river below is 75m and to build a tower would be expensive. It besides would hold been expensive to build any signifier work. A suspension span can be constructed without the assistance of signifier work and Brunel ‘s design did non necessitate a tower compared with Telford proposal which included two Gothics styled towers ( Moore, Fuller. 1999 ) . The 2nd ground is that the strength of the environing topography allowed the being of ground tackles. In state of affairss where a suspension span would be suited, the status of the land is unsuitable for bearing the force per unit area from the overseas telegrams. One of the disadvantage of utili zing a suspension span on the site is that it can merely be a individual span. The ground tackles have to take the entire tenseness of the concatenation compared with a three span span where the deck on the side span acts as a counter weight, alleviating tenseness in the ground tackle. The construction is formed chiefly of a long concatenation, similar to a motorcycle concatenation, two towers and the span deck. As it is shown in figure 5 the concatenation is formed of three sub-layers on each side, each bed dwelling of an jumping 10 and 11 level wrought Fe bars. By increasing the figure of concatenation beds the overall opportunity of prostration lessenings. The level wrought Fe bars were designed to be every bit long as operable. The long bars decrease the entire weight of the ironss by cut downing the sum of heavy articulations. . By increasing the sum of ironss, the construction becomes less reliant on each person concatenation ; hence failure of a concatenation should non take to prostration. The dip to cross ration of the ironss contribute to the efficiency of the construction. High span to depth ratios cause high tenseness in the concatenation, this is because of the way of the concatenation reacts about perpendicular to the weight, making an inefficient construction. Low span to depth ratios do a more efficient concatenation but the tallness of the towers have to increase hence increasing the cost. The most effectual span to depth ratio is about 1:10 which is what was adopted by Brunel for the span. This is an betterment to the 1:13.5 ratio which Telford antecedently adopted on the Menai span. The chief catenary ironss are non attached straight to the deck at mid span ; this is done to let the chief deck to hover freely in the air current without seting strain on the ironss ( Pugsley, Sir A. 1976 ) , ( Porter G. 1974 ) . Hanging at 8ft intervals are the shaped Fe rods, which transfer the burden onto the concatenation. The array of rods is designed to oppose prostration if a individual rod should neglect. The rods are attached slackly between the concatenation and longitudinal girder, see figure 5 ; this allows motion which decreases the opportunity of failure from span motion. This so imposes a perpendicular downward force onto the towers and tenseness along the concatenation and in the ground tackles. The longitudinal girder as shown in figure 5, is a uninterrupted stiffened I beam. The girder is 3ft deep and connects the cross girder to the rods. The original design proposed by Brunel used a timber lattice girder with a matching stiffness, but by the clip of the Bridgess building the lumber lattice was replaced by an Fe plated girder. The girder takes the emphasis applied to a individual articulation on the concatenation and traverses it along the longitudinal length of the concatenation. As illustrated in figure 4, a truss construction is adopted for the cross girders. The truss construction is a really strong and efficient construction along the length. The shallow deepness allows thin strips to organize the trusses without clasping. The place of the cross girder is shown in figure 5. The cross girders are braced horizontally utilizing thin Fe strips to respond against air current burden. The quadrangle form deforms under burden by rotary motion at the articulations. The brace forms a triangular molded construction ; distortion in the triangular molded construction occurs by flexing of each member, therefore increasing the elements stiffness. Live tonss are transferred onto the lumber beams which span between each cross girder ; using a perpendicular burden and doing a bending minute in the girder. The lumber decking was chosen because it was light and suitably strong ; it besides allows easy accessible fixs. A shaped Fe adorning frame was added by Barlow and Hawkshaw to increase rigidness. The saddles are situated on top of the towers. The saddles allow sidelong motion of the ironss. Lateral motion occurs due to temperature alterations or unsymmetrical burden. The saddles besides allow the perpendicular emphasis to be reduced in the rock tower by increasing the contact country, understating the hazard of oppressing the rock. The ground tackles are 17m below the land and the ironss are spread into a chamber to make a stable foundation. The spreading of the concatenation allows the tenseness to be opposed by the compaction of the drop, non entirely trusting on the clash. The advantage of this is that the strength of the ground tackles increases ; it besides takes advantage of the strong limestone foundation. ( Pugsley, A. 1976. )StrengthThe constructions weight bound for vehicles is presently four dozenss. This weight bound was introduced about 50 old ages ago when applied scientists decided that the big tonss and weariness could take to fall in. The sum of vehicles on the span at one clip is controlled by the toll booths. This is done to cut down the entire burden on the span at any minute. Brunel designed the span to defy an adventitious burden of 100lbf/sq.ft which is about equal to 4.7 KPa of force per unit area ( Porter G, R.F.D. 1974 ) . . This is simular to the unrecorded burden which is adopted on modern Bridgess with similar spans ( Bangash, M, Y, H. 1999 )ConstructionAfter planing the span, the foundations and abutments were the first elements to be constructed. Then the towers were the following thing to be constructed. The ironss were pulled across by rope and so the deck was attached to the concatenation.CareBetween 1864 and 1953 the lumber decking had been replaced three times and the ironwork had been treated twice and at the terminal of this period was still in good status. Two suspender rods had failed in a terrible storm in 1877 and three more had failed in 1887. Both occasions the exact cause of the failure is still non convincingly known. In 1861 a 6 metric ton vehicle weight bound was appointed to the span. The size and weight of vehicles was continuously increasing and applied scientists were concerned with the Bridgess construction. It was based on the theory that repeated lading on metal causes its hempen construction to go crystallite. In 1918 one every 10 bolts from the rods were removed for proving, and they were all found to be of equal strength though some cleft appeared ; these clefts were likely to happen from hammering. The drainage of the span had caused serious corrosion to anchor degree ironss. In 1925 an excess nexus was added to the ironss but there were still concerns for the ground tackles status. To get the better of this concern concrete was poured to a deepness of above 9ft above the ground tackle. In 1953 the duty of the span was passed to the trusses and the national heritage. The point burden of wheels was known to be more detrimental to the deck than to the construction as a whole, doing the deck to be once more in a terrible status. The weight bound was so changed from 6 ton bound to 2.5 ton axle weight and 4 ton vehicle weight. ( Mitchell-Baker, D. . Cullimore, M. S. G. 1988 ) In 2009 a prosaic noticed a serious cleft in one of the suspension rods and the closing of the span followed. Impermanent supports were put in topographic point while the rod was replaced. A twelvemonth earlier work to better the sealing, drainage and new route surface was completed. This would diminish the sum of corrosion of the Fe work. ( BBC News. 2009 )AestheticssThe span is really aesthetically delighting, it has few single elements, and each component is similar in map. The girders are really thin and it has a uninterrupted span which besides makes it more appealing to people, most people would hold the span is beautiful. The form of the construction besides reflects the force applied to it, being dilutant in the center and thicker as it gets towards the borders where the greater minutes would happen. The span besides has a bold and dramatic lineation when viewed from along the vale ( Gottermoeller, F. 1998 ) . The towers are curved so that they appear tall from below, organiz ing a bold construction. The towers are besides in good proportions compared with the immediate surrounding and harmonious in three dimensions. The span is constructed utilizing locally sourced stuffs, incorporating the construction into the environment. ( Chen, W et Al. 1999 ) . The span is 3ft higher on the Clifton side. This is done to halt the semblance that the span deck is falling towards the drop.

Wine Industry Research Paper

Wine Industry Research Paper Free sample research paper on Wine Industry: The American wine industry is a stable and present market in the United States with room to grow. The wine industry began with the first settlers and has persevered for centuries. There are three classifications of wine: Red, White, and Blush, and table wine (a wine containing 7% to14% alcohol traditionally consumed with food) is the most popular and fastest-growing type of wine consumed. Even though wine is produced virtually everywhere in the U.S. the wine producers in California have the largest economic impact of $30 billion. Wine sales have risen in the last ten years from 11.7 billion dollars to 19 billion dollars. The Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms division of the Internal Revenue Service, at 8%, which is around $1.07 per gallon, heavily taxes these sales. Technological impacts have allowed winemakers to help control the quality of the wine from the vine to the liquor store. The wine industry contains high barriers to entry due to high costs of land and building manufacturing facilities. Product differentiation is quite vast, being able to make several different types of wine varieties. The value of the wine varies year to year and is often set by the opinions of a few wine experts. The economies of scale in the wine industry have the greatest impact on the cost of land for grape growing. This because the type of land needed to produce quality wine is limited in the United States. This provides an advantage to existing wine producers already having ownership of farmland. Access to distribution channels is through commercial trucking for small distributors, and leased trucking or privately owned trucking for medium to large wine producers. The bargaining power of suppliers is lower today because there is an excess amount of grapes making the supply of wine and grapes exceed demand. The bargaining power of buyers drive up the price of some wines, and drive s down the price of others. The wine industry’s threats of substitutes are mainly form alcoholic competitors such as the micro brews and non-alcoholic competitors such as the premium coffee shops. The wine industry relies on each other for grapes needed for blended wines and low production years. Rivalry between companies has increased in recent years because of increased competition for shelf space. There are three top wine producers in the U.S.: EJ Gallo Winery, Constellation Brands, and The Wine Group. Their success has comes from recent acquisitions, and their ability to change with the needs of consumers. Three key issues the wine industry is facing today are upholding advertising standards, the threat of corporate buyouts, and increasing a market for wine. Introduction Humankind has enjoyed wine for many centuries. The first settlers of the United States of America found the new world to be filled with thousands of beautiful grape vines. Much to the dismay of the settlers the wine produced from native grapes was undrinkable, tasting â€Å"overly musky† (Lukacs, 2000, p.17). This did not deter early American Settlers from trying; Thomas Jefferson was one of the earliest advocates in making American wine. Thomas Jefferson once stated, â€Å"Good wine, is a daily necessity (Lukacs, 2000 p. 2).† He chose the wines that George Washington drank, and kept the White House well stocked. Much to Jefferson’s dismay he was unable to see any quality wine come from America in his lifetime. It would be 150 years before America was able to produce quality wine (Lukacs, 2000, p3). Rarely turning a profit, wine making in the 1800 was a profession for the rich. The first successful entrepreneur was Nicholas Longworth, who came to Cincinnati Ohio in 1803. His fortune was made from real estate, but his love was of wine. Longworth was the first American to successfully make wine on American soil, using imported European Vinifera Grapes (Lukacs, 2000, p. 12). His success was short lived. The Vinifera Grapes could not survive for very long in American soil, due to lack of immunity from disease and insects (Lukacs, 2000, p.18). Americans continued to develop a grape that would flourish, and taste good. It was fifty years before hybridization became an accepted practice to produce a grape vine that could resist disease and insects. Today wine is made in nearly every state with the largest producer being California. The most crucial moment in Americans’ wine history came in 1976 when wines from America went up against French wines in a blind taste test. The judges were Frances’ most esteemed wine professionals. Twenty wines were entered: twelve from northern California. The two wines picked as the winners of the taste test were both American wines from Napa Valley, California (Lukacs, 2000, p. 4). This was a definite turning point in American wine industry. American wine was, for the first time, thought to be of good quality. This Industrial Analysis will evaluate the Wine Industry in three different ways, first by a macro level, which will look at the Social and Cultural Impacts, Political and Legal Impacts, Economic Impacts, and technological impacts that the industry has encountered in recent years. Then, through Porter Five forces of industry standards, the Analysis will discuss major barriers to entry: Threat of Substitutes, Product Differentiation, and Firm Rivalry. Then the analysis will look at the wine industry through a competitive analysis of the industries top three competitors. The evaluation will end with short discussions of three issues the wine industry is facing today. Description of Industry Wine differs by what kinds of grapes are used and what type of flavoring is added. The flavor often comes from the type of barrel used in the wine making process (usually oak). There are three main classifications of wine: Red, White and Blush. White wines are made from light-colored grapes and are generally lighter in taste than red and blush wines. Red wines are typically produced with darker grapes, and often their stems are included in the crushing process. Today, the industry categorizes wines into six different categories see figure: Table Wines Comprising about 84% of U.S. production. Sparkling wine Comprising about 6% of U.S. production Special natural Comprising about 5% of U.S. production Dessert wine Comprising about 4% of U.S. production Vermouth Comprising about 1% of U.S. production Specialty Comprising about less than 1% of U.S. production Table wines are the most popular and fastest-growing type of wine in the United States. Table wine contains 7% to 14% alcohol by volume and is traditionally consumed with food (Standard Poor, 2001). Table wines that retail at less than $3.00 a bottle are considered to be generic or â€Å"jug wines†, those retailing for $3.00 to $7.00 per bottle are considered to be premium wines, $7.00 to $14.00 super premium, and ultra premium wines retail at more than $14.00 per bottle (Standard Poor, 2001). The United States is the fourth largest wine producer in the world, averaging 465,400 gallons of wine a year. The top three countries are France, Italy, and Spain. (www.wineinstitute, 2002). Wine is produced in every state. The total of Bonded Winery Premises (licenses issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for tax purposes) in the United States currently is 2,443; Half (1,210) of the licenses are in California, making California the number one factor when discussing American wine production. Social and Cultural Impacts Wine drinking and knowledge of wine is regarded as part of the wealthy and educated community. Wine is an alcoholic product however, wine producers continually try to advertise wine as part of everyday dining, to be enjoyed by people who can afford the finer things in life. According to Standards and Poor, the number of consumers buying premium wine should increase because of the increase in customers over the age of 55 who tend to consume more wine, especially premium (Standards and Poor, 2001). This increase is however very small, only about a one percents increase in sales. Wine is specifically not marketed to younger children, or advertised in a way that emphasizes the effects the alcohol will have if consumed in excess. There are voluntary standards that the wine industry published to facilitate this type of market (www.wineinstitute, 2002). This emphasis on wine drinking for the mature and sophisticated has created a general stereotype that wine is connected with a higher stand ard of living, because it can enhance one’s meal enjoyment. Political Legal Impacts Wine, which is an alcoholic product, is regulated by the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms division (ATFD) of the internal Revenue Service. This makes it subjected to high levels of tax. The Federal Excise tax on these products was last increased in January 1991, which increased the tax on wine by eight percent making the tax $1.07 per gallon (Standards Poors, 2001). Economic impacts California carries the most economic importance of any wine producers in the United States. Wine is the number one finished agricultural product in retail value from the state. The industry has a total annual economic activity, according to a comprehensive new report commissioned by the wine institute and the California Association of wine grape growers, of nearly $30 billion (www.wineinstitue.org, 2002). This research shows that California’s wine industry and affiliated businesses provide 145,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the state, with a total of $4.3 billion in gross wages. California receives an average of one-billion dollars in taxes and other business licenses and fees, the federal government and other states and local municipalities collect an additional $2.1 billion a year. The tourism generated by the vineyards brings in expenditures of $1.2 billion annually (www.wineinstitute.org, 2002). California also employs around 2,136,000,000 employees working in the winery and vineyards. California wineries weathered last year’s economic slowdown and the September 11 attacks, which were especially hurtful to wineries. Shipments from California wineries have grown steadily during the past five years. The wine institute estimates the retail value of California wines sold in the US to be $13.4 billion in 2001 compared with $13 billion in 2000 (Theodore, 2002). This slow growth fits in with the small but steady increase in sales over the last ten years, which have risen from $11.7 billion dollars to $19 billion dollars (www.wineinstitute, 2000) Technological Impacts Recent Technological advances allow wine-makers to control the winemaking process more carefully than ever before. The use of stainless steel containers and careful temperature control during fermentation has revolutionized the making of white wines. Quality control during the harvest and juicing has improved also, with such innovations as night harvesting to avoid high grape temperatures and field crushing to more quickly separate juice from grapes. Improved techniques have been developed for sulfur dioxide fermentation, for monitoring sugar levels during fermentation, for stabilizing wines, and for controlling malic-lactic fermentation (a secondary process in which malic acid in the new wine is converted into lactic acid). Various chromatographic methods have been developed for determining, in detail, the composition of grapes and wines, though they have not yet replaced human tasting and sensory evaluation (Peters, 1997). The increase in use of technology has enabled the Wine make rs to deliver a more consistent quality product. Porter Five Force Model Major Barriers to Entry According to Standards and Poors, the wine industry has high barriers of entry. Such as the level of sales needed to justify the enormous legal costs associated with producing industries. The capital needed to build manufacturing facilities, together with the high costs of advertising and distribution, are other substantial barriers to entry in these industries. Small wine makers may achieve local success. However such firms often have difficulty attaining profitability with such a level of operations and may find it virtually impossible to go national (standards and Poors, 2001). There is also a very high cost of ferial farmland. Product Differentiation and Switching Costs In a Fortune magazine an article was published in September 2001 entitled Making Wine is easy. Making Money doing it is not states that the numbers of distributors is shrinking, making it harder for the average person to get into the wine market. â€Å"Brand building in this market is a daunting challenge, but anonymity is death,† states Walter Channing, author. Luckily for the new wine producer consumers typically enjoy trying new and different wine all the time. Wine drinkers look for the experience of tasting new wines. The determining factor in their selections is usually due to word of mouth, by taking a recommendation from a wine expert. Robert Parker, a wine mega critic, in May of 2002 declared the Bordeaux of 2000 to be one of the greatest vintages of the century, proclaiming it â€Å"something that comes once every thousand years†(Forbes, p.238). This drove the value of the wine per bottle to $330 solely due to Parker’s critique. This type of name recogn ition is necessary to achieve sales, according to Market Experience, Consumer Attention and Price-quality relationships for new word wines in the U.S. Market, Therefore, the price of wine increases with the increase in the producers’ reputation. This vastness in the market also makes switching costs for the consumers low. It generally will not cost them any extra money to change the type of wine they enjoy drinking. Economies of Scale And Cost Disadvantages Independent of Scale The largest factor in the wine industries Economies of scale is the cost of land for grape growing. Grapes being an agricultural product will flourish where the soil contains the right nutrients and the climate has an extended summer, which gives the grapes time to grow. Even though different types of grapes will grow virtually in any soil, the different nutrients in the soil will change the taste of the wine. In the United States California is one of the only states with both needed agriculture components to make good quality wine. Land is a limited resource, making it the highest start up cost in a vineyard. On the other hand, this gives an advantage to the wine producer who has ownership of prime properties who no longer has the cost of the land as a financial burden. Access to Distribution Channels The final step in wine production is getting the product to the customer. If the distribution channels are overlooked there can be a significant impact on a wine company efficiency, product quality, cost of operation and on the perception it holds in the minds of distributors and consumers (Beverage industry, Nov 2001). Most distribution from the vineyards is done with private, leased, or hired trucking companies. Most wine producers hire a trucking company to distribute their product. Kendall-Jackson, the 10th largest winery in the United States is located in Sonoma County of Northern California. Seeing a problem with hiring a trucking company, they saw a need for better transportation cost accounting, flexibility to expand with growth, and improving customer service. In wine production timing is key, whether it is transporting juice from the vineyards, moving finished product or hauling cases of bottled product to distributors, a well-run winery relies on precise timing (Kendall-Jackson: Smart Transportation Route to Continue Growth, Beverage Industry, Nov 2001, p. 46). Kendall-Jackson discovered having its own trucking fleets was not cost effective so they incorporated a leased trucking fleet for high priority transportation needs, and used a hired trucking fleet for outside carriers. Therefore there are several avenues that wine producers can use to transport their wine. The cost in any of the three distribution channels is high, limiting the distribution power of the smaller vineyards that typically rely on local sales. Bargaining Power of Suppliers There are two different suppliers in the winemaking industry, those who produce the grapes, and those who produce the wine. Most wine producers are their own main suppliers, because of the great timing needed from harvest to production. To ensure the quality of the juice most vineyards make and bottle their wine at their vineyards. Many vineyards will sell their grapes to each other to compensate for a bad year, or for use in blended wines. Several factors contribute to the power the suppliers have on price. If there is a shortage of a certain type of grape, due to poor production the vineyards with the products have the most power. On the other hand when there is excess in product like in the present production, the excess inventory will bring the prices down. (Time, 11, 2002). Currently the bargaining power of the suppliers is very low in the wine industry due to excess grapes, which will be later discussed as one of the key issues facing the American wine industry later in this an alysis. The same is true with the wine product. The wine that has a supply lower than demand can fetch a higher price than the wine that exceeds supply. Bargaining Power of Buyers The fate of American’s wine industry lies primarily in the hands of wine consumers. Patterns of wine consumption are key (Peters, 1997). The major buyers of wine from the vineyards are liquor stores and restaurants. Competition between these buyers can either force down the price of the wine, or increase the price of the wine. Certain wines are naturally (due to the lack of needed farm land) scarce. Competition between buyers can drive up the price of the wine per bottle because the demand is greater than the supply. On the other hand if there is excess in the production of wine the competition can force the prices down. Threat of Substitute products and services Threat of Substitutes There are wineries in more than forty states; most people live within driving distance of some version of wine country. Wineries are welcome by residents and communities because winemaking is a clean industry, and a good neighbor. Also, the associated tourism brings in a source of income (Peters, 1997). Even though vineyards are virtually everywhere the amount of threat of these vineyards is minimal. These small vineyards generally also have small markets, generally only a few hundred miles from the vineyard and other larger producers are still present in the stores and restaurants, which works to the larger producers’ benefit. On the other hand the large producers don’t benefit from the same type of branding that large beverage companies like Coke and Pepsi do. This is due generally because of the vastness of product differentiation in the market. Generally a consumer shows more favor to one cola than to another, either preferring Coke or Pepsi, then usually just drinks the one type of cola. Wine is thought to enhance food; therefore different types of wine enhance different types of food (Peters, 1997). The consumer may prefer a Chardonnay with fish, and a Merlot with a Steak. When choosing the brand of wine, customers look most for price and value. During periods of both recession and prosperity the consumption of wine tends to stay the same, however the quality of the products produced changes. This is related directly to disposable income. A decline in disposable income puts downward pressure on the prices of consumer products, as people shift away from buying premium-priced brand name products in favor of lower-priced brands and private-label goods (Standards and poors). There are several substitutes in products that may take some of the market away from even drinking wine at all; there are competitors from other beverages (Peters, 1997). Winescapes author suggest two competitors that are making a claim to the time and money of the growing number of people there is the micro brewing industry and its related brewpubs. The other, however less threatening is the growth in premium coffee shops, led by Starbucks (Peters, 1997). Firm Rivalry Rivalry Amongst Existing Competitors The buying and drinking of wine is luxury item than a needed commodity. The tastes and preferences of the consumer continue to evolve with time, and experience. Chardonnay is still the leader in wine sales in the US, but American consumers are increasingly showing a preference for red (Seeing Red, 2002). During the past decade, volume share of red wines has grown 118 percent, according to the Wine Institute; reds held 17 percent of the market in 1991, 25 percent between 1995 and last year jumped to 37 percent market share. During the same ten years white wines dropped from 49 percent market share to 40 percent, an 18 percent drop. Blush wines held their own for the first half of the decade, with 34 percent market share, but dropped to 23 percent between 1995 and 2001, a 32 percent decline. The California wines priced at more than $25 a bottle are a hot category, selling around three million cases per year. These premium California wines were almost non-existent in the mid 1980s, but are currently growing at a rate of 20 percent per year. Table wines are by far the biggest-selling category of wine in the US. With 504 million of the 563 million gallons sold last year, reports the wine institute. Table wines had 499 million gallons in sales in 2000, and have grown steadily from 461 gallons in 1997. Desert wines came in with 34 million gallons in 2001, and increase of 2 million gallons over 2000, and up from 30 million gallons in 1997. Sparkling wines sold 25 million gallons last year, down from a peak of 37 million gallons in 1999, when millennium celebrations caused consumers to stock up on the bubbly. Competition was higher in the wine industry last year than it has been in a decade, according to The Wine Institute. Wineries had to compete harder for retail shelf space and restaurant wine listings, and the dollar compared to other currencies also contributed to competition for California vintners, making foreign-made wines more affordable to U.S. consumers (Seeing Red, 2002). Competition between US states and Colorado wines are not soon going to drive either California or French wines off the shelves of wine shops in Denver, Colorado Springs, or Aspen, they may however develop sufficient local interest to allow the state’s emerging wine industry to survive. Elsewhere, in Arizona and New Mexico, or in Missouri and Arkansas the same is true. Survival is likely to be tied primarily, if not exclusively to regional loyalty. New York and Virginia are producing wines that are becoming important competitors on the national wine scene. Texas seems somewhere in between. The western wine regions along the pacific Rim of California, Oregon and Washington will continue to produce the lion’s signs of trouble in paradise, especially in the vineyards of the northern state, which can at least be partly alleviated by better weather and higher yields and by new plantings of popular cultivars (mainly Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon) a grapevine pest and a disease have become significant nuisances. Competitive Analysis There are three top wine producers in the United States (see figure 3.3). The top producers are EJ Gallo Winery, Constellation Brands, and The Wine Group. The key to top production is size of these three. The only producer who produce solely wine is EJ Gallo. One determining factor in all three of these producers that has contributed to their success is their recent acquisitions and partnerships. Constellation Brands Inc. have just acquired Ravenswood (Wall street Journal, June, 20 2001); The Wine Group’s partnership of Southern Wine Spirits of America Inc (Beverage Industry, March 2002), and EJ Gallo recent acquisition of California’s oldest wineries Mirassou Vineyards in San Jose (Beverage Industry, October 2002). This growth has enabled these three to become the leading producers in America. The main competitive advantages that these three have are their size, branding and connection with distribution channels. Because they are so large they are able to produce several different products varying in cost and quality. For instance although The Wine Group produces both Franzia, and MD (Mad Dog) 20/20, the quality between these two products is quite different. Franzia can be found at many medium to high quality restaurants, while MD 20/20 is considered to be more of a â€Å"wino† drink, only being consumed for the sole purpose of becoming intoxicated (Lucas, 47). Constellation Brands and The Wine Group also do not win many awards for their wines, because where production of wine is concerned quantity often hurts the quality of the wine. EJ Gallo has grown and expanded for three generations because of its ability to change. EJ Gallo is a name synonymous with American wine. In recent years the family owned company has gone through some changes. One of the granddaughters has taken over the company and is striving to put quality in the wine produced, in reaction to customer demand for higher quality wines. One factor that American wine producers have faced is the lack of daily wine drinking among the American public. While in other countries wine is served with each meal, Americans don’t incorporate wine with meals on a daily basis. After Prohibition when the accepted alcohol content in wine went from 12% to 20%, wine was looked at as a way to become intoxicated and the wines that sold were inexpensive with high alcohol content. EJ Gallo saw this market and produced what Americans wanted. This has made the company extremely successful, but also the company is known for having lower quality products (Lukacs, 182). Just like after prohibition now the public is demanding higher quality wines and EJ Gallo is shifting to meet the demands of the public. Over the last few years EJ Gallo have won several awards for their wines. Figure 4.4 lists the top 20 wine brands and the company that produces them in America today, according to Standard and Poors. EJ Gallo hold 5 of the top 20 spots for the best American wine brands, it is EJ Gallo’s ability to make both high quality wines and less expensive wines, along with their distribution ability and branding, that gives EJ Gallo the largest competitive advantage from other smaller and less known competitors in the wine industry. Brands Company Franzia The wine Group Carlo Rossi EJ Gallo Winery Livingston Cellar EJ Gallo Winery Almadan Canadaigua Wine EJ Wineyards EJ Gallo Winery Sutter Home Trinchero Family Estates Woodbridge Robert Mondavi Beringer Beringer Wine Estates Inglenook Canandaigua Wine Vendage Turner Road Wintners Arbor Mist Canandaigua Wine Turning Leaf EJ Gallo Winery Turing leaf EJ Gallo Winery Peter Vella EJ Gallo Winery Corbett Canyon The Wine Group Glenn Ellen UDV Wines Fetzer Brown-Forman Beverages Boone’s EJ Gallo Wines Gossamer Bay EJ Gallo Wines Concha y Toro Banfi Vintners Key issues Advertising Standards There are several wine producers who want to make America into a quality wine producer that can compete with the rest of the worlds wine producers in quality. One of the main stumbling blocks for this initiative is the general wine consumption habit of the American people. Paul Luckas, author of the book American Vintage: The Rise of American Wine talks extensively about American wine consumption in America. Even before Prohibition wine was not thought of in the same context as other liquors. Other types of liquor were thought of as having the sole purpose of intoxication, while wine was regarded as an experience, and an enhancement to food and general living (Luckas, p65). There has also been a general consensus between premium wine producers that it is the job of the wine producers to ensure that wine keeps a positive reputation. The Wine Institute last year published a Code of advertising Standards that they feel is a good addition to the informal principles of good advertising pr actice for the winegrowing industry that was first adopted in 1948. (www.wineinstitute.com). These voluntary standards use such rules to encourage the proper use of wine. The code states that there should be no references are made to the effect of what the alcohol content may produce, or how one would act under the influence of alcohol, and any advertising should only be of people of legal age through a media where over 30% of the viewer are of legal age. One of the most import aspects of the code is for says: A distinguishing and unique feature of wine is that it is traditionally served with meals or immediately before or following a meal, Therefore, when subscribers to this code use wine advertising which visually depicts a scene or setting where wine is to be served, such advertising where appropriate shall include foods and show that they are available and are being used or are intended to be used (www.wineinstitue.com).† These codes are helpful to facilitate the proper us e of wine, but also instill the purpose of everyday use with the use of food that the wine industry would like to see as a common practice. Corporate buyouts The second issue that the wine industry faces is the threat of large corporate buyouts. One of the most interesting aspects of most wine producers is that they are small, usually family owned businesses that are able to produce quality wines. Sixty percent of all U.S. wine today is produced by five companies (Time, November4 2001). Times are tough for most in the wine industry today, which has created an opportunity for larger companies to buy out smaller. As vineyards expand in the U.S. there has become an oversupply of grapes, which has depressed prices for growers but has offered a boom to companies like Canandaigua, which buys 99% of the grapes (Time, November 4 2001). Companies are snapping up wineries that are struggling, and everyone is trying to improve quality so that the wines can command higher prices. For the consumer, this is a good thing. New winemaking technology, new foreign producers and intense competition are resulting in higher quality bottles at all price levels (Time, November 4 2001). Increase Support For Table Wine in the U.S. The last issue this analysis will discuss is the lack of support for quality table wines in the U.S. An article published in American Demographics magazine’s February 2002 issue discusses the hope that after the September 11 attacks there will be an increase in wine buying. New advertising campaigns are targeting the middle class (over forty) age group who now turn more to family and enriching home lives after September 11. The above Article commercials about wine generally show wealthy people enjoying a perfect dinner that is enhanced by the particular type of wine they are consuming. The new commercials show the more middle class typical families coming together to enjoy a bottle of wine with dinner. With new advertising such as these the wine industry hopes to increase a feeling that all social classes with dinners should enjoy wine. Conclusion and Recommendations The wine industry has existed since the beginning of the U.S. The wine industry throughout history has continued to grow making a large economic impact in California. Technology has improved the production and quality of wine in the U.S. By looking at the wine industry through Porter five-industry forces model revels high barriers to entry and even higher barriers to widespread success, however there is easy access to distribution channels. Both buyers and suppliers hold bargaining power, which equally control the price. The wine industry’s largest threat of substitutes comes from micro-brew, and specialty coffee shops. Firm rivalry is strong between the competitors, because of the large number of grapes, easy access to distribution channels and the technological improvements enabling wine makers to control the quality of their product. The trend today in the wine industry is moving toward large corporations. For this reason and the high entry barriers I would not recommend anyone to join this industry. Successful competitors have been making wine for generations, who have perfected their wines, and have created a brand for themselves. There is also and excess amount of grapes that drives the price of wine down, and increases the competition. After my research I think making wine will have to stay a hobby.

The Presentation of Women in To Kill a Mockingbird Research Paper Example

The Presentation of Women in To Kill a Mockingbird Research Paper Example The Presentation of Women in To Kill a Mockingbird Paper The Presentation of Women in To Kill a Mockingbird Paper Essay Topic: Literature To Kill a Mockingbird Women were very much idealised in the southern society. They were regarded as pure and delicate. They were said to be fragile and unfit to deal with real life situations. In theory, this is meant as a high status, but women found it very offensive and extremely restrictive. This made them become very frustrated, and in general, they became depressed. The whole southern community had feelings of frustration, but they women suffered more. Southern women suffered simply because they were women, and because they could convey and express such feelings. In To Kill a Mockingbird a recurrent theme is Scouts hatred of the gracious, ladylike, well-mannered role which her aunt tries to inflict upon her. Scout rejects her feminine ways and name of Jean -Louise, and prefers her male nickname, Scout. The fact that the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, is female is an advantage to the presentation of women in the novel because she would know how it feels to be a woman in those times, and she would know how they are being treated. Harper Lee was a young writer in South America, she was born in 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama which was a small South American town, which in a way resembles Maycomb, the town in which To Kill a Mockingbird is set, although in an interview, Harper Lee maintained that To Kill a Mockingbird was intended to portray not her own childhood home but a rather non specific southern town. People are people, wherever you put them, she declared. The novel is also said to be firmly based on Harper Lees background. In this essay, I am going to discuss the female characters in the novel, the womens position within the Maycomb society and the womens influence on the novel as a whole. Jean Louise Finch, also known as, Scout is a very important female character in the novel. She competes with Jem and their coloured cook Calpurnia for the attention of her father Atticus. She has a very loving relationship with Atticus, and she gives Jem the status of her hero, although they do not always get on as well as expected. Scout is observant and in ways, very confident. She doesnt always understand everything that she is told, or sees happening, although she demonstrates an ability to absorb things, as she is a very intelligent, young girl. She is a non-judgemental child who is able to have lots of fun and is always happiest in her overalls, instead of typical girly dresses. She has the social identity of a tomboy in the prim and proper world of Maycomb. Scout is a very thoughtful girl, she worries about the goodness and evil of mankind and she always acts with the best intentions at heart, although she sometimes goes about things the wrong way. As the novel progresses, Scout grows up a lot, although it is only in the space of 3 years, she matures a great deal. At the beginning of the novel, Scout is an innocent, good-hearted 5 year old, who has had hardly any experience with the big, wide world and by the end of the book, though she is still only a young child, her perspective on life progresses from the innocent child, to a near grown up. She has her first contact with evil in the form of racism when her father Atticus is called a Nigger Lover. She reacts badly to this incident and takes it to heart. Atticus brought up Scout with an element of sympathy and understanding and this indicates that whatever evil she comes face to face with she will retain her conscience without becoming cynical. Scouts mother died when Scout was only 2 years old, so her father, Atticus, who is a big role model in her life, brought her up. However, the two main female role models in her life are Calpurnia, the coloured cook who lives with the Finch family and Miss Maudie, who is like a best friend to the children. Scout grows up with Calpurnia, and although they do not really get on at first, by the end of the novel Scout looks up to Cal. They form more of a relationship where Scout enjoys spending time with her. Miss Maudie is the other main female role model for Scout. She is an old, yet very good friend of the family. She shares Atticus passion for justice and agrees in the way he brought up Scout and Jem. Miss Maudie is like a mother figure to Scout, who in a way replaces Scouts real mother. Out of all the adults in Maycomb, Miss Maudie is like the childrens best friend, apart from Atticus of course. Miss Maudie Atkinson, a widow in her late forties, is a very good friend of the Finch family. She is well loved by the whole of the family, especially the children. She is always out working in her garden, and is a source of company and information to the children. In a way, I think that Scout and Jem both admire her. She is a very positive character in the novel and a big role model. She is very courageous and has a good, fun sense of humour. She has a non racist attitude, which Scout, especially admires. You can tell that she isnt racist as she stands by Atticus through the Tom Robinson case. I think that Miss Maudie gets along with everyone or at least tries too. She has an amount of respect for all living things. Scout has a very high opinion of Miss Maudie, as said before; she is one of Scouts main role models. She has a lot of wisdom about her, which helps Scout a lot through the novel. She is a mother-like figure to the children, she does not talk down to them, she has respect for them, which is why they respect and value her. She a constant reassuring and sensible model for the children when Atticus is not around. When her house burns down, she shows a tremendous amount of strength and resilience. Miss Maudie and the children often have very in-depth conversations together about what Arthur Radley was like when he grew up, rigid religion and of Atticus talent. Scout and Miss Maudie are in a way, very alike. They have the same views on life, which is why I think they get along so well, even though Scout is only young. The both disapprove of racism and prejudice. Neither of them really have the desire to gossip. Scout has a very high opinion of Miss Maudie, which I think influences the reader to have the same type of opinion of her. As the novel goes on, you get to know Scout as a person, and in a way, learn to love the people she love one being Miss Maudie Atkinson. Calpurnia is the black cook and housekeeper that lives in the Finch family household. She is quite a strong character in the novel. She experiences better conditions and responsibilities, than other African Americans of her time, due to Atticus belief. She is very able to negotiate between the two very different, separate worlds of Maycomb the black and the white. She teaches Scout and Jem most of the same lessons which they are taught by Atticus and Miss Maudie. She is quite a strict lady, and as she is considered as one of the family, she is allowed to freely scold and lecture the children. At first, the children, especially Scout do not like this, but as the novel progresses I think they realise that she is only doing her best for them. Cal and Scout bond quite a lot through the novel, they sit and talk, and Calpurnia teaches Scout about keeping respect for people, and taking time to understand others. I think that this helps Scout to build quite a strong relationship with Cal. Having such a close relationship with Calpurnia even helps Scout see that being a girl isnt so bad after all, and despite being coloured and just the Finchs cook and housekeeper, she becomes a type of mother to Scout in many ways. Miss Henry Lafayette Dubose is one of the more nasty characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. She is said to be one of the meanest women to ever have lived in the Maycomb County. Se is a very old, ill and argumentative woman. She is racist and prejudiced which is a dominating reason of why the children dislike her, as neither of them have been brought up to be like that. The children tend to avoid her, as she is a viscous woman, and it upsets them, the way she calls Atticus a Nigger Lover because of his Tom Robinson case and having Calpurnia living with them. One day, when Mrs Dubose calls Atticus a Nigger Lover it particularly gets to the children, and inspires Jem to cut off Mrs Duboses precious Camellias. As a punishment for this Jem has to go to read to Mrs Dubose everyday. Jem hates the idea but Scout offers to go with him (this is an aspect of Scout and Jems close relationship). The children are scared to go there everyday, but Atticus tells them to maintain their politeness with her, as she is just an ill, lonely lady. They also learn more courage as they are going to visit everyday. Having Mrs Henry Lafayette Dubose as a character in the novel, indicates that there are both good and bad characters in the book. Harper Lee has realistically created complex personalities. Alexandra referred to in the book as Aunt Alexandra is Atticus sister. She is a very strong-willed, proud woman, and is very devoted to her family and her expectations of them. She is like the perfect southern woman. She is a very traditional woman, and personality trait often leads her to clash with Scout. She has strict views on how children should be brought up, and girls should be typical girls, so she disapproves of Scouts tomboyish ways. She tries to enforce these views on Scout, which drives Scout away from her, as Scout is happy the way she is and the way she dresses. Alexandra is very much concerned with bringing up Atticus children properly, this shows when she comes to help look after the children during the Tom Robinson trials. She is quite a racist woman, which does not help when she is staying with Atticus and the children, as Calpurnia is the cook. She has very different views to Calpurnia on bringing up the children and the roles of southern women. This makes it quite hard for them to live in the same household and causes them a lot of tension, as they tend to clash, as they are very different. Scout and Aunt Alexandra build a better relationship towards the end of the novel, they realise they arent so different after all, and rather learn to get along. They learn to live with each other and accept each others rules and views. I think that there are many strong female characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. One of the strongest being Scout. She changes a lot through the novel, we get to know her really well, and notice her changes from a small child into more of a person. The role of southern women is a big aspect of the story. It is shown in many ways, from the way Calpurnia is, and the way Aunt Alexandra is.

Organizational structure and culture of GE and Google Essay

Organizational structure and culture of GE and Google - Essay Example GE has been able to attract leaders with an extraordinary combination of attributes: passion, vision, and deep sensitivity to the huge issues that challenge the world around them. It is made up of employees who are self-driven to make a difference. When it comes to the kind of environment, GE is the best place to work in. it has a high-performance culture that particularly emphasizes high-integrity business practices as well as work balance. GE’s CEO says, â€Å"We believe a company can accomplish more even as it does well.† This belief drives GE’s organizational practice from the philanthropic efforts of its foundation to the millions of volunteer hours donated by the employees to community initiatives worldwide.It’s really the people that make it the kind of company it is. â€Å"We hire smart and determined people and we favor ability over experience,† said Google CEO. Although the people of Google share common goals and visions for the company, t hey hail from all walks of life and speak a number of languages, reflecting the global audience that they serve. Google pursues interests ranging from beekeeping to recycling, from foxtrot to Frisbee, when not at work. Google strives to maintain the open culture often associated with startups, in which everyone is a contributor and feels comfortable sharing ideas and opinions. Google’s offices and cafes are designed to motivate and encourage interactions between Google members across and within teams and to spark conversation about play as well as work.

No need Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

No need - Assignment Example By the end of the day the difference between the two groups was significant. On the days that the dog group didn’t have dogs at work, the stress level was the same as the others. The results obtained could not apply to employees in other companies. It was not clear if the same results would be obtained if it was carried out at night. Finally the workers had limited time in which to avail themselves for the study. Further research on the presence of dogs in the work place should be done. Larger organizations should be the target. The effect of other factors such as tiredness, productivity and absenteeism on the findings should be investigated. The study was carried out thoroughly but should have been widened to other companies that same time. The gift that was to be won by one participant was not motivating enough, this is known from the fact that some opted out of the study for being told to leave their dogs at