How Future Changes in Economic, Political, Legal and Social Factors Essay

Data protection act 1998 There are many advantages to Enterprise rent a car and there customers on of them being that if they abide by the data protection act its easier for them to do so as they don’t need to necessarily protect someone’s data for a long time and they can actually dispose of it when its not needed any more. This gives them more space to store new data that they may need to. Another advantage for customers is that when enterprise rent a car store their data they do not need to worry as they are not allowing being in possession of it for a very long period of time as they need to dispose of it when they don’t need it anymore. The disadvantages are that enterprise rent a car could be taken to court if they do not dispose of their client’s information when they don’t need it anymore. A disadvantage for a customer is that if their data is not disposed of properly someone could access their personal details which are highly dangerous as they could do anything th ey wish with your information. Computer misuse act of 1990 There are many advantages Enterprise rent a car one of these being that the business would know about people who hack into company data and have software’s which protect their files from any hackers meaning that people personal private data would be safe. The disadvantages of Enterprise rent a car and their customers are that if they do get hacked their details could be made public which would be very dangerous as they could loose important data which could not be accessed again. A disadvantage for customers is that their private details to do with money or money transfers could be made public and money could be taken out of their accounts if their bank details are made public Whistle blowing Enterprise rent a car has many advantages when it comes to whistle blowing an advantage which benefits the business is that the business being told certain information gives them an advantage over other businesses as whistle blowers get legal protection through the public disclosure act. A disadvantage is that Enterprise rent a car could get fined or shutdown if it is found too be involved in any breaking of the law. Freedom of information act 2000 Advantages of enterprise rent a car and their customers is that the freedom of information act involves their customers paying to be able to provide them with the information which is held in regards to them in the public sector. The advantage for customers is that it would be that they are able to look at the information which is held about them by the police which is their criminal records or anything like that. The disadvantages being that this act does not mean that people can access the information which is held about them. Another disadvantage being that the act would be that customers may have to pay for the information although the price is sometimes too high to access this.

This has always been a major part of my identity

I am Korean.   This has always been a major part of my identity, even though I was born in America.   Being a member of another culture in America means that the way I have always viewed life, and success, is different than the way most Americans view it.   My mother, who was born and raised in Korea, contributed to this significantly.   She did not understand American culture, and never fully adapted to American life.   Living in a new country was confusing for her, which is why she clung so strongly to her native culture.   She passed this culture and way of thinking on to me. My mother was a typical Korean mother – prideful, overbearing, and she always had the attitude of â€Å"I’m always right no matter what you think.†Ã‚   Her attitude was maddening at times, especially when she remained completely calm despite telling me I was wrong and she was right.   However, it was this very attitude that shaped who I turned out to be, in many different ways. Traditional Korean values and American jobs do not mix well.   It was because of my mother’s strong Korean views that she could not keep a steady job in America.   This put us at a real economic disadvantage, but my mother remained strong no matter what.   She would find another job, and continue to provide for us somehow.   Even when money was tight, she was not discouraged.   My mother remained strong and did what she had to do. Watching her strength tore me apart sometimes.   I saw how hard she had to work, just to help us get by.   When I was 14, after having lost another job, my mother was forced to work for my aunt’s cleaning business.   She was assigned to clean a building that was within walking distance of our home, because she often had car troubles.   She made only minimum wage doing this, which I knew was not enough to support us. I asked my aunt if I could work with my mother in order to make extra money to help with bills.   While I can’t say I was thrilled at the prospect of working at the age of 14, I knew I needed to do this.   At first, my aunt resisted letting me, and my mother wasn’t happy either.   She did not want me to work.   However, within a week, both realized how serious I was about working, and they relented.   Already I had picked up from my mother’s attitude that I needed to do what had to be done, even if I did not want to. When we were not working, my mother and I talked sometimes.   Every chance that we had, it would always be about the same dreaded topic — my future. Being so deep inside of the grave, as I liked to call our financial situation, there was only one direction to look – up and out of the hole. I never admitted to myself that I wanted to leave her to go to college; how could I? Life was hard enough with both of us working, so it didn’t seem possible for her to do it on her own.   However, my mother had other ideas about my future.   She wanted what was best for me, and not the life that she had raised me in. I always protested when she told me this, because I wanted to stay and help her.   But she would tell me then, in her serious, don’t-argue tone that I needed to go to college to make my life better.   Our conversations had an enormous effect on my work ethic and my sense of responsibility.   I wanted to receive my degree and help my mom so that she could retire, because she was so selfless in taking care of me, and pushing me towards a brighter future. My mother’s quiet, hard-working attitude left a major impression on me. She taught me never to give up, to always do what is necessary, and to continually strive to do better.   I will not relent in the face of life’s struggles. I will be strong, I will work hard, and I will dream of a future that would not have been possible if it were not for my mother.

Environmental Audit Concerning Entry of TESCO in Bahrain Essay

Environmental Audit Concerning Entry of TESCO in Bahrain - Essay Example are (1) The Political Environment (2) The Economic Environment (3) The Socio-Cultural Environment (4) The Technological Environment (5) The External Environment and (6) The Legal Environment (Boddy & Paton, 2009, 5). Analysis of each of these elements separately will indicate the opportunities and threats they hold for a business entering that particular local environment- it is largely country specific. Michael Porter has mentioned in his book ‘Competitive Strategy’ that there are five forces impacting on the survival of any firm in a particular industry. These are (1) Barriers to Entry and Exit (2) Bargaining Power of Buyers (3) Bargaining Power of Suppliers (4) Threats of Substitutes and (5) Competitive Rivalry (Porter, 1980, 15). Obviously TESCO has to take a look at all these elements while considering its proposed entry into Bahrain. PESTEL Analysis of TESCO from the Perspective of a Setup in Bahrain I will start this part of my paper by narrating a short history o f TESCO’s origins and its methods of expansion as I believe these have an impact on organizational culture and management’s thinking and analysis of opportunities and threats. I will next launch into the particular environments in Bahrain and see what opportunities or threats each of the six forces discussed above in PESTEL provide for TESCO in terms of setting up business here. Tesco began operating in the UK in 1919 after its founder Jack Cohen purchased a running business from one T.E Stockwell: he took the first three initials TES and added the first two of his last name CO from Cohen to serve as a name for the newly acquired enterprise. TESCO initially was a grocery store type outlet in which the founder sold surplus items. The first branded TESCO store made its appearance in 1929 in Burnt... This assignment is an attempt to conduct an Environmental Audit for an international brand TESCO entering Bahrain market. A company like TESCO must think very carefully before it embarks on an international expansion. The author believes conducting an environmental analysis and using the PESTEL format to analyze forces in the local environment of Bahrain may give positive or negative signals to TESCO management. Therein lies the importance of an environmental analysis to TESCO or any other firm considering investment in Bahrain. The work provides the description of a typical environmental audit. It involves the analysis of the following six forces affecting the business environment, in terms of the opportunities and threats they provide for new entrants. These are (1) The Political Environment (2) The Economic Environment (3) The Socio-Cultural Environment (4) The Technological Environment (5) The External Environment and (6) The Legal Environment. The analysis of each of these eleme nts separately indicate the opportunities and threats they hold for TESCO. The author also conducts the Analysis of Opportunities and Threats, Strengths and Weaknesses (SWOT), where the opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses regarding TESCO’s proposed entry into Bahrain are discussed. The conclusion of the work is TESCO will not go wrong in entering the Bahraini marketplace if it chooses to position itself as a low-cost provider and a premium goods seller, targeting all and different segments of the market.

Problems with African Democracy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Problems with African Democracy - Research Paper Example To better understand the main challenges that Democracy has faced in Africa, it is important to briefly look at the history of Democracy in Africa. As Samuel Decalo argues in his book Psychosis of Power: African Personal Dictatorship, the struggle for independence in Africa since the first half of the twentieth century was based on the view that the colonized people had the right and the ability to determine their political destinies on the basis of self-determination (Decalo, 1989). Decalo goes ahead to argue in this book that many African countries embraced democracy as an ideal system of governance because democracy offered all the citizens of a country the opportunity to participate in the decision making of their countries. Decalo goes ahead to argue that African countries embraced Democracy because they were tired of the authoritarian rule of the colonizers and they therefore wanted a system of governance that would ensure that all the citizens of their countries would participate in making crucial decision of their countries. However, when many African countries became independent from late 1950s up to the early 1990s, what followed was a history of authoritarian regimes and many coup d’à ©tats (Owusu, 1991).  In his article â€Å"Democracy and Africa- A view from the Village†, Owusu says that from 1960 up to 1990, more than thirty African countries had experienced either a coup d’à ©tat, or an abortive coup d’à ©tat.  

Quality Management at Toyota Motor Co Term Paper

Quality Management at Toyota Motor Co - Term Paper Example Most of the organisations use the standard based on ISO 9000. There is certain quality control models developed for automobile industry in various countries namely VDA for Germany, AVSQ for Italy and QS-9000 for US automobile industry among others. Since 1951, Japan offers Deming-Award for Quality Management (FinePrint, n.d.). Quality Management Based On ISO 9000 Source: (Comite euro-international du beton, 1998). 1. Brief Historical Background Toyota Motor Company is a renowned name in the automobile industry of the present world. Toyota manufactures vehicles as well as automobile-related products, such as engines, car air-conditioning compressors and car electronics components. Toyota achieved its success by applying its innovative idea of ‘lean marketing’. The aim of lean marketing is to offer additional values to the end customers (Morrison, 2011). Toyota established Toyota Motors Pvt. Ltd. in the year 1937 in Japan. In the year of 1938, production began in Honsha Pl ant. From 1959, with the initiation of Motamachi plant, the company started focusing on its quality performance that rewarded it Deming Application Prize in the year of 1965. Led by certain mergers and acquisitions, the company always focuses on the quality and comfort of its customers. Toyota Motor Company has diversified its business over the years throughout the world. In 2002, it entered into the domain of Formula One World Championship. It has taken several initiatives with respect to the quality control issues as well as for the environment. It has implemented advanced technology to manage the quality. The company has taken initiative for utilising hydrogen as alternative fuel, providing plug-in vehicles among others. The philosophy of the company is to serve customers at prompt and to satisfy the customers with enhanced quality. Toyota has its own experts to check the quality of the vehicles in various situations in order to ensure the customer safety. Toyota has put emphasis on ‘traffic safety education’ since the 1960s and never intends to compromise on the quality of vehicle. Toyota recommends safety driving lecture sessions in support of drivers as well as ‘traffic safety education’ activities designed for teenagers (Moneycontrol.com, 2007). Toyota fulfils its corporate social responsibilities (CSR) by offering safe and reliable vehicles to its customer. The automobile industry is facing newer challenges day-by-day. There are certain factors for which companies face newer challenges that can create higher demand like globalisation and increasing competition along with others. In addition, there are safety requirements and environmental commitments which have a major influence of Toyota’s operations. In the present context, customers are not satisfied with standardised vehicles; they want their personal requirements to be incorporated by the company in the vehicles that they want to purchase. Thus, Toyota has to take into consideration the needs of customers in commensurate with the quality standards of the vehicle and has to ensure that quality standards do not deter due to the added features. Toyota’s fundamental philosophy depends on five values that assemble its employees towards corporate course of action with the intention to support further development, are indicated in given figure.

Comparing of World Views Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparing of World Views - Essay Example Among some of the worldviews in contemporary society are realism, liberalism and neo-liberalism. The subsequent sections offer an in depth comparison of the worldviews in light of understanding, their impact upon individuals, cultures and nations. Realism Worldview The realist worldview holds a pessimistic ideology of state relations, global politics and peaceful cohesion. According to, Thomas Hobbes, a world renown theorist of classical realism, â€Å"Where there is no common power, there is no law; where no law, no justice. Force and law are in war with the two cardinal virtues.† Consequently, the realist worldview contends that global politics is a constant fight for power, control and position by the partisan state interests. Thus in the quest for asserting power and influence, realists believe in military strength as a benchmark. In most cases the military strength is put to test and consequently places the threat of warfare and violence on the world (Griffiths, 2012). Fu rthermore, the realist view places responsibility on states as the major factors that influence actions in the world. Moreover, the human rights of individuals are violated over state interests. According to the realist worldview, there exists a lack of higher state authority to maintain order and global peace. As a result, the world is in a constant state of anarchy and states are compelled to maintain a high level of personal protection and defense. States are in constant lookout for ways to bolster their security and boost power. Consequently, the states with greater military capacity foment and assert their strength by intimidating or attacking other states. Thus, according to this worldview, war is not only a possibility, but inevitable. In a nut shell the core tenets of realism are that global politics are defined by power over justice, the struggle for power and the balance of power results to stability. Liberal Worldview The liberal worldview takes on a more positive stance in relation to world politics, the optimism of peace and state relations. According to Dworkin, a renowned liberal theorist, equal concern and respect are the basic tenets that government should apply in governing citizens (Dworkin, 1977). Moreover, John Rawls, a famous liberal political theorist, states that the legal system of any society must ascribe to the principles of justice and fairness. Furthermore, he adds that a liberal society flourishes from the rational decision making of human beings and consequently results to good life (Rawls, 1971). The roots of liberal worldview are attributed to Immanuel Kant’s philosophy book entitled â€Å"Towards Perpetual Peace.† Kant believed that global peace was a reality through Free State federations that promote security and international order. Furthermore, he stated that an independent legislature was fundamental in checking the powers of republican governments. Consequently, the basic tenets of liberal worldview critici ze the realist worldview by emphasizing on cooperation, cohesive existence and peace in the quest for world transformation. Furthermore, the liberal worldview believes in the possibility of global cooperation in contrast to power struggles. Moreover, liberalist worldview disregards anarchy and power struggles that are hypothesized by the realist worldview. The overriding reason forwarded is the interdependence of states that shape the reality of contemporary world politics. Modern day liberal theorist such as Kymlicka, offers a refined political liberal theory in

Middle East Final Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Middle East Final Exam - Essay Example This was followed by Christian anti-Semitism, which occurred in the middle epoch and was principally religious in nature. This was further followed by conventional or olden Muslim anti-Semitism, which was apparently nuanced due to the case of Jews being protected socially. Socio-political and economical anti-Semitism associated with Europe in the period of enlighten and post enlightenment which crafted the basis for racial anti-Semitism. Racial anti-Semitism was inculcated in the era of Nazism around the 19th century (Falk 5). Modern anti-Semitism has emerged lately and is acknowledged as fresh anti-Semitism. However, in our study, we will deal with the anti-Semitism occurring in the 19th century. The introduction of the era of industrialization and the scientist revolution in Europe encouraged and was characterized by extreme anti-Semitism (Falk 25). Zionism is a Jewish political affiliation that aims at empowering and boosting the self esteem of the Jewish people in a sovereign nat ional homeland of the Jews. It advocates for the Jewish people and addresses the critical intimidation and threats to their affluence and continued existence. Liberal Zionism, being our major focus, included advocacies by Zionist leaders such as Herzi and Weizmann, although not directed to a single party, for democracy and human rights adherence and free market capitalism. Kadima, however, diverted his advocacy towards the establishment of a democratic society in Israel, the dire need for Palestinian statehood and granting of equal rights for Israeli Arab citizens among other grievances (Falk 5). Theodor Herzl is the father to modern Zionism and emergence of the Israeli state. The imminent rise of anti-Semitism was what pickled Herzl’s attention and caused him to inculcate the fight against it. Despite the fact that he was steeped into the European culture, Herzl was perturbed by the augmenting hate for the Jews and, thus, started fighting for his dignity (Falk 55). With cont inued fight against Zionist movement by various Jewish leaders, Herzl pressed for more attention on the congress to conquer the communities or work with the Jewish communities in addition to political focus on the Palestine community. Thus, he elicited cohesion and serenity in the Jewish and Palestinian communities through activism as he wrote news articles discouraging anti-Semitism. Thus, he addressed the plight of the Jews and pressed for independence of Palestine and freedom foe Jewish people to his grave. Chaim Weizmann was brought up in a Jewish steeped setting and grew up aware of the plight of Jews. He played a big role in fighting for Zionism. In his liaison with Balfour for the enforcement of the Balfour’s declaration, Weizmann confessed that all he needed was home for his people. He secured a credit as one of the founding fathers of Israel. In 1919, Weizmann and his acquaintance Faisal, the future crown of Iraq, stroke an accord dubbed the Faisal-Weizmann agreement , which inculcated peaceful relations between Arabs and Jews within the Middle East. This accord lobbied for the settlement of Jews in Palestine (Falk 55). After this accord, Weizmann became the influential leader of the world Zionist movement where he liaised with Albert Einstein to raise funds for the construction of the Hebrew university in Jerusalem. He ended up as the first president of Israel where he brought people together. Before and after the Second World War,

UDL Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

UDL - Assignment Example Lesson ideas are well established by offering full plans, along with tips on introducing the topic, which would help someone to better understand how a topic should be brought up to students. Internet resources about poetry slams, including books and visual aid, supplement the lesson plans and offer extra material to be added, or to allow the teacher to tweak already existing ideas. By providing internet resources and online plans, the lesson is appealing to the modern learning style of using technology to assist comprehension. The chart of alternative methods is extremely useful in understanding how to better deal with children who have special learning requirements. Specific issues are addressed, and then are answered with possible suggestions, backed up by internet resources. Clever solutions are mentioned to deal with comprehension issues, such as using a text-to-speech tool on the computer to help students understand how to read or say certain words. This specific area of the ar ts is perfect for helping students with comprehension and reading techniques.

You Decide Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

You Decide - Coursework Example The best product offering for this market segment would be the family portraits with a choice between an office one and one for home use. The reasoning behind this is that the corporate executives are busy people who rarely have time for home issues. Having a portrait that shows a whole family at the office could be just what these people would love to have to remind them of home. Choosing a product offering for any market segment must consider the needs, preferences, lifestyles, habits, ability to buy and the value it gives the customer (Kotler & Armstrong, 2010). High end customers are difficult to understand because of varied preferences and customization may be required in many instances (Mullins & Walker, 2010). An online value proposition answers the questions: who are we, what do we offer, who we serve and what makes us unique? The online value proposition is more than a proposition as it shows what a firm can offer using content, products, services and or experiences to engage online customers (Kurtz, 2008). The company should use its unique technology as its online selling proposition. A variety of portraits should be availed on the website showing various product offerings with different versions of the same portrait available. The website should also give the executives an opportunity to make fast, secure payments for the portraits on the website Brand equity represents an intangible asset for any company and depends on the associations made by the customers. Strong brand equity ensures a more stable stream of income, increases cash flow and is an asset that can be sold (Pride & Ferrel, 2010). Brand equity can be built basing on financials or on consumers. Our Town Photography Studio brand equity should focus on building consumer loyalty in the brand. When people especially the executives have a strong liking for the firms products, chances are

Terrorism Definition Essay Example for Free

Terrorism Definition Essay â€Å"Terror or terrorism is one of the oldest disasters on the earth. It can be said that this system named terrorism is, for the centuries, here on this earth. But there have always been differences to define it. If you talk from the side of terrorists, you can hear different reasons of terrorism from every affected area of terrorism. If not going deep into, it can be understood, the affected victims of the society call it terrorism what the terrorists indulged in terrorism call it crusade, revenge or an offensive action to oppose. The worldwide terrorism has different reasons in different parts of the world. Somewhere the terrorism is to get freedom or somewhere to get sovereignty. At same place, these activities are being carried out to free the region from the opponents. At some places the basic reason of terrorism is poverty, starvation unemployment. But at international level, the media mostly talks of, that is so said the Islamic terrorism.† http://www.irfi.org/articles2/articles_2851_2900/American%20Target%20-%20Terrorism%20or%20Islam.HTM. â€Å"There were terrorist activities even before the 9/11 terrorist attack on America. But the form of terrorism was different from the form of terrorism prevalent now-a-days. Before 9/11, America was known as the spectator of so said Islamic terrorism or at some places it was known that it worked as a helper to organize it. But the event of 9/11 forced America to think that even America can fall victim to own pet snake. So on this day, American President Bush declared to start a worldwide war against terrorism. After the event of 9/11, America took a vow to uproot the tree of terrorism from the world. Most of the Muslim countries of the world strongly oppose the thought of strong religionist terrorism call it anti-Islamic. These Muslim countries openly favored America against terrorism after 9/11. Even the terrorists accused the rulers of these Muslim countries, who opposed terrorism, as anti-Islamic or Pro-American.

Responsibilities And Strategies Of HSBC

Responsibilities And Strategies Of HSBC This report mainly focuses on an organizations stakeholders, market conditions and how firms adapt to different business circumstances. An organization needs to identify mission statement, values and key objectives and how these things influence of stakeholders. Environment of business is important to organization. The company should understand their responsibilities and strategies. They should identify the competitive strategies implemented to gain competitive advantage over competitors. An organization should identify the, what respects are perfect competition and what respect are unlike perfect competition. Introduction History HSBC, in 1882, appointed Delmege Reid and Co. the predecessor of the present Delmege Forsyth and Co. Ltd. as its agency in Colombo. In 1884 the islands economy suffered a severe setback when coffee plantations throughout the country were almost totally destroyed by disease. As a result of this and the folding up of the once great Orient Bank, HSBC saw an opening for a corporate bank like itself. In the early 1920s the bank purchased and began construction on land adjoining the Bank of Madras. HSBC moved into its new home at 24, Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha (which it occupies even today), an impressive landmark in Colombos architectural and business landscape. Through the good times and the bad that followed, HSBC supported Sri Lankan businesses. The Chetty Crisis which began in 1927 was so termed because many Chattier business people were forced to default their loans. While the impression was that foreign banks discriminated against Sri Lankans and did not advance monies freely to local businesses, 50 per cent of HSBCs lending during this time was to Indians and Sri Lankans. With the stationing of the British Air Force in parts of Sri Lanka during the Second World War, HSBC became a hub of activity. During this time and until 1956, the Government of Ceylon kept a very substantial revenue account with HSBC. Today, HSBC has become one of the most profitable banks in the country. Technological Innovations As an innovative bank, HSBC has led the Sri Lankan banking industry into the electronic age with the installation of the nations first online automated teller machine (ATM). HSBC was also the first bank to computerize its operations and to establish an Internet Payment Portal. Furthermore, the introduction of phone banking, personal internet banking and the Groups global electronic banking platforms, such as Hexagon and HSBC net, has greatly enhanced the service they deliver to their customers. Listed below are many firsts from HSBC; Installation of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Sri Lanka in 1986 Computerized banking operations in Sri Lanka Electronic DC Advising, a quick and easy way for customers to receive their export Documentary Credit and amendments via e-mail or fax. Introduction of electronic banking via Hexagon in 1994 Introduction of self-service banking through Day and Night Automated Banking Centers in 2004 Launch of state-of-the-art banking, internet based electronic banking platform; HSBC net in 2005 Introduction of Security Tokens for added online protection in 2005 Easy Pay machines to facilitate cash and cheque deposits in 2006 Introduction of toll free telephone banking in 2007 1.1 Mission Statement We live the brand values to passionately deliver world-class customer experiences through a dynamic, motivated and professional team, which demonstrates mutual respect whilst providing innovative solutions and continuously outperforming the market to the most sought-after financial service provider admired by all. 1.1.1Values and key objectives To exceed customer expectations in service quality. To be a pioneer in the implementation of technologies those create distinction for its customers, employees and shareholders. To keep its reliability at the utmost level with the contribution of its strong capital structure and liquid assets. To make a positive contribution to the community. To respect meritocracy during hiring processes, improving knowledge and skills of its employees, creating the mostly preferred work environment. Through its core business principles, HSBC functions to accomplish it objectives. HSBC.com lists these as outstanding customer service; effective and efficient operations; strong capital and liquidity; prudent lending policy; and strict expense discipline. HSBC also stresses that commitment by employees helps to create long-term customer relationships, a keystone of the banks profitability model. HSBC.com states this is accomplished through attention to integrity, ethics and managerial oversight. The HSBC Group is committed to five Core Business Principles: †¢ Outstanding customer service †¢ Effective and efficient operations †¢ Strong capital and liquidity †¢ Conservative lending policy †¢ Strict expense discipline HSBCs commitment to its values has allowed the company to accomplish many of its goals for expansion and profitability, as well as commitment to local investment and excellent customer service. HSBC is designed to be both global and local. Bankers Almanac ranked HSBC as the 14th largest bank in the world, in terms of assets, in 2009. In addition, HSBC is carrying its objectives forward into the Information Age: Global Finance Magazine rated HSBC as one of the worlds best Internet banks for 2009 (Anonymous, 2010) 1.1.2 Products 1.2.0 Stakeholders Analysis Stakeholder analysis is needed for the company to identify its most important stakeholder and understand about group around the organization. It will also tell the company which group has the greatest impact to the company. HSBC Sri Lanka has stakeholders such as Customers, shareholders and employees. All stakeholders are very important to the HSBC. Stakeholders of the organization and their Objectives Stakeholder Objectives Managers/Directors To retain control. To direct major decision making. Employees Good working environment. Motivation and satisfaction. To secure their jobs. Customers To receive good customer service. To obtain good value for money from the goods and services. Shareholders To receive dividends. To share the profitability of the business. To share the share price. Suppliers To continue to sell profitably to the business. To be paid fully for goods supplied. Competitors To compete by all lawful means. To differentiate products from other businesses. Government/Legal Institutions To receive tax revenue from profitable firms. To assist the business in accordance with the local and national policy. 1.2.1 Extent to which HSBC achieves the objectives of its stakeholders. HSBC is a fair trading company and is very concerned about the interests of the stakeholders. The objectives and the targets of the company are set in order to satisfy the stakeholders. HSBC listens to the opinions and expectations of the stakeholders including government, shareholders, and customers into business decision making processes. For example, in 2001, based on concerns around marketing to children and existing science on the age when children identify and understand advertising motives, they prevented from advertising to children under eight years of age where they are the majority of the audience. Cadbury plc has given higher concern to the following stakeholders. Strategies or Ways Implemented to achieve Responsibilities and Stakeholder Objectives An organization is responsible to its stakeholders and is responsible to achieve their objectives. Organizational responsibilities and stakeholder objectives is a combined relationship. Achieving the objectives will make the company successful in fulfilling their responsibilities. Responsibilities of Organizations Employees Customers Shareholders Equality To be safe Right to choose Safety To keep informed Right to access information Employees HSBC recruit the best people not considering of age, gender, disability or ethnicity. They aim to attract employees who will be committed to a long-term career with the Group, offering a competitive reward package and career development opportunities within a strong organization with values. HSBC encourages employees to take part in local volunteering programs. HSBC key community investment initiatives incorporate opportunities for employees to get involved by giving their time and sharing their expertise. HSBC annual Global People Survey acts as a measurement for employee engagement and satisfaction. With a 91% response rate in 2009, their employees take the survey seriously. In 2009, 77% of employees said they felt confident that HSBC is moving in the right direction and 83% said that they were proud to work for HSBC. Shareholders Shareholders are the people who invested money in the company. HSBC is a public limited company and can issue shares in the stock exchange. HSBC engage with their shareholders on an ongoing basis, holding regular meetings with fund managers. In 2009 HSBC ran a program of over 900 meetings with institutional investors, including those with a special interest in the Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) sector. Customer HSBC aims to offer customers around the world a consistently high quality service and experience using the benefits of their scale, geograp0hic reach and strong brand. HSBC aim is always to treat their customers fairly and with respect and they manage their deposits responsibly. Their lending criteria are strict, taking into consideration their customers views they carry out market surveys and communicate directly with their customers on a regular basis. When customers have difficulties making loan or mortgage repayments, they try to do their best to help them. Sometimes this means restructuring or refinancing their debts, and offering counseling on an individual basis. When access to credit became restricted for commercial customers in 2008. HSBC created a new US$ 5billion global working capital fund for small and medium-sized businesses. This was over and above what HSBC would normally expect to lend. 1.4 Competitive strategies implemented to gain competitive advantage over competitors. Technology First to introduce ATM in Sri Lanka Self service paying machine Internet Banking Telephone Banking Customer Convenience Innovation Global research teams/new systems- cost effective Strong global presence Best practices shared and implemented in other areas Products Global presence Products unique- global features/accepted world wide 1.5 Role of the Competition Commission and regulatory bodies. Competition Commission The Competition Commission is a public body which rule on competition issues referred to it by the secretary of state and the Director General. The Competition Commission replaces the MMC, which was dissolved by the Competition Act 1998 and whose functions were transferred to the CC. The Director General may require the CC to investigate and report on whether the actions of a telecommunications operator licensed under the T Act operate, or may be expected to operate, against the public interest and, if so, whether this could be remedied or prevented by modifications of the conditions of its license. The CC would also be responsible for considering any competition concerns arising from mergers and acquisitions of or by winners of WT Act Licenses, if the Secretary of state, acting on the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading refers that merger or acquisition to the CC for investigation. Regulatory Bodies The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) The Department of Trade Industry is the Government Department responsible for the development of telecommunication policy and the promotion of the telecommunications industry. The Communication and Information Industries directorate of the Department of Trade and Industry deals with national and international policy and regulatory issues, including those affecting the mobile telecommunications market. The department of trade and Industry is responsible for licensing operators to run telecommunication system under the T Act. The Rediocommications Agency (RA) The Rediocommunications Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry with responsibility for management of the radio spectrum throughout the UK. The main functions of the Radio communications Agency are formulating policy on the planning and management of the radio spectrum within the UK, co-ordination of UK views and participation in international negotiations on the use of radio, authorizing use of radio by licensing or exemption, formulating technical and operating standards for radio, enforference. The RA is responsible for issuing licenses to use the radio spectrum under the wireless Telegraphy Acts and for monitoring compliance with those licenses and taking enforcement action where necessary. The Office of Telecommunications(OFTEL) The Office of Telecommunications was established by the T Act to support the Director General of Telecommunications in the performance of his duties. The Director General and the Secretary of state have a joint duty to exercise their respective functions under the T Act to secure the provision of telecommunication services throughout the UK and, subject to this, to promote the interests of telecommunications users in respect of the prices charged for, the quality and variety of telecommunication services provided and telecommunication apparatus supplied and to maintain and promote effective competition in the telecommunications market. The Director General has a duty to give the Secretary of state advice and information with respect to licensing of telecommunication systems, at the request of the Secretary of State or where the Director General considers it expedient. OFTEL performs the function of the UKs regulatory authority in telecommunications, monitors compliance with licenses issued under the T Act and takes enforcement action where necessary. The Director General has extensive powers under the T Act, particularly when enforcing or modifying license conditions. If a condition is breached, he can require the license holder to comply by making an order. This is enforceable by third parties or the Director General through civil action. He can also make determinations for example to set out the terms for interconnection between networks where the two operators cannot agree between themselves. The Director General can also require operators or other parties to supply the information needed in order to come to a decision. Task 2 (P3) 2.0 Competition The effort of two or more parties acting independently to secure the business of a third party by offering the most favorable terms. There are two main methods in which firms compete. Price Competition. Non-price Competition. 2.1 Competitive Advantage and Competitive Strategies A competitive advantage is an advantage above competitors gained by offering consumers larger price, each by income of lower prices or by providing larger benefits and service that justifies higher prices. There are two types of competitive advantages found by Michael porter. Cost Advantage Competitive Advantage Similar Product Lower cost Differentiation Advantage Higher Price For unique Product 2.2 Strategies to Gain Competitive Advantage Gaining a competitive advantage can provide a business with a distinct advantage over its competitors. There are two basic approaches to gaining a competitive advantage. These are cost leadership and differentiation. These are the strategies that I feel, should be implemented to gain the competitive advantage. Porters five forces Resources based view Generic Strategy Porters Five Forces The model of porters five forces is used to analyze the value of an industry structure. It identifies five primary competitive forces and enables organizations to adapt the business to take advantage of the opportunities and overcome threats and gain a competitive advantage. (12-manage, 2010) These five forces should be analyzed by the company and develop its market on the forces which are weak. For example if the producer is a low cost producer it will choose powerful buyers and sell them only products that are not vulnerable from substitutes. Also a company is able to achieve a competitive advantage by altering theses forces. For example HSBC can put barriers to new entrants by using unique and capital intensive resources that competitors cannot easily copy and also use resources such as patents and trademarks. Competitive Rivalry Threats of New entry Buyer power Threats of Subsitiution Supplier power Competitive Rivelry Strenght of Competition. Similar size competitors. Financial capability of competition. Growth of the Industry. Treat of new entry Economic of scale. Government Policy. Capital Requirement. Treat of Substitution Number of similar products. Substitut availability of the market. Buyer Power Financial strenght og buyer. Number of competitors. Purchasing volume. Supplier Power Number of suppliers. Number of substitute. By using this model the company can see the position of it self in the market. This analysis can be used to adopt a suitable strategy to gain the competitive advantage. Resource-Based View This strategy emphasizes that in order to gain a competitive advantage; a firm should possess two main features. That is firms should have superior resources and capabilities exceeding its competitors. If not the competitors can easily copy what the firm was doing and the company would lose all the benefits. (QuickMBA, 2007) Generic Strategies Michael porter has found three generic strategies into which business operations can be categorized. They are cost leadership, differentiation and focus. Porter emphasizes that high profits or competitive advantage is a result of two features. He states that firm strengths will fall into one of the two headings which are differentiation and cost advantage and the extent these strengths are applied will result in the generic strategies. (QuickMBA, 2007) Generic Strategy Framework Advantage Cost leadership Differentiation Strategy Strategy Broad Narrow Target Low cost Differentiation (Quick MBA, 2007) Cost Leadership Strategy This generic strategy calls for being the low cost producer in an industry for a given level of quality. By producing the products cheaply than the competitors at a given level of quality the firm can sustain a competitive advantage on cost. This would be very advantageous as when an industry matures and prices decline, firms that can produce cheaply will remain profitable for a longer period. (QuickMBA, 2007) Each generic strategy has its risks, including low cost strategy. Differentiation Strategy This strategy calls for the development of goods that offers unique attributes that are valued by customers and that customers perceive to be better than or different from products of the competition. This strategy is producing products which contain unique features and attributes that consumer prefer to have and which are better and can be distinguished from the competitors products. The value added by uniqueness of the product may allow the firm to charge a finest price for it. (QuickMBA, 2007) Focus Strategy This strategy is concentrates on a narrow market or a segment. The firm can target the cost leadership and differentiation strategy on a particular market segment, this will create a focus cost strategy or a focus differentiation strategy. (QuickMBA, 2007) The advantage of a focus strategy is that the firm is able to meet the needs of customers effectively than if a broad market and for that reason customer loyalty increases. 3.0 Market Structures Market structure is the organizational and other characteristics of a market. We focus on those characteristics which affect the nature of competition and pricing but it is important not to place too much emphasis simply on the market share of the existing firms in an industry. Market structures allow us to analyze how much competition there is among firms making a particular product in an industry. There are four main types of market structures with different characteristics in each of them. Perfect Competition Monopoly Monopolistic Oligopoly Perfect competition Perfect competition is a market structure in which an individual firm cannot affect the price of the product it produces. Each firm in the industry is very small relative to the market as a whole, all the firms sell a homogeneous product and firms are free to enter and exit the industry. Competition policy has the objectives of increasing competition in the economy, or of encouraging firms that are not competitive to behave as if they were, in its role as consumer advocate, the competition authority is often responsible for implementing policy directed at outlawing unethical behavior by business. Perfect competitive market has seven distinguishing characteristics. Large number of buyers and sellers A homogeneous product Perfect knowledge Perfect mobility Freedom of entry and exit Absence of non-price competition The firm is a price taker Example of a perfect competitive market In the Maharagama Market there are many characteristics of a perfectly competitive market. All type of vegetables, fruits and other small goods are sold in this market. There are many customers coming to this market to buy goods for cheaper price. In the Maharagama market, many stalls that have the same prices for many vegetables and fruits of the same quality. It is not because they have fixed the prices together before trading. In this type of market consumers will compare the prices of different stalls and purchase from the cheaper stalls for a given quality. In perfect competitive market has no barrier to enter to the market. Monopoly Competition Monopoly is a single seller supplying the entire output of an industry. The demand curve that it faces is the entire industry demand curve for the good or services it sells. The monopolist sells unique products, and extremely high barriers to entry protect it from competition. A natural monopoly arises because of the existences of economies of scale in which the LRAC curve falls indefinitely as production increases. Without government restrictions, economies of scale allow a single firm to produce at a lower cost than any firm producing a smaller output. Smaller firms leave the industry, new firms fear competing with the monopolist, and the result is that a monopoly emerges naturally. Major elements One seller One product Price-maker Barriers to entry Minimal advertising expenditure Example of Monopoly Competition In Sri Lanka monopoly (sole) producer is government. The electricity and water is provided from the government. There are high barriers to entry in to the market. Barriers such as, Limited resources. Cost of production. Patent Therefore any others cannot enter this market. The government sets the price and there are no other producers to manipulate this. They have full control over the market, they are price makers. Monopolistic Competition A market structure in which several or many sellers each produce similar, but slightly differentiated products. Each producer can set its price and quantity without affecting the marketplace as a whole. Monopolistic competition has characteristics of both competition and monopoly. Similar to competition, it has many firms, and free exit and entry. Example of Monopolistic Competition Consider the Soap industry as an example. There are few large producers of soap in Sri Lanka such as Sunlight, Rani, Zinal, Lifebuoy, and Lux etc. There is competition as in perfect competition but products are not the same. These companies have monopoly in the production of its particular product for the reason that no other firm can produce soap carrying the same name. Oligopoly An oligopoly is a market condition in which the production of identical or similar products is concentrated in a few large firms. Oligopolies have characteristics similar to a monopoly. Example of Oligopoly Consider the cell phones industry as an example. The Cell Phones industry is dominated by a few large firms such as Apple, Nokia, LG, Samsung, and Motorola etc. In the Gas production of Sri Lanka there are only two large known producers that is the Shell Gas Company and the Laugfs Gas Company. These two companies have the highest share of the market and there is a low level of competition. Less Market Control More Many Number of competitors One Perfect Competition Monopolistic Oligopoly Monopoly Market Continuum This is Market Continuum. This diagram shows how the structure of the market changes according to the level of the market control and the number of competitors. 4.0 Market forces Forces of demand and supply representing the aggregate influence of self-interested buyers and sellers on price and quantity of the goods and services offered in a market. In general, excess-demand causes prices and quantity of supply to rise, and excess supply causes them to fall. Supply Increase Price increase Demand Increase Demand falls Price falls Supply falls Demand and Supply Demand is the amount of a particular economic good or service that a consumer or group of consumers will want to purchase at a given price. The demand curve is usually downward sloping, since consumers will want to buy more as price decreases. Demand for a good or service is determined by many different factors other than price, such as the price of substitute goods and complementary goods. In extreme cases, demand may be completely unrelated to price, or nearly infinite at a given price. Along with supply, demand is one of the two key determinants of the market price. Supply is the availability of a product or a service in a market. The law of supply states when prices increase the firms would want to supply more. This is because they want to increase their revenues. Movement along the Curve Changes in price will result in a movement along the curve with the fact that other factors remain unchanged due to the changes in quantity demanded or supply. A fall in the price will result in an extension of demand, quantity demanded will increase. Contraction of Demand is where an increase in price causes demand to fall. For an example an increase in the price of Donuts, while other factors remain unchanged will cause an increase in the quantity supplied. Sellers will move from one point to another point in the same curve. When price increased from P1 to P2, quantity supplied will Price Supply P(2) B P(1) A QS(1) QS(2) Quantity Shift of the Curve The curve shifts to the right or left as a result of changes in any other non-price determinants due to a change in supply or price. The demand curve shifts to the right as a result of an increase in demand while price remains unchanged. The curve shifts to the left as a result of a decrease in demand with price remaining unchanged. For an example demand for cool drinks might fall in the winter season therefore demand decreases due to a non price determinant which causes a shift in the demand curve to left from D to D1 while the price remains unchanged. D D1 P QD QD1 Non- Price Determinants for Demand Changes in consumer incomes. Changes in tastes for consumer goods. Changes in expectations of future prices. Changes in price of Substitutes. Non- Price Determinants for Supply Changes in production technology. Changes in cost of resources. Changes in number of sellers in the market. Changes in expectation of future prices. 4.1 Influences on Firms of Market Forces Demand and Supply influences to a great extent on price. When demand increases suppliers will supply more and as a result the suppliers will increase the prices in order to obtain higher revenue, however when price keeps increasing demand will start falling. Market forces helps firms to determine the market price where the quantity demanded equals to the quantity supplied. This is known as the equilibrium price. Supply and Demand model The point where the supply curve and demand curve meets is the equilibrium price. If the suppliers sell below the equilibrium price then buyers will demand above the supply which creates a shortage in supply. The opposite could also happen where the suppliers sell at a price higher than the equilibrium price which will lead to a surplus of goods. For an example demand and supply of Rice in Sri Lanka. Rice producers created a shortage in the supply of rice with the purpose of increasing the prices. This was an illegal practice this shortage in supply of rice, lead to an increase in demand to a great extent as this was also an essential product. It affected consumers a lot and the consumers were prepared to buy rice at any level of price. This shows that demand and supply can have both negative and positive influences on firms. Changes in quantity demanded a

Life Leads to Many Different Choices :: Science Teachers Teaching Education Essays

Life Leads to Many Different Choices I’ve always had a love for science. When I was young I wanted to be a scientist. As I got older I wanted to become a doctor, and now I’m pursuing a degree in teaching. Being a scientist would’ve been the best thing in the world. I used to go outside, catch bugs and study them. I’d look at rocks and try to figure out what they were made of. I’d take stuff apart to figure out how it worked or what it was made of. One year I got a microscope kit for Christmas. I’d sit for hours looking at stuff under the microscope. I looked at everything under that microscope from bugs found in the yard to leaves from trees, even just a small plain sheet of paper. I wanted to be a scientist and work at NASA during that period of my life. When entering high school things were changing, but I still loved science. Up until my eleventh grade year I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I had entered a club that gave me a four-year scholarship for college if I went into the science field. My eleventh grade year I took a high school anatomy class and loved it. This made me really want to become a doctor. I wanted to become a Pediatrician because I’ve always loved kids. When I was younger other than science I used to baby-sit. I thought pediatric care would be the most wonderful thing at that period of my life. Up until this summer I wanted to become a Pediatrician. There were many factors that influenced why I wanted to become a teacher. One factor was I’m unsure of myself in being able to get into medical school and being able to do the work. So teaching was next on my list. Another factor is I don’t want to be in college a whole lot longer. I want to get a master’s degree later on but at this point in my life I want to get on with it. Another factor is I don’t have the money to go on to medical school, so teaching is my next option. My last factor is over the summer I worked in the Energy Express program and loved it. During Energy Express I mentored a group of eight students read, write, and do art projects.

Soulless Humanity in George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) :: Nineteen Eighty-Four 1984 Essays

Soulless Humanity in 1984    The year 1984 has since passed but George Orwell's prophetic vision of the future could still happen.   1984   portrays a society that has lost all trace of individuality, love, and critical thought.   George Orwell's "Negative Utopia" depicts the despair of the future of humans and also serves as a warning about fascism.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Orwell's sets the mood of the book as one of hopelessness for the future of humans.   He contrasts this mood with a popular philosophy: belief in the progress of humanity and the ability of people to institute peace and justice in the world.   These contrasting views set up the premise for the life of Winston Smith, who is one man caught in a society devoted to conformity.   Orwell's warning to this is that if people cannot change the way things are going, our society will lose their human qualities.   They will become soulless machines and not have a clue as to their new world they created.   This is the world in which Winston Smith is caught in.   He is different from the others and in a civilization which does not approve of individuality, Winston is targeted by the government from the beginning.   Being different in this populace only means rebellion and that exactly is what Winston sets out to do.   Winston believes that although he must conform on t he outside, that no one can take his individual thought away.   Winston's individuality is the only hope for human nature for he questions the most basic principles of the regime, a thoughcrime.   One doctrine Winston questions is the concept of freedom-    "How could you have a slogan like 'freedom is slavery' when the concept of freedom has been abolished?"    Winston goes on to say there will be an end to thought.   "Orthodoxy means not thinking..."   "Orthodoxy is unconscienceness."   Ã‚  Ã‚   The belief that humanity is progressing while they are really losing their individuality is actually halting human progress.   Every aspect of life is changing for the worse while people believe humans are advancing.   One example is Newspeak.   As Syme put it, "You don't grasp the beauty of the destruction of words."   The destruction of words is seen as progress while in actuality, it is another step in destroying individuals and creating a hopeless future.   Once this happens, Orwell warns, all hope is lost.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Currently, Winston lives in a world filled with the ravishes of war.

No Groove in the Gunsights by Lars Kullberg :: essays research papers

No Groove in the Gunsights Always under the thumb of his dark mistress, the speaker struggles beneath her power. Try as he may, he will never be able to break the tie of lust between the two. His threats are not threatening to her, and he knows this. His power is beneath her's, and he knows this as well. By threatening his lover in the 140th sonnet, the speaker is merely admitting to his own helplessness to which he is forever bound. This appears to be the first sonnet in which he is taking a stand. Never before has he spoken in such a threatening tone: "Be wise†¦do not press/My tongue tied patience†¦" (140. 1-2). One might think that he is now revealing for the first time his yet unheard of power. But he has no such power. He knows that his threats do not frighten her†¦ so why does he even bother? Sure, he could untie his tongue and let the world know of her habits. However, no one would care. She is a dark lady—she and others like her are meant to be that way. He would only be telling what is already known. However, what she has to tell of him is not already known. Being a married man, he is not expected to have a mistress. She is his only mistress. They both know this as well. If he were to lose her, he would have nothing left. She knows his lust for her—his need for her. She knows he lives for her darkness and for the pleasure he finds in her†¦ temporary as it may be. Temporary yet lasting. There may be times when he thinks he can live without her, but the time comes again soon when he feels the familiar lust again. It is the lack of love which makes it temporary. However, it is the abundance of lust which makes it permanent. He is only one of her many lovers. If she were to loose him, she would still have many others to satisfy her. She takes comfort in the fact that he needs her and he remains under her thumb to almost any extent. The speaker knows she has many lovers. He claims to hate her unfaithfulness, but in fact he likes it. He likes the fact that she is nothing more than an object of sex†¦of temporary pleasure. If she were really in love with him and were truly faithful, he would be less attracted to her. The passion and the lust would be gone. So the question remains—why does he bother with these empty threats?

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 26

Chapter 26 You can travel the whole world, but there are always new things to learn. For instance, on the way to Capernaum I learned that if you hang a drunk guy over a camel and slosh him around for about four hours, then pretty much all the poisons will come out one end of him or the other. â€Å"Someone's going to have to wash that camel before we go into town,† said Andrew. We were traveling along the shore of the Sea of Galilee (which wasn't a sea at all). The moon was almost full and it reflected in the lake like a pool of quicksilver. It fell to Nathaniel to clean the camel because he was the official new guy. (Joshua hadn't really met Andrew, and Andrew hadn't really agreed to join us, so we couldn't count him as the official new guy yet.) Since Nathaniel did such a fine job on the camel, we let him clean up Joshua as well. Once he had the Messiah in the water Joshua came out of his stupor long enough to slur something like: â€Å"The foxes have their holes and birds have their nests, but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head.† â€Å"That's so sad,† said Nathaniel. â€Å"Yes, it is,† I said. â€Å"Dunk him again. He still has barf on his beard.† And so, cleansed and slung over a camel damply, Joshua did by moonlight come into Capernaum, where he would be welcomed as if it were his home. â€Å"Out!† screeched the old woman. â€Å"Out of the house, out of town, out of Galilee for all I care, you aren't staying here.† It was a beautiful dawn over the lake, the sky painted with yellow and orange, gentle waves lapped against the keels of Capernaum's fishing boats. The village was only a stone's throw away from the water, and golden sunlight reflected off the waves onto the black stone walls of the houses, making the light appear to dance to the calls of the gulls and songbirds. The houses were built together in two big clusters, sharing common walls, with entries from every which way, and none more than one story tall. There was a small main road through the village between the two clusters of homes. Along the way were a few merchant booths, a blacksmith's shop, and, on its own little square, a synagogue that looked as if it could contain far more worshipers than the three hundred residents of the village. But villages were thick along the shores of the lake, one running right into the next, and we guessed that perhaps the synagogue served a number of villages. There was no central square around the well as there was in most inland villages, because the people pulled their water from the lake or a spring nearby that bubbled clean chilly water into the air as high as two men. Andrew had deposited us at his brother Peter's house, and we had fallen asleep in the great room among the children only a few hours before Peter's mother-in-law awoke to chase us out of the house. Joshua was holding his head with both hands as if to keep it from falling off his neck. â€Å"I won't have freeloaders and scalawags in my house,† the old woman shouted as she threw my satchel out after us. â€Å"Ouch,† said Joshua, flinching from the noise. â€Å"We're in Capernaum, Josh,† I said. â€Å"A man named Andrew brought us here because his nephews stole our camels.† â€Å"You said Maggie was dying,† Joshua said. â€Å"Would you have left John if I'd told you that Maggie wanted to see you?† â€Å"No.† He smiled dreamily. â€Å"It was good to see Maggie.† Then the smile turned to a scowl. â€Å"Alive.† â€Å"John wouldn't listen, Joshua. You were in the desert all last month, you didn't see all of the soldiers, even scribes hiding in the crowd, writing down what John was saying. This was bound to happen.† â€Å"Then you should have warned John!† â€Å"I warned John! Every day I warned John. He didn't listen to reason any more than you would have.† â€Å"We have to go back to Judea. John's followers – â€Å" â€Å"Will become your followers. No more preparation, Josh.† Joshua nodded, looking at the ground in front of him. â€Å"It's time. Where are the others?† â€Å"I've sent Philip and Nathaniel to Sepphoris to sell the camels. Bartholomew is sleeping in the reeds with the dogs.† â€Å"We're going to need more disciples,† Joshua said. â€Å"We're broke, Josh. We're going to need disciples with jobs.† An hour later we stood on the shore near where Andrew and his brother were casting nets. Peter was taller and leaner than his brother, and he had a head of gray hair wilder than even John the Baptist's, while Andrew pushed his dark hair back and tied it with a cord so it stayed out of his face when he was in the water. They were both naked, which is how men fished the lake when they were close to the shore. I had mixed a headache remedy for Joshua out of tree bark, and I could tell it was working, but perhaps not quite enough. I pushed Joshua toward the shore. â€Å"I'm not ready for this. I feel terrible.† â€Å"Ask them.† â€Å"Andrew,† Joshua called. â€Å"Thank you for bringing us home with you. And you too, Peter.† â€Å"Did my mother-in-law toss you out?† asked Peter. He cast his net and waited for it to settle, then dove into the lake and gathered the net in his arms. There was one tiny fish inside. He reached in and pulled it out, then tossed it back into the lake. â€Å"Grow,† he said. â€Å"You know who I am?† said Joshua. â€Å"I've heard,† said Peter. â€Å"Andrew says you turned water into wine. And you cured the blind and the lame. He thinks that you are going to bring the kingdom.† â€Å"What do you think?† â€Å"I think my little brother is smarter than I am, so I believe what he says.† â€Å"Come with us. We're going to tell people of the kingdom. We need help.† â€Å"What can we do?† said Andrew. â€Å"We're only fishermen.† â€Å"Come with me and I'll make you fishers of men.† Andrew looked at his brother who was still standing in the water. Peter shrugged and shook his head. Andrew looked at me, shrugged, and shook his head. â€Å"They don't get it,† I said to Joshua. Thus, after Joshua had some food and a nap and explained what in the hell he meant by â€Å"fishers of men,† we became seven. â€Å"These guys are our partners,† Peter said, hurrying us along the shore. â€Å"They own the ships that Andrew and I work on. We can't go spread the good news unless they are in on it too.† We came to another small village and Peter pointed out two brothers who were fitting a new oarlock into the gunwale of a fishing boat. One was lean and angular, with jet-black hair and a beard trimmed into wicked points: James. The other was older, bigger, softer, with big shoulders and chest, but small hands and thin wrists, a fringe of brown hair shot with gray around a sunburned bald pate: John. â€Å"Just a suggestion,† Peter said to Joshua. â€Å"Don't say the fisher-of-men thing. It's going to be dark soon; you won't have time for the explanation if we want to make it home in time for supper.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said, â€Å"just tell them about the miracles, the kingdom, a little about your Holy Ghost thing, but stay easy on that until they agree to join up.† â€Å"I still don't get the Holy Ghost thing,† said Peter. â€Å"It's okay, we'll go over it tomorrow,† I said. As we moved down the shore toward the brothers, there was a rustling in some nearby bushes and three piles of rags moved into our path. â€Å"Have mercy on us, Rabbi,† said one of the piles. Lepers. (I need to say something right here: Joshua taught me about the power of love and all of that stuff, and I know that the Divine Spark in them is the same one that is in me, so I should have not let the presence of lepers bother me. I know that announcing them unclean under the Law was as unjust as the Brahmans shunning the Untouchables. I know that even now, having watched enough television, you probably wouldn't even refer to them as lepers so as to spare their feelings. You probably call them â€Å"parts-dropping-off challenged,† or something. I know all that. But that said, no matter how many healings I saw, lepers always gave me what we Hebrews call the willies. I never got over it.) â€Å"What is it you want?† Joshua asked them. â€Å"Help ease our suffering,† said a female-sounding pile. â€Å"I'll be over there looking at the water, Josh,† I said. â€Å"He'll probably need some help,† Peter said. â€Å"Come to me,† Joshua said to the lepers. They oozed on over. Joshua put his hands on the lepers and spoke to them very quietly. After a few minutes had passed, while Peter and I had seriously studied a frog that we noticed on the shore, I heard Joshua say, â€Å"Now go, and tell the priests that you are no longer unclean and should be allowed in the Temple. And tell them who sent you.† The lepers threw off their rags and praised Joshua as they backed away. They looked like perfectly normal people who just happened to be all wrapped up in tattered rags. By the time Peter and I got back to Joshua, James and John were already at his side. â€Å"I have touched those who they said were unclean,† Joshua said to the brothers. By Mosaic Law, Joshua would be unclean as well. James stepped forward and grabbed Joshua's forearm in the style of the Romans. â€Å"One of those men used to be our brother.† â€Å"Come with us,† I said, â€Å"and we will make you oarlock makers of men.† â€Å"What?† said Joshua. â€Å"That's what they were doing when we came up. Making an oarlock. Now you see how stupid that sounds?† â€Å"It's not the same.† And thus we did become nine. Philip and Nathaniel returned with enough money from the sale of the camels to feed the disciples and all of Peter's family as well, so Peter's screeching mother-in-law, who was named Esther, allowed us to stay, providing Bartholomew and the dogs slept outside. Capernaum became our base of operations and from there we would take one- or two-day trips, swinging through Galilee as Joshua preached and performed healings. The news of the coming of the kingdom spread through Galilee, and after only a few months, crowds began to gather to hear Joshua speak. We tried always to be back in Capernaum on the Sabbath so that Joshua could teach at the synagogue. It was that habit that first attracted the wrong sort of attention. A Roman soldier stopped Joshua as he was making the short walk to the synagogue on Sabbath morning. (No Jew was permitted to make a journey of more than a thousand steps from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday – all at once, that is. One way. You didn't have to add up your steps all day and just stop when you got to a thousand. There would have been Jews standing all over the place waiting for Saturday sundown if that were the case. It would have been awkward. Suddenly I'm thankful that the Pharisees never thought of that.) The Roman was no mere legionnaire, but a centurion, with the full crested helmet and eagle on his breastplate of a legion commander. He led a tall white horse that looked as if it had been bred for combat. He was old for a soldier, perhaps sixty, and his hair was completely white when he removed his helmet, but he looked strong and the wasp-waisted short sword at his waist looked dangerous. I didn't recognize him until he spoke to Joshua, in perfect, unaccented Aramaic. â€Å"Joshua of Nazareth,† the Roman said. â€Å"Do you remember me?† â€Å"Justus,† Joshua said. â€Å"From Sepphoris.† â€Å"Gaius Justus Gallicus,† said the soldier. â€Å"And I'm at Tiberius now, and no longer an under-commander. The Sixth Legion is mine. I need your help, Joshua bar Joseph of Nazareth.† â€Å"What can I do?† Joshua looked around. All of the disciples except Bartholomew and me had managed to sneak away when the Roman walked up. â€Å"I saw you make a dead man walk and talk. I've heard of the things you've done all over Galilee, the healings, the miracles. I have a servant who is sick. Tortured with palsy. He can barely breathe and I can't watch him suffer. I don't ask that you break your Sabbath by coming to Tiberius, but I believe you can heal him, even from here.† Justus dropped to his knee and kneeled in front of Joshua, something I never saw any Roman do to any Jew, before or since. â€Å"This man is my friend,† he said. Joshua touched the Roman's temple and I watched the fear drain out of the soldier's face as I had so many others. â€Å"You believe it to be, so be it,† said Joshua. â€Å"It's done. Stand up, Gaius Justus Gallicus.† The soldier smiled, then stood and looked Joshua in the eye. â€Å"I would have crucified your father to root out the killer of that soldier.† â€Å"I know,† said Joshua. â€Å"Thank you,† Justus said. The centurion put on his helmet and climbed on his horse. Then looked at me for the first time. â€Å"What happened to that pretty little heartbreaker you two were always with?† â€Å"Broke our hearts,† I said. Justus laughed. â€Å"Be careful, Joshua of Nazareth,† he said. He reined the horse around and rode away. â€Å"Go with God,† Joshua said. â€Å"Good, Josh, that's the way to show the Romans what's going to happen to them come the kingdom.† â€Å"Shut up, Biff.† â€Å"Oh, so you bluffed him. He's going to get home and his friend will still be messed up.† â€Å"Remember what I told you at the gates of Gaspar's monastery, Biff? That if someone knocked, I'd let them in?† â€Å"Ack! Parables. I hate parables.† Tiberius was only an hour's fast ride from Capernaum, so by morning word had come back from the garrison: Justus's servant had been healed. Before we had even finished our breakfast there were four Pharisees outside of Peter's house looking for Joshua. â€Å"You performed a healing on the Sabbath?† the oldest of them asked. He was white-bearded and wore his prayer shawl and phylacteries wrapped about his upper arms and forehead. (What a jamoke. Sure, we all had phylacteries, every man got them when he turned thirteen, but you pretended that they were lost after a few weeks, you didn't wear them. You might as well wear a sign that said: â€Å"Hi, I'm a pious geek.† The one he wore on his forehead was a little leather box, about the size of a fist, that held parchments inscribed with prayers and looked – well – as if someone had strapped a little leather box to his head. Need I say more?) â€Å"Nice phylacteries,† I said. The disciples laughed. Nathaniel made an excellent donkey braying noise. â€Å"You broke the Sabbath,† said the Pharisee. â€Å"I'm allowed,† said Josh. â€Å"I'm the Son of God.† â€Å"Oh fuck,† Philip said. â€Å"Way to ease them into the idea, Josh,† I said. The following Sabbath a man with a withered hand came to the synagogue while Joshua was preaching and after the sermon, while fifty Pharisees who had gathered at Capernaum just in case something like this happened looked on, Joshua told the man that his sins were forgiven, then healed the withered hand. Like vultures to carrion they came to Peter's house the next morning. â€Å"No one but God can forgive sins,† said the one they had elected as their speaker. â€Å"Really,† said Joshua. â€Å"So you can't forgive someone who sins against you?† â€Å"No one but God.† â€Å"I'll keep that in mind,† said Joshua. â€Å"Now unless you are here to hear the good news, go away.† And Joshua went into Peter's house and closed the door. The Pharisee shouted at the door, â€Å"You blaspheme, Joshua bar Joseph, you – â€Å" And I was standing there in front of him, and I know I shouldn't have done it, but I popped him. Not in the mouth or anything, but right in the phylacteries. The little leather box exploded with the impact and the strips of parchment slowly settled to the ground. I'd hit him so fast that I think he thought it was a supernatural event. A cry went up from the group behind him, protesting – shouting that I couldn't do such a thing, that I deserved stoning, scourging, et cetera, and my Buddhist tolerance just wore a little thin. So I popped him again. In the nose. This time he went down. Two of his pals caught him, and another one at the front of the crowd started to reach into his sash for something. I knew that they could quickly overrun me if they wanted to, but I didn't think they would. The cowards. I grabbed the man who was pulling the knife, twisted it away from him, shoved the iron blade between the stones of Peter's house and snapped it off, then handed the hilt back to him. â€Å"Go away,† I said to him, very softly. He went away, and all of his pals went with him. I went inside to see how Joshua and the others were getting along. â€Å"You know, Josh,† I said. â€Å"I think it's time to expand the ministry. You have a lot of followers here. Maybe we should go to the other side of the lake. Out of Galilee for a while.† â€Å"Preach to the gentiles?† Nathaniel asked. â€Å"He's right,† said Joshua. â€Å"Biff is right.† â€Å"So it shall be written,† I said. James and John only owned one ship that was large enough to hold all of us and Bartholomew's dogs, and it was anchored at Magdala, two hours' walk south of Capernaum, so we made the trip very early one morning to avoid being stopped in the villages on the way. Joshua had decided to take the good news to the gentiles, so we were going to go across the lake to the town of Gadarene in the state of Decapolis. They kept gentiles there. As we waited on the shore at Magdala, a crowd of women who had come to the lake to wash clothes gathered around Joshua and begged him to tell them of the kingdom. I noticed a young tax collector who was sitting nearby at his table in the shade of a reed umbrella. He was listening to Joshua, but I could also see his eyes following the behinds of the women. I sidled over. â€Å"He's amazing, isn't he?† I said. â€Å"Yes. Amazing,† said the tax collector. He was perhaps twenty, thin, with soft brown hair, a light beard, and light brown eyes. â€Å"What's your name, publican?† â€Å"Matthew,† he said. â€Å"Son of Alphaeus.† â€Å"No kidding, that's my father's name too. Look, Matthew, I assume you can read, write, things like that?† â€Å"Oh yes.† â€Å"You're not married, are you?† â€Å"No, I was betrothed, but before the wedding was to happen, her parents let her marry a rich widower.† â€Å"Sad. You're probably heartbroken. That's sad. You see those women? There's women like that all the time around Joshua. And here's the best part, he's celibate. He doesn't want any of them. He's just interested in saving mankind and bringing the kingdom of God to earth, which we all are, of course. But the women, well, I think you can see.† â€Å"That must be wonderful.† â€Å"Yeah, it's swell. We're going to Decapolis. Why don't you come with us?† â€Å"I couldn't. I've been entrusted to collect taxes for this whole coast.† â€Å"He's the Messiah, Matthew. The Messiah. Think of it. You, and the Messiah.† â€Å"I don't know.† â€Å"Women. The kingdom. You heard about him turning water into wine.† â€Å"I really have to – â€Å" â€Å"Have you ever tasted bacon, Matthew?† â€Å"Bacon? Isn't that from pigs? Unclean?† â€Å"Joshua's the Messiah, the Messiah says it's okay. It's the best thing you've ever eaten, Matthew. Women love it. We eat bacon every morning, with the women. Really.† â€Å"I'll need to finish up here,† Matthew said. â€Å"You do that. Here, I'd like you to mark something for me,† I looked over his shoulder at his ledger and pointed to a few names. â€Å"Meet us at the ship when you're ready, Matthew.† I went back over to the shore, where James and John had pulled the ship in close enough for us to wade out to. Joshua finished up blessing the women and sent them back to their laundry with a parable about stains. â€Å"Gentlemen,† I called. â€Å"Excuse me, James, John, you too Peter, Andrew. You will not need to worry about your taxes this season. They've been taken care of.† â€Å"What?† said Peter. â€Å"Where did you get the money – â€Å" I turned and waved toward Matthew, who was running toward the shore. â€Å"This good fellow is the publican Matthew. He's here to join us.† Matthew ran up beside me and stood grinning like an idiot while trying to catch his breath. â€Å"Hey,† he said, waving weakly to the disciples. â€Å"Welcome, Matthew,† Joshua said. â€Å"All are welcome in the kingdom.† Joshua shook his head, turned, and waded out to the ship. â€Å"He loves you, kid,† I said. â€Å"Loves you.† Thus we did become ten. Joshua fell asleep on a pile of nets with Peter's wide straw fishing hat over his face. Before I settled down to be rocked to sleep myself, I sent Philip to the back of the boat to explain the kingdom and the Holy Ghost to Matthew. (I figured that Philip's acumen with numbers might help out when talking to a tax collector.) The two sets of brothers sailed the ship, which was wide of beam and small of sail and very, very slow. About halfway across the lake I heard Peter say, â€Å"I don't like it. It looks like a tempest.† I sat bolt upright and looked at the sky, and indeed, there were black clouds coming over the hills to the east, low and fast, clawing at the trees with lightning as they passed. Before I had a chance to sit up, a wave broke over the shallow gunwale and soaked me to the core. â€Å"I don't like this, we should go back,† said Peter, as a curtain of rain whipped across us. â€Å"The ship's too full and the draft too shallow to weather a storm.† â€Å"Not good. Not good. Not good,† chanted Nathaniel. Bartholomew's dogs barked and howled at the wind. James and Andrew trimmed the sail and put the oars in the water. Peter moved to the stern to help John with the long steering oar. Another wave broke over the gunwale, washing away one of Bartholomew's disciples, a mangy terrier type. Water was mid-shin deep in the bottom of the boat. I grabbed a bucket and began bailing and signaled Philip to help, but he had succumbed to the most rapid case of seasickness I had ever even heard of and was retching over the side. Lightning struck the mast, turning everything a phosphorus white. The explosion was instant and left my ears ringing. One of Joshua's sandals floated by me in the bottom of the boat. â€Å"We're doomed!† wailed Bart. â€Å"Doomed!† Joshua pushed the fishing hat back on his head and looked at the chaos around him. â€Å"O ye of little faith,† he said. He waved his hand across the sky and the storm stopped. Just like that. Black clouds were sucked back over the hills, the water settled to a gentle swell, and the sun shone down bright and hot enough to raise steam off our clothes. I reached over the side and snatched the swimming doggy out of the waves. Joshua had laid back down with the hat over his face. â€Å"Is the new kid looking?† he whispered to me. â€Å"Yeah,† I said. â€Å"He impressed?† â€Å"His mouth is hanging open. He looks sort of stricken.† â€Å"Great. Wake me when we get there.† I woke him a little before we reached Gadarene because there was a huge madman waiting for us on the shore, foaming at the mouth, screaming, throwing rocks, and eating the occasional handful of dirt. â€Å"Hold up there, Peter,† I said. The sails were down again and we were rowing in. â€Å"I should wake the master,† said Peter. â€Å"No, it's okay, I have the stop-for-foaming-madmen authority.† Nevertheless, I kicked the Messiah gently. â€Å"Josh, you might want to take a look at this guy.† â€Å"Look, Peter,† said Andrew, pointing to the madman, â€Å"he has hair just like yours.† Joshua sat up, pushed back Peter's hat and glanced to the shore. â€Å"Onward,† he said. â€Å"You sure?† Rocks were starting to land in the boat. â€Å"Oh yeah,† said Joshua. â€Å"He's very large,† said Matthew, clarifying the already clear. â€Å"And mad,† said Nathaniel, not to be outdone in stating the obvious. â€Å"He is suffering,† said Joshua. â€Å"Onward.† A rock as big as my head thudded into the mast and bounced into the water. â€Å"I'll rip your legs off and kick you in the head as you crawl around bleeding to death,† said the madman. â€Å"Sure you don't want to swim in from here?† Peter said, dodging a rock. â€Å"Nice refreshing swim after a nap?† said James. Matthew stood up in the back of the boat and cleared his throat. â€Å"What is one tormented man compared to the calming of a storm? Were you all in the same boat I was?† â€Å"Onward,† Peter said, and onward we went, the big boat full of Joshua and Matthew and the eight faithless pieces of shit that were the rest of us. Joshua was out of the boat as soon as we hit the beach. He walked straight up to the madman, who looked as if he could crush the Messiah's head in one of his hands. Filthy rags hung in tatters on him and his teeth were broken and bleeding from eating dirt. His face contorted and bubbled as if there were great worms under the skin searching for an escape. His hair was wild and stuck out in a great grayish tangle, and it did sort of look like Peter's hair. â€Å"Have mercy on me,† said the madman. His voice buzzed in his throat like a chorus of locusts. I slid out of the boat and the others followed me quietly up behind Joshua. â€Å"What is your name, Demon?† Joshua asked. â€Å"What would you like it to be?† said the demon. â€Å"You know, I've always been partial to the name Harvey,† Joshua said. â€Å"Well, isn't that a coincidence?† said the demon. â€Å"My name just happens to be Harvey.† â€Å"You're just messing with me, aren't you?† said Josh. â€Å"Yeah, I am,† said the demon, busted. â€Å"My name is Legion, for there are a bunch of us in here.† â€Å"Out, Legion,† Joshua commanded. â€Å"Out of this big guy.† There was a herd of pigs nearby, doing piggy things. (I don't know what they were doing. I'm a Jew, what do I know from pigs, except that I like bacon?) A great green glow came out of Legion's mouth, whipped through the air like smoke, then came down on the heard of pigs like a cloud. In a second it was sucked into the pigs' nostrils and they began foaming and making locust noises. â€Å"Be gone,† said Joshua. With that the pigs all ran into the sea, sucked huge lungfuls of water, and after only a little kicking, drowned. Perhaps fifty dead pigs bobbed in the swell. â€Å"How can I thank you?† said the big foaming guy, who had stopped foaming, but was still big. â€Å"Tell the people of your land what has happened,† Joshua said. â€Å"Tell them the Son of God has come to bring them the good news of the Holy Ghost.† â€Å"Clean up a little before you tell them,† I said. And off he went, a lumbering monster, bigger even than our own Bartholomew, and smelling worse, which I hadn't thought possible. We sat down on the beach and were sharing some bread and wine when we heard the crowd approaching through the hills. â€Å"The good news travels quickly,† said Matthew, whose fresh-faced enthusiasm was starting to irritate me a little now. â€Å"Who killed our pigs?† The crowd was carrying rakes and pitchforks and scythes and they didn't look at all like they were there to receive the Gospel. â€Å"You fuckers!† â€Å"Kill them!† â€Å"In the boat,† said Josh. â€Å"O ye of little – † Matthew's comment was cut short by Bart grabbing him by the collar and dragging him down the beach to the boat. The brothers had already pushed off and were up to their chests in the water. They pulled themselves in and James and John helped set the oars as Peter and Andrew pulled us into the boat. We fished Bart's disciples out of the waves by the scruffs of their necks and set sail just as the rocks began to rain down on us. We all looked at Joshua. â€Å"What?† he said. â€Å"If they'd been Jews that pig thing would have gone over great. I'm new at gentiles.† There was a messenger waiting for us when we reached Magdala. Philip unrolled the scroll and read. â€Å"It's an invitation to come to dinner in Bethany during Passover week, Joshua. A ranking member of the Sanhedrin requests your presence at dinner at his home to discuss your wonderful ministry. It's signed Jakan bar Iban ish Nazareth.† Maggie's husband. The creep. I said, â€Å"Good first day, huh, Matthew?†

Competition in Energy Drinks Case Essay

Within the beverage industry companies like Pepsi and Coca Cola were using alternative beverages as a way to counter the effects of the decline of consumption of carbonated beverages. This in turn will help them sustain volume. These two large companies were working hard to expand their alternative market line by introducing sports drinks, energy drinks, and vitamin drinks. One of the largest issues at hand is the pressure to stop producing these harmful drinks, people felt that they had a negative impact on your body and believed their strategies promoted reckless behavior. Even though this was happening they had to keep pushing through to be very successful. Sales began to increase as well as market share which introduced several new brands to the alternative beverage industry. In the alternative beverage industry competition is fierce. Some of the major factors that play a role are product innovation, differentiation; create brand loyalty based on taste, the drinks image, advertising, and sponsorships. Many of these companies like Hansen and Red bull sponsored events to promote their brand. The strongest of the 5 competitive forces within the industry is that of substitution. Pepsi and Coca Cola made their products available to customers with ease pushing other companies out of business. The weakest of the 5 forces is buyer bargaining power. Buyers do not have much control over the prices at which these beverages are being sold. If they were looking for an energy drink they would have to pay the high prices. Buyers are starting to become more brand loyal so they will buy at high prices more often. Companies like Coca Cola and Pepsi seem to make the industry less attractive for new entrants. Reason is because they both are well established with good brand recognition. Consumers will most likely always choose the brand they are familiar than new unfamiliar brands. The market for energy drinks is declining, sales are down, and the market has matured. Over the next 5 years drivers of change will not slow down companies like Coca Cola, Pepsi, or Red Bull. Instead of looking to compete on price, volume, or market share gains it looks like they will look into product innovations to increase sales. At this point time drivers of change will most likely keep the alternative beverage unattractive for smaller companies. Pepsi and Coca Cola are able to counter the downturn the economy because of the broad range of products they have. Red Bull on the other hand has only a few products and sales are suffering. A few recommendations for the larger companies are as follows. Coca Cola does very well in the carbonated beverage industry but is way behind in the alternative beverage industry. They can do some research on countries where they want to sell their product and see what consumer actually want. By doing this they could create a product that will appeal to local consumer tastes. Pepsi Co. has done really well in the alternative beverage industry but has introduced a new line of energy drinks (Charge, Rebuild, Defend, and Bloodshot) that I have never heard of. It would be in their best interest to do an ad campaign to consumers. Red Bull on the other hand just needs to expand their product line. They are focusing mainly on their original flavor still and that may be a reason why sales are decreasing.

Electrochemistry experimen Essay

Introduction: Redox reactions are reactions where the oxidation states of the atoms change. The atoms are either oxidized or reduced, depending if they lose or gain electrons. Electrochemical cells are devices that cause a current from redox reactions. It is set up so that electrons lost from one of the reagents can travel to another reagent. This creates a voltage, which is also known as the electric potential difference. This voltage can be read if a high-resistance voltmeter or multimeter is connected to the circuit. Salt bridge is used to allow migration of ions between two electric cells to maintain neutrality of solutions. It is usually made up of a filter paper moistened with an inert solution or an inert solution/gelatine salt bridge to prevent oxidation of certain ions. This experiment is divided into 2 parts: part A and part B. Part A Objective: To investigate the effect of change in lead(II) ion concentration on the potential of the Pb2+(aq) |Pb(s) electrode Introduction: This experiment investigates the e. m. f. of the cell: Cu(s) |Cu2+(aq) |Pb2+(aq)|Pb(s). Keeping the ion concentration in the copper electrode system constant(1M) and varying the ion concentration in the lead electrode system, the effect of change in lead(II) ion concentration on the potential of electrode as well as the Kc of the above reaction can be found. Chemicals: Copper foil x1, lead foil x1, 1M Cu2+ solution, 0. 1M Pb2+ solution, saturated potassium nitrate solution Apparatus: 250 cm3 beakers, 50cm3 beakers multimeter, distilled water bottle, filter papers, electrical wires with electrode holders, forceps, 100ml volumetric flask,10ml pipette x2, dropper Procedure: 1. The 0. 1M, 0. 01M, 0. 001M, 0. 0001M Pb2+ solutions were prepared from 0. 1M Pb2+ solution by dilution(1 portion solution plus 10 portions water). 2. The copper and lead electrodes were cleaned with a sand paper. 3. The circuit was connected as the diagram below. 4. The e. m. f. was recorded when the data shown was stable. 5. The above steps(2-4) were repeated with 0. 01M, 0. 001M and 0. 0001M Pb2+ solutions. Safety precaution: Potassium nitrate solution: Contact with combustible material may lead to fire 1M Copper(II) sulphate solution: harmful and irritating to eyes and skin. –>Safety goggles should be worn. Experimental set-up Results: [Pb2+]/M log[Pb2+] E/V 0. 1 -1 0. 482 0. 01 -2 0. 502 0. 001 -3 0. 521 0. 0001 -4 0. 545 Graph of E against log [Pb2+]: Trend shown: Given the ion concentration in the copper electrode system constant, it is found that the potential of the cell drops as the lead(II) ion concentration increase. The electrode potential is inversely proportional to the ten folds of ion concentrations. Calculation: When the reaction Cu2+(aq) + Pb(s) –> Pb2+(aq) + Cu(s) achieves equilibrium, the net e. m. f. of the cell=0 volt. The equilibrium expression of this reaction is: Kc= [ Pb2+(aq)][ Cu(s)] /[Cu2+(aq)][ Pb(s)] The effective concentration of Pb(s)/ Cu(s) are independent of its amount present and can be considered as constant. This reduces the expression to Kc= [ Pb2+(aq)] /[Cu2+(aq)] = 1Ãâ€"1021 Conclusion The potential of the cell decreases ad the ion concentration of Pb2+ increases. Further Analysis: Using the Nernst equation: E=E? -0. 059/n log[ox]/[red], Take [Pb2+]=0. 1 M as an example, E=0. 47-0. 059/2 log(0. 1/1)=0. 4405(V) [Pb2+]/M log[Pb2+] E/V(calculated) E/V(measured) %difference 0. 1 -1 0. 4405 0. 482 9. 42% 0. 01 -2 0. 529 0. 502 5. 10%.0. 001 -3 0. 5585 0. 521 6. 71% 0. 0001 -4 0. 588 0. 545 7. 31% It is shown that difference is present between the calculated value and measured value. This may be because of different conditions, resistance of the multimeter or errors in preparation of various concentrations of solutions. Part B Objective: To find out the equilibrium constant by e. m. f. measurement Introduction: The equilibrium constant for the below reaction is found out: Ag+(aq) + Fe2+(aq) Fe3+ (aq) + Ag(s) By e. m. f. measurement on the cell Pt |Fe2+(aq), Fe3+(aq)|Ag+(aq)|Ag(s) Chemicals: 0. 1 M Fe3+ solution, 0. 2 M iron(II)sulphate, 0. 2M barium nitrate, 0. 4M silver nitrate, platinum electrode, silver electrode Apparatus: gelatine salt bridge, 250 cm3 beakers, 50cm3 beakers ,multimeter, distilled water bottle, electrical wires with electrode holders, forceps, 10ml pipette x2 Procedure: 1. Equal volumes of 0. 2M FeSO4 and 0. 2M Ba(NO3)2 were mixed and the precipitate was allowed to settle without disturbance. 2. Equal volumes of 0. 1M iron(II) nitrate solution obtained and the iron(III)nitrate solution were mixed. This was the Fe2+(aq)/Fe2+(aq) half-cell. 3. The 0. 4M, 0. 2M, 0. 1M, 0. 05M, 0.025M silver nitrate solutions were prepared from 0. 4M silver nitrate solution by dilution. 4. The silver electrode was cleaned with a sand paper. 5. The circuit was connected as the diagram below. 6. The e. m. f. was recorded when the data shown was stable. 7. The above steps (4-6) were repeated with 0. 2M, 0. 1M, 0. 05M, 0. 025M silver nitrate solutions. Safety Precaution: Silver nitrate: harmful and oxidizing; 1) Poisonous if swallowed or inhaled 2) Skin contact with silver nitrate solid or solutions is likely to leave silver stains on the skin. Barium nitrate is poisonous and very harmful if swallowed. It is also a strong oxidizer, so may be hazardous if mixed with flammable materials. Experimental Set-upResults: [Ag+]/M log[Ag+] E/V 0. 4 -0. 398 0. 023 0. 2 -0. 699 0. 005 0. 1 -1 -0. 030 0. 05 -1. 301 -0. 050 0. 025 -0. 025 -0. 053 Graph of E against log[Ag+(aq)]: Calculation: When the reaction reaches equilibrium, both forward and backward reactions proceed to the same extent. This means that both the half cell reactions would have the same potential to proceed, so that the net e. m. f of the cell =0 volt at equilibrium. From the graph, the x-intercept is log[Ag+(aq)]=-0.72, hence,[Ag+(aq)]eqm=0. 1905 Ag+(aq) + Fe2+(aq) Fe3+ (aq) + Ag(s) KC= [Fe3+ (aq)]/ [Ag+(aq)][ Fe2+(aq)] =0. 1/ (0. 1905X0. 1) =5. 2493(mol2dm-6) ~5. 25(mol2dm-6) Conclusion: The equilibrium constant for the reaction between Fe2+/Fe3+ and Ag+ is 5. 25 mol2dm-6. Discussion(for both parts): 1. Possible Errors: -The electrodes (Cu(s),Pb(s),Ag(s)) were not cleaned very well with a sand paper so that they are not conducting electricity in all parts. The e. m. f. measured may hence be underestimated. -The same ammonium nitrate/gelatine salt bridge was used several times in part II of experiment. Ions of previous measurement may remain in the salt bridge and change the concentration of ions in the next measurement. -The apparatus including pipettes, beakers and volumetric flask may not be washed to be very clean. The error in concentration may be enormous when handling very dilute solutions (e. g. 0. 001M, 0. 0001M, 0. 025M) -The electrode touched the salt bridge once so that the accuracy of measurement of e. m. f. was affected. The solution is not exactly passed. -Air gap may be present in the ammonium nitrate/ gelatine salt bridge, increasing the resistance of ion migration. 2. Difference in effect of ion concentration on electrical potential of cell: -In part A, the cell e. m. f. increases as [Pb2+(aq)] decreases. However, in part B, the e. m. f. drops as [Ag+(aq)]. This suggests that when the species is a stronger oxidizing agent in the reaction and undergoes reduction, the presence of its ions tends to increase the e. m. f. whereas the one which undergoes oxidation tends to reduce the e. m. f. The species with more positive standard reduction potential has a positive effect but the one with less positive potential has a negative effect. Reference: Physical Chemistry II by TM Leung and CC Lee( p. 295-298 &299-301).