Electronic civil disobedience Essay Example for Free

Electronic civil disobedience Essay Civil disobedience has been a large part of societies and the past generations that have existed. With the further dawning of the information technology era, civil disobedience has taken another form—electronic civil disobedience (ECD). Though ECD takes a rather non-violent means in advancing the interests of certain groups and positing challenges to the status quo of several institutions, ECD has nevertheless remained a crucial force in shaping the image of mankind in general and will remain to be a contributing element in the coming years—and beyond. A look into electronic civil disobedience: comparisons and analyses In contrast to computer criminality, electronic civil disobedience is a means merely designed to â€Å"attack the institutions† whereas the former is more inclined to obtain profit from â€Å"actions that damage an individual†. This standing distinction contests the probable argument that there is no solid, or at least an ideal difference between the two and that both are the same means in putting down the strength of an institution or of an individual. However, while computer criminality is, by the name itself, a crime punishable by existing and applicable laws under the jurisdiction of certain states, resistance via electronic means—the most common of which is through cyberspace—is deemed to be a means to challenge the existing authority, for instance, in pushing forth necessary changes that are being sought after by individuals. This measure is, apparently, still within the borders of the law and are, hence, legal. Electronic civil disobedience (ECD) is oftentimes carried out in a manner that is not violent or, at the very least, in ways that do not involve direct physical contact (Electronic Civil Disobedience). Although there can be indirect physical consequences that can be attributed to the means and ends that are involved with ECD, a large bulk of the essence of ECD rests on its forefront—resistance through the maximum utility of the intangible resources available. These resources are largely comprised of electronic information and invisible systems in cyberspace that do not require physical contact among the individuals that seek to advance their interests in the face of another individual or an existing authority. Though by and large much of the past generations—and even a considerable number of the present generation of citizens—have been closely attached to the physical means of civil disobedience such as in the literal sense of â€Å"taking-up the streets†, a shift in the manifestation of civil disobedience is greatly felt in the electronic realm. Since information technology’s presence has increasingly grown over the past few decades and since its developments have been continuous and have been exponential in refinement, the impacts of electronic civil disobedience has also risen in levels proportional to the booming of the information technology industry. As recent developments in the field of cyberspace expand abruptly, so are the probable means in which ECD can make itself successful in achieving it’s goals or, at least, in making its presence and mission felt across territorial boundaries of states (Cleaver). Moreover, this growth in information technology (IT) has also started to break down the physical barriers as well as the invisible fences that hold back attempts at pushing forth civil resistance or disobedience. The physical institutions that seek to eradicate or lessen the probability of occurrence of these civil resistances have slowly diminished its grip on its capability to harness barriers and put up defensive mechanisms that strain the success of resistance from citizens. At the height of the development communication tools, effective communication has spread like wildfire from among various areas in the globe. Cellular phone technology has amassed for the people easier means to effectively transmit messages across wide distances, thereby instituting a smoother flow of information relay. Group organization and mobilization is held at a unifying pace that easily penetrates the state borders and geographical barriers. This leads us to the notion that the as the advent of electronic communication—the internet and cellular phone technology to name a few—the expected rise in the efficiency and effectiveness of group mobilization and organization in the face of electronic civil disobedience is within reach. However, the abuse of ECD as in the case of civil disobedience (CD) is always a possibility to the extent that legal measures have also to be taken by the proper authorities so as to dismantle probable grounds for violent and unlawful measures in furthering the interests of several groups. ECD, for the most part, can be a ploy utilized by extreme groups that do not only seek refuge in the non-violent methods encapsulated within the essence of ECD but also seek unlawful ends through violent actions that spring forth from the devices and advantages brought up by the electronic media. Terrorists, for example, can opt to start their large scale plans of wreaking havoc in a populated society by getting a good hold of the electronic resources available almost everywhere. The September bombings of the World Trade Center in New York has devastated a number of lives and even up to this day the damage done can still be felt not only by those who were directly affected but also by the millions of people who fear the havoc of terrorism, especially in contemporary times where ECD is not something new. It would be interesting to note on the delimiting strands that segregate those that are purely in the form of ECD and those that hid behind layers of terrorist ploys. For the most part, ECD remains today as a growing tool used as a means in contesting the status quo by oppositional forces. This brings us to the security issues posited by the ECD that confront the targeted institutions by modern-day activists. Although security measures have been reinforced throughout the years with the further advancement in technology, cyberspace remains an open territory for civil activism—and hackers. Though there may be inconclusive findings that seek to establish a connection or an alliance between hackers and ECD groups, there remains the possibility that an actual connivance may actually exist, only that the alliance is hidden beneath the rubrics of the intangible world of technology. It may be an extreme thought to dwell on such a possibility. Nevertheless one cannot entirely dismiss its factual occurrence. In the context of the general population that subscribes to the established groups that further ECD, certain identifying marks have to be made so as to pinpoint the possibility of having a hacker among the number of activists that attempt at penetrating the electronic defense mechanisms of institutions. However, the rapid growth of the electronic resources and its availability prove to be one hefty factor to surmount by the institutions. Activism is all the more fueled by this growth and, thus, the efforts of the institutions are to be doubled or thickened accordingly if ECD is to be diminished. Quite on the other hand, ECD may not be diminished at all, nor can it be totally dissolved especially when the generation we have of today is one that is teeming with the abundance of electronic wealth (Wehling). It must be further realized that such an (ever increasing) abundance in the electronic resources found in cyberspace provides a fertile starting point for extreme organizations that might utilize ECD as an initial step towards electronic violence and as a front for the extensive damage that can be instigated through system crashes and data hostages. The person adept at information technology and electronic systems will readily convey that the probable damage of system crashes as well as data hostages are devastating in the sense that they do not only shaken the virtual foundations of institutions but also destroy the intangible interior foundations that build the electronic core of the institutions. Reparations may be met, though, but the time to successfully recover or at least partially get back on track is yet another factor that must be considered. Hence, security measures are as equally significant as the protection of the interests of these institutions, if not even far more important. Conclusion The impacts of ECD have been felt in many ways. As the growth in cyberspace continues to expand and exceed the standards set forth by previous generations in their attempt to resist the institutional forces and further the specific aims for taking up civil disobedience, ECD continues to be a driving force in directing the path of the electronic world. The presence of ECD in contemporary times will eventually stretch through time for as long as there remains a continued expansion in the domain of cyberspace and for as long as the interests of people are not met and properly addressed.

How The Globalization Has Been Influenced Politics Essay

How The Globalization Has Been Influenced Politics Essay Question  : What factors have shaped the processes of globalization? Discuss to what extent the world economy is becoming less or more globalised as a consequence of the global recession started in 2008? draw the views of radicals, sceptics and pragmatics regarding the factors promoting  : the existence of economic globalisation as a new phenomenon DIFFERENT FROM internationalization, westernization, liberalism or cultural convergence. It should further discuss: to what extent such factors have been influenced by the economic crisis AND what are the consequences for the globalising world economy. Key authors: HIRST THOMPSON, sCHOLTE (BOTH IN THE READING PACKAGE.) OHMAE DICKEN Introduction : In the last decade, globalization has been much all over the news. But despite its prominence, globalization is viewed as a highly complex process difficult to define. Essay divided in 3 parts : Introduction: 250 words The factors that have shaped the economic globalization: 1000 words The globalization debate: 900 words How the globalization has been influenced by the economic crisis and the consequences on the world economy: 1000 words Conclusion: 150 words Indeed, it a topic that is discussed by many authors who strongly disagree about its significance. Impossible to define. I will present the nature and the significance of these processes. (prod, finance, trade) Globalization is transforming the ways in which nations interact in the last few decades international trade and  production has become increasingly globalised and corporate activity has diversified and multiplied Not only globalization is very real, but it consequences can be felt everywhere. The global market place is more developed than in the 60s and 70s and is indifferent to national borders. Nations have lost most of their sovereignty and politicians have lost most of their capability to influence events. The era of nation state is over THE FACTORS THAT HAVE SHAPED THE PROCESSES OF ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION According to Castells, economic globalization can be mainly conceived as three different sets of factors that have shaped the processes of globalization, encompassing the changes that took place at a global level over the last few decades: the globalization of production, the globalization of finance and the globalization of trade (Castells, 2000). The globalization of production The globalization of production encompasses the changes that took place in a global level regarding the ways in which production of goods and services is organized and involve three dynamics: a massive increase of Foreign Direct Investment, an increased role of transnational corporations in the world economy and finally a growth of long distance production network (Prasad, 2006). The massive increase of FDI According to Razin and Sadka, the foreign direct investment (FDI) can be defined as an investment involving a long-term relationship and reflecting a lasting interest and control of a resident entity in the source country (foreign direct investment or parent firm) in the host country. (Razin and Sadka, 2007). As mentioned by Castells, since 1960, the FDI was more and more concentrated in industrialized countries with its origins in a small group of industrialized countries and its destinations in the same group. However, as a real result of the economic globalization, the countries of the Third World are becoming important destinations. For example, transnational corporations investments in transition economies are growing significantly and according to the UNCTAD, China replaced the United States as the worlds largest destination for FDI in 2003 (UNCTAD, 2005). Therefore, it is possible to argue that there is globalization of production because the economic globalization is reorient ing the destinations of FDI. The role of transnational corporations in the world economy Transnational corporations like Airbus, Samsung, Nike or Apple are companies who have their headquarters in one country (mainly concentrated in industrialized countries) and a number of subsidiaries in more than one foreign country. They constitute the most important vehicle for FDI, exceeding sometimes the gross domestic products of some national economies. Their role in the global economy is more and more important as their number is significantly increasing. Also, some transnational corporations located in some countries of the Third World tend to become significant vehicles for FDI (Held Mc Grew, 2003). Consequently, the internationalization and the growing importance of these multinational corporations are rapidly shaping the processes of economic globalization. The growth of long distance production network According to Gereffi and Korzeniewicz, most of the large transnational corporations tend to disperse their production networks internationally which represents a fundamental difference from earlier, when the production processes were mainly organized within national frontiers (Gereffi and Korzeniewicz, 1994). Those new global commodity chains keep evolving through time and involve market-based networks of global scope organized by the multinational corporations through relying upon contracting and sub-contracting of production processes worldwide (Prasad, 2006). According to Gereffi, there are two types of global world commodity chains: the producer-driven chain in which large manufacturing multinational corporations take a leadership role by organizing the chains; and the buyer-driven chains in which the leadership role is taken by the global retailers and marketers (Gereffi, 2002). Consequently, the global production of goods and services gradually occurs through broadly- dispersed network activities that have shaped something similar to a global web of productive activities. Hence, these three dynamics that constitute the globalization of production have influenced the world the economy while determining the processes of economic globalization. However, as previously mentioned, economic globalization also involves globalization of finance. The globalization of finance Economic globalization has been accompanied by notable fluctuations in the nature of the global financial organization. Indeed, the financial design that has been established by the Bretton Woods Agreement founded a system of fixed exchange rates across national currencies (Bordo and Eichengreen, 1993). Though, after the collapse of this system in the 1970s, the global financial system has progressively become globalized and presented a rising tendency toward global integration of financial markets and dome groundbreaking financial instruments. Therefore, nowadays businesses increasingly work in a world of globally integrated capital markets with developments in a particular part of the planet rapidly spreading their effects on a global level. Moreover, the globalization of finance has resulted in a surprising explosion of currency trading isolated from transnational trade. Therefore, it is possible to understand that the changes concerning the global production and finance also implied a globalization of trade. The globalization of trade The increase of international trade in every economic activities worldwide. International trade has grown significantly in relation to national income. Compared to the era of the rapid trade growth of the 1990s, the export levels today are much bigger for the states part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) because the trading walls have fallen across the world. Therefore, global markets have arisen for many goods and services. Also, in terms of value, trade in manufactured products accounts for about 75 per cent of the global trade when trade in services represent only 20 per cent (Castells, 2000). Changes in geographical patterns of international trade As the manufactured products represent such a great part of the international trade, it is without a doubt that industrialized economies lead the international trade. However, as a result of the globalization of production and finance, the international trade tends to be increasingly geographically diversified. Indeed, as the exports between industrialized countries have significantly dropped, the exports between the Third World countries have increased which is changing the geographical patterns of international trade (Nigel, 2012) The emergence of large regional trade groups as EU, NAFTA etc. The globalization of trade introduced the development of regional trade group as the European Union (EU), Association of south East Asia Nations (ASEAN), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Mercosur designed to give extra impulse to trade between member countries (Frankel, 1997). The first section of this paper has explained the factors that have shaped the processes of economic globalization. But globalization and its consequences constitute the root of many controversies and debates that will be discussed in the second part of this paper. THE GLOBALIZATION DEBATE According to Giddens, when it comes to the question of globalization, it is possible to distinguish three schools of thought: the hyperglobalizers, the sceptics and the transformationalists. Those three schools attempted to explain and understand the recent concept that is globalization, and more precisely, economic globalization. The hyperglobalizers According to Ohmae, globalization could be defined as a new era of human history in which traditional nation-states have become unnatural, even impossible business units in a global economy (Ohmae, 1995). Ohmaes of globalization privileges its economic logic while the other branch of this school of thought, the neoliberals, sees the globalization as the emergence of a single global market. Therefore, the hyperglobalizers think that the economic globalization will bring the denationalisation of economies through the formation of global networks of production, trade and finance that have been discussed in the first part of this paper. According to Reich, national governments are simple transitional institutions between global, regional and local instruments of governance (Reich, 1991). As mentioned by Strange the virtual forces of world market are more important than national governments and their authority is decreasing (Strange, 1996). Within the hyperglobalist movement, it exists a divergence between the neoliberals and the neo-Marxists as the neoliberals see the individual autonomy as a triumph when the neo-Marxist see the oppressive global capitalism as a triumph (Greider, 1997). However, those two variants of the movement agree on the economic globalization as a new phenomenon creating winners and losers in the global economy. They see the North-South division as an anachronism it has been replaced by a division of labour. Moreover, the hyperglobalizers see the Nation State coming to an end as they consider the globalization as an indication of the first global civilization and a new wold order with an emergence of institutions of global governance (Albrow, 1996). Indeed, as argued by Ohmae, the authority of the nation state is challenged as the national economy is more and more of a site of global flows. Also, the national governments are not capable to control what happens in their borders or to satisfy the demands of their citizens (Ohmae, 1995). As institutions of global governances are becoming more and more important, the sovereignty of nation states is eroded. In general terms, the hyperglobalizers perceive the globalization as a reconfiguration of the framework of human action (Albrow, 1996). The sceptics Compared to the hyperglobalizers, the sceptics see globalization as a myth or an ideology only relying on an economic conception. They think that globalization is primarily associated with a faultlessly integrated global market. According to Hirst and Thompson, the extent of economic globalization is categorically exaggerated (Hirst and Thompson, 2002). The sceptics consider the influence of national governments on global economic activity really powerful and therefore perceive the hyperglobalizers view as politically naÃÆ' ¯ve. In their point of view, the only thing that is demonstrated is that the economic activity is experiencing an important regionalization with the emergence of the regional trade groups such as the EU, NAFTA etc. Indeed, according to Boyer and Drache, todays global economy is considerably less integrated than it was in the past (Boyer Drache, 1998). Sceptics are also against the idea of the end of the nation state. Also, it is possible to see different points of view within the sceptics : some of them see national governments as the most important part of the internationalization considered as a US-initiated economic order who shaped an impulse for the liberalization of national economies. Some others like Callinicos, see the increase of global trade and FDI as a new era of Westernization in which national governments are deeply concerned (Callinicos, 1994). However, they all believe that internationalization has been accompanied by the rising economic marginalization of Third World states. As argued by Held and McGrew, rather than the world becoming more interdependent, the sceptics seek to expose the myths which sustain the globalization thesis (Held McGrew, 1999) The transformationalists Jones > Cycles of the economy Stiglitz> Adverse impact on developing countries Stiglitz, J (2002) Globalization and its Discontents (London, Penguin, 2002). Stiglitz , J ( 2007) Making Globalization Work: The Next Steps to Global Justice, London, Penguin Saul > Discusses the end of globalization a specific economic moment C) View of the TRANSFORMATIONALISTS regarding the economic globalization as a new phenomenon c) How is the economic globalization different from: industrialization westernization liberalism according to the TRANSFORMATIONALISTS. cultural convergence Authors: Giddens > Globalization is real and its consequences can be felt everywhere Level of world trade today is much higher than it ever was before and involves a much wider range of goods and services. Biggest difference between before and now : level of finance and cash flow. (exemple : electronic money that exist as digits in computers the current economy has no parallels in earlier times transfer money in 1 click. Globalization is not only new but revolutionary. Transformationalists Fin de 1ere partie : Giddens : I dont believe that either the sceptics or the radicals have properly understood either what it is or its implications for us. + It is wrong to think of globalization as just concerning the big systems, like the world financial order. Globalization isnt only about what is out here, remote and far away from the individual.. II) DISCUSSION ON GLOBALIZATION AND ECONOMIC CRISIS https://vip2.uvm.edu/~sseguino/pdf/global_crisis.pdf How the factors that have shaped the globalization have influenced the economic crisis. How did the globalization of production influence the economic crisis How did the globalization of finance and trade influence the economic crisis http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/spn/2009/spn0904.pdf Consequences of the economic crisis on the globalising world economy. x

Organizational Structure of Starbucks

Organizational Structure of Starbucks Starbucks have built a global coffee empire on the basis of quality inexpensive drinks. In February 2009 the Seattle based Company announced that it will close more than 300 stores which would impact 6,000 people and result in 700 layoffs. Starbucks have stated that they will continue to expand its presence in Europe and staff that is laid off will be given the opportunity of alternate jobs in these stores. They are planning to open 150 new stores in 2009/10. At this moment in time Starbucks are represented in more than 15,000 locations worldwide. The Mission statement of Starbucks has been defined as Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. (Farfan, 2012). The vision of Starbucks is all about quality and people. They want to enrich the lives of people by making Starbucks the premier neighborhood coffee shop and be seen as a social influence of good in peoples daily lives. Starbucks have a number of value statements and this is illustrated on their Canadian web site  [1]  where they enumerate:- where they enumerate:- The Coffee its all about the passion for coffee and finding the best ingredients and roasting the beans. They believe passionately in concepts of fair trade and enriching the lives of the coffee growers Partners The firm considers all of its staff as partners and inclusive in the contribution and wellbeing of the business. This ethos extends to its entire international operation. Customers Its all about social interaction with our customers and ensuring that they have an enjoyable experience at all of the Starbucks retail outlets The Stores All of the stores should have a unique Starbucks quality providing a consistent image of quality and an enjoyable social atmosphere where people can meet and enjoy fine coffee Community Starbucks wants to be seen as an important part of the community and an important force for good. It wants to enrich the lives of the local community and be seen as a desirable meeting place. Shareholders Starbucks recognises the important contribution of its investors and wants to remain a business that the shareholders can be proud of and provide them with good returns on investment. SECTION 2 The Organizational Structure The Organization structure of Starbucks is similar to most large groups of its size. The organization is controlled by a Board of Directors who functions from the Group HQ based in Seattle, Washington. Around the country it is split into regional jurisdictions with district Managers who oversee a group of regional stores. A store manager acts as the local boss for supervising the staff at a particular store location. The company does not operate as a franchise system but it does license store fronts. These are owned and operated by the Starbucks Corporation under strict quality control guidelines. The entire Starbucks team work as partners and are geared towards quality customer service and client satisfaction. Starbucks emphasises a policy of inclusion amongst its entire staff and no matter where you fit in the hierarchy the firm attempts to recognize individual contribution. Most of the consumers who are fans of Starbucks will endorse the level of consistency found across the Starb ucks locations whether you are in Seattle, New York or London. The Company has been extremely successful in this regard. (Schreiner, 2012). SECTION 3 Starbucks in China Starbucks have been instrumental in helping to increase the popularity of Coffee in China. The CEO has said that it plans to start and grow coffee in Yunnan province of China. This essentially will make a strategic commitment to help strengthen and develop the Starbucks brand in China. Yunnan province coffee already has a well-developed reputation in China for the production of high quality coffee beans. Starbucks have indicated that they would like to export Yunnan coffee beans throughout its world-wide distribution of retail stores. Starbucks has now been in China for 12 years and has 400 stores on the mainland and 800 stores in greater China. The firm has stated that China will be the fastest and biggest growing market in North America (CNN, 2010). The provincial government in Chinas Yunnan Province has said that it will invest $450 million to help expand the green bean volume of production from the current 38,000 tonnes per annum to that of 200,000 tonnes by 2020. It will also help Starbucks to expand its hectares in Yunnan province from 26,700 to 100,000 acres in the same period. This will help to create employment in China and develop the educational system within the Universities in the province of Yunnan, thereby promoting the development of the coffee industry in China. Starbucks will offer Yunnan province their agricultural expertise gained in coffee plantations in Cost Rica and Rwanda. This will help promote local knowledge and expertise in Yunnan province. When entering Japan they looked for local partnerships that would help them to ease their way into the Japanese market place and the approach was more one of stealth and careful navigation than opposed to that of a blockbuster announcement. The approach followed the typical model shown to the right. External Factors consider such items as cultural implications, market potential, and the intensity of competition and market barriers. Whereas internal factors are more focused upon such items as the characteristics of the country and environment for successful operations, the local resources available, speed of entry, ability to gain local support and investment. Statistics show a strong performance in sales between 2005-2008 but in 2008 the net income showed a sharp decline. So despite a growth trend in Sales the Company was losing money. The decline in the US market is however less likely to impact the potential investment and growth in China as the market forces are very different in the Chinese provinces as opposed to the USA economic determinations. (Tung, 2010) Starbucks and Sustainability When considering the concept of sustainability, the first word that comes to mind is that of the environment. Paper cups, are one of the most common consumables in our daily life. The disposal of these has become a serious problem in latest fifty years. This has contributed to the effect of global warming. Every day in the U.S. Millions of people will consume six cups of coffee as part of their routine life and only a few of them will choose not to use paper cups. As coffee has become the most popular drink for the breakfast and afternoon tea, all over the world, the expending of paper cups will only increase. Owing to the impact that paper cups will cause to the environment; some of the coffee stores advocate some discount activity to decrease the damage caused by paper cups. This project considers how paper cups are contributing to the destruction of the environment and the need for future actions of sustainability to protect the environment. The Environmental impact on paper cup disposal A paper cup is made of paper and lined with plastic or wax to prevent any drink from leaking out through the paper. Paper cups as the most popular drink container in the world, however, most of them are not recycled paper and as such they bring many negative impacts to the environment. According to a study of paper cups, it illustrates that a single cup will produce 0.25 pounds of CO2 emissions. When one paper cup is made, 0.90 square meters of natural habitat will be lost. Another statistic shows that in 2006, in excess of half a million trees were felled to make paper cups used by U.S consumers, in addition 4 billion gallons of water were used to make coffee and tea but resulting in 253 million pounds of waste. The only result of using large amount of paper cups is heavy air pollution, which is related to the thesis in this paper: sustainability. Wasting too many paper contributes to the wastage factor in the felling of trees. In particular, the disposable paper cups. Basically, a tree needs ten to fifteen years to mature . During this period how many other trees will be destroyed purely for the use of paper cups? Since the paper cup is a vital component of our routine life, most people do not consider the serious impact it creates. Meanwhile, landfill is another problem that disposable paper cups bring to the environment. The world administration is simply not equipped to deal with all of the recycling required and we are left with a quantum anount of plastic cups and lids which are virtually indestructible Starbucks are taking the campaign seriously Fortunately, there are some of the institutions and coffee store already realized the serious impact of paper cups. In this project, I am going to look at the most famous coffee store around the worldStarbucks. Starbucks is one of the most popular coffee shop in everywhere in the world, especially in its original placeU.S. And before 2006, paper cups were banned for recycling because of healthy. According to the graph above, U.S paper consumption has decreased in recent years. Starbucks serves 2.3 billion coffee cups a year. Owing to the huge consumption of paper cups they have realised the importance of environment concerns. Starbucks was the first company in the U.S to recycle content coffee cups. Those cups included ten percent post-consumer recycled fiber (PCF), this activity saved tens of thousands of trees, a half million gallons of wastewater and million pounds of garbage from being trucked to landfills. (Fusso, 2011). Starbucks also recommend people bring their own coffee cup nowadays, while one customer bring their own cup, they could have a ten cent discount for their order. This campaign encourages customers to be more environmentally friendly. Sustainability usually reminds people about green products and protecting the environment. However, when confronted not many people will agree upon how to achieve these objectives . Governments usually are indifferent on the subject and the only effective way is making sustainability related to profit. Modern Corporate entities become more interested in the concept of wealth accumulation and making profits. As a multi-national company Starbucks sets a good example to achieve paper cups sustainability. Customer Service Starbucks are an excellent example of excellence in customer service. They have had a lot of time in terms of getting the model right but they have persevered and never been complacent regarding the needs of their customer base. It starts with the quality of the product itself. They provide a range of coffees that are custom designed in order to meet the needs of even the most demanding of customers. The staff pays attention to the detail and little points that make your experience enjoyable; there are no real throwaways at Starbucks. One example is the type of background music played in the stores. This is designed to provide a light convivial atmosphere. Very often a light smooth jazz or the mellow sounds of Sinatra. The music is designed to make you feel good in a relaxing atmosphere. Another point is that Starbucks have never tried to nickel and dime their customers; they dont mind how long you sit at the cafà © with a single coffee. They want you to enjoy yourself. The Cafes often provide very comfortable seating arrangements and lounge chairs. This helps in the creation of customer loyalty and is indicative of the fact that they care about their customers (Hanft, 2012) Ethical Practices Owing to the amount of an ethical and dishonest marketing practices, as carried out in the USA, the public are looking for improved codes of ethics and marketing practices. Standards of marketing are not strictly governed by codes of ethics, as compared to other more regulated professions like law, medicine, accountants etc. the American marketing Association. [AMA] is attempting to bridge the gap but can only make code binding upon some members. An underlying question is will any rigorous code of ethics improve marketing practices of business behaviour? The first consideration must be enforcement; only if you can make people obey the code of ethics does it become worthwhile. Starbucks have attempted to place ethics high on their value chain. This starts off with the coffee production and dealing with Fair Trade Coffee that ensures planters and their staff are treated in an equitable manner and receive proper financial rewards that are commensurate with their efforts. This has also seen a move towards organic coffee production. It is often difficult to keep a check on all that takes place in your supply chain but is is important to avoid scandals like that of Nike who found themselves at the centre of a human rights scandal on the exploitation of child labour. Information Technology Starbucks has always taken Information Technology very seriously in its business operations. In March of 2012 they announced the appointment of two new Executives to be responsible for the way Starbucks uses technology and innovation relative to servicing its customer base. Starbucks have embraced the digital revolution in supporting digital networks within its stores. Starbucks has made significant investments in point of sale management systems, sophisticated inventor control systems and provision of computer technology in its supply chain. Leadership Practice The leadership style in Starbucks is very focused towards that of the democratic leadership style. This form of leadership style promotes delegation amongst assigned staff and given them the authority in which to complete tasks by using their own methods but adhering to corporate standards and guidelines. This motivates the staff because it promotes initiative and makes them feel more inclusive in the decision making. Delegation of responsibility does not however make the Manager less accountable for achieving the end results. The Manager is accountable for the end result. There is a danger that staff does not carry their weight and rely upon others to carry them. The Situational Leadership Model by Blanchard and Hersey is an important contribution because it has created a relatively simple matrix in order to explain a complex subject. Managers in larger Corporations are able to examine their directive and supportive leadership styles and determine where they are portrayed on the Model. By adjusting, the dynamics of their leadership style that can fine-tune the behavioural stance of leadership to be more supportive or more directive as the occasion demands. Hersey pointed out that this is not a theoretical concept but that of a leadership model. This is because the model is more application oriented and may be modified or adapted to meeting various situations as opposed to theoretical considerations that are normally more fixed. The negative side of traditional leadership models is that it has been more inwardly focused upon personal leadership styles as opposed to taking a more holistic viewpoint in terms of looking who leadership serves and how best to gain the optimum outcomes for the organization i.e. managing customer relationships and ensuring the business objectives are driven and focused towards meeting these needs. Positive attributes are that it has promoted group dynamics within the organization and helped in business transformation and change management. Starbucks have also adopted more of a servant leadership style at the store level. This is a relatively new concept that is finding a lot of support where high customer centric support is required. Servant Leadership may be defined as a leadership style that influences, models and supports how people learn to serve others first. It encourages the concept of speed (efficiency) and integrity in the way people interact and negotiate in a business setting. The concept covers both an internal and external focus. The approach works on the basis that in meeting peoples legitimate needs one gains more influence as a leader. This builds trust within the organization and is seen as dedication and commitment by customers. The qualities of servant leadership can be seen in individuals that:- Have Empathy they are good listeners Empowered They encourage others to lead by active delegation Positive attitude They promote a positive outlook in the organization Desire They have honesty and integrity and work on building trust Problem Escalation They will resolve issues or problems in an expedient manner Serve Excellent provision of customer service Pros of Servant Leadership Seeks and encourages open and honest feedback from others Helps people to progress and develop to their optimum capability levels Meets the legitimate needs of other people and aspires to the highest levels of trust Prepares for the future by careful succession planning Above all provides excellence in customer service by open, honest and transparent communications with an emphasis on service and quality Cons of servant leadership Not applicable to all situations e.g. The Military Changing the leadership view from one style to that of servant leadership can prove difficult unless very carefully handled Leading is different from managing personal and organizational styles need to be carefully aligned Importance of servant leadership Servant leadership has become an extremely popular approach in modern business. In a difficult financial climate competition for business increases and a good customer, relationship management team becomes of paramount concern. Good servant leaders bring about a very positive approach in the development of internal resources by promoting them, coaching and encouraging them, whilst equally motivating them towards a sense of community building. People will follow such leaders because they portray a selfless and generous demeanour and concerned about the welfare of others. This style is very paternalistic and encourages others not to be selfish but consider what they can do to help others. It was John F Kennedy that immortalised the saying Ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country. The style treats employees more as business partners as opposed to helpless drones of a slavish and subordinate mentality. Equally, the customers will look at the positive internal dynamics that are being generated. Customers will see this as indicative of the manner they will be treated i.e. with equality, respect, personal concern and a willingness to achieve a high quality product or service. (M.McCrimmon, 2012) Social Responsibility An excellent video link illustrating the Social responsibilities of Starbuck can be viewed at this location: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nly_OdvORQY . This is a very interesting video clip that illustrates both the ethical and social responsibility of Starbucks on a global basis. Essentially all business organisations have reward systems for their employees. Without these being in place the employees would not complete their job functions. Executives tend to regard this as compensation but in reality it extends far beyond the simple concept of pay. Modern organizations tend to view reward in terms of a strategic framework and this considers the overall vision and mission of the organization. For example, how will the business be successful and as such how the people that drive the business is both rewarded and incentivised. As such this rests upon a number of different perspectives i.e. Financial, Sociological, Psychological, Environmental, Hygiene etc. This falling within the general concept of Maslows Hierarchy of needs. (Bussing-Burks, 2009) SECTION 4 SWOT Analysis of Starbucks Strengths: There are a lot of very strong positive forces at play within Starbucks and this is what positions the firm as a Fortune 100 Company and a global player in this field. Large Market share capitalization They have the financial clout! Strong Brand Image The brand is recognized world wide Large store network Huge distribution of global stores Committed workforce A highly motivated workforce Highly profitable A highly profitable global business Global presence They continue to expand international presence Strong ethical values They have maintained a strong ethical stance Fortune 100 Company Recognition as an American Corporate giant High customer loyalty The customers are very loyal to the brand Quality products- Consistent quality over all their stores. Weaknesses: There are some issues with Starbucks but these are offset by the very strong profile the business projects. Premium company, as such can be undercut by low quality brands High dependency on coffee need for increased product diversification Very focused on US domestic market This is changing Could use more Free Trade Products This is being addressed and improving Seen as loyal American Global brand Despite this it is extremely well respected globally Fairly high costs to maintain standard of excellence You always pay for quality! Opportunities Starbucks have a very proactive marketing department and are always looking forwards to areas for improvement. . They are planning to open 150 new stores in 2009/10. At this moment in time Starbucks are represented in more than 15,000 locations worldwide. Emerging international markets like China Starbucks has now been in China for 12 years and has 400 stores on the mainland and 800 stores in greater China. The firm has stated that China Advancements in Technology Constant innovation spearheaded by two senior executives of the firm Product range diversity Constant ongoing improvements in this area Licensing its Name to open up market channels This will be done carefully in order tom protect quality standards and the brand image Improved marketing initiatives Constantly exploring new marketing opportunities Increased green initiatives Part of marketing initiatives . Starbucks also recommend people bring their own coffee cup nowadays, while one customer bring their own cup, they could own ten cent discount for their order. This campaign encourages customers to be more environmentally friendly. Threats: A saturated coffee market possibility of too many new market entrants Activists criticise Starbucks fair trade practices They are improving though Recession may mean less people purchase daily coffee- Temporary setback Increased costs of raw materials May need to be offset in pricing model Increased costs of operational overheads- May need to be offset in pricing model SECTION 5 Personal Reflection Starbucks is a hugely successful global American company and has a very loyal customer following, particularly in the USA and Canada where the coffee shops provide a focal meeting place for social meetings and connecting with the internet. There is no reason why the firm cannot continue its global expansion aims, particularly in China. Starbucks have been instrumental in helping to increase the popularity of Coffee in China. The CEO has said that it plans to start and grow coffee in Yunnan province of China. This essentially will make a strategic commitment to help strengthen and develop the Starbucks brand in China. Yunnan province coffee already has a well-developed reputation in China for the production of high quality coffee beans. Starbucks have indicated that they would like to export Yunnan coffee beans throughout its world-wide distribution of retail stores. (Gilbert, 2008) SECTION 6 Recommendation In todays difficult financial climate it appears that Starbucks are doing most things right. They have a customer centric approach, place quality control high on the agenda, they address the needs of a young discerning market place and have the right hygiene and environmental factors that support the business. Perhaps less reliance on coffee and increased diversification in their stores may help to consolidate their position further.

Sigmund Freud :: essays research papers

Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud, an Austrian born during the Habsburg Monarchy, was one of the trailblazers of modern-day psychology. The american historiam william johnston sees freud, the father of psychoanalysis, among those personalities "that one made austria a shining example of modernism in a world that had lost orientation." In his function as a neuropathologist freud came to realize that he had no clear understanding of neurotic patterns despite his throrough studies of the human brain. From 1895 onwards he associated intensely with the Viennese internist Josef Breuer. Both discovered that hypnosis removed neurotic symptons. The case of patient Anna O. became famous. By applying this method, Freud came to understand the correlation between emotional disorders and the formation of mental (at that time mainly hysterical) symptoms. Through hypnosis as a method of "mental catharsis" the patient recalls and relives repressed traumatic situations and is eventually relieved and healed. Freud was now convinced that functional diseases had a mental cause. In the following he discovered how mental energies may casue physical symptoms. After breaking with Breuer Freid found out that the abnormal emotional state of neurotics was almost invariably associated with conflicts involving the sexual impulse. Based on these findings he develoepd his theory on repression and defense as well as the sexual aspect of neurotic behaviour. Freud was unjustly blamed with "pansexualism". His theories created a storm in meical circles and were often and heavily rejected. However, what Freud had theoretically taught most of his life was rather a "dialectic of the sexual impulse" than its omnipotence. After breaking with Breuer Freud carried on his research work alone. Instead of hypnosis he applied the method of "free association" with his patients and soon recognized the traumtic impact of early sexual experience during childhood, seducations on the part of adults, above all the parents. In 1877, suffering from his own neurotic crisis, Freud discovered in a brave self-analysis that patients' fantasies and wishful thinking rather than real experiences play an unconscious role in the onset of neuroses. Freud's findings broke new ground in often misinterpreted areas like infantile sexuality and led to a completely new and expanded understanding of sexuality. His epochal achievement was to help prove the existence of the psyche as an independent system. In "Traumdeutung"/"The interpretation of dreams" published in 1900, freud inveiled the dream as a disguised fulfillment of repressed wishes. Within the European culture and civilization was a sensational dsclosure of Freud's (sometimes also personal) fight for self-realization and truth. With his thoughts, Frued not only influenced psychology but also modern time's conception ofthe world. His principles advanced the technique of psychoanalysis, with himself as his first patient.

Okonkwo as Epic Hero in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essay

Okonkwo as Epic Hero in Things Fall Apart      Ã‚  Ã‚   Achebe’s work, Things Fall Apart, is an epic; it resembles stories about heroes found in many cultures. In these stories, the heroes are extraordinary individuals, whose careers and destinies are not theirs alone, but are bound with the fortunes and destinies of their society. They become heroes by accomplishing great things for themselves and their communities, winning much fame as a result.    Okonkwo fits this pattern. The first paragraph of Things Fall Apart is notable in this respect, for it describes Okonkwo as follows:    Okonkwo was well known throughout the nine villages and even beyond. His fame rested on solid personal achievements. As a young man of eighteen he had brought honour to his village by throwing Amalinze the Cat. Amalinze was the great wrestler who for seven years was unbeaten, from Umuofia to Mbaino. He was called the Cat because his back would never touch the earth. It was this man that Okonkwo threw in a fight which the old man agreed was one of the fiercest since the founder of their town engaged a spirit of the wild for seven days and seven nights. (3)    In an epic story, the hero undergoes many tests, which we can see as rites of passage. In Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo undergoes such tests, including the wrestling match with Amalinze the Cat, his struggle with the negative legacy of his father, and the struggle to succeed on his own.    Praising heroes is a basic function of epics. As ... ... Hopes and Impediments. New York: Doubleday, 1989. Innes, C.L. Chinua Achebe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990. Nnolim, Charles E. "Achebe's Things Fall Apart: An Igbo National Epic" Modern Black Literature. ed. Okechukwu Mezu New York: Black Academy Press, 1971, 55-60. Obiechina, Emmanuel. "Narrative Proverbs in the African Novel," Research in African Literatures, 24, 4 (1993), 123-140. Okafor, Chinyere Grace. "From the Heart of Masculinity: Ogbodo-Uke Women's Masking." Research in African Literatures, 25, 3 (1994), 7-17. Traore, Ousseynou. "Matrical Approach to Things Fall Apart; A Poetics of Epic and Mythic Paradigms." Approaches to Teaching Achebe's Things Fall Apart. ed. Bernth Lindfors. New York: MLA, 1991, 65-73.

Complexometric determination of water hardness Essay

Introduction: The purpose of this experiment is to determine the hardness of a sample of water (#89). Water hardness can be evaluated by an acid-base neutralization titration. (When an acid and a base are placed together, they react to neutralize the acid and base properties, producing a salt.) From the Bronsted-Lowry acid-base reaction theory, the H+ cation of the acid combines with the OH- anion of the base to form water. In this titration experiment, there are no definitive acidic or basic agents being evaluated. This requires the use of the Lewis acid-base theory. Instead of defining acid-base reactions in terms of protons or other bonded substances, the Lewis definition defines a base (referred to as a Lewis base) to be a compound that can donate an electron pair, and an acid (a Lewis acid) to be a compound that can receive this electron pair. Similarly, in either type of acid-base neutralization experiment, an indicator is used to display when the solution is neutralized. The standardized Na2EDTA water solution is will be titrated against the unknown water sample (#89). Upon neutralization, the unknown water sample’s metal cation electrons will transfer to the Na2EDTA solution and will subsequently remove the sodium from the EDTA. (Unknown #89)2+ + Na2EDTA → (Unknown #89)EDTA + 2Na+ Water hardness is expressed in in milligrams per liter. Procedure: The first thing to be done was to manufacture the 0.004 M Na2EDTA solution. This was done by adding 0.7319 g Na2EDTA to approximately 500 mL of DI water. I obtained a 50.0mL burret, a 10.00 mL and a 25.00 mL transfer pipet, and the unknown sample (#89) from the stockroom. The 50.0 mL burret was set in the burret stand. The Na2EDTA was in the burret and CaCO3 solution was in a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. The CaCO3 solution was comprised of 10.00 mL of 1.000g CaCO3/mL, approximately 30mL of DI water, 2.5 – 3.5 mL of buffer (ammonia/ammonium chloride), and 4 drops of Eriochrome Black T indicator. The Na2EDTA was being titrated against the CaCO3 while simultaneously being mixed by a magnetic stir bar in the 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. The titration was run to completion when theCaCO3 solution turned from a violet to a blue color change. This was done three times for the standardization of the Na2EDTA. The titration for the now standardized Na2EDTA solution against the unknown water sample #89 follows a similar procedure as the first titration except the contents of the 250 mL differ. The Unknown sample solution was comprised of 25.00 mL of unknown, approximately 20 mL of DI water, 2.5 – 3.5 mL of buffer (ammonia/ammonium chloride), and 4 drops of Eriochrome Black T indicator. The Na2EDTA was being titrated against the Unknown while simultaneously being mixed by a magnetic stir bar in the 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. The titration was run to completion when the unknown solution turned from a violet to a blue color change. This was done three times to determine the hardness of water sample #89. Experimental Data & Calculations: 1). Na2EDTA & CaCO3 titration. Na2EDTA solution: 0.7319 g & 500 mL DI Water Trial #1: CaCo3 Solution Na2EDTA Solution 10 mL 1.000g CaCO3/L 31 mL DI water V0 = 0.60 mL 3.4 mL Buffer Vf = 25.20 mL 4 drops Indicator ΔV = 24.60 mL Trial #2: 10 mL 1.000g CaCO3/L 30 mL DI water V0 = 0.60 mL 3.3 mL Buffer Vf = 23.92 mL 4 drops Indicator ΔV = 23.22 mL Trial #3: 10 mL 1.000g CaCO3/L 30 mL DI water V0 = 0.50 mL 3.3 mL Buffer Vf = 24.23 mL 4 drops Indicator ΔV = 23.73 mL 2). Na2EDTA & Unknown water sample #89 titration. Trial #1: Unknown Solution Na2EDTA Solution 25 mL Unknown sample 20 mL DI water V0 = 0.88 mL 3.0 mL Buffer Vf = 13.80 mL 4 drops Indicator ΔV = 12.92 mL Trial #2: 25 mL Unknown sample 21 mL DI water V0 = 18.60 mL 3.1 mL Buffer Vf = 30.80 mL 4 drops Indicator ΔV = 12.20 mL Trial #3: 25 mL Unknown sample 20 mL DI water V0 = 30.80 mL 2.9 mL Buffer Vf = 43.20 mL 4 drops Indicator ΔV = 12.20 mL Na2EDTA molarity equation: Na2EDTA ΔV Na2EDTA molarity Trail #1 = 24.6 mL 0.0040 M Trail #2 = 23.22 mL 0.0042 M Trail #3 = 23.73 mL 0.0042 M Na2EDTA mean molarity: Absolute Deviation: Trail #1 = 0.0001 M Na2EDTA Trail #2 = 0.0001 M Na2EDTA Trail #3 = 0.0001 M Na2EDTA Estimated precision: Estimated precision = 0.1 ppt. Calculating Water Hardness (parts per million): M mol Na2EDTA = [Na2EDTA]mean = 0.0041 M Trail #1 ΔV = 12.92 mL = 216.4 ppm Trail #2 ΔV = 12.20 mL= 204.3 ppm Trail #3 ΔV = 12.20 mL= 207.7 ppm Parts Per Million Mean Calculation : Discussion: There are two tangibles that I feel may have affected the results of my calculations. The first was being able to use the transfer pipet correctly. I recall two trials where there was a combination of having bubbles in the pipet and adding an excess of the limiting reagent. The other struggle for me in this lab was being able to effectively determine the reaction’s completion by color change. An unnecessary excess of NaEDTA may have been added to determine the reactions completion. These two pitfalls in my method can explain for the error in my work. For practical purpose, water hardness values less than 60 ppm is â€Å"soft†, while water with more than 200 ppm is considered â€Å"hard.† The analysis of my unknown sample came out to be 209 ppm, a â€Å"hard† water sample. To present some validity to my result, I can briefly compare the water hardness’s of my unknown water sample to the 1.000 g CaCO3. The CaCO3 solution has a hardness of 1000 ppm and my calculated unknown has a hardness of 209 ppm. Since the CaCO3 has a higher hardness value, this is why it took more Na2EDTA to neutralize it in the first sets of titrations. This assures me that my calculated result should be less than 1000 pmm.

People in the film Essay

The creation of the monster involves the use of gadgets. The storm detector was needed to show when to lift the monster on to the roof. After lifting the monster up onto the table and elevating it up through a hole in the roof. It was then shocked by lightning, to bring it to life. The table the monster is position on in the centre of the room this is to put emphasis on him and to show that this is the most important aspect of the film. Dr Frankenstein brings the monster to life. A low angle is used on the monster to make him look big and scary, this is created due to the bold features of the monster. A low angle, which gives the effect that, the audience are actually watching the table rise. A tracking angle is used to follow the monster up onto the roof but when the table is on the roof a low is used, we can’t see what is happening on the roof, this creates unpredictability, which creates suspense and tension. The lighting is used on the monster, this is used to define the bold features of the face, and this lighting is low lighting. The people appear shocked, amazed and scared as if they don’t know what is happening, this influences the audience to feel the same way also this makes the audience feel insecure also because the camera angles and sound draw us into the film it makes the audience feel the same emotion as the people in the film. When the creature moves its hand a close up shot is used, this is to show that the monster is alive. When this happens the sound effects get louder, this is to increase the tension and suspense. The Dr Frankenstein shouts ‘ he’s alive, it’s alive,’ he then shakes around and he is restrained as if he was mad, this creates more tension due to Dr Frankenstein’s unpredictability and this scares the audience. In the novel we are slowly set into the scene but in the movie we are straight into the storyline this is due to that it would be boring if we were slowly set into the scene also this is a horror movie so there should be no moments where there isn’t tension. In the novel and the movie there are differences this is because there are only certain things that you can do with a book but in a film you can do more for e.g. in a film you have sounds and you can have camera angles to add to suspense and tension. In the novel Dr Frankenstein doubts what he is doing (a moral dilemma) but in the film he is very excited by what he was doing. In the book Frankenstein’s room is described as a small candle lit room but in the movie it is a big tall room with high tech equipment. In the novel Dr Frankenstein is not evil and the monster is not really evil but in the film Dr Frankenstein and the monster are perceived as evil. This is because the film is a horror movie. In the novel there are less gadgets (if any) described but in the movie there are many gadgets this is because in a movie the audience want to shocked amazed and interested, these gadgets do all of these things. In the film Frankenstein is perceived as a loner but in the novel he has a loving family and background. This is because if Frankenstein came from a loving family we couldn’t see Dr Frankenstein as evil and evil is needed to create a good horror movie. In the novel, he doesn’t have an assistant but in the film he does. In the novel the monster is created without anybody there but in the movie there are witnesses to his creation, this is because in the film the director wanted to involve the audience, which makes them scared. James Whale needs to create tension, suspense, and unpredictability to create a good horror movie. He did this by using different lighting and camera angles. He used certain camera angles to put us into the scene such as p.o.v and long shot, this shows where things are and shows what’s happening in a certain areas. He used some shots for emphasis such as close up and extreme close up; this draws your attention towards something so that you notice it. Some of the shots he used were to involve us in the scene such as low angle, rolling shot, tracking this is to make us more scared because it makes us sense what we are seeing so therefore its makes us feel ‘mise-en-scene’. The lighting that James Whale uses is under lighting, filler lighting and there is flashes of lightning these are all used to create suspense from the same building in different ways.