Monday, November 25, 2019

Event Critiques Example

Event Critiques Example Event Critiques – Article Example Unit Reflection on Concerts Concert The first concert I attended was â€Å"The Four Season CulturalSeries† which was held at the Heritage Park, City of Sunny Isles Beach, 19200 Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160. The Florida International University Jazz Big Band. The concert took place on Sunday the 14th of April 2013 (Four Seasons Cultural Series 2013). The Florida University Jazz Big Band was led by Director and lead trumpet player Jim Hacker.The concert was set in the Pelican Community Park Gymnasium, a relatively large hall, which allowed for the guests to move freely and dance while enjoying the sensual flow of modern day jazz mixed with a tinge of old school jazz.The crowd and guests that came to be entertained was mainly the old and middle aged individuals. This is owing to the fact that jazz genre is not very popular with the young and is associated with individuals of a higher class calibre who are considerably well off. The crowd had a mixed response to the music. A sectio n of the crowd preferred to simply remain sited and enjoy the music, while others danced to the tunes. However, the majority of those who danced were mainly couples.There were many compositions that were performed during the concert. They all varied in tempo and covered almost all the genres and sub genres of Jazz. The following compositions were particularly interesting.â€Å"Undercurrent Blues† by Chico O’Ferril. This is an Afro-Cuban Jazz piece that entails a fast, quick ad bright tempo that ranged between 109 to 110 BPM. This makes this piece an Allegro and was from the mid-1940s. Little Brown Jug by Glenn Miller is a Big band Swing Jazz Ballad. It is of relatively slow tempo, at 74 BPM. This makes it an Andante. This piece was from the early 1910s.The concert was a huge success as it encompassed jazz from the different periods that shaped the development and growth of Jazz Music. The gradual switch from fast paced jazz pieces to a slow paced mood created from an e xciting start to a sensual ending for the concert.2013. Four Seasons Cultural Series. October 13. Accessed May 14, 2014. sunnyislesbeachmiami.com/events/four-seasons-cultural-series/.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Zara Fashion Company Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Zara Fashion Company - Case Study Example From this paper it is clear that  Zara company strategic analysis is provided in which the external environment is studied using PESTEL model. Porter’s five forces model is also adopted in studying the fashion industry that Zara is operating in. Internal strategic audit is provided in which various aspects of the organization is analyzed including financial performance, value chain analysis, design and infrastructure. The internal analysis provides an insight on Zara strength as well as is viability. External and issues that concerns the company stakeholders is studies. These factors notably affect Zara corporate image and the relationship among the stakeholders.  This discussion highlights that  Zara clothing company has grown over years since its establishment in 1975 becoming one of the famous companies in clothing and fashion industry. Zara has become the best known fashion brand in Spain as well as globally. This is attributed to its flagship brand of  £2.5 billio n holding group Inditex. Currently the company has emerged to be world fastest growing manufacturers of fashion clothing. The company has over 2000 stores globally and likely to double in the coming years. Within five years after its establishment the company had a spout of growth extending its operations over the principle cities in Spain. A key major breakthrough of its growth came after its venture into international markets under Inditex Corporation. Trendy Zara is the flagship brand for Europe's fastest-growing apparel retailer.  ... The company has over 2000 stores globally and likely to double in the coming years. Within five years after its establishment the company had a spout of growth extending its operations over the principle cities in Spain. A key major breakthrough of its growth came after its venture into international markets under Inditex Corporation. Trendy Zara is the flagship brand for Europe's fastest-growing apparel retailer. This growth can be argued to be attributed by company adoption of a sustainable breakthrough strategy. This has enabled the company to become world’s largest fashion group with a variety of fashion brand names such as Zara Kids, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home, Lefties and Uterque. ZARA STRATEGIC ANALYSIS Industry Overview Fashion and clothing industry is among the expanding most sectors in many economies in the world markets. This industry notably in Spain and its multinational ventures is characterized with high competition and c hange in designs and fashion affecting consumer demand in the key underlying companies. This industry has three major competitors both locally and internationally and these companies include Zara Company holding 9.8% of the market share, H&M Hennes & Mauritiz AB commanding 2.9% and Mango Market share being 2.6%. By 2011 the company is valued at $33.38, since the economic recession this industry forecasting a growth of 10.5% as from 2010 to 2015. It is also important to note that Spain in the fourth largest producer of textile. The industry majorly targets men and women aged 18-35 years old. These companies strive to provide affordable prices to the targeted cosmopolitan and young men and women interested in upscale clothing. This industry and its core markets

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Public Relations Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Public Relations Theory - Essay Example Another tactic is to block roads to prevent transportation procedures leading to massive losses in the transport industry. However, patronage in public relations is meant to reform people’s behavior. Government through the council may use bribery and favor of wrong opinions using threats and denials to underfund the black spot project. Patronage also involves using a celebrity to endorse the 142 black spot projects for renovation and repair while ignoring the 50 unattended cases. South Australian council, therefore, may also use endorsements and public appearances of leaders to discredit the remaining 50 projects (Kemp & Higgins 2013, p.1). This is conducted through civic improvement projects and awareness campaigns essential in communication models in public relations. Use of persuasion is also fundamental in convincing people to accept or refuse an idea. Communication is applied in this case in public relations following six distinct steps. Presenting the message comes first because it gives an individual the chance to prepare for the message. South Australia’s council, for example, may persuade the Freedom of Information Laws from pressing on with the eligibility of 50 black spot projects recorded between 2011 and 2012 (More information on budget is on appendix B). Second step involves attending that is very critical in the field of public relations. Listening to the persuasive message is essential for the message to reach its recipient. This is followed by comprehension of the sent message. It implies the South Australian council and the citizens understand the implications of accidents and underfunding respectively. Persuasion strategy, therefore, assists in examining and reporting on the outcome of the... Public relations and media here mean convincing the masses on the benefits of accepting the funding of 142 black spot projects instead of criticizing 50 not underfunded. Fifth step under the persuasion theories is the retention of the information transmitted for future use and reference. In propaganda, a concept of public relations, it is paramount to remind the people constantly on the import of the previous message. For example, addressing the issue of underfunding by the council should take place consistently it is raised by the Freedom of Information Laws and NGOs. This will guard against losing a vote of no confidence against the government Introduction of theories in public relations is to restore mutual relationships. For example, South Australian government through its council is bound by moral principle to explain reasons for underfunding 50 black spot projects. Under the principle, other objectives include organization and explanation to assure the public on road safety. Next is prediction of the decision especially the causes and effects of funding 145 black spot projects and leaving 50 others. instilling relationship management theory in public relations (Doug et al 2009, p.204). Public relations have two forms of publics namely internal and external. For instance, in external, regulatory agencies of the government such as South Australian council has no relationship with other organizations. It, therefore, means media, motorists and community members are not permitted to receive information affecting their interests. Alternatively, internal publics have the same institutional identity and they include employees, management and investors.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Assignment - Essay Example Whenever a company starts the main operation in a particular region the initially grow steadily and then exponentially. However after a certain phase the company enters a stagnant phase, during this phase many companies realize the importance of approaching other geographical markets for growth. When the global recession had hit the US and Europe market many companies predominantly operating in those geographical area realized the importance of taking their products to growing market. The BRIC countries namely Brazil, Russia, India and China, have been recognized by many companies as markets which have lot of potential. Many of these countries have a substantial population of growing middle and upper middle class people. The increase in disposal income per family has made these countries, a lucrative target for many. In business globalisation denotes more market share, growth and profit making. The farther is the reach of a business the more customers and revenue it is bound to achie ve (Tandon, p.29). Technology has been an important element in facilitating the globalisation. Technological advances in Information Technology have helped companies to operate their global operations more efficiently. A company that has to set up an operation in a foreign geographical region has to initially relocate their strategic team to establish themselves in the foreign market. ... IT also enables these companies to operate globally by enabling them to handle their clients from distant location. IT companies themselves are biggest advocate of globalisation. Most IT companies work for businesses in various geographical areas growing their network globally. Technological development and advances have indeed made the world a smaller place. These technological advances make it possible for operations situated miles apart interact with each other have formal meetings within few minutes without physically relocating. Technological advancement in transportation also has made global operations easier for companies. Travelling from a location to another also has become easier for the managers. One manger is able to handle several geographical areas due to these technological advancements. Technology also helps in keeping the operations located in various locations have a common identity. One of the main aspects of globalisation has been to utlise the resources carefully and efficiently. Each geographical market has a unique resource quotient that gives a comparative advantage to that market. The companies try using these resources in such a way that maximum profit can be harnessed, this makes globalisation a rewarding option for companies also. Globalisation also enables consumers with the power to choose. The consumers are given wider option due to globalisation are in a position to demand better and efficient service (Ramos, p.1-30). One of the most complicated issues for companies opting for globalisation is planning resource management. Resource management is the back bone for any company. The operations will operate according to the plan only if the human resource planning is done in an intelligent way. Right person for the right

Friday, November 15, 2019

Accountability Mechanisms in Volkswagen and Nike

Accountability Mechanisms in Volkswagen and Nike An ever evolving set of responsibilities (and accountabilities) for the functioning and welfare of individuals, society and the environment is entrusted to public sector organisations and private business enterprises. Using both positive and negative examples discuss the above statement. Accountability is defined as the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility (Oxford Dictionary, 2016). It is an essential part of all businesses both large and small. The power that one party has which enables them to demand accounts from another party is through various accountability mechanisms. This essay will examine how a small selection of said accountability mechanisms succeeded or failed in the cases of two large corporations Volkswagen and Nike. The environment is entrusted into the hands of businesses. A prime example of when this trust was broken is the Volkswagen (VW) emissions scandal. In this case, the legal accountability mechanism failed miserably. Legal accountability is the obligation that companies have to the law. These accountabilities unlike some others e.g. market accountability are compulsory. The VW emissions scandal erupted on the 18th of September 2015 (Kollewe, 2015). The company was ordered to recall 482,000 cars in the US after the scandal was unveiled. Due to the deliberate illegal installation of a defeat device, VW could cheat emissions testing on several models and was cleared to sell them (Hotten, 2015). The defeat device caused cars affected to excel under normal emissions testing conditions. Its purpose was to recognise test conditions e.g. a locked steering wheel and a stationary test rig and put the vehicles into a safety mode which resulted in the cars emitting a significantly lower level o f air pollutants than they would under normal driving conditions. The rigging of tests allowed VW to manufacture and sell thousands of cars that were advertised as being revolutionary due their low emissions. The stark reality was that when tested out-with normal test conditions, the engines emitted nitrogen oxide pollutants up to 40 times above what is allowed in the US (Hotten, 2015). When the scandal broke, it was unveiled that 11 million cars worldwide could possibly be fitted with the device (Kollewe, 2015). What is questionable, is the fact that the company only suggested that 11m cars could possibly be fitted with the device. One would think that they would know how many times they broke the law considering all the profits that they raked in. This resulted in the emitted pollution totalling almost 1 million tonnes per year (Lee and Vachon, 2016). Roughly the same as the UKs combined emissions for all power stations, vehicles, industry and agriculture (Mathiesen and Nelsen, 20 16). VW did not take care of the environment here because although their deceit caused them to rake in profits, their carelessness and lack of consideration has resulted in a negative impact on the environment and society at large. In the case of this scandal, the legal accountability mechanism failed because although the law stated that cars could not emit more pollution than a set amount, VW used deceitful ways cunning practices to bypass the law. Since the truth has been unveiled, VW has paid and will continue to pay dearly for their wrongdoings with lawsuits and continued legal action being taken against them. Furthermore, legal accountability is not the only accountability mechanism that failed in relation to the VW scandal. Another one was market accountability, accountability to the output market in particular. The output market is where goods are sold and services are provided. This market is especially important as consumers in such markets can take their custom elsewhere in the event of a companys wrongdoing. As such a large company, VW was trusted by millions of users all around the world. They bought their products because of their brand loyalty and belief. They were drawn in by the advertisements promoting clean diesel and gave up their hard-earned money in order to receive a product that unbeknownst to them was contributing astonishing amounts of pollution into the atmosphere (Jopson, McGee and Campbell, 2016). A study found that US [VW] vehicles would have spewed between 10,392 and 41,571 tonnes of toxic gas into the air each yearà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. If they had complied with EPA st andards, they would have emitted just 1,039 tonnesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦each year in total (Mathiesen and Nelsen, 2016). The failure of market accountability is equally even more astonishing due to the astounding volumes of pollution that was emitted due to these defeat devices. Not only did VW show a lack of regard for the environment, but they also did not act responsibly with the trust bestowed onto them by the output market society. The market penalized VW for its unsustainable behaviour with many customers taking their custom elsewhere. Volkswagen faces a consumer backlash against its brand (Lee and Vachon, 2016) and deservedly so. The VW scandal is a perfect example of the impact that both legal and market accountabilities can have on a company when they are ignored. On the contrary, public reputational and market accountability succeeded in the case of Nike. The company began their Reuse-a-shoe initiative in 1990 and since then have recycled more than 28 million pairs of shoes and 36,000 tons of scrap material into Nike Grind for use in more than 450,000 locations around the world (Ekstrà ¶m, 2014). The material Nike Grind- is created using the slice-and-grind method. This meant that the shoes were sliced into three separate parts: rubber outsole, foam midsole and fibre upper. The three separate parts would then be ground and refined for use (Nike, 2016). The three different types of Nike Grind can then be used for different purposes, all for benefitting communities and society in general. What is remarkable is the fact that Nike saw an opportunity to make use of all the old trainers that were being incorrectly disposed of. By beginning this initiative, it is easy to see that Nike could build a strong brand loyalty. Consumers are always eager to support an initiative that will better the planet in any way, shape or form and Nike realised this and have succeeded.   Nikes Grind website states: Nikes vision is that our products will be closed loop-that is, they will use the fewest possible materials and be assembled in ways that allow them to be readily recycled into new products. Our long term vision is to create a continuous loop without waste. (Nike, 2016) Nike has been very successful with this initiative and it shows that they care for the environments and the well-being of society as a whole. This point is derived from the fact that all the old trainers were being disposed of incorrectly and this led to an increase in landfill. Also, the burning of the rubber led to increased toxic gases being released into the atmosphere. Nikes decision to begin the Reuse-a-shoe initiative was a great one because it improved the regard with which the company was seen. In addition, their pledge to use sustainable, long-lasting materials designed for professional level performance has only further increased its popularity with millions of consumers around the world (Nike, 2016). Nikes swift action to try and reduce the impact that their old products had on the environment worked in their favour as Nike Grind is now well established and continues to boost the Nike brand image. In conclusion, yes, it is true that society and the environment is entrusted into the hands of public sector organisations and private business enterprises. These are regulated using accountability mechanisms. All companies are accountable in many ways. However, where VW failed in their legal, market and public reputational accountabilities due to their deceitful actions, Nike succeeded in their market and public reputational accountabilities by identifying and devising a way to fulfil its objectives whilst making a positive impact in many communities and society. While, VW fitted the defeat device to cheat emissions testing and eventually make more profit, Nikes outward thinking resulted in even more brand loyalty than they started out with. It simply demonstrates that accountability is an essential part of every organisation and when the accountability mechanisms fail, there are serious consequences. Bibliography Ekstrà ¶m, K.M. (2014) Waste management and sustainable consumption: Reflections on consumer waste. Pg 169-171. Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=GXLfBQAAQBAJpg=PA170dq=nike+reuse+a+shoehl=ensa=Xredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=nike%20reuse%20a%20shoef=false (Accessed: 16 November 2016). Hotten, R. (2015) Volkswagen: The scandal explained. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34324772 (Accessed: 16 November 2016). Jopson, B., McGee, P. and Campbell, P. (2016) Volkswagen faces $15bn hit over US green ad campaign. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/1234f9be-f5bf-11e5-9afe-dd2472ea263d (Accessed: 16 November 2016). Kollewe, J. (2015) Volkswagen emissions scandal timeline. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/dec/10/volkswagen-emissions-scandal-timeline-events (Accessed: 16 November 2016). Lee, K.-H. and Vachon, S. (2016) Business value and sustainability: An integrated supply network perspective. Pg 101-104. Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ZPzcDAAAQBAJpg=PA102dq=vw+scandalhl=ensa=Xredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=vw%20scandalf=false (Accessed: 16 November 2016). Mathiesen, K. and Neslen, A. (2016) VW scandal caused nearly 1m tonnes of extra pollution, analysis shows. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/22/vw-scandal-caused-nearly-1m-tonnes-of-extra-pollution-analysis-shows (Accessed: 13 November 2016). Nike (2016) How its made. Available at: http://www.nikegrind.com/how-its-made (Accessed: 16 November 2016). Oxford Dictionary (2016) Available at: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/accountability (Accessed: 16 November 2016). Siedel, G. (2016) The Three pillar model for business decisions: Strategy, law and ethics. Pg 16-19. Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SYXNCwAAQBAJpg=PA18dq=vw+scandalhl=ensa=Xredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=vw%20scandalf=false (Accessed: 16 November 2016).

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Margaret Atwoods Cats Eye :: essays research papers

Trace the development of the bullying. How convincing are the situation and Elaine's feelings are portrayed. -How it changes and increases We are first introduced to Cordelia and prepared for the future conflict between the two girls when it is mentioned, "The third girl doesn't wave". This lack of warmth towards Elaine is a premonition of what is to come, and is at the same time believable- new girls are often wary of each other, uncertain of what the other will be like. This key moment also reveals certain character aspects in both Cordelia and Elaine that continue through out the bullying period, for example Cordelia's judgmental attitude "her eyes are measuring" or " Cordelia is looking past me to where my parents are†¦" To me, this first meeting seems too rich on detail, too unbelievable because of the amount of detail that the adult Elaine has remembered. I cannot remember so far back as to what another person's eyes looked like even yesterday, perhaps what they said made a deep impact and I would have remembered it, but surely a conversation between two girls when they were eight years old would not have been remembered in such great accuracy so many years afterwards. Soon after Cordelia's arrival she begins to intimidate Elaine, albeit unintentionally, by leading Elaine to make judgements and comparisons which she had not made before "It occurs to be for the first time that we are not rich." Showing the early signs of pressure and bullying starting to happen. Much of Cordelia's character is also related to the audience at this point, her grownup behaviour is revealed "She has a smile like a grown-ups", "But children don't shake hands like this", "I feel shy with Cordelia", as is her childish nature, "The soft squishy kind, like peanut butter". These extreme swings are shown later when Cordelia appears to be friends with Elaine, while really harassing her. This again is typical of children- that they pick up on the behaviour of their parents is quite natural, especially in Cordelia's circumstances which are related when Elaine visits her with "I ask Cordelia if she is gifted, but she puts her tongue in the corner of her moth and turns away". The main motive to bully Elaine seems to be the neglect that she has to deal with at home- the older siblings who are 'gifted' and her ordinariness and inability to be more like them.