Cosmetic Testing with Animals is Cruel Essay - 1302 Words

The Cruelty of Cosmetic Testing on Animals Each year, thousands of animals are brutally tortured in laboratories, in the name of cosmetic research. A movement to ban animal testing for cosmetic purposes has been gaining popularity, with many companies hopping on the bandwagon against this research. New alternatives have been developed to eliminate the necessity to test on animals. This is only a small beginning of what is necessary to end these immoral acts. Animal testing in cosmetics is useless and cruel, and can be accomplished by other methods of research to end the suffering of animals. One of the many painful tests administered on animals in laboratories is the Draize Test. This experiment, introduced forty-five years†¦show more content†¦The Gallup Organization published a poll taken showed that 60% of adults are against animal experimentation (Public, 97). All of these results show both how many animals are killed, and the view of the general population. If this is the reaction regarding these cruel acts, then why does the suffering of animals continue? The testing that occurs in animal laboratories appeals to our emotion because of the cruelty that is involved. This is not the only reason for concern. The current conditions of the treatment and facilities are not acceptable. This is a violation of the Animal Welfare Act of 1996 (97). This law was established to protect animals from inhumane treatment of research animals 97). Inhumane treatment is the torture that occurs everyday, as animals for forced into tests that determine the safety of cosmetic products. A major part of the argument against animal testing revolves around the moral issues of the issue. Should we be allowed to cause suffering to animals to gain something for ourselves (Dufva, 1, 97). The answer to this question is no. These animals are tortured to test the safety of makeup and other cosmetics; these creatures are sacrificed so humans can alter their physical appearance. This act is not only unethical, but violates the basic teachings of Godà ­s word. As quoted in Matthew 7:12, Do untoShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Animal Cruelty1691 Words   |  7 PagesAnimal cruelty has become a problem, it is causing harm to the animals lives. Animal Cruelty is the suffering of an animal, whether it is caused on purpose or not. There are other things that are cruel to animals, such as the testing of animals. These animals have no protection by law, which means they can be used for any testing. This is unacceptable, unfair, and cruel that these animals have to be used in testing. A nimals are just as important as humans. Their are those who believe that it is okayRead MoreAnimal Testing Proposal Essay1549 Words   |  7 PagesMillions of animals are being unneedlessly tested on for cosmetics, even though there are plenty of alternatives available and most of the results are unreliable or not applicable to humans. Although the fight against animal testing has made huge progress recently, America has yet to stop this cruel practice and chooses to torture animals while other countries are making a stop to the testing (â€Å"Animal Testing 101†). Right now, millions of mice, rats, rabbits, primates, cats, dogs, and other animals are lockedRead MoreThe Use Of Research On Cosmetics And Its Effects On Society1604 Words   |  7 PagesBlinded by Beauty On average, 26 million animals are used every year for the use of research on cosmetics. These tests should be banned for many obvious reasons such as it is clearly cruel and inhumane, they cost more than alternative methods, and they do not predict an accurate result due to the anatomical differences. Animals are being unfairly tortured and killed for research on ingredients that people are unknowingly using in their everyday lives. Here’s an important question to consider;Read MoreShould Animal Testing Be Banned?844 Words   |  3 PagesShould animal testing be banned? Nowadays, a lot of animals has been tested on a range of experiments over the world. You could be supporting animal teasing cruelty without knowing it. Have you ever check if there’s animal testing on the cosmetics before you buy it? Today, a lot of cosmetics has been testing on helpless animals and there are about 1.4 million animals die each year from animal testing ( CatalanoJ, 1994). Most of the experiments that are completed in the laboratories are very cruelRead MoreAnimal Testing Should Not Be Banned940 Words   |  4 Pages1). Over 100 million animals are burned, crippled, poisoned, and abused in US labs every year. 2). 92% of experimental drugs that are safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials. (DoSomething â€Å"11 Facts About Animal Testing†). There are currently no laws combating the testing of cosmetics on animals, but the practice is harmful and must be ended. As evidenced by the statistics above, millions of animals are tortured and murdered in the United States every year for virtually no reasonRead MoreShould Animals Be Used for Research in the Cosmetic Industry?533 Words   |  3 PagesShould animals be used for research in cosmetic industry? Animal testing is widely used to develop new medicines and to test the safety of other products. These experiments can cause pain to the animals involved or reduce their quality of life in other ways. Animal experimenters are aware of this problem and agree that the testing should be made as humane as possible. While this practice has been followed for years now, some people still strongly believe that it is a cruel act and should be permanentlyRead MoreThe Fight Against Animal Testing1456 Words   |  6 PagesThe Fight Against Animal Testing in Cosmetics The makeup industry has flourished for as long as one can remember. The popularity of beauty bloggers, celebrity makeup lines, etc. have actually led to a record-breaking boost in makeup sales. Cosmetic brands have become more prominent, and makeup stores such as Sephora and Ulta continue to thrive. However, various demands must be met in order to keep up with the growing consumership, and one of the most controversial topics contributing to the successRead MoreShould Animal Testing Be Banned?1665 Words   |  7 PagesTesting Cosmetics on Animals Companies around the world use animals to test cosmetics. Animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, and mice, are used to test the effects of chemicals on the eyes and skin. While animal testing is not mandatory, many companies use it. About Cosmetics Animal Testing by the Humane Society International talks about the different options companies have that do not require the cruel use and eventual death of animals. The article also talks about the overallRead MoreAnimal Testing Should Be Banned909 Words   |  4 Pages One major dilemma that companies face today is animal testing. Many cosmetic companies still use animal testing in an immoral ways of testing products. Out of the major 5 companies that are still animal testing for cosmetics stated by one green planet unleash your green monster. Which is a special interest foundation to protect animal-rights. In a recent article by Pam Ryan â€Å"Hate animal cruelty? You should probably avoid these cosmetic brands† states that that Olay was number one on their list (PamRead MoreAnimal Testing Should Not Be Banned1136 Words   |  5 PagesAnimal experimentation is not the most accurate testing, just because some medicine and cosmetic product pass an animal test it doesn’t mean it has a beneficial effect on humans. Animal tests have evolved in many ways throughout history in negative and positive ways. A strong negative being that we are different from animals but not just animals we are also different from each other. There are many arg uments that we humans wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for reliance on animal testing

High Value Customer Profile, Using Data Mining Techniques

Abstract Studying about customer segmentation and creating a customer ranking plan has attracted more attention in recent years. In this regard, this project tries on providing a methodology for customer segmentation depending on their value driver parameters which will be extracted from transaction data. The objectives of this project is to identify the High Value Customer Profile, using data mining techniques such as classification and clustering approaches. In the first phase, the data will be cleaned and patterns will be developed. In the second phase, the data will be profiled and clustered to identify High Value Customer Profile. Background and the Problem Domain Companies are increasingly interested in identifying customers who†¦show more content†¦For example, according to Selden and Colvin (2003) FedEx Corporation is categorizing its clients as â€Å"good†, â€Å"bad† and â€Å"ugly† based on their turnover potential and is charging higher prices from less profitable customers while providing enhanced services to more profitable customers. Numerous industry experts and researchers support this practice. Therefore, it is argued that by treating all its customers equally a company is not only wasting its resources on unprofitable customers, but also is underserving the profitable customers and risks losing them (Selden and Colvin 2003, Venkatesan and Kumar 2004, Gupta and Lehmann 2005). Therefore, by knowing the fact that 80% of business of an organization often comes from 20% of their customers (the Pareto law), it is important for organizations to identify a model to classify the customers as high value customers or not. Most of the past researches (Kim et al. 2006, Khajvand M. and Tarokh M. J. 2011) have performed customer segmentation based on the traditional Customer Relationship Management (CRM) variables. However, these variables might not be sufficient to identify the profile of High Value Customers since traditional CRM variables do not consider the online activities of customers and also the dispute that a customer might influence other

Eliminative Materialism Free Essays

Explain Eliminative Materialism. Explain an argument in its favor. Does the Argument succeed? In this paper I will discuss Eliminative Materialism, a theory in philosophy of mind. We will write a custom essay sample on Eliminative Materialism or any similar topic only for you Order Now First I will explain the term theory-theory, next Folk Psychology, as a theory will be discussed. Then, I will clarify the failure of Folk Psychology as per Eliminative Materialism. Last, I will explain an argument in favor of Eliminative Materialism. Finally, I will elucidate whether the argument succeeds or fails. Functionally, a theory must make predictions, interpret evidence in new ways, and provide explanations of phenomena in its domain [http://www. iep. utm. edu/th-th-co/]. Science contains an ample amount of theories. For example, the theory of evolution in biology makes the prediction that all life forms arose from a common ancestor. In the event that a new species is to be discovered the theory of evolution can, based on its careful observations and classifications of life forms, predict the ancestors of the newly discovered species. The theory of evolution does provide adequate explanation of phenomena in its domain; hence it is a successful theory. â€Å"The term â€Å"Theory-Theory† derives from Adam Morton (1980), who proposed that our everyday understanding of human psychology constitutes a kind of theory by which we try to predict and explain behavior in terms of its causation by beliefs, intentions, emotions, traits of character, and so on†[http://www. iep. uwtm. edu/th-th-co/]. The hypothesized theory of human behavior is â€Å"Folk Psychology†. Folk Psychology provides explanations of human behavior, which is contingent on other mental states, like: desires, beliefs, fears, perceptions and so forth [Paul Churchland]. Hence, Folk Psychology has numerous mental states in its domain for which it provides explanations. To provide explanation of phenomenon and predictions Folk Psychology and other scientific theories use deductive nomological (law-like) explanations (Campbell). This is according to Paul Churchland. Here is an example of a deductive nomological explanation of fear-behavior as per Folk Psychology: People who are exposed to something scary tend to be scared. People who tend to be scared shriek â€Å"Yahhhhooowww† I scared my friend by surprising her Therefore, My friend said â€Å"Yahhhhooowww† Deductive nomological predictions can be attained my manipulating the tenses. According to Paul Churchland Folk Psychology has become such an integral and seemingly natural part of our way of dealing with one another; we overlook its theoretical status. Another reason for its seamless integration is the fact that Folk Psychology is an empirical revisionary theory. â€Å"It is so obviously a theory†¦ The structural features of Folk Psychology parallel perfectly those of mathematical physics; the only difference lies in the respective domain of abstract entities they exploit-numbers in the case of physics, and propositions in the case of psychology†(Churchland) Being an empirical revisionary theory Folk Psychology excepts far more generalizations/exceptions than do other reputable theories (Campbell). Now that we have seen that Folk Psychology shares theoretical underpinnings with actual scientific theories what is next? According to an Eliminative Materialist then Folk Psychology can be disproven/eliminated. The preceding also suggests that Folk Psychology is not innate (knowledge that is a priori) as we might believe. That our commonsense psychological framework may be completely erroneous. – â€Å"The presumed domain of folk psychology used to be much larger than it is now. In primitive cultures, the behavior of most of the elements of nature were understood in intentional term. The wind could know anger†¦ † Churchland – The above shows reduction of the domain over the course of the years of folk psychology â€Å"Given that folk psychology is an empirical theory, it is at least an abstract possibility that its principles are radically false and that its ontology is an illusion. â€Å"(Churchland) Our Ontology is the catalogue of all things we believe actually exist in the universe. Campbell) â€Å"Born of innocence and tunnel vision† Churchland To measure Folk Psychology’s success â€Å"we must evaluate Folk Psychology with regard to its coherence and continuity with fertile and well-established theories in adjacent domains-with evolutionary theory, biology, and neuroscience. † (Churchland). – Mention the failings of Folk Psychology here. Specific example the process of learning. If folk psychology is something that is itself learned then folk psychology would thus appear incapable of even addressing how one learns. Folk psychology then comes across a theory that is at best a highly superficial theory, a partial and unpenetrating gloss on a deeper and more complex reality. A reality that can be uncovered only by mature neuroscience. – If we approach homo sapiens from the perspective of natural history and the physical sciences, we can tell a coherent story of his constitution, development, and behavioral capacities which encompasses†¦ That story, though still radically incomplete, is already extremely powerful, outperforming Folk Psychology at many points even in its own domain. – â€Å"On why is Folk Psychology hard to get rid of: Folk Psychology is a central part of our current lebenswelt, and serves as the principle vehicle of our interpersonal commerce. Foe these facts provide folk psychology with a conceptual inertia that goes far beyond its purely theoretical virtues. Folk psychology’s categories appear (so far) to be incommensurable with or orthogonal to the categories of the background physical science whose long-term claim to explain human behavior seems undeniable. What is Folk Psychology? Folk Psychology is the common-sense understanding of mental states [Stanford]. By â€Å"common-sense understanding† it is meant that mental states are not discerned in a scientific manner. Folk psychology encompasses the explanation and the prediction of behavior, the other-minds problem, the natu re of introspection How to cite Eliminative Materialism, Papers

The Method of Scientific Investigation free essay sample

Thomas Huxley explains scientific investigation in more depth in his The Method of Scientific Investigation essay, what is he trying to say in this passage? It could be many things, it could be nothing or it could be something, were basically trying to find out what he is explaining when he talks about this certain scientific method. His meaning of scientific investigation is very detailed that one must use the operations of induction and deduction in their everyday lives, and its very much true but we dont notice it not one bit. For example; if you go and buy a cell phone you basically examine it and see it suits your lifestyle and liking, this is called induction, you were analyzing and tracing its logical elements. Huxley as well states something similar but towards a person buying an apple in a fruiterers shop. Huxley states, fou take up one, and, on biting it, you find it is sour; you look at it, and see it is hard and green. We will write a custom essay sample on The Method of Scientific Investigation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The shop man offers you a third; but before biting it, you examine it, and find that it is hard and green, and you immediately say that you will not have it, as it must be sour, like those that you have already tried (Huxley 2). Buying a cell phone, shopping for an apple, or buying anything, you will in fact do some induction, its all in the method of scientific investigation, you generalized the facts and came to conclusion on your final decision on buying the product or not and then thats when you start deducting your choices during this method. Although, people perform inductions and deductions without even knowing that they are, they also perform hypothesizes. A hypothesis to me is an educated guess, as to Huxley; a hypothesis Just means that you are coming to a conclusion without examination. He uses a burglary for example stating that someone has broke open the window, entered the room, and run off with the spoons and the tea-pot (Huxley 4). He states that this is merely a hypothesis rapidly framed in your own mind, that you havent taken the time to properly examine the situation without scientific investigation. All throughout the second paragraph on page four of his essay he gives a brief explanation on what examinations he has gotten from the situation without jumping straight to conclusions, this also relates to induction and deduction, as well as his apple theory which a person will examine an apple and come to his/her final decision to buy it or not is also called a syllogism, he or she is coming to their final etermination. Thomas Huxley wants us to understand that scientific investigation is not as difficult as it seems but it makes everyday life possible. Huxleys tone throughout this essay was very familiar and direct because he talks to the reader about scientific investigation. For example, in his second paragraph on the first page he says, mfou The use of you in this one paragraph and throughout his essay makes it sound like he is talking to whoever is reading directly, thats why his tone is familiar and direct. In conclusion, Thomas Huxleys essay The Method of Scientific Investigation basically explains how this method will help a lot of people and it is used during our everyday lives, which makes it possible as well. The apple theory that he made in his essay is very useful in proving his point in his argument which one uses induction and deduction and come to a final syllogism in choosing an apple from a fruit shop. Also he explains his definition of a hypothesis, when one person comes to a conclusion without examining the situation with more depth, he talks about a urglary of a tea-pot on the fourth page to better explain the meaning of his definition of the term hypothesis, in a familiar and direct tone that really captivates the reader as he talks to them directly. So my definition of scientific investigation was close to his, in which I stated that it breaks down a problem to find a solution scientifically. Work Cited Huxley, Thomas. The Method of Scientific Investigation. Autobiography and Selected Essays. Copyrighted in 1909 by the Riverside College Classics Press. Ed. Ada L. F. Shell. New York City. Print.

The Best Books to Improve Your Writing Skills

The Best Books to Improve Your Writing Skills Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley This book is perfect for bloggers and content creators, who are willing to improve their professional competence. Nowadays, millions of new posts and other pieces of content appear on the Internet each day. Ann Handley in her book tries to show how difficult it can be to stand out in this great number of online publications, where the competitive rates are always high. She tells there how to write the content using the proper grammar, providing with the best practices. After reading this book you will know not only how to write but what to write as well. Write Tight: Say Exactly What You Mean with Precision and Power by William Brohaugh It will be helpful for all writers. Writers are always asked to make their works lean and precise. So, this book tells how to achieve this. Brohaugh teaches writers special techniques and approaches in order to recognize and omit empty modifiers and eliminate redundancy. This author is often considered pedantic. However, his approaches truly helped a lot of writers to improve their skills. The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century by Steven Pinker It is suitable for all writers. This book provides with a professional insight into the language and its usage. It is a contemporary approach. So, it can be sometimes challenging for the beginners to get all the information given. However, those who have experience in the writing sphere, will find this book extremely useful. You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) by Jeff Goins All bloggers and content creators should get familiar with this book. Jeff Goins himself is a successful author and blogger. So, in this book, he provides with a roadmap to achieve this success. Actually, it is not only about how to write. This book is mainly about how to get your work noticed. If you aim is to become a professional writer, this book will be very useful. Stein On Writing by Sol Stein This book will a perfect tool for all creative writers to improve their skills. It provides with the information about all ins and outs of amazing writing. So, in order to truly improve your skills, this book should be read. It serves as a master class from an outstanding editor, writer, and teacher. 1001 Ways to Write Great Fiction, Get Published, and Earn Your Audience by Chuck Wendig This book is not really for sensitive people. Chuck Wending, in a manner of social commentary, and profanity, delivers the information on how to become a better fiction writer. Only useful pieces of advice are provided in the no-holds-barred style, which makes a book even more attractive and readable. Chuck Wending, a successful blogger, screenwriter, and author of numerous novels, knows for sure what is needed to become famous and earn the audience.

History of Myanmars 8888 Uprising

History of Myanmars 8888 Uprising Throughout the previous year, students, Buddhist monks, and pro-democracy advocates had been protesting against Myanmars military leader, Ne Win, and his erratic and repressive policies.  The demonstrations forced him out of office on July 23, 1988, but Ne Win appointed General Sein Lwin as his replacement. Sein Lwin was known as the Butcher of Rangoon for being in command of the army unit that massacred 130 Rangoon University students in July of 1962, as well as for other atrocities.   Tensions, already high, threatened to boil over.  The student leaders set the auspicious date of August 8, or 8/8/88, as the day for nationwide strikes and protests against the new regime. The 8/8/88 Protests In the week leading up to the protest day, all of Myanmar (Burma) seemed to rise up.  Human shields protected speakers at political rallies from retaliation by the army. Opposition newspapers printed and openly distributed anti-government papers.  Entire neighborhoods barricaded their streets and set up defenses, in case the army should try to move through.  Through the first week of August, it seemed that Burmas pro-democracy movement had unstoppable momentum on its side. The protests were peaceful at first, with demonstrators even encircling army officers in the street to shield them from any violence.  However, as the protests spread to even rural areas of Myanmar, Ne Win decided to call army units in the mountains back to the capital as reinforcements.  He ordered that the army disperses the massive protests and that their guns were not to shoot upward - an elliptical shoot to kill order.   Even in the face of live fire, the protesters remained in the streets through August 12. They threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at the army and police and raided police stations for firearms. On August 10, soldiers chased protesters into Rangoon General Hospital and then began shooting down the doctors and nurses who were treating wounded civilians.   On August 12, after just 17 days in power, Sein Lwin resigned the presidency.  The protesters were ecstatic but unsure about their next move. They demanded that the sole civilian member of the upper political echelon, Dr. Maung Maung, be appointed to replace him. Maung Maung would remain president for just one month.  This limited success did not halt the demonstrations; on August 22, 100,000 people gathered in Mandalay for a protest.  On August 26, as many as 1 million people turned out for a rally at Shwedagon Pagoda in the center of Rangoon.   One of the most electrifying speakers at that rally was Aung San Suu Kyi, who would go on to win the presidential elections in 1990 but would be arrested and jailed before she could take power.  She won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her support of peaceful resistance to military rule in Burma. Bloody clashes continued in the cities and towns of Myanmar for the rest of 1988.  Throughout early September, as the political leaders temporized and made plans for gradual political change, the protests grew ever more violent.  In some cases, the army provoked the demonstrators into open battle so that the soldiers would have an excuse to mow down their opponents. The End of the Protests On September 18, 1988, General Saw Maung led a military coup that seized power and declared the harsh martial law.  The army used extreme violence to break up demonstrations, killing 1,500 people in just the first week of military rule alone, including monks and schoolchildren.  Within two weeks, the 8888 Protest movement had collapsed. By the end of 1988, thousands of protesters and smaller numbers of police and army troops were dead.  Estimates of the casualties run from the implausible official figure of 350 to around 10,000.  Additional thousands of people disappeared or were imprisoned.  The ruling military junta kept universities shuttered through the year 2000 to prevent students from organizing further protests. The 8888 Uprising in Myanmar was eerily similar to the Tiananmen Square Protests that would break out the following year in Beijing, China.  Unfortunately for the protesters, both resulted in mass killings and little political reform - at least, in the short run.

Causes and Solutions to Prison Overcrowding

Causes and Solutions to Prison Overcrowding Introduction The purpose of this paper is to look at the overcrowded prisons that are plaguing the U.S. The prison system that we have is constantly evolving, but seems to circulate through the same prison philosophies. An overcrowded prison does not lend itself to a productive environment for inmates. Many would not care about the environment that the inmates encounter as they feel the inmate has brought this upon himself through his deviant behavior, however not all inmates will stay in prison forever. We will examine some possible solution to curb the overcrowding that is prevalent in prisons today. Solutions to Prison Overcrowding Prison overcrowding has been a problem that has plagued the U.S. prison system since its inception. The solution to this problem for many has been to build more prisons to house the additional prisoners that have been sentenced there. Those who advocate building additional prisons fail to look at what is behind the overcrowding in the first place. Rese arch has found that crime rates are decreasing. It has also shown that prison populations are increasing. Much like the Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams with the infamous quote, â€Å"If you build it, they will come† that by building more prisons, we will only seek to put more prisoners into them. To fully understand our current overcrowding issue, we must look at the history of the U.S. prison systems and the philosophies that drove them. Then we must look at the sentencing practices that have increased the number of inmates that are incarcerated. This will include the truth-in sentencing laws, the impact of the war on drugs and the enforcement and the increasing of the length of prison terms for certain offenses. We will also take a look at the cost of building a prison and the daily costs of housing an inmate. Then we will look at solutions for reducing prison populations which include rehabilitation and the release of aged offenders and inmates with minor offenses. The U.S. derived many of its ideas about the prison system from England. In the Middle Ages, prisons were used for housing criminals as well as debtors. Juvenile delinquents also began to be housed in prisons. As prisons developed and emerged, the purpose of them changed as well. Drawing from the ideas presented in Essays on Crimes and Punishment by Cesare Beccaria in 1764 a move towards less physical punishment for crimes was made. Beccaria was also responsible for the idea that a punishment should be severe enough to deter crime, but not too extreme. In 1557, England began the use of workhouses. Initially, they were to remove the homeless and vagrants from the streets during the day. During this time, many believed that most criminals were lazy and committed crimes as a result of that. This allowed inmates to work, however they did not learn any useful skills and were not kept in the workhouses overnight. In 1790, the Quakers from Pennsylvania reformed the Walnut Street jail into a p rison. The Quakers drew from their religious background and sought to use the prison as a place for an inmate to perform a penance and to make amends for their actions against society. Also, known as the Pennsylvania System, the prison layout allowed for solitary cells. The inmate was placed in the cell, so that they could think about their actions and gain remorse. Work was completed in the cells as well, so the interaction with others was limited to an hour of exercise a day. Although the prison sought to reform the inmates through solitary work, some prisoners could not handle the solitary times and reform did not occur. There was also a high cost involved in maintaining this type of prison.

Child and the Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Child and the Law - Essay Example (B) Brief Facts In this problem Julie and Keith Morgan got married and begot 3 children, namely, Carly, Robbie, and George aged 16, 13 and 10 respectively, also known to the local authority in Somerfield. Keith has been imprisoned severally for dealing in drugs and petty theft. Their children were found wondering and loitering in the city on a Saturday evening. Carly was drunk and is allegedly engaging in prostitution. Robbie and George are mixing with older boys-involved in criminal activities. The local Authority is concerned and wishes to protect and safeguard them. Issues 1. Whether the Social Services Department (local authority) has any legal authority in both scenarios? 2. If issue 1 is answered in the affirmative, what are the powers and duties of the Local authority? 3. What is the Forum and procedure in the circumstances? Law applicable a) The Adoption and Children’s Act, 2002 [cap 38] b) The Children’s Act, 1989 [Cap 41] c) The Child Care Act, 2006 [cap 21] d ) The Children’s Act, 2004 [cap 31] e) The Children and Young Persons Act, 2008 [cap 23] f) The Local Services Act, 1970 [cap 72] g) Case law. Resolution of issues Issue No1: Yes. The local authority is vested with legal powers and duty to take care and protect any child from all forms of abuse â€Å"(Children’s Act, 2004, s.17 and 18).† A local authority is a â€Å"non- metropolitan organization† charged with the duty of protecting and safeguarding children who have been abandoned by their parents or who are being abused and neglected (Nigel and Douglas, 2007, P.693). Accordingly Section 1 and 7 of â€Å"the Local Authority Social Services Act (1970)†empowers Local authorities to protect and safeguard vulnerable children. Additionally, Section 17 and 18 of â€Å"the Children’s Act 2004)† and Section 31(10) and 47 of â€Å"the Children’s Act (1989)† empower an authority to investigate the vulnerability, neglect and abuse of children with the aim of gathering evidence that will assist the authority in discharging its duties. However, while investigating negligence and abuse of children, the authority should respect the rights of parents towards their children. Premafacie parents have rights and duties over their children and should not be deprived of that primary responsibility in what had been referred to as â€Å"family privatization† ( Nigel & Douglas, 2007, P. 477). For this reason, it’s the primary responsibility of the local authority to firstly promote the upbringing and safeguarding of children in cooperation with parents until they are unwilling to cooperate where upon the authority is empowered by law to take over that responsibility. Hence, it shall be the duty and power of the local authority to provide adequate care if children have been subjected to mental, physical and psychological impairment in their development. In doing so, regard should be given to â€Å"the childà ¢â‚¬â„¢s welfare as a paramount consideration (Children’s Act (1989, s.1 (1)).† The â€Å"welfare principle† is the litmus paper in protecting and safeguarding children from significant harm which the Social Services Department is obliged to fulfill. Welfare simply means the overall upbringing of children including the financial, moral, spiritual and general makeup of children. When the Local Authority has weighed the needs, wishes, risks, choices and all forms of circumstances surrounding the children as well as those of their parents, adherence to the â€Å"

Concealed Carry Laws Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Concealed Carry Laws - Essay Example Sub-point 1: Crime rates are lower in states with concealed gun carry laws. Sub-point 2: Crime rates have not worsened in states with concealed gun carry laws. Main Point 2: Banning firearms does not reduce crimes. Sub-point 1: No positive association between gun ownership and violence. Sub-point 2: Studies do not show that gun control laws have reduced crimes. Main Point 3: Cross country history and experience show allowing concealed weapons carry does not make societies less peaceful. Sub-point 1: Among countries, gun control laws are not associated with peace. Sub-point 2: Gun ownership and murder rates are not correlated across countries. Conclusion Based on evidence, there is good basis not to reverse the gains American society has made in allowing the carry of concealed weapons for Americans to protect themselves. The advances in concealed weapons laws have been beneficial and not dangerous for America. Concealed weapon carry laws: Are they beneficial or dangerous for America? Introduction A center known for its being vocal against laws allowing the carry of concealed weapons, the Violence Policy Center, has pointed out that the â€Å"gun lobby’s priority has been establishing and expanding state laws that allow the carrying of concealed handguns by private citizens† (2009, p. 3). According to the center (2009, p. ... The Violence Policy Center has been very concerned and identified three key data on why concealed weapons carry laws are dangerous for America. First, according to the Violence Policy Center (2009, p. 4), â€Å" over the two-year period May 2007 through 2009, concealed handguns permit holders have slain seven law enforcement officers resulting in criminal charges or the suicide of the shooter.† Second, again according to the Violence Policy Center (2009, p. 4), â€Å"concealed handgun permit holders have slain at least 43 private citizens resulting in criminal charges or the suicide of the shooter.† And, third, according to the Violence Policy Center (2009, p. 4), â€Å"in six of the 30 incidents (20 percent), the concealed handgun permit holder killed himself, bringing the total fatality count to 56.† The Violence Policy Center’s concern for violence in America, particularly murders or homicide and suicide is certainly laudable. Indeed, it is the duty of today’s generation to see to it that every citizen is out of harm’s way. Indeed, it is an obligation of today’s generation of Americans to keep society safe and peaceful. Unfortunately, however, the basis for the Violence Policy Center’s concerns against the concealed weapons laws and the attribution the organization places on concealed weapons laws as responsible for the incidences of violence is anecdotal and unscientific. The Violence Policy Center’s arguments are like arguments that because consulting a doctor or being confined in a hospital have been associated with illness or death then society must ban doctors and hospitals because many people have died when they have

Coffee and Starbuck Essay Example for Free

Coffee and Starbuck Essay Summarize the overall strategy of Starbucks Management in its effort to create and develop a new concept and a rapidly expanding company. The overall goal of Starbucks Management was to create an American version of the Italian coffee bars that Howard Schultz had experienced first-hand in Milan. He believed that Starbucks should function as an important part of the community, as a meeting place for its customers. He wanted Starbucks to become an experience that would differentiate itself from its competitors. One of their key strategies in meeting this goal is a focus on customer service in order to create an experience for its consumers. Another one of their strategies is to ignite their emotional attachment with consumers. They also have a commitment to improving their business through better training, tools, and products and to give attention to store-level economics and operating efficiency. All of these are prongs to their strategy that will allow Starbucks management to turn Starbucks into a location where people don’t just go to grab coffee, but to experience the atmosphere of an Italian coffee shop. Another prong to their strategy is to offer many different products and to distribute them among a variety of distribution methods. Which one of the five generic competitive strategies discussed in Chapter 5 most closely approximates the competitive approach that Starbucks is employing? There are five generic competitive strategies that can be employed and they are low-cost provider strategy, broad differentiation strategy, focused low-cost strategy, focused differentiation strategy, and best-cost provider strategy. The strategy that Starbucks uses is broad differentiation where they seek to differentiate their product offerings from rivals’ with attributes that will appeal to a large variety of consumers. The key market characteristic for the strategy of differentiation to work is that buyers’ needs and preferences are very diverse and cannot be satisfied with a standardized product offering. This is an evident characteristic of the market because consumers all have different preferences on the way they like their coffee. Which is the reason why Starbucks offers many different product options like lattes, skinny lattes, coffee, iced drinks, blended drinks, etc. They also offer fruit cups, water, and bakery items to provide even more options for their consumers. If a differentiation strategy is successfully implemented the firm will be able to do one of the following: command a premium price for its products, increase unit sales, and/or gain buyer loyalty to its brand. Starbucks has some of the highest prices for the type of products they offer and people tend to be extremely loyal to whatever coffee they are used to purchasing, because they trust the quality. Methods to enhance differentiation 1. Create superior product features, design, and performance Starbucks has a superior knowledge of coffee and a commitment to providing customers with quality coffees. Providing top-quality, fresh-roasted whole-bean coffee was the company’s differentiating feature and a core value since the beginning of its founding. Couches, fireplaces, newspapers, drive-through windows, kiosks in supermarkets and other public places were added to locations depending on what would add value to their consumers. Due to their focus on providing a different experience depending on the location of the store, their international strategy is a multi-domestic approach. The core characteristics of each new store was based on local materials and craftsmanship, a focus on reused and recycled materials and exposure of structural integrity and authentic roots. Most important of all they believed that coffee should be central and that distractions should be removed. They believed that the combination of all these elements should tell a story that would engage the consumer’s five senses and provide them with flexibility to meet the needs of the many different consumers that would be attracted to Starbucks. 2. Improving customer service or adding additional features When Howard Schultz first became part of the company he realized that one key problem Starbucks was having was that first-time consumers often felt uneasy about their absence of knowledge about high-quality coffee. An additional problem was that the employees came off as arrogant and unapproachable. He then worked with employees to teach them about friendly customer service and created a pamphlet to teach new customers about coffee. He also began to offer part-time employees health insurance and a stock option plan for all employees, because he believed that if a company treated their employees well, then they would in turn treat their consumers well. The additional features that Starbucks offers are fireplaces, couches, music, Wi-Fi access, ability to use paid sites and services like Wall Street Journal’s site, exclusive content and previews, free downloads, local community news, and activities. 3. Pursuing production RD activities Starbucks is constantly brewing new flavors and blends to offer their consumers a variety of coffee to try. Flavors are rotated daily or weekly to offer constant variety. They also test new product offerings like Frappuccino’s, Lattes, Skinny Lattes, and seasonal drinks. 4. Striving for innovation and technological advances One way that Starbucks was able to constantly strive for innovation was by controlling the cost of opening and renovating stores by centralizing buying, developing standard contracts and fixed fees for certain items, and consolidating work under those contractors who displayed good cost-control practices. Starbucks retail operations group outlined the minimum amount of equipment each store would need. This meant that standard items could be ordered from vendors in volume at 20 to 30 percent discounts. The items would then be delivered to the site from a warehouse or from the vendor. A technological advance was that they used computer software to build store layouts that would calculate costs as the design progressed. This cut costs by a significant amount and shortened the process of opening a store to 18 weeks. 5. Increasing intensity of marketing and sales activities Originally, Starbucks didn’t spend a lot of money on advertising, because they relied mostly on word-of-mouth. In 2008 McDonald’s stepped up their advertising to highlight their McCafe coffee drinks. In order to counter this Starbucks undertook the largest advertising campaign ever. 6. Seeking out high-quality inputs Starbucks promotes environmentally sustainable practices in coffee cultivation methods and have specific guidelines they follow called Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices that help farmers to grow high quality coffees in environmentally beneficial ways. In 2000 they began purchasing their coffee organically and a growing percentage of their coffees were grown organically as well as Fair Trade Certified. 7. Improving employee skill, knowledge, and experience Starbucks has a commitment to training their employees so that they are better able to serve their customers. All partners and baristas receive at least 24 hours of training in their first two to four weeks on topics such as coffee history, drink preparation, coffee knowledge, customer service (for a total of 4 hours), and retail skills. Baristas in particular are required to learn how to grind beans, steam milk, pull perfect shots of espresso, memorize recipes, practicing how to mix drinks, and how to customize drinks. Sessions also include how to operate the cash register, clean the milk wand, explain the Italian drink names, and making eye contact with customers. Management trainees are required to attend classes for 8-12 weeks and learn about store operations, practices, and procedures. When a new store is opened a Star Team of experienced employees are sent to make sure everything runs smoothly. From time to time, Starbucks conducts special training programs, including a coffee masters program, leadership training program, and career programs for partners in all types of jobs. When does a differentiation strategy work best? A differentiation strategy works best when buyer needs and uses of the product are diverse, there are many ways to differentiate the product or service that have value to buyers, few rival firms are following a comparable differentiation approach, and technological change is fast paced and competition revolves around rapidly evolving product features. Starbucks’ actions to differentiate their product line They have expanded their product offerings along many different distribution channels by capitalizing on their growing brand name and awareness. First they were able to market their product to restaurants, airlines, hotels, universities, hospitals, business offices, country clubs, and select retailers. United Airlines, Hyatt, Hilton, Sheraton, Radisson, Westin hotels, and Wells Fargo all began to serve Starbucks coffee. A joint venture with PepsiCo came with the sale of a bottled version of the Frappucino drink and Starbucks Doubleshot espresso drinks. In 2008, they partnered with Suntory to sell ready-to-drink Doubleshot drinks in Japan. In 2010 a partnership with Arla Foods spread Doubleshot products and Starbucks chilled cup coffees into retail stores in the UK. A 1995 partnership with Dryers created a new line of coffee ice cream under Starbucks names that was later disbanded in 2008. At this time the rights to manufacture, market, and distribute Starbucks ice cream was given to Unilever. In 1998 Kraft Foods began marketing and distributing whole bean and ground coffee to supermarkets in the US. Tazo Tea was acquired by Starbucks in 1999 and in 2005 they acquired Ethos Water. A partnership with Jim Beam Brands created Starbucks Coffee Liqueur in 2004 and Starbucks Cream Liqueur in 2005. In order to offer healthier options they began offering skinny lattes, banana walnut bread, fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, a farmer’s salad, and smoothies in 2008. Also in 2008, Starbucks responded to customer’s wishes to have a blend of coffee that was always in stores. They created the Pike Place Roast in order to satisfy these customers. 2009 saw the introduction of VIA instant coffee. In 2009 the retail sales mix of Starbucks was 76% beverages, 18% food items, 3 percent coffee-making equipment and other merchandise, and 3% whole bean coffees. What are the key policies, practices, business principles, and procedures that underlie how Howard Schultz and Starbucks’ management have implemented and executed the company’s strategy? Key Policies, Practices, Business Principles, and Procedures The key policies that have been implemented can be broken down into five groups. First is how the company goes about expanding the number of Starbucks stores. The second is their international expansion practices. The third group is their staff training. The fourth is their principles towards ethical business practices. Fifth, is their coffee roasting practices. Store Expansion Starbucks management’s approach to store expansion is using a hub city approach. After a suitable demographic area is chosen Starbucks begins to open up stores in a large city that serves as its hub. After about 20 stores are opened in this hub city, they will then move on to the surrounding areas that are the spokes. This expansion strategy serves to create buzz and brand recognition for the company in an area that has a high amount of foot traffic before moving into a location that has less customer traffic. When a new area was selected for expansion a group of professionals were sent to facilitate the opening. Starbucks also had zone vice presidents who would oversee the expansion process and instill the culture of Starbucks in the new stores. International Expansion When expanding internationally Starbucks has two options; they either open company-owned and operated stores or license to a company that has a good reputation and the knowledge of retailing in that area. Starbucks prefers to license, rather than franchise because licensing provides more assurance of quality control. When they move into foreign markets one of their practices is to use a partner or license to help recruit individuals for employees, set up relationships with suppliers, find store locations, and learn how to cater to local market conditions. For stores that were licensed Starbucks would receive a license fee and a royalty on sales. Companies that were licensed to supply Starbucks coffee were required to follow their detailed operating procedures. Not only that, but managers and employees were required to attend the same training as employees at company-owned stores. Staff Training As mentioned previously, employees are put through an extensive amount of training to learn daily practices and how to treat customers. They are put through this training because customer service is so integral to their organization. Some of the things that baristas learn in their 24 hours of training are coffee history, drink preparation, coffee knowledge, customer service, retail skills, and beverage preparation. Beverage preparation includes grinding the beans, steaming milk, pulling a perfect shot of espresso, memorizing the recipes, practicing the drinks, and learning how to customize drinks. Finally, partners were trained on cash register operations, how to clean the milk wand, how to explain Italian drink names, how to sell espresso machines, making eye contact, interacting with consumers, and taking responsibility for the cleanliness of the store. Not only that but they had many rules that needed to be learned as well such as: milk needs to be steamed to 150 degrees Fahrenheit but not more than 170 degrees, an espresso shot not pulled within 23 seconds needs to be thrown out, coffee can’t sit in the pot more than 20 minutes, and disgruntled customers were given a coupon for a free drink. Managers were required to go even more in depth with their training. Ethical Business Principles Starbucks purchases products that are Fair Trade Certified, meaning that farmers make a fair amount of money for their products. They are very involved in Corporate Social Responsibility and take a number of measures to reduce, reuse, and recycle. They are also committed to purchasing from companies that use environmentally sustainable growing practices. Coffee Roasting Practices Coffee recipes are put together by the coffee department once all components have been tested. In order to be sure of consistency computerized roasters are used. Trained personnel are required to monitor the process by using hearing and their sense of smell to check when the beans are perfectly done. There are extremely exacting standards that must be met and the color of the beans is tested in a blood-cell analyzer and if it doesn’t meet the requirements the batch is discarded. Directly after roasting and cooling coffee is vacuum-sealed into bags that are guaranteed to preserve freshness for 26 weeks. However, policy says that after three months they need to be used. Once opened the shelf life is seven days. What â€Å"values† does Starbucks have? How well do they connect to the strategy and to the manner in which the company conducts its business? Are they successful in implementing to them? The values that Starbucks consider important are included in their mission statement and those are: 1) Coffee: They are committed to providing their consumers with top-quality coffee that is ethically sourced, and to improve the lives of the people who grow the beans. They do this through a variety of methods. First is their Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices (C. A. F. E Practices). These practices specify product quality, that the price received by farmers/growers is fair, that safe and humane working conditions are being used, and that the methods of growing are environmentally responsible. Second, they do not add artificial flavorings to their coffee beans. Third, they have Farmer Support Centers in Costa Rica and Rwanda. These support centers were staffed with agronomists and experts on environmentally responsible coffee growing methods and worked with coffee farming communities to promote best practices in coffee production They also worked to improve coffee quality and production yields. 2) Partners: In order to better care for their employees Starbucks has a health care plan available for all employees, a stock purchase plan, employee training, and employee recognition. Some of their employee recognition awards include Coffee Master awards, Certified Barista awards, Spirit of Starbucks awards, Manager of the Quarter, Green Apron awards, Green Bean awards, and Bravo! Awards, 3) Customers: They value connecting with customers and uplifting the lives of consumers by providing the perfectly made beverage and going the extra mile for their customers. Employees are trained to take heroic measures to make customers happy. 4) Stores: Starbucks management’s goal was to create the stores to be a haven where customers belong and meet with friends. They do this by creating a store ambience, having interesting music playing, leather couches to sit and read newspapers in, and they make sure that nothing overpowers the smell of coffee. 5) Neighborhood: Their stores are part of its community and to be a force of positive good in the area. One way they do this is by using local materials and craftsmanship. They are also extremely involved in Corporate Social Responsibility. The commitment to do the right thing has been a significant part of how Starbucks operates as a company ever since Schultz became CEO. Starbucks has been named to Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s list of â€Å"The 100 Best Corporate Citizens† for the 10th time in 2010. 6) Shareholders: Starbucks is committed to getting all of the above values right so that they can help everyone that is involved and affected by Starbucks thrive. What is your evaluation of Starbucks social responsibility strategy? How much does it help to create their public image? Starbucks CSR strategy has four main parts which are: 1) Ethical sourcing of products: They do this through their C. A. F. E Practices, purchasing Fair Trade Certified products, and buying from manufacturers that have a commitment to environmental and social responsibility. 2) Community involvement: Starbucks has several organizations to foster community involvement. First, is the Starbucks Youth Action Grants which involves young people in community involvement projects. Second, is their program to give medicine to people suffering from HIV in Africa. Third, is the Ethos Water Fund where they donate 5 cents every time somebody purchases a bottle of Ethos Water. Fourth, they donate money to the Starbucks Foundation which was the fund that was started in 1997 to handle all the Starbucks’ philanthropic actions. 3) Environmental Stewardship: In order to achieve this goal they have several methods. First, they focus on increasing recycling and reducing waste which they do by giving discounts to people who bring in their own mugs, coffee grounds are donated for use as a soil amendment, they take part in Earth Day activities, they purchase paper products with recycled content and unbleached fiber, and they encourage their suppliers to provide energy-efficient products and eliminate unnecessary packaging. They also have commitments to be more energy efficient, use renewable energy sources, conserve water resources, use green facilities, using environmentally friendly building materials and energy-efficient designs. They also have plans to achieve LEED certification globally. In 2009 they became part of the Businesses for Innovative Climate Change and Energy Policy coalition. They have also collaborated with the Earthwatch Institute and work on replanting rain forests, mapping water resources, and biodiversity indicators, and sharing sustainable agriculture practices with coffee growers. 4) Farmer loans: They provide funding to organizations that make loans to coffee growers. Their goal for 2015 is to donate $20 million dollars to these funds. They have also committed money to hurricane Rita and Katrina victims, as well as to help the devastation after the earthquake in Haiti. Having a strong CSR campaign adds to the value of Starbucks’ products if consumers know that they are involved in these activities. It lets consumers know that part of the money they are spending is going to a good cause. By getting on the Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s list of â€Å"The 100 Best Corporate Citizens† for the 10th time in 2010, it increases the knowledge that people have about their CSR strategy. Compare the US and International share of yearly revenue, revenue growth, and operating income/revenue. What do these ratios tell you? What is your overall assessment of Starbucks’ financial performance during fiscal years 2005-2009? Explain the performance of Starbucks stock. Exhibit 1 Comparison of Starbucks Financial Performance in the US and Internationally| | | 9/27/2009| 9/27/2008| 9/30/2007| 10/1/2006| 10/2/2005| Yearly Revenue ($ millions)| | | | | | | United States| $ 6,572. 10 | $ 6,997. 70 | $ 6,590. 20 | $ 5,495. 20 | $ 4,359. 50 | | International| $ 1,608. 00 | $ 1,774. 20 | $ 1,437. 40 | $ 1,087. 90 | $ 852. 50 | Revenue Growth ($ millions)| | | | | | | United States| -6. 08%| 6. 18%| 19. 93%| 26. 05%| | | International| -9. 37%| 23. 43%| 32. 13%| 27. 61%| | Operating Income/Revenue ($ millions)| | | | | | | United States| $ 531. 80 | $ 454. 20 | $ 1,005. 20 | $ 955. 20 | $ 818. 50 | | International | $ 92. 90 | $ 110. 00 | $ 137. 70 | $ 108. 50 | $ 82. 30 | These ratios tell us that overall they have been increasing their revenue growth by significant percentages of an average of 20% internationally and 12% domestically. Domestically the amount of revenue growth per year slowed down in 2008 and went negative in 2009. Revenue growth also went negative in 2008 internationally. This makes sense because 2008 was the beginning of the economic downturn which affected the company’s bottom line. Operating income has fluctuated quite a bit since 2005 and since its peak in 2007 ($1,0005. 20 million) has decreased significantly to $531. 80 million. Internationally it has remained steadier at an average of $106. 28 million. Again these numbers make sense because it was in 2008-2009 that the economic downturn occurred and Schultz instituted strategic initiatives and revamped strategy execution efforts to fix these financial problems. One reason that the economic downturn affected Starbucks’ bottom line badly is because it was considered a treat to go to Starbucks and to get coffee that wasn’t brewed at the home. Less people were indulging in coffee by the cup. In 2006 and 2007 Starbucks reached its peak growth in the period displayed in exhibit 1. This is represented in the stock chart because it is also when their stock performance reached its peak at 40. The lowest point on the stock chart was in 2008 which makes sense because this is when the economic downturn occurred so many people were selling stocks. In 2008-2009 Schultz’s measures to institute strategic initiatives and revamp strategy execution efforts began and clearly worked because in the period of time from 2008-2010 stocks returned to almost 30. What are the key elements and your evaluation of Howard Schultz’s transformation agenda for Starbucks during 2008-2010? What do you think of the letters shown on page C-364 and C-365? Has Schultz done a good job since his return as Starbucks’ CEO? Why or why not? Elements of the Transformation Agenda Howard Schultz’s transformation agenda during 2008-2010 had several key elements. First, he planned on slowing new store openings to 73 internationally. Second, 900 underperformed company-owned stores were closed in the United States. The goal of this action was to raise sales and traffic at nearby sales. Around 75% of these stores that were considered underperforming were within three miles of an existing store which shows that their strategy of having a Starbucks everywhere was cannibalizing their sales. The third element of the transformation agenda was raising the projected return on capital requirements for proposed new store locations. This is a way for Schultz to be more particular about new store placement and to have a better chance of making a significant amount of profit and not losing traffic to existing stores. Fourth, he planned on revamping the company’s locations in Australia with a focus on Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney as the hub cities. He planned on closing 61 under-performing locations in order to do this. Fifth, it was important to Schultz that there be an emphasis on developing new store designs in order to promote a refreshed customer experience. In order to do this the character of each store would be a reflection of the area it was in to make the customers feel more at home and to make Starbucks the center of that community. Sixth, customer experience would be heightened through a variety of methods. The first method was by removing warmed sandwiches from the menu, because it inhibited the aroma from the coffee. Second, high-quality baked goods and pastries would be offered at the store along with new menu items for healthy eating on the go. For example, fruit cups, skinny lattes, yogurt parfaits, salads, smoothies, and healthier bakery selections were all a result of this step in Schultz’s transformation agenda. The seventh part of the agenda was to create a program to share best practices in stores globally, this would promote quality control and improve customer service, which was one of the things that Schultz had found lacking when he became CEO again. Eighth, Schultz thought it was important to provide resources and tools for store employees such as laptops and internet-based software for scheduling. Ninth, there were cost-containment initiatives put in place in order to improve the bottom line that included a reduction of 1,000 people in staffing. Finally, the last part of the agenda was to renew the attention placed on employee training in order to reignite the enthusiasm to please customers that is vital to the mission of Starbucks. Evaluation The goal for 40,000 stores worldwide as a long-term objective and the rapid expansion that Jim Donald began led to a decrease in customer traffic in the US stores, new store openings that continued at a rate of 6 per day worldwide, and the emphasis on increased store operations efficiency put financial strain on the company and led to a decrease in customer service. Good customer service is one of the cornerstone values of Starbucks and was a central idea during Schultz’ leadership. Schultz’ return to CEO and his strategic initiatives mentioned above will help to return Starbucks to the values it originally held as very important and to return it to profitability by slowing down on expansion to focus more on the three main themes Schultz saw as important to his strategy. These themes are: strengthening the core, elevating the experience, and investing and growing. Before he can focus on growing the company, they need to have a strong base of employees and a focus on the experience that Starbucks is meant to provide its consumers. Letters from Schultz The letters that are shown on page C-364 and C-365 of the case show that Schultz is dedicated to his shareholders, which is one of the values in their mission statement. He is being extremely open and upfront the concerns of shareholders and about the actions that will be taken to address those issues. The first letter is addressed to customers and he explains that he has come back to Starbucks as CEO in order to ensure that the customers receive the experience that he believes Starbucks is known for. This letter shows that he truly cares about the thoughts and concerns of consumers. The second letter is to the employees of Starbucks. In this letter Schultz addresses them as partners in the path to revitalizing Starbucks’ mission. He even says, â€Å"I am proud to be your partner†¦Ã¢â‚¬  By treating his employees like this he is able to foster accountability for the actions that everybody can take in helping to turn around Starbucks to what Schultz’ vision for it is. Evaluation of Schultz’ work. Schultz has done a good job by creating strategic initiatives in order to return Starbucks to where he thinks the company should be. His vision includes becoming the authority on coffee, engaging and inspiring Starbucks’ partners, igniting the emotional attachment with customers, expanding global presence and making each store the neighborhood’s heart, being a leader in ethical sourcing and environmental impact, creating innovative growth platforms, and delivering a sustainable economic model. Every one of these visions is addressed in some way in his agenda, which shows he has a clear idea of where the company should go and how to get it there. In 2008-2009 the company experiences five quarters of deteriorating sales, but from 2009-2010 had five quarters of improving sales, which shows that Schultz’ transformation agenda has been working. What issues confront the company as of mid-2010? What should Starbucks’ management be worried about? What are the challenges in expanding internationally? Issues as of mid-2010. 1) Oversaturation of the market: With the â€Å"A Starbucks Everywhere† approach and the rapid expansion steps taken by Donald, there was a decrease in customer traffic at the stores, resulting in a loss of profit. 2) Lack of emphasis on customer relationships: The emphasis on increased efficiency in store operations led to a decrease in good customer service. 3) Drifting away from the original values of Starbucks: Starbucks was built with an emphasis on high-quality coffee, good customer service, and a commitment to creating an experience for customers. However, when Schultz became CEO again he noted that this was lacking. 4) Offering high-quality products: As Starbucks moves into new locations in order to draw attention away from local popular spots they will need to offer a product that is of high enough quality to keep consumers coming back. 5) Differentiation: Again, as they move into new markets they will need to do significant research to find out what those consumer’s value. They need to be able to give it to them in order to achieve their goal of being the heart of the neighborhood. 6) Coffee prices: Coffee prices fluctuate significantly due to weather, economic, and political conditions in the countries where they are grown. What should management be worried about? Management should be worried about offering high-quality products. If they cannot prove that their product is better due to quality or differentiating features then locations that sell coffee and consumers are already loyal, they will have issues drawing consumers away. However, Starbucks does have an extremely strong brand image and hype associated with their name, which is an asset for them in entering new markets. International Challenges Some challenges that Starbucks will face internationally are: 1) Adapting their stores to fit the location they are in 2) Creating partnerships and licensing agreements with reputable companies to offer their products abroad 3) Regulations on foreign businesses moving into their country 4) Having enough control over the quality in the international stores that are licensed. 5) Higher production costs Starbucks has chosen to follow a multi-domestic approach to international expansion, meaning that they customize their product offerings to match the tastes and preferences of local buyers. The main challenge that Starbucks will face in entering international markets is knowing what that group of people wants and prefers. Another problem is that they will need to make partnerships and licensing agreements with reputable companies in order to be sure that the culture of Starbucks is continued to their new stores. Finally, they will have the issue with tailoring their stores to fit the environment they are in, because they will be unable to use a set design which could raise production costs. What recommendation would you make to Howard Schultz to sustain the company’s growth and support continued strong financial performance in the years ahead? Consider both the US and International strategies. Recommendations * Coordinate with suppliers to address consumers’ needs better: By coordinati.

The Writings of John Donne Essays -- Biography Biographies Essays

The 17th century opened with a generation of great social change which culminated in the eventual execution of King Charles I in 1649. This created an atmosphere of conflict that permeates much of the literature of the period. The writings of John Donne are rife with this conflict, reflecting in their content a view of love and women radically and cynically altered from that which preceding generations of poets had handed down. John Donne's view of love deviated greatly from the Medieval philosophy of courtly love, which had been expressed in poetry handed down from the sonnets of such poetic giants as Sidney and Petrarch. The general verse until then had focused greatly on the unrivalled importance of love in the context of the life of the poet (or his creation's voice). Until then, "love" had consisted mostly of an obsession with one woman, and an exploration of the feelings and situations that this caused in the narrator. Donne's reversal of that introversion came in the form of an intellectual exploration of the nature of his relationships themselves. His verses often point out the selfishness inherent to new love, as in "The Good-Morrow." In this poem, Donne's focus is on the exploration of the new world, which he then twists around to imply that his entire world is formed between his mistress and himself. "[Love] makes one room an everywhere." (l. 10) His poetic conceit (conception) is an explication of the emotional conceit (vanity) underlying love. A clearer example of the universalization of love is seen in "The Sun Rising" with the lines "She is all states, and all princes I,/Nothing else is." (ll. 21-22) With the equal weight of both his mistress and Donne's part, we see a much more balan... ...iewed as equals without the risk of disrupting social norms. Yet he still attempts to work against the grain of this doctrine. These social norms had been established in poetry for several hundreds of years when Donne began his work breaking them down. Working against such conventions in the perception of love and women, Donne radically altered his poetry to accommodate both a more human and more equal view of both. In the end, the effect of these changes may have been lost for a few centuries, as his poetry was swept aside and not embraced until the onset of Modernism, but perhaps, given the underlying misogyny of his poetry, this was for the best. Going from the diminutive extreme to the entirely distrusted extreme may have been a more frightening alternative for women's history than the more gradual climb from silence we now conceive of.

Chinese Ccot Essay

CAC Global trade patterns and domestic economic affairs was significant to the world. It affects how well the country is running and makes it under control. Global trade patterns and domestic economic affairs has changed and continued in China from 500 to 1750. As time progressed, trade patterns and the economy became sophisticated and prominent. Many people began to depend and on the economic issues. Currency has changed into silver which became a huge demand. Today, the global trade patterns and domestic economic affairs is the way due to history. Due to unfortunate circumstances involved changed in currency and a look of diffusion, Chinese economy shifted a bit. As China developed lost contact with foreign regions and faced different conflicts, they changed trade patterns and domestic affairs. From the time period of 500 to 1750, the change and continuity of the use of Silk Road/Indian Ocean basin, the use of currency, and exporting goods stimulated in the global trade patterns and domestic economic affairs. China has prospered from the Silk Road from a long period of time. Once the Silk Road was established, it led to establishments of other intricate network of trade routes. It was a trade route across land masses which connected East, South, and Western Asia. Trades on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the great civilizations and it helped lay foundations for the modern world. Many goods such as jewelries, spices, medicines, textiles, and etc were traded. The Silk Road was a source of cultural and economic diffusion between Asian and European societies. The Silk Road was always active and it became very prominent in the later years. However, due to bubonic plague (Black Death) that traveled, many merchants died and got ill. Also, there were many bandits there who stole stuff so many people started to not use the road. Also, soon, the maritime trade got popular so many people got involved in the seafaring trade in the ocean. The Silk Road became less used and slowly lost fame. Due to the diffusion that went in and out, it’s disconnection had a significant fee on China. China lost contact with foreign people and lost relationship with the outside world of global ideas, cultures, and technology. China especially became limited in foreign affairs with the Europeans. Not many people traded and not many people came into the Silk Road so it led to the downfall of China’s economy. The continuity that occurred was that the Silk Road was still being used. Even though all these disasters were occurring, people were still using the Silk Road to trade and to traveling. China depended and used the barter system for a long period of time. The barter system was trading item for an item and relying on interpersonal relationships for business. However, under the Ming dynasty, the currency was changed into silver. Silver was being imported and exported from many regions into China, where thriving domestic economy demanded increasing quantities of silver. The demand of silver was so high that Europeans exchanged silver for Chinese gold which they got more profit from in Japan. The Ming dynasty in China only accepted silver and nothing else. All taxes were to be paid with silver and traded with silver which led to the frantic demand of silver. The monopolization of silver led many people to get silver because only silver was accepted. However, the silver became overpriced since it was used as currency which led the Ming dynasty to not release silver in public. his lack of circulation had a huge impact on the economy which led to the downfall of the Ming dynasty. The change in currency damaged the Chinese economy so the currency changed. However, they used the currency to make the economy running by changing currencies. From the time period from 500 to 1750, China always has been manufacturing and producing their own needs. They imported goods they didn’t have or things that couldn’t be grown in their region but it wasn’t common. Also, China always been exporting because of the amount of resources they had(huge). Their goods changed as time progressed and they imported/exported different goods. The Chinese people exported luxury times, slaves, jewelries, corn, and etc from different time periods. However, they were always exporting goods which circulated and stimulated the world economy today too. China supported silver during the Ming dynasty which became in very high demand. China exported large amount of goods of luxury items in order to pay for the silver. The continuity that occurred was always has using the Indian Ocean Basin for trade and exporting goods. It was their maritime trade route which has been continuous like the Silk Road. Chinese cargos constantly roamed around the Indian Ocean Basin. exporting and selling goods all over the world, stimulating the world economy. China’s global trade patterns and domestic economic affairs changed and continued from 500 to 1750. China always had resources and goods available. China didn’t have to import often because most of the products were often produced or grown in China. However, China exported tons of things under the Indian Ocean basin. Not only did they only use the Indian Ocean Basin but also the Silk Road. The Silk Road was an important factor in trading and in diffusion. However, due to diseases, maritime trade, and bandits, the Silk Road lost fame. The change of in currency into silver under the Ming dynasty also had a big impact on China’s economy. These factors had a significant impact in the circulation of global ideas, traditions, and technology. These factors also led to the change and continuity of global trade patterns and domestic economic affairs from 500 to 1750.

Personality Essay Essay

Every individual person has a personality. This personality is also unique in every person, and is influenced by such things as the environment and his or her genetics , So the personality could sets the career future , it help to understand yourself . it’s equally important to understand what is really important to you , and how to success at the career . In this essay I will talk about ISFJ personality and how did it match my personality . In the results of the personality test ISFJ personality have a many good and bad traits. People who have ISFJ personality have an excellent memory , they work hard to get their jobs done , take their responsibilities seriously , kind and considerate , they have a large store of information about people , very excellent sense of space and function and can be depended on to follow things through to completion . However it have tow basic traits help to define career direction : 1- they are extremely interested in-tune with how other people are feeling , and 2- they enjoy creating structure and order , and extremely good at it . But the bad things ISFJ personality that they are put others needs and feelings above their own , and they uncomfortable with conflict and confrontation . I did the personalty test because its very important to understand what is important to me , so I can success at the career I choose . the results did not surprise me pretty much because I think are the most of traits in me . For example it is true that I have an excellent memory , working hard to get the job done , like to put structure in order , have a peaceful living , likely to put people’s needs on my own and taking responsibilities seriously . Almost all the traits match my personality traits. In the end , the results shows many interesting careers for example : interior decorator , designer , administration , office mangers , and child care. However , I feel like I’m interesting in interior decorating and cloth design because I can be more creative and shows my creativity in these two careers . But also I’m interested in office mangers because I can work hard and be creative in it and be good at it.

Alkali Metals - Properties of Element Groups

Alkali Metals - Properties of Element Groups Learn about the properties of the alkali metals, one of the element groups: Location of the Alkali Metals on the Periodic Table The alkali metals are the elements located in Group IA of the periodic table. The alkali metals are lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium. Alkali Metal Properties The alkali metals exhibit many of the physical properties common to metals, although their densities are lower than those of other metals. Alkali metals have one electron in their outer shell, which is loosely bound. This gives them the largest atomic radii of the elements in their respective periods. Their low ionization energies result in their metallic properties and high reactivities. An alkali metal can easily lose its valence electron to form the univalent cation. Alkali metals have low electronegativities. They react readily with nonmetals, particularly halogens. Summary of Common Properties Lower densities than other metalsOne loosely bound valence electronLargest atomic radii in their periodsLow ionization energiesLow electronegativitiesHighly reactive Metals  |  Nonmetals  |  Metalloids  |  Alkali Metals  |  Alkaline Earths  |  Transition Metals  |  Halogens  |  Noble Gases  |  Rare Earths  |  Lanthanides  |  Actinides

The Philosophy of St. Augustine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Philosophy of St. Augustine - Essay Example As such, St. Augustine himself brought the ‘City of God’ to proposition, synthesizing conception of justice and state under Plato’s theory or that it occurs rather disposed to resemble it. Since ‘justice’ is an entity on which the ‘state’ must be founded, its presence is essential in determining how a good kingdom is like or should be. For St. Augustine, the applicability of justice in this sense may be extended to the measure of happiness for the ruler within a state or kingdom. He concretizes moreover: â€Å"For neither do we say that certain Christian emperors were therefore happy because they ruled a long time, or dying a peaceful death ... or subdued the enemies of the republic ... But we say that they are happy if they rule justly.† On a biblical context, St. Augustine claimed that rulers can satisfy being just if they are capable of delaying punishment yet are ready to pardon and if they necessitate having to employ such pun ishing act upon the government in favor of defending the republic. In ‘The Republic’, this well coincides with Plato’s argument explicating that the elements namely – reason, appetite, and spirit must consist in justice just as they must in state (Ebenstein & Ebenstein, 1990). According to St. Augustine, two cities emerge out of love of self or the earthly love and love of God or the heavenly love. While the love of self is sought based on the approval of men, regardless of God’s judgment, the love of God exists in an individual who primarily seeks God’s glory despite harsh criticisms by other men. As a consequence, the earthly city is composed of nobilities and subjects that are governed by the exercise of authority where pleasing the state seems to form the sole basis and cause either of anxiety or of contentment among people. In the heavenly city, however, it is the Lord’s command that matters most for the people who fear or delight in following his will. The truth behind divine forces or the ways by which God communicates to men in the city of God may, to a certain extent, raise doubts requiring support via evidences that are less abstract than intangible conviction, Nevertheless, St. Augustine’s proposition quite matches the remarkable portion of world history when kingdoms indeed found triumph over all others because they, rulers and subjects alike, had hopes that rested highly on God’s power to vanquish the enemies. When St. Augustine further elaborates that the absence of human wisdom enables godliness and genuine worship of God in the heavenly city, such idea may be perceived to bear consistent thought and agreement with the conception of justice in state. A godly nation with a just king or emperor discerns justice that places no distinction between the rich and the poor or the strong and the weak, only between right and wrong by sensible law, for by the fundamental meaning of the term, it is intended to be carried out at times unjust situations transpire. With the city of God, this condition especially holds for the Lord is considered the supreme being so that all else under him are made equal with each other in view of justice and its righteous function as God himself exhibits no partiality in rendering proper justice on anyone through Christian faith. Much as St. Augustine distinguished between the two cities with opposing characteristics he more so argued about the two types of man

The Importance of Research in Assessing Educational System Essay

The Importance of Research in Assessing Educational System - Essay Example Through this process, the mandate on the capability of the administrators to create the most possible ways available to recreate an existing system of teaching for the sake of better learning procedures offered to the stakeholders of the situation, the students. Besides, the research proceedings designed to make the systems better are noted to make great impact on the ways by which teachers apply the efficacy in the profession that they have taken responsibility of. Education has and will always be an important aspect in the society. This idea is mainly true because of the fact that it ensures an individual sense of responsibility and it promotes independence by equipping individuals in the society valuable knowledge and skills for them to survive and become existent to their purpose. In general perspective, education significantly promotes the development and further advancement of the society as a whole by enabling the young people to become knowledgeable individuals capable of enhancing the current lifestyle and culture of the society. Thus, in like manner, the act and concept of teaching is indeed significant since it is one and the major link between education and the society. Teaching in either private or public educational institutions is always perceived to be a great and respectable profession however, challenges and problems also exist in this field. Personally, this author also recognizes the importance of the concept of teaching to the society because of its significant benefits it offers for the individuals seeking knowledge and education. Secular teaching in the established educational institutions is generally considered by this author as a profession that is well honored and valued by the people . However, many problems and issues are still needed to be address and developed to fully recognize the significance of this concept for the society. The constant change in the society then defines the importance of continuously developing the educational systems that are present in the society hence increasing the competence of teaching among the instructors of learning in support to the developments that the human community takes into serious consideration. Believably, the importance of choosing the right research design to assess the community from their willingness to approve the needed adjustments in teaching has a great impact on the manner of educating the society making each curriculum presentations rather comprehensively effective for the learners to grasp. Society has always been increasing and the population and likewise its number of students because of which, facilities in the educational institutions must also be expanded to accommodate the said increase. This author believes that every student has their own right to claim and have access to education thus they must be given a way for