How the Recent Economic Downturn Affected the Marks Spencer Strategy

Introduction Marks and Spencer is U.K company retail and has its headquarters in the City of Westminster. This company has more than 700 stores within the U.K and more than 300 stores in more than 40 countries across the world (Amel, 2009). The company engages in the selling of food products as well as clothing products.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on How the Recent Economic Downturn Affected the Marks Spencer Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the year 1998, Marks and Spencer turned out to be the first U.K retailer to realize a profit of more than one billion pounds. However, a few years that followed, this company experienced a big crisis that persisted for a number of years. Following the crisis, this company has been in continual realignment of the management (Alon, 2000). The company gained back its market share in the clothing sector and these followed the measures that were taken by th e company during the 2004/2005 financial year (Amel, 2009). However, this achievement did not last for long because it was soon hit by the recent economic downturn (Amel, 2009). The argument in this paper is going to be that, during the recent economic downturn, Marks and Spencer failed to put appropriate strategies in place which made them to lose customers to the competitors; as a strategy, they engaged in cutting down prices but failed to meet the changing customer demands and needs and this is what made them to lose customers to the competitors. To support this argument, I am going to review the available literature concerning Marks and Spencer in relation to their strategy and the recent economic downturn and this will be followed with a discussion. Later, I will give a conclusion and some recommendations about the appropriate measures that need to be taken by the company. Literature Review Marks and Spencer Company has been in business for over a century has strived to be succ essful in its operations. The company began as a stall in the year 1884. It was Michael Marks that started it and it was located in Leads market. Alon points out that â€Å"the company stressed value and low price as a hallmark for development† (Alon, 2000). By the year 1901, this business organization was able to acquire 35 outlets and also a new partner at that time by the name Tom Spencer. By mid 1900s, the entire stores of the company products were majorly given a private label which was â€Å"St. Michael† made by the British suppliers (De Nardia-Cole, 1998).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For several years, the mission of Marks and Spencer has been â€Å"to offer consumers quality, value and service† (Alon, 2000). The confidence of the company lay upon some operating principles in order to achieve the mission set. One of the principles was to develop long-term relationships between the company and its suppliers. Another principle was to provide value â€Å"through a narrow merchandise selection at affordable prices† (Alon, 2000). The third principle was to support the local industry. The fourth one was to promote from within (The Economist 1998, p.68). The company’s fifth and last principle was to make use of a single brand name â€Å"St. Michael† for a larger number of the company’s products (Jardin, 1999). These principles have enabled the company to achieve the support of the U.K producers, as well as the workers and consumers in the U.K. As pointed out in The Economist, â€Å"the sixth largest employer in the British manufacturing, the textile industry, with more than 354, 000 workers, owes a large part of its existence to Marks and Spencer† (The Economist 1998, p.57). The company has given encouragement to manufacturers of textile products in the U.K. to keep their factories in the country (Buxton,1999). This has resulted in an improved check on the level of quality as well as increased flexibility in manufacturing and also in the distribution of products. A description of this company was given by one British writer as â€Å"quintessential British institution, woven in the fabric of our national life, as firmly lodged in our psyches as furniture in the front room† (Financial Times 1999, p.10). The â€Å"Five Forces† Framework Marks and Spencer experiences the five forces in the U.K market at different levels which include; threat of new entry, the buyer power, the supplier power, the treats of substitutes and the competitive rivalry (Amel, 2009). These forces affect Marks and Spencer in a number of ways. Considering the threat of entry, the Marks and Spencer Company has a strong brand name and is well established in the market. This may make it difficult for new firms entering the market. But in considering the clothing sector, the company may not be experiencing strong customer loyalty. Looking at the power of the buyers, this is high. The customers are offered with discounts in the supermarkets and they are also offered with online clothing websites. Following this, the buying power of the company’s customers has been made to become higher.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on How the Recent Economic Downturn Affected the Marks Spencer Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Considering the supplier power, the Marks and Spencer Company is taking measures to respond to the consumer trends; the company is opening up to foreign suppliers in order to broaden the range of suppliers that are there (Amel, 2009). In this market, there is high level of threats for substitutes. For instance, the large competitor in the market, Tesco, has taken measures to segment their offers to the customers in order to sufficiently match the various profil es of the customers in the food segment. On the other hand, in the clothing segment, some of the retailers are offering high quality products at lower prices to the customers than Marks and Spencer. Looking at the competitive rivalry, Marks and Spencer operates in a very competitive market place. The major competitors include Tesco, Next and John Lewis. These retailers have been able, on several occasions, able to adjust their products and offers in time before Marks and Spencer could take appropriate measures (Amel, 2009). The Economic downturn and the Marks Spencer Company in the U.K Market There has been shrinking of the economy of the U.K for the six quarters which followed each other for the first time beginning from the 1950s, a time when the records began. The gross domestic product, which represents the value of goods as well as services produced within the country from all the sectors, â€Å"captures the state of the economy in one number† (Amel, 2009). The official figures indicated that the U.K’s GDP as per the year 2009, between the month of July and September, was contracting at the rate of 0.3 percent, a figure that was below the one projected which was 0.4 percent (Amel, 2009). The important role that the services sector plays in the U.K economy offers a background explanation for this decline. It is true that, the companies in the service sector, which generally account for about 76 percent of the country’s economy, were the most affected (Amel, 2009). A number of factors which include increasing unemployment levels, credit tightness, and falling housing prices have had a great impact on the consumer spending and confidence. In addition, it is point out by the analysts that â€Å"the inflation rate in the U.K jumped from a five-year low to 1.5 percent in the month of October, the year 2009† (Amel, 2009).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, the weakening of the pound served as an attraction of the tourism business. Indication has been given by consumer research that â€Å"the clothing expenditure is the first victim of the cutback† (Amel, 2009). While there have been great impacts on the spending and consuming patterns, the retailers have been under pressure to adjust their prices through offering discounts and promotion. The retailers have decided to be engaging in the competitive price wars. The price reductions were remarkably high and this in turn brought down the level of profit margins which were already reducing (Amel, 2009). Since the Marks and Spencer Company greatly depends on the U.K market (90 percent), the company is exposed to the difficult trading conditions to a high level. The economic downturn in the housing sector and increased food prices has taken a toll on the disposable income of the consumer and this in turn has brought down the level of demand for the non-food products. The Mark s and Spencer Company responded to this by cutting prices and as a result of this, the volume of the product sales as well as the value of these products reduced (Amel, 2009). In the financial year 2005/2005, Marks and Spencer experienced a great contraction in its sales, giving a reflection of hardships across all product areas. In the period that followed (2005/2006), the hardships were overcome (Amel, 2009). This was realized through carrying out improvements in the operations. The company was now able to realize vigorous growth in the sales and profits and this even went on in the course of the financial year that followed (Amel, 2009). During the second half of the period 2007/2008, there was deterioration of the external environment following the economic downturn. This brought great negative effects to the company during the period 2008/2009 and the company’s sales growth remained almost stagnant and the operating profits went down. There was mounting pressure on the m argins during this period despite the fact that the company took an initiative to close 26 of its stores which were not performing well (Amel, 2009). In the year 2009, the company went on bearing the marks of the economic downturn and its profits went down. For the financial year ended in the end of March 2009, the company’s profits increased by less than 1 percent to about 9 billion pounds. There was a reduction in the net profit to 508 million pounds, a 38 percent decrease (Amel, 2009). A reflection increased sales is made by the revenue from the International Retail in Owned and Franchised and the U.K stores. The net income was counterbalanced by the reduced operating margins resulting from the increased operating expenses, higher finance costs, and reduced finance income (Amel, 2009). During the recent economic down turn, Marks and Spencer Company’s retail food segment took a hit. It was reported that the â€Å"cash strapped† consumers were moving away from the costly, â€Å"ready cooked meals and thinking about buying the cheaper substitutes instead of the expensive, luxury ready prepared meal that is the mainstay of Marks and Spencer’s offering† (Davies, 2009). This company’s biggest competitors such as Tesco do offer to their customers a variety of substitutes including a full range of â€Å"raw ingredients and cheaper ready meal substitutes† (Davies, 2009). While giving out the half financial year’s results in June 2008, Domino’s reported that the sales that were made to the customers that were already there had contracted, but those made to those customers who were completely new had gone up by about 20 percent, as an increased number of wealthy clients, who would frequently dine out, engage in the adjustment of their spending practices (Davies, 2009). It is pointed out that â€Å"Marks and Spencer did not have the flexibility like that at that time to be in a position to move the offerin gs they made† (Davies, 2009, para. 39). What would come out of this is losing customers because they opted to go to the company’s competitors. Getting back these customers when the economic times improve would not be easy (Davies, 2009). Marks and Spencer needed to be more innovative in order to be able to keep up the demands of the customers that are ever changing as well as their changing needs so that they could avoid losing customers to the competitors (Davies, 2009). It was clearly established that during the economic downturn, the customers’ needs and demands must change. This fact is supported by the argument that â€Å"your customers and their needs will undergo multiple changes as they adjust to the reality of a recession and the shape of the new world and beyond† (Davies, 2009). Following this, one of the challenges that are there is not to lose the existing customers where it has taken much time and effort to get to your rivals who might then se ek to retain them for the long-term (Davies, 2009). Another challenge is to set up a portfolio which is balanced in order to evade being exposed to large customer groups who have the same â€Å"recessionary pressures† (Davies, 2009). The third challenge is to be in a position to be sensitive and give a quick response to changing needs and demands of the customers as well as to the newly coming up segments (Davies, 2009). Discussion Marks and Spencer carries out most of its operations in the U.K and also in other regions abroad. This company used to be successful in its business and that is why it has been in business beginning from the year 1884 to date, making profits but at some point, its performance started to decline following ineffective management and putting in place inappropriate strategies (Alon, 2000). However, during the fiscal year 2004/2005, the company made appropriate adjustments which enabled it to improve in its performance during the following fiscal year a nd even during the year that followed there after (Amel, 2009). But during the economic downturn, in the course of 2008/2009, the company’s performance was negatively affected again. The company failed to put in place appropriate strategies to deal with the unfavorable economic situation to avoid a reduction in sales following a change in the consumer needs and demands. Such competitors as Tesco came up with a strategy that enabled it to diversify its products in order to meet the diversified customer needs and demands (Davies, 2009). Marks and Spencer sought to reduce its prices as a strategy to retain its customers but this could not be effective because this affected the profitability of the company negatively. In addition, the customers preferred to be offered with desirable products that could satisfy their needs to the highest level possible at affordable prices (Davies, 2009). Any company should seek to retain its existing customers and even be able to attract more new customers. Marks and Spencer needed to be more innovative in order to be able to keep up the demands of the customers that are ever changing as well as their changing needs so that they could avoid losing customers to the competitors (Davies, 2009). It has been found that during the economic downturn, the customers’ needs and demands must change. Customers seek to buy products that they can now afford in order to meet the needs they deem to be very basic to them (Davies, 2009). They should put in to consideration that different customers have different levels of income and during a recession, there are those who can go on maintaining the consumption and spending trends and those who change. Even if these customers may have been loyal to the company for a long time, hard economic conditions can force them to switch to wide range of the products that are offered by competitors at affordable prices (Davies, 2009). One of the weaknesses of Marks and Spencer that may have affecte d them during the economic downturn is lack of flexibility at that time to be in a position to move the offerings they made to the customers (Davies, 2009). What would come out of this is losing customers because these customers preferred going to other companies such as Tesco. Getting back these customers at the time the economic downturn is over is quite hard and bringing them back could be very much more costly to the company (Davies, 2009). Therefore, there is great need for the Marks and Spencer Company to take appropriate measures to bring up the level of its sales and profitability and also to be able to deal with the problems that come with economic downturn in the future. They should learn some few things from the competitors and seek to carry out their operations in an even better way. Conclusion During the recent economic downturn, Marks and Spencer failed to put appropriate strategies in place which made them to lose customers to the competitors; as a strategy, they enga ged in cutting down prices but failed to meet the changing customer demands and needs and this is what made them to lose customers to the competitors. Since the customer needs and demands do change during an economic downturn, it is not enough for any company to cut down its prices as a competitive strategy. There is need for the company to establish what the actual new demands and needs of the customer are in order for it to take appropriate measures to meet them. Marks and Spencer has been in business for a very long time. By them losing customers to the competitors because of their lack of putting the right strategies in place is something that needs to be looked in to. More research should be carried out in order to establish why the company was not able to diversify its offerings to the customer and just relied on cutting down prices which made them to lose the competitive ground. References Alon, I. (2000), â€Å"Marks Spencer: A case study in international retailing†. Web. Amel, B. (2009), â€Å"Marks Spencer case study†. Web. Buxton, P. (1999), â€Å"MS Chief Rejigs Retail Operation†, Marketing Week, vol.22, no.12, 1999, p.6. De Nardi-Cole, Sarah M. (Eds.). (1998), â€Å"Marks and Spencer†, in International  Retailing, Brenda Sternquist, Fairchild Publications, New York. Davies, R. (2009), Recession: Key Questions for Business Survival  and Growth. Web. Economist, â€Å"Poor Marks†, (1998, November 21), p.68. Financial Times, â€Å"Angst in Their Pants†, (1999, June 8 ), pp. 7-10. Jardin, A. (1999), â€Å"St. Michael’s Evangelist†, Marketing, pp.25-28. This research paper on How the Recent Economic Downturn Affected the Marks Spencer Strategy was written and submitted by user Conor Richmond to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Etymology (and Punctuation) of Fathers Day

The Etymology (and Punctuation) of Fathers Day The Etymology (and Punctuation) of Father’s Day Happy Fathers Day! And what better way to celebrate than with a little etymology? A slap-up meal followed by a nap in the sunshine, you say? There’ll be time for that later! For now, let’s look at where the word â€Å"father† comes from and why we use an apostrophe in â€Å"Fathers Day.† The Etymology of Father Our modern word â€Å"father† comes from the Old English fà ¦der, which meant â€Å"he who begets a child.† This is close to several words for fathers in other languages, including Old Norse (fathir), German (Vater), Sanskrit (pitar), and Latin and Greek (both use pater). In fact, the similarities between these words suggest a common source. As such, most experts trace â€Å"father† to a Proto-Indo-European term. And while we cannot know what this was exactly, it may have been something like pÉ™ter-. Fatherhood is tough when your kids look down on you. Pa, Papa, Dad, and More So if â€Å"father† comes from pÉ™ter-, where does this term come from? It may have evolved from the basic noise â€Å"pa,† which we still see in words like â€Å"papa.† The words â€Å"dad† and â€Å"dada† have similar origins in â€Å"da,† and we see these simple sounds in words for fathers all over the world. The main theory for why we see this pattern so much is that â€Å"da,† â€Å"pa,† and â€Å"ta† are some of the first noises babies can make. The same is true of the â€Å"ma† from â€Å"mama,† which becomes â€Å"mom.† As such, when babies start making noises like â€Å"da† and â€Å"pa,† we assume they’re addressing their parents. And over time, this has led to words like â€Å"dad† and â€Å"pa† entering our everyday speech. Fathers Day vs. Fathers Day As a rule, you should always include an apostrophe in Fathers Day. This is the traditional way of writing it, but it also makes sense. After all, you usually focus on your own father on this day. Thus, the â€Å"Father† in Fathers Day is typically one person, even if that person is different for each of us. Writing â€Å"Fathers Day† or â€Å"Fathers Day,† on the other hand, would imply you’re celebrating fathers in general. And while that would be admirable, you’d need a lot of stamps to send a card to every father in the world. All in all, then, you’re probably better off focusing on your own dad for today.

Consumer behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Consumer behaviour - Essay Example Electric Bike An electric bike or a scooter is an enhanced form of conventional bike that is operated by a battery. According to Graham and McGowan, (2008), electric bikes were first developed in Switzerland in 1980. These bikes use rechargeable batteries with the capability of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. They use direct drive or geared motor units. Electric motorized bicycles vary in cost and complexity. The key consideration associated with the acquiring of electric bikes is the range. This range is affected by factors such as battery capacity, motor efficiency, aerodynamics, weight of the bike and the rider (Lamy, 2001). Advantages of the Electric Bikes Jamerson and Benjamin (2009) assert that electric bikes are associated with numerous benefits as compared to conventional bikes or motors vehicles. They are effective for mountain climbing compared to conventional bikes because less energy and effort is required when riding them. Electric bikes are safer to use on rugged terrains or steep road junctions compared to cars. The running cost of electric bikes is lower compared to that of cars. Frequent use of the electric bikes enhances physical fitness. They vehemently promote green technology compared to motor vehicles or cars owing to the low energy consumption of the batteries. Their use reduces environmental pollution as it does not involve burning of fossil fuels like the case with vehicles. However, Jamerson and Benjamin (2004) warn that although these bikes reduce air pollution, some of their aspects such as disposal of worn out batteries pollute the environment. Hypothesis The consumer perception of the electric bikes is favourable. This is because it is technological enhanced compared to conventional bikes and associated with numerous benefits compared to motor vehicles or motor bikes. Aim The aim of the study is to identify the perception of the consumers towards the purchase of electric bikes. Objectives of the Study 1. To kno w the perception of the consumers toward electric bikes 2. To identify the awareness level of consumers on electric bikes 3. To determine the factors that influence consumer choice when buying 4. To find out other factors that affect the buying decisions of electric bikes 5. To find out the post purchase experiences and benefits of the electric bike to the costumer Some of the questions that will be included to gain insight on the proposed study include: 1. Are you informed about electric bikes? 2. How did you become aware of electric bikes? 3. How many members of your family are eligible for riding electric bikes? 4. Which features would you consider when buying an electric bike? among others Statement of the Problem Although the electric bikes have been on sale in the UK for some time, most people still prefer to use conventional bikes as compared to electric bikes (Drane et al., 2009). The research yearns to explore one of the factors that could be preventing customers from buyin g electric bikes. Sample The sample size will be 200 respondents. Survey Area The study will focus on the West End and East End districts of London. Half of the respondents will be outsourced from the West End region of London city while the rest will emanate from the East End district. This will enhance balance in terms of economic disparities i.e. the West End is characterised by the

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Using a 3D Printer in Engineering

Using a 3D Printer in Engineering CE 2.2 Background Digitality is increasing each day. Very less people use 3D printers due to its high cost. And moreover, they are not portable as its calibration of stepper motors could be damaged. And small scale industries cannot afford them. So, my project is about making 3D printers that are size oriented, portable and cost effective. It will a project that would be hassle less and easy to understand and operate. It could be extremely useful to small scale industries, dental manufacture, scientific labs, toy companies and many more. CE 2.3 The reason behind choosing this project was to give a boost to small scale industries and make it easy to use. 3D printing is the technology of creating three-dimensional real time objects that has a nozzle which oozes out melted plastic element and is attached to a stepper motor which works as an axis that has two stepper motors working as two axis. 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Stepper motor it is a kind of electric motor that is widely used in the industries of robotics. With each step of the motor, it makes it handy for repeatable positioning. 2. Stepper motor driver A4988 they are kind of drivers with microcontroller and that can be used to attain high rotation speeds in stepper motors. 3. CNC shield 4. Arduino Uno Microcontroller it is used for digital devices and interactive objects which can control and sense the objects in physical world. It makes use of open-source hardware and software. 5. SMPS power supply this is used to drive and supply power to the whole circuit 6. MDF/Acrylic for the body structure -it is used for outer covering or the hardware structure of the body. For 3D Printing Setup 1. 0.75mm Nozzle it is cylindrical kind of a pipe or tube which controls the liquid. 2. Ceramic heater 3. DC fan as a cooling device 4. PLA element CE 2.7 For the 3D printer, a structure had to be made from either MDF, acrylic or fiber that would form the outer body. It also requires 4 stepper motor and its driver ICs along with providing a power supply. The stepper motor moves as per the GCODE which controls it. A software is used to generate the GCODE that is indirectly connected and formed from CAD file. CE 2.8 The working of my software part can be described as below: 1. Computer part: Here, using different software like AUTOCAD, RHINO, CAD360, a CAD file is generated. The interpreter receives the CAD file formed and then converts it into GCODE file. For interpreting software like MERLIN, CURA, POLULU was been used. Then via serial port the GCODE file is sent to the other part i.e. the printing part. 2. 3D printer part: Stepper drivers and HotEnd drivers receive the GCODE file from the GCODE interpreter. The HotEnd has a nozzle, DC fan and a ceramic heater and the stepper motor makes the moves as per the GCODE. Into the nozzle, a PLA plastic element is entered and with the help of ceramic heater it melts that plastic element into very small sized threads and is constantly cooled with the help of DC fan. As the HotEnd and stepper motor moves, the PLA comes out through it giving a 3D printed object. The object is made layer by layer and the stepper motor sets itself to initial stage after the completion of the object CE 2.9 During this project, I faced many challenges as my project is a very complex topic. It started with doing research on the topic. It was a new technology in the market and I had to collect as much information available. Deciding of hardware components was also a major task I had a pre-defined project cost that I had to maintain so that the final costing of the product doesnt increase beyond the limit. I took help from the experts from the field of electronics and tried to follow their footsteps whenever problem occurred. The part of software was quite easy than I thought as I had already planned the flow of the work so I just had to follow that pattern to accomplish my microcontroller programming. CE 2.10 Summary In 3D printing, whole process takes place in tiny little slices, it divides the whole project into tiny pieces which are made in the reverse order while printing. They stick together to form a solid object slice by slice. All the parts made from 3D printing can be complex like hinges, wheels etc. as a part of the printed object. It is a kind of technology which is very useful in current world. It makes the object feel like a real one. My project required great knowledge while implementing. It was a great platform for me to learn new technology and to help small scale industry with my project. My creativity skills were expanded and with the help of my project guide I could overcome all the challenges that came on the way. I kept my guide and supervisors updated with my position of the project. And meeting were kept fortnightly to show my status on my project and to discuss further possibility of the project expansion.

Curbing college drinking starts with a change in attitude Essay

The article by Sarah Fritz deals with a very acute issue of today’s reality: college drinking. She draws on horrifying statistics showing that 1,400 college students die each year because of alcohol and 600,000 are assaulted by another drunk student. We are used to assaults and rapes related to alcohol, but few would connect it with the deaths of such a large number of young people. Fritz makes one think that drinking can be more harmful and dangerous than we are used to think. At the same time, the author is sceptical about the prospects of fighting alcohol dependence with the methods, currently used on campus. I agree with her where she says that college officials may not be really interested in fighting the problem, because any mention of drinking incidents on some particular campus will hurt the reputation of this university. So if they are interested in hushing things up, then there is hardly a chance that drinking will go away any time soon. Besides, the bad example set by the previous generation mentioned by Fritz still works. Students know that their parents drank in their college youth and many of them turned out all right. As a result, students are convinced that adults are exaggerating the problem and trying to deny them what made the fun and joy of their own youth – happy partying with friends. Students may be afraid to try some new unknown drugs, but they know that humanity used alcohol since the time of Ancient Greeks and this did not bring the civilization to ruin. Perhaps a massive campaign against drinking can have effect, but only to a certain point, since the young always want to try out things even if they look dangerous. For this reason the effect will be limited. In addition, young people for the most part value having a good time above everything else, and for many people good time is closely connected with alcohol. They simply do not know any other way to spend their time in a more exciting way than binging with friends, and teaching them other ways is extremely difficult. Wanderman, Richard. One Person’s Path to Literacy. Wanderman’s story has many meanings. On the one hand, it gives an idea of how a person with disabilities adjusts to the world designed for normal people. On the other, it give insights into the process of learning, so deep and simple that virtually every person can use them to achieve success in some field. Wanderman does not ask for pity, nor does he write his story to express his bitterness about the world that was harsh on the disabled man. He opens his story with stating that he has a successful career, a nice house and a family. The author seems to have no hard feeling against nature or God that has made him this way. His journey from inability to improvement was his own making, and in this sense he is a self-made man indeed. Reading his story is highly useful for all of the healthy people who enjoy the benefits of good health they received at birth and forget that this blessing was not given to anybody. Basic things like reading a book or getting good grades in public school can be a challenge to these people, something worth remembering for all. The things Wanderman learned through his learning experience can be useful to all of us, since we all come across challenges in our lives. He very perceptively describes how he learned that a man can be stupid and incapable in one area and at the same time smart in another. His lesson that practice makes perfect is also very important to learners who despair at the first failure. He also learned that his father was right when he told him that â€Å"bumps would build character† (Wanderman 2000). Stating that he is happy to have a lot of character because of his trials, although he would not like to repeat his path, Wanderman gives comfort to those who are going through a black streak in their lives. Although they are going through difficulties, this is going to mould their characters in such a way that they are better able to meet the next set of difficulties to come. Logan, Paul. Rowing the Bus. Paul Logan’s story touches a cord with everyone who was once insulted or humiliated by a school mob or any other group of people enjoying scapegoating. It also touches a cord with anyone who has seen abuse of the vulnerable, but was too scared to defy the mob. The story tells about things many of us have encountered but were too ashamed to bring up in public discussion. Paul goes through an evolution in his attitude to bullies. In the first school, he believes them to be inevitable because of his poor clothes, fatherless family, lisp, crossed eyes and poor skill at sports. When one reads these stories, one often wonders why teachers never did anything to accommodate the child who was so different from the rest and clearly suffered from other children’s attitudes. Why didn’t they change something about the team selection process if they saw that it was humiliating to the one in the group who most needed protection? Anyway, Paul was obviously left on his own to combat the class, and this instilled in him very strong fear of being the one at the bottom. The fear was so strong that he rejects George who is even more vulnerable than he was in the new school. However, George’s hurt look triggers a revolution in Paul’s mind. He suffers from pangs of conscience so strong that finally he overcomes his fear in the incident with Donald, a high school bully. He is so successful that from now on all school bullies behave quieter when he is on the bus. They recognise that Paul has the strength to defend his views that developed under the influence of his own negative experience. Thus Paul succeeds in becoming sort of moral authority for the school. His influence on the others is positive, and for himself this action symbolizes threshold to maturity, a transition from boyhood to manhood. He is no longer the vulnerable one – on the contrary, he is able to protect the others. Still, he is left with the vision of George that he will hardly let go in the nearest future. Frost, Robert. Mending Wall. Mending a wall describe a slow, methodical process through which two neighbors are trying to isolate themselves from each other. They continue mending the barrier between their properties even when they feel that â€Å"something there is that doesn’t love a wall† (Frost 1915). The two neighbors have different views on neighbourhood and the necessity of the wall, yet they are working together to maintain the old and rundown thing. The neighbor who has a pine forest wants to maintain the wall since he learned from his father that â€Å"good fences make good neighbours† (Frost 1915). He does not question this saying, probably like he does not question any truths he learned from his Dad. The wall in his thinking is something that probably stood there for centuries and now is expected to stand at least for his lifetime. This neighbour is eager to devote time and effort to repairing the old wall, even though it is difficult to keep it in the same condition and stones and balls will not balance. The author seems to be more open to neighbors. He does not really want to keep a wall because he does not believe that it will improve his relationship with the neighbour. On the contrary, he does not think there is any threat from the neighbor’s house or pine forest that will not jump over to his land and eat his apples. Frost probably does not have a strong sense of property and is not so much afraid to share something that is his with others. He insists that fences make sense as a barrier to cows’ movement, but since there are no cows really, it makes no sense to keep them. The little poem makes one think about one’s attitudes to neighbours. It looks like there are two kinds of attitudes: either one maintains a fence around one’s property and does one’s best to keep the others out, or one does not care for fences. I do not think that there is a right or wrong choice here. It all depends on the way of communication one is comfortable with, although I would definitely prefer to do without fences.

How to Solve a Rubik Cube

How to solve a Rubik’s cube The purpose of this report is to inform the audience on how to solve a Rubik’s cube in three simple steps. Solving a Rubik’s cube can be difficult; however by solving one layer at a time, and knowing the correct algorithm to use for each desired move, makes solving a Rubik’s cube easier than it looks. Introduction Invented by mechanics in 1974. There are over 43 quintillion possible combinations for solving a Rubik’s cube. That is 43,252,003,274,489,856,000. (information-facts). I am going to teach you how to solve one side of the cube. Which then puts you in position for solving the middle layer of the cube.That lastly enables you to execute the final layer effortlessly. Body I. The first step in solving one side of a Rubik’s cube is done by making a cross with whichever color you choose to start with. Using the algorithm â€Å"F' T L' T'. † (algorithm list) A. After completing the cross, the edge pieces ar e then put into place completing the first layer. Using the algorithm R' B' R B. II. The second step is putting the middle pieces in the correct domicile in order to finalize the middle layer. A. There are two algorithms used depending on if you are moving a piece to the left or right side of the middle layer.T R T' R' T' F' T F† for moving a piece to the left side. And T' L' T L T F T' F' for the right side. III. The third and final step is solving the last layer. Starting out by executing a cross on the top of the cube by performing F R T R' T' F’. A. Then fixing the cross by orienting the pieces in their correct positions. Using R T R' T R T T R'. 1. Followed by positioning the edge pieces in their correct places by doing T R T' L' T R' T' L. a. Leaves you with the final algorithm, which simply rotates the corner pieces that are already in their correct places. By doing an easy out, out, in, in, move R' B' R B, until the cube is complete.Conclusion I went over how to solve a Rubik’s cube step by step, starting out with the first cross and layer, to the middle layer, and the final cross and layer. If anyone would like me to email them my algorithms I would be glad to do that. And I know the process seems a bit confusing so you would like help learning to solve the cube on your own using the algorithms I can also provide some assistance with that as well. I hope this presentation helped you understand how to solve a Rubik’s cube. References A Rubik’s cube has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possible combinations. | Information Facts. (n. d. ).Information Facts – Facts of the world, Crazy facts, What a information, Interesting facts. Retrieved February 12, 2013, from http://www. information-facts. com/shocking/a-rubiks-cube-has-43252003274489856000-possible-combinations (0), M. R. (n. d. ). Algorithm List – How to Solve a Rubik's Cube. www. personal. psu. edu. Retrieved February 12, 2013, from http://www. personal. ps u. edu/mjr5125/blogs/how_to_solve_a_rubiks_cube/algorithm-list. html Out of the Cube: Augmented Rubik's Cube. (n. d. ). Hindawi Publishing Corporation . Retrieved February 12, 2013, from http://www. hindawi. com/journals/ijcgt/201

Gettysburg - fictional account essays

Gettysburg - fictional account essays Message written in a leather-bound book, found in an abandoned cabin in backwoods Pennsylvania: Whoever has found this basic diary now reads the story of George McClellan. Having lived 80 long but blessed years, Ive outlived my wife and children. I suspect that God will call me home soon, in this, the year of our Lord 1926. Before I go, I find it necessary to relate to you a part of my life that must not be forgotten. By reading this account, you have been selected to pass on a piece of history that would otherwise be lost. Hear my words well. Seventeen. Such a young age to kill, seventeen. Seventeen years seemed little preparation for watching my friends shot at my left and right and, rather than mourn the tragic losses of these fine young men, hit the ground and come back swinging. No thoughts. Only instinct. Duck, roll, load, fire. Dodge, jump, kill. All at seventeen. The road there might have been long, but time was endless in this eternal war. I didnt know what war we were fighting back then. What happened to the ninety days war? I remember signing up for a short and decisive victory, my friends and I all eager to escape the confines of school. The schoolgirls were swooning over us for our bravery. We loved the attention, but we never thought the act brave. War sounded beautiful. War sounded gratifying. War sounded like an escape from our tedious lives. We were so immature. Our innocence would soon be ripped from us, leaving our souls bleeding. Three years passed. We were stationed in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was late at night and the third day of this, the bloodiest battle of the civil war. Nearly 35,000 men had died just in the previous two days. Now I was twenty and a skilled veteran. Somehow, a few of my closest friends and I had managed to survive. We were together in the in the federal 12th corps. It was late that night that we attacked rebel forces to regain abandoned trenches and t...

How to Deal With a Lazy Coworker

How to Deal With a Lazy Coworker document.createElement('audio'); https://s3.amazonaws.com/tjn-blog-images/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/17133337/How-to-handle-a-lazy-coworker.wavWe’ve all been there- paired with the team member that just isn’t holding up their share of the tent poles. You can’t quite tattle on them because that would just reflect badly on you, but you also can’t let them get away with it all the time and just keep carrying your weight. If you’re frustrated with a lazy, extra-long-lunch-taking, slack-off of a coworker, here are a few ways you can alleviate the situation.Don’t let them knock you off your pins.If you’re spending the entire day focusing on just how lazy and useless your coworker is, chances are you’re not doing your own work as well as you could and should be doing. Try tuning them out, no matter how many times you notice them checking Facebook. Focus on your own work- or you’ll end up having as low an output as the lazy perso n. It might not be fair, but neither is life. Too much attention on fairness is just immature.Stay focused on yourself.Instead of obsessing about what a lame-o your coworker is, direct your energy instead to deciding what kind of a person and coworker you want to be. And start living up to your own ideals. Be the kind of person you admire most- not just someone who carps on the weakest link. Don’t let your good attitude get affected by someone else’s bad work.Don’t assume responsibility.Don’t tattle, but also don’t just pick up their slack. Their work should not be your work. And if your boss recognizes that some work isn’t getting done, do your best to not be assigned any of the blame.Be a leader.Take this opportunity to distinguish yourself. Stay above the gossip. Step up and show your boss and your team how well you deal with difficult situations. Be the hero of your team. Communicate with your lazy co-worker- they may not be lazy at all, but rather dealing with issues or problems you haven’t imagined. Try helping them get back in the game, rather than watching them crash and burn.Say no.Don’t agree to projects that require your coworker to work at full capacity. And don’t agree to time frames that you know to be unrealistic given the situation. Worst case scenario, in saying no, you’ll earn an opportunity to broach the subject of your coworker with your boss in a non-tattletaley way. It’s the classier way to escalate the situation.Put your reputation first.As annoying as it is to find yourself in this situation, what you have to remember is that you cannot go down with the sinking ship. You might have to put in a few more hours and do a bit more work on the edges until the situation can be resolved. If you have a high-stakes project that can’t be avoided and the deadlines can’t be changed, you just have to do the extra work and sort the situation out afterwards. Try and hold your head up high and distinguish yourself as much as possible, which will make the inevitable fall-out that much easier.

New Business Start Up Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

New Business Start Up - Essay Example As they are planning to introduce a totally new product and brand to consumers, they are anxious about the consumers' response and reaction. For that detailed survey was carried out. It must be notified that Radiant Co. products target skin conscious people of upper middle and upper class. Sample size focused on age groups of 15 onwards. The Survey primarily focused on age level between 15-25 because sun protection and beauty conscious people are mostly found in this age group. But other age groups were also explored to know their behavior. In the soap market many brands dominate the scene, making their presence felt in one way or the other either through aggressive advertising or promotional schemes. LUX dominates the soap market through its outstanding market share, as supported by the survey result its market domination is 51%. LUX with periodical revitalization of its brand has kept the product in the British for a long period of time. Therefore, LUX appears to be the major competition for Hibuty in the soap industry, especially when one of its soap is providing sunscreen formula as an additive feature. Next stands SAFEGUARD, with 23% market share. SAFEGUARD is gaining a lot of popularity as a medicated soap fighting germ all- round -the- clock. There is a future threat to Hibuty of its emerging as a new competitor, although not a direct one as SAFEGUARD presents itself as medicated rather a sun protective soap. Other soaps include Nivea Milk, English Lavender, Safeguard, Lifebouy and Dove. Most Influencing Factors in Soap Purchasing The major influencing factor of potential Hibuty customers, in making their purchasing decision for soap is GOOD QUALITY. 60% of the market gives performance of the soap a priority when buying it. Second most influencing factor determining their soap purchasing decision is brand loyalty with 25% of the market getting affected by it. Third factor being again brand loyalty (23%), fourth most influencing factor is easy availability (30%); fifth most affecting factor is less price (36.5%). Least most influencing factor is status of soap marked as imported (50%). Survey reveals that soap purchasing decision in not at very much influenced by foreign status of the soap. The survey shows that there is opportunity for any soap that offer good quality at reasonable price, potential customers of Hibuty are not very price conscious as they consider LESS PRICE option among the least influencing factors list. Commonly found skin type Survey purports that most common skin type found is oily with 40% of the customers having it. Normal skin types consist of 32% of the market, t-zone or combination skin (13%), sensitive (5%). Preference of fragrance in

Sports Psychology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sports Psychology - Research Paper Example ychology to these basics will dramatically improve the three key ingredients to a successful athletic program : fun, participation and development .† (Sports Psychology Basics PP2) He calls sports psychology â€Å"the glue that holds the three ingredients (mentioned above) together.† The first step in the psychological preparation for a sports person is to decide his commitment to the particular category of sports. Some people will engage in sports just for fun. Hence beyond the fun element the degree of commitment has to be decided first. One’s own skill in that particular sport or in the position in which one wants to play in a team is to be assessed next. Only after doing these can one set a goal to achieve. This goal is to be set up in the general backdrop of the goal of one’s life thus to prioritize the goals. Though goal setting is the most important first step many sports persons are found to be lousy in their attitudes towards goal setting. Mark Anderson in his book â€Å"Doing Sport Psychology† brings out this attitude thus: â€Å"I anticipate getting virtually all players to complete this first stage of goal setting quickly and efficiently. But players offer various explanations for not completing the goal sheets. The poor response rate is frustrating†¦..I view non compliance as a form of resistance.† (PP 94) The goal should be set in a measurable manner with dates, times and amounts all fixed precisely. Only a measurement of the achievement can give psychological satisfaction. The performance should be the criteria of the measurement and not the outcome of the performance, that’s winning or failing, which could be due to lots of external factors like bad judgment or bad weather conditions. One must be able to ignore all the rewards and fame that would come along with winning and concentrate on one’s performance and its measurements. For this one has to set specific goals and not unrealistically high or conveniently low ones. Correct goal