The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1127 Words

â€Å"The best texts are those that force the reader to changer their perspective on the world. To what extent is this true in the text you have studies and how has the author sought to influence their readers.† Introduction The extent to which ones opinions and views can be altered without them even noticing is impeccable. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of ‘The Great Gatsby’, explores the ways in which one can influence a person’s thoughts in such a minute way that they themselves don’t even realise it. He, as a writer, is â€Å"communicative in a reserved way†. This leaves the readers perspective altered to believe what the author wants. Different minds will acknowledge and recognise different aspects of any text thus leaving every reader with a†¦show more content†¦So, less than 50 words into the novel, Nick Carraway is an honest young man who listens to his daddy. By the very next page that concept has been impugned with the counterstatement of â€Å"Everything for which I have an unaffected scorn†. This quote is hilarious. The readers are bombarded with the opposing sides of Nick repeatedly throughout the text. â€Å"I am one of the few most honest people that I have ever known† is another sentence thrown at the audience a mere two chapters along the line. I found it incredibly difficult to come to a conclusion on Nicks character throughout the book and I am unaware if this was Fitzgerald’s intention. I propose that, although relatively dramatic, it could be a motif. Mere words are not easily replied upon, which is supported through the actions of Daisy Buchannan in the 8th chapter of the text. Point Explain Evidence Evaluate Link Biased- First Person Narration The bias story we get told through the use of 1st person narration limits us to seeing Nick and the other characters the way Fitzgerald wants us to. Throughout the novel Tom is crude, Daisy is shallow, Jordan is dishonest, George is spiritless, Myrtle is sensual, Catherine is worldly and Mr. McKee is

Designing An E Commerce Website For A New Start Up

Introduction and Background: The project proposal is to design and develop an e-commerce website for a new start up company. Through this e-commerce portal the company wants to sell different category of products like electronics, clothing, foot wear, home furnishing etc. The new start up company is already having a store at Mumbai, India. But, the business owner want reach more customer. So the business owner understands the competitive market and he wants to apply new business trends to stay competitive in today s modern world. As per the scenario in future it seems like the business owner might close his physical store and do the business only through online. Problem Statement: 1. Physical shop rent is increasing year on†¦show more content†¦Dealing with a database of clients and a database of items for the shop proprietors through an advantageously composed Graphical User Interface which will use an easy to use natural configuration approach. Online shopping center will be an electronic quick track shopping application outlined in the structure of an e-trade site which is very attractive, interesting and easy to buy and sell products. The framework will be intended to be utilized by shop clients with practically zero involvement in utilizing electronic frameworks and shop proprietors will be prepared to utilize those products as well. To help clients, documentation will be given as a client manuals which will contain an itemized portrayal of all framework capacities. Statement of Scope: Online Shopping center will be an e-commerce website and will also be an e-business programming framework which will be intended to robotize a shop deals. The primary capacity of the product will be to help both clients and the store proprietors through increase in large number of / variety of different kind of products. The framework will be hence intended to permit a client to perform the accompanying capacities: †¢ sign on either as a client or a store proprietor †¢ peruse through the database of accessible items †¢ register †¢

Cuban Revolution Essay Research Paper Almost every free essay sample

Cuban Revolution Essay, Research Paper About every state in the universe has experienced a revolution. A revolution can be merely defined as # 8220 ; a change. # 8221 ; When a state undergoes a revolution, its ideals that it one time believed in are being modified. Sometimes revolutionaries act intellectually, yet others may react physically through devastation. Some may be peaceable, some short lasting, and some pointless. Historians do reason on placing whether a revolution has occurred. Revolutions normally follow a rupture in the state # 8217 ; s events, are directed by a hero, have an political orientation and belief system, and usage symbols or tools to acquire its points across to the people. Cuba and its leader today, Fidel Castro, have their ain roots in a revolution that took topographic point merely some forty old ages ago. The causes of the Revolution itself laid behind the military absolutism of General Batista.The overthrow of the June 1952 elections by Batista indirectly led to the Cuban Revolution. With this event the failing behind Cuba # 8217 ; s political relations was revealed to the people. Their economic system besides fluctuated between high and low net incomes. Because Cuba, after the devastation of land in Europe in WWII, had the most sugar production in the universe, little farm proprietors prospered. Yet because sugar was the lone major harvest they produced, Cubans suffered when economic systems in other states prospered. This in bend resulted in unemployment in the metropoliss. With these fortunes, Cubans showed more subjugation to their authorities and shortly began to be rebellious. However, Batista jailed, exiled, executed, and used panic and menaces of force against all the challenges he faced. The people became even more unhappy, until eventually a rupture occurred. While gaining a doctors degree of jurisprudence in Havana, Fidel Castro began to take part in pupil protests against Batistan constabularies. Castro housed arms and prepared his protagonists in t he university campus in Havana. He organized a surprise onslaught on the Moncada barracks in the Oriente Province on July 26, 1953, where Batista # 8217 ; s military stayed, trusting to destruct the ground forces that persecuted other Rebels. Castro did non recognize one major job: the odds of taking over a state # 8217 ; s military base are little. All revolutionists except Castro and his household were massacred. Although this rupture failed, Castro # 8217 ; s motion gained popularity and prestige all over the universe. In fact, Castro called the Revolution the 26 of July Movement. Castro himself was caught and sentenced to imprison for two old ages. Between 1955 and 1956, Castro went to United States and Mexico looking for protagonists and money to fund his revolution. On December 2, 1956, 82 work forces including Castro and the physician Ernesto # 8220 ; Che # 8221 ; Guevara, set canvas one time once more for the Oriente on their yacht, the Granma. The run was doomed from t he beginning. # 8220 ; Cipher could voyage the boat decently, everybody was seasick, most of the supplies were jettisoned in a storm, and the expedition landed in the incorrect place. # 8221 ; ( Sinclair,15 ) On one juncture Guevara followed the incorrect star to go North, and on another, his companion put the merely the drink they had, milk, upside down in his pocket. By the terminal of the twenty-four hours the milk was gone. On December 5 in the conflict of Alegr? a de P? O, Batista # 8217 ; s military personnels killed all of the Rebels except 12. Among these subsisters, coincidently, were Castro and Guevara.Meanwhile, in the metropoliss and universities, a radical motion was besides taking topographic point. The Ortodoxo political party favored a violent revolution against Batista. Its leader and University of Havana Professor Rafael B? rcena organized the National Revolutionary Movement, which gained support from pupils. Castro refused to fall in, partially because he was t aking his ain rebellions. In 1953, Batista # 8217 ; s authorities found out about an approaching onslaught that B? rcena planned, and sent him to prison. Colonel Cosme de la Torriente sought a peaceable reply to Batista by holding elections. Knowing he would lose, Batista disregarded Torriente. By this clip the Cubans knew that a violent revolution was unavoidable.The constabulary under Batista ferociously put down a pupil protest on November 27, 1955 with whippings. Subsequently during a baseball game being broadcasted on telecasting, pupils showed anti-Batista streamers, which led to a presentation that was besides put down by the constabulary. In another presentation, they killed a popular pupil, Ciego de? Port Vila. His funeral on December 10 turned into a protest that increased the support of the turning Cuban Revolution. In 1956 University of Havana was partially destroyed by the authorities in hopes of forestalling any public meetings or protests. On Mar ch 13, 1957, the leader of the rebellious students, Jos? Echeverr?a, and his supporters attacked the presidential palace in order to kill Batista. Immediately after this, he declared on national radio that they killed Batista. Minutes later, police entered the studio and shot him, while the Cubans rejoiced to hear that their dictator had been killed. Later, it was confirmed that Batista had actually escaped the attack. Today, March 13 is a national holiday. The Cuban Revolution, however, was double-fronted.†In a taped interview shown in the United states in May, Castro called it ‘a useless waste of blood. The life of the dictator is of no importance. . . . Here in the Sierra Maestra is where to fight.’†(Suchlicki,170) After the unsuccessful battle of Alegr?a de P?o, Castro and his few followers fled to the Sierra Maestra mountain range. Here Castro healed his wounds, the failed attempts to destroy the military, through support. The peasants who lived in the hills favored Castro easily over Batista.This population provided Castro with supplies and supporters. They also protected them against the Batistan military, traveled to the cities to obtain information, and directed those who wanted to become rebels to the premier himself, Fidel Castro. After gaining more popularity, Castro began to use a technique that was to become a tool in winning the Cuban Revolution: Guerilla Warfare. Using hit and run tactics, the power of the Batistan Dictatorship declined, mostly due to the lack of preparation for guerillas on Batista’s part. With seven rifles in total, the guerillas won their first victory at La Plata Barracks. In May 1957, the peasants delivered a shipment of ammunition and explosives to Castro. With these they began to destroy bridges, railroads, and telephone lines.Without this communication, Batista did know what was happening on the rural war front, thus he never knew when to send out the military. During the battle of El Uv ero on May 27, 1957, the guerillas gained a major victory. Because they overtook a coastal military base in daylight, the guerillas received a great boost in self confidence. Batista was eventually forced to remove his troops from the Sierra Maestra. With the student protests occurring simultaneously, it looked as though an end to the Cuban Revolution was in sight.Historians argue on whom the â€Å"hero† of the revolution was. Some look upon the students as heros, yet others see Castro as the person most affiliated militarily with the Cuban Revolution, and Guevara the most affiliated philosophically. If we look closer, we can see how Castro is the one who made the revolution possible in the first place. Without his actions and ideas, the revolts in Cuba would be failures. Fidel Castro organized the guerrilla warfare in Cuba, which helped bring a decisive beginning to the end of the Revolution. His general presence, one of determination and results, also fueled the Cubans. The minds of all the so-called heros did share a certain ideology. In the summer of 1958, Castro signed the Caracas Pact, which would formerly restore the Constitution of 1940. The ideals in the constitution focused on a democratic nation over a military dictatorship. Guevara believed that having a jefe m?ximo was necessary. This translates in English into â€Å"maximum boss.† Fidel Castro was chosen to fill this position for the rest of Cuba’s history. Castro also envisioned a moral society in which everyone acted humanely with respect to others. He believed in freedom of the press (without television and radio, the revolution would have never gained support from the middle class in Cuba) and direction of justice through the courts. After working with the peasants, Guevara thought of himself as an â€Å"agrarian revolutionary.† He wanted farmers to have more rights with their land and political power. Castro and Guevara both did not support student protests, for t hey believed that they were not fighting for any particular reason.During 1958, guerrilla warfare in rural areas and also urban movements increased. The Batistan rule weakened until its collapse on January 1, 1959, when Batista fled to the Dominican Republic. The â€Å"power vacuum† created was filled by the 26 of July Movement, lead by Fidel Castro. He brought upon rapid changes and gained Cuba worldly prestige and power. The six-year revolution was finally over with influential results. Changes in Cuba have been made that reflect democracy, agrarianism, and a humane society. A hero has been celebrated and declared el jefe m?ximo. The Cuban Revolution, both intellectual and physical, has lived up to its prestige and will alter history forever.

Synthetic Drugs free essay sample

Designer drugs such as synthetic marijuana and bath salts are becoming popular in the United States by abusers. These particular drugs are chemically produced by man giving similar effects of illegal drugs. The use of these drugs is being looked upon as harmless recreation. Not long ago synthetic marijuana could be purchased at most United States convenience stores. They could be bought via internet or even nearby head shops. Synthetic marijuana has been used in â€Å"hookah bars† for the effects of marijuana. Users believe most designer drugs are legal and getting arrested for possessing legal drugs are unlikely. Although most ingredients are banned in the U. S. , usage is still increasing which is giving negative side effects that people are unaware of. Many people think of Epsom salts as being used to relax in a warm bath when the term â€Å"bath salts† is used. When compared these two have nothing in common. We will write a custom essay sample on Synthetic Drugs or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Epsom salts are used for relaxation while the synthetic drug bath salts are used for cocaine like effects. Bath salts are often used in combination with other recreational substances. † (Fire) With the use of these recreational drugs, the affects can be intensified greatly. People don’t realize but this can cause even more harm. People don’t know what is exactly in this man made drugs, adding another toxin can be deadly. Packaged in clear plastic bags or foil and labeled â€Å"not for human consumption†, bath salts were being sold in local stores. Typically it is snorted but can be injected, smoked or even eaten. The most extreme abusers go as far as using them as eye drops. People have experienced feelings of arousal, sociability, increased mental focus, and stimulation in physical energy. Many have hallucinated and done irrational things as well. In most recent news, a man who was high off bath salts attacked a homeless man and began eating his face while naked In the middle of the road. Most people don’t know but when using bath salts confusion, depression, and anxiety also set in along with the hallucinations. Another common synthetic drug being used in the U. S. today is synthetic marijuana. Synthetic marijuana is a new designer drug derived from hybrid herbal/chemical products that stimulate the effects of THC. † (McGuinness) Just like bath salts, this product is not intended for human consumption. Synthetic marijuana comes in a form of dried leaves, these leaves are actually intended to be used as incents. Many people roll it like a joint or use pipes to smoke it. More common names used for synthetic marijuana is K-2, Spice, Genie, an d Skunk. Up until recently you could buy this product in many local gas stations and cigarette outlets. Synthetic marijuana is said to make you feel like you are high off of real marijuana. Many times people are reporting that they have hallucinated, got very paranoid and increased heart rates while smoking this. An 18 year old college freshman tried it and said â€Å"I thought everyone was out to get me and I was afraid. My heart was racing; I thought I was going to have a heart attack. † (McGuinness) This drug is also undetectable in urine tests so it is very popular for people who would like to smoke the real stuff but cannot due to drug testing in either jobs or for legal reasons. Recently synthetic marijuana has been banned. Bath salts and synthetic marijuana have recently been banned in the United States. The products themselves have not been banned for sale in the U. S. , but the ingredients in them have been banned. The only way for the FDA to regulate these types of drugs were to ban the ingredients that are used to create them because they are marketed and labeled not for consumption. They are not able to legally go after the manufacturer because there is no proof that they are making these products with the intentions that they are being used for. President Obama signed into law the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, which contains a provision that makes synthetic drugs like synthetic marijuana and bath salts controlled substance and therefore illegal to sell on store shelves. † (McGuinnes) Obama has made it illegal to sell these products because of the high activity and misuse of these products. Many teenagers were ending up hospitalized or dead due to these synthetic drugs, causing a mini epidemic. If these drugs were still easily available to teens, these rates would have been much higher. These synthetic drugs are drawing a younger crowd and have a negative effect on them. Whether they are doing bath salts or smoking synthetic marijuana or even both, they are putting themselves and others in jeopardy. With high regulations the government was able to put an end to the access to these drugs. When it’s a lot harder to find something, people will have no other option but to quit. Even though most of the ingredients have been banned, we cannot control everything that comes onto the market.

Whats a Weighted GPA How to Calculate It

What's a Weighted GPA How to Calculate It SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Your weighted GPA in high school tells colleges a lot about your ability to take on academic challenges. In this article, I’ll go through a basic description of what a weighted GPA is, why it matters for you, and how you can calculate your own weighted GPA if your school uses this type of scale. What Is a Weighted GPA? A weighted GPA is a GPA that takes the difficulty of your classes into account along with your grades. On a typical unweighted scale (which is solely based on grades and not on the difficulty of your classes), GPAs are recorded as numbers ranging from 0 to 4.0.This scale is why the ideal of the perfect 4.0 GPA exists. If your school uses weighted GPAs, however, the scale goes up higher.Typically a weighted GPA scale ranges from 0 to 5.0.This is to accommodate grades in AP or honors courses, where an A on the weighted scale translates to a 5.0 based on the difficulty of the class.Regular-level classes maintain the typical unweighted scale, where an A translates into a 4.0.Many schools also offer mid-level classes between regular and honors classes where an A translates into a 4.5. This means that someone who takes more difficult courses throughout high school will end up with a higher weighted GPA than someone who takes less difficult courses even if their actual grades are identical. Why Should You Care About Your Weighted GPA? You should pay attention to your weighted GPA because it will have an impact on the college application process and on how you interpret advice about GPAs. If you’re trying to figure out whether your GPA is â€Å"good†, most of the advice you find will be based on the unweighted scale.This is because the unweighted scale is more widely used, and weighted scales often differ between high schools. This advice can be misleading for students who only know their weighted GPAs. If you have a 4.0 weighted GPA, you're not necessarily good to go for admission to any college.A student with a 4.0 weighted GPA may be in the lowest-level classes earning all As or in the highest-level classes earning all Bs.Even with the same weighted GPA, these two cases will not be viewed the same way.Colleges will favor the student with Bs in high-level classes because that student was willing to take on more academic challenges. Weighted GPAs incentivize you to take more difficult classes without fear of slightly lower grades messing up your GPA.Earning high grades in harder classes will have a significant positive influence on your weighted GPA.Imagine a student is earning all Bs in regular-level classes, giving him or her a 3.0 weighted GPA.Then let’s say that student decides to switch into more difficult classes in two of the five subject areas and earns B-s in those classes.Even with slightly lower grades, this would move the student’s weighted GPA for the semester up from a 3.0 to a 3.3. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. With weighted GPA, you can become an academic mountain goat, fearlessly scaling the rocky crags of progressively more challenging classes. How to Calculate Weighted GPA So with all this in mind, how do you calculate your weighted GPA?It’s pretty easy if you know your grades so far in high school and the levels of classes you’ve taken.The simplest way to translate grades into weighted GPA is to follow the unweighted scale for regular-level classes, add 0.5 to the unweighted scale for mid-level classes (such as honors classes), and add 1.0 to the unweighted scale for high-level classes (such as APs). Here’s the unweighted scale for reference: Grade GPA A+ 4.0 A 4.0 A- 3.7 B+ 3.3 B 3.0 B- 2.7 C+ 2.3 C 2.0 C- 1.7 D+ 1.3 D 1.0 F 0.0 One way to calculate your weighted GPA is to find your average unweighted GPA and multiply that by the number of classes you've taken. Then, add 0.5 for each mid-level class you took and 1.0 for each high-level class you took. Divide the result by the total number of classes to find your weighted GPA so far. I'll use a hypthetical example to go through a more detailed description of how to calculate weighted GPA. Let’s say you’re in the middle of your sophomore year, so you’ve completed three semesters of high school thus far. Here are some example charts of the classes you may have taken, their levels, and your grades for each semester: First Semester Freshman Year Class Level Letter Grade Unweighted GPA Weighted GPA 1 Honors Biology B+ 3.3 3.8 2 Honors Algebra 1 B 3.0 3.5 3 Honors Human Geography B 3.0 3.5 4 Freshman English A 4.0 4.0 5 Spanish 1 A- 3.7 3.7 The weighted GPA for this semester is the average of all the numbers in the last column.Your first semester freshman year weighted GPA would be a 3.7. For the second semester, let’s say you continued to take the same level classes but improved your grades: Second Semester Freshman Year Class Level Letter Grade Unweighted GPA Weighted GPA 1 Honors Biology A 4.0 4.5 2 Honors Algebra 1 B+ 3.3 3.8 3 Honors Human Geography B+ 3.3 3.8 4 Freshman English A 4.0 4.0 5 Spanish 1 A 4.0 4.0 This time, when we average all the numbers in the last column, your second semester freshman year weighted GPA is a 4.0. For the first semester of sophomore year, let’s say you decided to take mostly mid-level classes with one high-level class (you were ready to move up in the mid-level class and the regular-level classes where you earned As!). First Semester Sophomore Year Class Level Letter Grade Unweighted GPA Weighted GPA 1 AP World History B+ 3.3 4.3 2 Honors Chemistry B+ 3.3 3.8 3 Honors Algebra II B+ 3.3 3.8 4 Honors English A- 3.7 4.2 5 Honors Spanish II A- 3.7 4.2 If we average all the numbers in the last column, your first semester sophomore year weighted GPA comes out to a 4.1. Now, to figure out your cumulative GPA, we just have to average the weighted GPAs from each semester (note that this only works if you took the same amount of classes each semester - if you didn't, I would recommend just using the formula I described earlier in this section rather than going semester by semester). Semester Weighted GPA First - Freshman Year 3.7 Second - Freshman Year 4.0 First - Sophomore Year 4.1 Cumulative 3.9 So far, your cumulative weighted GPA is a 3.9. Hopefully this example will help you understand how to calculate your weighted GPA.If your school is more specific about what grade corresponds to what GPA (i.e. it assigns a different GPA to different averages within each letter grade, so a 90 A- would translate to a lower GPA than a 92 A-),take a look at this more detailed chart to make your calculations more accurate. Conclusion Weighted GPA is a way for high schools to create a measure of academic achievement that takes into account the difficulty of a student’s course load and not just his or her grades alone.On a weighted GPA scale, GPAs typically range from 0 to 5.0, with a 5.0 representing all As in the highest-level classes.Weighted GPA gives you a way to gauge your progress throughout high school based on both grades AND willingness to take on intellectual challenges. You shouldn’t judge your weighted GPA by its position on the unweighted scale.Even weighted GPAs that are over a 4.0 are not guaranteed to get you into the most selective schools.Based on the example in this article, you should be able to calculate your weighted GPA and determine whether you need to take more difficult classes to improve your stats for college! What's Next? Now that you know about weighted GPA, you may be wondering whether colleges will consider it more or less strongly than your basic unweighted GPA. Learn about which GPA matters more for collegeadmissions. Are you just wondering whether your weighted or unweighted GPA will be considered "good" in the college admissions process? Take a look at this article on what constitutes a good or bad GPA for college. Not sure which classes you should be taking in high school to ensure that you have a good shot at selective colleges? Read this article for some advice! Want to improve your GPA?Check out our in-depth guide to raising your grades, from a writer who got a perfect 4.0 GPA. Read it for free now:

Systematic and Common Chemical Names

Systematic and Common Chemical Names There are many ways to name a chemical. Here is a look at the difference between different types of chemical names, including systematic names, common names, vernacular names and CAS numbers. Systematic or IUPAC Name The systematic name  also called the IUPAC name is the preferred way to name a chemical because each systematic name identifies exactly one chemical. The systematic name is determined by guidelines set forth by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). Common Name A common name is defined by the IUPAC as a name that unambiguously defines a chemical, yet does not follow the current systematic naming convention. An example of a common name is acetone, which has the systematic name 2-propanone. Vernacular Name A vernacular name is a name used in a lab, trade or industry that does not unambiguously describe a single chemical. For example, copper sulfate is a vernacular name which may refer to copper(I) sulfate or copper(II) sulfate. Archaic Name An archaic name is an older name for a chemical that predates the modern naming conventions. Its helpful to know archaic names of chemicals because older texts may refer to chemicals by these names. Some chemicals are sold under archaic names or may be found in storage labeled with the older names. An example of this is muriatic acid, which is the archaic name for hydrochloric acid and is one of the names under which hydrochloric acid is sold. CAS Number A CAS number is an unambiguous identifier assigned to a chemical by the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), a part of the American Chemical Society. CAS numbers are assigned sequentially, so you cant tell anything about the chemical by its number. Each CAS number consists of three strings of numbers that are separated by hyphens. The first number contains up to six digits, the second number is two digits, and the third number is a single digit. Other Chemical Identifiers Although the chemical names and CAS Number are the most common way to describe a chemical, there are other chemical identifiers you may encounter. Examples include numbers assigned by PubChem, ChemSpider, UNII, EC number, KEGG, ChEBI, ChEMBL, RTES number and the ATC code. Example of Chemical Names Putting it all together, here are the names for CuSO4 ·5H2O: Systematic (IUPAC) Name: copper(II) sulfate pentahydrateCommon Names: copper(II) sulfate, copper(II) sulfate, cupric sulfate, cupric sulfateVernacular Name: copper sulfate, copper sulfateArchaic Name: blue vitriol, bluestone, copper vitriolCAS Number: 7758-99-8

Comparision of Retirement Plans for employees working in the private Essay

Comparision of Retirement Plans for employees working in the private sector vs employees working in the public sector - Essay Example The similarities and differences in the retirement benefit plans, including taxation of pension as well as the profit sharing plans, between the private and the public sector are critically analyzed and explored in detail. According to Gucciardi (2009), the pension plans of the public sector workers are stable and offer the workers certainty during their retirement period. The public sector recently made changes in its plan to improve the benefits the personnel receive. The public sector employers are responsible for almost all the contributions made to the pension system on behalf of their employees. Generally, the public sector workers are responsible for less than one percent of the contribution costs with their employers responsible for in excess of 99 % (Gucciardi, 2009). The private sector pension plan is different from the public one in that it is mainly based on defined contributions, unlike the defined benefit employed by public sector. Majority of private sector employers provide their personnel with the defined contribution plans. On the other hand, the majority of the public sector employers provide their workers with defined benefit plans (Gucciardi, 2009). The public sector provides its employees with both the defined contribution as well as the defined benefit plan. Conversely, the current trend indicates that the private sector is shifting away from the defined benefit to defined contribution plan. Further, the public sector employees receive subsidized health insurance benefits upon retirement, whereas the private sector employers do not offer such benefits to their retirees (Falk, Acs, Carrington, Dahl, & Jimmy, 2012). The number of private sector employers providing medical benefits to the retiree has declined considerably in the past decade. Over this period, the public sector employers have increased their medical benefits to the retirees despite the challenge of getting adequate funds to meet the

Definition paper for VISA (International Student VISA for staying and Assignment

Definition paper for VISA (International Student VISA for staying and studying in US which is F-1 VISA) - Assignment Example F-1 visa is primary for academic studies and is given to students attending an academic or English language career. F-1 student visa is the most popular international visa for students issued in the United State. In addition, F-1 learners must keep the least course load for permanent status of a student. F-1 student status permits for semi-permanent and on-campus student job offer (less than 21 hours weekly). Similarly, students with F-1 visa can work on OPT programs for a maximum of one year after their academic program completion. Students are supposed to complete their career programs by the expiration period on their Eligibility Certificate for Nonimmigrant status of Students, I-20 form, offered by the United States University or collage where the student is admitted. A student visa warrants one to land at the entry point and request for entry to the United States. Once one is admitted, the visa can expire because he does not require a valid visa until he has left the country and wish to re-enter. Finally, to be eligible for the visa, an applicant should meet various authoritarian criteria. For instance, he must be from a foreign origin and should intend to go back to his homeland upon academic program completion. He can only enter and study as the university through which the visa was approved, and must have adequate financial stability. The student must have firm ties to the homeland (such as job offer recommendation upon studies completion, assets, family and bank statement). Additionally, he may convert his visa to part-time work visa upon academic program completion. Someone who has never heard of a visa or a person, who has never applied for a visa, may have some challenges in defining or understanding what a visa is. For instance, a native may define a F-visa as a permit or document placed on a student’s passport that allows international students to the United States Colleges or Universities to pursue further studies. In addition, a

Tesla in Automotive industry Strategy project Essay Example for Free

Tesla in Automotive industry Strategy project Essay 1. Introduction The Encyclopaedia Brittanica defined the automotive industry as all the companies and activities involved in the manufacturing of motor vehicles, including most components, such as bodies and engines; but excluding tires, batteries and fuel1. The automotive industry started with the production of what is widely considered to be the first ever automobile, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen in 1886. Although the first car was originally manufactured in Germany, in the many decades to come, the United States led the world in total automobile production until the start of the 21st century, when China took the top position. Today, China produces nearly 20 million units per year, almost double the amount of the United States. It is one of the world’s most important sectors when measured by revenue and it is a business that is still growing significantly. Last year for example, over 87 million automobiles were produced worldwide, a 3. 6% increase compared to the year before and a 43. 82% increase compared to 20032. Needless to say, the automotive industry is big business and it is very probable there are business opportunities that are yet to be exploited. Tesla Motors is an American car manufacturer that tried to exploit such a business opportunity. It’s an American company that designs and manufactures electric vehicles and electric car components3. Founded in 2003, Tesla’s goal was to lessen the world’s dependence on petroleum-based transportation and drive down the cost of electric vehicles. Moreover, Tesla’s aim is to prove that electric vehicles can be awesome as well4. This might not sound particularly unique, but Tesla Motors does have a very distinct strategy in the sense that it wants to enter the automotive market by first focusing on high-end luxury cars and sports cars. Later, when Tesla’s products and consumers acceptance have matured, they would move into the market for the middle-class consumer, which is larger but also significantly more competitive5. The idea is to establish a strong brand name at first, which will aid the company in a later stage when the decision is made to start producing lower-priced automobiles. Tesla’s first 1 http://global. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/45050/automotive-industry 2 http://www. oic a. net/category/production-statistics/ 3 http://www. te slamotors. com/ 4 http://www. teslamotors. com/about 5 http://www. greenc arreports. com/news/1022275_msnbc-calls-ev-drivers-lunatic-fringe 3 model, the Roadster, had a base price of approximately $100. 0006. Their second car, Model S, is priced at $63. 750 including a $7. 500 tax credit. The company now has plans to launch a $30,000 small SUV the Tesla Model X 7. Eventually, Tesla wants to become a mass producer of electric vehicles and service both upper- and middle-class customers8 This discussion aims to analyze Tesla’s strategy. It is clear that Tesla has a very differentiated strategy and we will want to determine whether or not Tesla is likely to succeed in achieving its goals and become a successful enterprise. Firstly, we will take closer look at the ‘environmental’ automotive industry using Porter’s theory. Secondly, we need to closely look at Tesla’s strategy. How will Tesla try to win a respectable share of the market? As mentioned before, Tesla is a very young company and it will inevitably face fierce competition from incumbent firms. A clear plan to establish a foothold in such a market will be essential for the firm’s survival. The next step is to see if Tesla identified all relevant factors and industry forces, and if it has defined a strategy that takes all of these elements into account. It will surely need to attain a unique strategy if it wants to position itself in a key position in the market. What is it exactly that differentiates Tesla from other car manufacturers and in what way could this be beneficial for the firm? Does their strategy have a high chance of success? How can Tesla create a network of electric chargers? Before evaluating Tesla’s strategy, we must first clearly take a closer look at the company Tesla Motors itself and define the market in which the company is active. Even though they are currently operating in a smaller niche market (mid to high-end luxury cars), the plan is to eventually address the middle-class consumer and enter the ‘standard’ automobile market. This will inevitably complicate our discussion but it is essential for determining the chance of success. The paper includes a discussion on the high entry barriers that are typically associated in the automotive industry and the possible presence of strategic entry barriers raised by incumbent firms to reduce the likelihood of new entrants. We will also mention any other strategies adopted by firms in the automotive industry who want to improve their competitive position. Furthermore, the extent to which the industry is concentrated will be discussed, as well as the possible presence of strategic complements and substitutes. Moreover, Tesla will also need to take the non-market environment into consideration. Typical for the automotive sector is that it is an industry with very strict safety regulations. Tesla of course will also 6 http://jalopnik. com/5135290/tesla-increases-prices-on-already-ordered-roadsters 7 http://onpoint. wbur. org/2009/09/25/teslas-elon-musk-on-a-sub-30000-electric-car 8 http://www. marketwatch. com/ story/strategic-corporate-profile-of-tesla-motors-global-operations-2014-01-13 4 have to face the challenge of producing vehicles that respect these requirements. On top of that, the relatively recent discovery of global warming, partially caused by car emission (CO2), has led to the implementation of a series of emission standards that aim to reduce the greenhouse gasses emitted by petroleum-powered vehicles. This may not seem relevant for Tesla Motors at first since its goal is to produce electric vehicles. These regulations are however accompanied with a credit system, which means that car manufacturers that do not meet the standard are penalized and have to buy credits from other manufacturers that have a surplus of credits9. Since Tesla Motors only produces emissions-free vehicles, it has a major surplus of credits which it can sell to other car manufacturers. General Motors for example has to buy additional credits from Tesla in order to respect the regulation. This implies large transfers of wealth across car manufacturers. As a result, companies selling cars with a (too) high emission must raise prices to pay for the credits. On the other hand, the beneficiaries of these wealth transfers such as Tesla can now use the extra revenue to lower prices and take on a more competitive position in the market. All of this will of course be discussed more thoroughly in our discussion below. The paper concludes with a summary of the discussion and our prognosis regarding the future success of Tesla Motors in the automotive industry. 2. Market definition This paper only looks at models available in the US because it’s the largest electric car market, the EU is the second largest market but is much more complex because EU-countries have different legislation for electric cars. Some countries have large subsidies for electric cars and thus large market shares such as Norway, on the other hand some countries have almost no market share. The Model S is the only available model at the moment targeting the middle to high-end luxury car market. This model costs between 63. 750$(base model, 7500$ tax credit) and 125. 220 $(full option, 7500$ tax credit). 10 Because the model S is all electric, we can compare the car to slighter cheaper models because of lower long term ownership cost thanks to lower cost for electricity compared to fuel. The base model is a full-size 5 adult seat sedan powered by a fully electric 60 kW-h motor achieving 302hp. Top speed is relatively low at around 200km/h but acceleration is very good at 5. 9 seconds to 100 km/h, this is typical for an electric engine. More expensive models offer better range and performance and a warranty with unlimited kilometers on the battery for 8 years compared to 200. 000km for 8 years on the base model. 9 http://mitsloanexperts. mit. edu/californias-auto-emissions-policy-hits-a-tesla-pothole/ 10 Teslamotors. com 5 We will consider the mid to high-end luxury market containing one electric the Tesla, a couple of hybrids and a lot of traditional cars. Mid-end starts at prices of approximately 50. 000 $ with cars such as the BMW 5-serie, Audi A6 and Mercedes E-class. 11 High end stops at prices above 130. 000$. For the following analyses we will sometimes look at broader markets containing cheaper alternatives because even though these cars aren’t substitutes they are still relevant. Research show that tesla owners were most likely to previously own a Toyota prius hybrid or secondly luxury BMW and Mercedes. 12 3. Industry attractiveness and profitability In this section the overall attractiveness of the ‘environmental’ automotive industry is assessed using Porter’s influential five forces model. The term environmental indicates those vehicles that do not solely rely on the combustion of fossil fuels to power their engine. Examples are electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Both the pure electric automotive industry as well as the overarching environmental automotive industry is presented, as these cannot always be seen separately. In his model, Michael Porter identifies five key competitive forces that determine the structure and profitability of a certain industry. The five forces are the bargaining power of suppliers, the bargaining power of buyers, the threat of substitutes, the threat of entry and the rivalry among existing competitors. Porter’s model enables managers, in an easy and straightforward way, to understand their industry environment and to shape their firm’s strategy accordingly. As a rule of thumb, the stronger the five forces, the lower the industry’s profit potential and hence the industry’s attractiveness to competitors. The most influential forces that have shaped and continue to shape the environmental automotive industry are discussed in the following paragraphs. A first restraint on the overall profitability of a firm is the bargaining power of its suppliers. For the environmental automotive industry the bargaining power varies among the suppliers of different components. An important component in the construction of hybrid and electric vehicles is the battery. The bargaining power of the battery companies is low as there are a lot of manufacturers present on the market. Tesla Motors, for instance, buys Li-ion cells from different manufacturers. Consequently, in the case any problems occur with a particular battery supplier, Tesla can easily switch or threaten to switch to other suppliers at low costs. Among others, Tesla works together with Daimler AG and Panasonic to develop battery packs and chargers (Boyke, Cheng, Clevers, Schroeder, Strupp, 2010). Another important component of any vehicle is the chassis. For the construction of the chassis 11 http://buyersguide. caranddriver. com 12 h%p://www. wired. com/2014/03/tesla-model-s-toyota-prius/ 6 specialized engineering skills are required. These skills can often be obtained through strategic partnerships with other car manufacturing companies. In the case of such strategic interdependence the bargaining power of the suppliers is higher than in the ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ battery case. In the past Tesla had an exclusive partnership with Lotus for the physical construction of the Roadster13. As of recently Tesla and Toyota Motor Corporation also agreed to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, the production system and engineering support14. In conclusion, however, the overall bargaining power of suppliers in the automotive industry is low. The supplier firms must contend with substitute products for sale to the industry. Tesla has more than 150 suppliers around the world, which provide over 2000 parts to Tesla. For the production of the Model S, Tesla uses a highly integrated manufacturing approach, even negotiating with suppliers to manufacture products on site to use the excess capacity. In this way, the integrated approach enables Tesla to alleviate its dependence on supplier performance (Boyke, Cheng, Clevers, Schroeder, Strupp, 2010). A second force that determines the profitability in an industry is the bargaining power of buyers. The bargaining power of buyers concerns the pressure buyers can put on the margins of producers by demanding a lower price or a higher product quality. In the environmental automotive industry the bargaining power of buyers is rather low. For Tesla in particular this is even more so. For starters, Tesla does not sell products in bulk. This means that for the consumers that purchase the finished products no real scale effects are present. Moreover, Tesla has a quite unique position on the market. Tesla is the only manufacturer on the US market that produces high-end, full electric cars that can drive autonomously for over 400 km. By employing a highly skilled, technocratic labour force and management team, Tesla has branded itself as a cutting-edge, innovative firm. They manufacture high quality electric vehicles that are very performing while being environmental-friendly and fun at the same time. The buyers of the Model S also have the possibility to entirely customize the vehicle to their taste. This creates a sense of exclusivity among the clients. Besides the B2C applications Tesla has also established a strong position in the B2B environment 15. Tesla for example licenses its patented processes and technologies to other companies. Especially in the area of battery technology 13 http://www. teslamotors. com/blog/lotus-position 14 http://www.teslamotors. com/about/press/releases/tesla-motors-and-toyota-motor-corporation- intend-work-jointly-ev-development-tm 15 http://www. slideshare. net/joseangeldf/darden-school-of-business-tesla-strategic-analysis 7 and the construction of ‘supercharging’ stations Tesla has a lot of expertise16. The proper licensing of these assets will benefit the entire environmental automotive industry as a whole. An especially important force in the electric automotive industry is the threat of substitutes from outside the given industry. Hybrid vehicles and more specifically PHEV provide a similar functionality as the full electric vehicles. Those manufacturers within these strongly related industries, which produce vehicles and services with an attractive price and performance, pose a serious threat to the established electric car manufacturers. For the Model S the most important substitutes are those mid to high-end hybrids. These vehicles offer low emissions and a good fuel economy at a similar price as the Model S. The most successful alternatives within the US automotive industry are discussed in the next chapter. In the specific price range of the Model S the threat of substitutes is still limited as Tesla is gradually positioning itself as a high-value, exclusive and environmental brand with a growing number of enthusiasts17. Nonetheless, a possible future expansion into the mid-end and low- end market segment will significantly increase the threat of substitutes. There are, however, some complementing factors that might reduce the threat of substitutes both for Tesla as well as the electric automotive industry in a whole. The scope for future development in battery technology, the presence of several tax and parking incentives for electric vehicles and the expected rise in oil prices in comparison to electricity prices might spur the attractiveness of the electric automotive industry. These market dynamics both play on the level of customers as well as producers. One possible negative factor in the realisation of potential sales is the low availability of charging and home charging facilities. However, Tesla Motors is addressing this issue by investing heavily in strategically located charging facilities and by expanding the power and endurance of the battery pack 18. Tesla’ s battery pack technology is critical to the company’ s positioning and competitive differentiation. The low cost of the battery pack allows Tesla to not only design cars with battery ranges greater than the competition but also place equal emphasis on design, performance, and energy efficiency. On the short term, the threat of new entrants in the electric US market is rather limited because of several entry barriers. The industry is characterised by high capital requirements and high sunk costs. 16 http://www. sl ate. com/articles/technolog y/technolog y/2013/05/tesla_model_s_the_electric_car_compa ny_is_a_little_bit_apple_a_little_bit. html 17 http://www. wikiwealth. com/five-forces:tesla-motors, http://www. teslamotors.com/blog-and-press- releases. 18 http://www. slideshare. net/joseangeldf/darden-school-of-business-tesla-strategic-analysis, http://www. reuters. com/article/2014/02/26/us-tesla-battery-panasonic-idUSBREA1O1MF20140226, http://www. t eslamotors. com/supercharger 8 Moreover, advanced, often patented, technologies and processes as well as a highly skilled workforce are required to successfully manufacture an electric car. The success of a firm in the industry is also largely determined by its brand image and the realisation of economies of scale19. Therefore, it is not easy for a potential new entrant to establish a foothold. This is even enhanced by the fact that the incumbent firms have a large and flexible production capacity that can be used as a retaliation device in case of entry (Boyke, Cheng, Clevers, Schroeder, Strupp, 2010). However, established vehicle manufacturers with deep pockets that have currently missed the ‘environmental train’ or disruptive innovators like Tesla Motors might overcome these entry barriers in the long run. The current competition in the US environmental automotive industry is moderate. Only a few major brands are competing. Because of the high entry barriers and the threat of substitutes not a lot of brands risk burning cash in an innovative and insecure business. However, as the sector matures and more people consider switching to an electric car this will change. In a recent report of the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) a global goal of 20 million electric passenger cars, including plug-in hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles, in stock by 2020 is set forward. This is still a long way to go as the total worldwide electric vehicle stock at the end of 2012 only amounted to a large 180. 000 units. In 2012, 38. 585 PHEVs and 14. 592 BEVs were sold in the US. The cumulative stock in the US in 2012 was 71. 174 units (Clean Energy Ministerial, Electric Vehicles Initiative, International Energy Agency, 2013). In 2013 roughly 96. 000 electric vehicles were sold in the US environmental automotive industry(including hybrids)20. The three top selling brands are the Chevrolet Volt, the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S. It is clear that the popularity of electric vehicles has significantly increased over the last few years. It is expected that this trend will only continue in the future as the number of models on the market increases. The share of electric cars is still only about 3,5% of the total number of cars that are sold annually in the US market21. Hence, the growth potential of the environmental automotive industry is huge, this both on a domestic as well as an international level. In conclusion of this section an assessment is made of the overall profitability of the environmental automotive industry. As previously argued, the bargaining power of suppliers and buyers is rather limited in the industry. Therefore, the vehicle manufacturers can attract more profits than their up- and downstream partners. The industry is also characterised by several entry barriers, especially on the 19 http://www. wikiwealth. com/five-forces:tesla-motors 20 http://www. greencarreports. com/news/1089443_plug-in-electric-car-sales-for-2013-almost-double- last-years 21 http://electricdrive. org/index. php? ht=d/sp/i/20952/pid/20952 9 short term. The effective prevention of possible entrants reduces the pressure on prices and allows incumbent firms to attract a significant share of the profits. The threat of substitutes is one of the most important restrictors on the profitability within the industry. Because of the similarity in functions between electric brands and hybrid brands it is important for the incumbent firms to create a positive consumer image towards their products. The growth potential of EVs is the most important driver of future profitability of the industry. Until now incumbent firms have undertaken a lot of RD initiatives in the area of battery and charging technologies. The sales numbers in the US market show that these investments are finally starting to pay-off. In the long run, with a growing global popularity of EVs, it is to be expected that also other companies will consider entering the environmental automotive industry. 4. Tesla in the market Tesla differentiates itself by producing environmental responsible cars that have all the benefits of a luxury vehicle. By equally emphasizing on speed, handling, design, comfort, and zero-emissions, Tesla creates a unique balance between performance, efficiency and aesthetics. Through the offering of this first fully electric luxury sedan car, Tesla attained a first mover advantage. Together with its ‘Silicon Valley’ culture, an approach that is innovative, competitive, and effective, Tesla achieved a solid brand name in the automotive market. (Mangram, 2012) Tesla’s battery technology is also critical to the company’s competitive advantage. With its cutting-edge battery technology, combined with essential technology research, Tesla is able to design and produce electric cars with a far greater range than its competitors. Its lithium-ion based battery, for instance, is 250 kilograms lighter compared and has a range of up to 500 kilometers. Bron ? vergeleken met wat ? But even with a supercharger a full charge is approximately one hour. Moreover the company produces many of its key parts in-house, thus making it harder for competitors to replicate. With the expansion of its own retail shops and the establishment of a network of free recharging points for its customers, Tesla keeps challenging the traditional car companies (The Economist, 2013). Tesla’s main strategy can be seen as a reflection of the innovative marketing approach Apple used for its ingenious technology. It holds that any new technology is often very expensive and wealthy customers are regularly the first to accept it. Consequently, Tesla produced its first vehicle, the Roadster, for the premium sports car consumer segment. Nowadays, with the production of the Model S Sedan, the middle to upper- middle class consumers are being targeted. Finally, by 2015 Tesla plans to produce and market an electric car available at a mass-market consumer price range (Tesla Motors, 10 2014). Although this ‘Apple Computer’s business model’ is considered to be rather exceptional in the automobile industry it helped the company to position itself as groundbreaking, self-determining, and cool. Tesla BMW Daimler AG General Motors Toyota Revenue 2 billion 60 billion 117 billion 155 billion 22 trillion Net Income -74 000 2 billion 6,4 billion 5,35 billion 962 billion Sales Growth 387% 7,2 % 3,22 % 2,08 % 18,73 % The luxury car market is highly competitive, with several incumbent companies with loyal customers. Tesla’s main competitors in the luxury car segment are BMW, General Motors, Toyota and Mercedes. While the number of any competitive electric car is still low, an increase can be expected. General Motor’s Chevrolet Volt is one of the main competing vehicles in the market. It covers a wide target market and comes at a notable lower price than Tesla’s Model S. Toyota remains the global leader when it comes to selling hybrids. Although Toyota has 4 electric cars (the Prius, the RAV4 EV, the FCHV fuel cell car, and the Scio IQ-EV), it strategically collaborates with Tesla to improve the electric car development. This alliance has been one of the main factors of Tesla’s growth as Tesla consumers can get customer service in Toyota sites (Toyota Motor Corporation, 2014). The chart compares Tesla’s main competitors on the basis of revenue, net income and sales growth. As we can see, its sales growth is overwhelming. Given that is a rather new company, it indicates its rapid expansion on the electric car market. However, Tesla’s net income remains negative. Nonetheless, the company’s share is currently being traded at 20 times its earning, and as the company continues to grow these numbers are expected to rise. According to an article by Wall Street, 43 new hybrid, electric, and fuel-cell vehicles will be produced in the US market by 2015. Moreover, the market share of alternative fuel cars will increase from 3% in 2012 to almost 5% in 2014 (Wall Street, 2013). New electric vehicle entrants and existing plug-in hybrids manufactures will continue to compete with Tesla in the near future. While the traditional car manufactures are firmly entrenched, Tesla’s competitive advantages could develop to the securing of a significant market share in the electric car market. 5. Sustainability of the competitive advantage. This chapter analyses the degree of sustainability of Tesla’s competitive advantage. First the relevant trends and developments in the automotive industry are briefly reviewed. Furthermore, the 11 predominant isolating mechanisms in force given the market position of Tesla are discussed. We argue Tesla is a textbook example of a disruptive technology. To conclude, strategy recommendations hereupon are formulated. The primordial focus of our analysis shifts in this chapter from the luxury car market to the overarching automotive industry. The rational hereof is clear-cut. On the one hand, the trend analysis for the automotive industry applies to and sufficiently covers the luxury car segment. On the other hand, Tesla continuously voices the strategy to level down through the segments. Furthermore, the majority of car manufacturers produce for multiple segments of the industry. The sustainability of Tesla’s competitive advantage thus strongly depends on the industry rather than the Model S market segment. 1. 1 Trends in the automotive industry The automotive industry is, may be argued, rather conservative. The market structure is little dynamic, without change in market leading firms for long. Furthermore, the industry evolved the past century merely through optimising the traditional ‘automobile’, with limited major breakthroughs. To illustrate, though fuel efficiency and exhaust of the combustion engine has greatly improved, working principles remain unchanged. The emergence of (electrical) alternatives that are sold commercially is only a recent phenomenon. We review three developments that will impact the automotive industry. First, the society-wide surge of environmentalism a fortiori impacts the automotive industry. A thickening body of government actions forces car manufacturers to produce cleaner cars. This both directly, through legislation (e.g. CO2 output limits for new cars), or indirectly by altering consumer behaviour through excises or tax incentives. Furthermore, consumers are increasingly environmentally conscious. Bottom-line, car sales undeniably grow more eco-friendly. Furthermore, the panoply of driver assisting technology that brakes automatically for obstacles or parks the car will be further developed. Self-driving cars may be short-term everyday reality, with Google pulling the cart. Lastly, Gen Y is argued to focus on services rather than ownership. The emergence and success of car sharing by Zipcar or Cambio illustrates this shift in mentality for the automotive industry. 1. 2 The isolating mechanisms The electric car is strongly based on the century old inventions of Serbian engineer Nikola Tesla. We nevertheless argue that the electric car is a text book disruptive technology. This technology, spearheaded by Tesla, will herewith potentially overturn the automotive industry, challenging the 12 incumbents. The early-mover advantage in this creative destruction may enable Tesla to sustain its competitive advantage. The disruptive technology concept is extensively reviewed in the of literature. We apply the framework to the Tesla case. First, the environmental movement and increasing fuel prices created momentum for alternatives of the traditional combustion engine. Both incumbent car manufacturers and many start-ups invested in research. The hydrogen car made the press as a promising technology, but proved little feasible. Eventually the electric car showed market-viable. Many innovators inter alia Fisker, failed. However, as statistics dictate tech start-up Tesla got ahead in the race at the expense of dominant car manufacturers. The 2400 Tesla Roadsters produced, sales manifestly unattractive   toincumbents, were a great success and learning opportunity for the start-up. The Tesla Model S unprecedented battery range no longer forces consumers to trade off fuel efficiency for convenience. Herewith it can shift from niche product for wealthy eco-hipsters to head on competition for the traditional luxury sedan. The Model S proves superior to its competition threefold. First, the position of the battery pack lowers the gravity centre of the car for superior handling (and creates a spacious trunk in the back and front). The electric engine also delivers instant torque, further allowing sporty driving. Furthermore, the Model S was granted a record safety score of 5,4 out of 5. Lastly, electric engines are maintenance free. Note that the electric car still offers greater potential for technological progress than the more tried and tested combustion engine. The incumbent firms are wary of this potential shift to electric for the automotive industry, note the growing number of electric cars offered. However, extensively studied, the difference in investment dynamics with nimble start-ups impedes them to appropriately and successfully commit to the disruptive technology. The sunk cost and replacement effect are strong in this case. Therefore, it is Tesla that has a head start, with Daimler and Toyota asking the new kid on the block for help. The early-mover advantage of Tesla will sustain its competitive advantage threefold. First, we consider the economies of the learning curve. The first car manufacturer to fully grasp the paradigm shift Tesla benefits hereby manifold. The design-from-scratch approach is inevitable to exploit the electric car technology to the full. The Model S is a thus a step ahead of the build-on competitors, quickly adding to Tesla’s experience with every unit sold. Furthermore, the superior battery packs are en route to continue to offer greater range and faster charging at a lower unit cost. Note that Tesla supplies its electric powertrain to Toyota and Daimler, further adding to its cumulative experience. Moreover, the strong experience gained is further protected from imitation through multiple patents. The literature further arguments the reputation for quality to be an important source of early-mover advantage for experience goods. Thus, the brand image of an electric car brand may be considered important, notwithstanding the ubiquitous possibilities for test drives. Tesla has a rock solid reputation 13 for quality, though much like Apple it has irrational haters22. To illustrate, the Tesla recall threat due to 3 car fires was resolved by an overnight software update that would slightly raise the Model S when driving on the highway. The Tesla stock price had a field day23. Furthermore, the Model S production cannot keep up with sales. Herewith, Tesla doesn’t spend a dollar on marketing. Thirdly, Tesla benefits from network effects to sustain its competitive advantage. Tesla heavily invests in the supercharger network, that quickly expanding adds to the convenience of driving an electric car station by station. For competitors it is meanwhile.

Valedictorian Speech :: essays research papers

First of all I would like to congratulate my fellow classmates Hello my name is Sarah and I am very proud to say I am valedictorian of this program. When I first started classes at this college I was afraid I wasn’t even going to pass let alone be standing here today. It had been a long time since I sat in a class room. I thought I was too old to go back to school. But I was wrong. Coming to this school has been one of the most fulfilling decisions I have made in my life. When I am at home watching tv and a commercial for this college comes on my 4 year old will start yelling that my momma’s college with a big smile on his face it makes me feel proud to be a part of this class. These past eight months have been tough. Especially for those of us with children who know its not easy to do our homework when our kids are trying to color in our text books. Or study for a test when the baby is crying. at first I felt a guilty, not having any time to spend my son. But I just kept remembering the banner we have over the stair case on our campus. It says sacrifice is temporary but I will be a college graduate forever. As I stand up here today and all my hard work has paid of I know my children and my family are so proud of me. As I am sure all of you are as proud of all your graduates standing up here today. I would like to thank you all for giving us the ext ra help, support and understanding we have needed to succeed these past eight months. I would like to thank my teacher Mr. S, for making my learning experience at this school a fun and exciting one. Even thought at times it seamed like he thought we were marines instead of student, Never the less he is just a great teacher I would like to take the time to thank my in-laws for letting me use their car to get to class when mine broke down.My other half for being so helpful with the kids when I had homework or a test to study for.

Cyrus the Shepherd

Sorie Kargbo AP World 1A 10-9-12 In  Persia  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Cyrus  the Shepherd† invited a newer, more sophisticated government that distinguished it from the previous foundation civilization. In this new government, a centralized bureaucracy ruled, meaning that while Cyrus was the king and Persepolis was the capital a highly staffed team helped run the empire. Since the Persian Empire was so large, Cyrus broke it up into many distinct sections called satraps, which had considerable local autonomy (power).In other words, not only was there a strong central government but there was also bureaucrats who helped rule and maintain order in provinces throughout the empire. The Persian Empire, in addition, was very diverse, containing many different religions and ethnicities. Overall, the Persian Emperors were very tolerant and respected all peoples. The big religion you should know, however, is Zoroastrianism. Many historians consider this the first Monotheistic faith.Technologically, the Persians had Qantas which were sophisticated irrigation dams. Of course, metallurgy was still an integral part of technological life. In China, as you may know, the foundations period ended with the fall of the Zhou Dynasty and the commencement of Warring States Period, a time of great strife and civil war in China. Finally, however, the  Qin Dynasty  gained power. Qin Huangde (sp) was the emperor of the Qin and he was very, very power-hungry and intolerant.He made his people complete many public works project, pay high taxes, and he even ordered the burnings of thousands of books. If someone disagreed with him, they would die – no questions asked! Of course, not all bad came out of this period. First of all, the Qin Dynasty marked the return to stable rule after centuries of ravaging civil war. Also, magnificent structures like The Great Wall of China were commenced at this time. Later, after the fall of the Qin (which only lasted 10 years due to peasant unrest †“ I wonder why†¦.. the Han Dynasty took over. The Han was much more similar to the Persians. It was centralized and bureaucratic. One important distinction, however, is that the leaders practiced Confucianism and had to pass a civil-service examination to serve as a government leader. While religion formed the backbone of culture in Persia, Confucianism was the cultural hallmark of China. Like Persia, China used progressively more advanced irrigation techniques to stop the flooding of the Yellow River and metallurgy

Grade 10 english Essay

Compare and Contrast the relationship between the Students and their Teacher in â€Å"Students† and â€Å"Crow Lake. † Both the poem â€Å"Students† by Tom Wayman and the short story â€Å"Crow Lake† by Mary Lawson highlight the challenges that teachers face with their students. While Wayman explores the generation gap between himself and the kids in his class, Lawson provides an anecdote of a lecture where she suddenly realizes that she is not cut out for teaching. From the two pieces we learn how important relationships can be when given the responsibility of teaching students. Firstly, the autobiographical poem begins with the teacher being shocked at the age of the students: â€Å"Wayman was sure the computer was in error† (line 3). This reaction foreshadows the generation gap that makes it difficult for him to communicate with the teenagers in his class. Furthermore, when he says, â€Å"The wisdom of the students/ hadn’t altered, though,† (lines 9-10) we see that he respects the ability of the students; he just questions their motivations for learning. Wayman uses a series of metaphors like â€Å"The Vaccination Theory of Education,† and, â€Å"The Dipstick Theory,† to show how students learn in different ways. The tone of the lyric poem if slightly satirical but, from the ideas explored by the author, we start to appreciate the challenges that he faces coping with children from this generation. Similar to Wayman, Lawson faces challenges with her University students. While Wayman remains positive and continues to battle against this gap, Lawson has an epiphany and realizes that she has been â€Å"boring† her students. While Wayman is an experienced teacher, Lawson is more of a research expert and, as she identifies, she finds, â€Å"it hard to relate to students† (p14). Lawson uses flashback to show her passion for nature and, as she realizes that the students have not had the same experience and that is why they are indifferent to her lesson, she realizes it is her fault that they are not engaged: â€Å"And now I was putting the entire class to sleep† (p16). Unlike Wayman, Lawson decides to leave the lecture hall and, we can assume, she makes a decision that will end her teaching career. By the end of the story Lawson has realized her limitations. To conclude, both texts imply that it can be very difficult for teachers to relate to students. In a world where education is so important, we learn that the teacher has a responsibility to be creative and inspire students to learn rather than just assess them with a letter grade or drag them through material in a way that is very boring.

Clients Want Longer Articles †Heres How to Write Them Quickly

Clients Want Longer Articles - Heres How to Write Them Quickly When I first started writing blogs for my clients, everyone thought shorter was better. Then a few years ago, things changed. In  their analysis  of one million Google search results in September 2016, SEO top resource Backlinko discovered that longer, more comprehensive content significantly outperformed shallow content. â€Å"Writing comprehensive, in-depth content can help you rank higher in Google,† they concluded. Some of my clients got wise to this fact, and started asking me to make their typical 500-word posts a little longer. I also landed a couple of new clients who wanted posts that were 1,500 –2,000 words or even 3,000+. (I found these companies wanting regular blog posts on  ProBlogger  and  Freelance Writing Jobs.) The good news is that a freelance writer can earn much more with these longer articles, as clients are willing to pay more. The bad news is, if it takes you too long to write them, you won’t increase your earning power. So how do you push these things out quickly without sacrificing quality? 5 Tips to Write Longer Articles, Faster First, realize that you can’t just add more fluff and make it work. You have to add some real meat to these articles, and that usually means research. It’s the research that can get you into trouble, as it tends to take longer than the actual writing. Try the following five tips to help you get the article done in a profitable time. 1.  Ã‚     Drill down on what the client wants.  If the client asks for 10 ways to do X, realize that the bulk of your article needs to be about those 10 ways. Don’t make the mistake of spending too long on your intro or on any explanations. Zero in on exactly what the client needs, and don’t waste time on any extraneous information. 2.  Ã‚     Save the intro for last.  This tip really helps me. I don’t write the intro until the article is done. That way, I get right to the information the client really wants, and I don’t waste time on an intro that is usually expendable anyway. 3.  Ã‚     Outline before you start.  I’m not talking about an extensive outline here. Usually I scroll to about mid-page and create a down-and-dirty outline, something like, â€Å"Intro, What Is X?, 10 Ways (listing each solution), and Conclusion.† Do some preliminary skimming research to find support for the meat of your article, and list those in the outline before you start writing. It will help you move faster. 4.  Ã‚     Break it into three.  Let’s say the blog post isn’t a list, but a post about a certain topic, like Alzheimer’s disease in women. Decide the main point of the article- how the disease acts differently in women than in men, for example. Then break the article into three parts: a) what is Alzheimer’s?, b) 3-5 ways it differs in women, c) and future research. Add an intro and conclusion and you’re good to go. The rule of three most always works to keep you efficient in your research. 5.  Ã‚     Give yourself limited time.  It’s amazing how this works- if you give yourself three hours to write a 2,500-word article, it will take you three hours. So challenge yourself. Give yourself two hours, or ninety minutes, and see if you can do it. In general, the more time you allow, the more time it takes. A challenging deadline helps you focus and work faster. Using these five tips, you can increase your efficiency and productivity with longer blog posts or articles, and become invaluable to your clients, which is great for your bottom line. Sources Brian Dean, â€Å"We Analyzed 1 Million Google Search Results. Here’s What We Learned About SEO,† Backlinko, September 2, 2016,  https://backlinko.com/search-engine-ranking.

Common Wording Mistakes You Might Make in an Essay

Common Wording Mistakes You Might Make in an Essay Common Wording Mistakes You Might Make in an Essay Writing a powerful essay requires fully understanding the words you use, whether writing about a simple or complex subject. Proper word usage is necessary to convey the message to your audience and allows the reader to comprehend what you are trying to say. Here are some of the most commonly confused/misused words found in essays: Accept/Except The words accept and except are homophones and easy to misuse, especially when writing in a rush. Knowing the difference between the two can help you choose the correct word. Accept means to receive something willingly. Example: She was eager to accept her new engagement ring. The word except means to exclude. Example: He was eager to begin his new job, except for the fact he would have to relocate. Compliment/Complement If you share a positive thought about something or someone, you are giving a compliment. Example: He received a compliment for his outstanding performance. When something complements another, the two items/ideas go well together. Example: My husbands love for cooking complements my passion for baking. Effect/Affect The word effect is a noun describing the impact of an event or feeling. Example: The effect my professor had on me was immeasurable. â€Å"Affect† is an adjective that describes an action. Example: The devastating storms likely affect the population of the small town. Desert/Dessert Desert and dessert are easily mistaken because of their similar spelling. If you are out on a dry, hot day, you might say It feels like a desert out here. On the other hand, a delicious, sweet after-dinner treat is a dessert. Capital/Capitol Capitol is generally used to describe a city where the government of a state or country resides. Example: The capitol of Michigan is located in the city of Lansing. When you are looking to raise money for any reason (such as a business investment), you are seeking capital. Example: We were able to raise $2 million in capital this year alone. Need help with homework, essay-writing, or research? Contact today.

Strategy theory and practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Strategy theory and practice - Essay Example US-based home building industries depend on fluctuations of interest rates. The structure of the home building industry has become progressively more attractive. Investors within the industry consist of two main competitive classes: multi-regional builders and smaller builders, (often inclusive of National Association of Home Builders members). Another fact that the home building industry is growing despite a stagnant economy is the increasing stock rates of building companies that are on the rise. Though the industry as a whole has been hit financially, there are incorporated building companies succeeding in the marketplace. Regardless of limited success, there are some predicaments within this industry that’ve been triggered by the recession. The new developments can be outlined as follows: A. The Great Recession has caused a negative impact on the house building industry 1. The building of new single-family homes has decreased for more than 80% in comparison with 2005 (Econ omic and Housing Data) 2. Modern buyers are purchasing smaller houses, which are cheaper 3.

Legal Environment of BUSINESS FINAL EXAM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Legal Environment of BUSINESS FINAL EXAM - Essay Example On the other hand, the article contains guarantee for fitness of goods for the right use (Ferrari 43). This implies that the seller of a product should assure the buyer that the product will serve the intended purpose. In this case study, the seller bought software online from Ace Inc. according to Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the buyer is entitled to enjoy products of merchantable quality and the product should serve the intended purpose (Saxon 93). However, it appears that the buyer has no problem with the quality and performance of the product. The buyer discards the software because the seller has offered it at a higher price than another seller of similar product. Therefore, basing my view on article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code, I believe John (buyer) has no reason for discarding the software because the seller has met all the requirements as stipulated in the article. John was supposed to examine different prices offered by different sellers in order to decide on where to buy the product. The fact that John bought the similar software from a different company implies that what Ace Inc met the warranties of merchantability and fit for the purpose (Ferrari 71). Also, these warranties apply to John because he bought the software from a company that was operating in the same field of business. According to the law of contract, the buyer owes the seller duty of acceptance of the product and payment of reasonable price (Ferrari 112). Therefore, John should accept the software and pay a reasonable price for the products. In case the buyer feels that the price was unfair, he should petition the court to decide on what the fair price will be in this situation. Question B: sale of goods Contracts The contract is for the sale of goods as stipulated in English Sale of Goods Act 1893 (Saxon 154). A contract for sale of goods involves an offer and an acceptance. In this case study, Ammco made an offer to sell merchandise worth more than $500.00 to Erm a. According to the requirements of the contract of for sale, Erma agreed to purchase the merchandise in writing hence fulfilling the contract requirement that sale of goods exceeding $5 should be in writing (Ferrari 154). The contract involved two parties, the seller and the buyer. In addition, the consideration of a contract for sale of goods should be in monetary value, and this was fulfilled in the case study because Erma agreed to pay more than $500. The contract for the sale of goods determines the moment when transfer of property in goods takes place because this determines when the risk in goods passes to the buyer and remedy available to each party in case the goods are damaged. This contract did not follow the actual procedure of forming a contract. The additional information given by the seller to the buyer constitutes a counter offer hence the contract is voidable at the will of the buyer (Ferrari 187). This implies that the contract will be formed between the buyer and the seller the moment the buyer will accept the new conditions stated by the seller. Should the buyer agree to pay for insurance and cost of freight, then there will be a conclusion of a contract under Cost Insurance and Freight (C.I.F). Under C.I.F contract, the buyer has a right to accept the merchandise only if the merchandise meets the specifications stipulated in the contract. The goods on voyage are at the buyer’s risk since the seller insured the goods on his behalf. However, if the

Identifying Language Creativity In Everyday English Essay

Identifying Language Creativity In Everyday English - Essay Example Language creativity, as stated earlier, can be found in several different linguistic practices. It is identified in different ways. Some are unexpected; others are common to many people who are keen on utterances by different individuals in movie films and other physical functions or conversations. One comes across or bumps into it in things from advertisements, televisions news or literature banners. For instance, young children may engage in talking and making jokes as they play or engage themselves in their day-to-day activities. The idea that kids are able to tell, as well as, receive jokes indicates that they have the capability of recognizing creativity in some communications or jokes made by colleagues. In other words, jokes are mainly creativity done to amuse other people. Creativity is the central component of joke composition. Without creativity, a joke no longer becomes a joke, but a normal declarative or inquisitive statement.   In addition to the above, children also l ike telling stories and fairy tales amongst themselves. This is one of the productive uses of the mind making them creative. A point to note is that as the kids tell stories or fairy tales, they come up with ways in which the stories can be modified to ensure that they become more enjoyable than before. Modification of these stories is a necessity with change in time. For instance, it would be boring to tell a 21st century kid a story using the styles and manners in which the 20thy century kids were told the same story. In other words, some elements of creativity in the language used must be included to cope up with the constant changing environment. Besides, it is notable that it is in early childhood when creativity in linguistic occurs in a rapid and interesting manner. Guy Cook (2000) cautioned parents that linguistic play, mainly among the kids can sometimes lead to other undesirable consequences like paying less attention to school work and the general academic developments. Cook made a discovery that children who are mainly involved in story-telling and other language game activities often show little interest in their school work. They instead seem to be keener in entering the world of â€Å"make-believe† in varieties of forms from bed time stories to simple and addictive computer games. Analytically, school work also acts as an important booster to language creativity. When children attend schools, they do so with one aim of education to promote interaction and all round development among the children. For instance, the interaction in school may provide another platform for language creativity such as reciting tongue twisters and singing songs. This will

Pestle Analysis Of Vietnam

Pestle Analysis Of Vietnam Knowledge about PESTLE topic and expectations prior to the class I understand that BE refers to external factors and that enterprises have to take into account to their strategic and operational planning processes for success. My business requires a good understanding of the BE elements that may create opportunities or threats to rural SMEs for the development of interventions to BE improvements. I also know that a good enabling BE will create competitive advantages of a country and interest to foreign investors for economic growth. I know how to use SWOT tool to stakeholders analysis. My understanding about PESTLE  [1]  factors is all about Vietnam only, below are summaries of my knowledge prior to the class. For politics, Vietnam is adopting a mixed economy and government still plays a big role in planning and governing and many countries do not recognise the market economy for Vietnam yet  [2]  even its WTO adhesion since January 2006. The approved official documents of the 11th National Party Congress clearly stipulate that Vietnam continues to apply the market economy with socialist orientation, and the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) still play the decisive roles of Vietnam economy. This may break the enabling BE and create threats to private SMEs. For economics, Vietnam maintains a stable and high economic growth (7% in average for the last decade). Local enterprises are facing up to challenges in access to expensive credit and financial management due to high inflation (9-11%), high interest rates of saving (13-17%/year), and to currency devaluation (three times in 2010)  [3]  . For social factor, Vietnam has a young population with 46% of population are in working age and around 1 million new entrants into labour market each year, but overall productivity remained extremely low and is only three-fifths the ASEAN average or around one-tenth the level in Singapore  [4]  . Vietnam is the only country in Asia to enter Top 5 of the 2009 Happy Planet Index (HPI), announced by the New Economics Foundation (NFF) in July 2009. Vietnamese peoples are very optimistic to their future thanks to stable political regime, peace and economic growth. For technological factor, power shortage is now very current with increasing demand; internet is widely accessible with reasonable price; counterfeit and imitation, especially in software products, are widespread in Vietnam. For Legal factor, Vietnam has available Enterprise Law, Investment Law and other global and regional agreements (WTO, ASEAN, APECà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¦), in theory, all kind of enterprises (SOEs, private enterprises, joint ventures) have to play the game with the same rules, but in practice, the implementation of Laws is a real challenge due to poor quality of human resource in public service and corruption issues (116/178 ranked countries)  [5]  . For Environmental factor, Vietnam has a long coastal border (2500km) and is considered as one of the most vulnerable countries due to natural disaster risks, climate change and sea level rise. Enterprises in Vietnam have to take seriously into account the environmental factors to their business planning and operating processes. Vietnamese peoples do not tolerate easily to business practices that harm to environment. For example, the Vedan Vietnam Limited JSC, a wholly Taiwanese-invested firm has to pay a high cost for its pollution to Thi Vai River, the Coop Mart Supermarket System and retailers refused to sell Vedan products, promotional activities encourage the clients to say NO with Vedan and the company is facing to bankruptcy in 2007-2009. My consultancy services support rural SMEs to access to opportunities and to prepare for threats. I also work with government authorities to improve BE for SME development, including: Entrepreneurship Education. This intervention are to improve the entrepreneurship knowledge and skills to the youths, to develop their entrepreneurship mind set and finally to prepare them working productively in enterprises. Public-Private Policy Partnership and Dialogue (PPD). These forums are to reflect on the PCI  [6]   results and to critically debate on BE improvements, administrative reforms and BDS supports in favour to SME development. Making Market Works Better For the Poor. Such as business management training to business people in remote areas, the value chain analysis and upgrade in favour to poor producers, support for collaboration and coordination among poor producers for their greater bargaining power. Recently, I have created my own enterprise named Initiatives and Informal Education Promotion Company, called as IIE Vietnam and I work as the company Director, providing technical consultancy services to national and international organizations working in the area of local socio-economic development. My expectations from the class are about the comprehensive academic approaches and tools for PESTLE analysis. I wish to be able conduct stakeholders analysis, the scenarios planning, taking into account of PESTLE issues in order to improve my business. I also wish to have a broader understanding to global BE, especially the good enabling BE of EU countries, USA, Japan, the improving BE in major BRIC emerging countries and the worst BE in Africa, Cuba, Venezuela. I expect to be able to identify and explain BE context in those economies. Key learned ideas from this session Organisational Form and Purpose. There are different types of organisations; each of these organisations has its relative vision, mandates, values, advantages, disadvantages and stakeholders. When making strategic decisions about the organizations direction and scope, managers need to examine the organizational purpose, vision and stakeholders expectation for the future. Managers have to make sure that commercial organisations should be high accountable to the owners first, then that conflicts and different expectations from organizational stakeholders are properly responded. I am able to use the power/interest approach and tool for stakeholders mapping and analysis of my own company. Understanding the Managerial Environment. Managers will need to evaluate the current context and trends of BE for organisational strategic planning and operating, it includes the evaluation of local, regional political stability, government commitment to business, main economic indexes, labour force, technological development and availability, legal documents and finally environmental issues affecting business. With the results of BE analysis, managers are able to identify main opportunities and threats of their company. I am able to interpret the PESTLE framework for identifying, evaluating the impacts of key external environmental factors and developing 2011 scenarios to my own business. The Economy and the Role of Government. The Circular Flow of Income describes the operations of an economy; the consumers provide resources to firms for income, firms produce goods and services to consumers for margin, income and margin are used to pay living and operating costs, taxes for government spending, investments for productive capacity, technological development and savings. Government plays the role of policy maker and referee, ensuring the achievement of economic and social goals of a society, including high rate of decent employment, stable economic growth, low rate of inflation, trade surplus. Government use fiscal policy (taxes and public spending) and monetary policy (money supply and interest rates) as major tools of macro-economic management. Fiscal policy is a tool for managing demand, if government wants to increase the demand, it may reduce taxes and/or increase spending, if it wants to reduce the demand, it will do the opposite. Government has lot challenges in achieving simultaneously all the economic goals, an increase in demand may create high inflation. Government also use monetary policy for macro-economic management, an increase in interest rates will increase saving, reduce consumption and reduce investment spending, and thus reduce inflation. The interest rates affect exchange rates and banks/investors will spent their energy and efforts just to trade the money and not the production. The European Environment. The rationale of reduction in trade barriers and mobility restrictions is for costumers rights protection, competitive and technological enhancement. The main benefits for countries in joining EU include access to a largest and fairly competitive market, with safe and predictive BE, well established infrastructure, social protection, education, research and development. The main challenges for EU enlargement includes different educational, technological, cultural, infrastructural and competitive level between countries, politics, human rights issues, especially the legacy of the Soviet economy. United Kingdom, Switzerland are considering their EMU member due to negative factors such as economic cycle, sovereignty issues, unique values, transition and employment costs. Understanding the Global Environment. Globalisation is an inevitable trend of the World thanks to the development of ITC and education, to which countries and firms have to duel for success. The key globalisation drivers include politics, economics, market, costs and competition. Globalisation is bringing both opportunities and challenges to peoples. For competitive advantages in the global market, countries have to increase their political and social connections between peoples and states; firms need a good assessment of global costs. Globalisation allows firms not only to profit of better production factors, but also to gain market share and/or to access to growing market. Managers need to have strategic decisions on whether outsourcings, offshorings or insourcings for cost advantages. Government policy makers have to ensure the reasonable inequalities between rich and poor, the control of dominance and monopoly of biggest global firms, cultural degradation, global dependence and g lobal crime. Emerging Countries in Three Continents. The Japanese MITI with selective industrial policies, the keiretsu with alliance of firms with banks, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and with the Japanese government, the kaizen with continuous improvement or change for success, the kanban with scheduling system, have created the economic and technical success of Japan in 1980s. The reforms with special economic zones, the gradual opening of economy, the calls and government supports to FDI have transformed China from a backward agricultural economy to the words major manufacturing centre in 1990s, but the political regime and human right abuse in China is not appreciated by the international communities, and the world is facing up to social and environment costs with rapid expansion due to poor governance of social and environmental responsibilities. The replacement of interventionist economic policy by the liberal economic reforms together with the good investment in high-tech educati on and research have made India become a modern economy, the rapid economic growth in a complex cultural legacy and Hindu caste system is also creating lot of social issues in India, including poverty, illiteracy, HIV/AIDS. The ASEAN with its regional cooperation, cultural diversify, high level of general and scientific education, high saving and investment ratios, young and dynamic population, rapid growth of technology, openness with interventionist industrial policies, is creating a high interest of international investors and politicians (10 Primer Ministers of ASEAN, plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, S-Korea and Foreign Ministers of USA, Russia, and UN General Sectary participated in 2010 Hanoi East Asia Summit, 500 big local and international firms jointed the 2010 Hanoi ASEAN-BiZ Summit Conference)  [7]  . Even with rich natural resources, but the dependence on agricultural production and exports, the negative impacts of slavery, colonisation and socialism , the predominance of authoritarian regimes, poor access to education, public services, sanitation, water, poor governance with corruption, inefficient politicians, ineffective international development assistance and loans, uncontrollable internal rules, conflicts, diseases have left most African countries at the mercy of the world markets. Market Structures and Industry Analysis. Monopolists are able to control both production and purchase rights. In a high competitive market, specialism and location allow operators control over price. In the oligopoly market, competition of non-price methods such as advertising and sales promotion is appropriate. But the greater competition makes companies more efficient and the consumer has a bigger choice of good and services, policy makers have to build rules for fair competitiveness and anti-monopolistic competition. I am able to interpret the Porters Five Forces (current competitors, new entrants, buyers power, substitutes, and suppliers power) to market and competitive analysis of my business. The results will be used to defining and positioning my business, including the development and implementation of key success factors. Delivering Customer Value and Managing Marketing Performance. Firms need an appropriate targeting strategy due to different needs of customers. Customer segmentation allows firms to critically analyse characteristics of customer groups for the provision of relevant services and goods. Appropriate promotions with segmentation approach help firms not only to save costs, but also to provide desirable products and enjoyable prices. A good understanding of existing and potential markets through assessing current and potential market attractiveness, evaluating company and competitors current and potential strengths and weaknesses in serving a particular market, allow firm to take competitive advantages. Company brands are built from knowledge, esteem, relevance and differentiation. I am using the gained knowledge from these sessions to develop my business strategy with demand-driven and non-price competitive approaches such as owner branding, expertise enhancing, attitude improving for dif ferentiation and success. Making sense of Uncertainty. In a stable BE, forecasting works well to develop company future directions, but peoples are living in a fast changing environment with many unpredictable events; scenarios building is good tool to manage uncertainty. Scenarios building should be credible and includes PEST analysis. Companies need to build more than one scenario with both optimistic and pessimistic context to predetermine a list of trends and key success factors. Difficult concepts and Improvement plan Scenarios building, Brands building are two most difficult concepts with me, my improvement plan includes: Further reading: Due to time constraints for both learning and working activities, annual review and planning processes, I havent much time to do extra reading of suggested documents from the class; I planned time for further reading after Lunar New Year. More exchanges with colleagues, friends and experts: Informal discussions, exchanges through emails, chats with them will enable me to gain more knowledge. Participation in short and intensive workshops: The VCCI is organising short and intensive workshops on scenarios and brands building to support the entrepreneurs of SMEs, I will register for my participation to knowledge improvement. Learning from doing my works. I am the owner cum director of my small company; I am building scenarios and brands to my company and will learn from both success and failure. Extra reading and key learning points. I have visited the http://www.forbes.com and read the summary of the special report named Best countries for Business 2009, published at http://vneconomy.vn and have drawn the following key learning points: Vietnam dropped from number 113 to 118 in 2009 list of à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Best Countries for Businessà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ . Due to its weak export capacity, high trade deficit, weak protection of foreign investors. Denmark was ranked as the best place to do business. Thanks to its high per capita (36.000 USD/year), surplus trade (+2,9%), good ratio of public debt/GDP (41,6%). The US saw the biggest fall in 2009 ranking, falling to number 9 from the second position in 2008. Due to long-term issues such as lack of investment in infrastructure, increase of costs in health and retirement, high trade deficit. Venezuela is the worst country. Due to its robbery (nationalisation) of foreign firms. The top 10 of weakest countries of 2009 business environment are in Africa. Due to poor governance, abuse of human rights and democracy, poor investment in education, pubic services, basic human needs and imperviousness of international values. Annexes Reference sources: Much above information is summarised from the follow sources: Harrison A., Business Environment in a global context, Oxford University Press, 2010, New York, USA University of Gloucestershire Business School, Global Organizational Environment handouts