Positioning the Tata Nano †Case Memo

Positioning the Tata Nano – Case Memo Introduction: Tata Motors Limited (TML), a part of Tata group, a highly respected conglomerate has a product that will revolutionize the way India travels. The team was successful in delivering a car that meets the goal price of 1 lakh rupees. People welcomed it with high pre bookings and initial sales. But it has been found that the car didn’t hit the target market. The initial excitement faded away leading to drastic downfall in sales. We have analyzed the case to bring out the strengths and marketing strategies that TML can play to improve upon its sales. Strength: . At 1 lakh, price is the major strength of Nano. It has been priced between the cheapest car and a bike. 2. Fuel efficient car in the Indian market. 3. Easily accommodate a family of four. 4. Tata group is the most respected corporates in India. This gives TML an advantage as people trust the brand. 5. The compact design provides easy maneuverability in the congested city traffics. Weakness: 1. Positioning of the product as a cheap car. 2. Capacity limitation due to postponement of new factory lead to lottery based delivery. 3. Absence of enough TML dealers to cover the length and breadth of the country. . Low margin for the dealers. While TML provided 4 to 10 percent dealer margin for Nano the dealer margin was only 2 to 3 percent. Opportunities: 1. TML team views nano as an opportunity to provide a safer means of transport to a typical Indian family which rides on a motorcycle. The two wheeler segment presents itself as a great opportunity to nano to tap in. 76 % of automobile sales is in two wheeler market. 2. A large percentage of Indians lie in the middle class income range. Presently their disposable income is on the rise due to better job opportunities.The fact that this section of people doesn’t have a car and also prefer to own one if affordable provides TML with unprecedented market opportunity. 3. Rising fuel prices will be adv antageous to Nano as it is fuel efficient when compared to other cars in the same segment. 4. The new Sanand factory will help achieve the scale of operation . Threats: 1. The major threat for Nano is from the cars placed in mid-sized segment. Paying a bit more customers get a larger car with bigger engine and a longer track record. 2. Incidents of some Nanos catching fire also deterred customers from buying the car.Although the fire was due to foreign electronic particles it did dampened the market sentiments. 3. Nano missed its target market and it was catering to a market of second car buyers. 4. The advanced versions which were well above 1 lakh were selling more than basic model. This led to critics criticize that Nano might increase the congestion in roads. 5. Political threats like Singur land problem. The SWOT analysis of Nano provided a picture of the product and the brand. We have used 4 Ps of marketing mix to further analyze the different aspects of Nano. Product:While de veloping Nano the whole team had one objective to provide a low cost car without compromising on the quality of the car. TML went on with the following strategies to achieve this goal. 1. Nano was the most fuel efficient and economical car. 2. Three models are available: Nano, Nano CX and Nano LX. Nano had only the basic features without power steering, power windows etc. The other models had extra features. 3. The car was designed to accommodate more in less space. Engine was kept in rear portion to achieve this goal. 4. The suppliers were also roped into the design.They made light weight , low cost parts designed especially for Tata Nano. 5. Nano had parts supplied from 100 suppliers. The suppliers viewed this as a new opportunity to develop their capabilities. 6. The engines for Nano were developed by TML itself. Tata nano has a 624 cc 2 engine cylinder. The car as a product achieved its stated goals. But unexpected incidents of some Nanos catching fire led to build up of negativ e outlook on the quality of the product. Tata did took steps to ensure the quality of the product. 1. It fitted additional safety parts in every nano. . TML had four nanos touring all over India to prove that their product is capable of withstanding all conditions. TML could have gone for safety certifications but the cost prevented it from providing basic safety measures like air bags and anti-lock brakes. Pricing: Pricing is the USP for Nano. The whole product evolved around the goal price of 1 lakh. Apart from the lower price of Nano TML also had cut dealership margins. 1. Only the basic model was priced at 1 lakh while the other variants CX and LX were priced at 157,808 and 181,438 rupees. 2.Dealer margins for nano were between 2 to 3 percentage with a 1 percent discount off the full dealer cost if the dealer paid cash up front. 3. Although nor confirmed by TML it is believed that manufacturer margin was around 15 percent. The basic model with 1 lakh pricing failed to lure the c ustomers while the advanced models with higher prices had more takers. Distribution: 1. Inadequacy of dealerships was bothering TML as they couldn’t reach out to the target market. 2. TML had 214 dealerships spread over 28 states in the country. 3. TML followed an unique model for pre bookings. It took leverage of other Tata group companies.The pre booking forms were made available in Croma ,Westside stores, World of Titan and Tata Indicom exclusive stores. In addition the pre booking can be done through online or from SBI banks. 4. The land problem led to capacity limitation. The initial production was limited to 50,000 nanos. 5. A lottery system was used to allocate cars to people who had pre booked it. 6. TML had an idea to promote entrepreneurial engineers to assemble the car at a rural location where distribution was not available. But this idea was dropped due to concerns on warranty. Promotions: Promotion of nano was a major task ahead of Ratan Tata.TML needs to adjust its marketing strategies in order to sell the volume of cars that could be produced with the new plant. The following are the ways in which the product was promoted. 1. Right from the beginning Nano was promoted heavily by advertisements. The car was advertised as cheapest car in the market. 2. TML concentrated on the price aspect alone in its campaigns. This had negative impact on the minds of customers that the car may not be on par with its qualities. TML should make sure to change the perception of customers so that they don’t view nano as low cost car but an affordable car with quality standards.The quality standards and safety measures have to be promoted vigorously as the people expect these features when investing 1 lakh rupees. Conclusion: TML has a product that will help the millions to get a decent and safe way to travel. Unlike the second car buyers, the middle class i. e. the first time car buyers will view nano as a way to travel along with family. It leads to high expectations on safety and quality since individuals never risk the safety of their family. TML has to make sure that the product is rightly positioned as the one with necessary quality standards and high safety measures to rope in a middle class customer.

Dignity in Ivan and the Sound of Waves Essay

In the novels, One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn and The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima, the characters value their dignity and take many actions to preserve it. First of all, in One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, Shukhov attempts to maintain his human dignity in the face of oppression. As Shukhov begins his daily routine, he â€Å"quickly finished up the job. There’s work and work†¦ If you’re working for human beings, then do a real job of it† (Solzhenitsyn 33). Shukhov is imprisoned in a gulag, one of the worst possible places to be, but he still maintains his human dignity by keeping a good work ethic. Shukhov knows that if he works well he will be treated well, but beyond that, the fact that he is working for another human being gives him reason to maintain a good work ethic, and his self-respect. Furthermore, Shukhov always preforms many small, but meaning full actions in order to maintain his dignity. While eating his rations, Shukhov â€Å"removed his cap from his shaven head—however cold it was, he wouldn’t let himself eat with his cap on† (16). Shukhov still maintains his manners, even when he is forcibly kept in a gulag prison. His manners are very important as they allow him a way to remain human and keep his dignity, rather than deteriorating to the state of an animal, like some of the other prisoners. While the characters in One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, attempt to maintain their dignity as a means of refuge in the gulags, the characters of The Sound of Waves, retain their dignity as a means of protecting their status in society. To begin, the characters in the Sound of Waves do not tolerate any embarrassment or loss of respect to their peers. When Shinji’s mother visits Terukichi Miyata’s home he ignores her visit and she replies, â€Å"[s]o you say you won’t see a poor widow†¦Well let me tell you something†¦ never in life will I ever cross [Miyata’s] damned threshold again† (Mishima 128-129). Shinji’s mother vows never to cross paths with Miyata’s home after he insults her by refusing to meet with her. Shinji’s mother takes a hit to her pride and retaliates in a way that would imply her intolerance for disrespect. Moreover, the characters in the novel are virtuous and refrain from committing any acts that would call into question their morals and self-respect. While resting naked with Shinji in the shrine, Hatsue says, â€Å"It’s bad. It’s bad! It’s bad for a girl to do that before she is married† (76-77). Although the urge to engage in a sexual relation with Shinji is strong, Hatsue knows it would hurt not only her self-respect but also defile her father’s reputation in the village. Although characters in both novels take actions to preserve their respective dignities, in One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich, It is done to maintain their humanity and sanity when they are treated like animals. While in The Sound of Waves, the characters preserve their dignity to uphold the respect of the village and their peers. Overall, the characters in both novels value their dignity and take many actions to uphold it.

Argumentative Essay : My Argumentative Synthesis Essay -- Writing, Essay

I started out by rewriting my entire first body paragraph which had a lot to do with coffee and its crucial role to the United States, and the South American economy. I had to delete the majority of this paragraph and re-read all my sources. I rewrote this paragraph and stated out in a lot of detail the importance and beneficial role that coffee had to play in the American economy. This time I did so in my own words. I elaborated in all the details such as how coffee affected small coffee houses and how it contributed in the making of worldwide jobs. The organization in this essay wasn 't so great so i ended up organizing it much better. I started out by first talking about how coffee benefited the U.S economy, and then i moved on into the effects it had on the South American economy. ce on how caffeine can be a risk reducer towards type II diabetes and liver cancer was a walk in the park metaphorically speaking. Another strength of mine is my wordplay. While this can also be a big w eakness because at times I can write some really awkward sentences it can also bring about some creativity on how I state things out. I used this to my advantage and used it on my first essay, the explanatory synthesis essay. Concluding this essay as a writer i feel more knowledgeable and in a sense my skills have vastly improved. I know how to use sources and scientific articles. I 've also learned how to cite sources and write a good bibliography. My knowledge has also expanded to the point where i now know how to use scholarly journals. As a growing writer I feel as if I have a lot more to learn in the near future and i feel like i have a lot of growing left to do.

False Confessions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

False Confessions - Essay Example It is also a prosecutor’s most compelling weapon (Kassim & Sukel, 1997). A conviction is possible by confession evidence alone. In the process of police interrogation, obtaining a confession is one of the most important aims. A study by Zimbardo (1967) approximated that of the criminal cases solved by the police, over 80 percent are solved by confession. Confessions are a very dominant form of evidence. This is possibly due to observers misattributing the cause of the confession as being internal to the confessor while disregarding situational factors, for instance a possible coercion which may not be apparent to an observer (Gilbert & Malone, 1995). The big question, however, is whether all confessions are authentic. How are we sure that all suspected individuals give true confessions out of their own wish, without duress during the police interrogations? For instance, in Britain, false confessions rank secondly only to mistaken identities as a cause of wrongful conviction among the cases referred to the Court of Appeal. It is unclear how often false confessions result in wrongful convictions. Scholars, however, agree that enough cases have been documented to raise an eyebrow over such a risk. Leo (1998) states three possible reasons why it may be hard to approximate the prevalence of false confessions. They are: The interrogation procedure and interview tactics used the police have changed over the years. Usually, interrogation is not the first step in an investigation. It is not in question, though, that it can be the last substantial step in an investigation. In the process of an investigation, those involved collect scientific evidence as well as human evidence. For instance, witness statements, eyewitness statements, and collateral statements are collected. At this stage, â€Å"interviews† and â€Å"interrogation† are treated as different enterprises. Law enforcement and interrogation training manuals claim interviews are non-custodial (for

In the Hospitality Industry Job Satisfaction Is Critical to Service Research Paper

In the Hospitality Industry Job Satisfaction Is Critical to Service Efficiency - Research Paper Example Societal norms are changing where loyalty is no more considered an important criterion (Gustafson, 2002). Managers are faced with the challenge to retain current employees and position themselves in a way to attract talent. The situation is challenging because the staff is unskilled and untrained. If the organization invests in their training, employees switch to better-paying jobs and this translates into fresh recruitment and training costs. Without training, the employees do not find the work meaningful and hence results in poor job satisfaction and low organizational commitment. Job redesigning, better communication between the staff and the managers, a stable work environment, sense of belonging, recognition, flexible working hours, mentorship, groups tasks, shorter working hours and compensation programs can help to increase the level of job satisfaction and increase organizational commitment. Locke (1976) has defined job satisfaction as a pleasurable emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one's job or job experience (cited by Lee, 2000). Job satisfaction is directly related to motivation, role clarity and organizational commitment. Organizational commitment relates to an attachment to the organization while job satisfaction is concerned with the task environment where the employee performs his duties. An extensive study conducted by Woods and Macaulay in 1989 to try and determine the reasons for high turnover in the hospitality industry revealed eight frequently cited reasons – quality of supervision, ineffective communication, working conditions, quality of co-workers, inability to ‘fit’ with the organizational culture, low pay and few benefits, lack of clear definition of responsibilities, no direction at work (cited by Gustafson).

Synthesize the Peer Review Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Synthesize the Peer Review - Research Paper Example To cater these mental issues many psychological clinics are found, in which special psychiatrists are there to help people come out of the mental issues using some special therapies and their own intelligence. However it is recommended by the author Lightner Witmer in his article that these psychiatrists should be given special trainings on psychology before dealing with the people who are going through a tough time especially in education. The psychological clinics were particularly built for the children who were suffering from mental problems which became hindrances in their educational careers but then they also proved to be prolific for the adults confronting the same situation. Moreover clinical psychology can also be pursued as a career, as teaching, research conducting and managing community programs. One of the processes used by psychiatrists to treat the patients of mental illness is might introspection. Introspection is a way through which a person can learn about his own ongoing mental activities, thoughts, beliefs and judgements. It helps people to find out the problem existing in their mind and then strive for the solution.

The Corporate Veil in the UK and US Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

The Corporate Veil in the UK and US - Coursework Example Salomon quotes have been repeated many times over history, and it is described by Lord Templeman as an â€Å"unyielding rock†,7 especially after its being codified in the Companies Act 2006 in section 16(2). But how does the corporate veil affect corporate governance? What are the consequences of the veil, especially when it is lifted? Have directors been able to use the veil to commit fraudulent activities, or have shareholders’ rights been made stronger? It is important to first examine the concept of corporate governance, in particular in relation to directors and shareholder’s rights. Shareholder Rights and Directors in Corporate Governance Shareholders are defined as the investors in the company; they are often described to have considerable amounts of power to elect and even remove directors from the board, although it will be shown below that this is not actually the case anymore because their rights have been greatly reduced. On the other hand, the direct ors are the upper most governing body of the company, although they are restricted in many ways by way of their directors’ duties to act in the best interests of the company and to promote the business as a whole. Directors create and put into action the company’s policies and manage the actions and interactions of the company. Shareholders also possess some non-financial rights, especially in relation to the protection of their invested shares. Shareholders, as well as vote to appoint and remove directors, can also have an effect on the laws of the company, and change directors’ acts so they act according to the company laws, or articles of association. This does not mean that shareholders have a lot of power over the company generally, but their ability to vote does give them some importance and... The paper tells that corporate Governance principles have a big effect on the aspect of the corporate veil. The company structure which separates the power contained by directors in their managing roles and the ownership in the hands of the shareholders has caused problems as to how the corporate veil can affect corporate governance. How can directors be made properly accountable to the shareholders, and does this improve corporate governance? Davies terms this as â€Å"the quest for stockholder democracy†, and says the apparent simple solution of improving levels of democracy and increasing accountability in the corporate structure is difficult to apply in reality. It is suggested that increased participation of shareholders is difficult and maybe not even desirable because it makes decision making more difficult to achieve. It is said that the corporate governance principles in the US are more a result of â€Å"path-dependent history than the ‘natural’ result o f an inevitable evolution toward greater efficiency†. Yet it has been said that the UK system of separate ownership prevents corporate governance from being monitored properly. Such critics say that a more central application of corporate governance is needed, so that it can be more objective and can be implemented more quickly. Shareholders are also not willing in many cases to start litigation when fraud or abuse has happened, because of the costs of litigation that directors often have little trouble of paying but which shareholders may have problems financing in the UK.

Comprehensive Physical Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comprehensive Physical Exam - Assignment Example According to the records, the knee was swollen and the treatment given was Naprosyn 500mg. The patient confirms that the medication did not help to reduce the pain. Presently the patient is experiencing pain at the same spot with a rating of five at rest and eight while walking on a smooth surface. According to the patient, the only place that is experiencing pain is the right knee and no tingling or numbness in any other part of the body. The patient’s heart is in perfect shape and she has not experienced any difficulty in breathing. The genitourinary assessment proves that there is no sign of infection because the patient is not experiencing any discharge or burning sensation. The patient is not feeling any bowel or stomach problems. There is no sign of skin lesions or rashes. The patient explains that the medication prescribed was not effective. From the ROS, the patient suffers from rheumatoid arthritis (Cush, Weinblatt & Kavanaugh, 2010). This conclusion is drawn from the patient’s information (Bickley & Szilagyi, 2012). The patient is supposed to have some blood tests done to test for rheumatoid factor and also have an X-ray conducted on her to confirm if it is the correct diagnosis. After confirmation then the correct treatment will be known. Meanwhile, the patient is educated on how to manage the rheumatoid arthritis (St, C. E. W., Pisetsky, & Haynes,

Customer Journey Mapping Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Customer Journey Mapping - Essay Example The various elements that are included in the journey of a customer involves awareness, finding answers of any possible queries that the customer might have, then comes the price and when a customer is satisfied with all of the above then he performs the purchase. Most of us would think that, that is when the process ends but there is more to it which is known as the post sales journey which includes the post-sales support, lodging of any complaint that the customer found in the product or service. The assessment of this complaint is the next step in the process upon which the organization then upgrades or amends its services based on the post sales review.There are numerous benefits for the assessment of customer journey mapping however, the three main essential advantages include the fact that it gives an overview of the experience which was given to all the customers, it gives an idea about the basic needs and requirements that the organization requires and it also showcases the v arious aspects of importance and the aspects that should not be given importance.For the purpose of this assignment, I will be studying two very popular e-commerce websites i.e., eBay and amazon and will assess the process of customer journeys for each of these organization and how this affects the ways in which the customer approaches the organization. EBay has long been a very popular place for the buying and selling of goods and with over one million customers, it is a place which serves as the global market.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations Essay Example for Free

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations Essay Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28.14. What does this command of Jesus mean? Thomas Kee 9/10 In todays society people can make others into disciples without realising it. The world relies on a few people to act as examples and model Christians to set an example for others. These are people like Mother Teresa who stepped aside from the normal routine of life to give up theirs to help others. In 1948 Mother Teresa was granted permission to leave her post at the convent and begin a ministry among the sick. In 1952 Mother Teresa opened the Nirmal Hriday (Pure Heart) Home for Dying Destitutes in Calcutta. Subsequently she extended her work to five continents. The rich young man ( Matthew 19:16-30), A wealthy Jew asked Jesus what he needs to do to receive eternal life. Jesus answers him that he needs to obey the commandments. The man then asks him what he needs to do to be perfect. Jesus answered him that he needs to give up everything he owns and to follow Jesus. However, the man refused and walked away sadly. This story is an example of someone who cannot give up all his money to be a true disciple, but people like mother Teresa who give up everything they have to help the sick, poor and those in need. By doing this they help people on the road to discipleship by acting as examples. Happy are those who are humble, You can lead people on the road to discipleship by being a good Christian. You dont have to preach to them and show off how holy you are, but be kind, generous and helpful and they will learn from you. People can recognize you and learn how to be a good disciple from you, if you do missionary work in another country. If you have the money and time you could go to a poor country and set up a school or a hospital. For some this can be too much, so even small sponsorships or helping the local parish can set an example to others and make them think how they can help. By helping your local church you can set an example, you could help the priest in preparing the sermons or you could read at masses, Happy are those who are spiritually poor. Matthew 5v3 You dont have to make a great scene, but try to be discreet and people will recognize you. Those who are ashamed of me I will be ashamed of them on the last day. By standing up and defending the church against those who oppose it, others will notice you and follow you as an example. Thomas Kee 10/10 There are many people who have taken up the challenge of doing great good; each and every one of them is a great example to the world. Happy are those who are prosecuted for doing what God requires. Terry Waite was a special envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was a negotiator who was trying to free hostages in Lebanon but was taken hostage himself. For five years he was chained to a tiny cell 23 hours of the day. Throughout this time he didnt lose his faith I am not a man who wears his faith on his sleeves, Ive never believed it is an insurance policy: we dont live in a just or fair world. If you have faith you can say suffering neednt destroy, that something good can emerge from it. But faith is there to shape your life, not to give you special protection. Terry Waite Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, This commandment can present a problem in modern day context. Although it is the word of God, people may not be interested in the teachings of Christianity. For It is Gods wish and command that people should preach the word of God. By preaching you are giving others the chance to receive eternal life. There is nothing bad about Christianity, its morals are all good. People are not forced to become Christian, they have the choice. Against You may want to discover Christianity for yourself, you may not want it told to you. Preaching may put people off. It is wrong to force it onto people. In some countries it is illegal to be a practicing Christian. By preaching Christianity in these countries you are encouraging them to break the law. I believe it is a Christians duty to go out into the world spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ. However I understand that people will not always welcome Christianity into their lives. It is probably true that actions speak louder than words and by setting an example by being a good Christian is more effective then preaching in spreading the word of God. Bibliography Encarta 99 Class notes The Bible

Overview And Advantages Of E Books Information Technology Essay

Overview And Advantages Of E Books Information Technology Essay 2. Ebooks are good for the environment. Ebooks save trees. Ebooks eliminate the need for filling up landfills with old books. Ebooks save transportation costs and the pollution associated with shipping books across the country and the world. 3. Ebooks preserve books. (The library of Alexandria was burned and the collection ruined. Richard Burtons wife, after his death and against his wishes, destroyed a book he had been working on for ten years. The original manuscript of Carlyles The French Revolution was lost when a friends servant tossed it into the fire.) Ebooks are ageless: they do not burn, mildew, crumble, rot, or fall apart. Ebooks ensure that literature will endure. 4. Ebooks faster to produce than paper books, allow readers to read books about current issues and events. 5. Ebooks are easily updateable, for correcting errors and adding information. 6. Ebooks are searchable. Quickly you can find anything inside the book. Ebooks are globally searchable: you can find information in many ebooks. 7. Ebooks are portable. You can carry an entire library on one DVD. 8. Ebooks (in the form of digital audio books) free you to do other activities while you are listening. 9. Ebooks can be printable: and thereby give a reader most or all of the advantages of a paper-based book. 10. Ebooks defy time: they can be delivered almost instantly. Ebooks are transported to you faster than overnight shipping: in minutes or in seconds. 11. Ebooks defy space: ebooks online can be read simultaneously by thousands of people at once. 12. Ebooks are cheaper to produce. Thus, small presses can attempt to compete with media giants. 13. Ebooks are cheaper to buy. 14. Ebooks are free. The magnificent work of Project Gutenberg, and other online public libraries, allow readers to read the classics at no cost. 15. Ebooks can be annotated without harming the original work. 16. Ebooks make reading accessible to persons with disabilities. Text can be re-sized for the visually impaired. Screens can be lit for reading in the dark. 17. Ebooks can be hyper-linked, for easier access to additional information. 18. Ebooks with additional software and hardware can read aloud to you. 19. Ebooks let you tweak the style. Many ebooks allow readers to change the font style, font size, page size, margin size, colors, and more. 20. Ebooks may allow the option for the addition of multimedia: still images, moving images, and sound. 21. Ebooks, with their capacity for storage, encourage the publishing of books with many pages, books that might be too expensive to produce (and purchase) in paperback. 22. Ebooks without outrageous DRM schemes are made for sharing. Ebooks can be quickly duplicated, and then distributed to strangers or given to your friends. Worry no more about your loaned books that will never be returned. 23. Ebooks empower individuals to write and to publish, and in this way help to challenge the crushing power of big publishing, that excludes so many authors from the New York City publishing circus. Publishing can move from the impersonal and profitable, to the personal and pleasurable. 24. Ebooks thanks to the simplicity and speed of publication and feedback allow authors to experiment in many themes and styles. 25. Ebooks posted online encourage comments, corrections, and feedback which eliminates mistakes and improves accuracy especially important when dealing with scientific and technological issues. 26. Ebooks allow publishers to publish (and readers to read) works by a larger number of authors, and works on a wider variety of topics. Critics of traditional book publishing (such as Jason Epstein and Andre Schriffin) state that economic pressures have reduced and limited the number of authors and topics that traditional publishers will now produce. 27. Ebooks defeat attempts at censorship. All these works were banned:  Analects  by Confucius.  Lysistrata  by Aristophanes. Ars Amorata by Ovid. Pro Populo Anglicano Defensio by John Milton.  The Scarlet Letter  by Hawthorne.  Wonder Stories  by H.C. Andersen.  Leaves of Grass  by Walt Whitman.  The Kreutzer Sonata  by Leo Tolstoy.The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and  Huckleberry Finn  by Mark Twain.  Ulyssesby James Joyce. Many of these books were confiscated, burned, or denied availability in libraries, bookstores and schools. Ebooks guarantee that readers maintain their right to read. 28. Ebooks help paperbook publishers to sell paperbooks. Cory Doctorow has explained that the giving away of ebooks, for free, has helped to sell the paperback editions of his stories and novels. 29. Ebooks are evolving. As technology develops, ebooks may contain new features. For example, a book of recipes may contain a recipe calculator to figure how much maple syrup is needed to bake 200 cookies. An ebook that prepares you for the GRE could include an interactive test. An ebook about politics might allow you to click a link and register to vote, or send an email to a Congressman that tells him he is not a good environmental steward. 30. Ebooks are good for paperbook publishing. By setting an example for diversity and freedom of expression, ebooks may motivate the stagnant book publishing industry towards the renewal of small presses, the end of the blockbuster-bestseller publishing mentality, and a healthier balance between the needs of commerce and culture. http://www.successconsciousness.com/ebooks_benefits.htm An ebook is a book in electronic format. It is downloaded to a computer, PC, Mac, laptop, PDA or any other kind of computer, and is read on the screen. It can have numbered pages, table of contents, pictures and graphics, exactly like a printed book. It is very simple and easy to purchase and download ebooks through the Internet. It is exactly like purchasing any other product. The only difference is that after payment you will either be directed to a download page or receive the download link in an email. All you have to do is click on the link and the ebook will automatically download to your computer, to a folder of your own choice. After download you dont have to be connected to the Internet in order to read the ebook. You can stay offline. If you wish to have it printed, it is very easy. Just click on the print button in the ebook, to print it with your home printer. Ebooks are delivered almost instantaneously. You can purchase, download and start reading them within minutes, without leaving your chair. You dont have to go to a bookstore to buy them, neither wait for them for days, weeks and sometimes more to arrive in the mail. No trees are required to manufacture paper for the pages of ebooks. When you need certain information, you can get it immediately, by downloading an ebook. Many ebooks are sold nowadays with bonuses, which you usually do not get with a printed book. This adds value to your purchase. Ebooks take up less space. You practically dont need any space to store them. You dont need a library or a room for them. You can store hundreds and thousands of ebooks in your computer. Ebooks are portable. You can carry a whole library of hundreds of books with you, on CD, in a laptop, notebook or any ebook reader, without worrying about their weight. With today technology you can read ebooks anywhere, on the bus, train, airplane and while standing in line. Ebooks are more safely stored and carried from one place to another, than ordinary books. They also withstand time more than books. Ebooks can show links, for easy access to more information and related websites. Ebooks are searchable. You can easily search for any information in an ebook, instead of turning page after page. Ebooks can be interactive and contain audio, video and animations, which can enhance the message that the author is trying to convey. As ebooks are delivered through the Internet, there are no packing and shipping expenses. Ebooks can be printable, so that if you wish to read an ebook in the traditional way, you can very inexpensively print it with your home printer or at any printing shop. Fonts in ebooks can be resized, making it easier to read for people with disabilities. With an additional software it is possible to turn some of the ebooks into audio books. Ebooks are very easy to to sell and distribute. It is very simple and easy to purchase and download an ebook. People living in big modernized cities, in a remote village in a far away country or on a small island, can equally access an ebook. It takes them the same amount of time to purchase and download an ebook, provided they have an Internet connection. It is possible to purchase an ebook 24 hours a day, every day of the year, from the comfort of your own house or office. You can purchase and download an ebook, even if you are on a vacation, if you have a laptop and wireless Internet connection. People are already spending a lot of time in front of their computers, so why not read and ebook, instead of doing something else? Nowadays one can find ebooks about every possible subject, fiction and nonfiction, free and not free.Considering non-fiction ebooks, such ebooks disseminate knowledge not pages, which means that it is not correct to evaluate the price of an ebook according to the number of its pages. The price should be determined by the information it contains, its usefulness and relevancy, and on how much it gives you in terms of practical knowledge, inspiration, motivation, tips and advice, and also by the uniqueness of the information it contains. http://www.tka.co.uk/ebook-tools/why-ebooks.htm Once downloaded (from the Web, a CD ROM or a floppy disk), eBooks can be  viewed whilst offline  (although some external links will only work when you are online). Unlike websites, they can be  easily distributed  to other users Unlike standalone documents, such as a Word or Excel file, eBooks can contain a variety of documents and files, all conveniently packaged  in a single file. Unlike paper-based books, eBooks can be  easily updated. A eBook can even have a link to a website which contains the latest downloadable version of the book. The  production cost of eBooks is minimal, a big benefit of you are distributing them in any quantity, either free or for a price. If you need  security, eBooks can be compiled so as to disable printing, can be password protected and can prevent individual files from being copied (although no-one has found a way of preventing anything from being re-typed!) http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Benefits-of-Ebook-Publishingid=390438 1)An eBook can be your springboard. At the 2006 Romantic Times conference in Daytona Beach, Florida, I met a few editors with the top romance publishers, all of whom were seeking out romance eBook authors. As eBook sales and productions rises in the romance and erotic romance genres, these editors are aware of the great sales potential involved in bringing eBook authors with high readership into their catalogs. Go to your favorite bookstore and look up authors Sherrilyn Kenyon, Angela Knight, and Sylvia Day. What do they have in common aside from being bestselling authors? Their earliest titles were originally published in eBook format! Depending upon the genre you write and the following you develop, your eBook success can be a springboard to commercial publishing accomplishments. Make the sales and the big players will notice, regardless of whether or not your book is on paper. 2) Faster Turnaround Do you know how long it takes for a book to see print, from submission to release? Various factors play into a final answer. A small university press may not take as long as a well-known New York house. A book could take anywhere from several months to several years before it is made available for sale. With eBooks, that time frame might not be as long. This is not, mind you, because eBooks go through a sloppy editing process. While some eBooks may appear to have been rushed (more on that below), there are many eBook publishers that have professional editors on staff to ensure a quality end product. eBook production may be quicker than traditional print publication due to a number of factors. Formatting does not take long to do, for one, and cover art needs are drastically reduced. You can produce a great cover that sells and not have to worry about sizing or color bleeds for print. A good number of eBook romance publishers offer a turnaround from acceptance as quick as three months! While some authors wait for their books, an eBook author can have two or three out in the same amount of time. 3) Higher Percentage of Royalties I once read an article by the late Southern humorist Lewis Grizzard, who wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and authored more than twenty books. He wrote that despite all the books and columns under his belt, he was not a rich man. Knowing how some publishers deal with author royalties, this statement no longer surprises me! Depending upon your status as author, and the budget of the publishing house, you could make as much as ten to twenty percent of the net sales of your book. Some houses will raise the percentage once you reach a certain benchmark, like a thousand or more copies. However, since the average book in the United States sells five hundred, it is safe to say thousands of authors may never get that raise. Unless you are the rare J.K Rowling or Stephen King (both of whom, to be fair, do profit on subsidiary sales), you may not be rolling immediately in the millions. eBook publication, however, offers the opportunity to make some decent money, more so if you gain a strong readership. Because of the low resources involved in eBook production, there is more opportunity to pay royalties on sales. Most eBook publishers offer as much as thirty to fifty percent of net sales. An author with a strong following can make several hundred dollars a month! 4) Same good book, less waste Next time you are at the bookstore, take a look at the bargain bin. Many hardcover books, some probably touted as bestsellers, are marked down significantly to clear away inventory. What is not sold is eventually recycled. I know of one author whose book was heavily remaindered, as it is called. What was not sold, he said wistfully, was turned into toilet paper! In this respect, eBook production is very environmentally sound. Because the books are produced digitally, no trees are harmed. An eBook may be read on a computer or handheld personal digital assistant, both of which can store several books for your enjoyment. With a PDA full of eBooks, there is less to carry when you go on vacation! 5) More control Do you have an idea for typesetting over cover art for your book? Chances are if you sign with a major publisher, you may not have much creative input. With my first novel, I was allowed some input, but my ideas were ultimately not used for the cover art. The same might be said with the marketing of your book. Publishers have budgets to meet, and may not be able to satisfy every authors desires. eBook publishers in recent years, however, may be very author friendly. Closer contact with staff may allow an author to have more input in production and design. Some eBook publishers may allow authors to design their own covers. Whether or not this is a good thing remains to be seen, but the fact remains that the lines of communication between authors and staff are open wide. The author is permitted to be very active throughout editing and production, and it turn it may inspire the author to be more productive. More opportunity for money, more input, and more support are among the benefits of producing your manuscript through electronic means. As we further delve into a new age of publishing, eBooks lead the charge into a new dimension of entertainment for readers and productivity for writers. http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol127/ebooks.htm 1. Theyre quicker to obtain. If you want specific information and its available in a book, you can purchase an eBook and download it immediately. Instead of waiting for a printed book to be delivered, you can assess this information now. 2. eBooks are more easily updated and upgraded. Information changes rapidly today. Books on many subjects can become dated very quickly. eBooks can be easily and quickly kept up to date. When you order an eBook, it can be the most up-to-the-minute information available. 3. You usually get far more than just the book. Most eBooks are sold with bonuses and related information that usually dont come with the purchase of a traditional book. You might pay the same or even a bit more for an eBook, but you usually get more, too. 4. eBooks take up less space.  Instead of a bulky library, you can fit literally thousands of books on your computer. It also makes it easier to share this information with family and coworkers. 5. eBooks dont use up trees. Except when you print one outsomething I usually do for booklets and special reportseBooks use very few natural resources. We save trees and help reduce pollution from pulp mills. 6. Theyre more portable. You can have quick and easy access to hundreds of books on your desktop computer, notebook or eBook reader. Theyre much easier to take with you than traditional tomes. 7. References can be hot-linked.  Easy links to Web sites and other references can be placed in an electronic book. While reading, you can click on hot links to other places to find out more. With the proliferation of wireless networks, this will become even more useful. 8. You can custom brand them. Other peoples eBooks can be branded with your name and you can allow others to brand YOUR eBooks with THEIR name. There are many viral eBooks and reports that the creators will often allow you to give away or sell, with your name or companys name shown on the cover or linked at the end. 9. You can do global searches and find information quickly. When youre looking for certain information within a book, you can easily find it using the find feature. It saves you time and aggravation looking for something in particular. 10. The technology will get better.  This is an emerging technology and people are often slow to change. But as the quality of monitors improve and become more compact and mobile, more and more well be reading electronic books. > AuthorRita A. Renner, Hoffman Marketing Communications, Inc. Contributors 7 Wendy Allen Shelburne, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States 7 John Ingram, University of Florida, United States 7 Antero Laiho, University Library of Turku, Finland 7 Ay-Ling Ong, Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI) Amsterdam, The Netherlands 7 Peter te Boekhorst Oliver Obst, University of Muenster, Germany, General and Medical Libraries 7 Jane Miller, Victoria University, Australia As electronic publishing matures, research and academic libraries are beginning to supplement their print holdings with electronic publications. This transition began with scientific journals, and is now advancing into academic and scholarly books, as well. In the past few years, corporate and government libraries have also begun acquiring eBooks along with print holdings. eBooks provide substantial advantages to libraries and their users. Both parties gain from 24/7 access, simultaneous user access, wider selection, and immediate updates, while libraries also benefit from back-end efficiencies, such as a lack of storage requirements, reduced maintenance costs, and reduced staffing time for physical handling and processing of print books. Many libraries recognize that eBooks offer an ideal opportunity to increase existing collections while enhancing users research experiences at the same time. Some libraries have adopted significant eBook acquisition programs However, the interviewed librarians agreed that is still early days and that the market for eBooks is just developing. Perceived benefits of eBooks to the users Participants agreed that the immediate, permanent, 24/7, simultaneous access to up-to date content represented the most important user benefit offered by eBooks. A 2007 study published by the University of London concurs, with eBook users citing availability, convenience, content freshness, and navigation and search capabilities as the formats most important advantages. As Jane Miller of Victoria University explains, The eBook is accessible from the catalogue, so there is no need to search physically for it. Once the title is located in the catalogue, a simple click on the link takes the user to the full-text book. Another benefit important to users was the increased functionality of eBooks, such as multimedia additions, hyperlinking, and searching within or among documents. As the University of Turkus Antero Laiho observed, reference-geared material is ideally suited to electronic formats, and often becomes the entry point into a larger eBook acquisition strategy. For reference works, the benefit is in updating the material, e.g. handbooks and encyclopaedias and so on, and thats where electronic is a very good idea. You can use the reference works from your home, from your office, and you dont have to come to the library any more. So we first started subscribing to some reference works and I found that we got good feedback what a wonderful idea that I can search for a concept or fact when Im working at home in the evening and so gradually I got more and more accustomed to the idea of buying eBooks as well. Rating of benefits of eBooks The participants rated 11 potential eBook benefits on a scale of one to seven. Enhanced user access, enhanced functionality, and access to greater amounts of content areas all scored highly as areas in which eBooks provided clear advantages over print publications to all participants. Speed of adoption Electronic journal collections have paved the way for other eBook holdings. eJournal users have become comfortable with electronic delivery in a very short period of time. According to University of Muensters Oliver Obst, We no longer have any journals that are only available in print. This means that the scientists are accustomed to getting everything from us electronically. The eBooks will fit into this very well. Heavier, more efficient use Search functionality reduces time spent on each title and increases the number of titles reviewed for a given project. Decline in the use of printed books In the longer term, the increase in eBook usage may be accompanied by a decline in the use of the printed versions, although in some cases online usage may stimulate usage of the print title, too, through a kind of promotional effect. Book type, discipline determines usage The librarians stressed that, in principle, researchers and students from all disciplines are ready to use eBooks. Adoption of the e-format may be fastest in rapidly-changing science disciplines, for example computer science and medicine, where books must be updated quickly and frequently. As the University of Illinois Wendy Shelburne explains, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ on some levels, all disciplines are ready to make the conversion from printed material to eBooks. eBook management Most libraries surveyed followed similar procedures for managing eBooks. For example, none of the respondents employ personnel dedicated to eBook holdings, but jointly manage eBooks and print collections. Surveyed libraries integrate eBooks through the OPAC, which flags content as electronic or print. As Turkus Antero Laiho explains, proper MARC information is critical for the OPAC importation process. It is essentialnfor us to get MARC records from the publisher because that is one of the big money savers, the fact that we dont have to do it manually. It is very slow and expensive work to do the cataloguing manually. Library policy towards eBooks eBook acquisition continues to increase, though most libraries agree that it will be many years, if ever, before their collections become electronic-only. Two of the six surveyed libraries have committed to a long-term electronic-only goal. Toward that end, they do not acquire print copies parallel to the electronic versions, except in cases where users explicitly demand print copies. Others are proceeding more conservatively. As CWI Amsterdam explains, The current Springer eBook package is a kind of test balloon. It I the librarys first experience with eBooks, and it will be used as the basis for assessing the future policy towards adoption of eBooks. The most significant area for cost savings of eBooks over print was in physical handling and processing binding, labeling, transport, and repair. According to the University of Muenster, This is an area that largely disappears with the transition from print to eBooks. What is not yet entirely clear, however, is whether it will entirely disappear or whether eBook management will continue to involve some form of physical handling, e.g. going online periodically to check that titles can still be accessed on the host platform, provision and maintenance of PC terminals, installation and updating of Acrobat Reader, provision of printing facilities. Storage and archiving always represents an issue as well as a cost factor for libraries. This is another area where librarians expect significant cost advantages from eBooks, assuming that publishers handle online archiving. Other processes where eBooks have significant cost advantages are circulation and shelf maintenance. According to CWI Amsterdam, [With eBooks] the whole loan process would no longer be required, involving chasing users for returns, etc. This aspect can be very time-consuming. Victoria University Melbourne recognized shelving and reshelving costs as an opportunity for savings, as well, estimating that shifting from print to entirely electronic holdings would save A$350,000 annually in salaries to reshelving personnel at its 12 libraries. Long term savings in space are also desirable at Victoria University Melbourne in order to create more student places to enhance the student learning experience While the following tasks may differ for eBooks and print books, librarians rated near-term costs as roughly equal, with potential long-term cost savings. Collections development A publishers packaging determines the degree of economic benefit libraries receive. If a package contains a large number of titles the library would have purchased individually, eBooks can provide substantial benefits. However, some librarians felt that the cost differences will be negligible, since expenses will be shifted to pricing and licensing negotiations. Order processing Some libraries, such as CWI Amsterdam, reported that eBook packaging made bulk ordering more efficient. Others cited inefficient and varied order processes on different publisher Web sites as reasons that ordering eBooks was more complicated and time-consuming than print. All participants agreed that eBook ordering would become more efficient over time. Receipt and check-in Every survey participant rated the cost of processing acquired print and electronic books roughly equal. According to the University of Muenster, With eBooks, I dont have to stick a label on it anymore Ive saved on that but stock-taking procedures are more or less the same, so that the book enters the librarys holding list. Reader instruction and helpdesk In the long term, librarians have high hopes that eBooks will reduce support costs. As Peter te Boekhorst of the University of Muenster notes, I dont need to spend a long time explaining to users how to use a PDF file, but I have to explain to 35 people every day where to find 3F or 3H, etc. This problem of finding your way around the library would disappear. In the short term, however, libraries must spend their time and budget acclimating users to new technology and advertising eBook availability, negating any substantial cost savings. Mr. Antero Laiho believes thisnphase is inevitable. The resources are very expensive so when we buy them we want them to be used as must as possible. So it is the librarys responsibility as well to promote these new acquisitions. Library infrastructure While eBooks save shelf space, surveyed librarians did not agree that this will provide any significant short term cost-savings. Future prospects for eBooks All of the librarians involved in the study see a future for eBooks in the academic realm and all believe that there will be a far-reaching transition to electronic books. However, numerous challenges remain, such as licensing agreements and access arrangements, Most of the interviewees agreed that the evolution of users away from print toward electronic books will take at least another 5-10 years, although researchers in some disciplines (e.g., STM) and younger users may make this transition more rapidly. The printed book will never cease to exist. According to the University of Illinois Ms. Shelburne, I cant see certain types of print going away for a very long time. Still, libraries of the future may well look different, with electronic resources accounting for a greater percentage of total holdings. While print resources will occupy shelves, library patrons will access eBooks and other electronic resources via computer terminals or from remote locations. http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/the-benefits-of-ebook-reader-comparison-in-the-internet-3557222.html There are many reasons why most people choose to go for Kindle these days. For one, it enables you to easily collect all the books that you desire to read. It has a huge storage capacity which can store over thousands of your favourite books, magazines, and others. That means that you no longer have to waste time finding these reading materials outside. Plus it makes you spare so much space at home for your other things. You can also take it with you wherever you go since its naturally made portable. Physically, this product is smaller and thinner than those paperback books at 8 x 5.3 x 0.36 inches. It allows you to download a bunch of eBooks at the very least price. If you think youre not technically-inclined, then theres no need to worry because this device is user-friendly. Fresh from the box, its already guaranteed to work right away. It requires no computer or set-up whatsoever anymore. As long as youre within the US, this unit enables you to connect wirelessly. It is also as mobile as your cellular phone is. This time,  searching  for some sites online, like Wikipedia, Google, and more, is now doable straight from this e-based book. Furthermore, it comes with accident-proof buttons, smooth controls, standard keyboard, and great overall design which, in return, improve the scrolling, selecting, and highlighting functions of the device. Are you tired and sick of searching for a hotspot whenever you wanted to connect to the Internet? If you were, then this devices feature on Whispernet should sound as a relief. Through this, the users can already go online anywhere, anytime they want

Franklin D. Roosevelts Declaration of War Speech -- Speaking Communic

Franklin D. Roosevelt's Declaration of War Speech President Franklin D. Roosevelt was one of the most powerful and remembered presidents in United States history. When he spoke his words authorized a sort of empowerment and relief to his audience. On December 8, 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a Declaration of War speech that would be remembered for years to come. Aside from the subject, this speech has been remembered because the arguments are well supported. Also, Roosevelt’s excellent word choice coincided with his serious tone while rhetorically appealing to the logos. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese Empire attacked the island of Oahu. The next day president Roosevelt addressed the Vice president, Congress and the nation over the radio. He alerted the nation on the problems the United States were faced with and the actions the country would take in its defense. The purpose of the broadcast was to let his audience know that the premeditated, surprise attack on Pearl Harbor would not be stood for. Roosevelt very clearly stated that the U...

Essay --

Some people are born with the knowledge on how to maintain and manage their time and others learn it as they grow. I was not so fortunate. While I managed to keep my work areas organized and had somewhat of a routine to help keep my life in relative order, I was always struggling with â€Å"losing† time. It was a problem that always left me feeling guilty about not finishing on time while at same time I was overwhelmed about things that were piling up. I always procrastinated and never got things done the day I thought I should. When I was occupied at school or hanging with friends, I was constantly stressing about the many task I had to get done at home. Then when I was at home I would think about tasks that were left undone in the â€Å"outside world†. It was a never ending cycle that prevented me from being relaxed or enjoyed some days. In the book Time Management from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern explains a variety of plans for time management by breaking them down into easy steps. The plans offer different options and structures for people who are constantly struggling with time ma... Essay -- Some people are born with the knowledge on how to maintain and manage their time and others learn it as they grow. I was not so fortunate. While I managed to keep my work areas organized and had somewhat of a routine to help keep my life in relative order, I was always struggling with â€Å"losing† time. It was a problem that always left me feeling guilty about not finishing on time while at same time I was overwhelmed about things that were piling up. I always procrastinated and never got things done the day I thought I should. When I was occupied at school or hanging with friends, I was constantly stressing about the many task I had to get done at home. Then when I was at home I would think about tasks that were left undone in the â€Å"outside world†. It was a never ending cycle that prevented me from being relaxed or enjoyed some days. In the book Time Management from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern explains a variety of plans for time management by breaking them down into easy steps. The plans offer different options and structures for people who are constantly struggling with time ma...

James Carville: Guard Dog of the White House :: Essays Papers

James Carville: Guard Dog of the White House James Carville has been one of President Clinton’s most adamant supporters throughout the impeachment crisis. Carville is a veteran campaign strategist who headed Clinton’s campaign in 1992 and has advised him since the campaign. His harsh and sometimes wild criticisms of Clinton’s opponents have made Carville the rhetorical attack dog of the Democratic Party. The purpose of Carville’s attacks was to rally support for Clinton. Fighting for Clinton was both helpful to Carville’s career and financially beneficial for him. Carville used a few concise points that he presented in his aggressive partisan style to argue against Clinton’s critics. The media frequently covered Carville’s attacks because of their brevity and excessiveness. Carville skillfully used the media to his advantage. He plays an active role in personalizing political issues by attacking the character of his opponents. These personal assaults divert attention away from th e issues themselves. However, questioning the character of those who are often running smear campaigns of their own can bring to light some the faults of Carville’s political adversaries. Kenneth Burke suggested rhetoric could be analyzed using five elements, act, scene, agent, agency, and purpose. Two of these five elements stand out from the rest as most crucial to the speaker’s rhetoric during the impeachment crisis (Nichols 1963). Agency and purpose were the most important facets of James Carville’s rhetoric. Carville’s purpose was to rally support for President Clinton while advancing his carrier and benefiting financially. The agencies he used to accomplish his purpose were several concise complaints against Independent Councilor, Kennith Starr, his aggressive rhetorical assault against Starr, Carville’s image, and the media which Carville used to bring his message to the American public. James Carville’s chief priority has been to defend Bill Clinton since Carville became the chief campaign strategist for Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. In an interview with Katie Couric on Today, Carville asserts his motives: †¦that man [Clinton] had been good to me, he’s good to my family, he’s good to my country. He’s a friend of mine. He got himself in a jam. I was proud that he called on me to help him, and I’m glad that I was able to–to–help in some small way (Carville 2/12/99). Carville was entirely dedicated to his cause of defending Clinton. In this interview, he asserted his loyalty and willingness to help the President. Carville emphasized how "proud" he was to be working for his "friend" (Carville 2/12/99, Carville 1/6/99).

Computer Data Storage Essay

Computers have brought about a revolution across all industries. They have changed the face of society. They are no longer specialized tools to be used by specially trained people. They are ubiquitous and used in almost every sphere of life. Computers have changed the way we work, be it any profession. Therefore, it is only natural that the role of computers in education has been given a lot of importance in recent years. Computers play a vital role in every field. They aid industrial processes, they find application in medicine; they are the reason why software industries developed and flourished and they play an important role in education. This is also why the education system has made computer education a part of school curriculum. Let’s look at what role computer technology plays in the education sector. The advantages of computers in education primarily include: * Storage of information * Quick data processing * Audio-visual aids in teaching * Better presentation of information * Access to the Internet * Quick communication between students, teachers and parents * There are tools like spelling and grammar checker, thesaurus and dictionary, installed in the computer. Thus, it takes less time to proofread a written document * Also, there is no need to open up a dictionary book to look for meanings of words. * Typing is much faster than writing on a paper. * If there is a need for reorganizing the sentences or paragraphs, one can cut and paste and make the necessary changes. * In schools, computer education has been made compulsory to spread awareness about computers. As a matter of fact, computers have become a learning tool for children. Computers are a brilliant aid in teaching. Online education has revolutionized the education industry. Computer technology has made the dream of distance learning, a reality. Education is no longer limited to classrooms. It has reached far and wide, thanks to computers. Physically distant locations have come closer due to Internet accessibility. So, even if students and teachers are not in the same premises, they can very well communicate with one another. There are many online educational courses, whereby students are not required to attend classes or be physically present for lectures. They can learn from the comfort of their homes and adjust timings as per their convenience. Computers have given impetus to distance education. Computers facilitate effective presentation of information. Presentation software like PowerPoint and animation software like Flash among others can be of great help to teachers while delivering lectures. Computers facilitate audio-visual representation of information, thus making the process of learning interactive and interesting. Computer-aided teaching adds a fun element to education. Teachers hardly use chalk and board today. They bring presentations on a flash drive, plug it in to a computer in the classroom, and the teaching begins. There’s color, there’s sound, there’s movement – the same old information comes forth in a different way and learning becomes fun. The otherwise not-so-interesting lessons become interesting due to audio-visual effects. Due to the visual aid, difficult subjects can be explained in better ways. Things become easier to follow, thanks to the use of computers in education. Computers enable access to the Internet which has information on literally everything. Computers enable storage of data in the electronic format, thereby saving paper. Memory capacities of computer storage devices are in gigabytes. This enables them to store huge chunks of data. Moreover, these deveices are compact. They occupy very less space, yet store large amounts of data. Both teachers and students benefit from the use of computer technology. Presentations, notes and test papers can be stored and transferred easily over computer storage devices. Similarly, students can submit homework and assignments as soft copies. The process becomes paperless, thus saving paper. Plus, the electronic format makes data storage more durable. Electronically erasable memory devices can be used repeatedly. They offer robust storage of data and reliable data retrieval. Computer hard drives and storage devices are an excellent way to store data. This was about the role of computers in education. But we know, it’s not just the education sector which computers have impacted. They are of great use in every field. Today, a life without computers is unimaginable. This undelines the importance of computer education. Knowledge of computers can propel one’s career in the right direction. Computers are a part of almost every industry today. They are no longer limited any specific field. They are used in networking, for information access and data storage and also in the processing and presentation of information. Computers should be introduced early in education. I don’t think I am making an overstatement in saying that computer education is as fundamental as learning English. Yes, it is. Conclusion: Computers have come a long way since the first unit was invented. With the advancements of hardware as well as software, we can now accomplish many, tasks such as typing papers, watching TV, editing videos, learning online and gaming. The world of computing has made our lives a lot more convenient. Without the invention and deployment of computers, there would be no social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Agora Company Essay

Bangladesh entered the supermarket era on August 24, 2001 with Rahim afrooz Superstores Ltd. launching Agora, a retail chain superstore in Bangladesh, introducing a new way to shop. The company has already opened four outlets Rifles Square, Gulshan Avenue, Maghbazar and Mirpur Zoo Road in Dhaka and many more are in progress in Chittagong and other cities of the country. The superstores are open from 9 am to 8 pm every day. Rush of customers is experienced in the morning and evening. Most of the employees of Agora are young and well-educated, some with Masters and MBA degrees. Agora superstores are currently focused in food retailing, ranging from a wide variety of fresh vegetable, fruits, meat and fish to grocery, bakery, dairy, personal and household products. Agora provides its customers with guaranteed quality and freshness. It carries more than 30,000 varieties of products and has plans to expand its product portfolio to carry other ranges of consumer products in the coming years . It aims at building a chain of more than 40 superstores by year 2010.Other supermarket brands have since emerged but Agora continues to be the leader and trendsetter. Agora has been the venue of launching of Thai products, which have by now become commonplace. Californian apples were launched here as have been Agora buys products direct from the growers, which benefits the latter as well as the customers. The products are procured under the direct supervision of its officials who maintain strict procurement and marketing standards. Products on the shelves are regularly monitored for expiry dates. Australia‘s red apples, and crystal products from France were unveiled here. Unilever chose to launch L‘Oreal range of cosmetics at Agora superstores. The big-sized ‘Boroi’ so common in the market was launched here. Recently the scientist behind the cultivation of Strawberry in Bangladesh launched the delicious fruit at Agora. Over 8 million have purchased products at Agora since the opening of Agora‘s fist superstore, with 2,000 customers using the Agoras every day on an average. Rifles Square and Gulshan’s upper markets pull more crowd than the other two. Customers prefer using both cash and credit cards. Agora constantly launches attractive promotions like Bazimat, Value Week or Super Value Offer or Diamond Ring Offer. The promoter of the Agora project, Rahim afrooz, is one of the most respected companies in Bangladesh manufacturing and marketing stored power systems for the automotive industry. All of Rahimafrooz‘s activities are in the service sector,  focusing on consumers, an official of Agora‘s operating company Rahim afrooz Superstores Ltd., said. The Agora project was a ground-breaking project that underlines the potential for harnessing the latent market in Bangladesh, said an executive of a leading corporate house adding, they have produced a service offering of inter national standard Agora is the largest retail superstore in Bangladesh. Agora‘s interior is similar to most supermarkets in design and layout due to trends in marketing. It produce tends to be near the entrance of the store. Various kinds of products and services are sold (at least 2500 products and services). Milk, bread, and other essential items are located in the rear and other out of the way places. This is purposely done to ensure maximum time spent in the store, strolling past other items and capitalizing on impulse buying. The front of the store or Front-End is where one might find point of sale machines or cash registers. Agora has plans to implement self-checkout devices in their stores in an attempt to reduce labor costs as well as bringing complete customer satisfaction. Understanding the historical context from which some of today’s organizational structures have developed helps to explain why some structures is the way they are but Agora using a structured which is more horizontally capitalizing on the innovativeness of their employees. Part of the reason, as this section discusses, is that organizational structure of Agora that has a certain inertia —  the idea borrowedfrom physics and chemistry that something in motion tends to continue on that same path.Because of this unique management process they have become the leading superstore in theBangladesh. The managers of Agora have to make decisions as they develop an organizational structure,although they may not be explicitly aware of these decisions. Agora is synonymous with marketat low prices and name brand quality products. The company basis of success and foundationscannot be credited to the current management. Agora formula for success simply put is theirrelationship with customers, employees, and technology that assists in forming relationships withtheir suppliers; places Agora as the top discount retailer, history-development, and Growth SamAgora to become the top discount retailer Competitive Advantage of Agora: Agora marks a turning point in the concept of retailing in Bangladesh. From the very beginning of its operation since 2001, the super-market chain store has put the convenience of its target consumers the middle and higher middle class, foremost in devising its marketing strategies. Agora attempts to maintain an image and atmosphere that is consistent with its pledge for quality and customer satisfaction. The stores occupy very large premises at expensive areas of the city and offer a wide assortment of food stuffs, daily house hold items and durables that would mostly appeal to its target population, Unlike, many such large stores, Agora tries to remain ahead of its competitors by sponsoring innovation of local innovations. Agora advertises through newspapers and billboards a very selective approach as it does not target the mass but mostly those living in close proximity to the store. The logo â€Å"Agora†- in English-points to the importance of the image factor, which is important to their promotional strategy adequate car parking space for congestion free shopping Air-conditioning and child’s play area and other amenities, are provided to increase the comfort of shopping. Although Agora is at a very early stage in its life, the management is at present following a very cautious marketing strategy. The overall 10% annual sales growth offer a reflection to the potential of Agora to attain its long term objectives of becoming the market leader in the retail industry. Near future sustainability of the competitive advantage: Agora is currently charging maximum retail price that is given to it by its suppliers. The prices are congruent with that of the rest of the market. However, the management has plans to offer prices lower than the ones offered by the competitors in the market.

Peter Pan- Coming of Age

PETER PAN- COMING OF AGE Coming of age can be simplified as the stepping stones that path our way to adulthood and intellectual maturity. It is a period of change experienced by a young person when they face a new way of understanding and accepting new ideas and views. The time when this transition occurs is different in everyone. Certain individuals reach this stage through a tragic, painful event which affects them to such extent that they are completely changed. Other individuals reach this time by simply growing older and having a better understanding of the world around them. J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan is a touching portrayal of a young girl who grows up through various events. The main protagonist Wendy first encounters Peter in a nursery where she was brought up. Along with her two brothers, John and Michael went to the enchanted island Neverland which is the home to Peter. It is also there where Wendy encounters love for the first time, and is forced to reconcile the vario us facets of her emerging womanhood. Family relationships can influence the way we come of age quite drastically. In the Victorian era, parents believed in strict conformity in their children, to set them right from an early age. Forget them, Wendy. Forget them all. Come with me where you’ll never, never, never have to worry about grown up things again. † Quoted Peter. Repetition is used here to emphasise Peter’s desperate need of a mother. Wendy chose to go to Neverland with Peter not because of rebellion but she wished so much to become a mother to Peter, without even hesitating of leaving her parents behind. The way she thinks is a consequence of the education given to Victorian girls. To learn how to become good wives and good mothers. After a period of time in Neverland, Peter and the lost boys experiences what it’s like to have a mother.This turns out to be very significant, because after having a mum. All except Peter wants to come back to reality, to the stage where you grow up. Wendy also misses home and her parent’s love. Being the elder sister, she knows she has the responsibility, not only to take care of the boys but to realise that the most important thing in the real world is to have a mother. Decision making is a process both the lost boys and Wendy had to go through. Making the right decision to leave their childhood once and for all and take their first step into adulthood.The author describes Wendy’s thoughts and feelings throughout this decision making process. The internal view of the character enables us to relate to her and understand her better. The ‘window’ is symbolic in Barrie’s book. It was through this window that the dream of living in Neverland came true, as the fulfilment of an incredible adventure, and it was again through the same window that all adventure came to an end and the children came back home. The whole cycle of coming of age begins at the window and ends a t the window.Wendy finally understands the full meaning of looking at things from a different perspective; as they say â€Å"One never really knows a man until one stands in his shoes and walk around in them. † Just taking on the role of being a mother to Peter and the lost boys was enough. Coming of age is inevitable; it isn’t about choice or obligations. It is a process that we all must face at one stage or another. When one learns to put oneself in different perspective, one sheds the irresponsibility of childhood. It is then when one truly matures into a young adult from a child.

Kulula case study analysis Essay

How Kulula.com became a big brand in south Africa? In 2001, it was no secret that the national carrier dominated the domestic carrier market. 9/11 was going to change the world forever. South Africa was not a good market for low cost airline because of two main factors: 1) There were no cheap regional airports. 2) Comair Airlines, kulula’s holding company didn’t have resilience to launch a new brand but the folks in kulula were determined and nothing was impossible for them. They refused to believe that it was mission impossible. The first challenge for them was to position the airline correctly. The folks had done their research and found that leisure market would be more interested in low fares and less need for flexibility than business class. This mean that new airline could afford to offer no full service(No-frill) something which never had been available before but having no pre-book seating, free meals at board, or no possibility of rebooking to other airlines, the aim was to keep the cost at minimum and savings passed on to the passenger. It could have been a huge mistake if kulula.com would have concentrated on low cost to position themselves. The smart way to position kulula on promise was to be sustainable and for long term and that is why kulula.com brand positioning of making it accessible and easy was on top. The second challenge this airline faced was on deciding on a name and in the world of branding your brand name can influence or sink. The name  (kulula.com) has taken a brand values such as simplicity, honesty, respect, innovation, safety. So why was Kulula.com a winner? 1. Available as a dotcom 2. Easy to say. 3. Means â€Å"easily† in zulu. 4. Stood for a benfit, rather than a service. The suitable name now decided upon, now was a time to launch the brand. It has tiny budget of 23 million rand as a loan and just one opportunity to get it right. It needed to be noticed and what was the better way was to make customers â€Å"Superhero† and for that reason that came with a punch line of â€Å"Anybody can fly†. The brand’s positioning line, ‘Now anyone can fly, endeavoured to communicate to ordinary people that they could become superheroes as the airline fulfilled their hidden wish to fly. Porter’s competitive model The five forces model depicts five elements which act on a business competitiveness. The South African airline industry experiences the following competitive forces which were identified by Michael Porter 1) Potential entrants: Kulula.com might see other airlines coming into the market for example Mango 1996, 1-Time though it liquidated and many other low cost airlines in the country. Foreign carriers including regional ones might also enter. 2) Bargaining power of suppliers: Aircraft manufacturers, aircraft leasing companies, labour unions, fuel companies, airports, hotels and local transportation service. 3) Bargaining power of buyers-in the case of Kulula.com travel agents thought the power is low, business travelers, leisure travelers, organized group tours. 4) Substitute products: Alternative travel modes for example, people might choose to use a bus, Greyhound, Inter-Cape, SA Road-Link or rail transport, private cars  (transportation). 5) Intra-Industry rivalry: The competitors for Kulula.com are South African Airways‟ low cost models which are Mango Airlines, South African Air Link, South African Express. Comparison of Kulula.com with Mango Airlines: 1) Both Mango Airlines and Kulula Airlines allow you to choose your seats online 24 hours before your flight. 2) Both airlines are being copycats & using Boeing 737-800s, which use 26% less fuel than the MD82s, saving a lot in terms of carbon emissions. The planes carry 186 people. 3) Both airlines’ call centres were impressively quick at handling the calls.

Traveling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Traveling - Essay Example In this way, these benefits will be defined as the following: the means by which travel helps the individual to experience the world, the means by which travel allows for an interaction of new ideas/languages/people, and the means by which travel helps the individual traveler to bring back many of the ideas and understandings that they gain to their home. Firstly, although it is obvious that travel allows the individual to experience the world, this experience is ultimately extraordinarily useful due to the fact that it is almost always different than what the person might see within their own geographic region. The differential and experience that exists within travel allows the individual to not only have a relaxing and leisure time, it also allows them to spend some time considering why and how their particular experience is different from the one that they would have had if they stayed at home. Oftentimes, the differences in places and locations allows the traveler to interact with new ideas, new people, new cultures, and sometimes new languages. By interacting with all of these aspects, the traveler becomes more educated, more aware, and more cosmopolitan (Ahn 44). This level of worldliness helps the traveler to return to his or her original city or town and realize that key differences, sometimes good sometimes bad, exists. Finally, through an understanding of these differences that has been described in the preceding section the traveler can oftentimes bring back home many of the ideas that they were exposed to during their travels (BÃ ¶rjesson 674). Due to the fact that no particular culture or nation is completely right or has found the best way to live life, many of these cultural and sociological interpretations of personal interaction, culture, religion, politics, and philosophy can be useful in helping to define the world in which the traveler interacts with at his/her home (Metz 322). In

Art Nouveau Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Art Nouveau - Essay Example Art Nouveau seemed advanced, willingly grasping the materials of the present and establishing itself as a movement of original, but at the same time, artificial novelty. Did stone validate the strength and riches of the affluent, whose self-centredness Art Nouveau ridiculed? Art Nouveau showed off its originality by transforming stone into a lively work of art with swirling flora, legendary people and mythical creatures. Art Nouveau skilfully used and manipulated stone, but at the same time, adopted new materials like glass, steel, iron, and polychrome glazing, usually in interesting and extraordinary mixtures or arrangements in the same creation, whether it is furniture or a dwelling. Every facet of human thought and behaviour were explored once more. It may be reasonably assumed that there was a transition to a worldview that was governed by an extraordinary sense of assurance and appreciation as regards the environment and human circumstances. There was an incomparable feeling tha t humanity was embracing life and existence, that the Gothic idea that people inhabit a world engulfed by the enigmatic, unfathomable, impenetrable, and bizarre was being eroded. However, as a contradiction, there was also a rejection of positivist ideas, western materialism, and empirical evidence. A feeling of aversion resulted in a return to forgotten traditions and bygone eras and a hostility to mercantilist capitalism. In spite of this dichotomy—a contrast between the natural and the artificial.

Strategic Management - Understanding a model Essay

Strategic Management - Understanding a model - Essay Example Strategy has, therefore, been defined as a unifying theme bringing coherence and direction to the organization towards its goals (Grant, 2010). These goals have expanded beyond the traditional realm of profit maximization towards economic value creation, disruptive innovation or techniques as well as considering the social and environmental impact of firms’ activities. Strategy, therefore, aligns stakeholders (shareholders, investors, personnel, suppliers, etc) with respect to organizational goals and facilitates their attainment. 1.2 Porter’s five forces model- History The figure (see Appendix 1) shows that, in the 1950’s and 1960’s, strategic management was focused on corporate planning and growth along with tighter financial controls and budgeting (Grant, 2010). Medium-term horizons, including 5-year plans, were set and used to develop macro-economic forecasts (Grant, 2010). The market players were relatively independent and were governed primarily by t he macro-economic forces, with little regard to the strategy of other players. The 70’s, with the internationalization of economy and events such as surge in oil prices further emphasized macro-economic volatility (Grant, 2010). Strategists approached a more granular level of analysis to find the best direction for the firm. Porter’s model of the Five Forces highlighted the economic implications on industry structure which put knowledge-based innovation and strategy at the forefront (Ryall, 2013). The model goes beyond the traditional â€Å"narrowly† defined view of competition as competing merely for profits to encompass other competitive forces such as suppliers, buyers, substitutes and threat of new entrants in the market (Porter, 2008). The model provides insight into the competitiveness of an industry, demonstrating that not all industries are equally profitable (see Appendix 2). It is rooted in the notion of creating and maintaining a competitive advantage (Nilsson & Rapp, 2005). Though (corporate) planning remains part of strategic design, the Five Forces model places this exercise in a more realistic industry-specific context. 1.2.2 Porter’s Five Forces Model - Definition 1.2.2.1 New Entrants It is important to consider that the threat of new entrants will depend on barriers to entry, and even barriers to exit as well as the reaction from incumbents. The theory identifies typical barriers to entry as: i. Economies of scale which result in lower production costs for already established players owing to their large volumes. ii. Significant investment is required for differentiation to override customer loyalty towards already established brands. iii. Capital requirement to build the business (plants, facilities, R&D efforts etc.) or equivalent acquisition of an existing business. iv. Experience in the business as well as patent protection provides a cost advantage to incumbents v. Regulations and laws prescribing business poli cies that impact costs or result in delay to enter the market (Henry, 2008). Furthermore, the reaction of incumbents creates additional threat to the shares of newcomers. i. Retaliation ii. Slow growth of industry or over-capacity: The lack of capacity may make it difficult to absorb new entrants. This can occur in several phases of an industry’s cycle. iii. The price conditions must enable the newcomer to be profitable. In this case, the total costs of entry should be lower than the market price

DNS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

DNS - Essay Example When DNS receives data from the computer named as ‘Peter’, it translates the computer name in to its IP address so that it can be recognized by routers and switches. Likewise, switches and routers recognize number based IP addresses for example, 192.168.0.1 ("What is DNS?† 2005). Moreover, while accessing Internet, or opening any website, humans need to know only the Uniform Resource Location (URL) i.e. the website address ‘www.hotmail.com’. This is a convenient way for humans of accessing the website with the URL instead of its IP address. DNS is a mechanism that converts these web based addresses in to IP address. Consequently, the expediency for humans of accessing IP address based systems via easy names is handled by the DNS server. DNS server is configured separately for this specific function in organizations. A typical DNS server requires configuration of critical components in order to work correctly. One of these components is the Resource Records (RRs) (Davidowicz, 1999) as these records are configured to handle several tasks including the translation of URL’s in to IP addresses, identification of host and host names i.e. the web server on which the website is hosted and processes associated with mail exchange functions. DNS logical architecture resembles a tree structure that works from top to bottom along with branches that are called leaves i.e. every single branch represents a leave (Davidowicz, 1999). Likewise, the main branch also called as node from where the tree originates extends from top to bottom represents the root. Nodes can be represented as .org, .com, .ws etc. identifies label of the website. If the length of the website is long there will are more branches and nodes associated with it. Likewise, while considering a URL from a DNS structure representing tree, labels are selected from the direction i.e. from left to the right. In the current information age,

How the environment plays a role in learning Research Paper

How the environment plays a role in learning - Research Paper Example (Dr. Maria Montessori) INTRODUCTION The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines learning as â€Å"the act or experience of one that learns†, â€Å"Knowledge or skill acquired by study† or modification of a behavioral tendency by experience (as exposure to conditioning). The two ideas central to the process of learning are one that knowledge is inborn and two, that it is acquired through experience. Though the relative contribution of these two factors still remains debatable, there is no doubt to the fact that an individual’s environment does influence the learning process (Ireson, 2008). For a child the major environmental factors in order of appearance in his life are parents or family, media, peer group, and classroom or school. The author intends to discuss the influence of each of these factors on the learning process in this paper. EFFECT OF ENVIRONMNET ON LEARNING The major factor determining the influence of environment on learning is related to observational and imitative learning which emerges in the early stages of child development. Beyond imitation, children are also seen to assess the implication of behavior and more likely to imitate behaviors which are rewarded. Thus factors such as thinking and reason come in to force in determining the path of learning process. However, environment remarkably influences these aspects of learning as well. Home environment: Parents & Family It is well recognized that home background effects learning process by exercising a multidimensional influence on the child. The four major variables that render the home environment educative, non educative or anti-educative are socioeconomic variables, family configuration (structural and educational aspects) as well as achievement levels, parental characteristics and home process variables (www.adi.org). The importance of home environment is underlined by the fact that the initial period of child development with exclusive and later predominant influence of home is the most rapid phase of development. Interventions at this stage are likely to have more impact on learning process compared to similar interventions at later stages. Even at later stages home remains a determining factor with continuous influence on social, nutritional, and emotional aspects of the child, thus affecting the learning process. Media Media in form of television, internet is knocking at the doors of childhood long before the child is introduced to any of his real friends. The animation characters and the advertisement jingles lure and influence them more than any of the peer group. The influence in some aspects is immediate and obvious such as vocabulary building and introduction to violence. Certain aspects may be gradual such as learning the technology and making children inquisitive as well as better informed. The creative use of media for imparting education, offering audio visual aids facilitating the learning process is being explored and exploited for m ainstream as well as special needs children. The optimal use of these aids is repeatedly stressed in researches. Caution needs to be exercised in the excessive use of media since it might lead to distractions and thus decelerate the learning process. Researchers such as Richard Clarke have argued against the effect of media on learning, declaring it as mere means of communication, thus considering the content as influencing the learning p

Pyschology-TV Character Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pyschology-TV Character Evaluation - Essay Example (IEP Freud, 2010) It was his insistence on understanding the human mind that allowed modern psychology to gain the abilities it has now. And while his approach may have been flawed in some areas, he made it possible to move forward in the field of psychology. Carl Jung is best known for being the founder of analytical psychology. Among his many accomplishments in the field of psychology are his developments of the concepts of extroverted and introverted personality and the collective unconscious. (Cowgil, 1997) A lingering result of his approach in popular culture is the use of the Jung and Briggs Myers typology test whish tested your personality type based on a series of questions. This approach is used today in many corporate entrance examinations to verify the person’s personality and abilities. Another interesting innovation was his theory regarding symbols and their use in defining and understanding individual human nature. The popular Rorschach Inkblot tests are a result of the influences of Carl Jung’s approach to symbolism in understanding the psychology of the individual. Carl Rogers is best known for his contributions to client-centered therapy using humanistic approaches.

Financial Markets and institutions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Financial Markets and institutions - Assignment Example March 16 saw an even worse situation in which economic data of the US painted a dismal outlook for the economy. Whole sales prices were seen increasing more than expected, while a lower than expected demand in the housing sector pushed the investors over the edge and panic selling took place. Investors sought sanctuary in US Treasuries instead of the stocks. Another key factor that lowered the stock index was the fact that option prices jumped up by 21% given the situation in Japan. However, the index saved grace and climbed up by almost 2.2% in the following two days, owing to the fact that G& offered their assistance in helping to control the Japanese fiasco. At the same time, the US manufacturing sector registered steady growth figures which boosted the S&P index. Another key factor was that investors displayed a slightly higher risk appetite and this saw Treasuries going down as yields rose to 3.26% from 3.19%. The most primary determinant of any index is the economic outlook of the region. S&P was highly influenced by the economic data that was coming forth. The disaster in Japan nudged the fact that US imports from the region would suffer. This could cause production issues in the US, which depended on machinery and raw material from Japan. Furthermore, the economic indicators such as inflationary pressure and weak demand elucidated the fact that the GDP growth would slow down. These assumptions triggered the rise in US treasuries which were seen as a safe haven. Oil prices not only raised the energy costs in US, but also created a sense of dread in OMCs’ who were at risk of supply shocks. Investors offloaded these stocks, judging that the P/E measures would drop due to lower earning concerns. Present valuation of future cash flows, or rather the ability to generate future cash flows was the major determinant in the decline and the rise in the market during this week. As mentioned above, the rise in manufacturing growth suggested that the sector wo uld show positive returns, hence the market jumped up. International support for the Japanese boosted sentiments that their production capacity would soon normalize. Investors took this as a positive sign and the S&P 500 gained ground on this. The economic theory apart from present value of cash flows which applies to the S&P’s fluctuation is the inflation development. If inflation persists, then monetary tightening could occur. Any hike in interest rates would hurt economic growth, and such sentiments can cause a decline in the indices. As mentioned earlier, the biggest determinant of price movements of stock indices are the economic indicators and expectations of these indicators. If expectations lead to believe that there will be a positive change, then the prices of these indices will jump up. The flip side of the coin is that if sentiments perceive the market factors to be unfavorable, then a downward spiral can ensue. Financial Crisis 2008-11 Introduction The global fin ancial crisis which started in early 2007 has proven to be perhaps the great financial catastrophe in history. Although it traces its roots back to the starting of the millennia, the subsequent meltdown was most gruesome over the past 3 years. What began as a crisis of the sub-prime mortgage market in the United States quickly transcended national borders and developed into an