Porters 5 Forces

Sonia’s smoothies 1) Nick calculated that of 200 customers who completed the questionnaire at the rock festival, the mean age was 23. The age distribution conformed to a curve of normal distribution with a standard deviation of 5. Calculate the number of customers aged 33 and over who featured in Sonia’s survey (33-23)? 5 = 2 2% of 200= 4 Answer= 4 2) With reference to the report on the UK smoothie market (appendix 2) analyse two limitations of using secondary sources as the basis of Sonia's decision making. Secondary research is one that is carried by a third party and not yourself.The information is collected as it may serve propose in the information you need even though it may have been collected for a different research. There are however some limitations of Sonia using this secondary research whilst making a decision on what smoothie flavours to bring out. In this essay I will discuss these and give my opinion on whether Sonia should or shouldn’t solely bas e the decision on this information. The first limitation of using secondary research is that it may be several years old and may not reflect the current market conditions.If this is the case for Sonia then it would mean that she may be releasing a flavour into a market that no longer exists. This would mean that her sales will not be as high as she would of hoped, it would also mean that her costs will rise as she would be producing smoothies unaware that these are not going to sell. The impact of both of these things happening will result in Sonia losing profit. This one example shows that for Sonia to solely base her decision on secondary research it would not be good for her business as she could lose out on a lot of potential customers.The second limitation of using secondary research is that it may not be accurate and reliable as it may be biased. If this does happen then it would mean that Sonia would be making a decision on information that is not 100% accurate and true. This would be misleading for her as she would be making a decision based upon something which is not going to benefit her at all. This would result in her again losing profits as her costing will rise through producing the goods and sales being low. This again shows us that if Sonia does make a decision solely based on the secondary research it may result in failure of the product she releases.In conclusion I think that Sonia should use secondary research as it gives her a basic idea about what is happening or has happened in the market which will give her a slight idea but it should be used in conjunction with some primary research such as questionnaires so Sonia 100% accurate data and knowledge. If this is done then it would ensure that the decision being made will be the correct one resulting in the success of the product she releases. 3) Discuss why nick might have recommended that Sonia should not base any decisions on the rock festival research.The rock festival research is a type of primary research. Primary research is one that is collected by yourself. In this essay I am going to discuss the reasons why Nick may have recommended Sonia do not make decisions solely based on the rock festival research, I will then come to a conclusion as to what Sonia should do to ensure the decision being made is the right one. Firstly by carrying out the rock festival research it means only targeting one group of people, therefore other groups such as families and children would be missed out.The consequence of Sonia making her decisions on just the rock festival research could be misleading as she has not taken into consideration groups that may be her major customers. For example families may be her major target audience and if Sonia makes a decision based on a group other than the families she could release a non desirable flavour. If this does happen then it would mean that she could be releasing a flavour that is not in demand which would result in less sales and this less potential profits.It would also mean that her costs will rise through production and this would be wasted money as she may not be able to sell these products. Secondly the response that Sonia may get from the people attending the rock festival may not be 100% accurate as they may not give the correct answers as they will want to enjoy the event itself. For example Sonia may approach an attendee at the rock festival and ask them questions but they may not give thought out answers as they are focusing on the music itself.If this does occur and Sonia does make a decision on this information it could mean that she is making a product which is based on incorrect data which could affect her sales which will make the released product less profitable. I think that Sonia should not base her decisions solely based on the rock festival. I however do think using a method of primary research is a good start to making a decision but she could have thought out where the questionnaires would be conducted a little better. For example she could have done it in a high street where there is a variety of people which would give her better feedback.For Sonia to base her decision solely on this it may result in her getting inaccurate results which would mean that the product released may not be as successful as it could be. I think that if Sonia wants to make the product as effective as it can be she should take do the primary research (questionnaire) in a more suitable place such as the high street. I also think that it should be used in conjunction with another type of research such as the secondary research that she had collected before.By using both types of information it will give her more of an understanding as to what a customer wants and it would make her decision making process a lot more easy and accurate. 4) If Sonia decides to use a market research agency to investigate the new smoothie flavours, analyse two ways they might use a quota sample. Quota sampling is a sample created by gathering a predefined number of participants from each of several predetermined categories, for example choosing 25 people both from the categories male and female.There are many advantages of using quota sampling one of which is that it clearly shows the demand from each of the categories. Sonia may want to decide to use a market research agency to investigate new smoothie flavours. I am going to analyse two reasons why they may use quota sampling whilst doing the research for Sonia. The first reason why the market research agency may use quota sampling is so that they can determine clearly what each group of people would like. For example once the research has been done using the groups male and female they can determine what each group wants and can look at the rends. By having this type of sampling it would give Sonia an idea of the wants of each group and she can then make her decision based upon this. I think that this type of sampling would be very good for Sonia as the market she is entering is one which is different according to people’s personal preferences and by understanding what each category wants she can make a decision so that she can cater for all of them. The second reason why quota sampling may be done is because it is a cheaper method as opposed to taster sampling.Taster sampling is when samples are given out to random customers to get their opinion on things, this means that the costs involved are very high as products are actually given away. By doing quota sampling it means that the cost of actually giving out products is avoided, this would mean that the cost that Sonia has to pay the agency will be less meaning her costs will stay down. 5) Discuss methods of primary research the market research agency might use to investigate new smoothie flavours for Sonia’s smoothies.Primary research is one that is done and collected by yourself, primary research can be split into three categories; test marketing, su rveys and observations, these can be then split even further into the actual activities. There are many types of primary research that can be undertaken and in this essay I am going to discuss some that the research agency may take up in order to investigate new smoothie flavours for Sonia’s smoothies. The first type of primary research that can be done is questionnaires; these are types of surveys.This method is a very good way of getting back answers from the customers as it can be both qualitative information and quantative information. Questionnaires can be either done in person but can also be done through post. Questionnaires are the most common type and I think that for Sonia smoothies it would be a very good method as she can get a lot of feedback from potential customers. this information would give her a very good idea of what the customers will want and it would help her make the correct decision.The correct decision will intern help her make profit as she knows sh e has the right product for the right market. However whilst doing questionnaires they will have to make sure that they do not annoy the potential customers through a lot of phone calls etc as this could result in the business losing its reputation and potential sales. The second type of primary research that the market research agency may undertake is consumer panels. A consumer panel is a group meeting that is held whereby questions are asked and noted to give the results.The advantage of consumer panels is that the information is likely to be accurate as the people attending it will have a lot of time to answer the questions meaning that they can thoroughly answer them. The disadvantage is that this type of research is that it may be more costly as the premises etc will have to be organised. This is a very good type of research as it allows qualitative information to be collected as well as opinions however I do not think that it is entirely suitable for Sonia smoothies as she do es not necessarily need discussions to take place as all she wants is opinions of flavours and what customers want.Therefore I think that this method is not entirely suitable for Sonia smoothies. Another type of primary research that can be undertaken is taster sampling. This is when samples are given of the product and feedback is received by potential customers. This type of method is very good for a product that people will have different opinions on as it allows feedback from all types of people. Although there is a short term cost of actually producing these samples the long term affect it could have is a positive one as it would mean that the right product is being sold to the customers thus increasing sales and profits.I think that this is a very suitable type of research that can be done by the market research agency as it would not only allow Sonia to get feedback for certain flavours it will also increase brand awareness which would help her in the long run. Furthermore th e market research agency may ask supermarkets about the best selling smoothies in their stores. This is a method of primary research as it will be done by themselves. This is a fairly cheap method of research as all it involves is contacting the supermarket with what they need.I think that this is a very good method of research for the market research agency to use as it will help Sonia identify which are the best selling types of products and she could use this information whilst making hers. However Sonia wants to create a new smoothie flavour so copying other flavours may not necessarily be the best option. A way in which Sonia could avoid copying is to maybe mix the two top selling smoothies in the store for example mango and peach flavoured smoothie; this would be different and unique. As a whole I think this method s fairly good in helping Sonia identify what flavours the customer tend to buy. As you can see there are various types or primary research methods that the market r esearch agency can undertake for Sonia smoothies. I think Sonia should use a combination of these. Firstly she should use questionnaires to ask the potential customers what types of flavours that they would like. Once this is done she can begin to make the samples for taster sampling which will then give her brand reputation as well as the opinion of customers. By doing this it would ensure that the research done is thorough helping her make her final decisions.As a whole I think to maximise effectiveness Sonia should use a combination of research methods to get a lot of peoples opinions. 6) Evaluate the importance of market research for Sonia’s smoothies LTD in making decisions over expansion. Market research is a systematic, objective collection and analysis of data about a particular market. There are many ways to carry out market research. In this essay I will evaluate the importance of Sonia’s smoothies using market research and will give my opinion of how it shou ld be carried out.Sonia smoothies has three man ways that she has identified so that the business can expand further, these are; expanding geographically, by seeking to distribute through a wider range of outlets and lastly expanding the range of flavours that they have. Firstly I am going to talk about the importance of using market research for the third aim of expanding its range of flavours. I think it is very important for Sonia smoothies to use market research as the smoothie market is one which is ever changing through new flavours and changing external factors such as health issues.By doing market research before releasing the product it would help the business understand the current market so that when they do release the new products they know that it is going to work in this market. By ensuring that the product being released is current it would help them increase their sales and profits, intern this would also have a knock on effect on helping them to achieve their first aim of expanding geographically as they will now have the money to do so. Secondly having the arket research can not only be a method for the company to release new products but it can also increase brand awareness as doing things like taster research will make people more aware of the company. If this happens then it could help them with their sales as people would be more aware and will be more confident in buying the product as they have already tasted it. By increasing the brand awareness it would mean that the sales will increase thus helping their profits. As you can see market research has more purpose for Sonia smoothies than just helping them to release new products.It is very important that Sonia’s smoothie takes out the necessary research so that they are successful in achieving their aims. Although market research brings a short term cost in the long run these costs will be covered by the success of the product depending on how well the research is done. Secondly is Sonia smoothie’s aim of distributing their products through a wider range of outlets than just health foods shops and events. There are many ways that market research will enable Sonia smoothies whilst making a decision as to what retailers to choose.Firstly market research can help them to choose the most effective shop. for example it can be used to see which shop has the least competition in it. By using market research to look at such things then it will help the success of the product as they will know that they do not have a lot of competition meaning that their product is more likely to be successful. This type of market research is vital as the market is always changing and the competition is always changing so for Sonia smoothies to have a competitive edge they will have to ensure that they have more sales.This is very important because if there are a lot of competitors it would reduce sales and intern decrease the amount of profits that are made. The second way that the market research may be used for this aim is to look at what retailers sell the most smoothies. By looking at this it will ensure that the smoothies that are made have the necessary demand. This is very important as it would ensure that sales can be made. Increased sales would mean bigger profits. however whilst doing this they will also have to look at the level of competition.As you can see market research is again very important in helping Sonia smoothies in their aim of expanding the number of retailers that they sell in. by increasing this it would help them increase brand awareness which will this increase the sales and profit. An increase in profit will help the business as it would mean that it will help them with their first aim of expanding geographically. Lastly Sonia smoothies has a aim of expanding the geographical area in which the smoothies are sold.This is linked to the second aim of selling through more retailers as that could help them do this. Market resea rch again plays a vital role in making the decision as to where to expand. For example market research can be used to see where there are there is the largest number of children for example (using children as Sonia smoothie’s main customers) by doing this it would give them a good perspective as to where there is a large number of their target audience. By having a lot of people that they can sell to it will increase their sales which will intern increase their profits.Market research is very important in using this as the market is ever changing and there is no point of geographically expanding into an area where the sales are not likely to be high as it would be a waste of money. In conclusion the importance of market research is very high as it could help the business achieve all of their aims that they have set. All the aims are interlinked for example increasing the range of flavours and selling these flavours through more retailers would mean increased sales, increased sales would result in higher profits which can then be used to fund for the geographical expansion.Because of this Sonia smoothies will have to ensure whilst doing the market research that it is done thoroughly, however they also have to keep an eye on the cost of the market research as they do not want to do it in such a depth where it costs them too much. If Sonia smoothies takes out the necessary market research then it could help them achieve all of their objectives of expansion, without market research the business cannot achieve their aims as effectively. Porters 5 Forces PORTER’S FIVE FORCES 4 Power of Suppliers Criteria Level Effect on Power Effect on Profit Difference of Inputs High Increases Decreases Cost of Switching Suppliers High Increases Decreases Threat of Forward Integration High Increases Decreases Supplier Concentration High Increases Decreases Difference of Inputs ?Product differentiation within inputs in the tech industry is largely dependent on how recently the input has been developed (the extent of which it is considered cutting edge). In cases where component innovations are the property of the supplier prices increase to compensate.However, in cases where products are low tech, older innovations, product differentiation is minimal. In some cases the differentiation between products may be so extreme that companies are forced to buy components from a direct competitor, just as Apple purchased roughly $8 billion worth of parts from Samsung last year (Levine 2013). Since newer, more recent technology is where the vast majority of profits are in the tech sector the level of difference of inputs is going to be considered high.This then increases the level of the bargaining power of suppliers put pressure on the company’s profit margin. Cost of Switching Suppliers ?Companies within the tech sector design their products around certain components, impacting size, shape, weight and function. If a company is to change their component supplier then the product will have to be reengineered, costing the company time and resources that could be allocated elsewhere. These then threatens the company’s ability to compete, stay relevant and develop newer products in a market with a high product turnover rate.Thus company’s have a high cost of switching suppliers, which in turn increases the bargaining power of suppliers which puts pressure on the buy’s margin and profitability. Threat of Forward Integration ?Forward integration, the ability of a supplier to enter a state of competition with their buyer (â€Å"Porter's Five Forces† 2012) is extremely high in the tech sector. For instance, MSI and ASUS, two long time component suppliers have both entered a state of direct competition with companies such as HP and Dell, who they still supply components for (â€Å"ASUS† 2012).Because component suppliers often have a majority of all of needed parts to make the final product they can easily enter the market, and while their products may not be on the cutting edge they are solid competitors. This threat of forward integration increases the bargaining power of suppliers, which decreases the profitability of the buyer. Supplier Concentration ?Supplier concentration refers to the strength of market share the top suppliers in the industry have in relation to the total industry (â€Å"Porter Model – Suppliers † 2010).Many of the larger tech companies have large market shares in their specific specialization, for instance Samsung has 97% of the world mar ket share in OLEDs (Choi 2011), 40. 4% in DRAM (Liu 2010), and 40. 4% in NAND flash (â€Å"Samsung Expands† 2012). ASUS currently controls 40% of the world’s motherboard market (â€Å"ASUS† 2012), while Intel controls 82. 3% of the global processor market (Shilov 2012). This extremely high supplier concentration results in a very large increase in supplier power, which drastically decreases buyer profitability. Summary The technology sector is rather brutal on buyers when it comes to their relationship with suppliers, who have a disproportionate amount of bargaining power with every category going in their favor. The difference in inputs, cost of switching suppliers, threat of forward integration and supplier concentration all favor an increase in supplier bargaining power and a decrease in buyer profitability. With all these factors considered it comes as no surprise that many companies make and develop their own components or are previous suppliers who have un dergone forward integration.Power of Buyers Criteria Level Effect on Power Effect on Profit Product Differentiation Low Low Decreases Number of Buyers/Sellers High High Increases Switching Costs Low High Limits Profitability Access to Information High High Degreases Access to Information ?The more information the buyers have, the better the bargaining power they are in. With all of the product information that can be accessed via the Internet, it gives the buyers added bargaining power. The Internet is a powerful tool for consumers.Buyers can easily use the Internet to compare prices, features, packages, and find great deals at the time of a purchase. There are many buyers who use the internet to access information and the effect on power is very strong which leads to having decreasing profitability for the whole industry. Switching Costs ?Buyers who can switch brands at any given time due to a low switching cost have more leverage than buyers who have high switching costs. The swit ching costs for this industry are low and have a high effect on bargaining leverage for the buyer. This leads to having limiting profitability for the industry.It limits the profitability because in principle, it puts a cap on how much producers can raise or reduce quality before they will lose the buyers business. However, in a few cases the switching costs can be high. When buyers purchase a phone, they can be purchased at a low price but with that it comes with a 2 or 3 year contract with a given provider. If this contract is breached, large fees are usually acquired by the customer. During this contract if a customer would like to purchase a new phone then they will have to pay full price for their purchase if their provider does not allow non-contract purchases.Product Differentiation ?In certain industries buyers will make their selection based on prices — which would increase price completion among companies. When the products are differentiated then the buyer’s options will be limited. Unfortunately, in the industry Samsung is currently in the product differentiation is low. This has a strong impact on buyer bargaining power and results in lower profitability. When we take a look at Samsung’s Galaxy Tablet compared with the ipad, we can see many similarities among the two products.The price is very similar, size, as well as features, and even the battery life. Number of Buyers ?In this industry, there are many buyers that it can attract. Since Samsung makes products such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, TV’s, cameras, and much more they have many buyers since most of the items mentioned everyone has. The more buyers in a given industry results in more sellers the company will have to compete with and more alternatives a buyer can choose from. The larger the buyers as well as the number of sellers, means the customer is more important to the sellers business.Summary ?The overall buyer bargaining power for the industry that Samsung is in would be labeled as high. This creates a few challenges for Samsung as it makes the market very competitive, leaves little room for error, and creating a following for the company. With the buyers having most of the power the chances for profitability can be difficult to reach but Samsung has done a great job reaching good profitability. They have handled the high effects of buyer bargaining power very well and have been gaining more buyer loyalty. Threat of SubstitutesCriteria Level Effect on Threat Effect on Profit Relative Price of Substitutes Low Increases Threat Decreases Profitability Relative Performance of Substitutes High Increases Threat Decreases Profitability Switching Costs High Decrease Threat Increases Profitability Buyer Propensity to Substitute Low Decreases Threat Increases Profitability Relative Price of Substitutes ?When it comes to the price of substitutes in the electronics industry, it really depends on the particular product being considered, b ut overall, they are fairly low.For example, if someone is looking to replace their laptop and is looking for a product that can satisfy their need to access the internet and communicate with others, they could consider purchasing a tablet, which is fairly inexpensive compared to the price of some computers. (Spoonauer 2011) The low cost of substitutes increases the threat on businesses because they are at risk of losing customers to the businesses that are offering lower priced substitutes. This loss of business would decrease their profitability. Relative Performance of Substitutes As with the price of substitutes, the performance of substitutes also depends on the particular products being considered, but overall the performance is fairly high. Technology has rapidly advanced throughout the past few years, which has led companies to create devices that allow users to complete many tasks on one device, rather than have separate devices for each task. Someone that normally uses a l aptop to access their email and chat with friends on social networking websites can now access those same things on a tablet, which is a much smaller and convenient device. Biggs 2011) The high performance of substitutes leads to increased threat, because customers are more likely to switch to a product that is high quality and extremely convenient. The increased threat would ultimately decrease the profitability, because it would be difficult for them to compete with a company that is offering a higher quality product. Switching Costs ?Depending on the individual customer, switching costs could be high or low. Switching costs tend to be high with electronics, because making the decision to purchase a new product usually takes some time and research. Chen 2000) It is risky to purchase an electronic device without looking up product information and customer reviews beforehand. Switching costs can also be high because it takes time to get used to a new product and figure out all of th e capabilities and features. This can be a time consuming as well as frustrating process. High switching costs leads to a decrease in overall threat, because many customers do not want to switch products if it involves a lot of time and effort. It is much easier to stick with a product that is familiar rather than try to learn something completely new.This will lead to an increase in profitability because customers won't want to switch to a new product offering from a different company. Buyer Propensity to Substitute ?Overall, buyer propensity to substitute is fairly low, with a few exceptions. Most people are satisfied with the products they are using and are not looking to switch products all the time and look for the most recent technology. Many people who have laptops would never consider buying a tablet, because a laptop does everything a tablet does, minus the convenient size. But there are people who are always looking for the most echnologically advanced products and they ar e more than willing to substitute their products. Some people like the convenience of a tablet and would gladly replace their bulky laptop with it. (Adhi Techno 2012) Because buyer propensity to substitute is fairly low, it decreases the threat of substitution, since most people don't have a need to switch out their current products. This ultimately increases profitability, because customers are remaining with that product rather than switching to a company that offers something else. Overall Threat of Substitution Overall, the threat of substitution has roughly the same negative and positive impact on profitability. The low price and high performance of substitutes draws customers away from the business and encourages them to look to those substitutes to satisfy their needs, thus decreasing profitability. High switching costs and low buyer propensity to substitute have a positive impact on profitability, because customers would rather stick with their products rather than take the time and effort to find a new product to satisfy their needs. Threat of New Entrants Criteria Level Effect on Power Effect on Profit Product Differentiation High HighHigh Diversity of Competition Moderate Moderate Low Start-up Costs High High High Distribution High High High Product Differentiation ?According to Randy Khoo, author of â€Å"Why Apple is Very Afraid of Samsung,† Samsung carries itself through many different production areas even though most people believe Samsung only dabbles in the electronics market. At this time Samsung has 6. 5% of the IT Hardware market share, 7. 1% of the peripheral market share, 8. 5% of the converged devices market share and 5. 2% of the personal computer market share (Khoo, R). This means that the company’s ability to spread over a broad span of products is immense.According to Khoo, Samsung’s power could one day take over Apple’s entire market share. Diversity of Competition ?According to the U. S. Patent and Trad emark Office’s records from 2011, Samsung applied for the second most patents in the Nation. In 2011 alone, they applied for and were granted 4,868 patents, right behind International Business Machines Corporation, who were granted 6,148 patents. Samsung’s closest competitor, Panasonic Corporation, raked forth with 2,533 patents granted (Patenting by Organizations, 2011). Start-up Costs ?As for all electronics, start-up costs are extremely high.According to Craig Kuhn, author of â€Å"Barriers to Entry,† the start up costs for firms selling electronics are extremely high due to the amount of technology and materials needed to create a marketable product. ?Another aspect new firms need to think about is their incoming reputation when attempting to compete with very popular firms. These existing firms are knowledgeable about the industry and already maintain relationships with key manufactures and the biggest retailers. These new firms need to infiltrate these rel ationships in order to make way into the market, which isn’t easy (Kuhn, C).Distribution ?Randy Khoo, author of â€Å"Why Apple is Very Afraid of Samsung,† states that Samsung’s ability to sell their products anywhere is enormous. Since Apple strictly sells their products in their stores, through their website and through their strict distribution channels, Samsung has the ability to take over the market by selling their products anywhere that will accept them. â€Å"Samsung also has an existing distribution network from their existing businesses. This is of tremendous value†¦These distribution channels will also be there for the future dissemination of other Samsung products.This means that if they want to, it’s easy for them to market more than just electronics (Khoo, R). † Intensity of Rivalry Supposed to have four criteria. Criteria Level Effect on Power Effect on Profit Product Differentiation High Decrease Power Increase Switching Cost H igh Decrease Power Increase Diversity of Competitors High Decrease Power Increase Cost Product differentiation: ?According to Arthur Thompson, in his article, â€Å"Crafting and Executing Strategy,† â€Å"the essence if a broad differentiation strategy is to be unique in way that are valuable to a wide range of customers† (Thompson 2010).He also mentioned that, â€Å"a focused strategy to focus keyed to differentiation aim at securing a competitive advantage with product offering carefully designed to appeal to the unique preference and needs of a narrow, well defined group of buyers† (Thompson 2010). Broadly, Samsung faces many competitors who produce a wide range of electrical appliances. They have competitors like LG, Panasonic, GE and so on. In a small niche, differentiation is still a major factor that influences the sales of certain products.For example, in the cell phone industry, there is a lot of differentiation constantly appearing in the cell phone co mpetition, because differentiation can gain more advantage to their products. Therefore, the more differentiation their rivals make on their products, the less power Samsung has, and the more they will have to increase the cost of their phones. Switching cost: ?The majority of Samsung’s products are electrical appliances which require relatively high switching cost. According to Samsung, the common price of high tech products, like cell phone or tablet, is around $500.The price of big electrical appliances is usually more than $1,000 (Samsung, 2012). Compared to other low switching cost products, the majority of Samsung’s products have higher switching costs. Also, the life cycle of those products are long, which means as long as customers buy the products, it is not easy for them to switch. Therefore, there will be more competition to attract customers. That would decrease Samsung’s power, and they would drive up cost to make their products more attractive. Div ersity of competitors: ?There are many competitors in the electrical appliance industry.In the high tech industry, there are also many different competing companies. Apple is one of the main competitors in the high tech industry. According to Vaughan-Nichols, â€Å"Apple has sued Samsung around the world. Apple has made the same lousy patent design claims: Samsung has stolen the look and feel of its iPhone and iPad† (Vaughan-Nichols 2012). The more competitors an industry has, the more the companies will spend to compete against rivals. Apple is only one of those competitors. As the industry becomes more mature, the diversity of competitors becomes wider. Therefore, the effectiveness of Samsung’s power in the industry will decrease.In addition, the more competitors the industry has, the more money each competitor will put into the production and marketing of goods in order to increase brand identity and image. Therefore, the cost goes up. Overall Power of Rivalry: ?Ove rall, the power of rivalry would have a negative effect on Samsung. The influence would be losing power in the market and driving up costs. The major influence from rivalries would be differentiation of products, high switching costs and diversity of competitors. RESOURCES Adhi Techno (2012) â€Å"Top Five Reasons Tablets Will Substitute Laptops, Cellular Cell phones, and Pcs† Accessed 15 February 2013. ttp://adhi-id. blogspot. com/2012/04/top-five- reasons-tablets-will. html. ASUS, â€Å"ASUS. † Last modified 2012. Accessed February 18, 2013. http://www. asus. com/About_ASUS/Marks_in_History_ASUS_Motherboards/. Biggs, John (2011) â€Å"10 Reasons To Buy A Tablet (And 5 Reasons Not To)† Accessed 15 February 2013. http://techcrunch. com/2011/02/12/10-reasons-to-buy-a-tablet-and-5- reasons-not-to/. Chen, pei-yu (2000) â€Å"Switching cost and brand loyalty in electronic markets: Evidence from on- line retail brokers† Accessed 15 February 2013. http://opim. wharton. upenn. du/~lhitt/ files/ICIS%20-%20Switching%20Cost. pdf. Choi, Jin. â€Å"NO1. † Last modified 2011. Accessed February 18, 2013. http://news. mk. co. kr/newsReadPrint. php? year=2010&no=346294. â€Å"Five Forces. † Wikispaces. cct424-samsung. wikispaces. com/Five+Forces (accessed February 17, 2013). Khoo, R â€Å"Why Apple is Very Afraid of Samsung† Android Authority. http://www. androidauthority. com/why-apple-is-very-afraid-of-samsung-26459/ (accessed February 18, 2013). Kuhl, C â€Å"Barriers to Entry† CED. http://www. cedmagazine. com/articles/2005/11/barriers-to-entry (accessed February 18, 2013). Levine, Dan.Bandor Daily News, â€Å"Apple and Samsung, frenemies for life. † Last modified 2013. Accessed February 18, 2013. http://bangordailynews. com/2013/02/11/business/apple-and-samsung-frenemies-for-life/. Liu, Ken. CENS, â€Å"Samsung' Share of Global DRAM Market Exceeds 40%. † Last modified 2010. Accessed February 18, 2013. http://news. cens. com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_34299. html. â€Å"Patenting by Organizations, 2011† U. S. Patent and Trademark Office. http://www. uspto. gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/topo_11. htm (accessed February 18, 2013). â€Å"Porter Model – Suppliers . † Last modified 2010.Accessed February 18, 2013. http://www. whatmakesagoodleader. com/Porter-Model. html. Quick MBA, â€Å"Porter's Five Forces. † Last modified 2012. Accessed February 18, 2013. http://www. quickmba. com/strategy/porter. shtml. Samsung, â€Å"Samsung. † Last modified 2013. Accessed February 17, 2013. http://www. samsung. com/us/. â€Å"Samsung – 5 Forces Analysis† WikiHealth. http://www. wikiwealth. com/five-forces:samsung (accessed February 18, 2013). Shilov, Anton. Xbit, â€Å"AMD’s Market Share Drops Below 17% Due to Market Conditions, Competition with Intel.. † Last modified 2012. Accessed February 18, 2013. ttp://www. xbitlabs. com/news /cpu/display/20121106225537_AMD_s_Market_Share_Drops_Below_17_Due_to_Market_Conditions_Competition_with_Intel. html. Spoonauer, Mark (2011) â€Å"Tablets vs. Laptops: What Should You Buy? † Accessed 15 February 2013. http://blog. laptopmag. com/tablets-vs-laptops-whats-best-for-you. Thompson, Arthur , Margaret Peteraf, John Gamble, and A. J. Strickland. Crafting & Executing Strategy: The Quest For Competitive Advantage. New York : McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2012. Thompson, Arthur. Crafting and executing strategy  . New York: Mc Graw-Hill Irwin, 2010. Vaughan-Nichols, steven.ZD Net, â€Å"Why is Apple scared to compete with Samsung?. † Last modified 2012. Accessed February 17, 2013. http://www. zdnet. com/why-is-apple-scared-to-compete-with-samsung-7000002823/ Trading Markets, â€Å"Samsung Expands. † Last modified 2012. Accessed February 18, 2013. http://www. tradingmarkets. com/news/stock-alert/ssnjy_samsung-electronics-expands-its-nand-flash-market-share-in-q2-10898 34. html. Valuation Academy (2013) â€Å"Porter’s Five Forces- Threat of Substitute Products or Services† Accessed 15 February 2013. http://valuationacademy. com/threat-of-substitute-products- or-services/.

Anger Management in the Health Care Workplace Essay

Health professionals carry out stressful activities on a daily basis. Nurses, doctors, and health workers’ environments involve a multitude of tasks, all to be done with amidst the stress of time, communicating with patients, and dealing with life and death situations. Besides individuals, health care work involves effectively integrating with the health organization, community expectations and government support. Breakdown of these systems is part of the health care work and is better to be viewed in a positive light. â€Å"A commentary suggests that conflict is a natural part of the human experience, especially in organizations. The intent of collaboration should not be agreement, but the ability for everyone to express their opinions no matter how disagreeable those opinions may seem. When people feel free to disagree, more ideas are put on the table, which can lead to more discoveries and to quantum leaps in improvement and innovation.† (Caudron, 1999) However, it is imperative to approach conflict management between health professionals using professional tools. The usual response of people under stress while reacting to opponents can be described in four responses. Angered people attack their adversaries by lashing out at them in the aim of either hurting the other party or protecting their interests. Some persons just merely avoid the conflict and start to ignore the other party. â€Å"Modern team-building experts say that the avoidance of conflict is the surest way to non-functional teams.† (Beck, 1998)   Sometimes, there is softening where conflicting parties pretend that everything is ok when its really not. And the last reaction to conflict is resolution where parties are able to resolve the conflict and find a point of unity once again. Health care professionals do not work as a single unit. High levels of teamwork are required in carrying out health care effectively and efficiently. Effective communication will help health professionals cope up with conflicts brought about by stress in the workplace. â€Å"Whether a manager is motivating the staff to increase sales or leading a team through a problem-solving process, effective communication is critical. Supportive language fosters a positive working climate, while negative or evaluative language can cause conflict and defensiveness.† (Aubrey, 1992) Different kinds of conflicts can be found in the workplace. â€Å"Task-oriented conflicts focus on the process the team will use to achieve its goals or its mission. People-oriented conflicts arise out of personality conflicts, struggles for leadership, and just plain rudeness by one member to another.† (Anonymous, 1996) But all conflicts can be resolved in due time with openness and processes to guide the management of conflict. One of these conflict management theories is elaborated by Montebello. Describing the conflict is the first step to resolving it. This step is a sure constructive way in getting all the parties’ help and goal to resolve the conflict. Describing the conflict makes the chaos stop. Conflicts found in health care are usually ridden with lots of emotions that conflicting parties need to take a different point of view first and get out of the situation in order to become more objective of the situation at hand. Once the conflict is described, exploring possible causes is the next process. The listening component is important in this level because parties need to hear out each other’s perspectives and hopefully try to understand the other party’s position. Health workers are good listeners and they will be integral to this part of conflict resolution. When the parties go to the stage where they start to give possible solutions, they get into the negotiating phase. Negotiation must be approached in a positive way. Through negotiation, everyone’s ideas are articulated and either supported or rejected by the parties. This process is crucial because when solutions do not pass through negotiations, they are more likely to fail and therefore the last step, which is to take action, will not be done in committed manner. Taking action leads to the actual solving of the conflict. Health care professionals will be able to work efficiently once more with regular conflict management. Conflict management is like oil to a machine. References: Anonymous. 1996.  How to cope with conflicts within the team. Getting Results †¦ for the Hands – On Manager:   C.  Saranac Lake:  Apr 1996.Vol.  41,  Iss.  4;  Ã‚  pg.  1,  1  pgs Aubrey, Charles A II,  Felkins, Patricia K.  Incentive.  1992. Team talk: How language and listening improve teamwork New York:  Dec 1992.Vol.  166,  Iss.  12;  Ã‚  pg.  51,  4  pgs Beck, Joe. 1998.  The failure to confront   Occupational Health & Safety.  Waco:  Jul 1998.Vol.  67,  Iss.  7;  Ã‚  pg.  20,  3  pgs Caudron, Shari. 1999.  Productive conflict has value   Workforce.  Costa Mesa:  Feb 1999.Vol.  78,  Iss.  2;  Ã‚  pg.  25,  3  pgs

Federal Government’s Response to Economic Issues of Tariff Essay

One outstanding feature of the railway transport during the 1880’s was reduction of freight charges to large shippers, a fact that was disadvantageous to small shippers. Railway transport was also infamous for excessive charges between destinations that were served by one railway line. Moreover, some railroads  Ã‚   demanded more payment from some shippers than from others, for the same distance covered (Brinkley et.al 1995). When Cleverland assumed office for the first time, his administration passed the first Interstate Commercial Act that primarily regulated transportation by railway line, in addition to creating an Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) that protected against any violations of the Act. The Act also prevented levying of extra charges, and discrimination in rates and rebates. Cleverland played an active role in effecting reduction of the high Tariffs. (Brinkley et.al 1995) He believed that high tariffs were the reason behind the high cost of living and for the rapid manner in which trusts were developing.   In 1887 and 1888, he made attempts to lower rates of protective tariff. These attempts were however, unsuccessful (Farmer, 2005). His   Ã‚  second term in office as the president was characterized by severe economic and financial crisis brought by collapse in the stock market. However, despite the crisis, Cleverland’s administration also saw the passing of The Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act of 1894. This law had important concessions to protectionism, in addition to reducing the rates of Tariff. (Brinkley et.al 1995) When Harrison became the president in 1889, his Government, in order to fulfill election promises, passed the McKinley tariff Act, This Act sought to protect established industries and to encourage growth of emerging industries (Farmer, 2005). The McKinley Tariff however became unpopular especially with farmers and consumers since it occasioned a rise in retail prices and led to increase in the import rates in industrial goods. However, during Harrison’s term in office, eight treaties that led to reduction in tariff rates were negotiated. Harrison’s tenure also saw the passing of the famous Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which vested the government with powers of filing lawsuits against business organizers whose actions restrained competition. This law was however, not enforced and the concentration of trusts went on as before (Brinkley et.al 1995). Reference 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Brinkley, A., Freidel, F., Williams, H. T. (1995). American History: A Survey. (9th ed). New York. McGraw Hill. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Farmer, B.R. (2005). American Conservatism: History Theory and Practice. England. Cambridge Scholars Press.

EU Law Case Studies Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

EU Law Studies - Case Study Example Astrid, Klaus's wife, had every right to apply for a job as an estate agent. The fact that Astrid was discriminated against because she did not pass a Spanish language test in Spain-although she had completed and passed a similar test in Germany-is illegal because member EU states must treat other EU member citizens equally.4 The fact that Klaus did not receive the same company pension entitlement as Spanish nationals who also worked as his company is a blatant form of discrimination against Klaus as a German national living in Spain, again because EU members are supposed to receive the same social benefits of domestic members.5 Another social benefit6 Klaus should have received based on the fact that he is an EU members was his five extra holidays, just as his Spanish national counterparts.7 Similarly, in Astrid's case, she was discriminated against by not being able to receive the same social advantage8 of receiving free banking as her Spanish national counterparts who worked at the bank as well. Sophie was discriminated against on the basis of nationality9 due to the fact that, at college, only students in her course who had lived in Spain for at least ten years could claim a special financial payment to cover the enrollment fee. This is because Sophie had only been in Spain for a few months. Still, however, this was a discriminatory practice. Additionally, since Heinrich wanted to apply for a student maintenance grant but was told that it was only available to Spanish nationals, this is another form of discrimination based on nationality.10 Klaus and Heinrich, respectively-had prior convictions in Germany for handling stolen motor vehicles and dealing illegal drugs-can argue that they were trying to start a new life in Spain but were discriminated against in their pursuits of operating legally in the country of Spain. Klaus could not receive social security benefits or the same company pension as the other workers at his job who were Spanish nationals. Heinrich needed a grant to go to school. Based on these exclusion from receiving the proper compensation and remuneration, which is a legal right of EU member citizens,11 it could be argued in court that Klaus reverted to an illegal venture in order to make ends meet. Similarly, the same argument could be made of Astrid-that she was forced into a bank job by virtue of discrimination12 as a German national and was forced to resort to illegal methods to help ensure her family's well-being in Spain. Freedom of establishment13 in another member EU country is a right guaranteed to individuals who are EU citizens. In court, it could be argued that Klaus and Astrid were denied this basic right.14 Regarding Heinrich, it could be argued in court that-because he was not allowed to get a grant based on discrimination due to him being a German national15 while residing in Spain-Heinrich turned to dealing illegal drugs as an activity to pay for his schooling, which would not have been an issue had he not been discriminated against.16 With regard to Sophie, the political group which she had joined was under surveillance by authorities in Spain, however she was not committing an illegal act

The High Cost of Cool Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The High Cost of Cool - Essay Example It is explained in the video that what the popular culture industry does is doing â€Å"whatever works †¦ with most people† (â€Å"The MTV Machine†). The â€Å"prematurely adult† nature of both the â€Å"mook† and the â€Å"midriff† is a way of giving shape to a consumer at a youngest possible age (â€Å"The Midriff†). And on the other hand, the â€Å"mook† and â€Å"midriff† become the ultimate images of youth (â€Å"The Midriff†). These two terminologies have been explained in the below-given description: The â€Å"mook† is a hopelessly immature male whose grotesque and inappropriate antics are elebrated for their transgressions, whereas the â€Å"midriff† is a female sexualized beyond her years whose emotional immaturity makes her ripe for inclusion of fantasies for sexual exploration (Ladousa, 51). This self-images propagated among the youth have an influence of their own on the young people but youth culture is too complex a matter to be controlled merely by specific media-promoted self-images. But still the young people are prone to such stereotyped imagery, to an extent. Natoli has called attention to the fact that the present generation in the US has been called the â€Å"Mook and Midriff Generation† (93). Especially, the â€Å"mook† and â€Å"midriff† culture has a patriarchal message that tells a girl that â€Å"your body is your best asset† (â€Å"Midriff†). The threat that these images pose to the youth in terms of stereotyping is that â€Å"your son or daughter, and grandson or granddaughter is getting hammered with the pressure to be a mook or a midriff† (Pratt, 28). It can be seen that though the â€Å"mook† and â€Å"midriff† images are time bound, they are going to have an impact on the teenagers and the chil dren who grow up every moment exposed to the media images of

Categories of Crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Categories of Crime - Essay Example As stated previously, criminal law differs from civil law in that it requires an agent of the government, whether state or federal, to charge someone accused of a crime and prove that they are guilty of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Except in cases where the accused has foregone, or waived, his right to a trial by a jury, the decision of guilt or innocence must be determined by a jury of his or her peers, usually a twelve-person group of randomly selected citizens that have no knowledge of the crime that the defendant has committed (American Bar Association, 2011). This is to help protect the accused by forcing the jury to make a decision of guilt or innocence based on what they hear in the courtroom, not what they have read, heard, or seen somewhere else (American Bar Association, 2011). The two most common types of crimes prosecuted in state courts involve felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies are the more serious of the two, and usually come with a penalty of no less than 12 months in prison, and can be punishable by death in some states (Cornell University Law School, 2010). ... After the War for Independence, a push was made for less of a harsh legal system, and through the years certain crimes have undergone evolution. For example, murder was split into two categories, and a bill was duly passed by the 1794 Pennsylvania legislature to include felony murder in the category of first-degree murders (McClain, and Kahan, 2002). Other crimes as well, such as the actions that constitute a misdemeanor, have seen their own evolution through the legal system since colonial times (McClain, and Kahan, 2002). Espionage and treason differ from felonies and misdemeanor crimes in that they are most often considered federal crimes, and as such are usually tried in a federal court, not by state courts. As per the Federal Judiciary System, the federal courts are involved because the United States is quite often the party in the case. Even in cases of industrial espionage, or trade secrets, it is a federal crime made so by the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, in which two sect ions, according to the House of Representatives and Title 18 of the United States Code, criminalized the act of both foreign economic espionage, and commercial economic espionage. Espionage, according to the Miriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as â€Å"the practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or competing company†, while according to the Constitution, treason is an act of war against levied one’s own country (U.S. Government Printing). More specifically, it is defined in modern times by the U.S. Code, Title 18, which states, in part, that whoever has allegiance to the United

Ideological Criticism on Documentary film Catfish Research Paper

Ideological Criticism on Documentary film Catfish - Research Paper Example As the story unfolds, one is able to find that the profile used is fake and the reality which is found by the end of the story is evident (Joost, Schulman, 2010). This particular artifact defines the controversies surrounding the trends on Facebook and the complexities which are associated with the cultural and societal beliefs with Facebook. The documentary becomes a reflection of the culture and the current questions that are associated with building an online reputation. This paper contends that the acceleration and pervasiveness of technology has led to a system of mis-communication in which a cultural climate based on deception and dependency has manifested itself. However, the documentary isn’t important to explore only because of the complexities now in society with technology. The debates about the reality of this documentary as well as whether it is an artifact used only to idolize today’s trends further show that the cultural climate is growing into one based on technologies and the false representations associated with this. Catfish and Portrayals from Technology The concept of â€Å"Catfish† is one which can first be explored through the concepts of online interaction and the way in which individuals portray themselves within the world. Whether this documentary holds truth or not, there are questions related to the strong response from society. A response which is noted by most reviewing the film is that the interaction between the two having the relationship over Facebook seems genuine. This is important to note as it creates a commentary about society and how the social participation is now leading into a world where technology and factors based on relationships through the computer are accepted and acted upon continuously. The relationship is essential to understanding the power of social networks as well as the belief in connection which is created when using technology (Geoghegan, 2011). The amount of time spent in the film with the long distance relationship without the meeting is one which is acceptable and which most would apply as applicable to the way in which most relate to technology in the present day (Kirk, 2010). Another exploration about the use of Facebook and the social participation occurring is based on the ease of use with most, specifically with using and manipulating technology. The woman who is able to change her appearance, demeanor and the persona which she carries is consistent through the entire movie, even though it becomes fake. What is as important is with the capturing of the film. When speaking with the film makers, they state first that there was never intention to make this into a film; however, the diary of events was easy to record and keep consistent. When things started to turn was when the filming was able to become a main part of the documentary. This shows that the combination of social interactions and technology is continuing to emerge with a natural culture whic h is based on the simple to use and growing technology as a component of the culture (Mullen, 2010). The simplistic use of technology and the application used for social interactions is not only growing because of the ideas of culture and the ability to create a change in lifestyle from simple technology. Another important component is the establishment of technology and social interactions as an element of popular culture, as opposed to being a marginalized group of individuals

19th Century that Deals with Fashion, the Body, Beauty Ideals or Essay

19th Century that Deals with Fashion, the Body, Beauty Ideals or Advertisements - Essay Example The 16th and the 17th century witnessed the reimbursement of clothing by the extrinsic authorities.Clothing is known to be one of the key factors with the help of which the identity of an individual could easily be interpreted and it also signaled one's class or membership in the society. With years passing by, the fashion industry gave rise to a number of laws on clothing and apparel in order to preserve class or gender distinctions. The clothing of the time by the decade had concluded that the gender distinctions in fashion expression were quite overstated. Even though, the fashion for women would be more precisely delineated as loud and flamboyant rather than practical and realistic, there has been a dissimilarity which in itself asserted to evidently tell apart from the male gender.As Wahrman noticed, towards the conclusion of the eighteenth epoch, there cropped up a deep-seated transformation in the notions and norms of self as well as personal identity (Wahrman, 2006). This was probably an abrupt transformation which was no scarce of a revolution in the comprehension of self-hood as well as of the individuality classifications inclusive of the race, gender, and class. This change had been comprehensive of a fascinating assortment of the cultural evidence from the eighteenth century realms where the notions of the self which are expressed as the ancient regime of identity. However, it appears weird and incomprehensible to the present day acquirers. The analysis of how this unusual world came to an instant conclusion where the far-reaching consequences of that transformation were a subject of examination. This incognizant cultural rebellion set the sight for the range of new departures which had indicated the onset of Western novelty. All in all, the modern idea of the self originated from the end of the eighteenth century. With the advent of the 19th century, new elements marked their presence in the fashion arena. With improvised approaches of travel, the social order has become more restless and keen of riding in to the world with tremendously new techniques and trends. The fashionable women conceded full trunks, for the reason that it was not well thought-out the thing to put on the gown for consecutively two times. The influence of national characteristics had been degraded since about 1675, however, became internationally acclaimed by the arrival of the 19th century (Homepage, 2005). in the early on of the 19th epoch, the dresses worn by the women continued to reflect the trends and styles which were initiated by the French. These were allegedly supported upon the classically traditional dresses of the ancient Greece where ladies were dressed in loose-fitted, draped as well as high-waisted apparels in white colors. Overdresses included three quarter-length apparels from a warmer fabric which inclu ded a variety of shawls, pelisses as well as redingotes (Homepage, 2005). Subsequently, more color was brought back at an even more natural gradation where fullers, short-length skirts and large brimmed hats or bonnets became a norm. 2. The art of Beauty The ideal of a perfect human body is the consequence of culture that comprises of the religious functions, economy, advertisements as well as other factors. Beauty can not be defined as an immanent or objective quality of things, for the reason that every age, place as well as social class that

The Concept of Grace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Concept of Grace - Essay Example The accused would defend them as being an orphan, was defending them, and would be granted the grace. Grace may also occur in a situation where one is given time to pay a dept. Many always referred to it as the grace period. If a friend owes some money, he may give each other grace period to get the money. This grace could be given because the debtor was in little problem and could not pay up on time. It is difficult to find other organisations such as banks giving grace period. This is because they have their fixed times set out for payment of loans. According to religion, God gave his only son, who was without sin, to come and die for the sins of humans. This shows how much God loved the human race. He did not want us to perish in sin (Gesenius & Samuel, 2003). One of the most appropriate ways to express grace is by forgiving someone who has behaved inappropriately. This may or may not be a relative. When parents indulge their children and continue to pay school fees for them, it is a measure of grace. Another appropriate way to show grace is when one does well to someone who always wrongs him or her. In this way, the person doing the crime does not deserve to be treated rightly, but they are favoured. This is a show of the unmerited favour. People always say we are living by the grace of God. This shows that humans have not given God anything in the form of payment to allow them to live. God just allow them to live even if they continue sinning. Persons are prone to taking advantage of others kindness. The above named examples could be ways of inappropriate ways to show grace, if one is your friend and they keep doing wrong things because they know that they would not be held accountable. In such a situation, it is wrong to show grace. This is because they are taking advantage of other peoples kindness. Giving people a long grace period to pay up their debts is inappropriate. This is because they tend to think that everyone is lenient as you are. This

Critical Analysis of Looking for Alibrandi and Swashbuckler Essay Example for Free

Critical Analysis of Looking for Alibrandi and Swashbuckler Essay Imagine, you are a 12-year-old boy, just about to make the transition from primary to high school, and your father is dying from cancer. Would you want to face the dragon or run away†¦? In everyone’s lives, there are challenges that alter peoples view on themselves and their world. This may or may not have positive outcomes, for one or two of the people involved, but we must all understand the consequences, whether good or bad, of changing perspectives. Josephine as a character in Kate Woods’ film â€Å"Looking for Alibrandi† highlights the ups and downs of being a teenage girl in turmoil, trying to find her own way in a community where she â€Å"doesn’t belong†, to find a positive outcome in what she feels is a world not made for people like her, especially with her Father trying to participate in her life again, when she has never really known him by anything other than name. See more: how to write a critical analysis essay step by step Similarly, in James Moloney’s short story â€Å"Swashbuckler†, after the protagonist, Anton’s father has cancer and he is fearful of â€Å"the dragonâ€Å" and refuses to visit his father, but towards the end of the story his friend makes him realise that his dad is not the dragon, the cancer is, and Anton’s father is the prince trapped in his cave, so Anton finally agrees to see his father in hospital, and watches him â€Å"wither away† In both of these texts, a range of visual and language techniques are used to present these changes in perspective to their audiences successfully. A change in perspective can be tough, but there is always some small light at the end of the tunnel. For Josie, her change in perspective towards her father, Michael Andretti, has a positive impact, as this changing relationship allows her to grow in her understanding of herself and her cultural identity. This change allows Josie to grow and mature, and realise that her father was not the monster she created him as when she was growing up, and display to the viewer how much she really needed her father in her life so she felt complete. Kate Woods creates the initial hatred of Michael Andretti through the use of diegetic sound as a plane flew over Nonna’s house when the small family were yelling at each other. This scene was a clear point about how much Josie resented her father for leaving her and her mother on their own, and because of all the horrible names she had been called her whole life because the schools she always went to were â€Å"all about what your father does for a living†. Josie’s catalyst for her change in perspective was when she broke Carly’s nose after getting sick of being called names. Michael showed her that he cared about her by taking time away from his work to â€Å"rescue† her from getting kicked out of school. Once she had accepted her father, Josie’s character was happier and more forgiving. Through the use of pleonastic music in the scene where Josie is staying for the weekend at her father’s house, and the repetition of the lyrics â€Å"in an unguarded moment† both highlight the raw happy emotion that she has finally come to terms with the fact that her father is in her life now. The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of 2 chemical substances: if there is a reaction, both are transformed. † – A quote from psychologist Carl Jung. James Moloney portrays this notion perfectly in his short story â€Å"Swashbuckler†. The narrator, peter, meets the protagonist Anton at the beginning of the story as he is being bullied by the thugs at their school, when Anton rescues peter from â€Å"imminent death† The use of a cliche â€Å"Ask not my name, but whether my cause be just. Highlights Anton’s attitude to life and wanting to help other people rather than face his own harsh troubles. Anton’s initiator for his change in perspective was when his newfound friend, peter, forced him to face the thought of his dad and the possibility of not having one anymore, and tries to persuade him to visit his dad. The use of confronting emotional language â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ it was your father. He was the dragon. † – Peter â€Å"Yes. Yes, yes, yes. My father’s turned into a dragon and I don’t know what to do about it. I’m so afraid and Im ashamed that I’m afraid† – Anton† evokes a strong feeling of empathy towards the young boys, and their situations. When Peter finally convinces Anton that his father is a prince trapped in a dragon’s lair, and they go and visit him in the hospital. The use of thought-provoking emotional language† â€Å"But what’s going to happen†¦after? † –Anton† â€Å"you’ll manage Anton, I know you will† – Anton’s Father â€Å"what if I haven’t dad? How can I know whether Im brave enough? Anton â€Å"outlines Anton’s raw emotion and fear for his father no longer being in his life, and the fear of this being his last memory of his father, but also has the innocence of a child just wanting the â€Å"sickness† to â€Å"get better†. The notion that a difference in perception can either be a positive or negative transformation is a very true statem ent. In both situations, positive and negative feelings are experiences on the long road of a change in perspective.

The major threats in revenue cycle

The major threats in revenue cycle The objectives of the billing process are to ensure the customers are billed for all sales, invoices are accurate, and the customers are billed for all sales. Accurate billing is crucial and requires information identifying the items and quantities shipped, prices, and special sales terms. But, sometimes threats might happen; the transaction might result from either a mistake or a fraud. The company might face failure to bill customers. The failure will cause loss of assets and revenues and inaccurate sales, inventory and accounts receivable data. For example, the employees who ship the product to might not bill the customers as they customers are their friends. Besides, no reconciliation of inventory amounts shipped with billings might cause failure to bill customers. This could result in undetected underbilling. In addition, the bookkeeper might do not periodically verify that all sales orders and shipping advices have been invoiced. So, the company must observe the problems faced and reduce the risk of errors and fraud. The company may separate the shipping and billing function to prevent that the failure to bill customers. The internal control can manage the billing and shipping records should be integrated on the computer system to provide for reconciliation of inventory amounts shipped and billed. The company internal control must periodically verify that all sales orders and shipping advices have been invoiced. This is because accurate and timely billing is crucial. The Billing Department may require information from the Shipping Department on items and quantities shipped and from Sales on prices and other sales terms. The basic document created is the sales invoice. Invoices may be sent or received in paper form and in invoice-less systems, ensure every shipment is recorded, since the shipment triggers recording of the account receivable. The wellà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬managed internal control should also merge the billing process with sales and marketing by using data about a customerà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s past purchases to send information about related products and services with the monthly statement. All sales tickets should be prenumbered and accounted for. This would quickly spot missing tickets. On top of that, I suggest that the On-line data entry by sales staff. The system should include credit checks on customers as well as check inventory availability Email notification of each department (shipping, billing, etc.) whenever another department performs an action (e.g., billing is notified whenever shipping enters data indicating that an order has been released) Furthermore, there might be the billing error occurred during the sales transaction. The billing might be underbilling or overbilling. This may cause loss of asset and customer dissatisfaction. The employee might prepare the invoices without notification about what was shipped and when. This will cause the billing mistakes when shipping goods. The employees maybe deal with the wrong price list of the products or goods to cause overbilling customers. The solution for the billing error can be controlled by prepare invoice only after receive copy of shipping advice indicating quantities shipped and date. The internal control can use the prices of computer-based such as have the computer retrieve prices from the inventory master file. This can prevent the wrong price with the goods shipping or even wrong price wrong goods. Moreover, the company can use date entry edit control to eliminate the billing error. Have the system to check the inventory availability as order data are entered with the prices of it. The company also can use online terminal to enter sales order date into the system as orders are received to avoid the quantity error with billing error. Internal control can also do have a system to save all the inventory or product list with pricing list so that the company can use barcode scanners to scan the products order. It can prevent the data key in error. Furthermore, for the billing error I suggest that use passwords to limit access to authorized users, and to restrict the duties each employee may perform and which files they may access in case to prevent the inventory data and prices changed by the employees. Next we can also check quantities on packing slip against quantities on sales order to make sure again the right goods shipping and the billing cost. In addition, posting errors in updating accounts receivable is one of the threats of the billing in revenue cycle. Accounts can be written off to cover theft of cash due to uncollectible accounts are not determined on the basis of established criteria. Any of fees earned, cash receipts, and uncollectible accounts expense could be either understated or overstated because of undetected differences between the subsidiary ledger and the general ledger. Also, fees earned and cash receipts or accounts receivable could be understated because of failure to record billings, cash receipts, and write-offs accurately. Trial balances of the accounts receivable subsidiary ledger are not prepared independently of, or verified and reconciled to, the accounts receivable control account in the general ledger. It causes customer dissatisfaction and loss of sales and may indicate theft of cash To solve of this threat problems, the internal control can establish and use criteria for writing off accounts receivable. Write off should be authorized by someone who does not have access to cash and periodic reconciliation of the subsidiary accounts receivable ledger to the general ledger control account for accounts receivable. Besides, the invoice shall be prepared as soon as the order is approved and the inventory, accounts receivable and general ledger files are updated at that time to prevent the delay between order and shipment so that the bill can post into account receivable just in time to avoid any error happened. Between, in case to avoid the error in maintaining the customer accounts, the company internal control may edit checks such as validity checks on customer and invoice numbers so amounts are applied to the correct account. The company can also make the field check on it to ensure payment amounts are numeric. To make sure there are no error occurred during the up dating of account receivable, the internal control shall make the reconciliation of subsidiary accounts receivable ledger with general ledger and sending the monthly statements to every customer to provide independent review. To reduce this threat, I suggest that the company can compare the number of accounts updated with the number of check received. A variety of inputs edit checks (limit checks, range checks, reasonableness tests, etc.) to ensure completeness of data entry and accuracy. Besides, establishment of electronic lockboxes with banks so that customer payments go directly to companyà ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢s account. Use email notification of each department whenever another department performs an action. The system that provide should include the credit checks on customers as well as check inventory availability to avoid the posting error in updating account receivable and maintaining customer accounts.

Effect of Humorous Advertisements on Customer Behavior

Effect of Humorous Advertisements on Customer Behavior Humor has a universal language. It doesnt need degrees in obscure languages, hardly ever in Clinical Psychology and it is one of the few devices used to make people smile and think at the same time. Humor has been widely used in advertising. However, while humor has attained popularity in advertising, its use is continuously being debated. The reason for this debate is that there are a number of both positive and negative effects which can be attributed to the use of humor. The purpose of this research paper is to answer following questions:- The impact of gender age on the degree of affection to the ads. The effect of humor appeal in Ads, on the consumers buying decision. To develop the conclusions exploratory descriptive research designs are used. Primary data are collected with the help of Focus group technique questionnaire method data is analyzed with the help of various statistical techniques. The conclusions of this paper help in clarifying the dilemma of humorous advertisements. Introduction: Advertising is one of the critical marketing variables which marketers use to differentiate products in a cluttered marketplace. In order to increase the effectiveness of advertising for a product, advertising messages should be unique and meaningful. This concurs with the von Restorff effect, which concludes that interference is minimized by the presentation of a unique item in a group of similar items. Companies have attempted to use many vehicles to create this differentiation effect. One such vehicle is the employment of humor. In order to have a better understanding, we need to further explore the world of advertisements, the appeals used, the targeted decision making components and the effects of Ads on the targeted consumer as a whole. There are two main components advertisers aim to effect; the affective component, where affective message strategies are applied by invoking feelings and trying to match them with the product or service offered in an effort to increase the likeability of the product, and also the cognitive components, where the Ad focuses on the attributes and benefits of the product, encouraging the consumer to buy it. Such components are affected by the leverage points in an Ad; these are the features in the Ad that helps the consumer transfer the advertised message into personal value. In order to achieve that, over the years, advertisers have attempted a wide variety of advertising approaches, there are seven main ones; fear, humor, sex, music, rationality, emotions and scarcity. Advertisers use one or combine several of these appeals to ensure that their targeted audiences receive their message. However, nowadays, humor appeal is being used extensively sometimes combined with others, but most of the time it is strong enough to be used solely. Humor in advertising constitutes billions of dollars in spending each year (Campbell et al. 44). A variety of benefits have been suggested for humorous appeals including: 1) Humor attracts attention. 2) Humor can increase retention of the advertising message. 3) Credibility of the source can be enhanced with humor. 4) Attitude toward the ad can be enhanced with the use of humor. 5) Counter arguments may be minimized with the use of humor because it acts to distract the audience from making cognitive responses. Furthermore, the popularity of humor is evident in the fact that 24.4% of television advertisements attempt to be humorous (Alden Hoyer 29). However, while humor has attained popularity in advertising, its use is continuously being debated. The reason for this debate is that there are a number of both positive and negative effects which can be attributed to the use of humor. Throughout the literature of this paper, the debatable effect of this appeal is discussed. Literature Review: There has been numerous researches proving that advertisement with humorous appeal can gain consumers likability. A strong positive correlation is also found between the degree of how well an advertisement is liked with the likability to the brand advertised (e.g., Gelb Pickett, 1983; Haley Baldinger, 1991; Weinberger Campbell, 1991; Zhang, 1996). In short, adding humorous elements can enhance ones likability of an advertisement and eventually increase liking to the brand advertised. Defining Humor Humor has been widely used in advertising. It has been suggested that 24.4% of prime time television advertising in the U.S. is intended to be humorous (Weinberger Spott, 1989). Regarding to advertising budget, 10% to 30% out of the total expenditure of $150 billion in the U.S. national media, is paid for the placement of advertisements that are having humorous content (Spotts, Weinberger Parsons, 1997). Operationally. humor is defined, according to Sternthal and Craig (1973), as heightened arousal, smiles, and laughter exhibited by an audience in response to a particular message (p.13). Moreover, humor can be defined in terms of how well the audience perceive the level of humor and it can be administered by pencil and paper test to measure how the audience perceive a particular message is humorous and funny or not. Humor in Advertising and Its Effect The reason why humor has been widely used in advertising is due to its power of create liking towards the advertisement by from the consumer. It has been found by Weingerber and Spotts (1989) that advertising practitioners coming from the U.S. and U.K. are generally favor in the use of humor on advertising. A couple of reasons are found and supported by many other researches that humor can enhance ones favorable attitude towards an advertisement. It is reviewed by Weingerber and Gulas (1992) that ten advertising studies and seven non-advertising studies report a positive effect of humor on liking while only two advertising studies and three non-advertising studies report neutral or mixed findings. Objective: The purpose of this research paper is to answer following questions:- The impact of gender age on the degree of affection to the ads. The effect of humor appeal in Ads, on the consumers buying decision. Research Methodology (a) Research Design: To have a better understanding about the issue exploratory research design was used. Two focus groups (i.e. one for each gender) were conducted to get the in depth insights about the topic. Each group consisted of 7 persons. Further descriptive research design was used to get the primary data with the help of close ended questionnaire. (b) Sample Design: 70 respondents were selected through convenience sampling. (c) Analysis: The data collected was analyzed with the help of various statistical tools like Chi-square test, ANOVA etc. Analysis Interpretations Exploratory research results: (I) Focus Group (A) It consisted of 7 males who were asked to provide views on the issue. It was a general opinion that to make the ad interesting creative there is in no harm in using humor appeal in ad but one also considered it purely offensive. They were also agreed on the fact that some time they buy the product because of Ad effect but product attributes are also equally important. (II) Focus Group (B) It consisted of 7 females who were asked to provide views on the issue. A contradiction in views was seen; half of them believed that humor appeal increases the liking of ads while rest treated it offensive or unaffected. 70% of them said that advertisements dont affect the purchase decision. (b) Descriptive research results: 54% of the respondents were male rests were female. 24% of the respondents were from less than 30 years age group 76% were from more than 30 years age group. 55% of the respondents admitted that their intuition or the way they feel about the product finalize their decision of purchasing the product, 35 % considered advertisement of product as the basis of purchase decision and rest purchase the product because of the attributes of product. 62% indeed admitted that they have purchased the product just because they liked the commercial. Both results indicate the affect of advertisements on the purchase decision of customers. When asked what they look for in an Ad; 45% believed the most important attribute of an ad is creativity, followed by 26% who believed it was the endorsers used how they relate to them. 56% of the respondents believed that, the use of humor content in advertisements is acceptable for products as long as its within certain limits. 27% found it offensive rest said that humor appeal increases the creativity of ads. Four print advertisements containing humor appeal (Refer Appendix) were shown respondents were asked to disclose their views. The results were as follow:- Response Ad 1 Ad 2 Ad 3 Ad 4 Total Percentage Offensive 0 7 0 12 19 7% Interesting 11 16 16 16 59 21% Creative 24 5 36 19 84 30% Really Nice 29 29 10 10 78 28% Unethical 0 7 6 13 26 9% Unaffected / Bored 6 6 2 0 14 5% Total 70 70 70 70 280 100% 58% of the customers found the advertisements Creative nice while very few respondents treated it offensive or unethical, which indicates that respondents are taking advertisements in positive manner. Majority of Respondents (i.e. 75%) replied that they would purchase the product based on the advertisements the humor appeal used in ads changed their purchase decision. (c) Hypothesis Testing: H01 = There is no association between degree of affection to the ads gender of respondents H11 = There is an association between degree of affection to the ads gender of respondents. Gender Degree of Affection Total Smart / Creative Inappropriate / Unethical Correct where needed Male 8 8 22 38 Female 4 11 17 32 Total 12 19 39 70 à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡ 2 test Calculated Value Degree of Freedom Level of Significance Tabulated Value 1.94 2 5% 5.99 The result of the study shows that the null-hypothesis holds to be valid thus there is no association between degree of affection to the ads gender of respondents. H02 = Degree of affection towards the ads will be the same irrespective of the age of respondents. H12 = Degree of affection towards the ads will not be the same irrespective of the age of respondents. Age Degree of Affection Total Smart / Creative Inappropriate / Unethical Correct where needed 1 11 5 17 >30 Years 11 8 34 53 Total 12 19 39 70 ANOVA (F-ratio) Calculated Value Degree of Freedom Level of Significance Tabulated Value 1.66 (1,2) 5% 18.501 The analysis supports the null-hypothesis that degree of affection towards the ads will be the same irrespective of the age of respondents. In other words age was found to have no significant differences on the degree of affection to the ads. H03 = Humor appeal doesnt affect the buying decision of respondents. H13 = Humor appeal affects the buying decision of respondents. Product Purchase Decision Change Total Agree Disagree Yes 102 107 209 No 19 52 71 Total 121 159 280 à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡ 2 test Calculated Value Degree of Freedom Level of Significance Tabulated Value 10.52 1 5% 3.841 The analysis provides enough evidence to reject the null Hypothesis. In other words Humor appeal affects the buying decision of respondents. Conclusions: It is a big question in marketing area that how the Humor appeal used in advertisements, is perceived by respondents. In the same line this research was conducted and following conclusions were drawn:- Humor appeal was not taken in negative manner by respondents if it was used in a limit for the relevant products to make the ad creative. Exploratory research shows that there is a thin line difference between the opinion of males females but as per the chi-square there is no significant difference in the views of males females towards the advertisements. Respondents of every age group having the same views on the issue. Humor appeal used in advertisements motivated the respondents to purchase the product but attributes of the product also plays a significant role in buying decision. References: Journal of Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues  /  Jan-July, 2006 Ethics in advertising: sex sells, but should it? by Jessica Dawn Blair, Jason Duane Stephenson, Kathy L. Hill, John S. Green The Ethical Dilemma of Advertisements By: May Abd El Latif El Hattab http://www.ukessays.com/essays/marketing/sexual-appeals.php http://www.articleswave.com/advertising-articles/types-of-advertising-appeals.html

Pro-Choice Abortion Essay -- Freedom of Choice, Pro-Choice Essays

Abortion Abortion is one of the most personal, widely discussed, and controversial topics in American culture today. In most cases, people on both sides of the argument take worthy and moral positions. Who can blame someone who wishes to prevent the termination of a teen pregnancy to save the life of an unborn child? On the other hand, who can blame anyone who advocates the soon-to-be mother's right to make such a personal, heartbreaking choice? No matter what she chooses to do, should anyone have the legal right to force her to bear an unwanted child? Most people in the US are pro-choice, and believe that abortion should be a legal, confidential decision that only a woman can make for herself. However, some are against the idea of terminating life, regardless of its current stage. People advocating this pro-life opinion believe that de-legalizing abortion will make it go away. Sadly, that is incorrect. Throughout American history, despite complications of legality, women have managed to have abortions without much difficulty, whether from a doctor, a back-alley abortionist pretending to be a doctor, or even themselves. Fittingly, about 80% of women are pro-choice, while 60% of men follow the pro-choice ideal. This is exemplified by the fact that nearly half of all American women (including teenagers) have had an abortion at least once. Abortion has been a very common part of American life since the eighteenth century. Both in times of public scrutiny, and acceptance, abortion has always been present in the United States. At the start of the 1900?s, it was common practice for doctors to refuse medical care to woman suffering from abortion complications, until she confessed to having an abortion. This cruel practice ... ...responsible, naÃÆ'Â ¯ve adolescent. For example, the possibility that a girl whom is ?flamboyant? in her physical excapades, demands an abortion every other month, is purely ridiculous. I do not condone such behavior, but I do believe that abortion is sometimes the most logical, least heart-wrenching choice. Although I do not whole-heartedly agree with the concept of terminating the possibility of life, it is sometimes necessary to prevent or even end one life, to save a massive amount of suffering, and rescue the livelihood of many others. Furthermore, the opinion of corrupt political officials and the twisted view of society should have no say in the personal matters of a single, suffering woman. As a result, it is the right of every woman in the United States to judge how serious the circumstances are, and make the decision to accept or decline abortion for her self.

Comparing the Fall of Man in Eve Speaks and Miltons Paradise Lost :: comparison compare contrast essays

The Fall of Man in Eve Speaks and Paradise Lost Over the course of time, there have been many interpretations of man's fall from grace, as   told by the Bible.   Among the literary interpretations are those of John Milton's Paradise Lost and the American poet Louis Untermeyer's "Eve Speaks."   John Milton's epic poem deals with the entire story of man's fall from grace, including background for Satan's motives.   Louis Untermeyer's "Eve Speaks" was written about Eve's thoughts, many years after she was   forced to leave Eden.   While both poems are derived from the same biblical root, they offer different interpretations of man's fall through Eve's motives, her attitude toward Adam, and her attitude toward her sin.   In Paradise Lost, Eve was tricked by Satan, who assumed the form of a serpent, into eating from the Tree of Knowledge.   Satan had whispered into her ear when she was asleep, and when he spoke to her later, he used his cunning to mislead her: He ended, and his words replete with guile Into her heart too easy entrance won. Fixed on the fruit   she gazed, which to behold Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned With reason, to her seeming, and with truth; (Paradise Lost, 733-739).    Louis Untermeyer's interpretation of Eve's motives in "Eve Speaks", were very different in their implications.   He suggests that Eve was not tricked by Satan, but instead she made a conscious decision to eat the forbidden fruit.   Eve thought that man was created for more than living in Paradise; She was seeking for a greater world:   The thought that there was something more than joy, Beyond perfection, greater than singing peace And tranquil happiness, vexed all my hours. ("Eve Speaks" 31-34)    Eve reached these conclusions through the traits that she perceived in Adam.   He was strong and had a brain designed to "dream and mould".   According to Eve, he was designed for "fiercer things and lustier worlds".     Another glaring dissimilarity between the two poems was the in which Eve perceived Adam. Milton's Eve felt inferior to Adam; When Eve was trying to decide whether or not to share the apple with Adam,   one of her reasons for not sharing was so that she could be his equal, if not his superior.   After she gave the apple to Adam, her demeanor turned even more submissive.   This was in agreement   with the traditional 17th century view of women.   Louis Untermeyer gave Eve a more domineering position; In "Eve Speaks", Eve acts for the

The Career Cycle of Teachers: A Review of Mr. Holland’s Opus

In the 1995 film Mr. Holland’s Opus, we watch as the protagonist Glen Holland goes from a near novice to a distinguished teacher. Although the film ends at his (forced) retirement, judging by his past involvement I would imagine he will continue, in the teacher emeritus tradition, to mentor students and teachers and possibly as an advocate for arts education (Steffy & Wolfe, 16). There are two specific incidents I wish to compare to illustrate the career development of Glen Holland. One is in the development of a senior revue that he devotes much of his time to during the later part of his career, and the other is his decision to incorporate methods into his teaching and conducting that offer ways for the deaf community to ‘hear’ music. These two incidents follow directly on the heels of each other, proving that the process of â€Å"reflection, renewal, and growth† (17) which Steffy and Wolfe discuss in their article on the career cycle of teachers is a constant, and constantly changing, process. During the years previous, we are able to see many career-altering moments for Glen Holland, from learning his wife is pregnant to teaching a young man to â€Å"find the rhythm† (Herek). It is during his final decade of teaching when he helps to create and produce a senior revue in place of the senior play. His involvement in the school revue shows he has a broad influence across departments within the school. Compared to his initial lack of involvement, to the extent that he would literally run to his car as soon as the bell rang at the end of the day, the amount of time and energy he puts into a non-academic activity shows his progression as a well-rounded teacher. At the same time, he has chosen to put energy into teaching that should perhaps be going into his family life, and particularly his deaf son, who he has never learned to communicate with properly. Following this production, in which he encourages a young woman to follow her talent to New York instead of working at her family’s restaurant, he has a revelation about his family and son. His son, Coltrane, confronts him about his thinking that Cole, as a deaf person, can’t appreciate music. This spurred Glen to learn ways he could incorporate new methods (specifically using lights to ‘play’ movements during a concert) into his teaching and performing. In an interview with Frank McCourt on PBS, he said that his turning point in teaching led him to discover that he â€Å"was the big learner out of this teaching experience† (Only). This experience seemed to light a new love of teaching in him, perhaps because, like Frank McCourt talks about, he has rediscovered his own love of learning. These two points in Glen’s career demonstrate the unique career development process of teachers. As Pam Grossman points out in her article about the profession of teaching and the challenges facing it, there has been a flood of under-qualified teachers into schools (par. 2). However, as Mr. Holland proves, it is not just knowledge of methods that makes one a great teacher, but an intimate and profound knowledge of the subject matter. Early in the movie, he tells a young woman who can’t seem to learn the clarinet that â€Å"Playing music is supposed to be fun. It's about heart, it's about feelings, moving people, and something beautiful, and it's not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I can't teach you that other stuff† (Herek). On the contrary, his skill appears to be in teaching exactly that – how to love music instead of merely playing notes on a page. Throughout his career development, he shows that it is this love of his subject matter combined with his love of teaching itself that has touched so many young lives. Teaching may not always lead to monetary riches, but in Mr. Holland’s life it has led to a multitude of personal and professional riches. References Grossman, P. (2003, January/February). Teaching: From A Nation at Risk to a profession at risk? Harvard Education Letter. Retrieved April 14, 2008 Herek, S. (Director). (1995). Mr. Holland’s Opus [DVD]. Hollywood: Buena Vista Home Entertainment/Hollywood Pictures. Only a Teacher: Interview with Frank McCourt. (2003). Retrieved April 18, 2008, from http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/index.html. Steffy, B. & Wolfe, M. (2001, fall). A life cycle model for career teachers. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 38(1), 16-19.