Monday, December 30, 2019

Personal Thoughts On Leadership And Leadership - 1496 Words

During my time in class, we have had several leaders come and speak about their life’s achievements and their personal thoughts on leadership. After listening to all eight speakers I came to the conclusion that there is not a set definition that makes you a leader; you can be born a leader or it can be something that you grow into; either way each leader is as different as each day we live. Of the eight speakers, the three that made the greatest impression on me was Eric Brown, Karen Moree, and Carolyn Mentesana; during their presentation, I felt like something that they said stuck with me or allowed me to connect with them on a personal level. Mr. Brown spoke with much knowledge and power. During his presentation he provided me with a lot of guidance; he spoke of staying motivated, knowing where you are going, and challenging yourself. Being that he was the first speaker I felt as if what he had to say stuck with my memory the most because it wasn’t something that I ha ven’t heard before. I would characterize Mr. Brown as a visionary leader; I say this because during his presentation my mind was envisioning where I could be if I were to change certain aspects of my life. Throughout Mr. Brown s presentation, listening to him speak, I was creating realistic goals that I could see myself accomplishing. Mr. Brown has the ability to transform his words into actions, he provided examples with each attribute he believes could make a worthy leader.Show MoreRelatedMy Personal Theory Of Leadership1523 Words   |  7 PagesMy Personal Theory of Leadership As a graduate student approaching her final semester in school, thoughts regarding my leadership abilities in the soon-to-be â€Å"real world† have occupied my mind lately. To further explore and develop my ideas about leadership, I decided to develop my personal leadership theory. So, I asked myself the following questions: What makes a successful leader? How do you recognize a leader when you meet one?, and lastly, what is my theory of leadership? With this last questionRead MoreThe Leadership Challenge1314 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ The Leadership Challenge Stacey Caudle Liberty University Abstract â€Å"Everyone has a role in accomplishing the mission and everyone directly impacts the effectiveness of his or her organization† (Horton, p 247). According to Conger and Benjamin (1999), creditability and authenticity lie at the heart of leadership, therefore, determining and defining one’s own guiding beliefs and assumptions lie at the heart of becoming a great leader. Providing directionRead MorePersonal Leadership : An Effective Leadership Style1644 Words   |  7 PagesPERSONAL LEADERSHIP PORTRAIT Developing an effective leadership style requires one to become aware of their strengths and weakness when operating in the role of a servant leader. Identifying personal preference can assist with better aligning expectations and goals that one would like to see demonstrated in those they lead. Taking on the role as a servant leader requires patience, understanding, and most importantly compassion for others. As a servant leader he or she should always considerRead MoreA Comprehensive Leadership Approach On Leadership1421 Words   |  6 PagesComprehensive Leadership Approach Thoughts on Leadership Just the thought of leadership excites me. This is because I became very interested in the topic of leadership, immediately after I joined the United States Army in 2003. As a civilian, without any job experience, I had never been formally exposed to leadership, although, in retrospect, I was surrounded by family and community leaders. There are numerous sources that depict leadership. In this writing, I describe my thoughts on leadership in termsRead MoreNotes On Life Styles Inventory979 Words   |  4 Pagesmanagement style. The style varies from individual to individual depending on their opinions, perceptions, thoughts, and skills. The Life Style Inventory is a tool, which can be used to analyze and evaluate the management and leadership skills of an individual. The LSI has different styles and individuals can rate the styles according to their own skills. It will help in analyzing the management and leadership capabilities of an individual by evaluating the key skills. I have t aken the LSI test to analyzeRead MoreMy Leadership Skills And Professional Growth During My Tenure Within A Structured Organized Environment And / Or Organization911 Words   |  4 Pages1. My leadership is defined as a personal and interpersonal skill sets developed through the life experiences and professional growth during my tenure within a structured organized environment and/or organization. Leadership skills are enhanced and refined throughout your career as you develop and move upwards within the organization by life learning experiences. These experiences along with your inner strengths afford you the ability to think through and overcome the obstacles you encounter as aRead MoreTransformational Leadership : The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership1290 Words   |  6 PagesIrrefutable Laws of Leadership, John C. Maxwell addresses the principal of transformational leadership, and how there is more than one aspect in becoming a successful leader. In my opinion, leadership is o ne of the many desirable qualities in becoming successful not only in everyday life, but also in nursing. This paper will discuss ways to develop into an effective, successful leader, the necessary steps to increase leadership ability, and how leadership can affect personal growth in nursing practiceRead MoreLeadership And Leadership : The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership1105 Words   |  5 Pageslaws of leadership No one said leading was easy, and in the book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John C. Maxwell addresses the principal of transformational leadership, and how there is more than one aspect in becoming a successful leader. Leadership is one of the many desirable qualities in becoming successful not only in everyday life, but also in nursing. This paper will discuss ways to develop into an effective, successful leader, the necessary steps to increase leadership ability,Read MoreLeadership Effectiveness Of A Managers Leadership1652 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Webster dictionary, leadership comprises of condition, quality, dignity, art, and skill. Therefore, leadership is a combination of all these mentioned factors that describe personality. Hence, it can be defined as â€Å"the measure of a leader’s conditions† (Avey et al-, 2012, p. 22). This may include any task or role of a manager in an organizational setting. The quality of a manager’s leadership makes a remarkable difference in the overall outcome of any task. Leadership effectiveness shows â€Å"theRead MoreLeadership And The Graduate Nursing Role1096 Words   |  5 PagesLeadership and the Graduate Nursing Role Role of leadership is essential for APNs. Nurses with graduated education are prepared to be expert with advanced knowledge and clinical skills. It is important to note that leadership skills should also be developed during graduate education through the learning process from nurse leaders, mentors, and role models (Tracy Hanson, 2014). Leadership in nursing is distinctive. Elliott et al. (2013) characterize roles of nursing leadership into clinical leadership

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice - 2020 Words

Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775 to the Reverend George Austen and his wife in Hampshire, England. The sixth child out of the seven, Jane was educated mostly at her home although she and her sister, Cassandra, were sent away to school for several years when they were young. Austen wrote several novels when she was in her teens, but her major works were written later on in her life. Pride and Prejudice, was first published in 1813. Austen began writing the novel in 1796 at the age of twenty-one. The first title was originally called First Impressions. Between 1810 and 1812 Pride and Prejudice was rewritten for publication. Pride and Prejudice†¦show more content†¦She is the first to get married despite her being a young teenager. She also has similar characteristics to her mother. She doesnt really care about her family members after her marriage. The various reactions of Lydia going to Brighton are mainly negative. This is due to Lydias ridiculous thinking. Shes an extremely self-absorbed teenager. She has a great interest in men and particularly officers. She begins flirting with them once they have settled in the town and also admires and enjoys their presence, and exposes this in freely, in view of the fact that she has no shame. Due to her selfishness Lydia commits foolish acts which affect her and her reputation and mostly has an effect on her family. She shows a negative impression of her family by eloping with Mr Wickham mainly because she also has another four sisters who are keen to get married and their chances of doing so have diminished. She does what she likes without thinking of the consequences to come. It is like she is in a world of her own and doesnt realise the bad reputation her family is developing because of her immature behaviour. Lydia is invited be her friend to Brighton by Mrs. Forster. Mrs. Bennet is extremely excited and pleased for Lydias trip to Brighton and wished all the best for her. Mrs Bennet was diffuse in her good wishes for the felicity ofShow MoreRelatedJane Austens Pride and Prejudice1061 Words   |  5 Pagessociety’s standards. Many writers criticizes the influence that society has over its members. The romantic novelist Jane Austen satirizes her society and those who follow it. One of her most famous works, Pride and Prejudice, is a great example of this satire. Throughout the novel she explores the effects of society through her characters. In Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, she divulges the central theme of society and social class through the characters Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, andRead MorePride and Vanity in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice814 Words   |  4 PagesPride and Vanity in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice      Ã‚   Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us. In her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen makes the point that an excess of pride or vanity is indeed a failing. Pride, observed Mary, . . . is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever readRead MoreEssay on Jane Austens Pride And Prejudice1580 Words   |  7 Pagesabove him. On the other hand, an individual with too little pride has an attitude of mediocrity and this hinders self-realization. Disproportionate pride blinds moral judgment, creates intolerance and deters relationships. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin is a novel that portrays individual characters who demonstrate a lack of balance in the way they perceive themselves and as a result they create ruin. Pride and Prejudice tells the most cherished love stories that take place in theRead MoreDichotomy In Jane Austens Pride And Prejudice878 Words   |  4 Pagesgreatest dichotomies in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice is made evident in the title. Namely, the book and the title reflect the division between individual as a spontaneous self and individual as socially constructed part of a greater whole, and the interaction that takes place as a result of the interaction between these selves. â€Å"Pride,† while it can be informed by the presence of others, is a character trait that can exist individual qua individual. For example, compares â€Å"pride† to â€Å"vanity,† a wordRead MoreEssay on Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice993 Words   |  4 PagesJane Austens Pride and Prejudice In this essay I will be exploring the first chapter of the novel Pride and Prejudice in terms of how successful it is as an opening chapter and what it tells us about the rest of the story. One of the most famous first lines in literature is the opening to the book: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a large fortune must be in want of a wife. In this sentence, Austen immediately accomplishesRead More Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Essay2080 Words   |  9 PagesJane Austens Pride and Prejudice It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife Jane Austen used this quote to open her second book, Pride and Prejudice, which was first published in 1813. This is a story of the attitudes towards love and marriage in the nineteenth century, through the eyes of a number of people in different family situations and levels of society. It explores what was socially acceptable and Read MoreJane Austens Pride and Prejudice Essay1276 Words   |  6 PagesPride and Prejudice Essay: Own Prompt #8-The Obscurities of the Victorian Society In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen satirizes the superficially built society in Victorian Era by pointing out the flaws with the recurring themes of marriage versus love and gender roles through dramatic irony and character relations. All relationships and the idea of true love tend to be obscured by this materialistic society that is based on wealth, power, title, and connections. Jane Austen constantly paintsRead More Views on Pride, Prejudice and Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice5150 Words   |  21 PagesViews on Pride, Prejudice and Marriage in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Pride pride n., v., 1. high (or too high) opinion of ones own dignity, importance, worth, etc. 2. the condition or feeling of being proud. 3. a noble sense of what is due to oneself or ones position or character; self respect; self esteem. prejudice n., v., 1. an opinion In the novel by Jane Austen, displays a severe contrast between Elizabeth and Darcy in the story. Jane Austen does thisRead MoreJane Austen’s Novel Pride and Prejudice Essay874 Words   |  4 Pagesadvantageous marriage for the English novelist, Jane Austen. Her realism, biting irony and social commentary have gained her historical importance among scholars and critics (Southam). Austen’s major novels, including Pride and Prejudice, were composed between the years 1795-1815. During those twenty years England was at the height of its power facing many historical landmarks (Thomson). It is no coincidence that Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, coincides directly with the historical eventsRead More An Analysis of Characters in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice1662 Words   |  7 PagesAnalysis of Characters in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice An author will often give his or her work a title that reflects the overall theme or meaning of the piece-this is certainly the case in Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice. A title may set the mood or describe a situation which otherwise might require several paragraphs to develop. Pride and Prejudice is a combination of humor, irony, and twists of events. Austen entitles her work Pride and Prejudice to emphasize subtly the fact

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Software Marketing Free Essays

Software is composed of many programs that all together fulfill a certain task. Programs are strict instructions that tell the computer what to do. A computer is a complex machine that uses directions like programs and software to operate, without it it†s useless. We will write a custom essay sample on Software Marketing or any similar topic only for you Order Now In other words, software brings life to a computer†s hardware. More precisely, it represents what fuel is to a car. There are two categories of software; operating systems and applications. Both of them are a necessity to one†s computer. The first one is the largest program, and the most important one. This software deals with file management, memory management, provides a user interface, and manages I/O devices like printers, and disk drives. Microsoft is well known for their Windows 95, and Windows NT operating systems, two of the most popular operating system on the market because of its user-friendly features. But operating system like Unix, and Linux are more known for their stability, and good performance. On the other hand, applications are smaller programs that fulfill a less important task. To satisfy the user†s demand, programs are written accordingly. For example, a lot of word processor users have the privilege of having programs like Word to help them. Other might like spread sheets, and use programs like Excel, or Lotus1-2-3. There are also database applications like Access, or programming compilers like Borland C++. All those application are very common for personal computers. This is why companies try to sell along with a computer an operating system, and a package of highly demanded applications at the same time. Operating system, like application is expensive. Recently, companies have been offering free version of software on the Internet for competition, or economic purposes. Therefore two new categories of software emerged; shareware (freeware), and proprietary software. First, shareware are software programs that are available to anyone who wishes to use it. Winzip for example can be downloaded from the Internet for free. Thanks to Microsoft, a multitude of useful software are available the same way, the most popular one is probably Internet explorer. An important notice about shareware is that they†re not complete programs, in other words the version downloaded is not as complete as the original one, but it still fits some user†s demands. That†s what counts. On the other hand, proprietary programs are exactly what a freeware program is not. In other words, it†s complete, expensive, and protected. Whit it comes a license that unauthorizes anyone to duplicate, copy, or install the purchased software. Any violation of this right may lead to further implications. The purchase only allows the buyer to use the software, not to copy it. This leads to the complex laws of ownership. To understand the meaning of ownership, it†s important to known what ownership is, and how it†s acquired. First, ownership means to own a property by right, therefore it†s a legal possession that ensure proprietorship. Second ownership can be acquired in more then one way. By purchasing a house you can become a owner, if you create, find, or inherit a thing you therefore logically become the owner as well. For example, if you find a gold mine you become the legal owner. There is different kind of ownership, and the most common one is certainly physical ownership. In this case the recipient is able to do whatever he wishes with his propriety. As an object, owners can use their properties as they want, as long as they†re not violating the law, or anyone†s rights. A house is a great example of physical ownership. The owner is able to do whatever he wants to it, as long as he doesn†t endanger his neighbors. This is where ownership software becomes more delicate. Can software be treated in a similar way? should it be considered as an object? This question is complex, and this is why policies have been created for software copying. For example, if an individual buys a computer program, he buys the right to use that software as much as he wants. On the other hand, strict laws forbid him to duplicate, or copy the actual software. Indeed as for books, videos, and songs there are copyright laws that govern software copying, and the violation of those laws are serious. Computer software are ideas that are translated in coding, therefore making duplicates is like stealing someone else†s idea; it†s plagiarism, that†s a crime. By those laws, computer programmers are protected as well as writers, and signers. Therefore they get the credit for their work. But this particular aspect of software copying is still uncertain, because authorities fail to enforce the law, and this is how computer software, videos, and songs are illegally copied everyday. Programmers do get credit, but they lose an enormous profit. Another important kind of software ownership is called patent. This kind of ownership is a writing in paper securing an invention. Like this, a programmer is given complete rights over his software. He has the power to give, copy, install, uninstall, or simply give to a certain individual a copy of his program. This is how programmers are protected from other programmers that would like to develop a program closely similar to there†s. All this discussion about ownership seems to be so complex, therefore why isn†t software free for all to use? In a capitalist society like ours, the fundamental purpose of creating a product is to make profit out of it. If not, why would you spend ten dollars to print a T-shirt, and sell it for free. This idea seems ridiculous. On the other hand, individual like Richard Stallman claims that software ownership is harmful to society. How is that? Computers engineering like any other businesses as to meet certain economic standars to maintain themselves. The industry of computers is constantly growing, and therefore more demanding in terms of software. Before the Internet, word processors, and spreadsheets were very popular, but now Font page 98, and Internet Explore are one of the upcoming software in the business. Now the question is, why sell them for free when they†re creating huge profits? Richard Stallman argument is that it deprives people from using the software. This is like saying that a BMW should be free, because it deprives the lower class people from driving a luxury car. Now does that make sense? In his article, his analogy to roads is completely false. Why? Simply because roads are not free, tax payers give every year a part of their salary to maintain them, therefore should that mean that we should all pay for free software. Of course not, because the needs of roads, is not comparable to needs computer software. Roads are a necessity, while computers are still optional. Stallman claims also that free software ownership damages social cohesion. Therefore, the fact of not copying software could hurt society. Does it mean that I†m being a bad citizen? Should this example be right for cars, houses, pay checks, etc†¦ If so, it†s not going to happen any time soon. Stallman argument are week, and unrealistic. In other word they don†t make sense. For the simple fact that every example used in his article are easily destroyed. Therefore, his arguments are incomplete. Computer science is constantly expanding, it’s therefore providing a great amount of profit to our society. As capitalist, the idea of giving computer software for free should not even be considered, yet ignore, simply because it makes no sense for programmers, as it would for any other profession to give a service for free. This is why copyright laws have been set in order to regulate those that support Stallman†s theory. But still, the authorities fail to enforce those laws, therefore this problem is far from being over. It†s very easy to get free software, especially with the arrival of CD writers. How to cite Software Marketing, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

International Managing Across Borders

Question: Discuss about the International Managing Across Borders. Answer: Introduction With increasing business opportunities, companies expand their business to international markets from national boundaries, it help them in gaining higher profit, access to larger market and customer base. Internationalization aims to expand business opportunities by lending and capturing foreign market. In the past few years there had been tremendous growth in global FDI through various modes such as investment, exporting, join ventures, mergers, acquisitions that are adopted by firms for market entry. Though internationalization is a desired strategy by every organization but it has its own challenges, operating cross border include several management, strategic and human resource challenges. This paper aims to present analysis on internationalization strategy of BMW, a globally operating automotive company. This paper deals in internationalization strategy of BMW in Singapore. It includes analysis on the company, its overview, operating scenario, competitive strategy, organizational structure, design, and control. Further, focus is on internationalization entry strategy opted by the firm, followed by other strategies used to operate successfully in international market, it include human resource, supply chain, production strategies. This paper presents overall strategic actions adopted by BMW to operate successfully in Singapore market, issues and opportunities presents; further strategic recommendation is also provided to take corrective action for future growth and development. Overview of the company This paper is written in context of international business strategies of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, commonly known as BMW. It was founded in the year 1916 by three founders, namely Franz Josef Popp, Karl Rapp, Camillo Castiglioni. It was originated in Germany as luxury vehicle, motorcycle and engine manufacturing organization. It is a globally operative automotive company that deals in luxury vehicles, sports car, motor cycles and bicycles. In terms of operations in the year 2015, total output by the company was 2,430,507 vehicles that helped in earning revenue worth 92.175billion and profit worth 6.396billion. It is among to ten automotive companies worldwide. Mission of this company is to generate profitable growth and above average returns. Current operating position BMW initiated its export program in the year 1995 with market entry in Australia through export of 500 BMW 3 series vehicles; followed by Taiwan and South America in 1997. Further, it started exporting to Germany, UK, South America, North America, Australia, Taiwan, Japan and other Asian region from South Africa. Within a year, its overall production increased by 220 percent; followed by a capacity enhancement and production growth. In the year 1997 total export figure by the brand were 500 units which reached to 70000 by 2012 (bmwplant.co, 2015). In terms of sales, 21 percent sales are in USA market, 24 percent in EUROPE market, 21 percent Germany, 14 percent India, 7 percent China and 11 percent in other markets (BMW group, 2016). However, in the year 2016 there is 8 percent decrease in total sales of BMW in USA, as total sales recorded was 25,531 compared to 27,755 vehicles sold in August, 2015 (www.press.bmwgroup.com, 2016). There is also 2.7 percent reduction in sales of mini br and. However, in global market, total sales is showing upward trend by 5.3 percent; total annual sales was 2,367,603 vehicles; sales of mini brand was 360,000 vehicles and 62000 electrified vehicles, majority of sales were in Europe and China(www.press.bmwgroup.com, 2017). Competitive strategy To beat competition organizations tries to build unique positions for themselves which is also known as competitive advantage; it is the factor that helps a company to gain edge over others in the market (Fahy, 2002). Competitive strategy involves actions implemented by organization to strengthen their market position and protect it in market of constant change (Harrison John, 2009). On the basis of porter generic model of competitive advantage, BMW focuses on differentiation strategy, it portray itself on the basis of different quality, excellence on product design and digitalization. It has strong technological expertise; it is been able to integrate its engineering capabilities and marketing opportunities successfully. BMW portray its offering as symbol of prestige, upmarket, excellence image. In the year 2013, BMW launched its fully electronic car BMWi3 followed by plug in hybrid vehicle in 2014 named as i8. BMW faces intense competition from Japanese market, to protect its posi tion it implements four different type of differentiation, it include customization of cars according to customer needs and demand; safety, environment, economy and comfort at ensured in every model sold; strategically located warehouse and centralized supply chain helped in gaining economies of scale; it also launched fleet of specially equipped cars to provide assistance to motorist in breakdown situations (Thompson Martin, 2010). Analysis also highlights four strategic areas that helped BMW in gaining its competitive position include growth, shaping of future, profitability and focus on technology and customers (Kuma, 2016). Organizational design structure and control Organization structure and design help in defining overall work activities within organization, it plays significant role in manufacturing industry. It helps in understanding division of labor, pattern of coordination, flow of communication, workflow, and power distribution. Further, key elements that help in understanding impact of organizational design on its work efficiency include span of control, degree of formalization, centralization and structure. BMW operates as a boundary less organization, it enhance the interdependence on environment (Robbins, Decenzo, Bhattacharya, Agarwal, 2009). There is flatter organizational structure with low hierarchical and power distance relationship. In BMW there is intense use of softwares and computer aided virtual tools to coordinate work in different units. In terms of business structure, it follows network approach in which it operates as a hub organization that own and market the brand, whereas other units in different countries operates as spokes that provide production, engineering, marketing and other services through alliance with several organization to gain economies of scale. It has outsourced its facilities management function to Dalkia (ebooks.narotama.ac.id, 2015). Organization stricture and design strategy of BMW helped it in becoming globally competitive by purchasing from global market from best people, best technology at best price. Organizational control is key element to ensure effective management and execution of operating functions; it deals with assigning and evaluating resources. There is supervisory board that manages centralized decision making with 20 members; it is divided into four committees that include personnel, audit, mediation and nomination. After this, there is board of management which is responsible for six functions that include Legal Affairs, Patents, Corporate and Governmental Affairs, Corporate Audit, Organizational Development, Group Reporting, Corporate HR, Strategy and Targets (McFarlin Sweeney, 2014). Entry strategies There are several internationalization strategies that can be adopted by organization; however choice of strategy varies on the basis of internal and external organization scenario, industry scenario, objective and set goals. BMW adopted different market entry strategies, but common adopted one is joint venture, this strategy helped in signing alliance with one or more companies to operate in the market, it helps in dividing resources, risk and profitability. Joint venture with local partner helps in pulling local resources at low investment, it also help in getting information about local market and customers, better understanding of product demand (Dutta, 2016). BMW has adopted transnational strategy, which is merger of multi-domestic and global strategy; it is aimed towards achieving global efficiency, economies of scale but through local responsiveness. BMW implemented the concept of fashion forward during its designing of 3 Series cars for different market; similar design in the global market helped in building trust and customer loyalty. In Asian market, BMW entered through joint venture by signing deals with local partners, in Malaysia it signed joint venture with Sime darby berhad, in China also similar strategy was followed. Singapore is the Asia corporate head office; here company has a wholly owned sales subsidiary, this unit is responsible for management of importation of knockdown parts by wholly owned assembly plants. Munich Automobiles Pte Ltd is the exclusive BMW dealer in Singapore (Singapore genrman chamber of industry and commerce, 2015). Production BMW global production network helps in supplying products in different markets, its production strategy helped in achieving on time and flexible production process; there are thirty manufacturing facilities in fourteen countries (bmwgroup.com, 2016). BMW has adopted completely knockdown approach of production process (Grnig Morschett, 2011). Under this strategy, few parts of the final product are packed and exported to countries for assembly. These parts are used with parts supplied with local partners in the country where assembly will take place; however assembly take place in adherence with global quality standards set by BMW group. This strategy is being used for production in Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Russia and India. Initially company use to implement mass production but strategy shifted slowly towards lean manufacturing(Grnig Morschett, 2011). Initially manual work load planning was conducted; long term strategic planning is followed in BMW, it prepares a 12 year planning process, and then includes a yearly breakdown, it forecast salesman products before starting the production process. Later since 2002, strategic changes were made and lean manufacturing was adopted. General guidelines are set by managers on flexibility reserve to ensure flexibility in production volume; it helps in dealing with long term uncertainties. It also implemented build to order strategy to provide maximum customization liberty to customer and also reduce inventory. Supply chain management Supply chain management is the key element of any business success; it deals with initiation to closing of production process. BMW follows build to order strategy; products are made according to customer requirement(Blanchard, 2007). At first customer request is made and sent to central database, which include complete details on customer preference. Further information on cost and lead time is communicated on real time basis among supplier, manufacturer and distributors(Chandak, Chandak, Sharma, 2014). Key elements of the supply chain are discussed below; BMW has a strong global supplier network that help in creating value and efficiency in the supply chain process, it has 13000 suppliers in seventy countries. Purchasing department is responsible for selection and management of supplied goods (www.bmwgroup.com, 2015). It is managed with coordination between central purchasing headquarter in Munich and various international purchasing offices responsible for analyzing local production needs and product availability with local suppliers. Purchase department is responsible for reducing supply chain risk and utilization of opportunities. Next step in supply chain is sourcing of materials, to overcome the problem of exchange rate fluctuation, BMW implements natural hedging strategy; it generally establishes assembly units where they sell their products. It also opts for local sourcing strategy in which components are purchased locally, it help in reducing cost of production. Local sourcing also help in reducing lead time, quick response and enhance ability to meet demand fluctuations(Coyle, Langley, Novack, Gibson, 2012). It also implements various e-sourcing strategies such as ASTRAS, eRFX through a centralized model, known as M portal. E-sourcing help in aching four key tasks, such as request preparation, inviting bids from suppliers, rating of negotiation and finally purchasing is done. To build strong collaborative supplier network various strategic actions were implemented by the company. It include continuous communication channel, supplier rating system. To ensure quality of components, purchasing of material are based on ISO 9000 that ensure quality standards are met. It also follows global compact practice to achieve sustainability. Key factors considered before selecting supplier include product quality, delivery capability, on time delivery, value creation. Suppliers are nominated 38 months before series production. There are three types of suppliers, concept supplier, series development supplier and market suppliers. Almost 50 percent of components are purchases in just in time process in assembly line; it aims to reduce stock, save time and finances. Above diagram help in understanding supply chain system in BMW group plants. Distribution strategy aims to unload consignment at places with maximum sales; it helps in reducing lead time. There is multiple distribution configuration based on location, demand and warehouse facilities. Different distribution network followed are represented in the diagram below; Final step of supply chain is the reverse logistic, that include all operations related to reuse of finished goods. There is reverse logistic department that deals with reusable, recyclable components. Different methods such as closed loop, post industry loop are used to recycle different materials. Human Resources across borders Human resource is the key assets of any organization; it helps in successful business operations and outcome. It aims to ensure that right people are hired at the right time and placed rightly to ensure maximum returns(Cascio Boudreau, 2012). Human behavior is greatly influenced by national culture, analysis shows there is huge difference in national culture of Germany (origin country) and Singapore (country of expansion). According to Hofstede analysis, Germany is low on power distance, whereas Singapore is high which shows difference in organizational structure and design; similarly Germany has an individualistic culture which is driven by competition, success and score high on uncertainty avoidance. Whereas Singapore is collective society, low on masculinity and uncertainty avoidance. Such difference might impact internal operation, staff behavior, and communication strongly(Hofstede, 2003). In BMW staff is hired from domestic market to ensure ease of management and localization of products. People are considered as most important factor in the global production network. As working globally require immense teamwork, cooperation and flexibility. Employees are hired under direct payroll of the company. Strong focus is given on employee training to enhance their work potential, tools like job rotation and employee involvement are adopted to remove monotonous work environment(Sparrow, 2009). Specific training is given on diversity management to overcome internal conflict and enhance team work. Employees are empowered to motivate, they are self-organize, allowed to make decision, take action to solve problems. There are both team based organization and individual awards given on performance, it helps in reducing team conflict and enhances coordination(Chan, Shaffer, Snape, 2004). There is presence of self-managing teams who have power to take decision on team rotation, integ rate functions of workers and managers. There is learning and sharing long term culture of we at BMW. Strong leadership that focuses on both individual goals and challenge management to view its action within culture; such proactive leadership helps in ensuring long term growth (Avery, 2004). Key issues/Opportunities Analysis above shows internationalization strategies, tools and tactics adopted by BMW to enter and sustain in foreign market. Various issues and opportunities highlighted through analysis are discussed below; As BMW is the second most purchased luxury car in Singapore, there is huge market opportunity for business expansion and growth; it can also plan launching new models and green car models in this market, as it is expected to give positive business returns. As BMW is also planning to launch autonomous car in the market, Singapore is expected to give new business opportunity to this model also There is needed to keep strategic control on human resource, to ensure there is proper coordination between global and local strategies. Significant cultural difference in two markets might cause employee dissatisfaction, conflict and other productivity issues. BMW is slow in new product development, though it has its own advantages like incorporating breakthrough in production cycle, managing lead time. But in this competitive market, it can cause concern from competition. As the supply chain is dependent on its large supplier global network there is risk of disruptions sue to geopolitical issues, natural disaster etc. Such issues might impact production adversely causing high cost of production and poor supply chain. Recommendations Below is the list of strategic actions that can be implemented by BMW management to improve its international market business scope. On the basis of market opportunities, it is recommended to implement market and product development strategy by BMW. Product development strategy involves launching of new products. New product development like launching of automatic car and electric cars in Singapore market to increase total sales. It is also advised to increase company owned outlet in Singapore market to increase its market presence and total sales. To overcome employee management challenge, it is advised to follow local culture as Asian culture is difference from Germany culture; there is need to go local in employee management as it will foster easy communication and productivity. It is also crucial to provide training on cross culture management, diversity management and team work. Open communication also helps in quick problem solving and idea sharing. It is also advised to launch research and development in Singapore, it is highly developed nation, it will help in conducting better research and gaining technological advantage Automobile companies need to opt for think global but act local approach of strategic management. Strategies are to be taken from global market, to ensure cost effective, quality product delivery in timely manner but services such as installation, customer interaction, sales; ticket handling etc. must be rendered locally to ensure business. Conclusion BMW is high end luxury car manufacturing company that is performing well in national and international markets. However, automobile industry face challenges due to ever changing market conditions and price fluctuations. Companies need to integrate strong balance between changing demand, market fluctuations, environment, informed customer etc. BMW has well managed these challenges through its effective human rescue policy, leadership and management system. It has strong supply chain network that makes production to delivery system smooth and error free. BMW has huge scope of further development in Singapore market; therefore it is advice to expand its business through new product development, research and development. Its strategic actions helped BMW in becoming a competitive firm and long term successful player in the market. Bibliography Ahmad, S., Schroeder, R. G. (2003). The impact of human resource management practices on operational performance: recognizing country and industry differences. Journal of Operations Management, 19-43. Avery, G. C. (2004). Understanding Leadership: Paradigms and Cases. London: SAGE. Blanchard, D. (2007). Supply chain management: best practices. Canada: John Wiley and Sons . BMW group. (2016). Annual report 2015. Germany: BMW group. bmwgroup.com. (2016). BMW Group. Retrieved January 21, 2017, from /secure.bmwgroup.com: https://secure.bmwgroup.com/bmwgroup_prod/e/0_0_www_bmwgroup_com/unternehmen/unternehmensprofil/standorte/standorte/index.html bmwplant.co. (2015). Export. Retrieved January 21, 2017, from bmwplant.co: https://www.bmwplant.co.za/exportchain.html Bozarth. (2008). Introduction to Operations and Supply Chain Management. New Delhi: Pearson. Cascio, W. F., Boudreau, J. W. (2012). Short Introduction to Strategic Human Resource Management. London: Cambridge University Press. Chan, L. L., Shaffer, M. A., Snape, E. (2004). In search of sustained competitive advantage: the impact of organizational culture, competitive strategy and human resource management practices on firm performance. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 15(1), 17-35. Chandak, S., Chandak, A., Sharma, A. (2014). Globalisation of Supply Chain Management for an Automotive Industry-future Perspective. International Review of Applied Engineering Research, 155-164. Coyle, J., Langley, C., Novack, R., Gibson, B. (2012). Supply Chain Management: A Logistics Perspective. London: Cengage Learning. Dutta, G. (2016). Global Marketing. New Delhi: Pearson Education India. ebooks.narotama.ac.id. (2015). Organizational Structure. Retrieved January 21, 2017, from ebooks.narotama.ac.id: https://ebooks.narotama.ac.id/files/Organizational%20Behavior%20(5th%20Edition)/Chapter%2013%20%20%20Organizational%20Structure.pdf Fahy, J. (2002). A resource-based analysis of sustainable competitive advantage in a global environment. International Business Review, 11(1), 5777. Grnig, R., Morschett, D. (2011). Developing International Strategies: Going and Being International for Medium-sized Companies. London: Springer Science Business Media, . Harrison, J. S., John, C. H. (2009). Foundations in Strategic Management. London: Cengage Learning,. Hofstede, G. H. (2003). Culture's consequences:comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations. London: Sage. Kuma, K. (2016). Strategic Management On BMW. Canada: GRIN Verlag. McFarlin, D., Sweeney, P. D. (2014). International Management: Strategic Opportunities Cultural Challenges. London: Routledge. Robbins, S. p., Decenzo, D. a., Bhattacharya, S., Agarwal, M. n. (2009). Fundamentals Of Management: Essential Concepts And Applications, 6/E. New Delhi: Pearson Education India. Singapore genrman chamber of industry and commerce. (2015). Singapore Automotive Industry. Singapore: Singapore genrman chamber of industry and commerce. Sparrow, P. (2009). Handbook of international human resource management: integrating people, process, and context. mason: John Wiley and Sons. Thompson, J. L., Martin, F. (2010). Strategic Management: Awareness Change. London: Cengage Learning EMEA. www.bmwgroup.com. (2015). Supplier management. Retrieved January 21, 2017, from www.bmwgroup.com: https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/responsibility/supply-chain-management.html www.press.bmwgroup.com. (2016, september 1). BMW Group U.S. Reports August 2016 Sales. Retrieved January 21, 2017, from www.press.bmwgroup.com: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa/article/detail/T0263352EN_US/bmw-group-u-s-reports-august-2016-sales?language=en_US www.press.bmwgroup.com. (2017, January 9). BMW Group achieves sixth consecutive all-time global sales high and remains worlds leading premium car company. Retrieved January 21, 2017, from www.press.bmwgroup.com: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa/article/search/tag:275/

Friday, November 29, 2019

Allergies Essays - Allergology, Allergen, Allergic Rhinitis

Allergies "I wondered lonely as a cloud, that floats on high o'er dales and hills, when all at once I saw a crowd-a host of golden daffodils." William Wordsworth I hope he was taking an antihistamine. If he were not, he would develop signs and symptoms of allergies. These include, but are not limited to a sore throat; red, itchy, watery eyes; nasal congestion and drainage; coughing and sneezing. There are many remedies, from grandma's kitchen to the allergy research center. The allergy season is usually from late February to mid-May. Grass is the biggest offender during the latter part of the season. Pollens from trees and plants are released each year during early spring. There are cells floating around in your body and when the allergen is inhaled, it attaches itself to a specific cell. Then, it produces histamines (which stimulates gastric secretion and dilates blood vessels.) Your body reacts to this invasion with the signs of allergies. There are many over-the-counter medications to help reduce the symptoms. Benadryl, Tavist and Cholortrimeton are called antihistamines, which reduce the symptoms of allergies. Antihistamines make it difficult for the histamines to be released in the bloodstream. However, there is a drawback to this, and that is it will produce drowsiness. Prescription medication can be given to combat symptoms also. Allegra, is the newest of these medications. Claritin and Hismanal are non-sedating. There is, by prescription, a nasal spray that can be given to reduce sneezing. Of course, the last resort is by injection. A tiny amount of the same allergen that you are allergic to is injected under your skin. This, hopefully, will slowly desensitize you. The combination of these drugs should fit into many lifestyles. Briggite Mars, a well-known herbalist states, "I generally view allergies as an indication of a weakened immune system." She also believes that stress is a major factor and should be reduced. This, in turn, will boost your immune system. A diet rich in beta-carotene, lamb, and even violets can improve the sufferer's allergic response. Every year around the same time, Michelle Robertson, who worked for a doctor as a medical assistant thought she had developed a cold and would then miss work. She would go in with the red eyes, nasal congestion, and cough. It was really her allergy. There are many kinds of pollen from trees, plants, weeds, flowers, mold, and ragweed being the worsts of all. Pollen, which looks like a sphere with spikes can travel hundreds of miles away. It has been found as far as Antarctica. There is no getting away from it. However, there is a meter that reads the pollen count. It has been read from zero to as high as four hundred in mid-September. In comparing the articles, the treatments were the same, with the Cooper article, "More treatments available for those with hay fever, allergies." The Wood article, "Ragweed hits hard at pollen suffers," gives just over-the-counter medications. It also talks on avoidance being the best policy of allergies. Cooper, talks more about diet and homeopathic remedies. There is a difference on the allergy season between the articles. The first being the February to March season. Wood made a statement of the pollen count meter reading as a high as 400 in mid-September. This could be due to the meter's geographic location. Overall, the Cooper article was much more informative. It had a pleasant even flow to it starting with the poetry, what allergies are, the treatment, and the diet. It had high points that helped keep the article in perspective that the Wood's did not. Bibliography Cooper, Cynthia. "More treatments available for those with hay fever, allergies." Knight- Ridder/Tribune News Service 16 May 1997, p516k8337 Wood, R. Anthony. "Ragweed hits hard at pollen suffers." Knight-ridder/Tribune News Service 29 Aug. 1997, p829k4377 "

Monday, November 25, 2019

Summary of The Giver †Book Reviews

Summary of The Giver – Book Reviews Free Online Research Papers Summary of The Giver Book Reviews The book Giver is about life without color, war, fear, or pain. Everything is under control. There are no choices. Everybody is assigned a role in the community. Everybody in the community is given a job when they turn 12. When Jonas turns 12 he is going to receive special training from the Giver. The Giver will take Jonas through the pain and the pleasure of life. Now it’s time of Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back. I recommend this book because it is unique and different. â€Å"The Giver† is a futuristic science fiction novel set in a utopian society. In Jonas’s community, there are no feelings, no hunger, no inequalities, and no pain. Everything is created to be equal. Every family unit is uniform and prescribed according to the community leaders. Each member of the community is given their profession when they turn twelve. Jonas is selected to become the receiver of memory. As he trains with the Giver, he realizes the truth of the community he lives in. The people of the community do not get to feel love, true happiness, of any of the god qualities of life. On the other hand, they do not feel any of the negative aspects either. They live in a colorless society. Those who do not live up to the standards of this Utopian society are quickly â€Å"released†. Jonas later finds out that this release process is equivalent to that of death. He decides that it is up to him to return what has been taken from the members of the community. With the help of the Giver, Jonas escapes from the community, which will result in the release of all memories to the community. This memory release process initiates the community members to previously unfelt feelings of pain, famine, war, as well as human differences, love, and happiness. The resolution of this science fiction novel is up for debate and ultimately depends upon the discretion, opinion, and interpretation of each individual reader. Research Papers on Summary of The Giver - Book ReviewsCapital PunishmentHip-Hop is ArtArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Relationship between Media Coverage and Social andPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyWhere Wild and West MeetAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XDefinition of Export QuotasTrailblazing by Eric Anderson

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Evolution of lactase gene in homo sapiens Term Paper

Evolution of lactase gene in homo sapiens - Term Paper Example Genetics and molecular studies of genes presently and in the past are pointing towards an evolutionary cause behind its persistence in adults. In order to prove that something is a product of evolution, one must demonstrate that a favourable trait mutated. Additionally, one must show that the trait was transmittable to offspring and the environment favoured that trait. This may necessitate genital analysis of pre-historical data as well as present ones. Furthermore, these patterns ought to be analysed in relation to the behavioural or cultural patterns of the subjects as it could affect the adoption of the trait. The paper will look into these dimensions in order to illustrate the evolution of the lactase gene. Advantages and disadvantages in a population Lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) is the enzyme responsible for the digestion of lactose in Homo sapiens. Lactase activity in the intestines depends on the maturity of the person under consideration. Infants between two to eleven mo nths old have some of the highest activity levels. As a child reaches the age of five, lactase activity reduces, and this may continue in subsequent times. Therefore, the amount of the LPH enzyme will reduce because a person stops suckling or consuming lactose. Conversely, some adult populations continue to maintain high level of lactase activity, especially those with North European descent. This persistence of activity is an evolutionary development that coincides with the development of the dairy industry in most parts of the world (Grand et. al. 618). It is thus advantageous to ingest lactose in adulthood because this will not limit the person’s dietary intake. They will have the freedom to consume milk without dealing with health challenges. Prior to the domestication of animals, adult populations did not need the lactase enzyme. Therefore non persistence was the available state. However, this dramatically changed when animals started providing milk to the human populati on. It became genetically advantageous to retain the lactase enzyme in adulthood. Since only persons with this enzyme can enjoy the nutritional benefits of milk, then lactase persistence is beneficial. Culture dictated gene adaptability and advanced evolution (Hollox 267). Milk is nutritionally beneficial to the human body because it a rich source of calcium. Therefore, consumption of the beverage would protect one from bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis (Swallow 208). Rickets is an undesirable condition that also emanates from the lack of calcium. It is a selective force that favoured the ingestion of milk. The lack of the lactase enzyme in adults leads to a number of difficulties when dealing with the digestion of milk. Once such individuals consume milk, the lactose in milk will stay undigested. No alteration in blood glucose will be detected if a test is done. Instead, the product will enter the colon and be fermented. Fermentation causes the production of gases such as hydrogen and fatty acids. This is possible through the action of bacteria in the gut. Usually, persons who are lactose intolerant will suffer from bloating or gaseousness, diarrhoea, nausea, cramps and discomfort after taking milk. The gases that are produced after fermentation can be detected through portable hydrogen analysers (Itan et. al. 8). Therefore, it is highly desirable to be lactase persistent. All the complications that emanate from fermentation would be absent. Swallow (207) highlights some potential risks of having

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Management by culture is another way of exercising control in Essay

Management by culture is another way of exercising control in organizations. Critically discuss this statement with reference to issues of power and resistance - Essay Example This study will also focus on the issues of power and resistance as they pertain to management by culture. Journal articles, online research, and textbook readings are used to help define organizational culture, power and resistance within organizational culture, and exercising control using organizational culture. Examples from the real time functioning organizations will be used to provide insight into how management by culture can be successfully used to meet mission goals. Organizations develop a culture all their own whether or not the organizational leadership wants it. But, organizational leadership can help develop a culture among workers that works to the organization's advantage. Management by culture does just that. Management can incorporate symbols, stories, heroes, slogans, or ceremonies to create an environment that encourages positive operations within the organization. The organization identifies what it considers positive attributes, abilities, or behaviours that need to be rewarded within the organization. The ultimate goal of management by culture is to accomplish the mission of the organization. Management by culture reduces friction between management and staff by directly addressing resistance within the organization. Organizational culture or corporate culture is defined as "The values, customs, rituals, attitudes, and norms shared by members of an organization, which have to be learnt and accepted by new members of the organization."1 Organizational culture can be further subdivided into integrative culture, differentiated culture, and fragmentation culture. It is important to note that an organization's culture can have positive attributes and negative attributes. Obviously, an organization will want to support the positive culture that develops and discourage any negative culture that develops. Integrative culture includes an agreement on what should be adopted and what should not. Integration provides "unity, predictability, and clarity to work assignments".2 Differentiated culture consists of subcultures that may develop that do not share the common goals and objectives of the organization. This encourages inconsistencies in the organization that are not wanted by management. Fragmentation culture consists of multiple definitions of organizational values and assumptions within the organization. This happens when an organization grows too quickly, has a very diverse work force, or enters the global marketplace. 3. Building a Positive Corporate Culture/ Management by Culture The challenge of any organization is to create, and nurture, a positive corporate culture that includes all that work for, or lead, the organization. Management at this level works to reward desired behaviours among its employees. Positive reinforcement of desired behaviours lowers the incidences of power struggles and resistance. In short, people like to be recognized and rewarded rather than punished or fired. Management by culture requires the organization to put into place set standards and practices. The organization will be better able to recognize high performance with set standards and practices. The task environment and internal environment need to be clearly identified. The cultural environment needs to be clearly ide

Monday, November 18, 2019

4 best 3d animated films for kids Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

4 best 3d animated films for kids - Essay Example The chief Director of this film is Uri Shizer (Squidoo 2010). This movie was released in 2003 by Pixar Studios and Disney. Its remarkable box office draw kept the movie at the top. The movie is a story of a clown fish and his son, who lost all their family members to thieves leaving them alone in the world. Nemo is caught up by a scuba diver during his first day of school, turning him into a pet in a fish tank that belonged to a dentist. Consequently, Nemo’s father decides to go hunting for him in the ocean, where he happened to meet an absentminded fish called Dory. The story narrates about their encounters and attempts by Nemo to flee from the fish tank (Squidoo 2010). In this film, three strange bedfellows are encountered with, including Diego the saber tooth tiger, Sid the Sloth, and Manny the mammoth. The three accomplices have partnered in an attempt to return a hunter father, his human baby. When Diego, Manny and Sid return, they are joined by another character known as Ellie a mammoth who thinks she is a possum. They seek to flee from their dwelling valley to avoid drowning in case a melting glaciar blocked down. This comedy with great taste has been produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It is a story of a rat that wants to become a chef, but his family looks down upon his ideas. Consequently, Remy finds himself in a sewer, where he wants to meet a youthful cook who is fighting to retain his job. The union of the two makes them the best chefs in Paris. This entertaining movie keeps the funs wondering whether their trick will be discovered. The role of a 3D animation director is to make sure that the vision of the film rhymes with all parts of the production course. This includes the film’s color palette, style, as well as tone. Unlike the directors of live-action films, those of animated movies have high control responsibility. In other words, the directors of animated films are responsible for micromanaging the whole

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Chemical Composition of Oil from Eremostachys Macrophylla

Chemical Composition of Oil from Eremostachys Macrophylla Chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts  of Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. Auch.  from Northeast of Iran Akhlaghi H Abstract The essential oil obtained by hydrodisstillation of the aerial parts of Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. Auch., grown wild in Iran, was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The colorless oils were obtained by hydrodistillation, using a Clevenger-type apparatus for three hours, from aerial parts in 0.18% yield (w/w). Fourty-four compounds representing 91.6% of aerial parts oil of Eremostachys macrophylla were identified. The main components of the oil were hexadecanoic acid (27.5%), ethyl linoleate (8.5%), 6-methyl-ÃŽ ±-ionone (8.0%), isobutyl phthalate (5.8%), ÃŽ ±-cadinol (4.7%) and germacrene D (4.3%). The oil was rich in nonterpenoids (56.0%) and among them, oxygenated nonterpenes (53.2%) predominated over nonterpene hydrocarbons (2.8%). Key Word Index Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. Auch., Lamiaceae, essential oil composition, hexadecanoic acid Introduction The genus Eremostachys of the family Lamiaceae (alt. Labiatae) contains 15 species of perennial in Iran, and five of them are endemic (1,2). During the past decade, seven investigations have been carried out on the chemical composition of the essential oils of the genus Eremostachys. These studies analyze the fresh aerial parts of Eremostachys laciniata Bunge from Jordan (3), flowers, stems, and roots of Eremostachys laevigata from Iran (4), flower, leaf and stem of Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. Auch., and aerial part and stem of Eremostachys labiosa from Iran (5), aerial parts of Eremostachys adenantha and Eremostachys macrophylla from Iran (6), aerial parts of Eremostachys macrophylla from Central Iran (7), aerial parts of Eremostachys laevigata Bge. From Iran (8) and aerial parts of Eremostachys laciniata Bge. from Iran (9). Phytochemical investigation on a few species of Eremostachys revealed the presence of vicarin, a new isoflavone from Eremostachys vicaryi (10), eremosides A-C, New Iridoid Glucosides from Eremostachys loasifolia (11), loasifolin, a new flavonoid from Eremostachys loasifolia (12), a new acidic iridoid glucoside (13), furanolabdane diterpene glycosides from Eremostachys laciniata (14), new iridoid glucosides from Eremostachys moluccelloides Bunge (15) and Eremostachiin: a new furanolabdane diterpene glycoside from Eremostachys glabra (16). Our study dealt with the analysis of the essential oils of aerial parts of Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. Auch grown wild in northeastern Iran. Experimental Plant material: The plant material was collected during the flowering stage in May 2012 from northern Sabzevar in Khorasan Province, Iran, at an altitude of 1580 meters. A voucher specimen has been deposited in the herbarium of Research Center of Natural Resources, Sabzevar, Iran. Essential oil isolation. Air-dried aerial parts of E. macrophylla (100 g) were subjected to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus for three hours to produce colorless oils. The yield of total volatiles was 0.18% (w/w). The oils were dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and stored in sealed vials at 4  °C before analysis. GC analysis. GC analysis was performed using a Shimadzu GC-9A gas chromatograph, equipped with a HP-5MS fused silica column (30 mÃâ€"0.25 mm i.d., film thickness 0.25  µm). The oven temperature was held at 50  °C for five minutes and then programmed to 250  °C at a rate of 3  °C/min. The injector and detector (FID) temperatures were 290  °C . Helium was used as carrier gas with a linear velocity of 32 cm/s. GC/MS analysis. GC/MS analysis was carried out on a Hewlett-packard 6890 gas chromatograph fitted with a fused silica HP-5MS capillary column (30mÃâ€"0.25 mm ; film thickness 0.32  µm) . The oven temperature was programmed from 60  °C to 220  °C at 6  °C/min . Helium was used as carrier gas at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The chromatograph was coupled to a Hewlett-Packard 5973 mass selective detector with an ionization voltage of 70 eV. Qualitative and quantitative analyses. Constituents of the volatile oils were identified by comparison of their retention indices relative to C9-C21 n-alkanes and of their mass spectral fragmentation pattern with those reported in the literature (17) and stored in a MS library (Wiley 275). The quantification of the components was performed on the basis of their GC peak area data from the HP-5MS column separation. Results and discussion Because of the variable results obtained in previous studies and as a part of on-going work on the chemical analysis of oils obtained from the wild plants of Iran, we decided to re-investigate the oils of this specific plant. Hydrodistilled volatile oils from the crushed dry aerial parts of Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. Auch. (Lamiaceae) from Sabzevar (Iran) was studied by GC and GC/MS. The air-dried aerial parts of the plant yielded 0.18% (w/w) oil. The oil was clear and colorless. Fourty-four components were identified in the aerial parts oil that contained 91.6% of the compounds. Table 1 lists formulas, percentages, and retention indices of identified compounds in the oil. As evident from the table , the main components are hexadecanoic acid (27.5%), ethyl linoleate (8.5%), 6-methyl-ÃŽ ±-ionone (8.0%), isobutyl phthalate (5.8%), ÃŽ ±-cadinol (4.7%) and germacrene D (4.3%). In this study, GC and GC/MS analysis method revealed monoterpenoid hydrocarbon (MH), oxygenated monoterpenes (OM), sesquiterpenoid hydrocarbons (SH), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (OS), nonterpenoid hydrocarbons (NH), diterpene hydrocarbon (DH) and oxygenated diterpene (OD) in the oil from the aerial parts of Eremostachys macrophylla. One monoterpene hydrocarbon (0.1%), five oxygenated monoterpenes (8.8%), thirteen sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (13.4%), six oxygenated sesquiterpenes (10.4%), seventeen nonterpene hydrocarbons (56.0%), one diterpene hydrocarbon (2.5%) and one oxygenated diterpene (0.4%) were detected in this oil. The data lead to a rank order of constituent groups: NH>SH>OS>OM>DH>OD>MH for the aerial parts oil. The main components in this oil were hexadecanoic acid (27.5%), ethyl linoleate (8.5%), 6-methyl-ÃŽ ±-ionone (8.0%), isobutyl phthalate (5.8%), ÃŽ ±-cadinol (4.7%) and germacrene D (4.3%). The oil consisted mainly of nonterpenes and relatively small fractions of other terpenoids. Also, oxygenated nonoterpenes (53.2%) predominated over nonterpene hydrocarbons (2.8%). However, in a previous study on volatile oil from aerial parts of Eremostachys macrophylla, among the thirty-five identified compounds that have been compromised to 92.9% of the oil, spathulenol (23.4%), hexadecanoic acid (13.5%) and caryophyllene oxide (9.3%) were the major ones (6), while in other report on the aerial parts of this plant, among the sixteen identified compounds that have been compromised to 96.4% of the oil; germacrene-D (47.1%), germacrene-B (17.8%), ÃŽ ³-elemene (9.1%), myrcene (6.7%), ÃŽ ²-elemene (2.7%), and ÃŽ ²-phellandrene (2.6%) have been the major ones (7). Also, we reported analysis of the essential oils from flowers, leaves and stems of Eremostachys macrophylla (5). The specimen had been collected at different place, time and altitude from current study. The major compounds in the flower oil of E. macrophylla were 1,8-cineol (19.0 %) and germacrene D-4-ol (10.6 %), whereas the leaf oil contained ÃŽ ±-pinene (30.0 %), 1,10-di-epi cubenol (22.7 %), elemol ( 13.3 %) and bornyl acetate (11.0 %). The stem oil of the plant consisted mainly of 1,10-di-epi cubenol (34.4%) and elemol (24.0 %). Evident from the above data, there are significant differences in the results of the current study with previous studies (6,7) for the aerial parts of E. macrophylla . These discrepancies are not entirely unexpected since hydrodistillation relates to the interactions of the oil constituents with water vapor. Of course, there may also be differences related to environmental conditions such as climate, altitude, collection time, ground composition of the sampling area and different growth stages such as pre-flowering, fresh flowering and air-dried-flowering stages. Conclusion The chemical composition of the essential oil of aerial parts from Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. Auch. (Lamiaceae) growing in Sabzevar was investigated. This study showed considerable amounts of hexadecanoic acid (27.5%), ethyl linoleate (8.5%), 6-methyl-ÃŽ ±-ionone (8.0%). These major constituents were different from previous studies on the same species 5-7. These results demonstrated that the chemical composition of the essential oil of the same species can change depending on a variety of conditions, including climate, time of collection, and the ground composition of the sampling area besides of growth stages of plant. Acknowledgment We are grateful to Dr. V. Mozaffarian (Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran) for identifying the plant materials. Table 1. Constituents of the essential oils from aerial parts of Eremostachys macrophylla obtained by hydrodistillation a No. compound Formula Percentage RRIb Class 1 Limonene C10H16 0.1 1031 MHc 2 4-Terpineol C10H18O 0.1 1179 OMd 3 Fenchyl acetate C12H20O2 0.4 1223 OM 4 Anethole C10H12O 0.1 1285 OM 5 ÃŽ ±-Copaene C15H24 0.2 1364 SHe 6 ÃŽ ²- Bourbonene C15H24 0.8 1385 SH 7 ÃŽ ²-Cubebene C15H24 0.1 1390 SH 8 Tetradecane C14H30 0.1 1400 NHf 9 ÃŽ ²-Caryophyllene C15H24 0.3 1418 SH 10 ÃŽ ±-Guaiene C15H24 0.1 1439 SH 11 Aromadendrene C15H24 0.6 1442 SH 12 ÃŽ ±-Humulene C15H24 2.0 1452 SH 13 (E)-ÃŽ ²-Farnesene C15H24 0.1 1457 SH 14 Germacrene D C15H24 4.3 1480 SH 15 ÃŽ ²-Ionone C13H20O 0.2 1488 OM 16 Bicyclogermacrene C15H24 0.7 1500 SH 17 ÃŽ ³-Cadinene C15H24 0.6 1515 SH 18 6-Methyl-ÃŽ ±-ionone C14H22O 8.0 1518 OM 19 ÃŽ ´-Cadinene C15H24 3.5 1522 SH 20 Cadina-1,4-diene C15H24 0.1 1533 SH 21 Germacrene D-4-ol C15H26O 0.6 1574 OSg 22 Spathulenol C15H24O 1.5 1578 OS 23 Caryophyllene oxide C15H24O 0.5 1583 OS 24 Humulene epoxide II C15H24O 1.7 1608 OS 25 Ï„-Muurolol C15H26O 1.4 1643 OS 26 ÃŽ ±-Cadinol C15H26O 4.7 1656 OS 27 Tetradecanoic acid C14H28O2 1.8 1760 NH 28 Octadecane C18H38 0.4 1800 NH 29 6,10,14-Trimethyl-2-Pentadecanone, C18H36O 1.7 1848 NH 30 2-Hydroxy-Cyclopentadecanone C15H28O2 0.4 1853 NH 31 Pentadecanoic acid C15H30O2 0.3 1867 NH 32 Isobutyl phthalate C16H22O4 5.8 1877 NH 33 Cyclohexadecane C16H32 0.3 1883 NH 34 16-methyl-Oxacyclohexadecan-2-one, C16H30O2 0.3 1943 NH 35 Sandaracopimara-8(14),15-diene C20H32 2.5 1969 DHh 36 di-Butylphthalate C16H22O4 0.9 1973 NH 37 Hexadecanoic acid C16H32O2 27.5 1977 NH 38 Eicosane C20H42 2.0 2000 NH 39 Heptadecanoic acid C17H34O2 0.4 2065 NH 40 Methyl linoleate C19H34O2 0.6 2084 NH 41 Phytol C20H40O 0.4 2111 ODi 42 (Z,Z)-9,12-Octadecadienoic acid C18H32O2 2.7 2136 NH 43 Ethyl linoleate C20H36O2 8.5 2164 NH 44 Octadecanoic acid C18H36O2 2.3 2172 NH Total identified 91.6 a The compounds have been arranged according to their retention indices on an HP-5 MS capillary column b Kovatz retention indices given in the literature c Monoterpene hydrocarbons d Oxygenated monoterpene e Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons f Nonterpene hydrocarbons g Oxygenated sesquiterpene hDiterpene hygrocarbon iOxygenated diterpene References 1. Mozaffarian, V. (1996), A Dictionary of Iranian plant names, Frhang Moaser, Tehran, pp. 207-208. 2. Rechinger,K.H. (1982). Eremostachys, in: Flora Iranica, Labiatae No. 150. Edits., K.H. Rechinger and I.C. Hedge, Pp 290-292, Akademische Druck and Verlagsanstalt, Graz, Austria. 3. Al-Jaber, H.I., Al-Qudah, M.A., Barhoumi, L.M., Abaza, I.F., Afifi, F.U. (2012). Variation in the essential oil composition of Eremostachys laciniata from Jordan at different flowering stages, J. Essent. Oil Res. 24(3): 289-297. 4. Esmaeili, A. (2012). Biological activities of Eremostachys laevigata Bunge. grown in Iran, Pak. J. Pharm. Sci., 25(4): 803-808. 5. Rustaiyan, A., Masoudi, S., Ezzatzadeh, E., Akhlaghi, H., Aboli, J. (2011). Composition of the Aerial Part, Flower, Leaf and Stem Oils of Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. Auch. and Eremostachys labiosa Bunge. from Iran, J Essent. Oil Bear. Pl., 14(1): 84-88. 6. Javidnia, K., Miri, R., Soltani, M., Khosravi, A.R. (2008). Essential oil composition of two species of Eremostachys from Iran (E. adenantha Jaub. et spach and E. macrophylla Montbr. et auch. J. Essent. Oil Res., 20(3): 226-228. 7.Nori-Shargh D., Kiaei, S.M., Deyhimi, F. (2007). The volatile constituents analysis of Eremostachys macrophylla Montbr. Auch. from Iran, Nat. Prod. Res., 21(8):733-5. 8. Amiri, H., Meshkat Al Sadat, M.H., Lari Yazdi, H. (2007). Chemical composition of the essential oil of Eremostachys Laevigata bung, DARU J.Pharm. Sci., 15(1):34-40. 9. Navaei, M.N., Mirza, M. (2006). Chemical composition of the oil of Eremostachys laciniata (L.) Bunge from Iran, Flavour. Frag. J., 21(4): 645-646. 10. Imran, M., Mehmood, R., Mughal, U.R., Ali, B., Malik, A. (2012). Vicarin, a new isoflavone from Eremostachys vicaryi, J. Asian Nat. Prod. Res., 14(3): 293-296. 11. Ali, B., Mehmood, R., Mughal, U.R., Malik, A., Safder, M., Hussain, R., Imran, M., Tareen, R.B. (2012). Eremosides A-C, New Iridoid Glucosides from Eremostachys loasifolia, Helv. Chim. Acta, 95(4): 586-593. 12. Mughal, U.R., Fatima, I., Malik, A., Tareen, R.B. (2010). Loasifolin, a new flavonoid from Eremostachys loasifolia, J. Asian Nat. Prod. Res., 12(4): 328-330. 13. Calis, I., Guevenc, A., Armagan, M., Koyuncu, M., Gotfredsen, C.H., Jensend, S.R. (2008). Secondary metabolites from Eremostachys laciniata, Nat. Prod. Commun., 3(2): 117-124. 14. Delazar, A., Modarresi, M., Nazemiyeh, H., Fathi-Azad, F., Nahar, L., Sarker, S.D. (2008). Furanolabdane diterpene glycosides from Eremostachys laciniata, Nat. Prod. Commun., 3(6): 873-876. 15. Calis, I., Guvenc, A., Armagan, M., Koyuncu, M., Gotfredsen, C.H. Jensen, S.R. (2007). Iridoid glucosides from Eremostachys moluccelloides Bunge, Helv. Chim. Acta, 90(8): 1461-1466. 16. Delazar, A., Modarresi, M., Shoeb, M., Nahar, L., Reid, R.G., Kumarasamy, Y., Majinda, R.R.T., Sarker, S.D. (2006). Eremostachiin: a new furanolabdane diterpene glycoside from Eremostachys glabra, Nat. Prod. Res., 20(2): 167-172. 17. R.P. Adams, (2007). Identification of Essential Oil Components by Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometry, 4th Edition. Allured Publishing Corporation, Carol Stream, IL, USA.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Capital Punishment Essay: Death Penalty Distribution - Is It Unfair? :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Death Penalty Distribution - Is It Unfair?   Ã‚     The subject of this essay should be obvious from the title. Considerable detail is included in this presentation of the facts on the issue.    In an average year about 20,000 homicides occur in the United States. Fewer than 300 convicted murderers are sentenced to death. But because no more than thirty murderers have been executed in any recent year, most convicts sentenced to death are likely to die of old age (1). Nonetheless, the death penalty looms large in discussions: it raises important moral questions independent of the number of executions (2).    The death penalty is our harshest punishment (3). It is irrevocable: it ends the existence of those punished, instead of temporarily imprisoning them. Further, although not intended to cause physical pain, execution is the only corporal punishment still applied to adults (4). These singular characteristics contribute to the perennial, impassioned controversy about capital punishment.    Consideration of the justice, morality, or usefulness, of capital punishment is often conflated with objections to its alleged discriminatory or capricious distribution among the guilty. Wrongly so. If capital punishment is immoral in se, no distribution cannot affect the quality of what is distributed, be it punishments or rewards. Discriminatory or capricious distribution thus could not justify abolition of the death penalty. Further, maldistribution inheres no more in capital punishment than in any other punishment. Maldistribution between the guilty and the innocent is, by definition, unjust. But the injustice does not lie in the nature of the punishment. Because of the finality of the death penalty, the most grievous maldistribution occurs when it is imposed upon the innocent. However, the frequent allegations of discrimination and capriciousness refer to maldistribution among the guilty and not to the punishment of the innocent (5). Maldistribution of any punishment among those who deserves it is irrelevant to its justice or morality. Even if poor or black convicts guilty of capital offenses suffer capital punishment, and other convicts equally guilty of the same crimes do not, a more equal distribution, however desirable, would merely be more equal. It would not be more just to the convicts under sentence of death.    Punishments are imposed on person, not on racial or economic groups. Guilt is personal. The only relevant question is: does the person to be executed deserve the punishment? Whether or not others who deserved the same punishment, whatever their economic or racial group, have avoided execution is irrelevant.

Monday, November 11, 2019

A critical analysis of the role of popular culture in creating and maintaining learning across British society

In the following study I will be examining the way that popular culture has affected British public in relation to learning. I will be first examining previous times and the ways in which popular culture has influenced people over time. I will be concentrating on the effects that music and advertising has had and shaped society over time, and the methods these mediums have used to achieve this. Throughout the last century British culture has been dramatically transformed through popular culture, the development of major corporations, the changing methods of the current governments of the time, and the development of methods that popular culture can reach the public, all contributing to an extreme alteration in the way society as a whole behaves. Before the industrial revolution, popular culture was based on the agricultural year and around religious festivals for example, harvest, plough Monday, Easter, Christmas etc.) There was no division of the classes. Everyone joined together in recreation and entertainment. In the nineteenth century however, there was a considerable change. A sharp rise in urbanisation meant people flocked to the cities away from the agricultural areas to the industrial centres. There was therefore a massive decline in the meaningfulness of the agricultural festivals. In the city there was a physical separation of the classes, the working classes living tightly together in houses built specifically to house workers. There were far fewer public holidays as the agricultural ones were regarded as obsolete. There were fears about the amount of control the rich had over the working classes, as there was in the church. The working classes saw how they were treated by the Church Of England in the city very different to what they were used to. Many theories arose about the church and how it was corrupt. A man called John Leicester believed the Church to be corrupt and began his own church. The Methodist church, derived from the Czech Maravian Church. Methodist churches have no icons, statues, or grand features such as stained glass. Many working class people became Methodist due to the supposed corruption of the Church of England and its discrimination against the poor. This caused worry among the upper classes that the working classes could rise up against them. At this time, Irish Catholics were brought over from island to dig the canals. With them they brought the Irish Catholic faith. The Irish were regarded as extreme underclass and were very poor, therefore Catholicism was regarded as a religion for the poor. Yet another new faith for the working classes. There was increased fear of revolution as the inventions of new non-conformist churches happened. More and more controls and legislation were applied to prevent the uprising of the working classes. The Age of Interference The worries that the upper classes had of a possible revolution caused them to impose many rules on popular pursuits such as cricket and football. There was also a move to open parks and museums and other recreational facilities to distract the working classes not only from drinking and riots, but political movements and uprise. There was also a bought of middle-class pursuits invented such as Thomas Cook Holidays. Advertising Advertising is very easily exposed to the public. Advertising is available in a large variety of mediums, television being a main outlet, radio, posters, billboards, signs, newspapers and more, a more recent method being the internet. All of these things we come into contact with everyday. A very effective medium for advertising is the radio. This reaches people while they are doing other things, like driving or working, unlike television, which people only see when they have specifically sat down to watch it. Roland Barthes (1950-1980) studied semiotics, which is the study of signs and how we interpret them. He said that we receive subliminal messages through adverts without knowing it, this in turn making us want to buy the product/service. Roland Barthes dismantled images, the most known example of this being a picture of a black French Cub Scout saluting, and used his three levels of deconstruction to find hidden meaning to the image. This can be applied to images and advertising we now see today. Phallic symbolism was and still is used today within advertising, especially on television and is found to be extremely effective. The Cadbury's Flake television commercial is a prime example. But of course, a few hundred years ago, television would not have been about and advertising would have been restricted to other mediums. Before the industrial revolution, posters or leaflets would have not worked because there was mass illiteracy at those times because of the lack of education facilities available to the general public. After the revolution though, there was more education available to both children and adults of the working classes. But what is ‘working class.'? Karl Marx was the founding father of communism and is referred back to consistently when definitions of social class are made. Born in Germany in 1818, Marx lived in France, Belgium and London. He was an associate of Engels, with whom he devised the Communist/Economic Determinist Theory. This stated that there are two types of people. The Proletariat (who by efforts produce wealth) and the Bourgeoisie (the owners of factories and profits who exploit the proletariat). In 1847 Marx attended a meeting in London, the groups aim being ‘the overthrow of the bourgeoisie and the domination of the proletariat.' In this, Marx was willing the working classes to rise up against the bourgeoisie. Marx had many followers, an important one being Gramsci. Gramsci was born in 1891. A believer in Marxism, joining the Communist party in 1921, he was an avid supporter of all of Marx's proposals, but he thought that his theories were too focused on economics and take into account the other factors enough, with culture being a crucial example. The Gramscian model was called the hegemony model. Through this, Gramsci said that the upper classes use a form of propaganda to suppress revolution of the working classes. He claimed the working classes would begin to resent how much power was had over them and revolt. At that point, the powerful people would stop the revolution by giving the rebels a little of what they demanded to curb them. For example, there was a move to encourage people to read more political literature. Communists used this to provoke revolution through leaflets and articles. The Government automatically put a large tax on all forms of literature, resulting in an underground illegal press. Within time though, the government lifted the tax and promoted the reading and publishing of cheap magazines, which distracted people from the political literature, therefore no one read the communists provocations. So, Marx's ideas had been supported and followed by many, but the revolution they all predicted and encouraged never happened. Why? The working classes never revolted because the industrial revolution meant increased prosperity to all. Marx expected more solidarity among the working classes than there actually was and this stratification meant that revolution was never fully supported. Education at this time was limited. Children would attend Sunday schools and learn to read. There were also ‘Bell Schools' in which educated pupils would teach each other. These children would then go home to their (probably illiterate) parents and read to them, thus the parents learning as well as the children. Better education meant new technology was being developed. The printing press was introduced in the late 1860s, this resulting in many forms of writing being freely available. Not only news, but entertaining stories like ‘Penny Dreadfuls' that became very popular among the working classes. The Education Act of 1870 meant that education was available to all people whatever their class all over the country. Mass literacy ensued and more and more reading materials were being produced to entertain and inform. Literacy has had a massive effect on the way we live and how we learn and the availability of education is so huge compared to those a hundred years ago. Although mass literacy was an extremely important development in our culture and its effects are colossal, there are other ways in which popular culture affects learning in societytoday. Advances in education meant more technology was being invented. Music was becoming more and more inventive as time went on because of the new ways of producing it and publicising it. The advent of music halls was a very important step in social development. Before the industrial revolution, the workers would often drink habitually throughout the days while working the land. When they moved to the cities and worked in the factories, obviously drinking was not tolerated. Urbanisation meant that all had more money to spend because of their pay in the cities, therefore more money to spend on alcohol. This meant that the workers would come home and drink the equal amount they would have over the day while on the farms, in one evening. Drinking created social decline, causing a large spread of violent drunken behaviour, rape, domestic abuse, child negligence etc, prompting the authorities to provide evening entertainment for the working classes, to prevent the boredom and the need to drink. Thus, the music halls were born. Music halls were popular all over Britain, and drew in both the working classes and the upper classes to shows involving many different types of people singing patriotic songs or amusing acts, often by women. A famous example of performer was Vesta Tilley. Tilley would often impersonate men, mainly ‘pencil pushers', the middle-class men who worked in offices and the like. Tilley would dress in drag, and impersonate and ridicule these type of people, much to the amusement of the working class people who often detested these type of people. Tilley's most famous song was ‘Burlington Bertie'. As WW11 began, music changed within society. Patriotic songs like ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag' and ‘Jerusalem' were very popular as was all uplifting nationalist music at the time. The Frankfurt School This was a group set up in 1923 mainly made up of Jewish intellectuals threatened by the Nazis. With beliefs similar to Gramsci's they believed that the working classes had been ‘pacified' into accepting capitalism by ‘Commodity Fetishism' (the creation of false needs. The most famous three members of the Franfurt school were arguably Adorno (1903-1969), Max Horkheimer (1895-1973) and Herbert Marcuse (1898-1979). Adorno devised many theories concerning popular culture, many of which are still used today. In Dominic Strinati's work An Introduction To Theories Of Popular Culture, features a quote from Adorno giving his view on popular culture and the way in which it is used. ‘In all its branches, products which are tailored for the consumption by masses, and which to a great extent determine the nature of that consumption, are manufactured more or less according to plan†¦ This is made possible by contemporary technical capabilities as well as by economic and administrative concentration. The culture industry intentionally integrates its consumers from above. To the detriment of both it forces together the spheres of high and low art, separated for thousands of years. The seriousness of high art is destroyed in speculation about its efficacy; the seriousness of the lower perishes with the civilisational constraints imposed on the rebellious resistance inherent within it as long as social control was not yet total. Thus, although the culture industry undeniably speculates on the conscious and unconscious state of the millions towards which it is directed, the masses are not primary but secondary, they are an object of calculation, an appendage o f the machinery. The customer is not king, as the culture industry would have us believe, not its subject but its object'. (Adorno. Strinati D. 2004..) This indicates the belief that the authorities within the culture industry shape culture in Britain through the search for profit. Adorno believed that the power lay within the culture industry and its products encouraged compliance and consensus. Adorno was very interested in music. Classically trained, he used is knowledge in the field and compared it with the modern music of the time. Popular music was completely different to the classical style he had be taught. He said that in popular music, ‘the beginning of the chorus is replaceable by the beginning of the innumerable other choruses†¦.. every detail is substitutable; it serves its function only as a cog in a machine.' Adorno maintained that this is different to in classical music where the music provides ‘a musical sense from the totality of the piece and its place within that totality.' Adorno believed that popular music was in no way creative or intuitive, merely ‘to please the masses.' At the time of Adorno, dramatic changes in popular music were happening. The 1950s brought about the uprising of the ‘teenager'. Artists such as Buddy Holly were idolised, American music being a strong upcoming force at this time. Musicians used not only their music to sell their records, but their appearances and attitude also. The rapidly altering types of music were a big worry to the government of the time. Many complaints were filed against many album covers and performances. Elvis for example was filmed from the waist up so his rotating hips were not broadcast! There were calls to ban many songs and particular album covers, like the cover of the Mamas and Papas album ‘If You Can Believe Your Eyes And ears', in which the band are shown in a bath together fully dressed. Record companies were forced to sign less ‘controversial' bands like The Monkees. Music has developed dramatically since. Bands such as The Clash promoted rebellious attitudes towards authority, as did the Sex Pistols, whose song God Save The Queen was banned by Radio One upon its release. A recent band who follow this theme are Anti-Flag who's most famous song ‘Fuck Police Brutality', is a blatant attack at the authorities of the country. Bands such as these are now very popular, their songs and attitudes being imitated by its listeners. These attitudes have spawned a variety of fashions, often involving the wearing of black hoodies, piercings and coloured hair. This is seen as a statement against society, a rebellion against conformity. Artists such as Eminem have come under serious criticism, charged with endorsing drug use and bad language. Emiem alone has been blamed on numerous occasions for behavioural problems children have allegedly developed after to listening to his records. One child committed suicide in the early nineties, his death blamed on Eminem's music. An alternative fashion trend has been born from black music, specifically rap. This involves the wearing of tracksuits, trainers, large gold chains and caps. Although this is merely a way of dressing, this type of outfit is often perceived by the general public as disruptive, indicating the person is a troublemaker, often being turned away from particular institutions for example clubs on account of their dress. Snoop Dogg, an American rap artist at the Live8 concert recently swore repeatedly both during his songs and between them, all at about lunchtime in front of millions of people both at the gig and watching on television around the world. Criticised heavily for this, he received a massive fine from the organisers of the event and forced to publicly apologise. Some claim that music such as his is very damaging to children and should not be released, let alone promoted. The governments of today are more lenient when allowing records from such bands to be released, but parental advisory stickers are put on if there is but one expletive within the record, and this means the record can not be sold to persons under the age of fifteen. With the invention of music videos, there have been many complaints concerning the content. A lot of modern music, especially music of black origin like r'n'b releases videos involving sexual scenes. This has caused outrage and has forced many videos to be scrapped completely, edited or blurred when shown. For example, the punk band Blink 182's video for the song ‘I Miss You' released in 2001 involved scenes of lesbianism and voyeur. These scenes were edited out, then the video was eventually taken off the television because of the amounts of complaints received about it. A very famous and recent example of prohibition by the government involving music videos is the infamous ‘Crazy Frog' song by Axel F. The video showed an animation of a frog dancing. The frog was naked and, although no distinctive genitalia were present, the Advertising Standards Committee received thousands of complaints from parents stating it was too explicit to be shown before watershed. The video was then edited, the aforesaid area blurred and allowed to be broadcast only after watershed (9pm.) The actions of governments when looking at the way they manipulate the music industry can be clarified when looking at Gramsci's hegemony model. The definition of hegemony by Gramsci: ‘A cultural and ideological means whereby the dominant groups in society, including fundamentally but not exclusively the ruling class, maintain their dominance by securing the ‘spontaneous consent' of subordinate groups, including the working class. This is achieved by the negotiated construction of a political and ideological consensus which incorporates both dominant and dominated groups'. (Strinati, D 2004). This definition indicates to us that the authorities according to Gramsci, prohibit the uprising of the lower classes through bowdlerization, restrictions and censorship. This is apparent when looking at popular music, and the radio. Radio Caroline was a pirate radio station set up in the 1960s by a group of people who rebelling against the strict control the government had over the music broadcast on the radio. To stop prosecution, Radio Caroline was broadcast from the sea off the shores of Britain so as to avoid breaking the law. Radio Caroline broadcast rock'n'roll, and music genres that the younger audiences would appreciate, music which was censored and restricted by the government, receiving little airtime. The government retorted by making the listening to Radio Caroline illegal, but this was ineffective, so they produced a new radio station called Radio One. This was obviously still controlled by the government, but played the popular music that Radio Caroline did. This is a strong example of hegemony, showing how the government changes its policies to give the impression that the public have got what they wanted, but still having that underpinning control. I conclude that popular music has had and continues to have massive influence on society today. Music such as ‘Jerusalem' around the time of the world wars was uplifting and gave people hope in the terrible times they lived through while the war was happening. In the 1950s, music changed dramatically and brought about certain fashion trends, some seen as damaging, but overall just another cultural change. Nowadays, music is less regulated, but we are still prevented from listening to particular types of music at certain ages, indicating the continuation of censorship enforced by the government. Hegemony in music is very apparent, a prime example being the banning of Radio Caroline and the censorship involved in the music industry today. I feel society has developed through music, as new music is born; new technology to improve it follows and so on. Music brings joy and entertainment, a medium through which thoughts are expressed and ideas are publicised. I feel that the censorship of music is meaningless, because as we develop as people, we can learn to accept maybe aggressive lyrics or offensive videos and tolerate them as just another part of someone's culture. Through music we learn and to censor our music is to stifle our growth as human beings.