A comparative essay between the novels Artemis Fowl and The princes and the goblin.

A comparative essay between the novels Artemis Fowl and The princes and the goblin. The elements of comparison that immediately come into focus when there is mention of the book ‘princess and the goblin’ and ‘Artemis fowl’ range widely. The variance of themes span from the essentials that describe a society such as food, clothing, money and the fundamentals that describe a place such as its geographical landscape or terrain. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A comparative essay between the novels â€Å"Artemis Fowl† and â€Å"The princes and the goblin†. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The landscape at the heart of the story in the book ‘princess and the goblin’ is a mountainous terrain that has very many subterranean hollows. Winding caves and caverns characterize the landscape in this book. Some of the caverns have water coming out of them, while some shine when light gets inside these structures. In this book, two characters of very distinct ba ckgrounds and with very different lifestyles get to interact, and end up being friends. The two come from the two different social groups that define the living standards of the region. Irene, the princess, born of the king and therefore enjoys every ounce of leisure life could offer. She has spent her life enjoying the comfort of the palace built by his father on one of the mountains. The palace is beautiful and it is what the princess has grown up to believe is the whole world, until her curiosity leads her out of the palace into the outside world beneath. There are seemingly a different type people beneath the palace, strange people who it seems have different lives, and are of a different race, these are the goblins. Legends attribute their existence to the fact that they all lived together in the same kingdom, until the king levied upon them higher taxes, tried to impose more severity, and handled them with stricter rules. As a result, these people escaped from the kingdom, b ut instead of going far away from the kingdom, they sought refuge in the underground caves and caverns from where they came out only at night (Macdonald, 1990). The tale has it that these people hardly walk in groups, they come out only in the dark and never show up to large groups of people. This tale goes on to say that they operate in large groups of people in the areas of the mountain that are least visited, deeper into the mountain and that they even gathered in the open air. As a result of them hiding away from the sun, dwelling in the cold and dark dungeon that was the mountain, their bodies had changed greatly both in form and texture through the course of time. They looked abnormally strange to the extent that no literary genius could put to pen the matching description of their appearance. Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The goblins, in as much as th ey grew more disheveled in face and form, they grew smarter and brighter in the head. They had advanced intellectually to the point that they could do things that were unheard of in the world of mortals, yet all this creativity they dedicated to making the life of the people living on top of the mountain a living hell (Macdonald, 1990). This community was very cruel to the people living on the mountain (suns), but they treated others of their type with affection and love. Their wits saw them establish a government run by a chief. The main business of this government besides running their own personal affairs was devising trouble for their neighbors on the mountain (Macdonald, 1990). They held onto the grudge they bore against the suns people with a passion, they professed it with a near religious zeal; their perception of the suns was negative. They viewed them as the people who occupied their former abodes, and more so as the descendants of the king who caused their expulsion from the mountain. For this reason, the princess had never seen the sky at night the whole of her life. Also at the heart of this kingdom is a young girl called Irene, she happens to be the king’s daughter; the princess. On one, boring, rainy day she decides to take a stroll through their old huge kingdom house. Due to the complexity of the structure of the house, she gets lost in the rooms and wanders her way into her great grandmother’s secret room. Her grandmother been living beneath their house for ages and therefore knows a lot about the kingdom, yet the occupants of the kingdom didn’t know she was there. She is stunningly beautiful for a grandmother and Irene soon bonds with her. Upon returning to the castle, she tells her nanny Lootie about her encounter with her grandmother, an assertion to which Lootie does not believe and a quarrel ensues. On the first sunny day, they set out for a walk and stay out late. This is their first encounter with the scary gobli ns, but they are saved by a young boy called Curdie, who sings rhythms which the Goblins find unbearable and they leave the two alone. Curdie has saved their lives and Irene promises him a kiss but Lootie interrupts. This marks the beginning of a relationship that would go along way affecting the lives of the people around them, at one point even the fate of the kingdom. This happened when they boy eavesdropped on some goblins and heard them talking and planning an attack on the suns kingdom. He also got to know that their heads were hard but the lower parts of their bodies were weak (Macdonald, 1990).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A comparative essay between the novels â€Å"Artemis Fowl† and â€Å"The princes and the goblin†. specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Artemis Fowl is a book based on the story of a young boy living with his mother. The father, who happens to be a crime lord, has deserted the family and they are the only members. This boy, at only twelve ears was intelligent, a genius for that matter and had the determination, zeal and desire to be rich. In his quest to attain wealth, he conducts an extensive research on fairies and discovers their existence. He hatches out a plan to kidnap a fairy, this involves trailing them and learning their ways. Artemis and his friend, Butler track down a rogue fairy pretending to be a healer in Vietnam, they intend to get from her the ‘book of the people’, a holy book for fairies that is written in gnomish. At the same time, a police captain Holly short happens to be going after another troll which has escaped from the fairy city deep underground from the earth’s surface. (Colfer, 2001) Captain Holy is assisted by her friends and they debilitate the troll, this exercise consumes all of her magical ability, forcing her to carry out a sacrament that would help bring back her magic. Using his wits, Artemis trans lates the book using a computer, and while at it he learns the essentials of the ritual. From the details in the book, they locate over 100 places where the ritual could be conducted. Four months later they find Holly on the spot conducting the ritual, they tranquilize him with a hypodermic syringe. The Fairy council sends a group of fairies to examine Fowl Manor. The members are equipped with a special ability that allows them to travel faster than the human eye can follow, this was called shielding ability, but Artemis expects this and installs a camera that could resonate with their speed by freezing the image. Butler debilitated the threat while Root cordoned Fowl Manor by initiating a time stop and entered discussions (Colfer, 2001). The amount demanded to release Fowl manor was 24 carats of gold. Artemis, armed with the knowledge he gained from decoding the book, took the chance to disclose his ability to undo the time stop. Following Artemis guidance, they break into the Ma nor. He digs underground to get to the house and finds a safe where a copy of the book was stored. This gives a hint to where Artemis got his knowledge about fairies. In the meantime, Holly digs a space through the concrete wall of her cell, gets an acorn that had been smuggled inside. She takes it and completes the ritual, this enables him to regain his magic and he sets off to the main house. The fairies honor their end of the bargain and give Artemis the ransom they had initially agreed upon. They give him the gold, but in the face of all that and coupled with all the riches bestowed upon him, he cannot cure his mother’s condition. He requests holly to grant him a wish; he wants her to cure his mother’s insanity, which had been caused by the loss her husband’s disappearance (Colfer, 2001). As result she is bed ridden. Advertising Looking for essay on comparative literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In return Holly offers to grant the wish and cure her mother’s insanity but at a price, he demands to be given half the gold Artemis had. The fairies had other intentions, they intended to kill Artemis by infecting him with a biological bomb and get the gold, but this flops when Artemis drugs himself and his comrades with sleeping pills. The sleeping pills enable him to escape the time-stop, when he wakes up he finds his mother’s health in top condition, having recovered from her insanity. In both stories, there is a common theme that comes to light. A theme that has been a factor in both instances, it has also been the driving force behind most of the events in these books. This is money. Because of money the goblins were expelled from the kingdom that they rightfully belonged, one that was rightfully there’s. The king used it to expel them from the kingdom by raising the tax rates imposed on them, purposefully in order to get rid of them. Money has caused the re to be division and classification according to how much one had, them that lacked had to escape the kingdom, and moved to inhabit the subterranean dungeons. As a result of the limited exposure to the sun and other environmental factors, they had grown scarily grotesque. This had caused all the difference in the lives of these people, hence the contrasting lifestyles. The people who had money lived and enjoyed their lives, though they were not at peace wherever they were, its like they lived in total seclusion, in that some of them had never seen the sky, let alone know. They were confined in their freedom, and did not even know the beauty and glory that lay beyond the confines of their kingdom. In Artemis’s case, the quest for money and wealth almost caused him his life were it not for his intelligence and ability to see ahead and think faster than his adversaries. The biological bomb they had sent him kills all forms of organic life, and his life, however bright was no ex emption. After outwitting them all and having amassed all that wealth that was to the tune of twenty four gold carats, he discovers he still has needs that the money can not buy. The money cannot buy him happiness; it cannot repair the broken relationships, it can neither heal illnesses nor better them, and certainly too much of it does feel uncomfortable. It surprises us at the end when he gives out half the amount of gold he had worked so hard to attain, but what is all that when the person who is closest to you, your mother, is still sick? It surpasses logic. He did it out of the love, it is what matters most and that is what counts. He was happy eventually when the mother recovered, and he still had half the gold. In the case of the kingdom, this people harbored anger and scorn towards each other. The goblins were so cruel to the suns to the point the established an own government whose sole purpose was to create disturbance and mayhem to the suns people. Money had caused this problem, the goblins wanted to attack the sun people, and submerge their kingdom as a result of the hate they had for the suns (MacDonald.1992). This is salvaged after a boy overhears their conversations and alerts the suns . The get ready to protect the kingdom so by the time the goblins attack, they defend. These two, Irene and Curdie, save the kingdom not for the money but because of the love and the indifference of heart they saw among the people of the two communities. In both cases, money has been of utmost disservice to the peace that has existed. Whenever the characters considered money as a factor, there was division and war. Money has proved its ability to buy almost anything that has economic value, but it has failed to buy virtues upon which good life is based upon, such as love, peace and harmony. It happens that people who have all the money don’t have it all when it comes to these virtues; instead money cultivates greed, envy, war and instability in the case of kingdoms and power centers. Money could not buy the suns people the peace they so yearned for, neither could it heal Artemis mother of her condition. He had to make a wish to the Fairy, it is only because the fairy had been frustrated by Artemis that he decided to punish him by charging him half the gold he had. Artemis needed joy and happiness, and he could stop at nothing to get it, his only joy was his mother’s well-being, and he reaped the fruits when he sacrificed half his wealth. His mother was well, the other kingdom was rescued after the money factor was put aside and they all lived happily ever after. Colfer, Eion. (2001). Artemis Fowl: Artemis Fowl series. NY. New York. Vicking press. MacDonald, George (1990). The princess and the goblin. Paperback. Trafalgar Square Publishing.

Biography of Eva Perón, First Lady of Argentina

Biography of Eva Perà ³n, First Lady of Argentina Eva Perà ³n (May 7, 1919–July 26, 1952) was the wife of Argentine President Juan Perà ³n and the First Lady of Argentina. Fondly known as Evita, she played a major role in her husbands administration. She is widely remembered for her efforts to help the poor and for her role in helping women win the right to vote. Fast Facts: Eva Perà ³n Known For: As the First Lady of Argentina, Eva became a hero of women and the working class.Also Known As: Marà ­a Eva Duarte, EvitaBorn: May 7, 1919 in Los Toldos, ArgentinaParents: Juan Duarte and Juana IbargurenDied: July 26, 1952 in Buenos Aires, ArgentinaSpouse: Juan Perà ³n (m. 1945-1952) Early Life Maria Eva Duarte was born in Los Toldos, Argentina, on May 7, 1919, to Juan Duarte and Juana Ibarguren, an unmarried couple. The youngest of five children, Eva (as she came to be known) had three older sisters and one older brother. Juan Duarte worked as the estate manager of a large, successful farm, and the family lived in a house on the main street of their small town. However, Juana and the children shared Juan Duartes income with his first family, a wife and three daughters who lived in the nearby town of Chivilcoy. Not long after Evas birth, the central government, which had previously been run by wealthy and corrupt landowners, came under the control of the Radical Party, made up of middle-class citizens who favored reform. Juan Duarte, who had benefited greatly from his friendships with those landowners, soon found himself without a job. He returned to his hometown of Chivilcoy to join his other family. When he left, Juan turned his back on Juana and their five children. Eva was not yet a year old. Juana and her children were forced to leave their home and move into a tiny house near the railroad tracks, where Juana made a meager living from sewing clothes for the townspeople. Eva and her siblings had few friends; they were ostracized because their illegitimacy was considered scandalous. In 1926, when Eva was 6 years old, her father was killed in a car accident. Juana and the children traveled to Chivilcoy for his funeral and were treated as outcasts by Juans first family. Dreams of Being a Star Juana moved her family to a larger town, Junin, in 1930, to seek more opportunities for her children. The older siblings found jobs and Eva and her sister enrolled in school. As a teenager, young Eva became fascinated with the world of movies; in particular, she loved American movie stars. Eva made it her mission to one day leave her small town and life of poverty and move to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, to become a famous actress. Against her mothers wishes, Eva made the move to Buenos Aires in 1935 when she was only 15 years old. The actual details of her departure remain cloaked in mystery. In one version of the story, Eva traveled to the capital on a train with her mother, ostensibly to audition for a radio station. When Eva succeeded in finding a job in radio, her angry mother then returned to Junin without her. In the other version, Eva met a popular male singer in Junin and convinced him to take her with him to Buenos Aires. In either case, Evas move to Buenos Aires was permanent. She only returned to Junin for short visits to her family. Older brother Juan, who had already moved to the capital city, was charged with keeping an eye on his sister. Life in Buenos Aires Eva arrived in Buenos Aires at a time of great political change. The Radical Party had fallen out of power by 1935, replaced by a coalition of conservatives and wealthy landowners known as the Concordancia. This group removed reformists from government positions and gave jobs to their own friends and followers. Those who resisted or complained were often sent to prison. Poor people and the working class felt powerless against the wealthy minority. With few material possessions and little money, Eva found herself among the poor, but she never lost her determination to succeed. After her job at the radio station ended, she found work as an actress in a troupe that traveled to small towns throughout Argentina. Although she earned little, Eva made certain that she sent money to her mother and siblings. After gaining some acting experience on the road, Eva worked as a radio soap opera actress and even secured a few small film roles. In 1939, she and a business partner started their own business, the Company of the Theater of the Air, which produced radio soap operas and a series of biographies about famous women. By 1943, although she could not claim movie star status, 24-year-old Eva had become successful and fairly well-off. She lived in an apartment in an upscale neighborhood, having escaped the shame of her impoverished childhood. By sheer will and determination, Eva had made her adolescent dream something of a reality. Meeting Juan Perà ³n On January 15, 1944, a massive earthquake struck western Argentina, killing 6,000 people. Argentines across the country wanted to help their fellow countrymen. In Buenos Aires, the effort was led by 48-year-old Army Colonel Juan Domingo Perà ³n, the head of the nations labor department. Perà ³n asked Argentinas performers to use their fame to promote his cause. Actors, singers, and others (including Eva Duarte) walked the streets of Buenos Aires to collect money for earthquake victims. The fundraising effort culminated in a benefit held at a local stadium. There, on January 22, 1944, Eva met Colonel Juan Perà ³n. Perà ³n, a widower whose wife had died of cancer in 1938, was immediately drawn to her. The two became inseparable and very soon Eva proved herself Perà ³ns most ardent supporter. She used her position at the radio station to feature broadcasts that praised Perà ³n as a benevolent government figure. The Arrest of Juan Perà ³n Perà ³n enjoyed the support of many of the poor and those living in rural areas. Wealthy landowners, however, did not trust him and feared he wielded too much power. By 1945, Perà ³n had achieved the lofty positions of minister of war and vice president and was, in fact, more powerful than President Edelmiro Farrell. Several groups- including the Radical Party, the Communist Party, and conservative factions- opposed Perà ³n. They accused him of dictatorial behaviors, such as censorship of the media and brutality against university students during a peaceful demonstration. The final straw came when Perà ³n appointed a friend of Evas as secretary of communications, enraging those in government who believed Eva had become too involved in affairs of state. Perà ³n was forced by a group of army officers to resign on October 8, 1945, and taken into custody. President Farrell- under pressure from the military- ordered that Perà ³n be held on an island off the coast of Buenos Aires. Eva unsuccessfully appealed to a judge to have Perà ³n released. Perà ³n himself wrote a letter to the president demanding his release and the letter was leaked to newspapers. Members of the working class, Perà ³ns staunchest supporters, came together to protest Perà ³ns incarceration. On the morning of October 17, workers all over Buenos Aires refused to go to work. Shops, factories, and restaurants stayed closed, as employees took to the streets chanting Perà ³n! The protestors brought business to a grinding halt, forcing the government to release Perà ³n. Four days later, on October 21, 1945, 50-year-old Juan Perà ³n married 26-year-old Eva Duarte in a simple civil ceremony. President and First Lady Encouraged by the strong show of support, Perà ³n announced that he would run for president in the 1946 election. As the wife of a presidential candidate, Eva came under close scrutiny. Ashamed of her illegitimacy and childhood poverty, Eva was not always forthcoming with her answers when questioned by the press. Her secrecy contributed to her legacy: the white myth and the black myth of Eva Perà ³n. In the white myth, Eva was a saint-like, compassionate woman who helped the poor and disadvantaged. In the black myth, she was depicted as ruthless and ambitious, willing to do anything to advance her husbands career. Eva quit her radio job and joined her husband on the campaign trail. Perà ³n did not affiliate himself with a particular political party; instead, he formed a coalition of supporters from different parties, made up primarily of workers and union leaders. Perà ³n won the election and was sworn in on June 5, 1946. Evita Perà ³n inherited a country with a strong economy. Following World War II, many European nations, in dire financial circumstances, borrowed money from Argentina and some were forced to import wheat and beef from Argentina as well. Perà ³ns government profited from the arrangement, charging interest on the loans and fees on the exports from ranchers and farmers. Eva, who preferred to be called Evita (Little Eva) by the working class, embraced her role as the first lady. She installed members of her family in high government positions in areas such as the postal service, education, and customs. Eva visited workers and union leaders at factories, questioning them about their needs and inviting their suggestions. She also used these visits to give speeches in support of her husband. Eva Perà ³n saw herself as a dual persona; as Eva, she performed her ceremonial duties in the role of the first lady; as Evita, champion of the working class, she served her people face-to-face, working to fill their needs. She opened offices in the Ministry of Labor and sat at a desk, greeting working-class people in need of help. She used her position to get help for those who came in with urgent requests. If a mother could not find adequate medical care for her child, Eva saw to it that the child was taken care of. If a family lived in squalor, she arranged for better living quarters. European Tour Despite her good deeds, Eva Perà ³n had many critics. They accused her of overstepping boundaries and interfering in government affairs. This skepticism toward the first lady was reflected in negative reports about her in the press. In an effort to better control her image, Eva purchased her own newspaper, the Democracia. The newspaper gave heavy coverage to Eva, publishing favorable stories about her and printing glamorous photos of her attending galas. Newspaper sales soared. In June 1947, Eva traveled to Spain at the invitation of fascist dictator Francisco Franco. Argentina was the only nation that maintained a diplomatic relationship with Spain following World War II and had given financial aid to the struggling country. But Perà ³n would not consider making the trip, lest he be perceived as fascist; he did, however, allow his wife to go. It was Evas first trip on an airplane. Upon her arrival in Madrid, Eva was welcomed by more than three million people. After 15 days in Spain, Eva went on to tour Italy, Portugal, France, and Switzerland. After becoming well-known in Europe, Eva was also featured on the cover of Time magazine in July 1947. Perà ³n Is Reelected Perà ³ns policies became known as Perà ³nism, a system that promoted social justice and patriotism. The government took control of many businesses and industries, ostensibly to improve their production. Eva played a major role in helping to keep her husband in power. She spoke at large gatherings and on the radio, singing the praises of President Perà ³n and citing all of the things he had done to help the working class. Eva also rallied working women of Argentina after the Argentine Congress gave women the right to vote in 1947. She created the Perà ³nist Womens Party in 1949. The efforts of the newly formed party paid off for Perà ³n during the 1951 election. Nearly four million women voted for the first time, many for Perà ³n. But much had changed since Perà ³ns first election five years earlier. Perà ³n had become increasingly authoritarian, placing restrictions upon what the press could print, and firing- even imprisoning- those who opposed his policies. Foundation By early 1948, Eva was receiving thousands of letters a day from needy people requesting food, clothing, and other necessities. In order to manage so many requests, Eva knew she needed a more formalized organization. She created the Eva Perà ³n Foundation in July 1948 and acted as its sole leader and decision-maker. The foundation received donations from businesses, unions, and workers, but these donations were often coerced. People and organizations faced fines and even jail time if they did not contribute. Eva kept no written record of her expenditures, claiming that she was too busy giving the money away to the poor to stop and count it. Many people, having seen newspaper photos of Eva dressed in expensive dresses and jewels, suspected her of keeping some of the money for herself, but these charges could not be proven. Despite suspicions about Eva, the foundation did accomplish many important goals, awarding scholarships and building houses, schools, and hospitals. Death Eva worked tirelessly for her foundation and therefore was not surprised that she was feeling exhausted in early 1951. She also had aspirations to run for vice president alongside her husband in the upcoming November election. Eva attended a rally supporting her candidacy on August 22, 1951. The following day, she collapsed. For weeks thereafter, Eva suffered abdominal pain. She eventually agreed to exploratory surgery and was diagnosed with inoperable uterine cancer. Eva was forced to withdraw from the election. On election day in November, a ballot was brought to her hospital bed and Eva voted for the first time. Perà ³n won the election. Eva appeared only once more in public, very thin and obviously ill, at her husbands inaugural parade. Eva Perà ³n died on July 26, 1952, at the age of 33. Following the funeral, Juan Perà ³n had Evas body preserved and was planning to put it on display. However, Perà ³n was forced into exile when the army staged a coup in 1955. Amidst the chaos, Evas body disappeared. Not until 1970 was it learned that soldiers in the new government, fearing that Eva could remain a symbolic figure for the poor- even in death- had removed her body and buried her in Italy. Evas body was eventually returned and re-buried in her family’s crypt in Buenos Aires in 1976. Legacy Eva remains an enduring cultural icon in Argentina and Latin America, and in many places people still honor the anniversary of her death. Among some groups, she has attained an almost saint-like status. In 2012, her image was printed on 20 million Argentine 100-peso notes. Sources Barnes, John.  Evita First Lady: a Biography of Eva Perà ³n. Grove/Atlantic, 1996.Taylor, Julie. Eva Perà ³n: The Myths of a Woman. University of Chicago Press, 1996.

Observational Research Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Observational Research - Assignment Example Nordstrom Incorporation and Bloomingdale’s are key players in the US’s upscale retail market of fashion industry. The two actors have maintained successful business both online and in their respective physical outlets in different states across the country. This paper is a report about an observational research of the two retailers’ business activities on their official websites and at their physical business locations. The researcher intended to secretly seek answers to unclear marketing issues by disguising as a curious shopper. First, following its founding by Nordstrom John W. and Wallin Carl F. in the early 20th century, Nordstrom’s mission was to serve the upscale market with fashionable items from its head offices in Seattle, Washington. The organization has since grown its business to include stocks of shoes, clothing, handbags, jewelry, and beauty products such as cosmetics and perfumes. In Nordstrom, there were wedding and home decoration products for would-be couples. I realized that the company’s website is stocked with a variety of the goods, but a visit at the physical location of the business revealed much more of the goods available for consumers than could be updated on the online store. On the other hand, I realized that Bloomingdales is also a significant player in the American high-end market. The company was set up in 1861 by Macys, Inc. For more than a century, Nordstrom has been one of its main market rivals in the country. And following the advent of the Internet in the second half of the 20th century, it is clear that Bloomingdales took its products to the online store; a platform upon which it seeks to expand its market share. The performance of the online stores is therefore rated as follows: best (1), better (2), good, (3); bad (4); and worse (5) as written in table 1. The rating is based on the quality of stock and client

Teamwork and Leading Teams Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teamwork and Leading Teams - Assignment Example Some team members publicly question the authority, and there are those that want to be in authority. Some advantages of teamwork include improvement in the quality of service. The production improves with active cooperation. Another advantage is shared ideas. A common agenda for teammates helps achieve a common goal. At the formation stage, clear directions were given, and challenges resolved. We were allowed to act on our individual thought and soon noted they somehow lacked in the ultimate goal of the company. As a group, we combined ideas and were able to tackle problems encountered. We developed the spirit of cohesion and trust was the central pillar of our team work. Teamwork is an accessible door to enter into an organization culture. Collaboration improves companys performance and is an indispensable part of any business (Maxwell, 2014). Group culture geared towards cooperation helps achieve goals and work in a given time frame. If I were to assume a leadership role, I would put emphasis on the group’s achievements over individual performance. In-group competition kills the spirit of comradeship and diverts from the teams goal. I would organize frequent team building activities among members and institute competition among themselves. Regular teamwork brings the company together as well as a refresh on the focal purpose of the enterprise. Formal communication is essential for passing vital information. Memos and circulars at key installation place deliver information to all people. Communication can pass through informal means of communication like propaganda and grapevine. Information flows quickly using informal means but stands a chance of being distorted. Informal information is easy to assimilate for team members, unlike formal communication (West, 2012). As the team leader, I would be with my team throughout the process starting with formation. Ensure each member knows her role and, above all, the main reason for

Rebuilt Marketing Machine Essay Example for Free

Rebuilt Marketing Machine Essay Per the article The Rebuilt Marketing Machine by Victoria L. Crittenden, the additional 4C’s of strategic marketing are customer centrality, competitive capabilities, company collaborations and cynical connections. Starting with customer centrality, studying what the customer needs and wants are. Creating solutions for all of the different customers wants instead of forcing the customer into a product. Consumers are all about the customer and the customer experience, ensuring the best service. Competitive capabilities open the door with worldwide web allowing most business to have an opportunity to portray themselves as worldwide leaders. Competition leads many businesses to strive for success and beyond. Therefore competitive capabilities allow business to think of ways to improve their businesses. The third C, company collaboration, is an advantage to companies where you can take superior business and combine business to provide customers the best of both worlds. Company collaboration allows marketing to interfere with other departments to ensure high quality of services. The last C in strategic marketing, cyclical connections are vital to the business world through its strategic planning, great marketing skills will be proved through the outcome of business. In order for a company to succeed, a strong formula must be implemented. Although the 4Ps still remain popular in marketing, the matrix needs to be rebuilt due to it no longer being successful for businesses. Business men all know the 4Ps marketing mix framework, due to its common sense there are no longer any advantages. In today’s world, marketing is the key to success and finding ways to better concepts for business success all around the world since marketing is always changing. The gist to marketing is impleme nting new ideas for business success, using the aged idea of the 4Ps is no longer comparative to the advancement of the business world today. Comparing the 4Cs to 3Cs, Porters 5 Forces, SWOT analysis, BCG Matrix is important since they all support different ideas. Starting with SWOT analysis, finding out what the strength and weaknesses for business allows better strategy for business growth. SWOT analysis defines the pros and cons of the business where as the 4Cs finds ways to improve the weaknesses. SWOT analysis bring consistency to a business, however if combined with 4Cs it would allow great marketing strategy. Porters 5 forces focus on competition and striving for the top name in leading business. This strategic plan uses the strength and weaknesses of other companies through their own annual reports, financial statements, and mysterious shoppers, etc, to find ways to better business. Whereas company collaboration in the 4Cs, focuses on marketing function in conjunction with other areas in the organization. This allows companies to make decisions on ideas as a whole and not just one team making a decision. The BCG Matrix only focuses on two items the SBU market growth rate and the SBU relative market share, this matrix is based on assumptions and is biased. Due to this the 4Cs implements greater ideas since the BCG focuses on profitability and market share and does not support other marketing ideas. The 3Cs is somewhat similar to the 4Cs however the 4Cs are more thorough in the idea of marketing. The 3Cs provides types of questions to ask yourself when opening a business which are common sense. However, the 4Cs are in depth details of important marketing strategies for building a successful business. In my opinion the marketing mix framework is consumers oriented and fits better in the movement for mass marketing to niche marketing. However, it is out dated and needs to be revised with careful consideration of what the customer wants and needs are. Adding new elements to the framework to ensure better marketing techniques, such as adding another â€Å"P† for customers (people) because without business from the customers, companies will not grow. Also, finding ways to better the customer experience so that customer will be a returning customer and not only focus on making money. The customer will be using social media to rate businesses, speak to family and friends about that customer service experience and are the key for business success.

Mens And Womens Changing Famiy Roles Essay -- Gender Role Conflict

It goes without saying: the family is the core of society. It's the core where values and characters are formed. All of us are aware of this fact. However, we may not be aware that it is within the family unit that the origin of women's oppression began. It began with the power struggle between man and woman. With the "nuclear family" in decline and the "dual-earner" family becoming the norm, it's no wonder that women's positions have changed radically. Although their positions in the family and work force are indeed changing, their workload, however, is not.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With this radical change many issues can be addressed, particularly, to the women's role and how it has remained fairly constant over the years. A closer examination will look at the development of gender inequality within the family as a result of the ever-changing issue. A second issue that needs to be inspected is that the family roles have changed in regards to family make-up as women have moved into the work force. This growing capital effort to increase standards of living by pushing every family member into the paid labour force has taken a toll on the family unit. The final issue that will be investigated in this report is how the traditional sex roles have remained constant, even with women's ever-changing family position over the years.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For decades, commencing back to the time when patriarchy was the "norm" and women were their husband's property, men have oppressed women. This ideology of patriarchy existed way before it was ever examined by sociologists and it was accepted as a natural or biological way of living. It wasn't until the 1960's when feminist groups began to explore patriarchy and at the same time began to exploit it, that patriarchy was established. Feminists at that time, and even still today, believe that patriarchy operates to achieve and maintain gender inequality and is the essential key to women's present subordination. Not only does patriarchy exist in the pubic domain of the paid labour force, but also in the private domain of the household, or better yet, the family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With patriarchy by its side, gender inequality has developed into one of the biggest controversies amongst sociologists, feminist groups, and women. In modern day society women are working their way into the labour force, and "expanding their roles to include working outside the hom... ...des, and they will continue to do so until domestic work becomes a paid labour. Bibliography   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Blair, Sampson Lee and Daniel T. Lichter. "Measuring the Division Of Household Labour". Journal of Family Issues 12.1 (1991), 91-113. Kaufman, Gayle. "The Portrayal of Men's Family Roles in Television Commercials". Sex   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Roles 41.5/6 (1999), 439-459.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Luhaorg, Helen and Marilyn T. Zivian. "Gender Role Conflict: The Interpretation of Gender, Gender Role and Occupation". Sex Roles 33.9/10 (1995), 607-619. Lye, Daniel and Timothy J. Biblarz. "The Effects of Attitudes Toward Family Life and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gender Roles on Marital Satisfaction". Journal of Family Issues 14.2 (1993), 157-188. Mintz, Robert D. and James R. Mahalik. "Gender Role Orientation and Conflict as   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Predictors of Family Role for Men". Sex Roles 34.11/12 (1996), 805-821.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pittman, Joe F., Wei Teng, Jennifer L. Kerpelman et al. "Satisfaction With Performance of Housework". Journal of Family Issues 20.6 (1999), 746-770. Sharpe, Mark J, Paul Heppner and Wayne A. Dixon. "Gender Role Conflict,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Instrumentally, and Well Being in Adult Men". Sex Roles 33.1/2 (1995), 1-18.

Monarchy vs Democracy Essay

Government’s history may not exactly be known but it is safe to say that government is as old as human society itself. At some point in the past ‘â€Å" as the population grew in a particular area, there was pressure to have a system of laws that the society members had to follow since chaos would reign in a society if there is no governing body to set guidelines to its constituents. Public order and maintenance of security is vital to every society. Larger populations would demand more complex set of rules and as society grows, governments also evolve. In different regions and in certain points of time, different types of government flourished. It should also be mentioned that government is constantly changing as history had shown. Monarchy is a form of government which was very common during ancient and medieval times. Supreme power is bestowed on an individual and it can be absolute or nominal. The ‘head of state’ of a land with this kind of government often holds the title for life or until abdication. The leader, who is called a monarch, is wholly set apart from all other members of the state. The monarch typically makes all the law and decisions (legislative, judicial, and executive). The above is in definite contrast to Democracy. Democracy is a type of government carried out by the nation’s people either, directly or indirectly. A rare subtype is ‘Direct Democracy’ but only feasible to a small area and with a small population. The common way of practicing this type of government is by giving the power to govern to elected representatives. Democracy is based on a principle of equality and freedom. Equality defined in terms where all citizens are all equal before the law. Basically, positions and statuses do not matter; when one breaks the law, he or she is subject to sanctions. Monarchy is different in a way that higher officials – especially the monarch ‘â€Å" are often not restricted by the law since they make the law themselves without further deliberation. All citizens of a democratic nation are promised certain legitimized freedoms and liberties, which are generally protected by a constitution. Monarchy may also give this privilege but it all depends on the preferences and inclinations of the monarch. However, monarchy of the new times is not defined in terms of unlimited political power anymore as it has evolved to a more citizen-friendly government. Now there are constitutional monarchies and this somehow blurred the lines between the principles of democracy and the defining roots of monarchy. The common characteristic of monarchy is that rule is passed on through the next of kin ‘â€Å" ‘Hereditary Rule’. This is in complete contempt to the principles of democracy where people’s choice is the governing code. Summary: 1. Monarchy is a form of government where a state is headed by a monarch while democracy is a government headed by elected representatives. 2. Power and position is passed through heritage and bloodline in Monarchy while democracy principally supports elections (people’s choice). 3. In monarchy, supreme power is given to an individual while in Democracy, the power to govern is directly or indirectly carried out by the people. 4. In Democracy, all is equal before the law while in Monarchy, the monarch is the law.

Sources of Power in Leadership

The chairman of Shell Australia, Russell Caplan, has had many careers since graduating from Melbourne University in 1968—but all in one company. Most recently, Caplan led the restructuring of the company’s oil and chemical distribution and marketing into a global business from late 2004. Shell Australia’s profit before interest and tax increased almost 70 per cent, to $1. 23 billion, in 2005 after reforms at Victoria’s Geelong and Sydney’s Clyde refineries added to oil and gas production profits. But Caplan is facing a considerable test in helping Shell’s Gorgon gas joint-venture partners gain final approval from the WestAustralian Government for the project, after concerns were raised by the WA Environmental Protection Agency. Here is what he says: ‘In all of my time with Shell, the one constant is change. I say to my people, â€Å"You had better get used to it because that’s the way we work. † The contribution I can make is to express things as simply and clearly as I can. People react positively if they are shown a clear way forward—it doesn’t have to be a new or profoundly brilliant way; it just has to be clear. I find people have difficulty with priority setting, so giving them some guidance makes it legitimate to focus on ome things more than others. ‘When it comes to the challenges of depletion of natural resources and reducing emissions facing the oil industry, the first thing is to recognise sustainable development as a fundamental part of our philosophy. Triple-bottom-line reporting is real for us, not just talk. We would not be involved with the Gorgon project unless we could meet the social and environmental consequences too. I have personal targets associated with my remuneration. Triple-bottom-line reporting is embedded in our company, and that sometimes makes me a little sharp with some people who wish to take he view that we are big industry and therefore we couldn ’t recognise those issues. ‘I have been continually surprised and pleased by the opportunities that I have had at Shell, and many were not of my choosing. If I said, when I joined in 1968, â€Å"I could have planned this,† that would be fatuous. I think that you should have two principles. The first is do the best you can. It annoys me when people focus on what they are going to do next rather than what they are doing now. I am very attracted to someone who delivers a little more than they say they are going to deliver, a little faster and is very etermined to succeed at what they are currently doing. That is the greatest indicator of what they can do. You also need a sense of good and bad. If you want to be in a legitimate business, Shell is a good place to be. There is a lot of good in Shell †¦ it’s not perfect, but there’s a lot of good and it gives you opportunities. ‘In terms of my leadership style, I can think of a number of influen ces. I learned the importance of pushing yourself and doing the best you can do. I learnt from former Shell executive and Rio Tinto chairman Paul Skinner the benefit of clarity, consistency and moderation.I have also learnt something remarkable from my wife; that is, the ability to stick to core values and express them simply. ‘Finally, I am conscious of the fact that I have come back to Australia after ten years away, and it is critically important to my effectiveness as a leader to reconnect with the Australian community, because my role as a leader is to bridge outside and inside. You get very remote if you are living away and following Australia by Internet, as opposed to smelling the dust—and seeing the pain of St Kilda losing. ’ Russell Caplan Position: Chairman Organisation: Shell AustraliaStaff: 3200 Direct reports: Four Time in position: Four months Time in company: 39 years Activities for discussion, analysis and further discussion 1 Would you consider Russell Caplan to be an effective leader? Why? What characteristics of effective leadership do you identify in him from the case material above? 2 What characteristics does he appear to value in subordinates who he believes will be promotable? 3 Would you be prepared to work for this manager? Why? Source: Adapted from Tandukar, A. 2006, The good oil, Business Review Weekly, John Fairfax Holdings Limited, 22 June, p. 44.

Green Energy Brand Strategy Chinese E

Green Energy Brand Strategy Chinese E Introduction In data analysis, the study analysed data obtained from 439 participants, who are Chinese E-car consumers. The study employed Microsoft Excel in the analysis of frequencies and the presentation of data in pie charts and bar graphs.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Green Energy Brand Strategy: Chinese E-Car Consumer Behaviour specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Background Information Do you own an E-car? Figure 1 is a bar graph showing the distribution of respondents according to the ownership of the E-car. The figure shows that 8.9% of the respondents own E-car and the remaining 91.1% do not own E-car. Figure 1 Are you interested in purchasing E-car? Figure 2 is a pie chart displaying the proportion of respondents interested in purchasing E-car as 27.7% and those not interested in purchasing E-car as 73.3%. Figure 2Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When you buy your next car, is E-car one of the options? Figure 3 below shows that the proportion of respondents who would choose E-car as their next option is 68.6% whereas the proportion of respondents who would not choose E-car as their next car is 31.4%. Figure 3 The First Hypothesis What time for the E-car charging can you accept? The respondents provided diverse opinions regarding the charging time of E-car. Out of 439 respondents, 26.2% of respondents indicated that they accept charging period of less than 2 hours and 30.3% of respondents showed that they accept charging period of between 2 and 4 hours. Moreover, 20.5% of respondents accept charging period of between 4 to 6 hours. The remaining portions of the respondents, 14.1%, 5.5%, and 2.7%, accept charging period of 6-8 hours, 8-10 hours, and more than 10 hours respectively. Figure 4Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Green Energy Brand Strategy: Chinese E-Car Consumer Behaviour specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What is the shortest mileage for the E-car can you accept? Figure 5 below indicates the distribution of responses regarding the shortest mileage that E-car can cover. From the figure, it is apparent that most respondents (29.8%) accept E-car that can cover between 201km and 300 km. Respondents who accept short mileages of less than 100 km and between 101 and 200 km constitute 3.4% and 16.9% respectively. Respondents who require long mileages of 101-200 km, 301-400 km, 401-500 km, and more than 501 km constitute 20.5%, 13.7%, and 15.7% respectively. Figure 5 What price do you think is suitable for an average mid-range E-car like the BMW i3? Figure 6 shows that most respondents (35.5%) think that the suitable price range for a mid-range E-car is between  £110,000 and  £200,000 while 28.9% of the respondents think that the suitable price range for a mid-range E-ca r is between  £210,000 and  £300,000. Respondents who think that the suitable price range for a mid-range E-car is less than  £100,000 constitute 17.5%. Moreover, 12.5%, 3.4%, and 2.1% of respondents think that the suitable price ranges for a mid-range E-car are  £310,000- £400,000,  £410,000- £500,000, and more than  £500,000 correspondingly. Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Figure 6 Brand Personality Which product attribute do you associate with the E-car? To determine the level of awareness of BMWi3, the study asked the respondents about the attributes they associate with E-car. Figure 7 shows that most respondents (5.59%) selected practical as a tribute associated with E-car followed by 4.12% of respondents who selected stylish as an attribute associated with E-car. Elegant and environmental friendly attributes received an equal review as both had 2.65% of customers who associated these attributes with E-car. Complicated technology (2.35%), dynamic (2.06%), eco (0.88%), and modern (1.18%) are other product attributes that respondents associated with E-car. However, some respondents (less than 0.3%) associated E-car with negative attributes such as slow, old-fashioned, and not stylish. Figure 7 Figure 8 below indicates frequencies of positive attributed associated with E-car. Practical is a positive attribute that gained the most frequencies (143). E nvironmental friendly, dynamic, stylish, and modern attributes ranked second, third, fourth, and fifth with 121, 79, 62, and 61 frequencies respectively. Easy to handle and sportive are attributes that have the lowest frequencies of 37 and 21 respectively. Figure 8 Figure 9 shows frequencies of negative product attributes associated with E-car. Complicated technology is a negative attribute that has the most frequencies (88) followed by eco attribute (75) and elegant attribute (45). Slow, old-fashioned, and not stylish are three negative attributes with 1, 2, and 5 frequencies respectively. Figure 9 Product Associations If you consider the BMWi3 as a status symbol, which attribute do you associate the most with it? Figure 10 indicates how respondents rated BMWi3 as a status symbol among the Chinese E-car consumers. From the figure, it is apparent that over three-quarters of respondents (76.5%) consider BMWi3 a status symbol for people who have average lifestyles. Moreover, the fig ure shows that 20.5% and 3% of respondents consider BMWi3 as status symbol for very successful and not successful people respectively. Figure 10 What personalities can you associate with BMWi3? The question provided seven options of personalities, namely, creative, funny, extrovert, honest, eccentric, introvert, and dishonest, for the respondents to choose the ones that associate with BMWi3. From Figure 11, it is evident that creative personality has the most frequencies (270) followed by funny personality (125). Extrovert and honest personalities have frequencies of 100 and 56 respectively. The above personalities are positive personalities that the brand strategy aims to associate with BMWi3. However, respondents associated BMWi3 with negative personalities such as eccentric (56), introvert (36), and dishonest (23). Figure 11 The Second Hypothesis Which added value of E-car such as BMWi do you perceive? Table 1 Values of BMWi3 Perceived Importance Not important Important V ery important Indispensable Total High degree of safety 155 50 102 116 423 Less environment damage 23 66 83 34 206 No fuels costs 38 53 48 74 213 High degree of comfort 61 94 32 22 209 Good acceleration 50 32 35 43 160 High degree of quality 14 60 41 37 152 Know brand 41 21 23 20 105 Good price/quality ratio 31 48 52 59 190 Great product design 25 14 22 33 94 Total 438 438 438 438 1,752 Figure 12 The figure above (Figure 12) shows that most respondents (35%) perceive the high degree of safety as unimportant added value to BMWi3. The figure also shows that 14%, 11%, 9%, and 9% of respondents rated high degree of comfort, good acceleration, know brand, and no fuels respectively as unimportant added values of BMWi3. Figure 13 From Figure 14, 21% and 15% of respondents perceive high degree comfort and less environment damage as important added values of BMWi3. Good price/quality ratio and high degree of safety have equal ratings as 11% of respondents perceived t hem as important. Figure 14 Most respondents perceive a high degree of safety (23%) and less environment damage (19%) as very important added values of BMWi3 (Figure 15). Moreover, the figure also shows that 12% and 11% of respondents perceive good price/quality ratio and no fuel costs as very important added values. The figure below (Figure 15) indicates that most respondents (26%) perceive a high degree of safety as indispensable added value of BMWi3. Other added values that respondents perceive as indispensable are no fuel costs (17%), good price/quality ratio (13%), and good acceleration (10%). Figure 15 The Third Hypothesis Do you have trust in the expertise of BMW, a traditional engineer car manufacturer, in producing E-cars? From the pie chart (Figure 16), it is apparent that 86% of the respondents trust in the expertise of BMW in producing E-cars while the remaining 14% do not trust in the expertise of BMW in producing E-cars. Figure 16 Which feelings do you have when you think of the brand BMWi? From Figure 17, it is apparent that most respondents associate BMWi3 with positive feelings. Fun (14%), curiosity (18%), excitement (9%), liking (14%), trustworthiness (21%), and interest (10%) are all positive feelings that capture the brand strategy of BMW. In contrast, few respondents, namely, lack of interest (1%), unhonesty (3%), confused (2%), and uncertainty (1%), associated BMWi3 with negative feelings. Figure 17 Do you think the BMWi will be successfully sold in the future? Figure 18 The pie chart (Figure 18) indicates that 52% of respondents think that BMW would successfully be sold in future whereas 6% think that it would not be sold. Moreover, the figure shows that 42% of respondents are unsure whether BMW would be sold successfully or not. The Fourth Hypothesis Do you believe that the BMW is honestly interested in reducing CO2 emissions to be environmental friendly? The pie chart below (Figure 19) indicates that 57% of respondents believe tha t BMW is really honesty in manufacturing E-car to reduce CO2 emissions while 35% are unsure about the motive of BMWi3. Moreover, 8% of respondents hold that BMW has no intention of reducing CO2. Figure 19 Which impression do you associate with the BMWi3? Figure 20 indicates frequencies of impressions associated with the BMWi3. From the table, it is evident that 25.7% of respondents associate BMWi3 with eco-car while 19.4% of respondents associated it with trend. 14.1%, 1.03%, 9.1%, and 6.8% of respondents associated BMWi3 with business, family, sport, and luxury respectively. However, 14.6% of the respondents do not associate BMWi3 with anything. Figure 20 Discussion Background Information The background data effectively describe purchasing behaviours of customers because they indicate ownership of E-car, interest in purchasing, and options for their car of choice. According to Creusen (2010), demographic attributes are central to the understanding of consumer behaviours because t heir ability to purchase certain products. From the background information, the study infers that 8.9% of the respondents own E-car, 27.7% are interested in purchasing E-car in future, and 68.6% would consider purchasing E-car as their next car. Pavlou and Fygenson (2006) argue that change in consumer behaviour is a gradual process that is dependent on awareness. Such a trend of increasing percentages indicates that there is an impending shift in the purchasing behaviour from normal cars to E-cars. Increased awareness of environmental problems caused by the use of fossil fuels has changed consumer attitudes and behaviours of Chinese consumers (Ivan Penev 2012). In this view, the background information indicates that there is a progressive acceptance of E-car among the Chinese consumers. The First Hypothesis The first hypothesis is that the brand reputation of the BMWi electric cars is low among the majority of the Chinese consumers. Tan et al. (2014) concur that the reputation of E -cars in China is low due to inadequate awareness among potential consumers. In testing this hypothesis, the study examined product information, brand personality, and brand associations as three main independent variables. These variables hold important data for analysis, which the study used in hypothesis testing. Product Information The analysis of data related to the product information shows that brand perception is relatively low among Chinese E-car consumers. The analysis shows that most respondents 77% can accept E-car with charging period of less than 6 hours while 23% of the respondents can accept E-car with charging period of greater than 6 hours. Lebeau, Lebeau, Mairesse, Macharis, and Mierlo (2013) hold that consumers require E-car that charges within a short duration. Figure 4 illustrates the distribution of frequencies in the percentage form. From the figure, it is apparent that most respondents require E-car, which takes the shortest period possible to charge. Howeve r, BMWi3 takes approximately 6-8 hours to charge fully depending on the charging system (BMW: BMWi3 2015). In this view, only 23% of the respondents can accept a charging period of above 6 hours. This acceptance level shows that the Chinese E-car market only targets 23% of the consumers in the automobile industry. A recent development in the E-car industry aims at reducing the charging period to improve the convenience of E-car (Song Yang 2011). Additionally, the reduction of the cost of charging would enhance the cost-effectiveness of E-car (Li Ouyang 2011). Hence, the study recommends the reduction of the charging period and the cost to increase the consumers of E-car in the Chinese E-care market.  Regarding the shortest mileage, 20.3% of respondents accept E-car that can cover less than 200 km whereas the remaining 79.7% can accept E-car than can cover over 200 km. When the battery is fully charged, E-car can cover a minimum distance of 160 km (BMW: BMWi3 2015). In this case, 16.9% of the respondents accept the current model of BMW. In the aspect of a suitable price for a mid-range E-car, most respondents (82%) think that it costs less than  £300,000. In this view, it evident that the product information is low among the Chinese consumers of E-cars because about 20% of them are aware of the BMWi3 features. Comparative analysis indicates that 82% of respondents consider the price of BMWi3 to be less than  £300,000. Hence, the study recommends BMW to manufacture affordable E-car because most respondents (35.5%) imagine the price range to be between  £110,000 and  £200,000. Product Personality Analysis of the product personality shows that there is still a low brand perception among Chinese E-car consumers. It is evident that the major attributes that respondents associated with E-car are practical, stylish, elegance, environmental friendly, complicated technology, dynamic, eco, and modern. Lebeau et al. (2013) assert that consumers of E-car prefer practical, dynamic, and environmental friendly attributes of BMWi3. Low awareness is evident because a considerable number of potential consumers associate E-car with negative attributes such as complicated technology, elegant, old-fashioned, and not stylish. Sucky and Werner (2011) assert that BMW designed BMWi3 with the objective of not only reducing carbon dioxide emission, but also incorporating dynamic, practical, and modern features, which meet the unique needs of consumers in the automobile industry. Jansson (2011) states that consumers consider eco attribute because they associate it with affordability and safety. Thus, the study recommends BMW to educate consumers to understand features of BMWi3 so that they can associate it with positive attributes. Product Associations Regarding product associations, most respondents (76.5%) associate BMWi3 with people who are averagely successful in life. In this view, the study infers that most respondents consider BMWi3 for people in the middle class. In the aspect of the impression, 25.7% of respondents consider BMWi3 as an eco-car. Mingde and Yixiang (2010) hold that fuel cost is an attribute that consumers consider because they require economical cars. Extrovert, funny, and creative are the leading personalities that respondents associated with BMWi3. In this view, funny, eco, extrovert, creative, and trend are the leading attributes associated with BMWi3. Egbue and Long (2012) argue that negative attributes are barriers that prevent the adoption of E-car in the automobile markets. Therefore, product information and brand personality support the hypothesis that brand information is relatively low among the Chinese consumers. In this view, the study recommends that BMW needs to undertake extensive marketing for consumers to understand the importance of BMWi3 in the automobile industry and associate it with positive status symbols, impressions, and personalities. The Second Hypothesis The second hypothesis stat es that the number of people who are interested in BMWi electric vehicles is considerably small as consumer attitudes towards BMWi brand are low. The following question examines perceived importance of BMWi3 using a scale of 1 to 4, which indicate the importance of added values from ‘not important’ added value to ‘indispensable’ added value. Table 1 shows the distribution of responses, which rate the importance of added values of BMWi3. Analysis of the distribution of perceptions of BMWi3 added values does not reveal any patterns or trends. Table 1 depicts that there is no apparent trend regarding how respondents perceive the importance of the added values of BMWi3. Almost the same proportions of respondents perceive added values as not important and indispensable. For example, most respondents (35%) perceive high degree safety as an important while most respondents (26%) perceive high degree of safety as indispensable. Joshi and Mishra (2011) argue that en hanced awareness of E-car and pollution has made consumers perceive safety and less environmental damage as very important added values of BMWi3. Random distribution of responses is indicative of a low interest in BMWi3 and negative perceptions. Therefore, BMW should undertake extensive marketing and consumer education so that consumers could develop interest in BMWi3 and dispel negative attitudes towards the brand. The Third Hypothesis The third hypothesis assumes that the majority of the aspiring BMWi consumers are concerned about the future of electric-supported BMWi vehicles because of low trust. The analysis supports the hypothesis that the majority of the aspiring BMWi consumers are concerned about the future of electric-supported BMWi vehicles because of low trust. Although 86% of respondents believe in the expertise of BMW, 42% of the respondents doubt the future of BMWi3. The question aimed at establishing the nature of feelings that respondents associated with BMWi3. The r esponses from the respondents indicate that they have both negative and positive feelings. Moreover, 13% and 6% of the respondents associated BMWi3 with negative feelings and unsuccessful sale in future respectively. Thus, the study recommends that BMW should build trust among the Chinese consumers by demonstrating and assuring them about the sustainability of BMWi3 in the automobile industry. The Fourth Hypothesis The fourth hypothesis states that the Chinese consumers cannot associate themselves with any of the BMWI marketing activities because BMW has not reinforced the BMWi brand. Consumer beliefs support the hypothesis that the Chinese consumers cannot associate themselves with any of the BMWI marketing activities because BMW has not reinforced the BMWi brand. From the pie chart (Figure 20), it is evident that a significant proportion of respondents (8%) believe that BMW is not honest in its bid to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Dodson (2012) avers that automakers normally ad opt green technology as a marketing strategy. Additional 35% of the respondents are unsure whether BMW is honest or not in its objective of reducing carbon dioxide emission. In this view, a third proportion of respondents, which is significant, are unsure about the intentions of BMW in manufacturing E-car. The negative impressions are against the brand strategy of portraying BMWi3 as a normal car in terms of consumption of energy and daily usage. Fundamentally, eco is a negative attribute of BMWi3 while trend is a short-term brand image, and thus, are not in line with the brand strategy of BMW. Hence, BMW should reinforce its brand by providing relevant information to customers through customer care, and thus, enabling customers gain confidence in BMWi3. Conclusion BMW aims to transform consumer behaviours in the automobile industry by introducing green energy brand strategy. The strategy seeks to change consumer behaviours and make them purchase BMWi3, which is a brand of E-car. Ho wever, the green energy brand strategy of BMW faces numerous challenges in the Chinese E-car markets. Evidently, consumer behaviours in the E-car industry are very dynamic in China. Understanding of the dynamics is imperative for BMW to influence consumer behaviours in the Chinese E-car markets. The application of the utility theory, the hierarchy of effects model, and the consumer acquisition process model elucidate brand reputation, brand attitudes, sustainability, and the nature of associations. The analysis of the consumer behaviours using these theories indicates that the brand reputation of BMWi3 is low among the majority of the Chinese consumers. Moreover, the analysis shows that most respondents have negative brand attitudes, believe that BMWi3 is unsustainable, and associate BMWi3 with negative impressions, personalities, and feelings.  In this view, the study recommends BMW to improve its brand by transforming consumer behaviours for them to adopt green technology and be come avid consumers of BMWi3 and related products. The first recommendation is that BMW should educate consumers to understand features of BMWi3 and its importance in the automobile industry. The analysis of beliefs, attitudes, associations, and impressions indicate that most consumers do not understand BMWi3. The second recommendation is that BMW should shorten charging period and improve the cost-effectiveness of BMWi3 because a significant proportion of customers requires affordable eco-car. Given that a considerable proportion of consumers do not trust, the third recommendation is that BMW should focus on building trust among the Chinese consumers by demonstrating and assuring them about the sustainability of BMWi3 in the automobile industry. As the fourth recommendation, BMW should reinforce its brand because a significant number of Chinese consumers do not want to associate with it. References BMW: BMWi3 2015. Web. Creusen, H 2010, ‘The importance of product aspects in c hoice: The influence of demographic characteristics’, Journal of Consumer Marketing, vol. 27, no.1, pp. 26-34. Dodson, B 2012, China fast forward: The technologies, green industries, and innovations driving the mainlands future, John Wiley Sons, London. Egbue, O Long, S 2012, ‘Barriers to widespread adoption of electric vehicles: An analysis of consumer attitudes and perceptions’, Energy Policy, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 717-729. Ivan, C Penev, A 2012, Chinese consumer attitudes towards the electric vehicle. Web. Jansson, J 2011, ‘Consumer Eco-Innovation Adoption: Assessing Attitudinal Factors and perceived Product Characteristics’, Business Strategy and the Environment, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 192-210. Joshi, N Mishra, P 2011, ‘Environmentally friendly car: A study of consumer awareness with special reference to Maharashtra State’, Information Management and Business Review, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 92-98. Lebeau, K, Lebeau, P, Mairesse, O, Machari s, C Mierlo, J 2013, ‘Consumer attitudes towards battery electric vehicles: A large-scale survey’, International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 28-41. Li, Z Ouyang, M 2011, ‘The pricing of charging for electric vehicles in China: Dilemma and solution’, Energy, vol. 36, no. 9, pp. 5765-5778. Mingde, C Yixiang, X 2010, ‘Climate protection and motor vehicle regulations: Evaluation of motor vehicle regulations in China in the context of greenhouse gas management’, Natural Resources, vol. 34, no.3, pp. 266-274. Pavlou, P Fygenson, M 2006, ‘Understanding and predicting electronic commerce adoption: An extension of the theory of planned behaviour’, MIS Quarterly, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 115–143. Pisano, J Duchemin, S 2013, How services can help BMW’s new electric brand to reach sufficient target audience to make business sense. Web. Song, Y Yang, Y 2011, ‘Recent situation and development trend of electric vehicle battery’, Power System and Technology, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 1-7. Sucky, E Werner, J 2011, Mobility in a globalised world: Economics, engineering, informatics, logistics, and urban planning, University of Bamberg Press, Bamberg. Tan, Q, Wang, M, Deng, Y, Yang, H, Rao, R Zhang, X 2014, ‘The cultivation of electric vehicles market in China: Dilemma and solution’, Sustainability, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 5493-5511.

Gustar Conjugation in Spanish, Translation, and Examples

Gustar Conjugation in Spanish, Translation, and Examples The Spanish verb gustar can be translated as to like. This verb may be confusing for Spanish learners because gustar is considered a defective or impersonal verb, so it is often conjugated in the third person only. In addition, it requires a variation in the sentence structure. This article includes gustar conjugations in the indicative mood (present, past, conditional, and future), the subjunctive mood (present and past), the imperative mood, and other verb forms, as well as examples, translations, and explanations of the peculiarities of the verb gustar. Using the Verb Gustar If youre a beginner at Spanish, chances are most of the sentences youve been using as examples follow roughly the same word order as we use in English, with the verb following the subject. But Spanish also frequently places the subject after the verb, and that is usually true with gustar. Here are some examples of gustar in action: Me gusta el coche. (I like the car.)Nos gustan los coches. (We like the cars.)Le gustan los coches. (You/he/she likes the cars.) As you can see, the sentences arent quite what you might expect. Instead of following the form person who likes verb the object liked, they follow the form indirect-object pronoun representing the person who likes verb the object liked (the indirect-object pronouns are me, te, le, nos, os, and les). In these sentences, the object liked is the subject in Spanish. Also, note that the subject of these sentences (the object that is liked) is always accompanied by the definite article (el, la, los, las). If this seems confusing, heres an approach that might help: Instead of thinking of gustar as meaning to like, it is both more accurate and makes more sense in this sentence structure to think of it as meaning to be pleasing. When we say, I like the car, the meaning is much the same as saying, the car is pleasing to me. In plural form, it becomes the cars are pleasing to me, with a plural verb. Note, then, the differences in the common and literal translations below: Me gusta el coche.  (I like the car. Literally, the car is pleasing to me.)Nos gustan los coches. (We like the cars. Literally, the cars are pleasing to us.)Le gustan las camionetas. (You /he/she likes the pickups. Literally, the pickups are pleasing to you/him/her.) When the pronoun le or les is used, as in the third example, the context might not always make clear who is the person doing the liking. In that case, you can add the prepositional phrase a the person liking, as shown below, at the beginning of the sentence (or less commonly at the end of the sentence). Note that the indirect-object pronoun cannot be omitted; the prepositional phrase clarifies the indirect-object pronoun rather than replacing it. A Carlos le gusta el coche. (Carlos likes the car.)A Marà ­a le gustan las camionetas. (Marà ­a likes the pickups.) ¿A ustedes les gusta el coche? (Do you like the car?) Conjugating Gustar Because gustar is nearly always used with subjects in the third person, it is often considered a defective verb. However, it can also be used with other subjects to talk about liking different people. Be careful though, because often the verb gustar, when used with people, denotes a romantic attraction. To talk about simply liking people, a more common expression uses the verb caer bien, as in Marà ­a me cae bien (I like Marà ­a). In the table below, you can see how gustar can be conjugated for each different subject using this romantic meaning. Yo gusto Yo le gusto a mi novio. My boyfriend likes me. / I am pleasing to my boyfriend. Tà º gustas Tà º le gustas a tu esposa. Your wife likes you. / You are pleasing to your wife. Usted/à ©l/ella gusta Ella le gusta a Carlos. Carlos likes her. / She is pleasing to Carlos. Nosotros gustamos Nosotros le gustamos a muchas personas. Many people like us. / We are pleasing to many people. Vosotros gustis Vosotros le gustis a Pedro. Pedro likes you. / You are pleasing to Pedro. Ustedes/ellos/ellas gustan Ellos le gustan a Marta. Marta likes them. / They are pleasing to Marta. Since gustar is frequently used to talk about things being pleasing to people, or people liking things, the tables below show the conjugations of the verb with the liked objects as the subject of the sentence. The verb takes the form of the third person singular if the person likes a singular noun or verb, and the third person plural if the person likes a plural noun. Gustar Present Indicative A mà ­ me gusta(n) Me gusta la comida china. I like Chinese food. A ti tegusta(n) Te gustan las frutas y verduras. You like fruits and vegetables. A usted/à ©l/ella legusta(n) Le gusta bailar salsa. She likes to dance salsa. A nosotros nosgusta(n) Nos gusta el arte moderno. We like modern art. A vosotros osgusta(n) Os gusta caminar por la ciudad. You like walking around the city. A ustedes/ellos/ellas lesgusta(n) Les gustan los colores vivos. They like bright colors. Preterite Indicative The preterite tense is used to talk about completed actions in the past. In the case of gustar, it would be used in the context of seeing or trying something for the first time and liking it, or having liked something only for a certain amount of time. A mà ­ me gustà ³/gustaron Me gustà ³ la comida china. I liked Chinese food. A ti tegustà ³/gustaron Te gustaron las frutas y verduras. You liked fruits and vegetables. A usted/à ©l/ella legustà ³/gustaron Le gustà ³ bailar salsa. She liked to dance salsa. A nosotros nosgustà ³/gustaron Nos gustà ³ el arte moderno. We liked modern art. A vosotros osgustà ³/gustaron Os gustà ³ caminar por la ciudad. You liked walking around the city. A ustedes/ellos/ellas lesgustà ³/gustaron Les gustaron los colores vivos. They liked bright colors. Imperfect Indicative The imperfect tense is used to talk about ongoing or repeated actions in the past. In the case of gustar, it would refer to someone who used to like something, but doesnt anymore. A mà ­ me gustaba(n) Me gustabala comida china. I used to like Chinese food. A ti tegustaba(n) Te gustabanlas frutas y verduras. You used to like fruits and vegetables. A usted/à ©l/ella legustaba(n) Le gustababailar salsa. She used to like to dance salsa. A nosotros nosgustaba(n) Nos gustabael arte moderno. We used to like modern art. A vosotros osgustaba(n) Os gustabacaminar por la ciudad. You used to likewalking around the city. A ustedes/ellos/ellas lesgustaba(n) Les gustaban los colores vivos. Theyused to like bright colors. Future Indicative A mà ­ me gustar(n) Me gustarla comida china. I will like Chinese food. A ti tegustar(n) Te gustarnlas frutas y verduras. You will like fruits and vegetables. A usted/à ©l/ella legustar(n) Le gustarbailar salsa. She will like to dance salsa. A nosotros nosgustar(n) Nos gustarel arte moderno. We will like modern art. A vosotros osgustar(n) Os gustarcaminar por la ciudad. You will likewalking around the city. A ustedes/ellos/ellas lesgustar(n) Les gustarn los colores vivos. Theywill like bright colors. Periphrastic  Future Indicative   A mà ­ me va(n) a gustar Me va a gustar la comida china. I am going to like Chinese food. A ti teva(n) a gustar Te van a gustarlas frutas y verduras. You aregoing to like fruits and vegetables. A usted/à ©l/ella leva(n) a gustar Le va a gustarbailar salsa. She isgoing to like to dance salsa. A nosotros nosva(n) a gustar Nos va a gustarel arte moderno. We aregoing to like modern art. A vosotros osva(n) a gustar Os va a gustarcaminar por la ciudad. You aregoing to likewalking around the city. A ustedes/ellos/ellas lesva(n) a gustar Les van a gustar los colores vivos. Theyaregoing to like bright colors. Present Progressive/Gerund Form The gerund or present participle can be used as an adverb, or to form progressive tenses like the present progressive. Present Progressive ofGustar est(n) gustando A ella le est gustando bailar salsa. She is liking dancing salsa. Past Participle The past participle can be used as an adjective or to form compound verb forms using the auxiliary verb haber, such as the present perfect. Present Perfect of Gustar ha(n) gustado A ella le ha gustado bailar salsa. She has liked dancing salsa. Conditional Indicative The conditional tense is used to talk about possibilities. A mà ­ me gustarà ­a(n) Me gustarà ­ala comida china, pero es muy salada. I would like Chinese food, but it is very salty. A ti tegustarà ­a(n) Te gustarà ­anlas frutas y verduras si fueras ms saludable. You would like fruits and vegetables if you were healthier. A usted/à ©l/ella legustarà ­a(n) Le gustarà ­abailar salsa si hubiera tomado clases. She would like to dance salsa if she had taken lessons. A nosotros nosgustarà ­a(n) Nos gustarà ­ael arte moderno, pero preferimos el arte clsico. We would like modern art, but we prefer classical art. A vosotros osgustarà ­a(n) Os gustarà ­acaminar por la ciudad si no fuera peligroso. You would likewalking around the city if it were not dangerous. A ustedes/ellos/ellas lesgustarà ­a(n) Les gustarà ­an los colores vivos, pero prefieren los colores claros. Theywould like bright colors, but they prefer light colors. Present Subjunctive Que a mà ­ me guste(n) El cocinero espera que me guste la comida china. The cook hopes I like Chinese food. Que a ti te guste(n) Tu madre espera que te gusten las frutas y verduras. Your mother hopes that you like fruits and vegetables. Que a usted/à ©l/ella le guste(n) Su novio espera que a ella le guste bailar salsa. Her boyfriend hopes that she like to dance salsa. Que a nosotros nos guste(n) El artista espera que nos guste el arte moderno. The artist hopes that we like modern art. Que a vosotros os guste(n) La doctora espera que nos guste caminar por la ciudad. The doctor hopes that we like walking around the city. Que a ustedes/ellos/ellas les guste(n) El diseà ±ador espera que a ellas les gusten los colores vivos. The designer hopes that they like bright colors. Imperfect Subjunctive The imperfect subjunctive can be conjugated in two different ways: Option 1 Que a mà ­ me gustara(n) El cocinero esperaba que me gustara la comida china. The cook hoped I like Chinese food. Que a ti te gustara(n) Tu madre esperaba que te gustaran las frutas y verduras. Your mother hoped that you like fruits and vegetables. Que a usted/à ©l/ella le gustara(n) Su novio esperaba que a ella le gustara bailar salsa. Her boyfriend hoped that she like to dance salsa. Que a nosotros nos gustara(n) El artista esperaba que nos gustara el arte moderno. The artist hoped that we like modern art. Que a vosotros os gustara(n) La doctora esperaba que nos gustara caminar por la ciudad. The doctor hoped that we like walking around the city. Que a ustedes/ellos/ellas les gustara(n) El diseà ±ador esperaba que les gustaran los colores vivos. The designer hoped that they like bright colors. Option 2 Que a mà ­ me gustase(n) El cocinero esperaba que me gustase la comida china. The cook hoped I like Chinese food. Que a ti te gustase(n) Tu madre esperaba que te gustasen las frutas y verduras. Your mother hoped that you like fruits and vegetables. Que a usted/à ©l/ella le gustase(n) Su novio esperaba que a ella le gustase bailar salsa. Her boyfriend hoped that she like to dance salsa. Que a nosotros nos gustase(n) El artista esperaba que nos gustase el arte moderno. The artist hoped that we like modern art. Que a vosotros os gustase(n) La doctora esperaba que nos gustase caminar por la ciudad. The doctor hoped that we like walking around the city. Que a ustedes/ellos/ellas les gustase(n) El diseà ±ador esperaba que les gustasen los colores vivos. The designer hoped that they like bright colors. Gustar Imperative The imperative mood is used to give commands or orders. However, remember that gustar is a different verb, where the subject of the sentence is the object that pleases the person. Since you cant command a thing to please someone, the imperative forms of gustar are very rarely used. If you wanted to tell someone to like something, you would say it in a more indirect way using a structure with the subjunctive, such as Quiero que te gusten las frutas (I want you to like fruit) or Exijo que te guste bailar (I demand that you like to dance).

Documentary in Depth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Documentary in Depth - Essay Example This discussion borrows ideas from documentary theorists like Stella Bruzzi, Jonathan Kahana, Jane Roscoe and Craig Hight to name a few. The need to document ‘real’ events existed almost at the same time when motion picture as a medium of communication became an integral and quintessential part of human life. In its early stages, the primary intention and the subsequent benefit of recording a live action or event was the freedom it gave to have control over time, by either slowing it down, stopping it completely, or reversing it making the captured footage a substitute or an equivalent to a written document or text. This can be seen as early as 1900s when events like a prize fight or a surgery were captured on camera and stored as a valuable resource that could be used for future reference. The term ‘documentary’ has had a multitude of definitions and interpretations from various theorists at different points of time. According to Kahana ‘documentary h as been understood as a form of democratic and social pedagogy’ (2008, p.1) and he agrees with Paul Rotha’s theory that since movie making technology along with social contradictions tend to hide the truth in various circumstances, documentaries could be used to convey a deeper or hidden meaning (Kahana, 2008, p.1). Bruzzi agrees with Peter Weiss’ argument in his book â€Å"The Materials and the Models† that ‘the purpose of documentary form is to extract from the material universal truths, to supply a historical context and to draw attention to other possible consequences of the events encompassed by the play’ (2000, p.9). In other words, through his/her film a documentary film maker represents the social and political structure that exists around them, also giving an insight in to how it has evolved to its present form and what the future might hold. This can be considered a binary process, one in which the film maker derives his/her materia l from the socio political circumstances and delivers it back to society in its contextualised form. The film maker thus serves as a medium for the raw material to arrive at truths and conclusions, motives or inherent causes. In simpler terms, the film maker becomes the voice which speaks on behalf of the ‘raw material’ (i.e. the social, political and historical context). The primary drawback however, of this analysis is that it becomes futile if the film maker and the viewer have misinterpreted the original meaning of the event which means that the actual truth of the recorded event has not transpired to the mind of the film maker and in turn the viewer (Bruzzi, 2000, p.9). People have been generally led to believe that the camera captures only the truth. The reason why people trust documentaries is the simple fact that they claim to present the truth as it is with no element of drama or fiction. Hence it is something which anyone can relate to in terms of their own li ves and existence. Documentaries are supposed to depict the socio historical world in its purest and unpolished form. This would suggest that the images captured in a