Affirmative Action Is Important For The Future Of The...

Affirmative Action In Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech, he states â€Å"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character† for this reason affirmative action in higher education admission should alter for it creates a perpetual racial preference in admission. Affirmative action is controversial due its issue of whether the generation of today should pay for the past injustices done to certain ethnicities. It questions the constitutionality of its existence and whether it perpetuates racial discrimination. Although affirmative action is a great start in promoting diversity and exposing diverse perspectives in an educational field, it’s time to realize its modern predicaments and visualize how to better progress terms of admission for the future of the diversified generations of America. Thus it is vital to address reasons why prolonging affirmative action hinders the creation for better opportunities to those at a disadvantaged. The dilemma of affirmative action is defining equal opportunities, especially to those ethnicities who were historically wronged.The famous U.S landmark case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), where Allan Bakke, a white man, was twice rejected to University of California Medical School at Davis, ruled that racial quotas â€Å"violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment†, however race can serve a part as one admission criteria. Today California hasShow MoreRelatedAffirmative Action And Its Effect On Society Essay1639 Words   |  7 Pagesbased on a person’s race is wrong. For this reason affirmative action in higher education admission should alter for it creates a perpetual racial preference in admission. Affirmative action is controversial due its issue of whether the generation of today should pay for the past injustices done to certain ethnicities. It questions the constitutionality of its existence and whether it perpetuates racial discrimination. Although affirmative action greatly promotes diversity and exposes diverse perspectivesRead MoreThe Issue Of Affirmative Action Essay1667 Words   |  7 Pagesthe content of their character† for this reason affirmative action in higher education admission should be altered for it creates a perpetually racial preference in admission. Affirmative action is controversial due it s issue of whether the generation of today should pay for the past injustices done to certain ethnicities. It questions the constitutionality of its existence and whether it perpetuates racial discrimination. Although affirmative action is a great start in promoting diversity and exposingRead MoreAnalysis Of Martin Luther King s I Have A Dream Speech Essay1756 Words   |  8 PagesPrimitive Action In Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech, he states â€Å"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character†, this appeal to the emotions that judging based on a person’s race is wrong. For this reason altering affirmative action in higher education admission will be discussed since it creates a perpetual racial preference in admission. Affirmative action is controversial due to its issue of whether today’s generation shouldRead MoreEssay about Does Higher Education Need Affirmative Action?1934 Words   |  8 PagesDoes Higher Education Need Affirmative Action? Introduction Is affirmative action in higher education needed? This question provokes a myriad of emotions. Is affirmative action antiquated and unneeded in 21st century America? Or are the racial boundaries of this country’s ancestors still in effect? America’s Declaration of Independence states, â€Å"all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuitRead MoreWalt Disney Company : A Cartoon Studio2215 Words   |  9 PagesDisney’s cartoon series, it was marked as the guide to the animator and an orchestra from its musical background. The general development of the company was realized in 1950 when it started hitting the television world and additionally adjoining to live action films (Sanders, 2015). It started with the film, Treasure Island which even though it contained animated features, it initiated the first Disney hosted television show (Sanders, 2015). The turn of the new millennium dictated for a new focus by DisneyRead MoreEssay on Diversity in Higher Education2007 Words   |  9 Pagessocioeconomic status in determining acceptance at an institution of higher education may be a viable option for keeping and promoting diversity, especially since the Supreme Court made a commitment to eliminate race-based affirmative action by 2028 (Campbell, 2012). So, why is this important? What are the benefits of a diverse environment? A diverse environment has inherent issues that arise within it that makes it more difficult to manage than a non-diverse environment. For one, many see â€Å"differenceRead MoreEssay on Comparison of Northwest Airlines and American Airlines4767 Words   |  20 PagesAirlines several areas will be addressed. The strength of the global culture with-in the companies. The fit of the company to the global marketplace, and the adaptive ness or the empowerment of the employees will be examined and compared. Perhaps more im portant, than whether they currently have a global atmosphere, is whether they can improve or create this atmosphere. A comparison between the two airlines will be made on their mission statements, information dissemination, global-mindedness, career pathsRead MoreEssay on American and Northwest Airlines4865 Words   |  20 Pagesseveral areas will be addressed. The strength of the global culture with-in the companies. The fit of the company to the global marketplace, and the adaptive ness or the empowerment of the employees will be examined and compared. Perhaps more important, than whether they currently have a global atmosphere, is whether they can improve or create this atmosphere. A comparison between the two airlines will be made on their mission statements, information dissemination, global-mindedness, career pathsRead MoreDiversity Within The Workplace : Diversity6655 Words   |  27 Pagespeople who work for them and the make-up of those people is increasingly diverse. What this means for everybody is to look at their own bias and prejudice in the harsh light of the business world where the ability to put aside personal matters is an important part of teamwork. Managers and supervisors must learn the managerial skills required to bring the elements of a diverse workforce together. A multicultural workplace presents obstacles that can be viewed as opportunities. Because globalization affectsRead MoreAn Analysis of the Events Industry in Brazil: How Government Policies Coupled with Exponential Growth Influence Competition.5186 Words   |  21 Pagesmore difficult develop actions of client loyalty. The cost of items bought from suppliers has a significant impact on Events Company’s profitability. Based in that affirmative and in the Richard Gibbs and Dr Andrew Humphries is possible to sustain that competitive opportunities will be placed for those who analyse the threats and trends of the economic growth by changing government policies. The li terature research and the marketing techniques utilized provide the affirmative that clients will increase

Essay on Hydraulic Fracturing - 761 Words

Gene Kim LAWS 310 Part 1 1. Form a working definition of hydraulic fracturing; distinguish gas and oil fracturing. (25-50 words) Demonstrate familiarity with how hydraulic fracturing is actually performed; a brief description of how the process works. (25-50 words) Show where hydraulic fracturing is currently underway in the United States., in Europe and in South America. (25-50 words).3 â€Å"Hydraulic fracturing (also known as hydrofracking, fracking, fracing, or fraccing) is a water-intensive industrial process that drillers use to collect the natural gas held in shale formations. Shale gas has become an increasingly important energy resource in the U.S. Fracking fluid contains water, salt, sand, and hazardous†¦show more content†¦TIP: Try a GOOGLE search such as . Natural gas is already a critical part of America’s energy portfolio and consequently a critical part of the country’s economic growth. Not only does natural gas provide over 25 percent of electricity generation, natural gas, and other gases extracted from natural gas provide a feedstock for fertilizers, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, waste treatment, food processing, fueling industrial boilers, and much more. Although natural gas prices in the United States have historically been volatile, the abundance of shale gas brings the possibility of low, stable prices. North America has approximately 4.2 quadrillion (4,244 trillion) cubic feet of recoverable natural gas that would supply 175 years worth of natural gas at current consumption rates. Further, the National Petroleum Council estimates that fracking will allow 60 percent to 80 percent of all domestically drilled wells during the next 10 years to remain viable. The abundance of natural gas makes the United States an attractive place to do business, especially for energy-intensive industries. In what could be a growing trend, Royal Dutch Shell recently announced plans to build a petrochemical plant in western Pennsylvania and cited the proximity to natural gas production as the reason for the location. The $2 billion plant will create 10,000 construction jobs and thousands of permanent jobs forShow MoreRelatedHydraulic Fracturing Essay696 Words   |  3 PagesWhat is Hydraulic Fracturing Contrary to popular belief’s Hydraulic Fracturing is not a drilling process .It is the series of steps that are used after the drilling of hole in the ground is completed to create or restore small fractures or opening in the reservoir rock formation .These small fractures or opening in the reservoir are mainly used to extract –petroleum, natural gas ( such as shale gas , tight gas , and coal seam) ,water And natural substances This process was first used in 1947Read MoreThe Argument Against Hydraulic Fracturing1378 Words   |  6 PagesArgument against Hydraulic Fracturing Hydraulic Fracturing is the process in which a borehole is made on earth, and the Shale rock is broken in order to harvest natural gas by drilling pipes vertically,and horizontally.Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking draws in the addition of more than a million gallons of water,sand,and chemicals being added below earth s surface at a high pressure down a vertical,and horizontal pipeline.As the mixture travels down the pipe it breaks the Shale rock realisingRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing : Natural Gas1988 Words   |  8 PagesHydraulic Fracturing Natural gas is a keystone of United States economy, it providing the United States a quarter of the country’s total energy; Outstanding to the many advances in technology. Production from shale formations has gone from a small amount just a few years ago to being almost thirty percent of total United States natural gas manufacture. This has gotten lower prices, domestic jobs due to the possible of extensive production growth. Although the growth has also brought many difficultRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing : Good Or Bad?1401 Words   |  6 PagesHydraulic Fracturing: Good or Bad? Carol French owns a dairy farm in Pennsylvania. French’s dairy farm was thriving until one day a startling change in her water occurred. On March 15, 2011, French turned on her sink faucet and â€Å"the water came out white with a green moss settling on top of sand† (â€Å"A Dairy†). After the water settled for a while it became gelatin like. After being exposed to the water, â€Å"French’s daughter became sick in October of that year with a fever, weight loss (10 pounds inRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing : An Ethical Approach1168 Words   |  5 PagesHydraulic Fracturing: An Ethical Approach Hydraulic fracturing in combination with advancement in directional drilling has made it possible to economically extract oil and gas from unconventional resources. The growth in U.S. oil and gas exploration and production made possible by the increase in use of hydraulic fracturing, has raised concerns about its potential to impact human health and the environment. Concerns have been raised by the public about the effects of hydraulic fracturing on qualityRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing : The Good And The Bad1381 Words   |  6 PagesHydraulic Fracturing: The Good and The Bad. Hydraulic fracturing in combination with advancement in directional drilling has made it possible to economically extract oil and gas from unconventional resources. The growth in U.S. oil and gas exploration and production made possible by the increase in use of hydraulic fracturing, has raised concerns about its potential to impact human health and the environment. Concerns have been raised by the public about the effects of hydraulic fracturing on qualityRead MoreThe Controversial Technique Of Hydraulic Fracturing1366 Words   |  6 Pagesmore dependent on oil. However, the insatiable hunger of oil eventually consumed most available shallow sources of oil. Only then did natural gas and its variants become a viable option, and with it the controversial technique of Hydraulic Fracturing. Hydraulic Fracturing, or Fracking, as it is commonly known, is a process that requires three main components: a natural gas deposit, drilling and fracking fluid. The operation begins with companies surveying lands to discover an untapped source. OnceRead MoreThe Possible Effects of Hydraulic Fracturing in Newfoundland1278 Words   |  5 Pagesessay will examine the possible effects of hydraulic fracturing in Newfoundland. Hydraulic fracturing is the process of retrieving natural gas from the earth by injecting fluid into a borehole and pressurizing it, creating cracks in the rock. hydraulic fracturing fluid is made up of small beads of sand or ceramic, which prop open the cracks in the rock, as well as water and chemicals, which help suspend the proppants (sand or ceramic). The hydraulic fracturing fluid is pressurized, allowing the proppantsRead MoreWhy America Needs Hydraulic Fracturing1876 Words   |  8 PagesWhy America needs hydraulic fracturing Hydraulic fracturing also called fracking has been around for many years despite the recent events of controversy to continue fracturing or not. With the earth’s resources depleting rapidly every year and no sufficient replacement for energy humanity needs fracking. The process of fracking has been around for more than six decades. Fracking has been around since the 1940s and was created to increase the removal flow of oil and natural gas. In the words ofRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing : A Common And Widespread Technique1637 Words   |  7 PagesHydraulic fracturing has become a very common and widespread technique, especially in North America, due to technological advances that have allowed extracting natural gas from so-called unconventional reservoirs (tight sands, coal beds and shale formations). The socalled high volume hydraulic fracturing (with treatments typically an order of magnitude larger than the conventional fracturing procedures) began in 1968. This was complemented by horizontal drilling since the late 1980s, and the use

Strategy and Change for Cattle Farming and Meat- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theStrategy and Change for Cattle Farming and Meat Industry. Answer: Introduction Cattle farming and meat industry is one of the major revenue earning industry in Australia. Moreover, the cattle farming industry of Australia is mainly export oriented and thus it is one of the major sources for gaining foreign reserves. North Australian Pastoral Company is one of the leading players in the Australian cattle industry. Moreover, they are also one of the oldest companies in the Australian cattle industry. Currently, they are having 13 cattle stations with having more than 200,000 cattle making the largest private player in the industry. The major product for them is beef that sold in both the domestic and international market. However, in the current time, Australian cattle industry is facing number of challenges in terms of different environmental factors. Moreover, due to the fact that this industry is mainly depended on exports, emergence of external issues is more (Zhang et al., 2014). This is also leading to the increase in the business challenges for North Australian Pastoral Company. They are in the need of having effective strategies and internal factors to deal with these issues. This report will discuss about the internal and external factors influencing their business operation. In addition, the effectiveness of the internal factors of the organization in coping up with the external change will also be discussed. Identification of the external forces Political factors One of the major political factors is the diplomatic relationship with the importing counties. In the current time, political turbulence is going on in the international market scenario. Thus, it is affecting the export trend of beef from Australia. More stringent legislations and regulations are being initiated by the governments of the importing countries regarding the food standard (Cohen et al., 2014). Economical factors Emergence of the issues such as Asian economic crisis and recent American crisis is influencing the market (Aizenman, Jinjarak Park, 2013). Changes in the valuation of the Australian dollar against the American dollar also posing challenges keep up the revenue stream. Competition is increasing in the global market and it is affecting the sales revenue of North Australian Pastoral Company. Social factors Demand of beef in the global market is fluctuating and it is affecting the business growth of the Australian cattle industry (Davalos et al., 2014). Demand for beef is steadily reducing in the importing countries due to less public consumption. Trend of demand for beef is shifting from the bigger markets such as United States and Canada to the smaller countries such as Taiwan and Hong Kong. Technological factors Technology is rapidly developing in global cattle farming industry. It is becoming more important for the Australian firms to initiate newer technologies in order to stay competitive. Cost of production is rapidly increasing and thus it is important for the Australian firms to have latest technologies for enhancing the efficiencies. Evaluation of the external factors Thus, from the above discussion, it can be concluded that North Australian Pastoral Company is facing number of challenges in terms of different perspectives. One of the major challenges identified for them is introduction of the stringent regulations by different governments regarding the food safety. Countries such as the United States are initiating stricter rules and standards in importing beef (Lo et al., 2015). This is mainly due to the reason that trend of counterfeiting is rapidly increasing in the food items and it is becoming more important for the governments to have strict standards and regulations. This is becoming difficult for North Australian Pastoral Company to set and enhance their product quality according to the different benchmarking of the governments. Another major external factor or issue for North Australian Pastoral Company is the reduction in the global demand for beef (Centner, Alvey Stelzleni, 2014). This is mainly due to the reason that customers are le ss likely preferring beef and opting for other alternatives. Thus, it is reducing the business potentiality for North Australian Pastoral Company in their global operation. Identification of the internal factors Strengths North Australian Pastoral Company is the oldest and largest private sector firm in the Australian market. This helps them to hold a positive brand image in the market. Having number of stations helps them to cater to more number of markets in different regions. Capabilities in the breeding program development in order to have more drought resistant process. Weaknesses They are not having the access to the government subsidies like the private players in some other countries. Average cost of production of North Australian Pastoral Company is higher compared to some of their competitors. They do not have any foreign bases, which increase their dependency on the Australian economy. Opportunities More new markets are emerging for beef. This is increasing the market exposure for North Australian Pastoral Company. Initiation of the new technologies will enhance the organizational efficacy and will reduce the cost of operation. Opportunities of supplying live cattle to the North African markets. Threats Stringent regulations restricting the Australian beef for importing. Emergence of bovine diseases in different countries such as Japan. Natural calamities such as inadequate rainfall and drought. Evaluation of the internal factors The above discussion and analysis of the internal factors identified number of weakness and strengths for North Australian Pastoral Company. One of the major positive factors identified is the brand value and extensive business capabilities of the organizations. It is reported that North Australian Pastoral Company is the oldest and largest private player in the cattle farming industry in Australia. Thus, having huge and positive brand values is helping them to have more financial access in competing in the market (Hsu, Wang Chen, 2013). Moreover, their huge operation is also helping them in having competitive edge over its competitors. On the other hand, the major negative factor for them is not having foreign bases for them. This is forcing them to be more dependent on the Australian economy. Having foreign bases should help them to reduce the issues in the international business. Effectiveness of the internal environment in coping up with the external factors Thus, from the above analysis of the internal and external factors of North Australian Pastoral Company there are different negative as well as positive factors are being identified. According to the case study given, the traditional market for beef is reducing in the global scenario while new markets are emerging. Thus, it is important for North Australian Pastoral Company to have enhanced capabilities in order to target the new markets as well as catering to the existing ones (Juan Ding et al., 2014). It is earlier discussed that they are having 13 cattle stations across Australia. Having such number of cattle station can help North Australian Pastoral Company to cater to more number of markets. This internal capability of North Australian Pastoral Company can also be termed as their competitive advantage in having enough capabilities and resources to meet the changing demand scenario. It is also to be noted that having the capability of catering to newer markets will further help North Australian Pastoral Company to face the economic crisis as they have faced during Asian economic crisis. However, on the other hand, the internal factor for North Australian Pastoral Company is not well effective in dealing with the issues such as fluctuation in the currency valuation (Patel, Patel Patel, 2014). In the case study, it is reported that North Australian Pastoral Company is facing the issue in exporting their products due to the currency fluctuations. However, it is discussed in this report that North Australian Pastoral Company is not having any foreign bases outside Australia. Thus, they will have to depend on direct exporting of their products, which is vulnerable to global currency fluctuations. There internal environment is not well adjusted in this case for North Australian Pastoral Company. According to Sodeyfi (2016), access to finance is important for the business organizations to have the scope for technology development. This is due to the reason that the more will be the access to finance, the more will be the capability of the organization to develop latest technology. In the case of North Australian Pastoral Company, they are operating in the cattle farming industry for long years and thus they are having the access to large source of capital. In the internal analysis also, it is identified that North Australian Pastoral Company can initiate development of latest technology. This will help them to reduce the cost of operation and they can offer their products in more competitive prices. Conclusion Thus, it can be concluded that North Australian Pastoral Company is having number of positive and negative factors to be faced in operating in the global business scenario. In addition, this report also discussed about the internal factors of them and to the extent they are effective in coping up with the external threats and challenges. It is concluded that North Australian Pastoral Company is having major number of factors that are capable enough to cope up with the external change. However, there are some factors being identified that are in the need of improvement and development in order to be more effective in dealing with the external environments. Reference Aizenman, J., Jinjarak, Y., Park, D. (2013). Capital flows and economic growth in the era of financial integration and crisis, 19902010.Open Economies Review,24(3), 371-396. Centner, T. J., Alvey, J. C., Stelzleni, A. M. (2014). Beta agonists in livestock feed: Status, health concerns, and international trade.Journal of animal science,92(9), 4234-4240. Cohen, J. F., Richardson, S., Parker, E., Catalano, P. J., Rimm, E. B. (2014). Impact of the new US Department of Agriculture school meal standards on food selection, consumption, and waste.American journal of preventive medicine,46(4), 388-394. Dvalos, L. M., Holmes, J. S., Rodrguez, N., Armenteras, D. (2014). Demand for beef is unrelated to pasture expansion in northwestern Amazonia.Biological conservation,170, 64-73. Hsu, F. J., Wang, T. Y., Chen, M. Y. (2013). The impact of brand value on financial performance.Advances in Management and Applied Economics,3(6), 129. Juan Ding, M., Jie, F., A. Parton, K., J. Matanda, M. (2014). Relationships between quality of information sharing and supply chain food quality in the Australian beef processing industry.The international journal of logistics management,25(1), 85-108. Lo, V. H., Wei, R., Lu, H. Y., Hou, H. Y. (2015). Perceived issue importance, information processing, and third-person effect of news about the imported US beef controversy.International Journal of Public Opinion Research,27(3), 341-360. Patel, P. J., Patel, N. J., Patel, A. R. (2014). Factors affecting currency exchange rate, economical formulas and prediction models.International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering Management (IJAIEM),3(3), 53-56. Sodeyfi, S. (2016). Review of literature on the nexus of financial leverage, product quality, business conditions.International Journal of Economic Perspectives,10(2), 146-150. Zhang, Y. D., Johnston, D. J., Bolormaa, S., Hawken, R. J., Tier, B. (2014). Genomic selection for female reproduction in Australian tropically adapted beef cattle.Animal Production Science,54(1), 16-24.

Social Networks and the Arab Spring Essay Example

Social Networks and the Arab Spring Essay â€Å"An Examination of the Role of Online Social Networks in the Uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt in 2010-11† In the academic research and journalism about the Arab Spring, there are contrasting views surrounding the importance of the Internet and online social networks in the success of the uprisings. Did the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt give validity to Egyptian Google executive Wael Ghonim’s claim that â€Å"if you want to liberate a society, just give them Internet† (Ghonim CNN), or was the function of online social networks greatly exaggerated by international media to highlight Western ideals of democracy? This research paper will closely analyze the extent to which these online social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, mobile phone networks, and YouTube were used as tools for the organization and mobilization of civil disobedience in Tunisia and Egypt in 2010-11. It will examine the role and impact of online social networks and will assess whether they were merely extensions of offline communities or if they played an integral and mandatory role in these uprisings. Though this paper will investigate the range of opinion on the impact of digital media in the Arab Spring, it will argue that online social networks played an integral role for Tunisian and Egyptian citizens in their rapid and successful uprisings. Online social networks blur geographical boundaries, which create opportunities for widespread communication, effective organization, mobilization of citizens, and the sharing of videos locally and internationally. Before the proliferation of digital media in the Middle East, these opportunities were not available to citizens and communication was limited to individual communities or offline networks. The combination and collaboration of already established offline networks, various digital technologies, and online social networks lead to the success of the civilians in overthrowing their governments. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Networks and the Arab Spring specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Social Networks and the Arab Spring specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Social Networks and the Arab Spring specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Despite the years of civil discontent and corruption in both the Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak governments, revolution did not occur until digital media provided the opportunity for different communities and individuals to unite around their shared upsets and create mobilization strategies online. In Tunisia and Egypt, â€Å"social media have become the scaffolding upon which civil society can build, and new information technologies give activists things that they did not have before: information networks not easily controlled by the state and coordination tools that are already embedded in trusted networks of family and friends† (Howard 2011). It will be shown that although online social networks act as an extension of the offline public sphere, their role in these uprisings was integral in creating an organizational infrastructure and to generate international awareness and aid against the corrupt governments. Discontent had been brewing in Tunisia for years during President Zine El Ben Ali’s rule. In 2009 he was reelected for a fifth term with an overwhelmingly fraudulent 89% of voters (Chrisafis, 2011). Despite years of suffering from an oppressive regime, rising unemployment rates, and censorship, it was not until the self-immolation of a vendor, Mohamed Bouazizi, was documented and transmitted online that the revolution gained the awareness and support it needed to make a difference. There had been previous acts of protest, but â€Å"what made a difference this time is that the images of Bouazizi were put on Facebook† (Beaumont, 2011). A relative of Bouazizi, Rochdi Horchani, went so far as to state, â€Å"we could protest for years here, but without videos no one would take any notice of us† (Chrisafis, 2011). The revolutions in Tunisia inspired Egyptian activists to use similar tactics to evoke change in their own corrupt government. Muhammad Hosni El Sayed Mubarak ruled over Egypt from 1981 to 2011, when he was overthrown by the organized and effective protests of Egyptian citizens. Although social media and digital technologies had little to do with the underlying sociopolitical and socioeconomic factors behind the civil discontent, they played a rapid role in the disintegration of these two regimes. In addition, even though corruption had been occuring for many years in the governments, â€Å"all inciting incidents of the Arab Spring were digitally mediated in some way† (Hussain, 2012) whether it was documented and disseminated online or discussed on an online social network. The corruption and discontent of the citizens may have inevitably lead to protests in both countries, but â€Å"social media was crucial† (Khondker, 2011) due to it’s communication and organizational abilities. The cruciality of online social networks and digital technologies is contested by theorists who argue that â€Å"other sociological factors such as widespread poverty and governmental ineptitude had created the conditions for extensive public anger† (Hussain, 2011) and that these preexisting conditions caused the revolutions. Several pundits including Gladwell and Friedman argue, â€Å"that while Facebook and Twitter may have had their place in social change, the real revolutions take place in the street† (Hussain, 2011). Though these theorists are correct in their attribution to the already existing political discontent for the preconditions to the revolution, online social networks acted as a necessary extension of offline social networks and action. It is likely the successes of the protests in the streets would not have been as large without the communication potential of digital media. One pundit attributed the lack of violence in the revolutions to the digital media stating that the use of online social networks â€Å"may have less to do with fostering Western-style democracy than in encouraging relatively less violent forms of mass protest† (Stepanova, 2011). Now that citizens had other vessels to communicate internationally and were no longer censored and controlled by their state regulated media, the governments could not be so open about their brutality. Pundits such as Gladwell and Friedman overlook the fact that â€Å"digital media allowed local citizens access to international broadcast networks, networks which were then used by online civil society organizations to lobby advocacy campaigns† (Hussain, 2012). It was these social networks that aided Tunisian and Egyptian citizens with their success in the streets. The Arab Spring has also been attributed the nickname of â€Å"The Twitter Revolution† (Stepanova, 2011) due to the large role Twitter and Facebook played in the uprisings. This nickname gives light to another contrasting perspective about the importance of online social networks being highlighted by international media to emphasize the role of Western ideals of democracy. Due to the fact that digital technologies and online social networks proliferated the West before the Middle East, the U. S claims credit for the democratizing effects they had on the Middle East during the Arab Spring (Stepanova, 2011). By emphasizing the power of new technologies in spreading Western democratic values, this approach ignores the socioeconomic and social equality dimensions of the massive protests in the Arab world. Ekaterina Stepanova states that â€Å"the automatic connection [The United States] makes between social media and a Western-style democracy agenda† (Stepanova, 2011) is a weak link in U. S policy. Social media tools with identical functions can operate differently in developed versus developing countries. It was not just the Western media which stressed the role of online social networks in the Arab Spring, but also local media and the civilians themselves. The role of Twitter and Facebook may have been emphasized in Western media due to their nationalistic attitude, but this should not downplay the actual importance that these technologies held in the uprising. During the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, social networks were the key factor in the communication, mobilization, and organization of civilians. Civilians used their mobile phones or computers to access online social networks where they could discuss and plan tactics for the revolution, and disseminate messages and photos of what was occurring. During the anti-Mubarak protests, an Egyptian activist put it succinctly in a tweet: â€Å"we use Facebook to schedule the protests, Twitter to coordinate, and YouTube to tell the world† (Hussain, 2012). In the ‘Jasmine Revolution’, the role of mobile phones was integral in both sharing and receiving information. The phone acted as a tool which aided in the extension of offline networks into online. Now, civilians did not need to be face to face to communicate messages of discontent or plans for rebellion as they had mobile networks. The ability to message many people at one time of access their Facebook or Twitter from their phone was invaluable to the rebels. Reporters without Borders stated that â€Å"the role of cell phones also proved crucial [in Tunisia]. Citizen journalists kept file-sharing websites supplied with photos and videos, and fed images to streaming websites† (Reporters without Borders, 2011). It was not just the vast communication abilities that aided citizens in the revolt, but by putting cameras in the hands of a plethora of Tunisians they became citizen journalists with the ability to show what was happening to them to the world. The ability for citizens to take part in news is very valuable as this was a time where all media broadcast institutions were state run. The great difference between what was being reported about through the citizens versus the state allowed those uprisings to share their side of the story. Government censorship was a huge problem in both Tunisia and Egypt, but censorship â€Å"made the new media more relevant† (Khondker, 2011). Social media was very useful for the citizens as it â€Å"brought the narrative of successful social protest across multiple, previously closed, media regimes† (Hussain, 2012). It was due to the mobile phone and heavy proliferation of online social networks that citizens could show proof of the injustices that were occurring through photo and video documentation on an international scale. In addition, communicating online was very effective for civilians since they could plan out offline protests with a mass audience. As stated, the internet blurs geographical boundaries, which allows revolutionary leaders and advocates to find each other and communicate online. Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter provided citizens with a platform to discuss plans of action and reach mass audiences. The ability to reach so many people online was essential since â€Å"information and communication networks can serve as powerful accelerators of social transformation† (Stepanova, 2011). Facebook groups such as â€Å"We Are All Khaled Said† enlisted 350,000 members before the 14th of January (Khondker, 2011). This group provided the members with an incomparable medium of communication to anything offline social networks could provide. In addition, other than attempted media blackouts by the governments, communication was rather unlimited online. Activists posted relatively freely, which indicated that â€Å"new information technology has clearly the transformative potential to open up spaces of freedom† (Khondker, 2011). The idea of online spaces as democratic and free draw upon Jurgen Habermas‘ concept of the public sphere. There are integral benefits of the internet in relation to Habermas’ public sphere, such as the vast library of easily accessible information, a new platform for critical political discussion, the blurring of spacial boundaries, and the embracing of new technology. In the Arab Spring, the usage of the internet empowered Habermas’ concept of deliberative democracy, which highlights â€Å"the role of open discussion, the importance of citizen participation, and the existence of a well-functioning public sphere† (Gimmler, 23). Habermas holds that deliberative democracy is based â€Å"on a foundation that enables the legitimacy of the constitutional state and civil society to be justified† (Gimmler, 23). He separates the â€Å"constitutional democratic state and its parliamentary and legal institutions, on one side, and the public sphere of civil society and its more direct communication and discursive foundations, on the other† (Gimmler 24). The opposition between the corrupt governments and civilians was represented on online social networks. Civilians used social networks as spaces of deliberative democracy, which acted as an online public sphere. Henry Brady states that â€Å"meaningful democratic participation requires that the voices of citizens in politics be clear, loud, and equal† (Hindeman, 6), online social networks give power to those voices that are silenced by state regulations. The fact that â€Å"information technologies have opened up new paths to democratization and the entrenchment of civil society in many Arab countries† (Hussain, 2012) attests to their function as a public sphere. Though there were effective offline social networks such as the Church, family, and friends, â€Å"the networks of people who did mobilize, did so with the direct application, initiation, and coordination, of digital media tools† (Hussain, 2012). Online social networks acted as extensions of offline networks that were already present, but also provided the opportunity to reach a much larger amount of people. The plans and decisions made on the online networks made the offline protests so successful. Virtual networks materialized before street protest networks† (Hussain, 2012), which shows the importance of online social networks. In the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, there was no single social network that was completely responsible for the success of the revolution. Instead, it was the combination of mobile phones, the internet, and traditional broadcast media which aided citizens in forming powerful networks which strengthened their cause. Castells defines a network s ociety as â€Å"a society whose social structure is made of networks powered by microelectronics-based information and communication technologies. By social structure, [he] understands the organizational arrangements of humans in relations of experience and power expressed in meaningful communication coded by culture† (Castells, 2004). This definition accurately describes the atmosphere in both Tunisia and Egypt during their revolutions due to the reliance on online social networks. In both Tunisia and Egypt, there was a manifestation of technology which aided citizens in communicating. Social networking sites, instantaneous internet, and always-available mobile phones created a powerful network which allowed citizens to always be connected to each other. Some degree of formal organizational and informal networks is necessary for revolution in order to communicate and plan. Egyptians utilized heavy social media connectivity through the use of the mobile device via texting of internet through their phone rather than personal computer. One Egyptian citizen tweeted on January 26th, 2011 â€Å"You who have Twitter and Facebook working on your phone, use them to spread words of hope. We won’t let this end here #jan25 was just the start† (Boyd, 2011). Citizens were encouraging each other to avoid traditional forms of communications via the internet to avoid government censorship and interference. Castells stated that â€Å"thus was born a new system of mass communication built like a mix between an interactive television, internet, radio and mobile communication systems. The communication of the future is already used by the revolutions of the present† (Castells, 2011, emphasis on the original) when describing the use of technologies in the Arab Spring. The issue of censorship posed a large barricade on the protesters due to their reliance on social networks and the internet. The Ben Ali regime realized the importance of Facebook in early January 2011 and stepped up their censorship with attempts to curb the heavy distribution of photos of protests and repression. There was increasing interest from the foreign media due to the power of ICT’s in spreading the story worldwide, which also influenced the state to up online censorship. The head of the Agencie Tunisienne d’Internet (ATI) said â€Å"the number of websites blocked by the authorities doubled in just a few weeks. More than 100 Facebook pages about the Sidi Bouzid events were blocked, along with online articles about the unrest in foreign media olice also hacked into Facebook accounts to steal activists passwords and infiltrate networks of citizen-journalists† (Reporters Without Borders, 2011) . It was the power of networks which allowed the citizens to overcome the censorship of the government. Due to the many options of communications devices, when one was blocked citizens wou ld resort to another. In addition, citizens found ways around the internet blockage and activist hacker groups rebutted with hacks on government websites and found technical ways to pass on news and demands from inside Tunisia. The positive role of technology within the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt cannot be disputed. Although, such heavy use of technology caused the corrupt governments to attempt to intervene, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Information and communications technologies allowed oppressed citizens to rise above the government through the power of mobility, networks, and information. The portability of the cell phones partnered with the creation of networks through the multiple technologies utilized allowed the voice of the citizens to be heard worldwide. The positive effect these technologies had in empowering the both the Tunisians and the Egyptians is clear in the mere rapidity that they overthrew their corrupt governments once they started revolting. In addition, it is clear that these ICT’s had a large effect since the government responded so harshly towards them, clearly feeling threatened. Overall, it is evident that ICT’s played a large role in the effective and swift revolutions which started the domino effect of the Arab Spring. *Copy Right- Nobody has permission to use my work in their own academic research*

Reaction Paper Sample The Red Balloon Essay Example

Reaction Paper Sample The Red Balloon Essay Example Reaction Paper Sample The Red Balloon Paper Reaction Paper Sample The Red Balloon Paper The film The Red Balloon may be considered to be an overwhelming movie, taking into consideration its visual, as well as narrative minimalism. The film also presents outstanding simplicity that grants its extraordinary cinematic power. In the opening scene, Pascal, the protagonist, leaves home for school, and just around the corner, comes across a red balloon that is knotted against a street lamp. Pascal carries his new toy with him, and treats it like a valuable fortune that requires to be protected. It follows that the balloon assumes life and starts following Pascal wherever he goes. This insinuates a wish realization of an imaginary acquaintance. In this context, the genius of film is that it is a metaphor for youth itself, given that the protagonist is at a period where his dreams lack for nothing. It is also evident that the film accomplishes what Corrigan (2011) may refers as the reasonable narration of an emotional account of camaraderie, savagery, and deliverance. At the closing of the film, there are other balloons that come to help Pascal and lift him on a balloon ride across Paris. This may be perceived as the allegory for Christ, where the red balloon succumbs and its spirit is resurrected in a multitude of balloons. The balloons rescue Pascal, and safeguard his innocence (Lamorisse, 2016). When the balloons rally to defend Pascal, elevating him high beyond the conflict, the little boy escapes cynicism and despair. In this background, the film features striking cinematography, as well as an ideal illustration of color theory in motion picture, since the visual effects on their own could form and explain the message. The closing scene depicts that compassion and imagination are recompensed, while innocence is preserved. References Corrigan, T. (2011). Short Guide to Writing about Film (8thed). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson. Lamorisse, A. (2016). The Red Balloon New York City: Doubleday Books for Young Readers

Legs Akimbo

Legs Akimbo Legs Akimbo Legs Akimbo By Simon Kewin Legs akimbo is a phrase used so much it has become a clichà ©, and clichà ©s are obviously something to be avoided if you want to create interesting, vivid writing. But you should also be aware that legs akimbo is logically meaningless. According to the OED, akimbo means : with hands on the hips and elbows turned outwards (origin, probably from Old Norse). It might just be possible to achieve such a stance in a Science Fiction story (if an alien had arms protruding from its legs), but otherwise, you simply cant stand legs akimbo. Of course, as with many questions of grammar, it could be argued that it doesnt matter that words are being used incorrectly, so long as the reader understands what the writer meant. Its a long-running debate. Language is constantly evolving and new meanings are always emerging. But writers need to be aware of the technically correct usage of words because they need to write in different voices. If, say, they are writing a piece of colloquial dialogue, legs akimbo might well be fine, if thats the sort of thing the character might say. If, however, they were writing in an authoritative, narrative voice, or penning a query letter to a publisher, then the phrase should clearly not be used. Quite how you could get the phrase legs akimbo into a query letter to a publisher, meanwhile, is another matter Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Beautiful and Ugly Words50 Latin Phrases You Should KnowParticular vs. Specific

The effect of perception of social roles on depression Research Paper

The effect of perception of social roles on depression - Research Paper Example Depending upon the level of the intensity of role involvement, there will be some correlation to the level of depression or other life-altering mental illness for the aged after a decrease in role functionality. Newman and Newman (2009) state specifically that there are four dimensions of which social roles are analyzed, and we will propose that the higher the intensity of the identification of the role will produce a higher probability of depression or other types of mental illnesses. We will broaden our scope to include of the number of roles as part of our study. Elderly. For the purposes of this study, the term elderly will be used to define an individual who has reached a point of life where significant changes in social roles has placed them in the last stages of their life. This is defined this more closely as being age 60 and above. Nuclear family system. A group of people joined through legal and familial means consisting of a single adult, a partnered couple, or a partnered couple and their children (Taqui, Itrat, Qidwai, & Qadri, 2007). Reciprocal role. A role that is defined by a matching role within the social order. Examples include student and teacher, parent and child, and the salesperson and the customer (Newman & Newman, 2009, p. 71). Social role. A loosely defined set of behaviors within which a social function has been defined with an accepted code of what is considered normal within that role. (Newman & Newman, 2009, p. 70). In searching for answers to the questions that relate to the relationship between social roles and depression, a thorough research of relevant literature will provide a framework within which to answer the research questions. This study has been conducted through the use of research that has been done and reported by those who have developed conclusions through their own studies. The studies are analyzed for relatable content and the information is connected in order to define answers

Research Paper PII Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research Paper PII - Essay Example Cyber criminals use numerous technologies in forcing entrance into personal accounts thus obtaining valuable personal information most of which have financial value. It thus becomes prudent for users to understand the technologies effectively thus employing appropriate technology and measures to curb the spread of such costly vises. In order to cushion themselves from such risks, users must ensure to keep their personal information secure in both online and offline platforms. Online platforms refer to the platforms found on the internet. People often store their personal information on the cyber space on such media as emails, social media among other types of online accounts (Fafinski, 2009). Offline platforms on the other hand refer to the use of digital technology in storing data without necessarily connecting to the internet. Such media as smart phones, computers and media players have digital storage spaces. Storing data on such platforms do not require any internet connection but the information stored therein face eminent risk of destruction and unauthorized access features that require effective management in order to prevent. Disclosing personal information online is often the main cause of such loses. This implies that users of such technologies must use the technologies cautiously. Among the scenarios that often require disclosure of such information, include online shopping, online games, online competitions and subscribing to the numerous online services. Using such services therefor3e require extreme caution. In order to prevent the loss of personal information while taking part in such important online activities, users must always investigate the authenticity of both the services and the service providers. Users must take care and engage only the legitimate companies. Engaging legitimate companies and understanding their terms and conditions are important since it becomes possible to investigate cases of loss of personal information.

Courage in to Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example for Free

Courage in to Kill a Mockingbird Essay One likes to think of a hero, as strong, brave, and meeting all challenges head on. All the characters in this book have a different view as to what courage is, and they all show it in different ways through their everyday lives. Younger characters, like Jem and Scout, see the physical aspect of it, whereas Atticus believes this to be an extremely weak form of courage. He believes in the mental quality of courage. The ability to be in minority and not back down and to be able to change; he admires Mrs. Dubose for her acts of courage that are against all odds. For a younger character, like Scout, courage is often associated with a physical act that is usually dangerous. It is hard for young children to realize that courage can be shown in other aspects of life. Scout sees an example of courage in her father when he shoots the mad dog Tim Johnson (pg. 101). Although Atticus does not think of it as very courageous, Jem and Scout are proud of their father and the courage he showed in this dangerous situation. Atticus views courage on a more intellectual level, as a moral thing not something that can be proved with a weapon. Later on in the story, Jem and Scout encounter the vindictive, spiteful Mrs. Dubose who often shouts out racism directed at the passing children because of Atticus’ job. At one point she proclaimed, Your fathers no better than the niggers and trash he works for! (pg. 111). When she blatantly made Atticus an object of ridicule like that, Jem decided that the best way to settle things was to ruin Mrs. Duboses camellias. Since he could not attack Mrs. Dubose directly, Jem decided to go for something close to her. He is committing a physical act of retaliation, which led to her suffering mental pain yet again. It was a cowardly act, for he dared not step up and confront her. After Atticus heard about this stunt, Jem was made to read to her every afternoon for a month. He now needed mental valour, and he did find it more difficult to source this than the physical bravery he was used to displaying. This is made apparent by him refusing to walk past her house alone, and because Jem was at first terrified of going to see her. Mrs. Dubose was a very sick woman, and had used morphine to ease her pain but was now addicted. It was her goal to leave the world beholden to nothing and nobody (pg. 120). She displayed what Atticus refers to as real courage. (pg. 121). She showed real courage because she does not have the luxury of standing there with a gun pointed at her addiction. One single attempt could not free her from the addiction. Rather, it had to be a many staged process over an extended period of time. It was shear determination and real courage that allowed her to accomplish her goal. It was not until after she died that Atticus explained to Jem and Scout how courageous the woman was because she knew she was dying but was still determined to die free of the morphine. She fought against great odds, even though she knew that she would surely die. Atticus tells his children that he wanted them to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. He also says that she was the bravest person he ever knew. (pg. 121) Real courage is when you fight for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose. Atticus Finch demonstrates real courage several times throughout the novel, in addition to the lessons that he teaches his children. The largest and most important example would be the trial of Tom Robinson. When Atticus took the case, he went up against Maycomb, a generally prejudiced town, in order to defend Tom. He understood that taking the case would make him an object of ridicule and that no one would forgive him for believing a black mans word over a white mans. Even his own sister expresses disapproval at his decision, practically telling him he was bringing disgrace to the family. Nevertheless, no matter how much his reputation suffered, he did not change his mind. Standing up for his morals and ethics was more important than what people thought about him. From the very start Atticus knows he will not win the case however he does his job and finishes what he set out to do. Atticuss strong sense of morality and justice motivates him to defend Tom Robinson with determination, giving it all he has. He shows this when he says, Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try and win. (pg. 82). He says this to Scout after she comes home from school angry at Cecil Jacobs for making fun of Atticus in the schoolyard. Atticus tells her to fight with her head instead of her fists. He wants the people of Maycomb to hear the truth about Tom, That boy may go to the chair, but hes not going till the truths told. (pg. 159). Atticus is putting everything a man holds dear, dignity, respect, honor and status, on the line to protect Tom. He later shows more bravery when he goes to the jailhouse to protect Tom from a mob. Without thinking twice, he rushed to Toms aid. He went willingly, knowing that if a mob did form he would be greatly outnumbered and would easily be beaten. Still, he put Toms well being ahead of his own welfare. While serving justice, Atticus also showed great courage. For example, he did not go along with Heck Tate when he told a lie about what really happened the night Bob Ewell was found stabbed to death. Atticus put his life and career on the line because he knew that, as an officer of the court, withholding information from an investigation could have gotten Mr. Tate thrown into jail. Nonetheless, like many times before, doing what was right and fair prevailed in Atticuss way of thinking. In addition, Atticus went against his moral code and principles he had always upheld before, when Atticus is faced with the decision of abiding by the law or breaking it in order to do the right thing. He knew that incarcerating a man like Arthur Radley would have been unforgivable, especially after Arthur had just performed a great deed by saving his childrens lives. He knew that exposing him would be an awful way of repaying him; it would have been like shooting a mockingbird. Therefore, Atticus chose to protect Boo from the public eye rather than abide by the law and his honest judicial ways he was so accustomed to follow. Sometimes it takes even more courage to set a new level of morals than to stay in one’s comfort zone. (pg. 297-302). The courage to change habits and thoughts is very important, because not everyone is able to do it. A very good example of this courage is when Atticus asked Scout not to fight anymore. When I committed myself to this act of cowardice. Word got around that Scout Finch wouldn’t fight anymore, her daddy wouldn’t let her. (pg. 97). That was a great act of courage because Scout used to fight a lot but as she had promised her father she would not fight anymore. Scout, like Jem does not want to disappoint Atticus, so she makes a change. In conclusion, Atticus shows praiseworthy courage and behaviour in many instances throughout the story, not by fighting or killing, but by standing up for what he believed in a civilized and determined way. His strongest motivation, however, were his children. He wants to be a good example for his kids and encourage in them a strong sense of moral value. One time Scout asks him why he had taken a case he knew he was not going to win and he responded by saying, For a number of reasons. The main one is, if I didnt I couldnt hold up my head in town, I couldnt represent this county in the legislature, I couldnt even tell you or Jem not to do something again. (pg. 82). In other words, he would not have been able to talk to his kids about justice and standing up for what one believes when he himself had not stood for what he believed in. The lessons taught by Atticus and Mrs. Dubose show Jem and Scout what it is to be courageous, to be able to change, to tell the truth and most importantly to stand up for their own beliefs. All qoutes from Lee, Harper, 1960, To kill a Mokingbird, London, Pan Books

Letter To Board :: essays research papers

I would like to commend the apparent effort of the Pulaski County Board of Education in their developing the new Drug/Alcohol Screening Program now in effect in both local high schools. I am grateful to see that some advance has been made to valorize the education process in our community. However, I am discouraged to see that the main focus of this program is centered around some of the most valued students in our schools. It is to my knowledge that this program is designed to screen students involved in extracurricular activities, including sports, and student drivers. Although I do believe that there is some sort of drug use within these groups, I do not feel that this is the epicenter of the school system’s problems. Most drug use and/or drug trafficking, I have heard of and/or witnessed has not come from any of the groups listed in your policy. I believe it makes sense that some athletes use performance enhancing drugs and/or alcohol, as do some student drivers and club participants, but I do not feel that this is the area of greatest concern to you. As I am aware of, drugs and alcohol cause a condition called demotivational syndrome, which is evident in frequent drug users. This syndrome causes a lack of motivation, followed by a decline in academic performance, followed by an ultimate decline in personal well being. Student athletes for example, are expected to maintain a rigorous practice schedule, as well as a certain grade point average, which is inconsistent with the symptoms and effects of demotivational syndrome. I believe that the greatest amount of victims of drugs and demotivational syndrome are not located in athletic or school programs, but inside the school itself. No drug user I k now of and may have been familiar with is involved with sports or extracurricular activities, nor would they choose to be. It is to my knowledge that no less than 10% of student participants in these activities will be randomly screened at any time. But, if the main drug use in schools isn’t in the activities department, but in the school itself, why couldn’t 10% of the total student body be screened? It appears to not only me but other members of the student body, that the school board tests members of athletic departments and certain extracurricular activities because they are concerned about the public image of our school system.

Capstone Project Essay

Apple has been known to be an inherently personal computer company. However, it is also well known that there is no better example of innovative strategic thinking and execution. Apple’s strategy has remained to creating and sustaining value for customers across the world. Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 and the company never looked back since. However, it is also said that Apple lost the pc business because of ignoring the trends in pc industry. Apple’s business strategy is primarily based on innovation for creating differentiated products. It has built products that are cool to use as well as simple and intuitive. Its products are best known for the amazing experience they provide. However, Apple kept taking calculated risks and entered new markets boldly. It was visible in the release of innovative products like iPod, iPhone etc. Inherently it is a pc company and uses its competencies in developing hardware and software for developing effective, efficient and innovati ve products. In fact, its iPad, iPod, iPhone and Mac are all computers. (Harris, 2010) Apple’s success is mainly the result of innovative technology and design innovation. In this way we can see that Apple has enjoyed continued success in the market through innovation and matchless design. Apple’s vision is also based on continuous innovation which is visible in the products it makes. Its mission is also to be the leader in the digital revolution by making revolutionary products. We know that Apple is the market leader in terms of most innovative electronic products and the customers’ choice also. The business environment for Apple Company is highly competitive both domestically and globally. (Harris, 2010) However, its products qualify as global products and are preferred by customers all around the globe. In fact it is through innovation that the company has remained a global leader in terms of technology. Its iPhone took  the world by storm in 2007. Apple has strong capabilities in product design and engineering as well. In fact the smart phone boom was sparked by Apple through its release of iPhone in 2007. Initially, the market was shaped by the customers in US and other developed markets. However, the growth for smart phone market is now coming from the Asian and developing countries mainly. However, if anyone is challenging its position then it is Samsung which has emerged as a competitor for Apple. Till a few years ago, Samsung was just trying to catch up in the smart-phone market. Now, apart from being the world’s largest technology company by revenue, Samsung has set Apple on its back foot. It is now trying to overtake Apple. Samsung’s galaxy series became the customer’s preference soon after entering the market. In fact Samsung is considered to be the best when it comes to learning from its competitors. But they also remain customer centered at the same time. In fact Samsung keenly observes what its competitors are bringing to the market. It keeps a watch over the recent trends and does not take much time to release its own version of the innovation. (Nisen, 2013) Apple also has a huge cash pile, but when it comes to taking risks and putting the money behind it, Samsung appears to be far ahead of Apple. Apart from that Samsung also spends a larg er part of its revenue on research as compared to Apple. It spends 5.7% of its revenue on research as compared to Apple’s 2.4. Actually, Samsung is a diverse business that is made of chips, displays and a variety of other technology. Its main benefit to Samsung comes in the form of the ability to compete on price and offering features which others cannot. However, it is important to note that Samsung is more than just a smart-phone maker. It is a conglomerate, a manufacture as well as the world’s largest chip maker. These factors play in Samsung’s favor. Many of the components of the smart phones are made by Samsung itself which gives it a cost advantage. (Nisen, 2013) When we compare Samsung with Apple we can see that Apple relies on external partners, which sometimes also leads to difficulties and delays. Though Apple has a well-managed and futuristic supply chain, yet it does not have the cost advantage like Samsung. One important factor regarding Samsung is that it has provided many lower end options for the developing world. In case Samsung continues to bring game changing products to the market like its Galaxy series, it can move from a close second to being the market leader. Samsung’s advertising expenditure  is also quite high which has really paid it as well. Samsung has been successful domestically as well as globally. Its most products especially the galaxy series has taken the markets in the developing world by storm. (Nisen, 2013) Apple is considered to be the market leader in the computer software and hardware industry. The main reason behind its growth and success over years are the innovative products it has brought to the market. One of the most important strengths of Apple is its incredible brand loyalty. It has a very high number of brand loyal customers. These customers will even line up before Apple stores at night in freezing cold to be the first to lay their hands on a new released iPhone, iPad or Mac. Strong financial strength is also a major strength off Apple. Apart from these things Apple is also known for its strong brand reputation and strong advertising and marketing teams and its retail stores. We already know of Apple as the leading innovator in the mobile device technology. However, apart from the above mentioned strengths there are some weaknesses also. As analysts have mentioned without Steve Jobs in leadership, the pace of innovation at Apple has slowed down a bit. Recently it also faced problems from its main supplier and producer Foxconn which led to unwanted difficulties and delays. So, its reliance on external suppliers gets to be one of its primary weaknesses. Apart from that Apple operates in a highly competitive industry and the competition sometimes affects its margins also. Its profits are also affected due to similar but low priced offerings from its competitors. Another important weakness which generally goes in the favor of its competitors is that its products are generally high priced. This all has also led to a decline in the market share of the company. However, despite all the above mentioned weaknesses it can certainly not be denied that Apple is a customer focused, futuristic and innovative company and it is certainly due to its focus on design and innovation that the company has a vast array of opportunities ope n before it. Its main opportunity lies in the growth of smart-phone and tablet market. Increased demand for iPhones and iPad also brought new opportunities for Apple. With iPad mini the company has also set its foot in the small tablet market. Despite the innovations it has brought till now to the market, the company has still significant room left to innovate further. In fact its opportunities lie in continuous innovation. Release of the TV is also being  seen as a great opportunity for Apple to amaze its customers which it does like no one else. However, it is not easy to be and remain the market leader and it holds true regarding Apple also. Apart from that its reliance on external suppliers has also proved a threat for it. Competitors like Samsung have the cost advantage since they produce their parts themselves. This is a major threat for Apple which it cannot afford to neglect. The company is increasingly threatened by the price pressure from Samsung over key components. Samsung’s main strength lies in its diversified product portfolio. In fact the company has a really large product portfolio which includes mobile phones, tablets, TV, camera, pc, printers and many more items. In most of these product categories Samsung itself holds a significant market share. It is today the number two in terms of market share in the cell phone industry. Not just this Samsung was able to catch Nokia’s market share by superior innovation in smart phones. Apart from that Samsung has also remained ahead consistently in terms of design and innovation. A very important strength of Samsung is that it has been able to take advantage of the markets of growing economies. In fact it has been able to obtain a large market share in the growing economies because of its low end products. Another key strength of Samsung is that most of its products can easily be integrated with various software’s. It is not so with Apple and its devices are generally not compat ible with different operating systems. Apart from being known for its innovation and design, Samsung is well known for its relatively cheap products. Added to all this is Samsung’s global brand recognition. But apart from its strengths Samsung has some weaknesses also. Firstly, it is not as ahead in terms of software and hardware as Apple. It does not have either its specific operating system or software. It is a very important advantage for Apple and to become the number one in the industry Samsung would need to beat Apple. Apart from it, Samsung is focused on making too many products and its profit margins are also very low. Its competitors like Apple are the largest buyers for its electronic equipment’s also. Still there is a large pool of opportunities lying open before Samsung which is mainly due to increased demand for smart phones in the developing economies. Its galaxy series has been a great hit globally. Apart from that demand for quality products from Samsung has also risen greatly. The expansion of tablet market has also brought new  opportunities for Samsung and the company has also obtained large benefits from it. The main threat before Samsung is the fall in the prices of smart phones. Samsung faces increased threats from Apple because of its innovative technology and design also. Apple’s release of ITV is also being seen as a threat for Samsung. Technological change is happening rapidly and Samsung will also need to innovate consistently to remain at the position it is. Price wars as well as decreased margins also bring additional threats for Samsung. Generally companies have to adapt their business strategies and products to different cultures when they are trying to sell to various countries with different cultures. This is referred to as globalization. However, this thing does not become very important for companies like Apple which sell nothing but innovation. English is a global language and Apple’s designs are generally simple and easy to use. As such Apple does not face great difficulties trying to adapt to various cultures and its strategy roughly remains the same across cultures. As we can see that cultural differences do matter in business. Yet, Apple sells the same iPad in Tokyo as it does in Toronto. (Jacobs, 2010) Instead of competing on localization, Apples competes on the pace of innovation across cultures and countries. It is due to its pace of innovation that today it is a global brand. However, the case is different for Samsung, which is said to design globally but adapt locally for success. Every day it ships millions of products to customers around the world. Samsung believes that it is important t to understand the local culture to meet the local needs. It is necessary to understand the local culture to understand the customers’ preferences. One important example of its globalization strategy is its establishing of Lifestyle research labs in various countries including UK and India as well as Singapore and China. (Samsung, 2013) Apple has some distinct organizational competencies which differentiate it from others. Its competencies include its business model, corporate culture; focus on customer as well as control of the entire ecosystem. Why Apple is generally able to generate lots of buzz is because of its fastidious attention to design like its founder Steve Jobs. Most importantly it is the ability and practice of putting user experience first that keeps Apple ahead of others. Apple is known for being customer focused and it reflects in the success of its pr oducts. Apple is known for its design and ease of use. Its iPhone is  in fact a great example of the same. Apart from innovation and technology there is one other core competency that is the key driver behind Samsung’s success. Samsung believes in building an organizational culture of learning and development. Samsung has also established a work culture that promotes learning and development for its employees. The company has also established a Creative Development Research Institute System to provide its employees with the opportunity to pursue creative ideas. This initiative is aimed at encouraging the employees to develop creative ideas and be more entrepreneurial. Samsung has a highly diversified product portfolio and it is also in more places than Apple. But it sometimes also results in diverted focus. If possible Samsung should try to limit it so that it can focus on specifically important products. Apart from that Samsung would need to invest much more in innovation and desig n to pull customers off iPhones. It will also need to go beyond marketing and just bigger screens. Samsung has been concentrating on offering cheap products for the markets in developing countries. Yet it remains to do more on innovation as the technological market keeps changing rapidly. Samsung will need to specifically concentrate on design and better technological innovation. Apple has been winning due to its focus on innovation and design. However, it is not having a very significant advantage which is of producing the components for its iPhones. It is also relying on external suppliers and it leads to difficulties and delays. Apple should especially concentrate on its suppliers. In this backward integration can be highly helpful for Apple. In this way it will be able to have better control over its suppliers which will minimize delays and other difficulties. Apart from that it will also provide Apple with significant cost advantage. Apple has in fact used forward vertical integration to reach closer to its customers. It has opened Apple stores in multiple countries around the world. Apple is thinking of opening newer Apples stores in the markets it has tapped newly. In fact it does not just bring Apple closer to its customers but is also an example of effective corporate level strategy. The popularity and demand of Apple’s products is high. As a result Apple is trying to reach a larger number of customers through its own stores, since scalpers jack up the prices. However, the strategy that worked in the favor of Apple was that of diversification. Apple diversified itself from computers to consumer digital lifestyle and  entered the mobile phone market also. Since then it also brought a vast range of game changing products to the market which became highly successful. In case of Samsung the backward vertical integration strategy has worked. Many of the components that go into the smart-phones are made by Samsung itself and the company also gains significant cost advantage due to it. Apart from that this strategy also benefits it by allowing it higher flexibility in terms of what and when it produces. In fact Samsung’s business model is based to a great extent on this competency. The corporate governance structure of Apple is designed keeping in mind effective decision making as well as appropriate monitoring of compliance and performance. The board of directors at Apple oversees the CEO and the senior management. This monitoring is done in order to ensure ethical and operation of Apple Inc. In fact it is an efficient method to monitor that the top management is working ethically and properly. Apart from that this method also ensures that there are no frauds or manipulations as well as prevents any problem at the corporate level. Apart from that the board also conducts a self-evaluation to find if the board and its committees are working properly. The compensation committee does an annual review of the executive performance including the CEO. This review is also evaluated by the board to ensure the CEO is providing effective leadership to the company. The board of directors at Samsung is composed of seven members of which four are external directors. This ensures the independence and transparency of the board’s decisions. The board of directors also meets regularly to discuss management issues and other important things. The directors are not allowed to engage in business activities in the same industry without approval from the board. It has been done especially to minimize any risk of conflict of interest or unethical behavior. Samsung is a company considered to be over hierarchical and also to be dominated by its founding family. There has been significant criticism of its governance structure. Firstly, the company should stop its owner centered managing system since due to it the company cannot remain independent of its chairman. The rights of minority shareholders as well as economic justice get eroded in this system. Samsung will need to change this structure. (Kim, 2012) The company should follow a structure where th ere is more transparency related to ownership. Apart from that to improve its profitability and sustain its position, Samsung will need to invest more and  move further in terms of innovation. It will also need to move its focus from products to customers. In case of Apple, it will need to adopt its business strategy to obtain cost advantage like Samsung. One major drawback of Apple is that its products are very costly generally. In this regard Apple should go for backward integration to obtain significant cost advantage. Apart from that the company should continue to focus on innovation and design to remain competitive. Apple has been using forward vertical integration successfully but it also needs to use backward integration for further success and managing costs. Pressure from competitors like Samsung is rising and company will need to be focused on managing the price issue to beat the competition. The smart phone market is currently driven by two factors. These include large screens as well as cheap products. However, Apple currently provides none of these. Despite not being the most attractive segment cheap devices still drive the sales volume. A number of second tier Asian brands have also started eating into Apple’s market share. The fight between Apple and Samsung is going to be really hard. Apart from it both companies will also have to fight hard for their respective positions in the market against the emerging challengers. Apple’s target continues to remain the high end market. It has still held itself from releasing a low cost product since it may eat into its profitability. Currently, Apple and Samsung are the only vendors who have their market shares in double digits. Yet, their combined market share fell in 2013 which denotes that the road ahead is going to be tough. Still, the two are the most dominant players in the global smart phone market. In fact the decline was largely due to inability of Apple to grow according to the broader smart phone market. However, it is still the market leader. (Osawa & Grundberg, 2014) But on the other side it cannot be denied that Samsung has been inching closer through its strategy of innovation and price competition. In fact if Samsung is able to manage its winning spree as it did in case of Galaxy smart phones, it will grow at faster pace than Apple. Apple would have to pay attention to certain other things also apart from differentiation through design and innovation to retain its leadership position. Still, taken together these companies seem to be dominating the smart phone market and will continue to for the coming years. References: Nisen, M. (2013). Samsung Has A Totally Different Strategy From Apple, And It’s Working Great. In Business Insider. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from http://www.businessinsider.in/Samsung-Has-A-Totally-Different-Strategy-From-Apple And-Its-Working-Great/articleshow/21250813.cms Jacobs, E. (2010). Navigating cultural differences. In Financial Times. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f3e2f464-937e-11df-bb9a 00144feab49a.html#axzz2w9RbDZqJ Samsung Designs Globally and Adapts Locally for Worldwide Success (2013). In Samsung. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from http://global.samsungtomorrow.com/?p=28148 Osawa, J., & Grundberg, S. (2014). Apple’s Smartphone Market Share Drops as Samsung’s Edges Up. In Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 16, 2014, from http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/01/28/apples-smartphone-market-share-drops-as-samsungs-edges-up/ Harris, M. (2010). New Product Markets†¦create and dominate them Apple style! In Harconllc. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from http://harconllc.com/wordpress/wp- content/uploads/2013/04/DominateMarketsAppleStyle.pdf Kim, L. (2012). Samsung’s family battles over corporate governance, will it be a risk? In Quamnet. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from http://www.quamnet.com/newscolumnistcontent.action?articleId=2323716&request_loc le=EN_US

Coca Cola Manufacturing

The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is the world's largest beverage company, and it owns or licenses more than 500 nonalcoholic beverage brands. The company owns four of the world's top five nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands: Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite. The prototype Coca-Cola recipe was formulated at the Eagle Drug and Chemical Company, a drugstore in Columbus, Georgia, by John Pemberton, originally as a coca wine called Pemberton's French Wine Coca. He may have been inspired by the formidable success of Vin Mariani, a European coca wine.In 1886, when Atlanta and Fulton County passed prohibition legislation, Pemberton responded by developing Coca-Cola, essentially a nonalcoholic version of French Wine Coca. When launched, Coca-Cola's two key ingredients were cocaine and caffeine. The cocaine was derived from the coca leaf and the caffeine from kola nut, leading to the name Coca-Cola (the â€Å"K† in Kola was replaced with a â€Å"C† for marketing purposes). Coc a – cocaine Pemberton called for five ounces of coca leaf per gallon of syrup, a significant dose; in 1891, Candler claimed his formula (altered extensively from Pemberton's original) contained only a tenth of this amount.Coca-Cola once contained an estimated nine milligrams of cocaine per glass. In 1903, it was removed. After 1904, instead of using fresh leaves, Coca-Cola started using â€Å"spent† leaves – the leftovers of the cocaine-extraction process with trace levels of cocaine. Coca-Cola now uses a cocaine-free coca leaf extract prepared at a Stepan Company plant in Maywood, New Jersey. In the United States, the Stepan Company is the only manufacturing plant authorized by the Federal Government to import and process the coca plant, which it obtains mainly from Peru and, to a lesser extent, Bolivia.Kola nuts – caffeine Kola nuts act as a flavoring and the source of caffeine in Coca-Cola. Kola nuts contain about 2. 0 to 3. 5% caffeine, are of bitter flavor and are commonly used in cola soft drinks. In 1911, the U. S. government initiated United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola, hoping to force Coca-Cola to remove caffeine from its formula. The case was decided in favor of Coca-Cola. Subsequently, in 1912, the U. S. Pure Food and Drug Act was amended, adding caffeine to the list of â€Å"habit-forming† and deleterious† substances which must be listed on a product's label. Coca-Cola contains 34 mg of caffeine per 12 fluid ounces (9. 8 mg per 100 ml). How is the most widely recognized product in the world made? How are the required quality standards met for every single unit of that product? Coca-Cola's bottlers and canners are concerned with a range of processes involved in transforming resources into the bottles and cans of drink that we are familiar with. The transforming resources are the managers, employees, machinery and equipment used by The Coca-Cola Company and its franchisees.Primarily, C oca-Cola is manufactured by franchisees who are the world's leading bottling and canning companies. This franchise business is strictly controlled by The Coca-Cola Company. The production of Coca-Cola involves two major operations: 1) Creating the packaging material 2) Bottling and canning the finished drink For many years, Coca-Cola was produced in glass bottles. Because of the high cost of distributing bulky bottles, they had to be manufactured close to where the bottling took place. Today, this is no longer so important since new packaging methods have revolutionized the process.Advanced bottling and canning technology makes Coca-Cola cans and bottles very light but extremely strong. The Company has invested a lot of time and money in research and development to ensure the most effective life cycle impact of its packaging. By using the minimum quantities of materials in packaging, the cans and plastic bottles are simple to crush or to reprocess at the end of the initial life cycl e. Cans are delivered in bulk to a canning plant. At this stage the cans are shaped like an open cup ready to receive the liquid drink.They are not fully formed because the ring pull end has still to be fitted. After they have been inspected to check that there are no faults, each can goes through a rinsing machine to make sure it is clean and ready for filling. Coca-Cola consists of a concentrated beverage base and a liquid sweetener which are combined to form the syrup from which the drink is made. The Company ships the concentrate to bottling and canning plants where the franchisees mix it with sugar and local water. The water is passed through a number of filters to make sure it is absolutely pure.Carbon dioxide, which makes it fizzy, is also delivered to the canning plant where it is stored and then piped into the manufacturing process through a carbonator and cooler. The Company specifies what equipment franchisees will use to carry out these processes. Samples are taken regul arly for chemical analysis, and staves make frequent spot checks to ensure that plants are maintaining the Company's standards of cleanliness and quality. The Company provides its franchisees with the most up-to-date technology available and many of them use the latest computer technology and statistical process control methods.The packaging and the finished drink are combined by a rapid filling process. Every minute hundreds of cans pass along an automated production line and are filled with a precise amount of Coca-Cola. As the cans move along the production line, they are seamed to include the ring pull end and produce the finished can. The ends are inspected to make sure they are smooth and do not have any gaps or leaks. An individual code is stamped on the cans so that each one can be traced back to the point and time of production. A date code ensures product freshness.The manufacture of Coca-Cola is carried out by a set of processes called continuous flow production. On a pro duction line, a process is continually repeated and identical products go through the same sequence of operations. Continuous flow production takes this one step further by using computer-controlled automatic equipment to produce goods 24 hours a day. Throughout the production process, quality control personnel monitor the product and take test samples. To guarantee that there are no errors, quality control inspectors take statistically selected samples at the end of the production line.Using chemical analysis, these inspectors can guarantee that the product meets the exact specifications; they also check that there are no faults in the packaging. A ‘fill height detector' uses an electronic eye to ensure that the cans are filled to the right quantity. Cans that are not properly filled are rejected. The canners then prepare the cans for distribution to retailers such as supermarkets, shops and garages. A machine called a case former creates the casing that protects the cans as they are sorted onto pallets.The cans are stored temporarily in a warehouse before they are collected by large distribution trucks. The bottling process, whether in glass or PET (plastic), is very similar. Each plastic bottle starts as test-tube size and is blown up like a balloon into the final bottle shape. Whereas franchisees receive cans that already have the logo and any promotional details on them, bottlers apply the labels from large reels once the bottles have been formed. At the end of the bottling line, bottles are automatically sealed with a cap immediately after they have been filled.

Definition Of Love Essay Sample Essay Example

Definition Of Love Essay Sample Essay Example Definition Of Love Essay Sample Essay Definition Of Love Essay Sample Essay Love has no borders Human beings were created with many attributes that are sometimes very difficult to comprehend. These attributes are expressed differently by different people and mostly according to contexts. Some attributes are dominant in some people and not others. Some attributes depend so much on the environment while others are only subject to the inner being of a person. It is also conceivable that different things within the surrounding trigger various attributes. One of the most common attributes is love. Love is perhaps the most discussed and sort after attribute in people. The most asked question is whether love has limits. This article seeks to illustrate that indeed love knows no boundaries. The focus is on romantic love between a man and woman. First of all, romantic love is a mysterious thing and therefore knows no bounds. The meaning of this is that one cannot conclusively explain the beginning of the strong pull between a man and a woman. It is true that there are physical and behavioral attributes that attract people to others. Nevertheless, these attributes do not guarantee a continued love between two people. In fact, a person may be attracted to several people of the opposite gender but only feel fulfilled with one of them. Whatever governs this phenomenon is unknown and thus it does not respect any boundaries. Secondly, love knows no bounds since whenever a person loves another person he/she sticks with that person regardless of what comes up. There have been numerous cases where everyone runs away from a person but his/her lover. For instance, there have been men and women who have been charged and convicted of serious crimes. In most cases, people tend to alienate themselves from such men and women including their friends and relatives. It amazes many people when their lovers choose to stick with them. This is because their love surpasses any possible negativity that can be mentioned with their lovers. Another illustration is when people forsake their cultures and traditions to be united with the people they love. The world has witnessed people crossing boundaries between countries and even continents just to be with one person that they love. Africans have gone to Europe, Europeans have gone to Americas, and Asians have gone to Australia and so on in search of love. The differences between these cultures are very huge, yet they do not stop love. Love is one thing that has prevailed in the midst of diversity. People have committed to eating strange food and learning strange languages because of love. This proves that indeed love knows no bounds. In conclusion, love has prevailed where many principles and philosophies have failed. Every time someone sits down to write about love, it seems to be a new thing. It is difficult to exhaust the description of love. This is because love prevails in diverse conditions where nothing else can. Every person loves, every community loves; love is a universal thing. It is possible to deny the existence of love and suppress it; but it is not possible to kill love. Love knows no bounds.

The Receivers Important Role in Clear Communication

The Receiver's Important Role in Clear Communication In the communication process, the receiver is the listener, reader, or observer- that is, the  individual (or the group of individuals)  to whom a message is directed. The receiver is also called the audience  or decoder. The person who initiates a message in the communication process is called the sender. Put simply, an effective message is one thats received in the way that the sender intended. Problems can arise on both ends that prevent the intended message from getting through to the receiver. The Message and Potential Problems For example, Paige asks Bill a question verbally. The message travels through the air, the channel, to  Bills ears. He responds. Paige is the sender, the question is the message, and Bill is the receiver and gives Paige feedback by answering the question. Myriad areas and ways exist where problems could arise even in this short exchange. If Paige whispers, Bill might not hear it. Maybe he hears only a portion of it and responds to a question that wasnt actually asked, and so Paige is confused. Maybe theres background noise, or the question isnt clear. If Bill is distracted by something and not paying attention, he might miss some of the words and respond inappropriately- or he might miss the question entirely so that the exchange needs to begin again. If hes not looking at Paige when she asks the question, he would miss any body language that would provide subtext to the question. If Paige sends an email or text  message to Bill, problems might arise because Bill doesnt have Paiges body language or tone of voice to interpret, which could add  information to the message. Autocorrect might have inserted errors into the text, or a missing question mark might make a question seem like a statement. These are all hindrances to effective communication. The degree of effectiveness is determined by how much of the message is understood by the receiver. Decoding the Message In the book, Business Communication, authors Carol M. Lehman and Debbie D. DuFrene lay it out this way: The receivers task is to interpret the senders message, both verbal and nonverbal, with as little distortion as possible. The process of interpreting the message is known as decoding. Because words and nonverbal signals have different meanings to different people, countless problems can occur at this point in the communication process: The sender inadequately encodes the original message with words not present in the receivers vocabulary; ambiguous, nonspecific ideas; or nonverbal signals that distract the receiver or contradict the verbal message. The receiver is intimidated by the position or authority of the sender, resulting in a tension that prevents effective concentration on the message and failure to ask for needed clarification.The receiver prejudges the topic as too boring or difficult to understand and does not attempt to understand the message.The receiver is close-minded and unreceptive to new and different ideas. With the infinite number of breakdowns possible at each stage of the communication process, it is indeed a miracle that effective communication ever occurs. Even the environment or the receivers  emotional state can affect the decoding of the message, for example, distractions in the room, discomfort on the part of the receiver, or stress or anxiety that allow the receiver to insert subtext that the sender didnt intend. Knowledge of social or cultural contexts can hinder the receiver from picking up cues or responding appropriately as well. Relational contexts can color a message, too, as messages from close friends could be received differently than a message from a work supervisor. Importance of Feedback When its not clear to the sender that understanding has occurred on the part of the receiver, communication continues, for example, through follow-up questions from either party, further discussion, or the sender giving examples, rephrasing the information, or other means of clarification to get the sender and receiver on the same so-called wavelength. In a presentation, the sender might show charts or images to make a point more clear to the audience or reader. The more cues and channels that the receiver has and is open to receiving is often better; for example, it can be easy to misconstrue tone or subtext in an email or text message, while that same message would come through clearly if the receiver hears the persons voice or is speaking with them face to face.   In the book, Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Targeted Communication Programs, authors Gary W. Selnow and William D. Crano note that body language and tone arent just communication on the senders side: Feedback in the interpersonal setting provides a running account of a receivers reception of a message. Obvious cues such as direct questions show how well a receiver is processing the information. But subtle indicators also may provide information. For instance, a receivers yawn, silence when comments are expected, or expressions of boredom suggest that selective exposure gates may be in operation. A receiver also may have tone and subtext in the feedback given to the sender, such as responding with sarcasm or anger, which might be missed if the feedback is text-only  but likely would not be missed if the parties can either see or hear each other or both.