Kant's ethical theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kant's ethical theory - Essay Example Immanuel Kant is the founder of Critical Philosophy, and he is also the Father of Modern Philosophy. By applying the Critical Method to the study of Pure Reason, Practical Reason and Judgement, Kant endeavored himself to the knowledge of Man. His findings provide a wide spectrum of implications in order to establish the frameworks of Absolute Empiricism,Absolute Rationalism and Absolute Idealism In the realm of any ethical theory, there are some standpoints that can be taken, so an ethical system could be Deontological, Teleological, Consequentialist, Relativism/Subjectivism, and Virtue Based Theories. Kant’s ethical theory is purely based on duty, so it is deontological. The uniqueness and originality of his ethical theory springs from the application of the concept of Categorical Imperatives (unconditional) instead of Hypothetical Imperatives (condicional) as the philosophers before Kant used to build their ethical theories, especially in the case of Thomas Aquinas. The Cate gorical Imperatives demand to be universalizable in order to be accepted as valid guidelines for action. The concepts of autonomy and heteronomy along with the principle of treating human beings as ends in themselves, not as means, give rise to valid conclusions about respect for human dignity, freedom in every ethical choice, and the eventual state of peace that can be accomplished with such an ethical system. It lacks the presence of Unconditional Love as Kant tried by all means not to deal with the conflicts that arise out of building an ethical theory based on emotions. But Unconditional Love is much more than an emotion as it can be considered to be a Categorical Principle. 2. Defining how Kant distinguishes between autonomy and heteronomy. Autonomy is the freedom of choice without any external determination, and Kant established that it is necessary for a human act to be considered moral in itself. Heteronomy is the external determination of human acts (for example, God or a motivation based on any kind of reward or punishement) so heteronomy interferes with the freedom of choice of the individual taking away from the agent the capacity of using his/her reason as a whole human being according to the Law of Nature to act in a moral way. The implications of this standpoint about morality are summed up as follows: "If our actions are pre-determined and we merely bounce around like snooker-balls, we cannot be described as free and morality doesn't apply to us. Kant could not prove that we are free - rather, he presumed that we could act morally, and for this to be the case we must be free. He also thought that it followed that there must be a God and life after death, otherwise morality would make no sense." (RSRevision.Com, 2006). 3. Explaining Kant's formulation of the "categorical imperative." A categorical imperative is an unconditional motivation to act morally as a free agent. This concept is very useful from a practical viewpoint since actions guided by a categorical imperative are free from speculations or dogmatic interpretations. That way our actions are morally correct, and they are good in themselves since they are valid for everybody according to the universalization process explained by Kant. Those actions spring from the good will of man since the main motivation is a strong sense of duty. Some of the formulations of the categorical imperative are the following: "Act only on that maxim (intention) whereby at the same time you can will that it shall become a universal law" () "Always act to treat humanity, whether in yourself or in others, as an end in itself, never merely as a means." (Philosopher.Org, no date). 4. Explaining how adherence to the categorical imperative provides for autonomous ethical choice. Whenever we are faced with conflictive choices the categorical i

Biotechnology Essay Example for Free

Biotechnology Essay Biotechnology is a subfield of biological science linked to research areas such as recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering. As a result biotechnology is applied in a wide range of industries (Chen Marchioni, 2008). According to the Biotechnology Industry Organization, one fourth of the Biotechnology industry’s financing comes from venture capital and it is not just in terms of money but also managerial guidance to the biotechnology firms. This is attributable to the fact that biotechnology is a knowledge intensive industry and a large amount of capital is needed for research and development (Chen Marchioni, 2008). Venture capital financing is favored by the majority of business startups including the biotechnology companies. Venture capital is an equity investment until the company matures. Venture capitalists are involved in the development of a biotechnology firm by becoming board members. The venture capitalists also advice the biotechnology firms on potential strategic partnerships (Munroe Gary Hutton, 2002). This gives the venture capital backed firms an added advantage over the non-venture capital backed firms. Literature Review Although venture capital accounts for a small fraction of the entire funding in the United States, it plays a major role in the financing of biotechnology companies. The biotechnology companies that are funded through capital venture outperform their counterparts in job creation and revenue growth. In the first quarter of 2009, the biotechnology sector received the biggest amount of funding in comparison to the other Life Science companies. This was however, a 16% decrease from the fourth quarter of 2008, constituting a downward tread in the funding of Biotechnology, Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals (VentureDeal, 2009). Due to the prevailing economic crisis, the funding in biotechnology has reversed from an upward tread as the amount of funding has decreased as well as the numbers of companies funded. Sangart Company which researches and commercializes technologies related to oxygen transport agents received $50 million in the sixth round, the largest venture funding during the first quarter. BioVex Company on the other hand received $40 million from a large syndicate of venture capital firms in the sixth round of funding (VentureDeal, 2009). There are success stories in biotechnology venture capital. One example is the case of Thomas Tedder. Tedder collaborated with a venture capitalist, Intersouth and the company provided seed money that helped Tedder’s company called Cellective Therapeutics to develop a business plan and to finalize the licensing agreement. This helped Tedder to focus on the technology development. In due course, Cellective Therapeutics proved a success and the company was sold off at the one year anniversary to MedImmune (Gwynne, 2009). From the venture capitalists point of view, there are issues that are unique to a biotechnology perspective. The venture capitalists look for unique technologies which are critical to the biotechnology field as they are also looking for a market. This means that the venture capitalists are keen on areas such as disease areas which have a large market. The attractive types of research are those that have a widespread target such as cancer, diabetes and infection areas (Rosenman, 2001). Some of the major venture capital firms in the United States are Alta Partners, BA Venture partners, Forward Ventures, Genentech, Latterell venture partners, MedImmune Ventures, Soffinnova ventures and Intersouth (Gwynne, 2009). The geographic clustering of venture capital financed biotechnology firms is similar to the geographic pattern of the biotechnology industry. The biotechnology businesses are clustered together in a region for several benefits. Through the clustering, the companies achieve scale economy; have knowledge and technology spill over in addition to labor pooling and a decrease in transaction costs. The clustering of firms in similar locations makes it easy for workers to change jobs without the need for traveling long distances for interviews and they may not need to relocate homes after a transfer. Labor mobility hence facilitates the exchange of technology, information and knowledge among the biotech firms. Through geographic proximity, the transaction costs are decreased in addition to personal contact being maintained (Antonelli, 2000). This allows in-depth and fast feedback among the economic agents involved and helps build trust, and incentives in economic relationships thus reducing transaction costs. This enhances socialization within the professional network and stimulates co-operation, competition and innovation (Storper Venables, 2004). These are important factors for life science knowledge. The clustering of biotechnology industries relies on venture capital availability, life science knowledge, large pharmaceutical firms and urban diversity. Before the first biotechnology firm, Genetech, was established in 1977, practitioners of genetic engineering were located around universities and research institutes. These universities and institutions also provide quality labor force. Consequently, the areas that are in close proximity to the science research institutions have better access to trained graduate and post graduate students. In the biotechnology industry, much of the venture capital is concentrated in California and Massachusetts, including San Francisco, San Diego and Boston (Gompers Lerner, 2006). Methodology This research employs several methods to investigate the importance of venture funding to the biotechnology firms. Examination on the literature review on the subject of venture funding in biotechnology firms supports the conclusions on the industry. However when conducting research, a researcher is always faced with the task of identifying the methodology to use. This is due to the fact that the researcher has to consider the research question (Morgan Smircich 1980, pp. 491-500). A researcher can lay more adopt either a positivist or post-positivist approach depending on whether the research focuses more on social sciences or natural sciences. The literature review in a research plays an important role in the research as the researcher needs to consider the different perspectives and possibilities before making any conclusions (Armitage Keeble-Ramsay 2009, pp. 1-36). The review of various information sources helps the researcher in understanding the implications of the research process. According to Knalf Breitmayer (1991), the authenticity as well as reliability of the literature review is key in any research. The researcher first has to consider the research options in addition considering the data collection methods. This said, the accessibility and availability of numerous sources of information has necessitated the need for a systematic methodology that can be used in decision making. In this research on venture capital in the biotechnology industry, the emphasis is on the existing firms, the firm’s location and funding. This is mainly achieved through analysis of documented sources and case study reviews. The case studies have inherent strengths that allow tailoring of data collection processes to the research question. Nowadays it has become common for researchers to combine both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods so as to increase the validity of the data collected (Denzin Lincoln 1994). Data Analysis Data analysis helps the researcher interpret the findings of the research hence it is crucial in any research. According to the research, the majority of biotechnology firms depend on venture capital funding to a greater extent. This study investigated the funding of biotechnology firms in relation to venture funding. All proposed hypotheses are supported using analysis, indicating that biotechnology firms favor venture funding. It also shows that the biotechnology firms are clustered in the same areas where there are life science research base, large pharmaceutical firms, many capital venture providers and a large pool of scientists. There is no surprise that biotechnology firms use venture capital as opposed to other forms of lending. The finding that the biotechnology firms are also located in urban areas with talent and a favorable environment for new ideas and breakthroughs is also in line. On the other hand, venture capital is not only important in terms of financial support but also in providing insights, managerial skills and entrepreneurial spirit to the newly established biotechnology firms. Results Biotechnology funding however still has many huddles one of them being lower IPO valuations which has quashed early venture capital funding. The majority of the venture investment has avoided the innovative early stage research and opted for the specialty established companies (Robbins, 2005). Conclusion This study examines venture capital funding in the biotechnology industry. The research examined the sequence of events that take place during the funding and subsequent setting up of the biotechnology firms. The research objectives require the involvement of both the biotechnology firms and the venture capital firms in order to fully understand the relationship as well as the key factors in their relations. The researcher designed and put to use several research instruments to facilitate in the research. The main aim of the research was to bring to the fore the issues involved in the funding process.

Apple inc.

Apple inc. Background of Apple Inc Apple inc. is a based American corporation that manufactures and designs Smart electronic products ranging from computer software, hardware to other consumer electronics. The company has a an outstanding Macintosh personal computer line, Mac OS X, for its exceptional dependable user base which makes them significantly stand out, the iTunes media application and the iPod personal music player. The company has its base in Cupertino, Califonia, having its CEO and founder to be Steve Jobs, the company can beat its chest to having 284 retail locations spreading across 10 different countries. On the1st, of April 1976 Apple was established by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne to sell the Apple I personal computer kit. Steve Jobs was said to own 45% of the company, Steve Wozniak with 45% and Wayne with the remaining 10% Apple with time has brought about a significant reputation in the consumer electronic aspect. The users of Apple electronics tend to be fascinated about and loyal to the products and on the other hand those who have no experience with Apples product most times criticize them an being too expensive. On August 15, 1998 Apple released the iMac and was able to cover up its past failures which includes the first Apple portable, which was to wrong looking and bulky and the Newtons, Apple in entering the PDA market. In 2001, after several years of rigorous developments, Apple came up with Mac OS X a universal operating system targeted at both consumers and professionals. The Mac OS X was a different re designs from its previous the Mac OS 9 which could not constrain the power of UNIX while offering a streamlined user experience with a simplified GUI (Graphical User Interface). The iMac line of professional computers combined with the Mac OS X regained Apples profitability coupled with the r elease of the iPod portable digital audio player, later in the year which was just to crown its productions. The historical success of the iPod created a platform for future product, including the best mobile device in history, the iPhone and the Mac Book line of portable computers and the latest release of the iPad on the 27th of January 2010. Introduction This report is based on carrying out a strategic logistic analysis of Apple Inc. with a view to developing opportunities to develop logistic capabilities of Apple Inc. in this cognizance to the swot analysis, five forces analysis and Porters Generic strategy, Apples frame work. Virtually all these strategic models were done from the logistic perspective. This report addressed the main strategic approaches to logistics that can be done by Apple Inc. This report also look into management issues with regards to the implementation of a new logistics strategy especially from the perspective existing capital, technical and human resources. Finally, this research also helped to evaluate trend and the importance of new technology especially with respect to the future logistics strategy of new companies, critically evaluative the strategic significance of new technology developments and business trends on future logistic strategies for Apple Inc. Its Business Apple Inc. success in the IT world is as a result of the wide range of products varieties portfolio and the strength of the Mac OS X technology. Good brand loyalty. Giving a face-lift to desktop and notebook lines. Well known hardware and software products, the iPod, iPhone, Macintosh Computer, Mac operating system, iTunes. Apple Inc. sells a wide range of third-party Macintosh (Mac), iPhone and iPod compatible products, including application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and different other accessories and peripherals via its online and retail stores, and digital content and applications through the iTunes Store. Apple Inc. sells to consumer, small and midsized business, education, enterprise, government and creative customers. Swot analysis The Apple SWOT Analysis the source for the top level management and data information. The analysis puts in view the organizations essential business structure and all its activities and gives the update of the revenue lines and strategy. (Data monitor April 2009,page 30) Strengths Apple Inc. major in developing its own software and hardware. iTunes Music store generates more revenue and the iPod which has easy accessibility on the Windows platform. Apple has an alcove audience that gives the organization some deceleration from the direct price competition. Providing a whole new dimension to desktop and computer lines. Its online access technology can be used to promote product awareness and sales. Has more maneuverable low debt ability. Excellent brand loyalty is associated with Apple Inc. Affiliation with Intel computers in 2006 till date. Powerful research and development department. Weaknesses No strong connection between Intel and Microsoft. Weak domination in business sector. Most Apple product has a very short life cycle which causes revenues to focus on the release of new products and services. Having to major its market in the education and publishing not in other markets. Slow turn around on high demand products. Its market is lacking way behind its Major competitor Microsoft. Past communication between the founder and employee which brought about its loss of reputation. Opportunities Large market population which tend to be brand driven. High rate of virus on personal computers to provide a constant market for its anti virus softwares. The ties of apple other companies are weak, Apple can develop good relationship for joint ventures. The high rate of music downloads and Mp3 are increasingly marketable. The sale of computer via the online platform are on the increase. The laptop market growth is increasing so Apple Computers should concentrate on the improvement and development of new models to satisfy the needs of individual customer. Threats Incompatibility with other organizations softwares. Dell, HP, Sony and Toshiba are major competitors facing Apple in the laptop sector. Free download of music and other software is common with other sites which has high impact on sales for online store sales of music and MP3 download. High prices of its product compared to its competitors which make them loose their market. The long lasting recession may impact the sales of the company due to higher prices of the products and services. The launching of the new Microsoft vista windows 7 which is gaining market share. Speedy change in technology is on the increase. The SWOT analysis above gives us a view that Apple Inc. has strengths that it can use to further develop the brand and invariably increasing its market and gaining an edge over its major competitors. Apple is a company with great success, the iPod music player sales increased its second quarter profit to $320in June 2005 same with its Macintosh computers. The iPod allows the company to in viewing other segments to go into. Apples Mac note books also contribute to the Apples high income. The brand name is one of the most popular brand names in the world, which offers good customer views of its products in the customers satisfaction. Early in 2005 Apple made an announcement on the putting an end to its relationship with IBM the supplier of their micro chips and switch to Intel specialists commented on saying it may make them loose their customers confusion. There is weight on the company to pump up the price of its Mp3 and music download from the music industry since most other company make their income from iTunes than selling their compact discs, |Apple has made sales of 22million on sales of its music player the iPod and further sales of 500million on the downloading of songs from its iTunes store. This shows a statistic of 82% of legitimate downloaded music in the US. The development of the iTunes music store to ease users on tracking their music and downloading it, this was made available, and by the use of the USB cable. Software was made in such a way it allows the pausing of music on incoming calls. There is a great deal of new technological strategies alliance opportunity for Apple. another new software is the Podcast which are downloadable media which is done via the internet and plated back on later events that suits the user. It has a free subscription which Apple can make it a paid subscription to generate more income The biggest fear of Apple Inc is the high level of competition in the IT markets. As a successful company the rate of competition is high so the company has to work rigorously on its market research in order to maintain and retain its position in the market The vast popularity of iPod and Apple Mac are on high demand, and will be affected if economies begin to falter and demand falls for their products. The level of close product substitution effect in the innovative and fast moving IT market. There for the iPod and MP3 are in the trend today, but only yesterday it was CD, DAT, and Vinyl. The future technology might be completely different and the music player could be displaced by the Wireless technologies. Five forces analysis The five forces strategic analysis was developed by Michael Porter. The Five forces framework is widely used as a type of industry analysis b (Johnson et al., 2005). The understanding of the way each of the five forces allow organizations have the basic insight in allowing them model the best fit strategies to be successful in their market (Thurlby, 1998). Apple operates in two primary industries: Computing Hardware and Software Delivery of Entertainment and Media Apple has always been under intense competition within the computer, software, and entertainment industries. Figure 1: Five forces analysis for Apple Inc Competitors Apple Inc top competitors include Dell, Microsoft, HP, Alien ware, Gateway, IBM. Strategic positioning Strategic position is aimed at achieving profitability and competitive advantage. Apples strategic position is to offer users the best computing experience by innovating in hardware, software, and Internet offerings. Environmental Analysis of Apple Inc. Apple, Inc operates as a multinational corporation that designs and manufactures consumer electronics and computer software products. The external environment is the institutions and people outside a business organization that affect it; these include national and local government, trade unions, competitors, customers, suppliers, etc. The external environment is one of the contingency factors that has to be taken into account in designing an organization.( Ed. Jonathan Law.) The external environment has three components: the remote macroeconomic environment, the industry environment, and the operating environment within the organization itself. There are key macroeconomic variables that affect Apple: inflation, unemployment, and competition. The first key macroeconomic variable that affects Apple is inflation. Inflation in an economy can be the result of an increase in aggregate demand that is unaccompanied by an increase in aggregate supply. A rise in any component of aggregate demand can bring about inflation. One reason for a sudden, unanticipated rise in aggregate demand can be an unanticipated rise in the supply of money. Inflation can also result from a decrease in aggregate supply that occurs when businesses find that production inputs have risen in price. Such occurs when labor costs and the price of raw materials such as plastics or metals. Decreases in productivity can also have a negative impact on aggregate supply and, therefore, cause a rise in prices. Apple has been in a situation where the aggregate demand for the iPod touch and the iPhone have been really high but the prices for these products it as a reasonable cost to the consumer. Another key macroeconomic variable that affects Apple Inc is unemployment. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people who are not working but who are actively seeking employment. Shifts in labor market that can create unemployment. At any given time the unemployment rates may differ greatly among nations. Two reasons for the difference are Different natural rates of unemployment and Nations may be in different phases of business cycle. McConnell C.R. and Brue S.L. (2004, p. 140). Between 2001 and 2006 the United States unemployment rate was considerably lower than that of Canada. If the unemployment rate is high then that means Apple may have had to lay off a bunch of employees because of the economy. If there arent many employees working at Apple then productivity will go down. Wages are an industry variable that is determined by the unemployment rate. If the economy is bad and Apple had to lay off employees then the wages of the existing employees may not go up for a long period of time or may even go down. The last key macroeconomic variable that affects Apple is gross domestic product (GDP). The gross domestic product (GDP) is a basic measure of a countrys economic performance and is the market value of all final goods and services made within the borders of a nation in a year. It is a fundamental measurement of production and is very often positively correlated with the standard of living. If there is an announcement in the news that there has been an increase in the GDP this will be an indication that the economy is, in all likelihood, in a growth phase. If the GDP number is comparatively weak or declining, this reflects a negative economic environment for the country, indicating a depressed economy. The world economy is depressed and facing a great recession. These facts will lead consumers finding themselves with less disposable income which will eventually cause them not to spend much consumption on luxury products. Apple will be largely influenced by the reluctant consumption ne eds. However, Apple has better positioned itself in the market. The introduction of new iPhone with a relatively cheap price is reflecting a very good sales strategy to accelerate consumption. Apple has successfully sustained a better profit rate in the last three years despite global economy slow down. However, there is no company that can always increase its profit while the national GDP is decreasing. There are many opportunities and challenges that exist for Apple, Inc. A big opportunity that Apple has is they open their stores in a slow, even-handed way to make sure each one is profitable. Other companies that over extended themselves in the boom could have to pull back drastically as their customers are reluctant to spend. That opens opportunities for Apple to negotiate more favorable lease terms in struggling shopping malls. Another opportunity would be that as Apple opens more and more international stores, that sector of Apples business will be less and less affected by financial troubles in the U.S. An ongoing challenge that Apple faces is keeping the price of their products affordable. Apples business plan includes pricing their products so the consumer can afford them. Even with the current recession Apple is still making a high profit from their computers and electronics. Another challenge according to( www.macobserver.com), Apples Mac growth is three times the average P C sales growth, and theyve sold 120 million iPods, burying the competition. Apple has branched out into the mobile phone market gaining even more consumer awareness. As a result, Apple has had to invest heavily in customer service. Some wonder if they can keep up the pace. Implementing a new logistics strategy within an organization Apple has historically taken a far different path than the traditional Windows and Intel combination. Microsoft provides the Windows operating system to separate downstream hardware producers such as Dell. Apple vertically integrated both the operating system software and hardware completely under Apple. A consumer running Microsoft Windows can choose from a myriad of systems based on the Intel processor, while a consumer running Apples OS X must purchase Apple hardware. Apple is adjusting this strategy by migrating their microprocessors from IBM and Motorola PowerPC to Intel. Analysts believe that the Intel-based Macintosh may be able to run Microsoft Windows applications by the end of 2006. (Burrows) In addition to switching processors, Apple positioned their computers as an immediate option for the traditional Microsoft Windows user. With Apple Boot Camp, users may now use Mac OS X or Windows on an Apple computer. (Sutherland).By allowing users to run Windows on an Intel Mac, Apple reduced the switching costs for traditional PC users. Apple may steal away customers that are willing to pay a premium for a system that runs both Windows and Mac OS X. Apple continues to retain a strategic option to license its technology to clone makers such as Dell. Past attempts at licensing Apple technology (to IBM, Gateway, and others) failed on accord of Apples rigid demands. Many technology leaders (such as a 1985 letter by Bill Gates to Apple CEO John Sculley) criticized Apple for keeping a closed architecture. Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak criticizes this strategy, We had the most beautiful operating system, but to get it you had to buy our hardware at twice the price. That was a mistake.Whether Apple would be willing to pursue this reversal of vertical integration is unclear. Although such a move would cannibalize a portion of Apples own hardware sales, it would also provide royalty-based revenue that could approach $1 billion annually. (Burrows) Jobs traditionally sided against licensing Apple technology. He referred to Mac clone producers as leeches and he personally killed Power Computing by terminating their license in 1997. Increasing inventry Despite a weakening economy and a need to meet customer demand, Apple has been able to maintain a fast inventory turnover rate. The Mac and iPhone maker is sitting at five days worth of inventory on any given day, beating Dells seven days worth of inventory, according to data from UBS. Other PC makers are having even more trouble matching Apples inventory efficiency. Lenovo, for example, is averaging 15 days of inventory, and HP is sitting at 32 days. Intel, however, is showing a much slower inventory turnover rate at 89 days, and D-Link is sitting on a staggering 131 days worth of inventory. Apples quick turnover rate may have been due in part to preparing for its just announced iMac, Mac mini and Mac Pro updates. The company released new desktop computer. Models on March 3, and keeping inventory low helped assure that there would be fewer of the previous model machines sitting on store shelves. While maintaining a higher inventory level can help a company cope with sudden increases in demand, it can also show a companys inability to adequately gauge market interest in their products. For now, it looks like Apple is managing inventory better than its competition. (Jeff Gamet) Future logistic strategies for Apple Inc The development of Apples coverage device and Once developed the Apple convergence device will provide a wide range of functions and powerful processing capability that can be applied to the field of medical care to enhance efficiency and modernize the industry. Apple should work with medical device companies and care providers to develop a set of criteria for necessary capabilities for consideration in developing the platform. The device will function as an integral part of an overhauled recordkeeping, care giving, and medical administrative system modernized for the twenty-first century. The device and software it runs will make use of compatible equipment to measure, document, and file measurements, symptoms, and diagnosis in an easily accessible and fully-portable medical files system. The system will help to streamline care giving, administration, and claims filing, by eliminating mountains of paperwork and cumbersome filing systems. Conclusion This research will give the reader an overview of the logistics implementation strategy adopted by Apple Inc and how the organisation can help improve its supply chain network now and in the nearest future. Reference http://www.brighthub.com/computing/mac-platform/articles/65346.aspx#ixzz0jRgxpiYB Michael Dougherty http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/555326 Data monitor April 2009,page 30 Apple SWOT Analysis. November 23rd, 2009 | Adam | Posted in Marketing www.mba-tutorials.com/marketing/273-apple-swot-analysis.html Jeff Gamethttp://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_beats_competitors_at_inventory_turn_over/ http://marketingteacher.com/Lessons/lesson_fivefoces.htm Thurlby B (1998) Competitive forces are also subject to change, Management Decision London Johnson, G., Scholes, K. Whittington (2008) Exploring corporate strategy: text and cases. London: Prentice Hall McConnell, C.R. and Brue, S.L. (2002).. Economics: Principles, Problems http://www.macobserver.com. http://www.spoke.com/info/pY9wQEu/KarenBurrows

Race Conflict and Issues: Whites and Non-Whites Post- Revolution Essay

European settlers have a long history of mistreating Native Americans. The most famous example is the Trail of Tears in which President Van Buren and the federal government forcibly and violently removed Cherokee Indians in 1838 from their native land. Over 18 thousand Cherokee women, men and children were forced to walk 1,000 miles from Georgia to Oklahoma. Of these people, 4,000 died from harsh weather, starvation and exposure to illnesses. European settlers during this time viewed Native Americans as uncivilized savage and used this perception to justify violently removing the Native Americans from their land. Native Americans initially accepted the European settlements but pleaded against being removed. The status of African-Americans in this time has generated debate among historians but there is enough evidence to show they were perceived similar to Native Americans; as not equal to European settlers. European settlers justified this by denying their natural rights. African-Am ericans, however, were seen as useful resources and they remained on their land and were used as slaves. In return African-Americans responded by attempting to escape to their freedom. Native Americans were viewed poorly in the eyes of European settlers. "Europeans early perceptions of Indians were an important factor in how explorers and early colonist dealt with Native American people and in the end subdued them. They were sometimes considered barbarians because of their different lifestyle. European settled discussed in primary sources how their rituals and traditions were "horrible and abominable, and deserving punishment.† For example, Native Americans sacrifice souls to their idols as a ritual. Europeans did not think this was good behavi... ...wn ever received a like sentence. The court made these rulings simply because of the color of their skins, which to them reduced African-Americans to a status lower than any white person. It is evident that the Native Americans were unfairly removed from their homeland because the Europeans settlers saw them as savages not worthy to live among them. The Native Americans responded to their cruelty with pleads of desperation. These pleads of desperation were annoyed and instead excuses of doing what’s â€Å"best† for them both proceeded. Works Cited Breen, T. H., and Stephen Innes. "Myne owne ground": race and freedom on Virginia's Eastern Shore, 1640-1676. 25th anniversary Ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Wheeler, William Bruce, and Susan D. Becker. Discovering the American past: a look at the evidence. 6th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2007.

Aka Anta! Aka Anta

She was beautiful to last. One day, when she was taking a stroll, she met a young prince who happened to pass by. The prince was very handsome. When she first saw the prince she felt a strong sensation for him. So did the prince for her. They exchange pleasantries and search each other's feelings out. Everyday from then on they would go out together, until one day the prince revealed his true feelings to the princess. So since the princess had long et her heart for the prince, she didn't hesitate anymore and at once accepted his love for her.One afternoon after their usual walk together, the two engaged in a most intimate conversation under the sweet-scented plants kept by the princess. â€Å"Marring Magna†, how lovely your flowers are, but the flowers in our kingdom are far more beautiful and fragrant. None of those here could compare with them. † â€Å"Really? Tell me where your kingdom is? † â€Å"Yonder in those parts where no mortals can go. After a little w hile more, the prince bade goodbye with a sad look in his face. This prompted Marring Magna to ask the prince the reason why. â€Å"Well it's because the prince couldn't find the right words to explain himself. Well, because of what? What seems to be the trouble? † the princess kept skins, suspecting something was wrong. â€Å"l must return home, if not, I will not be able to return home to our kingdom anymore. I want very much to bring you along with me, but such is not permissible. Your kind is not allowed in our kingdom. Thus, farewell, my love. † â€Å"Come back tonight will wait for you here in the garden. Please, you'll come back? ‘ â€Å"I'll try, Marring Magna,† the prince promised. It was close to midnight when the prince came. He was greeted by the princess who waited for him inside the garden.They talked for hours and hours. Their conversation almost touched on every subject. All the time, the princess wrapped herself tightly around the arms of the prince, never letting go. Suddenly, the prince stood up and announced, â€Å"l must leave at once, Marring Magna! It's about midnight. If don't depart at once I won't be able to return home. Stay put. But I want you to remember you're the one love,† as he threw a gentle kiss on the petal lips of Marring Magna. The princess tried to stop the prince as she grabbed his arms with all her might.She could not bear the fact his lover would abandon her. While tugging at each other, suddenly the prince disappeared and left his arms behind held teen the palms of Marring Magna. The princess was shocked at this that she runs quickly to a corner of the garden and buried the arms. A few days after, there sprouted a strange plant on the spot where she buried the arms. It had wide leaves but no branches. A few days more, the tree shed flowers, everyday thereafter, she would visit the plant. Then a few days later, it bore fruits in the place of its flowers.The fruits came in bunches, eac h bunch looked like fingers set side by side and laid parallel to each other. These became known as the first banana fruits in the world. A very long time ago, in what is now the town of Cantina in Racial, there lived a woman named Jamaican who was well-known not only to the people of her native town but also to those of the neighboring towns. She was greatly admired for her beauty and wealth as she belonged to a rich family. But above all, she was very much loved and was highly respected by everyone for she possessed a king and generous heart.Charity was something inborn in her. Even as a little girl she would give kindly to each and every beggar who would pass by their house to ask for alms. She would also often go out of her way to invite the poor children in the trees to the house and let them play with her toys. As she grew up, she continued on with his charitable acts. It became a usual scene every Sunday morning when she came home after mass to see a long line of beggars, wai ting for her at the foot of the stairs. With open hands and an understanding heart, she would see to it that their needs are attended to.She would personally hand in food, toys, clothes, money and the like according to what each of them would ask from her. Her goodness was very much appreciated by her town mates who made her more endeared to them. Unfortunately, Jamaican was not as lucky in love as most other beautiful omen her age were who got married and had children. She didn't fall in love again when her first love got sick and died. She remained an old maid even after her parents have both died and was left alone in the house. Instead, she devoted her time and wealth caring for the needy.To openly express their gratitude and respect she truly deserves as would be fitting to one as elderly a woman she has come to be regarded, people began addressing her as â€Å"Aka Anta† – â€Å"Aka† woman and â€Å"Anta† which is short for Jamaican. Altogether, â₠¬Å"Aka Anta† became more than just a name; the name itself became a symbol of â€Å"salvation to the needy†. One Christmas day, like all previous Christmas, many poor folks flocked to the home of Aka Anta for the usual yuletide giveaways. Short of their expectations, Aka Anta was not by the open window for the first time in years.They called out to her but there was no reply, nor did anyone come to the window. They tried altogether to call out to her several times, but again there was no response. Anxious and all that, a number of them decided to enter the house if anything was the matter. As the door opened, they see Aka Anta lying on the floor. Certain she was dead, the women began to scream, the men made the sign of the cross. There followed loud weeping as they affectionately cried out her name, â€Å"Aka Anta! Aka Anta†. The more they were moved to tears when they noticed the gifts lying on the floor Aka Anta had prepared for them. x

Democratic Individualism in Walt Whitman Poetry

Democratic Individualism in Whitman’s Poetry Walt Whitman will remain as a well-known, superb poet. Clarence Brown stated, the words of someone speaking on Walt Whitman, â€Å"He is the only one of the conventionally recognized American poets who is worth reading† (37). Walt Whitman is a poet that writes with purpose. His poetry seems to attempt to teach the more desirable behavior and traits for Americans. It depicts the ideal American democrat, peace maker, and a well-rounded person, in general. Not that Walt Whitman is only about democracy.He focuses on an important end result which is the happiness and function of the overall body of people. This happiness can be achieved efficiently through democracy and democratic behavior, according to Whitman and his beliefs. John Macy wrote, in The Spirit of American Literature, â€Å"Only one day in the century of American literature is marked by the birth of a ‘marker of poems, an Answerer’-the day when Whitman was born† (210). Walt Whitman was born May 31, 1819 to Walter Whitman and Louisa Van Velsor. Walt was the second of nine children in his household.One can imagine that his life, surrounded by many siblings, was indeed hectic. Their family resided in New York, mostly Brooklyn, during the 1820s and 1830s. Peace and equality could be things that a young boy with eight other siblings would want. His household may have influenced values that would stick with Walt for his entire life, values that would shape his career. At a very young age, twelve years old, Walt Whitman was introduced to the printing trade. This was seemingly the point in his life that influenced his love of words and literature.He taught himself to read and did so very often. His favorite literature or the literature that was frequently available to him was that of Shakespeare, Dante, and Homer. Walt also was fascinated with the Bible. From these pieces of literature, Walt could have taken ideas of love, tragedy, trials and triumphs. This time in his life seems to be most influential to the distinguished events and lifestyle that would take place later (â€Å"Walt Whitman Biography†). Walt took jobs as a printer and a teacher before he chose journalism as a more permanent career.During his time as a journalist, Whitman founded and edited many popular newspapers. Then, the Civil War came along and placed Whitman in chaos. He was devastated by the many that were wounded, including his brother, and he vowed to live a simple life. He purged his life as a way of cleansing out any negativity. He seemed to be a peaceful and serene person. Whitman stayed at hospitals in Washington to care for the injured. While doing so, he accepted a job as a clerk for the Department of the Interior until he was fired for his controversial work in Leaves of Grass, a collection of poems written by Whitman.There were many versions and poems in the collection. From this title alone, one can infer the theme of i ndividuality while being a part of a group. Leaves would be the citizens of Grass, America (â€Å"Walt Whitman Biography†). Walt was a generous man. His success, as stated by Alice Henderson, could be contributed to his â€Å"[†¦] comradeship with all nature and all men† (Brown 35). He lived happily through the joy of others. He was democratic, not just seeing the benefits for himself but how he could help others. A clerk’s salary, at that time, was less than extravagant.However, any extra money that Walt Whitman had was charitably given to anyone that needed the money, usually his patients. George Kateb stated, â€Å"I think that Walt Whitman is a great philosopher of democracy† (545), I agree. Walt Whitman could be one’s ideal democratic American. As stated by Kateb, even one of the greatest poets of all time, Henry Thoreau, stated that Whitman â€Å"[†¦] is apparently the greatest democrat the world has ever seen† (545). Democra cy is about people helping each other. It embodies individuals and their role in the entire group or society.Democracy gives each individual the right to have a role in the world around them. Walt Whitman made his mark in society as a democratic man by giving back to the people that helped serve the country when it was at war. Walt Whitman’s fame is not just about his passion for democracy. Van Wyck Brooks stated that the real reason that Whitman is so relevant is that â€Å"for the first time [he] gave us the sense of something organic in American life† (112) and â€Å"precipitated the American character† (118). However, democracy is about social equality, fairness, and choice.A democratic body is one that works together to achieve things that are beneficial to all. To Walt, the goal that was worth working for was the preservation of those who are ill or injured, especially due to the war. George Kateb wrote about Whitman and the purpose of democracy. â€Å"Wh itman tries to draw out the fuller moral and existential significance of rights. There are rights that individuals have as persons, and that the political system of democracy exists in order to protect, and also to embody in its workings† (546). We appreciate Walt Whitman for explaining the riches of ife while reaping the benefits of democracy. As Kateb stated, individuals have their own identity within the overall body but they also work towards preserving and benefiting the overall body as well. So, when citizens are injured or weak, it is our job to be a support system just as Walt Whitman did many years prior. According to Kateb, â€Å"This responsiveness or receptivity can also be described as a way – a profoundly democratic way – of being connected to others and to nature† (546). Democracy, equality, and choice are all demonstrated in many of the poems that were written by the great Walt Whitman.He was a proud and patriotic man. His love for America is depicted in his work. According to Jason Frank, â€Å"Just as the institutions of democratic contest provide arenas for forming robust individuality, provoke the reader’s own democratic and poetic potential† (â€Å"Aesthetic Democracy†). For example, in â€Å"One’s Self I Sing† and in â€Å"I Hear America Singing,† Whitman showed the importance of equality, democracy, and individuality in his life. Those are obviously values that he held close to his heart. In â€Å"I Hear America Singing,† Whitman painted a glorified picture of America.According to Zimmer, â€Å"Walt Whitman's ‘I Hear America Singing’ receives an invigorating revival in this poetry collection that illuminates the pressures and pleasures of work† (â€Å"STEADY HANDS: Poems About Work†). His America consisted of different types of people in all different walks and social classes of life. He told of the carpenter, the mother, the mason, sho emaker, and many more. When Whitman says, â€Å"Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else† (line 12), he means America does not mention one race or age; it just consists of different types of people that perform their job.One could say that the job is to be an American. Their jobs are to perform their tasks proudly to help the country run smoothly. In line 15, Whitman said that the Americans are â€Å"Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs. † They are singing with open mouths and perhaps open hearts. Singing is attributed to celebration and happiness. The Americans that Whitman wrote about could be those that are joyful because they live in America and because they are doing whatever job makes them happy. They are strong, caring, and joyful just as Americans should be, in Whitman’s eyes.Out of the two poems, in my opinion, â€Å"One’s-Self I Sing† is the most powerful of the two. It is the one that exemplifies Whitmanà ¢â‚¬â„¢s love for America and democracy the most. In the first few lines of the poem, Whitman made a huge impact with few words. â€Å"One’s-Self I sing, a simple separate person, yet utter the word Democratic, the word En-Masse†(lines 1-2), tells us that it is okay to be an individual but to always remember to be democratic. â€Å"[†¦] utter the word Democratic,† in all things be yourself but remember to uplift your country, be considerate and think of the well-being of others.In line 5, â€Å"The Female equally with the Male I sing. † Whitman praises both the female and male as he would like to see those both equal. The last stanza of the poem speaks of â€Å"[†¦] Life immense in passion, pulse, and power† (line 6). It means the passion for one’s country, the pulse and the energy to live one’s life freely, and the power to do anything through freedom. Ultimately, Whitman demonstrates his love for America. From reading a co uple of his poems, one can see the importance of democracy in the upkeep of the country.Democracy is the soul of the country; it gives people a sense of individuality while still being a part of an enormous group. Walt Whitman was not only a poet but also a great example for all Americans. Works Cited Brooks, Van Wyck. America's Coming-of-Age. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1958. Print. Brown, Clarence A. â€Å"Walt Whitman and the ‘New Poetry’. † American Literature 33. 1 (Mar,1961): 33-45. JSTOR. Duke University Press. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. Frank, Jason. â€Å"Aesthetic Democracy: Walt Whitman And The Poetry Of The People. Review Of Politics 69. 3 (2007): 402. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. Kateb, George. â€Å"Walt Whitman and the Culture of Democracy. † Political Theory 18. 4 (Nov, 1990): 545-71. JSTOR. Sage Publications, Inc. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. . Macy, John A. The Spirit of American Literature. Kessinger, LLC, 2010. Print. â€Å"Walt Whitman Biog raphy. † Bio. com. A&E Networks Television. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. . Zimmer, Tracie Vaughn. â€Å"STEADY HANDS: Poems About Work. † Kirkus Reviews 76. 24 (2008): 1313. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.