Tuesday, November 26, 2019

10 Chrome Extensions to Make Your Studying Easier (And More Effective)

10 Chrome Extensions to Make Your Studying Easier (And More Effective) Okay all you tech-savvy students, it’s time to take your Google game to the next level. In this article we’re going to take a look at 10 Chrome extensions that you can use to study better, stay more organized and be a couple steps ahead of the collegiate show. Some of them you may already use, but there’s definitely a finding here for everyone. Enjoy the list! #1: The Invaluable Time Tracker How long do you actually research in comparison with the time you are lost on YouTube or sleeping at the keyboard? Time Tracker is like your own personal Big Brother that will watch where you go online, track it and show you how long you were there. Judging by the reviews in the Google web store, it isn’t perfect and has its share of issues, but it’s been great for plenty of students or even online workers. #2: The Unstoppable Quick Note Quick Note is one of the most prolific Google extensions for students. We’re talking the upper echelons of tech-savvy GPA enhancing madness. With 6848 reviews it’s hard to deny the regality and college-style browser opulence it can bestow upon you. Do be a sport and check into it. No kidding, you’ll probably end up using the same extension years from now in that cushy career you’re working towards. #3: The PDF’s Best Friend So basically, it’s called CleanPrint and using it you can either print the PDF completely, view it in more dynamic ways or print only specific sections. Pretty handy, especially these days, when most of the college experience is happening online and files really matter. PDF is probably one of the most common type of files you’ll use, so this extension just makes handling them efficient. #4: The Ultimate Mind-Mapping Tool LucidChart Introducing LucidChart and when it comes to a brainstorming or mind-mapping tool it’s hard to beat. Now you can chill in your dorm room with your tablet and organize your thoughts, connect the dots and make some real progress on projects that would have likely stumped or overwhelmed you before. #5: The Checker Plus for Google Calendar It’s sort of an add-on extension that integrates with Google Calendar. Checker Plus helps you keep tabs on, â€Å"your next events, get meeting desktop notifications, add or snooze events without opening the Google Calendar page!† Don’t be late anymore or miss something important happening on campus. There’s always so much to do and now you can turn your smartphone, iPod or tablet into an amazing calendar. #6: Get the Google Dictionary! If you’re not using Google Dictionary, then you need to go talk to some psy-majors immediately. #7: Epic Document Creation Tool The extension is called Docs Quickly and using it you can create documents within your browser. No kidding. â€Å"Add a simple menu to your browser bar to quickly create new Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Forms, and Drawings for Google Drive.† Seriously, it is handy, and it is one of those extensions that you can rely on. #8: A Legendary Spell / Grammar Checker We’re talking next generation and custom-designed Spell Grammar Checker. Dynamic. Comprehensive. User-friendly. Dependable. Stuffed with nifty features that basically ensure you’ll be writing and communicating far more fluently! Less errors mean less hassle for you and higher marks as well. Raise your hand if that sounds cool! Since it’s literally a part of your browser, you can create all kinds of new documents due to Docs Quickly†¦Youll definitely love it! #9: Announcify! The ultimate app in modern intellectual laziness age, but it is really helpful! â€Å"Announcify reads out loud every website you want. For example, if youre too tired but still need to study one more Wikipedia entry, Announcify can help your tired eyes relax.† Yippy! So it’ll be ten times easier to fall asleep trying to catch up on some quick research! #10: Flashcard Stash If you need to do a fair amount of vocab work or memorizing, be sure to grab Flashcard Stash because it’s simply amazing. Forget about traditional color-coded sticky flash cards that you have to put all over the place and yadda yadda! Here’s but a smidgen of the goodies: â€Å"Flashcard Stash allows you to create interactive flashcards and helps you learn with engaging quizzes and games.† Didn’t we tell you that there would be at least one awesome pick in here. If you’re new to Google Chrome and the extension-universe don’t get lost. The key is to use about 3-5 that really make your life easier. Do you already use some extensions, and if so what are they?

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Biography of Diana, Princess of Wales

Biography of Diana, Princess of Wales Princess Diana (born Diana Frances Spencer; July 1, 1961–August 31, 1997) was the consort of Charles, Prince of Wales. She was the mother of Prince William, currently in line for the throne after his father, Dianes former husband, and of Prince Harry. Diana was also known for her charity work and her fashion image. Fast Facts: Diana, Princess of Wales Known For: Diana became a member of the British royal family when she married Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981.Also Known As: Diana Frances Spencer, Lady Di, Princess DianaBorn: July 1, 1961 in Sandringham, EnglandParents: John Spencer and Frances SpencerDied: August 31, 1997 in Paris, FranceSpouse: Charles, Prince of Wales (m. 1981–1996)Children: Prince William (William Arthur Philip Louis), Prince Harry (Henry Charles Albert David) Early Life Diana Frances Spencer was born on July 1, 1961, in Sandringham, England. Although she was a member of the British aristocracy, she was technically a commoner, not a royal. Dianas father was John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, a personal aide to King George VI and to Queen Elizabeth II. Her mother was the Honourable Frances Shand-Kydd. Dianas parents divorced in 1969. Her mother ran away with a wealthy heir, and her father gained custody of the children. He later married Raine Legge, whose mother was Barbara Cartland, a romance novelist. Childhood and Schooling Diana grew up practically next door to Queen Elizabeth II and her family, at Park House, a mansion next to the Sandringham estate of the royal family. Prince Charles was 12 years older, but Prince Andrew was closer to her age and was a childhood playmate. After Dianas parents divorced, her father gained custody of her and her siblings. Diana was educated at home until she was 9 and was then sent to Riddlesworth Hall and West Heath School. Diana did not get along well with her stepmother, nor did she do well in school, finding an interest instead in ballet and, according to some reports, Prince Charles, whose picture she had on the wall of her room at school. When Diana was 16, she met Prince Charles again. He had dated her older sister Sarah. She made some impression on him, but she was still too young for him to date. After she dropped out of West Heath School at 16, she attended a finishing school in Switzerland, Chateau dOex. She left after a few months. Marriage to Prince Charles After Diana left school, she moved to London and worked as a housekeeper, nanny, and kindergarten teachers aide. She lived in a house purchased by her father and had three roommates. In 1980, Diana and Charles met again when she went to visit her sister, whose husband worked for the queen. They began to date, and six months later Charles proposed. The two were married on July 29, 1981, in a much-watched wedding thats been called the wedding of the century. Diana was the first British citizen to marry the heir to the British throne in almost 300 years. Diana immediately began making public appearances despite her reservations about being in the public eye. One of her first official visits was to the funeral of Princess Grace of Monaco. Diana soon became pregnant, giving birth to Prince William (William Arthur Philip Louis) on June 21, 1982, and then to Prince Harry (Henry Charles Albert David) on September 15, 1984. Early in their marriage, Diana and Charles were seen to be publicly affectionate; by 1986, their time apart and coolness when together were obvious. The 1992 publication of Andrew Mortons biography of Diana revealed the story of Charles long affair with Camilla Parker Bowles and alleged that Diana had made several suicide attempts. In February 1996, Diana announced that she had agreed to a divorce. Divorce and Life After The divorce was finalized on August 28, 1996. Settlement terms reportedly included about $23 million for Diana plus $600,000 per year. She and Charles would both be active in their sons lives. Diana continued to live at Kensington Palace and was permitted to retain the title Princess of Wales. At her divorce, she also gave up most of the charities shed been working with, limiting herself to only a few causes: homelessness, AIDS, leprosy, and cancer. In 1996, Diana became involved in a campaign to ban landmines. She visited several nations in her involvement with the anti-landmine campaign, an activity more political than the norm for the British royal family. In early 1997, Diana was linked romantically with the 42-year-old playboy Dodi Fayed (Emad Mohammed al-Fayed). His father, Mohammed al-Fayed, owned Harrods department store and the Ritz Hotel in Paris, among other properties. Death On August 30, 1997, Diana and Fayed left the Ritz Hotel in Paris, accompanied in a car by a driver and Dodis bodyguard. They were pursued by paparazzi. Just after midnight the car spun out of control in a Paris tunnel and crashed. Fayed and the driver were killed instantly; Diana died later in a hospital despite efforts to save her. The bodyguard survived despite critical injuries. The world quickly reacted. First came horror and shock. Then blame- much of which was directed at the paparazzi who were following the princesss car, and from whom the driver was apparently trying to escape. Later tests showed the driver had been well over the legal alcohol limit, but immediate blame was placed on the photographers and their seemingly incessant quest to capture images of Diana that could be sold to the press. Then came an outpouring of sorrow and grief. The Spencers, Dianas family, established a charitable fund in her name, and within a week $150 million in donations had been raised. Princess Dianas funeral, on September 6, drew worldwide attention. Millions turned out to line the path of the funeral procession. Legacy In many ways, Diana and her life story paralleled much in popular culture. She was married near the beginning of the 1980s, and her fairy-tale wedding, complete with a glass coach and a dress that could not quite fit inside, was in synch with the ostentatious wealth and spending of the 1980s. Her struggles with bulimia and depression shared so publicly in the press, were also typical of the 1980s focus on self-help and self-esteem. That she seemed to have finally begun to transcend many of her problems made her loss seem all the more tragic. The 1980s realization of the AIDS crisis was one in which Diana played a significant part. Her willingness to touch and hug AIDS sufferers, at a time when many in the public wanted to quarantine those with the disease based on irrational and uneducated fears of easy communicability, helped change how AIDS patients were treated. Today, Diana is still remembered as the Peoples Princess, a woman of contradictions who was born into wealth yet seemed to have a common touch; a woman who struggled with her self-image yet was a fashion icon; a woman who sought attention but often stayed at hospitals and other charity sites long after the press had left. Her life has been the subject of numerous books and films, including Diana: Her True Story, Diana: Last Days of a Princess, and Diana, 7 Days. Sources Bumiller, Elisabeth, et al. â€Å"Death of Diana: Times Journalists Recall Night of the Crash.† The New York Times, 31 Aug. 2017.Clayton, Tim, and Phil Craig. Diana: Story of a Princess. Atria Books, 2003.Lyall, Sarah. â€Å"Dianas Legacy: A Reshaped Monarchy, a More Emotional U.K.† The New York Times, 31 Aug. 2017.Morton, Andrew. Diana: Her True Story - in Her Own Words. Michael OMara Books Limited, 2019.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Strategic Management, Analysis of the Strategic Situation of HTC and Essay

Strategic Management, Analysis of the Strategic Situation of HTC and Its Industry - Essay Example HTC was founded in the year 1997 and commenced its business with manufacturing and designing of mobile accessories. Since the year 2006, HTC has introduced many mobile phones with various portfolios like tablet, android and smartphones for the developing markets (HTC, 2012). The objective of this paper is to analyse about the strategic current situation of HTC in the smartphone industry. The analysis would take into consideration industry analysis by using Porter’s five forces model, industry lifecycle analysis and value chain analysis. The study would also endeavour to comprehend the scale and the scope for HTC in respect of the existing industry scenario in the upcoming future. Analysis of the Strategic Situation In the present market scenario, it is observed that a number of companies are manufacturing smartphone along with HTC like Apple, Samsung, Nokia and Sony Ericsson among others. Due to which, the competition among the companies is rising day-by-day in the mobile phon e market. As a result, many advanced technology smartphones have been launched in the market. A few companies have been recognised to have lost out somewhat in market competition due to facing a lack in terms of offered technology in their smartphones or other mobile devices (Hu & Meier, 2010). With due reference to the context, it can be observed that HTC has been facing quite a tough scenario in the smartphone market to sustain its position among the topmost brands. Since the year 2006, HTC had expanded its reach with its smartphone in a number of global markets. HTC was the first cellular manufacturing company to introduce android phone in the market. Subsequently, it was observed that from 2010 onwards HTC faced a downfall because of the vast developments with modern technologies among the competitors’ products. The leading competitors of HTC include Nokia, Samsung and Apple. These companies also started to offer competitive brands of smartphones which significantly affec ted the sales of HTC. Generally, HTC was affected due to the rapid growths of Samsung and Apple’s smarphones such as Galaxy line as well as iPhone respectively. Moreover, Sensation and Desire brands of HTC smartphone have also faced quite indifferent responses from the consumers. Thus, this aspect has also led towards the declining trend of HTC in the smartphone market (Hu & Meier, 2010). Source: (Dotmobi, 2012). The above depicted figure depicts the position of the smartphone manufacturing companies in the present scenario. Therefore, it can be avowed that HTC, in recent times, has considerably lacked behind as compared to its major competitors such as Samsung, Apple and Nokia among others. Thus, by considering the downfall, HTC needs to recognise certain strategies to improve its product and to fight back against its competitors. Key strategies that can be employed include making product modifications, changing to the fast-moving approach for unpredictable markets, creating enhanced brand awareness through positioning and targeting high end users (Hu & Meier, 201

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The Proslavery Thought of George Fitzhugh Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Proslavery Thought of George Fitzhugh - Essay Example Fitzhugh had revealed not only the sectional divide over slavery on the eve of disunion, but also the ideological distance amid the revolutionary generation of Virginia slaveholders and mid-nineteenth century Carolina planters. The political ideology of secession, exemplified by his speech, belonged to the surge of reaction with the intention of followed the age of revolution in the Atlantic world. The political ideology of secession in America consisted mainly of formal constitutional arguments and proslavery thought. The systematic construction of Southern constitutional theory and the theoretical defense of slavery proved to be very influential in the long term and provided the ideological justification for secession. Under the political and intellectual guidance of Fitzhugh, slaveholders formulated the "Carolina doctrine" of nullification, or the state veto of a federal law, state ownership of national territories, and the constitutional right to secession with the intention of helped make disunion a reality. The proslavery argument was also central to the growth of political separatism in America. Regardless of the individual political beliefs of proslavery writers, their works were crucial in the construction of a separate Southern identity based on slavery.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Argument Essay - Illegalize Alcohol Essay Example for Free

Argument Essay Illegalize Alcohol Essay Our country is facing a growing problem. It is a problem of moral decay. The legal and open use of alcohol is an unnecessary vice that is enjoyed and accepted by a majority of the United States population, unfortunately, it leads to social and moral downfalls. Alcohol should be held to the same standards as other illegal mind and body-altering substances, as alcohol is addicting and has no medical value. Lawmakers and active voters should put an outright ban on alcohol. The revenue that is generated from the manufacturing, distributing, and sales of alcohol is a major source of taxable income that is a benefit. As of 2007 the U. S. Government was collecting $5. 6 billion dollars annually from the taxation of alcohol (joshritchie). This revenue has tended to increase each and every year. Although the revenue is important, the question must be asked, is it moral? Is it moral for our government to profit off the sale of a frivolous vice that causes fatalities and creates addicts? The revenue that is made from the taxation of alcohol could be lost, and would simply increase our never-ending national debt by a miniscule amount. Through out history our country has faced several social epidemics that have resulted in many people becoming substance abusers. Though these times our government has stepped in and enforced laws to restore the moral and social fabric of the infected areas. The current epidemic that we are facing is the abuse of alcohol. It is widespread and available almost everywhere in our country. â€Å"According to the Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI) tool, from 2001–2005, there were approximately 79,000 deaths annually attributable to excessive alcohol use. † (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Beyond the number of the deaths that are related to alcohol every year, a staggering number of people in the United States are alcoholics. According to the National Library of Medicine, â€Å"nearly 17. 6 million adults in the United States are alcoholics or have alcohol problems†. (U. S. National Library of Medicine) We need to completely ban alcohol so that we can start working on decreasing the number of addicts in our country rather than encourage the use to every single person just as he or she turns a certain age. The United States government has already tried to ban alcohol in the past, it was a complete failure and subsequently repealed. This attempt resulted in a spike in organized crime and was an obvious failure. Eventually the government conceded and re-legalized the use of alcohol. I too will concede that it was a failure on the part of our government in enforcing the prohibition of alcohol. Even today we are fighting the exact same battle by the DEA with the Controlled Substances Act. There is already a long list of illegal substances that are given priorities and schedules and are subsequently enforced. It would not be a stretch to incorporate alcohol into this list of illegal drugs. Many would assert that it would be difficult to enforce the mere consumption and manufacturing of small amounts of alcohol by individuals in there own homes. It is a very simple process to either brew low alcohol content drinks or to distill higher alcohol content spirits. The enforcing of these laws would be similar to current laws of cannabis cultivation. These laws would seem just as hard to enforce, yet they are enforced. The manufacturing of homemade alcohol could be given the same fear of punishment and could be enforced on incident-to-incident bases. Alcohol has the tendency to increase the probability of someone committing a violent crime. If alcohol were banned and harder to get a hold of this number of crimes would greatly diminish. The National Center for Victims of Crime has referenced the U. S. Department of Justice concerning drug and alcohol related crimes. The report states, â€Å"The U. S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics National Crime Victimization Survey asks the violent crime victims who reported seeing their offenders whether they perceived the offender to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. According to the 1999 survey, over a quarter of the violent crime victims could make such a determination. About twenty-eight percent (28%) of those reported that the offender was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The most common substance identified was alcohol alone. About sixteen percent (16%) reported that the offender was under the influence of alcohol alone (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2001). † (The National Center for Victims of Crime) This only takes into account the victims that were able to see their offender; this means that there are possibly more unaccounted for alcohol related crimes. The legal and open use of alcohol as a vice is leading to the downfall of our society. It is creating addicts while not offering a single practical medical benefit. The United States Government has already invested time, money, and effort to enforcing its Controlled Substances Act. Alcohol should be held to the same standards as all other physically altering substances are held to. Alcohol poses the risk of dependence and has no beneficial medical value. In order to start the moral fabric of our country we need to do away with the crime inducing substance alcohol. Lawmakers and active voters, it is our duty to hold our selves to higher standards and completely abolish the manufacturing, sale, and use of alcohol. Works Cited Alcoholism: MedlinePlus. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. 25 Aug. 2011. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. http://www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/alcoholism. html. CDC Alcohol and Public Health Home Page Alcohol. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. http://www. cdc. gov/alcohol/. Drug Related Crime. The National Center for Victims of Crime. 2008. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. http://www. ncvc. org/ncvc/main. aspx? dbName=DocumentViewerDocumentID=32348. Joshritchie. How Much Is the Government Making Off of Alcohol? | Tax Break: The TurboTax Blog. Tax Break: The TurboTax Blog | Its All about the Refund. 5 July 2010. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. http://blog. turbotax. intuit. com/2010/07/05/how-much-is-the-government-mak

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Temporal Becoming and the A- and B- Theories of Time :: Philosophy Philosophical Time Papers

Temporal Becoming and the A- and B- Theories of Time It is interesting to note that many of Saint Augustine's concerns about time around 400AD are the same as we have today. For example, Augustine was puzzled about the nature of the distinction between the past, the present and the future. He was also concerned about the nature and status of the apparent flow of time. In this essay we will consider a much more recent approach to time that came to the fore in the twentieth century. In 1908 James McTaggart published an article in Mind entitled 'The Unreality of Time', in which, as the title implies, he argued that there is in reality no such thing as time. Now although this claim was in itself startling, probably what was even more significant than McTaggart's arguments was his way of stating them. It was in this paper that McTaggart first drew his now standard distinction between two ways of saying when things happen. In this essay we shall outline these ways of describing events and then discuss the merits and demerits of each, and examine what has become known as the 'tensed versus tenseless' debate on temporal becoming. One way which we speak, experience and conceive of time is that time is something that flows or passes from the future to the present and from the present to the past. When viewed in this way, events which are present have a special existential status. Whatever may be the case with regard to the reality or unreality of events in the future and the past, events that are in the present exist with a capital 'E'. It can then be postulated that it is the 'present' or 'now' that shifts to even later times. If events in time (or moments of time) are conceived in terms of past, present and future, or by means of the tenses, then they form what McTaggart called the A-series (from which the A-theory of time is derived). This type of change is commonly referred to as 'temporal becoming', and gives rise to well known perplexities concerning both what does the shifting and the type of shift involved, which we will discuss later. On the other hand, we experience events in time as occurring in succession, one after another, and as simultaneous with other events. When viewed in this way, events stand in various different temporal relations to each other but no one event, or set of events, is singled out as having the property of being present or as occurring 'now'.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Cola Wars Continue: Coke and Pepsi in 2006

Spenser Garrison Strategic Management 3/17/10 Case 1: Cola Wars Continue: Coke and Pepsi in 2006 The soft drink industry is very competitive for all companies involved. Recently the competition between established firms has only increased with the market nearing its saturation point. All companies in the industry, especially those thinking about entering, have to think about Porter’s 5-Forces model and the pressures it outlines; rivalry among establish firms, risk of entry by potential competitors, substitute products, suppliers, and buyers. When talking about market share, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have the lions share. They have dominated the industry over the past 40 years with Coca-Cola leading in the category in 2004 (C256). With little resistance from Cadbury Schweppes, the distant third largest company in the industry, the two companies’ main focus was to increase market demand by outdoing each other in promotions, advertisements, and corporate acquisitions. Rivalry and power struggle have defined the existence of PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, looking for a competitive advantage to gain an edge on the competition. This rivalry has been to the benefit to the companies, the industry, and its consumers as a whole. Both have learned to not only stay afloat, but flourish in an industry that has constantly grown since Coca-Cola began advertising in 1891 (C258). They did this by increasing the demand in their products, and gaining brand loyalty by their consumers. In some instances, they were selling cases of Dasani (Coca-Cola) and Aquafina (PepsiCo) for less than the cost of bottling it (C267). The risk of entry by potential competitors isn’t a strong competitive pressure in the industry. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola dominate the industry with their brand name and distribution channels, which makes it difficult for new entrants to compete with these existing firms. High fixed costs of production facilities, logistics, and economies of scale also deter entry. It’s difficult for a new firm with a small production capacity, and a high cost structure to compete when, as soon as their product is introduced to the market, the two leading firms drop prices below your cost structure. Pepsi and Coke’s economies of scale allows them to do this since it costs so much less for them to produce their products than it would a new company. Substitute products come from competitors outside of the soft drink industry. These include: coffee, sports drinks, bottled water, tea, and juices. This is an increasingly growing force since consumers are becoming more health conscious in society. Most people are thinking about what carbonated soft drinks do to their bodies and replace them with sports drinks which appear to be healthier. These drinks also allow for a larger variety of flavors the appeal to different consumers (C263). Coffee and tea may also be substitutes for the consumer who drinks soda for the caffeine they contain. Consumers can switch to coffee to decrease the amount of sugar and carbonation. These also come in a larger variety of flavors provided companies, such as Starbucks, that have become extremely popular over the past 20 years. These substitutes are a large and powerful force in the industry, especially since the switching costs (the cost to switch from one product to the next) are essentially zero. Supplies to the industry don’t hold much competitive pressure. Bottling and packaging of the product don’t hold much of a bargaining position in the industry. Coca-Cola’s CEO Roberto Goizueta looked to consolidate a large number of bottlers in 1986, creating an independent bottling subsidiary called Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), went public and sold 51% of its shares while retaining the remaining which enables Coke to have separate financial statements from CCE (C261). This vertical integration essentially made Coke its own bottler, which almost cut out suppliers entirely. PepsiCo soon followed suit in the late 1980s with the Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG) and went public in 1999, retaining 35% of its shares (C261). By 2004 Coca-Cola had CCE bottling 80% of its North American bottle and can volume, while PepsiCo had PBG bottling 57% of their beverages in the region (C261). These consolidations took away much of suppliers’ bargaining power. The buyers of soft drinks range from Supermarkets, to mass retailers and supercenters, to gas stations. Soft drinks are sold to these stores which are, in turn, resold to customers. Buyer power in the industry is very strong. Larger stores purchase soft drink in large volumes allowing them to buy at low prices. Gas stations have less bargaining power since they buy smaller quantities. Although soft drink demand is beginning to plateau which could cause a shift in bargaining power to the buyer because of decreasing demands in both Pepsi and Coke. Porter’s 5-Forces model completely encompasses all factors of the soft drink industry. It has shown that industry has been very profitable in earlier years, especially to Pepsi and Coke. Demand for soft drinks is beginning to level off because of a new health conscious trend by the consumer which will inevitably affect profits. The industry has also been defined by intense rivalry by the two largest firms which leave little room for new entrants. The soft drink industry has reached its peak in society and will soon begin to decline soon because of the consumers decrease in demand for the product and increased demand in other healthier products. For both companies to stay profitable, they will have to curtail their products to the new health conscious trend of the consumer. The value created by the soft drink industry is apparent and distributed across the industry in a variety of ways. Pepsi and Coke at first only produced their cola products, two companies each with one product line. The success of both companies led them to diversify their production capabilities and produce different flavors of soda; Fanta, Sprite, and Tab (1960-63) from Coke, and Teem, Mountain Dew, and Diet Pepsi (1960-64) from Pepsi (C259). These expanded product lines proved to be highly profitable and were continued and expanded on in the years to come. By the late 1980s Coke and Pepsi each offered more than 10 major brands of soda in 17 or more sizes (C261). This product proliferationincreased profitability, rivalry, and barriers to entry. Soon both companies would break into markets other than carbonated soft drinks. Sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade, juices and juice drinks, energy drinks, tea based drinks, and bottled water. These new product lines all had substitute products from the other company to battle with. Pepsi and Coke had a vast understanding on game theory and demonstrated it with their sequential and simultaneous move games. This led to an enormous selection for the consumer, whose only problem was choosing a flavor. Both Pepsi and Coke both have secret recipes to their flagship cola. Coke was the first to be imitated in its early years. The company constantly fought trademark infringements in court. There were as many as 153 barred imitation of Coca-Cola in 1916 alone (C259). When Pepsi proved to be a viable competitor to Coke, the company filed a suit against Pepsi claiming it was an infringement on the Coca-Cola Trademark. From that point on the two companies engaged in competitive marketing campaigns to gain market share. In 1950, Coke controlled 47% of the US market, while Pepsi’s was only 10%. Coke and Pepsi are two gigantic companies that have flourished throughout their existence. They can be described as the definition of rivalry and competition in the modern business world. They are exact substitutes of each other and have battled to control the carbonated soft drink industry for over a century. From the 1950s-present, the carbonated soft drink industry has steadily increased in terms of consumption by person in the US (C251). Both companies have spent billions in marketing, research, acquisitions, and promotions to meticulously exchange percentage points in the $66 billion a year industry that they have created (C250). Unfortunately times are changing, and the superiority that the carbonated soft drink industry once held among beverages is slowly fading. Schools are banning sodas from being sold in them, claiming they are unhealthy for children (C263). People in today’s society are more health conscious than they were in prior years. This is why you see a health clubs left and right, and â€Å"0g Trans Fat† labeled on snack foods. A majority of the US population is very health conscious, which leaves little room for the sugary carbonated soft drinks that used to dominated beverage consumption. The stability of the Soft drink Industry as a whole is in jeopardy. Coke and Pepsi will have to find alternatives to increase market share, or break into new markets, if they want sales to keep increasing like they have in the past. Non-carbonated beverages, such as juices, sports drinks, and energy drinks, are beginning to grow more rapidly than when they first were introduced, while carbonated beverages are leveling off. This health conscious shift will lead Coca-Cola and Pepsi executives to focus in these once thought auxiliary components of their business to pick up the slack that the carbonated industry is leaving behind. Coke and Pepsi will not be able to repeat their success with carbonated beverages in the water segment. Water can’t differ like soft drinks can. There are simply too many similar substitutes for customers to turn to, and the brand loyalty diminishes. A mere 10% of consumers say they choose a brand of water because â€Å"it’s my favorite brand† when compared to the 37% of carbonated beverage consumers (C267). To compete in this new market, Coke and Pepsi will need a new competitive dynamic to stay profitable, one that won’t end in price wars. Fortunately for the market it is much cheaper to bottle and sell water than it is carbonated soft drinks, so competitive advantage will need to inevitably be realized in other parts of the business.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Market Entry Essay

Value chain outline Business model restructuration Domestic market 1. Analysis 2. Factors of success 4. International expension strategy 1. Management method 2. Analysis 3. Factors of success 5. 6. Value creation Debate   Top quality products Adapted and productive management style Group capacity to restructure and timulate other companies Value chain analysis & good partnership Value Chain Outline Business model restructuration Domestic Market International expension strategy Value Creation Debate Value Chain Outline Business model restructuration International expension strategy Domestic Market 1984 1988 Zhang become Manager of Quingdao General Refrigiretor Factory Gold medal for product quality in national competition Value Creation 1989 1991 Chinese market face oversupply Diversification through aquisitions (eg, telecommunication, equipment†¦) Debate Raise the price and move to high quality strategy 1998 Operational restructuring Value Chain Outline Business model restructuration Domestic Market Diversification and internal reorganization ? 7 product divisions ? Glocal strategy: ? 4 Group-wide  « Development Divisions  » International expension strategy Value Creation Debate Value Chain Outline Business model restructuration Domestic Market International expension strategy Value Creation Debate Market share in 2004 Refrigerator Washing Machine Air conditioner 28% 18% 30% other ? ? ? By 2002, they accounted for 61% of industry profits. From 1989 to 1996, the number of refrigerators producers :100 to 20 3 Chinese manufacturers = 60% of the market ? Kelon is the main competitor Value Chain Outline ? Business model restructuration Domestic Market After the Chinese entry in WTO: ? new entrants (Electrolux, Siemens†¦) ? Refrigerator unit sales: 31% in 2002 vs 26% in 2001 ? Automatic washing machine: 38% in 2002 vs 31% in 2001. ? Before 2000: ? Core profit ? state-owned department stores ? In 2004: ? individual specialized shops/ private retail International expension strategy Value Creation Debate % Haier’s sales Domestic Chain International chain Licensed dealers Independent retail shops Government purchases. Management method Market responsiveness: focus on meeting customer needs Good after-sale service: offerings that Chinese customers was not accustomed (free replacement, warranty†¦) Distribution network: one single company (Haier logistics) serving the entire group, good network Be cautious: These points can be learnt, copied and imitated by multinationals International expension strategy Value Creation Debate Value Chain Outline ? ? Business model restructuration Domestic Market International expension strategy Value Creation Debate Key factor for international strategy Focus on market pressure: choose difficult market (eg. US, Europe)  « If we can succeed there we can succeed in easier market  » ? Look for hard challenges ? Focus on Human Resources assets ? Implement a  « local thinking  » ? Hire Local employees Value Chain Outline Business model restructuration Domestic Market International expension strategy Value Creation ? Since 1997: Willpower of a global expansion strategy (3third) ? Joint ventures ? Manufacturer of Liebherr (Germany): 8 top ranking ? 1999: Willpower of Haier to make a brand reputation overseas. Difference with the domestic rival Kelon ? Take example of the successful Japanese and Korean model. % of sales in the US an EU Export from China (% of total revenue) 1998 – 3% 2004 – 17% 1998 – 3% 2004 – 8,3% Overseas Made and Sold (% of total revenue) 2002 – 4,6% 2004 – 8,3% 70% of Haier overseas’ revenues come from developed markets Debate Value Chain Outline Business model restructuration Domestic Market.International expension strategy Value Creation Debate Focus on difficult (flat market) and highly competitive markets Penetrate the market with niche products Hire local people Make JV on five continents ? Benefit from existing networks. Pay close attention to market specifications Make  « response speed  » Satisfy customer needs Value Chain Outline Business model restructuration Domestic Market International expension strategy Value Creation Debate Growth leverage Restructuration Differentiation Know How After Sales Management Vision Market responsiveness Distribution Glocal Strategy Value Chain Outline ? ? Business model restructuration Domestic Market International expension strategy How would Haier evolve in order to gain more market share internationally and in their home market?

Thursday, November 7, 2019

8 Ways to Increase Your Confidence at Work

8 Ways to Increase Your Confidence at Work Think about the most successful people you know. Chances are, the common thread is confidence. Successful people believe in themselves and that confidence helps them to keep on succeeding and succeeding- which, in turn, makes them more confident! Feel left out of the confidence club? Don’t fear. But don’t do nothing either. You can and should induct yourself into the secret society of self-satisfaction. Here are 8 easy ways to do just that.1. Know yourselfTake a good hard look at yourself, first and foremost. Confidence is usually earned, and confident people are just as aware of their shortcomings as they are of their strengths. Get to know your selling points and the areas where you might need work. Do a thorough self-assessment.2. Don’t be a pushoverIt’s important to say â€Å"no† from time to time. Practice saying â€Å"no,† when prudent, and make sure to make your refusals clear. A simple â€Å"No, sorry† is worth a million  "I’m just not sure†¦Ã¢â‚¬ s, and will make both you and the favor-asker feel less stressed and more secure.3. Get in good with the bossIf you have a good relationship with your boss, great. If not, try to strategize how you might repair the relationship and start over on a better foot. Otherwise, the stress will be a huge drain on your energy and your self-esteem, both in the office and at home.4. Set a bunch of smaller goalsConfident people are always winning, even in small increments. Challenge yourself constantly and, more often than not, you’ll succeed. Celebrate these small victories both because you deserve to and because you’ll get into the habit of succeeding. Before you know it, you’ll be used to winning too.5. Get a mentorA good mentor can help you advance in the course of your career, making small corrections to steer you straight. They’ll tell you where you’re coming up short, but they’ll also give you a pat on the b ack when you deserve it. And pats on the back build confidence!6. Work outSeriously. Exercise creates endorphins. It also makes you feel more capable emotionally, socially, and professionally. If you can work out regularly and push yourself, you’ll feel like you can translate those skills out of the gym and into your work.7. Play dress upPeople are judgmental. They do pay attention to how we present ourselves physically. Try dressing a bit smarter, but make sure to choose clothing that reflects you and your style. Be neat and tidy and make the extra effort. The compliments alone will boost your confidence.8. Don’t be a jerkIt’s important to be assertive, but make sure not to overcompensate with aggression. This means keeping your insecurities in check. Once you learn this delicate balancing act, you’ll be well-equipped to wield your new confident self with ease.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Strongest Predictors of Marketing Success With Jordan Loftis [PODCAST]

Strongest Predictors of Marketing Success With Jordan Loftis [PODCAST] What separates successful marketers from those who struggle? Have you ever wondered? Finding out is the key to effective marketing. Relying only on anecdotes isn’t effective; you need to have actual data. Today we’re going to dive deeply into the topic with Jordan Loftis, the content marketing strategist here at . Armed with his insights, you’ll be able to make decisions based on what really works and what doesn’t. Get ready to glean the wisdom you know to decide what to do to be most effective! What Jordan does at as the content marketing strategist. Information about the 10x vs 10% framework and how it helps marketers prioritize what to work on next. Why Jordan took on the huge project of surveying 1,600 marketers to compile a report on the state of marketing strategy, as well as some of the findings that surprised Jordan. Why documentation of a marketing strategy is vital to success. What Jordan found out about goal-setting when it comes to marketing, including the â€Å"trifecta† of documentation, goal-setting, and success. How often the most elite marketers conduct research. Jordan’s best advice for marketers: Embrace reality and learn to enjoy being proven wrong. Links: State of Marketing Strategy Report (free download) Joe Pulizzi on documenting your marketing strategy The Power of Habit If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Jordan: â€Å"Our main job is to create the best content on the Internet to help marketers solve problems and just do awesome work all the time.† â€Å"There’s a huge correlation between being successful and documenting your strategy.† â€Å"You can’t just create awesome content you have to create the right kind of awesome content.†

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Primate communication and language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Primate communication and language - Essay Example One research shows one primate seeking the help of another primate to increase the communicating primate’s groom activities. The young primate gives a happy inviting sound to other young primates to play among the trees. One research shows the playing young primate raise their arms to indicate they want to play with the other nearby young primates (Pika 41). The research shows one playful chimpanzee poked the other young primate. The poking was a clear signal that the poking chimpanzee was inviting another chimpanzee to play. The communication language helps the nonhuman primates adapt to different environments. In the caring for the young environment, the researchers observed that the mother apes communicated by nodding their heads, similar to human nodding of heads to say no. The primate mother nods to stop their babies from playing with their food. The water seems to persuade the baby to eat the food. When the mother ape was climbing a tree with her baby hanging to her back for safety, the mother used this environment to shake her head as she looks at her baby. She communicates to the baby to stop her from climbing the tree. The mother fears that the baby may fall from the tree and crash down to her death. In another Arnhem Zoo research, the ape researcher observed during a close family get together environment that the mother shook her head. The mother is communicating to her baby not to approach a mad or bad mood male chimpanzee. The mother fears that the male chimpanzee may physically hurt the baby during times of anger, stress, or in a bad mood (Boos 278). The male chimpanzee may bring out his anger on the innocent and knowledge-wanting baby chimpanzee. During the environment of mating, the male gorillas hoot to make love overtures to their female gorilla members. The apes howl their message across to their group members. In another 2007 nonhuman primate survival research, the researchers observed that the young chimpanzee asked for food