Research Paper on Winston Churchill

Research Paper on Winston Churchill In order to examine the question you must first define greatness, it is described as a status brought upon yourself in which excellence is achieved in the face of adversity . Winston Churchill is an excellent example of greatness because in the face of adversity( the second World War ) he excelled and he persevered through his so called `wilderness years` and then excelled as Britain’s war time leader . Churchill’s dogged perseverance to express exactly what he thought was the best possible way forward for Britain meant that he was disliked by many in Parliament but also admired by many at the same time . Martin Gilbert recognised this situation saying some detested him , and others from his earliest years , saw him as a person of exceptional qualities , and as a future Prime Minister. Often great people are misunderstood because they can see the bigger , longer term picture and in order to become great they must persevere and speak their minds in order to convince the ir people , this is the case with Winston Churchill from his earliest years he has an uncanny understanding and vision of future unfolding events .Often people are great because they have the ability to make themselves understood by their people and they have the ability to communicate clearly with their people , Churchill had an ability to use his exceptional mastery of words , to convey detailed arguments and essential truths ; to inform , to convince and to inspire Martin Gilbert . There are two distinct periods in Churchill’s political life , his wilderness years when he was greatly misunderstood in his position as First Lord of the Navy in which he made a number of errors which in the long term helped him in the second period after 1940 when he became Prime Minister in a time in which he inspired the British people through clear communication in times of adversity . I will look at both of these periods in detail to conclude whether to be great is to be misunderstood . I would argue that in order to be great then you must make your self understood and persevere and not give up until you are understood Winston Churchill shows this quality through his misunderstood wilderness years into his triumphant leadership years. A low point of Winston Churchill’s admiralty reign came in the shape of the Dardanelles blunder as it has been described, it rocked the political life of Churchill . Churchill’s known zest for war got the better of him causing him to ignore the advice of Naval experts and to push through his own Napoleon inspired strategies that proved to be catastrophic . However even after the event whilst contemporaries where slating his part in the plan , Churchill never gave up trying to persuade the British public on his intentions , even in his resignation speech to the commons he clamed the Dardanelles was an legitimate gamble and phrase which was to haunt him for along time to come. During his time out of power Churchill with the aid of Lord Fisher desperately tried to explain there own side of Dardanelles , fighting for a commission to be set-up , an commission which wouldn’t completely clear Churchill’s name but would exonerate him from some of the blame . Later Historians shocked by the carnage on the Western front looked more favourably on Dardanelles having been impressed by Churchill’s apologia in The World Crisis .They claimed that Churchill had more military inspiration than all of the other Generals put together . Others such as Sir Basil Liddell Hart and Professor Arthur Marder endorsed Attles view that it was one strategic view of war which seems to exonerate Winston Churchill from much blame. However I would conclude that contemporaries got it just about right, Dardanelles was badly planned and executed and for this reason Churchill must take an adequate share of the responsibility . Victory was never as close as he promised and it was a mistake for him to divert such huge resources to an exposed subsidiary theatre of operations. I think that although Churchill never liked to admit that he was wrong after Dardanelles he was quoted as saying in war you don’t have to be nice, you just have to be right this quote sug gesting that Churchill recognises his failure regarding Dardanelles .I would also look admirably on his attempts to make people understand his policy , even through his wilderness years whilst out of parliament he continued to campaign for months in order for a commission to tell his side of the story , this determination to make people understand him is one of the main factors in which made Winston Churchill great in my opinion . This fits in with the theme of revealing in adversity because Churchill was out of office and disgraced in the views of many men he still campaigned in a dignified manor to make such men understand. An situation recognised by Austin Chamberlain Winston is never seen to such advantage as adversity . It will only be temporary , but he is showing great dignity and good temper , this quote seems to imply that Churchill revels in adversity and will use it to his advantage , this is contradicted by an quote from his wife Clemintine I never seen Winston so demo ralised however I would agree with Piers Brendon that Churchill in private he was demoralised however in public this seemed to spur him on an work even harder. In order to be great you must not give up and keep fighting for what you think is right although Winston Churchill may not have been right concerning the Dardanelles conflict he kept fighting to explain his action to the British public through the commission , this is one aspect of how Churchill became great his dedication to working/ fighting for what he believed was right until he is finally understood .At the time many contemporaries such as Sir Francis Hopwood said about Churchill that he is tiresome to deal with and I fear trouble in any position to which he may be called I wouldn’t agree with this statement because Churchill did have some successes amongst his blunders caused by youthful exuberance such as in his position of Minister of Munitions and his rise from young radical to First lord of the Admiralty I would agree more so with Edward Gray who commented he was a genius who’s faults would be forgotten in his achievements which was easy to say considering t he benefit of hindsight .At the time though there was great misunderstanding of Churchill which is highlighted by George Wyndham who said I would rather sweep the streets than be Winston Churchill . This makes Winston Churchill perseverance to fight for his views even more outstanding considering the hatred shown to him from leading Tories especially. During his second period as First Lord of the Navy , Winston Churchill was described by Andrew Roberts as making an number of blunders due to a number of personal flaws which at the time made Churchill an less than ideal leader of the greatest Navy on earth . For example Churchill showed less than admiral qualities whilst dealing with the Germany invasion of Norway some would argue that he was so indecisive that when British troops landed in Norway they had been separated from much of their equipment due to Churchill constantly changing his military strategy . Churchill was condemned by Andrew Roberts for his strategies regarding German U-boats . Churchill blatantly disregarded the advice of top Naval strategists and aimed to attack the Germans using packs of British ships to hunt down the U-boats whilst leaving merchant ships practically defenceless . This plan backfired on Churchill because the U-boats where so hard to hunt down in the open seas . Back at home Churchill tried to cover up his mistake claiming that half of the 57 U-boats Germany had started the war with had been destroyed , this was contradicted by Captain Arthur Talbot who claimed that only 9 of the 57 U boats had been destroyed , Churchill showed a ruthless streak by personally making sure that Captain Talbot was sent to sea. George Steven’s recognises Churchill’s manipulation of facts by claiming that he adapted his facts to his phrases and Piers Brendon recognises this commenting on Churchill he quickly discovered that facts deprived for their significance on interpretation and that by skilful argument he could arrange them into any pattern that he choose. This is an important skill for being the leader of a country at war , it is vital to boost the morale of your people to maintain the war effort , I would argue that Churchill was polishing his skills for an more important use. During his rein as First Lord of the Navy he constantly interfered with issues out side of his control for example his up most fish request calling for an increase in fish production a matter that he had no control over at all .Piers Brendon recognises this saying Churchill unlike his predecessors took every aspect of the Navy under his province men , ships , ordnance and administration to the extent that he almost caused the resignation of the entire Admiralty board and the Commander in Chief of the Nore Fleet. I would argue that although this is not the best personal attributes of an First Lord ,as an War time Prime Minister it is important for them to direct the whole effort , something that Churchill seemed already perfect to do, I would also argue from this source you can already see the structure of an great man because he is being misunderstood in terms of his role , he has the vision and the presence to command a wide range of resources instead of just a narrow one as is the Admiralty would be better of in an higher position such as Prime Minister . A.G Gardiener ag rees on the war in Churchill’s blood by commenting the whole spirit of Churchill’s politics was military: the smell of powder is about his path , and where ever he appears one seems to hear the crash of musketry and so feel the breath of battle. From as early as the early 1930`s Winston Churchill warned of the threat of the intensifying Nazis machine and called for rearmament , for martial virtue, for the revival of the British race . This statement was condemned by Niclson for sounding cracked and tinny as though played through an Edwardian phonograph I can infer from this , may be because during the 1920`s Churchill had campaigned for the need of Military economics , many politicians assumed that he was just trying to get back at the government . He was described at the time as being an dangerous relief the past a dangerous has been Christopher Sykes . Still Churchill campaigned , warned and informed of the threat of the Nazis , although Piers Brendon comments that Churchill wasn’t as consistent about the immanence of war , about the necessity of rearmament , even the wickedness of Hitler as he later claimed .I don’t agree with this source because in the context of other people supporting his view where few and far between which makes Winston Churchill’s stand seem massive , Churchill was a master in the art of arguing his point , in order to stand up in the commons and hear the shout of sit down Winston ever time he wanted to speak , this must have taken great courage and its not surprising that he couldn’t keep up his attempts to persuade parliament to the dangers of Hitler. Especially considering the Baldwin accusing him of alarmisim and exaggeration , the biggest surprise is the comment of the Prime Minister Lloyd George , someone who had an close relationship with Churchill in the past and had praised him saying he was an man of dazzling talents so when he asked Churchill to end his crusade and commented in private that Churchill was more trouble than he was worth this adds sustenance to the level of adversity that Winston Churchill faced. Further more Andrew Roberts says how Churchill’s views on Nazis Germany made him particularly unpopular this add s weight to my argument of how his perseverance makes him great . Martin Gilbert agrees with this view commenting that Churchill was an lonely voice in the wilderness during the 30`s and was an downtrodden muted voice of inspiration. During this period Winston Churchill was described as an warmonger by many of the opposition Tory back benchers , I would argue against this view because before Churchill’s warnings regarding the Nazis he and his wife Clemintine had travelled to the middle east in order to try and make peace between the Arabs and the Jews this proves that Churchill wasn’t always an warmonger as he had been accused of by some opposition. This adds sustenance to the argument that through what ever adversity or abuse was thrown at Churchill he never gave up trying to persuade Parliament of the threat of the Nazis regime . At the time Churchill was campaigning on the future of India saying that it was self mutilation to lose such a jewel in the kings crown his campaigning caused a stir and Churchill campaigned from 31 up until 35 when the India act had been passed , this also made him unpopular thin the house of commons and increased the amount of adversity that he was facing to warn Brit ain about the Nazis . Even after the threat of the Nazis had been acknowledged and Prime Minister Chamberlain had travelled to Munich to agree peace with Hitler whilst giving away the majority of Chezchslovakia in the processes and returned home an hero , Churchill still defiant against the euphoric elation of the British people called for rearmament , at this time his message was even more unpopular within the country and even his own constituency organisation tried to repudiate him. It must have taken great courage for Churchill to carry on campaigning even though he was soon to be proved right when on the 3rd of September 1939 Britain declared war on Germany. Churchill’s triumph was vindicated when he was made first Lord of the Admiralty again and subsequently Prime Minister a role in which he feels that he had been destined for I felt as though I was walking with destiny PM Churchill on appointment by the King. I would now ague that to just make your self understood wasn’t enough to make yourself classed as great , this is however Winston Churchill’s greatness is vindicated in my opinion. During his time of greatest adversity and threat to Britain from the Nazis he inspired , informed and motivated Britain almost on his own through his most important attribute in his arsenal as Atlee described it his tongue . President Kennedy added at the time Churchill used all of the resources of the English language , proving that the word was mightier than the sword. Winston Churchill didn’t only inspire the masses of the British population through breath taking speeches as described by Piers Brendon he dramatised the lives of its citizens , he made them seem to themselves and each other clad in the fabulous garments appropriate to this great historical moment .He also inspired the people in high places as he described them by calling for them to set an example of steadiness . I would argue going back to the question that had he not made himself understood through adversity then he wouldn’t have been in this position in order to lead Britain in a job he thought he was destined for. The magnitude of Winston Churchill’s control through speech over the British public draw conclusions to the enemies leader Hitler. I would sight an comparison through their use of speech however Churchill was a vision of greatness , his attraction achieved through the respect of his people , triggered by a triumph through adversity and not an barrage of propaganda. Piers Brendon describes this comparison as Churchill being neither mad nor bad. The extent to which Churchill’s greatness has risen him is perfectly summed up by the fact that in 1933 he was being blasted in Parliament as an warmonger and then nine years later he met an Scientist R.V Jones who commented after meeting Churchill I had the feeling of being re- charged by a source of living power . This shows the magnitude of Churchill’s rise to greatness. In conclusion I would argue that Winston Churchill was great because of two factors his determination to make people understand his ability to foresee what was best for his country and his ability to use an mastery of words to convey and inspire people, rich and poor , male and female . His failures as the First Lord Of the Navy where due to his ruthless streak , his willing to manipulate the facts for his own means and his interference with matters out side of his control. However these are the exact same qualities that made him an model war time leader . He had an ability to make the right decision quickly , fore see future events unfold and wasn’t afraid to be ruthless if it was in the best interests of Britain. I believe that Winston Churchill has proved himself to be great in one aspect because through his early years he has shown the admiral quality of making himself understood , although he may not of been right every time he always campaigned for what he believed in and never shied away from telling his side of the story through skilful use of dialogue, this is something that would stand him in good steed for what was to come. In terms of a hypotheses I have come to the conclusion that in order to be classed as great , its not to be great is to be misunderstood or to simply see the longer term picture it is in fact to make yourself understood through times of adversity and show people the bigger longer term picture and explain it until they understand it through your own skill or through events.

Battle of Patay in the Hundred Years War

Battle of Patay in the Hundred Years' War Battle of Patay - Conflict Date: The Battle of Patay was fought June 18, 1429, and was part of the Hundred Years War (1337–1453). Armies Commanders: English Sir John FastolfJohn Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury5,000 men French La HireJean Poton de XaintraillesJoan of Arc1,500 men Battle of Patay - Background: Following the English defeat at Orleans and other reverses along the Loire Valley in 1429, Sir John Fastolf advanced into the area with a relief force from Paris. Joining with John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, the column moved to relieve the English garrison at Beaugency. On June 17, Fastolf and Shrewsbury encountered a French force northeast of the town. Realizing that its garrison had fallen, the two commanders elected to fall back to Meung-sur-Loire as the French were not willing to give battle. Arriving there, they attempted to retake the bridge guardhouse which had fallen to French forces a few days earlier. Battle of Patay - the English Retreat: Unsuccessful, they soon learned that the French were moving from Beaugency to besiege Meung-sur-Loire. Outnumbered and outgunned by Joan of Arcs approaching army, Fastolf and Shrewsbury decided to abandon the town and retreat north towards Janville. Marching out, they moved up the Old Roman Road before pausing near Patay to rest. Leading the rear guard, Shrewsbury placed his archers and other troops in a covered position near an intersection. Learning of the English retreat, the French commanders debated what action to pursue. The discussion was ended by Joan who advocated for a swift pursuit. Sending forward a mounted force under the leadership of La Hire and Jean Poton de Xaintrailles, Joan followed with the main army. Ranging ahead, French patrols initially failed to locate Fastolfs column. While the vanguard paused at St. Sigmund, approximately 3.75 miles from Patay, the French scouts finally had success. Unaware of their proximity to Shrewsburys position, they flushed a stag from along the road. Racing north it bounded through the English position. Battle of Patay - the French Attack: Spotting the deer, the English archers sent up a hunting cry which gave away their location. Learning of this, La Hire and Xaintrailles raced ahead with 1,500 men. Rushing to prepare for battle, the English archers, armed with the deadly longbow, began their standard tactic of placing pointed stakes in front of their position for protection. As Shrewsburys line formed near the intersection, Fastolf deployed his infantry along a ridge to the rear. Though they moved quickly, the English archers were not fully prepared when the French appeared around 2:00 PM. Riding over a ridge south of the English lines, La Hire and Xaintrailles did not pause, but instead immediately deployed and charged forward. Slamming into Shrewsburys position, they quickly outflanked and overran the English. Watching in horror from the ridge, Fastolf attempted to recall the vanguard of his column but to no avail. Lacking sufficient forces to deal with the French, he began retreating up the road as La Hire and Xaintrailles horsemen cut down or captured the remnants of Shrewsburys men. Battle of Patay - Aftermath: The final battle of Joan of Arcs decisive Loire Campaign, Patay cost the English around 2,500 casualties while the French sustained approximately 100. Having defeated the English at Patay and concluded a highly successful campaign, the French began to turn the tide of the Hundred Years War. The defeat inflicted significant losses upon the English longbow corps as well as was one of the first times a massed French cavalry charge had overcome the skilled archers. Selected Sources Battle of PataySiege of Orleans and Loire Valley Campaign

IR case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

IR case study - Essay Example Today Australia has shifted from this method to free trade system. The country holds many free trade agreements with many countries such as China, US, Thailand, Singapore, and Chile. China is the largest market for Australia’s exports and also is the largest source of imports for china. In fact this has seen many Chinese companies investing in Australia. The country also has free trade agreements with New Zealand which dates back to 1965. Due to the advanced economy, the country has seen development of service industries such as finance, banking, insurance, tourism, consorting, and entertainment industries. The government provides services such as welfare, health, education, and other business services. Of these services in Australia, finance, insurance, and banking are the best in terms of performance and also the fastest in terms of growth in the country. These service industries are the backbone of the country’s economy. However, in the past decade, mining industry was at the back of the country’s economic growth. Australia is the world’s number one in production of uranium, zinc, lead, brown coal, nickel, and zircon. It also ranks number two in production of silver, copper, and gold. These minerals are in high demand all over the world. China, for example, is the country’s number one destination for iron where it is in high demand. With the shift from protectionism to free market polic ies the country’s industries have grown at a very high rate. Equating industrial disputation according to the official statistics to industrial harmony would be misleading. This would be so because the two are not the direct opposite of the other. The causes of industrial disputes may be avoided and yet we might not have industrial harmony. Industrial disputes arise when there are disputes with the workforce or the representatives

Strategic management in an international context Q3 and 4 Case Study

Strategic management in an international context Q3 and 4 - Case Study Example The management strategized the Cooperation’s plans to fit the internal and external business environment, and its internal coherence without facing any challenge or influencing its operation negatively (Schultz & Gordon 2011, p27). Some of the issues surrounding Starbucks Corporation business environment includes competition, clients and suppliers, improvements in technology, market, laws and government, social and economic trends. Starbucks first strategy majored in competition. Outside the American boundary, Starbucks faced various competitive situations in every country it carried operations. On many occasions, competition was even more intense than in America. The withdrawal of Starbucks from Australia was an effect of a highly sophisticated coffee market developed and dominated by the Middle Eastern immigrants, Italians, and South Europeans. Throughout continental Europe, Starbucks had to face well-developed markets with excellent standards of coffee preparations and strong preferences. In addition to competition from the bottom, Starbuck faced competition from the top. For instance, the up market Italian coffee roaster illycafe was growing and expanding in America through Franchise arrangement with independent coffee houses. A good justification for the American gourmet coffee market was that immediately Starbucks had educated North America about happiness of good coffee, the new coffee connoisseurs move d on to seek superior alternatives to Starbucks. Therefore, Starbucks initiated various strategies to fit or overcome the competition. Starbuck joined single-served coffee pod systems pioneered by Nespresso subsidiary by launching its single serve, home coffee makers under its Verismo brand (Schultz & Gordon 2011, p. 221). Starbuck also reduced the prices of coffee, which increased sales. Therefore, they gained several customers; hence, more retained earnings and benefits. The next strategy of Starbucks is to fit in the social and economic trend.

Charles Dickens live Essay Example for Free

Charles Dickens live Essay Charles Dickens highly reputable and famous book, Great Expectations has been one of the most dominating, important and effective novels he has written. It originally emerged in a serialised form in All The Year Round (a weekly journal conducted by Charles Dickens) in 1860 -1861 and is, to this day and age, thought to be one of his paramount novels. When the book was published, critics were instantaneous to give diverse and mixed reviews towards the book, disliking the exaggeration of both the characters and plot Charles Dickens had carefully formulated. Although the critics were assorted in their reviews, the readers were genuinely ebullient towards Great Expectations that the 1861 edition enforced five printings. Great Expectations was published during the Victorian era which also was the time in which Charles Dickens lived. The Victorian era had a very high mortality rate due to children catching cholera or tuberculosis, which lead to their deaths. Children had strenuous and dejected childhoods, if they were lucky enough to survive in to adulthood; because families did not have enough money children would work to meet financial satisfaction. They were employed in difficult positions, commonly in factories or jobs people would not usually do, with long working hours lasting eight to twelve hours a day and generally six days a week. By the 1830s certain charities and associations approached the problem and helped children and their families by giving food and clothes. Ensuing the 1840s, school was an obligation and children stopped working to go to school and to get an education. Charles Dickens family did not prosper in wealth, money was a concerning subject in the family. The large familys needs and living expenses were too much for John Dickens (Charles Dickens father) salary that when Charles Dickens was four months the family had to move to a smaller home to save money. Charles Dickens wanted to become a gentleman (an educated man), although it seemed unlikely when John Dickens was arrested and sent to jail due to failure of paying debts. In order to pay off the debt Charles Dickens was sent to a shoe-polish factory. Charles did not have a happy childhood, which I think is reflected in some of his books like Great Expectations. This brings me to the young boy Phillip Pirrip, also known as Pip, the protagonist of the story. I am going to be writing about how Dickens creates sympathy for Pip. Pip never seems to attain his dreams for a more improved life. At the very beginning of the book, we meet Pip and we find out that he will be narrating this story, the book is his story and is told in his words. Pips narration, straightaway, brings about his childhood problems which creates sympathy for him. Pip is first introduced in a graveyard. The setting of a graveyard seems very sombre, dark and upsetting. The marshes were just a long black horizontal line then, as I stopped to look after him; and the river was just another horizontal line, not nearly so broad nor yet so black; and the sky was just a row of long angry red lines and dense black lines intermixed. Darkness and blood is suggested by the imagery of the landscape of the marshes with black and red lines. It does not give a blissful feeling to us either. Pip talks about his deceased parents, he is an orphan and this makes us feel pity for him. He seemed to be a very innocent child, this is reflected through the inscription on his parents graves. Pip has memorised these inscriptions and he has also created an image of his deceased parents and siblings which further tell us that he is an innocent child, as most children have great imaginations compared to adults. We see the advancement of Pips life when he meets with an escaped convict, who escaped from hulks (prison ships that transport criminals to Australia), who is later to be revealed as Abel Magwitch. Pip seems to treat the runaway convict with kindness through fear of the convict. After each question he tilted me over a little more, so as to give me a greater sense of helplessness and danger. This quote of Pips narration, made me feel sorry for him because he is being threatened through fear and you cannot help but feel as if Pip is in grave danger now that he has associated with such a threatening convict. I was dreadfully frightened, and so giddy that I clung to him with both hands. Pip is being bullied by Abel Magwitch, it makes us feel compassion for Pip, it also makes us think Pip is so helpless. His violent sister, who always reminds him how grateful he should be for her bringing him up, and her husband, the ever so friendly blacksmith Joe, who is like a brother to Pip, both look after Pip. I supposed that both Joe Gargery and I were brought up by hand. this quote means both Pip and Joe were beaten by Pips sister. Dickens makes us feel sorry for Pip in this quote due to Pips treatment from his sisters fierce temperament as no one would like to be beaten. Irony is used when the stick used to beat Pip is referred to as the Tickler. Tickler is the cane with which Mrs. Gargery hits Pip. The mannerism in which Mrs. Gargery butters the bread for Pip and Joe is trenchant, she has a forceful and vigorous way of buttering. Her apron is coarse, full of needles and is tough. She wears this apron as a reminder to Joe and Pip meaning that she is looking after them. I tell you what, young fellow, said she, I didnt bring you up by hand to badger peoples lives out. It would be blame to me, and not praise, if I had. People are put in the Hulks because they murder, and because they rob, and forge, and do all sorts of bad; and they always begin by asking questions. Now you get along to bed! To keep Pip well behaved, silent and grateful, Mrs. Gargery threatens, punishes and accuses Pip of ingratitude. Pip himself feels an enormous amount of guilt for his innocent actions, like asking some questions, which have been unfairly warped to seem as if Pip was doing a bad thing. The guilt Pip feels is unprincipled. Although, Pip is not only treated this way by Mrs. Gargery, he is also treated unethically by Mr. Pumblechook, Mr. Wopsle and the Hubbles.

Not In My Backyard Attitude Interferes with Resolutions Essay -- Argum

Not In My Backyard Attitude Interferes with Resolutions Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) conflicts have many characteristics that make successful resolutions difficult to achieve. A typical NIMBY conflict, such as a proposal for a landfill site in a vacant lot behind a low-income housing district, often carries with it controversial problems of environmental justice, distributional equity, and procedural justice. The public affected by the Locally Unwanted Land Use (LULU) raises questions such as à £why me?à ¤ and à £you're targeting me just because I'm a minority.à ¤ Some people find out they are affected by a LULU after it is approved, and claim that they had no notification about the proposed project. Another type of problem with land use conflict centers on the local groups opposed to the project. These people, or NIMBYs, are generally underfunded, highly stressed, inexperienced in negotiation, and lacking political power. They want to participate meaningfully in the decision-making process about their LULU, but many find it difficult to obtain anything but an adversarial position in the process. Power, status, and wealth are the key attributes to gaining attention and consideration from the broader community. Unfortunately, most public NIMBYs are minorities, live in rural areas, live in the South, or have middle- to lower-class incomes (Morris, 1994). In their defense, though, NIMBYs can make harmful land uses difficult to site by creating gridlock on current standard operating procedures. NIMBY groups may break apart in the middle of the negotiating process, often due to internal power struggles. When this happens, the group tends to lose essential credibility, funding, and support from the greater public, which can become co... ...tor, 1992). Perhaps the LULU risk that the public is hearing from the à £expertsà ¤ is in fact inaccurate. As a future recommendation for NIMBY conflicts, both the public and technical community views should be treated as problematic. Also, there should not be such a stereotypical view of leaders of activist groups as being irrational, over-emotional, or ill informed. Finally, NIMBY activists should see themselves as part of the situation that the project will address, instead of focusing on just the narrow issue of opposing the project. They must see the larger picture and be willing to offer and maybe help implement alternatives to the project. References Freudenburg, W. R. & Pastor, S.K. 1992. NIMBYs and LULUs: Stalking the Syndromes. Journal of Social Issues, 48: 39-61. Morris, J.A. 1994. Not In My Backyard à ¶ The Handbook. San Diego: Silvercat Publications.

Ikea Brand

IKEA has created a global brand focused on low prices and contemporary designs. In 2009, Interbrand ranked IKEA 28th on its list of the top 100 global brands (# 35 in 2008 indicating 10% increase in brand value over just year). IKEA's success is attributed to its vast experience in the furniture retail market, its product differentiation and cost leadership. The brand Ikea has become iconic in consumers’ minds. CEO, Anders Dahlvig, states â€Å"the awareness of our brand is much bigger than the size of our company† (Kling, K & Goteman, I. 2003). IKEA is growing aggressively around the world and at each of the store openings there are wacky promotions. For example, at an Atlanta store opening (2005), the company offered a $4,000 gift certificate for the first person in line. (The man who won the contest camped outside the store in the boiling heat of summer for seven days. ) The recent â€Å"IKEA facebook campaign† shows how they are leveraging the power of social media networks to attract target customers. To promote the opening of its new store in Malmo, Sweden, they created a facebook profile for their store manager and the team then uploaded IKEA showroom images into the store album. People were encouraged to tag items in the photos with their name to win it for free! As the word about the campaign spread (through participant's profiles, news feed links and other forms of word of mouth), the photos were tagged in seconds and brand awareness grew rapidly. Not only did the Malmo IKEA store became popular in just few weeks, the story was picked up throughout the world by various news channels and online blogs. IKEA’s competitors include: Kmart and Target Corp. in the US, Fly in France, Japan Nitori Co. in Japan. They differentiate themselves from their competitors on the basis of: Price: IKEA is perceived as a value brand following their â€Å"affordable solutions for everyday living† tagline. Ikea focuses on lowest price segmentation. The company can do this because they have one of the lowest operating margins in the industry, 10%. As compared to its competitors, IKEA stands out as a cost leader providing affordable products with good quality and design. â€Å"To achieve that goal, the company's 12 full-time designers at Almhult, Sweden, along with 80 freelancers, work hand in hand with in-house production teams to identify the appropriate materials and least costly suppliers. With a network of 1,300 suppliers in 53 countries, Ikea works overtime to find the right manufacturer for the right product. Simplicity, a tenet of Swedish design, helps keep costs down. For e. g. the 50 cents Trofe mug comes only in blue and white, the least expensive pigments! ). †(Carpel, K. , 2005) The company focuses on cost control, similar to Wal- Mart's practice of squeezing suppliers and Toyota's elimination of waste and errors in manufacturing. IKEA is highly Competitive at this front while constantly dropping the price (2-3% annually) to provide the best values for customers. The suppliers and designers have to customize some Ikea products to make them sell better in local markets. For e. g. Julie Desrosiers, the bedroom-line manager at Ikea of Sweden, visited people's houses in the U. S. and Europe to peek into their closets, learning that â€Å"Americans prefer to store most of their clothes folded, and Italians like to hang. † The result was a wardrobe that features deeper drawers for U. S. customers. (Carpell, K. 2005) Majority of products at IKEA are designed for flat-pack distribution so that they can be easily stored and then transported in the average car. They are easy to self-assemble by the customer. IKEA’s brand positioning and how it impacts their brand image and branding strategies. As IKEA is expanding rapidly around the globe, it faces a number of challenges in terms of varied cultural, demographic and market specific needs. The ‘one-design-suits-all' global expansion strategy might not be suited for the culturally diverse markets, yet the brand is perceived in a similar way by the customers around the globe exhibiting low price as the core brand value. As IKEA expands globally, the branding strategies revolve around providing value (quality and design) to the customers at affordable prices. References Capell, K. ( November 14, 2005). Ikea, How the Swedish Retailer Became a Global Cult Brand,† Business Week, pp. 96-101. Retrieved from http://www. businessweek. com/magazine/content/05_46/b3959001. htm Lee, S. (2007). IKEA: A Branded Experience Is More Important Than Customer-Centricity. Retrieved from http://www. customerthink. com/article/ikea_branded_experience_important

The 10,000 Hour Rule

The 10,000 hour rule by Malcolm Gladwell talks about Bill Joy and he has a very interesting life story. Bill Joy attends University of Michigan that only has time-sharing system for computers. He is able to develop the system and prepare himself for the computer revolution when it is not even ready to arise. In section 2 of this book, â€Å"In fact, researchers have settled on what they believe is the magic number for true expertise: ten thousand hours. † Bill Joy spends about 10,000 hours for the computer programs and people still use those programs in these days. In this story, Gladwell tell us that Joy is known as â€Å"Most Studious Student† back in high school. The definition of studious is hard-working and disposes. Bill Joy does not have an innate talent, but he is very dedicating to his works. He work very hard to improve that computer programming and very passionate about his work. Also, the computer center is open for 24 hours and this has nothing to do with Bill Joy’s innate ability. Bill Joy is just hard worker and that’s what makes him a genius. Gladwell is definitely not suggesting Blii Joy’s success because of his innate ability. He is actually trying to tell the reader about Bill Joy’s dedication of his work. â€Å"Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good,† states in section 2 from this story. Bill Joy never stops to develop the Oh 2 computer programs. Therefore, 10,000 hours are the amount of practice time for a person to become best at something or successful. Not everyone can do that because it is a very long time and a person need a lot of patience to reach that goal.

Free Essays on Manchild

Claude Brown’s novel, Manchild in the Promised Land, is not only a story about one man's struggle to find freedom and intellectual happiness, but a story about his discovery of his own inherent strengths and abilities. Throughout the novel, he progresses from compliance to independence, from invincibility to harsh reality, and from self-doubt to dignity. Aided by intuitive mentors and his shrewd judgement, Sonny breaks free from the vicious cycle of drugs and temptation that plagues Harlem and those closest to him. He escapes with greater understanding of where his misplaced generation belongs. At the precocious age of six, Sonny delves into a lifestyle of stealing, lying, and playing hookey with his ten-year-old cronies. He learns to be independent at this young age due to the hostile environment; basic commodities are scarce, his father regularly â€Å"beats the devil† out of him, and his mother persists in her position as the sole caregiver in the family. The overall dismal aura stems from Sonny and his family being disillusioned victims of what should have been. Originally scraping a living as sharecroppers in the South, they followed a ray of hope from the North, which promised unlimited opportunities, bathrooms, electricity, running water, and essentially a second chance at life. They bid farewell to long hours in the cotton fields and racial animosity, only to be engulfed in the overcrowded, hostile, slums up North in Harlem. Sonny’s rebellious conduct is a way to cope with his generation’s helplessness. Blacks earn much more money dealing drugs or prostituting themselves than working menial jobs. Consequently, there is no shame of participating in criminal activity if it means putting enough food on the table. Furthermore, white government officials and policemen neglect the needs of the black community in Harlem. By acting out in violence, perhaps the boys find a means of asserting one's individuality in an oppres... Free Essays on Manchild Free Essays on Manchild Claude Brown’s novel, Manchild in the Promised Land, is not only a story about one man's struggle to find freedom and intellectual happiness, but a story about his discovery of his own inherent strengths and abilities. Throughout the novel, he progresses from compliance to independence, from invincibility to harsh reality, and from self-doubt to dignity. Aided by intuitive mentors and his shrewd judgement, Sonny breaks free from the vicious cycle of drugs and temptation that plagues Harlem and those closest to him. He escapes with greater understanding of where his misplaced generation belongs. At the precocious age of six, Sonny delves into a lifestyle of stealing, lying, and playing hookey with his ten-year-old cronies. He learns to be independent at this young age due to the hostile environment; basic commodities are scarce, his father regularly â€Å"beats the devil† out of him, and his mother persists in her position as the sole caregiver in the family. The overall dismal aura stems from Sonny and his family being disillusioned victims of what should have been. Originally scraping a living as sharecroppers in the South, they followed a ray of hope from the North, which promised unlimited opportunities, bathrooms, electricity, running water, and essentially a second chance at life. They bid farewell to long hours in the cotton fields and racial animosity, only to be engulfed in the overcrowded, hostile, slums up North in Harlem. Sonny’s rebellious conduct is a way to cope with his generation’s helplessness. Blacks earn much more money dealing drugs or prostituting themselves than working menial jobs. Consequently, there is no shame of participating in criminal activity if it means putting enough food on the table. Furthermore, white government officials and policemen neglect the needs of the black community in Harlem. By acting out in violence, perhaps the boys find a means of asserting one's individuality in an oppres...

Where to Buy German Books Online

Where to Buy German Books Online Even though large bookstores have for the most part shut down in America there are still many independent bookstores. Many of them cater to specific genres or types of books. If learning languages and foreign translations are your things then these bookstores are a must see. The following is a listing of German bookstores and distributors both online and via telephone in the United States an Canada. Die Bà ¼cherstube If youre  looking for imported German books and music, Die Bà ¼cherstube website is for you. This family business has been running online since 1996. Dont let the antiquated look of the site fool you, theyve got what you need. P.O. Box 700Pelion, SC 29123Tel: 1-888-BUECHER (283-2437)Toll-free in US/CanadaFax: (803) 894-5307Email: infobuecherstube.com Continental Book Company If you need language and common core books the Continental Book Company online store is perfect for you. Its website is also a little old school but its easy to navigate and find what you need. It provides books in nearly a dozen languages.   625 E. 70th Ave., #5Denver, CO 80229Tel: (303) 289-1761Fax: (303) 289-1764 European Book Company, Inc If youre hoping for a more tailored experience check out European Book Companys website. If you cant find what youre looking for in their extensive digital stack just send them an email. Anything they cant find in-house theyre usually happy to special order.   925 Larkin StreetSan Francisco, CA 94109Tel: (415) 474-0626Fax: (415) 474-0630Email: infoeuropeanbook.com Galda Leuchter International Booksellers This library service is actually part of a German publisher which specializes in academic texts. If youre a college student needing older German texts the Galda Leuchter International Booksellers store will suit your needs.   Galda Library Services Inc.33 Richdale AvenueCambridge, MA 02140Tel.: (617) 864-8232Fax: (617) 497-0937Email: glsbookworld.std.com Abe German Book Center   If youre really looking to cut out large corporate sites then you have to check out Abe German Book Center. The website links together thousands of independent bookstores, allowing you to access all their catalogs from one site.   German Book Center N.A. Inc.1317 County Road 56Mountaindale, NY 12763Email: germanbookmsn.com GLP German Language Publications, Inc. If youre really looking to immerse yourself in the German language, you should try reading the German editions of your favorite magazines.  GLP German Language Publications, Inc. offers subscriptions of popular German newspapers and magazines.   153 South Dean St.Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07631Tel.: (201) 871-1010Fax: (201) 871-0870Email: 75557.105compuserve.com IBIS - International Book Import Service, Inc. Located in an old Jack Daniels Distillery, this family business has been serving individuals and universities since 1989. Let International Book Import Service fulfill all your German language book needs.   161 Main StreetP.O. Box 8188Lynchburg, TN 37352-8188Tel: (800) 277-4247Fax: (931) 759-7555Email: IBISIBIService.com New Mastodon If youre looking for German books, DVDs, CDs and fine prints you need to visit New Mastodons site. This family-run business also offers media in Spanish and Italian.   5820 Wilshire Blvd. #101Los Angeles, CA 90036Tel: (323) 525 1948Fax: (323) 525 0266Email: newmastodonearthlink.net Schoenhofs Foreign Books Inc. Founded in 1856 this store offers one of the largest selections of foreign language books in North America. If you love to visit brick and mortar stores Schoenhofs Foreign Books Inc. is worth the visit.   76a Mount Auburn StreetCambridge, MA 02138Tel. (617) 547-8855Fax: (617) 547-8551Email: infoschoenhofs.com Book Stage   Book Stage  offers new as well as rare and out of print books. Its a great place to find antique titles.   126 Waterloo St. S.Stratford, ON N5A 4B4Tel.: 1 519 2720937Fax: 1 519 2720927Email: bookstagebellnet.ca

E-Business and Value Chains Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

E-Business and Value Chains - Essay Example Thus, according to Post & Anderson (2003), e-business is a general term that encompasses business that is done using electronic means and it is increasingly being regarded as a valuable tool for organisations in conducting their business during the contemporary period. As such, this report seeks to critically analyse the extent to which the internet has impacted on the operations of PC World Business through implementation of e-business strategy such as e-marketing. The report focuses on impacts of e-marketing on PC World Business and attempts to address the following issues: 1. How has the organisation’s business changed with the development of the internet? 2. What new opportunities have been there for the organisation to create additional customer value? 3. Assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the organisation’s current use of ICT tools to support the organisations overall business offering. 4. Suggestions about e-business strategy improvements and alternative ICT tools which could be used to create greater customer value or to help differentiate the organisation from competitors. 1.0 Changes made by the internet to PC World Business According to its official website, (http://www.pcwb.co.uk/, ND) PC World Business was founded in 1991 and it is a computer organisation which is based in the UK and it deals with selling different types of PCs including notebooks, laptops, printers and desktops. The organisation offers a lot of products that are related to information and communication and the use of the internet has significantly contributed to its performance as going to be discussed below. The internet has immensely contributed to the way PC World Business collects, stores and processes information which has significantly impacted on its e-commerce activities. The internet has greatly improved employee performance as well as the company’s marketing strategies used to reach the customers. Through the use of the internet, it can be noted that the customers now have the ability to evaluate products offered while marketers on the other hand are also aware of the impact of new information and communication technology on the way they carry out their business (Robinson, 1997). The internet therefore has a dual impact which is beneficial to both the customers and the organisation. The use of the internet at PC World Business has greatly improved the performance of the employees and the organisation as a whole. Research has shown that that the sales for PC World in 2004/5 were ?1,695 million but they have increased to more than ?2, 000 in 2008 owing to developments in their e-marketing strategies (http://www.pcworld.com/, N.D). Information gathering about the customers has been made relatively easy and it can be processed at a faster speed in order to meet their needs and this is regarded as a basic tenet of marketing. Traditionally, the organisation has been conducting its business using postal services to do all business but due to technological advancements especially as a result of the advent of the internet, it is now possible to conduct any business online where customers can place their orders online at any given time and it is possible to access feedback for 24 hours a day. The organisation now uses a specially designed website which enables the marketers to interact directly with the customers given that a two way communication channel is enhanced and it is also easy to get feedback from the customers. The internet has made it possible for the marketers to obtain first hand information from the customers about their needs hence it