Dry Docks Business Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Dry Docks Business - Article Example Amazingly, manual labor was very much involved during that time where able-bodied men helped in bringing in the ship. An engine known as organois was used in draining the water, allowing the vessel to be supported by cross-beams.(cite) Because of this, dry docks are considered part of inventions belonging to the classical period. Nevertheless, dry docks also were used in China during the Song Dynasty. Obviously, dragon ships during that time which carried imperial couches were made of solid wood. Because of this material, there was a need to repair the wooden hulls since it decayed quickly. It was only in a later period that some wise official suggested the concept of a dry dock. In another part of the world, Henry VIII commissioned the first dry dock was built in Portsmouth in 1495. In modern times, the drydock at Belfast , Ireland was once the biggest drydock in the world. While in the United States, Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipbuildings Dry Dock 12 is considered the largest, situated closely to the slipway where the unlucky Titanic was constructed. Due to the competitive maritime industry, more dry docks have been constructed on many parts of the world. According to the April issue of Maritime, the largest dry dock in the world is now located at Ulsan, South Korea. It was described by the article as : â€Å"†¦.490 meters (1,600 feet) long, 115 meters across and 13.5 meters deep, Hyundai has announced that it now has the world’s largest drydock. Imagine an area roughly the size of 7 soccer fields and that is what you would see at the new H-Dock in Ulsan, South Korea.   The dock is custom designed to build floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels and includes two 1,600ton goliath cranes.   Traditionally FPSO’s hull sides and topside are built separately. The hull is built in a ship

Sustainable agriculture Essay Example for Free

Sustainable agriculture Essay Are Organic Foods All They Are Hyped Up To Be: An Overview Of The Organic Food Industry Today, with cancer and obesity cases increasing quickly, people are turning their attention to the foods they are consuming. Such diets as the vegan, vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, paleo, raw, and locavore are becoming more and more popular. The one thing these diets all have in common is the belief that organic foods are better than conventional foods. Similar to conventional foods, organic foods contain chemicals and toxic bacteria, emit more greenhouse gases, and are not sustainable. The chemicals in organic foods cause harm to people and the environment. Furthermore, organic foods travel long distances, producing larger amounts of greenhouse gases and changing the nutritional content of the food. Organic foods also use more land and produces less food. Though there is much hype about eating organic produce, consumers may want to weigh out their options. Most people believe organic foods are better for you and the environment because they do not use chemicals. For instance, The USDA website states that organic foods are foods that are produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients; bioengineering; sewage sludge; or ionizing radiation (USDA). The truth is organic foods claim to be chemical-free except the organic pesticides they are allowed to use are so dangerous they have been â€Å"grandfathered† with current regulations and are not required to undergo strict modern safety tests. For example, organic farmers are allowed to use copper to treat fungal diseases on their farmland crops. Copper is not biodegradable and stays in the soil forever and is toxic in excessive amounts to the human body (Johnston). Another example is in India, who is a large manufacturer and exporter of organic foods to the United States. It has recently been estimated that 75% of India’s surface water is contaminated by human and agricultural wastes (Michael). Organic foods can be just as harmful to humans and our environment. There is also debate whether ingesting harmful chemicals, which are sprayed during conventional farming methods in order to kill other living organisms, are toxic to the human body. Because organic foods do not use fungicides and such, they are also frequently contaminated with bacteria and naturally occurring toxins that are harmful for human digestion (Miller). Studies have been performed to test the harmful effects to humans from organic chemicals. A recent study released by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of 110 people and 358 matched controls showed two organic pesticides commonly used today, rotenone and paraquat, are linked to the development of Parkinson’s disease in humans. Use of either of these pesticides makes people 2. 5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Rotenone prevents the mitochondria from making necessary energy within cells. Similarly, paraquat produces excessive harmful oxygen by-products that are harmful to cellular structures (NIH). Furthermore, A 2007 Study of Use of Products and Exposure-Related Behavior (SUPERB) surveyed 364 children between ages two and five in order to compare toxin consumption and cancer risk factors. Research found all children examined had excessive amounts of arsenic, dieldrin, DDE and dioxins, all known to cause cancer. In addition, over 95% of preschool children had unacceptable amounts of acrylamide; a cooking byproduct found in potato and tortilla chips, also know to cause cancer (University of California). With so many pesticides and toxins, organic or not, proving to be harmful to the human race, it is difficult to understand what the best options are. Research concludes all chemicals, natural or synthetic, are damaging to the human body and the environment. So the question remains, is it better for people to ingest organic and synthetic chemicals or harmful bacteria and toxins? Organic foods travel long distances and may be more damaging to the earth. Rich Pirog, the associate director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, states that food travels 1,500 miles on average from farm to consumer, giving birth to the term â€Å"food miles†(DeWeerdt). Priog’s team concluded that conventional food distribution systems used four to 17 times more fuel and emitted five to 17 times more CO2 than the local and regional systems. However, Priog mentions that food miles are a good measure of how far food has traveled. But they’re not a very good measure of the food’s environmental impact (DeWeerdt). For instance, heated greenhouse tomatoes in Britain use up to 100 times more energy than those produced in fields in Africa (Johnston). Another example is our country’s largest retailer for organic foods, Whole Foods. They actually purchase most of their products from China and only mention it in small fine print on the back of the products. Upon choosing your produce, it is helpful to check the label to identify the food miles accumulated. Media and advertisements lead people to believe organic produce has a greater nutritional value than conventional foods. The USDA website makes no claims that organically produced food is safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food (USDA/Miller). Likewise, the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency reported that there is no proof organic food is more nutritious than conventionally grown varieties (Taverene). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the organic food industry. Their standards have recently been scrutinized for allowing minimal amounts of approved chemicals. The EPA suggests the minimal traces of dangerous chemicals found in organic or conventional foods are not harmful to humans. However, studies report children and elderly are at the greatest risk of the damaging effects from chemicals. Charles Benbrook, previously a chief scientist for the Organic Center, states that the best benefits of organic foods are for children, pregnant women, and elderly who all tend to have weakened immune systems. Furthermore, he also reports studies that have followed pesticide levels in pregnant women’s blood and found their children to score four to seven percent lower on IQ tests compared to their classmates (Chang). Organic foods are a wise choice for certain populations. Most people choose organic products believing they are sustainable. Organic farms yield 20-50% less produce compared to conventional farms, making organic farming a less efficient use of land. For example, organic potatoes use less in terms of fertilizer production and/or energy, but require more fossil fuel for plowing. For example, a hectare of conventionally farmed land produces 2. 5 times more potatoes than an organic one. Subsequently, if only organic foods were available, half the current human population would starve to death (Taverene). Orgainc foods tend to cost more than conventional foods. Although organic food yields are less, prices are as much as triple the cost of conventional foods (Taverene). This is due to the greater amounts of labor involved with organic farming procedures. Organic farmers are also held legally responsible for cross-contamination by genetically engineered foods, which in turns raises costs of organic produce. Organic farming uses fewer chemicals, which in turn promotes greater farmland biodiversity. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic fields also require less irrigation, reduce pollutants in ground water and create richer soils that aid plant growth while reducing erosion. Organic methods also minimize pesticides that can end up in your drinking glass. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports various cities in the United States to have unsafe levels of tap water consistently for weeks at a time (DeWeerdt). Some studies show no benefit to people consuming organic foods. Although high doses of pesticide cause cancers and birth defects, there is no evidence proving the miniscule amounts of chemicals found in conventional foods are damaging to human health. Some studies released show cancer occurrences among farmers, who are often exposed to relatively high levels of these chemicals, are no more frequent than in other occupations. Furthermore, during the last fifty years, during a time when synthetic chemicals became the industry standard for food production, the average life expectancy has increased by over seven years (Chang). Organic foods claim to have more nutritional content than conventional foods. However, every fruit and vegetable has differing nutritional composition, which depends on a wide variety of factors including but not limited to growing conditions and season, fertilizer administration, and means of crop protection (i. e. , herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, etc. ) Food products from animal sources also differ in nutritional contents depending on such factors as age, breed and feeding routine of the animal. Furthermore, the nutritional compositions of raw foods increase during processing, transportation, storage, and cooking before consumption (DeWeerdt). Locally grown food decreases the transportation period, resulting in less carbon emissions to the environment and less oxidization to the produce, therefore providing better nutritional content (Chang). Furthermore, organic food usually tastes better, contains no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, which are known to cause cancer, and are more often locally grown. Furthermore, the USDA describes organic food as, food produced by farmers who promote the use of renewable resources and the conservation of water and soil to improve the quality of the environment for future generations (USDA). Organic foods are not always better than conventional foods. It must be considered the bacteria and toxins remaining on organic produce, the environmental effects and chemical additions in order to make an adequate decision of what type of produce to purchase. After studying the USDA food pyramid logo, it is apparent that the federal government encourages consuming more fruits, vegetables, and grains without any evaluation of the current farming procedures that manufacture these foods. The food pyramid also suggests an apple is an apple and that we should be eating more apples and less processed foods, sugars and fats. (Michael).

E.B. Whites Once More to the Lake Essay -- E.B. White Once More Lake

E.B. White's Once More to the Lake "Once More to the Lake", by E.B. White was an essay in which a father struggles to find himself. The essay is about a little boy and his father. They go to a lake where the father had been in his childhood years. The father looks back at those years and tries to relive the moments through his son's eyes. He knows he can't, and has difficulty dealing with the fact that he can't go back in time. E.B. White's way of letting the reader know that the father is in a way depressed, is through great detail and description. The story mentions how the lake has changes since the father had seen it last. How the once gravel roads have been paved over, and the sail boats are now replaced with boats with outboard motors. As the reader, one can sense a...

My Earliest Memory Essay examples -- Essays Papers

I have a notoriously bad memory even now, and I have no recollection of it ever having been any better. Thinking back, I have reasonably clear and complete memories for only the past three years or so, becoming increasingly spotty and episodic the older they are. On the far end, I also am familiar with a set of stories about by infancy that my parents have told me. It is somewhere in this border between implanted stories and fuzzy memories that I look in trying to find my earliest memory. What I come up with is a memory from preschool, actually a constellation of memories surrounding that particular one, from a specific, short time period. At some point, my preschool class was presenting a play about the fall, including a song that, for whatever reason, I recall describing the downward flow of sap within the trees in preparation for winter. I also remember ultimately missing the performance because of a family vacation, to go camping in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas to a favorite campground named Gunner's Pool (adjacent to a much inferior campground, Barkshed, that my parents h...

Sunrise Over Fallujah

Last Year Popular author Walter Dean Meyers published his newly book titled Sunrise Over Fallujah, His final book in the anticipated war series. This is the best war book he has ever written. Since he was in Vietnam, and he has relatives that have fought in the war against terrorism. So he has major experience in the war factor, knowing what could possibly be going on. Sunrise Over Fallujah is about a teenage boy from Harlem, New York. His name is Robin, and he joined the army. He's not so sure why he did because he is always so nervous about it. When he joins he meets someone named Jonesy. Jonesy black man who is very confident in himself and loves to write and listen to blues music. Robin also meets some pretty harsh people like Marla, Marla is a very pretty lady who thinks she is better then everyone she meets. In the beginning of the book it starts off describing how Iraq is and if Robin is going to be in the war. Everyone wants to go into the war for some reason, but Robin, and Jonesy are pretty nervous about it. Since Mr. Meyers knows about war there’s nothing in this book that can disappoint. The real problem is that they have their enemies trying to get them with detonators, and other dangerous explosive weapons. Mr. Meyers shows in this book how soldiers can grow brotherhood with other soldiers. He is very descriptive so it’s like you’re watching a movie. Meyers shows how gruesome war could really be. He also shows that the war could effect everyone including children. In the end Jonesy becoming a hero, and Robin overcame his worries. Jonesy became a hero because a blind kid was lost in a street battle and Jonesy ran after him and saved him. Then later Jonesy died because of his gun wounds he had suffered. Robin finally became used to the fact that he was in the army, and stopped worrying.

How did William Byrd understand his role in Virginia society essays

How did William Byrd understand his role in Virginia society essays Byrd was a man active in the political processes of Virginia. From this portion of his diary we learn that he was a statesman and served as a member of the Council of Virginia. Undoubtedly he was a highly educated man, a wealthy man and was extremely religious, and he used this attributes to establish his role in society. Byrds diary reveals that as a political man he was at top of his class. As one reads deeper into his diary, it can be found that he is in constant communication with elite men in his society. Everything from his frequent visits to the President of the Council, to his meetings with the governor of Virginia show that William Byrd felt that we was an elite man in society who was well respected by his class and subordinates. This respect can be seen in several instanced were he was sought after for advice. Many neighbors would come to Byrd to speak of their financial difficulties, ask for advice and in some cases Byrd would give out loans to certain friends in this situation. In terms of Government, William Byrd sat on the Council and held great powers. His role in the Council was that of a basic judge who gave his opinion on many issues from civil disputes to criminal charges as extreme as murder. Later on we begin to learn of his powerful role in the dividing border line between Virginia and Carolina. His powers in government consisted of paying the other Council men and discussing the day to day problems in the community with his fellow Council men. It can also be seen that Byrd is looked to as an elite man with a wide range of skills that are noted by his appointment to the Colonel of several Militias. William felt that he had a great deal of power in society, and to some extent he abused this power that he had. One characteristic in which we abused his power was his view on women in his society and his tendencies towards them. In one case Byrd sexually harassed Mrs. Chriswell, who was...

Ancestry of George W. Bush - Bush Family Tree

Ancestry of George W. Bush - Bush Family Tree Originating in Columbus, Ohio, the Bush family has developed into one of the most accomplished political families of the 20th century. Other important individuals in the Bush family tree include the Spencer family that produced Diana, Princess of Wales, which makes George W. Bush a 17th cousin to Prince William of Wales. The great great great grandmother of President George W. Bush, Harriet Smith (wife of Obidiah Newcomb Bushs wife) and her descendants, are distant cousins of John Kerry. First Generation 1. George Walker BUSH was born on 6 Jul 1946 in New Haven, Connecticut. George Walker BUSH married: Laura Lane Welch on 5 November 1977 in the First United Methodist Church of Midland, Texas. Laura WELCH was born on 4 November 1946 to Harold Bruch WELCH and Jenna Louise (Hawkins) WELCH. Second Generation 2. George Herbert Walker BUSH was born on 12 Jun 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts.1 George Herbert Walker BUSH and Barbara PIERCE were married on 6 Jan 1945 in Rye, Westchester County, New York.1 3. Barbara PIERCE was born on 8 Jun 1925 in Rye, Westchester County, New York. George Herbert Walker BUSH and Barbara PIERCE had the following children: 1 i. George Walker BUSHii. Pauline Robinson BUSHiii. Jeb BUSHiv. Neil BUSHv. Marvin BUSHvi. Dorothy BUSH Third Generation 4. Prescott Sheldon BUSH was born on 15 May 1895 in Columbus, Ohio.2 Between 1952 and 1963 he was an U.S. Senator. He died of lung cancer on 8 Oct 1972 in New York City, New York.2 Prescott Sheldon BUSH and Dorothy WALKER were married on 6 Aug 1921 in Kennebunkport, Maine.2 5. Dorothy WALKER3,4 was born on 1 Jul 1901 in Missouri.2 She died on 19 Nov 1992 in Greenwich, Connecticut.2 Prescott Sheldon BUSH and Dorothy WALKER had the following children: i. Prescott Sheldon (Pres) BUSH Jr was born on 10 Aug 1922.22 ii. George Herbert Walker BUSH.iii. Nancy BUSH was born on 3 Feb 1926.2iv. Jonathan James BUSH was born on 6 May 1931.2v. William Henry Trotter (Buck or Bucky) BUSH was born on 14 Jul 1938.2 6. Marvin PIERCE was born on 17 Jun 1893 in Sharpsville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He died on 17 Jul 1969 in Rye, Westchester County, New York. Marvin PIERCE and Pauline ROBINSON were married in Aug 1918. 7. Pauline ROBINSON was born in Apr 1896 in Ohio. She died from injuries suffered in a car accident on 23 Sep 1949 in Rye, Westchester County, New York. Marvin PIERCE and Pauline ROBINSON had the following children: i. Martha PIERCE was born in 1920.ii. James Robinson PIERCE was born in 1921.3 iii. Barbara PIERCE Fourth Generation 8. Samuel Prescott BUSH2 was born on 4 Oct 1863 in Brick Chuch, New Jersey.2 He died on 8 Feb 1948 in Columbus, Ohio. Samuel Prescott BUSH and Flora SHELDON were married on 20 Jun 1894 in Columbus, Ohio. 9. Flora SHELDON was born on 17 Mar 1872 in Franklin Co, Ohio. She died on 4 Sep 1920 in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Samuel Prescott BUSH and Flora SHELDON had the following children: 4 i. Prescott Sheldon BUSH 10. George Herbert WALKER was born on 11 Jun 1875 in St. Louis, Missouri. He died on 24 Jun 1953 in New York City, New York. George Herbert WALKER and Lucretia (Loulie) WEAR were married on 17 Jan 1899 in St. Louis, Missouri. 11. Lucretia (Loulie) WEAR was born on 17 Sep 1874 in St. Louis, Missouri. She died on 28 Aug 1961 in Biddeford, Maine. George Herbert WALKER and Lucretia (Loulie) WEAR had the following children: 5 i. Dorothy WALKER 12. Scott PIERCE was born on 18 Jan 1866 in Sharpsville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.3 Scott PIERCE and Mabel MARVIN were married on 26 Nov 1891. 13. Mabel MARVIN was born on 4 Jun 1869 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Scott PIERCE and Mabel MARVIN had the following children: 6 i. Marvin PIERCE. ii. Charlotte PIERCE was born on 30 Sep 1894.4 She died on 15 Aug 1971 in Dayton, Ohio.4 14. James Edgar ROBINSON was born on 15 Aug 1868 in Marysville, Ohio. He died in 1931. James Edgar ROBINSON and Lula Dell FLICKINGER were married on 31 Mar 1895 in Marion County, Ohio. 15. Lula Dell FLICKINGER was born in Mar 1875 in Byhalia, Ohio. James Edgar ROBINSON and Lula Dell FLICKINGER had the following children: 7 i. Pauline ROBINSON

Manifest Destinies role in the breakdown of Indian Culture essays

Manifest Destinies role in the breakdown of Indian Culture essays Native American culture in the western United States suffered greatly during the mid-1800s. Intrusions by white settlers believing in Manifest Destiny, or the obvious belief that Americans were meant to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific, caused the Natives to be driven from their homelands. Their culture was continually broken apart by relocations and severed treaties. Many tribes refused the forced relocations to reservations. Thousands of Natives were killed during the following confrontations. Manifest Destiny played a key role in the demise of Native American culture during the 1800s. The Native Americans living in the western region of the United States had very well-developed cultures. The nearly 150,000 Native Americans living in the west were divided amongst many different nations. Most Indians followed large herds of buffalo that roamed about the plains. Indians lived in tipis, which can be compared to modern day tents. They carried these tents around with them on travois and hunted Buffalo. The buffalo was extremely important to the Indians. It could be made into food, leather and clothing. The bones were used to make tools and the sinews to make thread. Nothing was wasted in Native American living. The Native Americans were at peace with nature and they shared the land that they lived on. Their unique culture was doomed when settlers began eyeing the vast western regions. They saw the lands as a big empty space to start over on. This region was not empty; however, people had been living there for hundreds of years. Conflicts quickly arose between the settlers and the Native Americans living on the western lands. Most settlers believed in Manifest Destiny and thought little of the Indians. They believed that they were superior to the Indians and that they needed to be brought into white mens civilization. As expansion drew westward more and more Native Americans were forced...

Impact of Economic Background Conditions on Growth of Labor Unions Essay

Impact of Economic Background Conditions on Growth of Labor Unions - Essay Example This paper offers thorough analysis of the current situation in the labor market and the change of labor union importance in protection of rights of the workers. Since the origin of labor unions workers are aware they are meant to be protected from the extremes of employers. It is primarily for this reason that unions were popular among workers. They negotiated for workers salary, terms of service and intervened on behalf of workers on a number of issues. Labor unions were therefore relevant and useful to workers. Now however, fewer workers are willing to join unions. There are a number of reasons for reluctance. One of the commonest is changes in economic situations. Unions try but cannot effectively negotiate on behalf of workers during hard economic times. There is little to be done when companies lay off workers to avert effects of recession. Sometimes as in the recent economic recession companies close down without compensating workers. People lose jobs, salaries are slashed yet unions look on. The public is aware companies will lose out to competitors if all workers are to be compensated In addition globalization is also proving a challenge to labor unions. Most companies are opening branches in remote areas where workers are paid low wages. Unionism in some of developing countries is low and workers are ignorant of their rights. Similarly there is high mobility of labor yet activities of the unions are still tied in local settings. The majority workers immigrating to other countries do not see the need to join unions.

Bloody Sunday Incident Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Bloody Sunday Incident - Assignment Example When the public loses trust in its law enforcement system, then it is time to review the principles involved and get them changed. Introduction From 1960 through 1969, the United States experienced numerous changes such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the escalation in the Vietnam War, the first landing on the Moon, the rise of the hippy era and notable events in the fight for Civil Rights. One of these Civil Rights events was the walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama by 600 Black Americans on Sunday, March 7, 1965. The purpose of the march was to obtain the right for Blacks to vote (Hunter & Barker 2011). The governor of Alabama was George Wallace, who was considered a racist and segregationist. Alabama State Troopers showed up in force and before long, the gathering turned into a bloody confrontation, with the police seen as using excessive force on the group (BBC 2013). A number of people were hospitalized with injuries and the effects of tear g as. The march would later be conducted again on March 28, 1965, this time with Martin Luther King in attendance. 1.The key points for the Bloody Sunday event were that 600 Black Americans conducted a peaceful march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. ... 2. The event occurred in Selma, Alabama, March 7th, 1965 on US Route 80 at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The protesters were pushed back to the Browns Chapel Methodist Church which was where the march had started from (BBC 2013). 3. The peaceful protesters started from the Browns Chapel Methodist Church and walked along US Route 80 to the Edmund Pettus Bridge. They did not stop anywhere nor did they conduct any illegal actions. Governor Wallace had gotten wind of the fact that there would be a march by the Blacks and called up the State Troopers to meet the protesters and have them disperse and go back home. When the protesters met up with the troopers, they were told to go home or go to church but they would not move. The police, with gas masks on, began moving forward until they reached the first line of protesters (BBC 2013). At that point, the troopers began shoving people backwards and people started falling down. There were also troopers on horseback as well who were wielding wood clubs. Many were beaten, even those that were already down on the ground. At some point, some of the protesters began throwing bricks and bottles at the police in an effort to fight back. A number of people were hurt and put into the hospital (Davis 1999). 4. There were two reasons that this march took place. The first was that the Blacks had been having meetings about conducting a walk over the bridge to fight for the right to vote for Blacks. The second reason for the march was that after a February rally meeting held at one church in Marion, Alabama, when the church goers came out the church, they were attacked by state troopers and one man, Jimmie Lee Jackson, who was trying to protect his mother from being clubbed, was

Summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 41

Summary - Assignment Example The author has urged that the simulations should be closer to real world scenarios. The author states that heavy dependence on automation of flights is leading to underdevelopment and erosion of manual skills required to handle flights. The author even concludes that lack of training to handle flights manually is one of the causes of accidents. As a marketer I have learned through this article that such articles and the conference in which the speaker talked about all the issues related to training and automation of fights can send a negative image of the airlines in the minds of the consumers. The consumers may think that the pilots are not equipped to handle flights manually and pose a risk to their life. On the other hand, marketer of an air flight organization that have already been providing proper training on how to handle the flights manually can use similar issues to develop a positive image of themselves in the eyes of the

Criminal Justice- Ethics Policy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Criminal Justice- Ethics Policy - Term Paper Example The ethical policy of the criminal justice system is to be based on the values where the members of the Academy should respect the dignity, worth and rights of every individual – even though they are criminal. This should be the basis of the ethical policy that is to be established for the criminal justice agency. It is necessary to inculcate the actual meaning of ethics in the minds of the members of the agency in order to truly and ethically establish the ethical policies in the agency (Pollock 1998). It is highly necessary to first educate the members of the agency about the importance of ethics in criminal justice. I, as the Head of the criminal justice agency, will first educate my members of the agency about values and importance of ethics in criminal justice system before establishing the same. At the same time the local community and neighborhood watch program should also be considered. The best way is to involve the members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), which has over 14000 members in 68 countries. The reason for utilizing them for drafting the document is that they make the most universally representative police association. The IACP always emphasizes the needs and importance of ethics training in law enforcement agencies. Hence there cannot anything better than them to draft the document. They are the most experienced and right people for this job (Souryal, 2010). There will at least a few members of this universal body be available who can take the lead in drafting the document. One aspect that is worth mentioning is incorporation of code of ethics outlining standards of professional conduct in the IACP rule making them the choice of drafting the document. As mentioned earlier the ethical code of conduct outlining the standards of professional in the IACP rule would be the biggest reference for drafting the ethical code document for the

Finance Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Finance Assignment - Essay Example However, the best practise to calculate the cost of capital is to consider the market value of the assets, in which case, the difference can be significant. The WACC is calculated using only the cost of debt and the cost of equity. It is important to note that raising capital via. Debt increases the beta value of the company, i.e., the risk of investing is increased, as the company is obligated to pay the debt. Hence the cost of equity is also increased due to this change in capital structure. The debt ratio of Boral limited is computed as the ratio of total debt to total assets which is equal to (1518/5816.60) 26.1%. This is lesser when compared to the Commonwealth bank which has a higher debt ratio. Also, the Commonwealth bank of Australia has lesser short term money and in order to compute the liquidity position of the bank, the cash as well as the loans and deposits are to be considered. The gearing ratio of the bank has to be much higher, as the entire operation of the bank involves taking deposits and lending loans. However the gearing ratio of Boral cannot go much higher as it will affect the debt rating of the company. From the balance sheets, it is evident that Boral Limited has a number of non-tangible assets whereas all the assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. The banks normally seek and increase liabilities in order to build the assets. However manufacturing companies tend to build assets and thrive to increase the value. As there are opportunities for business development with the additional capital raised by making the company public, it is essential to estimate the business growth. This will give an estimate on the earnings per share. Based on the earnings, the plowback rate can be computed for continuous growth. Hence from the earnings per share and the plowback rate, the dividend payments can be forecast during the growth period. Case 1: Assuming that the business can expand for the next 6 years and

Criminal Justice- Ethics Policy Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Criminal Justice- Ethics Policy - Term Paper Example The ethical policy of the criminal justice system is to be based on the values where the members of the Academy should respect the dignity, worth and rights of every individual – even though they are criminal. This should be the basis of the ethical policy that is to be established for the criminal justice agency. It is necessary to inculcate the actual meaning of ethics in the minds of the members of the agency in order to truly and ethically establish the ethical policies in the agency (Pollock 1998). It is highly necessary to first educate the members of the agency about the importance of ethics in criminal justice. I, as the Head of the criminal justice agency, will first educate my members of the agency about values and importance of ethics in criminal justice system before establishing the same. At the same time the local community and neighborhood watch program should also be considered. The best way is to involve the members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), which has over 14000 members in 68 countries. The reason for utilizing them for drafting the document is that they make the most universally representative police association. The IACP always emphasizes the needs and importance of ethics training in law enforcement agencies. Hence there cannot anything better than them to draft the document. They are the most experienced and right people for this job (Souryal, 2010). There will at least a few members of this universal body be available who can take the lead in drafting the document. One aspect that is worth mentioning is incorporation of code of ethics outlining standards of professional conduct in the IACP rule making them the choice of drafting the document. As mentioned earlier the ethical code of conduct outlining the standards of professional in the IACP rule would be the biggest reference for drafting the ethical code document for the

Creating and marketing a new product Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Creating and marketing a new product - Essay Example In relation to the present trend of this respective business industry, it can be viewed that customers are highly inclined towards buying handmade soft toys including souvenir items and stuffed animals among others for different purposes (Toy Industry Association Inc, 2012). In this regard, the primary purpose of this essay is to create an effective marketing plan for new product i.e. handmade soft toys, which could be legally sold in the UK business market. 2. Marketing Strategy 2.1 Market Entry Strategy An effective market entry strategy typically involves various strategic decisions in relation to various influencing factors of host country. The organizations in the present competitive business world tend to incorporate adequate measures while seeking to expand their business units into different overseas business markets (Kotler, 2001). In order to attain a large consumer base in the growing handcrafted or handmade soft toy industry, the initial stage of the play will be focused on analysing the present trends along with the demands of the consumers towards the respective industry. In this regard, an effective consumer analysis will be conducted, which in turn can enable the organization in identifying the desired needs along with the preferences of the target customer group in the market. The product will be marketed under the flagship of Toys R Us, one of the leading toy retailers which currently operate more than 1500 retail toy stores across different business locations of the world (The Toys R Us, 2013). Marketing of handcrafted or handmade soft toys under the flagship of Toys R Us would enable to attract huge figure of customers across the growing UK market. Additionally, the admired brand image and enhanced customer reliability can be duly considered as effective strengths for the proposed product, which can grasp the attention of the consumers in the long-run. 2.2. Target Market and Segmentation Strategy Targeting along with segmenting appropriate g roup of customers can be regarded as an effective strategy, which can facilitate the marketers to attain superior competitive position in any business field. Moreover, the marketers in the present competitive business environment are highly focused on targeting a particular customer segment in order to build a strong brand image in any respective industry (Goi, 2009). In this regard, the target market and segmentation strategy relating to the product of handmade soft toys will be focused on differentiating consumers into two broad segments. First segment would be targeting the children within the age group of 2 to 6 years in the form of delivering handmade soft toys to them and second segment will be targeting young adults through presenting handmade showpieces. This can further enable the organisation to obtain more customers in the UK market. 2.3 Marketing Mix Strategy 2.3.1 Product Product can be regarded as one of the core attributes for an organization, which depicts the image of the company and also ensures to predict its future growth in any respective industry and/or market (Kotler, 2001). In relation to the proposed marketing plan for handcrafted or handmade soft toys, the product would be focused on collecting exceptional soft toys and stuffed animals that are made from quality based materials and textiles in a fully furnish process. 2.3.2 Price The pricing strategy of a new product can be further considered as an essential factor, which can enable an organization to

Polar Bear Crisis Essay Example for Free

Polar Bear Crisis Essay Bear Crisis In May 2008, the U. S listed the polar bear as a  threatened species  under the  Endangered Species Act. The Arctic is one of the most discussed on climate change, due to the fact that warming is greatest there and because what happens in the Arctic has the can eventually impact the rest of the Earth. So far, not only has it affected the way the ice is melting and the weather is changing, but it is mainly affecting the animals that are living there (for example, polar bears). Although, there are many environmentalists, and companies tried to solve, or at least help the situation (like Coca-Cola and WWF), the problem is not getting any better. As sea ice is being reduced in the area, the polar bears basis for survival is being threatened, said John Laird, WWFs Nunavut regional conservation director. The sea ice is melting earlier in the spring which is sending the polar bears to land earlier without them having developed as much fat reserves for the ice free season. By the end of the summer they are skinny bears, which in the worst case can affect their ability to reproduce. Also, The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service says that, . . . extensive scientific studies have indicated that the increased observation of bears on land is a result of changing distribution patterns and a result of changes in the accessibility of sea ice habitat. It is crazy to think that all of these things are all being affected because we are not taking care of our planet; even though it’s happening thousands of miles away. Because we put trash on the ground, pollute the air etc. animals are being affected, especially the polar bears. Since bears use the sea ice to hunt for their main prey, seals, without the sea ice, their range are drastically reduced. On top of it all, the oil and gas development along the edges of the land mass and you have more problems. It has been said that two thirds of polar bears will disappear by 2050.

SAB Miller: Strategy Analysis and PEST

SAB Miller: Strategy Analysis and PEST INTRODUCTION SAB Miller is a South African brewing company and is the second largest brewer in the world, with sales and distribution across six different continents. SAB Miller with wide brand portfolio, both international premium beers to local brands it has come a long way, weathering turbulent times and political crisis. It is also one of the largest bottlers for Coca Cola. VISION AND MISSION OF THE GROUP VISION To be the most admired company in the global beer industry Investment of choice Employer of choice Partner of choice MISSION To own and nurture local and international brands that are the first choice of the consumer VALUES Our people are our enduring advantage Accountability is clear and personal We work and win in teams We understand and respect our customers and consumers Our reputation is indivisible CORPORATE STRATEGIES EMPLOYED BY SAB MILLER SAB Miller being one of the oldest (100 plus) brewing company it had tremendous experience in the brewing field and the strategies used by SAB Miller are categorized as follows: Political Acquisitions and mergers Wide portfolio Brand value POLITICAL SAB being oldest brewing company in South Africa it was battered by political crisis during the 20th century. It has emerged as a company with building its operations in emerging and mature markets. During 1948 due to racist system of Apartheid, there was opposition to the company. SAB also came across various other forces during this period they are: Business restricted to the country only Restrictions on doing business with international companies Investing in or trading with South African companies SAB formulated solution in order to comply with Government restrictions they were: In 1950, SAB moved its HO from London to Johannesburg. Focused on expansion mostly in southern parts of Africa and South Africa Dominating the local market and domestic beer production Expanding its product portfolio First company to employ the code of non-discriminatory employment In 1970 SAB became fully incorporated in South Africa and by the year 2000, it dominated the South African market to such an extent that 49 of every 50 beer consumed were brewed by SAB. IMPLICATIONS Due to the political conditions in South Africa SAB had very less room of doing business internationally, but these restrictions helped them to create a monopoly in South Africa. It owned a 99 percent market share here. It also incorporated its head quarters to Johannesburg, which helped it develop its market in Africa. Employing non-discriminatory code of employment helped it to gain public support. It expanded its portfolio by buying local breweries and started producing locally brewed Guinness, Amstel, and Carling black label. ACQUSITIONS AND MERGERS Due to the restrictions on local companies by the government, SAB had to settle in for the local South African market. Dominating the local market and eliminating competition was the goal of the company at the time and it was achieved by acquiring other local breweries and distribution facilities and by rationalized production. SAB also obtained the licensing of locally brewed Guinness, Amstel and Carling black label. SAB made major acquisitions immediately after when the imposed restrictions were relaxed due the finalized process for establishment of a multiracial democracy in 1990. SAB acquired Stellenbosch Farmers Winery in 1960. In 1993, SAB acquired Hungarys largest brewery, Dreher that opened new door for further developments into central Europe In 1994, SAB in joint venture with Tanzanian government it revitalized the brewing industry and also in countries like Zambia, Mozambique and Angola, SAB gave boost to production and distribution. During the 90s SAB established operations in China, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Russia, and Czeck Republic. Acquiring 100% stakes in the Miller brewing company in 2002 was one of the most significant acquisitions made by SAB and becoming SAB Miller in the process. Licencing of shebeens and launching them in retail mainstream. SAB Miller also bought out its joint venture partner in India. SAB Miller in 2005 merged with South American brewer Grupo Empresarial Bavaria. IMPLICATIONS OF ACUSITIONS AND MERGERS SAB controlled an estimated 99% of the market share in South Africa and had dominating positions in Swaziland, Lesotho, Rhodesia and Botswana. SAB was able to diversify their business through joint ventures. Due to fragmentation and small-scale business in Europe and Asia SAB was able to create profitable and fast growing business. Launched quality products than their competitors for which the consumers had to pay more. SAB promoted their premium brands. Developing countries have growing economies thus opening doors for attractive markets. SABMiller sends in both technical and distribution teams for inspection before it enters the market Scare of HIV pandemic cost SAB costly labor, decrease in productivity SAB business spread provided them with portfolio business With volatile market in emerging economies where in SAB incurred majority of its profits, it had indirect effect in confidence of SAB in these countries. SAB listed itself on LSE to give boost to its infrastructure. Share price drop by 15.5% relative to FTSE 100 in the year end Nov 2000 Acquiring Miller Brewing Company made it second largest brewer in the world. SAB could balance out loss in one country with profits in other countries. Expanding production capacity and raising the quality of product in India. Dip in share price of SAB Miller after acquiring Miller Brewing Company. Introduced new packaging with new sales and distribution system and enhanced the flexibility of their production facilities. SAB Trained around 6000 newly licensed taverniers in business skills. SAB introduced broader and segmented brands SAB gained strong and profitable market in South America; profits went up by 25%. PORTFOLIO EXPANSION SAB Miller brewing company is the second largest brewing company and has a wide portfolio globally, it has over 200 varieties of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, produced and distributed. The major premium brands are Pilsner Urquell, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Miller Genuine Draft, and Grolsch. They started their expanding its portfolio by gaining control over Stellenbosch Farmers Winery in 1960. Between 1960s- 70s it obtained license to brew locally Guinness, Amstel and Carling black label. In 1987, SAB acquired Lion Match Company. Re-launch of Miller geniuine draft with high end positioning of mainstream market. Launch of Peroni Nastro Azzurro. EFFECT Dominating the South African Market Leading match manufacture in South Africa Better market position Increase in sales Profitable production and distribution Capture of demographic market Competitive advantage on the world stage Improvised marketing, sales and distribution Annual report emphasized the importance broader portfolio in the companys corporate success. PEST ANALYSIS PEST analysis of an organization is an important part of strategic planning, as it looks at the external environment in which the firm operates. PEST analysis helps company to develop strategies. The factors taken into account are: Political Economic Social Technological Political Factors Under Political factors we have is the government rules and regulations on operations of a firm or company. For SABMiller the following factors apply: South African government regulations Crisis due to racism International dealing and trading restrictions Employment laws Economic Factors Economic factors include exchange rate, taxation, market growth trends, GDP, disposable income, inflation, production volume, etc In SABMillers case, the following apply: Volatility of the exchange rate in developing countries Economic growth in developing worlds Listing on LSTE Acquisition of Miller Brewing Company Sensible product pricing Production and distribution costs Resource and labor cost Labor unrest Social Factors Social factors include the demographic and cultural aspects, health and living standards, population shifts and so on. In case of SABMiller Change in consumption pattern Attachment to locally brewed beer Consumers becoming heath conscious Class structure Technological Factors Technological factors include new invention, improvised tools and techniques, communication etc. It can lower barriers to entry, can lower down minimum efficient production levels, and influence outsourcing decisions. In SABMillers case are as follows: Research and development World class Automation in developing countries Production and distribution expertise Technology improvements QA 1. Identify the corporate logics that SABMiller have adopted over the course of the case. As discussed above SABMiller has adapted various strategies in order to be a leading brewer, they are: Dealing with political rules and regulations Acquisitions and merger on a global scale Broader portfolio Business in developing economies e.g. China, India Repositioning and re-launching of products Buying controlling stakes in newly privatized brewery 2. Strategy a. Explain the strategic position that SAB finds itself in 2007. As described SABMiller has good strategic position apart from fierce competition by Anheuser-Busch. Dominating positions in South African and South American markets with good market share in Europe SAB has expanded globally especially in Central and Eastern Europe, China apart from Southern part of Africa. It has operations in over of 18 countries with 30 breweries, with capacity 30.5 million hectoliters capacity and 22 sorghum beer with 8.5 million hectoliter capacity thus can create major market in these countries. Though SABMiller lost the bid to acquire Harbin Brewery to Anheuser-Busch, it had competitive market in China with market growth by 6-8 percent per year. With wide portfolio, SABMiller was able to capture the demographic market. SAB was able to balance out loss in one country with profits in other countries. With growing economies in developing countries, there was increase in disposable income, which gave way for better market share and profits with attractive pricing. Even though SABMiller had a few problems with share price drop due to listing company in LSE and acquisition of Miller Brewing Company, stakeholders must have a firm belief in the SABMiller as it a FMCG company. The chance of losing share value is rare and with globalization of the company, the chances are high profitability and higher dividends to shareholders. Acquisition of the major breweries and winery has helped SAB in dominating as well as having monopoly in countries SABMiller had a strong and wide portfolio with launch of new products and attractive pricing, creating strong demographic market and flexibility in the system. SABMiller could use its world-class technology and operation expertise to develop market in continents and also SABMiller sends in both technical and distribution teams for inspection before it enters the market Africa Has around 99% market share in South Africa and dominates in the rest of Africa. Asia/E.Europe Has breweries is Asia pacific but with fierce competition and growth of market in India. Good market share in Russia, Romania, and Czeck Republic and with acquisition of Hungarys brewery Dreher which paved way for further developments in Europe. However, the future here remains uncertain until any major take over is carried out. Latin America Merger with Grupo Empresarial Bavaria 2nd largest brewer in South America consolidated SABMillers position. 4. Acquisition of Miller Brewing Company is the only major deal by SAB and becoming 2nd largest brewer, but has a tough time because of stiff competition by Anheuser-Busch. 5. SABMiller has a strong and diversified business with broad portfolio that will ultimately pay off as it creates a demographic market and flexibility in operations. 6. Joint venture with Grupo Empresarial Bavaria 2nd largest brewer in South America opened doors in Latin America, with lower investment and creating opportunities for itself 3. On the basis of your analysis, recommend the strategy that SAB should follow. In my opinion SABMiller must develop their markets is Asia i.e. in China, India, and Asia Pacific. Though the market remains volatile, the chances of profit making are high. SABMiller must look forward to acquire Harbin brewery in China, as the market growth rate is 6-8 percent per year. SABMiller must try acquiring majority stakes in Bavaria brewery, as there is growth in market. SABMiller can dominate the local market and develop excellent operations by acquiring breweries with low performance, but with dominating market share with its expertise in production, distribution operations.

lion king the musical Essay -- essays research papers

Lion King: The Musical   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The original Disney cartoon of a lion cub blamed for his father’s death has been remade into a Broadway musical acclaimed all over the world. Seen by over twenty five million people in over 15 thousand performances this intricately designed wonder has taken over 37 thousand hours just to build the puppets and masks. Julie Taymor the director and costume designer was faced with a problem of whether to create humans or animals playing the part and she decided to make masks that show the animal face, as well as, show the human face giving the character his or her personality. As for expressing other animals that are not part of the main cast or to express a certain theme, 2 different kinds of puppetry were used to express an African theme.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Masks are considered â€Å"functional works of art† and play a social purpose in Africa. They are used in storytelling and ceremonies and are made to be worn over the head rather than cover the face. This technique is also used in The Lion King so that the human facial expression is not lost and to support the beadwork, corsets and armor used to show the human qualities of a lion. The costumes on the other hand are made of silk cloth to hide the human form, break the shoulder line and to enhance the powerful joints and thighs. The masks are made in such a way that the actor can control the facial expression of the mask through cables ... lion king the musical Essay -- essays research papers Lion King: The Musical   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The original Disney cartoon of a lion cub blamed for his father’s death has been remade into a Broadway musical acclaimed all over the world. Seen by over twenty five million people in over 15 thousand performances this intricately designed wonder has taken over 37 thousand hours just to build the puppets and masks. Julie Taymor the director and costume designer was faced with a problem of whether to create humans or animals playing the part and she decided to make masks that show the animal face, as well as, show the human face giving the character his or her personality. As for expressing other animals that are not part of the main cast or to express a certain theme, 2 different kinds of puppetry were used to express an African theme.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Masks are considered â€Å"functional works of art† and play a social purpose in Africa. They are used in storytelling and ceremonies and are made to be worn over the head rather than cover the face. This technique is also used in The Lion King so that the human facial expression is not lost and to support the beadwork, corsets and armor used to show the human qualities of a lion. The costumes on the other hand are made of silk cloth to hide the human form, break the shoulder line and to enhance the powerful joints and thighs. The masks are made in such a way that the actor can control the facial expression of the mask through cables ...

The European Union and a Divided Cyprus Essay -- Politics Turkey Greec

The Implications for the European Union of Cyprus being divided between Turkey and Greece The island of Cyprus is the third largest in the Mediterranean with the 2002 population around 705,5000. Its main economic activities include banking, craft exports, merchant shipping, and tourism, which accounts for twenty percent of business (europa.eu.int). For almost thirty years it has been split between Turkish-Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots. The ongoing feud between the two groups and the split of the island in 1974 has lead to much political tension in Europe, especially with the European Union expanding its membership and adding, as of now, only half of the island of Cyprus in May 2004. History Cyprus has always been a center of international trade because of its key location in the Mediterranean between Europe and the Middle East. Greeks settled here in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, bringing the Greek language with them. Because of its close proximity to Turkey, Turks also moved to the island (europa.eu.int). In 1960 the island gained independence from British rule (eubusiness.com 11/4/03). The two groups of occupants had a bi-communal structure with each group speaking their own language and holding to their own traditions until 1963 when violence broke out between the two groups. The United Nations sent peacekeeping forces, which are still there to this day. In August of 1974 the Greek Cypriots tried to join Greece and the Turk Cypriots called for forces from Turkey; this act split the island. The capitol of the island, Nicosia, still has a wall splitting the two sides, much like the Berlin wall (europa.eu.int). The two sides are separated by barbed wire, pill boxes, and soldiers carrying guns (The Economis... ....c6wke3w4>. European Stand on the Cyprus Problem. 19 Dec. 2003 <http://www.kypros.org/cyprus_problem/eudocs/intro.html>. ?Loosening Up? Is there still a chance for settlement in Cyprus??The Economist 17-23 May 2003. ?The Magic of Membership: The lure of the EU may yet settle Cyprus.? The Economist 18-24 Jan. 2003. Relationship with Cyprus.16 Dec. 2003 <http://europa.eu/int/comm/enlargement/cyprus/index.htm Turkey makes EU bid a top priority. 8 Dec. 2003. EU Business Ltd. 8 Dec. 2003 http://eubusiness.com/afp/031208173514.w3fxycbr>. Turkish Cypriots vote in elections crucial for EU, Turkey. 14 Dec. 2003. EU Business Ltd. . 16 Dec.2003 <http://eubusiness.com/afp/031214103303.88diym19>. Vassiliou,George. EU Enlargement and Cyprus Political and Economic Implications. 16 Dec. 2003 "What A Waste." The Economist 15-21 Mar. 2003. The European Union and a Divided Cyprus Essay -- Politics Turkey Greec The Implications for the European Union of Cyprus being divided between Turkey and Greece The island of Cyprus is the third largest in the Mediterranean with the 2002 population around 705,5000. Its main economic activities include banking, craft exports, merchant shipping, and tourism, which accounts for twenty percent of business (europa.eu.int). For almost thirty years it has been split between Turkish-Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots. The ongoing feud between the two groups and the split of the island in 1974 has lead to much political tension in Europe, especially with the European Union expanding its membership and adding, as of now, only half of the island of Cyprus in May 2004. History Cyprus has always been a center of international trade because of its key location in the Mediterranean between Europe and the Middle East. Greeks settled here in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, bringing the Greek language with them. Because of its close proximity to Turkey, Turks also moved to the island (europa.eu.int). In 1960 the island gained independence from British rule (eubusiness.com 11/4/03). The two groups of occupants had a bi-communal structure with each group speaking their own language and holding to their own traditions until 1963 when violence broke out between the two groups. The United Nations sent peacekeeping forces, which are still there to this day. In August of 1974 the Greek Cypriots tried to join Greece and the Turk Cypriots called for forces from Turkey; this act split the island. The capitol of the island, Nicosia, still has a wall splitting the two sides, much like the Berlin wall (europa.eu.int). The two sides are separated by barbed wire, pill boxes, and soldiers carrying guns (The Economis... ....c6wke3w4>. European Stand on the Cyprus Problem. 19 Dec. 2003 <http://www.kypros.org/cyprus_problem/eudocs/intro.html>. ?Loosening Up? Is there still a chance for settlement in Cyprus??The Economist 17-23 May 2003. ?The Magic of Membership: The lure of the EU may yet settle Cyprus.? The Economist 18-24 Jan. 2003. Relationship with Cyprus.16 Dec. 2003 <http://europa.eu/int/comm/enlargement/cyprus/index.htm Turkey makes EU bid a top priority. 8 Dec. 2003. EU Business Ltd. 8 Dec. 2003 http://eubusiness.com/afp/031208173514.w3fxycbr>. Turkish Cypriots vote in elections crucial for EU, Turkey. 14 Dec. 2003. EU Business Ltd. . 16 Dec.2003 <http://eubusiness.com/afp/031214103303.88diym19>. Vassiliou,George. EU Enlargement and Cyprus Political and Economic Implications. 16 Dec. 2003 "What A Waste." The Economist 15-21 Mar. 2003.

Marketing Strategy & Practice of cable and internet industry

Comcast is a telecommunications company based in the United States. Currently Comcast is the country’s' leading cable television network provider as well as being the country’s second largest provider of broadband internet services. In analyzing this paper, I will look at the current trends in the telecommunications industry within the United States. In addition to this, I will also look at some of the current developments and or drawbacks giving special reference to Comcast as a single firm. INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER: Internet service providers are business organizations whose core business is providing business firms, organizations as well as private individuals with internet related services. In addition to this internet service, providers also provide a range of other services including domain registration, web hosting, collocation as well as internet transit. CABLE TELEVISION: Cable television is a technology that involves providing television services to wishing consumers using radio signals transmitted through coaxial cables or in recent times through optical fibers. In addition to this, these cables are sometimes used for providing broadband internet services, radio programming as well as a range of other services MARKETING STRATEGY: A marketing strategy is a business process that allows organizations or businesses to optimize sales as well as acquire competitive advantage over its competitors by finding the greatest opportunities of channeling the organizations limited resources. INTRODUCTION: Comcast Corporation has tried to find its market share within the United States telecommunications industry. In doing this, the company has tried to apply bleeding edge technologies in order to be ahead of its competitors like time Warner and Verizon. In doing this the company has company has initiated a mix of the best marketing strategy as well as market research. ANALYSIS: By the year 2006 the telecommunications industry on a global perspective was estimated to be worth more than $3 billion dollars. Within the United States alone, the sector is one of the largest employers with more than one million employees as of the year 2006. Within the United States, there are estimates that subscribers will grow to about 4 billion by the year2011. In addition to this, current trends within the sector involve mergers and multiple acquisitions that have made the industry one of the most competitive. In addition, cross-border ownership of business enterprises has become the norm. Among these mergers and acquisitions is the take over of MCI by giant Verizon Corporation. In addition, the industry is one of the fastest growing within the market. The industry is also the most interrelated with all the other sectors of the economy. Regardless of its remarkable growth, the industry is faced with a discreet problem from the wireless internet service providers. The growth of wireless internet and telephony has been one of the major troubles for the broadband technologies. On a firm-based perspective, there is stiff competition within the industry. To improve on market share every company uses its own strategy. However, in any industry there are four core elements of marketing strategy. These four elements are strategies that involve the product, pricing, promotion, and distribution. All firms within the industry seem to employ a different mix of the four elements in order to achieve its growth or industry projections. In this field, companies like Comcast have adopted technologies like video on demand in order to improve their competitive edge. In addition to this, companies like Verizon have increased their capital base and they are becoming some of the core competitors to Comcast. CONCLUSION: The telecommunications industry has come to be a major source of revenue for many economies. The industry is behind much growth that is being experienced within the East Asian newly industrialized countries like Singapore and Malaysia. The role of the industry in the development of many countries cannot be overlooked. REFERENCES: Edward F. McQuarrie. (2005). the Market Research Toolbox: A Concise Guide for Beginners. London: Sage Publications. Ian, Chaston. (1999). New Marketing Strategies: Evolving Flexible Processes to Fit Market Circumstance. London: Sage Publications James Higgins. (1994). the Management Challenge. New York: Macmillan Rogers, M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations, (5th ed.). New York: Free Press. Sunny, Crouch. &Matthew, Housden. (2003). Marketing Research for Managers. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Â   Â   Â   Â   Â   Â  

Apple Case Study 1

Apple Table of Contents: I. Introduction II. Opening Case III. Competitor Analysis IV. Sales Analysis V. Profitability Analysis VI. Cross Elasticity of Demand: Competitors v/s iPhone VII. Demand, Cost and Pricing VIII. Pure competition, Monopolistic Competition & Oligopoly IX. Conclusion X. References I. Introduction Apple Inc. (Apple) designs, manufactures and markets a range of personal computers, mobile communication and media devices, and portable digital music players, and sells a range of related software, services, peripherals, networking solutions, and third-party digital content and applications. It's products and services include Macintosh (Mac) computers, iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Xserve, a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications, the Mac OS X and iOS operating systems, third-party digital content and applications through the iTunes Store, and a range of accessory, service and support offerings. The Company sells its products globally through its retail stores, online stores, and direct sales force and third-party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers, and value-added resellers. As of September 25, 2010, the Company had opened a total of 317 retail stores, including 233 stores in the United States and 84 stores internationally. II. Opening Case: Apple reveals the iPhone MACWORLD SAN FRANCISCO—January 9, 2007—Apple ® today introduced iPhone, combining three products—a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod ® with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, searching and maps—into one small and lightweight handheld device. Phone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting users control iPhone with just their fingers. iPhone also ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, which completely redefines what users can do on their mobile phones. â€Å"iPhone is a revolutionary and magical product that is literally five years ahead of any other mobi le phone,† said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. We are all born with the ultimate pointing device—our fingers—and iPhone uses them to create the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse. † iPhone is a Revolutionary Mobile Phone iPhone is a revolutionary new mobile phone that allows users to make calls by simply pointing at a name or number. iPhone syncs all of your contacts from your PC, Mac ® or Internet service such as Yahoo! , so that you always have your full list of up-to-date contacts with you. In addition, you can easily construct a favorites list for your most frequently made calls, and easily merge calls together to create conference calls. iPhone’s pioneering Visual Voicemail, an industry first, lets users look at a listing of their voicemails, decide which messages to listen to, then go directly to those messages without listening to the prior messages. Just like email, iPhone’s Visual Voicemail enables users to immediately randomly access those messages that interest them most. Phone includes an SMS application with a full QWERTY soft keyboard to easily send and receive SMS messages in multiple sessions. When users need to type, iPhone presents them with an elegant touch keyboard which is predictive to prevent and correct mistakes, making it much easier and more efficient to use than the small plastic keyboards on many smartphones. iPhone also includes a calendar application that allows calendars to be automatically synced with your PC or Mac. iPhone fea tures a 2 megapixel camera and a photo management application that is far beyond anything on a phone today. Users can browse their photo library, which can be easily synced from their PC or Mac, with just a flick of a finger and easily choose a photo for their wallpaper or to include in an email. iPhone is a quad-band GSM phone which also features EDGE and Wi-Fi wireless technologies for data networking. Apple has chosen Cingular, the best and most popular carrier in the US with over 58 million subscribers, to be Apple’s exclusive carrier partner for iPhone in the US. iPhone is a Widescreen iPod Phone is a widescreen iPod with touch controls that lets music lovers â€Å"touch† their music by easily scrolling through entire lists of songs, artists, albums and playlists with just a flick of a finger. Album artwork is stunningly presented on iPhone’s large and vibrant display. iPhone also features Cover Flow, Apple’s amazing way to browse your music library by album cover artwork, for the first time on an iPod. When navigating your music library on iPhone, you are automatically switched into Cover Flow by simply rotating iPhone into its landscape position. Phone’s stunning 3. 5-inch widescreen display offers the ultimate way to watch TV shows and movies on a pocketable device, with touch controls for play-pause, chapter forward-backward and volume. iPhone plays the same videos purchased from the online iTunes ® Store that users enjoy watching on their computers and iPods, and will soon enjoy watching on their widescreen televisions using the new Apple TVâ„ ¢. The iTunes Store now offers over 350 television shows, over 250 feature films and over 5,000 music videos. Phone lets users enjoy all their iPod content, including music, audiobooks, audio podcasts, video podcasts, music videos, television shows and movies. iPhone syncs content from a user’s iTunes library on their PC or Mac, and can play any music or video content they have purchased from the online iTunes store. iPhone is a Breakthrough Internet Communications Device iPhone features a rich HTML email client which fetches your email in the background from most POP3 or IMAP mail services and displays photos and graphics right along with the text. Phone is fully multi-tasking, so you can be reading a web page while downloading your email in the background. Yahoo! Mail, the world’s largest email service with over 250 million users, is offering a new free â€Å"push† IMAP email service to all iPhone users that automatically pushes new email to a user’s iPhone, and can be set up by simply entering your Yahoo! name and password. iPhone will also work with most industry standard IMAP and POP based email services, such as Microsoft Exchange, Apple . Mac Mail, AOL Mail, Google Gmail and most ISP mail services. iPhone also features the most advanced and fun-to-use web browser on a portable device with a version of its award-winning Safariâ„ ¢ web browser for iPhone. Users can see any web page the way it was designed to be seen, and then easily zoom in to expand any section by simply tapping on iPhone’s multi-touch display with their finger. Users can surf the web from just about anywhere over Wi-Fi or EDGE, and can automatically sync their bookmarks from their PC or Mac. Phone’s Safari web browser also includes built-in Google Search and Yahoo! Search so users can instantly search for information on their iPhone just like they do on their computer. iPhone also includes Google Maps, featuring Google’s groundbreaking maps service and iPhone’s amazing maps application, offering the best maps experience by far on any pocket device. Users can view maps, satellite images, traffic information and get direct ions, all from iPhone’s remarkable and easy-to-use touch interface. iPhone’s Advanced Sensors Phone employs advanced built-in sensors—an accelerometer, a proximity sensor and an ambient light sensor—that automatically enhance the user experience and extend battery life. iPhone’s built-in accelerometer detects when the user has rotated the device from portrait to landscape, then automatically changes the contents of the display accordingly, with users immediately seeing the entire width of a web page, or a photo in its proper landscape aspect ratio. iPhone’s built-in proximity sensor detects when you lift iPhone to your ear and immediately turns off the display to save power and prevent inadvertent touches until iPhone is moved away. Phone’s built-in ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness to the appropriate level for the current ambient light, thereby enhancing the user experience and saving power at the same time. Pricing ; Availability iPhone will be available in the US in June 2007, Europe in late 2007, and Asia in 2008, in a 4GB model for $499 (US) and an 8GB model for $599 (US), and will work with either a PC or Mac. iPhone will be sold in the US through Apple’s retail and online stores, and through Cingular’s retail and online stores. Several iPhone accessories will also be available in June, including Apple’s new remarkably compact Bluetooth headset. iPhone includes support for quad-band GSM, EDGE, 802. 11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2. 0 EDR wireless technologies. iPhone requires a Mac with a USB 2. 0 port, Mac OS ® X v10. 4. 8 or later and iTunes 7; or a Windows PC with a USB 2. 0 port and Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4), Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2). Internet access is required and a broadband connection is recommended. Apple and Cingular will announce service plans for iPhone before it begins shipping in June. III. Competitor Analysis Market Share by OS Nokia still has a third of the overall mobile phone market. The average selling price of a Nokia Smartphone fell by 21% from 2009. Nokia is selling plenty of devices, but they are at the cheap end of the market. They lost what some in the industry refer to as â€Å"mindshare† to Apple's iPhone and the Google Android mobile software platform. Nokia wants to sell services – music, maps, and applications – as well as hardware but high-end phone users are looking elsewhere. The company says a new family of Smartphone’s, led by the N8 released in 2010, will revive its fortunes at the top end of the market. Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop was forced to abandon the mobile phone giant's in September 2010. The news that the Finnish firm might only break even in the second quarter of this year slashed 25 per cent off its value in 24 hours. Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia has announced it will shed 7,000 jobs from next year as part of a plan to refocus the company on Smartphone. The Finnish firm is moving from Symbian to Microsoft's Smartphone technology. The firm recently confirmed the deal with Microsoft last week to jointly develop Smartphone technology, which will cut costs by about 1bn Euros a year. Under the terms of that deal, Nokia agreed to start using the Microsoft's operating system on its Smartphone instead of its own Symbian platform. Nokia's response to the Smartphone threat from competitors such as Apple's iPhone and phones using Google's Android system has been long been a key investor concern. Prior to the iPhone, Nokia was the king of mobile handsets. Now its share of the Smartphone market has plunged from 47 per cent to 27 per cent. It has also lost its ranking as the largest handset maker in terms of revenue to Apple. Android When Google decided to get into the Smartphone business it decided that Android devices would be everything that the iPhone was not. Apple one or two handsets, Google on the other hand was laying out a great number of handsets. Manufacturers such as HTC, LG and Motorola could use the new operating system for free. It enabled Google to have phones for every section of the market – high powered and pricey, cheap and practical. Android's real selling point would be the apps. Here too, the policy was one of openness. Apple controlled its App store controlling every submission and rejecting those that contravened its rules. For Android anyone who had written an app could upload it. At first, users and app developers welcomed the free-and-easy approach. However, some have begun to question if Google's policy for the apps is the best way to manage the Market. Three years after its launch, hardware sales are booming. Yet sales of Android apps remain relatively poor. Estimates of Apple’s App store in 2010 were ? 1. billion. Android Market managed just ? 62 million. The figure was lower than both Blackberry App World (? 100m) and Nokia's Ovi store (? 64m). Research predicts massive improvements for Android by this time 2012 but it is still expected to lag far behind iOS. Finally Android's market share grew to surpass the Symbian platform used by Nokia making it the most sold Smartphone Microsoft Microsoft market share is declining in the Smartphone platf orm market. Windows Phone 7 lacks a number of features despite the innovation of its user interface. Microsoft hopes to gain market share once Nokia Windows Phones and its wide-ranging â€Å"Mango† software update get released later in 2011. Microsoft has unveiled the first major update to its Windows Phone 7 operating system it launched in 2010. The update, codenamed Mango, intdoduces more than 500 changes. Microsoft’s attempts to break into the Smartphone race have been mediocre at best. Currently, the company controls less than 4% of the market. Despite this, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 platform is forecasted to beat Android in 2013. Microsoft introduced Pocket PC in 2000, followed by Windows Mobile in 2003, prior to Apple and Android's release. However it still failed to compete in the market, or rival Symbian who controlled nearly 90% of the market share. Microsoft lacked the features and compatibility that Symbian was featuring at the time, and as a result, consumers refused to recognize its product or give Microsoft the opportunity to be a contender in the Smartphone industry. The platform was notoriously sluggish and the most difficult of any platform to use. Microsoft tried to solve some of these issues with minor tweaks and software updates over the years to little or no avail. As Windows Mobile market shares continued to decline, Microsoft had no other option than to overhaul the Microsoft platform and launch Windows Phone 7 in 2010. Windows Phone 7 was much improved. But Microsoft still failed to take control of the market, or garner any real significant attention from consumers. RIM Research In Motion has given up more ground to Apple and Google in the hypercompetitive Smartphone market, a report shows, while two brokerages cut their price targets for the BlackBerry maker on concerns it can no longer keep pace. The latest figures dropped RIM from second to third place. The Canadian company's struggle to compete is unlikely to get any easier, with Apple's upcoming iCloud service expected to hurt RIM. IV. Sales Analysis Apple  produced some stellar results: revenues up 48% year-on-year to $13. 5bn, and profits up. The process is confused because  Apple has begun restating its year-ago earnings, to take into account the fact that it now recognizes income and revenue from subscription-based products such as the  iPhone(which may be sold on an 18-month contract) as soon as it gets it, rather than deferring it over the life of the device/contract as it used to. It began doing that in the most recent quarter, covering Christmas, which – confusingly – is the first quarter of its financial year. So previously, the second-quarter revenues were $8. 16bn, not the newly-restated $9. 08bn; the profits were $1. 21bn, not the now-given figure of $1. 62bn. The numbers also don't include the iPad, because the quarter ended on March 31 – the iPad was launched three days later. According to MacJournals, which chewed over the numbers, â€Å"At $5. 445 billion, iPhone sales accounted for 40% of Apple's revenue. All Mac sales were 28%, all  iPod/Music sales were 24%. Mac sales are 2. 943m units, generating revenue of $3. 76bn – which Apple says was 33% year-on-year growth, compared to market growth of 24%. The company's market share of mobile subscribers has also taken a deep plunge. Market research firm comScore says that between October and January, Microsoft's share of the market fell from 19. 7% to 15. 7%. RIM, the maker o f the BlackBerry, remained the leader, growing from 41. 3% to 43%. Apple ‘s iPhone increased slightly, from 24. 8% to 25. 1%, and Google's Android grew by more than 250%, going from 2. 8% to 7. An interesting analysis comes from Tomi Ahonen, a former Nokia executive. â€Å"I am writing the first history of the once-iconic iPhone, written now in early April 2010, before Apple has released its first quarter earnings for 2010. This is literally the peak of the short reign that Apple's iPhone had as the most emulated Smartphone. [†¦] And mark my words, the numbers are now very clear, Apple's market share peak among smartphones, and among all handsets, on an annual basis, is being witnessed now. † V. Profitability Analysis Apple reported in the second quarter of 2011 that net income rose 95 percent, to $5. 9 billion, or $6. 40 a share, from $3. 07 billion, or $3. 33 a share, in 2010. Revenue climbed 83 percent, to $24. 67 billion, from $13. 5 billion. The profit margin in 2011 is 22. 36% of the sales which is an improvement over the level the company achieved in 2010. The company’s return of equity is 38. 78% while in 2010 it was 26. 2% which means that there is a 12. 58% increase on the return of equity. The gross margin is 39. 07% which is slightly better than the company achieved in 2010. VI. Cross Elasticity of Demand: Competitors V/s iPhone When the iphone 3GS was released on July 11, 2008 it cost $199 with the AT;T two year contract. In January 2011 Apple cut the iphone 3GS price to $50. cross-price elasticity of demand = % ? in demand for product A% ? in price for product B %? in price for iphone: Price of Iphone 3GS, 2010 + Price of Iphone 3GS, 2011? Price of Iphone = 199 + 5050-199 = -1. 671% With the Market share OS table above we can compute the % ? I demand for prodct competing with the iphone. %? in demand for Symbian = Symbian market share of Q1 2011 – Symbian market share of 2010 = 27. 4% – 37. 6% = -8. % Symbian-iphone cross-price elasticity of demand = % ? in demand for Symbian% ? in price for Iphone = -8. 6%-1. 671% = 5. 146 %? in demand for Android = Android market share of Q1 2011 – Android market share of 2010 = 36% – 22. 7% = 13. 3% Android -iphone cross-price elasticity of demand = % ? in demand for Android% ? in price for Iphone = 13. 3%-1. 671% = -7. 959 %? in demand for R IM = RIM market share of Q1 2011 – RIM market share of 2010 = 12. 9% – 16. 0% = -3. 1% RIM -iphone cross-price elasticity of demand = % ? in demand for RIM% ? in price for Iphone = -3. 1%-1. 671% = 1. 855 ? in demand for Microsoft = Microsoft market share of Q1 2011 – Microsoft market share of 2010 = 3. 6% – 4. 2% = -0. 6% Microsoft -iphone cross-price elasticity of demand = % ? in demand for Microsoft % ? in price for Iphone = -0. 6%-1. 671% = 0. 359 The price elasticity of demand is the responsiveness of quantity demanded by a change of 1 percent in price. It is calculated by dividing the percentage change in the demanded quantity by the corresponding percentage change in price. The iPhone was launched in the US roughly at the beginning of the second Quarter 2008, at a price of $599. In mid September Apple reduced the price for the iPhone by 33% from $599 to $434. According to the quarterly reports, Apple sold 270 000 iPhones in the second quarter and 1,119 000 iPhones in the third quarter. If calculated according to the equation for price elasticity of demand, the iPhone would have a price elasticity of 4. 7, which means that Apple would lose almost 4. 7 percent of iPhone sales for each corresponding 1 percent increase in price. Since elasticity is greater than 1 the price is inelastic so the iPhone is a luxury commodity. Many consumers wait until increased competition forces Apple to decrease prices. VII. Demand, Cost ; Pricing Demand Apple’s iPhone Supply and Demand Concept of Supply and Demand There is a general rule in economics that if the price of a certain good or service rises, then the demand for such good or service declines. If the price decreases, then potential demand also increases (inverse relationship). On the supply side, if the price of a good or service increases, then firms will be willing to supply the market with higher volume of such good or service. If the price decreases, then firms will cut their supply of the good or service (positive relationship. The market then adjusts the price of the good or service in order to satisfy both the consumers and the suppliers. This is called market equilibrium. Apple iPhone Demand Last July, Apple iPhone was able to outsell all smart phones in the United States. It almost equaled the sales of the most popular feature phone (LG chocolate), giving it a relatively stable position in the market. New Apple handset models accounted for almost 1 . of all phone handset sales in the US for about a month. It was estimated that the demand for Apple iPhone was rising at7 . 2 a month, equivalent to about 5 million units of quantity demanded. The market research firm iSuppli noted â€Å"This is a remarkable accomplishment for Apple, considering that July marked the first full month of sales for the iPhone. While iSuppli has not collected historical information on this topic, it’s likely that the s peed of the iPhone ‘s rise to competitive dominance in its segment is unprecedented in the history of the mobile-handset market (Marsal ,2007 . In short , almost unexpected rise in demand of Apple iPhone was unaccounted by many experts , including of which are some of its competitors . The same research firm also noted that survey revealed that almost 57 of iPhones (bought in July ) were purchased by US consumers . Most of the consumers are aged 17-35. Almost 52 of the consumers of this product are male, and about 48 are female, revealing an almost equal propensity to consume for the product among the sexes. Added to that, iSuppli noted that 62 of the consumers of the product are actually college graduates or those with graduate courses . Nonetheless , the same research firm noted that â€Å"some of the iPhone ‘s success in July can be attributed to pent-up demand following months of hype (stagnant demand). Real proof of success will come in the coming months as demand patterns stabilize (Marsal, 2007). This prediction was almost accurate when the demand for iPhone was almost rising at 8 per month (month of June). Cost Apple's Iphone 4 smartphone, for which it's charging at least $500 at retail, is built of parts that cost $187. 51, according to market research firm Isuppli. According to the tear-down the most expensive part of the Iphone 4 is the 3. 5-inch LCD screen which costs $28. 50. Isuppli thinks that the Iphone 4 screen must be identical to one made by LG. It seems that Apple has managed to keep its parts cost at about $170 to $180 per unit. Isuppli's cost estimate doesn't include labour, shipping, advertising, software development or patent licensing. The cost is based on a 16GB version of the Iphone 4 but the low costs of each componant are fairly staggering. The Apple A4 processor reportedly is made by Samsung Electronics for $10. 75 per chip. Isuppli thinks that Geneva-based STMicroelectronics supplied the gyroscope chip at an estimated cost of $2. 60, as well as an accelerometer chip used in previous Iphone versions, which has an estimated cost of 65 cents. Other component suppliers named by Isuppli include Skyworks, a wireless chipmaker and TriQuint Semiconductor. In 2009, Isuppli estimated that the components and materials used in the iPhone 3GS cost about $179. Since then Isuppli thinks that the materials costs for that model have fallen to $134. Thus the Iphone 4 costs a bit more to make than the earlier model. Of course this means that Apple's gross margin on the hardware in Iphones is extremely high. The actual price margin gets obscured by the fact that AT&T heavily subsidises the phone in the US for about what it costs to manufacture. However the real winner is Apple, which does not have to pay for the cost of manufacture and still takes home about three times Iphone 4 production costs, on average. Pricing Because the iPhone price is entirely set by Apple, it makes an interesting case study on how much the price of technology drops over time. The official price of the iPhone periodically drops, as shown in the table below. But, there are no sales and a new iPhone is never sold for less than the official price. (There are occasionally sales on the refurbished iPhones for example on black Friday the refurbished 3GS was sold for $50. 00 instead of the usual $150. 00. )   Finding historical street price data is harder than historical MSRP data. For the iPhone both prices are the same. The table showing the historical price is included below. 1st Gen 4GB| 1st Gen 8GB| 3G| 3GS 16GB| 3GS 32GB| 29 June 2007| $499. 0*| $599*| N/A| N/A| N/A| 5 Sept 2007| Discontinued| $399| N/A| N/A| N/A| June 2008| N/A| N/A| $199| N/A| N/A| June 2009| N/A| N/A| $99| $199| $299| VIII. Pure competition, Monopolistic Competition & Oligopoly Apple Inc. planned to begin producing this year a new iPhone that could allow U. S. phone carriers other than AT&T Inc. to sell the iconic gadget, said people briefed by the company. The new iPhone would work on a type of wireless network called CDMA, these people said. CDMA is used by Verizon Wireless, AT&T's main competitor, as well as Sprint Nextel Corp. nd a handful of cellular operators in countries including South Korea and Japan. The vast majority of carriers world-wide, including AT;T, use another technology called GSM. With Apple developing a phone with CDMA capability, its exclusive U. S. arrangement with AT;T dating to 2007 appears set to end. Verizon Wireless, owned by Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC, declined to comment. An AT;T spokesman said: â€Å"There has been lots of incorrect speculation on CDMA iPhones for a long time. We haven't seen one yet and only Apple knows when that might occur. † Apple declined to comment. For AT;T, the Apple relationship has been crucial, helping to make the carrier the U. S. leader in lucrative smart-phone market share. According to comScore Inc. , AT;T has over 43% of all U. S. smart-phone customers, compared with 23% for Verizon. These customers are especially attractive because they generally pay higher monthly rates for data plans. For several quarters, AT;T's growth has come almost single-handedly from the iPhone. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the carrier said it activated 3. 1 million new iPhones. In comparison, it counted only a net total of 2. million new subscribers as some customers moved from other phones to iPhones. Now that a new Verizon-compatible iPhone appears to be on the horizon, Digits looks at what Apple can do to win over mobile business users, particularly from RIMM's BlackBerry market. The people briefed on the matter said the upgraded GSM iPhone is being made by Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. , which produced A pple's previous iPhones. The CDMA iPhone model is being made by Pegatron Technology Corp. , the contract manufacturing subsidiary of Taiwan's ASUSTeK Computer Inc. said these people. One person familiar with the situation said Pegatron is scheduled to start mass producing CDMA iPhones in September. Other people said, however, that the schedule could change and the phone may not be available to consumers immediately after production begins. Representatives of Pegatron and Hon Hai declined to comment. Verizon has publicly stated its interest in the iPhone, but people familiar with the situation said Apple originally decided against developing a phone for Verizon to keep its development process simple, since the technologies are incompatible. Verizon also is upgrading its network to a higher-speed technology, so Apple has said it believed CDMA was a short-term technology. Apple later changed its mind as it realized Verizon's upgrade would take longer than expected, said people familiar with the situation. Making the iPhone available through Verizon, which has over 91 million customers, as well as potentially other CDMA carriers could open up a significant new market. In 2009, iPhone sales globally rose 83% to 25. million, far outpacing the 20% to 25% growth in smart phones sales overall, according to Bernstein. But since Apple already dominates smart-phone sales through existing partners, â€Å"sooner rather than later, Apple is going to have to look to find incremental distribution,† which implies a monopolistic competition between all smart phone sellers, said Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi. He estimates Verizon could help Apple nearly double the number of iPhone users in the U. S. Some advantages that iPhone has comparing to other smart phones are: 1. Pod: iPhone is a not just a phone it is widescreen iPod with touch controls that lets you enjoy all your content — including music, audiobooks, videos, TV shows, and movies — on a beautiful 3. 5-inch widescreen display (Nokia N95 only has a 2. 6 inch screen). The N95 does have a good media player, however with all the iPod features and 4 GB / 8 GB space, it makes the iPhone the best music phone. 2. Advanced Safari browser: iPhone lets you see any web page the way it was designed to be seen, then easily zoom in by simply tapping on the multi-touch display with your finger which will change mobile browsing for the good. . OS X: All the power and sophistication of an advanced operating system that gives you access to true desktop-class applications and software, including rich HTML email, applications such as widgets, Safari, calendar, text messaging, Notes, and Address Book etc. iPhone is fully multi-tasking, so you can read a web page while downloading your email in the background. This software completely redefines what you can do with a mobile phone. 4. User Interface: iPhone features the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse. It’s an entirely new interface based on a large multi-touch display and innovative new software that lets you control everything using only your fingers. 5. Visual Voicemail: The iPhone lets you select and listen to voicemail messages in whatever order you want — just like email using a revolutionary new feature called the visual voicemail. IX. Conclusion Analyzing as managerial economics students, we can conclude that although the current methods and techniques are serving us well in analyzing the current market situation, there will be new techniques emerging in the future with global changes occurring at leaping speeds. What is essential is for us to grasp is that the theory is flexible with these changes and that it can be shaped or rounded to be applied to any market situation analysis. The content and subjects we learned in this course are nothing but the bedrock tools that any manager needs to know and use in his daily life in order to forecast revenues and demand, analyze current markets and evaluate his company’s stance regarding his competitors. X. References ttp://theblogpaper. co. uk/article/business/31may09/price-elasticity-demand-iphone http://news. cnet. com/8301-13506_3-20064223-17. html http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/business-10725887 http://www. bbc. co. uk/news/uk-13284156 http://m. ibtimes. com/microsoft-windows-phone7-google-android-apple-157595. html http://www. reuters. com/article/2011/06/03/us-rim-research-ubs-idUSTRE7523PP20110603 www. newyorktimes. com www. wallstreetjournal. com