Thursday, October 31, 2019

Public Relations - The Communication Cycle Essay

Public Relations - The Communication Cycle - Essay Example Apple is a multinational company belonging to the technology sector and subsector computers manufacturing. It engages itself in computer, mobile phone, tablet manufacturing and developing software. It is best known worldwide for its computer brand Imac, tablet computer ipad, mobile phone brand iphone. As a company belonging to the IT sector it comes 2nd after Samsung electronics. It was named as the most valuable company in the United States in 2003, a place which it acquired by surpassing Coca cola. Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne in 1977 and by 2013 has a market capitalization of 170 billion dollar (Apple Inc., 2014). Apple belongs to a sector which is experiencing very rapid changes, particularly in field of innovation. The number of consumers having a mobile device now days has increased tremendously (Hoskisson, Michael, Ireland, & Harrison, 2007). The threat of a new entrant bringing in a new technology is too high these days. So no company in this particular sector can just sit back on its laurels and accolades and relax. Even for a Company like apple, if it stops innovating and comes out with newer product lines or innovation some other player will bring in a new product. Another factor that plagues companies like apple is that its designs may easily be copied by some other company and used to produce a similar phone at a much cheaper price range. In fact there have been instances in the past where Samsung has allegedly violated copyright restrictions of apple’s designs and the two companies have engaged themselves in legal battle. So to successfully hold its position in today’ s market Apple needs to: 1. Trend of innovating newer product lines and there by entering virgin markets. 2. Build a strong association with its customer base (Scott, 2013). 3. Build its reputation in the field of customer service and designing products that

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Mgt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Mgt - Essay Example It is clear that, it cannot be business as usual due to the stagnation and global expansion is a brilliant idea. The business is big, since it operates a 35,000-square-foot factory with 75 employees and I believe that it has the capacity to realize global expansion. What is more viable? Should it consider a joint venture or hire a sales team of indigenous people in the countries that it enters? The dilemma is whether to employ a sales team of indigenous people in the countries it enters or to forge a joint venture. According to Emery (2011), â€Å"a joint venture is a strategic alliance between two or more entities to engage in a specific project.† Its difference with partnership is that the former is for a particular undertaking while the later is for a long- term business relationship. A joint venture is advantageous, for example it ensures sharing of resources, skills and risks. However, it has myriad of problems like: disparity in assets, expertise and investments of each entity, varied cultures and organizational management styles, and it requires thorough research and a long time to be able to establish and make operational (Emery, 2011). Though costly, hiring sales personnel of native people in the countries of diversification is a good idea since it helps in building a business empire that will benefit from centralized management. Forming a business dynasty will help in addressing the problems of sustainability and enhance reliable distribution

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Social Identities and Subcultures

Social Identities and Subcultures Social Identity, Subcultures and Style Social identity is often tied to the concept of â€Å"subculture,† the members of which generally advertise their allegiance by making distinctive and symbolic choices in such things as clothing, hairstyles and footwear. Other elements, including common interests, slang and dialects, musical genres and meeting places are also important factors. Subcultures offer participants an identity outside of the ones ascribed by social institutions such as work, family, home and school. What follows will be an exploration of the role subcultures play in shaping social identity, with a particular emphasis on fashion. Youth subcultures can be defined as â€Å"meaning systems, modes of expression or lifestyles developed by groups in subordinate structural positions in response to dominant systems, which reflect their attempt to solve structural contradictions rising from the wider societal context† (Brake, 1985). The term can also refer to specific subsets of a subculture, that is, sub-subcultures, or â€Å"scenes,† which are largely geographical, such as the London goth scene or the American drum and bass scenes. Scenes tend to be volatile, purposely marginal and tribal, with some members acting elitist towards those considered to be less fashionable, and with an overall oppositional attitude towards the culture at large (Thornton, 1995). Many subcultures define themselves as being against the mainstream,† or the commercialised culture promoted by the media. This dichotomy, the subculture versus the mainstream, is often more of a way of maintaining individuality than an actual social distinction (Grà ¶nlund and Holme, 2004). For what is the mainstream, really, but a set of subcultures? And how do the most obscure subcultures find their way into the minds (and wardrobes) of young people, if not through the media, which is essentially the mouthpiece of the dominant culture? The truth is that there is much overlap between cultures, both big and small, both prevalent and obscure, and this back-and-forth exchange of ideas is crucial in identity formation, no matter what the source or overall outcome. Subcultures may last for extensive periods, like the punk or hip-hop movements, or fade away almost as soon as they are born. They may be centred around sports (such as the surf or skateboard culture), literature (such as the Beat generation), fashion or religion (Rinehart and Sydnor, 2003). To look at a a subculture is to examine the ephemera associated with the group clothing, music, politics, etc. and also the ways in which these symbols are interpreted by members of the dominant culture (Straw, 1991). Each subculture has a distinct individual style, with certain ways of dressing (clothing, shoes hairstyles), speaking (slang) and gathering (ravers at dance clubs, bikers at bars, etc.). Subcultures are continually combining and recombining old symbols in new ways, in a sort-of kaleidoscope of youth lore and culture. Youth identity itself shifts in concert with these genre transformations (Damrell, 1978). Punk, for example, embraced a variety of accoutrements that, worn all together, appeared almost as a uniform. As seen in the photograph below, these include ripped, modified or distressed clothing; studded bracelets and necklaces; tattoos, piercings and other body modifications; spiked, dyed and eccentric hairstyles; etc. But what do these clothing choices mean? What do these symbols represent? One way to analyze the punk aesthetic is to contrast it with its predecessor, the Teddy Boy revival. While the â€Å"’Teds’ revived cultural accoutrements in order to effect a magical return to the past, or an authentic stylistic aesthetic, punks deliberately assaulted meaning entirely, mocking not only those ascribed by persons outside their group, but those they developed themselves, in an attempt to evade closure on meaning of their emblems† (Hebdige, 1979). The punk adoption of the swastika, for example, was a somewhat contradictory signifier in the negotiation of punk subculture. While it was adopted as a symbol of opposition, as an effective way to inspire anger, the punks themselves were not fascists whatsoever, but the opposite, aligning themselves with the Labour party, anti-poverty activists and the radical left (Brake, 1985). Wearing a swastika, therefore, became a symbolic opening, an invitation to negotiate meaning. In contrast, while the Teddy Boy revivalists of the early seventies developed a style based on nostalgia, made up of long coat tails, bouffant hairstyles and rockabilly music, all in an attempt to hark back to a bygone era, the group was symbolically closed†¦meanings ascribed to their symbolic adornments were fixed, and the same whether viewed from inside or outside the group† (Hebdige, 1979). While historically memorable, subcultures like punk are highly unstable, and vulnerable to co-option from the outside. There is a similar process of identity and style negotiation in the case of hip-hop culture: Hip–hop artists use style as a form of identity formation which plays on class distinctions and hierarchies by using commodities to claim the cultural terrain. Clothing and consumption rituals testify to the power of consumption as a means of cultural expression† (Rose, 1994). Identity and style negotiation in the hip-hop community are often one in the same, as can be evidenced by self–naming in rap music, â€Å"branding† the streets by way of personalized graffiti tags, and the intense confrontations between freestyle competitors, breakdance crews and graffiti artists. Like punk, hip–hop’s opposition is directed outward, toward the dominant structure, or â€Å"the man.† Dominant, mainstream culture is mocked via symbolic assemblages which can reach ridiculous heights. As seen in the pictures below, these may include gaudy collages of jewelry or â€Å"bling;† enormous designer patches stitched onto clothing and other accessories; and a variety of other cultural accoutrements, from gold teeth and sports uniforms to fancy cars and champagne. This all acts as kind of a â€Å"sartorial warfare against Fifth Avenue haute couture, for teenagers who understand their limited access to traditional avenues of social status attainment† (ibid). Both hip-hop and punk, along with other subcultures, are subject to transformation and negotiation, much of which centers on notions of authenticity (Gunn, 1999). For example, in the â€Å"goth† genre, popular music may be defined or re-defined in terms of canonisation: Canonising simultaneously broadens and fixes generic boundaries, making room for the inclusion of new music in reference to the old. The logic here operates metonymically by fixing previously recognized bands of historical significance as the originators of a given musical genre, so that future musical acts with similar sounds may expand generic boundaries with the legitimate value of difference† (ibid). The important factor here is authenticity. An inauthentic goth song or group would not fit comfortably within the subculture. Fashion functions much in the same manner. For example, a true goths uniform is generally black, which includes black nail polish, eyeliner and lipstick, along with belts, bracelets and the like. This is often paired with a ghostly, pale face, with the entire ensemble evoking something out of a fairy tale, or even the Gothic period itself. Some of these various choices can be seen on the group below. However, goth style, in addition to punk, have both become absorbed by the mainstream. Nowadays, any teenager can go to a local Hot Topic, Urban Outfitters or similar retailer, that specializes in punk, goth, retro, rock n roll or alternative styles, and try on the aesthetic. The notion of authenticity sheds some light on our understanding of the negotiation of identity within various subcultures. Genre can be very territorial because of the degree to which self-conception is tied to a particular group. Rivalries over new styles, artists and lingo, and whether or not to include or exclude them, express the competition between unlike identities in what might be called a canonization of selves. (Damrell, 1978). One can often distinguish youths from adults, not only by their age, but by their clothing, gait, posture and words. And in the West at least, prosperity has postponed the entry into adulthood, which has increased the importance of youth subcultures in terms of a search for identity. Subcultures allow a tangible way not only to view the world, but to be in it, providing, for the most part, a positive function in easing the transition from childhood to adulthood. And while the majority of practitioners leave these youth subcultures at some point, shedding their counter-culture personas for those of the mainstream, there will always be lingering reminders of one’s old allegiances, whether they be photographs, tattoos, or simply memories. And in this way, ones connections to youth culture, along with the sources of identity that go with it, never fully fade away. Bibliography Brake, Michael. Comparative Youth Culture: The sociology of youth culture and youth subcultures in America, Britain and Canada. London: Routledge, 1985. Damrell, J. Search for Identity: Youth, Religion and Culture. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1978. Frith, S. The Sociology of Youth. Lancashire: Causeway Press Ltd., 1996. Gronlund, A., and Holme, P. Networking the seceder model: Group formation in social and economic systems. Physical Review 70, 2004. Gunn, J. Gothic music and the Inevitability of genre. Popular Music and Society, volume 23, number 1, 1999. Hall, Stuart, and Jefferson, Tony. Resistance Through Rituals: Youth Subcultures in Post-war Britain. London: Routledge, 1993. Hebdige, D. Subculture: The Meaning of Style. London: Methvan Co Ltd., 1979. Rinehart, R., and Sydnor, S. (eds.) To the Extreme: Alternative Sports, Inside and Out. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2003. Rose, T. A Style nobody can deal with: Politics, style and the postindustrial city in Hip Hop. in: Ross, A., and Rose, T. (eds.) Microphone fiends: Youth music and youth culture. New York: Routledge, 1994. Straw, Will. Systems of Articulation, Logics of Change: Communities and Scenes in Popular Music. Cultural Studies 5, 1991. Thornton, S. Club Cultures: Music, Media and Subcultural Capital. Cambridge: Polity Press. 1995.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Goals and Philosophy Essay -- Education Educating Teaching Essays

Goals and Philosophy A person's philosophy on education covers many different aspects. Such things that ones personal philosophy can contain are the purpose of education, methods one may use in education, and even the curriculum which may be taught. I feel that these three things are the most important for my personal philosophy and goals of education. The overall purpose of education is not only to teach students about the set curriculum, but also to teach them to be individuals and creative thinkers. As a teacher one has to go farther than just to teach, you are a role model, a doctor, and most importantly while still having control you are a friend. I feel education is important because as a society we need to learn and grow from what we know. In today's society, a person without an education cannot make a name for themselves, and cannot get ahead in the world. Education is there to teach us about the past and prepare us for the future. Education is a leading part of our lives, and needs to continue to be. As a kindergarten teacher, I plan to become an inspiration to every child that passes through my classroom. I hope to touch the lives of the children that I meet, as well as accomplish many other things. My first goal will be not only to teach my students the curriculum, but also to teach my students to think out side of the set curriculum. I plan to show students that there is more to what they are learning. I want not only to be a good teacher, but also to be a great teacher. Students not only need someone to teach them, they also need someone to guide them, and as a teacher I do hope to accomplish this. Children recognize that education will be a large part of ... ...the students to come together and work as a group. My professional plans for the future are to immediately start teaching when I graduate college. However, on my own time I plan on expanding my education to the furthest extent I can in order to continue learning along with my students. Education lies within the strength of a single person, a teacher. The teacher who gets the strength to rise out of bed every morning and face a new day. A teacher has to hold their head up high when they walk into a classroom for fear that the slightest show of weakness may destroy them. To achieve this is the most important purpose in a teacher's life. A teacher is someone who is willing to teach students even when they crave to do other things with their time. An achievement in education lies solely within the goal of becoming greater, which I plan to strive to do.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Reading Great Expectations Essay

Show how Pip is affected by its standards and values. At the beginning of the novel, Dickens presents Pip as a boy who does not really know much about life outside of the forge, and keeps himself to himself. He is an innocent boy who has been brought up to respect his elders and betters. When Pip meets Magwitch, the convict, Dickens shows that he is a kind boy, because he helps by getting him food and a file. We also learn how gullible Pip is, because he believes Magwitch when he tells Pip there is a terrible man who will kill him if he does not do as he is told. â€Å"I looked all round for the horrible young man, and could see no signs of him. But, now I was frightened again, and ran home without stopping. † This shows the reader that Pip is very nai ve, and also very timid. He is not the sort of boy who would stand up for himself. His visits to Satis House, his first acquaintance with a higher social class, are like a stepping-stone towards London. What he learns there, about how people live and talk, would influence him in the future. These visits are what make him ashamed of being â€Å"a common labouring-boy† and lead him to aspire to the status of a gentleman. Estella refers to him as â€Å"common† and says he has â€Å"coarse hands† and wears â€Å"thick boots†. He becomes resentful that he has to live in the country, and work as a blacksmith, a thing that he looked forward to before he met Estella. He says to Biddy, â€Å"I am not at all happy as I am. I am disgusted with my calling and with my life. † He also becomes discourteous, and feels as if it is someone’s fault that he has to become a blacksmith, just as his sister felt resentful at having to bring up him. In his fourth year of apprenticeship to Joe, Pip’s wishes are granted. Jaggers the lawyer, informs him that he is to come into handsome property, and will become a gentleman. He also informs him that he cannot know the identity of his benefactor, but Pip believes that it is Miss Havisham, and that she is preparing him to marry Estella. â€Å"My dream was out†¦ Miss Havisham was to make my fortune on a grand scale. † From the moment Pip learns of his â€Å"great expectations†, he sees himself as superior to everyone else, and becomes self-centred. Pip says, about his family’s reaction to his news â€Å"they both heartily congratulated me; but there was a certain touch of sadness in their congratulations, that I rather resented. † He is so obsessed with himself that he does not stop to consider the feelings of Joe and Biddy and what effect his leaving will have on them. Pip’s previous kind-heartedness and innocence are being replaced by pride and a sense of superiority. He tells Biddy that Joe is â€Å"rather backward in some things†¦ in his learning and in his manners. † Pip’s neighbours and relatives change their attitudes towards him as a result of his new wealth. Pumblechook, who once compared him to a pig, now treats him as an equal, and calls him his â€Å"dear friend. † Mr Trabb, Pip’s tailor, is also very obsequious towards Pip when he hears of the changes in his situation. From this we can see how important money was to people at this time, and also how people treated you differently if you had it. The possession of money immediately gave people a higher status. Pip accepts that his â€Å"great expectations† have indeed made him into a different person and he therefore accepts that people treat him differently. Pip’s first impressions of London are that its immensity scares him and that it is â€Å"rather ugly, crooked, narrow and dirty. † The first things he sees are the gallows yard of Newgate Prison and the Debtor’s Door, which give him â€Å"a sickening idea of London. † He is also not very impressed with Barnard’s inn, where he is to stay. He describes it as â€Å"the dingiest collection of shabby buildings ever squeezed together in a rank corner. † He also says, â€Å"So imperfect was this realisation of my great expectations, that I looked in dismay at Mr Wemmick. â€Å"

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Doctor of Pharmacy Admission Essay

My name is Cidone Saintvil, and I am 33years old. I am currently attending Broward College in Davie, Florida. I have selected pharmacy as a career because through the course of my life I have seen how much people come to depend on their pharmacist.Growing up, I saw that patients do not always have knowledge about medications and often they are afraid to speak to their doctor about how they should take medications.   The person people turn to for guidance and for clarification of medical questions is their pharmacist.I have learned a great deal over the last few years, but I know there is much more that I can learn.   My long-term goal is to become pharmacist.   My immediate goal is to continue to learn as much as I can to be able to help my patients to become knowledgeable on the importance of their medications. I believe that the Doctor of Pharmacy program will help me achieve both of these goals.I come from the same socioeconomic background as many of the patients that come t o the pharmacies that I have worked in.   I am bilingual which will help in situations where a patient needs something explained in their native language. I can interpret and counsel these patients easily on how and why they need to take their medications.My parents are elderly, so I have a very good understanding of how to deal with elderly customers.   Many pharmacists do not realize the amount of patience and understanding that is needed to help the elderly and going with my mother or father to pick up a medication for them, I have seen how exasperated a pharmacist can get when my parents ask them a lot of questions.   I also have a good moral character and I believe that I will serve as a role model for future pharmacists.In July of 2003, I achieved my certification as a Certified Pharmacy Technician in July of 2003.   I have been attending Broward College and the classes that I have taken there have given me a good foundation on which to build other essential knowledge that I will learn in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.I have been mentored throughout my education by Morris Bellman, a pharmacist.   Mr. Bellman has been a mentor and a friend and he has taught me many important lessons, lessons that I treasure greatly.   He has taught me the importance of the way that prescription drugs are administered, what the possible side effects of different drugs are, and about the cost and availability of generic drugs that can be substituted for the prescription equivalent.I have learned a deal by reading the most current scholarly papers in the field of pharmacy.   I feel I am now prepared for the next step in my educational journey, the Doctor of pharmacy program.For the past 11 years I have worked in various positions dealing with medication and patients. From January 1998 to 2003, I held the positions of a material handler and a customer service clerk at Caremark Mail Order Pharmacy in Weston, Florida.In July of 2003, I received my certification a nd since my certification I have been working for Soliant Health (formerly called Cardinal Health) as a pharmacy technician.   With every job that I have held, I have learned a great deal and I have always been eager to learn more and feel each opportunity has further prepared me for my next step which is admission to the Doctor of Pharmacy program.In closing, I feel that my personal and professional background makes me an excellent candidate for this program.   I am a hard worker, self motivated and I am looking to make a change.   I have always felt that a pharmacist is more then just the dispenser of medications.   I feel that the pharmacist is supposed to be someone who has the best interest of the patient in mind and is there to help them with any and all questions.