Monopolies In A Capitalist Economy :: essays research papers fc

In a capitalist economy there are both wanted and unwanted monopolies. However, in a capitalist economy certain monopolies are needed. Monopolies have a big impact on the economy and the consumers because of the amount of control that the monopolies have on the economy. There are certain times when it is best to have monopolies then others, it really depends on the status of the economy. There is no doubt that monopolies do indeed play a critical role in a capitalist economy, but sometimes there are negative effects. It is indeed true to say that not all monopolies are unwanted in a capitalist society. An example of a monopoly that is not unwanted is that of a public utility, like SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric). These produce goods and services that are vital to the public's well being as far as functioning goes. Public utilities are an example of a pure or natural monopoly. A pure or natural monopoly is a single firm in an industry. This is the most effective way to provide very important goods and services. An example of a public utility monopoly that affects our everyday life is that of SDG&E. They are the only power company in San Diego County and thus they have a monopoly on San Diego. This, however is the kind of monopoly that the government likes to keep running and in operation because they know that we cannot do without for very long. If SDG&E decided to go out of business there would be no power supplier for all of San Diego County. In addition, because of the fact tha t SDG&E is the only gas and electric provider they can name almost any price and we have no choice but to comply with their demands unless they can find a dependable alternative, like solar power. The impact of monopolies is felt very heavily on the consumer. The biggest effect of a monopoly in a market is that it drives up the prices of the product in that market (South West, pg. 179). This happens because there is no competition and no other producer to drive prices down. The government has often tried to break up monopolies when they are presented because it will put a negative impact on the economy. There has even been legislation passed against monopolies. An example of a piece of legislation is the Sherman Anti-Trust Act which stated "any combination or conspiracy in constraint of trade" (www.

Iago’s Use of Tone and Simile to Deceive Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello :: Othello Essays

Iago’s Use of Tone and Simile to Deceive Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello The greatest and best villains in literature are those who possess the ability to manipulate others in order to further their own causes. In Othello, Iago has the insight and tact to manipulate the other characters, such as Cassio, Roderigo, Desdemona, and in this case, Othello. The methods by which Iago works the other characters are varied, and one prime example of his cunning ability to manipulate can be seen in Act III.iii.333-450. In this passage Iago utilizes many rhetorical strategies to his advantage; in particular he uses tone and simile. These rhetorical strategies are instrumental in the deception of Othello. Throughout this passage Iago’s tone when he speaks is critical in his effort to make Othello do as planned. This tone is one of innocence and loyalty, and is used effectively to make Othello trust Iago’s statements. Iago appears to be innocent in his reluctance to relate to Othello what he knows about Desdemona and Cassio, as seen on lines 373-380. In this particular passage Iago uses his tone to demonstrate how he did not want to make enemies by telling the truth. Consequently, Othello assumes that Iago is not a part of any scheme and therefore must be telling the truth. The tone of innocence and loyalty to Othello is one of the methods by which Iago successfully manipulates Othello. Not only does Iago utilize the rhetorical strategy of tone, he also employs similes to emphasize points. On lines 403-405, Iago uses multiple similes with the intent of deceiving Othello into thinking that Desdemona and Cassio had a promiscuous relationship. By saying that they were â€Å"as prime as goats† and â€Å"as hot as monkeys†, Iago is almost directly saying that they are having wild sexual relations. Furthermore, by using these similes, Iago helps to confirm Othello’s suspicion of Cassio and Desdemona, which was brought about by Iago in the first place. The use of similes is instrumental in Iago’s manipulation of Othello as seen in this passage.

Decision Analysis Study Guide Scheduling

this is the best study guide I could find. Just match the questions with the answers for the study guide. Chapter 15: Multiple Choice Questions 1. Which of the following is true regarding forward scheduling? Forward scheduling is the scheduling of a. the end items or finished products b. jobs as soon as the requirements are known c. the start items or component parts d. the final operation first beginning with the due date Which of the following best describes how short-term schedules are prepared? Short-term schedules are prepared a. directly from the aggregate plans b. directly from the capacity plans c. rom inventory records for items that have been used up d. from master schedules which are derived from aggregate plans Which scheduling technique should be employed when due dates are important for a job order? a. forward scheduling b. loading c. dispatching d. backward scheduling e. master scheduling Which of the following is not an effectiveness criterion for scheduling? a. maxim izing flow time b. minimizing completion time c. minimizing WIP inventory d. maximizing utilization Forward scheduling a. begins with a delivery date, then each operation is offset one at a time, in reverse order b. s well suited where the supplier is usually able to meet precise delivery dates c. tends to minimize in-process inventory d. assumes that procurement of material and operations start as soon as requirements are known Which file contains important information regarding an item's flow through the shop? a. routing file b. work center master file c. control files d. item master file Which of these is not part of the planning files of a production planning and control system? a. a progress file b. a work center master file c. an item master file d. a routing file Which of the following files tracks work order progress? . work center master files b. routing files c. item master files d. control files 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. The production database containing information about each of the components that a firm produces or purchases is the a. routing file b. work center master file c. control file d. item master file The short-term scheduling activity called loading a. assigns dates to specific jobs or operations steps b. specifies the order in which jobs should be done at each center c. assigns jobs to work centers d. assigns workers to jobs The assignment method is a. a method to highlight overloads in a given work center b. computerized method of determining appropriate tasks for an operation c. a form of linear programming for optimally assigning tasks or jobs to resources d. the same thing as the Gantt schedule chart A scheduling technique used to achieve optimum, one-to-one matching of tasks and resources is a. the assignment method b. Johnson's rule c. the CDS Algorithm d. the appointment method Which of the following is an aid used to monitor jobs in process? a. a Gantt load chart b. the assignment method c. a Gantt schedule chart d. Johnson's Rul e If an assignment problem consists of 6 workers and 7 projects, a. ne worker will not get a project assignment b. one worker will be assigned two projects c. each worker will contribute work toward the seventh project d. one project will not get a worker assigned Orders are processed in the sequence in which they arrive if (the) ______ rule sequences the jobs. a. earliest due date b. slack time remaining c. first come, first serve d. critical ratio 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Which of the following dispatching rules ordinarily gives the best results when the criterion is lowest time for completion of the full sequence of jobs? a. shortest processing time (SPT) b. critical ratio (CR) c. irst in, first out (FIFO) d. first come, first serve (FCFS) 17. Sequencing (or dispatching) a. assigns dates to specific jobs or operations steps b. assigns jobs to work centers c. specifies the order in which jobs should be done at each center d. assigns workers to jobs 18. Five jobs (A, B, C, D, E) are waiting to be processed. Their processing times and due dates are given below. Using the shortest processing time dispatching rule, in which order should the jobs be processed? Job A B C D E a. b. c. d. Processing Time (days) 4 7 8 3 5 A, B, C, D, E C, E, A, D, B B, D, A, E, C D, A, E, B, C Job due date (days) 7 4 11 5 8 9. Five jobs are waiting to be processed. Their processing times and due dates are given below. Using the earliest due date dispatching rule, in which order should the jobs be processed? Job A B C D E a. b. c. d. Processing Time (days) 4 2 8 3 5 C, E, A, D, B A, B, C, D, E B, D, A, E, C C, B, A, E, D Job due date (days) 7 4 11 5 8 20. Flow time represents the time a. an order spends waiting for processing at a work center b. an order spends being processed at a work center c. an order spends moving from one work center to another d. o complete an order, including time spent in processing and in waiting Which of the following dispatching rules tends to minimize job flow time? a. FCFS: first come, first served b. SPT: shortest processing time c. EDD: earliest due date d. LPT: longest processing time Average completion time for a schedule sequence at a work center is total a. processing time divided by the number of jobs b. flow time divided by total processing time c. flow time divided by the number of jobs d. processing time plus total late time divided by number of jobs Five welding jobs are waiting to be processed. Their processing times and due dates are given below. Using the critical ratio dispatching rule, in which order should the jobs be processed? 21. 22. 23. Job A B C D E a. b. c. d. 24. Processing Time (days) 4 2 8 3 5 B, D, A, E, C C, D, A, B, E C, E, A, D, B E, B, A, D, C Job due date (days) 7 4 11 5 11 Which of the following dispatching rules allows easy updates? a. FCFS: first come, first served b. SPT: shortest processing time c. EDD: earliest due date d. CR: critical ratio The priority rule which processes jobs according to the smallest ratio of due date to processing time is: a. ritical ratio b. earliest due date c. first come, first serve d. longest processing time Which of the following is an advantage of the FCFS dispatching rule when used in services? a. FCFS seems fair to customers b. FCFS minimizes the average number of jobs in the system c. FCFS minimizes the average lateness of all jobs d. FCFS maximizes the number of jobs completed on time The most appropriate sequencin g rule to use if the goal is to dynamically track the progress of jobs and establish relative priority on a common basis is a. shortest processing time b. earliest due date c. critical ratio d. Johnson's rule Use of the sequencing rule Shortest Processing Time generally results in a. minimum average lateness b. maximum utilization c. maximum effectiveness d. minimum average flow time When a set of jobs must pass through two workstations whose sequence is fixed, ______ is the rule most commonly applied. a. Johnson's Rule b. earliest due date rule c. first come, first serve rule d. slack time remaining A recent advance in short-term scheduling that makes use of expert systems and simulation in solving dynamic scheduling problems is a. forward scheduling b. backward scheduling c. infinite scheduling 5. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. d. finite scheduling 31. Which of the following techniques does not contribute to increasing throughput at a bottleneck? a. schedule throughput to match capacity of the bottleneck b. increase capacity of constraint c. have cross-trained employees available to operate the constraint d. develop alternate routings An appliance manufacturer assembles icemakers in large batches. The operations manager would like to significantly reduce the batch size. What would you suggest? a. use the SPT rule b. use forward scheduling c. use finite scheduling d. develop level material use schedules 33. A firm wants to develop a level material use schedule based on the following data. What should be the setup cost? desired lot size: 60 annual demand: 40,000 holding cost: $20 per unit per year daily production rate: 320 # of work days per year: 250 a. b. c. d. 34. $0. 45 $4. 50 $45 $450 32. Factory X is trying to use level use scheduling. If their first target were to cut the current lot size in half, by what proportion must setup cost change? a. Setup cost must be cut to one-fourth its current value. b. Setup cost must also be cut in half from its current value. c. Setup cost must double from its current value. . Cannot be determined. Which of the following is true regarding services scheduling? a. The Critical Ratio sequencing rule is widely used for fairness to customers. b. The emphasis is on staffing levels, not materials. c. Reservation systems are often used a means of manipulating the supply of services. d. Labor use can be intensive, and labor demand is usually stable. c d c a c d c d b c b d 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. a a c d a d a d a a b 35. Chapter 15: Multiple Choice Answers 13. 1. b 14. 2. d 15. 3. d 16. 4. a 17. 5. d 18. 6. a 19. 7. a 20. 8. d 21. 9. d 22. 10. c 23. 11. c 24. 12. a

Achille’s Emotions

Spring 13 Spring 13 University of Miami University of Miami Midtem #1/ENG 201-N Anchita Sanan #1. Discuss the character of Achilles in Homer’s Iliad. What is the nature of the existential crisis in which he finds himself, and why is his relationship to both gods and the other Greek warriors so unusual? What realization does he arrive at during his period of withdrawal from the battlefield? What does it mean to say that he is probably the first true individual as well as the first â€Å"problem character,† in Western literature? Finally, discuss the reader’s response to his behavior.In what ways does Achilles repel our human sympathies? In what ways does he maintain or regain them? In this context you will certainly want to discuss his behavior toward Hector as well as his final meeting with Priam. Midtem #1/ENG 201-N Anchita Sanan #1. Discuss the character of Achilles in Homer’s Iliad. What is the nature of the existential crisis in which he finds himself, and why is his relationship to both gods and the other Greek warriors so unusual? What realization does he arrive at during his period of withdrawal from the battlefield?What does it mean to say that he is probably the first true individual as well as the first â€Å"problem character,† in Western literature? Finally, discuss the reader’s response to his behavior. In what ways does Achilles repel our human sympathies? In what ways does he maintain or regain them? In this context you will certainly want to discuss his behavior toward Hector as well as his final meeting with Priam. 08 Fall 08 Fall Love and Hate. Pain and Pleasure. Fear and Confidence. These are all emotions that are experienced by living things. Some of us are more susceptible to these emotions than others.In Homer’s Iliad, one of the main characters, Achilles, is especially prone to these emotions. His emotions vary from one extreme to the other. Despite being considered to be one of the stronge st warriors, a figure feared by the Trojans, Achilles isn’t as perfect as he appears to be. He is a man who is ruled more often by his emotions than he is by his brain. His emotions blind him to an extent and make his actions appear to be less than noble and portray him as a man with close to no integrity. The son of the King of Gods, Zeus, and the Nymph Thetis, Achilles is flawed deeply.In Book I, Agamemnon and Achilles quarrel with one another after Achilles suggests that Agamemnon return â€Å"bright eyed† Chryseis to her father in order to appease Apollo and to consequently halt the plague that is raining upon them. Enraged by Achilles suggestion, Agamemnon agrees to return the girl to her father, on the condition that he get another prize to replace the girl. Achilles argues that there are no gifts that are left to pass around, that once they pillage another town, they will compensate Agamemnon three times as much. This leads to an argument between the two men, wi th accusations flying around.Agamemnon perceives Achilles suggestion as a way for Achilles to obtain more gifts, and demands a gift of equal, if not more, value in return. Sharp-tongued Achilles retaliates, calling Agamemnon an â€Å"insatiable creature,† claiming that he has done nothing to offend the Trojans and yet here he is, taking part in a war that has nothing to do with him but everything to do with Agamemnon and Menelaus. â€Å"When we Achaeans loot some well-built Trojan town, my prizes never match the ones you get. The major share of war’s fury rests on me. But when we hand around the battle spoils, you get much larger trophies. Already there is a seed that has been planted within Achilles’ heart, a seed that will bear bitterness and anger as its fruit. In his anger, Achilles’ steps away from the war, taking himself completely out of the course of it, with plans to return to his home. Upon hearing this, Agamemnon threatens to take away Briseis , the woman that was given to Achilles. So overcome by his anger is Achilles that he debates ending Agamemnon’s life right there and then. While he is debating, Athena, who discourages him from continuing with his plan of murder, consoling Achilles that he will be richer than Agamemnon, visits him.Achilles retaliates with even harsher words to Agamemnon once Athena disappears, calling him a coward who sits behind the scenes whilst his men fight and die for him and vows to not take any part in the war from this point forth, for he has been scorned by the wordings of Agamemnon. When the men of Agamemnon come to take Briseis, Achilles gives her up without a fight, despite how heavy his heart is at the thought of losing her. Once she is gone, Achilles withdraws from his companions and sobs, praying to his mother to understand why he is treated the way he is, why he isn’t treated with respect.His mother, hearing his laments, comes to console him, telling him that she will v isit Zeus and try to sway him towards helping the Trojans and destroying the Achaeans, to make them pay for disrespecting the son of Thetis. This is just one of the many examples of how Achilles is ruled by his emotions, of how him being the son of Zeus and Thetis aids him in his goals and gives him an upper hand. He is favored not only by Athena, but also by Hera, and indirectly by Zeus, who tries to maintain neutrality throughout the course of the Iliad.There are various occasions on which the God’s interfere, each trying to help either the Trojans or the Achaeans. On more than one occasion, Thetis interferes on behalf of her son, trying to gain him some ground by calling in the favors that she has accrued. The first occasion on which she interferes is when she visits Zeus and tells him to give the Trojans a helping hand so that they Achaeans will suffer and see how they suffer without Achilles presence. She convinces Zeus and even though the Trojans march ahead, Achilles p ays a heavy price for his request. He loses his best friend, the person he is closest to, Patroclus.Thetis interferes again, when Achilles decides to join the war and avenge the death of Patroclus, and get his body back. She gives Hephaestus a visit and requests him to make her son a new armor. Hephaestus forges for Achilles a breastplate, a helmet and a shield that has images of dancing children, constellations etc. without asking any further questions. Despite being the son of two gods, Achilles is made painfully aware of the short amount of time he has left. His mother constantly reminds him that regardless of which path he takes; his time on Earth is limited.He can either go back to his home and die peacefully or he can join the war and die there. Other occasions on which the Gods favor Achilles is when Iris, sent by Hera, tells Achilles that he must go back to war, that his appearance will discourage the Trojans and cause them to leave behind the body of Patroclus. The same nig ht that Achilles decides to step back into the war, Athena robs the Trojans of their wisdom, causing Hector to reject the idea of retreating back into the safety of their city, instead, he insists on fighting more.It seems as if the Gods are changing how the war takes place, very well knowing what the outcome will be, by aiding Achilles. Even though the Trojans too, are favored, the scale seems to be tipped more towards Achilles, perhaps due to the fact that both his parents are Gods. This makes his relationship to the God’s quite unique. For the brief period of time that Achilles isn’t on the battlefield, he comes to the realization that despite the fact that the war has nothing to do with him, he is still the most feared figure on the battlefield. Achilles is the man that Hector fears, along with the rest of the Trojan army.Were it not for his quarrel with Agamemnon, Achilles would be fighting alongside his men, conquering the battlefield. Achilles is considered to b e a true individual because despite being portrayed as one of the bravest warriors, he is still flawed. Flawed in the sense that he feels every emotion to an extreme. He does what he feels is the right thing to do and on more than one occasion, contemplates disobeying the orders that have been given to him. Achilles feels that his skills amongst the other warriors aren’t appreciated and that he isn’t given the due he deserves, nor the spoils.His quarrels with Agamemnon prevent him from taking part in the war. He is scorned by the words of Agamemnon and his own beliefs of unjust treatment. He knows that if he doesn’t take part in the war, his men will lose the battle, yet he steps away. When the girl, Briseis, is taken from him, he mourns and seeks consolation as to why he is being put down and disrespected by his fellow warriors. He cannot fathom why, despite his accomplishments and his status amongst his own men, he isn’t respected. The seeds of bitterne ss have take root in his heart and continue to grow, filling him with despair and anger.Furthermore, when Patroclus is killed, he seems to almost disintegrate by the grief he feels for his loss. He blames himself for letting his pride and arrogance blind him. Perhaps if he had been there, fighting by his friend’s side, his dear friend would still be alive. It takes all but a nudge from Hera to push him back into battle and avenge the death of his friend. He is true because he is not a ruthless killing machine; he feels the emotions of love, grief and anger. Yet at the same time, these emotions get in the way and cause him to make decisions that would be otherwise considered careless or unwise.This is what makes him a true yet problematic individual. The reader’s response to the behavior of Achilles varies throughout the text. There are times when the reader feels sympathetic towards him, i. e. when he loses Briseis and Patroclus. However, there are also times when the reader can feel the air of arrogance that radiates from Achilles. Take into account when Priam comes to Achilles to ask for the body of Hector back, so that he can be given a proper burial and be mourned properly by his wife and family amongst other players.Achilles snaps at Priam after Priam makes a comment, warning Priam to not provoke him. Achilles persona varies from a vulnerable man to an untouchable man; making the readers response varies along with this persona. There are also moments when the reader is horrified at the train of Achilles thoughts. â€Å"I wish I had the heart and strength to carve you up and eat you raw myself for what you’ve done to me. † This vulgar statement to Hector appalls the reader, making the reader think twice about the kind of man that Achilles is.Furthermore, after Hector’s death, Achilles refuses to turn over the body to the Trojans or to simply leave it there; instead, he chooses to defile the body. He cuts through the tendo ns behind both feet, threads them with ox-hide thongs and ties them to his chariot, and then commences to drag behind his chariot the body of Hector. He also drags the body of Hector for twelve days, and each and every time, the body doesn’t decompose or suffer due to the Gods keeping it that way. It can be argued, whether or not Achilles is given the respect he deserves. There are men that follow him and support his decision to step away from the war.There are also men that abhor his decision, blatantly telling Achilles that his decision is selfish and will lead to the deaths of his fellow men. Throughout the course of the Iliad, the reader is able to see instances of divine intervention, and times when the heart seems to rule rather than the brain. Achilles is a strong man with a hard exterior. His interior, however, is a tangle of emotions, which lead him to make decisions that are foolish and careless. There are times that divine intervention seems to knock some sense int o him, causing him to veer in the correct direction, however briefly that may be.

Marketing & Innovation

Marketing & Innovation â€Å"Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two—and only two—basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs. † Peter Drucker (The Father of Management Theory) INTRODUCTION Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. American Marketing Association 2007) An innovation is the implementation of a new or significantly improved product (good or service), or process, a new marketing method, or a new organizational method in business practices, workplace organization or external relations. (OECD 2005) Four types of innovations are distinguished: product innovations, process innovations, marketing innovations and organizational innovations. (OECD 2005) * A product (service) innovation is th e introduction of a good or service that is new or significantly improved with respect to its characteristics or intended uses.This includes significant improvements in technical specifications, components and materials, incorporated software, user friendliness or other functional characteristics. * A process innovation is the implementation of a new or significantly improved production or delivery method. This includes significant changes in techniques, equipment and/or software. * An organizational innovation is the implementation of a new organizational method in the firm’s business practices, workplace organization or external relations. A marketing innovation is the implementation of a new marketing method involving significant changes in product design or packaging, product placement, product promotion or pricing. The OCED’s definition is too narrow : it reduces the scope of marketing by separating between marketing, product innovation and delivery. If we mixed t he two definition we can propose that with a marketing lenses an innovation is : â€Å"the implementation of a new or significantly improved method, process or practices in creating, communicating, delivering, and xchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large† * Innovation in marketing could be related to : * The creation (Iphone), * The communication (Web2. 0), * The delivery (Internet), * Or exchanging (Michelin) * offerings that have value 2 Main objective: Understanding and mastering the process from new ideas generation to new value offering for the stakeholders Degree of differenciation of consumer expectations| Degree of improvement in technology | | Low | High| Low | Continuous innovation(cordless phone)| Market breakthroughts (parabolic skis)| | High| Technology breakthroughts (passage from video players to DVD player)| Radical innovation(cell phone)| Innovation continuum Continuous innovation * Modification to an existing product that does not require a change in learning * Improvement of an existing product without major changes Dynamically Continuous Innovations * Modification to an existing product that requires a modest amount of learning or change in behavior to use it Discontinuous innovation (radical innovation) Major changes in the way we live * Product innovation which break the rules and the norms * New consumption behaviors and use * Technology Example: Sharing documents on Internet, Downloading musics, E-business and virtual stores, Free software, Hybrid cars New product development process 3 Phase 1: Idea Generation Sources of new ideas * Internal idea sources: * Formal research and development * â€Å"Intrapreneurial† programmes * External idea sources: * Customers * Pilot customers : Pilot customers methodsThe estimated annual sales of new products developed based on ideas generated by pilot customers are eight times higher than estimated sales of innovations developed from mor e traditional methods. Pilot Customer: users †¢Brainstorming  : Characteristics of brainstorming | 1. | Write a clear, focused objective | 2. | Select participants for the team | 3. | Prepare for the session | 4. | At the session – Rules for brainstorming. | Rules: * A conversation at the same time * Be focused on the subject * Be visual (drawing) * Encourage crazy ideas * The quantity is more important than the quality * Negative comments have to be avoided No interruptions from outside Role of the team leader: * Contribute to, but not inhibit the flow of ideas * Don’t be too controlling * Encourage participation from everyone * Introduce creative games * Call the â€Å"time out† to review and evaluate ideas that have been generated Method * Write a list of ideas (uses) * Classify ideas thanks to criteria * Find common points between application : â€Å"pseudo segments† 4 Interviews Motivation * Focus group / individual interviews Characteristics of focus group | Group size | 8 to 12 | Group composition | Homogeneous: respondents prescreened | Physical setting | Relaxed, informal atmosphere |Time duration | 1 to 3 hours | Recording | Record all the discussion with sound an video | Moderator | Observational, interpersonal, communication skills | * Individual interview  : Type of interview | Required skills | Structured interview | Neutrality, no prompting, no improvisation | Semi-structured interview | Some probing, rapport with interviewee, understanding the aims of the project | Open-ended interview or depth interview | Flexibility, rapport with interviewee, active listening | Focus group | Facilitation skills, flexibility, ability to stand back from the discussion so that group dynamics can emerge |Characteristics of semi-structured individual interviews | Group size | Face to face, one-one-one basis | Interview structure | Semi-structured, direct, personal interview. Use of an interview guide | Physical setting | Relaxe d, informal atmosphere | Time duration | One hour | Recording | Use of audiocassettes and videotapes | Moderator | Observational, interpersonal, communication skills | * 5 Focus on semi-structural individual interview Questioning style * Open ended, non-directive * Little or no direction on how to answer * Relate to topic in own way * Use own language Probing – for detail, depth, clarification – Prompting – encouraging respondent to answer * Non-verbal, repeating, rephrasing, summarising * Salespeople * Service providers * Anyone with direct customer contact * Competitors  : Companies watch competitors’ ads and other communications (new-product pre-announcements) to get clues about their new products * Distributors, suppliers and others  : Companies watch competitors’ ads and other communications (new-product pre-announcements) to get clues about their new products Example of Brainstorming: anti-odor product First step: write a list of uses * D irty socks, Ashtrays, Changing rooms, Refrigerators, Elevators, Subway tunnels†¦ * Second step: classify ideas * Development of a notation system * A Possible today * B possible soon * C difficult and risky * Criteria * Technicity faisability, cost, market accessibility, competitors, time of solution * Third step: Find common points How customers can use the product| Passage from 80 ideas to 8  « pseudo-market segments  »| What is its added value? | Deodorization public places| Types of customers| Chemicalplants| Places| Household odors†¦. |Phase 2: Product development * Expand ideas into more complete product concepts * Describe features the product should have and benefits those features will provide * 6 Evaluate chance for success * Develop a marketing strategy that can be used to introduce the product to the market place After more than a decade of development, Daimler begins to commercialize its experimental fuel-cell-powered- electric car Next step: to develop th is new product into alternative product concepts – Concept 1: A moderately priced subcompact designed as a second family car to be used around town Concept 2: A medium-cost sporty compact appealing to young people – Concept 3: An inexpensive subcompact green car – Concept 4: A high-end sport –utility vehicle (SUV) appealing those who love the space Phase 3: Marketing strategy development * Develop a marketing strategy that can be used to introduce the product to the market place * Identify the target market * Estimate its size * Determine how the product can be positioned * Plan pricing, distribution and promotion expenditures Phase 4: Technical development * The product moves into product develop RD or engineering develops the product concept into a physical product â€Å"Look beyond simply creating products that satisfy consumers needs and wants†¦ Companies work to fashion products that are both satisfying and easy to manufacture. † Phase 5: Marketing Test * It lets the company test the product and its entire marketing programme – positioning, advertising, distribution, pricing, branding and budget levels Phase 6: Commercialization Launch the product! * Full scale production * Distribution * Advertising * Sales promotion * and more 7 INNOVATING BY SERVICESInnovation and Marketing Decision: The customers’ values issue An economic opportunity exists for an innovation when a new value proposition to customer is possible Agreeing the PSS statement (Product Service System)  «Ã‚  What is important is not our offer but what our customers do with it  Ã‚ », there are three kinds of value propositions for an innovation. Innovation and the first customer’s value proposition: * Customer Values are embedded in a three stages consumption scenario. * These stages define three kinds of value. * Stage 1: Decision (potential value) * Stage 2: The exchange (value in exchange) Stage 3: usage (value in use) Innovat ion in potential value First innovative value proposition: Innovation concerning the facilities The facilities include all company resources: employees, know-how, technology, nominal goods †¦ and other facilities that must be accessible (before offer provision is feasible). Make perceptible the strength of a promise POTENTIAL VALUE from facilities stage in an offer provision scenario, ex IBIS Hotel 8 POTENTIAL VALUE from facilities stage in a service provision scenario: ex vending machine Innovation in value in exchange Second innovative value proposition :Innovation concerning the transformation process This is the stage in which company resources are combined with other companies’ resources in order to transform them. Companies act as prime resources integrators and the innovation consists of new ways of co-operating, collaborating, co-branding†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ In this case, these values in exchange will have to be new values in use for the customers †¦ to be success ful VALUE IN EXCHANGE from the exchange stage in an offer provision scenario: ex Senseo, Nike+ iphone app This transformation stage can also exhibit innovation concerning CUSTOMER VALUE in EXCHANGE.Offer provision can include a transformation of customer resources in terms of persons (surgery, hair cuts†¦), physical objects (e. g. car repairs†¦), nominal good (e. g. investment banking, rights (e. g. lawyers.. ) and/or data (tax advisors†¦)†¦ It contains elements which are either pre-prepared within producers’ facilities, or are co-produced by customer and provider during the integration and the transformation of customer resources. Innovation consists of changing the way of integrating the customers’ resources with those of the producers’ VALUE IN EXCHANGE. Innovation in producers-customers co-production: ex WikipediaInnovation and the third Customer’s Value proposition. Innovation in customer’s value in use The usage stage exhi bits CUSTOMER VALUE IN USE. Innovation consists of proposing to customer new values in use, perceived as new solutions. Ex: Wii for the seniors Definition of servicization The key idea behind product service systems is that consumers do not specifically demand products, per se, but rather are seeking the utility these products and services provide. By using a service to meet some needs rather than a physical object, more needs can be met with lower material and energy requirements. A product service system is a competitive system of products, services, supporting networks and infrastructure. The system includes product maintenance, parts recycling and eventual product replacement, which satisfy customer needs competitively and with lower environmental impact over the life cycle. â€Å"A Product-Service System can be defined as the result of an innovation strategy, shifting the business focus from designing and selling physical products only, to selling a system of products and serv ices which are jointly capable of fulfilling specific client demands. Meeting consumers’ needs with a mix of products and services is not a new concept. House rentals, hotels, taxis and restaurants are good examples based on economic interest. There are other new and innovative applications of product service systems that have developed as a response to make business more sustainable. The main difference between product service systems and the classic examples is that the preference of consumers is influenced by environmental, as well as economic interests.Source: UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME DIVISION OF TECHNOLOGY, INDUSTRY AND ECONOMICS 10 Innovation by servicization : an attractive way to Innovate on the markets Three ways to develop innovation by servicization : 1- Product oriented services Provided to increase or optimize the product life cycle, these supplementary services are offered to guarantee functionality and durability of the product (e. g. maintenance an d repair, upgrading and substitution services over a specified time period, advise and consultancy for use optimisation, etc. ). 2- Usage oriented servicesThe product is made available in a different form to the customer, is sometimes shared by number of users, but stays in ownership with the provider. It is the usage of the product rather than the product itself that is invoiced, without transfer of ownership (e. g. car sharing or car pooling, tools location, financial leasing, etc. ). Ex: http://www. lamachineduvoisin. fr/ 3- Result-oriented services (functional economy) Result-oriented services (or functional services): in this most accomplished form of servicization, the seller does not sell a product anymore to the customer, but the desired result rendered by the product.Rather than selling pesticides to farmers for example, the seller decides to offer a global service contract that guarantee a maximal acceptable loss on crops. A BM based on the sold products quantity A BM base d on a service rate Sell a maximum loss rate on crops Firm in functional service is looking for less costly alternating solutions as the reintroduction of parasitics predatories or the earth reoxygenation by earthworms or using R&D in biology, agronomy, entomology.. The competitiveness of the seller depends on its ability to optimise the PSS implemented to reach this goal and to use the least possible resources and energy to reach the targeted acceptable loss. Such functional services are implemented with great success by companies such as Xerox (Xerox Global Services) or Michelin (Michelin Fleet Solutions) for example.

Arguments for and Against Term Limits Essay

My research indicated there is more public support for term limits. The most common reason was voters feel dissatisfied and misrepresented by the candidate in office. It is believed that career politicians are elitists and do not have a clear understanding of what â€Å"real† people are dealing with or need. Term limits would create an even playing field for newcomers allowing new ideas and fresh thinkers into the mix. Newcomers would be less influenced by special interests and reduce corruption. Those opposed to term limits primarily support the premise that replacing seasoned experienced politicians with inexperienced members that are unfamiliar with the issues is detrimental to moving things forward. It takes years of experience to get up to speed on the issues and the rules of government. Limiting terms would be restrictive and eliminate the â€Å"good† guy politicians that are doing a good job representing the people. It is common that term limited politicians are not as committed toward the end of their term because they don’t have to worry about their record of accomplishments for re-election. When I first started to work on this assignment I was convinced that I was in favor of term limits for federally-elected officials. I was convinced that term limits were a good idea in order to reduce corruption and generate fresh ideas. After doing some initial research I realized that term limits are not the solution to government reform. The people elect government officials. It is up to the voters to vote in change, get involved, and support their candidate of choice. Voting is a civil liberty for all secured by the sacrifices of others. It is our citizen responsibility to invoke our right to vote and to be informed, educated voters. References htttp://dbp.idebate.org /en/index.php/Debate:_Term_limits_for_legislators http://suite101.com/article/term-limits-are-set-at-the-polls-a214115

The legal profession is a form of public trust

The legal profession is a form of public trust which is given only to those qualified enough to uphold the law and assist in the administration of justice. It is a duty of public service which involves sincerity, integrity and reliability, in which pecuniary considerations are a mere by-product, notwithstanding establishing lawyer-client relationships in the highest degree of fiduciary. The lawyer is an oath-bound servant of society whose conduct is clearly circumscribed by inflexible norms of law and ethics to which the ends of justice are the primary considerations. In rendering legal services to his clients, he must observe utmost fidelity to the cause of his client regardless of his personal beliefs on his client’s guilt or innocence, as even the most guilty of all criminals can still avail of the different protections afforded by the law. Sometimes, though, lawyers are faced with legal complications in providing the most adequate defenses for their clients especially when the latter are found to have deliberately violated the laws of the land. These acts do no include justifying circumstances in criminal prosecutions as these are been deemed lawful when convincingly proven in court. The acts contemplated here are acts which are considered, on its face, patent violations of the law bereft of any legal justification. However, these illegal acts do not preclude the rendering of legal services for the protection of their rights. Among the conditions and circumstances that utterly warrant the defense of illegal acts are those which are challenged based on constitutional issues involving the due process and equal protection clauses, and constitutionally-protected freedoms such as free expression and the right to privacy. The due process and the equal protection clauses have been two of the most important protections afforded by the US Constitution to the American people to safeguard them from the unwarranted intrusions of government into the free exercise of their democratic rights. As a result, many previously considered violations of the law were overturned by the US Supreme Court for abridging the due process and equal protection clauses of the constitution, to the extent that entire statutes were declared unconstitutional and taken off the statute books. In the case of Lawrence v. Texas, two gay couples were charged and convicted for â€Å"deviate sexual intercourse, namely anal sex, with a member of the same sex,† (539 U.S. 558) and violating the Texas Penal Code Ann.  §21.06(a), which provides that a person commits an offense if he engages in deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex. The homosexual couple asserted that their conviction was an infringement of the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth amendment, in which the majority opinion answered thus These matters, involving the most intimate and personal choices a person may   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   make in a lifetime, choices central to personal dignity and autonomy, are central   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   to the liberty protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. At the heart of liberty is   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe,    and of the mystery of human life. Beliefs about these matters could not define the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   attributes of personhood were they formed under compulsion of the State.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992) Such homosexual acts in the privacy of a person’s home is subsumed in the concept stated above and their autonomy as persons to decide for themselves the concept of their own existence and meaning must be respected by the Court and the law. While convicted in the lower courts for violating the law, they were vindicated by the ruling of the Supreme Court based on their constitutional challenge. A case that was won based on procedural due process is the case of Tumey v. Ohio in which Tumey was arrested and charged with the unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor at White Oak, another village in Hamilton county, Ohio, on a warrant issued by the mayor of North College Hill. The mayor of the town then proceeded to try and convict Tumey under the existing law. His conviction was challenged based on the pecuniary interest of the mayor in convicting Tumey as he stood to gain from the amount of the costs in each case, in addition to his regular salary, as compensation for hearing such cases. There is, therefore, no way by which the mayor may be paid for his service as judge, if he does not convict those who are brought before him. The US Supreme Court looked favorably on the assertions of Tumey, reversed his conviction, and remanded the case for further trial, due to the utter lack of impartiality in the previous proceedings with the mayor sitting as a judge. This is proof once again that constitutional challenges protect the rights even of persons seen to have deliberately violated the law. In Lanzetta v. New Jersey, the appellants were indicted and convicted under the New Jersey Statute which prosecutes â€Å"any person not engaged in any lawful occupation, known to be a member of any gang consisting of two or more persons, who has been convicted at least three times of being a disorderly person, or who has been convicted of any crime, in this or any other State, is declared to be a gangster. The US Supreme Court declared the statute unconstitutional for being repugnant to the Fourteenth Amendment as the word â€Å"gang† and â€Å"gangster† is vague such that even those who belong to a group whose objective may be legal may unnecessarily be covered. Hence, due to vagueness, there is no sufficient warning to the public as to what exactly is proscribed by the law. The persons in this case, even if found to be true gangsters in a socio-cultural sense, had their convictions reversed simply due to the vagueness of the law. In the case of In Re Lynch, John Lynch was released from prison that supposedly condemned him for life behind bars as the US Supreme Court found the penalty for this offense of indecent exposure too cruel for such a light offense, relative to more heinous crimes with the same penalty. Lynch was definitely found guilty of his crime, yet the law still afforded him adequate protection despite his offenses when it was challenged based on the constitutional issue of disproportionate punishments which, although not cruel or unusual in its method, it is so disproportionate to the crime for which it is inflicted that it shocks the conscience and offends fundamental notions of human dignity. In New York Times v. Sullivan, the libel suit of L.B. Sullivan against the New York Times did not earn the affirmation of the US Supreme Court as it held that the interest of the public outweighs the interest of any other individual. While the New York Times might, on its face, erred in accurately reporting the facts of the civil rights demonstration involving Martin Luther King, the newspaper cannot be held for its criticisms of the official conduct of public officials.   In this case, the freedom of the press saved the New York Times from settling the multi-million dollar libel suit filed by Sullivan even if the lower courts found them guilty of the offense. In the famous case of Griswold v. Connecticut, Drs. Griswold and Buxton were found guilty of violating 53-32 and 54-196 of the General Statutes of Connecticut and fined $100 each for giving information, instruction, and medical advice to married persons as to the means of preventing conception, notwithstanding examining a married woman and prescribed the best contraceptive device or material for her use. The US Supreme Court reversed their convictions based on a discussion of the penumbra of rights which are formed by emanations from those constitutional guarantees that help give them life and substance. This is shown in past cases wherein, though not directly involved, the right to privacy was upheld. The court, in verbatim even said – The present case, concerns a relationship lying within the zone of privacy created   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   by several fundamental constitutional guarantees. And it concerns a law which, in   Ã‚   forbidding the use of contraceptives rather than regulating their manufacture or    sale, seeks to achieve its goals by means having a maximum destructive impact upon that relationship. Such a law cannot stand in light of the familiar principle, so often applied by this Court, that a â€Å"governmental purpose to control or prevent   Ã‚   activities constitutionally subject to state regulation may not be achieved by means which sweep unnecessarily broadly and thereby invade the area of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   protected freedoms.† Yet again, the US Supreme Court intervened in expunging responsibility from individuals who were found to be in blatant violation of the existing laws of the land. In all of these, it is patently clear that individuals found to be in deliberate violation of existing laws can still be afforded protection by our system of laws. While many other conditions and exceptions exist to warrant the defense of supposedly erring individuals and groups, the best way of going around the violations of the law is through a sound constitutional challenge before the courts of law, from the lowest courts all the way up to the US Supreme Court. It must be remembered that these are done not only for the sheer obstinacy of defending the cause of the client but also in pursuit of upholding the rule of law, the integrity of the courts and assist in the administration of justice. The duties of the lawyers are not only to prosecute and defend, but also to ensure that justice is done to all those who deserve it. Cases Cited: Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003) Tumey v. Ohio, 373 US 510 (1927) Lanzetta v. New Jersey, 306 US 451 (1939) In Re Lynch, 8 Cal 3rd 410 P. 2d (1972) New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 US 254 (1964) Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 US 47A (1965)