Democracy History Essays - Democracy, Forms Of Government, Elections

Democracy History The word democracy is derived from two Greek words: demos, meaning "the people," and kratos, meaning, "rule." A democracy is a way of governing in which the whole body of citizens takes charge of its own affairs. As citizens of towns, cities, states, provinces, and nations, the people are the sovereigns, the source of power. Democracy means that they can freely make the decisions about what is best for them: what policies to adopt and what taxes to pay. An authoritarian government is a government where they tell people what to do and expect the people to obey. This obedience is usually justified in the name of some higher value to which an individuals interests and rights may be sacrificed. I believe that political decisions should be made democratically instead of using authoritarian processes because democracy provides equality, freedom and one of the most persistent defenses of democracy is that government policies are made in the interest of the people. Authoritarian government is a political system in which the power is in the hands of a ruling elite. The rule of a few will produce a government that passes laws for the benefit of the few. Therefore, an advantage for democracy is that the supreme power is vested in the people and will satisfy the interest of the people. The rule of the many will create a government that legislates on behalf of the majority. In other words, those people who hold political power cannot use it for their own benefit. Another argument in favour of democracy emphasizes its ability to safeguard individual liberties. Free competition among political parties provides a check against possible governmental tyranny and oppression, just as periodic elections provide a powerful antidote to the corrupting effect of political power. A word closely associated with democracy is equality. For a government to be a true democracy, there must be certain kinds of equality in society. The four most prominent are equality of rights, suffrage, schooling, and justice. There should also be participation by all citizens in the responsibilities of government by voting in elections. The American Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal." This does not mean that all people are equal in every respect. It only asserts that all individuals are equally human. This being true, all people have the same natural rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In a real democracy these truths--common humanity and natural rights--are recognized. In addition, all members of the society are regarded as citizens (except for resident aliens) and are entitled to the same civil rights. These are rights specified by law. In an authoritarian state individual have no guarantee of freedom and are characterized by p olitical inequality. In addition individuals are stated, not equal . Consequently democracy is a better system for society. Suffrage is the most basic civil right because it is the main safeguard of democracy. All citizens (except for children, the mentally incompetent, and convicted criminals) should have the right to vote. There can be no exclusions on the basis of race or ethnicity, sex, religion, or economic status. Where as in the authoritarian state people dont get the opportunity to vote and their participation in the government decisions are controlled. In the 19th-century English philosopher John Stuart Mill, in his 'Considerations on Representative Government', insisted "the State should require and compel the education, up to a certain standard, of every human being who is born its citizen." Regardless of inequalities of abilities, the state should promote schooling up to the best ability of each citizen. This means the same mandatory schooling for all, not different kin ds of schooling for different economic classes. Democracies need citizens who are well enough informed to make proper political judgments after analyzing complex issues. While in the authoritarian state the citizens are not educated well enough for the everyday business of politics and power, therefore the work has to be done by the elite who are in power because of their attributes. According to the Declaration of Independence, governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed. Tyrannical or totalitarian governments use their powers unjustly, and their laws are not equally enforced.

Myths Declaration of Independence

Myths Declaration of Independence Free Online Research Papers Before we can examine if there are myths surrounding the Declaration of Independence we need to examine under what circumstances Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration (After the Fact pg. 75). By the spring of 1776, the patience of many congressmen had been sorely tried by bitter wrangling over the question of whether or not to declare independence. Many of the legislators thought it nonsensical to fight a war for any purpose other than independence, yet others disagreed. They held out hope for a resolution with England. For month after bloody month Congress had sat on its hands unable to offer a resolution, this angered many including John and Sam Adams of Massachusetts (After the Fact pg. 77). They felt that America was fighting a war it could not win unless it declared independence from Britain. Opposition to Parliament had been growing since it enacted the first American tax, the Stamp Act of 1765. At the First Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia in September 1774, some delegates wanted to force repeal of Parliament’s repressive measures through a trade embargo. A more conservative faction had pushed for a compromise to provide American representation in Parliament. In the end, Congress adopted the trade boycott, and war had come (US a Narrative History pg. 114-115). The greatest reluctance to engage in Independence came from the middle colonies (After the Fact pg. 76). New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware and in South Carolina, all had long since been drawn into the economic web of the Atlantic world. Before the war, the products of the backcountry- furs, hides and lumber- as well as grain, had moved through New York and Philadelphia to markets in the Caribbean and England. Charleston exported indigo and rice. In return, English-manufactured goods entered the colonies through these ports. Business had flourished during most of the 18th century; in recent years Philadelphia’s merchants had routinely enjoyed annual profits of more than 10 percent (American History pg. 218-219). The great merchants in Philadelphia and New York, who constituted a powerful political force, had other compelling reasons for remaining within the empire. Many relied upon credit supplied by English bankers. The protection afforded to transatlantic trade by the Royal Navy minimized insurance and other overhead costs. Independence, Philadelphia merchant Thomas Clifford asserted in 1775, would â€Å"assuredly prove unprofitable.† The â€Å"advantages of security and stability,† said another, â€Å"lie with . . . remaining in the empire.† But Adams was confident that those who favored reconciliation would be driven inexorably toward independence. In time, he believed, they would discover that London would never give in to America’s demands. Furthermore, he expected that war would transform the colonists’ deep-seated love for Britain into enmity, necessitating a final break (American History pg. 220). On June 11, Congress created a five-member committee to prepare a statement on independence. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman of Connecticut and Robert Livingston of New York were given until July 1 to complete their work (After the Fact pg. 77). Once again it was to Jefferson that a panel turned, this time for the fateful task of drafting the declaration (After the Fact pg. 79). Jefferson and his colleagues beat the deadline by two days, submitting on June 28 a document that explained and defended independence. By July 1, the final consideration of Lee’s motion to declare independence was taken up. That day’s session, John Adams told a friend in a letter written early that morning would see â€Å"the greatest Debate of all† (American History pg.222). When debate began midmorning on that Monday, Dickinson was first on his feet to make one last speech against independence. Speaking for two hours in the stifling heat of the closed room (windows were kept shut to keep spies from listening in), Dickinson reviewed the familiar arguments: America could not win the war; at best, it could fight Britain to a stalemate, and deadlocked wars often ended in partition treaties in which territory is divided among the belligerents; therefore, after all the killing, some colonies would remain part of the British Empire, while others would pass under the control of France or Spain (American History pg.223). It was John Adams- soon to be christened â€Å"the Atlas of Independence† by New Jersey’s Richard Stockton- who rose to answer Dickinson. Striving to conceal his contempt for his adversary, Adams spoke extemporaneously in subdued tones. Once again, he reviewed the benefits of independence. Although his speech was not transcribed, he surely invoked the ideas he had expressed and the phrases he had used on many another occasion. Breaking ties with Britain, he argued, would ensure freedom from England’s imperial domination; escape from the menace of British corruption; and the opportunity to create a republic based on equality of representation (American History pg.223). Others then took the floor. The speeches stretched past the customary 4 o’clock adjournment and into the evening. The business was â€Å"an idle Mispence of Time,† Adams remarked sourly, as â€Å"nothing was said, but what had been repeated and hackneyed in that Room a hundred Times for Six Months past† (American History pg.223). After the Congress reconvened the next morning, July 2, the delegates cast their momentous votes. Twelve states- the colonies would become states with the vote- voted for independence. Not one voted against the break with Britain. New York’s delegation, which had not yet been authorized by the New York legislature to separate from the mother country, did not vote. Adams predicted that July 2 would ever after â€Å"be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other forward forever more†(After the Fact pg. 78). He was wrong, of course, for July 4, the date that Congress approved the formal Declaration of Independence, would become the commemorative day. Although we celebrate July 4 as the official Independence Day it was not until at least August that all of the members signed the document. So why is it that most Americans think that Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence? If it was a committee of five, what did the others contribute? Surely they had to contribute something. I think that it is easier to accept the fact that it was written by Jefferson and that everyone agreed with him. We have to remember that people have not changed all that much. We know what happens today when a group of opinionated people get together. How long have we been debating health care? So if it was a group effort or if Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence by himself, it was a remarkable achievement in such a short amount of time. Research Papers on Myths Declaration of IndependenceQuebec and CanadaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeDefinition of Export QuotasAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Twilight of the UAW19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraBringing Democracy to AfricaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationPETSTEL analysis of IndiaWhere Wild and West Meet

Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Paper

Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis - Research Paper Example Due to its effect on various body parts, rheumatoid arthritis is usually known as system illness and at times it is referred to as a rheumatoid disease. Â  Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness that is without syndromes and as such, it can exist in a patient’s body for several years without being noticed. The meeting point of two body parts to allow movement is referred to as a joint. Consequently, arthritis refers to an inflamed joint. Rheumatoid arthritis results in the destruction of ligaments, bones, and cartilage leading to a deformed joint. These damages can occur early and progress slowly in the course of the disease development. According to statistics, in the United States alone, rheumatoid arthritis affects nearly 1.3 million individuals occurring more commonly in women than men. Â  Rheumatoid arthritis has no known cause. However, infection agents, which include bacteria, fungi, and viruses, have over a long period been suspected as the cause but no approval has been made to this effect. Scientists across the globe believe that the disease could be inherited genetically. Through scientific research, certain genes have been identified as having the ability to increase the risk of contracting rheumatoid arthritis. Certain infections and environmental factors are suspected to trigger immune system activation in susceptible individuals. The misdirected immune system as result invades and attack body tissues resulting ending up in the inflammation of various body parts such as the eyes, lungs, and joints. Â  Tissue inflammation degree determines the appearance of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. The disease is usually active on occasion of inflamed body tissues and appears to be in remission during periods when there is reduced tissue inflammation.

Learning to Accept the Controversial Issues Essay

Learning to Accept the Controversial Issues - Essay Example With the vast technological growth and advancement in the telecommunications sector, people of today get to experience so many innovative discoveries never before availed. One might not be able to imagine a world without cell phones or the internet, of social networking or being perennially tuned to tunes and gadgets that keep on being upgraded to the level. The same-sex union had previously been unorthodox from my personal perspective, simply because of firsthand experience – my biological mother chose another female for a lifelong partner. My mom took Dinah as her partner when I was eight. I also have an adopted sister named Isabella who we came to our home about three years ago. It was very difficult and embarrassing for me to be around with my family due to the unconventional arrangements. I remembered trying desperately to avoid discussions prying on my family life. I made endless excuses when friends want to hang out at home: I have to make errands, I would be suddenly i nvited to a neighbor’s night out, I was not able to sleep well due to the neighbor’s howling Labrador. The list was endless and I got to be so inventive that I thought my friends actually enjoyed finding out what my next excuse would be. One time, I remembered working on an academic project that required researching on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. I found out how children of same-sex partners were not to be affected at all by the unusual arrangement since the affection and support received from them are actually the same as what heterosexual partners give. Reflecting on this, I realized that the holistic support provided by my ‘parents’ have been exceptional so far and that there really is nothing to be ashamed of. Over time, I began to start accepting my family life and started opening up to others about it. I started bringing my closest friends one at a time at home and felt immensely relieved that they did not see anything wrong with the relationship. I was just apparently too sensitive about it – making a mountain out of a molehill.     

The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico for BP Essay

The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico for BP - Essay Example It took several weeks and months for the oil cleanup team to contain the disaster caused on the marine waters. BP accepted the criminal responsibility hence paying 4.5 billion dollar in damages. Today, the oil company faces its biggest court challenges. The American government said that the company was grossly negligence (Freudenburg & Gramling 2011, p. 173). The paper will provide a comprehensive knowledge of the legal issues and how the case would affect future operations of the company. It will also identify some of the Human Resource issues involved. After the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, both the American government and the company started their investigations to establish what exactly led to the disaster. They were also required to provide adequate solutions that could prevent future oils spills. Some of the organizations given the authority by the American government to carry out investigations included National Academy of Engineering, Mineral Management Service, and the National Oil Spill Commission (Slorach, Embley, Goodchild & Shephard, 2013, p. 349). This led to many hearings being carried out by the American House Committee on Energy. Consequently, it was discovered that the machine which was used to prevent the rig from blowing had experienced a hydraulic leak and its battery also stopped working. This machine was constructed by the Cameron International Corporation. A number of investigative reports did not only put the blame on BP Oil Company, but also on Transocean. The supervisors misinterpreted the pressure informatio n and ordered the rig operators to substitute the drilling fluid with seawater. This could not prevent the already leaking gas from moving up the rig leading to a huge explosion. Report released by the Oil Spill Commission indicated that the spillage was caused by poor management decisions. The other possible cause was that the well was hurriedly

A SWOT and marketing analysis of Virgin Media

A SWOT and marketing analysis of Virgin Media Services marketing are a form of marketing which focuses on selling services. Services can be tricky to sell and the marketing approach for them is much different than the approach for products. Some companies offer both products and services and must use a mixture of styles; for example, a store which sells phone also tends to offer services such as helping people select phone as contract and providing broadband service and phone repair. Such a store must market both its products and the supporting services it offers to appeal to customers. When people market services, the goal is not to get customers to buy a product, but to get people to do business with a particular company, often in a specific location. For example, virgin media offers broadband and internet service: It provides phone, internet and TV service for the customers, both on-site and in to-go form in many cases. When the company markets itself, it must convince people that it is preferable to other broadband and that its facility is worth the trip. Virgin Media is an innovative new media company that was formed as a result of a merger between NTL and Telewest and then a re-branding as Virgin Media. Its main strength lies in the branding and the innovation that the name Virgin offers. Internally, Virgin Media is the only company in the United Kingdom that offers all four of the main media services, i.e. digital television, broadband, fixed line telephone and mobile phone packages. The ability to offer these products all together in one bundle is the unique selling point of Virgin Media and clearly sets the company apart from its competitors. Swot analysis Swot analysis is the most important and first stage of planning. It is a feedback mechanism to make new strategies for any organisation. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats are the four components of a swot analysis. Weaknesses and Strengths are correlated and examine the internal part of the business analysis whereas Opportunities and Threats deal with the external environment of business operation. Weaknesses and strengths refer to aspect of marketing, finance, manufacturing or organisational structure. Swot analysis helps clarifies the objectives of the organisation Strengths In offering these combined services, the company has substantial economies of scale as it is able to combine many of its generic roles such as administration and finance, thus allowing the company to price more competitively for the benefit of its customers. Due to its perceived leading brand name in the media, Virgin Media has managed to secure an ongoing contract with Sky, extending further still its inclusive offering to its customers. Technical ability and infrastructure are also two of the key internal strengths of the company, which have been exploited to produce a market leading position. Weaknesses Despite this, the company does have some internal weaknesses that need to be managed. The merger between NTL and Telewest is still relatively new and there are cultural clashes between the two styles and the emerging Virgin style. In recent years, there have been several redundancies and outsourcing of customer services, in an attempt to bring down costs. This has resulted in a degree of unsettled behaviour and lack of loyalty from staff. Due to the size and complexity of the growing organisation, there are likely to be ongoing conflicts which will need to be managed if this cultural shift is not to impact on the customer experience. Opportunities and Threats Externally, the opportunities and threats facing Virgin Media are ever changing. The media sector is developing an exceptionally fast pace, resulting in both opportunities and threats for companies such as Virgin Media. Opportunities are widely available for Virgin Media, predominantly in offering value added services such as online gaming or more reliable broadband connections. Bundling these media services together, as Virgin Media has already done offers yet further opportunities within the media sector, in terms of grasping greater market share. Consumers like simple, one-stop shopping when it comes to the media options available; this is something that Virgin Media can continue to exploit, particularly now that it has signed an agreement with Sky. Threats to Virgin Media come from other similar media companies such as Orange or BT who remain as large players in the market. In particular, Virgin Media is rumoured to have difficulties with its infrastructure reliability, which could potentially allow competitors such as BT to increase market share. The media sector as a whole is extremely fast moving; therefore, the main threat is that Virgin Media may fail to keep pace, thus losing its customer base to another more innovative company. The flower of service Facilitating elements(services) Information: Customers often require information about how to obtain and use a product and services. They may also need remainders and documentation. Example, Of virgin broadband information services are: Direction to service site and using instruction, warning and insurance, terms and condition of services. Order taking: Many goods and services must be ordered or reserved in advance. Customer needs to know what available and may want to secure commitment to delivery Billing:How much do I owe you? .Customers deserve clear, accurate and intelligible bills and statements. Payment: Customer may pay faster and more cheerfully if Virgin makes transactions simple and convenient for them. 2) Enhancing services: Consultation: Value can be added to goods and services by offering advice and consultation. Safe keeping: Customers prefer not to worry about looking after the personal possessions that they bring with them to a service site. Exceptions: Customers appreciate some flexibility in a business when they make special request. They expect it when not everything goes according to plan. Hospitality: Customers who invest time and effort in visiting a business and using its services deserve to be treated as welcome guests. User Preparation When implementing new system, it is important that personnel, employees, managers and others in the organization are prepared for it. This process is also called process of readying the decision makers, managers, employees, and stakeholders for a new system. In this regard, user training becomes very essential, because without it the success of the system cannot be guaranteed. This process of user preparation is planned and executed properly and involved a lot of arrangement, and consideration (Stair Reynolds, 2008). Virgin Media, the UKs leading fibre-optic broadband provider currently has almost 60,000 SME and public sector broadband clients, but has announced that it is looking to grow this significantly. Virgin Media has unveiled plans to target the small and medium business customers of its rival broadband giant BT. The move comes soon after BTs commitment to undercut Virgin Medias residential super-fast broadband prices, with its new fibre-optic broadband service which BT is rolling out this year. There is a very big market up for grabs, as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) spend about  £18bn a year on IT and telecoms. Virgin Media currently have revenues of about  £600m pa from business broadband customers and this is forecast to rise to about  £1bn pa in three to five years. Virgin Media chief operating officer Andrew Barron said: This is another step forwards. Weve been working in the business division for 18 months on getting the business processes to the right level. Weve improved it dramatically. We can use the fibre-optic network to differentiate ourselves. Marketing communication Mix: The marketing mix is the set of controllable tacticle marketing tools that the firm blends to produce the Response it wants in the target market (Melewar. T.C., Saunders.J, 2000) Marketing communications are the means by which firms attempt to inform, persuade, and remind consumers directly or indirectly about the products and brands that they sell. A company s total marketing communication mix also called promotion mix (Kotler, 2005) consists of specific blending of advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, public relations, and direct marketing tools that are used by company to pursue its advertising and marketing objectives. The marketing communication activities which contribute to the marketing of any new or existing product: by creating awareness of the brand; linking the right associations to the products image in the consumers memory, facilitating stronger consumer-product connection etc. Current extended marketing mix marketing mix. People People is one of the elements of service marketing mix. People define a service.. In case of service marketing, people can make or break an organization. Thus virgin media nowadays are involved into specially getting their staff trained in interpersonal skills and customer service with a focus towards customer satisfaction. In fact many companies have to undergo accreditation to show that their staffs are better than the rest. Definitely a USP in case of services. Process Service process is the way in which a service is delivered to the end customer. The process of a service company such as virgin media in delivering its product is of utmost importance. It is also a critical component in the service blueprint, wherein before establishing the service, the company defines exactly what should be the process of the service product reaching the end customer. Physical Evidence The last element in the service marketing mix is a very important element. As said before, services are intangible in nature. However, to create a better customer experience tangible elements are also delivered with the service. Physical evidence is used as a differentiator in service marketing. This is the service marketing mix (7p) which is also known as the extended marketing mix Position Positioning in different areas is not always easy (I can say it is too difficult). Virgin Group was aware of the difficulties so they had to think about the Virgin brand name. They have never entered in a business before doing solid researches and analysis. They have reviewed the industry and tried to look from customers eyes. They were aware of the trade-offs they had to think before entering a new business venture and they have never underestimated the risks behind new entrance. Advertising Virgin Media launched to much fanfare in February 2007, with a public relations event and an expensive advertising campaign which covered major UK television channels, newspapers and billboards. In an effort to increase awareness of the group and its services, Virgin Medias campaign used bright red colours to portray its brand image. Recent[update] television advertising featured actress Uma Thurman and comedienne Ruby Wax, and currently[update] features actor Samuel L Jackson, whilst the print advertising features bold typography. Virgin Media also sponsored the Channel 4 reality TV show Big Brother until the end of the ninth series. Virgin Media Business/ On Thursday 11 February 2010, Virgin Media announced that its business division would be rebranded as Virgin Media Business with immediate effect. The company, which had been operating as ntl:Telewest Business, is now the largest B2B brand in the Virgin Group. This marked the end of the NTL and Telewest being used by the company. Virgin Media Business is the UKs only telco with a national fibre optic Next Generation Network. Organisations working with Virgin Media Business include London City Airport, Arqiva, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership and South West Water. Consumer behaviours Understanding how consumer behaviour is changing will be an important requirement of Virgin Medias upcoming music offering and, should they become law, the Governments legislative proposals will also require measurement of the level of copyright infringement on ISPs networks. Deticas CViewà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ technology potentially offers a non-intrusive solution which enhances our understanding of aggregate customer behaviour without identifying or storing individual customers data. Consumer Segment We face intense competition from a variety of entertainment and communications service providers, which offer comparable broadband internet, television, fixed line telephony and mobile telephony services. In addition, technological advances and product innovations have increased, and will likely continue to increase, the number of alternatives available to our customers from other providers and intensify the competitive environment. See Risk Factors-We operate in highly competitive markets. However, we believe that we have a competitive advantage in the U.K. residential market due to the superior technical capabilities of our cable network over the network of the incumbent BT, which many of our competitors rely on to provide their services. We also face intense competition in the mobile telephony market, primarily driven by increased pricing pressure from both established and new service providers, evolving customer needs and technological developments. We offer most of our products on a stand-alone basis or as part of bundled packages designed to encourage customers to subscribe to multiple services. We offer broadband internet, fixed line telephony and mobile telephony and data services throughout the U.K., and currently offer television services exclusively in areas served by our cable network Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning (STP) Before start think about marketing (4P), you must understand what is STP. Terms of STP include : market strategy; target markets; positioning; market segmentation and target markets; market segmentation and demographics Segmentation Segmentation : Identifying all segments for the product/service. Many of the resources listed in module 3 will be helpful to you when you develop segments. To be useful, segments should be: Measurable Accessible (can you reach them) Profitable Distinct from one another the objective of segmentation is to find attractive markets. Strategies include Break market into components Regroup into market segments Select which segment to target Targeting Virgin Media is currently number two in the home broadband market in the UK, but it obviously doesnt want to be left behind when it comes to broadband on the move. The company has its own-brand mobile phone service, so its wasnt that much of a leap for it to add mobile broadband into the mix. Virgin is offering mobile broadband via a number of different deals. For example, if youre already a Virgin customer using its XL (20Mb) or L (10Mb) cable broadband packages or its ADSL Bundle 1 offering, you can get mobile broadband with a 1GB usage allowance for an additional fiver a month. If youre on one of the lower-end home broadband deals you can get the same package for a tenner a month. However, for this review were looking at the standard retail pack which targets people who dont already have a Virgin service. This deal costs  £15 a month on an 18-month contract for a 3GB monthly download allowance and a free USB modem Positioning. Positioning is an essential component and skill in good marketing. Perceptual maps are used to determine the position of a product, firm, person, service or idea. Positioning maps or perceptual maps can be simple, yet very effective marketing tools. One definition of Positioning Theory is: the science of perceptual strategy. It is based on a theory that strategy can only be planned in the mind of the consumer, not the marketplace*. It is important to understand the levels of competition because positioning applies at all levels of competition. For example: Product Level Corporate Level Industry Level The STP Process The growing use of the STP process has occurred as a direct result of the prevalence of mature markets, the greater diversity in customer needs, and the ability to reach specialized or niche segments. As such marketers are increasingly segmenting markets and identifying attractive segments (i.e. who to focus on and why?), in order to identify new product opportunities, develop suitable positioning and communications strategies (i.e. what message to communicate), and effectively allocate resources to key marketing activities (i.e. how much should we spend and where?). Organizations will often commission segmentation research when they want to re-scope their marketing strategy, investigate a declining brand, launch a new product, or restructure their pricing policy. Organizations operating in highly dynamic environments seek to conduct segmentation research at regular intervals, to keep in touch with changes in the marketplace. STP refers to the three activities segmentation, targeting, and positioning SOURCES 1. Virgin Media, fourth quarter 2007 results presentation, February 2008. 2. Carphone Warehouse Plc fourth quarter trading update, April 2008. 3. Domestic Competitive Market Review, 2004, Ofgem.

Planning a Karaoke Party :: Process Essays

You're sitting at home planning a party. You've got your list of invitees down. A cupboard full of chips and dips, and a cooler full of beer. You go to your computer and start putting together some mix Cd's of your favorite music. As you gather the songs you notice yourself singing along with one, and your eyes widen, lit up as you a struck with an idea. "I should have Karaoke at my party!" Brilliant! What could be more fun that a Karaoke party? The answer: a lot of things, if you're not careful! While Karaoke is a pass time enjoyed by people of every age, race and gender, it's also something you have to be in the mood for. So what happens if people show up to your party and aren't in the mood for Karaoke? Get them in the mood. There are three basic steps to throwing an amazing Karaoke party, and it all starts with invitations. Step 1: Inviting your guests With any luck, everyone at your party will have a blast, but do you know who won't? The people who don't show up! Karaoke is always fun with a good sized crowd, but if you aren't careful, you may loose half of your guests. It's all about how you present your invitation. There are two different types of people you will be inviting to the party; people who love karaoke, and people who like karaoke. The difference is this... People who LOVE karaoke - Make sure they know this is a karaoke party! This will be the smaller of the two types, but they are also the most important. They will go out of their way to attend, and you will need them during the party. People who LIKE karaoke - The easiest way to help ensure they will come is to avoid mentioning karaoke, and just tell them you are having a party. Why? While it is true that they enjoy karaoke, if they realize your party will focus around this activity, come party day they may think, "I'm not really in the mood." With people who just like karaoke, this can often be the case, and the number of people attending can make or break a party. Step 2: The supplies First and foremost is the karaoke machine. RENT ONE! Unless you own a professional karaoke machine, you should get one. This might seem a little expensive, if you buy yourself a cheap one and then try to supply yourself with a good selection of music, you'll end up spending a lot more, and getting a lot less.

Character breakdown

Set at a fictional university, all the characters reside in a fraternity sponsored house within the confines of university grounds. All the characters are an attempt to break stereotypes, and come from regularly viewed backgrounds found in American society. Marcus Pullman Senior, African-American middle-class from New York. Marcus Pullman is not a star athlete, or the campus drug dealer. He is as about as average as they come, with a good GPA, an interest in football and baseball, but an even stronger interest in environmental issues and obtaining a degree in political science. He is one of many American families from the middle-income band, with a father who is a NY firefighter and a mother who works as a legal assistant at a law firm. Marcus is part of a small statistic, an alarming statistic of overall African-American males in universities in America. According to an article in 2004, â€Å"today, black men make up 41 percent of the inmates in federal state, and local prison, but black men are only 4 percent of all students in American institutions of higher education† (Maxwell). It has to be said, however, that circumstance is everything, and whilst Marcus is part of a 4% statistic, he is also one of   â€Å"17% of blacks age 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or more in 2005† (US Census, 2007). Marcus has been in the fraternity since his Freshman year and is seen as a figurehead of the house. Simon Li American-Asian, Freshman, music student from Louisiana. It isn’t unusual for there to be a diverse ethnicity in fraternities, but it is also been cited as something as irregular. According to some fraternity members, this comes down to simply just a matter of comfort. â€Å"Minorities don't rush because they are intimidated by the stereotypically white Greek system,† Ngan said. On the other hand, â€Å"a lot of minorities do rush, they are just more comfortable hanging out with people of the same ethnic background.†(Brubaker, 2000). Simon Li is a ‘Rushee’ and a freshman music student from Louisiana. He is a second generation American-Asian, with roots in China. According to the census bureau, Louisiana has a registered American-Asian population of 1.4% (2005) with 2.5% of firms owned by Asians in the state. Simon Li’s parents own and operate a chain of successful auto-part stores – and nothing related to restaurants or grocery stores, as is often the stereotype. Having grown-up in Louisiana, Simon has a soft spot for anything Cajun, as well as an interest in music – from country to bluegrass. His predominant interests do not lie with traditions, but with incorporating grassroot sounds with techno, or club music. Dermot â€Å"Ozzie† Sullivan Australian, Sophomore, medical student. International students continue to make-up a large percentage of undergraduates at American universities. According to Hahn-Koenig, within Philadelphia, â€Å"more than 11,000 are enrolled in the city alone, with thousands more studying elsewhere in Pennsylvania† (2007). Whilst the Australian university system is considerably good, Dermot has come to America to broaden his horizons. His family is part of the wealthy upper-class in Australia, which avails him the high tuition fees and ability to apply for a student visa. Despite Australia being a part of the Visa Waiver Program, Dermot would have had to apply for a F-1 visa in order to study in America (State Dept, 2007). Dermot is an easy-going guy who is hard-working but also knows how to enjoy life. He appears to be a well-liked sort on-campus. Victor Henson Sophomore, member of a neo-nazi group. The antagonist of the characters. Victor is a Caucasian American from a poor background in middle America. He has not known his father, and his mother continues to struggle to make ends meet and keeping a family. His family are like many who should have seen better times after Clinton’s welfare reforms, but still suffer from poverty conditions. The Anti-Defamation League have cited a 12% decline in anti-Semitic activities, in recent surveys, however â€Å"it is disturbing that there are still an average of about four anti-Semitic attacks per day in America† (ADL, 2007). Victor indulges in many on-campus parties, and unsurprising is his overindulgence in alcohol. He is the student who is trying to fit in, and is a â€Å"Rushee† of the fraternity. SCRIPT Scene: Outside the campus library. It is a noticeably Fall day, and overcast. Marcus (leaving the library): Hey, Ozzie! How’s it going? Ozzie (seated on the stairs of the library): Gudday, Marcus. Yeah, s’alright, I reckon. Weather’s a bit foul, eh? Marcus (looks up briefly, smiles): Definitely going to rain. Hey, you seen that new rushee? Uh, Victor I think his name is. Ozzie: Yeah, yeah, I have. Saw him last night. Was hammered something nasty, I tell ya. Looked real green in the bushes (laughs) Marcus: Drunk? Ozzie: Aw, totally smashed, mate. Marcus: Hm, well Freshman, I suppose. But, listen, you think you can have a talk with him? See what he wants from joining a fraternity, and if he’d fit in. (slaps Ozzie on the arm with a book) Be a spy, eh? Ozzie: Yeah, yeah. Sure. Check ya later, eh? Marcus and Ozzie part ways. Scene change: Ozzie is in the frat house with Simon, who is ‘plugged in’ to a laptop and appears to be listening to music. Ozzie throws a screwed up paper ball at him. Simon (loudly): What? Ozzie demonstrates to remove the earphones, and Simon does. Simon (normal volume): What? Ozzie: Ya seen that new kid? Victor? Simon: Yeah, he was looking a little rough in the kitchen. Told him to clean the dishes for us. Ozzie: Smooth move, mate, smooth move. Hey, what ya think of him? Simon: Meh, he’s okay, I guess. He doesn’t say much to me. Ozzie: Hm, fair enough. I’ll go talk to him. Marcus wants the scoop on him, see if he’ll fit. Simon nods and plugs back into his laptop. Ozzie goes to the kitchen where Victor is struggling in removing a pair of rubber gloves from his hands. Ozzie: Hey mate, lemme give ya a hand. Hah – get it. Victor: Yeah, I got it. Ozzie: Jeez, no humor, eh? Victor: Sorry, still hungover a bit.. and†¦ (voice trails off) Ozzie: What’s up? Feelin’ a bit crock still? Victor: Huh? Ozzie: Ill. The hangover†¦ Victor: Nah, not the hangover. Just†¦ hey, I can talk to you right, yeah? Ozzie: Sure, mate. We’re all brothers. Or, well.. you â€Å"might† be, eh? (smiles) Victor: Yeah, I guess.. well.. I don’t know. Seems really†¦ well†¦ Ozzie: What? Victor: Well, why are they in charge here? Ozzie: Who ya mean? The seniors? Victor: Nah.. well yeah.. but†¦ nevermind. Ozzie: Something bothering you, you know you can tell me. Or Marcus even, mate. Victor (sneers): I don’t think so. Ozzie: What? Marcus? Nah, he’s cool, mate. Don’t need to worry about him. He’s a good egg. Victor: Egg? Rotten, more like. His sort are nothing but trouble. Ozzie: His sort? What Greenpeace Al Gore types? (laughs) Victor: No†¦ his â€Å"sort†. Ozzie: Don’t get you mate†¦ you mean New Yorkers? Victor (laughs): Yeah†¦ New Yorkers. Whatever. Victor leaves, sees Simon still plugged in and shakes his head. Ozzie looks perplexed and follows Victor out of the house. Ozzie: Wait up. So, I don’t get what you meant in there. Victor: You want me say, for real? Ozzie: Yeah, mate. For real. Victor: I don’t trust Marcus. His type are nothing but trouble, they take advantage of everything. Ozzie: Wait, wait.. his type? What’s his type? Victor: Black, man. I got to spell it out, or what? You fucking blind? Blacks are nothing but trouble. Ozzie: Woah.. woah†¦ you can’t be serious†¦ Victor: Yeah†¦ well maybe I am. He’s always getting up in my business. Ozzie: Well you are trying to join the fraternity†¦ Victor: Yeah, well screw it. I don’t want to be a black man’s brother, ya know. Ozzie: Jesus†¦ well.. yeah, I don’t think I want you around either†¦ Marcus walks up to them outside the house. Victor falls silent but stares at Marcus. Ozzie is stunned, but looks serious. Marcus notices the uneasiness quickly. Marcus: Everything alright? Victor (snorts): Yeah, man. Victor walks away, and Marcus looks at Ozzie questioningly. Marcus: Ozzie? What happened? Ozzie: I dunno mate†¦ I really dunno†¦. References _. Lousiana State Quick Facts. Census Bureau. (available from: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22000.html ) _. New York City, Black History Month, 2007. Census Bureau Press Release, February, 2007. (available from: http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/007862.html ) _. Anti-Semitic Incidents in US. Press Release. Anti-Defamation League, 2007. (available: http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/4993-12.htm ) _ . Student Visas. US State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs. (Available from: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html ) Brubaker, C. â€Å"Greek system concerned with diversity† The Cavalier Daily, April 5, 2000. (available: http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArticle.asp?ID=3898&pid=564 ) Hahn-Koenig, A. â€Å"Coming to America.† OneBigCampus.com 2007 (available: http://www.onebigcampus.com/article_comingtoamerica.htm ) Maxwell, B. â€Å"On campus, grim statistics for African-American men.† St. Petersburg Times, January 4, 2004. (available from:

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