Sunday, November 10, 2019
Nietzsche on Power
The rise of science placed a strain on religionââ¬â¢s ability to retain its credence. Science had demonstrated an unprecedented ability to explain concepts that were once mysteries. This ability began to efface the dominion and power of the Christian God, and this led to the existentialist idea that man lives alone in the world and must rely only on himself. According to Nietzsche, this occurrence places power squarely in the hands of man, and the possession of this power leaves him with the ability to exert it over himself as well as others. One of the main ideas behind Nietzscheââ¬â¢s works is that the human individual constantly intends and strives toward wielding this power over others.Even actions that appear altruistic are really sparked by a rooted desire to control the person for whom the act is performed. Nietzsche advocates the fundamental egoism of all persons, declaring the focus of all human conceptions to be centered on the desire of that particular individual to dominate in a given situation. Even the evolutionary aspects of manââ¬â¢s position within the environment manifests the individualââ¬â¢s need to wield power: growth from youth to adulthood involves an increase of power and a decrease in subordination; the desire for upward social mobility represents this as well.According to Nietzsche, the need for power is an instinctive drive that is the end for which all pleasure-seeking actions strive. Yet Nietzsche also identified a need that humans have to control themselvesââ¬âand this he conceived as the desire for internal power. Here is where Nietzscheââ¬â¢s truest interest in power lay. These themes can be demonstrated in his use of aphorisms and elaborations of these throughout his works Daybreak, the Gay Science, Beyond Good and Evil, and the Will to Power.The Judeo-Christian antagonism (indeed the antagonism of all religions) represents one example on earth of the power relations (struggle) of which Nietzsche writes. In Da ybreak, he writes: ââ¬Å"the ship of Christianity threw overboard a good deal of its Jewish ballastâ⬠(40). Ironically, the idea represented in the aphorism ââ¬Å"God is deadâ⬠describes the modern scientific supplanting of the Judeo-Christian view that God is ultimately responsible for the molding of the individual (Zupancic, 6).The scientific explanations of the universeââ¬âthe Copernican revolution which challenged and toppled the geocentric viewââ¬âweakened the idea that the anthropomorphic God was any longer (or ever was) in charge of the destiny of the universe. Essentially one of Nietzscheââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"power relations,â⬠this struggle left each individual entity on the earth dependent on its own actions to take it through time. This has become one of the catalytic ideas that gave birth to the notion of internal power that drives man. This power has been expressed by Nietzsche in the form of self mastery, which develops in a complicated cycle, both as a result of and in accordance with the instinct. Though this important instinct arises out of the inward self-creation of the man, Nietzsche also acknowledges another type of instinct that drives men toward a different kind of power: domination.In the work The Will to Power Nietzsche points out the symbolism that can be found in the how states and societies have been constituted. The drive for power, he writes, undergirds the hierarchical nature of the organizations within each state. Societal classes demonstrate ways in which people have succeeded in gaining power over others.This again identifies another concrete example of power relations within the human world. The members of higher classes (which have acquired wealth) dominate in a situation where the other members of society look to them for their wages. Money represents buying power, without which people cannot live. By this reasoning, individuals who acquire their wages from these powerful members of the upper class look toward these moguls for their very sustenance. This is the manifestation of the power that, according to Nietzsche, all men instinctively seek.Yet even in this example where people appear to seek mastery over others, one can detect an example of the desire for internal power. Persons who must do the bidding of the rich in order to gain hold of the buying power that facilitates their continued existenceââ¬âthese persons recognize that others exert power over them. Their desire for upward mobility represents a desire to have that control returned to them, and this appears to be possible only simultaneously with having the power to control others. This can thus be seen as a dual drive toward dominance and independence.In Nietzscheââ¬â¢s opinion it is this self-mastery that represents the truest power. The picture of the ascetic monk who denies himself physical and aesthetic pleasures for the purpose of subduing his desires and mastering himself demonstrates more power than the w arriors who plunder other tribes and nations. On a deeper level, Nietzsche describes the inner workings of the human mind as a conflict of several wills that compete for power within the individual.He writes the following: ââ¬Å"Suppose nothing else were ââ¬Ëgivenââ¬â¢ as real except our world of desires and passions, and we couldà not get down, or up, to any other ââ¬Ërealityââ¬â¢ besides the reality of our drivesââ¬âfor thinking is merely a relation of these drives to each otherâ⬠(Beyond, 36). Peopleââ¬â¢s wills (or desires) often conflict with each other, and thoughts, Nietzsche explains, are the vehicles of the desires; it is via thought that desires identify themselves, and the mind is their battlefield. The ability to master oneself is essentially the ability of one thought to rise up and become the dominant will, mastering all the others.Nietzsche expresses this idea also in his book Beyond Good and Evil, the title of which is essentially a descri ption of the heights attained by those who have achieved the highest level of self mastery. He writes that such a person becomes ââ¬Å"the man Beyond Good and Evil, the master of his virtues, the superabundant of willâ⬠(Beyond, 212). His will to create himself overflows, and he finds his own way toward morality and virtue through his own journey of self discovery.This journey involves a complex interplay of consciousness, subconsciousness, and instinct. Instinct comes about through a process in which consciousness of the outside world gathers knowledge that is taken in and absorbed into the mind in a kind of internalization process. The depth at which these internalized principles rest within the individual causes them to rank higher than the prevailing principles of the day. And the fact that the individual creates them him/herself places him or her in the powerful position of self-master.The hierarchical nature of the instincts themselves determines a way in which Nietzsche classes men according to their degree of control over themselves. The person who has attained an existence beyond good and evil is said to be supramoral, and this is the one who has fortified his internal power. It is in comparison to this person that Nietzsche is driven to classify lesser men. Such men are those who might be seen as stuck in the routines of life. They are bound by a herding instinct that is inherited rather than created.This hereditary instinct comes into the possession of not one but a plethora of individuals whose behaviors begin to demonstrate that they can no longer accurately be called individuals. They possess no mastery over themselves that allows them to create their own being with its own virtues and morals to dictate or inform their actions. Instead, their actions and motives are carbon copies of a million others who have, like themselves, passively accepted the norms of their society.Nietzscheââ¬â¢s idea of self-mastery and individualism is again mad e visible in his declaration that societies have caused passions to be laid to rest, whereas individuals who have distinguished themselves by developing internal power have contributed to the progress of the human race. He expresses this idea in the passage,Nowadays there is a profoundly erroneous moral doctrine that is celebrated especially in England: this holds that judgements of ââ¬Ëgood' and ââ¬Ëevil' sum up experiences of what is ââ¬Ëexpedient' and ââ¬Ëinexpedient.' One holds that what is called good preserves the species, while what is called evil harms the species. In truth, however, the evil instincts are expedient, species-preserving, and indispensable to as high a degree as the good ones; their function is merely different (The Gay Science, 74).Even evil persons, Nietzsche explains, have done more good for humanity than society itself with all its conformity and low-tiered hierarchical power. He argues that even powerful (though evil) individuals have given ot hers something worthwhile: they have provided the means of comparing and contrasting between extremes in ways that perform dialectically to take knowledge and morals to higher heights. These persons who have instinctively created their own morals through a systematic mastery of themselves give more power to humanity than those who conform and expend no energy in the pursuit of more powerful selves. The empowered individuals have done this through adding to the variety of knowledge (of good and evil) and creating new avenues and alternatives for self-mastering persons.Nietzscheââ¬â¢s regard for what he considered the power of the self-mastering individual eclipsed that of what he viewed as the general power struggle that often ensued from power relations. The self-made individual demonstrates an industry through which he is able to create his own morals and fabricate the instinct that will lead him toward those morals. Such a man Nietzsche considers to have transcended good and ev il by entering into a morality created at first through consciousness, but later sublimely through the subconscious. This man, in Nietzscheââ¬â¢s opinion, has truly achieved power of a type that goes beyond the mere control of others, as it has attained the much more difficult goal of self-control.Works CitedNietzsche, Friedrich. Beyond Good and Evil. 1886. trans. R.J. Hollingdale. New York: à Penguin, 1973.Daybreak: Thoughts on the Prejudices of Morality. (Cambridge Texts in the History à of Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2003.The Gay Science: with a Prelude in Rhymes and an Appendix of Songs. New York: à Vintage/Random House, 1974.The Will to Power. 1888. trans. Walter Kaufman and R.J. Hollingdale. New York: à à Vintage Books, 1967.Zupancic, Alenka. The Shortest Shadow: Nietzscheââ¬â¢s Philosophy of the Two (Short Circuits). Cambridge: MIT, 2003 Nietzsche on Power The rise of science placed a strain on religionââ¬â¢s ability to retain its credence. Science had demonstrated an unprecedented ability to explain concepts that were once mysteries. This ability began to efface the dominion and power of the Christian God, and this led to the existentialist idea that man lives alone in the world and must rely only on himself. According to Nietzsche, this occurrence places power squarely in the hands of man, and the possession of this power leaves him with the ability to exert it over himself as well as others. One of the main ideas behind Nietzscheââ¬â¢s works is that the human individual constantly intends and strives toward wielding this power over others.Even actions that appear altruistic are really sparked by a rooted desire to control the person for whom the act is performed. Nietzsche advocates the fundamental egoism of all persons, declaring the focus of all human conceptions to be centered on the desire of that particular individual to dominate in a given situation. Even the evolutionary aspects of manââ¬â¢s position within the environment manifests the individualââ¬â¢s need to wield power: growth from youth to adulthood involves an increase of power and a decrease in subordination; the desire for upward social mobility represents this as well. According to Nietzsche, the need for power is an instinctive drive that is the end for which all pleasure-seeking actions strive. Yet Nietzsche also identified a need that humans have to control themselvesââ¬âand this he conceived as the desire for internal power. Here is where Nietzscheââ¬â¢s truest interest in power lay. These themes can be demonstrated in his use of aphorisms and elaborations of these throughout his works Daybreak, the Gay Science, Beyond Good and Evil, and the Will to Power.The Judeo-Christian antagonism (indeed the antagonism of all religions) represents one example on earth of the power relations (struggle) of which Nietzsche writes. In D aybreak, he writes: ââ¬Å"the ship of Christianity threw overboard a good deal of its Jewish ballastâ⬠(40). Ironically, the idea represented in the aphorism ââ¬Å"God is deadâ⬠describes the modern scientific supplanting of the Judeo-Christian view that God is ultimately responsible for the molding of the individual (Zupancic, 6). The scientific explanations of the universeââ¬âthe Copernican revolution which challenged and toppled the geocentric viewââ¬âweakened the idea that the anthropomorphic God was any longer (or ever was) in charge of the destiny of the universe.Essentially one of Nietzscheââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"power relations,â⬠this struggle left each individual entity on the earth dependent on its own actions to take it through time. This has become one of the catalytic ideas that gave birth to the notion of internal power that drives man. This power has been expressed by Nietzsche in the form of self mastery, which develops in a complicated cycle, both as a result of and in accordance with the instinct. Though this important instinct arises out of the inward self-creation of the man, Nietzsche also acknowledges another type of instinct that drives men toward a different kind of power: domination.In the work The Will to Power Nietzsche points out the symbolism that can be found in the how states and societies have been constituted. The drive for power, he writes, undergirds the hierarchical nature of the organizations within each state. Societal classes demonstrate ways in which people have succeeded in gaining power over others. This again identifies another concrete example of power relations within the human world. The members of higher classes (which have acquired wealth) dominate in a situation where the other members of society look to them for their wages. Money represents buying power, without which people cannot live. By this reasoning, individuals who acquire their wages from these powerful members of the upper class loo k toward these moguls for their very sustenance. This is the manifestation of the power that, according to Nietzsche, all men instinctively seek.Yet even in this example where people appear to seek mastery over others, one can detect an example of the desire for internal power. Persons who must do the bidding of the rich in order to gain hold of the buying power that facilitates their continued existenceââ¬âthese persons recognize that others exert power over them. Their desire for upward mobility represents a desire to have that control returned to them, and this appears to be possible only simultaneously with having the power to control others. This can thus be seen as a dual drive toward dominance and independence.In Nietzscheââ¬â¢s opinion it is this self-mastery that represents the truest power. The picture of the ascetic monk who denies himself physical and aesthetic pleasures for the purpose of subduing his desires and mastering himself demonstrates more power than the warriors who plunder other tribes and nations. On a deeper level, Nietzsche describes the inner workings of the human mind as a conflict of several wills that compete for power within the individual.He writes the following: ââ¬Å"Suppose nothing else were ââ¬Ëgivenââ¬â¢ as real except our world of desires and passions, and we couldà not get down, or up, to any other ââ¬Ërealityââ¬â¢ besides the reality of our drivesââ¬âfor thinking is merely a relation of these drives to each otherâ⬠(Beyond, 36). Peopleââ¬â¢s wills (or desires) often conflict with each other, and thoughts, Nietzsche explains, are the vehicles of the desires; it is via thought that desires identify themselves, and the mind is their battlefield. The ability to master oneself is essentially the ability of one thought to rise up and become the dominant will, mastering all the others.Nietzsche expresses this idea also in his book Beyond Good and Evil, the title of which is essentially a desc ription of the heights attained by those who have achieved the highest level of self mastery. He writes that such a person becomes ââ¬Å"the man Beyond Good and Evil, the master of his virtues, the superabundant of willâ⬠(Beyond, 212). His will to create himself overflows, and he finds his own way toward morality and virtue through his own journey of self discovery.This journey involves a complex interplay of consciousness, subconsciousness, and instinct. Instinct comes about through a process in which consciousness of the outside world gathers knowledge that is taken in and absorbed into the mind in a kind of internalization process. The depth at which these internalized principles rest within the individual causes them to rank higher than the prevailing principles of the day. And the fact that the individual creates them him/herself places him or her in the powerful position of self-master.The hierarchical nature of the instincts themselves determines a way in which Nietzsc he classes men according to their degree of control over themselves. The person who has attained an existence beyond good and evil is said to be supramoral, and this is the one who has fortified his internal power. It is in comparison to this person that Nietzsche is driven to classify lesser men. Such men are those who might be seen as stuck in the routines of life.They are bound by a herding instinct that is inherited rather than created. This hereditary instinct comes into the possession of not one but a plethora of individuals whose behaviors begin to demonstrate that they can no longer accurately be called individuals. They possess no mastery over themselves that allows them to create their own being with its own virtues and morals to dictate or inform their actions. Instead, their actions and motives are carbon copies of a million others who have, like themselves, passively accepted the norms of their society.Nietzscheââ¬â¢s idea of self-mastery and individualism is again m ade visible in his declaration that societies have caused passions to be laid to rest, whereas individuals who have distinguished themselves by developing internal power have contributed to the progress of the human race. He expresses this idea in the passage,Nowadays there is a profoundly erroneous moral doctrine that is celebrated especially in England: this holds that judgements of ââ¬Ëgood' and ââ¬Ëevil' sum up experiences of what is ââ¬Ëexpedient' and ââ¬Ëinexpedient.' One holds that what is called good preserves the species, while what is called evil harms the species. In truth, however, the evil instincts are expedient, species-preserving, and indispensable to as high a degree as the good ones; their function is merely different (The Gay Science, 74).Even evil persons, Nietzsche explains, have done more good for humanity than society itself with all its conformity and low-tiered hierarchical power. He argues that even powerful (though evil) individuals have given others something worthwhile: they have provided the means of comparing and contrasting between extremes in ways that perform dialectically to take knowledge and morals to higher heights. These persons who have instinctively created their own morals through a systematic mastery of themselves give more power to humanity than those who conform and expend no energy in the pursuit of more powerful selves. The empowered individuals have done this through adding to the variety of knowledge (of good and evil) and creating new avenues and alternatives for self-mastering persons.Nietzscheââ¬â¢s regard for what he considered the power of the self-mastering individual eclipsed that of what he viewed as the general power struggle that often ensued from power relations. The self-made individual demonstrates an industry through which he is able to create his own morals and fabricate the instinct that will lead him toward those morals. Such a man Nietzsche considers to have transcended good and evil by entering into a morality created at first through consciousness, but later sublimely through the subconscious. This man, in Nietzscheââ¬â¢s opinion, has truly achieved power of a type that goes beyond the mere control of others, as it has attained the much more difficult goal of self-control.Works CitedNietzsche, Friedrich. Beyond Good and Evil. 1886. trans. R.J. Hollingdale. New York: à à à à à à Penguin, 1973.ââ¬â. Daybreak: Thoughts on the Prejudices of Morality. (Cambridge Texts in the History à à à à à à à à à à of Philosophy. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2003.ââ¬â. The Gay Science: with a Prelude in Rhymes and an Appendix of Songs. New York: à Vintage/Random House, 1974.ââ¬â. The Will to Power. 1888. trans. Walter Kaufman and R.J. Hollingdale. New York: à à à à à à à Vintage Books, 1967.Zupancic, Alenka. The Shortest Shadow: Nietzscheââ¬â¢s Philosophy of the Two (Short à à à à à à à à Ci rcuits). Cambridge: MIT, 2003
Friday, November 8, 2019
Characteristics of Shakespeares History Plays
Characteristics of Shakespeare's History Plays Many of Shakespeareââ¬â¢s plays are historical, but only certain plays are categorized as such. Plays like Macbeth and Hamlet are historical in setting but are more correctly classified as Shakespeare tragedies. The same is true for the Roman plays (Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra and Coriolanus), which are all based on historical sources. So which plays are classified as Shakespeare histories and what are their common features? Sources of Shakespeare's History Plays Most of the Bardsà English history plays, as well as Macbeth and King Lear are based on Holinsheds Chronicles. Shakespeare was known for borrowing heavily from earlier writers, and Holinsheds works, published in 1577 and 1587, were a key reference for Shakespeare and other authors of his day, including Christopher Marlowe. Interestingly, Holinsheds works were not particularly historically accurate either but instead are considered mostly fictional works of entertainment. If produced in the modern day, both Shakespeare and Holinsheds writings would probably be described as based on historical events but have a disclaimer that they were edited for dramatic purposes. Common Features of the Shakespeare Histories The Shakespeare histories share a number of things in common. First, most are set against medieval English history. The Shakespeare histories dramatize the Hundred Years War with France, giving us the Henry Tetralogy, Richard II, Richard III and King John- many of which feature the same characters at different ages. In all his histories, indeed in all his plays, Shakespeare provides social commentary via his characters and plots. The history plays say more about Shakespeareââ¬â¢s time than the medieval society in which they are set. For example, Shakespeare cast King Henry V as an everyman hero to exploit the growing sense of patriotism in England. His depiction of this character is not necessarily historically accurate. For instance, theres not much evidence that Henry V had the rebellious youth that Shakespeare depicts. Were Shakespeare's Histories Accurate? Another characteristic of Shakespeares histories is, for the most part,à theyre not historically accurate. In writing the history plays, Shakespeare was not attempting to render an accurate picture of the past. Rather, he was writing for the entertainment of his theater audience and therefore molded historical events to suit their prejudices or preferences. Shakespeare'sPlays and Social Commentary More subtly than his comedies and tragedies, Shakespeares histories provide contemporary social commentary. His plays offer a view of society that cuts right across the class system. These plays present us with all kinds of characters, from lowly beggars to members of the monarchy. In fact, it is not uncommon for characters from both ends of the social strata to play scenes together. Most memorable is Henry V and Falstaff who turn up in a number of the history plays. All in all, Shakespeare wrote 10 histories. These plays are distinct in subject matter only- not in style. The histories provide an equal measure of tragedy and comedy. The 10 plays classified as histories are as follows: Henry IV, Part IHenry IV, Part IIHenry VHenry VI, Part IHenry VI, Part IIHenry VI, Part IIIHenry VIIIKing JohnRichard IIRichard III
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Google Case Investments
Google Case Investments The investment on the android systems did not profit Google Corporation. Google had publicly declared that its original objective was not driven by profit. Google makes 2.67 billion from android mobile, which is far less than its total revenue. Android applications reached 900 million by 2013 with 48 million applications signed each day. The increase did not influence the growth in revenue for Google.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Google Case: Investments specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company has a lot of issues to tackle and cannot strategize on making a profit on Android mobile. Google makes its revenue from signing third-party applications daily. Android Smartphones is sold daily, and in 2013 Google projected a sale of 789,000 Android Smartphones. This statistic accounts for the financial benefits derived from android systems. Revenue 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Net income [millions] 4,226,858 6,520,448 8,505 9,737 10,737 Android users [millions] 7 200 484 700 The acquisition of Motorola was a huge loss for Google. Google acquired Motorola because of its patent rights. Google believed that the market strategy would give the organization a competitive advantage in the global market. It turned out to be a big failure. After trading $13 billion in the investment, Google started a restructure program that made it sell most of its stock in Motorola. This move did not pay well for Google Corporation. With the reorganization in progress, Google sold major departments in Motorola. Operations unit was sold for $75million, while the home outfit was sold for $2.35 billion. Google sacked 5000 workers in Motorola corporations, a move condemned by major market analyst. Google Corporation relies on Motorolaââ¬â¢s patent license to create more revenues. The acquisition did not achieve its objective because the estimates revealed a near loss in the initial revenue. The sales of major depa rtments did not sum the investment capital for Motorola. Open source software means the user-ability to run the program for any task. The open source approach can be categorized in four ways. The free use of the application The free knowledge of study. Redistribution and copyrights. The freedom to modify the software for other uses. This means the source codes are available for any user. Thus, the advantage of the open source approach includes:Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is stable: Modification of software keeps the manufactures in the business. The open source approach is stable without frequent modifications. The user decides if he or she will update the system or software to meet a specific task. Thus, each update is a choice for the user. The advantage limits the cost of buying update versions of the software. The consumer is tempted to accept modific ation without a need. This situation is reduced with the open source approach. Cost: The cost of use is low and its users are not affected by purchase charges. The need for documenting the number of copies and ownership is avoided thus, reducing the cost of the software. Flexible: Another advantage of the open source approach is in its usage. While other software manufactures emphasize the use of the software for different systems, open source software permits its use with different products. The software is not limited to its product and can be associated with ease. This advantage provides benefits to the users of open source software. End-user support: Open source approach provides the user with training support. Unlike other software providers, open source satisfy the users curiosity where the program is incompatible. Some software providers release free versions of their software and generate high revenue when users apply for support. This trend is reduced with an open source ap proach. Although it is difficult to put the blame on anyone in the open source approach, the free support reduces the problems encountered. Reliable: Open source approach reduces the defects encountered. Most users complain of different defects with their applications, and this takes time to fix. Open source bugs can be fixed by any developer in minutes because the source code is available. This enables a developer to work on a particular bug and save time.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Google Case: Investments specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Accountable: Open source software can be verified during its usage. It is difficult to verify the claims of quality on closed-source applications, but this is different with open source models. The availability of its source code provides the confidence in the manufacturerââ¬â¢s claim. The claims can be audited by any developer or user with technical information. The net sales rose by 7.6% and the estimated projections provided a strong user support. The partnership increased the avenues of profit for Google Corporation. Apple terminated the partnership with Google maps and introduced its applications. The replacement is not user-friendly, thus, reducing its usage. Google will capitalize on this defect to reconsider its partnership with other third-party manufacturers. This strategy will promote its use and increase Googleââ¬â¢s revenue. The project will increase the revenue projection by 18.9%. Google can harness its services with Motorola mobility. This will improve services rendered. The increase in the production of Motorola Smartphones will increase Googleââ¬â¢s strength in connecting people. Google can create technologies that will displace similar competitors. Motorola Corporation is a positive platform to test Googleââ¬â¢s strength.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Global Trade issues of Boeing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Global Trade issues of Boeing - Essay Example In fact, the companyââ¬â¢s stock is part of Dow Jones Industrial Average. Absolute and Comparative Advantage A company is said to have an absolute advantage when it is capable of producing a specific good or service at a lower cost per unit compared to other companies in the same industry (Newquist 2010). It also pertains to the ability to produce a good or service more efficiently than other companies in the same industry. On the other hand, a company is said to have a comparative advantage when it has the ability to produce a particular product more efficiently than any other product (Newquist 2010). As earlier stated, Boeing is currently the leading exporter and manufacturer of airplane in the U.S. This is attributed to the absolute advantage it has acquired through the idea of the economy of scope. Report indicates that Boeing is the only aircraft manufacturer that has implemented the economy of scope making it possible for Boeing to produce two different products in two diffe rent markets at a relatively lower cost than two different firms do (White 2010). This has given Boeing an absolute advantage over other firms in the same industry. This is evident from the fact that Boeing manufactures both commercial and military aircrafts that sell in different markets (Rankin 2008, p.6). According to Benkard (2000, p.1035), all the competitors of Boeing competitor do not use this idea. Boeing also has a comparative advantage in its manufacturing processes. The company is regarded as the best manufacturer of military and commercial aircrafts in the U.S. The company has demonstrated these through quality airplanes it has manufactured for many years now (Benkard 2000, p.1035). Restrictions of trade Newquist (2010) reveals that Boeing is among the leading exporters of commercial and military aircrafts. Despite having enjoyed free trade with many countries that the U.S. trades with, the company has also faced a myriad of trade challenges. One such was witnessed when China imposed trade restriction on Taiwan, which placed Boeing at an awkward position (Bloomberg 2010). It is reported that China forced Boeing to comply by its trade restrictions or risk losing its U.S. arms contract in case it went ahead to sell its military arms to Taiwan that was then at a political dispute with China. China also went ahead to threaten Boeing of cancelation of its lucrative contract and expulsion out of China in case of noncompliance with trade restrictions imposed on it (Naele 2009, p.44). Marketing Marketing of Boeing products is normally done through segmentation. However, since traffic and economic growth rates vary from one region to another, Boeing segments its market geographically. For example, Boeing has focused most of its marketing efforts in Europe and North America regions because of their mature economies. As such, Boeing believes that these regions have a great potential of continuing to buy most of its airplanes (Golich 1992, p.899). In fact, the ability of the company to segment its market geographically gives it the opportunity to ascertain the demand of each segment. For example, Boeing can easily forecast the demand of Europe and North America due to their mature economies. This is due to the high number of air travelers in these regions (Golich 1992, p.899). Strategic Issues Boeing operation and reputation was recently affected due to what can be described as a strategic problem. The company has continually delayed the delivery of Boeing
Friday, November 1, 2019
The presence of the current financial crises has made investors more Essay
The presence of the current financial crises has made investors more determined in handling excess remunerations - Essay Example Introduction A vote against remuneration is significant if it receives less than 75 percent of the shareholders support. Thus, votes have been on the use recently in protesting against pay increases that are insufficiently linked to performance. For instance, Section D of the U.K corporate governance code sets out remuneration guidelines for both the executive and non-executive directors. According Tricker (2012) section D.1, ââ¬Å"the remuneration should be sufficient enough to motivate and attract directors, but a company should avoid paying more than is necessary for this purpose. A significant proportion of the executive directorââ¬â¢s remuneration should be structured so as to link rewards to corporate and individual performance.â⬠Section D.1.4 of the U.K corporate governance states that it is the responsibility of the remuneration committee to consider compensation commitments of their directors in the event of early termination. MM & K report is recent and its releas e fueled investorââ¬â¢s activism in fighting against pay rise. The report revealed that the medium total pay rise for FTSE 100 CEOs is 10 percent and one quarter of the CEOs in this index had 41 percent increment on their pay. Research indicates that the size of pay that a FTSE director has increased unexpectedly. For instance, between years 1990 and 2000, the remuneration of a FTSE chief executive went up by 13.6 percent annually from ?1 million to ?4.2 million. In year 2011, FTSE remuneration rose by 11 percent. The current average pay rise in the market is 1.7 percent. In 2012, there have been 24 similar incidents in total all over Europe compared to 2011 which had 25 cases. The legislation has been carefully following these protests, and the pending U.K legislation shows that by year 2012, pay plans will have to pass the majority vote or shareholders will have the authority to reject managementââ¬â¢s remuneration proposal. New disclosure rules are also in the process of co ntemplated purposely to help the shareholders in making a decision. For example, in France the new socialist government is contemplating to impose pay limits on executives in companies which own a majority stake. The pay will be 20 times that of the lowest paid employee in the company thus leading to substantial pay cuts. Also, the contemplated Legislations will exert pressure on companies where the government owns share but not a controlling share. CEOââ¬â¢s of companies such as AstraZeneca, Aviva, trinity Mirror is some of directors who had been forced to resign over pay and performance related problems even before news broke. WPP Group During the 2012 annual general meeting, approximately 59 percent of the WPP investors voted against the companyââ¬â¢s remuneration report and the CEOs pay package of ?6.8 million. In the previous year, over 40 percent of the shareholders had a ââ¬Ënoââ¬â¢ vote on pay and this prompted the remuneration committee to reach out the sharehol der before the 2012 AGM. After the shareholders vote the chairman of the group said, ââ¬Å"
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
International criminal matters, policies, regulations, standards, Essay
International criminal matters, policies, regulations, standards, - Essay Example orism by the international community was in the year 1937 when the then League of Nations adopted the conventional for Prevention and Punishment of terrorism. Even after the League was abolished, the newly formulated United Nations or the UN adopted several resolutions to strengthen its member nations with more powerful international laws to tackle terrorism in an efficient and jut manner. The terrorism prevention branch of the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime, as mandated by the General Assembly of the UN, provides assistance to requesting countries in legal and related aspects of counter terrorism, especially for the purpose of implementing the International Law which could strengthen their national criminal justice system and to apply the provisions in compliance with the law. The UN has tried to simplify the process for understanding the law and its provisions for its member nations by developing certain tools like manuals for this purpose. These tools are also very helpful for legal practitioners to fight legal cases against global terrorism in an efficient manner. As per UN plans to counter global terrorism, all member nations have resolved to fully co-operate in the fight against terrorism which is in accordance with their obligations under international law. As per the law all member nations are required to find, deny safe havens, extradite or prosecute any person who supports, facilitates, participates or attempt to participates in financing, planning, participating or perpetration of terrorist activities. Member states are required to ensure extraditions of perpetrators of terrorist activities in accordance with the rule of international law. The security council of UN has adopted several resolutions regarding the fight against terrorism. One of the most important resolutions is resolution number 1373 (Bianchi 86) which was adopted after the unfortunate terrorist attack on USA on September 11, 2001. This resolution clearly states that
Monday, October 28, 2019
STEEPLE and Balance Scorecard Essay Example for Free
STEEPLE and Balance Scorecard Essay When a firm uses an external consultant to solve a problem or evaluate an opportunity the consultant can use STEEPLE (social, technological, economic, environmental, legal, and ethical), which is a preliminary analysis technique to answer why the business organization or systems exist (Wickham, Wickham, 2008, p. 128). This analysis the consultant preforms helps to determine how the firm business fits in its external environment. The consultant can also use the balances scorecard to measure the financial and non-financial performance of the firm. The consultant will use the STEEPLE and Balance Scorecard to analyze Phillip-Morris introduction of its electronic cigarettes in the market. In addition, the consultant will make any recommendation to Phillip-Morris from the results of the STEEPLE and Balance Scorecard analysis. STEEPLE Analysis The STEEPLE analysis is and extension of the PEST analysis. The PEST analysis acronym stands for; political, economical, social, and technological factors the firm may face in its external environment. This analysis is a form of system analysis that provides a structure for examining elements from the larger system of which the firm is a part of (Gustafson, 2002, p. 134) The STEELPE analysis includes the factors of the PEST analysis with the additions of the legal, environment, and ethical factors the firm can also face in its external environment. The consultant will examine the seven external environmental factors to solve the firmââ¬â¢s problem or opportunity in the market: Sociological factors are trends and attitudes that can affect buying behaviors. The negative publicity that firms, such as Phillip-Morris on the effects of smoking cigarettes, has altered societies view of Phillip-Morris. This has led to millions of individuals to stop smoking to improve his or her health st atus. Technological factors- Technology is constantly changing. This trend is that advanced technology generates new questions. The question for Phillip-Morris is does the firm have the knowledge for the design, production, and delivery of the product? If not, where can the firm gain the knowledge to produce such a product or use a third party to produce it. Economic factors- the consultant will look at if the target market can afford the product. In addition, the consultant must look at if the Phillip-Morris can afford to borrow the necessary funds to produce the product. Environmental Factors- The consultant look at how the e-cigarettes will be packaged and what type of chemicals is going to be used in the production of the product. Depending on the package materials and the chemicals that are used in the production of the product can have a negative effect on the environment. Green issues are important in society today, and the firm must take the issues of protecting the environment in consideration when producing any product. Political and legal factors- relates to the government of a countries federal, state, and local law passed by various governmental agencies. In this analysis the consultant must look at what laws and the attitudes of government agencies have been made for regulating smoking e-cigarettes. Ethical Factors- The consultant must look at how the product will be packaged, design and the marketing campaign to entice consumers to buy the product. This is because the negative publicity cigarettes firms marketing, packaging, and design its products to minors. If the product is produced to make smoking e-cigarettes is ââ¬Å"coolâ⬠this can have a negative impact on the company, because it can entice minors to use the product. After conducting the STEEPLE analysis the consultant must determine where the firm has strengthens, weakness, thre ats, and opportunities in the internal and external environment. Phillip-Morris has a negative sociological factor regarding the views of consumers who uses the firmââ¬â¢s products. This negative view has made millions of customers to stop using the firms products. The technological factor, Phillip-Morris has does not have the knowledge of producing e-cigarettes. The firm will have to rely on a third party to produce the product. With the company not having the technology or the technical know how to produce e-cigarettes the price of the product can be very expensive. This has a negative affect on the economical factor, because many consumers may not be able to afford theà product. In addition, by the firm using a third party to produce the product the firm does not assume the risk of borrowing the necessary funds. The firm will not have any negative environmental factors of producing the product, because the third party will assume the risk. However, Phillip-Morris does impact the environment with its current production of making cigarettes. In the political and legal issues the firm can face is very limited. Phillip-Morris will have to comply with federal, state, and local laws governing the legal age requirement for purchasing the product. The firm will have ethical issues if the packaging, design, and marketing is promoting the alternative way of smoking as ââ¬Å"cool.â⬠This can entice young society members to purchase and use the product. However, if its marketing, packaging, and design is to provide adults an alternative and health way of smoking. This will show society that the firm cares about the health of its customers and those who are affected by second hand smoke. Balance Scorecard The balance scorecard gives the organization a total management system to help clarify its vision and strategy. In addition, this technique gives the usable data for the organization to take appropriate business actions, provides feedback to the internal business processes and the external outcomes to improve the firms strategic performance. According to the article ââ¬Å"Using the Balance Scorecard,â⬠written by Kaplan and Norton (1996), (pp. 75-85) the balance scorecard has four perspectives of: Financial Perspectives- Phillip-Morris must balance its business functions which as been allocated across the organization. If the Phillip-Morris decides to increase its economic growth it can do this through a productivity strategy. Phillip-Morris can lower the direct and indirect expense to improve cost, or reduce working and fixed capital to utilize its assets to support the business Customer Perspectives- The value proposition of the customer is the mix of products, price, service , relationship, and Phillip-Morris image. With this perspective Phillip-Morris will have to take on its competition. The company will have to differentiate its value proposition. Phillip-Morris can do this by selecting different operational excellence, customer intimacy, and product leadership. Business Process Perspectives-This matric allows management to understand how efficiently the organization is performing. It also helps Phillip-Morris to understand ifà its products or services is meeting the customers needs. In addition, this perspective makes sure that the organization is align with the four high level business process of: Building franchises Increase customer value Achieving operational excellences Phillip-Morris becoming a good corporate citizen Learning and Growth Perspectives- This perspective looks at the employee career growth, training, and the corporate culture for individual and the firmââ¬â¢s self-improvement. In addition, it looks at the knowledge enhancements that Phillip-Morris has to communicate with employees and a mentor program. If Phillip-Morris can enhance employees learning and growth it can have a workforce to meet the firms strategic position. These perspectives allow the development of metrics, data analysis, and collection for the firm. Phillip-Morris is the largest tobacco firms and has a clear objective for its current and potential stockholders. This objective can be to improve the financial side of the firm. In this case the firm has the motivation to have long-term shareholder value, and avoiding the ethical issues that is associated with tobacco companies. By doing this Philip-Morris will neglect the customer, business process, and learning and growth perspective of the balance scorecard. Phill ip-Morris must develop a different business strategy to have a more balanced scorecard. Recommendations The STEEPLE analysis shows Phillip-Morris has a negative sociological and technological factor. There are no environmental factors in producing e-cigarettes, and the political and legal issues will be the same as other tobacco products. The ethical factors can be a negative or positive depending on how the company package, design, and market the product. Phillip-Morris balance scorecard focuses on the financial perspective, while neglecting the three other perspectives. With Phillip-Morris focusing on the financial perspective, and without the technical know how. It is recommended that Phillip-Morris look for a third party to produce its e-cigarettes. It is also the recommendation for Phillip-Morris to enter in a joint venture so it can gain the technical knowledge and have a completeà balance scorecard. References Gustafson, K. (2002). The future of instructional design. In R. Rieser J. Dempsey (Eds.), Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (pp. 333-343). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Merril/Prentice Hall Kaplan, R.S., Norton, D.P. (1996, January-February). Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System. Harvard Business Review, 74(1), 75-85. ESBCO Host. Wickham, P., Wickham, L. (2008). Management consulting: Delivering an effective project (3rd ed.). Harlow, England: Pearson
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