Thursday, November 28, 2019

Plea Bargaining and the Justice an Example of the Topic Government and Law Essays by

Plea Bargaining and the Justice Recent studies done on the Criminal Justice System of the United States indicate that of all the convictions in our courts, 90 percent are as a result of plea bargains. Only a mere 10% of the cases end up in court. Hence it is right to argue that only a meager proportion of 1 person out of 10 ends up in trial to establish the truth behind the allegations heaped against him or her. Need essay sample on "Plea Bargaining and the Justice" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed The former Enron assistant boss, Michael Kopper, in August 2002 pleaded guilty to fraud charges brought against him and promised to offer assistance to bring the rest of the inpiduals behind the massive scale fraud to book. He also agreed to pay restitution amounting to over 10 million dollars. The amount of time that he was to spend jail was also to be slashed considerably due to his agreeing to help nail bigger fish in one of the biggest fraud incident in the history of the United States. Agreeably, most people would admit that this was justice for sale. This is just an exemplification of how the criminal justice system has become. The ability of this system to offer justice to all indiscriminately is highly questionable; this is the reason as to why plea bargaining is becoming increasingly unpopular. The views on the appropriateness of plea bargaining are varied, although its constitutionality is not in doubt. Majority of the public is largely dissatisfied with this saying its an effort to impede on its constitutional right, having in mind the abrasiveness and the intimidating nature of the power-welding prosecutors in the face of largely ignorant and scared defendants. To the officials sitting in the justice department, this is the way to go to ensure that the immense work log in their offices is eased. People Often Tell EssayLab professionals: How much do I have to pay someone to write my paper online? Essay writers suggest: Online Essays For Sale Writers For Hire Write My Paper For Me Reviews Cheap Essays Not Plagiarized This paper reiterates the call by most of the people that plea bargaining, whether it is necessary or not, impedes on the rights of some people to get a free and fair hearing in the court of law. John Walker Lindh, the American Taliban soldier, in 2002 entered a guilty plea. In his plea, he agreed to the charges brought against him by the state that he had served in the Taliban army and carried offensive weapons for them. His lawyers had put up a spirited fight alleging that he had been mistreated and tortured by the United States army. Had he not entered a plea, he could have served over 90 years; this was reduced to 20 years. Because of this plea, we will never know what transpired when Walker was allegedly tortured and neither are the people that thought that he could have faced the full wrath of the law satisfied, for indeed he had been a part of the conspiracy planning to unleash harm to American citizens and interests. The saddening fact about plea bargaining is that it ends up working to the benefit of the justice system and people faced by hard crimes; it rarely works positively for the petty offenders. This stems from the fact that mostly violent criminals and other big case fraudsters have something to give in terms of information and restitution that is valuable to the justice system more than the low time offenders (Schmalleger, F, 312). As afore mentioned, majority of the people are intimidated by the prosecutors and high profile lawyers in the corridors of justice, whether or not one is guilty or not. Majority of lawyers admit that more than 90 percent of the trial cases end up in to a conviction. This is as a result of the inherent flaws in our justice system. Again no one is ever certain that if he or she goes ahead and gets into trial, an acquittal is guaranteed. It is an unknown wilderness, where anything can happen. This is what drives many people into plea bargaining, to get a slash of a sentence of a crime which probably they never committed. The poor are sometimes the worst victims. The case of Erma Faye Stewart and Regina Kelly remains an eye opener. Both had been arrested on questionable grounds when a rather unreliable informant alleged that these two, together with others, were involved in drug distribution. They could not afford the huge bond and had to spend time in jail. Faced with the unfounded threat of a large sentence and fine, Stewart took the offer of a plea bargaining for a crime she had not committed. She got probation of 10 years and a fine thus tainting her rather good books. For those who went ahead into the trial room, it was established that there was no evidence that could stand and all the cases had to be dismissed. Stewart had already agreed to a plea and released on the basis of that plea, yet there was no case against her. This is a huge injustice and is a common fate that befalls a lot of people especially in the low income bracket. Those that support plea bargaining especially from the justice department cite the economics at play. This is justified by the meager amount that is allocated by to the justice departments in comparison to the intensity of the cases they have to cope with. If the whole of the amount is allocated to each case and assuming that all the cases went into trial, the states would not have adequate funds to conduct tenable investigations, by plea bargaining, the states and the relevant courts are able to save a lot of funds and time and hence focus adequately on the few that go to court, ensuring that they get a conviction. This is their argument. Many however see a conflict of interest at play here rather than economics. The public a times allege that laxity and the egoistic nature of the prosecutors is the main reason. The defenders provided by the state to the accused are not paid full time but rather for the first few hours, by advising their clients to plea bargain they are basically saving themselves from taking unnecessary extra miles that will not be compensated. On their side, the prosecutors profiles are built on the basis of the number of conviction they have to their name, very few hence can afford to lose a case; this a times may be at the expense of justice. Dispensation of justice should not only be for the satisfaction of the justice department but also the public. To most people, plea bargains are not hard enough for the nature of the crimes committed by some defendants. It is not uncommon for people accused of murder, probably facing an eminent execution, escaping with a relatively minor sentence under manslaughter having entered a plea to evade execution. It has to be understood that plea bargains are but negotiations entered into between the prosecutors and defendant to compel a defendant to accept an offense that is less than the original one, hoping that another harsher sentence will be extinguished and the sentence be lenient. (Garner, B.A, p 1173) The above happens in most cases at the proposal by the prosecution side. There are a times that prosecutors feel that their case is lacking in crucial evidence and would not hold the onslaught of the defense. This is a tactic used where there is no possibility of an acquittal or a conviction. It is done at the expense of the accused who is entangled in the web of a power game between the prosecutor and the defender who both hope to save a face. The unfairness in plea bargains stem from the lack of uniformity in the plea bargains entered and the sentences. The justice system is supposed to thrive on wheels greased by consistency, fairness and impartiality, plea bargains are a big threat to these ideals. In most cases it is the prosecutor who decides on the nature of sentence to be meted out as well as the charges to be dropped. These concessions are mostly done by the prosecution yet in the trial courts it is the prerogative of the judges. Sentences to be given and the nature of charges to be preferred or dropped is a decision made on the perceived importance of the information or restitutions such that big sentences can be quashed on that basis. This is where consistency and uniformity lacks in the sentences on similar crimes in across the states and courts. This is what impedes on the provision of justice to all. An example of where consistency has been lacking in plea bargaining is where in May 2005, an army judge could not accept a guilty plea from a certain private in the belief that he had not committed the said crime. The private was hoping to have her possible sentence thrashed half fold. This is uncommon (Nardulli, P.F, 347). Consistency would also lack where people who refuse to plea bargain get a harsher sentence than one that plea bargain, yet both are within their constitutional rights. This is a clear indication of how this practice has brought unfairness and inconsistency in the justice system and yet is proclaims to do the opposite in broad words. Although there are certain cases where a plea bargain is acceptable, like on matters pertaining to national security and classified information, plea bargaining should be limited to bare necessity. Uniformity in the sentences must be upheld if justice has to be seen to be done in the United States Justice System. Works cited FRONTLINE, Erma Faye Stewart and Regina Kelly. Posted on June 17, 2004, Retrieved on 15/01/08 Dirk Olin, Plea Bargain. The New York times magazine, September 29, 2002. Retrieved on 15/01/08 Garner, B.A Blacks law dictionary (7th ed). St. Paul: West Group. 1999: 1173 Nardulli, PF. insider Justice: Defense attorneys and the handling of felony cases. The journal of criminal law and criminology 77, 1986: 376-417 Schmalleger, F. Criminal justice today: An introductory text for the twenty first century (6th Ed) Englewood, NJ: Prentice Hall 2001; 312

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Jack London Love of Life Essays

Jack London Love of Life Essays Jack London Love of Life Essay Jack London Love of Life Essay Essay Topic: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Genealogic Classification and typology of languages. 2. Language as a Social Phenomenon. Definition of Language. Functions of the Language. 3. Languages as a Systemic System . Language Levels and Components. The History of the English Language 1. Theories of Language Evolution. Periodization of English and Main Events in the History of English 2. Common LinguisticFeatures of Ancient and Modern Germanic Languages 3. Grammatical andLexical Peculiarities of Old English 4. Main Features ofMiddle English: Phonetics, Grammar, Vocabulary 5.The Characteristicsof Early Modern English. The Process of Language Standardization 6. Development ofWiring in the history of the English language The EnglishLiterature 1. Old EnglishLiterature / Epic, Lyric, Historical works/ 2. Middle EnglishLiterature /G. Chaucer, WLangland, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight/ 3. The Main Periods inthe Literary Activity of William Shakespeare 4. The Romantic Subjectin Lord Byrons Poetry 5. The Victorian Age inEnglish Lite rature. 6. English Prose of theXXth Century The English Lexicology 1.Word Building Processes Based on Addition and Contraction 2. Peculiarities of American and British English 3. Criteria of Classification of the Phraseological Units 4. Synonymy, Antonymy and Homonymy 5. The Development of English and American Lexicography 6. Variants and Dialects of the English language 7. The Etymology of the English Word Stock 8. The Theory of the Word. Lexical Meaning and Semantic Structure of English Words. The English Stylistics 1. Functional Styles of the English Language 2. Phono-Graphical Expressive Means. 3.Lexical Stylistic Devices / Metaphor, Metonymy, Irony, Zeugma, Pun, Epithet, / 4. Lexical stylistic Devices /Oxymoron, Simile, Periphrases, Hyperbole, Repetition, Understatement/ 5. Syntactical Stylistic Devices /Stylistics Inversion, Detached Constructions, Parallel Construction, Chiasmus, Suspense, Climax, Antithesis/ 6. Stylistic Classification of the English Vocabulary Theory and Pr actice of Translation 1. Speak on the Scienceof translating. 2. Types ofTranslations. 3. Levels ofEquivalence of Translation. 4. Lexical Aspects ofTranslation 5.Machine Translationand its Perspectives 6. Handling AttributiveGroups 7. Translation ofPhraseological Units 8. Handling Equivalentand Equivalent-Lacking Forms and Structures 9. Translation of ModalForms 10. Direct and IndirectTranslating Procedures 11. Intercultural andInterlingual Translation 12. FundamentalParameters of Translational Competences 13. Pragmatics ofTranslation 14. Stylistic Aspects ofTranslation 15. Lexical and GrammarDifficulties in Translation 16. Types ofTransformations in the Process of Translation /lexical, grammatical, syntactic, miscellaneous types/ 17.AntonymousTranslation. Compensation in Translation. Other Translation Problems. Traductology 1. ProfessionalTranslation as an Act of Communication. The Role of a Translator. 2. Different Approachesto Translation. Four Schools of Translation. 3. Different Aspects ofTranslation Activity. Translation and Cultural Equation. 4. Components of Actsof Communication / aims, intentions, content, package / 5. Fidelity as aPhenomenon in Translation. Verbalizing a Simple Idea. 6. Principles of Fidelity/ primary and secondary information/ 7.Differences betweenInterpretation and Translation 8. KnowledgeAcquisition in Written and Oral Translation 9. Meanings of Words. Aspects of Synonyms* Translation 10. Translation and Style. Pragmatics of the Text 11. Translation of Terms and Professionalisms 12. Semantic Engineering and Levels of Translators Approximation 13. The Nature ofLiterature and Informative Text Translation. The Genres of Literary works 14. The Subdivisions ofInformative Translation /scientific and technical texts, publicistic texts,official documents etc/

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Compare and comtrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Compare and comtrast - Essay Example Having taken into account all of the given influences, it becomes apparent that either of the compared sides can offer a great number of benefits as well as not a lesser amount of drawbacks. The city and the village are closely comparable in what pertains to human interaction but are clearly distinct when choice and diversity are considered. It is difficult to make a single universal statement about the city life since living in the urban area can be both beneficial and disadvantageous depending on which aspects one evaluates. However, what is certainly true about urban living is that it guarantees a wider diversity and greater choice in almost everything. Residents of urban zones have much more options to choose from in every aspect of their day-to-day lives. For example, living in a city one enjoys the access to the best universities, the largest shopping malls, and the most exclusive culinary refinements. Additionally, city dwellers have the scope to be culturally and socially involved as far as metropolitan areas attract most of the major artistic, educational, and entertaining events. Subsequently, they are more likely to interact with representatives of other social classes, ethnic and religious groups, and people with different political views, music tastes, and literature preferences. Overall, citizens receive a chance to be more culturally enlightened. There is also a greater potential for education, wider employment opportunities, and better access to healthcare in the cities. Thinking of the optimal educational institution for their child, parents can select from a list of alternatives that include a number of public and private schools. When looking for a job, individuals move to towns, where most of the businesses and organizations are concentrated. Apart from that, a vast range of healthcare facilities is within the reach of urban residents. In

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Lego Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Lego - Case Study Example This has been a silent trait of this firm. The well maintained relationship and the support close all the inevitable people, like consumers, customers, business partners and all stakeholders was successfully extended to a more advance level during this year. Looking at LEGO's dedication, it will not be an understatement that this work and their motives will always mark their presence in the coming years. In 2007, the LEGO Group has covered the four years period out of its seven-year strategy. This was a very affective move with the motive, which is kind of acquired so far, that is to bring a complete change to the entire market and business scenario while developing LEGO as the best brand exhibiting their commitment towards creative building and playing the key role in providing effective learning techniques through play. As per their strategy, various aspects like processing, procedures, structure and relations to stakeholders will undergo a primary change during the years 2004-10 (Annual Report, 2007). The prime objectives for all the stakeholder groups were well defined by the group in the year 2006 (Annual Report, 2007). These have been further intensely developed in the year 2007. The rigorous balanced approach to different stakeholder groups will certainly provide a significant platform for the future operations of this group. The strategic move is divided into different stages, where every stage is targeting on some specific motives. The very initial stage was acquired in the year 2004-05 by enabling the Group to step out of the financial crisis situations due to the number of years of poor financial results as a result of unprofitable growth (Annual Report, 2007). Year 2003 for LEGO Group The cut-throat competition in the toy market brought a considerable loss of market share in most markets, due to the competitors, novel product trends and private labels by the retailers. The US market noticed around 35 percent drop in market share as compared to the previous year, where as Asian markets noticed a fall of around 28 percent (Annual Report, 2003). The year 2003 was very disappointing for the group. The net sales fell by around 26 percent from DKK 11.4 billion in 2002 to DKK 8.4 billion, where as the play material sales declined by 29 percent to DKK 7.2 billion and thus resulting in a pre-tax loss on earnings of DKK 1.4 billion, which showed a drop of DKK 2 billion as compared with the previous year (Annual Report, 2003). The retardation shows the failure of the growth strategy resulting in a considerable loss of the market shares. Finally by the end of the year 2003, the group decided to change its business

Sunday, November 17, 2019

History AND IMPACT OF COMPUTING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

History AND IMPACT OF COMPUTING - Essay Example 546). First Generation (1940-1955) Vacuum Tubes These first computers utilized vacuum tubes in their circuitry and their memories comprised of magnetic drums. These first computers were often massive, taking a lot of space. They were expensive to run and, in addition to consuming enormous amounts of electricity these computers generated immense heat, which often led to their malfunctions. The first generation computers depended on machine code language; a low-level programming language only understood by computers, to execute their operations, and hence they were able to solve a single problem at a time. The computers input used paper tapes and punched cards while their output was presented on printouts. ENIAC and UNIVAC computers are some of the first generation computing gadgets. The UNIVAC was the earliest commercial computer distributed to a business client, the United States Bureau of Census in 1951. Second Generation (1955-1963) Transistor Computers In the succeeding generation of computers, transistors replaced vacuum tubes in the computers circuitry. Transistors were initially invented in 1947 but received minimal use in computers until late 1950s. Transistors were far more superior compared to vacuum tubes, allowing the computers to be smaller, cheaper, faster, reliable, and with increased energy efficiency as compared their former generation predecessors. Although the transistors also generated plenty of heat which exposes the computers to the damage, they were a significant improvement in comparison to the vacuum tubes. The second generation computers also used the punched cards for their input and printouts as their outputs. The second generation computers shifted from obscure binary machine code language to symbolic, an assembly language that allows programmers to stipulate instructions in the form of words. FORTRAN, COBOL, and other High-level Programming language were also under developed during this period. These were the first computers which s tored instructions in their memories, which had also moved from magnetic drums to magnetic core technology. The initial computers in this generation were meant for the atomic energy industries. Third Generation (1964-1970) Integrated Circuits Computers Integrated Circuits (ICs) development was the essential characteristic of the third generation computers. Miniaturized transistors were installed on silicon semiconductor chips, which increased efficiency and speed of computers. The third generation computers interacted with their users through monitors and keyboards interfaced through an operating system instead of the printouts and punch cards. These new features allowed the computers to run different applications at the same time with an inner program which monitored the memory. The third generation computers became handy to a mass of the audience since they were cheaper and smaller than their predecessors. Fourth Generation (1970- Present) The fourth generation computers were brou ght by the development of microprocessors. Microprocessors allowed thousands of integrated circuits to be built on a single silicon chip. A device that consumed the whole room in the first generation computers could be now developed on the palm of a hand. Intel 4004 chip, created in 1971, allowed all the components in a

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Impact Of Using Athletes As Celebrity Endorsers Marketing Essay

The Impact Of Using Athletes As Celebrity Endorsers Marketing Essay The Sports industry is a highly valued form of social interaction in the United Kingdom and around the world. Major sports events attract millions of viewers and trigger strong opinions. Athletes are perceived as role models and consumers tend to believe athletes, especially those with a positive public image. But does the use of athletes in celebrity endorsements always impact on the purchasing decisions of consumers? Endorsement advertising is a strong weapon in the promotion of products and services. The use of celebrities as endorsers is one of its most popular forms of advertising by many organisations. According to Sliburyte (2009) empirical evidence indicates that approximately 20 to 25% of advertisements feature some famous person as a product endorser. Many organisations have the notion that using athletes as celebrity endorsers will lead to successful selling of their products to consumers. According to Fill (2002) celebrities are used to enable the message being conveyed to stand out among the clutter and noise that typifies many markets. While it has been proven by great deals of academic literatures, that the use of celebrities in advertising generates a lot of publicity and attention from the public, this research is focused on some arguments still needed to be explored further. For an instance, what is the combination of celebrity and products or services being endorsed? How consistent are consumers purchasing behaviours regarding the endorsed product and does negative media involving the celebrity impact on consumers buying behaviours of the product. For this reason, it is of great interest to investigate this topic further. Atkin Block (1983) pointed out there were two reasons why celebrity endorsers have gained so much popularity; They are traditionally viewed as being highly dynamic, having both attractive and likeable qualities. Their fame is thought to attract attention to the product It is the aim of this dissertation to integrate the research on branding, endorsement and consumer behaviour in order to study the impact of the use of athletes as celebrity endorsers in advertisements; to find out how consumers view these advertisements by measuring their attitudes toward the advertisement and the celebrity and their purchased intentions towards the endorsed items. For this research, Adidas and Gillette, two companies regularly using celebrities in endorsing their products will be analysed to demonstrate the impact the use of celebrities in advertising their brand has on consumer purchasing behaviours. Gillette is a brand of Procter Gamble currently used for safety razors, among other personal hygiene products. The company is based in Boston, Massachusetts and is one of several brands originally owned by The Gillette Company, a leading global supplier of products under various brands, which was acquired by PG in 2005. Their slogan is, The Best a Man Can Get (Gillette.com) On the other hand, Adidas AG is a German-based sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, Taylor Made-adidas golf company, and Rockport. The company is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe and the second biggest sportswear manufacturer in the world, after its U.S. rival Nike (adidas.com) This research will focus on a series of advertisements on TV, and Magazine by celebrities; Tiger Woods Thierry Henry for Gillette and David Beckham for Adidas and the impact of these advertisements on motivation to buy and evaluation of usage by consumers. The choice to use these athletes in the analysis is simply because of the negative press they have had in the past. To reach this, the following research questions will be asked: Why do organisations use athletes as celebrity endorsers? How are the athletes selected? How can the risks of using athlete endorsers be described? What does the celebrity represent and what does the advertiser want to communicate with the buyer when they see the celebrity promoting the product. Hypotheses are as follow: Organisations use athletes as celebrity endorsers to increase the brand image and identity of the product. Consumers are likely to purchase the products once they see it has been advertised by a celebrity. Should the lifestyle of the celebrity change, this will impact on consumers attitude to the brand and purchasing behaviour. SOURCES Books Aaker, D.A (1991) Managing brand equity; Capitalizing on the value of a brand name. New York: The free press Aaker, D.A (1996) Building Strong Brands, New York: The Free Press Belch, G.E. Belch, M.A. (1999), Advertising and Promotion An Integrated Marketing Communications Perspective. Boston: McGraw-Hill Fill, C (2002) Marketing Communications; Context, Strategies and Applications. 3rd Ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited. Tellis, G.J., (1998), Advertising and sales promotion strategy. Reading: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc. Online Journals Atkins, C Block, M (1983), Effectiveness of celebrity endorsers. Journal of advertising research, Vol.23, No.2, pp. 57-61 Available from: Accessed on 26/03/2010 Charbonneau, J. Garland, R., (2005), Talent, looks or Brains? New Zealand Advertising Practitioners Views on Celebrity and Athlete Endorsers. Marketing Bulletin, Vol.16, No.3, pp.1-10 Available from: Accessed on 04/04/2010 Friedman, H Friedman, L. (1979), Endorser effectiveness by product type, Journal of advertising research, Vol.19, No.5 pp.63-71 Available from: Accessed on 27/03/2010 Floyd, A.G.,(1999), An examination of the three-order hierarchy model. Theories of persuasive communication and consumer decision making. Vol.4, No.1, pp.20-32 Available from: Accessed on 29/03/2010 Kahle, L.R., Homer, P.M. (1985), Physical attractiveness of the celebrity endorser: a social adaptation perspective, Journal of Consumer Research, Vol. 11 pp.954-61. Available from: Accessed on 29/03/2010 Kelman, H.C.,(1961), Process of opinion change. Public opinions quarterly, Vol.25, pp.57-58 Available from: Accessed on 28/03/2010 Langmeyer, L Shank, M.(1994), Managing beauty-products and people, Journal of product brand management, Vol. 3 No.3, pp.27-38 Available from: Accessed on 29/03/2010 McCracken, G. (1989), Who is the celebrity endorser? Cultural foundations of the endorsement process, Journal of Consumer Research, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp.310-21. Available from: Accessed on 27/03/2010 Ohanian, R., (1990), Construction and validation of a scale to measure celebrity endorsers perceived expertise, trustworthiness, and attractiveness. Journal of Advertising. Vol.19. No.3, pp.39-52 Available from: Accessed on 28/03/2010 Ohanian, R., (1991), The impact of celebrity spokespersons perceived image on consumers intention to purchase, Journal of Advertising research. Vol.13. No.1, pp.46-55 Available from: Accessed on 28/03/2010 Petty, R.E. et al. (1983), Central and peripheral routes to advertising effectiveness: the moderating role of involvement, Journal of Consumer Research, Vol. 10 pp.135-46. Available from: Accessed on 27/03/2010 Sliburyte, L. (2009), How celebrities can be used in advertising to the best advantage. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 5 August 2009. Available from: Accessed on 26/03/2010 Till, B.D. Shrimp, T.A. (1995), Can negative celebrity information hurt the endorsed brand?, Proceedings of AMA Winter Educators Conference, pp.154-5. Available from: Accessed on 29/03/2010 White, D.W et al (2009) The effects of negative information transference in the celebrity endorsement relationship, International Journal of retail and distribution management, Vol.37 No.4, pp.322-335 Available from: Accessed on 28/03/2010 INTERNET SOURCES Adidas (2010) Online Available from : Accessed on 05/04/2010 Forbes (2010) Online Available from: Accessed on 09/04/2010 Gillette (2010) Online Available from : Accessed on 05/04/2010 Morin, R (2002), When celebrity endorsers go bad [online]. Washington Post. Available from: Accessed on 30/03/2010 Playing field promotions (2010) Online Available from: Accessed on 05/04/2010 XE Currency Converter (2010) Online Available from: Accessed on 09/04/2010 LITERATURE REVIEW The review of literature will focus on the theories of celebrity endorsements in sports, advertising and the theory of brand perception as well as the models used in celebrity selection. The history of the use of celebrities as endorsers dates back to the 18th century when British actress Lillie Langtry became the first celebrity endorser in the world by featuring on packages of pears soap (Morin, 2002). Since then, the use of celebrity endorsers in advertising has increased and endorser strategy is now one of the most popular marketing practices used by organisations to increase brand awareness. According to PFP (2010), a sports celebrity talent agency, companies spend close to one billion dollars equivalent to almost  £660 million GBP (see table 1.0 below for currency conversion) on endorsements each year. Organisations practice this strategy with the intention to increase consumers purchase intentions and preferences towards the brand. Table 1.0: Currency conversion from United State Dollars to Great British Pounds Live rates at 2010.04.10 08:11:28 UTC 1,000,000,000.00 USD 650,749,339.25 GBP United States Dollars United Kingdom Pounds 1 USD = 0.650749 GBP 1 GBP = 1.53669 USD Source: Adapted from XE (Universal Currency Converter) McCracken (1989) provided a definition for a celebrity as individuals who enjoy public recognition and who use this recognition on behalf of a consumer good by appearing with it in an advertisement. A celebrity endorser as highlighted by Friedman Friedman (1979) is an individual who is known to the public for his/her achievements in areas other than that of the product class endorsed. A celebrity athlete according to Charbonneau Garland (2005) is a publicly recognized sports star who uses that public recognition to help another (usually a corporate client) sell or bolster the image of specific goods and services. Belch Belch (2001) argue that for a celebrity to be chosen as an endorser, he/she must be perceived as credible and trustworthy by consumers. This is very important because as pointed out by (Kelman, 1961; Ohanian, 1991) information from a credible source can influence beliefs, opinions, attitudes and /or behavior through a process called internationalization, which occurs when receivers accept a source influence in terms of their personal attitude and value structures. Forbes.com lists the top 10 highest paid celebrity athletes between June 2008 and June 2009 by evaluating their earnings from salaries, bonuses, prize money, endorsements and licensing income. Table 2.0 shows the top ten highest paid athletes of 2009. Athlete Earnings in millions between 06/08 -06/09 Tiger Woods $110 = £72 Kobe Bryant $45 = £30 Michael Jordan $45 = £30 Kimi Raikkonen $45 =  £30 David Beckham $42 = £28 LeBron James $40 = £27 Phil Mickelson $40 = £27 Manny Pacquiao $40 =  £27 Valentino Rossi $35 = £23 Dale Earnhardt Jr. $34 = £22 Source: Adapted from www.forbes.com The exchange rate used in calculations during my pre- research was Currency Conversion adapted from XE (Universal Currency Converter) Conversion from USD to GBP has been rounded up to a whole number. Source: http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi In this study, the focus on the use of athletes as celebrity endorsers will be in advertising campaigns. According to Fill (2002) the main roles of advertising are to build awareness, induce a dialogue and to (re)position brands by changing either perception or attitudes. Advertising is important because it can influence audiences by informing or reminding them of the existence of a brand. For a message to be communicated effectively, it should have the right target audience, capable of gaining attention, understandable and acceptable. The importance of brands to organisations is very important. Fill (2002) pointed out that a successful brand is one which creates and sustains a strong, positive and lasting impression in the mind of the buyer. Aaker (1991) goes on further to say a brand is a distinguishing name and/or symbol (such as a logo, trademark, or package design) intended to identify the goods or services of either one seller or a group of sellers, and to differentiate those goods or services from those of competitors. In order to increase sales of their products, organisations must use means to communicate their products to consumers. According to Aaker (1996) brand awareness refers to the strength of a brands presence in the consumers mind. Brand awareness is the ability of a potential buyer to recognize or recall that a brand is a member of a certain product category. It involves a continuum ranging from an uncertain feeling that the brand is recognized, to a belief that it is the only one in the product class. It is the belief that by using a celebrity endorser to advertise a brand, the indirect information transmitted to the consumer becomes more credible and more relevant. The result is that the consumer has the perception of a higher quality for the advertised product (Floyd, 1999). Since consumers prefer high quality over low quality, the endorsed product is more likely to be purchased. However, with benefits comes risks involving the use of celebrity endorsers in advertising. Controversy involving the endorser can lead to corporate embarrassments and transfer of negative attitudes to the brand (Till Shrimp, 1998). White et al (2009) adapted Miciak Shanklins (1994) statement which pointed out that when an endorsers image becomes tarnished by allegations of illicit, unethical, unusual, or even slightly unconventional behavior, this instantly creates problems for the endorsement. The recent scandal of Golf professional Tiger Woods in 2009 (Tiger Woods Sex Scandal [], 2009) is an example of how negative publicity can affect an endorsed brand. This led to a drop in his endorsement deals with many of his clients. However, if this was the case, why did he still manage to gain $110 million in a year, taking the lead of best paid athlete that year (Forbes.com) even with the negative press? Did the scandal influence sale of Gillette products at all? Other risks are overshadowing, Overexposure, financial risks, and so on and so forth. According to Tellis (1998), celebrities by their very nature are public figures whose moves are carefully watched by the media and whose achievements and failings are quickly publicized. As observed frequently, when a star is on the rise, the media will glorify him/ her and when faced with negative publicity, the media will gloat over it. Petty et al (1983) mentioned there were two main routes whereby consumers received information communicated to them and acted in accordance with it. These are the central and peripheral routes. Kahle Homer(1985) pointed out attractive celebrities were more acceptable and brought more influence to bear on the recipient of the advertisement than charmless ones. This theory was disagreed by Langmeyer Shank (1994) who pointed out that the concept of source attractiveness was not just limited to good looks but also included abilities in sports, charisma, grace, tact and intelligence. Several models have been created by many scholars over the years to aid in the selection process of a good celebrity endorser. McCracken (1989) introduced the Meaning Transfer Model which maintains that celebrity endorsers must possess cultural meanings such as status and lifestyle, which can transfer to the products being endorsed. Ohanian (1990) also identified a Source-credibility scale see figure 1 below, which celebrities had to possess in order to make their advertisements believable and increase purchase level of the product. Table 1 below demonstrates the variables of the source credibility scale. Attractiveness Trustworthiness Expertise Unattractive-Attractive Undependable-Dependable Not an expert-Expert Not Classy-Classy Dishonest-Honest Inexperienced-Experienced Ugly-Beautiful Unreliable-Reliable Unknowledgeable-Knowledgeable Plain-Elegant Insincere-Sincere Unqualified-Qualified Not sexy-Sexy Untrustworthy-Trustworthy Unskilled-Skilled Source: Ohanian, R. (1990) METHODOLOGY Secondary data will be sourced from brand textbooks written by widely recognized authors like Leslie de Chernatony and Malcolm McDonald, Ohanian, Kotler etc. In addition, web based articles and publications will also be used. Journals such as Journal of advertising research etc., which can be sourced from the University electronic database such as Emerald, provided in the Thames Valley library will also be sourced. Primary data will be collected using a questionnaire designed to understand consumers perceptions on the use of athletes as celebrity endorsers, by measuring their attitudes and perceptions towards the advertised products and their purchase intentions towards the product. A quote sample size of 100 people will be chosen, and the focus will be on students. The locations where the questionnaires are to be carried out will be TVU campus and Reading University Campus. A convenience sample of 50 per location giving 100 in total is planned. It is intended to obtain specific information about consumers buying behaviours towards the endorsed products, and for that matter, the respondents will have to have at least watched the Gillette or Adidas advertisement or purchased a Gillette/ Adidas product in the last year. Due to time limitations, the focus will be on UK consumers only Data to be generated by the questionnaires include personal data such as age, gender, income etc. to build a demographic profile of the sample. In terms of data analysis, the SPSS package will be implemented, to analyse the data generated by the questionnaire.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Essay --

Marxism and Christianity are two influential doctrines which have shaped our world in profound ways. While they differ on certain fronts, one cannot help but wonder that if there were some way that the two could coexist, that their synthesis could change the course of humanity inevitably. This discussion will be divided into two sections. The first one will be a brief summary and critique of Karl Marx’s rejection of religion, Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right. By dissecting this piece, it is hoped that we may cast doubt on its effectiveness; in the process of rejecting religion, Marx may have excluded many potential supporters from his revolutionary cause. As well, an attempt will be made to propose that atheism should no longer be a necessary central tenet of Marxism. The second section will be concerned with providing evidence of both early and contemporary Christian teachings which mirror Marxist principles. Finally, our discussion will turn briefly to Liberation Theology to confirm that Marxist and Christian schools can, and do converge. By pursuing these ends, this analysis will show that, at a fundamental level, Christianity shares many core principles with Marxism, and as such, Marxists are misguided in their dogmati c and mechanical rejection of religion and more specifically, of Christianity. For Marxists to realise their goal of a classless society that is based upon equality and justice, they must be more inclusive and allow those who practice religion, especially Christians who share similar aims, into their revolutionary dialogue. In his criticism of Hegel’s Idealism, Marx asserts that religious devotion represents a, â€Å"reversed world consciousness† , the result of wh... ... that both Marxists and Christians are concerned with the perils of human alienation and that each doctrine’s prescription to cure its causes is similar. Finally, Liberation Theology proves that Marxist and Christian ideals can synthesise and that their intercourse has created a new and possibly revolutionary stage of human existence. Christianity and Marxism both seem to have become detached from their original aims, which were to provide a method by which humanity may achieve the best possible life; for both, this will be realised through the practice of mutual aid, equality and love. All other points of contention between them seem polemical and counter revolutionary. One 20th century Christian revolutionary wrote that, â€Å"solidarity, in spite of all divergences, is absolutely essential if a revolutionary project is to be successful.† That is indeed the case.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Dreamliner: Time, Budget and Project Performance Analysis Essay

1 Introduction. 1.1 In developing the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing executive management’s initial decisions and project management strategies did not control the four major measurements of project success: time, budget, performance and client acceptance (Pinto, 2013, pp. 35,36). This report analyses the methodology and project management decisions that led to a project crisis and risk to Boeing’s reputation. 2 Boeing history. 2.1 Boeing Aircraft Corporation, with a heritage of aircraft design, manufacture and assembly, dates back to July 1916 (Boeing, 2004). Recent aircraft including 737, 747, 767, and 777 are all designed, assembled and supported by Boeing (Boeing, 2014). 2.2 Boeing commercial aircraft division is a successful aircraft manufacturing company with a proud history of in-house design and manufacture (Boeing, 2014). 3 New aircraft requirement. 3.1 Competition from Airbus, with its increase in market share through the 1990’s to market share leader in 2003 (Hoiness, 2006), led Boeing to decide that a mid-sized, long range aircraft was required for current and emerging markets. Boeing committed to a new aircraft line, the 787 ‘Dreamliner’ (Hoiness, 2006). A significant technology advance to carbon fibre composite fuselage and wing construction with advanced engine technology would aim to reduce fuel burn by 20%, and would provide a better operational experience for airlines and their customers (Boeing Aircraft Corporation, 2014). 4 Outsourcing and Cost overruns. 4.1 Boeing outsourced approximately 70% of development and production to  other companies in an attempt to reduce development time and costs (Denning, 2013). 4.2 Early project management decisions to move away from the Boeing model of in-house design and manufacture (Boeing, 2014), to a model of out-sourcing large subassemblies and component sections to around fifty Tier 1 partners (Boeing Company, 2013), would prove disastrous in estimating development costs (Ostrower & Lublin, 2013). Boeing’s reliance on Tier 1 companies to complete assembly integration, control Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers and solve problems in design aspects, led to cost and schedule overruns (Denning, 2013). 4.3 Initial budget estimates from Boeing set the 787 costs at about $5 billion (USD). Ostrower stated â€Å"Barclays Capital conservatively estimates the program ended up costing around $14 billion (USD), not including the penalties Boeing has had to pay customers for late deliveries† (Ostrower & Lublin, 2013) and aircraft cancellations (Bloomburg News, 2012). 4.4 The financial evidence suggests that Boeing and the 787 project management team did not fully understand the complexities of out-sourcing (Goatham, 2014). In a January 2011 speech at Seattle University, Albaugh is quoted as having said †We spent a lot more money in trying to recover than we ever would have spent if we’d tried to keep the key technologies closer to home† (Calleam Consulting Ltd, 2013). 5 Project Leadership 5.1 The Boeing Leadership project team did not understand the complexity of the Tier structure (Tang & Zimmerman, 2009). In adopting the Tier assembly approach the leadership team should have used logistics and supply chain management specialists (Denning, 2013). 5.2 Implementation of management strategies to cope with component suppliers is paramount. In a Boeing publication Hart-Smith recognised the risks in out-sourcing and assembly without sufficient design control. He stated that â€Å"in order to minimize potential problems, it is necessary for the Prime contractor to provide on-site, quality management, supplier-management, and sometimes technical support† (Hart-Smith, 2001). 5.3 The project leadership team failed to ensure each supplier received adequate design information to implement its part of the project (Tang & Zimmerman, 2009). This demonstrated they did not provide effective leadership nor sufficient communication (Pinto, 2013, p. 133). 6 Design control 6.1 Without fully understanding the complexities or difficulties in introducing a new design, and without a developed set of requirements and detailed design control, project difficulties and delays are inevitable (Denning, 2013). Other companies, for example the Toyota Motor Company, use out-sourcing successfully to trusted companies with a high degree of product design control as a method to reduce costs in production (Denning, 2013). 6.2 The Boeing model adopted was to spread the design and development to suppliers on a global scale with costs met by suppliers (Ostrower & Lublin, 2013). A strategy such as this should have been tightly controlled from the outset. Without this control, difficulties in assembly and ill-fitting parts requiring redesign added to the delays experienced by the project (Denning, 2013), with hundreds of Boeing engineers sent to various companies to solve technical problems (Tang & Zimmerman, 2009). 7 Communication and Cultural Risk. 7.1 Boeing management opted to control Tier 1 and Tier 2 integrators and their suppliers using a computer web based system, ‘Exostar’ (Denning, 2013). This system intended to provide supply chain and logistics visibility and ‘real time’ monitoring to control process, development, time and cost. Due to cultural differences and trust issues with this system, accurate and timely information was not entered by integrators and suppliers (Denning, 2013). 7.2 A Failure to understand the cultural differences with international companies and suppliers, by both integrators and Boeing management, provides evidence that the project did not adequately consider organizational culture or fully understand its effects (Pinto, 2013, p. 79). 7.3 If Boeing had relied on their own ‘tribal’ knowledge culture, rather than outsourcing to other organizations, the cultural and communication risks would have been reduced (Reuters, 2011). 8 Stakeholder management. 8.1 Knowledge of stakeholder capability, strengths, and behaviours should be part of successful project management (Pinto, 2013, p. 58). Boeing’s leadership failed to appreciate that Tier 1 integrators did not have the  capability to control the supplier nor the supply chain (Tang & Zimmerman, 2009). 9 Conclusion. 9.1 Boeing’s decision to outsource the design and manufacture of the Dreamliner, along with the introduction of new technology, led to lengthy project delays and additional expenses (Ostrower & Lublin, 2013). Poor communication from the Boeing leadership team, along with cultural misunderstandings, led some key suppliers to mistrust the control systems. Cost overruns, schedule delays and supply chain issues all led to this project failing to meet established goals within estimated parameters of cost, schedule, and quality (Pinto, 2013). 9.2 Modified management strategies were implemented to correct design flaws, provide technical and quality systems support at vast cost (Denning, 2013). These actions have contributed to a project turnaround with increased orders (Boeing, 2014). Bibliography Bloomburg News. (2012, 08 23). Daily Herald Bussiness. Retrieved 03 16, 2014, from dailyherald.com: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120823/business/708239912 Boeing. (2004). The Boeing Log Book 1881-1919. Retrieved 03 18, 2014, from History: http://www.boeing.com/boeing/history/chronology/chron01.page Boeing. (2014). Boeing Commercial Planes. Retrieved March 8, 2014, from http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commercial/products.page Boeing Aircraft Corporation. (2014). Boeing 787 Dreamliner Provides New Sollutions for Airlines, Passangers. Retrieved 03 15, 2014, from Boeing: http://www.boeing.com/boeing/commercial/787family/background.page Boeing Company. (2013). 787 Who’s Building the 787 Dreamliner. Retrieved 03 16, 2014, from New Airplane: http://www.newairplane.com/787/whos_building/ Calleam Consulting Ltd. (2013, 02 3). Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes. Retrieved 03 22, 2014, from Why Projects Fail: http://calleam.com/WTPF/?p=4617 Denning, S. (2013). What Went Wrong At Boeing? R etrieved March 8, 2014, from Emerald insight: http://www.emeraldinsight.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/journals.htm?articleid=17086954 Goatham, R. (2014). Why Projects Fail – Boeing Commercial

Friday, November 8, 2019

Fdi in Retail Sector India Essay Example

Fdi in Retail Sector India Essay Example Fdi in Retail Sector India Essay Fdi in Retail Sector India Essay Wall-mart plans to have 15 stores by March and enter new states like Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. Duke, Wall-Mart’s CEO opined that FDI in retail would contain inflation by reducing wastage of farm output as 30% to 40% of the produce does not reach the end-consumer. In India, there is an opportunity to work all the way up to farmers in the back-end chain. Part of inflation is due to the fact that produces do not reach the end-consumer, a similar trend was noticed when organized retail became popular in the US. The government has added an element of social benefit to its latest plan for calibrated opening of the multi-brand retail sector to foreign direct investment (FDI). Only those foreign retailers who first invest in the back-end supply chain and infrastructure would be allowed to set up multi brand retail outlets in the country. The idea is that the firms must have already created jobs for rural India before they venture into multi-brand retailing. It can be said that the advantages of allowing unrestrained FDI in the retail sector evidently outweigh the disadvantages attached to it and the same can be deduced from the examples of successful experiments in countries like Thailand and China; where too the issue of allowing FDI in the retail sector was first met with incessant protests, but later turned out to be one of the most promising political and economical decisions of their governments and led not only to the commendable rise in the level of employment but also led to the enormous development of their country’s GDP. :

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Hengist and Horsa - Legendary Founders of Kent

Hengist and Horsa - Legendary Founders of Kent Hengist and Horsa were known for being the first leaders of Anglo-Saxon settlers known to come to England. Tradition has it that the brothers founded the kingdom of Kent. Occupations KingMilitary Leaders Places of Residence and Influence EnglandEarly Europe Important Dates Arrival in England: c. 449Death of Horsa: 455Beginning of Hengists reign over Kent: 455Death of Hengist: 488 About Hengist and Horsa Although very likely actual people, the brothers Hengist and Horsa have taken on legendary status as leaders of the first settlers of Germanic stock to come to England. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, they were invited by the British ruler Vortigern to help defend against invading Scots and Picts from the north. The brothers landed at Wippidsfleet (Ebbsfleet) and successfully drove off the invaders, whereupon they received a grant of land in Kent from Vortigern. Several years later the brothers were at war with the British ruler. Horsa died in battle against Vortigern in 455, at a place recorded as Aegelsthrep, which is possibly present-day Aylesford in Kent. According to Bede, there was at one time a monument to Horsa in east Kent, and the modern town of Horstead may be named for him. After the death of Horsa, Hengist began ruling Kent as king in his own right. He reigned for 33 more years and died in 488. He was succeeded by his son, Oeric Oisc. The kings of Kent traced their lineage to Hengist through Oisc, and their royal house was called Oiscingas. Numerous legends and stories have sprung up about Hengist and Horsa, and there is much contradictory information about them. They are often referred to as Anglo-Saxon, and some sources label them as Jutes, but the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle calls them Angles and gives the name of their father as Wihtgils. There is a possibility that Hengist is the source for the character mentioned in  Beowulf  who was associated with a tribe called Eotan, which  may have been based on the Jutes.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Co-evolved relationship between two organisms Essay - 1

Co-evolved relationship between two organisms - Essay Example Mycorrhizal association are due to a relative diffusion process of co-evolutionary. While the initial mycorrhizal symbioses events may have included reciprocal changes in the genetic composition of free-living fungi and ancestral plants, the existing evidence indicate that the current parallel partners evolution as they respond to the changes in the environment. Co-evolved relationships involve a vast number of relationships between animals and plants and in some cases between plants with other plants. Among the many co-evolved situations, there is commensalisms where different species coevolved so as to intimately live with each other without any harm on the participants and symbioses where the coevolving species live together literally (Cairney and Burke 63). Such relationships which are intertwined may assume a mutualism form where no partner involved is harm and they both benefit from each other or only one benefits. An example of such relationships includes algae and fungi in lichens, roots and fungi in mycorrhizae and acacia trees and ants in symbiotic mutualism where the ant protects the acacias from herbivores (Cairney and Burke 64). In parasitism relationship, one of the partners stands out to benefit at the others expense. A good example of such relationship is between the oak tree and mistletoe parasite. The interaction of organisms encompasses the entire ecosystem and it influences the communities and natural population’s structure. For example, more than ninety percent of the terrestrial plants exist naturally through mutualistic symbiosis together with soil fungi, to form what is referred to as mycorrhizal association (Read 380). Such symbioses have proved to be fundamental to most plant’s biology in the environment as they enhance the ecological fitness and nutrition of individual plants while at the same time shaping the dynamics and structure of plant communities and

Friday, November 1, 2019

BUSINESS RESEARCH AND CUNSULTANCY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

BUSINESS RESEARCH AND CUNSULTANCY - Essay Example My aim of the study was to suggest the name of the companies, who can act as the potential sponsors of the club. In order to present a reflection of the study, I will make use of Gibb’s (1998) reflective cycle. With the help of reflective cycle, I will develop the structure of my reflective essay. The structure of this reflective essay will be divided into seven broad segments. I will start off with the experiences I gained while making this project. The following segments will include the description of the study, feelings associated with the project and conclusion. Finally, I will be presenting my personal action plans for the future. Moreover, I also believe that this structure and method will help me to express how this project benefitted me and how I can apply the learning’s to the professional filed. The study was undertaken for the principal purpose of finding sponsors for Manchester Giants basketball club. In addition, our aim of the project was also to explore the possibilities of getting the right sponsor for the club. The study was carried out by a group of 6 and I was one of them. At the initial stage, we planned that this study will have three main parts and these parts will collectively satisfy the objective of the study. Accordingly, the objectives of the study were to gain in-depth understanding of the team, identify the existing supporter base of the team, and perform a comparative study of the sponsors of similar clubs. Finally the task of the study was ro suggest the Manchester Giants with the names of the potential sponsoring companies and an appropriate strategy in order to get sponsors. Primarily, we were a little confused about everyone’s role in the study. In simple words, we were finding difficulties in assigning or allocating the tasks among ourselves. However, we solved this issue by a small group discussion. During this session, the task