Transcendentalism A Philosophical And Literary Movement

Transcendentalism was a philosophical and literary movement that started in the mid 19th Century in the U.S.A as a reaction against the dogma and industrialization of the time, placing individualism and self-reliance above the views of social institutions and the government. It was also, in part, an attempt at creating a uniquely American literature style completely different to the established English/European styles used in the past. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a highly influential writer that led the transcendentalist movement, he was primarily concerned with individualism and in each person following their unique instincts and ideas. Another notable writer of this period is Henry David Thoreau, a transcendentalist author that believed in standing behind what you feel is right, despite the contradictions of the State or Government. Walt Whitman was another writer that had a profound influence on the transcendentalist movement, he was a poet that went against what people viewed as the typical format and rules for poetry and instead focused on what he wanted his poetry to be and how he thought it should be written. These radical free thinkers developed ideas and morals about society and the individual that, at the time, were viewed as â€Å"uncivilized free and wild thinking† (Thoreau, Henry. Walking) and which have influenced the development of America. â€Å"Uncivilized free and wild thinking† is a term created by Thoreau in his essay ‘Walking’, at the time when his essay wasShow MoreRelatedTranscendentalism in America: The Philosophical and Literary Movement1062 Words   |  5 Pagesspirituality. In the end, authors in America created Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement that searches for individual truth through spiritual reflection, complete solitude, and a deep connection with nature. Because this was established by authors, many of them wrote different pieces reflecting and using the beliefs of Transcendentalism. Ralph Waldo Emerson was considered to be the father of Transcendentalism. He wrote many influential pieces that follow andRead MoreSocial Anxiety : America s National Identity991 Words   |  4 Pagesrevolution, American authors were initiating an exploration of an emergent American sensibility with a neoteric literary conviction. This new authorship of ph ilosophical thought is characterized as â€Å"literary nationalism† and is furthermore expressed as an American Renaissance, yielding intellectually influential compositions. It was during this Renaissance that the transcendental movement materialized from New England and wrought innovative thoughts to literature, religion, culture, and philosophyRead MoreThe True Transcendentalist: Thoreau and Emerson775 Words   |  3 PagesAmerican literary movements. Like the Puritan which was a time of when people wrote personal poems, journals, and their personal diaries. The next is Enlightenment period was a time in which it was mostly about science and logic also it included political writings. Another wonderful literary movement is the Romanticism which was filled with emotion, individuality, and nature. But one of the greatest literary movements the one that will be focused on is transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is intuitionRead MoreDifference Between Romanticism And Transen dinlalism In American And British Writers1584 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom that of Romanticism. The difference of Transendinlalism was that it was a literary and philosophical movement, associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. However, the Romantics thought differently because they that, that romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized by a heightenedRead MoreTranscendentalism : An Idealistic Philosophical And Social Movement1120 Words   |  5 PagesTranscendentalism, which according to the dictionary means: â€Å"an idealistic philosophical and social movement that developed in New England around 1836 in reation to rationalism. Influenced by romanticism, Platonism, and Kantian philosophy, it taught that divinity pervades all nature and humanity, and its memb ers held progressive views on feminism and communal living†. Transcendentalism is an American Literary, and philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century. This is thought is centeredRead MoreDifference Between Romanticism and Transendinlalism in American and British Writers1616 Words   |  7 Pagesthat of Romanticism. The difference of Transendinlalism was that it was a literary and philosophical movement, associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. However, the Romantics thought differently because they that, that romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized by a heightenedRead More The American Renaissance Essay1168 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Renaissance period, circa 1876-1917, heralded a new sense of nationalism with a pride linking to a spirit akin to Greek democracy, the rule of Roman law, and a cultural and educational reform movement often referred to as Renaissance humanism. This American nationalism focused on the expression of modernism, technology, and academic classicism. Renaissance technological advancements include wire cables supporting the Brooklyn Bridge in the State of New York, along with cultural advancementsRead MoreEssay on Transcendentalism1619 Words   |  7 Pages Transcendentalism nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Many people have theories and philosophies about life in general. There have been hundreds of thousands of books published by many different people on the ideas of people in the past and the present. Transcendentalism falls in amongst all of these ideas. There have been articles, essays, poems, and even books written about this subject. Transcendentalism has effected many people since the philosophy was first introduced. The idea was complex andRead MoreTranscendentalism And The American Renaissance1693 Words   |  7 Pagesdevelopment of American literary traditions† (4). This created a diverse movement apart of the American Renaissance reform called, Transcendentalism. The Transcendentalism period which outlined majority of the Renaissance, was led by writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Transcendentalism is largely defined by the ideals of, religion, self reliance, civil disobedience, individualism, idealism, nonconformity, and nature. Emerson outlined th e reform and countless parts of these Transcendentalism ideals, for writersRead More Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau as Fathers of Transcendentalism730 Words   |  3 Pagesas Fathers of Transcendentalism Transcendentalism was a movement in writing that took place in the mid-nineteenth century. It formed in the early to mid nineteenth century and reached it climax around 1850 during an era commonly referred to as the American Renaissance, America’s Golden Day, or the Flowering of New England. The basic tenets of Transcendentalism involve the relationships between one’s self and the world at large. First, the search for truth in Transcendentalism begins with

The Bible And The Word inspire Essay - 859 Words

The Bible and the Word quot;Inspirequot; According to the Random House Dictionary, the word inspire means quot;to infuse an animating, quickening, or exalting influence into, or to communicate or suggest by a divine influence.quot; This definition indicates, when applied to the scripture, that the stories and writings in the Bible did not come solely from the minds of the respective authors, but rather from a divine source. This suggests that the authors were scribes, reproducing what was instilled in them by God. This idea is strengthened by looking at distinct examples from the scripture that show that scripture is inspired, and not made up. By using the form of criticism known as literary criticism, we can analyze certain†¦show more content†¦God can be viewed as an indirect author, and the inspiration for scripture. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;quot;We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and the comings of our Lord Jesus Christ but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.quot; quot;Above all you must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.quot; From the standpoint of a literary critic, these two passages represent the question at hand as to whether or not scripture is inspired. Literary criticism looks at the passage as a whole, and reads what it says, just as a normal person would. Using this method, we see easily that scripture is in fact inspired, because it states that there were no cleverly invented stories, but rather Gods own words. Gods plans for his people are carefully laid out, and there is much doubt that He would entrust average people to teach others about His word without careful explanation as to exactly what it is, and how it came to be. This is why much of the Bible, especially the Pentateuch, tells the historical story of theShow MoreRelatedFaith, Morals, Ethics And Cultural Values1077 Words   |  5 PagesStories have great power to shape, inform and transform our lives. Through stories important traditions, morals, ethics and cultural values are passed down from generation to generation. In the same way the Bible is the story of God that has the power to transform our lives. The captivating and transforming power of story in preaching forms the foundation of Dan Boone s Preaching the Story that Shapes Us. Dr. Boone shares why he believes that narrative preaching is the best way to preach the storyRead MoreThe Gospels Of Luke And John Display Examples Of Special Revelation890 Words   |  4 PagesEverything that Christians know about Christianity has been exposed to them by God. If they wish to know him, they must rely on what he tells about himself. The Bible implies that God reveals himself in various ways. He exhibits his glory in and through nature. He reveals himself via dreams, visions, and most importantly via actions. Although the Bible talks about the â€Å"various ways† that God reveals himself, there are two different types of revelation – general and special. General revelation provides usRead MoreCan Literature Spark Cultural Difference?1185 Words   |  5 Pages Can literature spark cultural difference? â€Å"A Little child with such a big heart that will be broken en crumbled everything falls apart†. A literature poem that is beautifuly and creatvly assembled using words. This poem has a deap meaning about out society and how we indivaduals are so influnced by it. Eventually, society corruptes our purity and made us crumble until everything falled apart. In this world, literature is used and seen in many different forms, and through this forms we see profoundRead MoreI Have A Dream Speech Analysis1714 Words   |  7 PagesDr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a great inspiration to the nation. He helped to achieve racial equality. In order to convince the audience of creating racial equality, he uses words to provoke, calm, and inspire in his famous I Have a Dream speech. Using these words, he creates a connection with the audience, and he gained their trust. Cesar Chavez also gave a speech that provoked, calmed, and inspired the audience to come together and get rid of pesticid es because it is causing many diseases amongRead MoreValidity Of The New Testament Essay1605 Words   |  7 Pagesconsidered. Just like scientists have to go through protocols for getting their theories accepted, the books in the bible have to as well to be considered a scripture. This process would be known as canonicity. Canonicity is the standard that books had to meet to be recognized as a book of the bible. In the New Testament, just because a book was written it was not just accepted in the bible. It had to go through guidelines as well. According to Bible.org, deciding which books were inspired seems likeRead MorePersonal Intellectual Interests Within Academic Majors1375 Words   |  6 Pagesfor inspiring and motivating peers. Last year, I joined the Baptist Collegiate Ministry ECA and a company Bible study. It was a big transition from the type of church and Bible study I was accustomed to back home. Being at the Academy with people from all different walks of life and experiences fosters conversations and talking points I had not previously considered not only concerning the Bible, but also life in general. Undoubtedly, bringing together people of all different walks of life taught meRead MoreDescription of The Divinity of the Scriptures1553 Words   |  7 PagesThe Bible is a book that is comprised of over forty different authors and sixty six different books, which are sub-divided into the Old and New Testament. The division is because the Old is the books that we inherited from the Jewish faith and the New Testament is during the time of and after the Messiah, had come and is only in the Christian Bible. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are given by the inspiration of God because, they co mplement each other, they declare prophecy and fulfillmentRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Christian Church1188 Words   |  5 Pagesorder to adequately defend the Christian faith. Thus the validity of the Bible as the â€Å"go to† manual for Christians, providing needed evidence to support the doctrinal tenets of the Christian Church, is crucial. The apostle Paul encourages, Timothy, a young pastor in 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) with these words, â€Å"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (Bible Hub).† For a Christian, understanding what it is to have faith, and whyRead MorePurpose And Plan For Meeting The Spiritual Need Of A Congregation Essay756 Words   |  4 Pagesmindset of maturing believers. The strategy will involve newcomers becoming better connected to a life with Christ, leaders becoming more sharpened in the greater need of hospitality, and emphasis on clear messages about teaching and preaching God’s word to a maturing congregation. The project will also help in the discovery of the mission, purpose of worship and prayer, and the feeling of belonging. The overall mission of communication is to established roots and wings for the believer to be setRead MoreBible as the Inspired Word of God Essay1103 Words   |  5 PagesBible as the Inspired Word of God The Bible is the work of various authors, who lived in different continents and wrote in different eras. Furthermore, much of the text does not claim to have been dictated by God and is not always God speaking to people. In parts it consists of people speaking to God, as in the Psalms, and people speaking to people, as in the New Testament letters written by Paul. In light of this, some maintain that it is not possible to treat the

Shoemaker Fiction and Shoes free essay sample

In the short story The Shoemaker written by Roch Carrier, there are significant symbols appear throughout the whole story. The three main symbols are the boy, his shoes, and the atomic bomb. The author represents a mint-sized world to us by using these symbols. The boy represents the innocent, naive and immature characteristics like many of us today. He believes in himself, he thinks that its the shoemaker who fixed his old shoes even though his moms statement is different. He knows during the night [his] shoes had been repaired by the little shoemaker with the clubfoot. The boy lives in an imagination world that builds by him; he thinks he could fly with the magic shoes. He knew though, [he] was flying. The narrator shows a boy that represents the child-like population around us which carries hopes and beliefs. The shoes emerge as an unimportant object with the boy, but it actually has two levels of symbolisms. We will write a custom essay sample on Shoemaker: Fiction and Shoes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It has the meaning of wonder, hope and confidence. Since the shoes are not common in the narrators childhood, having a pairs of shoes states how special the owner is. With the shoes, the boy thinks he could fly; with the shoes, the boy elieves in the old ,kind shoemaker(magic)s existence; with the shoes, the boy could do a little bit show off in front of his friends. The boy finds that his shoes gleam was more dazzling than the September morning. The other meaning given by the author about the shoes is the external and internal appearance. In the outer face level of the shoes, it is fixed, newly recovered, and as beautiful as a new one. In the inner level the shoes is still the old one, nothing changes but the face. The shoes are a very good symbol that can be explained as the dream and hope of the boy. The atomic bomb is the killer of those unrealistic, imaginary fantasies. It represents violence, cruel actions and destroys. It is an irony of what the people are doing right now; we are killing and destroying ourselves. The time the atomic bomb comes out; the time the end of our innocent and hopes. In the short story The Shoemaker written by Roch Carrier, the boy, the shoes and the bomb comes as three main symbolisms. Each of them show parts of our society or population. The more we understand them; the more we understand ourselves.

The Lottery By Shirley Jackson Essays (855 words) - Fiction

The Lottery By Shirley Jackson Analyzation encompasses the application of given criteria to a literary work to determine how efficiently that work employs the given criteria. In the analyzation of short stories, the reader uses a brief imaginative narrative unfolding a single incident and a chief character by means of a plot, the details so compresses and the whole treatment so organized, a single impression results. To expose that impression, the reader explores the workings of seven basic criteria. On particular criterion effectively supports the central idea on The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. The author teaches the central idea through the actions of the protagonist in the plot through what the protagonist does or does not do. The author teaches the lesson, the authors idea, and the universal in two ways. Authors idea expresses the authors beliefs or opinions on a particular subject; the author may use a universal truth. A universal truth presents an idea assumed true by the masses worldwide that teaches a lesson based on the interpretation of the universal truth. What the reader learns throughout the story or the lesson consists of two categories, general and specific. General lessons teach the overall lesson in the story; usually a universal truth that speaks of qualities like greed, revenge, love, fear, discrimination, and ignorance. Because primitive peoples meshed much more successfully with the world around them, they became far more sensitive to its needs and rhythms; they made certain that the lessons of passage were powerful and certain to have the desired effect. The rituals were intense, sometimes painful and terrifying. They were assuredly unforgettable. The Grims Brothers, Poor Richards Almanac, and Aesops Fables capture these ceremonies and lessons. The smaller lesson or specific lessons earned through the development of the plot and narrative reach the reader on an individual level from the actions or thoughts of any of the characters. These little lessons within the general lesson teach the reader the main lesson of the story. Despite the timelessness of fables, who remembers the lessons of the past? The Fox and the Grapes teaches us about envy, The Lion and the Mouses message of compassion. Who knows about Little Red Riding Hoods message, the passage from girl- to womanhood. We need to be able to point to someone elses story and say, Ah, yes, I know that feeling. I identify. These specific lessons speak of personal truths even though cloaked in symbols. In The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, the villagers follow tradition without even knowing why the tradition exists. This blind following of the past traditions leads the reader to discover a universal truth. Tradition is the guide of the ignorant. In paragraph thirty-two, lines seven and eight, Old Man Warner states, Theres always been a lottery he said petulantly. In this statement, the reader sees the most ignorant of all excuses for doing anything. This, however, seems normal for the community. In paragraph six, lines three through nine, the reader discovers That much of the ritual had been forgotten or discarded, Mr. Summers had been successful in having slips of paper substituted for the chips of wood that had been used for generations. While reading, the reader starts to understand the lottery tradition from which many rules and regulations disappeared for convenience reasons. This leads the reader to believe that the villagers do not truly understand the origins of the lottery. I n paragraph twenty-nine, lines one through three, Mrs. Jackson states The people had done the lottery so many times that they only half listed to the directions In this passage, the reader learns through the nonchalantness of the villagers actions that an important event does not gander much attention. In paragraph thirty-one lines one through fourteen Old Man Warner snorted. Pack of crazy fools, he said. Listening to the young folks, nothings good enough for them. Next thing you know, theyll be wanting to go back inside caves, nobody work anymore, live that way for a while. Used to be a say saying about Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon. First thing you know, wes all be eating chicken weed and acorns. In this passage, the reader finally understands that even though the world changed around the

Scopist

Scopist Scopist Scopist By Maeve Maddox I received an email from a reader who is a scopist. The reader suspected that the title might be unfamiliar to me and kindly explained it: scopist/notereader for a court reporter. I was grateful because I’d never heard the word scopist before. Naturally I wanted to know more, so I looked the word up in the OED; it wasn’t there. Then I looked in Merriam-Webster Unabridged, but it wasn’t there either. Since it is a court-related occupation, I looked it up in a legal glossary and on a legal job site. Still nothing. Finally, a general Web search brought me to a definition in Wikipedia: A scopist edits the transcripts of official proceedings, created by court reporters. The word is recorded in the Ngram Viewer database, so I don’t understand why it isn’t in the OED; since the 1980s the word has been climbing in frequency of use. My only acquaintance with court transcripts is from my research into the life and career of Joan of Arc. The scribes at Joan’s trial copied down the proceedings, proofed them for omissions and errors, and then put the transcript in its final form. In Joan’s case the transcripts were falsified afterwards, but that was in the bad old Middle Ages. Apparently today’s court reporters aren’t expected to do the entire job themselves, probably because the courts are busier, and reporters don’t have time to correct their own work. More from Wikipedia: Scopists receive the rough copies of transcripts [typed by the court reporters], check the transcript for missing words or mistakes, edit grammar and punctuation, ensure that proper names and technical or scientific terms are spelled correctly, and format the transcript properly before delivering the transcript back to the court reporter. According to the job description, Scopists need excellent grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and research skills, as well as good knowledge of legal terminology, medical terminology, and transcript production. They are typically voracious readers, gatherers of eclectic knowledge, and adept users of technology. The job of scopist sounds like a perfect fit for a language lover. As for the question asked by the scopist who introduced me to the word, see â€Å"Hyphenating Prefixes.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Avoid Beginning a Sentence with â€Å"With†Yay, Hooray, Woo-hoo and Other AcclamationsParticular vs. Specific

4th Grade Lesson Plan for Expanded Notation

4th Grade Lesson Plan for Expanded Notation Students will create, read, and decompose large numbers. Class 4th Grade Duration One or two class periods, 45 minutes each Materials: paper or large note cards numbered 0 - 10 (enough for the whole class)chalkboard, whiteboard, or overhead projector Key Vocabulary place value, ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, expanded notation (or expanded form) Objectives Students will demonstrate their understanding of place value to create and read large numbers. Standards Met 4.NBT.2 Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Lesson Introduction Ask a few volunteer students to come to the board and write down the largest number that they can think of and read aloud. Many students will want to put endless numerals on the board, but being able to read the number aloud is a more difficult task! Step-by Step Procedure: Give each student a sheet of paper or large note card with a numeral between 0 - 10.Call two students up to the front of the class. Any two students will work as long as they are not both holding a 0 card.Have them show their numerals to the class. For example, one student is holding a 1 and the other is holding a 7. Ask the class, â€Å"What number do they make when they stand next to each other?† Depending on where they are standing, the new number is 17 or 71. Have students tell you what the numbers mean. For example, with 17, the 7 means 7 ones, and the 1 is really 10.Repeat this process with several other students until you are confident that at least half of the class has mastered the two-digit numbers.Move on to three digit numbers by inviting three students to come to the front of the class. Let’s say that their number is 429. As in the above examples, ask the following questions:What does the 9 mean?What does the 2 mean?What does the 4 mean?As students answer t hese questions, write the numbers down: 9 20 400 429. Tell them that this is called â€Å"expanded notation† or expanded form. The term â€Å"expanded† should make sense to many students because we are taking a number and expanding it into its parts. After doing a few examples at the front of the class, have the students begin writing the expanded notation down as you invite students up to the board. With enough examples on their paper, when it comes to more complex problems, they will be able to use their notes as a reference.Continue adding students to the front of the class until you are working on four-digit numbers, then five-digit, then six. As you move into the thousands, you may want to become the comma that separates thousands and the hundreds, or you can assign the comma to a student. (The student that is always wanting to participate is a good one to assign this to - the comma will be called upon often!) Homework/Assessment You can give your students a choice of assignments  - both are equally long and equally difficult, though in different ways: Have students write 987,654 in expanded notation OR the largest number that they are able to.Have them write 20,006 in expanded notation (Be sure to go over this one in class the next day.) Evaluation Write the following numbers on the board and have students write them in expanded notation:1,78630,551516

Analyse the extent to which the rules of standing and the grounds of Essay

Analyse the extent to which the rules of standing and the grounds of judicial review have struck the right balance between helpi - Essay Example The law of standing  comprises  rules that determine, whether the remedy seeker is a bonafide person or is he legally empower to initiate legal proceeding against the defendant. We have noticed that in private matters, it is very difficult for the victims to seek justice due to lack of legal resources and the hefty cost involves in initiating legal course of action against the party at fault. Hence, visible hurdles for the litigants in the matter of public interest are there2. Public interest litigation may be common in the developed countries, but it seldom seen in the developing countries due to cost incurs on public interest litigation. Enforcement of public right most often requires due role of public bodies in administrating and implementing such functions e.g. health, safety, security or the environment. There is a difference between the public interest litigation and the private interest litigation. In the UK legal system, there is a body of common law and the statutes whi ch revolves around the exceptions with regard to the rule of standing that lacks the protection of public right3. In the mentioned legal system, judicial review is exercised under RSC, order 53 to ensure judicial control over administrative action. The matter of each and every judicial review is a decision that made by some authorized person or persons is/are called decision maker/makers. They have the right to take the decision or refuse to take the decision4. It is (Judicial review) by all standards different from an appeal. The clear distinction is that appeal can be filed in the appellate jurisdiction by the petitioner provided the judgment of the subordinate court did not touch upon the legal or technical aspects of the case whereas the judicial review is connected with the legal aspect of the decision only or the specified act5. Judicial Review Judicial review has the strong relationship with the powerful executives in terms of accountability. It is the constitutional obligati ons of the judiciary to control the misuse of power of the executives. Of course, executives do not like the judicial review against the backdrop of unbridled discretionary powers they are being enjoyed. On the other hand, judiciary encourages the law abiders and the rules comply with executives to carry out their jobs without any fear or favour. In the presence of strong judiciary, the executives should not comply with the illegal orders of their superiors6. In the English legal system, everybody is accountable to his or her deeds. It is the essence of the cited legal system that the actions or the decisions of the executives are subject to judicial review by judges in order to ensure that their actions or decisions are in accordance with law. Further, the judges have the authority to examine the suggested changes in the legislative structure whether they are in line with the constitutional requirement. Judicial review is utmost important keeping in mind the â€Å"power corrupts a nd absolute power corrupts absolutely â€Å". From the aforementioned contents, it is clear that the basic responsibility to address the legal lacunas in the decisions of

BAE And EADS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

BAE And EADS - Essay Example On the flip side, the deal would lead to political among other complexities. This report will give an analysis of the issues surrounding the proposal for merger of the two companies. Strategy and motivation analysis Invesco criticized the proposed deal citing poor terms, state interference and lack of strategic underlying principle. The problems that BAE has raised includes the share buyback programme , possible deviation from its generous dividend payout as well as the doubts imposed by inviting Germany and French stakeholders in the deal. The sharp cut in the defense spending by the U.S. is a big blow for EADS and BAE, but BAE is likely to suffer most because it is deeply exposed to the U.S. defense market. Furthermore, BAE is experiencing a serious reduction in the demand for the equipment it supplies for the US military, which are currently preparing to pull out from Afghanistan. Additionally, the firm is likely to suffer a big blow following the down-turn of the demand for the E urofighter Typhoon fighter jet (Ranscombe, 2012). Figure 1: EADS DPS trend since 2007. As shown from figure 1 above, recently EADS has paid exceedingly high rate of dividends, which could be seen as a major motivation for BAE shareholders to enter the proposed merger (Le Figaro 2001). Stock market response analyses based on share movement and synergy multiples During the trading following the announcement on 12 September, the shares of BAE jumped by 10% to 336.1 pence ($5.41), as shown in figure 3 below. However, the shares of EADS plummeted by more than 10% following the announcement (shown in figure 2). Later, on 13 September, the shares of BAE fell back to just 2% above the level before the rumors emerged that the two companies were planning to merge (Norton-Taylor, 2012). Figure2: EADS share movement shortly before and shortly after the announcement Source: Thomson Reuters via FT Markets Data Figure 3: EADS share movement shortly before and shortly after the announcement Source: http://markets.ft.com When the reports hit news lines that there was a potential merger between the two companies, initially, the investors burst into a euphoria that affected the movement of the prices of the shares of the two companies. However, after uncertainty took shape, BAE’s shares drafted following a strong post-announcement rally, while the shares at EADS were moving lower (Petroff, 2012). On 12th September following the announcement, the shares of BAE were trading 1 percent lower at 338.90 pence, which was in line the decline in the wider market. As seen from figure 2 and 3 above, the investors’ reaction was swift, especially on Thursday when the shares of EADS fell by about 10 percent to â‚ ¬25.15, while those for BAE gained significantly on Wednesday following the news that the deal is simmering, going up to 337.10 pence in London. Synergy analysis The investors will have to ask themselves several questions in order to establish whether the merger is a good idea, including: (1) why is such a huge merger is the best means of solving the problems the individual companies are facing and also open opportunities for them? (2) Is BAE, which is a top US military contractor, the best company to help EAP achieve

The Paradigm Debate Essay Example for Free

The Paradigm Debate Essay The heart of the debate between the quantitative and qualitative paradigms in research is based on the authenticity and correctness of the data gathered from each approach. I believe that the central debate is based on which paradigm best portrays what is real, what is scientific and what is valid. The endless debate of these two approaches will stay if not for the most part of the 21st century but a few more decades from now, since there has been slow development in the field of research methods (Mahoney Goertz, 2006). The quantitative approach says that the rigors of science, the objectivity of the scientific approach and the use of statistics will generate the true picture of the problem as what the research had entailed to investigate. On the other hand, the qualitative approach says that human life cannot be thought of as variables, experiments or even number because it takes out the essence of the social interaction, the emotional and mental processes involved in the experience or the behavior. In the past, the distinction between what data or variables lend itself better to quantitative approach and which data should be examined using the qualitative approach was clear (Tashakkori Teddlie, 2003). But at the moment, the rising awareness of the qualitative approach as a valid research method and the quantitative approach becoming more cognizant of the less objective variables are in a battle to which approach will yield the most valid and truest result. In the past the quantitative approach was the only way to do research, the introduction of anthropology and ethnographic researches have widened the research methodology of various disciplines (Salomon, 1991).   With it was the start of the unending debate over which approach was most beneficial to the research. The idea however is a far cry from the present state of mixed methods approach, recognizing that each approach had its own merits, a different breed of research approach now utilizes the two paradigms and calls it mixed methods approach. As a student of psychology, I am inclined to favor the qualitative approach as it is more able to provide a deeper understanding and meaning of the variables being studied, it would make more sense to me to explore how bipolar construe friendships which can never be captured by the use of a quantitative friendship scale which offers less insight to the experiences and dynamics of friendships. However, the scientific part of me wants to believe in the wisdom of objectivity and science, I have been trained under the old school experimental and behavioral psychology which gave much importance to experimentation and control of variables. This would mean that my orientation towards research is that of the quantitative fervor. Choosing which side to favor is like asking me to choose between the devil and the deep blue see, each approach presents a different understanding of the variables under study and I am often reminded of the nature and nurture debate which predominated the developmental psychology field. Therefore, I would rather say that I support the quantitative approach because it has been around far enough to at least become more refined to provide better measures and control for the study of variables   which in the past have been questioned with regards to the validity and reliability of the results of the study (Adcock Collier, 2001). Moreover, the quantitative approach is the form mostly accepted by the scientific community and therefore is more established and more credible, although it does not mean that all quantitative researches are excellently written but that some may have sacrificed the integrity of the conduct of the research due to budget constraints or a poorly designed research method (Mahoney Goertz, 2006). The quantitative approach has reached an almost cult like following and dissenters have naturally went to support the qualitative approach but whichever it is, I am convinced for now that the quantitative paradigm has more sense and purpose than qualitative approaches (Mahoney Goertz, 2006). References Adcock, R. Collier, D. (2001). Measurement validity: A shared standard for qualitative and quantitative research. American Political Science Review 95; 3: 529-546. Mahoney, J. Goertz, G.(2006). A tale of two cultures: Contrasting quantitative and qualitative research. Political Analysis 14: 227-249. Salomon, G. (1991). Transcending the qualitative-quantitative debate: The analytic and systemic approaches to educational research. Educational Researcher, 20, 10-18. Tashakkori, A. Teddlie, C. (2003). Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social Behavioral Research. Thousand Oaks, CA.: Sage Publications.

Examination of Macbeths Character :: essays research papers

Power can be taken, but not given: An Examination of Macbeth's Character in William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Character develops itself in the stream of life. Individuals in society each contain unique character traits that are constantly evolving. In William Shakespeare?s Macbeth, Macbeth undergoes many tremendous changes in his character. Macbeth?s character changes throughout the play because of the murders of King Duncan, Banquo and Macduff?s family. First, Macbeth?s murder of King Duncan changes him by triggering his ambition, revealing his fear and revealing his regret. For example, in his first appearance on stage, the Macbeth described as brave and noble has his ambition triggered: First Witch. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! Second Witch. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! Third Witch. All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter! Banquo. Good sir, why do you start [?] (Shakespeare I.iii.48-51) Clearly, Macbeth?s sudden movement at the news that he will be king shows how his ambition is triggered. Macbeth is so excited that he starts, and Banquo notices this. In addition, Macbeth?s soliloquy in scene seven reveals his fears about killing Duncan: Macbeth. But in these cases We still have judgement here, that we but teach Bloody instruction, which being taught, return To plague the inventor. (I.vii.7-10) Evidently, Macbeth is afraid of killing King Duncan because he believes if he performs an act of evil, then it will come back to haunt him. This is the first time in the play where Macbeth shows any sign of fear. Furthermore, the murder of King Duncan reveals a deep sense of regret within Macbeth: ?To know my deed, ?twere best not know myself. / Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou could?st!? (II.ii.73-75). Already, Macbeth is regretting killing King Duncan, and this drastically changes his character (before committing the murder he was confident due to Lady Macbeth?s persuasions). Thus, Macbeth?s murder of King Duncan changes him by triggering his ambition, revealing his fear and revealing his regret. Second, the murder of Banquo changes Macbeth by causing psychological harm, creating unease within Macbeth, and making Macbeth determined to continue with his plan of evil. For example, at the feast Macbeth hosts, he sees the ghost of Banquo: Macbeth. The table?s full. Lennox. Here is a place reserv?d, sir. Macbeth. Where? Lennox. Here, my good lord. What is?t that moves your Highness? Macbeth. Which of you have done this? Lords. What, my good lord? Macbeth. Thou canst not say I did it: never shake Thy gory locks at me.

The working student

The Working Student â€Å"All work and no play. † This saying refers to a lot of students that work and go to school. This is a very hard conundrum for students. Problems like when they can hang out with their friends, keeping their schedules cooperating, and missing key opportunities because they have school or work arise. There are many difficulties being a working student. One major problem for students is they want to hang out with their friends or play that new video game but they have work or school.Another example is a friend wants hem to go bowling but they cannot because they haft to study for a test. On the other hand a friend may want them to go see a movie after school but they cannot because they have work. Working students do not normally have free time. Students also haft to manage a balancing act with their work and school schedules. They haft to make shore they don't have work when they have a class. For less organized students this can be quite a task. So if they have a seven o'clock class they haft to make shore they don't have work at seven o'clock.Balancing schedules can be quite a here. The working student may also lose golden opportunities in both school and work. They might not get to Join that club because it meets at the time they haft to be at work. On the other hand they might lose a chance at that over time they need for that pay raise. The working student often loses opportunities like these. Students with Jobs face many difficulties. Whether It Is balancing schedules, having no free time, or losing that golden opportunity. These problems don't even hold a candle to all the problems the working student faces.

Child Abuse

 Essay

Many children suffer child abuse everyday at the hands of adults and it is often their own parents who are the ones to do this. They are beaten, kicked, thrown into walls, or burned with cigarettes. They have their heads held under the water of toilet bowls, are scalded by hot water or they are forced to stand in freezing or scalding showers until they pass out. A child could be stuffed into running washing machines or sexually molested and beaten so bad that they are unable to move. Some suffer from neglect in the forms of starvation and lack of medical attention, and still go unnoticed by outsiders such as child protective services or perhaps even their pediatricians. It is not unheard of that children die every day in the U.S. alone from one form of child abuse or another. It is a sickening practice that has no set standard of rules to finish off the persisting problem. Different states have different methods and agencies to help prevent abuse in the home, some work quite well while others bomb – a dangerous gamble when it comes to the life or mental state of a child. †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨The precise number of deaths each year is not known because of the extent of most fatality investigations that could be suspected as child abuse but are seen as open and shut death cases. A report from the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, however, depicts more than three million reports of alleged child maltreatment practices in the year of 1995 alone. Many more children are living with abuse rather than dying from it, too. So what steps are being taken to protect our nation’s children? All states have a Child Protective Services (or CPS) system. This is the governmental system responsible for investigating reports of child abuse or neglect. In state after state, the CPS agency lacks the resources to respond adequately to the overwhelming number of reports it is legislatively mandated to investigate. All fifty states have child abuse reporting laws requiring reports of suspected abuse to be made by specified professionals and others whose work brings them into regular contact with children. Any citizen may report suspected abuse as state laws provide for reports to be made to the CPS agency or its equivalent, or to a law enforcement agency. In most states, investigations are conducted by CPS personnel, although law enforcement officers may also be involved.†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨The basic concern of child welfare workers is for the safety of the child. Assessment of the risks involved in leaving a child with its family must be made quickly because children cannot be removed from their families arbitrarily. Once a child has been removed, the goal of child welfare agencies is to return the child to the family. Ideally, caseworkers develop a plan to provide parents with the education of the care that children need, free from abuse or neglect.†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨This plan is not always carried out to its full intention. No state has the financial resources to provide all the services to the children and families who need them. A problem is that in state after state, CPS workers have excessive caseloads, are paid low salaries, and lack adequate training for the sensitive work involved in investigating abuse reports, and participating in decisions to remove children from their families then placing them in foster care. The turnover rate among child welfare workers is exceptionally high. A report done by the United States Department of Health and Human Services showed the rate of 30 percent to be the norm, annually.†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨Whatever the reason – inadequate funding, unavailable services for children and families, high turnover rates, lack of training, overwhelming numbers of reports – questions are being raised about the CPS system. The system is based on the assumption that removal from a troubled family, followed by a return to the family when that can be done safely, is best for the child. A different approach to the problems created by child abuse involves Family Preservation Services (FPS). Removal of the risk, rather than the child, is the goal of Family Preservation Services. FPS programs seek to modify the home environment or behavior of other family members so that it is at least as safe for the child to remain in the household as to be removed. Family preservation is based on the assumption that out of home care hurts children, and on the recognition that most families referred to Child Protective Service can and want to learn new ways of coping with stress. Rather than breaking families apart in order to treat them, intensive family preservation services seek to protect children and heal families by keeping them whole.†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨Specifically, FPS provides intensive services in the home to all the members of a troubled family for a relatively short time – four to six weeks. Professional staffs are usually assigned two, but no more than four, families at a time. Caseworkers are available to families twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. A worker can stay as long as necessary to stabilize the household, whether that means six, ten, or twelve hours. Ten states have initiated FPS programs by legislation including: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨Homebuilders, an FPS program based in Tacoma, Washington, provides the longest running assessment of the effectiveness of family preservation services. From 1981 to 1994, Homebuilders saw 3,497 children. Evaluation data indicted that three months after completing the program, an average of 94 percent of the families had avoided out of home placement. Twelve-month follow up data showed that placement had been averted in 88 percent of the cases. Furthermore, the cost for Homebuilders’ family services was only $3000 per case while the costs for an average foster family home placement in the state was $7586.†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨There is a down side to the Family Preservation Service, though. The track record of FPS seems impressive, but a closer look at another side reveals it’s not doing such a great job. According to the Clarke Foundation, there has never been a case of parental abuse or neglect causing serious injury or the death of a child while receiving family preservation services. But since the FPS provides services for a relatively short period of just a few weeks, there is no way of accurately predicting if after that short amount of observation that the parents are suddenly fit to care for a child. A worker only stays in the house for a maximum of twelve hours – that is not long enough to assess whether the child is in danger and the true nature of the parents. Of course no one is going to kill or seriously injure a child in front of a human services official. No studies are available that show whether the abuse reoccurred after the Family Preservation Service’s four to six weeks with the family was finished. †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨The Division of Family Services takes another approach to preventing child abuse. The staff is divided into units, working a variety of shif ts and functions to best provide the services needed by the children and families. The response unit is responsible for receiving all reports of child abuse, neglect, and dependency. They determine the nature of the allegations and the appropriate response time for initiating investigation of the allegations. Once abuse or neglect is found or significant risk of its occurrence is identified, cases are transferred to the treatment unit. Workers in these units are responsible for assessing family needs and connecting the family with appropriate resources and services to address those identified areas. They are also responsible for monitoring the family’s success at utilizing the available services, and communicating with various service providers to assess the ongoing safety of the children and the progress of the family. They close cases when significant progress has been achieved to eliminate or minimize the ongoing risk of abuse to the children. The Statewide Unification Unit is responsible for providing intensive reunification services for children who can potentially return home within six months. Staff work closely with the children, their natural family, and the care provider to facilitate smooth transitions and successful reunification. When the goal of returning children to their natural families is no longer appropriate, the social workers write Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) petitions, which, once approved by Family Court, allow children to become free for adoption. They develop long term foster care plans for those children whose parental rights have been terminated, but for whom adoption or returning them to the home is not an appropriate goal. They are also responsible for providing assistance throughout the adoption process to support successful adoptive placements.†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨It has been shown that through most personal accounts, that parents never really learn to take care of their children without usin g abuse. Because of this, it seems quite logical to make the main focus on protecting the child, then if returning them to their family is assessed as being completely logical, that is the way to go. I propose that a system of â€Å"three strikes-your out† be implemented. With this, the parent will lose rights to the child for a short time while they go through training and counseling. If they are deemed not insane, then they may care for the child again with the warning of what will happen to them. They will have a sort of parole officer that will check up on the family annually. On the second offense, there will be further counseling, jail time, and other means of reform. If they are granted custody again, they will be checked on frequently and unscheduled. If they can not handle the child without abuse from there, the child will be put up for adoption. There are very long waiting lists for parents who would love to adopt a child and will provide a loving family that should be utilized. The state would let the new parents take care of the child financially, but would pay for counseling of that child and training for the rest of the family on how to love on the abused. If in later years, the parent has redeemed him/herself, then they will be allowed to visit and take the child on trips and be allowed to be a friend. After the child has reached the age of eight-teen the will be allowed to decide who they would like to stay with.†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨No system for child protection is going to be full-proof. There are steps that can be taken to improve them. Any system is only as good as the people who implement it. Representative Kaye Steinmetz of Missouri is proposing legislation to require additional training for Child Protective Services workers, establish a state team to assist with investigations of difficult cases, and provide for statewide protocols to ensure proper investigations. Representative Debbie Stabenow of Michigan advocates early identification of parents at risk of becoming abusers. Michigan Perinatal Coaching project is an example of this. Developed by the state’s Children’s Trust Fund, the project matches parent volunteers with parents of newborns. Through the child’s first year, the volunteer provides support to the parents, whether that involves advice about discipline or other areas that new parents may find difficult. A similar program called Family Skill-Builder is offered in the state of Massachusetts. It offers an in home case management series for families who are at risk of abusing and neglecting their children. It’s designed to prevent child abuse and neglect and to help families function independently.†¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨Deborah Daro, director of research for the National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, has several suggestions for legislators to consider. She maintains that states need to provide more services for victims of abuse, especially therapeutic, remedial and support services. She says, â€Å"States also need to look at the quality of foster care. Foster care ought to be more than just giving a child a place to live.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨The goal in preventing child abuse should be permanency and stability for the child, whether that means a return to the family or, in some cases, termination of parental rights and adoption. The sooner that can be achieved the better. This can be accomplished by setting up time tables for review of foster care cases, and by establishing specific criteria for permanency planning and termination of parental rights. Another key in preventing child abuse is evaluating each situation case by case. Placing a child in foster care may be the best decision for that particular case, while intensive family preservation services might be best for another. The best answer may lie in a combination of the ideas of different organizations. Individual attention to each case would personalize a plan to get each family on the road to a good, stable, and loving family life in less time.

25 Synonyms for Story

25 Synonyms for Story 25 Synonyms for â€Å"Story† 25 Synonyms for â€Å"Story† By Mark Nichol So, you’re writing a story? What kind of story? No, don’t unreel the plot for me. Provide some context for the narrative style by telling me what your model is for your tale. This is not about genre, though there may be some overlap; it’s all about the form. Choose from one or more of these words denoting the storytelling technique: 1. Account: a retelling of an event or series of events, sometimes with a connotation of bias or at least subjectivity 2. Anecdote: a short, entertaining story, often involving the person telling it 3. Allegory: a story that expresses ideas about human nature through the actions of stock characters undergoing challenges 4. Annals: historical records of events, generally without subjective annotation 5. Bedtime story: a story read or recited to children before they go to sleep, or anything resembling one at face value or ironically 6. Bildungsroman (German: â€Å"education novel†): a novel that charts the lead character’s psychological development 7. Chronicle (see annals) 8. Exemplum: an anecdote or similar story intended to provide a moral or argue a point 9. Fable: a story with supernatural or imaginary elements (such as anthropomorphic animals), often to make an observation about human nature 10. Fairy tale: a story with improbable elements including magic, often incorporating such formulas as a quest, a granting of three wishes, and triumph over evil forces 11. Folktale: a tale originally passed down orally featuring vague, universal story elements 12. Legend: a story significant to a culture and originally passed down as if it had actually occurred 13. Myth: a putatively factual account from the distant past that figuratively explains a cultural phenomenon 14. Narrative: a relation of factual or fictitious events 15. Novel: a long, complicated story featuring an assortment of characters experiencing a series of events 16. Novelette: a short novel 17. Novella (see novelette) 18. Parable: a short tale that a religious or moral principle 19: Record: (see annals) 20: Roman a clef (French, â€Å"novel with a key†): a story with thinly disguised versions of actual characters and events 21: Short story: a tale shorter than a novel, featuring relatively few characters and focusing less on plot than on mood 22: Short short story: an especially brief story 23: Tall tale: a story intended to entertain through the introduction of exaggerated elements 24: Urban legend/urban myth: a moralistic or sensational story presented and widely perceived as fact 25: Yarn: a story that is adventurous or humorous or both, and perhaps is a tall tale (see â€Å"tall tale,† above) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:5 Uses of Infinitives26 Feel-Good Words30 Words for Small Amounts

The Prince and the Discourses on Livy Essays

The Prince and the Discourses on Livy Essays The Prince and the Discourses on Livy Paper The Prince and the Discourses on Livy Paper Essay Topic: The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli was at his time and continues to be now days one of the most influential and revolutionary authors known throughout the centuries. His writings, distinct from other renaissance authors of the epoch, make emphasis on his personal views and his opinions on the political matters taking place in Florence, Italy. Further discussed in the text are two of Machiavelli’s most renowned works, The Prince and the Discourses on Livy. Both books comprehend Machiavelli’s understandings of politics and explicit analysis on the various methods of governments with respect to principalities and republics. Machiavelli had many intentions in mind when he was first writing The Prince, among which where to understand, instruct and influence the minds of rulers at the time. More precisely, Machiavelli meant to influence the mind of one ruler in particular, the ruler of Florence Lorenzo de’ Medici to whom the book is dedicated. Machiavelli’s purpose throughout the book intended to help Lorenzo de’ Medici achieve eminence as a prince and guide him on how to properly rule Florence. The fist chapter of The Prince opens up by describing how many kinds of governments there are, in what manner they are given rise to and how they are later on acquired by states. Curiously, it is indeed, the first sentence of Chapter I which contains, what is perhaps, the most important discovery in Machiavelli’s entire writings from the Prince___ â€Å"ALL states and governments that have had, and have at present, dominion over men, have been and are either republics or principalities. Being introduced the topic on governments, Machiavelli proceeds to make an acquaintance on principalities and restrains himself to talk only about this one type of government___ â€Å"I Will not discuss here the subject of republics, having treated of them at length elsewhere, but will confine myself only to principalities. † Machiavelli argues that principalities can be either hereditary, new or mixed. Hereditary principalities are the kinds of principalities â€Å"where the governmen t has been for a long time in the family of the prince. The prince, in the line to succeed, is the natural heir to a perfect constitution on which to base his rule upon and for which people are accustomed. He explains that in order for the natural prince to continue with the good reign, is it merely enough that he accommodates himself to the order of things previously established by his predecessors and occasionally need to adapt institutions to the current events. Machiavelli argues that ereditary principalities are maintained with much less effort and difficulty than new or mixed principalities in reason that hereditary principalities, having made a fair beginning, have had the time to perfect its constitution and laws to assure security and bring content to all of those who live under its rule. Whereas in mixed and new principalities that rulers, having made a new start, may easily run out of time before having perfected its constitution and thus end up by destroying the state. In addition, Machiavelli argues that the natural prince was also liable of inheriting the affection of the people who had at other periods in time become familiar with he’s family. Thus, to the disadvantage of new coming ruler’s, the natural prince had on his behalf a natural disposition of the subjects in the hereditary state to love the ruling family. Finally, Machiavelli concludes his chapter on hereditary principalities by saying that â€Å"for each change and alteration always prepares the way and facilitates the next. In simple english, that in hereditary states the rule from prince to prince is facilitated by bringing on a change at different times giving people an opportunity to come familiarize at their own pace, while new or mixed principalities are obliged to enforce change in a flash. Machiavelli has overtime become a common adjective to immorality for he deeply believes that the main objective to politics is by all means to remain in power. Machiavelli thi nks of the virtue of the prince as the virtue of courage, strength and most importantly manhood. He argues that it if the natural prince possesses such extreme sagacity, he will always maintain himself in the state unless deprived by a superior force. Nonetheless, if the natural prince has reasons enough to irritate his subjects and causes himself to be hated, people will willingly trade him for another ruler in the hopes that the new ruler will be better than the present one. Machiavelli says that once the prince is replaced, the state is no longer to be considered a hereditary principality but be classified as a mixed principality. As Machiavelli had at first noted, new and mixed principalities are indeed much more difficult to maintain. For it is in new and mixed principalities that difficulties start to present themselves. Machiavelli states that mutations to form mixed principalities, in which men change their rulers gladly in the belief that they will better themselves by the change, arise from a natural difficulty. Unfortunately for the people, problems for Machiavelli do not stop here, for he argues that it is â€Å"an infinite number of other wrongs that follow in the train of new conquests. When the new prince takes over another prince’s domain, he finds himself in a delicate situation with regard to the people who put him in power and with those whom he injured by seizing that principality. He explains that the new prince has â€Å"for enemies all those whom he has injured by seizing that principality; and at the same time he cannot preserve as friends even those who have aided him in obtainin g possession, because he cannot satisfy their expectations, nor can he employ strong measures against them, being under obligations to them. Concluded then that, no matter how strong the new prince may be for he will always need the goodwill of the inhabitants if he wishes to enter into firm possession of the country. So far seen in the Prince, Machiavelli confined himself to talk only about one type of government, principalities. Yet, in the Discourses on Livy, he moves on to put forth what he had set aside in The Prince, republics. It is then, that he’s writings take a new direction leading the way to six forms of government not mentioned before. Whence, giving a whole new purpose to his second book which is to further explain and describe each type of government there are and particularly which will have the more benefits for any republic. It is important to note, beforehand, that the Discourses on Livy are considered to be Machiavelli’s concise commentaries on the history from the Foundation of Rome by Titus Livy. Hence, most of the discussions on governments in the Discourses on Livy will pertain to some extend the form of government in the Roman Republic. Reason for this is that Machiavelli thought of Rome as more than just the capital of the republic but rather pondered it as a source of inspiration and forth more his role model to a perfect government___ â€Å"Having proposed to myself to treat of the kind of government established at Rome, and of the events that led to its perfection. † At first, Machiavelli distinguishes three kinds of governments, the monarchical, the aristocratic, and the democratic. Nevertheless, after having read other authors, he makes account for six kinds of governments, three of which he classified as very bad, and the other three of which he classified as good. From Machiavelli’s conception that the three bad ones result from the degradation of the first three is the emergence of Machiavelli’s cycle of governments in which the monarchy becomes a tyranny, the aristocracy degenerates into oligarchy and finally the popular government or democracy lapses into licentiousness. Machiavelli argues that â€Å"chance has given birth to these different kinds of governments amongst men† for at the beginning of times there were no states nor governments but just free men and women wandering around. As the human race increased, the necessity for uniting themselves made itself felt. This necessity of which Machiavelli speaks is nothing more and nothing less than fear, fear for survival and desire for protection and self-defense. Thence, putting themselves into accordance, men agreed to choose the wisest and most just from amongst themselves and place him at their head with the promise to obey___monarchy. Sovereignty was to be hereditary and non-elective. Yet, short after, children began to naturally degenerate from their fathers giving up to extraordinary vices, libertinage, and violence. Consequently, the prince soon drew upon himself the general hatred of his people. It is then, that Machiavelli alleges that the prince as â€Å"An object of hatred, he naturally felt fear; fear in turn dictated to him precautions and wrongs, and thus tyranny quickly developed itself. † Growing discontent from the prince’s outrages and excesses caused armed masses of powerful leaders to oblige the prince to surrender the throne and further constituted by themselves the new government___aristocracy. The aristocratic rulers indisposed to remain content with the civil equality of fortune surrendered to cupidity and ambition. Once again, experienced the same fate as with the first tyrant, people resolved to place themselves at command___oligarchy. Short after, the generation of people that had at first established it passed on and the government ran again into that kind of license which inflicts injury upon the common public. Having overthrown the oligarchy a popular government was therefore resolved___democracy. Machiavelli concludes that these six types of governments are defective for the good are too short lived and no precautions can prevent either one from degenerating into its opposite kind. Because each individual in power consulted his own passions and thousands of acts of injustice were daily committed, the republic found itself in a position of constant disorders, conspiracies, and plots against its sovereigns. Fortunately, sagacious legislators, knowing the vices of each of these systems of government, decided to captivate something from them all and gave emergence to a type of government in which power was equally dispersed in three categories. The three categories where composed of the king, the nobles, and the people and each one had it’s correspondingly portion of authority and duties. Machiavelli argues that the republic depends solely on these three powers to maintain itself strong, stable and solid. For it is within this system that authority can be successively passed from the kings to the nobles and from nobles to the people. For a fact, he never got to provide a theory that justifies a form of government as the best form of government. However, we can induce from his writings that he thought of this type form as the most appropriate___ â€Å"organized the government of Sparta in such manner that, in giving to the king, the nobles, and the people each their portion of authority and duties, he created a government which maintained itself for over eight hundred years in the most perfect tranquility. Machiavelli reasoned that it is only when these three powers are combined under the same constitution that they are able to watch and keep each other in check. Consequently, with only one of the three elements of which we have spoken been omitted from it charges, the republic will most likely find itself vulnerable to disaster. Nonetheless, if the republic finds itself able to compe nsate for which ever element is missing, it will attain a perfect combination of powers and thus render the creation of the perfect constitution. Machiavelli was born during the times of Italy’s renaissance, during which Florence was at the scene of its most intense political conflicts. Conversely to other scholars at the time, Machiavelli did not obtain his knowledge through any particular education but through many years of experience. As testimony of the repeated rise and fall of various governments, Machiavelli was able to understand the dynamics of politics and power. He sought to describe political life as it really was, in order that politics should be regarded in the views on politics alone. Though Machiavelli wrote 500 years ago, his political world has much in common with the modern political world. Machiavelli was, indeed, far ahead of his time when he said that sharing power is absolutely necessary to the maintenance of the state and thus, governments should strive for the division of authority. In spite of its antiquity, Machiavelli’s first organization of the state is possibly today’s point of departure to many forms of government. In his analysis of the Roman republic, Machiavelli distinguishes three powers, the king, the nobles, and the people. Similarly, our government is also separated into the executive, the legislative, and the judicial power. Machiavelli’s insights on power, control and leadership are steeped in the realism of historical events thus, provide valuable guidance to the present leaders in the field of politics.

Jean Roberge - vice president of ABS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Jean Roberge - vice president of ABS - Essay Example The project tends to bring all 3 sub-units (which were previously 3 different businesses) on to one platform so that resources can be shared profitably especially in accounting and human resource management department. Even in marketing department, if the plan of marketing from all three entities is in line with each other due to the presence of an integrated management system, it will prove less costly and more effective. The project will cost $50 million, which Mr. Roberge plan to spread over the period of 24 months. The major targets of ABS from incorporation of this new system are to ensure consistent and reliable data retrieval, harmonization of accounting and financial process, improving process efficiency in HR management and to create an integrated market vision for the new ABS entity. The challenges as identified by Mr. Roberge include the fact that there is a huge amount of information that needs to be sorted out and placed rightly to be accessed when required and this too must be done without a single error. The existing systems and soft wares cannot be considered obsolete for no reason. Instead, the best option is to make as little as possible change to the soft wares in use already. This will help in keeping the system understandable for the users. Also, it is a huge project which will have a direct impact over the way IT department of ABS works. It will have an impact over the future of IT department in ABS. Another great challenge is that Mr. Roberge needs to hire a competent project manager. Case 1: Question 1: There are few other issues which at this point seem that Mr. Roberge has not considered. The biggest issue is reaction of ABS employees to this huge change. It has been mentioned in the case study that IT department staff is already a little uneasy about it as such a system can lead towards downsizing of their department. Such an automated system might result in lower number of jobs in IT department. This thus has an impact over performan ce of staff especially in the IT department. On the same line, the reaction of employees from other departments will also be important. Marketing department for example might not be very comfortable with such an integrated system. They are not used to discussing their micro plans with a huge audience. An important aspect that is thus being overlooked at this stage in my opinion is change management. Case Study 2: Question 1: In my opinion there are a few key points in the presentation which include the following: First of all, the presentation must have included the scope, budget, requirement and justification of having such a huge system in place. This is something which Mr. Roberge’s own presentation to the committee had in detail. The issues which he found a little untouched in his own presentation and was impressed when he saw added to consultant’s presentation are a detailed break up of the additional resources ABS will require for implementation of such a huge sy stem. When ERP is incorporated in any huge corporate of public culture, there is a lot of staff requirement, capital resource requirement and hardware and soft ware requirements to be taken care of by the parent company. Though Mr. Roberge has done thorough cost analysis, the requirement of staff was brought up by the consultant. Other important point that was highlighted in the presentation of the consultant was that change management must be a well planned process. The consultant has been a part of essentially many such ERP incorporations and from his experience he has pointed out that firms see highest turn over rate during the time when such huge changes are taking place. He pointed out that change management should be a well planned process and employees from every tier must be involved so that

Social Engineering (ethical hacking ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social Engineering (ethical hacking ) - Essay Example However, while the internet has been a blessing to humankind, along with its bounties and huge number of facilities, it has brought a few risks as well. Studies (Erickson, pp. 49-56) have indicated that stealing of valuable information, corruption, and vanishing of computer systems are some of the major risks associated with the utilization of internet. Although in the past, it was an understanding that information locked in a file cabinet is more vulnerable than the existence of that information in electronic mode. However, things have changed now, and people are again relying on file cabinets to keep their records due to huge amount of issues related to information systems security on the internet. In this regard, internet has resulted in commencement of various beneficial things such as electronic commerce, e-mail, e-advertisement, and e-education; however, along with such technological advancements, there is one major issue among the various IS security related issues; hacking (McClure & Shah, pp. 20-26). In other words, a huge number of issues and threats exist in the world of information systems; however, hacking is one of the major issues that have been deteriorating the security of information security systems, which will be the focus of this report in detail. Analysis of different sources (Harris & Ness, pp. 49-63) has indicated that until today, the computer industry is using the term of hacking or hacker for dual purposes. In the beginning, hacker would be an individual who was interested in learning new things about the computer systems, and was keen to discover new capabilities of the computer networks unlike usual users of the computers who were interested in learning only standard usage of the computers. In other words, enthusiastic programmers were hackers, and as the time passed, skillful programmers continued to

Policing functions paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Policing functions - Research Paper Example The agencies have separate agendas, motives and responsibilities and they follow separate protocols but all operate with the main aim of attaining the objective of providing security and peace to the US society. In US there are different roles of different policing agencies which they conduct at their own level and these roles have a major impact on the overall society of US. Body The primary and the most basic function of all policing agencies are to ensure that the laws are enforced, offenders are brought to justice, crime is prevented, peace and discipline is preserved and they even operate to provide various other services to the society of US. Several of the functions carried out by the law enforcement agencies tend to coexist and are similar in nature. For example: While policing officials try to maintain order within the society, they may conduct arrests of those individuals who are indulged in anti-social behavior. The ultimate aim of all policing agencies is to deter crime f rom occurring in future. Policing Functions and Evolution There are various policing organizations that operate at the federal level, these organizations include: the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) (Pollock, 2012, p.90). FBI happens to hold a premier position and it is involved in the process of obtaining and providing facts as well as evidence for cases that are taken fall in the constituency of federal jurisdiction. According to the mission statement provided by FBI, its main functions are to safeguard the region of United States against threats that are terrorizing in nature and threats that may be poised by international intelligence. They even conduct the function of upholding and enforcing laws that are created to fight crime in the region of US and they even provide services to fight crime at the local, state and the federal level and to provide similar services to foreign partners. Th e FBI has evolved over the years since its inception, before the attacks that took place during the period of 1993 as well as 1995; the agency was unaware of terrorist plots that were being created at the national and the international level against the US. After these incidences, the organization expanded and several offices of the organization were created throughout the US and started providing educational services in the field of law enforcement to both local and international communities. For example: during the period of 1994, the organization assisted in the creation of ILEA (The International Law Enforcement Academy) (FBI, 2013). Later due to the 9/11 bombings on the World Trade Center buildings and other government buildings resulted in changing the structure of FBI (Walker, 2011, p.526). Due to this even the USA patriot Act was enacted to assist FBI by increasing their power to fight terrorist activities (FBI, 2013). During the period of 2007, further changes were made to FBI as new procedures were created for the field officers of the organization so terrorism could be countered in an effective and efficient manner. Another level at which policing in US operates is the state level of policing. In state level of policing each state have a separate police department and these police departments along with their officers have control over the entire state. Police at the state level are required to conduct investigations that are

The Boston Beer Company Essay Example for Free

The Boston Beer Company Essay Jim Koch began selling Sam Adams beer from bar to bar out of a brief case in April 1985. He sold unlabeled bottles kept cold with chill packs from his briefcase. His sales tactic was the following simply 10-second pitch: â€Å"Try this new beer. It’s handcrafted in small batches. You’ll like the taste. † (Hyatt, 2010) At the time, the craft beer industry in America was virtually non-existent. By 1989, sales of Sam Adams had grown to 63,000 barrels. In 1996, Sam Adams sales had reached 1. 2 million barrels. (Wikipedia, 2012). The success of the brand served as the catalyst for what many call the microbrew revolution. By 1995, there were approximately 600 small, local and regional breweries throughout the United States. Today, the Boston Beer Company (producer of Sam Adams) employs over 800 workers and brews over 2 million barrels of Sam Adams beer annually. It is the largest of the craft breweries in the United States. (Boston Beer Company) The craft brew industry accounts for about 1 percent of the domestic beer market, which is dominated by giants MillerCoors and Anheuser-Busch InBev. This is has required a remarkable level of growth since the early 1990s. In 2011, the industry grew 13 percent by volume (barrels) and 15 percent by retail dollars. Domestic craft beer sales reached 11,468,152 barrels in 2011, up from 10,133,571 in 2010. This growth has occurred despite the overall $96 billion domestic beer market contracting in the past few years (down 1 percent in 2011 to 199,937,239 barrels). (Brewers Association, 2012) The craft brew industry is comprised of several types of breweries which range in annual production from a few barrels up to 6 million barrels. The Brewers Association recently revised the upper limit from a previous point of 2 million barrels in 2011. (Nason, 2011). The industry classifications are the following: * Nanobreweries: Breweries which produce less than 30 barrels per year. * Microbreweries: Breweries classified by their annual production volume, which is up to 15,000 barrels per year. In addition, 75 percent of the beer produced is sold outside of the brewery. There are no set guidelines on the inputs or techniques used to produce the beer in order to be classified as a microbrewery. (Kleban Nickerson, 2011) While the term is often used interchangeably with the term ‘craft beer,’ they are actually not synonyms. A craft beer must contain at least 50 percent traditional malt. (Brown, 2012) * Brewpubs: Restaurant-based breweries in which more than 25 percent of the beer produced is sold onsite, often directly from the brewery’s storage tanks. A majority of these are located in the northeast. * Contract brewing company: Breweries which outsource their production to other breweries subject to exact brewing specifications. The contract brewing company handles all marketing, distribution, and selling responsibilities. (Brewers Association, 2012) Boston Beer Company used to be classified as a contract brewing company. However, from 2007 to 2009 the company’s production at company-owned breweries increased from approximately 35 percent to over 95 percent. (Datamonitor, 2011) * Regional craft brewery: Brewers which produce from 15,000 to 6 million barrels of beer per year. Less than 25 percent of the brewery is owned or controlled by a non-craft alcoholic beverage industry member. In addition, at least 50 percent of its production volume must be in all-malt beers. (Brewers Association, 2012) The Boston Beer Company is now a regional craft brewery. The total number of U. S.craft breweries passed 2,000 in 2012, with significant growth since 2009: Breweries (#)| 2009| 2010| 2011| Regional Craft Bwr. | 71| 81| 88| Microbreweries| 505| 615| 789| Brew Pubs| 1,020| 1,053| 1,063| Total| 1,596| 1,749| 1,938| (Brewers Association, 2012) The industry is based on a three-tiered system of distribution in which the producers partner with wholesale distributors who provide transportation and refrigerated storage to retailers. There are hundreds of distributors in the industry, and over 630,000 retailers. There are over 220 million potential customers (over the age of 21 yrs.) domestically. (Beaudette, 2011). States control the regulation of the industry, and typically collect taxes through the distributors, rather than attempting to work with hundreds of thousands of retail outlets. (Beer Distributors of Oklahoma, 2010) Company’s Dominant Features The Sam Adams brand was named for the Boston revolutionary who was also a brewer. Samuel Adams Boston Lager made its debut in April 1985, when it was served in approximately 25 Boston bars and restaurants. At this point, the company had two employees: Jim Koch (founder) and his partner Rhonda Kallman. Sales reached 500 barrels by the end of the year, and the company expanded rapidly from there. (Samuel Adams, 2012) The company went public as the Boston Beer Company in 1995, selling shares of Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange using the ticker symbol SAM. Jim Koch owns 100 percent of the company’s class B stock, which grants him control over all decision-making responsibilities of Boston Beer Company. They have three breweries located in Cincinnati, Boston and Breinigsville (Pennsylvania), and produce over 30 styles of beer. (Boston Beer Company) This includes its seasonal brands: Alpine Spring (January-March), Summer Ale (April-August), Octoberfest (August-October), and Winter Lager (November-January). (Wikipedia, 2012) The company currently produces over 2 million barrels of beer annually, and is the largest craft brewery in the industry. It is the second largest American brewery by sales volume (to D. G. Yuengling and Son). The company has been a pioneer within a growing differentiated niche market within the alcohol beverage industry. The Boston Beer company builds its competitive advantage by focusing on innovation and quality (freshness). The company (and craft beer industry as a whole) cannot compete with Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors based on price due to lack of scale (though Sam Adams is more widely distributed than any of its craft industry members). The company began freshness dating back in 1987. It soon followed this with an amnesty program for its wholesalers which allowed beer that was three months past its expiration date to be returned for a partial refund. In more recent years, the company has enacted its Freshest Beer in Town initiative. This is a just-in-time distribution model in which wholesale partners will keep only one week of inventory (down from 3-4 weeks’ worth before), and the Boston Beer Co. will replenish supply based on consumer demand. The company also has begun the Draft Quality Audit Program, in which trained employees make in-market visits to test the freshness of the company’s product on tap at various retailers. Over 20,000 such audits are now conducted on an annual basis. The company also plans to continue pursuit of joint collaborations with other breweries and expansion of its own operations. It currently has an agreement with Moosehead Brewery for distribution of Sam Adams products in Canada. It has also teamed with Germany’s Weihenstephan Brewery to create Infinium, the first new beer style created under the Reinheitsgebot principle of beer purity (only four allowed ingredients: water, malt, hops and yeast). The Weihenstephan Brewery has a credible claim as being the world’s oldest brewery, and enjoys a strong reputation among beer enthusiasts. (Zegler, 2012) Regarding potential future growth, founder Jim Koch is excited for both his company and the craft beer industry. In 2011, he stated the following: I do believe that craft beer has a solid foundation for continued growth. Because in 2011, craft beer has become the new wine and the 20-somethings are adopting craft beer in the same way that their boomer parents adopted wine. When that happened in the 80s it led to decades of steady, healthy growth, and I’m optimistic that craft beer can have many years of steady, health growth†¦. I also believe that we (Boston Beer Co. ) have a really bright future. We’re also very small. Sam Adams can double. We can maybe even triple [in size] in the next 20 years. (Zegler, 2012). Places where it competes As stated above, the Boston Beer Company operates three breweries in Cincinnati, Boston and Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania. Over 95 percent of the company’s products are now produced in its own breweries. It is distributed throughout the United States, in parts of Europe including Germany, and now in Canada through an agreement with the Canadian brewery Moosehead. Standing in the Industry (Rivals) Boston Beer Co. has been the craft brewing industry leader since its beginning. It was the number one craft brewer in 2011 based on beer sales volume. It was followed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.and New Belgium Brewing Co. In the overall industry, Boston Beer Co. is number five in beer sales volume, behind Anheuser-Busch InBev, MillerCoors, Pabst Brewing Co. and D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc. The craft beer segment accounts for approximately one percent of the overall alcoholic beverage category (includes wine and spirits, imported beer, craft and large breweries). (Brewers Association, 2012) Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors dominate the industry, though business dipped last year. Interestingly, there seems to be a great amount of cooperation and collaboration amongst the members of the craft brewing segment. Building the segment is a common concern with many of the regional craft breweries. For example, in 2008 Boston Beer Co. responded to an industry-wide hops shortage by sharing 20,000 pounds of its own hops at cost with 108 selected craft breweries. (Samuel Adams, 2008) There are many other notable craft breweries that have emerged as industry leaders in the past decade, including the following: * Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. : The nation’s second largest craft brewer, they are based Chico, California. The company was founded by Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi in 1980. Production is approaching 1 million barrels annually. The most popular product is the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. * New Belgium Brewing Co. : Headquartered in Ft. Collins, Colorado and founded in 1991 by Jeff Lebesch. The company’s flagship beer is the popular Fat Tire. It is the nation’s third largest craft brewery. The company’s distribution network had reached 19 states by 2009, and is growing. * Deschutes Brewery: Based in Bend, Oregon. The company’s products include its Black Butte Porter, Mirror Pond Pale Ale and the award-winning The Abyss (11% alcohol by volume; released in 2007). * Harpoon Brewery: Headquartered in Boston, Mass. Products include its India Pale Ale, Munich Dark, 1636 Brew and four seasonal varieties. * Boulevard Brewing Co. : Located in Kansas City, Missouri. The company’s products are available in over twenty states in the Midwest region. (CNBC, 2012) * Dogfish Heah Craft Brewery: Founded by Sam Calagione and based out of Delaware. Calagione is known for pushing the boundaries of brewing varieties, and actually collaborating with Jim Koch in creating 2009’s SAVOR Flowers brew (it was a one-time experiment). Competitive Capabilities Boston Beer is the craft beer industry leader by production and sales volume. Its focus is on freshness and innovation (variety). The company started early with its freshness dating, followed by its amnesty program for its distributors, and now the Freshest Beer in Town and Draft Quality Audit Program. Regarding his company’s emphasis on beer freshness, Koch stated the following: If my beer isn’t fresh, I want the consumer to buy something else. And I want to make it as easy as possible for them to know because if they have a bad experience with my beer, they may not buy it again. To me, it’s not about trying to get consumers that are trying one beer after another and they never buy again. I’m very focused on giving consumers a great taste in every bottle so I can build brand loyalty based on a reliably rewarding experience. (Zegler, 2012) Boston Beer innovation is manifest in its wide variety of seasonal and specialty brews, as well as its recent notable collaborations. It teamed with Weihenstephan Brewery to create Infinium, which sold out domestically within a few weeks, and apparently had similar success in Germany. The company added Noble Pils in 2010 (winner of its 2009 Beer Lover’s Choice election; brewed with all five Noble hops). Latitude 48 is an India pale ale with hops from producers along the 48-degree latitude sources. The company also released its Samuel Adams Revolutionary Rye Ale in 2011 (winner of 2010 Beer Lover’s Choice election). The company also intends to expand its Barrel Room collection of beers, which until recently were only distributed in Denver and Boston. The Barrel Room beers are aged in the Boston Beer Company’s brewery supply of barrels, and include American Kriek, New World Tripel, and Stony Brook Red varieties. Jim Koch stated the following concerning his company’s push for new varieties: We’re not the new kid on the block. We’re not the newest beer out there. We’re not the most local. We don’t have the best marketing or a cute brand name. People have tried Sam Adams, it’s not a new experience†¦ the reason that we’ve become the leading craft brewery is because we have always given the consumer the best possible experience and they have rewarded us with their loyalty. That’s why we keep pushing on those things. . (Zegler, 2012) Forces Driving Industry Change. Aside from the continued expansion efforts of many industry’s regional craft breweries, there has also been a current lobbying push on behalf of the craft beer industry for the passage of Congressional bills H. R. 1236 and S. 534, which would reduce federal excise taxes applicable to the craft breweries. Specifically, if passed the bill would reduce the small brewer rate on the first 60,000 barrels by 50 percent, from $7. 00 to $3. 50 per barrel. The rate on production between 60,000 and 2 million barrels would also be reduced from $18. 00 to $16. 00 per barrel. The two bills were introduced in March 2011. (Brewers Association, 2012) (Buchman Law Firm, LLP) Sources of Competitive Advantage Arenas Boston Beer Company operates in the craft brewing industry, which accounts for approximately 1 percent of the overall beer industry, which is dominated by Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors. Sam Adams and the company’s other products are distributed throughout the United States and Canada (via the recent agreement with Moosehead Brewery of Canada). The company’s target customer is one who is willing to pay a premium price for a quality beer, and will display brand loyalty. The company’s standing as a catalyst for the microbrew revolution has given it considerable brand recognition among beer enthusiasts. Vehicles The company has grown considerably in twenty years, employing over 800 employees with three breweries which now produce 95 percent of the company’s products. Jim Koch plans to continue company expansion, with visions of tripling in size in the next twenty years. Based on the company’s history, expansion will most likely occur through internal development rather than via any mergers or acquisitions. Each beer style must registered by requests for certificates of label approval (COLA). State registration usually requires a state application coupled with the federal COLA for a given label. (Buchman Law Firm, LLP) Excise taxes are typically collected through a company’s wholesalers. Boston Beer Co. has embarked on some notable recent joint ventures, including its creation of Infinium in collaboration with the Weihenstephan Brewery and its Canadian distribution agreement with Moosehead Brewery. On the supply side, the company must continually replenish its inventory of barley and hops. Monthly barley prices from February 2007 to January 2012 had a standard deviation of $37. 76 per metric ton. This low amount of variation has led many breweries to simply purchase the crop on an annual basis. Conversely, many breweries will contract to acquire hops years into the future. The Boston Beer Company has over $33 million in hops contract commitments through 2015. (Craft Beer Analytics, 2011) Differentiators Boston Beer Company has significant brand equity within the craft beer industry due to its significant role in creating it. They attempt to further differentiate their products based on freshness and product innovation. Its Freshest Beer in Town initiative is a just-in-time supply arrangement with the company’s wholesalers (it was intended to include 50 percent of Boston Beer’s distributors by the end of 2011). (Craft Beer Restaurant Times, 2011) The program reduced suppliers’ inventories of Sam Adams down from an average of 3-4 weeks to just one week (which is to be kept chilled). Boston Beer ships more based on what the distributors have sold as opposed to advance orders. According to Koch: â€Å"Refrigeration of the beer virtually eliminates all of the product degradation that happens through the supply chain. The temperature control also makes it as if the retail account is getting its beer straight from the brewery. † The Draft Quality Audit Program is one in which company salespeople have been trained to taste the defects and track the cause of low quality Sam Adams on tap at various retailers. Boston Beer Co. now conducts approximately 20,000 audits each year, which has resulted in a drop in the incidence of low quality company beer from 15 to just 3 percent, according to Koch. (Zegler, 2012) The company has also continued to expand its beer varieties. From its seasonal brews and collaborations with breweries such as Dogfish Head and Weihenstephan, to its Barrel Room collection and updates such as Noble Pils, Latitude 48 and Revolutionary Rye Ale, the company is always looking to test the boundaries of craft brewing. Corporate Strategies Boston Beer Company has successfully built on Sam Adams’ strong brand equity, differentiating its products based on quality, variety, and freshness. The company has continued to expand its operations with no plans to discontinue such efforts. It has also hedged against future increases in hops prices with over $33 million in hops contracts already signed covering the company through December of 2015. Economic Logic The craft beer industry is based on the idea that consumers will pay a premium price for a quality beer which is different from the industry norms offered by companies such as Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors. Sam Adams also benefits from considerable brand equity. Staging and Pacing. Jim Koch has stated that he believes that the craft beer industry will continue to trend upward in sales relative the rest of the alcoholic beverage industry, and that the Boston Beer Company could triple in size within the next 20 years. His opinion on this matter is important, because Koch owns all of the company’s Class B common stock and with it, retains all decision-making authority for the company. Financial Analysis Current Financial Standing The 2011 fiscal year provided the Boston Beer Company with multiple opportunities to raise their glasses. Undoubtedly, the major achievement of 2011 was officially obtaining just over 1% of the United States beer market. This increased market share enabled the company to release some very impressive numbers in their recent 10-K. Earnings Snapshot| Revenue| $558. 282M| Net income| $66. 059M| Return on assets| 24. 24%| Return on equity| 35. 76%| Profit margin| 11. 83%| Current ratio| 1. 88| Quick ratio| 1. 37| Quite possibly the most staggering ratios from the 2011 filing are the company’s return on assets (investment) and return on equity. These tools measure how profitable a firm is relative to their total assets and total equity, respectively. In 2011, the Boston Beer Company reported a return on assets of 24. 24% and a return on equity of 35. 76%. Both of these ratios have a high level of volatility depending on the industry. These measures are remarkable within the alcoholic beverage industry, as well as the general beverage industry. In comparison, Coca-Cola (KO) posted a return on assets of 10. 72% and a return on equity of 27. 10% in 2011, while the winemaking company Constellation Brands (STZ) posted a return on assets of 6. 25% and a return on equity of 16. 75%. Furthermore, the company performed well regarding profit margin. Differing from other measures, profit margin should rarely be used to compare different firms. The reasoning behind this is that firms have varying levels of setups, so comparing profit margins could lead to confusion and misdiagnosis. The best way to use profit margin is against prior years. When weighed against its prior years, the company has seen a constant uptick over the past several years, signifying it is doing a good job of controlling costs and setting pricing at a reasonable level. The Boston Beer Company excelled in their liquidity and leverage ratios as well, not just in the three major profitability ratios: return on assets, return on equity, and profit margin. The most common ratios for measuring liquidity are the current ratio, quick ratio, and cash ratio. The current ratio (liquidity ratio) is an easy way to measure whether a firm is able to pay its short-term debts. A ratio of 1. 0 or above is likely and expected, and the Boston Beer Company’s 2011 current ratio of 1. 88 leaves it with plenty of leeway to pay all of its short-term obligations. Much like the current ratio, the quick ratio is a slightly more conservative measure that takes into account current levels of inventory, which can be difficult to liquidate. The company’s quick ratio is 1. 37, after taking out inventories. This still leaves plenty of room for the company to repay its short-term obligations. The last liquidity ratio is the cash ratio, which is the least commonly used of the three measures mentioned previously. The cash ratio is the ultimate ratio of liquidity because it only compares cash and marketable securities to current liabilities. An extremely high cash ratio could signify that a firm is stockpiling cash and not investing its assets wisely. The company’s cash ratio of 0. 74 is less than 1. 0 but still reasonable considering the other amounts of short-term assets. While the company does not have the ability to pay its short-term obligations with cash, it is still operating within a secure level of liquidity. The last group of ratios is the leverage ratios. These ratios measure how much debt a company is carrying. The total debt ratio divides total liabilities by total assets, giving an estimation of how leveraged a company is at a given time. In 2011, the Boston Beer Company’s total debt ratio was 0. 32, which would signify a generally low level of risk to potential investors. Much like the total debt ratio, the debt to equity ratio is a leverage ratio that has total debt in the numerator. The difference is the debt to equity ratio divides the total debt by stockholders equity. This ratio shows how a company finances its activities, whether through debt or equity. The Boston Beer Company’s debt to equity ratio of 0. 47 indicates it has very little debt compared to its equity. This shows how the company has been conservative in using debt to finance its operations. The last leverage ratio is interest coverage, a tool used to see how easily a company can pay its interest expenses. Since the company has interest income instead of interest expense, the interest coverage ratio is not valuable when evaluating the company’s 2011 financials. Recent Financial Trends During the past three years, the Boston Beer Company has seen steady gains from almost all of their major financial indicators. The company, undoubtedly, has improved on their prior year results across the board since 2009. When the financial crisis struck the United States and the world in late 2008, most firms encountered decreased earnings and in many instances, losses. Many of these companies are just now returning to their pre-recession profitability. The majority of the damage was incurred to these companies in the fourth quarter of 2008 and well into 2009. As seen by their year-over-year net income growth of 284. 74% in 2009, the recession did little to hurt the company’s financial situation. One potential explanation for its recession success comes from the â€Å"relationship between economic recession and [increased] consumption of alcohol and that heavy drinking behavior is unambiguously associated with unhappy feelings or dissatisfaction† (Anderson Moro, 2008). The widespread theory is that a sudden decrease in income has little affect or possibly a negative correlation with beer consumption. Quite possibly, this could explain why most vice companies trade with a beta less than 1. 0, indicating a negative relationship with the market. The Boston Beer Company is currently trading with a beta of 0. 85. In their most recent 10K, the company posted a year-over-year net income growth of 31. 74%. While this number appears very positive on the surface, it does not fully take into account a settlement the company received from its glass bottle supplier when the company had to issue a recall after routine inspections found glass particles in certain bottles. The recall affected approximately 25% of the company’s bottles and was completed by the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, the end result was the company â€Å"received a cash payment of $20. 5 million, which was recorded as an offset to operating expenses, and all parties have released each other of any claims as they relate to this matter† (The Boston Beer Company, Inc. , 2011). Comparison with Market Leaders While the Boston Beer Company has been experienced significant gains the past few years, it is still a minor player in the beer industry compared to the two leaders: Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors. These two companies combine for a total market share of just over 35%. The Boston Beer Company’s 2011 revenue of $558. 282 million is 1. 43% and 10. 80% of Anheuser-Busch InBev’s $39. 046 billion and SABMiller’s $5. 170 billion, respectively. While it cannot compete on revenue, the company can compete on productivity. The productivity ratio is computed as employees divided by revenue. The company’s productivity ratio of $664,620 per employee tops Anheuser-Busch InBev’s $336,600 per employee and MillerCoors’ $277,260 per employee. The company has repeatedly stated that its goal has never been to be on the same level as the market leaders. Instead, its goal is to be the leader in the better beer category, which includes Yuengling, Corona, and Heineken. In 2011, D. G. Yuengling and Son passed the company as the largest American beer-maker in sales, a title long held by Anheuser-Busch. The Boston Beer Company’s objective is to regain that title and grow with the better beer category. Stock Trends The Boston Beer Company has a very unique setup for their common stock. The company has 8,714,931 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding and 4,107,355 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding. Where the setup gets unique is that the Class A Common Stock only have voting power to approve certain mergers and elect a minority to the board of directors. The Class B Common Stock is held entirely by C. James Koch, Chairman of the Board of Directors, who has control over the majority of the board of directors and most other matters regarding shareholder approval. This gives Mr. Koch substantial control over his company and takes a large amount of power from the remaining shareholders. After reaching its lowest point in close to a decade at $19. 02 in May 2009, the Boston Beer Company (SAM) has rebounded to new levels. In fact, the stock reached its all time high of $119. 84 on June 19, 2012. Except for a decline of close to 25% of the stock’s value in early 2011, the increase has been steady and balanced since the low in 2009. One interesting note is the volume of shares traded in late 2007. Traders saw the stock rising quickly from $30 to $50 and felt it had a lot of volatility. This led to a sharp increase in trading activity that pushed the volume over 1. 5 million shares. Stock Performance Outlook As of late, stock analysts have conveyed mixed feelings about the company’s future stock outlook. According to Morningstar’s survey of four analysts, one rates the stock a buy, one rates it underperform, and two rate it a hold. This shows exactly how divided analysts are on the future of the stock. Since 2008, earnings per share has increased from $0. 56 to $4. 81, although the $4. 81 does take into account the settlement. Excluding the settlement, earnings per share in 2011 was $3. 73, still a 5. 97% increase over 2010. For 2012, analysts are â€Å"looking for full-year earnings of $4. 14, a projected 10% increase from last year. The next-year estimate is pegged at $4. 80, a solid 16% earnings growth projection† (Vodicka, 2012). If the company meets or exceeds these earnings projections, there is little doubt that it could continue climbing. Traders who are bullish on the stock believe it should continue growing with the craft brewery sector. They point toward the company’s recent run of hitting estimates, its healthy price to earnings ratio of 22. 57, and its recent investment in their brewing facilities to keep up with increased demand. On the other hand, bearish traders point toward the company’s high valuation premiums that are incorporated into the prices. If the company were to miss their upcoming quarterly earnings, it could ignite some traders to short the stock, potentially sending it spiraling. Key Success Factors. For firms to be successful over a long period of time, they must be aware of the key success factors that drive profitability in their industries. Key success factors are a set of issues that all companies operating in the industry must pay attention to in order to be successful. Quite simply, key success factors are something each company must have to accomplish long-term success. In his 2004 journal article, Richard A. Caralli explains that â€Å"every organization inherits a particular set of operating conditions and challenges that are inherent to the industry (or a segment of the industry) in which it chooses to do business. This results in a unique set of [key success factors] that organizations in a particular industry must achieve to maintain or increase their competitive positions, achieve their goals, and accomplish their missions† (Caralli, 2004). The beer industry in particular has three main key success factors. First, firms must have an advertising campaign that effectively reaches their target audience. For years, Anheuser-Busch has been the market leader by segmenting the way it advertises its different brands. Budweiser is marketed as the â€Å"King of Beers† and is known for its signature Clydesdale horses and vintage bottle design. On the other hand, Bud Light is marketed as â€Å"The Sure Sign of a Good Time. † Its commercials are designed for a much younger audience and are regularly voted as some of the most humorous on television. The other major beer makers seem to follow the same strategy of marketing their core brand as legendary and historic, while marketing the light varieties in a more humorous tone. A second key success factor in the beer industry is obtaining and maintaining a network of wholesale distributors. These distributors act as middlemen to transport the beer from brewers and importers to stores, bars, and restaurants. The approximately 3,300 distributors in the United States allow companies to focus more on brewing and marketing and less on delivery to the end user. The beer wholesaler industry is a very large industry in itself. The largest distributor, Reyes Beverage Group, delivers 93 million cases per year and has revenues of $1. 9 billion. Firms must keep in constant contact with these distributors to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery. The last major key success factor affecting the beer industry is knowledge of the consumer. To be able to effectively advertise for their brands, firms must have deep knowledge of their target audience. The beer industry is segmented into a variety of different divisions. Marketing a specific product incorrectly could be extremely costly. Miller is effectively targeting their target audiences with Miller 64 and Miller High Life. Miller 64, with only 64 calories, is intended for males and females age 35 and under, while Miller High Life is intende.