Summary Entrepreneuring as Emancipation Essays

Summary Entrepreneuring as Emancipation Essays Summary Entrepreneuring as Emancipation Essay Summary Entrepreneuring as Emancipation Essay There exist four main approaches about what entrepreneurs distinguishes from managers: (1) creation of new organizations, (2) high-growth, high- wealth-creating businesses, (3) innovations and creation Of new products and arrests, and (4) recognition and pursuit of profitable opportunities. The underlying assumption is that wealth creation is a fundamental goal of entrepreneurial efforts. Jim Corona: he provides anecdotal evidence that individuals often engage in entrepreneurial for motives other than wealth. Corona was a senior vice president at a large long-distance telephone provider and he stated that decisions came too slow, he had too little control of the work environment, and all corporate decisions were dominated by their impact on next quarters earnings. His CEO asked him to lay off employees in Corpsmans hometown in order to boost the quarterly earnings, however he refused and left the company. He then created his own company to provide jobs for sixty of his laid-off neighbors. This start-up motivation is the intent of the Special Topic Forum (SST) and this article. The given definition of entrepreneurial is consistent with prior research in terms of the creation of newness. The objective of this article is to extend and complement this research. Two goals in this article: (1 ) broaden the focus of entrepreneurship research by drawing attention to the emancipators aspects of entrepreneurial and (2) introducing the papers contained in the SST and elate them to the emancipators perspective. Entrepreneurial Business et al suggested an overarching framework that characterizes entrepreneurship in three nouns: (1) entrepreneurs, (2) new ventures, and (3) opportunities. This focus has been valuable, however it also limits the research attention given to the actions and processes that constitute the domain Of entrepreneurship. TO promote attention to research that investigates the doing the call for SST papers is framed in terms of entrepreneurial, following Wick his idea that verbs draw attention to actions and processes geared toward change creation. Additionally, using entrepreneurial encourage researches to study a broader set of actions intended not only to create new wealth but also to bring about new states in relevant economic, social, institutional, and cultural environments. To direct more research to the study of entrepreneurial activities as generators of change, a perspective is developed on why and how entrepreneurial can be viewed as an emancipators process. Emancipators refers to the act of setting free from the power of another. Viewing entrepreneurial projects as emancipators efforts focuses on understanding he factors that cause individuals to seek to disrupt the status quo and change their position in the social order in which they are embedded. The need to develop this perspective arises as the motivation for entrepreneurial is a desire for freedom and independence from conventional structures of authority and income generation. Entrepreneurship research needs to give closer consideration to entrepreneurs dreams for autonomy and change and the processes through which these dreams may be accomplished. Emancipators entrepreneurial When entrepreneurial is viewed through an emancipators lens, there exist here core elements: (1) seeking autonomy, (2) authoring, and (3) making declarations (TABLE 1). Entrepreneurial efforts may involve breaking free from authority and breaking up perceived constraints. These constraints can be of an intellectual, psychological, economic, social, institutional or cultural nature. With regard to taking actions, authoring and making declarations locate an entrepreneurial project in the domains of organization resource exchanges and managing stakeholder interpretations. Seeking autonomy Autonomy is a goal of emancipation which is defined as breaking free from he authority of another. The hope for autonomy is one of the main drivers of efforts to become self-employed. Breaking free suggests the desire to make ones own way in the world, breaking up draws attention to the striving to imagine and create a better world. Analyzing the seeking autonomy aspects of entrepreneurial opens up the following directions in entrepreneurship research: The breaking up aspect of emancipation resonates with the Centenarians view of entrepreneurship as creative destruction. However, the emancipators view goes beyond the Centenarians view by attending to tooth the breaking free and the breaking up. Example: how do entrepreneurial efforts may be affected by different conceptualizations of autonomy? Escaping the default individualist assumptions derived from the disciplines of psychology and economics that have informed it, and theorizing and researching both deeply individualist and social aspects. It involves the breaking up of constraints. The emancipators perspective sees creative destruction as one of its goals (instead of the mean). Entrepreneurial individuals and groups often solve technological and other problems because hey are internally motivated to change their worlds. The emancipators perspective suggests that understanding the constraints that entrepreneurial individuals seek to overcome may give us better insights into the process through which entrepreneurs create (first change, then opportunities). The emancipators perspective suggests that entrepreneurship research should more closely consider the social change agendas inherent in many entrepreneurial projects in order to understand their emancipators potential. It would suggest that a distinction is not only unnecessary but potentially not laid, since many entrepreneurs seek to improve their economic positions through the impact of broader social change. Authoring As emancipators means breaking free and autonomy, taking ownership of oneself, of one acts, and of becoming a trader. The entrepreneur must necessarily attend to the variety of relationships, structures, norms, and rules within which an entrepreneurial project is undertaken. Existing research tends to emphasize how gaining support from structures of power and authority ensures the success of acts of breaking free. Individuals who seek redeem and independence, often find that they become controlled by the arrangements they make to gain legitimacy and access to resources. Viewed from an emancipators perspective, entrepreneurial involves authoring defining relationships, arrangements, and rules of engagement that preserve and potentially enhance the change potential of a given entrepreneurial project. Authoring does not refer to an outright rejection of all established norms and forms of authority but designing arrangements. The emancipators perspective emphasizes the need to consider the possibilities for resource obligation through authoring as a process for protecting the emancipators potential of new ventures. A key direction for entrepreneurship research suggested by the concept of authoring is to examine the conditions and processes through which entrepreneurs can effect such trading of places. Authoring generally about attending to the variety of relationships, structures, norms, and rules within which the entrepreneurial project is undertaken. Entrepreneurship research can make important contributions by directing greater research attention to the creative authoring of relationships and rules wrought which entrepreneurs can Pleasure their dreams and create change. Making declarations Making of declarations: unambiguous discursive and rhetorical acts regarding the actors intentions to create change. The idea of making declarations points to the need to position the project in the webs of meaning within which stakeholders interpret the value of products and activities. Existing research recognizes the importance of activities that influence established patterns of meaning for the success of new ventures. It has analyzed how symbolic and cultural resources, and symbolic actions are deployed to influence the interpretations of stakeholders. An emancipators perspective suggests that rather than disguising the difference associated with entrepreneurial activities and masking the potential contradictions through legitimating activities, entrepreneurial may involve explicitly exposing contradictions in an effort to generate stakeholder support for the intended change in the status quo. The idea of making declarations suggests several new directions: Making declarations raises consequential questions of intuit should be said and how? (signaling and disclosure), who gets to Say and who am I to say? voice), and who out there cares? (audiences). Enables researchers to consider more systematically the inevitability of concentrations arising once declarations are made. The need to systematically examine the use of cultural and symbolic resources for effecting change, rather than acquiring legitimacy. An emancipators perspective suggests the need to attend to the institutional work that accompanies entrepreneurial activities and the constitution of new institutions around new products, projects and activities. The SST articles (4) A limitation of the existing research is that it almost exclusively examines entrepreneurship within formal economies, however, a huge amount of commerce takes place within the informal economy (that segment of economic activity that is illegal within a society but is viewed as legitimate by sizable groups within the society).

Juan Corona, the Machete Murderer

Juan Corona, the Machete Murderer Juan Corona was a labor contractor who hired migrant workers to produce fields in California. In a murder spree lasting six weeks, he raped and murdered 25 men and buried their machete-hacked bodies in the orchards owned by local farmers. Diagnosed With Schizophrenia Juan Corona (born 1934) moved from Mexico to Yuba City, California in the 1950s to work as a produce field-worker. Corona, diagnosed with schizophrenia, managed to work up through the ranks despite his illness. In the early 1970s, he moved from the field into a contractor’s job and hired workers for the local Yuba City Growers. The Hired Help Married with four children, Corona succeeded in providing a comfortable life for his family. He had the reputation of being a tough person in his interactions with the workers he hired. Many of the workers were down-and-out men, homeless alcoholics, old and unemployable. Few had family ties and most lived nomadic lives. Corona in Full Control Corona offered the workers housing on Sullivan Ranch. Here the migrant workers and itinerants worked daily for little pay and lived in a dismal prison-like environment. Corona had control over their basic needs of food and shelter and in 1971, he began to use that power to satisfy his sexually sadistic impulses. Easy Victims For men to vanish without anyone taking notice was common on the Sullivan Ranch. Corona took advantage of this and began to select men to rape and murder. Their sudden absence did not cause concern and went unreported. Knowing this- Corona made little effort to destroy evidence linking him to the murdered men. A Pattern of Murder His pattern was the same. He dug holes- sometimes a few days in advance, picked his victim, sexually assaulted and stabbed them to death. He then hacked at their heads with a machete and buried them. Discovery of a Grave Corona’s carelessness eventually caught up with him. In early May 1971, a ranch owner discovered a seven-foot freshly dug hole on his property. When he returned the following day he found the hole filled. He became suspicious and called authorities. When the hole was uncovered, the mutilated corpse of Kenneth Whitacre was found three feet in the ground. Whitacre had been sexually assaulted, stabbed and his head split opened with a machete. More Graves Uncovered Another farmer reported that he also had a freshly covered hole on his property. The hole contained the body of an elderly drifter, Charles Fleming. He had been sodomized, stabbed and his head was mutilated with a machete. The Machete Murderer The investigation turned up more graves. By June 4, 1971, authorities uncovered 25 graves. All the victims were men found laying on their backs, arms above their heads and shirts pulled over their faces. Each man had been sodomized and murdered in a similar fashion- stabbed and two slashes in the shape of a cross on the back of their heads. A Trail Leads to Corona Receipts with Juan Coronas name on them were found in the victims pockets. The police determined that many of the men had last been seen alive with Corona. A search of his home turned up two bloodstained knives, a ledger with seven of the victim’s names and the date of their murders logged, a machete, pistol, and bloodstained clothing. The Trial Corona was arrested and tried for the 25 murders. He was found guilty and sentenced to 25 consecutive life sentences, leaving him no hope of parole. He immediately appealed the verdict. Many believed an accomplice had been involved in the crimes but no evidence supporting the theory was ever found. In 1978, Coronas appeal was upheld and he set out to try to prove the lawyers during his first trial were inept because they never used his schizophrenia to plead insanity. He also pointed the finger to his brother as being the real killer. Coronas half brother, Natividad, was a cafe owner who lived in a nearby town in 1970. Natividad sexually attacked a patron and left his beaten body in the bathroom of the cafe. He took off to Mexico when he found out the victim was going to sue him. There was no evidence found linking Coronas brother to the crimes. In 1982, the court upheld the original guilty verdicts. Meanwhile, Corona was involved in a prison fight and received 32 razor cuts and lost an eye. Six Weeks of Murder Coronas killing spree lasted six weeks. Why he decided to begin killing is a mystery and one that many psychologists pondered. Most believe he probably had a past of sexual assault and victimizing the helpless individuals who he hired. Some attribute Coronas violence to his need for supreme control of his victims.

Humanities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 9

Humanities - Essay Example Roman glass makers used The Hellenic technique of sagging glass for open form cups and bowls over a convex mould in casting in the 1st century BC The glass blowing technique allowed the development of myriad shapes and designs which revolutionalized glass industry all over Europe. It also increased the uses of glass in many aspects of life all over the Roman Empire because it was easier to make it. The war victories by Romans led to more conquests which were possible because the Appian Way was there. This led to contact with other cultures hence the Roman culture had a lot of influence from many parts of Europe. Slaves of war brought their cultural influence. The Roman Empire was able to spread its culture throughout Europe including Latin and this was only possible because the army was well supplied and could move in speed to any â€Å"theatre of war† as Claudius had intended. Mostly, such works were made when the aristocrat was alive and as such, it paints a connection of the present to the past. The Roman art was predisposed to realism unlike that of the Greeks. An aristocrat would like such a depictive sculpture made to indicate to his lineage that life is a continuous journey and in addition, to make a connection to great personalities who existed before them. The care with which the aristocrat holds the busts shows reverence and not disdain as scalp hunter would hold their trophies in contempt. 2. The aqueducts; these shows the brilliance in utilizing natural resources to serve the needs of the people. To date, not many cities can boast such magnificent displays of genius in serving their populace. 3. The use of concrete; the Roman Empire is still remembered because there is proof of how great they were through existing buildings like the Parthenon. To date, concrete is still the material of choice centuries after the brilliant Roman engineers invented it. The colloseum

Hydrographic Surveying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Hydrographic Surveying - Essay Example Since then the science has evolved from a crude form of conjecture to a fairly accurate predictive one. This paper prepares a report form of investigation in which the implications of converting hydrographic surveying based on single-beam echo sounders to multiple-beam ones shall be studied and considered in detail to assess feasibility and functional efficacy with particular reference to Medway Ports, UK. To initiate this noble venture it is first necessary to study a little of Medway Port, Kent, UK, especially in detail to its known navigation features. The Medway Ports authorities define the Medway River as one of the principal trade arteries of the United Kingdom with particular utility to the South East of England through which this river flows before ending into the sea strategically near to the English Channel and the North Sea (Overview, Medway Ports, 2007). This proximal position to two main European trade routes, the port's efficient functionality and its easy accessibility to its hinterland by road, rail and water has eventually evolved it into a port of choice for many export and import operators. Cargoes such a fresh produce, forest products, new vehicles and steel and containers pass through it to and fro British soil (Overview, Medway Ports, 2007). Actually, the... Actually, the Medway Ports authority is a statutory one and is responsible for a 27 mile stretch of water that is a combination of the Medway and Swale rivers. The authority is responsible for maintaining the rivers and for providing and coordinating pilotage and vessel traffic services to ensure safety of all river users including pleasure boat ones (Overview, Medway Ports, 2007). The Ports are mainly a combination of the Sheerness and Chatham docks (Peel Ports Group, Medway Ports, 2007). Britain's first LNG handling terminal was constructed at the Isle of Grain within the Ports complex (Peel Ports Group, Medway Ports, 2007). Pilotage services provided by the Ports authorities are compulsory for vessels of 50 metres and above in length. The Medway Conservancy Board has taken over hydrographic surveying of the Medway Ports system from the Royal Navy Hydrographic Inshore Squadron since the 1960s. Presently, it has tow crafts at its service - the 18.9 metre Medway Surveyor that surveys the main reaches of the Medway and the deeper offshore waters and the 6 metre Medway Recorder which surveys the berths and shallower waters. Both vessels have permanently installed echo sounders that can also work as side scan sonar recorders (Hydrographic Service, Medway Navigation Service, 2007). It is assumed that the echo-sounders are all single beam ones.Hydrographic Surveying Hydrographic surveying is undertaken in two types of operational locations - oceanic or relatively deeper offshore waters and relatively shallower inshore waters. As has already been evidenced with Medway Ports, the former locations are usually surveyed by larger survey ships like the Medway Surveyor and the latter locations by smaller

Gucci, Louis Vuitton And Vertu Essay Example for Free

Gucci, Louis Vuitton And Vertu Essay Creating luxury brands is a difficult marketing exercise. It requires heavy investment in marketing communications, excellent product/service quality, but above all these brands have to try to remain fashionable, which is notoriously difficult. Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Vertu are three successful so-called luxury brands, that retail to the high-end market. Both Gucci and Louis Vuitton are well-established brands that have been around for decades, even centuries. However Vertu, is a relatively new kid on the block, having only entered the luxury communications marketplace in 2000. Vertu sells expensive mobile phones that retail for thousands of pounds. Only a handful of brands can create a high status appeal among the world’s super rich (e.g. Ferrari, Rolex, etc.). These brands have to adopt innovative marketing strategies in order to succeed in this dynamic environment. What do they do differently to create this luxury appeal? Marketers are moving from the traditional marketing mix approach towards greater use of experiential marketing. This is where customers are treated as both rational and emotional individuals that seek ‘experiences’ from products. The key is to engage customers in a memorable experience around the product/service, developing a relationship with customers and creating an affinity with them. The central aim of experiential marketing is to create an emotional attachment between the brand and the customer. Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Vertu provide this experience through their unique product image and features, their outstanding service, their exclusive retail environment, their pricing, their selective channels of distribution, their distincive packaging and the overall benefits associated with their unique brand images. To promote a product to the high-market it is important that the customers have the right experience so that the desired feelings, images and perspectives beco me linked with the product/service and their marketing programme. It is necessary for the brand to convey a personality that the customer can relate to, or wish to aspire to and then communicate this to others.  Consumers of these brands feel that they too are fashion and design conscious, that they too are wealthy, and that they are part of the â€Å"in-crowd†. In many cases, luxury brands are tapping into the â€Å"aspirational† buyer market; luxury brands are offering products at different price points in the hope that sometime during the customers’ lifetime they will trade up to their more exclusive ranges. However, the risk of ‘democratising’ the brand is that they may lose their aura of exclusivity – as it can be obtained by anyone. Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Vertu rely on the imagery of their products to appeal to the high-end market. The prestigious pricing of their products creates a high quality image and positions the goods in the mind of the consumer as a status symbol. The success of Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Vertu can be attributed to quality of service, brand image, retail environment, management structure and above all their ability to combine these factors to create an exclusive experience. We will now take a closer look at how these companies became what they are today, while focusing on unique product features and image, their brand imagery, retail environments and channels of distribution. Gucci Gucci has experienced many changes since it opened its first luggage company in Florence in 1921. At first, it mainly sold only luxury leather goods. Within a few years the store became popular among international and affluent clientele. By the 1950’s Gucci’s global presence was established with its first store in the US in New York. By the 1970’s stores were opened in London, Paris, Palm Beach, Hong Kong and Tokyo. It has become a truly global luxury brand. Today, Gucci has over 415 stores worldwide and in 2008 alone, reported sales of  £3.4 billion (an increase of 5.5% on the previous year). Gucci was also ranked number 41 in the Interbrand ‘Best Global Brand’Survey 2009. The high fashion industry is notoriously competitive with rivals such as Hermes, Dior, Chanel, and Prada, all vying for a slice of the action. This increased competition has resulted in the Gucci group becoming a multi-brand company, which consists of several well known brands, such as Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Yves Saint Laurent. While the Gucci brand represents the core business of the Gucci Group (accounting for 65% of total revenue), the Gucci Empire now consists of eleven leading brands and the channel of distribution differs for each. For example, Yves Saint Laurent uses not only directly operated stores but also points of sale in leading  department stores mainly based in Europe to reach a wider range of customers. A major influence on the success of Gucci in the 90’s can be attributed to the appointment of leading designer Tom Ford. He joined Gucci in 1990 as the company’s Womenswear Designer and became Creative Director of Gucci. With Tom Ford’s vision, Gucci’s image was reinvented. He was responsible for product lines, store image and store design. In March 1995, Tom Ford’s first collection caught the attention of the press by utilising sex and glamour. Within a year of Tom Ford’s launch of his new collection, Gucci’s profits rose by 90% and the company is now worth nearly $500 million. However, Ford vacated his position in the Gucci Group in 2004 due to issues of control in the renewal of contracts, issues which could not be resolved between the two parties. 32-year-old Frida Giannini, who originally joined Gucci in 2002 as Handbag Design Director now serves as Creative Director for the entire Gucci brand and to date she served the company well, transforming Gucci classics into modern, successful designs. In addition to the role she plays in the creation of new Gucci products, Giannini immerses herself in other aspects of the business; she has taken an active role in developing new design concepts for Gucci stores, as well as taking responsibility for the creative direction of all advertising campaigns. She has also been responsible for the brand’s increased use of celebrities to promote the brand, including Drew Barrymore and Clare Danes for their jewellery campaigns and singers Rihanna and Madonna for their Unicef initiatives. So what is the key to Gucci’s success? The essence of Gucci is its exclusivity. The brand portrays a sexy and vibrant image, which is communicated through their designs, fashion shows and advertising. The importance of the Gucci brand’s positioning is that it is distinctive and has an aura of exclusivity amongst its target audience. The image and aura of prestige surrounding Gucci gives added value to their products. This is created through advertising, innovative designers and the whole experience of buying Gucci. Gucci uses controversial advertising such  as the promotion of their perfume ‘Opium’ with a naked image of Sophie Dahl. This caused uproar in Britain and was banned by the advertising standards, as it accounted for a third of all complaints about poster adverts. However this campaign managed to win advertising awards throughout Europe. Gucci’s advertisement in Vogue also created controversy with an image of a woman with the letter ‘G’ imprinted in her pubic hair. These illustrations helped gain media coverage for the campaigns and boosted brand awareness. Typically, the Gucci brand tries to appeal to women in their 20’s or 30’s with high quality, fashionable products, and those who aspire to be part of the jet set lifestyle. This image attracts people who feel they can relate to this profile or who wish to aspire to this image. Gucci achieves this in many ways; stores are located on expensive high street locations, thus attracting affluent consumers. The window displays are provocative and the interior has a free flow layout as its visually appealing and allows consumers to browse comfortably. The dà ©cor is rich and classic to add to the atmosphere of the store. The salespeople are model-like, smartly dressed all in black and ready to assist consumers in any way. Even the security guard is suitably dressed to add to the image. The distinctive Gucci packaging concludes the experience. Gucci has directly operated stores to ensure that they retain control over their products and can build their image around these stores. About 70% of sales are done in Gucci stores alone. It is also possible to view and purchase Gucci products online, thus reaching a far greater target audience. Louis Vuitton The famous brand started out back in the 1850’s. The founder was made famous for crafting luggage for Napoleon. From theses roots the brand has become synonymous with luggage and in particular handbags. Louis Vuitton is very much the envy of the industry, recording an operating margin of 45%, whilst the industry average is only 25% for luxury accessories. The company is famous for its handbags, but also sells a range of wallets, briefcases, eyeglass cases etc. The brand is estimate to be worth approximately $19 billion. Louis Vuitton stand out from their peers through their relentless focus on product quality. All products are extensively tested to make sure that they can withstand wear and tear, and that there are no imperfections. The company has blended mechanisation and handmade craftsmanship into their products, boosting their productivity, maintaining that high level of product quality, whilst still holding onto the allure of handmade quality. All Louis Vuitton products contain the eponymous LV initials and many of the products use the brown Damier and Monogram Canvas materials, which were first used by the company in the 80’s. The company markets its products through its own stores, which allows it to control quality and pricing. In maintaining the prestige image of the Louis Vuitton brand, the company operates a pricing integrity strategy amongst its entire distribution network; a Louis Vuitton bag is never reduced in price and there are no sale periods. The company offers customised products such as personal engraving on hand luggage pieces, boosting its appeal further. Furthermore, the company sponsors elite sporting events such as yachting and motorsport events. This is in effort to match the audience of sponsorship property with the target audience of the brand itself. Like other premium brands, such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton has also turned to the use of celebrity’s to market the brand, with the likes of Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Gisele Bundchen featuring in advertising campaigns. Over recent years, the brand has tried to modernise its image by utilising the talents of young designers and artists to rejuvenate the image of some of their products, whilst maintaining the classic designs. An example of this was the use of designer Marc Jacobs who created a limited edition handbag range with featured graffiti over the monogram pattern in 2001. Other limited editions patterns created by designers for the brand include the Monogram Multicolore range and the Cherry Blossom Range, which were only made available to VIP customers, further enhancing the exclusivity of the brand. Hermes, a key rival of Louis Vuitton, create even greater exclusivity by having a three-year waiting list before one of their bags can be obtained. These bags are handcrafted, adding to their appeal even further. The reinvention and rejuvenation of Louis Vuitton in more recent years has assisted the brand in attracting a younger target audience, thereby increasing customer base. However no one designer has eclipsed the powerful brand image of Louis Vuitton itself, unlike other design brands. Vertu Vertu is a unique luxury brand specialising in top of the range, deluxe mobile phones. Established in 2000, the Vertu brand was a big gamble for Nokia, its parent company, to take. Nokia, previously the world’s most successful mobile phone manufacturer, developed this new brand as a way of creating an exclusive luxury brand in mobile telephony. However, Nokia does not publicise the linkage between Nokia and Vertu and therefore does not gain from any brand linkages or associations. In essence, their products are jewellery-like mobile telephones. Vertu headquarters are located in the United Kingdom with several offices situated worldwide including: Paris, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. As a new entrant to  the market, Vertu’s main focus was on creating product awareness among the elite and to create a brand that is exclusive and luxurious. Vertu utilises craftsmanship, precision engineering, high-end technology and a unique personal service dimension to create a dis tinctive luxury brand. Vertu’s concept is to make mobile phones in the same vein as prestigious watch brands such as Rolex and Patek Philippe. Mobile phones typically retail for around  £100  £400 pounds, however Vertu is aimed at the top end of the market, those who can afford to spend thousands on a mobile phone. For example, the most expensive model ever made by the brand is the Signature Cobra, which retailed at a massive â‚ ¬217,000! The most expensive ‘regular’ model made by Vertu is the Signature Diamond, at a more affordable â‚ ¬62,000. These phones are typically made using precious metals like gold, silver or platinum along with fine Italian leather for better grip and have jewelled bearings. When people buy a Vertu they are buying a badge of exclusivity, luxury and uniqueness. It was believed that if watches, pens or even wallets can be transformed into luxury brands, then why not a mobile phone. With mobile phone penetration constantly on the increase and having surpassed 100% in Europe alone, phone manufacturers need new strategies to get people to buy newer phones. Newer technology was a prime motivator in consumers buying a new phone. Vertu have taken a different approach; they want their phones to be status symbols. For a technology product, this is a first, as products lose their value very quickly, with constant technological advances offering new and improved product features. Rather than launch their new product range at technology shows, which is the industry norm, Vertu instead prefers to become associated with fashion shows, launching for example their new range during Paris fashion week. Thus this brand is aiming to create a fashion brand rather than a technology brand, in an attempt to woo people through its fashion status. A big selling point associated with these phones is the Vertu Concierge Service. Vertu Concierge provides specialised travel assistance, allowing users to access and reserve restaurants, hotels, concert tickets and much  more. Having a Vertu mobile phone allows users to access this exclusive concierge service, 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world, where they will try to assist the every whim of the user. This service is free for the first year, but you have to pay a subsequent subscription of  £500 per annum to use the service. Vertu also offers a customisation service thus truly differentiating itself and allowing the firm to earn even higher margins. Also the company offers free upgradability when new technology emerges. The company has established flagship stores in exclusive shopping districts, so that it was close to other exclusive brands, thus benefiting from a halo effect. Vertu has developed a unique buying experience by creating a â€Å"gallery-like† feel to its retail environments. In order to create this new level of luxury to mobile communication retailing, Vertu focused an enormous amount of attention onto store layout. Each display case is made from architectural glass, limestone textures and floors combined with warm lighting, ultimately enhancing the ambience of the store. Minimalist design was used in order to create the illusion of space. In keeping with the element of exclusivity, original artworks were commissioned and exhibited throughout the stores. Selections of short films are also projected in-store. By offering a first class personal service combined with extensive product knowledge, Vertu has enhanced their image of reliability and expertise. Vertu announced the opening of its flagship stores in Paris and Singapore in October 2002. It has since opened new channels of distribution, with over 600 retail outlets worldwide and 400 employees and it intends to continue to build on this. Along with their stores in Paris and Singapore, Vertu has Client Suites in London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore and also has points of sale located in some of the world’s leading department stores and fine jewellers. The company were extremely selective when choosing suitable retail channels. They sought department stores that catered for an international client base, and who target very affluent shoppers. Stores must have a global reputation of offering quality and luxury across all product ranges and whose philosophy of high product knowledge and excellent personal service are consistent with that of Vertu’s. For example, Vertu entered into a partnership with a renowned Hong Kong jeweller, King Fook  Jewellery. The introduction of these new speciality stores has made the Vertu range of phones more accessible to its exclusive client base in Hong Kong. As a direct result of this new partnership, Vertu’s Signature Collection is now available in a range of precious metals, such as gold and platinum. To date the company has entered into a number of joint ventures such as Vertu and Goldsmiths located at Harrods in London, Trafford Centre in Manchester, and Bluewater, Kent. This partnership was established to gain greater market share in the UK marketplace. Vertu phones are also available to purchase through their website. With the aid of this distribution channel, customers can now personalise their mobile phone to their own individual tastes Conclusion In order to retain product exclusivity it is clear that you need to provide an excellent product and exceptional service experience, as this creates an emotional attachment between the customer and the brand. Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Vertu have made this experience possible through their distinct products and services, their prestigious pricing (thus indicating their superb quality), their exclusive retail environment and their selective channels of distribution. Maintaining that fashion status and aura of exclusivity is of primary concern to these exclusive luxury brands. For example, the fashion brand Burberry has now become synonymous with the infamous â€Å"chav† subculture in Britain. This once fashion icon brand of the country elite has now be adopted as the brand of choice for thousands of working class Britons, devaluing the brand amongst the fashion elite. The emergence of the so-called â€Å"chav† subculture has garnered the Burberry brand unwanted press coverage. The Ben Sherman brand also fought hard to overcome its association with ‘yob’ culture; similarly Doc Martins were associated with skinheads. By extending their brands to items such as baseball caps, perfumes etc. it can diminish the exclusiveness of a label, sacrificing the brand equity for increased revenue. It is evident that Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Vertu use different promotional  strategies. For instance, Gucci incorporates controversial issues into their marketing strategy to promote brand imagery, Louis Vuitton utilises celebrity endorsements, whereas Vertu concentrates on the benefits and quality of product features. However, all brands are consistent when it comes to retail environment and channels of distribution. The store design and layout plays a crucial role in creating an image of exclusivity to appeal to the high-end market. It is essential to have alignment of the prospective target market expectations of a store offering and the identity that the brand wants to communicate. Companies targeting the high-end market must create the illusion of exclusivity, while generating a seductive atmosphere, appealing to the senses. Once blended together, these elements will help form a pleasurable and distinctive experience that will differentiate your product line from that of your competitors. Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Vertu use exclusive channels of distribution to ensure greater control. This control enables them to exercise greater flexibility on their product ranges and the ability to adjust to the changing market efficiently. This adds to the image of exclusivity and quality of the products. Therefore it can be concluded that in order for a product to develop and retain its exclusivity, marketers must create an overall experience that appeals to and attracts the high-end market.

Character Analysis of Sheila in An Inspector Calls Essay -- English Li

Character Analysis of Sheila in An Inspector Calls Sheila is unlike any other character in the play - she is far more conscientious and more sensitive than any of the others, and she does not express her opinion as frequently or forcefully as her parents. When Sheila hears of the death of Eva Smith she is genuinely shocked by the news, and despite the fact that she does not know her, she is still upset. We can see this from what she says when she hears the news: "Oh - how horrible!". When the Inspector shows her a photograph of the girl she reacts much more dramatically than any of the others, which tells us that perhaps she had already realised that her behaviour towards the girl had been inappropriate and unnecessary, and that she was feeling guilty about it. Sheila is more moral than the other characters and this can be seen throughout her questioning, and she is immediately sorry for having had a part to play in the demise of Eva Smith. When it is revealed that Sheila was the one who had Eva Smith made redundant she is immediately sorry and obviously upset t...

Trader Joe’s Case Brief Essay

There are several key sources of Trader Joe’s competitive advantage, including offering great bargains on products that are not typically found at other supermarkets. Trader Joe’s also chose to sell natural and organic foods aimed at well-educated, sophisticated consumers. Trader Joe’s also believed strongly in paying its employees a good wage, leading to higher employee satisfaction and a better quality of service within each store. In addition, the company embraced an everyday low pricing philosophy. More than 80% of Trader Joe’s products are private label (including their well-known private label wines). Also, they are able to reduce costs by purchasing directly from the manufacturers (as opposed to the distributors). Their marketing campaigns rely heavily on word of mouth and fan pages created by loyal customers. Given my answer to question #2, TJ’s business model would be difficult for competitors to imitate given a variety of reasons. First, employee commitment is extremely high due to high wages and increased employee benefits, which generates a very engaging experience for the customers. In addition, the company has thousands of vendor relationships all over the world and this takes time and skills to develop. The company’s model also relies on small stores with an intimate feel, a limited but unique selection of products that are free of preservatives, have no artificial color, and contain no genetically modified content, a highly motivated and well-paid work force, and excellent customer service. The great customer service offered by TJ leads to higher customer retention and loyalty, making it difficult for other firms to steal these customers away.

HR Governance

HR governance is the practice of making effective decisions regarding the human resources of the organization and the efficient controlling of them. It is interrelated with establishing HR policies, continuous monitoring of their proper implementation and governing the body of an organization. This study explores the HR governance practice of the private sector in Bangladesh and its impact on organization's sustainable human resource development. To investigate this scenario, sample size of 200 from five manufacturing industries and three service industries both sectors were selected to conduct a survey through floating a structured questionnaire on target employees. Here, six independent variables talent management, consolidated HR policy, HR risk management, employee development, compensation benefits, employee welfare and one dependent variable sustainable human resource development have been identified to conduct the regression analysis. The result shows that the f-test value = 34.400 which implies that the model is statistically significant and valid. The significance level of the employee development and compensation benefits at (0.000) which have positive impact on sustainable human resource development. On the contrary, the talent management is insignificant at (0.006) and consecutively consolidated HR policy (0.019), HR risk management (0.063) and employee welfare (0.106). The regression model illustrates that the private sector of Bangladesh is going to be comparatively more concern about the employee development and compensation management but others variables have insignificant but positive relationship for the increasing of sustainable human resource development. Moreover, this study attempts to provide the conceptual and pragmatic insight of the HR governance practices in the private sector of Bangladesh; this might help to emerge new corridors for future research. Keywords – HR governance, talent management, consolidated HR policy, HR risk management and sustainable human resource development.INTRODUCTIONWith the passage of time, HR governance has become an emerging concern where it is esteemed as the backbone of the sustainable human resource development which transforms the human resource into the human capital and all these ensure the incremental growth of an organization. Furthermore, the traditional HR policies and regulations act as the precautionary guard for the organization, but now it is reactive in nature through reducing, transferring and deducting actual and probable HR risks and liabilities. However, it is essential for an organization to become transparent administrative structure to achieve core competitive advantages of human resource enforcing the non-compliance proactive measures. Effective HR governance facilitates compliance with legal and ethical obligations relating to people management practices and having a proper HR governance structure in place which can even impact the way an organization does business and makes decisions at the highest levels-right up including its board of directors. Hence, this structure will ensure that decisions related to personnel management practices are governed at the highest level thereby strengthening HR and management credibility (Kreissl, 2012)[1]. For instance, like other developing countries, Bangladesh has been marked by the inefficiency of the public sector to meet the demand of its citizens, ineffective public services, and unfavorable environment for the proper growth in the private sector, leadership crisis, lack of transparency and accountability in administration, ineffective political institutions and so on. In this regard, it is the best to follow equity at workplace, well-being and employee development and some other five preconditions for sustainable human resource development such as; compliance, governance, ethics, culture and leadership (Cohen, 2012) [2]. Another thing is that the well concern about labor law and consistent HR governance are yet not flourished at macro pace especially in private sector. Because most of the listed companies in Bangladesh are dominated by family members, occupying important posts like CEO or the managing director, leading to inefficient HR governance practices (Brennam, Solomon, Uddin and Choudhury, 2008) [3]. Due to the absence of govt. close monitoring; sometimes they are violating the principles of Bangladesh Labor Law.Moreover, public sector is running under the shelter of legal government compliance and several pivotal research works have been done over this but now private sector is emerging not only in the corporate governance rather good HR governance. In spite of, there is very few research works exist on this context where mostly done on about the good governance practices and its prospects in Bangladesh. Almost there is no instance of such work that can show the emerging essentials of good HR governance and its impact on the sustainable human resource development.Nevertheless, there are some laying challenges so that the private sector can't go ahead as expected in terms of human competencies. For such poor feedback in HR governance, it is essential to examine how far Bangladesh lags behind the HR governance practices. Against all these backdrops, this paper attempts to critically analyze the current scenario of HR governance and also to sketch out the impediments in the way of HR governance to improve the HR competencies in the private sector of Bangladesh. To end, this study shows a set of measures which need to be undertaken as an effort to establish good HR governance and indemnifying sustainable human resource development in Bangladesh.OJECTIVES OF THE STUDYThe fundamental objective of this study is to address the research question; â€Å"Does HR governance affect the sustainable human resource development from the perspective of private sector in Bangladesh?† Some other objectives are:To investigate the response of HR governance in the private sector of Bangladesh.To measure the impact of HR governance on sustainable human resource development.To identify diff erent factors affecting sustainable human resource development.

What are the characteristics of a Successful Latino in the United States †Sociology Essay

What are the characteristics of a Successful Latino in the United States – Sociology Essay Free Online Research Papers What are the characteristics of a Successful Latino in the United States Sociology Essay There are a few characteristics to become a successful Latino in the U.S: 1.You have to be determined and persistent at what your academic and professional goal is. 2.You must work hard to reach these goals, like doing good at your studies receiving good grades and be recommended by the school you attended at. 3.With about 20 years or more of school it takes to get degree at whatever subject you are working hard for will pay off. 4.Always thinking toward starting your business for that is the biggest goal for many Latinos. 5.Once you find a job work as hard as you did in school, get more experience in the job world and try to look for a job that pays better than now, but if you like the pay and job you work for, then stay. 6.With dedication and hard work, who knows maybe you can get promoted to a higher position and get even better pay. 7.Once you finally own your business make sure you be reasonable at the pay you give to your employees reasonable pay and benefits and that whatever your is sells and your business will last a long time. These characteristics in becoming a successful Latino in the United States. Just to become dedicated and smart on what path you choose in life. 2. How do and/or will you fit this profile? I myself am dedicated at whatever I do. Sure I didn’t get the best marks in High School, because of all the fun I had. But now that I am in a Technical College, I am very dedicated and focused more than ever. Doing whatever assignments they give as soon possible and well done. I do well on test since I study on the notes I take in class. I am very dedicated this time because it something I wanted to do for a long time, its something I like. Become a Designer of Structures, Objects, and soon characters for Video Games, for that is my major goal in my life. When I do find a job I will also very dedicated if it’s the job I wanted all my life. But I will always keep in mind to start my own business, but mostly my main goal is to work for major video game company and design the characters, backgrounds, etc. With a little hard work and dedication I am almost there at finally making my childhood dream come true. Research Papers on What are the characteristics of a Successful Latino in the United States - Sociology EssayThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationHip-Hop is ArtNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NicePersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyStandardized TestingEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaResearch Process Part OneMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Hockey Game

The Commonwealth of Nations - African History

The Commonwealth of Nations - African History What is the Commonwealth of Nations? The Commonwealth of Nations, or more commonly just the Commonwealth, is an association of sovereign states consisting of the United Kingdom, some of its former colonies, and a few special cases. The Commonwealth nations maintain close economic ties, sporting associations and complementary institutions. When was the Commonwealth of Nations Formed? In the early twentieth century, the government of Britain was taking a hard look at its relationship with the rest of the British Empire, and particularly with those colonies populated by Europeans – the dominions. The dominions had reached a high level of self-government, and the people there were calling for the creation of sovereign states. Even amongst the Crown Colonies, Protectorates, and Mandates, nationalism (and the call for independence) was on the rise. The British Commonwealth of Nations was first noted in the Statute of Westminster on 3 December 1931, which recognized that several of the United Kingdoms self-governing dominions (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) were autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations. What was new under the 1931 Statute of Westminster was that these dominions would now be free to control their own foreign affairs – they were already in control of domestic affairs – and to have their own diplomatic identity. Which African Countries are Members of the Commonwealth of Nations? There are 19 African states who are currently members of the Commonwealth of Nations. See this Chronological List of African Members of the Commonwealth of Nations, or Alphabetical List of African Members of the Commonwealth of Nations for details. Is it Only ex-British Empire Countries in Africa Who Have Joined the Commonwealth of Nations? No, Cameroon (which had only partially been in the British Empire following World War I) and Mozambique joined in 1995. Mozambique was admitted as a special case (ie could not set a precedent) following democratic elections in the country in 1994. All its neighbors were members and it was felt that Mozambiques support against white-minority rule in South Africa and Rhodesia should be compensated. On the 28th November 2009 Rwanda also joined the Commonwealth, continuing the special case conditions under which Mozambique had joined. What Kind of Membership Exists in the Commonwealth of Nations? The majority of African countries who had been part of the British Empire gained independence within the Commonwealth as Commonwealth Realms. As such, Queen Elizabeth II was automatically the head of state, represented within the country by a Governor-General. Most converted to Commonwealth Republics within a couple of years. (Mauritius took the longest to convert – 24 years from 1968 to 1992). Lesotho and Swaziland gained independence as Commonwealth Kingdoms, with their own constitutional monarchy as head of state – Queen Elizabeth II was recognized only as the symbolic head of the Commonwealth. Zambia (1964), Botswana (1966), Seychelles (1976), Zimbabwe (1980), and Namibia (1990) became independent as Commonwealth Republics. Cameroon and Mozambique were already republics when they joined the Commonwealth in 1995. Did African Countries Always Join the Commonwealth of Nations? All those African countries still part of the British Empire when the Statute of Westminster was proclaimed in 1931 joined the Commonwealth except for British Somaliland (which joined with Italian Somaliland five days after gaining independence in 1960 to form Somalia), and Anglo-British Sudan (which became a republic in 1956). Egypt, which had been part of the Empire until 1922, has never shown an interest in becoming a member. Do Countries Maintain Membership of the Commonwealth of Nations? No. In 1961 South Africa left the Commonwealth when it declared itself a republic. South Africa rejoined in 1994. Zimbabwe was suspended on 19 March 2002 and decided to leave the Commonwealth on 8 December 2003. What Does the Commonwealth of Nations do for its Members? The Commonwealth is best known for the Commonwealth games which are held once every four years (two years after Olympic games). The Commonwealth also promotes human rights, expects members to meet a set of fundamental democratic principles (curiously enough spelt out in the Harare Commonwealth declaration of 1991, given Zimbabwes subsequent departure form the association), to provide education opportunities, and maintain trade links. Despite its age, the Commonwealth of Nations has survived without needing a written constitution. It depends upon a series of declarations, made at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 15

Human Resource Management - Essay Example Once a top executive realises that no matter how hard he struggles for his organisation, all he will receive is his fixed salary, the performance levels of the executive will begin to recede. The removal of incentive is effectively the removal of motivation on the job for such positions. It must also be realised that when such executives join office their primary motivation is the challenge posed by the new position. Once an executive figures out how to manage the new position, the real motivation begins to disappear from the job. In order to keep motivation on the job to a high level, it would be desirable to use a fixed and variable pay structure to serve as the executive’s motivation. On another note, this pay structure aids in ensuring that the executive treats his job more seriously than before because his financial stakes are involved with the performance of the organisation. While it may be considered as cumbersome by some top executives but this model ensures that the organisation pays the executive back in proportion to their

Shawshank redemption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Shawshank redemption - Essay Example He simply maintains his innocence, albeit rather monotone. It certainly does seem that Andy Dufrain is guilty, as he shows no emotion, no remorse and there is little inflection in his words when he speaks. Once he is sentenced, he is sent to Shawshank State Prison to serve the terms of his sentence. The prisoners of Shawshank ‘greet’ newcomers by betting on which of them will be the first to break down and cry out of the feeling of desperation that their situation has wrought. This is also the introduction of Red. The opening of a door and Red enters into a parole hearing. After a small, memorized speech, he is denied his parole. Red leaves, and there are two men waiting for him. One man says to him, â€Å"yeah, I’m up for rejection next week, â€Å"leaving the impression of nothing new, nothing changes. The men gather round Red, as he is the ‘man’ to whom people go when they are in need of something, which they cannot get inside the prison walls. à ¢â‚¬Å"I’m the guy that can get it for ya†¦ yeah, I’m a regular Sears & Roebuck. â€Å" Upon the new arrival, they gather, and Red speaks up, â€Å"smokes or coin, bettors choice.† the men resoundingly approve of cigarettes, as betting on which man will break down first â€Å"is as good a thing to bet on as any.† The new arrivals meet Warden Norton and Officer Byron Hadley for the first time. Hadley is a vicious man, with no regard or respect for anyone other than the warden. The warden informs the men that they should â€Å"put your trust in the Lord. Your ass belongs to me.† after delousing, the men are marched to their cells naked, embarrassed and burning from the delousing powder. The bets that were previously placed by the men now come into play. The men chant, â€Å"Fresh fish. Fresh fish,† until someone breaks down crying. It is an overweight man that finally breaks down, the man that Haywood â€Å"bet† on. As soon as this is heard, the men start cheering. Hadley comes in, and threatens the man to be quiet, or else. The man chooses not to, likely because he is so distraught that thoughts aside from despair do not enter his mind. Hadley pulls him out of his cell and promptly beats him unmercifully. The next morning, Haywood tells the men to give him the cigarettes that he won from the â€Å"bet†, and after they do, haywood asks a man that worked in the infirmary how his â€Å"horse is doing†. The other man said simply, â€Å"dead†¦ Ol’ Hadley busted his head up pretty good, poor bastard laid there til this morning’’. Hell, by then there wasn’t nothin’ we could do.† Andy asked what his name was. â€Å"What the hell do you care, new fish?† said Haywood. â€Å"I was just wondering if someone knew his name.† the men move forward, with the approach of Andy to Red. Andy approached Red on the purchase of a rock hammer. Red supposed he wanted to â€Å"sink your toy into somebody’s skull. Escape, tunnel under the wall, maybe.† they eventually make a deal, after Andy explains to Red’s satisfaction what the rock hammer is, and how it is used. Andy asked his name, and Red simply said, â€Å"Red. My name is Red.† andy asked, â€Å"why do they call you that?† â€Å"Maybe it’s because I’m Irish.† nod of the head, and Andy walks away. Red begins to see for the first time who he is dealing with in Andy. He thinks to himself, â€Å"I could see why the boys took him as snobby. He had a quiet way about him; a walk and a talk that just wasn’