Nation-building refers Essay

Nation-building refers to the process of constructing or structuring a national identity using the power of the state. This process aims at the unification of the people within the state so that it remains politically stable and viable in the long run. Nation-building can involve the use of propaganda or major infrastructure development to foster social harmony and economic growth. It involves the development of behaviors, values, language, institutions and physical structures that protect the present and insure the future identity and independence of a nation. The nation is a country considered as a group of people living in a certain territory under one Government. â€Å"Building† here means not masonry constructed, instead the development of the nation, the future of our country. There is a great role of men in nation building. In men, youth is the most energetic type. Youth play an important role in nation building. Youth is the spring of life. It is the age of discovery and dreams. They have the power to transform the nation into a better place. They also have the ability to lead their fellow citizens into the right direction. Youths are fighters. They fight for an identity in society, equality, unemployment, exploitation, poverty and other problems which the world faces today. They need good morals and values to handle conflicts in a positive way. That’s why Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah always considered them as a future and insists them to work hard for the betterment of their nation. Quaid-e-Azam never talked about the wealth and property, he always emphasized on education and mental awareness of the young generation. Because education and awareness of people can lead the country to the highest level of success. Men should show humanity in their behaviours and they should work hard. Social harmony and unity is very necessary for building of nation. We should follow our religion because our religious history is filled with the examples of nation building. We can see that how our Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) reformed Arabs and made them a successful and civilized nation. We should remain honest in our relations and deeds despite of all sufferings. Men  should maintain their individuality. As Russel Simmons said: â€Å"Any kind of lasting success is rooted in honesty.† Wealth is not needed to support and build a nation. The necessary thing is bravery and unity of people. As the old nations such as ancient Greeks, the Persians, the Roman Empire and Pharaohs of Egypt are still very famous. Bravery and unity were their uniqueness. A nation’s strength not gold but only men can make people great and strong. Men who for truth and honor’s sake, stand fast and suffer long. Brave men who work while other sleep who dare while other fly they build a nation’s pillars deep and lift them to the sky. (Ralph Weldo Emerson) Conclusion: So wealth has no part in building of a nation. Only men can lift their country to the highest level of success by maintaining their national identity, individuality, social harmony, honesty, humanity, truth and hard work.

Marketing Nike Essay

Growing up there was one brand that all professional athletes used in my eyes, Nike. The Swoosh, was the icon that all kids had to have, and why not? All the big time players not only had it, but endorsed it. Ads, which had Michael â€Å"Air† Jordan, Bo Jackson, or Wayne Gretsky â€Å"The Great One† doing amazing physical feats, always, motivated the crowds. The Nike company new this, and blasted it marketing campaign through all sorts of media. In this essay I will break down this multi-billion dollar company’s marketing techniques in the areas of: customer value, promotional items, marketing’s four p’s of the marketing mix, the segmentation, targeting, and positioning (STP) approach to market the product, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), environmental trends, the largest customer base, its competitors, and ethical marketing for this corporation both stateside and overseas. Putting these athletes in the ads is just one way to build value for a company. From Ashford universities â€Å"Principle of Marketing† by â€Å"Sara White† We are introduced to marketing with the definition of marketing as â€Å"an activity designed to stimulate exchanges that have value for customers, partners, and society at large†. With this definition of marketing intact the question that still is out pondering is what is value? â€Å"Value was defined as the perceived trade-off between benefits and the sacrifice required to take possession of those benefits†. To break it down further we will look at customer value. Customer value is a title for the cost of a particular trade for the purchaser (buyer) instead of the company (seller). Looking into a selling Nike abroad, whatever a customer may pay in the United States may not be the same overseas. The first thing is to look at is how the current client group influences the market in the states. Nike had a humble start with creators Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight trying to improve on the track shoe of the day. The former â€Å"Blue Ribbon Sports Company† now known as Nike wanted to increase value into their product by having athletes endorses it. So they found the person that they thought would be the best at building future customer value, Steve Prefontaine. During his college time he never lost a race on his home track, and was exposed to national notoriety with is fourth place finish in Munich. This was one of their first successes in marketing. As popularity for their product rose the selected new sports models to display the shoes on the track. This really kicked of the sale of the shoes. Seeing how this success worked at their home setting, taking it to other countries should be no problem. Paving the way with athletes that had above average ability in their field was how Nike struck the marketing campaigned. Finding someone in another country that could spark the same influence over the masses would keep thing on track for Customer value overseas. This would all depend on what country we planned on taken our product to. The last thing that we are going to look at with customer value is the four utilities of customer value. The four utilities are: Form, Time, Place, and Ease of Possession. The form in the four utilities shows what effort Nike puts into their product that makes it desirable. Part of this desire is the quality and showmanship they place in every item. The other part is who they put in their invention. This was very clear in the mid-80 when Nike was the company that took on NBA rookie Michael Jordan, to represent their company’s goals. Being one of the leaders of in business, time is important. Nike put their product out when they need to. They also change it enough to keep things fresh. Time also goes along with place. Not only does the timing of releasing product play a huge role, the place does as well. Lastly, ease of possession is just that, how easy will it be to get the product. Included in this is can I get my item fixed or replaced easily also. With internet available in almost everyone’s pocket from smartphones to tablets getting Nike’s items have become very accessible. With ease of possession we have to look at what trends are working or not, so that we may fix them. Understanding these four utilities just scratches the surface of what we need to know. To be more in-depth with a strategy we must look at the targeting and market mix portion of promoting. In order to utilize the four utilities properly we must look at the STP approach of marketing. This Approach involves segmentation, targeting, and positioning looks at what a byer values. â€Å"Segmentation can be defined as the process of splitting a market into smaller groups with similar product needs or identifiable characteristics, for the purpose of selecting appropriate target markets. Targeting (or target market selection) refers to: An organization’s proactive selection of a suitable market segment (or segments) with the intention of heavily focusing the firm’s marketing offers and activities towards this group of related consumers. And positioning (which is sometimes referred to as product positioning) is: Positioning is the target market’s perception of the product’s key benefits and features, relative to the offerings of competitive products. † With the number of competitors only the rise it is important for an organization to forecast what the consumers buying trends are. Nike, although one of the largest establishments in their field, they still are not untouchable. They have to stay a success by continually improving on the products. Nike leads the way with new technology that innovate all sports. In the late 80’s the introduction of Nike air did this well. Again they launched a promotional campaign that introduced a series of ads by Bo Jackson one of the top athletes at the time. They saw the future of what their clients wanted, Air. It was the first shoe out on the market with air in the sole. Following the marketing targeting set at this point propelled them ahead of their competitors. To stay ahead of the game the implementation of the four P’s is the next tool to evolve business plan. The four P’s that come from the widely used â€Å"marketing mix† developed in the 60’s includes production, price, place and promotion. â€Å"Product: The combination of tangible goods, services, and beliefs offered at a specific price. † To stay on the breaking edge of athletic gear with rivals on your heels they have to produce a â€Å"product† that reaches the masses. The creations did just that, they made it tangible for all with a specific price. â€Å"Price: The amount of money or other consideration a customer must exchange for the offering. † Nikes merchandise because it was ahead of others cost a little more. At the same time they could justify their cost due to the fact the merchandise operated better than anyone else’s. â€Å"Place: The strategy by which a company gets the right goods in the right quantity to the right place. † Because Phil and Bill both had roots on the west coast mainly Oregon, this is where the perfect place to offer the product out of was. Now, a global sensation you can get it from any corner of the world. â€Å"Promotion: The advertising and selling activity a company undertakes to create demand for the offering . † The only real way to endorse this type of product is to show the benefits in different people that use it. This not only sums up the four P’s but gives examples of how it applies to this enterprise. While putting all of these aspects together there has to be a way to track certain trends to be more productive. This can be done by customer relationship management or CRM system. CRM is a good tool to utilize once your product has hit the market. This system tracks the companies’ relationship with the purchaser. The data collected will be from sale and overall marketing . Some items that might be pulled from this information are demographics of the individual buying an item. This is so important to direct and promote ads to those that will actually be utilizing them. When I got my first pair of Nike shoes I was stoked. They were everything that I wanted and more. I was fast to show them to my friends. At that point I would have done anything that Nike asked me to (I was a typical kid). Inside the box was a card and at the time I did not understand what it for. It had questions on it like race, age, sports that I played in at school level†¦etc. This was there way of finding out who is buying their goods. Some places will add in rewards or freebies to get their customer feedback. This information can also give feedback on when to promote certain items so that there will be a larger return. Now that all the information is being tracked and fixed, we can now see how it does abroad. In the 90’s Nike wanted to figure out how to reach an even larger fan base. Soccer was the ticket to gain that popularity not only in one country but almost every country in the world. At the point of taking production to another country the process of building customer value and marketing kind of starts over. Knowing this Nike took players from the World Cup-winning Brazilian National team. They redesigned the uniforms and pulled in some US teams as well . This organization could go a little farther by endorsing other sports as well. One of the most important things about going into other countries with this appeal line is to see what effects it has on the area. From â€Å"Principles of Marketing† by â€Å"White† there are a couple of things that affect the marketing environment. The acts that affect the environment are actors and forces . They both exist in two different categories Micro environment and Macro environment. In Micro-environment actors are individuals like: stockholders, board members, competitors, public, and customers . In this category there are also forces which include: Strategic moves by, competitors, Channel partners, Changes in consumer behavior . Macro- environment deals actors with leaders in Culture/society, Politic, Economics, Technology development, Finance and Law . Forces in Macro-environment are; globalization, Technology and media . Let’s see how this looks with Nike. If Nike is to be a success in other countries they have to know how they are going to affect the environment where they go. They also need to know how other countries can affect them. An example of this would be in the Middle East females are not treated as equals. Therefore it would not be a good idea to start up only female sporting lines there. Another example of how they could be affected by the environment is the culture is different that the US, some countries that would use their product cannot afford American prices. This would cause a new marketing scheme. A good place to start is checking the CRM to see what trends these cultures prefer. So currently who is Nike’s biggest byer? Nike hits such a wide range of sports, from their start in track, to sponsoring golfer Eldrick â€Å"Tiger† Woods. Almost every sport today has some kind of influence from Nike. The largest in today’s market is probably the NFL. The National football league has just signed up Nike to create some new gear for this 2012 – 2013 season. The great thing about Nike is it now has sister labels that produce more than just athletic products. â€Å"A significant event in Cole Haan’s timelines happened in 1988 when Nike acquired Cole Haan . Thence, international flagship stores and more outlets opened making the reach to influence the use of quality and fashionable footwear become broader and wider . † â€Å"Then the technology of Nike Air was incorporated in the design of women’s shoes which made a mark on Cole Haan’s emphasis on providing comfort and protection not only for men but also for women. This was the first at that time and the demand for Cole Haan shoes continued to rise . † Nike seems to be unstoppable but they are only a small percentage of the market. There are so many different shoe companies out there today. If an individual can get it in the States they can get overseas via the internet. A few brands that compete with Nike are: Reebok, Adidas, Asics, and New balance. But they are not close to the company that distributes to over 170 countries. Unfortunately although Nike from the stand point of business is a great company they have a dark side also. Ethics is gaining power in the business world. People are tired of seeing cooperation’s destroy morale of the world and marketing is no different. There is a responsibility to the public to give honest communications and things that are not going further corrupt children mind. A lot of marketers will play to children’s weaknesses. Rebecca Clay wrote an article on advertising to children. The article goes on to explain that children’s psyches are not to the level to decipher fact from fiction. This weakness is exploded and ads well over load kids with ideas of toys and games that they do not need nor should they have. One case of unethical marketing goes deeper than what we can see. It was what was going on behind the curtains. According to† Mail Online† that put out an article on Nike, about the treatment in the converse factory . They continue on to say that the employees are under paid, making around 50 cents an hour. Terminology such as; dog or pig from supervisors are thrown around in a derogatory way. This is a decade after Nike came under fire for their child labor seat shops in Indonesia. Should something be done to this marketing tycoon? Some kind of apology should come to the public not only in America but to the world. This is part of their obligation to the society has a whole. As kids we can be drawn into many different that catch our attention. Mine, like many juveniles was following the dream of growing up to become a professional athlete. It was the lifestyle at the time that seemed effort less. Nike open my eyes to this more than probably any other brand. The slogan† Just do It† was what I needed to pursue my goals. For a while it felt as though they were not just talking about sports but life who knows maybe they are. Whatever it may be there marketing plan from the start of the back of a trunk; to multibillion dollar cooperation is one of the best. Going through the marketing world with Nike we covered the following: customer value, promotional items, marketing’s four p’s of the marketing mix, the segmentation, targeting, and positioning (STP) approach to market the product, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), environmental trends, the largest customer base, its competitors, and ethical marketing for this corporation both stateside and overseas. References: (n. d. ). Clay, R. A. (2000, September). Advertising to children is it ehtical. Retrieved Jan 11, 2013, from American Phychological Association: http://www. apa. org/monitor/sep00/advertising. aspx Fripp, G. (2012). .segmentationstudyguide. Retrieved Jan 14, 2013, from www. segmentationstudyguide. com Reporter, D. M. (2011, July 13). Mail Online. Retrieved Jan 13, 2013, from daily mail: http://www. dailymail. co. uk/news/article-2014325/Nike-workers-kicked-slapped-verbally-abused-factories-making-Converse-line-Indonesia. html uknown. (2011). History & Heritage . Retrieved 01 10, 2013, from Nike, inc : http://nikeinc. com/pages/history-heritage unknown. (2013). A History of Cole Haan. Retrieved jan 13, 2013, from Shoe metro delivering sole satisfaction: http://www. shoemetro. com/t-history-of-cole-haan. aspx unknown. (2013, jan 13). Forbes: profile and News. Retrieved Jan 2013, 2013, from Forbes. com: http://www. forbes. com/companies/nike/ White, S. (2012). Principles of Marketing. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education,inc.

Blackwell, Miniard, and Engel Decision-Making Model Essay

My family recently purchased a Toyota Prius.   This is a magnificent car which has a positive effect on the environment.   The Toyota Prius runs on both petrol and electricity thus saving both money and the rapidly decreasing ozone layer.   My family has always been environmental conscious and this was an important decision considering the current state of the environment and global warming.   Not only was there much research put into this purchase but there are also incentives in places such as Westminster City where Eco-cars receive FREE parking permits (â€Å"Free Parking†).   Blackwell, Miniard, and Engel have been working together for many years to determine the consumer decision making process.    Together they have created many models and completed much research to support their theories of consumer behavior.   Using the Blackwell, Miniard and Engel decision-making model I will show how my family came to the decision of the purchase.   There are many steps that one goes through before making an important decision such as a purchase of a new car. Reviewing these steps in sequence and having an inside look of the though that went into each step will help establish the process of consumer behavior. Beginning with stimuli, we will review the exposure, attention, comprehension, and retention stage that occurred to cause the thought of this purchase to hold steadfast in the memory, then moving on to need recognition, environmental influences, individual differences influencing the purchase decision, we will see what cause the purchase to became complete, and what happens thereafter with satisfaction/dissatisfaction and divestment stages of the consumer process. Stimuli: Product Exposure What better stimuli for a new product are available to the consumer than media exposure?   There has been a lot media exposure to global warming and the effects green house gases on having on the ozone layer.   There have also been many celebrities choosing to go green and help save the world.   Stars Penelope Cruz and Leonardo DiCaprio hosted a Pre-Oscar green party to show their support of electric cars.   They, along with several other celebrities, opted to drive themselves to the Oscars in their new electric cars. The point was clear; everyone needs to take steps to prevent global warming (and you should hurry up and jump on the band wagon celebrities are giving up limo rides!).   The Pre-Oscar green party is was a genius idea as the Oscars are huge and people from all over the world partake in the nights events.   The   marketing behind such an event draws attention to the eco friendly cause and covers all of the beginning stages of the Blackwell, Miniard, and Engel decision making model; exposure, attention, comprehension, acceptance, and retention. Of course these five characteristics contribute to memory and that is where the consumer behavior process begins.   My parents had already decided that it was time to purchase a new car. Need recognition was already determined.   But at this point they were just beginning to take a look around.   The genius of the marketing ploy/awareness campaign for Eco-friendly cars stayed with my parents as they began to make some decisions about their new car purchase and once again reinforced to memory the importance of eco-friendly vehicles. Social Influences Eco-friendly cars are a hot topic and many friends of my parent’s had also started to think about or start purchasing green cars over the last year.   Now with the price of petrol constantly on the rise how could you not consider it?   The influences of friends have always helped my family move along and make a final decision.   In this case all of my parents’ friends were considering taking a step towards a cleaner environment or at least taking a step to stay trendy and up to date with the current issues concerning the world.   Of course this is a tough cause to turn your back on as many people are adamant and taking firm stand to lower the rate fossil fuel is burned. Research With this heavy exposure to both the cause and the solution my family chose to reevaluate the current car situation and see if it was time for an upgrade which would be the need recognition stage of the model.   After a quick internet search on the status of the ozone and the effect of fossil fuels on the greenhouse gases my father discovered; the effects of global warming are being felt worldwide.   â€Å"Global warming and the melting of polar ice cover is predicted to raise ocean levels worldwide, directly impacting on island nations who plead most strongly for restraint of fossil fuel consumption by industrialized nations† (Mayer). Some alternative fuel methods have been tried and found to be very successful.   â€Å"Another strategy for reducing fossil fuel emissions from vehicles is to shift to alternate fueled vehicles. Various choices include electric, natural gas, methane, and fuel cell vehicles† (Mayer). He decided it was time to step in and help the cause.   During the pre purchase evaluation my father decided it was time to upgrade the vehicle and began an internet search to find out everything he could about the Toyota Prius, and other green cars including the Volkswagen Touran, the Peugeot 407, and the Honda Accord.   He learned everything possible about each car including the gas mileage, cost, efficiency.   He read consumer reports, company reports, and online reviews and eventually evaluated the positives and negatives of each car. Personality, Values, Lifestyle Choices permit Consumer Buying My parent’s liberal nature permitted personality, values, and lifestyle choices to properly fall into place with the purchase. For years my organic food was the only thing available in my house and my parents have supported many environmental causes.   After the Oscars my father’s motivation to purchase a green car increase ten hold and he begun his thorough investigation.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The individual differences of the cars and manufactures had much to do with my family’s purchase of the Prius. The internet provided all the consumer resources my parent’s needed to come to a narrowed the decision down to either the Toyota Prius or the Volkswagen Touran. The next step was for my parents to go and see both cars.   They met with salespeople; test drove each car, learned how much fuel each car consumed per kilometer, and investigated the electric components of the car.   Although comparable in design, boot space, and kilometers to the liter, my parents both choose the Prius and after much research were happy to take it home. Consumer Satisfaction My parents are very happy with this vehicle at home.   Consumer consumption is a concept that can be defined as â€Å"a mean’s of producing one’s self and self-image† (Arnould & Price, 2000, p. 141).   The image my parent’s are trying to produce is one of a trendy and environmentally aware people.   The Toyota Prius definitely portrays this image.   In terms of satisfaction this may be the best purchase my parents have every made.   They are more than happy to show it off and tell all of the perks and special features to anyone who cares to listen.   In retrospect if Toyota ever needs spokes person for the Prius they should definitely consider my parents. Divestment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At this time divestment is not a concept that is considered with this purchase.   The social value alone has causes an investment in the environment which is never a lost cause.   Friends and neighbors are impressed and this is important to my parents. Conclusion My parents played out each step of the decision making process in almost the exact layout of the model provided by Blackwell, Miniard, and Engel. Beginning with stimuli, we will review the exposure, attention, comprehension, and retention stage that occurred to cause the thought of this purchase to hold steadfast in the memory, then moving on to need recognition, environmental influences, individual differences influencing the purchase decision, we will see what cause the purchase to became complete, and what happens thereafter with satisfaction/dissatisfaction and divestment stages of the consumer process.   Overall this has been an interesting investigation into the thought process behind such a purchase for our family.   Consumers as a whole have a difficult time choosing environmental friendly products â€Å"Until (recently), industrialization had enjoyed an extraordinary and almost continuous success–except for occasional wars. Technological development and its products were widely accepted. Standards of living, prosperity, and welfare were and are closely tied to the successes of industrial society. Energy, particularly in the form of fossil fuels, has been and continues to be essential to an advanced, industrial society. The enterprises and authorities involved in energy production and supply–and the decision making and planning relating to them–enjoyed respect and support. They had well established legitimacy. An ample supply of energy was seen as crucial for industrial development and for providing important ingredients to everyday comforts and welfare. Since the â€Å"golden age of energy† came to an end (around 1970), there have occurred significant changes in our consciousness, in our policies, and to some extent in our practices. In part, this is reflected in the results of energy research. In response to the energy problem, policymakers and planners have tried–and continue to try–a variety of strategies: Attempts to reduce energy consumption, save energy, and increase energy efficiency† (Monnier et al., 1986, p. 54). These are issues that need to be clear in every consumers thought process.   I applaud the thoughtful efforts of celebrities, manufacturers, countries, and individual states that support the cause and try to encourage consumers to be conscious about their buying decisions.   It is important to consider the consequences of all of our actions and this includes our action when we purchase a new product. References Arnould, E. J., & Price, L. L. (2000). 8 Authenticating Acts and Authoritative Performances. In The Why of Consumption: Contemporary Perspectives on Consumer Motives, Goals and Desires, Ratneshwar, S., Mick, D. G., & Huffman, C. (Eds.) (pp. 140-163). London: Routledge. Donnelley, Astrakhan. â€Å"Natural Responsibilities: Philosophy, Biology, and Ethics in Ernst Mayr and Hans Jonas.† The Hastings Center Report 32.4 (2002): 36+. Questia. 21 Mar. 2007 . Johansen, Bruce E. The Global Warming Desk Reference. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002. Questia. 21 Mar. 2007 . Lackner, Klaus S., and Jeffrey D. Sachs. â€Å"A Robust Strategy for Sustainable Energy.† Brookings Papers on Economic Activity (2005): 215+. Questia. 21 Mar. 2007 . Lee, J., & Geistfeld, L. V. (1998). Enhancing Consumer Choice: Are We Making Appropriate Recommendations?. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 32(2), 227+. Retrieved March 21, 2007, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001394368 Mayer, Donald O. â€Å"Corporate Governance in the Cause of Peace: An Environmental Perspective.† Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law 35.2 (2002): 585+. Questia. 21 Mar. 2007 . â€Å"Free Parking Permits for Eco-Cars.† BBC News 15 Mar. 2007. 21 Mar. 2007 .   

Tommy hilfiger casestudy Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tommy hilfiger casestudy - Coursework Example The CEO at Hilfiger shifted the bulk of design output to the European headquarters and this led to an overall price hike. For one thing, the costs of production in Europe are higher. Operational and distribution costs are also very high in Europe compared to the United States based on the different retail and wholesale systems. In the U.S., mid to high tier department stores are utilized to stock the merchandise and reach the customers. Due to the â€Å"mall† culture of United States, this strategy worked very well and at lower distribution costs the company could easily reach its target market. In contrast, the retail culture in Europe is very â€Å"small boutique†, where shoppers go to small, exclusive shops to buy clothing rather than bigger departmental chains. These chains, such as Galeries Lafayette in France, are costly distribution options. As a result, the associated costs spiked. To compete with European brands that are tagged at higher prices (up around $50 o n average on a single T-shirt, for example) Hilfiger merchandise was priced higher in Europe to make them competitive. Lastly, to convey the message of premium quality and compete with higher end European brands such as LV, Prada and Gucci, the company positioned the product in the top tier category and had to mark prices accordingly. In branding, the Law of Quality described by Al and Laura Ries (2009) shows that the higher the price of a brand, the greater the perception of quality. This law was seen in practice in the European Hilfiger market. The company has been able to establish a European customer base and market presence. As a result, the European market accounts for 40% of the total sales of the company. The American market has suffered due to lower pricing strategy and inability to compete on the fronts that the Hilfiger brand was traditionally known for. Competing on different price levels in different regions does not have as big an impact if the two are compared; howeve r, as standalone businesses, the European region has benefitted and North American region has suffered. 2. Hilfiger’s CEO would like to harmonise the European and U.S. collections by having Hilfiger move more upmarket in the US. What problems might the company face in doing this? What might it do to make this strategy successful? Building on the tested idea that higher prices are equated with higher quality, associations that the Hilfiger brand strives for, the company intended to move more up-market in the U.S. The major problems that might result from this strategy are mentioned below: Changes might hurt the overall brand. Branding is achieved through a consistent face of the company and its products. With standard designs in collections, it would be damaging in the long run for a brand to have a changed strategy and pricing policy in Europe and US. Resistance from the traditional buyer of Hilfiger. The traditional buyer comes to Hilfiger expecting the All-American, classic casual wear that is affordable. A higher price tag will disillusion the buyer, making him think the brand he loves to wear has changed and is not what he has always wanted. This will result in lost sales for the company. Lose the essence that made it famous. A higher price tag will demand a change in the design strategy also because charging a premium for the standard material and design will confuse the buyer. For example, when the company changed the logo design, a Hilfiger trademark, the company faced lower

Psychoanalytical perspective Trifles by Susan Glaspell Essay

Psychoanalytical perspective Trifles by Susan Glaspell - Essay Example This is because a deeper understanding of human nature can reveal the motivation behind their actions. In this play, the playwright has employed trifles or everyday conversation or incidents to uncover the murder mystery of John Wright. Ironically, what seem trifles to the men folk, such as the quilt and how it was being quilted, was actually the key to solve the mystery. It was of significant importance how it was being quilted because the women could see nervousness and anxiety in the last few stitches by Minnie Wright, which was altogether ignored by men as they were looking for physical evidences only. The dreary and queer ambience of the house arouses sympathy of the two women for Minnie Wright. The incomplete state of the household chores conveys an altogether different meaning than what the men believe that she did not have home-keeping skills. This is because the women associate with each other through their common interests in their womanly and homemaking activities, referred to as ‘trifles’ in the play. Through their simple conservation, the playwright makes sure that the audience gets a hint that the three women are bonded together and understand each other’s psychologies through common experiences and feelings. There is an also an element of isolation and alienation from the mainstream life in the play. The Wrights used to live an isolated life- they were childless and did not have frequent visitors. According to Mrs. Hale, who didn’t think that â€Å"... a place’d be any cheerfuller for John Wright’s being in it.†(Glaspell, 1916) The two women instinctually trace the underlying causes of alienation and its adverse affects on the life and psyche of Minnie Wright. Glaspell symbolically represents Minnie Wright as the ‘caged singing bird’. Mrs. Hale says, â€Å"I wonder how it would seem never to have had any children around. No, Wright wouldn’t like

Judy's Marketing plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Judy's Marketing plan - Essay Example Aside from this, the major airport nearby is also a good opportunity for an additional client base. 2. There are two things that Judy has to consider in entering the pet grooming and boarding business within her area. The first one is the addition of in-house pet sitting in her service. Since Judy has an experience in this kind of job, she is qualified to attend to the needs of her prospective clients' pets at the comfort of their homes. According to Rod Scofield and Russ Mclean, pet sitting has many benefits that are fitted for Judy's market. Aside from minimizing the risk of exposing their pets to traumas and possible illnesses, the presence of pet sitters within the homes of their clients even contributes to crime deterrence in the community. Pets are given personalized and comprehensive care that is missing if they are to be groomed outside of their familiar territories. It would also give peace of mind to the clients, knowing that their pet and even their homes are safer because of the pet sitter present in their homes. Another targeting strategy that she should do is to promote her services via the web. Since her market are web literate and experts, she has to offer her service to them through the most familiar marketing venue they know-the Internet.

Closet Exercise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Closet Exercise - Essay Example Productivity and competitiveness are, by and large, a function of knowledge generation and information processing; firms and territories are organized in networks of production, management and distribution; the core economic activities are global - that is, they have the capacity to work as a unit in real time, or chosen time, on a planetary scale. (Castells 2001: 52).2 With globalization at hand, fashion industry was not exempted in this new economy. Fashion world, has become competitive over time and students are excused from this happening. It the above figures, we can say that the globalization has been evident in the clothing industry and preference of the students. Though there are a lot of students who were not able to travel around the world, it can be said that they are well aware and knowledgeable of what is happening in fashion world. Men and women are now getting more and more brand conscious. Through the presence of agent of globalization such as media, more students now are influenced by branding or what others think about what brands of clothes they wear. However, in the figures in the report, it can be said that globalization is still not that strong in students. 78% of the total number of clothes in the group is still composed of US brands with total of 357 pieces listed. 8% of total number of pieces of clothing came from Italys famous brands such as Gucci, Dolce&Gabbana, Armani and Prada. Another 8% of the clothing listed came from famous French brands. Lastly, 6% of the total clothing was from the famou s brand Mango. Taking note from the excel report, the tops and bottoms of the students were mostly from American brands. Thus, it can be said that students still patronize brands from the United States of America which are generally patronized by the citizens. The other 22% percent of students clothing tallied were from famous international brands which are known to be very expensive. But despite this fact, students still acquire these

New States in World Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

New States in World Politics - Essay Example A new state can be defined as one whose people have acquired through any means,constitutional or war,complete independence in the way they carry their social-political and social economic activities.According to Albert, Brock and Wolff,civilisation has also led to new states being formed,as more nations have demanded self governemnt from their former states. In the wake of the World War II, there were numerous new states which arose. Similarly, after the world war, the struggle for independence in African and Asian countries, led by former World War II veterans who had been taken from European colonies in Africa and Asia, led to numerous new states in African and Asia. While these formations of these states led to the terms new states, these states are now all over fifty years old. Yet, new states seem to continue to blossom every now and then, the most recent example being south Sudan. Formation of new states has continued to reshape world politics in various ways. The major factor affecting the way new states continue to reshape global politics can be seen in the form of the special relationship between a state and a nation. While in common language, the words state and nation are used interchangeably by the lay man, from a political science point of view, it is clear that these two terms are completely different and that they may mean two different things. In a nutshell, state refers to a collection of people who are joined together by a political ideology. These people may not have any social or spiritual connection or oneness. On the other hand, a nation is made of communities who share their spiritual or social values and beliefs (Duncan, Webster & Switky, 2008). Although in many cases the existence of a state coincides with the existence of a nation, it is not always so. In this regard, where there is a discrepancy between the nation and state, the political surrounding that kind of state, both nationally and internationally has a problem. In cases where a state overlaps two or more nations, the state is likely to have internal rows leading to civil wars. The main cause for this is that the nations in the state may not share the same values, and this may lead to the people fighting over values, resources or just general politics. On the other hand, where a nation goes beyond the borders of ne state, the two states containing parts of single nations will most likely to have wars with each other. The formation of new states therefore has a very fundamental role in reshaping international politics (Teller, et al, 1964). A very good example is the demarcation of Sudan to make south Sudan and Sudan states. The issues that had existed for a long time in the former Sudan were the fact that it was one state which contained two nations, on in the northern part of the country and the other in the southern parts of the nation. Once the two states were separated to make two distinct states, the issue of civil war was overcome. However, this di d not guarantee that that the two nations would stop having quarrels. The separation of the two states actually led to some misunderstandings which today are not only affecting the two nations but also international politics (Albert, Brock, and Wolff, 2000). In this regard, t is possible to look at the various ways in which the formation of new nations affects international politics; New alliances With the formation of new states, two things always happen. First, it is good to note that new states are not formed from thin air, rather, they are formed from existing states and the process is always bloody (McCormick, 2011). While in some cases, the formation of new nations can be achieved through strong constitutional rules like was the case for India, the truth is that in over 90% of the new nations are made from bloody processes such as civil wars (in the case for Sudan), or militia wars against existing governments such as the in the struggle for independence in Africa.

How do western media cover China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

How do western media cover China - Essay Example Historically, western nations of the world have risen and developed much earlier than those from the far east, especially South East Asia. Such developments in the west from the fifteenth century have radically shaped the image of Europe being a forerunner in progress. It has set the standard for the rest of the world to emulate (Cao, 2012). This has developed an arrogance which claims the western portrayal of the ‘orient’ as incapable of ‘modernization’ (Said, 1978). From nineteenth century scholars such as Marx and Hegel, to modern authors such as Fukuyama (1989), non-Western nations have been portrayed as technologically and socio-politically inferior to western countries. Three Events Meriting Media Coverage for the World Guo (2012) identified three major events in Chinese history in 2008 that have been portrayed by western media in several ways. These are the Tibetan riots in March, The Wenchuan Earthquake in May and the Olympic Games in August. With th ese three events happening in a span of a few months, China has received a wide variety of impressions from all over the world thanks to the subjectivity/ objectivity of news delivery of western media. The Tibetan riots were impelled by political causes and were highlighted with the conflicts and disputes on religion, freedom of speech and politics between Chinese society and western media. These riots attracting much attention from media and may have conveyed to the world that political instability can result from such a spectacle. The overall perception created by the western media was allegedly â€Å"inaccurate, ideologically biased against and unfair towards China† (Guo, 2012, p. 78). Chinese scholars thought that western media coverage of the Tibetan riots portrayed it as a government crackdown instead of a mere act of riot or unrest from a minority of the population of civilians (Guo, 2012). They felt that the foreign correspondents sided with the Tibetan rioters who we re described as suppressed in their fight for freedom and equal human rights. On the other hand, these correspondents were critical and suspicious of the Chinese government. Further, such reporting of the news on the riots was not constrained to the event itself but was linked and analyzed with other protest actions such as the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 and a possible boycott of the forthcoming Beijing Olympics a few months after the riots (Zhao, 2008). The negative impression created by this western media coverage affected people’s anticipation of negative outcomes in the holding of the Olympics in China in the same year. What was expected to be an exciting and momentous sports event was marred by an anti-Chinese torch relay during the Olympics because of the earlier Tibetan riots (Zhang & Yu, 2008). Such display of rebellion has turned world opinion against China, and this was highlighted by western media (Guo 2012). Hosting the Olympics meant a big deal to China si nce it represented an achievement of a long-held ambition to show the world that sport is taken quite seriously in this country, not merely for fun or physical competition. For China, it is about national honor, pride or shame. The Olympic spirit is tightly intertwined with the Chinese nationalist sentiment (Guo 2012). The great anticipation in planning this grand event was disappointed by the natural disaster of an earthquake and the human intervention of a rambunctious riot meant to divert attention from the grandeur of the Olympics. In contrast, the Wenchuan

Cultural development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cultural development - Essay Example It is evident from the study that Cultural Development theories strive to describe the quality changes in the framework and structure of society, which help its members realize their aims and objectives. Cultural development does not only entail the integration of new programs and policies in the society, but it also includes the process of social change. Physical Stage is mainly marked with the domination of physical aspects of the human personality. At this stage, people are required to adhere and follow tradition strictly, and only little change and innovation are required. Society in this stage is mainly meant for survival and subsistence. Land is the most outstanding resource, and wealth is weighed on the size of land holdings. During this stage, money and commerce play minor roles, and experimental and innovative approaches are discouraged. Church and religious beliefs are responsible for introducing new technological knowledge into the society. Professional skills are passed d own from the parents to the children. Vital Stage is marked with change and dynamism. Society becomes adventurous and innovative thereby expanding its activities. The society transforms from stressing on interactions with the physical environment to emphasizing on the social interactions between people. Agriculture, which is the main economic activity at this stage is fueled by trade. New programs and policies that encourage commerce and trade are introduced into the society. Experimental and innovative approaches are encouraged, and demand for knowledge and skills rise. This is the stage where people begin to strive to acquire leisure and luxury, which were not attainable when the society was at subsistence level (Johnson & Lewis 48). Mental Stage This stage is characterized by the social, political and practical application of mind. At this stage, the society emphasizes on education, technology and inventions. New social organizations, political systems, human rights and democrati c movements are created (Johnson & Lewis 67). People are also allowed to interact with God directly without the mediation of church leaders. Mental stage is fueled by technological advancements such as telecommunication, air travel, modern roads and networking (Johnson & Lewis 68). Technical Development Technical change is a process that is characterized by three main stages that include invention, innovation and diffusion of processes (Johnson & Lewis 54). Invention Invention refers to the breakthrough in technology or the creation of new things (Johnson & Lewis 26). It involves the creation of new idea that had not been created or discovered by anyone else. Everett Rogers indentified five elements of an innovation, which impact the extent of its effectiveness. They include compatibility, trialability, complexity, observability, and relative advantage (Johnson & Lewis 111). Innovation Innovation entails the development of an inventive idea to create refined and leaned products and services (Johnson & Lewis 124). This is the stage that proves or fails the worthiness of an inventive idea. It is less risky than invention because it deals with known quantities, qualities and parameters (Johnson & Lewis 127). For example, the availability of personal computers has aided the creation of Software that human has also used to

Critical Perspectives of Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Critical Perspectives of Power - Essay Example The origins of power can be understood from medieval businesses where there were smaller organizations and fewer employees in each of them. Typically, an individual learnt a trade and plied his craft, selling his services to others and accumulating capital; in the course of his journey occasionally, he had opportunities to expand and launch his own enterprise. A mixture of hard work and serendipity sometimes enabled such journeymen to become masters. In effect, they became owners or owner-managers and employed people to work for their business enterprise. In essence, we find that an individual, in his early days as an apprentice bows to a power center, who for all practical purposes is his master or supervisor; later on there is an opportunity to be the authority or one who now wields power himself. We now trace different viewpoints as observed through the lens of three different theorists Weber (1978) had a clear construct of power. According to him, power flowed through a bureaucratic setup where people and processes were clearly defined. People were endowed with certain powers to approve or reject petitions and they exercised it as per the written code of conduct. Effectively, no one could flout the rigor and the organizational hierarchy to get work done. Power being legitimized through the form of organizational structures, there were no methods or actions that could challenge it. Perhaps, we can visualize it as a one-way street, where everything was clearly spelt out and there was no possibility of dialogue or dissent. Viewed from another angle, power was domination and any overt or covert resistance was construed as a form of insubordination and sanctions were imposed. Bachrach & Baratz (1963, 1970) had a different interpretation. We take this as the second dimension of power. They posited that power was associated with decisions and non-decisions. Power was cons trued as a process where the issues or problems were excluded from decision-making. Subordinates are not allowed to participate in the decision-making process through various stratagems adopted by people in higher positions of authority. The use of these channels has been described as non-decisions. In scenarios such as these, the powerful actors are able to determine outcomes from behind the scenes. A critical perspective would perhaps hint at this construction as a subtle, non-offensive use of power. Yet, it clearly denotes that there are invisible barriers. On one side, there are people who can take decisions; on the other side, there are subordinates or people who may be in conflict but forced to accept the decisions of the top management team. The third dimension was put forth by Lukes (1974) who argued that power could not be interpreted in the light of conflicts alone. He opined that power could be used to quell dissent and conflicting viewpoints by shaping the perceptions an d cognitions of people. This could be done in a subtle manner so that people accept

School Uniform Essay Example for Free

School Uniform Essay A school uniform makes it easier for the school authorities to recognize students belonging to their school. Authorities can also make out if someone doesnt belong to a school, if someone just manages to sneak in; unless, of course, they go through all the trouble of buying a uniform that fits! †¢ A school uniform also saves the school administrators from having to police what the students wear. There are no daily battles regarding whats appropriate to wear or not for school. †¢ A school uniform apparently also saves students from putting their fashion tastes before their learning requirements. When they dont have to spend time wondering what to wear and how to make a fashion statement, they can devote more time to getting educated. This in turn, lifts their academic performance. †¢ Wearing the same type of dress reduces social snobbery and peer pressure in educational institutions. It is also supposed to reduce incidents of bullying and theft. How do you pick on someone for wearing the same dress as yourself? Why would you steal a pair of shoes you both have and can afford? Thus there are fewer arguments, and following a dress code plays more of a balancing act. †¢ School uniforms cramp the style of gang members. They have to recognize each other by names and faces instead of flaunting aggressively painted jackets, T-shirts with obscene messages, clunky jewelry, and things like that. Instead of my gang and your gang, they also have to think in terms of our school. Its a hard life. On the brighter side, it helps them to live another day and go on to survive in college. †¢ A school uniform can instill a sense of discipline and community feeling. This naturally reduces incidents of violence. Students can come to school without worrying about personal safety. Teachers dont have to double as guards, and can concentrate on teaching. †¢ By wearing a uniform dress code, students can find other means to showcase  their creativeness. †¢ At a very young age, school uniforms instill the spirit of teamwork and one feels proud to be a part of a school, if he/she represents the school for any occasion. †¢ Most importantly, uniforms are cost-efficient, as parents do not have to spend on clothes for their children, thus benefiting them. So, to sum it up, by wearing uniforms, students appear to belong to a single community, they require less time to spend on deciding what to wear and it prevents wrong conduct, thus inculcating discipline in them. Hence, wearing school uniforms seems to be a pretty convincing and stimulating strategy. Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/benefits-of-school-uniforms.html Pros of School Uniforms It helps you to find children: If a school is on a trip, or if a child runs away, a school uniform can help teachers to quickly identify children from their school and so prevent them from getting lost. This is a very useful ability for teachers and if it means fewer children going missing its of course a good thing. It prevents competition and teasing: When children wear their own clothes into school, this then becomes a time for them to judge each other. Some children will be more mature than others, some will have better dress sense, and some will have more money at their disposal. What you dont want is some children turning up in fashionable new clothes and bullying the ones in their hand-me-downs who will inevitably feel embarrassed as a result. With a school uniform everyone is the same, thus no one can argue this point. Likewise wearing home clothes can show affiliation – to sports teams, to TV series, or to bands – and this can then cause arguments between the r ival teams. It can enforce a positive attitude: In a work place we dress smartly even though theres normally no uniform in office jobs, and even the self employed are advised to dress as though they were going into an office. The reason for this is that it can make you feel professional, and that that in turn can make you produce a better quality of  work. The same is true of school children and if they are in shirts they will feel more like little workers and less like football fans. It can teach discipline: Though many jobs do not require a uniform, others do. If you children are going to grow up to become nurses or checkout assistants then they may as well get used now to putting on the same uniform day in and out. It shows their age: At the end of the day you want people to know that your children are children. This prevents people from chatting them up or serving them alcohol. By putting them in school uniforms the older looking children then cant pretend to be older than they are. It can be used as an excuse: If a child is misbehaving and needs to be put in line, it can sometimes be difficult for a teacher to find a reason. By telling them off for having their shirt un-tucked though you have a legitimate reason. This is often why there are dress codes in clubs (though some parents would undoubtedly argue this was a bad reason to wear a uniform) Helpful for Teachers * Uniforms allow teachers to teach. Taking away the need to police clothing choices gives teachers a chance to focus on curriculum and not on what the students are wearing. It helps to remove the subjective nature of general clothing guidelines, such as determining what is offensive. Attitude * Uniforms help to change the attitude of those wearing them. Unlike regular clothing choices, you are not likely to pick on someone wearing the exact same thing as yourself. Many a schoolyard fight has begun with someone making fun of someone else regarding the clothing they are wearing. Dressing nicely also helps students to live up to their clothing. There is an innate sense of decorum when we dress for success. People tend to act differently depending on the clothing they are wearing. By creating a uniform specifically designed for attending school, the attitude falls in line. When those clothes are on, it becomes as regular as putting on pajamas, so a brain knows it is time to focus and learn. Sex Factor * Reducing the sex factor also provides motivation to focus on studies. Even when students dress within guidelines, children can find a way to push the limits with how low cut or tight their clothing might be. With a  uniform, that is almost entirely removed. You will no longer have the girl with the low-cut blouse distracting the boys in the classroom. Sense of Belonging * Providing a sense of belonging is an important part of uniformity. When you help to remove the class system by leveling the playing field, it provides students with the opportunity to be included. Clothing is an easy way to point out those who do not have money or support. By eliminating this discrepancy, you have made life easier for all students. Safety * Safety-wise, uniforms make students easily identifiable. It becomes simple to locate those who do not belong on a campus when they are not in the correct clothing. They also prevent the concerns of gangs and other forms of cliques sporting their colors and causing friction between groups or individuals. The main reason schools in America choose not to allow their students to wear their own clothes is because of the gangs. Having a uniform stops gang members from displaying their colours and garb. The schools also believe it helps stop violence and helps instill a sense of pride in the students. It also helps to break down the barriers between different socioeconomic groups. Below are some opinions taken from a messageboard regarding the issue: I feel we should keep to the uniform. It sets an example of the school. It is representation the community. It is easy to point out different people. Also there would be more fights/bulllys due to the lack of fashion. Many schools throughout the U.S. force students grades kindergarten through twelfth to wear uniforms. Students who attend public schools should not have to wear uniforms for four reasons. 1. School uniforms inhibit studentsEUR(TM) individuality. Young people often express their feelings through the clothing that they wear. Uniforms will take away this form of expression. Why should school districts try to make everyone look the same? 2. A school uniform policy inhibits a students freedom of choice. Schools teach students that our country is a free one. But when school boards make students wear what they tell them too it curtails the students freedom. 3. There is the issue of cost. Many parents shop for  their childrens clothes at used and discount stores. Uniforms can cost more money than these families might be able to afford. Also, these students would need to buy additional clothing to wear after school and on the weekends. Thats double the amount of money a family would spend than they would without the uniforms.  wearing comfortable clothing to school. Uniforms are not necessarily comfortable. Also, wearing a uniform might make the student uncomfortable around people outside the school who dont have to wear a uniform. If we want individuality, freedom, and comfort for students while keeping costs down for families, we should not have a school uniform policy for students who attend public schools. In my opinion, right up to year 11 students/kids should have to wear school uniform, it stops all the arguments about who has the latest fashions etc. But when you reach college or 6th form it should stop, because by then your old enough to know not to take the pee out of what people wear. Mind you saying that, most of the people at my 6th form were wallys. Professional: Some say that a child in a school uniform is more likely to take school seriously. Putting on the school uniform signals he or she is going to school just like dad dresses up to go to work. Schools report that when students dress in work clothes rather than play clothes they take a more serious approach to their studies. Promotes Good Discipline: Many think that school uniforms help maintain school discipline, decreasing the amount of discipline problems. The argument is that children today are lacking in self-discipline because parents refuse to discipline them. This makes it more difficult on the teacher who has to deal with classes of 25-30 students at a time. Reduces Fighting and Violence: Schools report that school uniforms decrease fighting and violence that arrise out of arguments over fashionable clothes. Children invariably tease those who do not have trendy clothes. Those who cant afford name brand clothes are often sensitive about their clothing. Schools struggling with  gang problems report that school uniforms help ease tensions. Distractions: Many parents believe that students wearing school uniforms look nicer and that a school uniform policy ensures that children will come to school in appropriate clothing, avoiding distractions such as fads considered to be outlandish or overly revealing. Some students have turned school into an unending fashion show. This disctracts from learning, as some kids spend more time focused on thier clothes than on homework. AdChoices Values: School uniforms stress that individuality and self-expression are not determined by designer clothing or the latest fashion fad. Low Cost: School uniforms are a bargain. They are becoming far less expensive than many other clothes. Schools argue that school uniforms are economical, especially compared to designer clothing, and parents agree given school uniform durability. They say school uniforms last longer because they are made for repeated wash and wear. Many schools capitalize on this by starting used school uniform stores or swap meets. Parents can get used school uniforms at discount prices, or just use them as hand-me-downs between siblings. School Spirit: Some feel wearing a school uniform helps build school spirit. It instills a feeling of belonging. As the Beach Boys said, Be true to your school. Schools report an increase in school pride. Individuality: Supressing individuality is the most commonly cited objection to school uniforms. Educators argue that an academic program encouraging students to pursue individual thought is much more important than what they wear. They inhibit creativity and self-expression, forcing students to conform. Causes Discipline Problems: Some students reject any rules. Forcing them to wear school uniforms only aggravates their rebelious spirit. They alter their school uniform by tightening, widening, shortening, or lengthening them, and teachers are given the impossible task of policing the students on a daily basis. Little  or No Relationship to Academics: Opponents insist that their is no credible evidence that school uniforms improve school discipline or promote higher academic acheivement. The principal argument is that some great students are terrible dressers. Dress does not necessarily improve learning.

An analysis of the budgeting in management accounting

An analysis of the budgeting in management accounting With the fast development of in the area of management accounting, more and more managers are aware of the importance of the budgeting, budgeting is an important control system in almost all organizations (Stephen C. Hansen, Wim A. Van der Stede, 2004, Management Accounting Research, Multiple facets of budgeting: an exploratory analysis,), and it provides an expression of the steps which management must take in the current period if it is to fulfil organizational objectives. (M.W.E.Glautier and B.Underdown. (1997) Accounting Theory and Practice, p531, 6th Edition, Great Britain: PITMAN PUBLISHING). This paper will discuss that what is budgeting and the budgeting committee, the budgeting purpose and types of budget, the benefits and limitations in the budget, and how to be a successful budgeting. The budgeting process focuses on the medium term period, normally one year, and it is an expression of plan in monetary terms, which is aim to achieve the organizational objectives, as Colin Drury said the budget is a financial plan for implementing the various decisions that management has made.(Colin Drury. (2008) MANAGEMENT AND COST ACCOUNTING. p10, 7th Edition, China: GENGAGE Learning) The various decisions are covered in cost and revenues, cash flow, assets and liabilities. In additional, the annual budget likely to be sub-divided for reporting periods, such as monthly budget reports, because the risk can be reduced in the monthly budgets and it helps managers easy to find the problems during the operation. In organizations, budgeting is often in the hands of a budgeting committee (M.W.E.Glautier and B.Underdown. (1997) Accounting Theory and Practice, p533, 6th Edition, Great Britain: PITMAN PUBLISHING), so the members of the budget committee is very important. For example, in the sales budgeting process, marketing department may be deliberately underestimated future sales, thus contributing to their performance evaluation. However, underestimate the quantity of sales will result in a corresponding reduction in production, which means the production will not be able to achieve the most efficient state. Another example, some department may padding the expenses in order to get more budget funds, resulting in a waste of money. Therefore, the budget committee should consist of the various important department managers, and some high-level executives be the leader. Furthermore, it usually has an accountant to be the budget officer in the budget committee, the role of the budget officer is to coordinate the individual budgets into a budget for the whole organization, so that the budget committee and the budgetee can see the impact of an individual budget on the organization as a whole. (Colin Drury. (2008) MANAGEMENT AND COST ACCOUNTING. p357, 7th Edition, China: GENGAGE Learning). The budgeting purposes and types of budget setting There are six useful purposes of budgeting, which are planning, coordinating, communicating, motivating, controlling and evaluating. Therefore, the budget will help managers through the planned activities to determine the target of the organisation and allowed managers to consider all possible situations. however it not only to reflect projected revenue and expenditure budget as of the amount of financial figures, the budget is a kind of resource allocation, input and output of the program content, quantity, and the input-output timing details. Through the budget, so that business managers can have clear objectives. In addition, the budget serves as a vehicle through which the actions of the different parts of an organization can be brought together and reconciled into a common plan. (Colin Drury. (2008) MANAGEMENT AND COST ACCOUNTING. P355, 7th Edition, China: GENGAGE Learning) and it is an effective way of the communication in the organization. Managers and staff can be motivated b y the budget because of it can help to enhance the predictability and avoid blind behavior and thereby to motivate they to complete the objectives. The Budget is based on quantitative way to show management standards, it can thus be judged according to the budget implementation effectiveness of the work and analyze differences improve their work. Two types of the budget setting are top down and bottom up. The table of illustration as following TOP DOWN BOTTOM UP OVERALL BUDGET FUNCTIONAL BUDGETS DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS In the top down way, it typically start with overall budget then broken down into functional budgets and then into departmental. If budget setting is top down, it can be directly link to the organization objectives and reflected to the authority and mandatory of budget. However, it may be limited of the information from lower levels thus that separated from reality and may reduce the effect of budget in planning, coordination and control. On the other hand, in the bottom up way, it typically start with departmental budgets then build up into functional budgets and then into overall budget. Similarly, if budget setting is bottom up, although it can solve the lack of the information from lower levels, but the exchange of information in each department may be not enough thus plans of one department is conflict with others, therefore the lack of coordination will arise. To solve those problems, the budget setting should be repeated between individuals and the budget committee. Firstly, the objectives proposed by the budget committee, such as the quantity of sales, production costs and target profits. Next, use those indicators to discuss with the various departments in order to reach an agreement, and then the budget committee will based on the agreement to determine the master budget and give to the departments. After this, the various departments based on the master budget to set out departmental budgets and build up into functional budgets. Finally, the budget committee use those individuals budget to set out the final master budget and gives to each department. The benefits and limitations The budget has some benefits to the organization, and it will show in the figure as follow: Provide a basis for a system of control Budgets Provide a system of authorization Help co-ordinate the various sections of the business Motivate managers to better performance Promote forward thinking and identification of short-term (Perter Atrill. Eddie McLaney. (2008) Accounting and Finance for Non- specialists. P312. 6th edition. Essex: Prentice Hall Europe.) However, the budget has also been found a number of limitations, such as the time lag in the system, which means the results of last month may not be reported in time and be delayed to next month or later. Moreover, there will always be some changes in the organization during the budget period; such as the shortage of funds, labour and materials, and the budget may be impacted thus the objective of organization cannot achieve the optimal state. To be successful budgeting As we have discussed in this paper, there are some limitations of the budget, and those limitations may lead to it hard to implement and dissatisfaction may express regarding how budgeting operates in practice. The following is some way to solve those problems and make the budgeting more successful. Firstly, the budget should be always concerned to achieve the objectives of organization, and need to avoid to only focus on its own target, the reasons of the budget may only focus on its own target and forget the objectives is that it may not properly reflect the requirements of objectives.. In order to prevent the replacement of the budget target, it should enable the budget to more reflect with the organizations objectives. Secondly, the budgeting should be flexibility, it because of that business conditions are always changing. Although we have planned the business conditions for the situation may occur in the future and make appropriate action to deal with changes, but on the one hand the budget setting cannot cover everything, and on the other hand the situations are always changing that some problems cannot be foresee. Therefore, it is necessary to view the budgeting process as a guide to future action, rather than a rigid plan which must be followed irrespective of changing circumstances.(M.W.E.Glautier and B.Underdown. (1997) Accounting Theory and Practice, p532, 6th Edition, Great Britain: PITMAN PUBLISHING) Conclusion In conclusion, budgeting is an important tool for management planning and control, and it has some useful functions for businesses and organizations, but it also has great limitations. The key point in the budgeting is make the benefits of it to be maximum, and reduce the limitations and solve problems during the period, thereby the budgeting can be achieved the most effective level. References ¼Ã… ¡ Colin Drury. (2008) MANAGEMENT AND COST ACCOUNTING. 7th Edition, China: GENGAGE Learning M.W.E.Glautier and B.Underdown. (1997) Accounting Theory and Practice. 6th Edition, Great Britain: PITMAN PUBLISHING Perter Atrill. Eddie McLaney. (2008) Accounting and Finance for Non- specialists. 6th edition. Essex: Prentice Hall Europe. Stephen C. Hansen, Wim A. Van der Stede. (2004) The electronic journal: Management Accounting Research, Multiple facets of budgeting: an exploratory analysis. P415-439. ScienceDirect [online] ¼Ã… ½ Available at ¼Ã… ¡http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL_udi=B6WMY-4DN9VP9-1_user=128592_rdoc=1_fmt=_orig=search_sort=d_docanchor=view=c_searchStrId=1095268002_rerunOrigin=google_acct=C000010620_version=1_urlVersion=0_userid=128592md5=f55e2a67d72ee304d2f1bc3f24de73eb

Applications Of Remote Sensing Environmental Sciences Essay

Applications Of Remote Sensing Environmental Sciences Essay Remote sensing technique has emerged as an effective tool for systematic survey, analysis, and better management of natural resources (land, soil, water, forests, mountains) along with the monitoring of desertification, flood, drought, and landform change. It provides a vast scope to explore, identify, and analyze the natural resources of undeveloped regions. It documents the dynamic changes in physical processes and resulting landforms, usually by satellite images. This paper provides a general overview of remote sensing. While this technique has been used on beaches, valleys, and other landforms, the main concern of this paper is its role in geography. Key Words: Remote Sensing, Geography, Application Introduction Despite advances in geographical studies, the methods of traditional geography have become insufficient to apprehend its reality and complexity, considering technological and scientific changes that have happened in the last 30 years. However, this does not mean that these changes are not useful for geographic research. This has become evident now that Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are developing spatial studies to appeal to such technologies as remote sensing and computer sciences (MEC, 1999). This paper focuses on a particular research tool for geographic research known as remote sensing. This benefits the study of geography in many ways, especially as a research tool, a tool for collecting high quality data, and a tool that aids in the reasoning process. It achieves these tasks by virtue of its spacial and temporal coverage (Rhoads, 2004; Doreen, 2009). Geographers increasingly use remotely sensed data to obtain information about the earths land surface, ocean, and atmosphere because it supplies objective information at a variety of spatial scales (local to global), provides a synoptic view of the area of interest, allows access to distant/inaccessible sites, provides spectral information outside the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and facilitates studies of how features change over time. This data may be analyzed independently or in conjunction with other digital data layers (e.g. in a GIS). General Overview of Remote Sensing Although this paper is mainly concerned with remote sensing used for geography, the field of remote sensing is very wide in data acquisition methods, data processing procedures, and various techniques and applications. Therefore, it is useful to provide a general overview about several important topics regarding remote sensing of the surface of the earth. The text also attempts to give the reader an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of remote sensing. Very few equations and formulas will be given in the text, as the focus will be on understanding the basic ideas. Remote sensing is defined according to certain functions. It involves acquiring the information of an objects property by a device not in contact with that object under study. This involves the utilization at a distance of any device for gathering information pertinent to the environment, such as measurements of force fields, electromagnetic radiation, or acoustic energy for aircraft, spacecrafts, or ships. The technique employs such devices as a cameras, lasers, radio frequency receivers, radar systems, sonars, seismographs, gravimeters, magnetometers, and scintillation counters. Some examples of remote sensing applications are given in the areas that have importance for the geographers. Due to the wide scope covered, the subjects could not be covered in detail and the interested reader should turn to the relevant literature (Lillesand Kiefer, 2000; Sabins, 2007; Jenson, 2007; Longley et. al., 2005; Shukla Pathak 2009). As humans, we are intimately familiar with remote sensing in that we rely on visual perception to provide us with much of the information about our surroundings. As sensors, however, our eyes are greatly limited by sensitivity to only the visible range of electromagnetic energy, viewing perspectives dictated by the location of our bodies, and the inability to form a lasting record of what we view. Because of these limitations, humans have continuously sought to develop the technological means to increase our ability to record the physical properties of our environment. Beginning with the early use of aerial photography, remote sensing has been recognized as a valuable tool for viewing, analyzing, characterizing, and making decisions about our environment. In the past few decades, remote sensing technology has advanced on three fronts: from predominantly military uses to a variety of environmental analysis applications that relate to land, ocean, and atmosphere issues; from analogue photographic systems to sensors that convert energy from many parts of the electromagnetic spectrum to electronic signals; and from aircraft to satellite platforms. 1.1 Modern Advantages of Remote Sensing Remote sensing technology is becoming more important in geography due to attention being paid to the latest information, planning, and management for public and private interests. It is most useful for natural resource management, sustainable development, environmental degradation, and disaster management. Its satellite data are used as basic inputs for the inventory of natural resources and development processes like agriculture, soil, forestry, and geology (Chavez et al., 1977). There are other important technologies that are available to geographers as well, such as maps, aerial photography/photogrammetry/pictometry, SAR, LiDAR, SONAR, and GIS. The next section discusses the technologies mentioned above along with the similarities and differences between them and the field of remote sensing. 1.1.1 Maps: According to the International Cartographic Union, a map is a conventionalised image representing selected features or characteristics of geographical reality, designed for use when spatial relationships are of primary importance. This definition declares that in every map there is scientific accuracy and a process of selection present (symbolization, abstraction, generalization). However, the International Cartographic Union adds that a map shows us the world as we know it, and what we know is a very complex subject that is comprised of: The limits of matter, technology, and our measurement tools; what we believe that exists; what we think to be important; and what we want and aspire to. Thus, a map is subjective, for we always decide what to put on it and how to represent it. A remote sensing image, in contrast, is an objective recording of the electromagnetic reaching the sensor. Another important difference is that a map is a projection of the earth on paper without a ny relief displacements, while in a remote sensing image it is a projection of relief displacements and geometrical distortions. 1.1.2 Aerial Photography/Photogrammetry/Pictometry: These systems gather data about the upper surface of the earth by measuring the electromagnetic radiation from airborne systems. The major differences are detailed below: Aerial photos are taken by an analogue instrument (the film of a photogrammetric camera), then scanned to be transformed to digital media. The advantage of a film is its high resolution (granularity), while the advantage of the CCD is that we measure quantitatively the radiation reaching the sensor (radiance values, instead of a gray-value scale bar). Thus, remote sensing data can be integrated into physical equations of energy-balance. An aerial photograph is a central projection, with the whole picture taken at one instance. A remote sensing image is created line after line, so the geometrical correction is much more complex, with each pixel needing to be treated as a central projection. Aerial photographs usually gather data only in the visible spectrum, while remote sensing sensors can be designed to measure radiation along the electromagnetic spectrum. Pictometry  is the name of a patented  aerial image  capture process of the Pictometry International Corp., USA. It produces imagery showing the fronts and sides of objects and locations on the ground. Images are captured by low-flying airplanes, depicting up to 12 oblique  perspectives as well as an  orthogonal  view of every location flown. These perspectives can then be stitched together to create composite aerial maps that seamlessly cover large areas. Pictometry imagery can be overlaid with various shape files because every pixel is  georeferenced  to its exact location on the earth.  This allows pictometry imagery to be integrated into many existing  GIS  software applications  for use in many areas.  Direct measurements can be made on pictometry imagery that includes area, distance, height, elevation, pitch, and bearing (http://www.pictometry.com). 1.1.3 SAR: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) provides imagery during night or in bad weather as well as during the day. SAR images can be utilized for earth resource mapping and environmental monitoring, which require broad-area imaging at high resolutions. Synthetic aperture radar complements photographic and other optical imaging capabilities because of the minimum constraints on the time-of-day, atmospheric conditions, and unique responses of terrain/cultural targets to radar frequencies. Synthetic aperture radar technology can provide terrain structural information to geologists for mineral exploration, oil spill boundaries on water to environmentalists, ice hazard maps to navigators, and reconnaissance-targeting information to military operations. 1.1.4 LiDAR: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is another technique that offers several advantages over the conventional methods of topographic data collection. This technique provides data with higher density, higher accuracy, less time for data processing, light independence, and minimum ground control points required. Due to these characteristics, LiDAR is complementing conventional techniques in some applications while completely replacing them in several others.  Various applications where LiDAR data are being used are geomorphology, glacier studies, forest biomass mapping, and generation of the digital elevation model.   1.1.5 SONAR: The SONAR can also be considered as remote sensing by studying the surfaces of the sea (bathymetry and sea bed features) from a distance. The SONAR is an active type of remote sensing but with sound waves instead of electromagnetic radiation (like Radar, it does not depend on an external source of waves). Both systems transmit waves through an interfering medium (water, air) that adds noise to the data. For corrections, these must be applied to the raw data collected. In remote sensing, however, RADAR is considered to be almost weather-independent, and atmospheric disturbances affect mainly passive remote sensing. To make these necessary corrections, both systems depend on calibration from field data (be it salinity, temperature, pressure measured by the ship while surveying, or measurements of the atmospheric profile parameters by a meteorological radiosonde). There are some notable differences between SONARs and RADARs. SONARs are mainly used to produce the bathymetry of the sea, while remote sensing techniques focus more on identification of the materials properties than on its height.Echo-sounders (single or multi-beam) can be compared to Airborne Laser Scanning both of them create point (vector) data containing X, Y, Z that need to be further processed in order to remove noise (spikes). An added complexity when dealing with bathymetry (as opposed to topography) is the need for tide corrections. Another major difference is that in remote sensing the results of the analysis can be compared easily to the field (aerial photos, maps, field measurements), while in SONAR the underlying bottom of the sea is hidden from us, and we depend totally on the data gathered. 1.1.6 GIS: GIS is a combination of hardware and software that enables: The collection of spatial data from different sources (remote sensing being one of them). It relates spatial/tabular data, performs spacial/tabular analysis, and designs the layout of a map. A GIS software can handle both vector and raster data. Remote sensing data belong to the raster type and usually require special data manipulation procedures that a regular GIS does not offer. However, after a remote sensing analysis has been done, its results are usually combined within a GIS or into a database of an area for further analysis (possibly overlaying with other layers). In the last few years, more and more vector capabilities have been added to remote sensing software, and some remote sensing functions are inserted into GIS modules. General Remote Sensing Applications: Each application itself has specific demands for spectral resolution, spatial resolution, and temporal resolution of the satellite sensor. There can be many applications for remote sensing in different fields. Some of them are described below. 1.2.1 Agriculture: Agriculture plays a dominant role in the economies of both developed and undeveloped countries. Satellite and airborne images are used as mapping tools to classify crops, examine their health, examine their viability, and monitor farming practices. Agricultural applications of remote sensing include crop type classification, crop condition assessment, crop yield estimation, mapping of soil characteristics, mapping of soil management practices, and compliance monitoring (farming practices). 1.2.2 Forestry: Forests are a valuable resource for providing food, shelter, wildlife habitat, fuel, and daily supplies (such as medicinal ingredients and paper). Forests play an important role in balancing the earths CO2 supply and exchange, acting as a key link between the atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere. Forestry applications of remote sensing include the following: Reconnaissance mapping: Objectives to be met by national environment agencies include forest cover updating, depletion monitoring, and measuring biophysical properties of forest stands. Commercial forestry: Of importance to commercial forestry companies and to resource management agencies are inventory and mapping applications. These include collecting harvest information, updating inventory information for timber supply, broad forest type, vegetation density, and biomass measurements. Environmental monitoring: Conservation authorities are concerned with monitoring the quantity, health, and diversity of the earths forests. 1.2.3 Geology: Geology involves the study of landforms, structures, and the subsurface to understand physical processes that create and modify the earths crust. It is most commonly understood as the exploration and exploitation of mineral/hydrocarbon resources to improve the standard of living in society. Geological applications of remote sensing include the following: Bedrock mapping, lithological mapping, â‚ ¬Ã‚  structural mapping, sand and gravel exploration/ exploitation, mineral exploration, hydrocarbon exploration, environmental geology, geobotany, baseline infrastructure, sedimentation monitoring, event/monitoring, geo-hazard mapping, and planetary mapping. 1.2.4 Hydrology: Hydrology is the study of water on the earths surface, whether flowing above ground, frozen in ice or snow, or retained by soil. Examples of hydrological applications include wetlands monitoring, soil moisture estimation, snow pack monitoring, measuring snow thickness, determining the snow-water equivalent, ice monitoring, flood monitoring, glacier dynamics monitoring (surges, ablation), â‚ ¬Ã‚  river/delta change detection, drainage basin mapping, watershed modelling, irrigation canal leakage detection, and irrigation scheduling. 1.2.5 Sea Ice: Ice covers a substantial part of the earths surface and is a major factor in commercial fishing/shipping industries, Coast Guard operations, and global climate change studies. Examples of sea ice information and applications include ice concentration, ice type/age/motion, iceberg detection, surface topographyâ‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  tactical identification of leads, navigation, safe shipping routes, ice condition, historical ice, iceberg conditions, dynamics for planning purposes, wildlife habitat, pollution monitoring, and meteorological change research. 1.2.6 Land Cover and Land Use: Although the terms land cover and land uses are often used interchangeably, their actual meanings are quite distinct. Land cover refers to the surface cover on the ground, while land use refers to the purpose the land serves. The properties measured with remote sensing techniques relate to land cover from which land use can be inferred, particularly with ancillary data or a priori knowledge. Land use applications of remote sensing include â‚ ¬Ã‚  natural resource management, wildlife habitat protection, baseline mapping for GIS input, urban expansion, logistics planning for seismic/exploration/resource extraction activities, damage delineation (tornadoes, flooding, volcanic, seismic, fire), legal boundaries for tax/property evaluation, target detection, and identification of landing strips, roads, clearings, bridges, and land/water interface. 1.2.7 Mapping: Mapping constitutes an integral component of the process of managing land resources, with mapped information the common product of the analysis of remotely sensed data. Mapping applications of remote sensing include the following:  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Planimetry: Land surveying techniques accompanied by the use of a GPS can be used to meet high accuracy requirements, but limitations include cost effectiveness and difficulties in attempting to map large or remote areas. Remote sensing provides a means of identifying planimetric data in an efficient manner, so imagery is available in varying scales to meet the requirements of many different users. Defence applications typify the scope of planimetry applications, such as extracting transportation route information, building/facilities locations, urban infrastructure, and general land cover.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Digital elevation models (DEMs): Generating DEMs from remotely sensed data can be cost effective and efficient. A variety of sensors and methodologies to generate such models are available for mapping applications. Two primary methods of generating elevation data are stereogrammetry techniques using airphotos (photogrammetry), VIR imagery, radar data (radargrammetry), and radar interferometry.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Baseline topographic mapping: As a base map, imagery provides ancillary information to the extracted planimetric detail. Sensitivity to surface expression makes radar a useful tool for creating base maps and providing reconnaissance abilities for hydrocarbon/mineralogical companies involved in exploration activities. This is particularly true in remote northern regions where vegetation cover does not mask the microtopography and where information may be sparse. 1.2.8 Oceans Coastal Monitoring: The oceans provide valuable food-biophysical resources, serve as transportation routes, are crucially important in weather system formation and CO2 storage, and are an important link in the earths hydrological balance. Coastlines are environmentally sensitive interfaces between the ocean and land, and they respond to changes brought about by economic development and changing land-use patterns. Often coastlines are also biologically diverse inter-tidal zones and can be highly urbanized. Ocean applications of remote sensing include the following:  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Ocean pattern identification:â‚ ¬Ã‚  Currents, regional circulation patterns, shears, frontal zones, internal waves, gravity waves, eddies, upwelling zones, and shallow water bathymetry.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Storm forecasting: Wind and wave retrieval.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Fish stock and marine mammal assessment: Water temperature monitoring, water quality, ocean productivity, phytoplankton concentration, drift,â‚ ¬Ã‚  Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  aquaculture inventory, and monitoring.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Oil spill: Predicting the oil spill extent and drift, strategic support for oil spill emergency response decisions, and identification of natural oil seepage areas for exploration.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Shipping:â‚ ¬Ã‚  Navigation routing, traffic density studies, operational fisheries surveillance, and near-shore bathymetry mapping. General Observations on Remote Sensing in Geography Higgitt Warburton (1999) have argued that remote sensing techniques provide fresh insights in geography in four main ways: They provide new applications for geography. They provide new and improved accuracy of measurement. They provide new data that allow the investigation of ideas that were previously untestable. They involve the development of data processing capability. Application of Remote Sensing in Geography Geographic applications of remotely sensed data typically take one of four explanatory forms: Remote sensing images have specific uses within various fields of geographical study. Remote sensing data possess advantages over conventional data and can provide multispectral, multidata, and multisensor information. This data is very useful in the agricultural fields for the crop type classification, crop condition assessment, crop yield estimation, and soil mapping. In geology, remote sensing can be applied to analyze large, remote areas. Remote sensing interpretation also makes it easy for geologists to identify an areas rock types, geomorphology, and changes from natural events such as a flood, erosion, or landslide. The interpretation of remote sensing images allows physical- and biogeographers, ecologists, agricultural researchers, and foresters to easily detect what vegetation is present in certain areas, its growth potential, and sometimes what conditions are conducive to its being there. Additionally, those studying urban land use applications are also concerned with remote sensing because it allows them to easily pick out which land uses are present in an area. This can then be used as data in city planning applications and in the study of species habitat. Conclusion Remote sensing data has proven to be an important tool in geography. Multi-temporal satellite data help to delineate the various change of the earth surface. Remote sensing has progressively expended applications in various fields such as urban-regional planning, utilities planning, health planning, geomorphology, and resource planning. Because of its varied applications and ability to allow users to collect, interpret, and manipulate data over dangerous areas, remote sensing has become a useful tool for all geographers, regardless of their concentration.

Eleanor Wilners On Ethnic Definitions :: On Ethnic Definitions Essays

"On Ethnic Definitions" is one of the shortest poems in Eleanor Wilner's anthology Reversing the Spell, but it is arguably one of the most powerful. In "Definitions," Wilner addresses issues of Jewish identity. As the title implies, she defines the Jewish people in ten lines. The nature of her definition is not immediately obvious, however. At first, readers unfamiliar with Jewish theology may believe that Wilner's definition is a bleak one that centers around death. It does at first appear that Wilner is saying that the very definition of the Jewish people is their death and burial, their destruction. However, after a brief explanation of the Jewish theology behind the poem, readers will see that Wilner's definition of the Jewish people is by no means a sad one, but rather a definition that includes hope and a future. Wilner begins by establishing the poem's setting with the first two lines: the small Jewish ghetto in Prague during World War II. Readers must, of course, be familiar with some Holocaust history to realize what Wilner is writing about. Then Wilner describes the way that the dead were buried standing up for lack of room, calling it the "underground / train to Sheol..." (5-6). In ancient Jewish theology, Sheol represented the underworld, or the afterlife. It was a place to which everyone went, no matter how one had lived one's life. Continuing with the train imagery, Wilner writes that the Holocaust was a "rush hour of ghosts" (7). But all hope is not lost; one day, the final train will arrive and "the final / trump [will sound]" (8-9). In the same line, Wilner lets readers who are familiar with Jewish theology in on what she is writing about. When she writes that "the Saved dead will rise" she is alluding to the coming of the Messiah, for Jewish theology asserts that the dead will be resurrected at that time (9). Then, in the most important line of the poem, Wilner states when the Messiah comes the dead who were buried standing up can "at last lie down" (10). In these few lines, Wilner has gone through the entire Jewish life cycle in the early 20th century. Jews live in small, cramped ghettos; they die at the hands of Aryan oppressors; they are buried in a way unbefitting their religious traditions; and they go to Sheol. The first five lines of the poem focus on the death and burial of the Jews of Prague.