Seeing the World Through a Broken Heart

The world is a pit of suffering and pain yet we see it not. All across the world, people are suffering from injustice, oppression, and from other afflictions caused by our very own brothers yet we feel not these things, least of all, know of them.A worse thing we have done is make ourselves be the very cause of their pain as if our indifference is not enough a mockery. We do not know their plight, we cannot see their sufferings, we cannot feel their pain all because our hearts remain unbroken.We think the world is confined to the corners in which we move. We have learned to deafen our ears and harden our hearts to the grave injustice and oppression that our brothers across the continents go through everyday. We have downplayed their sufferings with cliches and punchlines we learned from self-help books and by doing so, our hearts do not turn to see their reality.And then, a single movie, carrying a powerful message, turns our worlds upside down. It breaks our hearts to millions of pi eces and opens the eyes of our hearts. We witness the realities of this world and we get shaken. We start to stir up inside.We begin to ponder intently and thoughtfully about what the world goes through, we start to philosophize and discuss within ourselves who we are and what man is and what does man do. We start to wander through life's realities and we always ask why. Our hearts have been broken and now see things in their most naked honest state, and so, it refuses to rest.What is a broken heart?A broken heart simply is an honest heart. It is a heart which is not blinded with fantasies but clearly sees reality as it is. It is a heart that looks at people through a clear glass and not through a rose-tinted window. It is a heart which does not deceive itself with promptings taught by the learned but contents itself only with what it has witnessed.Hotel RwandaHotel Rwanda pounded on my chest like a jackhammer with a deadline. It crushed my heart down to its basic components and for ced me to adopt a whole new perspective about things. I never knew that a world such as that I have seen in the movie existed. I thought people from Africa suffered only from hunger.I never knew of a racial prejudice of that magnitude. I thought only Saddam Hussein was guilty of racial cleansing. How could have I been so base so as to be ignorant of what our brothers go through? I have never seen man so vicious. I have never seen man treat their brothers as â€Å"cockroaches† all because they are of a different race.My heart was shaken and the scenes remain vivid in my mind long after I have seen the movie. Often, in solitude, I contemplate on the movie and I ponder on why man such as the Hutus will do such a thing as they have done. Their skin color was the same.The only reason for the discrimination which I could gather from the movie is that the Tutsis were taller and had the more handsome features. And I ask: what is that?! Perhaps, it is envy.As I continue to ponder, I h ave come to believe that envy really is one viable reason for racial discrimination. The Great Holocaust, which executed hundreds of thousands of Jews, was inspired by envy. Aryanism is built upon envy over the chosen people of God.So perhaps too, the thing that happened in Hotel Rwanda was inspired by envy. The Hutus were envious of the Tutsis because the latter had better physical features. It is a shallow reason but it is enough to cause man to want to eliminate an entire tribe of people.Envy is the second of the seven deadly sins. And rightly so. The movie has proven how deadly it is. What does envy do to man? Among lovers it has caused a lot of broken relationships, unstable marriages, and even manslaughter.Stories of lovers shooting each other because of jealousy have passed by our ears millions of times. Among families, it has caused dissension.Families get broken up because of envy. Envy has caused brothers to hate their own brothers. It is noteworthy that the first murder c ommitted was inspired by envy. The Bible account of Cain and Abel contains the story of the first murder where Cain killed his own brother, Abel, because of envy. Among friends, envy has caused contempt. Among classes and races of people, it has caused discrimination.

Autobiographical Fiction

In the beginning the official said, let the stadium lights come on, and they came on. The football players came onto the field, and they saw the light was good. Other teams started to show up and practice on the battle ground, otherwise known as the â€Å"playing field. † Fans shouted, and cheerleaders went on about their playful acts. Parents, brothers, sisters, and close friends all piled into the stands to see the game of the year. The official stepped out onto the moist grass at Manchester United Stadium in Manchester, England. The time was 7. 45pm on a Saturday night. He paused for a moment, looked at his stopwatch, and blew his whistle. Gigantic muscular men came from out of nowhere as the fans began to cheer, waving various flags, scarfs and t-shirts The players ran out to the middle of the stadium. A feel of hatred and resentment came about in the air. The crowd came unglued from their seats. The sounds of various noisemakers filled the air once again. Parents and grandparents alike came to their feet in the stands. Cars stopped on the street in front of the stadium, as they honked their horns, and cheered for their team of choice. As the two burly men stood in the middle of the field, many thoughts ran through their heads. They both knew someone was going to lose, but defeat was out of the question. The official tossed a silver coin into the air. The coin hit the wet grass with a shiny face of Queen Elizabeth clearly showing. The home team will kick off. Both anger infested players shook hands and ran back to their half. The fans began to cheer as the players took the field again. Little did the fans know of how the players practiced all week long. Burnage had a very intense practice, while Didsbury slacked off, and took an easy week, since their opponent was not that good of a team. The kick-off approached for both teams, almost instantaneously. Memories of past football games, and practices were rushing through our heads. The time clock read 8:00pm. Suddenly, a whistle blew, and the brown bundle of pigskin went flying into the air. Running to the ball, one of the Burnage players quickly got the football, stepped left, then to the right as he attempted to get past the opponents. Soon after, the player was tackled down by a pack of Didsbury players, and the referee gave the ball to one of the Burnage players. I had been waiting for this moment all of my life. The match of the year in Manchester was about to begin. Burnage have lost 14 years straight to Didsbury. Managers only daydreamed of beating the undefeated Didsbury team. As referee called for the play, I smiled with joy. The first play of the game was to me. I played at the defence, so I was going to run the ball. First play, up the middle of the field, I ran for a fifteen yard gain. The next play was to one of my fellow team mates, which he also ran for another large gain of 26 yards. I could not believe my eyes. After all these years, the game was finally here. We, as a team, were slowly tearing apart the Didsbury defence. Our offence was dominating the ball, and they could not stop our players. After 20 minutes Burnage took the lead to make the score 1-0. Straight after the lead it came as a shock to our team. We were starting to get tired, and make little mistakes that cost us to let Didsbury have a free kick. One of our defenders was not defending in the right place, and that lead to one of the didsbury player to strike the ball in an uncovered area to score a goal. We all hung our heads as Didsbury celebrated their goal, and taunted our players. As we approached to our half of the field, the manager had a few words of his own to share with our team. â€Å"Listen up here boys, it ain't over yet. If you give up now, you are going to lose. That is the sport of football. If you give up, you lose. † I was not going to let my 4 years of previous football experience go to waste, just because I was tired. We as a team knew our manager was serious, as a tiny tear drop formed in the corner of his eye. Half time came about, as we all headed to the locker room for a sip of cool water, and a long speech was made by the managers. To my surprise, our manager was very calm with us as he drew out plays with piece of white chalk on the board. The manager mainly concentrated on how to overcome the Didsbury defence. As I sat there in the locker room, I knew what I had to do. I knew that the team was depending on my skills. Visions of victory ran through my head. I visualized the opponent as a measly bowling pin, and myself as the bowling ball. My imagination started to run wild. As I felt the adrenaline running through my veins, my body started to tremble with anger. I thought to myself, â€Å"They really do think we can't win, and I have to prove them wrong. † The half time is over and the players stroll on to the battle ground with a feeling of fierce hatred. With anger and rage in my eyes, I was ready. I was a true lean, mean, defending machine. Nothing was going to get in my way. My head steamed a white smoke. The weather slowly began to get colder a cold front moved in. The sky, covered with clouds, grumbled at us as we called our plays, and ran them. Just 30 minutes were now left on the clock; both teams were overcome with fatigue. The score remained at 1-1 The weather began to get cold, and small droplets of water started to fall from the ocean like sky. I felt the nervousness of the crowd, as the clanging of the cow bells from the crowd came to a halt. Managers paced back and forth, as we headed into the last 15 minutes. Each team got two possessions on offense. Neither team had the strength to penetrate the defence. Now only 3 minutes remained on the time clock. The weather took over the game, pouring down with rain from the black sky. All the players stopped to visualize whether play will continue or not. The play wasn't called off in the huddle so the players engaged into the game again. The play consisted of me running to the right, and the left-back defender was going to toss the ball to me. As I took off to the right side of the field, I suddenly felt a burst of energy. My bones felt relaxed, and my muscles replenished. The left back defender tossed me the ball, and I ran frantically down the playing field strolling through the Didsbury defence. I couldn't believe my eyes, as I viewed the target made for me to run through. Fifteen yards down the field, I met up with one of my old friends who was Didsbury's centre back defender and my opponent. He slipped and fell in his attempt to tackle me. The perfect opportunity had come to strike the ball in to the net. So I did and scored! I smiled with joy. The crowd went wild, popcorn spilled onto the wet ground. Cow bells once again sounded as the raindrops still poured down. I will never forget that moment of my life. Shortly after, the referee blew the final whistle. Burnage went on to beat Didsbury! I could see it now on the front page of the town news paper: â€Å"Burnage demolishes Disbury for the first time in 14 years! † We finally beat the best team in the city. As we celebrated, and jumped around on the soggy grass, a tear came to my eye. It was all hitting me now. I finally achieved the goal of my life! I could not control the tremendous smirk on my face. As I watched the manager from the opposing team cry in agony, I thought to myself, â€Å"That must be what they call the agony of defeat. † I knew that the moment of my life I had long waited for, was gone. Only memories are left in my mind, and I cherish every single one of them.

Am I an etrepreneur Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Am I an etrepreneur - Essay Example Entrepreneurs will gather resources and take the risk of investing these resources into a venture that they are not certain will bring profits, and this is what will cut them out from just normal business people. Creativity and innovation are paramount for entrepreneurs as creativity enables them to develop, and discover new ways of bringing solutions while innovation gives them the ability to apply creative solutions to problems and openings in their effort to enhance peoples’ lives and make profits. Entrepreneurship will entail the actions taken by entrepreneurs to bring about change and to attain financial benefits and the satisfaction that something was changed for the better. Entrepreneurship will also entail the act of creating something after seeing an opportunity, shaping a goal to be achieved and taking advantage of the situation in order to make profits (Gilbert, 2006). The entrepreneur or the person with the idea will then plan, persuade and raise the capital needed to initiate the business from where he will run the business to ensure success. For entrepreneurs to be deemed as successful various characteristics are required, which will play a crucial role in determining their entrepreneurial success. Personally, as an entrepreneur, I have realized that I have the required skills and knowledge needed to become successful in the banking sector. I have engaged in various activities that have proved to me that I can be rich and successful as it has been my long term goal to be rich and retain control of my ventures (Gilbert, 2006). At a tender age, I engaged in various money raising ventures that have enabled me to cater for my personal needs and also save a lot. In fifth grade, I made profits from noticing that students were carrying snacks to school, and there was only one canteen in school that was unable to attend to the needs of the whole school. Being a member of the business club in school, I developed the idea that we could start our own canteen, where we could employ one person to run the business. Other students supp orted the idea, and we proposed the idea to the school administration, which was reluctant to accept it, but finally did after we convinced them that it would not interfere with our studies. We collected start up from membership fees that were charged for admission into the business club from where we started the venture. Profits from the canteen were used to expand the venture and by the time I was clearing school the canteen had grown and all members had benefited from it, and the whole school had also benefited from readily available snack. I have ever since acquired the skills of seeing an idea and investing in it in order to gain and benefit those who what I serve. As an entrepreneur, I have acquired the skill and knowledge of examining needs, wants and problems to see how I can bring solutions or improve how they are solved in the existing ways (Hamm, 2002). I have the skill off narrowing all the possible opportunities into one specific opportunity which carries more weight or is more probable to bring profits. I am innovative and come up with creative ideas to solutions of needs of people, and

From E Business Support to Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

From E Business Support to Strategy - Essay Example The internet, intranet, mobile networks and other types of digital expertise have made a functional value chain with customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and traders synchronized in the new age of web marketing. The apparatus and pillars of e-business strategies consist of online advertising, receipt of payments over the Internet, on-line dealings and auction transactions over the Internet. E-business strategies vary for small and medium scale businesses. E-business strategies also create profits from current channel integrity maintenance, paid marketing deals, franchisees and subscriptions. (E-business Strategy, n.d.) E-business strategies use information and communications technology to enhance businesses. E-business is more concretely defined as the transformation that takes place in business processes due to the application of technologies and new ideas to deliver additional and improved customer value. (Andam, 2003, p.7). The introduction of the internet and other network and web technologies has made companies rely more and more on e-business strategies. An up-to-date e-business strategy generally consists of effective and efficient management of the supply chain to guarantee enhanced coordination between the wholesalers and the dealers of different products. This means to synchronize the entire supply chain starting from the source up till the ultimate delivery of the products. The value chain framework also involves the value shop and value network. Service providers like hospitals or consulting firms create value through the value shop process while, the brokering or intermediary actions (like banking and telephone companies) are carried out through value network management (Torbay, Osterwalder and Pigneur, 2001, p. 6). E-business strategies are also used to enhance customer services and build better customer relationship management to ensure the utmost level of customer satisfaction.

World war one and US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

World war one and US - Essay Example The main purpose of the war was struggling for division of the world. However, the United States wasn’t in hurry to enter the war. First of all, a conflict between the US and other countries hadn’t reached the extreme point that could lead to military actions; secondly, the majority of Americans didn’t think that interfering into European affairs (and vice versa) was a good idea. The third reason was that US army wasn’t ready for large-scale war, because it was formed on a voluntary basis and had approximately 100  000 badly trained soldiers. But in the 7th of May 1915 German submarine sank the British largest passenger liner â€Å"Luisitania†, including 128 Americans that were on board. A report about this event caused a storm of dissatisfaction in the United States. Despite multiple warnings, German repeatedly attacked American ships. President Woodrow Wilson was an advocate of nonintervention of USA into European war, but the actions of the Ger mans forced him to announce the transition to the US policy of armed neutrality (26th of February 1917), which meant a gap of diplomatic relations between the US and Germany. The further German aggression forced Wilson to enter the war (6 of April 1917) on Allies’ side, against Germany (Kennedy 46). For the first time in US history a law on conscription was passed. Losses suffered by Americans were relatively not that big (approximately 104,000 lives). For comparison, 26 million people were killed during the entire war, half of them were civilians. The war abruptly changed the balance of forces in world political arena. It provoked huge amount of revolutions: Bolsheviks came to power in Russia and formed their own government, Germany and Austria-Hungary collapsed and lost their influence. The military destruction and revolutions weakened Europe, while US entry into the war caused new rise of

Report based on the Aye Choonz music service Essay

Report based on the Aye Choonz music service - Essay Example The Palz Choonz service epitomizes what is known as the â€Å"peer-to-peer† file sharing. Users can upload music files from their devices and by connecting to the Aye Choonz system, allow other users to retrieve the file on demand. Users can choose the music to make available and can also obtain electronic copies of music that any other person may have chosen to upload to the system. Using the â€Å"MP3† technology, music files are duplicated, transferred and stored for efficient reproduction and sound recording in a computer-readable format. The copyright and patent concepts were both included in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act (CDPA) 1988 (s. 4(1) and.5 A (1)). Under Article 1, (s. 4(a), of the constitution, the DPA secures for a limited time period to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writing and Discoveries In the case of Napster the Ninth Circuit also held that Napster was not protected under Sony Corp. of America v. Universal City Studio, Inc., â€Å"the Betamax case†, because of Napster’s â€Å"actual, specific knowledge of direct infringement.† Napster argued that the existing Audio Home Recording Act 9(17 U.S.C.  §Ã‚ §1001-10) protected them under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s safe harbor clause (17U.S.C  § 512). ... (25 marks) Customer database brings about the issue of privacy, which is a complex legal issue. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act is tasked with protecting users. Websites such as Aye Choonz collect significant amounts of personal and identifiable data that can trigger liability risk (s.3 (1, b, i)). Users5 consent to the collections of names, physical or email addresses and credit card information through forms are archived on the site. By Aye Choonz allowing third-party advertiser’s6 access to the database, it means that these organisations can track users’ browsing habits. Using cookies information is collected as a user surfs the web and feeds the information to a web server. The Aye Choonz vendor site will send cookies which are basically an identification number to the client’s computer, where it is stored in a file on the client’s hard drive and serves as a digital identifier tag that notifies Aye Choonz whenever the client re-enters the Buy Choonz site (s.3 (1,c).. According to The Electronic Communication Privacy Act7 sites like Aye Choonz can be liable for allowing commercial organisations to place cookies on users’ hard drives. Aye Choonz can also face the Common-law Privacy tort8 which is a common law doctrine of personal privacy and includes four grounds of tort (s.3 (5, 6)). Mc Veigh V. Cohen, the U.S. Navy obtained personal information from America Online regarding an anonymous user who described himself in his AOL user profile as a gay military officer (McVeigh, 1998) Proponents of online profiling contend that collecting user data allows sites to improve services. Aye Choonz should disclose data sharing with a third party to users even if the data is

Art Timeline Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art Timeline - Essay Example Created for World War I, the piece was reprinted in poster format the nature of the work part art, part advertising in which an objective was set for its use (Perman, 2008). . Fig 2 J. Howard Miller Rosie the Riveter, 1942 A powerful image for the war effort of World War II, Rosie the Riveter, also created for reprinting on multiple posters and created by Westinghouse artist J. Howard Miller, was a popular icon that supported the effort at home through the work of women as the men were soldiers across the ocean. Through this imagery, the inspiration of hard work with a purpose became a way in which to encourage women to step out of their homes and fill the positions that had been left open by their men. Although now considered somewhat controversial as feminist realize that the intent of the image was to free women temporarily, it still represents the collaborative efforts between the genders towards the war (Hall & Hall, 2006). Fig. 3 Richard Hamilton. Just what is it that makes tod ay’s home so different, so appealing?1956 Representing modern life through images that reflected Western ideals of the 1950s, this work by Richard Hamilton supports both the consumerist aesthetic and the innocence with which life was framed during that period. Through a collage piece that utilized painted aspects, the piece creates irony and amusement through a crazed, idealism that supports the consumerist aspects of the society. The piece measures 10 ? by 9 ?, so it is not very large, but it supports a great number of concepts in a very small frame. The work is iconic in that the images are representative of American life. Fig.4 Jasper Johns. Three Flags, 1958 Jasper Johns used the imagery of the flag to create a commentary on his own feelings of patriotism and the graphic nature of imagery that evokes a spirit in its interpretation. This piece is charcoal and graphite pencil on three boards, layered and overall measuring 11X16. In looking at the work, the image provides fo r propaganda that supplies a variety of emotional reactions to the pieces that he has created. The flag being a common theme in his work, he worked towards evoking a language of geometry in balance with the expressionistic values of the painting. Through both the commentary through painting theories and through the thematic explorations of the imagery of the flag, Johns evoked a sense of the American spirit within his work. Fig.5 Andy Warhol. Two Elvis, 1963. Andy Warhol memorialized some of the more important icons of his period. Created as a screenprint composition, the piece of work is 75.9X103.2 cm. This piece, titled Two Elvis, creates a powerful, yet poignant image of Elvis Presley, dressed from a movie in classic Americana Western attire. The power of the image is revealed through its graphic statement and its pathos in which the sweetness of his face is counterbalanced in the heroism that he is portraying. Tinged with the violence that is exampled by the gun that he holds, t he figure of Elvis ignites patriotism, nostalgia, and a sense of idolatry through the iconic image of the King of Rock and Roll. Fig. 6 Robert Rauschenberg. Axle, 1964 Robert Rauschenberg created art that combined objects, collage, and painting techniques to incorporate the idea of multi-media works with historically relevant imagery. This work, created using collage

Unit 6 Seminar Public Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unit 6 Seminar Public Health - Essay Example In addition, barrier protections have been a routine part of all health care institutions in reducing the spread of disease. Riegelman (2010) define immunization as the introduction of antibodies/vaccine to strengthen the immune system and to prevent or control diseases (102). Immunizations are essential to the protection of the public because it prevent infection from bacterial and viral diseases, provide either short/long-term immunity, may effectively control outbreak, and can control 70-90% of substantial population with infections from contagious viruses. On the other hand, a number of disadvantages were also noted, among of which are: some diseases such as HIV/AIDS may not have effective vaccines, immunizations are rarely 100% effective particularly among the young and the old and can produce side effects such as allergic reactions, live vaccines may cause injury to fetus or diseases to those with reduced immunity, and immunizations through inactivated vaccine may not produce long-term immunity and thus requires follow-up vaccines/boosters. Barrier protections also include isolation and quarantine. Isolation refers to the separation of the individuals with diseases from healthy population in order to prevent exposure (Riegelman, 2010, 102). Isolation and quarantine have the advantage of controlling the spread of a number of infections and serve as the basic strategies for controlling communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. However, isolation and quarantine may possibly break confidentiality of contacts’ information due to identification of individuals with diseases and follow-up of contacts. It may also lead to public recognition and social stigma placed upon affected individuals. Barrier protections such as immunizations, isolation, and quarantine encompass treatment of those with disease and their contacts and are all essential comprehensive

USA nursing school curriculum Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

USA nursing school curriculum - Research Paper Example The paper tells that nursing education and hence the curriculum of courses providing the courses on nursing have been found to have modified to great extents over the years. In the present times, the courses for nursing education include advanced techniques and measures with purposes of better preparation. Nurses in collaboration with other health officials are now found taking part in this mission. In the United States, the nursing education in different institutions, colleges or universities are accompanied through several opportunities related to the nursing profession. For example, special lectures arranged by leaders in the field of nursing are provided for the nursing students. Also, different associations related to the nursing and health care take part in the educational programs thus enhancing the effects of the courses. US present a picture of advancement and development in the field of nursing education and provide the international students with indefinite opportunities a nd facilities. While students from the home country as well as from abroad come together in the learning process, there is always a mutual learning that occurs between the students. For the particular study, the nursing curriculum of the University of South Carolina has been considered. The College of Nursing in South Carolina under the University of South Carolina follows a nursing curriculum that provides interested candidates with several courses including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and the Master of Science in Nursing degrees. ... ng (BSN Program Information, n.d.), the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and the Master of Science in Nursing degrees (Graduate Program Information, n.d.). The BSN program as provided by the university is a four-year undergraduate program that combines the studies of the professional course and the knowledge of liberal arts. In it the general knowledge associated with english, chemistry, statistics, biology, psychology, sociology and other elective papers are included. Students completing the undergraduate program are eligible to take the licensure examination that is National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). On clearing this examination, the nursing candidate can initiate her career in the profession of nursing (BSN Program Information, n.d.). Masters and Dual Masters courses are also offered under the nursing curriculum in the South Carolina College of Nursing. The Doctorate course combines nine courses related to t he development of nursing theory, research and statistics (Graduate Program Information, n.d.). The Nursing Curriculum in USC and Its Success: Assessment and Analysis: Considering the needs and demands of the nursing candidates, and their growing interests in the field, it can be realized that the Bachelor of Science in Nursing proves to be an efficient course successfully preparing students to be able to perform in health organizations. In general the BSN program takes around four years to complete (Nursing, 2012). The college of Nursing under the South Carolina University was incepted in the year 1940 and accredited in 1957. Studies reveal that since then more than 6000 nursing students have completed their nursing courses from the university and started their career in the nursing

Reform on The English Libel Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Reform on The English Libel Law - Essay Example However, does the Defamation Bill reflect these concerns? This essay seeks to critique the current Defamation Bill (As Amended on Report, ordered to be printed on 5 February 2013) particularly focusing on Clauses 4, 5 and 6 thereof. The said Clauses provide for some of the defences to an action for defamation. Clause 4 Clause 4 refers to the truthfulness of the imputation which if shown by the defendant to be substantially true, then it may be a defence in an action for imputation (Defamation Bill, Clause 4). Additionally, where there are two or more distinct imputations, the defence of truth will not be diminished if the imputations which appear to be substantially true, those not shown to be substantially true do not significantly injure the claimant’s reputation (Defamation Bill, Clause 4). This clause seeks to substitute the previous common law defence of justification (Shaw & Chamberlain, 2011, p. 49). The defendant must show that the imputation made is ‘substantial ly true’, a stand of the common law (Chase v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2002] EWCA Civ 1772). Although there is no definition on what is â€Å"substantially true,† still, there is no ambiguity as to the meaning of truth (Mullis & Scott, 2011, p. 12, citing the Oxford English Dictionary). ... 12). Although it should be the claimant that should have the burden of proof to demonstrate the falsity of an imputation since the former is in a better position to demonstrate such, this is not always true as the facts would wholly rely on the kind of imputation made (Mullis & Scott, 2011, p. 12). The terms â€Å"substantially true† and â€Å"serious harm† on claimant’s reputation, were not defined in the bill and opens a wide interpretation as to its meaning (Mullis & Scott, 2011). Litigation may likely occur especially on the demarcation between those considered as substantially true and which are not, or those considered as a significant injury to a claiman t’s repute (Young, 2011). Further, although the truth may be known, it may nevertheless be difficult to establish (Flood v Times, [2009] EWHC 2375 (QB)), (Young, 2011). There is no criterion to lessen the probability of increasing false information especially as to those which may occur after publication (Young, 2011). It would be hard to comply with the required responsible journalism especially where the imputation was false, but was nevertheless supported by sufficient evidence that the statement was true at the time when such a statement was published by the responsible publisher (Young, 2011). Clause 5 This is the defence of â€Å"Honest Opinion† and sets forth the conditions that it must be a statement of opinion; such opinion is of public interest; the â€Å"honest person could have held the opinion† based on â€Å"a) a fact which existed when the statement complained of was published; and (b)  a privileged statement published before the statement comp lained of† (Shaw & Chamberlain, 2011, p. 49, citing the Defamation Bill).

Measuring Customer Satisfaction at ImageStream Essay Example for Free

Measuring Customer Satisfaction at ImageStream Essay ImageStream Internet Solutions, Inc. is a privately held company in its 9th year of operation. ImageStream engineers, manufactures, and distributes Linux-based routing products for network and Internet applications. ImageStream products are used by Internet service providers (ISPs), governments, schools, and businesses in more than 75 countries around the world. As ImageStream moves toward its next decade, market forces require it, like most high technology companies, to be fast and responsive. The company faces constant change in demands and needs along with the pressures of mission creep in the face of limited resources. It is against this backdrop that ImageStream started its ISO 9000:2000 certification process. This process requires not only the implementation of quality processes, but measurement of their efficacy as well. ImageStream conducts key manager meetings twice monthly, and a company-wide review on a semi-annual basis. During these managerial and company reviews, the senior executives identify key metrics driving the success of the companys mission, including those metrics that would benefit most from significant improvement. This proposal outlines the use of a customer satisfaction survey and seeks to answer the management question: What is the current customer satisfaction with the level and type of customer service provided by ImageStream? The study will explore the conceptual framework of service quality, the positive and negative impacts of service quality on ImageStream, and the effect of favorable and unfavorable customer intentions on perceived quality using survey research. Armed with the statistical analyses outlined below, the operations management team will identify current trends in customer satisfaction in a proactive attempt to resolve to any issues. Background and Literature Review The study and development of customer service techniques and customer  retention management programs has blossomed into its own industry. This increasing focus on customer satisfaction is not surprising, given the positive correlation between happy customers and successful companies illustrated in countless marketing research studies. This study will outline the relationship between customer satisfaction with service and customer retention at ImageStream. To support the findings, we will conduct an empirical study focusing on the relationship between perceived service quality and customer intentions. Weinstein and Johnson (1999) recommend that companies like ImageStream should spend 75% of its marketing budget on customer retention strategies and to strengthen these relationships. Once customers commit to a product platform, and the longer they use and deploy that platform, the more profit ImageStream can realize. Longstanding, satisfied customers will generally continue, or often increase, purchasing, require less operational and customer service support, and be more willing to pay price premiums to remain with the companyall without incurring new customer acquisition costs (Pine, Peppers, and Rogers, 1995). This paper will analyze how ImageStreams service relationship with its customers produces customer behaviors indicating whether or not a customer will remain an ImageStream customer. The methodology used will follow Zeithaml, Berry and Parasuramans study on this topic (1996). Since replacing lost customers requires new customer acquisition costs, customer retention should be a fundamental performance measure for ImageStreams executive staff and a key component of the companys incentive programs (Zeithaml et al., 1996). According to the American Management Association, acquiring a new customer can require five times the investment needed to keep an existing customer (Weinstein et al., 1999). Literature Review Customer service, not surprisingly, has been researched extensively: from the conceptual framework of service quality, to the positive and negative impacts of service quality, to the effect of favorable and unfavorable  customer intentions on perceived quality. We review these concepts in recent literature, and investigate an empirical study focusing on the relationship between service quality and customer behavioral intentions (Zeithaml et al., 1996). Zeithaml, Berry and Parasuraman (1996) offer a conceptual model of service quality. The researchers postulate that the quality of customer service will determine whether a company retains its customers or loses them to defection. Zeithaml, Berry and Parasuraman (1996) highlight seven key points: 1.Customer defection has a negative relationship with an organizations profitability. 2.Retaining current customers costs less than acquiring new ones. 3.Customer retention should be a fundamental component of incentive programs. 4.Companies must advertise not only to attract new customers, but to replace lost customers. 5.Advertising, promotion, and sales costs are required expenses when attracting new customers. 6.In general, at the beginning of a customer/vendor relationship, the customers do not generate a profit for the company. Zeithaml, Berry and Parasuraman estimate that acquisition cost recovery can take as long as four years. 7.Positive customer assessments of service quality lead to positive behavioral intentions, strengthening the relationship between the customer and the company. Negative assessments, on the other hand, create unfavorable customer behavioral intentions. The unfavorable conditions weaken the customer/vendor relationship. Based on their research and observations, Zeithaml, Berry and Parasuraman  (1996) believe that expressed or observed behavioral intentions can indicate whether or not customers will remain with an organization. Reinartz and Kumar (2000) challenge Zeithaml, Berry and Parasuramans assertions that customer retention always leads well-managed companies to profitability. Reinartz and Kumar (2000) argue that long-term customers are not always the most profitable customers, and dismiss research assuming that loyalty equates with profitability as a gross oversimplification. Reinartz and Kumar (2000) contend that managers should not automatically assume increased lifetime spending, decreased costs of service, and decreased price sensitivity for long-term retained customers. Reinartz and Kumar (2000) go further in also disputing the idea that long-term retained customers require lesser marketing investment by companies. Their research concluded that long-term customers often have inactive purchasing periods unrelated to their retention by an organization (Reinartz and Kumar, 2000). During these dormant periods, these customers are at best a break-even proposition for organizations, and often consume marketing and service resources resulting in net losses during periods of inactivity. Reinartz and Kumar (2000) found that short-term customers may be as significant to customers as longtime clients. Other research indicates that organizations struggling with a single approach to satisfy all customers can end up with inefficient and inappropriate levels of service (Cohen, Cull, Lee and Willen, 2000). Cohen, Cull, Lee and Willen (2000) conclude that organizations must customize their service to meet each customers individual needs. Superior service generates favorable behavioral intentions in customers, including increased future spending, acceptance of price premiums, word of mouth referrals, and, ultimately, customer retention (Zeithaml et al., 1996). Research suggests that most employees have a true customer orientation in that they understand their customers needs, and possess empathy and respect for their customers (Bitner, Booms and Mohr, 1994). Quality service builds customer faith in the organization, and is essential for maintaining competitive advantage (Berry, Parasuraman and Zeithaml, 1994). Since quality customer service can generate positive behavioral intentions, quality service strategies are effectively profit strategies for organizations. Research illustrates this link between service and profitability, as Keaveney (1995) found that customer defections can cost an organization future revenue stream. As customers intentions toward a company improve, the results include new customers, increased business with existing customers, fewer lost customers, and added pricing power (Berry et al., 1994). Berry and Parasuraman (1997) stress the creation of customer feedback channels as a component of quality service. Listening and responding to the customers needs in a quality way has a direct effect on the quality of service provided (Berry and Parasuraman, 1997). This focus on customer feedback drove the purpose of this series of papers. Evidence, such as Keaveneys study, highlighting the role customer loyalty plays in making an organization more profitable makes it imperative that companies quickly and proactively address concerns, complaints and other unfavorable behavioral intentions among their customers (Tax, Brown and Chandrashekar, 1998). Tax, Brown and Chandrashekars point also applies in a comparative sense as well. Organizations can potentially provide satisfactory service that nonetheless lags other competitors service offerings. In these cases, customers may defect because of the attraction of comparatively superior service offerings from a competitor. Managers of service departments and service companies must recognize this comparative measure, and realize that some customers will defect even when they are satisfied with a former provider (Keaveney, 1995). Customers display favorable intentions such as praising the company, expressing a preference for the company to the company or to other consumers, continuing and/or increasing purchasing volumes, paying price premiums, and making recommendations to others based on their satisfaction with the company (Zeithaml et al., 1996). Satisfied customers stay loyal to an organization longer, pay less attention to competitive products, exhibit less price sensitivity, offer service improvement or expansion ideas to the organization and cost less to service over time than new customers (Weinstein et al., 1999). When dissatisfied, customers display unfavorable intentions such as expressing an eagerness to leave the organization, decreasing purchase patterns, voicing complaints to the vendor, complaining to others, or taking legal action against the organization (Zeithaml et al., 1996). When customers do leave an organization, many choose to do so quietly with the intention of getting even by making negative comments to others about the organization (Tax and Brown, 1998). Since defecting customers can impact current and future revenue streams, properly identifying dissatisfied customers and understanding why customers defect can be valuable tools in improving customer retention management programs. Companies must implement strategies to overcome potential customer defections. Retention efforts should begin as soon as organizations acquire new customers. The organization should proactively attempt to learn and address customer needs and resolve any complaints or concerns quickly (Weinstein et al., 1999). Weinstein et al. (1999) suggest several ways to build loyalty and increase favorable behavioral intentions in customers. They suggest that organizations could embed sales staff at the offices of their best customers, participate in their customers events or promotional efforts, interview their customers customers, conduct retreats with major customers to share best practices and to train customers on company products and services, develop a preferred customer pricing strategy, reward customers for referring new business, solicit feedback on product development roadmaps, and even partner with key accounts on industry research projects (Weinstein et al., 1999). SERVQUAL Among the most popular assessments tools of service quality is SERVQUAL, an instrument designed by Berry, Parasuraman, and Zeithaml (1994). Through numerous qualitative studies, they evolved a set of five dimensions ranked consistently by customers as central to service quality, regardless of the  service industry. Berry, Parasuraman, and Zeithaml (1994) defined these dimensions as: *Tangibles: the appearance of physical facilities, equipment, personnel, and communication materials; *Reliability: an ability to perform the promised service dependably and accurately; *Responsiveness: a willingness to help customers and provide prompt service; *Assurance: the knowledge and courtesy of employees and their ability to convey trust and confidence; and *Empathy: the caring, individualized attention the firm provides its customers. Based on the five SERVQUAL dimensions, the researchers also developed a survey instrument to measure the gap between customers expectation for excellence and their perception of actual service delivered. The SERVQUAL instrument helps service providers understand both customer expectations and perceptions of specific services, as well as quality improvements over time (Berry, Parasuraman, and Zeithaml, 1988). Analysis of customer responses to a SERVQUAL questionnaire presents numerous potential practical implications for companies and their customer service teams. Scope We will conduct a study of all ImageStream customers (the population) by e-mailing or mailing a questionnaire to companies listed in ImageStreams internal records. The study will take less than one month to complete. We will contact all customers and direct them to the on-line survey, and follow up with customers who have not responded after two weeks. We will end the study after four weeks, and expect 25%-30% participation. We base this estimate on the response rate of similar studies mentioned above. A response  rate of at least 10% will yield a significant sample, enabling us to make conclusive findings and recommendations. Methodology We identify three determinants of customer satisfaction with ImageStream: service quality, solution quality, and price (through a measure of perceived value). Data on customer satisfaction, service quality, solution quality and price will be collected through the attached questionnaire survey. The questionnaire adapts the SERVQUAL instrument developed by Berry, Parasuraman and Zeithaml (1998) and uses a combination of Likert-scaled, dichotomous and unstructured questions. The use of both bipolar Likert/dichotomous and unstructured questions allows us to benefit from the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative research. The use of quantitative questions allows us to obtain a high degree of reliability and validity using the scientific method, and enables others to more easily repeat or replicate our study. The qualitative questions provide background for customer responses, and help to identify any underlying issues highlighted by the quantitative research. Triangulation, in this case the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, allows us to overcome the weakness of using only one research technique. We do not assume that there is only one reality and believe that different research methods will reveal different perspectives. Using quantitative and qualitative triangulation allows us to use different sets of data, different types of analyses, different researchers, and/or different theoretical perspectives to study customer service. The quantitative question results will provide data that we can subject to complex statistical analyses. We will combine the quantitative question responses to determine central tendencies and dispersion of the data, including measures of mean, standard error, median, mode, standard deviation, variance, kurtosis, skewness, and range. We will analyze the  results of each question and of the study as a whole. Based on the results of the analysis above, we will develop regressions to identify potential relationships between past service experiences, perceived quality, future purchasing behavior, and loyalty. A possible research design for the regression analysis follows. H1: There is a positive correlation between the level of superior customer service and positive future customer behavior. H2: There is a negative or no correlation between the level of superior customer service and positive future customer behavior. H3: There is a positive correlation between the level of inferior customer service and negative future customer behavior. H4: There is a negative or no correlation between the level of inferior customer service and negative future customer behavior. Using these results, we can make conclusions about the management problem defined above. Development of these findings will include the use of anecdotal evidence from the qualitative questions in the survey. We will use the responses to the qualitative questions to support the quantitative findings, and to highlight key issues not covered by the quantitative portions of the survey. Possible Findings Following Zeithaml, Berry and Parasuraman (1996), we believe that a positive relationship exists between quality service and positive customer behavior as defined above. Additionally, we believe that our research will show that favorable customer behavioral intentions will be higher among customers experiencing no service problems. Customers who have experience problems, but received service to resolve them will show the next highest level. Customers with unresolved service problems will show the least favorable  behavioral intentions. Conclusion Customer service and its effect on customer retention in an organization is a growing area of research, and one that is vital to maintaining quality at ImageStream. This paper examined customer retention and defection from an organization in the context of customer service quality, exploring four areas: 1.A conceptual framework of how service quality affects particular customer behaviors and the consequences for ImageStream, establishing the purpose for this study, 2.Empirical studies that focused on the relationship between service quality and customer behavioral intentions, 3.A triangulated quantitative and qualitative survey to study perceived service levels among ImageStream customers, 4.Follow-on research based on the survey results and statistical analysis, including a summary of expected findings Customer retention branches off into many other significant areas such as value-added services, supply chain relationships, use of information systems to service customers better, and very importantly perceived and expected performance. Organizations have a chance to learn from their customers. The more customers teach the company the more effective it becomes at providing exactly what they want and the more difficult it is for competitors to lure them away from the organization (Pine II et al., 1995). Learning about customers is what this whole retention topic is about. The customers tell the organization what to do to keep them. The strategy is for the organization to learn how to listen and respond. References Anton, J. (1996). Customer Relationship Management: Making Hard Decisions with Soft Numbers. New York: Prentice Hall. Berry, L., Parasuraman, A. and Zeithaml, V. (1988). A Conceptual Model of Service Quality and its Implications for Future Research. The Academy of Management Executive, 8, 32-52. Berry, L. and Parasuraman, A. (1997). Listening to the Customer: The Concept of a Service-Quality Information System. Sloan Management Review, 38, 65-76. Berry, L., Parasuraman, A. and Zeithaml, V. (1994). Improving Service Quality in America: Lessons Learned. The Academy of Management Executive, 8, 32-52. Bitner, M., Booms, B. and Mohr, L. (1994). Critical Service Encounters: The Employees Viewpoint. Journal of Marketing, 58, 95-106. Chase, R. and Stewart, D. (1994). Make Your Service Failsafe. Sloan Management Review, 35, 35-44. Cohen, M., Cull, C., Lee, H. and Willen, D. (2000). Saturns Supply-Chain Cooper, D. and Schindler, P. (2002). Business Research Methods (6th ed.). Burr Ridge, IL: Irwin/McGraw-Hill. Cronin Jr., Joseph J. and Taylor, S. (1992). Measuring Service Quality: A Reexamination and Extension. Journal of Marketing, 56, 55-68. Heskett, J., Jones, T., Loveman, G., Sasser, W., and Schlesinger, L. (1994, March-April). Putting the Service-Profit Chain to Work. Harvard Business Review, 164-174. Innovation: High Value After-Sales. Sloan Management Review, 41, 93. Joppe, M. (n.d.). The Research Process. Retrieved January 12, 2004 from http://www.ryerson.ca/~mjoppe/rp.htm Keaveney, S. (1995). Customer Switching Behavior in Service Industries: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Marketing, 59, 71-82. Pine II, J., Peppers, D. and Rogers, M. (1995). Do You Want to Keep Your Customers Forever? Harvard Business Review, 73, 103-114. Pitt, L., Watson, R., Kavan, C. (1997). Measuring Information Systems Service Quality: Concerns for a complete canvas. MIS Quarterly, 21, 209-221. Reinartz, Werner J. and Kumar, V. (2000). On the Profitability of Long-Life Customers in a Noncontractual Setting: An Empirical Investigation and Implications for Marketing. Journal of Marketing, 64, 17. Tax, S. and Brown, S. (1998). Recovering and learning from service failures. Sloan Management Review, 40, 75-88. Tax, S., Brown, S.and Chandrashekar, M. (1998). Customer evaluations of service complaint experiences: implications for relationship marketing. Journal of Marketing, 62, 60-76. Van Dyke, T., Kappelman, L., and Prybutok, V. (1997, June). Measuring Information Systems Service Quality: Concerns on the use of the SERVQUAL questionnaire. MIS Quarterly, 21, 195-208. Weinstein, Art and Johnson, W. (1999). Designing and Delivering Superior Customer Value: Concepts, Cases, and Applications. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Whyte, G., Bytheway, A., and Edwards, C. (1997). Understanding User Perceptions of Information Systems Success. Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 6, 35-68. Zeithaml, V., Berry, L. and Parasuraman, A. (1996). The Behavioral Consequences of Service Quality. Journal of Marketing, 60, 31-46.

Ethics Essay Essay Example for Free

Ethics Essay Essay The theories of virtue, utilitarianism, and deontology are similar in some aspects but for the most part are very different. Each of the theories will be explained to show their differences and the type of person that would gravitate towards that theory. Through the explanations one would also be able to consider where there morals or ethics may lie but can also see themselves in each theory. The Virtue Theory, also know as Virtue Ethics, refers to the character of each person. This theory states that every person should try for excellence. The characteristics of each individual are made up from their environment that they are a part of. The theory would further suggest that it is not defined as a single moment in each individual’s life but their entire life as a whole. In thinking about the Virtue Theory, it can be explained by stating that each person needs to be the best they can and avoid the need or ability to hurt others. In Basic ethics: Basic ethics in action it talks about Aristotle and his view on virtue ethics to include characteristics or virtues of an individual. There are some that Aristotle would suggest to be the median or virtues such as courage, self-control, proper emotion, and friendliness to name a few. Reviewing these ideals of what characteristics a person should posses would or could be considered common traits of most individuals in the world today. In the simplistic form the virtue theory is about better one self and the other individuals that are around them. Deontology Theory states that there is a moral duty for one to act no matter the circumstances. This theory is furthered by the thought process of not thinking through any actions or the consequences but because it is action that is taken is right. â€Å"The word â€Å"deontology† comes from two Greek words, deion+ logos. Deion comes from the particle dei which means â€Å"must. † Logos (in this context) means â€Å"the account of† (Boylan, 2009). In breaking this down, it shows that is the account of the musts. In meaning one must act on the account of others or for themselves. Deontology theory can be seen within those persons that provide protection for another without question no matter the inherent danger. The will to act is shown through this theory such as that would be considered of the Spartan Army. The Spartan Army would not ask how many strong are the enemy but where the enemy is. Utilitarianism Theory is one that embodies the thought of taking care of the whole group and not the individual. This theory is a moral theory as we see wanting to make the group better. It can only be our morals to drive us to want what is best for a group. If one person is stronger in writing than another during the course of the project, then the weaker writer may ask the stronger one to take over. It is knowing your personal weakness and asking or foregoing your own glory to better the group that you are part of. One that can set aside their pride is a far better person and shows their true sense of morals. In thinking about a personal experience to be discussed in combination with one of these theories, I keep coming back to the theory of utilitarianism. The reason being that I know I have an alpha personality, meaning that I like to be in control and have the control. I tend to leave this part of me outside the classroom to have a clear head and to allow the learning teams to work more cohesive with the other members. It has been my experience that issues have arisen in each of the groups that I have been a part of. This is either due to lack of participation, inability to communicate or the plain fact of laziness. I have stopped from confronting the team member numerous times in order to keep the team moving in the right direction. Later in the class the issues continue to build and that is when I will confront the person and attempt to deal with the issue. I feel that in setting aside my alpha mentality and waiting to confront the individual is a way for the betterment of the learning team as whole.

British Phonographic Industry: Structure and Competition

British Phonographic Industry: Structure and Competition Olivia Boachie Business Economics and Industrial Organisation The following analysis attempts to assess the structure and sources of competitive pressure in the British Phonographic Industry using Porters five forces framework model, and how the advent of the internet has affected the structure and performance of the industry. Michael Porter’s Five-Forces model of the music industry Michael Porter’s Five-Forces framework model recognises the economic forces that affect industry profits. The five forces are: Internal rivalry, Entry, Substitutes and complements, Supplier power and Buyer power. These forces may affect and abolish the revenues of current businesses. The five forces framework is a business study and industry strategy improvement instrument which lets marketers eventually generate stakeholder value through industry events. The key factors of appeal are the demand and supply of products in the market, quantity of entrants presently in the market and their strengths and weaknesses. In response to the essay question, the British Phonographic Industry will be examined critically through each of the five forces. A graphical representation of Porter’s Framework is shown below: British Phonographic Industry â€Å"BPI (British Phonographic Industry) represents the UK’s recorded music industry, which is one of the most exciting and thriving music sectors in the world. British artists account for one in eight albums purchased by fans around the globe† (http://www.bpi.co.uk/about-bpi.aspx). BPI co-owns the Official Charts Company in â€Å"a joint venture with the Entertainment Retails Association (ERA). The Official Charts Company is responsible for the commissioning, distribution, marketing and promotion of the UK’s industry standard music and video charts and sales data. BPI also maintains the industry standard for certifying Gold, Silver and Platinum sales awards† (http://www.bpi.co.uk/about-bpi.aspx). There are three major record companies within the British Phonographic Industry which are: Warner Music UK, Sony Music Entertainment UK and Universal Music UK. Internal Rivalry Internal Rivalry refers to the jockeying for shares by firms within a market. It is fierce if competition drives prices towards costs. This is more likely when there are many firms, products are perceived to be homogeneous, consumers are motivated and able to shop around, prices may be set secretly, sales orders are large and received infrequently and the industry has excess capacity. The UK music business has been contested for by three big recording studios for years. There is severe rivalry amongst these recording studios; their market shares continued to be steady for years as new opposition hardly went into the market due to great entry barriers. The music industry is booming when associating online and offline sales collectively. The product distinction attainable in the music business is very low due to all types of music being approximately the same. The diversity could be attained through the setups of music delivered such as CD’s and online formats such as MP3’s. Downloading is now becoming more common than the constant visits to the music stores, the music business has unremittingly decreased the amount of stores and fixated on emerging an online approach. Through doing this they have been successful at reducing high fixed costs including store rentals and incomes of a high number of store employees which has assisted with their margins. In terms of competitive pressure, the music industry can be thought to be extremely competitive due to predictions of the music boom which started in the 1990s. Due to more talent coming out through shows such as X-factor, Britain’s Got Talent and the Voice in the UK, potential performers are now being presented in the music industry. Entry The threat of entrants is another force that determines the industry’s competitive pressure. If â€Å"new entrants move into an industry they will gain market share and rivalry will intensify† (http://www.tutor2u.net/business/strategy/porter_five_forces.htm). The position of existing firms is tougher if there are barriers to entering the market. If barriers to entering the industry are low then the threat of new entrants will be high and if the barriers to entry are high then the threat of new entrants will be low. Barriers to entry are very significant in determining the threat of new entrants. An industry can have more than one barrier. The following are well-known examples of effective barriers: Access to suppliers and distribution channels Product differentiation Economies of scale available to existing firms The selection of a gifted artist and turning them into a success involves skilled use of advertising, talent supervision and investment. Recognised music labels devote a lot to undertaking appearance improvement campaigns, and experiment with advertising before the artist’s work is free for the public to see. These particular parts require professional abilities and involve having money. Substitutes and Complements Substitutes wear down profits in the same way as competitors entering the market by stealing business and increasing internal rivalry. Complements boost the demand for the product in question; thereby improving profit chances for the industry. In the music business, the alternatives for music purchases or downloads can be recognised to be plagiarised music downloads online and Radio stations that play music 24 hours. Plagiarised music websites which offer music for free are the distinguishable alternatives for the music industry. The consumer having a choice of whether or not to buy music or to download it continues to be a fight in their mind. So the risk of this alternative is very high. Music such as those on Jango or Napster allows consumers to listen to songs an unrestricted number of times without the need to purchase them. While they don’t obtain the luxury of downloading music for free and listening to the songs on the move, it can still be seen as an alternative as it permits for the entertainment of consumers. When it comes to TV and Radio music stations, the necessities for setting up those services such as TV set boxes and regular subscriptions are fairly costly in comparison to the price of an album. But with other facilities such as the ability to record channels and the choice of other stations on offer, they may have chosen the better option when compared to a music album. Supplier Power If a firms suppliers â€Å"have bargaining power they will exercise that power, sell their products at a higher price and squeeze industry profits† (http://www.tutor2u.net/business/strategy/porter_five_forces.htm). If the supplier drives up the price paid for inputs, revenues will be condensed. Suppliers find themselves in an influential position when there are only a few suppliers, the resource they supply is scarce, there are no or few substitute resources, the product is easy to differentiate and faithful consumers are unwilling to switch. The bargaining powers of performers are high as it is believed that the voice and skill of each performer is distinctive and cannot be replaced. Buyer Power Buyer power is analogous to supplier power. â€Å"It refers to the ability of individual customers to negotiate purchase prices that extract profits from sellers† (Economics of strategy 6th edition, David Besanko). â€Å"Buyers have indirect power in competitive markets, and the price they pay will depend on the forces of supply and demand. The willingness of consumers to shop for the best price could instead be considered a source of internal rivalry, not indirect buyer power. When buyers are focused, or suppliers have made relationship-specific investments, buyers may exert direct power† (Economics of strategy 6th edition, David Besanko). Buyers then demand lower prices when suppliers are thriving and accepting higher prices when suppliers are struggling. The consumers for the UK music business can be either individual or corporate. Corporate consumers in the music business contain online and offline traders who buy albums in large quantities from the music label. Stores included could be HMV and Game and online music stores which include stores such as iTunes and AmazonMP3. The negotiating power of the corporate consumers can be assumed to be low due to prices being settled amongst them and the labels at the time of signing the contract. Advent of the Internet I will now analyse how the advent of the internet has affected the structure and performance of the music industry. The Internet is â€Å"a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols† (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Internet). The structural attractiveness of the UK music industry is determined by five underlying forces of competition. These include: The intensity of rivalry among existing competitors, the barriers to entry for new competitors, the threat of substitute products or service, the bargaining power of suppliers, and the bargaining power of the buyers. Below are points under each of the forces on how the internet influences the music industry which are taken from Michael. E Porter’s Competitive strategy free press, 1980. Rivalry among existing competitors The Internet has enlarged the amount of competitors in the music industry and decreased the significance of geographic boundaries. â€Å"There is increased rivalry because companies have a stake to succeed with use of the Internet. Rivalry increases when there is less differentiation between products. There is highly intense competition due to the Internet becoming an online platform for commercial use† (www.ukessays.com). Barriers to entry for new competitors The internet has decreased the fixed costs needed for a business to get to their end users. Most record labels find it easier to launch online ventures since they are positive about brand loyalty and trust. Threat of substitute products or services The internet has assisted in increasing the pressure from alternative products, as it may increase the diversity of products available to consumers. This can be done by customers being able to now purchase CD’s online or download songs for free. Bargaining power of the suppliers â€Å"The internet offers a channel for suppliers to reach end users, decreasing the power of intervening companies† (Michael. E Porter’s Competitive strategy free press, 1980). Procurement and digital markets tend to give companies equal access to suppliers and to standardised products that decrease variation. Buyers bargaining power of channels and end users â€Å"Moves bargaining power to end customers† (Michael. E Porter’s Competitive strategy free press, 1980). The customers have the bargaining power as they have the choice to either purchase CD’s from a store or download the songs for free online. From the analysis above, it is assumed that the UK music business is booming. The music industry is conquered by three big companies who have been around for a number of years and who operate great shares of the market. Applying Porters five forces framework is tremendously significant in industry analysis as it allows businesses to understand the overall attractiveness of the industry itself. However, one could say that the advent of the internet has affected the sales of CD’s. The need to purchase a CD with one song on it is no longer a necessity as you can just download the song from the internet. â€Å"Music piracy online is quite widespread, which affects artists and record labels profits. Anybody that has an internet connection can find illegal music downloads anywhere. Unsurprisingly the labels lose more money than the artists since the label keeps the majority of the money and the artist only sees a small percentage. It is now easier for artists to self-promote and se lf -release nowadays with all the opportunities for advertising and promoting online. Therefore, it could be said that the advent of the internet has decreased the music industry’s performance. References About The BPI. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2014, from The British Recorded Music Industry: http://www.bpi.co.uk/about-bpi.aspx Answers. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21st, 2014, from wiki.answers.com: wiki.answers.com David Besanko, D. D. (n.d.). Economics of Strategy. John Wiley. Illangakoon, S. (2010, November 5th). Porters Five Forces analysis for music industry. Retrieved March 17th, 2014, from Assignment help series: http://assignmenthelpseries9.blogspot.co.uk/ Internet. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21st, 2014, from Oxford Dictionaries Language Matters: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Internet Our Work. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2014, from British Phonographic Industry: http://www.bpi.co.uk/our-work.aspx Porter, M. (1980). Competitive Strategy. Riley, J. (2012, September 23rd). Overview of the five forces model. Retrieved March 18th, 2014, from tutor2u: http://www.tutor2u.net/business/strategy/porter_five_forces.htm The UK expert provider of custom essays. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15th, 2014, from ukessays.com: http://www.ukessays.com/essays/information-technology/the-internet-on-the-macro-environment-information-technology-essay.php Business Organisation And Environment: Mcdonalds Business Organisation And Environment: Mcdonalds There are 2 types of business environment, namely internal environment and external environment. Internal environment is also known as controllable environment. The internal environment of McDonalds includes the following: Aim The aim of McDonalds is to be the best fast service restaurant experience. Marketing The marketing of McDonalds is very large. McDonalds was one of the eight corporate sponsors of Millennium Dome Experience. It invested  £8 million in the Domes community programme and learning experience. Besides that, McDonalds is also a major sponsor of the World Cup since 1994 and the Champions League from 1996 to 2000. McDonalds also sponsors British athletics since 1993 and formed the McDonalds Young Athletes League to train 11 to 17 years old teenagers. Moreover, McDonalds sponsors Child Safety Week since 1994. Management McDonalds also has a good management for their business. Such as, they have high recruitment standards. They care about the skills, talents and performance of their staffs. They also consider gender, marital status, disability, race and nationality when recruiting. McDonalds also provides a safe and secure working environment. All staffs will have opportunities for training and development. Moreover, McDonalds provides education of staff matters for their staffs. They have a good communication with their staffs. The pay of the staffs at McDonalds reflects their working performance. Besides that, over 40% of McDonalds managers started as hourly-paid staff members in the restaurant. McDonalds motivates their staffs by giving them free meals. They will also have paid holidays. The staffs will get free life assurance and the value is dependent upon their service. Those employees that are 19 years old or older with 3 years service with get private health care from McDonalds. Besides that, McDonalds has a sponsorship programme for their staffs. The employees of McDonalds will also get an employee discount card. There are also service awards for those employees with 3, 5,10,15,20 and 25 years of service. All employees will also get a stakeholder pension from McDonalds. Production McDonalds has their production of foods. There are five main ingredients for food, like beef, chicken, bread, potatoes and milk. The Big Mac is one the basic food offered by McDonalds. Moreover, McChicken is also known as chicken sandwich and McNuggets is also known as chicken nuggets which are products of McDonalds. McDonalds also serves desserts such as the McFlurry ice-cream. Moving on, the following shows the external environment (uncontrollable environment) of McDonalds: Political McDonalds is highly influenced by the policies set by the government of the various countries it operates in. For example, in the country of India, the local religious law restricts its residents from eating beef, thus it is considered an insult to have beef in the local McDonalds menu. In order to obtain the license to open a fast food restaurant, McDonalds has to obey the business regulations implemented by the local government. To succeed in the foreign market, McDonalds has to act according to the markets rules and regulations, and create a good relationship with the government by obeying the markets tax obligations and any environmental laws. Economic The markets economy has an impact on the branches and franchises of McDonalds. A weak economy would influence the customers buying power which would in turn affect the general sales of McDonalds. McDonalds imports most of its material as the local market cannot provide materials in abundance to meet the demands of the market. Inflation or changes in the exchange rate of the market would affect the operations of the company. A rise in the exchange rate of currencies would increase the cost of purchasing. Socio-Cultural Every country has a unique culture. McDonalds has to create a menu that is suitable to the local taste and culture. For example, the Hindu residents of India do not take beef, Muslim countries do not take pork and only consume halal food, Asian countries like to eat rice, Chinese likes to associate their meals with good fortune such as prosperity, and Americans eat big-sized meals. Additionally, the development of technology creates the need for better services and convenience for customers. For instance, McDonalds should provide wireless internet services and allow credit card payments at their stores. Technological McDonalds uses technological means for a variety of things. For example, television advertisements are used for marketing. Customers can order by phone for a delivery to be made. Besides that, in Singapore, McDonalds accepts EZ-link card payments as a means of convenience for customers. Moreover, the advancement in internet technologies allows McDonalds to implement web-based ordering and online payment. Legal McDonalds has to follow many regulations in order to be legally allowed to operate its business, for example, business registration, tax requirements, and employment laws. Besides that, McDonalds also has to acquire a halal certification in order to get Muslim customers. Environment As McDonalds serves millions of customers per day, it needs a large supply of materials. The large amount of animals slaughtered to create a supply for McDonalds is frequently criticised by world environmentalists. In addition, forests have been lost due to large scale plantation. Before using paper packaging, McDonalds used Styrofoam based packaging for its products, which is hard to recycle. Organisation structure McDonalds is a fast food franchising company and its success comes from its various franchisees all over the world. About 70% of McDonalds worldwide restaurants are run by independent businessmen and businesswomen. A franchise is a business licensed to use the name, logo and expertise of an existing, well-known business (123helpme.com n.d.). McDonalds provides licenses to the markets local operators to start a McDonalds restaurant. McDonalds may take away the license if the franchisee fails to meet the franchise agreement or requirement. All of McDonalds restaurants have a flat structure. A manager controls all the employees and makes all the decisions. This allows the staffs to only carry out their simple routine works such as selling and serving customers. On the other hand, the McDonalds corporation has a tall and complex structure. The corporation is highly formalized, has a limited information network, is centralised and has extensive departmentalisation. The departmentalisation of McDonalds is structured along functional lines. The various departments in McDonalds are operations, development, finance, marketing, and human resource. Operations The operations department of McDonalds controls the equipment and franchising of restaurants. They ensure that the franchisees are following the agreements set by the McDonalds corporation. They provide support for the franchisees in all aspects of the business. All in all, they make certain that the business of McDonalds runs smoothly. Development The development department plans and manufactures products. They ensure that the products made are up to the qualities set by the corporation. Besides that, they also develop new products for McDonalds. Finance The finance department keeps record of the profits of the company. They keep account on all the transactions done by the company. They also pay the salaries of the employees. They keep track of how the business is doing. Marketing The main role of the marketing department is to attract new customers. They organise advertisements and promotions. Moreover, they cooperate with the development department to ensure that the design, quality and price of a product are what the consumer wants. Human Resource The human resource department recruits and appoints all new staffs. They handle the affairs of all employees which include retirement, dismissal and etc. They employ quality staffs and motivate them to do their best. Culture in Society Cultures in societies are affecting the organization. An organization will change its way or structure to adapt to the culture in the society. It might also change the communication style with its customers in order to stay in business. In other words, McDonalds must understand that they must make their organization structure compatible with the various cultures in societies. Otherwise, the amount of customers will reduce when the organization does not adapt to the markets culture, or goes against it. When there are less customers, McDonalds will not have enough income and motivation to continue running their business. Culture of Religion Halal is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law.'(wikipedia) When someone wants to operate a McDonalds restaurant, they have to consider about religion issues such as Halal in certain countries, for example Islamic countries like Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, Sri Langka and so on. McDonalds have to comply with the regulations given by the government and the culture of the residents. Therefore in these Islamic countries, McDonalds have to provide Halal food due to the large population of Muslim and Arab people to run the business successfully. However, Halal issues are not only applicable in Islamic countries, there is also an exceptionally large number of Muslims and Arabs in non-Muslim countries like in Dearborn (Michigan, United States). McDonalds have introduced Halal chicken nuggets there. Culture of Food Different countries might have different food cultures. It will affect the food menu of McDonalds as well. In order to expand the business, or to increase the income, McDonalds has to do research on the food culture of the markets residents. Only foods that adhere to their food culture are able to attract more local customers. For example, at German, McDonalds serves beer. In India, there is no Big Mac because Indians do not consume beef. However, they do have a Maharaja Mac which contains lamb or chicken meat instead of beef. They also provide a vegetarian burger named McAloo Tikki, since a certain amount of Indians are vegetarians. Besides that, for rice-loving Chinese in countries like Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, McDonalds introduced rice burger. In other words, McDonalds will modify their menu according to the food culture of the local customers so that they would be able to earn more customers as well as income. Culture of Social Women are also affecting the income of McDonalds. As there are more and more women that work nowadays, most of them will have less time to spend in the kitchen to cook for their family. The job of preparing a meal will fall onto their parents or even their husband, but they often choose to eat fast food. Therefore, McDonalds has become one of the places for these families to have their meal. This has directly increased the income of McDonalds. There are many more cultures in societies that affect McDonalds, it must clearly know the change of the culture in order to keep its business updated. If there are no customers due to the structure of the organization which is against the customers culture, McDonalds will not have the motivation to run its business in that market. The reason McDonalds run successfully is because it able to adapt with the local culture of the market. It also structures its internal environment well and has a good reaction to the external environments.

Live Today…Strive for Tomorrow Essay -- Essays Papers

Live Today†¦Strive for Tomorrow My senior year is here, and passing quite quickly. Each day â€Å"I walk with a purpose, but no destination† (Ehrlich 232). I’ve had this same purpose etched in my mind since I can remember, it occasionally changes, ever so slightly, but remains consistent—to surpass people’s expectations and achieve something out of the norm. College is around the corner, but where will that be, what will it be? Close to home? A Thousand miles away? Why am I so concerned with this aspect of life—is it because that’s what everyone else seems consumed with? Everyone is pushing me for tomorrow, but what happened to today? I’m losing sight of what is so close. I’ve forgotten about treasuring the moment, absorbing the experiences right here in front of me. We all want to grow up, move on, and encounter something better, but â€Å"when [we] run so fast to get somewhere, [we] miss half the fun of getting there. When [we] worry and hurry through [our] day, it’s like an unopened gift, thrown away† (unknown). I think it’s time to take a step back and look at all today has to offer, see the people around who love me, relish every moment with friends who won’t be here next year, and take a good look at myself. Why I am the way I am and am I headed in the right direction? Joan Didion said that we are what we learned as children (161). I am fortunate enough to have grown up in a nurturing home with two stable parents. That has been the single most important influence on who I am today. The encouragement to do well and accomplish something in everything I do has been a constant force in my development. Winning— People often get caught up and forget that the reason they’re playing a game is to enjoy the experience.... ... life that happened in the past are the forevers because they live on in one’s memory. Those memories are so powerful—that’s what makes me want to make today worth something instead of always simply looking ahead. â€Å"Life is about the journey, not the destination†. My senior year of high school†¦I want to enjoy people’s company, appreciate my family’s presence, and keep a permanent Polaroid of my â€Å"home town† etched in my memory. I have a purpose for the year, I know what I want to accomplish for the future, but I have to remember to make the most out of today because there may not always be a tomorrow. Works Cited Didion, Joan. â€Å"On Morality.† Slouching Towards Bethlehem. New York; Noonday, 1995 (1961). Ehrlich, Gretel. â€Å"Looking for a Lost Dog.† Encounters: Reading and the World. 229-233. Stockton, Jessica. â€Å"Eternity’s Corner.† Mercer Street. 52-54.

Ethical Issues in Secured Communications Essay -- Communication Ethics

Ethical Issues in Secured Communications 1. Introduction The outstanding growth of network technologies in the past decade have contributed to millions of new applications and industries. Literally millions of companies around the world were created to serve this huge growth. Even though many of those companies did not survive until the present time, most of the applications did survive and they are still widely used among consumers of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. Most of the widely used applications are not secured. I will define what is meant by a secured communication later in the paper. However, this paper is more concerned in the way people use these applications in terms of identity. Many applications allow users to participate in specific discussion groups or web activities as anonymous. Anonymity might not be a problem in open chatting rooms for example, but what about banking applications or email or even instant messaging. Email and instant messaging software are free to use and provided by respective companies such as Microsoft and Yahoo. Those services do not require a real identity to be used and many people use these services as anonymous. The opposite of being anonymous is to be verified, and in order for someone to be verified on the internet, he/she has to be authenticated. Authentication ensures that the person using a specific application is whomever he/she claims to be. This paper will look in detail on how authentication can be achieved on the web and why it is necessary. Then I will focus on the notion of anonymity and identity. Then we will see who supports anonymity on the web and why. Then we will see who stands against it and why. A controversial example will be given and ... ... [2] 2000 B.C. Intell. Prop. & Tech. F. 041901 - Herman T. Tavani, â€Å"Privacy and the Internet† [3] 1999 B.C. Intell. Prop. & Tech. F. 060506 - Dr. Ronald J. Kizior, â€Å"Lurking on the Internet† [4] 1999 B.C. Intell. Prop. & Tech. F. 060507 - Adam White Scoville, â€Å"Text is Self: The Merger of Property and Identity† [5] W. Stallings, "Cryptography and Network Security: Principles and Practice", Prentice Hall, 2002, Ch. 14 [6] E. Shaefer, "MATH 178/196 class notes", Santa Clara University, Computer Science and Mathematics department [7] http://www.penet.fi/press-english.html [8] http://legacy.eos.ncsu.edu/eos/info/computer_ethics/privacy/anonymity/ [9] http://www.niksula.cs.hut.fi/~eklund/Opinnot/netsec.html [10] N. Ling," Data Compression 1 class notes", Santa Clara University, Computer Engineering Department [11] Anonymity on the web FAQ

Comparing Alexis Tocqueville and Karl Marx Essay -- Politics Political

Comparing Alexis Tocqueville and Karl Marx Writing in the 1830s Tocqueville saw democracy as the way of the future, and envisioned a world where revolutions would be rare. Yet writing not long after that, with a thorough knowledge of Tocqueville, Marx predicted a season of revolutions. The difference between these two views comes from a different take on the effect that the economy has on people. Both men saw the economy as producing an almost economically equal majority. For Tocqueville this majority was fairly well-off and had the ability to seek individual happiness through material wellbeing, without concern to control the government. This pursuit of individualism would keep the people quiet and peaceful. For Marx this majority was poor and had nothing to lose by revolting. Poverty would unify the people beyond borders and they would work for change. Marx acknowledged the growing individualism that Tocqueville had identified, but underestimated it and he ignored the possibility by which through democracy the wealthy could be isolated and ignored peaceably. According to Marx, "The weapons with which the bourgeoisie felled feudalism to the ground are now turned against the bourgeoisie itself. But not only has the bourgeoisie forged the weapons that bring death to itself; it has also called into existence the men who are to wield these weapons ? the modern working class ? the proletarians." The proletariat is the group described in the Communist Manifesto as the 9/10th of the population which does not own "private property". The private property he is referring to are not items of individual consumption, like toothbrushes or clothing, but the means of production. The proletariat does not own the means of production but m... ...as to whether they will be able to survive the growth of major chains like Wal-Mart. With the fall of small businesses, more and more people will be forced to sell their labour-power to the large ones, and perhaps Marx was just a little before his time. Works Cited Marx, Karl. "Civil War in France." In Karl Marx: Selected Writings. Ed. Lawrence H. Simon. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 1994. 301 - 314. "Communist Manifesto." In Karl Marx: Selected Writings. Ed. Lawrence H. Simon. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 1994. 157 ? 186. "Marginal Notes on Baukunin?s Statism and Anarchy". In Karl Marx: Selected Writings. Ed. Lawrence H. Simon. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 1994. 333 ? 338. Tocqueville, Alexis de. Democracy in America. Abridged by Sanford Kessler. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 2000. Comparing Alexis Tocqueville and Karl Marx Essay -- Politics Political Comparing Alexis Tocqueville and Karl Marx Writing in the 1830s Tocqueville saw democracy as the way of the future, and envisioned a world where revolutions would be rare. Yet writing not long after that, with a thorough knowledge of Tocqueville, Marx predicted a season of revolutions. The difference between these two views comes from a different take on the effect that the economy has on people. Both men saw the economy as producing an almost economically equal majority. For Tocqueville this majority was fairly well-off and had the ability to seek individual happiness through material wellbeing, without concern to control the government. This pursuit of individualism would keep the people quiet and peaceful. For Marx this majority was poor and had nothing to lose by revolting. Poverty would unify the people beyond borders and they would work for change. Marx acknowledged the growing individualism that Tocqueville had identified, but underestimated it and he ignored the possibility by which through democracy the wealthy could be isolated and ignored peaceably. According to Marx, "The weapons with which the bourgeoisie felled feudalism to the ground are now turned against the bourgeoisie itself. But not only has the bourgeoisie forged the weapons that bring death to itself; it has also called into existence the men who are to wield these weapons ? the modern working class ? the proletarians." The proletariat is the group described in the Communist Manifesto as the 9/10th of the population which does not own "private property". The private property he is referring to are not items of individual consumption, like toothbrushes or clothing, but the means of production. The proletariat does not own the means of production but m... ...as to whether they will be able to survive the growth of major chains like Wal-Mart. With the fall of small businesses, more and more people will be forced to sell their labour-power to the large ones, and perhaps Marx was just a little before his time. Works Cited Marx, Karl. "Civil War in France." In Karl Marx: Selected Writings. Ed. Lawrence H. Simon. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 1994. 301 - 314. "Communist Manifesto." In Karl Marx: Selected Writings. Ed. Lawrence H. Simon. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 1994. 157 ? 186. "Marginal Notes on Baukunin?s Statism and Anarchy". In Karl Marx: Selected Writings. Ed. Lawrence H. Simon. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 1994. 333 ? 338. Tocqueville, Alexis de. Democracy in America. Abridged by Sanford Kessler. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. 2000.

Emperor’s Club Plot

William Hundert (Kevin Kline) is a passionate Classics professor enthusiastic about the start of the school year. His class turns out to be a strict yet inspiring lesson for the new students arriving at St. Benedict's Academy. They include laid-back Louis Masoudi (Jesse Eisenberg), the introverted Martin Blythe (Paul Dano), and the studious Deepak Mehta (Rishi Mehta), all highly intelligent. Hundert inspires his students to study hard in order to become one of the three contestants for The Emperor's Club and be crowned â€Å"Mr.Julius Caesar,† a competition which puts the top three students of his class in a contest where they will be asked questions regarding the Classics. When the headmaster (Edward Hermann) explains the contest to the students, he mentions that Martin's father was once a â€Å"Mr. Julius Caesar. † Hundert quickly gains the respect of his class and the school year gets off to an orderly start. However, Hundert's tightly controlled world is shaken when a new student, Sedgewick Bell (Emile Hirsch), walks into his classroom. Bell is the cocky son of a senior U.S. Senator who possesses none of Hundert's principles. A fierce battle of wills begins between Hundert and Bell. Bell's rebellious nature quickly makes him the interest of the class, as he not only is willing to talk back against Hundert, he also freely shares pornographic material and is willing to play hooky and travel off-limits to a nearby prep school for girls. Despite Blythe's constant pleas not to break the rules, Masoudi and even studious Mehta find themselves enjoying their rebellious tendencies with Bell.Hundert humiliates Bell when he asks the class to list, in chronological order, all the Roman emperors. The other students comply in perfect unison, effectively embarrassing Bell, who has not studied the course material. Hundert also makes a trip to Washington D. C. to meet with Senator Bell from West Virginia. Bell's father is clearly uninterested in his son's char acter development while at St. Benedict's, instead telling Hundert just to teach Bell lessons so he can graduate, giving Hundert some insight into the younger Bell's upbringing.Hundert returns to St. Benedict's, where in a phone call, Senator Bell chews out Sedgewick for wasting his time in having to see Hundert and his money on the tuition. (But he does not yell at his son for being a slacker. ) After seeing a chastised Sedgewick, Hundert tries to develop a closer student-teacher relationship and become a mentor to Bell in order to help change him into a better man. Bell starts studying, proving to be a bright student, and his grades improve enormously. Bell finishes in the top three in Hundert's competition that precedes the Mr.Julius Ceasar contest, along with classmates Masoudi and Mehta. Bell had actually earned fourth place until Hundert privately decided to raise his grade on the final essay after reviewing it again, thus moving him above Blythe, the third place winner, whose father before him had been an Mr. Julius Ceasar winner, putting him under much pressure to live up to his father's reputation. Hundert is caught between celebrating Bell's newfound success and feeling guilty when he sees a despondent Blythe sitting all by himself under a tree.The entire school watches the competition as the three contestants are quizzed by Hundert. After many questions, the confident Masoudi is the first to make a mistake and he is thus eliminated. Hundert becomes increasingly suspicious of Bell raising his toga to his head to think. When Hundert takes a recess to confer with the headmaster; he is urged to give Bell a pass, as Senator Bell is in attendance. But he then asks Bell a question not in the books, â€Å"Who was Hamilcar Barca? , knowing full well that the answer would not be on any materials used to cheat (it was not in the curriculum) but knowing that Mehta would be able to answer it because earlier in the year, Hundert had seen him reading material abo ut Barca in his spare time. Bell is stumped and Mehta is crowned Mister Julius Caesar. Afterwards, Bell admits to Hundert having cheated by placing crib notes on the inside of his toga sleeve. Bell could not take the pressure of losing, and like his father, tried everything he could to guarantee a win. Although Hundert does not publicize this, the trust he once had with Bell is broken.Students move up to higher grades before their graduation from St. Benedict's Academy, and Bell shown reverting to his lax behavior and loss of interest in academia. In the year 1976, Bell is shown barely squeaking by in his classes, gaining acceptance to Yale University only on account of being Senator Bell's son. Hundert regrets not being able to influence Bell more. Twenty-five years later, Hundert is denied his bid to become headmaster of the school by the board, who feel he lacks the ability to drum up financial donations for the school. Hundert immediately resigns.Later he receives an invitation for a class reunion and a chance to meet up with his students at an event (surprisingly) staged by a full-grown Bell (Joel Gretsch), who is now extremely rich and successful. Once reunited with his students, he is impressed that every one of his students from that fateful class had done well since their days at St. Bendict's and all had successful careers in business, with Deepak Mehta now a professor himself. It is also revealed that Sedgewick Bell agreed to donate an additional 25,000 square foot addition to the St.Benedict library under the condition that a â€Å"Mr. Julius Caesar† rematch is held with alumni Masoudi and Mehta, Hundert presiding. This donation would be ironic, seeing that Hundert was denied becoming headmaster due to lack of fundraising abilities (so the board had deemed) and yet he would be the linchpin responsible for providing the largest donation to the school to date. Before the match Bell talks to Hundert about how his influence had really changed hi s life and he hopes that he would be able to regain his dignity in the rematch.An enthusiastic Hundert agrees to host once again. And so the Emperor's Club contest is again played, albeit the crowd being Bell's schoolfriends and their respective wives and children, and the three contestants still wearing togas, but with tuxedos. Masoudi answers the first question wrong, then tries for fun to guess the right answer in spite, humoring the crowd with fake Roman names such as â€Å"Gassius Flatulus. † Again, the main competition is between Mehta (Rahul Khanna) and Bell as both still remember (or kept up diligent study of) their lessons from Hundert's class.Sadly, despite Hundert's belief that Bell has changed, he is able to perceive that Bell is cheating, this time through a hired graduate student feeding him answers through a clandestine earpiece. Hundert poses another unofficial question, this one regarding the plaque over his door, asking â€Å"Who was Shutruk-Nakhunte† ? Despite supportive shouts from his classmates that this one is easy and they all know this one, Bell again does not know the answer due to him being a late arrival to Saint Benedict's and not being told about the leader at Mr.Hundert's first class (or ever taking the time to look around the classroom to study the plaque). Furthermore, any information about Shutruk-Nakhunte cannot be found in any textbook, which had been a point Hundert had made in his class way back when, explaining that without contribution to society, one is insignificant. Therefore, the hired grad student cannot feed Bell the correct answer, because he can't find it. Mehta is crowned Mr. Julius Caesar once again. After the competition ends and Bell congratulates Mehta for defending his title, Bell announces that he will be running for a seat in the U.S. Senate just like his father, stressing taxpayer funding of education. Hundert finally sees that Bell only used the event to drum up support for his campaign and to get contributions from his old classmates. Hundert, as well as Blythe, based on a look of humorous utter shock on his face, can scarcely believe it. Hundert and Bell run into each other in the bathroom, where Hundert confronts Bell about his immorality. Bell coldly goes on to tell Hundert that Hundert has no accomplishments in life, whereas he will become a nationally famous senator no matter what the cost.Bell also says it does not matter that he cheated, as life is full of cheaters. Just then, Bell's son, who had admired his father up to this point for his sound character, comes out of a stall with a pained expression on his face, and Bell is left to face his son and rationalize his Machiavellian ways. Hundert believes that Bell will become just like his father was; too wrapped up in his political life to devote attention to his family and properly raise his son. Hundert, realizing again that he has failed Bell, now recognizes the importance of letting Blythe know that he had given away Blythe's seat in the original â€Å"Mr.Julius Caesar† contest. He confesses his action from a quarter century ago to Blythe, who attempts to be mature about this revelation but then excuses himself, his mannerisms strongly suggesting he did not appreciate having old wounds reopened. Hundert, feeling he has failed two students, contemplates his legacy as a teacher. Hundert wakes up the next morning and goes to the dining room expecting one last breakfast with his pupils. Instead, he finds an empty room and is told that they have all left already.Hundert dejectedly returns to his room, only to discover that the men had thrown him a surprise party. All his students are at the party, except Bell, who is seen talking with reporters, beginning his political campaign. Nonetheless, the meeting is a joyous event as Hundert and his students talk about how much he has influenced them and how they are grateful that he was their teacher. Mehta gives Hundert a gift â€Å"from o ne teacher to another,† which is an inscribed plaque quoting the value of mentoring.Hundert finally comes to the realization that while he failed to turn Bell into a better man, he still has helped make many of his pupils into better men, and he realizes that his value is not based upon one failure or one success. He accepts the offer that he is always welcome for reinstatement at Saint Benedict's, going back to his old job as a teacher. Hundert thus returns to St. Benedict's Academy and again teaches Classics to a new class (which is now coeducational). It is also revealed that one of his students is Blythe's son, who is proud that his father was once Hundert's student.Hundert then asks Blythe's son to read the plaque over his door, just as young Blythe did at the beginning of the film. Hundert then looks out the window to see Martin Blythe proudly waving to him, and an expression that Hundert has found peace with his past troubles and gladness that he has been truthful with Blythe. It's also noticed that young Blythe reads the plaque without stumbling over the difficult words, while his father as a young boy had had trouble reading it, showing that young Blythe's father had taught his son what Hundert had taught him. Reference: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/The_Emperor's_Club