Is Monopoly Necessarily Less Efficient Than Perfect Competition?

Is Monopoly necessarily less efficient than Perfect Competition According to SJ Grant’s Introductory Economics, Monopoly is the only sole supplier of the industry. They would not inherit any competitions as well as having no close substitutes. There are many reasons that cause the formation of Monopolists. Barriers to enter or exit discourages new firms to enter the market (patent rights creates a right to sell that product, abnormal profit, predatory pricing, raw material ownership, high fixed cost, government) being a price maker, firms either merge or get taken over by other firms and economies of scale.In Perfect competition, there are many sellers and buyers; there are only homogenous goods and perfect information. They are price takers so no firm charges either below or above the ruling market price. The demand curve is perfectly elastic. In this type of market, there is consumer sovereignty and advertisement could not be used to influence consumer’s demands. Howe ver both of them are opposite extreme forms of the market structure and in the realistic world, they hardly ever occur. An economist would define efficiency as ‘nothing can be made better off without causing the loss of another’.This is also known as Pareto efficiency. Meanwhile it is also when the resources are allocated in the best possible ways at the lowest possible average cost. Figure 1 Some people view Monopoly to be less efficient than perfect competition because they face no direct competition and so they would not work towards the interest of consumers. They would fail to apprehend productive efficiency using techniques and factors of production to produce at the lowest possible average cost per unit, because the cost of production is not a main concern to a Monopolist.They would simply increase price or restrict output. Monopolies are able to do that because they are price makers; even though the setting price is determined by the demand, they are still capab le of restricting output and increase the price. This demonstrated by figure 1 where the price is set against the AR curve rather than the MR. On the contrary, perfect competition means firms compete against each other: cost in this case is one of the main issues. The firms in that market would aim to produce at the lowest average cost because of the profit maximizing point, MR=MC.But in a perfect competitive market, the firms in the long run would only get normal profit so total revenue equals total cost. Figure 2 Monopolists are able to attain abnormal profit in the long run due to barriers to entry or exit. It illustrates that monopolies have market power and the downward sloping demand curve is one of the causes as shown in figure 2. The quantity and price which the monopolist selects is largely dependent on the marginal revenue and marginal cost. But the marginal revenue curve would always be lower than the demand curve.The reason for this can be illustrated by the figure 2; It shows that at any two random points and using the method of working out the total revenue (price X quantity), you would always get a negative gradient curve. Whilst differentiating the curve’s equation, you would always get the curve being below the demand curve. The quantity or price the firm chooses is based on the marginal revenue and marginal cost because, by increasing output, it causes two contrasting effects, price and quantity.The quantity effect is that by producing one more unit and it being sold, it increases the total revenue by the price that it is sold at. But producing more units, it decreases the price of the good and makes total revenue fall: this is the price effect. The price effect means that the marginal revenue will not be constant and so it would be below the demand curve. Consequently price effect would always occur if the monopolist increases quantity. However in a perfect competition, the MR equals AR: the firms being price takers, they can only acc ept the ruling market price.The AR curve is perfectly elastic because of consumer sovereignty. In figure 3, it shows that the firms only aim the price at the market demand; no firms would produce below the ruling market price because in the long run they would be earning a loss and eventually leave the market and in contrast, they would not set it above the market price because no consumers would buy from them when the goods are homogenous and other firms are there. Figure 3 Subsequently, with the MR curve always being below the demand curve, it causes the monopolist produce inefficiently.This is because all firms desires to produce the profit maximizing point, MR=MC and when the monopoly produces at that point, it will always produce at the point that is lower than the efficient level and so monopolies misallocate resources. Hence deadweight loss occurs and this can happen both in the long and short run as there are no competition pressure for them to become allocatively efficient. Allocative efficient is when P=MC where the cost reflects the price. Another point would be that unregulated monopoly can overcharge consumers as well as not allocating resource in a satisfactory manner.In a perfect competition market, firms are able to obtain allocatively efficient in the long run. Firms can misallocate in the short run due to them either earning abnormal profit or a loss but as soon as market competitions enhances firms to earn normal profit and produce efficiently, it becomes allocatively efficient. Barriers to entry prevent this discipline from market competition to happen to a monopolist and so they continue to misallocate resources. Figure 4 The idea of misallocation of resource closely links to the result of deadweight loss.Deadweight loss is the net loss where there is a loss of goods being produced for the price that consumer pay at. For figure 4, it shows that due to the price being charged against the D curve instead of MR=MC, this causes the area of the consumer surplus , when consumer pay less for the good they were willing to pay for, to decrease and the producer surplus, the amount gained from selling a good to increase. This suggests that the monopolist is X-inefficient as consumer loses out, producers gain from it.Furthermore it can be seen that there is an area of deadweight loss formed as well. Not all resources are used in the market. In comparison to perfect competition, figure 3, all the area above P1 is the consumer surplus and there is no deadweight loss, all the quantity produced is reflected towards to consumer demand. However Monopoly being less efficient than perfect competition is not always the case. The ability of economies of scale is a mass production of a good or when goods are distributed through network or grids (i. e. water supply).This makes the cost of production cheaper thus brings the price down. They are called Natural monopoly and they are more technically efficient. In figure 5, Pm from monopoly is lower than the price from smaller firms and more quantity is produced. If these goods are provided by smaller competitive firms, the cost would be greater leading to the goods being more expensive. Figure 5 Monopolies can earn abnormal profits in the long run means that they can use the profit to invest in research and development. This is known as dynamically efficient.They choose to invest for further development because it would make them become more efficient hence maintaining their market position and also to improve their differentiated goods making demand become more inelastic. In reality, Microsoft uses their profit and invests in the development area. They are a well established company and have customer loyalty due to the quality of their goods and the patent rights they impose. In contrast to perfect competition, firms would not be able to invest because they only earn normal profit.However it is not guaranteed that monopolist would make abnormal profit; it is also possib le that they only earn normal. In conclusion, through analyzing the efficiency in productive, allocative, technical and dynamical, monopoly is not necessarily less efficient than perfect competition. Although they can misallocate resources, resulting in deadweight loss, increase price or restrict output in order to gain profit there are other monopolies that are efficient like natural monopolies.One of the main reasons that monopolies produce less than the efficient level is because they lack competition pressure. If the firm is regulated by the government maybe it would act in the best interest of the society. However others may argue that because of the government, the monopoly is being protected by them. While monopolies is not always less efficient than perfect competition, most of the time is it and that is the reason governments regulate monopolies and prevent firms merging together or get taken over by.

“Ode to a Nightingale” and “To Autumn” by John Keats. Essay

Romanticism is a movement in literature that came as a result of a revolt against the previous period â€Å"Classicism†. John Keats was an English poet who became one of the most important Romantic poets. William Wordsworth, another significant figure during Romanticism, described it as â€Å"liberalism in literature’, meaning the artist was free from restraints and rules, and was encouraged to write about his/her own experiences, rather than being a passive narrator praising an event or person. Romanticism emphasizes on passion rather than reason, imagination rather than logic, and intuition rather than science. The Romantics were drawn to the medieval past, myths and legends, supernatural being, and nature. Keats led a very tragic life. His poems can often be related back to his bitter and sad experiences in life. Many of the ideas in Keats’s works are quintessentially of Romantic nature: imagination and creativity, the beauty of nature, magical creatures or experience, and the true sufferings of human life. â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale† and â€Å"To Autumn† are two well known odes by Keats. They both reflect some of the concerns in its context. â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale† explores the sufferings of mortal life and ways of escape including alcohol, imagination and poetry, and death. The nightingale represents transcendence to a better world and its song is the means by which the narrator reaches this state. Other Romantic poets often used this type of escape. In stanza I the narrator hears the song of a nightingale and he expresses his â€Å"drowsy numbness pains† which are not the effects of alcohol, but rather, from being so happy in hearing the song that his heart aches and his senses numbs. In stanza II, the narrator longs for alcohol, so he can forget his troubles and â€Å"leave the world unseen† with the bird. This leads to stanza III, with a sombre description of the human life that the nightingale has never known: â€Å"The weariness, the fever, and the fret†, â€Å"Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin, and dies†, â€Å"Where Beauty cannot keep her lustrous eyes†. Miseri es and the true conditions of mortal life were popular themes in Romantic poems. In stanza IV the narrator feels a great desire to fly away with the bird, away from grim mortal life and into an ideal world not through alcohol, but  through imagination and the â€Å"viewless wings of Poesy† or poetry. In stanza VI, the narrator contemplates the idea of death. The narrator is attracted to the state of dying amongst ecstatic music, flowers, perfume and the soft darkness. At the end of stanza VII, the nightingale’s song portrays a completely magical and imaginary world. However, it is not like a paradise, instead, it is more like a destructive world of illusions â€Å"perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn†. Romantic poems often contained the fantasy element. In stanza VIII, the narrator is jolted back to his reality world by the word â€Å"forlorn†. He realizes the bird has deceived him by convincing him he can escape into the ideal, but temporary world, but in the end, he will always have to come back to reality. The narrator is left with one last question to ponder – â€Å"Was it a vision, or a waking dream? Fled is that music: – Do I wake or sleep?† After the music of the nightingale is finally gone, he is unable to distinguish whether he heard the bird in his dream, or whether he was awake then, and asleep now. The end relates back to his drowsy state of being in stanza I. This circular structure can be found in a number of Romantic poems eg. Wordsworth’s â€Å"Tintern Abbey†, Keat’s â€Å"La Belle Dame Sans Merci†, and a number of his other odes. Circularity gives a sense of completeness without giving precise explanation to this experience. This poem has many characteristics in a Romantic ode including the poet’s involvement in the poem, the seriousness of the issue being discussed, and a further insight into life. Also many language techniques used by Keats, including alliteration, rhythm, rhyme, onomatopoeia, synaethesia, and personification, were commonly used by other Romantic poets. Like most other Romantic odes, â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale† is written in ten line stanzas. However, this ode is different in rhyme and rhythm. The first seven and the last two lines of each stanza are written in iambic pentameter, the eighth line of each stanza has only three accented syllables instead of five. The  rhyme scheme is the same in every stanza: ABABCDECDE. Synaesthesia is a poetic device where a thing associated with one sense is described in terms of another. It can be found in stanza II: wine is being described as â€Å"draught of vintage†, it tastes of flowers and the country green (normally associated with sight and smell), dance (movement), song (sound), and sunburn and mirth (feel and touch). Synaesthesia can also be found in stanza V where the â€Å"coming musk-rose† (touch and smell) is associated with â€Å"dewy wine† (taste). Keats uses alliteration to convey the tone and personification to dramatize the poem. Hippocrene (wine of poetic inspiration) is described as blushful, with â€Å"beaded bubbles winking at the brim†. The alliteration of ‘b’ sounds conveys energy and suggests fuzzy champagne. The repetition of soft sounds in â€Å"fade away into the forest dim† leads us to stanza III where the first three words â€Å"Fade far away† has the repetition of ‘a’ sounds, this lengthens and makes the tone subdued and melancholy. The alliteration of â€Å"fever and the fret† is followed by a series of phrases beginning with â€Å"Where†, this emphasizes the fact all these problems are associated with the mortal world. Beauty is personified here with having â€Å"lustrous eyes†. The first two words in stanza IV: â€Å"Away! Away!† renews energy after a grim stanza III. â€Å"Already with thee!† also quickens the pace. In stanza V , there are a lot of ‘s’ and ‘c’ sounds, which reflects the quiet mood. Death is personified in stanza VI, and the nightingale is personified in stanza VII. The bird is described as â€Å"not born for death†. The poem finishes in a regretful, quiet tone. The narrator and the reader are left to ponder the experience of they’ve just gone through. It ends with a mysterious note that many Romantic poems including many of Keats’s other poems also have. â€Å"To Autumn† is an ode about the real world of harvest, maturity, and fruitfulness, transfigured by the imagination. This poem was one of the last poems Keats wrote before his death. In this, Keats acknowledges his life is near the end and he accepts that beauty is in all things. The theme of this ode is one of the most popular themes used by Romantic poets. The narrator opens the poem and stanza I by addressing Autumn as a dear friend of the sun  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun†. They plot to load the vines with fruit, bend trees with apples, fill all fruit with ripeness, plump the pumpkins and fill flowers with honey for the bees. In stanza II, the narrator describes Autumn as a woman sitting on a granary floor, or on a half reaped grain field, watching juice from apples being squeezed by a cider press. Stanza III associates Autumn as the season on the brink of desolated winter, the songs and sounds of summer are sad and quiet. Our lives can be desc ribed in terms of seasons: spring is the beginning, summer is the peak, autumn is the maturing years and winter is the final stage in life. The form of this ode follows the same structure as other Romantic odes but it is varied. It is in eleven line stanzas, each in relatively precise iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme divides each stanza to two parts, the first four lines follows ABAB, while the last seven lines either follow CDEDCCE (first stanza) or CDECDDE (second and third stanza). This poem takes up the themes of other odes including temporality, mortality and change, but it is full of warm, rich and calm images. Keats establishes the serene tone by use of enjambment (where an idea is carried over into a new line), onomatopoeia and personification. In stanza I, Autumn and the sun are given human qualities. The sun is personified by its maturity. A feeling of plentiful and abundance is created by what Autumn and the sun are conspiring to do. In stanza II, Autumn is completely personified, it is being described as a woman, sitting, sleeping, doing the things we humans do. This creates a feeling of warmth and familiarity. In stanza III, the day is personified as the â€Å"soft-dying day†, small gnats â€Å"mourn† in a â€Å"wailful choir† and the light wind â€Å"lives or dies†. These images convey a quiet, peaceful sleep (death). Keats demonstrates that in nature, there is the constant cycle of life and death and death is a perfectly normal, peaceful process. From this poem, we can learn that accepting our fate, destiny and our mortality does not affect our ability to appreciate beauty in our mortal world. Romanticism was a period that focused on emotions, the imagination, the  mortal world, myths and legends, supernatural beings and the place of the individual in this world. â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale† and â€Å"To Autumn† are typical Romantic poems. Their structure, language features, and themes reflects those typical during Romanticism. â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale† is about transcending to an ideal world, while â€Å"To Autumn† is about the real world changed by imagination. The moral of both is that there may be temporary escape from grimness of human life, but in the end everyone has to return to reality and accept our mortality, and this acceptance won’t affect our capability to appreciate beauty.

What Contemporary Pressures or Influences have made 'Health and the Essay

What Contemporary Pressures or Influences have made 'Health and the use of illicit drugs' an Issue Health Policy Agenda - Essay Example . Although the mood altering drugs have been in use by the humans since several thousands of years, Australia had no illicit drugs consumption until 1950s. It was the American soldiers on vacation from Vietnam to Australia during 1960s who started spreading the use of cannabis and heroin in Australia. The Federal Senate’s approach during 1970s towards drugs use was that personal consumption of marijuana was not to be treated as a crime but the penalty could be monetary without any conviction record and also not to be used for punishment in repeat offences in future. But the Government did not approve (Pennington,1999). Australia was very vigorous right from the beginning going by the report of Cannabis arrests that almost rose by 1000 percent in New South Wales itself during 1966-1969. (Pennington,1999). This is quite encouraging but one fails to understand why in spite of the of tough attitude of the Government, use of illicit drugs are still widely prevalent in Australia. Thi s paper aims to trace the history of policy initiatives of successive Governments in Australia and examine contemporary pressures and issues that forces the present day Government to have the issue of illicit drugs as part of the country’s health policy. By virtue of being a U.N. member Australia has been influenced by the U.N. initiatives in connection with control of illicit drugs. Thus Australia has always been a signatory to various international treaties dealing with control of drugs such as Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961of the U.N., Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 of the U.N. and United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988. The Single Convention of 1961 imposes obligations on the signatory States to make laws to implement the provisions of the Convention. One of them is

Legal Risk and opportunity in Employment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Legal Risk and opportunity in Employment - Essay Example Even though there was a personnel manual that outlined the corrective action plan that would happen before employee termination, the at-will employment statement that Pat Grey signed is taken as contractual rather than those specifications in the manual. Part of agreeing to be an at-will employee means that, similar to the way an employee can quit for any reason, an employer can fire an employee for any reason. The only reasons that are an exception to this rule are things like race and gender that have been labeled discriminatory. (Workplace Fairness, 2008). If Pat Grey's expressed views at the school board meeting ultimately caused him to be fired, then so be it. Furthermore, without a direct statement that this was the reason he was fired, he would have trouble proving it in court - although because of at-will employment it would not matter anyways. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects employees from sex discrimination, which includes sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can include "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature [that] explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment." (The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2008). Newcorp is liable to protect its employees from sex discrimination. In order to do so, they can begin by firing Sam. There are many reasons he should be fired. First, by preventing Paula from transferring departments and by making unwelcome sexual advances, Sam is committing sexual harassment. If Newcorp did not reprimand Sam for sexual harassment in any way, Paula may take legal actions against Newcorp. Secondly, Sam likely violated his conditions of employment by becoming romantically involved with an employee that he supervised. Many companies have policies stating that supervisors cannot date the employees they supervise because other employees may feel that they are being put at an unfair advantage by not dating supervisors. Finally, Sam was using paid work time to have romantic encounters with Paula - any employee who uses company time for anything other than work is fair game for termination. It may also be advisable for Newcorp to fire Paula, as she was also using paid work time to have romantic encounters with Sam. Her public displays of affection in front of the other employees may have also caused them to feel uncomfortable - which is a type of sexual harassment. Even if Paula is not fired, she should be disciplined in some way. However, it is a bad idea for Newcorp to fire Paula but not Sam, because Paula will try to sue Newcorp for the sexual harassment from Sam that Newcorp allowed. Legal Encounter 3: Newcorp has very little liability to Paul and his claim for worker's compensation. While Paul's claustrophobia may have arisen from his working conditions, these particular working conditions were normal for the job of a maintenance technician. Because being a maintenance technician normally requires a person to get into small spaces to fix things, Paul will not be able to claim worker's comp for his claustrophobia. On the other hand, for example, if he worked in a cubicle for a calling

Comparison of Feud, Neo-Feud and Post Feud Ideas Coursework

Comparison of Feud, Neo-Feud and Post Feud Ideas - Coursework Example As theories were tested through discussions and questioning most of his followers found themselves holding diverging opinions from Feud and his theories. The result was a breakaway and formulation of other theories. The new theories, nonetheless, still hold some of the same underlying principles of psychoanalysis by Feud. Example the view of the unconscious self a drive in emotions, cognitions, and behaviors. The defense mechanism idea in relation to unconscious is also maintained. Karen Honey on Feminine psychology: FEUD PERSPECTIVE Karen perspective differed with feuds perspective because of feuds portrayal of women as desiring to be male. Feud perspective viewed women as incomplete and missing some element- not being a person of their own (Brown, 1961). NEO-FEUD PERSPECTIVE The Adult behavior is focused on overcoming basic anxiety experienced in child hood i.e. neurotic needs, behavior is shaped by attempts to avoid this anxiety experiences (Brown, 1961). Carl Jung’s Analytic Psycholog: FEUD PERSPECTIVE Most of personalities displayed in child adulthood is shaped by experiences in early childhood (Ash, 1987). NEO-FEUD PERSPECTIVE Collective unconscious All people share certain inborn ideas and memories, most of which reside in the unconscious †¢ Archetypes-fundamental images. †¢ Persona– Social mask used in public False self to protect privacy †¢ Anima– The perception of the female, as held in the mind of a male †¢ Animus– The idealized image of the male, as held in the mind of a female †¢ The anima and animus images lead to misunderstandings (Ash, 1987).

Gender Differences and Intellectual Ability Essay

Gender Differences and Intellectual Ability - Essay Example Hence it can be stated that these are factors that have contributed to producing the major differential attitudes that are being shown by the two genders. The group effect plays a major role in defining the character and the attitude of the boys since a boy is more influenced by the group due to which he would prefer not to achieve anything extraordinary, which will push him out of the group. Thus in adolescence, it can be summed up that, the boys, as well as the girls, strive to become popular among their groups. In fact, in the case of the boys, it is the development of the macho outlook, which is very much important that gives them the image of masculinity. Thus the masculinity as far as the boys are concerned comes from achievement in sports and other extracurricular activities when compared to the studies, which as per them is considered as the feminine tendency of achievement. (Epstein, 1998) Thus during the adolescence, the youth irrespective of whether they are boys or girls, are found to be more associated to their specific gender groups and tend to be very much attached to them. Thus these groups indeed develop their own culture, which is quite distinctive of their groups with affiliation towards a certain language, signs, and symbols. Thus even in the case of the coeducational system, it is very clearly seen that the boys and girls very strictly stick to their specific genders. Most of the studies also point to the fact that, the girl's group is more study oriented than the boys.... Hence it can be stated that these are factors that have contributed to producing the major differential attitudes that is being shown by the two genders. The group effect plays a major role in defining the character and the attitude of the boys, since a boy is more influenced by the group due to which he would prefer not to achieve anything extraordinary, which will push him out of the group. Thus in adolescence it can be summed up that, the boys as well as the girls strive to become popular among their groups. In fact in the case of the boys it is the development of the macho outlook, which is very much important that gives them the image of masculinity. Thus the masculinity as far as the boys are concerned comes from achievement in sports and other extracurricular activities when compared to the studies, which as per them is considered as the feminine tendency of achievement. (Epstein, 1998) Thus during the adolescence the youth irrespective of whether they are boys or girls, are f ound to be more associated to their specific gender groups and tend to be very much attached to them. Thus these groups indeed develop their own culture, which is quite distinctive of their groups with affiliation towards a certain language, signs and symbols. Thus even in the case of the co-educational system, it is very clearly seen that the boys and girls very strictly stick to their specific genders. Most of the studies also points to the fact that, the girls group is more study oriented than the boys. It has been seen that the culture to which the two genders belong, exerts so much of influence on them and as a result they influence the individual’s behavior, by the process of socialization through which individual’s habits, and values are molded. Thus the

Should All school information be bilingual Why or why not Assignment

Should All school information be bilingual Why or why not - Assignment Example This smaller population might feel slighted if the same information automatically available in Spanish is not available in their languages. Then there are places such as San Francisco. Would it not be a waste to have educational materials in Spanish? This question, then poses a deeper more subtle question. Should the United States have English as an official language and Spanish as the official second language? This is an unpleasant subject where lines are deeply divided. Some argue by having a National language, public education will be more effective and it will encourage aggressive English competence. This is not supported by any evidence. Statistics in fact confirm the opposite, if students are taught in ELL classes and sheltered English Immersion; they have more self respect, higher graduation rates, and a better standard of living, which ultimately benefits the United States. Personally, I feel the U.S. should have two languages, and that Spanish should be the second language. I feel that every student should be taught Spanish beginning in kindergarten. This will not solve the problem for the smaller diverse population nor will it solve the issues of cities such as San Francisco, but the Hispanic culture has long a stalwart presence in the United States and it is about time they were recognized for the significant contributions they have made. Supporters of bilingualism argue if there are other languages, there would be greater equal rights, social justice, and understanding of diversity. This would carry on the traditions which our forefathers intended our country to be; a place where people go for refuge and a better life. The argument against schools having information placed in another language is often heard with statements such as this, "If they are in our country they should learn our language, customs, traditions, idiomatic terms, and non-verbal communication. This way we all share a common ground. We should not have to speak

NSA Cyber Security Profile Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

NSA Cyber Security Profile - Research Paper Example The assortment of the proper security controls for an information system is an essential duty that can have major ramifications on the functions and assets of an institution as well as the wellbeing of persons. Security controls are the organization, functional, and technical safeguard or counteractions prearranged for an information system to shield the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of the system and its data. Once implemented inside an information organism, security controls are examined to offer the data required to establish their general efficiency; that is, the degree to which the controls are carried out precisely, operating as intended, and creating the desired result with regard to meeting the security needs for the organism. Knowing the general productivity of the security controls carried out in the information system and its environs of operation is important in establishing the risk to the institution’s functions and assets, to persons, to other in stitutions, and the to the country resultant from the utilization of the system. The purpose of this paper is to offer guidelines for creating effectual security scrutiny plans and a comprehensive set of proceedings for examining the effectiveness of security controls implemented in the information systems (Gallagher & Locke, 2010) Security assessments can be effectively implemented at some phases in the organism development life cycle to expand the grounds for assurance that the security controls engaged inside or inherited by a data system are effective in their application. For instance, data system developers frequently carry security assessments and system integrators at the development and implementation stages of life cycle to assist make sure that the needed security controls for the organism, and/or system are appropriately intended and developed (Department of Defense, 2006). Assessment activities in the original system development life phase can be revolved more quickly m ode before proceeding to succeeding phases in the life cycle. Examiners receive the needed proof during the scrutiny process to permit the proper institutional officials to make objectivity establishment about the effectiveness

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 170

Assignment Example Its Canadian culture has led to loyalty of its customers, strategy that has made it difficult for other coffee houses such as Starbucks to make it in the Canadian Market. Tim Horton’s culture has been able to adapt more in its local market as compared to international markets. The main reason for its adaptation strategies is the ethics of its culture locally leading to customer preference and loyalty. According to research, it has the largest customer share in Canada despite the entry of other giant rivals such as Starbucks and Burgerking. Starbucks, on the other hand, is a coffeehouse chain based in America with its headquarters in Washington. The largest share of its market is found in the United States where its corporate culture has grown strong since its foundation in the late 1970s. Its capital and asset accumulation has led to its international infiltration in markets from all continents. It has also made entries in the Canadian market where it has faced competition from Tim Hortons. Its ethics and customer relations have led to sales acceptance and sales in most international markets where customers are after its trademark. Starbucks has also been involved in environmental projects such as recycling leading to improvements in its corporate culture. Starbucks is the better performer depending on its capital accumulation and market share. Tim Hortons only has its markets in the U.S, Persian Gulf and Canada while Starbucks has expanded to all continents with over 13,000 units worldwide. Its wide variety of products has led to an increase in sales unlike Tim Hortons that has not diversified its products. However, Tim Hortons merger with Burgerking will lead to accumulation of capital that may lead to its expansion and increased performance. Conclusion on the best performer has been based on assets, capital accumulation and market share. Starbucks has higher

Problem solving Essay Example for Free

Problem solving Essay Presenting a case to a teacher is same as presenting it in front of a jury. You need to have structured and solid arguments to convince the jury (teacher, in your case) and prove your point. If you are an excellent lawyer, you can even convince the jury that your defendant is not guilty even if he is (not ethical, of course). The bottom line is: you need to structure your case analysis. Although every case analysis more or less follows the same pattern; there is a slight variation depending on the nature of the case study. Basically there are two types of case studies: Open-ended and close-ended. Close-ended may have one or more questions at the end of the case for the reader to solve. Open-ended, on the contrast, may not contain any questions but require the reader to derive the problem statement and suggest a solution (thus, open). We will first look at the pattern for the Open-ended case type: Introduction / Overview. Although an optional part, it will give a professional look to your analysis. Overview would contain just 3-4 lines on what the case is about. Example: The case describes the situation of a sales manager Jim Howard whose company’s value statement claims to treat customers with dignity and respect; however, he finds that the exact opposite is being done. He wants to rectify the situation but is prevented by his boss. It basically illustrates how an employee is made helpless by his top management even when he has the power. Summary. Ideally, the summary should be 1/4th of the case. In general terms, it should be limited to one and a half page. The summary should contain very basic details of the case and shouldn’t include quotes and figures. Also, I’ve seen many students copying the exact same sentences from the case. Don’t do it. Trust me, it gives a very bad impression. Rephrase the sentences. SWOT Analysis. In case it’s a case about a company, list down the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the company in bullet points. Write complete sentences and not fragment statements. Example: Strengths: 1. SDI produces superior products with a differentiated strategy. 2. SDI is the only company to introduce solar technology in bird feeder. Problem Statement. Every case revolves around a particular problem that a company may be facing. Sometimes, the problem is very explicit but at other times, you need to locate the problem from several causes, symptoms and reasons. There may even be more than one problem; they may come under the Sub-Problems category. However, the main problem would only be one. Example: The biggest problem of ABC Airways is its lack of market research because of which ABC Airways remains aloof of customers’ changing demands; hence, leaving space for its competitors to fill in the gap. In some cases, there is not a problem statement but an Opportunity Statement. Example: ABC Airways needs to decide whether it has to continue its competitive strategy or change its course of action. At the same time, it has an opportunity of expansion into European market. Considering the pros and cons, should it enter this market? Alternatives. Alternatives are mainly the list of possible solutions. You need to suggest at least three alternatives and discuss pros and cons of each; the assessment of which would lead you to choose the best one. Best Alternative. As the name suggests, this would describe the best possible alternative. Here, you would support your solution by reasoning why you’ve chosen this alternative. You can go a step further by explaining how this particular company can achieve its goal or resolve its problem with the help of this alternative. Scared? Don’t be. You already go through all these steps while doing the analysis. The only difference is that we have broken them down into headings so that they look more organized and neat. Plus, this would not only help you organize the information but also give you further ideas that you might miss out if everything was mixed up. Now, we take a look at the format for Close-ended case studies. Don’t worry, this one doesn’t have all those steps. Introduction / Overview. Again optional. Summary: Same as above Questions and Answers. This is the most important step in close-ended case studies. Here is where you need to convince your audience that what you say is right (even if it’s not). Extract evidence for your answers from within the case. But don’t write long paragraphs and DON’T repeat the same thing over and over again. It gives an impression you’re just trying to fill up pages in hope that your teacher doesn’t read it all and assumes what you’ve written must be correct. Wrong! Believe me, they’re far smarter than you! Conclusion. Instead of best alternatives, in the close-type case studies, you need to write the conclusion. It is better to write just a few paragraphs (1-2) in which you can summarize your answer as a total, give your opinion and recommendations. Example: â€Å"The conclusion I have drawn from this case is that one becomes powerless when is under the influence of someone else and is forced to alter his own personal ethical values and beliefs according to the beliefs of the ones having power. Thus, ethics becomes secondary when one is under the power like the CPA in this case. However, there are some exceptions i. e. until and unless one is determined to stay firm on his ethical values, no one can force him to be his puppet. Hence, it depends on the willpower of one’s own self; how strongly he believes in his values and how earnest he is to stay put on them. He may face obstacles in the short-term; however, in long-term, he is bound to get the reward. † 0. 0/60votes Tags: Asma Chang, Case Study, SEO, Solving Case Study, Ultraspectra Case Study. There was nothing more dreadful for me than solving a case study. Honestly, whenever I was handed a case study to solve in a class, my throat would get dry and the words appeared to blur and dance in front of me. I would stare at the first page for a few seconds and quickly count the rest of the pages before reading the first paragraph, gulping as I’d begin. But thanks to my merciless teachers who seemed to love case studies as much as I hated them, I gradually began to overcome this fear. And soon enough, I realized solving a case study is nothing but a simple procedure of steps. If you do them right, viola! Your case is solved. Before I go on to the steps, let me first give you some quick tips on how to begin a case study: 1. Read the case three times. This is at minimum. 2. Every case study has a task for you to do at the end; perhaps some questions to answer or a summary to write. In any case, just read through the whole case without reading the questions for the first time. Don’t stop if you are not getting what the case is about and don’t even expect you’ll get it the first time. Your objective to read the case the 1st time is to only get the gist. 3. Now that you’ve finished reading for the first time, have a look at the questions and read the whole case again – starting from the beginning. Take a pencil and begin underlining what you feel is relevant to your questions. Mark the underlined text with a symbol that you can understand later. For example, say you’ve been asked to do the SWOT Analysis of the case; what you do is put a small S for any line you feel describes the company’s strength. But again, don’t become obsessed with finding the answers to your questions just now. Your objective for reading the case 2nd time is only to understand the problem statement. 4. You see what the problem is and you are ready to solve the answers. Read the third time, this time concentrating on finding solutions to your questions. By now, you will already know to quite an extent where the answer to particular question lies in the case. Hence, your objective for reading the case the 3rd time is to find solutions to your problems given at the end of the case. 5. In case you’re working in groups, make sure you read the case ALONE the first time. In fact, it would be nice to read it alone the second time too and sit with your team to read for the third time. Why am I saying this? Picture this: You’ve begun reading the case with your group fellows for the first time and you’re only at second paragraph. One of your team members, who by the way, is a fast reader, reads the whole case and declares she knows what the problem is in the case: the company didn’t have enough funds! What has she done? She has caused you and everyone else in the team to form an opinion about the case before even finishing it. There are lesser chances now that you’ll think in any other direction; for example, maybe it was the lack of resources which was the major issue in the company. So, always read the case alone the first time when working in a team and save the discussion to be done in group. Up till now, you’ve learned the dos and don’ts of a solving case study. Remember, you still haven’t penned down the case. What you’ve done is that you’ve understood what the case is about and looked for the answers to the questions, if given. Here comes another very important tip: There is never a right or wrong answer in a case study. It all matters on the way you present your case and the supporting arguments you give to defend it. This is the stage where enters your writing skills.

Chevrolet brand analysis

Chevrolet brand analysis Arguably, some have continuously emphasized that Chevrolet might not have probably been started in the United States of America, but given its associated innovative linkage with the American giant car-making company General Motors. Although evidence has shown that his involvement in the auto manufacturing was very brief, Louis Chevrolet a Swiss-born, car race driver and also as entrepreneur, has practically lends his name to the millions of Chevrolet customers. Louis Chevrolet is said to be born in a town called La Chaux-de-Fondson, in Switzerland in the year 1878. As young as he was then, the man called Chevrolet had always had a strong passion for anything in automotive and was part of the good reasons that made him to excel in his auto mechanic work. Precisely in the year 1899, Chevrolet got a job to work for a car manufacturing company in Darracq, it was in this job that Chevrolet thoroughly got his automotive education specifically in the area of combustion engine. This interest ing job was seen as the opportunity that gave Chevrolet enough money that assisted him in immigrating to the North America. There in New York, the energetic humble man continued his experience in the automobile workshops in New York and also started to race many Buick cars. During this racing career, Chevrolet met William Durant, the known founder of the General Motors. After this unification, both Chevrolet and Durant formed the Chevrolet Motor Car firm, specifically in the year 1911. But this relationship wasnt long enough due to their individual creative differences. Notably in these differences is that Chevrolet was quoted as wanting to specialize in the high-end luxurious cars, but Durant on his own part wanted to continue his style of producing affordable cars that the common people could afford. After this discrepancy couldnt be resolved, Chevrolet ad to eventually sell his own interest and shares in the Chevrolet company to Durant in the year 1913. Notable among the brands that Chevrolet offered to its customers are the pickup trucks, midsized Bel Air, truck based vehicle for Suburban passengers, panel vans, Camaro, Impala and Malibu, etc. Below is a picture of one of the earliest Chevrolet cars: 2.0 Executive Summary This case analysis practically presents a detailed and comprehensive look at operations of Chevrolet brands, specifically the Daewoo GM brands on their European brand policies, market analysis and the internal and external core competencies. A glance at the coming reports shows that the case analysis is divided into five (5) sections, with the first section talking about the marketing situational analysis of Chevrolet Daewoo Europe brands, starting with brief introduction of GM and Chevrolet alliances. Internal and external analyzes of Chevrolets current situational analysis and its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Section two talked about the identification and definition of currents problems as it affects Daewoo European brand and the likely impact that this Midas group could positive have on it. Section three concentrates on the generation of alternative solutions that could help in solving the problem. Section four is more on the evaluative procedures of the newl y generated alternatives. Section Five spoke on the recommendations from the Midas group and how they have successfully arrived at those alternative recommendations. Section six is on implementations procedures and the basic requirements for successful implementations. Section seven conclude and gave a brief description of the case study reports. Importantly, under the core competence explanations this case study critically describe those competence strategy that Daewoo Europe possesses, its value chain analysis in Europe and the combined SWOT analysis that will assist in creating the needed essential strategic policy recommendations that will positively positioned GM Chevrolet and Daewoo Europe in this vise global competitions. In presenting these core strengths, necessary examples were given as they relate to GM, Chevrolet and Daewoo European markets ad competitors strengths. To better achieved the desired results; the Midas group primarily concentrate on areas on improvements in product development and related technology and engineering processes that might influence Daewoo brands image in Europe. However, the abilities that could helped the Midas brand team to achieving the corporate target that was given to them includes but not limited to the threats and some crippling internal product weaknesses that arise from competitive costs that requires GM strategic attention. The team realized that GM needs to reposition itself as the company that has global innovative strength to compete with its competitors. Especially in Europe the team realized that Daewoo brands have continually been plagued with many issues including ranging from lack of internal cost control and managements shortsighted strategies. To effectively reactivate this, part of the teams suggestion is that GM Chevrolet brands in Europe need to close the existing gap that is between the reliabi lity of its products perception and its actual market innovations and quality for its vehicles. The company was advised to involve all its staffs to be more dedicated on products excellence in every units of its operations rather than involving in a slow and bureaucratic type of decision making. Finally, the identified that Chevrolet Europe need to critically redefined its concentration on issues that affects its Europe markets core competencies and how it could be repositioned to suit General Motors Corporation Global strategies, this they believe will ensures that Chevrolet Europe and GM in general will remain a very viable and good contender in this ever changing automobile industry. 3.0 Situational Analysis 3.1 External environmental analysis 3.1.1 General environmental analysis In this case, Europe is the largest passenger car producer in the world. Of the 42 million passenger cars produced worldwide in 2003, 41 percent were produced in Europe. Western Europe alone accounted for 36 percent of worldwide passenger car production. Europe is also the global leader in new passenger car registrations, representing 43 percent of all new passenger car registrations worldwide. (Exhibit 1) 3.1.2 Industry Analysis The European passenger car industry distribute Five Western Europe countries-Germany, the UK, Italy, France, and Spain-recorded about 74 percent of new European passenger car registrations in 2003. New passenger car registrations in 2003 increased 0.6 percent over 2002. This increase followed two consecutive years of declining new car registrations. Total new passenger car registrations in Europe in 2003 were 4.4 percent lower than 2000 registrations. Industry analysts in Europe were forecasting a 1 to 2 percent annual increase in new car registrations for 2004 and 2005. (Exhibit 1) 3.1.3 Market Analysis From this case, as we know, the Europe passenger car market is highly competitive. Some 20 automakers offer more than 50 brands in over 200 models. Eight automakers are prominent in Europe: the Volkswagen Group, the Peugeot Group, Renault, Ford, GM, Fiat Group, DaimlerChrysler, and BMW. These automakers commanded 83.9 percent of new passenger car unit sales in 2003. Nine brands marketed by these eight automakers accounted for 69.2 percent of new passenger car unit sales in 2003. The European passenger car market is typically described by car size and body type. Small cars( including microvans and compacts) have an interior volume under 3.12 cubic meters and are referred to as city cars or small family cats. Medium-size cars have an interior volume between 3.12 and 3.40 cubic meters and are called large family cars. Executive cars are defined as a passenger car larger than a large family car, but not SUV. Small cars accounted for 34.2 percent and medium-size cars accounted for 46.1 percent of annual new passenger car registrations across Europe in 2003 with only modest differences between countries in Western and Central Europe. In general, European passenger car buyers tend to perceive automakers and brands on the basis of national origin and manufacture. The largest European automakers have strong national identifications. To German-based companies, German brands stand for quality and technology. To France-based companies, French brands stand for innovation and comfort. To Italian-based companies, Italian brands stand for style, but suspect quality. As a further generalization, European automakers brands evidence prominent market shares in the countries for which they are strong identified. Finally, European car buyers also have distinct perceptions of cars and service based on continent of origin, namely, Europe, America, and Asia. (Exhibit 3) 4.0 Internal Environment Analysis 4.1 Evaluation of the Mission and Evaluation of the Objectives In this case study, the brand strategy manager Barbara Riibel was charged with the responsibility of convening a group called the Project Midas marketing group mainly in the early part of year 2004. The primary purpose of this group gathering together was to brainstorm and craft out a strategic positioning state ­ment on how to positively position the Chevrolet brands in Europe. Very important is that this marketing team has to engage this task without changing the existing Daewoo GM product lines, Daewoo model characteristics, existing GM retail prices, European dealer practices, or the existing distribution channels. This Midas marketing group has to specifically design for Chevrolet a new saleable brand positioning strategy upon which the European market could be expanded. Importantly, the current Daewoo brand positioning in Europe has been confirmed as having a unique situation and tactical challenges that demand urgent response. Doing this will require this team to strategically think on how to re-specify the current Daewoo brand positing without having to ordinarily change or halt the existing product lines. They are required to carry on with the existing product models, and also maintain the same types of dealers with their current operating policies and practices. Meanwhile, based on the current news from European car industry, Daewoo markets and consumers insights research have been left unattended to for a long duration prior to the initiation of this Project Midas team. Finally, the primary task of the Midas team is to create strategies that will resonate the European car buyers; and put in place policies and strategies that will complement the known General Motors global image through its multi-brand portfolios in the mind of European buyers; and finally to implement branding strategies that will assist the Daewoo Europe to be consistent with the global perceptions of GM and in particular the Chevrolet brands. 4.2 Evaluation of the Functional Areas Europe is the second largest global regional market for GM Corporation after North America. About one-fifth of total company unit sales are derived from Europe. GM in Europe reported net sales and revenues of U.S. $27.5 billion in 2003 compared to U.S. $23.9 billion in 2002. Financial stability returned to the brand in late 2002 following the formation of GM Daewoo Auto Technology and GM Daewoo Europe. Unit sales increased to 132,200 passenger cars in 2003. A sizeable portion of this sales gain came from southeast European countries. In this case, the GM Corporation has three main passenger car brands; they were Opel/Vauxhall, Saab, and GM Daewoo. Opel/Vauxhall accounted for 87.1 percent of GM Europe unit sales in 2003. This brand is sold in 30 European countries (the Vauxhall brand is sold exclusively in the UK) and features 16 models in the small, compact, and medium-size car segments. Saab registered 4.5 percent of GM Europe unit sales in 2003. The Saab brand is sold in 33 European countries and features two models in the medium-size car segment. GM Daewoo represented 8 percent of GM Europe unit sales in 2003. This brand is sold in 32 European countries and features six models, five in the small/compact car segment and one in the medium-size car segment. Chevrolet Human Resources department campaign and they realized that there are succeeding in cutting bureaucracy and problem-solving on the spot because they tried to incorporate 7,000 Go Fast workshops, savings of $500+ million. Chevrolet wins the award for general excellence in Workforce Management Optimums in 2004 they campaign in order to turn managers into strategic partners. The centralization that cut across GM give room for talented people in organization to rise to the top 180% they also double the number of women at the top 450 they introduced globally standard training program. 4.3 Evaluation of Marketing Strategies The Chevrolet brand was virtually unknown among European car buyers in early 2004. Research in Europe indicated that less than 1 percent of European car buyers were aware of the Chevrolet brand name and bowtie logo. From this case, we can see the European passenger car market is traditionally segmented on the basis of car owner social status and value orientation across national boundaries. The traditional blue collar segments include skilled blue-collar workers who are flexible in their brand selection and willing to spend money on cars. This segment represents 12 percent of car owners. The GM Chevrolet brand is identified with the smaller lower middle class in this segment. Because Chevrolet is new brand to European people, so, it target market is lower middle class. 4.3.1 Product Development Strategies The product development was Successful in engineering from decentralized structures with eleven (11) different engineering centers in US to formed one globally integrated products development organization. The On Star pioneering dramatically developed two new technologies in 2009 with pilot program, MapQuest and the On Star Stolen Vehicle Slowdown Service. 4.3.2 Pricing Strategies In this case, we can see the Chevrolet brand implement low price policy. For example, the Matiz car price from 8,000 to 10,300 and car type of Kalos price from 10,000 to 12,500. However, the Chevrolet brand car quality is not very good. The customer satisfaction was given more concentration in 2006 and this is done increasing the campaign of dealer customer service satisfaction. 2. In 2008 Chevrolet attained to the second of top 3 spots in J.D. Power survey on customer satisfaction related to dealership work, the Chevrolet attained these honor of all 8 brands above industry average. 4.3.3 SWOT ANALYSIS Strength The GM Chevrolet has a large scale in its company operations which primarily includes its over 21,000 General Motorss dealerships worldwide. Its current growing businesses especially in Latin America and Asia Pacific regions are very high and profitable. These among many other strengths formed the basis upon which it practically benchmarked its quality and cost improvements processes via outsourcing with those companies that are highly skillful in those processes. Only in 2006 Chevrolet recorded an increased of about 25% of the parts that were used in its US assembled cars parts came from the overseas plants. Very good among the company that Chevrolet associated with was Cerberus, a relationship that eventually leads to better improvements for Chevrolets operations. Chevrolets value pricing strategy, a policy that involves eliminating those frequent incentives program that were used in the past also generate high profit improvement through cost reductions. Chevrolet radical policies in its products development processes also assisted it in better recognitions. Importantly, only in 2007 it spent $8.1B for research and development, manufacturing and redesigning engineering, products development engineering, designs and other developmental activities. Record also shows that Chevrolet recorded the highest in the annual car productivity improvements among all the automakers between 1999 and 2004 making it the fourth largest producers of cars in the world. Chevrolet associations with the noble On Star communications, an automotive industrys leader in telemetric provisions and the control of electronic stability was also another huge success for the GM brands. The appoint of new management teams has also helped Chevrolet and GM in general to be able to establish new strategies that uplifts it organizational culture and better source of funding. Chevrolet ability to rise in the credit ratings of GMAC was also a big plus that has positively uplifted its global image. Chevrolet and GM management policies of depending on only one globally based budgeting and decision making processes has strategically assisted in its ability to long term operational efficiency. The stability in Chevrolet could also be attributed to the companys policy of solely depending on US engineering companies. Its ability in forming strategic alliance with companies such as Daewoo, Fiat, SAIC, Isuzu, Suzuki, Saab, and the AvtoVaz, has tremendously lead to the high education it got on global entrances. Last but not the least is that GM brands were able to strongly captured the majority of US market share. Weakness Decreasing in the value of market share was a major issue that Daewoo brands was facing in Europe as at 2004, eventually eroding its sales to a ground level of about 23% loss in market share. Due to this continuous loss in market shares, Daewoo eventually increase the level of debts that was hanging on GM brands. This issue of debts is outside the problems that are arising from the resale values that accrue to Daewoo from rents of fleets, and other corporation usage. Similarly while the company was trying to increase its incentive programs, it noticed its market perceived value greatly depressed. Other cost related issues that faced the company includes sudden increase in staffs health care cost and retirees benefits claims. Its Europe work force was also at the verge of Ageing in population. Some of the internal causes are not even that major, but what about issues of poor quality performances of Daewoo products in Europe markets. These quality performance problems led to the recall s of many cars, further declining the companys financial performance. Many experts including Midas team also argued on issues arising from pricing strategies, unwarranted vertical integrations that was implemented by the company due to the managements abuse of government assistance and over attachment to bureaucratic culture. Opportunity Most among the many opportunities that GM brands got includes the recent increase in the demand by consumers for the modern electric, hybrid or hydrogen cars that are produced with cells. The potential markets for the new products are estimated to be about 4.5M units that will be purchased in the year 2013. The recent increase in its level of technological development of cars as also put GM brands over its major competitors. GMs ability in utilizing viable global designs through its dynamic engineers that have been putting their talents together has helped the company in reducing its brands lifecycles and achieving lower costs with higher qualities. Also GM has started a new policy of engaging in new individual products brand positioning strategies that will help it in distinguishing its most known eight vibrant brands globally. The company has also started building new opportunities via a strong positive consumer confidence in the brands by expanding its markets to the most profitab le emerging markets globally. It has also started forming strategic alliances with best companies On-Star system, Apple or Google etc. Recently the global corporate management of GM have also announces its decisions to produce new types of model styles in its series of brands. This they said is prior to the knowledge that they got from joint ventures that they did with Toyota. Threats The unending increases in the prices of raw materials and transportation costs between 2007 till date have serious negative impact on GMs ability to expand its operations. The effects of the global financial crisis have also led to the decline in customer demands for GM products. The continuous increase in pension debts and the sudden decline in infrastructural spending by the USA economy have also negative impact of the future development of Daewoo Europe, Chevrolet and overall brands of GM. The recent in global increase in other countries currency valuation against the US dollars has led to serious high cost of exportation, and if not properly managed, this may further jeopardize the company future hope. The existence of foreign firms like Toyota, Peugeot, etc that are manufacturing in the United States and in Canada potentially threatens the future survival of GM brands. Major GM competitors like Toyota and Honda is said to have a better perceived value in terms of reputation in better product qualities if compared with GM brands. Some recent legal suits against GM brands also threaten its current positive images around the world. Complains against the Chinese producers lack of the required intellectual property rights as astringed by government and its major competitors is a major concern for the GM management. The need to probably eliminate some of its fleets due to recent increase in environmental requirements is another major future concern for the management of GM. The legislation and regulations by the US Federal law makers on emission standards are also major issues of concern for the GM management to urgently attend to. Below is exhibit 11 that aptly captured the SWOT analysis of Daewoo Europe: 5.0 Identification of Problem/Opportunities Evidence from the automobile industry has shown that despite the overwhelming large scale levels of operations that the GM Company has, still the company is said to have series of many areas of concerns which required immediate attention for it to be able to sustain its long and short term values for its customers, stakeholders and the shareholders. Very important is that in 1999 the known Daewoo Motor group of Companies was declared as being bankruptcy mainly because of its heavy debt that has burden its capability. Over the next two years, the company lost its momentum in Europe as well as other markets. Financial difficulties and an inconsistent marketing strat ­egy across Europe eroded unit sales in 2001 and 2002. Product issues remained in the development and quality arena while its car prices had increased. No significant marketing initiatives had been undertaken and brand advertising was limited. According to one General Motors executive at the time, GM Daewoos image is still the seller of cheap imported products. We need to focus on the strengths of the brand and avoid selling on price. This loss is the result of poor product quality, lack of consumer appeal, lag in alternative fuel technologies, inefficient plant production, and a saturation of similar car models amongst their brands. Due to these factors, consumer perception has plagued the companys sales, resulting in a steady decrease in market share across all platforms. 6.0 Development of Strategic Alternatives A critical analyzes of the case study reports revealed that the reports primarily explored what specific potentials that the GM Daewoo customers might probably want from any type of car brands. The findings revealed that GM Daewoo European customers mainly want a reliable brand that will go out of its know culture and bring for them a product that is very distinctive in quality, value and durability. In such all what the EU Daewoo customers want is reliability of a brand. Their major concern for this is that they generally believe that as car buyers they have their independent rights in expecting the best from a brand that they will buy with their hard earned income. What mainly forms this notion is that the potential customers of GM Daewoo are anticipating a brand that would deceive or stereotype perceptions. Rather, what they want is a type of brands that would positively embrace and engage their individual desire and personal expressions for the brands. GM Daewoo Positioning Study: Based on the outcomes of the Midas team that was headed by Barbara Riibel, who happen to be the brand strategy manager for EU markets. The Midas group conducted their study with 35 consumer they called the focus groups in five major European countries. Under this heading, they have six positioning strategies and concepts to be tested. These concept terms includes Smart, Easy, Honest, Peoples Car, Spontaneous and the Challenger. For each of these concept terms, the Midas team identified some target insights, the attached emotional benefits, the expected functional benefits, and the expected brand attitude. For visual perusal of the outcomes of their findings, below is Exhibit 12 which noted the strengths and the weaknesses of each strategy. However, the Midas team strongly suggested that the Chevrolet Daewoo Europe company should emphatically adopt the Challenger concept as its first choice. Next to the Challenger strategy is the Smart as the second choice . Although this case analysis shows that no action was eventually taken on the outcomes of the teams findings because of issues surrounding brand conversions from the GM Daewoo to that of Chevrolet Daewoo. 7.0 Evaluations of the Strategic Alternatives From this case, as we know, one of the Chevrolet main plans is product reliability; this involved the consumer perception and production facilities. All products throughout GM indicate a quality assurance problem and it lack quality control systems. almost half of GMs models are said to be below average in reliability. This research recommends that Chevrolet should continue to expand on its successful, Go Fast internal campaign that kills the slow, bureaucratic process which were disclose as a fundamental weakness in the SWOT analysis. Therefore, the GoFast program is a single designed introduce to fix a problem on the spot to be able to destroyed future meetings. In March 2004, Chevrolet recovers savings of over $500 million from the implementation of GoFast. Research shows that Chevrolet is know for a history of cars leaving their plants with unaddressed problems in order to reduce the number of reported defects. There are series of report like inadequate seatbelts, faulty brakes a nd missing bolts. Recent there is a lawsuit; this involved downgraded report on vehicles since 2005. Chevrolet tried to introduce a kind of more quality check points in the production with an open platform for the employee to show their concerns and make ensure each vehicle produced is flawless. The consumer have more interest in residual value when they buy a car or when leasing it out and it most be noted that American cars have not go to the level of top ten for Kelly Blue Book resale value in many years. Chevrolet posted lower resale values for some years because of its overproducing of vehicles to gain market share. By so doing, less attention was given to high quantity instead its builds high quality small vehicles, in order words inefficient SUVs. Was opposed, in 2007 only one out of the Chevrolet company car received a reliable rating, this was published by consumer Reports. And also the Chevrolet cars were rated two lowest reliable cars. The Chevrolet cars was demanded to reduce, so the company car was devalue and they have to sells many cars to rental fleets, and this further undermined the GM vehicles resale value. Chevrolet further continue to reduces the cars prices by given high discounts, this problem destroyed on the face of their customer and also tarnished customer perception and affect resale value. The Japanese that are automakers and the leaders in reliability ratings, the Chevrolet should used the strengths of these Japanese companies to form a competitive parity and competitive advantage. The fuel-efficient vehicles are a reliable segment of the automotive market reported by the Consumer Report tests. The Hybrid and high MPG models these includes Honda Fit, Smart ForTwo Scion xD,and Toyota Yaris all these cars was able to earned above average predicted reliability rating. Chevrolet strategies a way to introduce or develop more fuel-efficient vehicles, that will bring back or encourage the consumer perception of its product reliability. This research recommend that Chevrolet should do something to over come the weak consumer perception through implementing public relations and advertising campaign, Chevrolet must show the customer that the company has overcome the problems of the past and confused them the problem have been fixed and taken care of, the company needs to show that they have improved in reliability within consumer reports. 8.0 Recommendations and Implementations Looking at the analyzing make from the internal structures GM through some case studies, company data, and good journal article, to maintain long team growth and stability they must address many things in the company. Chevrolet must look in to consolidating its brand portfolio. Will be a great success for the company in order to gain market share and build a stronger brand image. In this case, Chevrolet Europe must address how to make customers more confidence in their products, to increased investment in advertising, because this case we can see increased advertising investment can make their own brand awareness higher, greater, and in increased advertising investment at the same time, their products must carry out strict quality control, because the quality is the life of a product, there is no guarantee of product quality is no way out. Furthermore, should do their Chevrolet brand in Europe customers attach great importance to product quality and product positioning, product positioning if a very accurate, then the product will get customers of all ages. Finally, the Chevrolet company should launch a new product, the entire European car market and car manufacturers to do the survey, so that you can identify the market demand, accurate positioning of the product price, to win the European market.

My Traveling Adventure :: Travel Paysage Nature Essays

My Traveling Adventure The wind hummed past my head, and I noticed off to my side that the sky was starting to clear and that the water surrounding me was becoming a brighter shade of blue. The features of my destination were quickly becoming more distinguishable with each second that passed. Only fifteen minutes before, the features coming into view had appeared as small white dots across the horizon. Looking at my small digital watch, I noticed that the time was 3:45 p.m., five minutes away from the island of Islesboro. The voyage across Penobscot Bay to Islesboro was one of excitement for me. The excursion to Islesboro started in the coastal town of Lincolnville, Maine. Waiting in the parking lot of the Lobster Pound Restaurant, I frequently saw young children frolicking across the sandy Lincolnville Beach off of Route 1. The smell of freshly cooked seafood and salty sea air mixed together while I sat on one of the bucolic wooden benches along the shore. The Margaret Chase Smith, the Maine State Ferry Service's ship that ventured to Islesboro and back, quickly docked at the end of a long wooden pier strewn with barnacles. The ferry navigated back and forth between eight monstrous black rubber pads jutting out from the water until it finally halted. The rusty metal ramp lowered onto the deck of the ship as cars started their loud engines, intruding upon the tranquility of the scene. My grandfather and I cautiously walked onto the ship after all the outgoing cars had departed. We gave the attendant our tickets and then watched the cars behind us drive onto the ferry like yo ung children following their grade school teacher. After rushing up the water-coated staircase to the observation deck, I instinctively ran over to one of the large, four-foot windows in the observation room. My grandfather approached me and lifted up the heavy glass window. I loved feeling the cool sea breeze rush past me. As a child, I adored scavenger hunts, and the zenith of my voyage was when I rushed up to the ship's fire plan document displayed for general viewing above the ship's main water fountain. I searched the ship with my grandfather for all of the fire extinguishers, returned to the map to observe if there were any that I had missed, and then journeyed again to find the unnoticed extinguishers.

Violence: Children Who Own The Streets Essay -- essays research papers

Violence: Children Who Own The Streets   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many problems facing today's society. One of the problems is the violent condition that surrounds the lives of children in America. We are awarded of the violence among our juveniles because we read, hear and see it. The newspapers, magazines, news media, and our neighborhoods testify the living proof of the chaos. Everyone tries to find explanations of the causes and consequences of street violence and other aspects of the turbulent lives of young people. Yet, the problem facing our juveniles will not be solved over night. But that's not a reason enough to ignore the problem. It will only make matters worse and keep on doubling through the years. It is our duty as citizens, friends and family to start trying to make that difference. It is frustrating to know that violence among the children of America is increasing in many aspects. The crimes are starting to vary. It's not like in the past, where kids only stole candies or disobeyed curfew laws. Now children steal, murder, rape and use drugs. This is not the America that we knew, this is a battle. What can we do to influence these kids to stay off trouble? First of all, we have to realize this is a very serious problems. And it has to be stopped. The second step is to figure out what causes children to be violent and become juvenile delinquents. This negative attitude causes them to lead a life of delinquency and a life isolated from society's idealistic world. When we ask these question, many others come in mind. Does these problems begin in the family? Are parents good role models or are they condoning the violence? How can we prevent parents from destroying the minds and future of these children? If we try to deny a teen who seeks help, they will only turn to the streets, drugs, and gangs. When they turn rebellious they will commit crimes, minor or major. Juvenile violence is a problem, it leads to crime and segregation. If it's not lessen, it will only keep doubling. And then the future of America will devour.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some of the main concerns of violence revolves around the family atmosphere. Some families are not creating a secured environment for their children. Instead, these children get exposed to illegal behavior and violent actions in the homes. Family morals and values play an important role ... ...are by far the most frequent type of offense. These include stealing from shops, houses, and cars; and the unauthorized taking of the person ( assaults, fighting, robbery with violence ), together with sex offenses and, in industrially developed countries, traffic offenses, come next and are more common among those aged from 17 to 21. Narcotic addiction and other types of drug dependence, though not always criminal offenses, are a relatively new and disturbing form of deviance and seem to be increasing rapidly. The 1991 UK National Prisons Survey found 83 percent of lock up young offenders had been in council care, against 2 percent of the population as a whole. In 1992 in Britain, 110,4000 children aged 10-16 were caught breaking the law; 75 percent were boys. By far the most common crime was theft or handling of goods. Throughout the 1980's juvenile crime fell in UK: 100,000 cautioned or convicted in 1992, 37 percent fewer than a decade earlier. The young population had also fallen, but only by 2o percent. In 1992, there were 3,764 male juveniles per 100,000 convicted or cautioned; in 1982 the figure was 5,028. The fall was the biggest among boys aged 10-13: from 2,929 to 1,927.

Graham Greens The Quiet American Essay -- Graham Green Vietnam War Es

Graham Green's The Quiet American The Quiet American by Graham Green is a story set during the Vietnam War before the United States became involved. The main character is Thomas Fowler, an English Reporter stationed in Vietnam. The story follows approximately six months of his life where he is faced with personal, professional, and ethical trials. The story also follows closely, the lives of two close friends, Pyle and Phuong. Each of the three main characters are from a different country, and they were used to represent it. As the main character in the novel, Fowler possessed many complex levels to his psyche. He came across as a bitter, cold-hearted person but in actuality was probably the character that felt the most in the book. Like the typical Englishman, he kept his emotions to himself, and out of sight from others. He had his own stand points on religion and politics that he definitely stood by. In the war, England did not take sides, on account of their immense losses during WWII, and like them, Fowler did not take sides. Different people in the story felt that "One has to take sides. If one is to remain human" (174), but as an a European, especially an Englishman, he was for the most part, neutral. Americans were not very popular in Greene’s novel, and Pyle was the hated American. He immediately assumed a close relationship with Fowler upon just one meeting. He became accustomed to calling him Thomas, and not only as a referential name, but in almost ...

Who Am I Presentation

The social categories I can identify with are African Americans, European Americans (Whites), and Nigerian Americans. I can identify with African Americans because I am an African American. I can identify with Whites and Nigerian Americans because I have worked very closely with both these racial and ethnic groups. â€Å"The term African American refers to individuals who are residents of the U. S. A. , usually raised here, who are of African ancestry, whereas the term Black is more general and can refer to anyone of African ancestry, including recent immigrant† (Education. byu. edu, 2012). African Americans make up about 14% of the population in the United States (Education. byu. edu, 2012). The ancestors of African Americans were brought to the Americas against their will and enslaved by Whites. They were forcibly taken to Spanish and English colonies in America where they were enslaved and treated as inferiors. For more than two centuries, African Americans suffered from slavery and segregation but continued to have hope (Education. byu. edu, 2012). My ancestors used Religion, mostly Christianity, and Gospel music to help them cope and forget about their suffering for a certain period of time. Believing in God and singing old Negro spiritual songs, gave them hope that one day they would be free and able to live among and be equal to other races. Blacks were forbidden to attend the same schools as whites, use the same restrooms as whites, ride the front of the bus, vote or go anywhere white people were. The struggle for freedom was a very long and difficult one. Once the NAACP was formed in 1909, they aimed to abolish segregation and discrimination against blacks (â€Å"Encyclopedia Britannica's Guide to Black History†, 2013). African Americans have come a very long way from slavery days. No one would ave ever believed that the United States of America would one day see a Black President elected for not one, but two terms. Although we have a come a long way, we still have a long way to go. Prejudice and discrimination still exists in the world today. Many people discriminate against Blacks because of the stereotypes that were created about them and the way they are p ortrayed on television in the news. Blacks were most known for being religious, cooking soul food, being athletic and singing. Today, Blacks are known for being criminals and violent, being drug addicts and alcoholics, being poor, uneducated, jobless and unhealthy. Although all of these things exist among all races, it seems that they are more prevalent among Blacks. When Blacks commit crimes, they are plastered all over the news. But when Whites or another race commit a crime, it is kept quiet unless it is a high profile case. For example, when the young eight year old Jewish boy, Leiby Kletzky, from Brooklyn was found in the refrigerator of another Jewish man from their own community, the story was kept under wraps. Before the police discovered the boy’s body it was a high profile case, then all of a sudden when it was found out to be one of their own kind, the story was no longer in the news. I have worked with Nigerian Americans for over eleven years. I must say that my experiences with Nigerian Americans have not always been good. From what I have learned, they seem to be rude, they think they are inferior to Blacks and Hispanics but they fear the Whites. Most of them are Catholic, they eat foods that seem to have a foul odor, and they speak their own language. I found this to be interesting because I became close friends with two Liberian Americans and they seem to be totally different from Nigerian Americans both in their appearances and their behaviors. Liberians seem to be very polite, clean, and pleasant people. They only speak English, although they have a very heavy accent when speaking amongst each other because they speak very fast. Liberian women seem to be smaller in stature and dress very nice in American clothing. Nigerian women are very large with large hands and feet, they appear darker, they wear their African clothing often and they do not care too much about appearance. Most Africans do not consider themselves to be African Americans. They do not consider themselves or their ancestors to be a part of the slavery era (â€Å"Encyclopedia Britannica's Guide to Black History†, 2013). I always believed that everyone from Africa was the same until I began working with them. Most of them seem to love spicy food, they eat whole fish with the head still on it, they love rice and they eat some interesting food. Every year, my job has a cultural diversity event where people of all ethnicities and races bring their food for others to experience. I love learning and trying new things, so I find this event to be very informative and helpful in teaching others about different cultures and beliefs. It also allows everyone to get to know others for themselves which makes a healthier work environment. As far as my ancestors being discriminated against, my great (x’s 4) grandmother was raped by a slave master and my father’s mother is mixed with Black And White races. My great (x’s 4) grandmother was beaten and repeatedly raped. This is all the information my grandmother gave me. My grandmother and all her sisters and brothers are very, very light and fair skinned with beautiful hair. I always wondered why and when I asked her she told me the story about her grandmother and her grandmother’s mother being raped during slavery by their White slave masters. References Cultural Groups. (2012). Retrieved from http://Education.byu.edu/diversity/culture.html Encyclopedia Britannica's Guide to Black History. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.Britannica.com/blackhistory

Foundation and Empire 15. The Psychologist

There was reason to the fact that the element known as â€Å"pure science† was the freest form of life on the Foundation. In a Galaxy where the predominance – and even survival – of the Foundation still rested upon the superiority of its technology – even despite its large access of physical power in the last century and a half – a certain immunity adhered to The Scientist. He was needed, and he knew it. Likewise, there was reason to the fact that Ebling Mis – only those who did not know him added his titles to his name – was the freest form of life in the â€Å"pure science† of the Foundation. In a world where science was respected, he was The Scientist – with capital letters and no smile. He was needed, and he knew it. And so it happened, that when others bent their knee, he refused and added loudly that his ancestors in their time bowed no knee to any stinking mayor. And in his ancestors' time the mayor was elected anyhow, and kicked out at will, and that the only people that inherited anything by right of birth were the congenital idiots. So it also happened, that when Ebling Mis decided to allow Indbur to honor him with an audience, he did not wait for the usual rigid line of command to pass his request up and the favored reply down, but, having thrown the less disreputable of his two formal jackets over his shoulders and pounded an odd hat of impossible design on one side of his head, and lit a forbidden cigar into the bargain, he barged past two ineffectually bleating guards and into the mayor's palace. The first notice his excellence received of the intrusion was when from his garden he heard the gradually nearing uproar of expostulation and the answering bull-roar of inarticulate swearing. Slowly, Indbur lay down his trowel; slowly, he stood up; and slowly, he frowned. For Indbur allowed himself a daily vacation from work, and for two hours in the early afternoon, weather permitting, he was in his garden. There in his garden, the blooms grew in squares and triangles, interlaced in a severe order of red and yellow, with little dashes of violet at the apices, and greenery bordering the whole in rigid lines. There in his garden no one disturbed him – no one! Indbur peeled off his soil-stained gloves as he advanced toward the little garden door. Inevitably, he said, â€Å"What is the meaning of this?† It is the precise question and the precise wording thereof that has been put to the atmosphere on such occasions by an incredible variety of men since humanity was invented. It is not recorded that it has ever been asked for any purpose other than dignified effect. But the answer was literal this time, for Mis's body came plunging through with a bellow, and a shake of a fist at the ones who were still holding tatters of his cloak. Indbur motioned them away with a solemn, displeased frown, and Mis bent to pick up his ruin of a hat, shake about a quarter of the gathered dirt off it, thrust it under his armpit and say: â€Å"Look here, Indbur, those unprintable minions of yours will be charged for one good cloak. Lots of good wear left in this cloak.† He puffed and wiped his forehead with just a trace of theatricality. The mayor stood stiff with displeasure, and said haughtily from the peak of his five-foot-two, â€Å"It has not been brought to my attention, Mis, that you have requested an audience. You have certainly not been assigned one.† Ebling Mis looked down at his mayor with what was apparently shocked disbelief, â€Å"Ga-LAX-y, Indbur, didn't you get my note yesterday? I handed it to a flunky in purple uniform day before. I would have handed it to you direct, but I know how you like formality.† â€Å"Formality!† Indbur turned up exasperated eyes. Then, strenuously, â€Å"Have you ever heard of proper organization? At all future times you are to submit your request for an audience, properly made out in triplicate, at the government office intended for the purpose. You are then to wait until the ordinary course of events brings you notification of the time of audience to be granted. You are then to appear, properly clothed – properly clothed, do you understand – and with proper respect, too. You may leave.† â€Å"What's wrong with my clothes?† demanded Mis, hotly. â€Å"Best cloak I had till those unprintable fiends got their claws on it. I'll leave just as soon as I deliver what I came to deliver. â€Å"Ga-LAX-y, if it didn't involve a Seldon Crisis, I would leave right now.† â€Å"Seldon crisis!† Indbur exhibited first interest. Mis was a great psychologist – a democrat, boor, and rebel certainly, but a psychologist, too. In his uncertainty, the mayor even failed to put into words the inner pang that stabbed suddenly when Mis plucked a casual bloom, held it to his nostrils expectantly, then flipped it away with a wrinkled nose. Indbur said coldly, â€Å"Would you follow me? This garden wasn't made for serious conversation.† He felt better in his built-up chair behind his large desk from which he could look down on the few hairs that quite ineffectually hid Mis's pink scalp-skin. He felt much better when Mis cast a series of automatic glances about him for a non-existent chair and then remained standing in uneasy shifting fashion. He felt best of all when in response to a careful pressure of the correct contact, a liveried underling scurried in, bowed his way to the desk, and laid thereon a bulky, metal-bound volume. â€Å"Now, in order,† said Indbur, once more master of the situation, â€Å"to make this unauthorized interview as short as possible, make your statement in the fewest possible words.† Ebling Mis said unhurriedly, â€Å"You know what I'm doing these days?† â€Å"I have your reports here,† replied the mayor, with satisfaction, â€Å"together with authorized summaries of them. As I understand it, your investigations into the mathematics of psychohistory have been intended to duplicate Hari Seldon's work and, eventually, trace the projected course of future history, for the use of the Foundation.† â€Å"Exactly,† said Mis, dryly. â€Å"When Seldon first established the Foundation, he was wise enough to include no psychologists among the scientists placed here – so that the Foundation has always worked blindly along the course of historical necessity. In the course of my researches, I have based a good deal upon hints found at the Time Vault.† â€Å"I am aware of that, Mis. It is a waste of time to repeat.† â€Å"I'm not repeating,† blared Mis, â€Å"because what I'm going to tell you isn't in any of those reports.† â€Å"How do you mean, not in the reports?† said Indbur, stupidly. â€Å"How could-â€Å" â€Å"Ga-LAX-y, Let me tell this my own way, you offensive little creature. Stop putting words into my mouth and questioning my every statement or I'll tramp out of here and let everything crumble around you. Remember, you unprintable fool, the Foundation will come through because it must, but if I walk out of here now – you won't.† Dashing his hat on the floor, so that clods of earth scattered, he sprang up the stairs of the dais on which the wide desk stood and shoving papers violently, sat down upon a comer of it. Indbur thought frantically of summoning the guard, or using the built-in blasters of his desk. But Mis's face was glaring down upon him and there was nothing to do but cringe the best face upon it. â€Å"Dr. Mis,† he began, with weak formality, â€Å"you must-â€Å" â€Å"Shut up,† said Mis, ferociously, â€Å"and listen. If this thing here,† and his palm came down heavily on the metal of the bound data, â€Å"is a mess of my reports – throw it out. Any report I write goes up through some twenty-odd officials, gets to you, and then sort of winds down through twenty more. That's fine if there's nothing you don't want kept secret. Well, I've got something confidential here. It's so confidential, even the boys working for me haven't got wind of it. They did the work, of course, but each just a little unconnected piece – and I put it together. You know what the Time Vault is?† Indbur nodded his head, but Mis went on with loud enjoyment of the situation, â€Å"Well, I'll tell you anyhow because I've been sort of imagining this unprintable situation for a â€Å"Ga-LAX-y, of a long time; I can read your mind, you puny fraud. You've got your hand right near a little knob that'll call in about five hundred or so armed men to finish me off, but you're afraid of what I know – you're afraid of a Seldon Crisis. Besides which, if you touch anything on your desk, I'll knock your unprintable head off before anyone gets here. You and your bandit father and pirate grandfather have been blood-sucking the Foundation long enough anyway.† â€Å"This is treason,† gabbled Indbur. â€Å"It certainly is,† gloated Mis, â€Å"but what are you going to do about it? Let me tell you about the Time Vault. That Time Vault is what Hari Seldon placed here at the beginning to help us over the rough spots. For every crisis, Seldon has prepared a personal simulacrum to help – and explain. Four crises so far – four appearances. The first time he appeared at the height of the first crisis. The second time, he appeared at the moment just after the successful evolution of the second crisis. Our ancestors were there to listen to him both times. At the third and fourth crises, he was ignored – probably because he was not needed, but recent investigations – not included in those reports you have – indicate that he appeared anyway, and at the proper times. Get it?† He did not wait for any answer. His cigar, a tattered, dead ruin was finally disposed of, a new cigar groped for, and lit. The smoke puffed out violently. He said, â€Å"Officially I've been trying to rebuild the science of psychohistory. Well, no one man is going to do that, and it won't get done in any one century, either. But I've made advances in the more simple elements and I've been able to use it as an excuse to meddle with the Time Vault. What I have done, involves the determination, to a pretty fair kind of certainty, of the exact date of the next appearance of Hari Seldon. I can give you the exact day, in other words, that the coming Seldon Crisis, the fifth, will reach its climax. â€Å" â€Å"How far off?† demanded Indbur, tensely. And Mis exploded his bomb with cheerful nonchalance, â€Å"Four months,† he said. â€Å"Four unprintable months, less two days.† â€Å"Four months,† said Indbur, with uncharacteristic vehemence. â€Å"Impossible.† â€Å"Impossible, my unprintable eye.† â€Å"Four months? Do you understand what that means? For a crisis to come to a head in four months would mean that it has been preparing for years.† â€Å"And why not? Is there a law of Nature that requires the process to mature in the full light of day?† â€Å"But nothing impends. Nothing hangs over us.† Indbur almost wrung his hands for anxiety. With a sudden spasmodic recrudescence of ferocity, he screamed, â€Å"Will you get off my desk and let me put it in order? How do you expect me to think?† Mis, startled, lifted heavily and moved aside. Indbur replaced objects in their appropriate niches with a feverish motion. He was speaking quickly, â€Å"You have no right to come here like this. If you had presented your theory-â€Å" â€Å"It is not a theory.† â€Å"I say it is a theory. If you had presented it together with your evidence and arguments, in appropriate fashion, it would have gone to the Bureau of Historical Sciences. There it could have been properly treated, the resulting analyses submitted to me, and then, of course, proper action would have been taken. As it is, you've vexed me to no purpose. Ah, here it is.† He had a sheet of transparent, silvery paper in his hand which he shook at the bulbous psychologist beside him. â€Å"This is a short summary I prepare myself – weekly – of foreign matters in progress. Listen – we have completed negotiations for a commercial treaty with Mores, continue negotiations for one with Lyonesse, sent a delegation to some celebration or other on Bonde, received some complaint or other from Kalgan and we've promised to look into it, protested some sharp trade practices in Asperta and they've promised to look into it – and so on and so on.† The mayor's eyes swarmed down the list of coded notations, and then he carefully placed the sheet in its proper place in the proper folder in the proper pigeonhole. I tell you, Mis, there's not a thing there that breathes anything but order and peace-â€Å" The door at the far, long end opened, and, in far too dramatically coincident a fashion to suggest anything but real life, a plainly-costumed notable stepped in. Indbur half-rose. He had the curiously swirling sensation of unreality that comes upon those days when too much happens. After Mis's intrusion and wild fumings there now came the equally improper, hence disturbing, intrusion unannounced, of his secretary, who at least knew the rules. The secretary kneeled low. Indbur said, sharply, â€Å"Well!† The secretary addressed the floor, â€Å"Excellence, Captain Han Pritcher of Information, returning from Kalgan, in disobedience to your orders, has according to prior instructions – your order X20-513 – been imprisoned, and awaits execution. Those accompanying him are being held for questioning. A full report has been filed.† Indbur, in agony, said, â€Å"A full report has been received. Well!† â€Å"Excellence, Captain Pritcher has reported, vaguely, dangerous designs on the part of the new warlord of Kalgan. He has been given, according to prior instructions – your order X20-651 – no formal hearing, but his remarks have been recorded and a full report filed.† Indbur screamed, â€Å"A full report has been received. Well!† â€Å"Excellence, reports have within the quarter-hour been received from the Salinnian frontier. Ships identified as Kalganian have been entering Foundation territory, unauthorized. The ships are armed. Fighting has occurred.† The secretary was bent nearly double. Indbur remained standing. Ebling Mis shook himself, clumped up to the secretary, and tapped him sharply on the shoulder. â€Å"Here, you'd better have them release this Captain Pritcher, and have him sent here. Get out.† The secretary left, and Mis turned to the mayor, â€Å"Hadn't you better get the machinery moving, Indbur? Four months, you know.† Indbur remained standing, glaze-eyed. Only one finger seemed alive – and it traced rapid jerky triangles on the smooth desk top before him.