The Da Vinci Code Chapter 10-12

CHAPTER 10 Silas sat behind the wheel of the black Audi the Teacher had arranged for him and gazed out at the great Church of Saint-Sulpice. Lit from beneath by banks of floodlights, the church's two bell towers rose like stalwart sentinels above the building's long body. On either flank, a shadowy row of sleek buttresses jutted out like the ribs of a beautiful beast. The heathens used a house of God to conceal their keystone.Again the brotherhood had confirmed their legendary reputation for illusion and deceit. Silas was looking forward to finding the keystone and giving it to the Teacher so they could recover what the brotherhood had long ago stolen from the faithful. How powerful that will make Opus Dei. Parking the Audi on the deserted Place Saint-Sulpice, Silas exhaled, telling himself to clear his mind for the task at hand. His broad back still ached from the corporal mortification he had endured earlier today, and yet the pain was inconsequential compared with the anguish of his life before Opus Dei had saved him. Still, the memories haunted his soul. Release your hatred, Silas commanded himself. Forgive those who trespassed against you. Looking up at the stone towers of Saint-Sulpice, Silas fought that familiar undertow†¦ that force that often dragged his mind back in time, locking him once again in the prison that had been his world as a young man. The memories of purgatory came as they always did, like a tempest to his senses†¦ the reek of rotting cabbage, the stench of death, human urine and feces. The cries of hopelessness against the howling wind of the Pyrenees and the soft sobs of forgotten men. Andorra, he thought, feeling his muscles tighten. Incredibly, it was in that barren and forsaken suzerain between Spain and France, shivering in his stone cell, wanting only to die, that Silas had been saved. He had not realized it at the time. The light came long after the thunder. His name was not Silas then, although he didn't recall the name his parents had given him. He had left home when he was seven. His drunken father, a burly dockworker, enraged by the arrival of an albino son, beat his mother regularly, blaming her for the boy's embarrassing condition. When the boy tried to defend her, he too was badly beaten. One night, there was a horrific fight, and his mother never got up. The boy stood over his lifeless mother and felt an unbearable up-welling of guilt for permitting it to happen. This is my fault! As if some kind of demon were controlling his body, the boy walked to the kitchen and grasped a butcher knife. Hypnotically, he moved to the bedroom where his father lay on the bed in a drunken stupor. Without a word, the boy stabbed him in the back. His father cried out in pain and tried to roll over, but his son stabbed him again, over and over until the apartment fell quiet. The boy fled home but found the streets of Marseilles equally unfriendly. His strange appearance made him an outcast among the other young runaways, and he was forced to live alone in the basement of a dilapidated factory, eating stolen fruit and raw fish from the dock. His only companions were tattered magazines he found in the trash, and he taught himself to read them. Over time, he grew strong. When he was twelve, another drifter – a girl twice his age – mocked him on the streets and attempted to steal his food. The girl found herself pummeled to within inches of her life. When the authorities pulled the boy off her, they gave him an ultimatum – leave Marseilles or go to juvenile prison. The boy moved down the coast to Toulon. Over time, the looks of pity on the streets turned to looks of fear. The boy had grown to a powerful young man. When people passed by, he could hear them whispering to one another. A ghost, they would say, their eyes wide with fright as they stared at his white skin. A ghost with the eyes of a devil! And he felt like a ghost†¦ transparent†¦ floating from seaport to seaport. People seemed to look right through him. At eighteen, in a port town, while attempting to steal a case of cured ham from a cargo ship, he was caught by a pair of crewmen. The two sailors who began to beat him smelled of beer, just as his father had. The memories of fear and hatred surfaced like a monster from the deep. The young man broke the first sailor's neck with his bare hands, and only the arrival of the police saved the second sailor from a similar fate. Two months later, in shackles, he arrived at a prison in Andorra. You are as white as a ghost, the inmates ridiculed as the guards marched him in, naked and cold. Mira el espectro! Perhaps the ghost will pass right through these walls! Over the course of twelve years, his flesh and soul withered until he knew he had become transparent. I am a ghost. I am weightless. Yo soy un espectro†¦palido coma una fantasma†¦caminando este mundo a solas. One night the ghost awoke to the screams of other inmates. He didn't know what invisible force was shaking the floor on which he slept, nor what mighty hand was trembling the mortar of his stone cell, but as he jumped to his feet, a large boulder toppled onto the very spot where he had been sleeping. Looking up to see where the stone had come from, he saw a hole in the trembling wall, and beyond it, a vision he had not seen in over ten years. The moon. Even while the earth still shook, the ghost found himself scrambling through a narrow tunnel, staggering out into an expansive vista, and tumbling down a barren mountainside into the woods. He ran all night, always downward, delirious with hunger and exhaustion. Skirting the edges of consciousness, he found himself at dawn in a clearing where train tracks cut a swath across the forest. Following the rails, he moved on as if dreaming. Seeing an empty freight car, he crawled in for shelter and rest. When he awoke the train was moving. How long? How far?A pain was growing in his gut. Am I dying? He slept again. This time he awoke to someone yelling, beating him, throwing him out of the freight car. Bloody, he wandered the outskirts of a small village looking in vain for food. Finally, his body too weak to take another step, he lay down by the side of the road and slipped into unconsciousness. The light came slowly, and the ghost wondered how long he had been dead. A day? Three days? It didn't matter. His bed was soft like a cloud, and the air around him smelled sweet with candles. Jesus was there, staring down at him. I am here, Jesus said. The stone has been rolled aside, and you are born again. He slept and awoke. Fog shrouded his thoughts. He had never believed in heaven, and yet Jesus was watching over him. Food appeared beside his bed, and the ghost ate it, almost able to feel the flesh materializing on his bones. He slept again. When he awoke, Jesus was still smiling down, speaking. You are saved, my son.Blessed are those who follow my path. Again, he slept. It was a scream of anguish that startled the ghost from his slumber. His body leapt out of bed, staggered down a hallway toward the sounds of shouting. He entered into a kitchen and saw a large man beating a smaller man. Without knowing why, the ghost grabbed the large man and hurled him backward against a wall. The man fled, leaving the ghost standing over the body of a young man in priest's robes. The priest had a badly shattered nose. Lifting the bloody priest, the ghost carried him to a couch. â€Å"Thank you, my friend,† the priest said in awkward French. â€Å"The offertory money is tempting for thieves. You speak French in your sleep. Do you also speak Spanish?† The ghost shook his head. â€Å"What is your name?† he continued in broken French. The ghost could not remember the name his parents had given him. All he heard were the taunting gibes of the prison guards. The priest smiled. â€Å"No hay problema.My name is Manuel Aringarosa. I am a missionary from Madrid. I was sent here to build a church for the Obra de Dios.† â€Å"Where am I?† His voice sounded hollow.† Oviedo. In the north of Spain.† â€Å"How did I get here?† â€Å"Someone left you on my doorstep. You were ill. I fed you. You've been here many days.† The ghost studied his young caretaker. Years had passed since anyone had shown any kindness. â€Å"Thank you, Father.† The priest touched his bloody lip. â€Å"It is I who am thankful, my friend.† When the ghost awoke in the morning, his world felt clearer. He gazed up at the crucifix on the wall above his bed. Although it no longer spoke to him, he felt a comforting aura in its presence. Sitting up, he was surprised to find a newspaper clipping on his bedside table. The article was in French, a week old. When he read the story, he filled with fear. It told of an earthquake in the mountains that had destroyed a prison and freed many dangerous criminals. His heart began pounding. The priest knows who I am! The emotion he felt was one he had not felt for some time. Shame. Guilt. It was accompanied by the fear of being caught. He jumped from his bed. Where do I run? â€Å"The Book of Acts,† a voice said from the door. The ghost turned, frightened. The young priest was smiling as he entered. His nose was awkwardly bandaged, and he was holding out an old Bible. â€Å"I found one in French for you. The chapter is marked.† Uncertain, the ghost took the Bible and looked at the chapter the priest had marked. Acts 16. The verses told of a prisoner named Silas who lay naked and beaten in his cell, singing hymns to God. When the ghost reached Verse 26, he gasped in shock. â€Å"†¦ And suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and all the doors fell open.† His eyes shot up at the priest. The priest smiled warmly. â€Å"From now on, my friend, if you have no other name, I shall call you Silas.† The ghost nodded blankly. Silas.He had been given flesh. My name is Silas. â€Å"It's time for breakfast,† the priest said. â€Å"You will need your strength if you are to help me build this church.† Twenty thousand feet above the Mediterranean, Alitalia flight 1618 bounced in turbulence, causing passengers to shift nervously. Bishop Aringarosa barely noticed. His thoughts were with the future of Opus Dei. Eager to know how plans in Paris were progressing, he wished he could phone Silas. But he could not. The Teacher had seen to that. â€Å"It is for your own safety,† the Teacher had explained, speaking in English with a French accent. â€Å"I am familiar enough with electronic communications to know they can be intercepted. The results could be disastrous for you.† Aringarosa knew he was right. The Teacher seemed an exceptionally careful man. He had not revealed his own identity to Aringarosa, and yet he had proven himself a man well worth obeying. After all, he had somehow obtained very secret information. The names of the brotherhood's fourtop members! This had been one of the coups that convinced the bishop the Teacher was truly capable of delivering the astonishing prize he claimed he could unearth. â€Å"Bishop,† the Teacher had told him,† I have made all the arrangements. For my plan to succeed, you must allow Silas to answer only to me for several days. The two of you will not speak. I will communicate with him through secure channels.† â€Å"You will treat him with respect?† â€Å"A man of faith deserves the highest.† â€Å"Excellent. Then I understand. Silas and I shall not speak until this is over.† â€Å"I do this to protect your identity, Silas's identity, and my investment.† â€Å"Your investment?† â€Å"Bishop, if your own eagerness to keep abreast of progress puts you in jail, then you will be unable to pay me my fee.† The bishop smiled. â€Å"A fine point. Our desires are in accord. Godspeed.† Twenty million euro,the bishop thought, now gazing out the plane's window. The sum was approximately the same number of U. S. dollars. A pittance for something so powerful. He felt a renewed confidence that the Teacher and Silas would not fail. Money and faith were powerful motivators. CHAPTER 11 â€Å"Une plaisanterie numerique?† Bezu Fache was livid, glaring at Sophie Neveu in disbelief. A numeric joke?† Your professional assessment of Sauniere's code is that it is some kind of mathematical prank?† Fache was in utter incomprehension of this woman's gall. Not only had she just barged in on Fache without permission, but she was now trying to convince him that Sauniere, in his final moments of life, had been inspired to leave a mathematical gag? â€Å"This code,† Sophie explained in rapid French,† is simplistic to the point of absurdity. Jacques Sauniere must have known we would see through it immediately.† She pulled a scrap of paper from her sweater pocket and handed it to Fache. â€Å"Here is the decryption.† Fache looked at the card. 1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21 â€Å"This is it?† he snapped. â€Å"All you did was put the numbers in increasing order!† Sophie actually had the nerve to give a satisfied smile. â€Å"Exactly.† Fache's tone lowered to a guttural rumble. â€Å"Agent Neveu, I have no idea where the hell you're going with this, but I suggest you get there fast.† He shot an anxious glance at Langdon, who stood nearby with the phone pressed to his ear, apparently still listening to his phone message from the U.S. Embassy. From Langdon's ashen expression, Fache sensed the news was bad. â€Å"Captain,† Sophie said, her tone dangerously defiant,† the sequence of numbers you have in your hand happens to be one of the most famous mathematical progressions in history.† Fache was not aware there even existed a mathematical progression that qualified as famous, and he certainly didn't appreciate Sophie's off-handed tone. â€Å"This is the Fibonacci sequence,† she declared, nodding toward the piece of paper in Fache's hand.† A progression in which each term is equal to the sum of the two preceding terms.† Fache studied the numbers. Each term was indeed the sum of the two previous, and yet Fache could not imagine what the relevance of all this was to Sauniere's death. â€Å"Mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci created this succession of numbers in the thirteenth-century. Obviously there can be no coincidence that all of the numbers Sauniere wrote on the floor belong to Fibonacci's famous sequence.† Fache stared at the young woman for several moments. â€Å"Fine, if there is no coincidence, would you tell me why Jacques Sauniere chose to do this. What is he saying? What does this mean?† She shrugged. â€Å"Absolutely nothing. That's the point. It's a simplistic cryptographic joke. Like taking the words of a famous poem and shuffling them at random to see if anyone recognizes what all the words have in common.† Fache took a menacing step forward, placing his face only inches from Sophie's. â€Å"I certainly hope you have a much more satisfying explanation than that.† Sophie's soft features grew surprisingly stern as she leaned in. â€Å"Captain, considering what you have at stake here tonight, I thought you might appreciate knowing that Jacques Sauniere might be playing games with you. Apparently not. I'll inform the director of Cryptography you no longer need our services.† With that, she turned on her heel, and marched off the way she had come. Stunned, Fache watched her disappear into the darkness. Is she out of her mind? Sophie Neveu had just redefined le suicide professionnel. Fache turned to Langdon, who was still on the phone, looking more concerned than before, listening intently to his phone message. The U. S.Embassy.Bezu Fache despised many things†¦ but few drew more wrath than the U. S. Embassy. Fache and the ambassador locked horns regularly over shared affairs of state – their most common battleground being law enforcement for visiting Americans. Almost daily, DCPJ arrested American exchange students in possession of drugs, U. S. businessmen for soliciting underage Prostitutes, American tourists for shoplifting or destruction of property. Legally, the U. S. Embassy could intervene and extradite guilty citizens back to the United States, where they received nothing more than a slap on the wrist. And the embassy invariably did just that. L'emasculation de la Police Judiciaire, Fache called it. Paris Match had run a cartoon recently depicting Fache as a police dog, trying to bite an American criminal, but unable to reach because it was chained to the U. S. Embassy. Not tonight, Fache told himself. There is far too much at stake. By the time Robert Langdon hung up the phone, he looked ill. â€Å"Is everything all right?† Fache asked. Weakly, Langdon shook his head. Bad news from home, Fache sensed, noticing Langdon was sweating slightly as Fache took back his cell phone. â€Å"An accident,† Langdon stammered, looking at Fache with a strange expression. â€Å"A friend†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He hesitated. â€Å"I'll need to fly home first thing in the morning.† Fache had no doubt the shock on Langdon's face was genuine, and yet he sensed another emotion there too, as if a distant fear were suddenly simmering in the American's eyes. â€Å"I'm sorry to hear that,† Fache said, watching Langdon closely. â€Å"Would you like to sit down?† He motioned toward one of the viewing benches in the gallery. Langdon nodded absently and took a few steps toward the bench. He paused, looking more confused with every moment. â€Å"Actually, I think I'd like to use the rest room.† Fache frowned inwardly at the delay. â€Å"The rest room. Of course. Let's take a break for a few minutes.† He motioned back down the long hallway in the direction they had come from. â€Å"The rest rooms are back toward the curator's office.† Langdon hesitated, pointing in the other direction toward the far end of the Grand Gallery corridor.† I believe there's a much closer rest room at the end.† Fache realized Langdon was right. They were two thirds of the way down, and the Grand Gallery dead-ended at a pair of rest rooms. â€Å"Shall I accompany you?† Langdon shook his head, already moving deeper into the gallery. â€Å"Not necessary. I think I'd like a few minutes alone.† Fache was not wild about the idea of Langdon wandering alone down the remaining length of corridor, but he took comfort in knowing the Grand Gallery was a dead end whose only exit was at the other end – the gate under which they had entered. Although French fire regulations required several emergency stairwells for a space this large, those stairwells had been sealed automatically when Sauniere tripped the security system. Granted, that system had now been reset, unlocking the stairwells, but it didn't matter – the external doors, if opened, would set off fire alarms and were guarded outside by DCPJ agents. Langdon could not possibly leave without Fache knowing about it. â€Å"I need to return to Mr. Sauniere's office for a moment,† Fache said. â€Å"Please come find me directly, Mr. Langdon. There is more we need to discuss.† Langdon gave a quiet wave as he disappeared into the darkness. Turning, Fache marched angrily in the opposite direction. Arriving at the gate, he slid under, exited the Grand Gallery, marched down the hall, and stormed into the command center at Sauniere's office. â€Å"Who gave the approval to let Sophie Neveu into this building!† Fache bellowed. Collet was the first to answer. â€Å"She told the guards outside she'd broken the code.† Fache looked around. â€Å"Is she gone?† â€Å"She's not with you?† â€Å"She left.† Fache glanced out at the darkened hallway. Apparently Sophie had been in no mood to stop by and chat with the other officers on her way out. For a moment, Fache considered radioing the guards in the entresol and telling them to stop Sophie and drag her back up here before she could leave the premises. He thought better of it. That was only his pride talking†¦ wanting the last word. He'd had enough distractions tonight. Deal with Agent Neveu later, he told himself, already looking forward to firing her. Pushing Sophie from his mind, Fache stared for a moment at the miniature knight standing on Sauniere's desk. Then he turned back to Collet. â€Å"Do you have him?† Collet gave a curt nod and spun the laptop toward Fache. The red dot was clearly visible on the floor plan overlay, blinking methodically in a room marked TOILETTES PUBLIQUES. â€Å"Good,† Fache said, lighting a cigarette and stalking into the hall. I've got a phone call to make. Be damned sure the rest room is the only place Langdon goes.† CHAPTER 12 Robert Langdon felt light-headed as he trudged toward the end of the Grand Gallery. Sophie's phone message played over and over in his mind. At the end of the corridor, illuminated signs bearing the international stick-figure symbols for rest rooms guided him through a maze-like series of dividers displaying Italian drawings and hiding the rest rooms from sight. Finding the men's room door, Langdon entered and turned on the lights. The room was empty. Walking to the sink, he splashed cold water on his face and tried to wake up. Harsh fluorescent lights glared off the stark tile, and the room smelled of ammonia. As he toweled off, the rest room's door creaked open behind him. He spun. Sophie Neveu entered, her green eyes flashing fear. â€Å"Thank God you came. We don't have much time.† Langdon stood beside the sinks, staring in bewilderment at DCPJ cryptographer Sophie Neveu. Only minutes ago, Langdon had listened to her phone message, thinking the newly arrived cryptographer must be insane. And yet, the more he listened, the more he sensed Sophie Neveu was speaking in earnest. Do not react to this message.Just listen calmly.You are in danger rightnow.Follow my directions very closely.Filled with uncertainty, Langdon had decided to do exactly as Sophie advised. He told Fache that the phone message was regarding an injured friend back home. Then he had asked to use the rest room at the end of the Grand Gallery. Sophie stood before him now, still catching her breath after doubling back to the rest room. In the fluorescent lights, Langdon was surprised to see that her strong air actually radiated from unexpectedly soft features. Only her gaze was sharp, and the juxtaposition conjured images of a multilayered Renoir portrait†¦ veiled but distinct, with a boldness that somehow retained its shroud of mystery. â€Å"I wanted to warn you, Mr. Langdon†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Sophie began, still catching her breath,† that you are sous surveillance cachee.Under a guarded observation.† As she spoke, her accented English resonated off the tile walls, giving her voice a hollow quality. â€Å"But†¦ why?† Langdon demanded. Sophie had already given him an explanation on the phone, but he wanted to hear it from her lips. â€Å"Because,† she said, stepping toward him,† Fache's primary suspect in this murder is you.† Langdon was braced for the words, and yet they still sounded utterly ridiculous. According to Sophie, Langdon had been called to the Louvre tonight not as a symbologist but rather as a suspect and was currently the unwitting target of one of DCPJ's favorite interrogation methods – surveillance cachee – a deft deception in which the police calmly invited a suspect to a crime scene and interviewed him in hopes he would get nervous and mistakenly incriminate himself. â€Å"Look in your jacket's left pocket,† Sophie said. â€Å"You'll find proof they are watching you.† Langdon felt his apprehension rising. Look in my pocket? It sounded like some kind of cheap magic trick. â€Å"Just look.† Bewildered, Langdon reached his hand into his tweed jacket's left pocket – one he never used. Feeling around inside, he found nothing. What the devil did you expect? He began wondering if Sophie might just be insane after all. Then his fingers brushed something unexpected. Small and hard. Pinching the tiny object between his fingers, Langdon pulled it out and stared in astonishment. It was a metallic, button-shaped disk, about the size of a watch battery. He had never seen it before. â€Å"What the†¦ ?† â€Å"GPS tracking dot,† Sophie said. â€Å"Continuously transmits its location to a Global Positioning System satellite that DCPJ can monitor. We use them to monitor people's locations. It's accurate within two feet anywhere on the globe. They have you on an electronic leash. The agent who picked you up at the hotel slipped it inside your pocket before you left your room.† Langdon flashed back to the hotel room†¦ his quick shower, getting dressed, the DCPJ agent politely holding out Langdon's tweed coat as they left the room. It's cool outside, Mr.Langdon, the agent had said. Spring in Paris is not all your song boasts.Langdon had thanked him and donned the jacket. Sophie's olive gaze was keen. â€Å"I didn't tell you about the tracking dot earlier because I didn't want you checking your pocket in front of Fache. He can't know you've found it.† Langdon had no idea how to respond. â€Å"They tagged you with GPS because they thought you might run.† She paused. â€Å"In fact, they hopedyou would run; it would make their case stronger.† â€Å"Why would I run!† Langdon demanded. â€Å"I'm innocent!† â€Å"Fache feels otherwise.† Angrily, Langdon stalked toward the trash receptacle to dispose of the tracking dot. â€Å"No!† Sophie grabbed his arm and stopped him. â€Å"Leave it in your pocket. If you throw it out, the signal will stop moving, and they'll know you found the dot. The only reason Fache left you alone is because he can monitor where you are. If he thinks you've discovered what he's doing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Sophie did not finish the thought. Instead, she pried the metallic disk from Langdon's hand and slid it back into the pocket of his tweed coat. â€Å"The dot stays with you. At least for the moment.† Langdon felt lost. â€Å"How the hell could Fache actually believe I killed Jacques Sauniere!† â€Å"He has some fairly persuasive reasons to suspect you.† Sophie's expression was grim. â€Å"There is a piece of evidence here that you have not yet seen. Fache has kept it carefully hidden from you.† Langdon could only stare. â€Å"Do you recall the three lines of text that Sauniere wrote on the floor?† Langdon nodded. The numbers and words were imprinted on Langdon's mind. Sophie's voice dropped to a whisper now. â€Å"Unfortunately, what you saw was not the entire message. There was a fourth line that Fache photographed and then wiped clean before you arrived.† Although Langdon knew the soluble ink of a watermark stylus could easily be wiped away, he could not imagine why Fache would erase evidence. â€Å"The last line of the message,† Sophie said,† was something Fache did not want you to know about.† She paused. â€Å"At least not until he was done with you.† Sophie produced a computer printout of a photo from her sweater pocket and began unfolding it. â€Å"Fache uploaded images of the crime scene to the Cryptology Department earlier tonight in hopes we could figure out what Sauniere's message was trying to say. This is a photo of the complete message.† She handed the page to Langdon. Bewildered, Langdon looked at the image. The close-up photo revealed the glowing message on the parquet floor. The final line hit Langdon like a kick in the gut. 13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5 O, Draconian devil! Oh, lame saint! P. S.Find Robert Langdon

Economic Issues: Is the war in Iraq good for the economy Essay

As most of the issues concerning nowadays deals more on the economic impacts of the actions of the government, there have been a lot of debates arguing if whether it would be beneficial to the US the ongoing war in Iraq. In an economic view point, it is clear that funding war really requires a lot of money to spend in order to sustain it which in turn involves high opportunity costs on the part of the American people. Last year, around $1 trillion was the expected spending of our government to fund the said war in Iraq (Wolk 1) while there are sectors in the government that lacks enough budgets to continue its functions to serve the American people. Like for instance, the Congress decided to cut the fund allotted for education to around $12. 7 billion. Due to the war in Iraq, the government have incurred tremendous amount of budget deficit, and in order to solve the said problem on the finances of the government they sacrificed the welfare and pass the burden to the students. Moreover, taxes rate were increased by the government due to the need of more funds. It was found out that most of the tax collection of the government entirely goes to transfer payments like the war in Iraq. Moreover, the funds being used for schools came from property taxes; funds for roads and bridges came from gas taxes while user fees funds airports, sewer and water systems (â€Å"Where Do Your Taxes Go? † 2). The government also uses the funds generated from IMF to perform its designated functions. In short, the government charges us taxes in order to fund the war in Iraq and not to give us infrastructures and services that are in the first place role of the government to its citizen. Although at some point in time prices of stocks rise by the start of the war, but it does not guarantee that it would remain at that level. Moreover, it was the result of the expectations of the investors and not because of the direct cause of the war (Glassman 1). It is still up to the investors how they will view the war in Iraq- beneficial or detrimental to stock market. If they see that the war would boost the economy in the future, then, they would improved the stock market. But if the investors think that it would be risky to invest by the time the war began, then, war is detrimental to the financial institutions of the economy. Moreover, the US Central Bank said last November 6 that â€Å"geopolitical uncertainty† is the reason behind the economic turmoil like the cutting of the interest rate to 1. 5%. this only tell us that war in Iraq puts no good in the economy. Deaths might weaken the labor force of the economy and this result to lower productivity and growth of the market (Schifferes 1). Wage rate pressured to go up and could negatively affect the profitability of the companies in the market. Moreover, there are rumors in the market that Iraq will cut their supply of the oil in the international market as a result of the war (Miller 1). With this, there is a possibility that prices of oil products to rise which plays a vital role in the production of final goods in the market. It was said that the price of oil increased from $35 to $40 at the start of the war and this greatly affects the level of the productivity of the economy. Actually, there is really no problem on the military intervention of US to Iraq economic-political situation if it only involved a short period of time (Stiglitz 1). But the current situation seems to be not the case since until now the war continuous to occur in the desserts of Iraq which as we have said imposed uncertainties to the stock market, undervalued the welfare of its citizens and the reputation of the government to the foreign investors. Short run impacts of the war can still be handled by the market system itself; but in the long run, there is already a need for the collaboration of all the sectors of the economy to put back again the economy into its equilibrium condition.

Newspaper article Essay

The Pirates put out an amazing playoff season, this year having been the first year in the playoffs since 1992, but on October 9, 2013 they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals ending their amazing playoff season. In their last playoff game in St. Louis the Pirates lost 6-1 to the Cardinals, ending the season. In the second inning the Cardinals scored two runs taking the lead over the pirates. There was no more scoring until the sixth inning when the Cardinals scored yet another run, now having a three point lead over the Pirates. In the next inning the Pirates scored their first run. And sadly, the Cardinals scored three more runs in the eighth inning ending the game at a score of 6-1. The Pirates played the best they’ve played since 1992, which wasn’t enough this time. There was some amazing plays in the game, but I believe an incredible one was in the fourth inning when Starling Marte covered about twenty feet to catch a fly ball and get the second out with his incredible dive catch. An articles read about their season said that they played everything right, it was a amazing season but it wasn’t enough this year, they needed a little more. This year the Pirates MVP player is Andrew McCutchen, he put up an OPS+ of 158, and swiped 27 bags this season. The teams LVP was Barmes, who plays shortstop, he hit a measly . 211/. 249/. 309, which is considered quite weak. The Pirates gameplan for next season is to keep the team mostly intact, and to hopefully make it farther into the playoffs next season. According to Christian Hartman † The teams MVP should definitely be McCutchen, he hits well, plays amazing center field, and he’s just overall great. He is everything a player should be. † The Pirates put out an amazing playoff season, this year being their first playoff season since 1992.

Controversy Analysis Essay---- internet virtual life against the real Essay

Controversy Analysis ---- internet virtual life against the real - Essay Example The controversy on whether the internet impact is exactly positive or negative in family lives is still on debate, and no clear answer has come up yet. This paper will analyze the various viewpoints and positions held about families’ real life and internet virtues. Introduction Technology emerged weirdly back in 1884, in Washington, when telegrams were produced to assist in sending messages from one location to the other (Giovanni 3). Later on, in 1969 in California Los Angeles, the first attempt to send messages through the computer was invented when a professor and one of his students set up a phone line connection between two computers. One computer was located at the University of California Los Angeles, and the other one at Stanford Research Institute. These two individuals were experimenting whether a computer could send a message from one computer to the other. Their intention was to send a command line with the word ‘login’, but the computer managed to sen d the command ‘lo’ and crashed immediately. That is how ‘Hallo’ became communication trend to date. After the incident, another experimental computer network cropped up approximately in 1970, with an intention to connect four American University Research centers. From then on, more experiments arose, and the systems evolved gradually to what is today’s internet (Giovanni 5). Currently, the internet is being is the most favorite trend of communicating used by billions of people worldwide, for different activities. Analysis Information and communication technologies (ICT) are tremendously contributing to economic growth, relieving workloads in work places, simplifying education and improving people’s daily leisure. Originally, this ICT as a sector was marked by criticism and unending debates of how and when it should be used. This was as a result of the negative effects that was attributed to ICT especially tot eh growing generation. For instanc e, children in the most developed countries in the world spend most of their time working and playing with computers of different forms. In the UK for instance, most homes have access to computers and the rate is rapidly growing (Voogt & Gerald 358). Statistics show that approximately eight million households had access to computers by the end of 2000. However, such statistics seem to cultivate much on technology accessibility rather than the influence that these devices bring about. This is because understanding technology is not how many people has access to it, or how much people uses the internet but the controversial factors that emerges after using the internet. To begin with, it is essential to bring back the pictures of the family lives before the internet took the center stage. Most families in the past strictly followed the rule of traditional virtues where family bonding was the most crucial factor to consider. For instance, such families’ weekends were exceptional because families spent their time together at home or went outdoors together. Meals were shared together, and most of the time would be spent together watching TV or doing outdoor activities like shopping. Things have changed in the present days. Families no longer share light moments together. In essence, the internet has become the best companion for many people thus family bondage has been weakened. In contrary, today’

Money, Banking, and Financial Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Money, Banking, and Financial Markets - Essay Example In this article, I will analyze the current money neutrality and the creation of reserve without money creation as per the central banking systems. Money neutrality Numerous economics students have been taught the theory of money neutrality and its effect on how people consider the issue of monetary policy. The implications of money neutrality may be summarized as follows: in the long run, the growth of money ought to be neutral in its impact on the production growth rate and ought to affect the inflation rate. The earliest canonical works on the neutrality of money stated the superiority of monetary policy regulations that enabled the participants in the market to envisage the future money supplies. There were no debates in these abstract models for the necessity of an institution like a central bank that may be used to take the actions to apply a policy based on rules (Cecchetti 42). There were also no differences identified between the central bank’s liabilities and money. Theoretically, the gap between the inflation variables and the central bank variables (M1 and M2) are under the transmission mechanism, which is a monetary theory. The Federal Reserve utilizes the open market to withdraw or inject commercial bank reserves. The banks then create money through money multiplier. In a nutshell, banks react to the injection of extra reserves by developing loans that are financed with monetary liabilities like savings deposits and checking (Cecchetti 104). The money multiplier calculates the final adjustment in the supply of money that would be caused by a certain change in the monetary base. Irrespective of the money multiplier value, as long as it is stable, a certain percentage increase in the monetary base would cause a similar percentage increase in money. Therefore, the theory of money multiplier is a brief means of tying a policy rule under the central bank control with inflation and money. Creation of reserve without money The application of the c oncepts of the money multiplier and money neutrality have made a number of Federal Reserve observers argue that the present financial crisis has been caused by the possible result of inflation. For instance, the Financial Times, Martin Feldstein argued that when the economy starts to recuperate, the Federal Reserve will have to lessen the stock money and prevent the high volume of excess reserves in the banks from creating credit and money explosion. The negative money multiplier may be explained by liquidity creation. For instance, from 1981 to 2006, the average credit market assets that the US financial institutions hold have increased by $ 32.3 trillion. Commercial bank reserves that have been held as deposits by the Federal Reserve had reduced by $ 6.5 billion within the same period (Cecchetti 56). In 2006, the total commercial bank reserves in the Federal Reserve were only $18.7 billion. This amount was less than the equivalent amount that was held in banks, in 1951. It is quit e clear that not only have the financial institutions depended on a rise in reserves held at the Federal Reserve to increase credit they have also increased credit by 744 percent as the reserves diminished. Therefore, the subsidiary money multiplier of the augmented bank reserves has been either irrelevant or highly negative. The following figure indicates the

Business structures and competitiveness of Canada Analysis using Essay

Business structures and competitiveness of Canada Analysis using Michael Porters Diamond Model of International Competitiveness - Essay Example Factor conditions 7 4.2 Demand conditions 8 4.3 Supplier industries in Canada 8 4.4 Business establishment, management and rivalry in the domestic market 9 5. Conclusions - Recommendations 10 6. References 12 7. Appendix 13 Executive Summary A series of criteria tends to be used for evaluating the performance of economies in the global market. Usually, the ability of countries to cover their debts and to respond to the needs of local population is considered as indication of economic strength. In practice, it has been proved that the competitiveness of countries refers to a variety of requirements; these requirements need to be met in order for a country to be characterized as highly competitive. The particular issue has been explored in the literature, due to its critical importance. The most common framework for evaluating the competitiveness of countries is the Diamond model of national competitiveness. This model promotes the view that national competitiveness can be related most ly to four elements (Figure 1, Appendix). The Porter’s Diamond model has been used in this paper in order to evaluate the competitiveness of Canada. Using the model for developing the above task a contradiction has been revealed: Canada seems to perform high in two of the model’s elements while its performance in the rest two elements is low (Figure 5, Appendix). This contradiction could be explained as follows: Canadian economy is quite strong and the development of business activity is highly promoted by the government. However, the measures taken are not adequate and gaps are unavoidable. Therefore, the competitiveness of the country seems to be high or low depending on the elements of the economy on which each part of the Diamond model is based. 1.0 Introduction The competitiveness of countries in the context of the international market is difficult to be measured, especially due to the instability in economies and the strong social conflicts worldwide. Porter has introduced a model that can be used as the basis for measuring and evaluating the national competitiveness; this is the Diamond model. The value of this model is high since no similar theoretical frameworks are available in the literature. At the same time, the effectiveness of the specific model has been already tested in practice leading to credible findings in regard to national competitiveness. A key advantage of Porter’s Diamond model is the following one: the model can be used for evaluating the competitiveness of countries with various cultural and social characteristics. Porter’s Diamond model has been used in this paper for measuring the national competitiveness of Canada, a country with a quite strong economy, at least as compared with other western countries. Porter’s Diamond model has verified the strength and the prospects of the Canadian economy; however, there are certain practices of the country’s government that should be alternated, a ne ed that has been revealed through Porter’s Diamond model. 2.0 National competitiveness – characteristics When referring to the competitiveness of a nation it is difficult to choose the criteria that would be most appropriate for taking a relevant decision (Porter 1990). Most commonly, national competitiveness is related to issues such as ‘exchange rates, interest rates and government deficits’ (Porter 1990, p.76), being related to macro-economy. The view that national competitiveness can be related mostly to the natural resources of a country has not been widely accepted (Porter 1990) as it could not respond to the following question: how countries such as Germany and Italy that

Services Management - EFQM Excellence Model and Radar Logic Essay

Services Management - EFQM Excellence Model and Radar Logic - Essay Example The fundamental objective for the study is highlighting the effectiveness of the model in the actual business scenario. Further, the paper will discuss the significance of the model which is the practical and objective approach to make operations of a company better. The challenges and critique on the model which include the fact that mathematical details are not inclusive will be highlighted. Since this is a secondary report, the main methods used to compile the report were library study and internet research. A case study of Mr. Smith, a customer with Executive Bank PLC who lost valuables will be the basis of focus on how EFQM can be a turnaround tool. The findings on the case exposed the lack of proper communication by the operations and customer care department. The report recommends that the company should carry out systematic checks on its operations and adopt a continuous improvement of systems. Secondly, proper staff and communication channels are recommended to avoid any fut ure problem. Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction EFQM: Background Information Principles Value addition to the customer Creating sustainability Developing an organizational capability Harnessing creativity and innovation. Vision, integrity and inspiration Possessing agility Managing talent Continuous results Purpose of EFQM Significance Challenges and criticism of EFQM Case study: Executive Bank PLC. Gold Card Protection Service Possible Causes of the Problem EFQM Solutions for the Gold Card Protection Service Developing an operational network Redesigning of the operations of the card service Prioritize issues Use of the EFQM Concept as an exemplification of the above Solutions Use of The Radar System Conclusion Recommendations References Further sources Introduction It is the objective of each organization or firm to offer quality services and satisfy all interested stakeholders. Many models have been created to measure and control the performances of these firms at sp ecified periods according to Afuah and Tucci (2003, p9). As effective as they may be, each of the models has been found to have a considerable degree of limitations. The most effective of these models ought to have three qualities that can be of use by the management and employees namely innovation, collaboration and cooperation. It is obvious that service delivery executed at the highest level does not only satisfy a customer, it also motivates the employee to work better and give better results. The EFQM or European Framework for Quality management incorporates the three qualities that can harness these desired results in the service sectors such as banking and insurance. The model was launched in 1991 on the platform of eight fundamental concepts of quality management. With over 30,000 small and large organizations applying its principles, EFQM has proved to be not only reliable but also an effective framework of management. This exercise focuses on EFQM principles and their sign ificance, its critique and its application relates to a bank namely, Executive Bank PLC. EFQM: Background Information After the great depression of the 1930’s and the emergence of new markets, organizations in America began to look for new ways of doing business. This was mostly motivated by the drive to do business in an effective and efficient manner. Research activities in various institutions were ongoing on the aspect of

Reaction of the video Well-founded Fear Documentary Essay

Reaction of the video Well-founded Fear Documentary - Essay Example Those working in the offices are in a high-stress environment. The impact of the documentary created ripples in the mindset of the administrators of asylum issues and some of them ordered its compulsory viewing for their staff members. I think that it is a good administrative move towards experiencing the harsh realities the asylum seekers have to face. Legal and Advocacy Communities have found this documentary invaluable for furthering their cause and they have incorporated viewing of the movie into their programs of in-service trainings. The political and ethical issues raised in the film are highly relevant. Immigration advocates have found this an invaluable asset to advances their cause. This documentary has been a hit also with the general audiences. It has made a deep impact in over a million households in America and educated them in detail about the complicated asylum and refugee issues. The real-life stories provide a human face on abstract issues. Viewers experience the inner compulsions to express opinions. In brief, this documentary has ushered in a mini social revolution and initiated a conversation and a national debate. Thanks to the technological innovations, the message of this documentary has reached all over the world and has created a long-term impact on the market-driven society. Scorning refugees from other countries and sending them back, is as good as awarding them with death sentence in some cases. Politics devoid of compassion is an unethical policy. In some countries asylum seekers are detained in awful conditions. Each asylum seeker wishes to live peacefully and he is seeking asylum due to adverse conditions in his place of birth. The documentary vividly describes why it is necessary to give people a fair go and permit them to seek refugee status and support human rights. Asylum seeking process should not be a war of persecution. As members of the global community, the immigration authorities

Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social and Behavioral Sciences - Research Paper Example Hypertension is very rampant today affecting even young people when it was considered the disease for the old. It must be understood that it affects all gender, races, and economic levels equally. Hypertension accounts for 45% of deaths due to cardiovascular related diseases making it a more lethal killer than any other known heart disease thus being a significant public health problem (Myat, Redwood, Qureshi, Spertus, & Williams, 2012). The etiology of hypertension is very elaborate and complex since there are several factors falling into two interrelated classifications. There are uncontrolled factors that cause hypertensions, factors that an individual has no capacity to change whichever way he or she tries. Different from uncontrolled factors are those that individuals can influence, manipulate and control. These are factors within the environment and in most cases; people significantly determine how they interact with them. Heredity- this is the likelihood of certain families to have a gene responsible for hypertension. This trait is passed on from one generation to another. There is nothing in plan to stop or control it (Ng et al., 2010). This therefore means that individuals from families with history of hypertension are more at risk of hypertension than those with no history. Gender- men are more susceptible to hypertension than women. The fact that gender cannot be changed makes it had to control hypertension in male gender. The probability is also determined by age and ethnicity. Men prefer dealing with stress intrinsically rather than seek help from counselors or psychologists. Furthermore, men are known to have poor coping skills when under pressure than women (Mounier-Vehier et al., 2012). Age-older people have a greater risk of hypertension than young ones, aging brings with it a period of physical inactivity physiological as well as structural alterations of the cardiovascular system such as arteriosclerosis that make

America's role in the world Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

America's role in the world - Research Paper Example This was just the beginning; the invasion of the US in other countries did not stop. â€Å"The invasion into Iran was another poor decision by the US personnel, they may have benefitted monetarily but their reputation as a country took a major hit in the eyes of the rest of the world.† (Bamford, James) â€Å"The US has always tried to dictate terms to other nations and this is possibly one reason why Osama chose US as his main target and did the damage that he did. September 9th 2001 is arguably the darkest day in the history of the United States.† (Ahmed, Nafeez) â€Å"The US reacted violently after the 9/11 incident; they declared a War on Terror and in the process invaded several countries.† (Benjamin, Daniel) The 9/11 incident killed several people. Innocent people were killed for no fault of theirs; brutality was unleashed in more ways than one. This was one big attack which caught the attention of the people; there are so many terrorists’ activities which don’t catch the eye of the people living in different parts of the world. Terrorism has become a menace and it hampers development and growth of a country. It is very important take appropriate measures. The World Picture After 1945 â€Å"250000 people were approximately killed in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; this still remains the most dreadful massacre of the civilians ever to take place in the history.† (Archick, Kristin) A lot of things changed after the Second World War, the US became a force to reckon with. The US also tested atomic bomb under water and this was first done in the year 1946. The Bikini Islands in the Pacific was the place where these tests of atomic bomb were conducted. â€Å"The United States Representative to the UN Atomic Energy Commission unveiled a plan under which the US would surrender its monopoly of atomic weapons to an international body. The Soviets refused the proposal, and proceeded to develop their own weapons.† (Baruch Plan for Atomic Control) In Germany nine of the most influential people were hung after their trials, these nine people committed malicious crimes such as killing about nine million Jews. The Germans just wanted to ensure that this should not be repeated and hence did justice to these nine people. In the year 1947 the Asian countries also made significant progress, India and Pakistan got independence and formed their own governments, this independence was achieved after a long struggle with the foreign forces. These were some of the most significant events that took place after 1945. The US has an undeniable dominance over the other countries. Even after the recent slump, the US is still one of the most powerful countries in the world. The top-notch technology available in country sets it apart from the rest of the countries. Before 1890 the US officials and the other influential people were very content and satisfied with the position of their country but all of a sudden a wave just swept aside the nation and the people thought that they should start showing their dominance on the world arena. The US started venturing into the never ventured phenomena of conquering other nations. The Caribbean and the Central America were the first destinations that lured the US officials and also set them on a spree of world dominance. The Spanish-American war gave a major boost to the US and made

Logic of Statistical Significance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Logic of Statistical Significance - Essay Example Taking a sample of 1000 people, the nominal survey data collected is as shown: Suppose the null hypothesis is gender and preferences are independent. Then on evaluating the test statistics, getting a value of 16.2 using the degree of freedom of 2. Comparing this t-statistic with the critical value obtained from the chi- distribution table, suppose the significance level of 0.05 is chosen. Then it can be ascertained that the finding is significant as the t-statistic is higher than the critical value. This leads to the rejection of the null hypothesis and also the arrival of a conclusion that there exists a relationship between preferences and gender for that product. For the case of ordinal data survey, as in the example of a survey comparing the mean weights of male and female students. A statistical hypothesis test is used for making decisions on the data. The test result is calculated from the null hypothesis. The test sample is said to be statistically significant if its occurrence is unlikely to have been by chance alone. The statistically significant result that is given by probability p-value is less than the threshold of a significant level then it justifies the rejection of the null hypothesis. Once the variations have been attained, the Fischer value is calculated and is compared to the f critical value from the table at a given degree of confidence (Carlson, 1976). Another important concept to consideration is the use of one-tailed or two-tailed significance tests. (StatPac Inc, 2012) The hypothesis determines the selection of each. If the hypothesis gives directions, for example, men generally weigh more than women then the one-tailed significance test is employed. However, if the hypothesis gives no directions as in the example, there is no significant difference in performances between boys and girls, and then the two-tailed significance test is used. The two-test probability is exactly twice the one-test probability

Negotiating International Market Essay Example for Free

Negotiating International Market Essay †¢Negotiating with international customers, partners, and regulator NEGOTIATIONS ARE FORMAL DISCUSSIONS B/W PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT AIMS OR INTENTIONS , ESPECIALLLY IN BUSINESS ,DURING WHICH THEY TRY TO REACH AN AGREEMENT. Negotiating with international customers , partners and regulators often requires a lot of meticulous preparations and skill. Successful negotiation demands threadbare analysis and evaluation of the commercial and their impressive presentation and proper understanding and appreciation of the cultural nuances of the negotiating party and skilfully navigating the negotiation process accordingly. In order to successfully negotiate with international customers one needs impressive presentation skills, proper understanding of cultural nuances of the party with whom one plans to negotiate. Negotiations in the international scenario are governed by 4Cs they are common interests, conflicting interests, compromise and criteria. Government authorities can be viewed in two different view-points namely hierarchial view and bargaining view. Negotiation is a process in which at least one individual tries to persuade another individual to change his or her ideas or behavior. Business negotiations often involve one party attempting to influence another to make a particular decision of sign a contract. Thus negotiating is a process in which at-least parties with different view points and needs try to reach an agreement on matters of mutual interest. There are 4Cs of negotiation: 1. Common interests 2. Conflicting interests 3. Compromise 4. Criteria for agreement to hold The outcome of any negotiated agreement depends on the relative bargaining power of both parties. Negotiating Globally Negotiating effectively across cultures is one of the most important global business skills. Global negotiations contain all the complexity of domestic negotiations, with the added dimension of cultural diversity. Top managers spend more than 50% of their time in formal or informal negotiations. Two tables below highlight the differences in negotiating styles across cultures. When to negotiate? According to experts, negotiating is not always the best approach to do business. Sometimes the best strategy is â€Å"take it or leave it†, other times its bargaining. Negotiating demands more time and resources. Therefore managers must negotiate only when the value of the exchange is important. Negotiating is often seen as strategy to create a win-win solutions in business. Consider the following conditions while negotiating: 1. Your power position w.r.t that of the counterpart 2. The level of trust 3. Sufficient time available 4. True commitment to carryout the agreement. 5. The value of exchange 6. Importance to relationship The success of negotiations depends on: 1. Individual characteristics 2. Situational contingencies 3. Strategic tactical processes. Stages of negotiation: 1. Preparation 2. Relationship building 3. information exchange 4. Persuasion 5. Agreement Prerequisites for effective negotiation† 1. Selection of appropriate negotiation team. 2. Management of preliminaries,including training,preparations,and manipulation of negotiation setting. 3. Management of the process of negotiations , that is , what happens at the negotiation table. 4. Appropriate follow-up procedures and practices. Cultural problems in international negotiations: 1. Language and non-verbal behaviors 2. Values 3. Thinking and decision making processes. Negotiating with regulators: in many instances government is a party in international business negotiations. there are two view points of the governmental authorith: 1. Hierarchical view 2. Bargaining view Deteminants of bargaining power: 1. Relative importance of the project. 2. Alternatives 3. Urgency 4. Strengths SUMMARY: . negotiation with international customers,partners and regulators requires impressive presentation and proper understanding and appreciation of the cultural nuances of the negotiating party. . common interests, conflicting interests,compromise and criteria are the 4 Cs of the negotiation. . there are two views of government authority: hierarchical and bargaining view

Role Play Reflection and Self Critique

Role Play Reflection and Self Critique Self-Critique Pillay Sheryl Interpersonal Communication Tania Holz The aim of this assignment is to write a self-critique based on a role play, and reflect critically upon my strengths and limitations, that relates to the theory and knowledge regarding the use of communication and interpersonal skills, and how and when to build rapport, empathy, listening and active listening communications within a role-play. I felt it is important for me to progress my ability to pay attention to other people more by considering their purpose and opinions before I respond. My current level of actively listening is lacking in regards to theory. For example the role play is between a lady and I, whom I met for the first time whilst travelling to college. She has two children and is finding it difficult to balance life, between family and work. In the conversation we had it is obvious that the interpersonal skills which are located in the video are broken down into rapport building, empathy and active listening and there processes to effective communication.   Rapport Rapport is the on-going and continuous skill we rely on when we engage with others. Rapport is essential for the maintenance of a good relationship and is essential at the start of a new relationship. On first meeting someone, our conversation tends to be centered on things we have in common. We exchange information and we attempt to explore and discover what we have in common. Through the discovery of our commonalities, we test one another and are better able to determine how similar our attitudes and values are to theirs and soon we form a first impression. (Holz, 2015). According to (Robbins,1986, p. 207)† rapport is the ability to enter someone else’s world, to make her feel that you understand her, that you have a strong common bond. It’s the ability to go fully from your map of the world to her map of the world. It is the essence of successful communication,† (Robbins, 1986, cited in Holz. 2015). According to Hargie(1999) it is significant that suitable body linguistic is used; when immediately evaluate what body language is telling us, we may take more persuasion with vocal message. When there is a discrepancy between your body language and what you are actually saying, then the person we are connecting with will believe the body language. Building rapport begins with exhibiting suitable body language being friendly, comfortable and opens (Hargie, 1999) As well as being considerate and corresponding appropriate body language with the person we are connecting with, it benefits if we can also match their words.Mirroring and making sure what has been said are valuable strategies for recapping what has been said by the other person.It will approve that you are listening but it will also give you a chance to use the words and phases of the other individual. The way in which we use our voice is vital in increasing rapport. When we are anxious or nervous we tend to speak more fast, this in turn can make you seem anxious and worried. We can differ our vocal sound, tone, volume and pace in methods to make what we are saying more stimulating but also to come across as more calm, open and welcoming. One shouldtry lowering their tone, talk more slowly and softly, this will help you develop rapport more easily (Hargie, 1999) Listening According to Hargie (1999), when we communicate with someone we also listen at the simultaneously for a response. When we listen we assess in order to plan our response. Sometimes we can procrastinate before the other person has completed talking and hence we may not be listening efficiently to the next person. Hartley (1999), details two other barriers to effective listening. One is verbal encounters. Instead of listening to somebody we are question what the individual is saying, whilst they are trying to say I what is on their mind, and then we lose track of what the person is trying to saying. Then a problematic event arises and we need to find facts where we lose sight of the whole message while we are busy trying to focus on the evidences of the conversation. Effective conduct with effective listening contains being open to the person, sustaining attention to the person, move away from interruptions and the postponement of a response until you have clear understanding of what has been said to you (Hartley,1999, p. 57) Active Listening Hartley (1999) describes active listening as: You need to inspire the person to talk and demonstration that you are giving them your full attention. This is while you are observing and processing the info that they are conveying (Hartley, 1999, p. 59) Empathy According to DeVito (2014), Empathy and Empathic Listening, is the ability to try and feel what the other person is feeling and to see the situation as he or she does. Try to see the situation as punctuated by the other person and how this differs from your own punctuation (DeVito, 1992, p. 101). According to Bolton (1987) there are three components that define empathy: â€Å"The empathic individual has a delicate and precise understanding of the other person’s emotional state while upholding certain disconnectedness from the other person. Empathy means accepting the situation that subsidizes to the â€Å"triggered† emotional state. The empathic individual connects with the other person in such a way that, that person feels accepted and understood,† (Bolton, 1987, cited in Holz, 2015). When Sandra sat next to me on the gastrin, she greeted me with a friendly smile and it was easy to start a conversation. She mentioned that she had seen me before, and that she had just lost her husband three months ago. Rapport is the on-going and continuous skill we rely on when we engage with others. Rapport is essential for the maintenance of a good relationship and is essential at the start of a new relationship. On first meeting someone, our conversation tends to be centered on things we have in common. I mentioned to her that I live in Midland and told her where I lived exactly, to my surprise we both live in the same street and Sandra noticed me at the Spar shopping center. We exchange information and we attempt to explore and discover what we have in common. Through the discovery of our commonalities, we test one another and are better able to determine how similar our attitudes and values are to theirs and soon we formed a first impression. It is significant that suitable body linguistic is used; we immediately evaluate what body language is telling us, we may take more persuasion with vocal messages. When there is a discrepancy between your body language and what you are actually saying, then the person we are connecting with will believe the body language instead. Sandra look exhausted and it seemed to me that her hair was not combed, yet she had a smile on her face and I was not sure if I could ask her if she was okay. Since it was too soon for me to be placing judgements, however I felt empathy toward her. Being considerate and corresponding appropriate body language with the person we are connecting with, it benefits if we can also match their words.Mirroring and illuminating what has been said, are valuable strategies for recapping what has been said by the other person.It will approve that you are listening but it will also give you an opportunity to use the words and segments of the other individual. I leaned forward and looked into her eyes and said to her â€Å"you said you had seen me before, where did you see me, you too look rather familiar too?† The way in which we use our voice is vital in increasing rapport. When we are anxious or nervous we tend to speak more fast, this in turn can make you seem anxious and worried. You can change our tone, volume and speed in means to make what we are saying more exciting but also to come across as being calm, open and friendly. One shouldtry lowering their voice, and talk more slowly and softly, this enable you to build rapport.. I spoke in a very soft tone, but Sandra could not hear me properly since there were a lot of people talking around us, as well as the noise from the gautrain hampered our conversation. However she mentioned where she had seen me and the difficulties she going through. It was evident that she was at her lowest point and was trying to cope with life. She had just lost her husband and was barely coping. According to DeVito (2014), Empathy and Empathic Listening, is the ability to try and feel what the other person is feeling and to see the situation as he or she does. Try to see the situation as punctuated by the other person and how this differs from your own punctuation (DeVito, 2014, p. 101). I could relate to her lost since I have lost my sister also in a car accident too, and I still did not get over her loss. She had passed on seven years ago, but I could never relate to Sandra’s loss, since she had two little children she need to think off, and in laws which she was not speaking to. According to Bolton (1987) there are three components that define empathy: â€Å"The empathic individual has a delicate and precise understanding of the other person’s emotional state while upholding certain disconnectedness from the other person. Empathy means accepting the situation that subsidizes to the â€Å"triggered† emotional state. The empathic individual connects with the other person in such a way that, that person feels accepted and understood,† (Bolton, 1987, cited in Holz, 2015). I could relate to Sandra and found it difficult to separate my feelings, there were times when I too felt very emotional and my eyes would fill with tears, however I constantly looked down so that she could not see my emotions. According to Hargie (1999), when we talk we also listen at the same time for feedback. When we listen we evaluate in order to plan our response. Sometimes we may already know what we are going to say before the other person has finished talking and hence we may not be listening effectively to the other person (Hargie, 1999, p. 120). Sandra was explaining her conflict and I taught to myself I am hearing what you are saying but how do you know that they are feeling this way, did they tell you that you are not welcome, or how do you know they do not like you, why are you speculating? According to Hartley (1999), instead of listening to somebody we questioning what the person is saying while they are saying it and then lose track of what the person is saying. Then there is a problem of fact hunting where we lose sight of the complete message while we are busy trying to focus on the evidences of the conversation. Effective conduct with effective listening contains being open to the person, sustaining attention to the person, move away from interruptions and the postponement of a response until you have clear understanding of what has been said to you (Hartley,1999, p. 57) I tried figuring out whether she was having a problem with her in laws or if she was not coping with life, and how all of this was affecting her. I noticed in her voice how this all had an impact on her mental wellbeing. My strengths demonstrated in the role According to Bolton (1987) there are three components that define empathy: â€Å"The empathic person has a sensitive and accurate understanding of the other person’s feelings while maintaining certain separateness from the person. Empathy means understanding the situation that contributes to or â€Å"triggered† those feelings. The empathic person communicates with the other in such a way that the other feels accepted and understood† Bolton, 1987, cited in (Holz, 2015) Sandra: â€Å"since my husband died my in laws stopped visiting us, it is obvious they only visited because they loved their son, they use to come and visit us every Saturday, now they do not come anymore.† Sheryl: I am so sorry you have to go through so much, and I don’t know your in-laws at all, but maybe they also grieving. I am sure they will realize how important it is for them to support you and the kids right now. You know we all grieve differently! Sometimes we let pride stand in the way of our happiness, I think you should sit down with your in laws and discuss you’ll feelings since you’ll were so close after all, and now something is creating a wall. Right now in your life I’m sure you need each other, so why not invite them for lunch, after all it is your in-laws right and your kids love them too. Rapport is the on-going and continuous skill we rely on when we engage with others. We exchange information and we attempt to explore and discover what we have in common. Building rapport begins with exhibiting suitable body language being friendly, comfortable and open. The way in which we use our voice is vital in increasing rapport. Sandra: I am so sorry to bother you but would it be fine if I could come visit you later after work since you have helped me so much and I am afraid I might just look for excuses again not to invite my in laws over for dinner. I barely know you, but you have already helped me so much, you have surely removed a huge brick of my shoulder, and if you say no its okay. Thank you for everything. My limitations in the role- play My soft nature and introverted personality often restricts me from making lots of friends. If Sandra did not initiate the conversation, I am sure I would not have started it. I do see my own limitation, and I need to improve on my interpersonal skills especially building rapport. However once the conversation kicks off, and I become comfortable I find my knowledge quite beneficial to lots of people. Therefore I need to work on my personality. According to Rane (2011) it is important to listen and to† Stop talking, one cannot simultaneously talk and listen. The speaker cannot speak and put the message across if the listener continues to talk. Therefore, the first commandment is that the listener should stop talking and start listening (Rane, 2011, p 44). As Sandra was explaining what she thought about drunk drivers, I could relate and could not stop myself from expressing my anger toward them and I quoted â€Å"government should put more stricken implications toward these people, they have no respect for the road and innocent people’s lives are taken way, from loved one’s only because they choose to be reckless, I really do not think it is fair, that they get off so easily and we are punished forever, we do not get to see our love ones.† I see how I need to control my emotions, because it takes over my mind, and I can see clearly in the video how emotional I become. It is easy for me to remain constant or in congruent without emotional attachment. Conclusion As I observed the role play with Sandra, I saw lots of examples of rapport building, active listening, and empathy. I have also learned to listen, and not just jump to my own conclusion. I have also become aware of my strengths and limitations. Interpersonal communication has made a huge difference in the way I viewed communication, most of all it has given me a sense of reflecting and changing my personality in order to be able to build rapport, which is crucial in being a counsellor. References DeVito, J. A. (2014). The Interpersonal Communication Book: Pearson New International Edition (13th.ed). Harlow, England. Hartley, P. (1999). Interpersonal Communication: Interpersonal Communication (2nd ed.). Routledge: New York, NY Hargie, O, Dickson, D Tourish, D. (1999). Communication in Management. Retrieved from: https://books.google.co.za/books?id=vgyKLyEn22ACsitesec=buysource=gbs_vpt_read Holz. T. (2015). Session 3 [Power Point Presentation]. Retrieved, 28 April 2015, Retrieved from http://mysacap.sacap.edu.za/my/ Rane, D. B. (2011). Good Listening Skills Make Efficient Business Sense. IUP Journal of Soft Skills, December 2011. Retrieved from: http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/78153521/good-listening-skills-make-efficient-business-sense

Printing Industry Is The Uks Fifth Largest Manufactur Marketing Essay

Printing Industry Is The Uks Fifth Largest Manufactur Marketing Essay The aim of this project is to present a feasible idea to increase the brand awareness and profile of the social enterprise PrintIT, a printing company which is part of The AppleBy Trust. To achieve this research was carried out on the printing industry, analysis on the current firm and marketing activities and consideration of a potential new customer base for PrintIT to target. This would enable establishment of an alternative marketing strategy for PrintIT which is hoped to be successful. Printing Industry Analysis The Printing Industry is the UKs fifth largest manufacturing industry. It employs over 160,000 people in 12,000 companies most of which are fairly small. It is a vital manufacturing sector and has strategic importance to the economy catering for public authorities, retail, distribution, financial services, travel etc. In Northern Ireland Printing is a long established and mature industry and many of the companies that operate within the sector are long serving and have been involved in printing for a number of decades. http://www.britishprint.com/page.asp?node=297sec=Essential_facts_on_the_UK_printing_industry See Appendix 1 Johnston, Michael, Chief Executive, BPIF, The Marketing Managers Yearbook 2007, The BPIF, The Voice of the Printing Industry in the UK, See Appendix 2 http://www.investni.com/sector_profile_-_print___packaging.pdf Demand in the industry is greatly influenced by the level of activity taking place in the economy and subsequently demand for the sector did fall from early 2008 due to the economic downturn. Printing companies are losing contracts as organisations go into administration. Declines are inevitably likely 2010, 2011 with full recovery and possible increases in 2012. Fenn, Dominic, Key Note Marketing Report 2010, 15th Edition, Printing, April 2010 ISBN 978-1-84729-608-5, See Appendix 3 The industry is hugely affected by macroeconomic factors and Printing is expected to advance in the future. Below is a PEST Analysis which explains the most crucial factors affecting the industry:- Political Legislation IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Integrated Control) is the most crucial and looks at resource and energy efficiency, accident prevention and minimisation of other pollutants including noise and heat. envirowise.wrap.org.uk//Integrated-Pollution-Prevention-And-Control- IPPC.html New powers have been given to the ICO (Information Commissioners Office) which could see Printing companies face major fines therefore Printing firms processing personal data need to ensure it is adequately protected. Nias, Simon and Sheahan, Tim, Printers could face  £500k fines under new powers given to ICO, PrintWeek article 4 December 2009 (20 Nov)See Appendix 4 The Printing Industry is a hugely polluting industry and environmental issues include:- Water Large quantities of water are used in most printing processes and Water charges are being introduced at the end of the year in Northern Ireland See Appendix 23. The alternative would be waterless printing nevertheless the printers are expensive to purchase and run. Waste Relatively high levels of waste are generated by the printing process. This is also a social issue. Emissions VOCs are believed to come from the Printing Industry. These can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and much more serious affects if exposed to for long periods of time. environmentalchemistry.com/yogi//200602airpollution.html Ink Heavy metals and non-renewable resources in ink. The alternative would be vegetable based inks however not used by all printers. Economic The economic downturn is the most evident with approximately 200 companies already going into administration with 3000 jobs lost. This is contributing to the high levels of unemployment the UK is facing. See Appendix 5 from PrintWeek.com which is the official website for the British Printing Industries Federation. Mitting, William, Unemployment hits 2.38m with thousands of jobs lost from print printweek.com 15 July 2009 Printing Paper rises Several major paper suppliers have announced price increases. Paper giant Sappi said it will raise the price of certain types of paper by at least 10% in March next year however Printing companies will find it hard to increase their prices as there is continual undercutting of prices to secure contracts. See Appendix 6 Morris, Helen, Paper manufacturers set to impose further price increase printweek.com 19 February Interest rate rising Small print firms could be hit by a further crush on borrowing. This is the result of a move by the Treasury to reduce its exposure to the EFG scheme. See Appendix 7. Energy and fuel rises The industry has high energy dependence from the machinery it uses, a majority of which is electrical. Tucker, Wesley, eHow Contributor, Challenges in the Printing Industry 31st May 2010 http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_6570986_challenges-printing-industry.html Social Do It Yourself With disposable income lower and a wide more diverse range of packages available, consumers can choose to print for themselves whether it be using templates available on Microsoft or Desktop Publishing etc. Technological Advancement in technology has an unavoidable impact in the industry. It is needed to survive and ahead of competition. A Marketing Week article reports that the trend of digital technology and printing will ultimately open up new markets. A Printing Impressions article and Converting magazine abstract explain that digital enhances image and quality, has a faster turnaround and saves costs. See Appendices 8,9 10. The internet is another technological factor. 73% of households in the UK have it with 30 million adults using it daily therefore an opportunity for the industry to exploit. See Appendix 11 which details the National Statistics of Internet access. The Printing Industry could use the internet as an online ordering tool which is a trend in demand. The internet could too be used as a medium, for example a campaign online could be enhanced with a printed one to match. See Appendix 12 which explains that the internet is not a threat but can be used as a complimentary medium. Ultimately all the factors would need to be strongly analysed and considered in order to survive in an environment which is rapidly changing. With regards to the Social Enterprise sector, they have a vital role to play in the countrys economic recovery as they tackle social unemployment and crime or environmental issues and still support financial growth. The survey in Appendix 13 found that despite the recession, social enterprises are twice as confident of future growth as small to medium enterprises, with 48% of social enterprises reacting positively as opposed to just 24% of SMEs. Since the economic downturn began, 56% have increased their turnover from the previous year whilst less than 20% have seen it go down. State of Social Enterprise Survey, Nov 2009, Social Enterprise Coalition http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk Firm and Marketing Analysis Strengths Latest Product Technology In House Professional Design System Competitive Prices Online Uploading Service Weaknesses Instability Limited to Employee Abilities Limited To Expansion Very little Cash flow Very Little Marketing Ability Resource Independent Opportunities Seasonal Greetings Cards T-shirt Printing Charity Fundraisers Postcards Threats Stable / Well Known Competitors Work Related Legislations Increase in at home Printing Struggling Economy Above is a SWOT analysis of PrintIT. Strengths include the latest product technology. PrintIT offer digital printing and An In House Professional Design Service which indicate they are advancing with changes in technology in what is a dominant trend in the industry. They also have an online uploading service which enables faster and more convenient printing for the enterprise and the customer. Weaknesses include very little cash flow and marketing ability. PrintIT have a small sum of  £300 per annum for their enterprise spending budget. Opportunities including seasonal greetings cards. A Keynote Market Focus 2008 report (Appendix 14) states that Christmas and New Year cards sector record the greatest sales in volume terms and a rapidly growing population will ensure volume and value growth. Other opportunities include T-shirt Printing which PrintIT could use in the future when they more business. Threats include increase in at Home Printing As mentioned earlier there are programs available to enable consumers to print for themselves. Current Marketing Activities From assessing PrintITs current marketing activities, they market in three ways: Via the Appleby PrintIT website, a quarterly newsletter and distribution of leaflets. According to a recent Measurement of Marketing Effectiveness report, managers now more emphasis on the marketing activities of the organisation. This trend is the aspiration to achieve sustainable profit and develop their own firm to compete harder. See Appendix 15. As explained earlier the Internet is used by a vast majority of consumers. PrintIT have a very detailed website with a lot of facitlies available including quote request, services provided, portfolio of work and a price list. This is good service accessibility and a competitive advantage over rivals in the area of Armagh, as main competitors TrimPrint and Instant Print do not have websites at current, therefore if a consumer was looking for a Printing firm via an online search engine PrintIT would be the only company to offer one. This is a marketing activity which is delivered better than local competitors. From an extensive review of the website there seemed to be no link from PrintIT to the AppleBy Trust. We feel as a charity and social enterprise there needs to be a stronger link between the two, this is vital. Newsletters are distributed to existing customers of PrintIT quarterly. This enables them to maintain a relationship with their current customers and act as a tool for customer loyalty and repeat business. Newsletters are valued and an approach which is popular among marketers. PrintIT newsletters have a corporate design and are informative in that they show clients who they are supporting by including Trainee News and Trainee of the Month features. It can be used as a marketing strategy to communicate offers, new features etc. Two newsletter articles (Appendices 16 17) explain how newsletters are being introduced by companies of all sizes to communicate with customers and best prospects and how they are credible for a company with a limited budget. PrintIT also distribute leaflets. This is a method of marketing which could be very effective for business as this could be a way of advertising the firm for those that do not know or are aware of it. To prevent customers disposing of it PrintIT could include a discount code or money off coupon for an extra incentive. Paper is PrintITs forestay therefore leaflets will be very cost effective for the business in distributing to consumers. They are too a good form of communication. Customer Analysis Demographics of customers show that PrintIT are used by local consumers, beauty salons, hairdressers, pizza places etc. These are small local companies which PrintIt should continue catering for however should consider extending their customer base to local communities, churches, schools and colleges. PrintIT could create a bigger public awareness by using sports events at schools etc to advertise the brand. A recent Segmenting Volunteer Fundraisers at a Charity Sport Event journal explains how Charitable organizations are increasingly using sport events as an approach to generate funds and raise awareness. Researchers have suggested that sport events are mainly attractive to volunteer fundraisers because they provide an opportunity to engage in two important activities at the same time. This could evitably increase PrintITs customer base Wood, Laura Snelgrove, Ryan Danylchuk, Karen, 2010. Segmenting Volunteer Fundraisers at a Charity Sport Event . Journal of Nonprofit and Public Sector Marketing, 22 (1) p38 Appendix 24 For churches, PrintIT could offer to print order of services for weddings and eulogies for funerals. Weddings and funerals are constant therefore printing would always be in demand. See Appendices 21 22 which show that the rate of weddings and deaths in Armagh was particularly high, and bigger compared to other areas in 2008. This would be an opportunity for PrintIt to exploit and use their service to generate more business. http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/InteractiveMaps/Population_Migration/mortality/atlas.html http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/InteractiveMaps/Population_Migration/marriages/atlas.html For schools and colleges PrintIT could also offer the service of printing for example school plays, PTA letters and also offer the service of printing coursework for students. In order to reach customers PrintIT could create and deliver a portfolio and welcome pack to the local communities etc to view the work PrintIT offers and does. Price V Quality PrintIt at present charge a low price for printing therefore this could give the impression to consumers that the quality is low therefore an increase in prices could generate thought of higher quality products being offered. PrintIt are a social enterprise and part of a charity fund therefore consumers will be willing to pay more if they know its for a charity linked brand. See Appendix 18 which explains how cause related marketing can in the short term boost sales immediately and why consumers are willing to pay more for a charity linked brand. Strahilevitz, Michal, The Effects of Product Type and Doation Magnitude on Willingness to Pay More for a Charity-Linked Brand, Journal of Consumer Psychology, 8 (3) 215-241 1999 Marketing Strategy From analysing all of the above and looking at alternative marketing perspectives the team concluded that rebranding the social enterprise PrintIT by creating a new name, logo and business slogan would be the most effective strategy. To provide further information on rebranding, recently rebranded charities were reviewed to enable the team to see the reasoning behind rebrand and also the strategy and approach used in doing so. Examples of Rebranding The first charity was The Printers Charitable Organisation It changed its name and introduced a new logo. The charity provides relief for aged or poor people who are or were printers or persons employed or formerly worked in the printing or publishing industry. http://www.fundraising.co.uk/newswire/2010/03/24/printers-charitable-corporation-pcc-rebrands-printing-charity (28 Nov) The corporation changed its name to reflect its desire to appeal to a wider group of people and their children in todays Printing, Publishing trade The corporation changed its name to The Printing Charity. They said that the word printing was inclusive but also built on their legacy of supporting people. http://www.theprintingcharity.org.uk/docs/PrintingCharityAR2009.pdf The logo which beolow incorporates the four CMYK printing blocks used in the colour printing process. Each block represents one of the four cornerstones: Homes, Help, Link and Futures. ::::Downloads:PrintingCharity.logo_.jpg The charity thought the new name and logo was critical to the people it was set up to support. The rebranding is also an attempt to raise the profile and increase the number of people it supports financially. Other charities who have rebranded include Help the Aged which rebranded to Age UK, Parkinsons Disease Society which rebranded to Parkinsons UK and Macmillen Cancer Relief which rebranded to Macmillen Cancer Support. This rebrand was very successful, the charity had been underperforming considerably and the rebrand enhanced awareness and helped with publicity. Research has shown rebranding can vary in price and is time consuming. http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/994464/Charity-rebranding-change-vision-strategy/ PrintITs Rebrand From analysing PrintIT,a rebrand of the enterprise was decided. The original name does not specifically imply that it is supporting people with learning difficulties or that is it connected or originated from the AppleBy Trust. A suggestion is that PrintIT change their name to Print4Charity as this is simple and instantly indicates that the enterprise is a company printing for charity. Print4Charity has a meaning which is significantly different from the other traditional printing companies in Armagh and the surrounding area, is relevant to the enterprise and embeds it in the community. According to Hollensen 2003 the role of branding is to distinguish a companys offering and differentiate a particular product/service from its competitors. It creates awareness and helps with the promotion of the product/service. A brand is a complex symbol that signifies a range of ideas. Printing4Charity could strengthen the enterprises image with customers and communicate value. The rebrand is distinctive and has the potential to gain competitive advantage in the area as making a profit is a factor which is essential in keeping the enterprise up and running. Hollensen, Svend, Marketing Management, A Relationship Approach, 2nd Edition, Pages 409-410 From reviewing the enterprises website, newsletter and leaflets there is no distinctive logo and firm slogan. The enterprise strives to help disadvantaged people by providing vocational training therefore the team thought of an attentive firm slogan to match. Keller et al 2009 explains slogans to be those that are an extremely efficient means to build brand equity. Kotler et al, Marketing Management, European Edition, Pearson, Page 435 When designing the logo the fact that Print4Charity is part of the Appleby Trust was considered and that it gives disadvantaged people the opportunity to grow and flourish in real life work experience. Due to this the team created a logo and slogan that incorporates this: :PraÃÅ'ˆsentation_Logo_Leaflets:ThirdDraftPrintIt_Logo.jpg The new corporate colours used are green, yellow and red which the team felt indicated warmth and displayed professionalism. The Apples link the enterprise to Armagh as they are a distinguishing feature of the city. This could gain customer loyalty. The firm slogan A Chance to Ripen conveys emotion and connects with customers. According to Hollensen 2003 company slogans tell the firms story. Cost of Rebranding Rebranding can vary in price and be time consuming however the enterprise will benefit from it hugely in the future and could advertise the new brand via leaflets etc or use the buses the enterprise has to put the rebranded name no therefore this is a free form of advertising. Rebranding to Print4Charity is an opportunity to exploit and is a chance to really influence the point of the enterprise. Relaunching brand could sharpen the attention of existing and potential users Bradley, Frank, Marketing Management, Providing, Communicating and Delivering Value, Page 546 Other Marketing Strategies Other marketing strategies that were considered were publicity. The enterprise could get journalists from local newsletters and magazines to write an article about Print4Charity. See Appendices 16 17 which convey why newsletters are an effective form of communication. The enterprise should create an online social network presence in the form of Facebook, Twitter etc. See Utalkmarketing.com article in Appendix 20 which explains why social networks are valuable and important for business. The enterprise should also consider getting involved with the Social Economy Network. Its a membership based organisation that draws its membership from Social Economy organisations throughout Northern Ireland. It seeks to build, support and strengthen the Social Economy sector, it is too getting support and recognition by the Assembly. What Is Social Economy? As discussed earlier stronger connection with schools, local clubs etc and participation at local community and sporting events via trade exhibitions etc of the enterprises work. See Appendix 19 which conveys how a trade exhibition is a good way to market a company. Regarding pricing the enterprise should increase prices because as mentioned earlier consumers are willing to pay a little bit more if its for charity. The product range of the enterprise could be enhanced and broadened via printing seasonal greetings cards etc. See Keynote report as Appendix 14. In conclusion, if all the alternative marketing strategies were implemented PrintIT would see a rebrand to Print4Charity and have a vary of ways in promoting its service and receiving more business. These in effect will contribute more to the enterprises funds which would enable more expenditure for new technology etc in order to move forward and compete in what is a fast changing environment.

Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days Essay -- Around World 80 Da

Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days Jules Verne’s 19th century novel about the travels of the â€Å"eclectic† Phileas Fogg at first seems a quick read, an adventurous tale written in a light-hearted vernacular. Yet a close reading of passages, such as the paragraph at the beginning of chapter two, reveals more complex, latent themes amidst the pages of such â€Å"mass† fiction. An analysis of one passage in particular1 [1] suggests that this classic novel has little to do with travel, adventure and love, but rather that it makes a statement about the human condition. Fogg’s famous eighty-day challenge seems only a vessel, a means of transportation, to mask and guide his own inward journey. Verne’s earliest portrayals of Fogg reveal some of his peculiarities: an unnatural fixation on following routing and being on time, as well as meticulous attention for detail.2 [2] Yet Fogg’s apparent obsession with exactitude denies him any hint of individuality. According to Verne, Fogg is â€Å"so exact that he [is] never in a hurry†, â€Å"[makes] no superfluous gestures†, and â€Å"[is] never seen to be moved or agitated†.3 [3] He meticulously reads two papers each day without comment, avoids both confrontation and agreement, and is at once mysterious and predictable. Phileas Fogg seems, therefore, to exist in such a state of mediocrity and liminality, lacking defining or distinctive characteristics, that prior to accepting the challenge, he would fade from the reader’s view. Verne’s poetic prose further highlight Fogg’s early banality: â€Å"Phileas Fogg was indeed exactitude personified, and this was betrayed even in the expression of his very hands and feet†¦ the limbs themselves are expressive of the passions.† (Verne 14) .. ...ons do not match on a word-for-word basis. This is the passage as it appears in my versions: â€Å"Phileas Fogg was indeed exactitude personified, and this was betrayed even in the expression of his very hands and feet; for in men, as well as in animals, the limbs themselves are expression of the passions. He was so exact that he was never in a hurry, was always ready, and was economical in both steps and his motions. He never took one step too many, and always went to his destination by the shortest way; he made no superfluous gestures, and was never seen to be moved or agitated. He was the most deliberate person in the world, yet always arrived on time. He lived alone, and so to speak, outside of every social relation; and as he knew that in this world there must be friction, and since friction slows things down, he never rubbed against anybody.† (Verne 14-15)