The Rich versus Poor in America Essay - 928 Words

The Rich versus Poor in America America; the land of opportunities. How many times have we heard this phrase in our lives? This is the promise land and here, you will be treated equally and will be guaranteed freedom and justice. Maybe it is so in legal terms. However if we look closely, there are many injustice going on that is not protected by our constitution. Perhaps the most obvious one is the difference between the rich and the poor or the haves and the have-nots. First line in the constitution states; all men are created equal. Is that so? I see a tremendous disadvantage being born to a family of poverty than being born to the wealthy family. It’s not a just a matter of being able to be educated properly but a life or†¦show more content†¦Mrs. Edmunds is heart broken by this story. Its hurt her even more when she heard that Mr. Johnson didn’t seem to be able to hold a funeral for the baby. Because of the type of person she was, she was afflicted over what she should do. Sh ould she go out and buy herself clothes, which she has long wanted? Or should she donate her money to Mr. Johnson for his daughter’s funeral? Thinking about this gave her headaches. Her morals choose to give the poor baby a funeral and she hurries to Mr. Johnson. But she was a bit too late. Mr. Johnson, with nothing to do, has given the baby to student doctors. Now, the ten five dollar bills, which she literally worshiped all of a sudden, changed to stones in her purse. The money, which has chosen the destiny of a small child that must have had so much ahead in her life, was too much of a weight for her. It was the money that killed the child, not pneumonia. Feeling extreme anger and depression toward money, she hides the money as atonement toward the guilt she felt of her incapability to make up her mind. Only if she were a couple of hours faster, the baby would have at least had a burial place instead of being used in some experiment. That guilt just would not l eave her mind. â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† was a very similar type of story. It is about two very loving couple, Della and Jim Young, again, very idealistic except for the fact that they were extremely poor. TheyShow MoreRelatedThe Criminal Justice System : An Analysis Of Income And Racial Inequality Essay1586 Words   |  7 Pagesto classism and racism. Essentially, the criminal justice system harasses the poor and the African- American male, but favors the wealthy and affluent. Throughout this essay, one will be enlightened on how income and racial inequality affects the American criminal justice system as well as the high recidivism rate of African-American males. The criminal justice system is made for two groups of people: the poor and the wealthy. However, both parties do not benefit from the system. In actualityRead MoreLand Of The Free By Langston Hughes898 Words   |  4 PagesLangston Hughes’s â€Å"Let America Be America Again† is a poem that could be endlessly applied to where America stands today. This poem illustrates the morals, ideas, and visions set forth by those who found this country and how America has begun straying from those principles. The poem expresses that America is made up of all walks of people and that no man should be crushed by those above him, but rather be given the same opportunity as those above him. Hughes desire to make America great again can beRead MoreRaising The Minimum Wage Is The Issue Of Social Equality1398 Words   |  6 PagesGod, glory, and gold are the 3G’s, and that is also the main reason why the Europeans originally came to America. Today, the 3G’s still stand, but not everyone is able to achieve them and especially the immigrants. In the early colo nial days, immigrants were called upon. Today they are frond upon, and are getting threaten to be deported back to their origin country. In Framing Class, Vicarious Living, and Conspicuous Consumption, written by Diana Kendall, and in The Missing Class, written by KatherineRead MoreLifeboat Ethics : Saving The World By Stripping Morals Doesn t Float1447 Words   |  6 PagesAgainst Helping the Poor,† Hardin asks readers if every person on earth has an equal share of resources and then argues why he takes the position against helping the poor. Hardin uses the metaphor of a lifeboat that is almost filled to capacity, floating in an ocean where the â€Å"poor of the world† are overboard. This metaphor appeals greatly to one of humanities greatest instincts, survival. The main focus of Hardin’s essay and metaphor is to strip all morals, take the fault from the rich nations and placeRead MoreSocioeconomic Mobility And Social Mobility985 Words   |  4 Pagespart of the upward social mobility instead of downward social mobility, can not really be met fairly, because of the rich getting richer and the middle class and or poor getting poorer. A great example of the rich getting rich while the poor get poorer is 20 percent each in 1970 (Statistical Abstract of the U.S. 1960) . The structural mobility of America is being controlled by the rich, the major corporations own everything with money comes power and that power is being manipulated and abused creatingRead MoreThe Poverty Of The United States1486 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica is one of the wealthiest nations in the world with having a high inequality than other industrialized countries. Inequality exists in income, wealth, power and education. People who are legally and socially poor in the United States tend to stay in a cycle through life, not always by choice, but because they are given less opportunities, education and tools to achieve their success. The poverty stricken class has a s ignificantly larger income gap than the upper class, the American Dream isRead MoreRevision Of The Critique Of Hardin’S â€Å"Lifeboat Ethics†:1134 Words   |  5 PagesRevision of the Critique of Hardin’s â€Å"Lifeboat Ethics†: The Case against Helping the Poor Garrett Hardin was a controversial ecologist who believed that overpopulation was going to bring a downfall to a world of limited resources. Each nation was compared to a lifeboat with the rich being inside the boat and the poor in the water, drowning (Hardin, 561). He wrote the â€Å"Lifeboat Ethics† in 1974 when Ethiopia was having a starvation problem. Hardin’s opinion about the situation was that sendingRead MoreThroughout history, individuals from all over the world have been striving to come to America to600 Words   |  3 PagesThroughout history, individuals from all over the world have been striving to come to America to live the â€Å"American Dream.† The American Dream can have different meanings but overall climbing the social ladder of success was the main goal. I selected the book, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby exposes society in the 1920’s and demonstrates how a dream can be corrupted in an era of decayed social and moral values. The American Dream was originally about discovery, individualismRead MoreThe American Dream Must Have Been A Dream After All Essay1678 Words   |  7 PagesPark Avenue, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in all of New York City, home to the ultra rich, the top tier of the American upper class, the 1% (Park Avenue). Those who reside in Park Avenue not only have vast amounts of wealth, but an immense amount of influence that has turned the tables in their favor. But, if you go a couple of miles North of Park Avenue and cross the Harlem river, you arrive at the other side of Park Avenue or otherwise known as theRead MoreThe Effects of Wealth Inequality in the U.S.1484 Words   |  6 Pagescapitalism. The high rates of wealth inequality cause the growing financial crisis to persist, lower socio-economic mobility, increase national poverty, and have adverse effects on health and well being. There is no doubt that wealth inequality in America has been escalating quickly; the portion of total income earned by the top one percent has doubled since the beginning of the 1970’s. The wealthy are the main beneficiaries regarding income inequality. In the latest consensus of wealth distribution

Depictions of Death and Disease Free Essays

The use of the word â€Å"plague† is reserved for only the most momentous and devastating diseases in history. This word has been specifically set aside for diseases that strike a certain type of fear into the masses as with the Bubonic Plague, also called the â€Å"Black Death†, and the AIDS epidemic. The word has an effect of biblical proportions and epidemics like AIDS and the Bubonic Plague both display the social reaction to these maladies in the religious connections or rejections made toward both. We will write a custom essay sample on Depictions of Death and Disease or any similar topic only for you Order Now There is, also, evidence of the unraveling of complete societies due to these illnesses in the abandonment of the sufferers to their fates and the perpetuation of causation of these â€Å"plagues† to stories that confuse and confound communities into states of despair and disillusionment. The swiftness by which the â€Å"Black Death† struck victims to death is opposed to the lengthy period between the contraction of AIDS and a death that is not always certain or imminent. The words and descriptions of these diseases, however, did spread quite quickly and served as a lens by which society at the respected times viewed the chaos in the world. The Bubonic Plague quickly sickened and killed its sufferers and this swiftness of the disease left little time for people to react, there was no predicting it‘s path, no preventions, and no remedies. People expected death and the â€Å"Black Death† struck the consciousnesses of the people before the illness ever did. â€Å"‘And no bells tolled’, wrote a chronicler of Siena ‘and nobody wept no matter what his loss because almost everyone expected death†¦. and people said and believed, This is the end of the world’† (Tuchman, 413). People also were cited as living joylessly, attending funerals with no tears and weddings with no cheer. With the feeling that this was indeed the end of the world, it was as if an ominous black cloud had accompanied this black plague, leaving much room for superstition and little for hysteria. There was little emotional and physical energy left for the afflicted communities to remain gripped in a hysterical frenzy for long periods when death became so commonplace. The feeling at the time was that an evil presence was surrounding the affected areas and this apocalyptic, creeping fear soon was replaced by emptiness. There was no sense in tending to religious ideas, as many people died without being given their rites of death. In this way, many of the positive ideas of God and heaven were abandoned, as the people’s sentiment was that God must have been responsible for attempting to exterminate the human race altogether. In the collective imaginations of religious persons all through the world, the â€Å"Black Death† was proof that the devil had won and God was no longer in support of the once devout. There was little mercy for the sick and parents were even found to abandon their own children to their fates. The callousness of the living was written about in such a way that existence during these times was made to seem like a hellish tribulation, those who did tend to their families and the sick however were made to seem like saints. There seemed to be these pious individuals, who were revered as the sober and saintly men at a time when â€Å"men and woman wandered around as if mad†¦.. because no one had any inclination to worry themselves about the future† (Tuchman, 417). The â€Å"Black Death† concept, then became a metaphor for the darkness, disorder, dementia, and despair that was part of the fear that the world was at it’s end and there was no future. The horror of both AIDS and the Bubonic Plague was fueled mostly by the uncertainty of each disease’s origin. Those in the â€Å"Black Death† era looked to astrology and employed adjectives that referred back to nature itself as the culprit. According to Tuchman, the plague was said to be spread by â€Å"sheets of fire†, â€Å"a vast rein of fire† and â€Å"foul blasts of wind†. The metaphors here were probably not so much intended to be metaphors, but instead were parts of folklore that spread just as the disease did. The uncertainty of it’s origin certainly led to wild imaginations and a need for storytelling to put the horror into words, however magnificent and impossible these Eastern stories were. With AIDS, just as with the Bubonic Plague, the idea was that this disease originated from somewhere else, it presented itself as both geographically transcending and personally transforming. In this sense both were socially viewed as an invasion of a community and of the bodies of the afflicted. The wording surrounding AIDS and the â€Å"Black Death† made these afflictions seem like a retribution, as well. With the Bubonic Plague, it was the poor that were looked upon as being the most at risk while AIDS had and continues to have it’s own risk groups. Though both diseases proved indiscriminate in it’s victims with the idea of disease as retribution, there must be scapegoats to cognitively connect this reality. Sontag believes that the way AIDS is portrayed â€Å"revives the archaic idea of a tainted community that illness has judged† (683). The scapegoats, however, are also the so-called â€Å"third world† countries of disease origin, such as AIDS. The same type of confusion and calamity surround the explanations of the origin of the disease. If it is not God’s wrath or some other supernatural event, then a more modern version of the â€Å"Black Death† stories can be found in the belief by some that AIDS was manufactured by man. This is truly the hallmark of AIDS as a modern â€Å"plague†, as the idea of the Bubonic Plague being manmade would not have been possible. This points to the collective imagination of those in fear of both disease and technology, a new phenomenon. Many Africans subscribe to the idea, according to Sontag, that AIDS was manufactured in the United States by the CIA proving their suspicion toward technology and the American government. Americans, conversely, look at the spread of AIDS as originating from a primitive place, where the spread of the disease cannot be stopped by American, conventional technology. In either sense, the fear is projected toward the disease from an origin of an already instilled cultural belief. For Americans it is that what is â€Å"foreign† that is dangerous and to Africans what is American and technological is alarming and suspicious. Sontag effectively explains the outcome of the plague metaphor in that no matter where a person resides geographically or what their beliefs may be as to the origin of what is deemed to be a plague, the malady becomes understood socially as inescapable. She does offer, however, the idea that Europeans tended to believe that they held some moral superiority over the origin of disease, condemning other countries for spreading disease, but failing to observe their own role in spreading disease to indigenous peoples during colonization. However, the diseases spread by Europeans were not viewed as plague-like or morally reprehensible. The idea that morality can be traced to disease and it’s afflictions is an interesting social phenomenon that equates â€Å"sick† with â€Å"dirty† or â€Å"immoral† and â€Å"healthy† with â€Å"moral†. â€Å"Health itself was eventually identified with these values, which were religious as well as mercantile, health being evidence or virtue as disease being evidence of depravity† (Sontag, 686). This is evidence of the cultural values of the early twentieth century, according to the author, in the fact that middle class values and religious observation was seen as a deterrent from disease. Those, who led a life of supposed depravity, however where viewed as not only more likely to become ill, but more deserving of their suffering. AIDS has been portrayed in such a moral sense, that homosexuality and it’s immorality to some is the blame for the â€Å"plague† and a deserved consequence. Sadly, the same callousness that was displayed in the abandonment of suffering children still occurs today in the social abandonment and outcasting of AIDS victims. According to Sontag, the disease metaphor is especially beneficial to anti-Liberals and those that which to address issues of supposed moral decay. Therefore, Conservative opportunists have laden the language associated with AIDS to further political aims. In conclusion both the Bubonic Plague and the AIDS epidemic illustrate the ability of communities and cultures to transmit feelings of fear and the value of many social institutions within the context of a disease spread. Religion, politics, and the accusations and scapegoating of disease origin and spread permeate the spectrum of the social scene when such a heavily laden word as â€Å"plague† is perpetuated. With the fast spread of the first â€Å"plague† the idea that the end of the world was near was common. With the slower spread of AIDS in the Western world, however, a fierce anti-foreign, pro-technology, and anti-Liberal stance has been taken. Just as these diseases can devastate, so can the words and the world as it can slip into disorder and darkness. How to cite Depictions of Death and Disease, Papers

Legal Environment of Russia Essay Example

Legal Environment of Russia Paper The Russian citizens were not involved in the legislative process and therefore, did not give much credit to the laws, as they were not codified until 1833. The legislative process was arbitrary as it tended to protect the nobles and not normal citizens. Such practices ended at the time Of the revolution in 191 7, when Russia became a republic. The 70 years of communism contribute to reinforce the absence of law in Russia. The government improved the law regarding the protection of intellectual property and proprietary information over the past few years. Some laws have been determined to protect patents, brands or labels of origin, copyrights, software, etc. However, the law system for property rights is not enough developed and has to be improved to ensure a satisfactory protection and reach the level of the European legislation. Therefore, companies are still facing high risks. The risks are both external (I. E. Viruses or hacking in order to get some confidential information about the companys activities) and internal (I. E. Thefts of trade secrets or competitive intelligence). We will write a custom essay sample on Legal Environment of Russia specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Legal Environment of Russia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Legal Environment of Russia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Google Company

Google Company Introduction Google Incorporation is one of the leading internet-related firms that operate in the global market that has been in operations since 1996. The case study reveals that this company has achieved success in the market because of its unique strategic plans it has been using in the market for the last one decade. A critical analysis of the firm reveals that it is using a number of grand strategies to achieve competitive edge over its market rivals.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Google Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Product development is one of the grand strategies that this firm has been using over the past few years. Google Inc has highly diversified its products in the market as a way of expanding its sources of revenue. Market development is another grand strategy that has given this firm a competitive edge over its market rivals. After achieving success in North American and European ma rkets, this firm made a successful entry into the Chinese and African markets. According to Peteraf and Thompson (2015), innovation is another very important grand strategy that firms are now using to gain competitive edge over their market rivals. This company has achieved success because of its team of highly talented and innovative employees. The firm has come up with new and highly innovative products in the computer software market that has posed serious threat even to the established players in this industry such as Microsoft. The management has always been encouraging innovation among its employees through its reward system. This firm has also used generic strategies to achieve success in this competitive market. The firm has been using differentiation as a way of making its products unique from that of its market rivals. In this paper, the researcher will critically analyze the strategies used by Google Inc in the market based on the case study provided. Strategic Issue The case study identifies a number of strategic issues that Google Inc is facing in the market as it struggles to gain competitive edge over its market rivals. It is clear that this firm has been using acquisition as one of its main strategies of expansion. However, not all its acquisitions have been a success. The acquisition of YouTube in 2006 was expected to bring instant success in terms of revenues generated from advertisements. However, the case reveals that it took longer than expected to start generating desired revenues from this newly acquired product. According to Peteraf and Thompson (2015), the acquisition of Motorola Mobility in 2012 was also seen as a strategic move by this firm that would enable it to enter the computer and Smartphone hardware market. However, this actually put it in direct market rivalry with one of the most successful firms in this industry, Apple Inc. It meant that Google had to find a way of convincing its clients that its products offered superior v alue compared to that of Apple Inc, a brand that has a huge base of loyal customers who believe in its high quality products. The decision to expand its line of products in the software industry also put it in direct competition with Microsoft which is currently the market leader in this industry. Its attempt to enter the social media market through Orkut social network and Google+ also did not succeed as per the firm’s expectation.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The management of Google expected instant success in China as it targeted its 300 million internet users. However, it came to realize that the market was dominated by Baidu which had a loyal customer base that was not willing to switch to a new search engine. The close control of this industry by the Chinese government has also been an issue for this firm. This has slowed its ability to expand rapidly in this attractive market. External Environment When developing marketing strategies to enable it achieve success in the numerous markets that it has entered, Google Incorporation will need to understand the external environmental forces that may affect its operations in the market. According to Gamble, Peteraf and Thompson (2015), understanding the external environment makes it easy for a firm to identify the forces that may bring opportunities and forces that may bring threats in the market, and how to deal with them in an effective manner. When analyzing the external environment, it will be necessary to start by looking at the industry life cycle. Figure 1: Industry Life Cycle The internet industry is still growing, but it is now approaching the maturity stage. Over the past two decades, this industry has experienced phenomenon growth. However, this is now slowing down, a sign that it is approaching maturity. The case reveals that firms in this industry have been keen t o expand their operations globally as a way of expanding their market share because of the maturity of their home markets. Google Inc was forced to expand to China because its market share was not significantly growing in the American and European markets. It saw new opportunities in China and neighboring countries. On the other hand, Baidu also noticed that its Chinese market would not offer it significant growth in market share, especially after the entry of Google into the local Chinese market.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Google Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It acted very quickly to expand its operations to American and European markets. Google Inc is also approaching the maturity stage in this life cycle given that it is the industry leader in the global market. Key success factors The case study clearly reveals that Google Inc is entering a highly competitive business market. Some of its new rivals in the market are firms that have registered success for so many decades with brands that are very popular. Apple Incorporation and Microsoft Corporations are firms that have been very successful in their respective industries. However, this does not mean that Google Incorporation has no chance of beating these firms in their respective industries because it has been just as successful as these two firms. The marketing team will have to work as a unit in taking advantage of the key success factors that can enable this firm gain competitive edge over its competitors. One such competitive factor is its team of skilled and dedicated employees. This company is known to be very keen in attracting and retaining its highly talented employees. This talent within its workforce will enable it come up with unique products that can outsmart those offered by the market rivals. The talent will also be very important when it comes to developing promotional strategies. In the current compet itive market, successful firms are those that have mastered the art of marketing. Firms that know how to pass a promotional message to the target audience without making them feel irritated are the only ones that can be successful in the market. This company has the right team to achieve this objective. The leadership of this firm is also a key success factor. The management of this firm has remained highly flexible when it comes to implementing new trends that emerge in the market. Most of the new lines of products offered by this firm were creations of a section of the employees of this firm. The management has been keen to identify and develop creative ideas among its workforce. It has provided the right environment for the employees to be creative in what they are doing. The expanding middle class in the global market, especially in China and India, is worth noting as a factor that may bring success to this firm if effective marketing strategies are developed to reach out to the m.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strategic group map Strategic group map analysis may further help in defining the position of this firm in the market. Based on the case study, Google Inc has majorly focused on two areas which are product diversity, geographic coverage. Over the years, this firm has expanded its product offerings beyond the search engine. It now offers a wide variety of computer software and hardware products. It has also expanded its geographic coverage beyond the United States. The firm realized that this is the best way through which it could expand its market share. Its products are now available in the global market. Google search engine is currently the most frequently used engines in the world, having made a successful entry into the African market despite the problems it faced in the Chinese market. The map is given in appendix 5. Industry Analysis When developing a strategic plan it is always important to critically analyze the industry’s attractiveness to determine the ways in whic h its opportunities can be tapped. After understanding the general external market, this section now narrows down to the specific industries that Google Incorporation is operating in to determine its forces that may affect the firm’s competitiveness. Porters’ Five Forces is very useful at this stage. Five forces analysis The first factor that the marketing manager must focus on when analyzing this industry is the competitive rivalry within it. As Gamble, Peteraf and Thompson (2015) note, the level of competitive rivalry will always determine the right strategies that a firm can take in order to remain successful. In the search engine market, Google Incorporation has already eliminated major threats, especially after a successful entry into the Chinese market. However, the entry of this company into the computer software and hardware promises to be the greatest challenge that this firm will have to deal with, especially in the local market in the United States. In the h ardware market, Apple Incorporation is currently the market leader. This firm has been known for its high quality products. The brand is known to offer the best in this industry in terms of quality. Many firms such as Samsung have tried to compete against it, but what they have succeeded in doing is to produce large quantity products that target the lower market segments that are always keen on purchasing low-priced products. In the software industry, Apple Incorporation and Microsoft Corporations have been the giants that have dominated the market for the last four decades. Google Inc will be a junior player in these two industries. As such, it should be keen to avoid price-wars in these new markets because the industry leaders have a better opportunity of wining such wars. Threat of substitute products, according to Gamble, Peteraf and Thompson (2015), is always another issue that a firm has to put into consideration when developing the marketing strategies to boost its competitiv eness. An industry that offers numerous substitute products is as dangerous as an industry that has numerous players. In the search engine market, this threat is relatively low. However, the software market has a number of substitute products that one can use. Google can manage this threat by ensuring that its products are always of higher quality than what the substitutes offer. Threat of new entrants is real in all the industries where this firm operates. Technology is transforming the world and it is also creating innovators and inventors across the world. The emerging technology makes the market highly unpredictable, and this means that this company must always be ready to deal with threats of new entrants in the market. The firm will have to remain very innovative and flexible in all that it does in the market. Bargaining power of buyers in the market may sometimes be considered a challenge, especially if clients have the power to dictate the prices of the products in the marke t. It is a fact that the market where this firm operates is highly competitive. However, the bargaining power of the clients has remained low, especially in the computer software and hardware markets. This is an important factor that should inform the marketing strategies that Google Incorporation will use. For instance, the bargaining power of the buyers is always eliminated when they are offered a product that exceeds their expectations. When customers realize that products they are buying have features that are incomparable to what others offer in the market, they always tend to be willing to pay more for the products. It means that this company will find a way of delivering unique value to all the products it has in the market. Finally, it will be important to look at the bargaining power of the suppliers. According to Gamble, Peteraf and Thompson (2015), when suppliers have a greater power to dictate terms of trade, then this may affect the profitability of a firm because the s uppliers would always want terms of trade that is highly beneficial to them. In the computer hardware market, this problem is real given that some of the components used in developing these hardware have to be imported from other parts of the world. This firm will need to form a strategic alliance with all its suppliers in order to reduce or even eliminate this threat in the market. Industry Profile Attractiveness It is necessary to analyse the attractiveness of the industry where Google Inc operates in order to determine how it can take maximum advantage of it. In the United States and China, the population of the middle class and upper class members of the society have been on the rise in the past one decade. The same case has been witnessed in many other countries where this firm operates. Despite this attractiveness, the management of Google Inc needs to understand the fact that this industry is very delicate. The market is very sensitive due to stiff competition. A little mista ke may result into a major shift, and this may affect the sustainability of the firm. The current industry leaders in the computer software and hardware products such as Apple Inc and Microsoft have gained market trust, and it will require effective marketing and production strategies to compete with them favourably in the global market. Company Situation At this stage, it is clear how the larger external environment and the specific industries where this firm operates looks like, and the steps that this firm will need to take to manage these external forces. In this section, the focus will be narrowed down further to the specific firm to understand its situation and ability to manage the forces discussed in the section above. This section will also look at various strategies that this firm can use in the market to deal with various forces discussed in the sections above. To critically analyze the internal environment, it would be necessary to use SWOT analysis. The strength of this firm lies majorly on its team of innovative employees. The main driving force of Google Incorporation is innovation. The firm started as a search engine company that offered its users superior value compared to what was offered by other market rivals. This catapulted it to be the leading search engine company in the world. The innovative team of employees has worked very hard to come up with an array of products that this firm can offer to the market. That is why Google Inc is currently operating in a number of industries. The flexibility of the top leaders of this firm has worked to its advantage. The top leaders of this firm has maintained a close relationship with the employees to ensure that whenever they have a new idea, the idea is quickly developed into a new strategy or new product that can enable this firm to achieve greater success. Products such as Google TV emerged out of such creativity and close relationship between the management and employees. The case study reveals that Google is keen on imitating some of the successful products in the market. This is a major weakness that the firm will need to fight. For instance, the firm came up with Google+ in 2010 to offer products that were very similar to what Facebook was offering. However, it never achieved any significant success despite the resources that were used in promoting it. The product lack originality and the firm lack the vision of pushing it to become a major platform as successful as Facebook. The firm has now entered the computer hardware market that is currently dominated by industry’s giants such as Apple Inc. Only time can tell if this new product line will be successful. The firm should try to avoid this mimicking strategy and instead become creative in the market. The market has a number of opportunities that this firm will need to take advantage of both locally and internationally. From the case study, it is clear that China has about 300 million people who are actively us ing the internet. This is a massive opportunity to grow, especially if it can manage to come up with products that will outsmart Baidu that is currently dominating the market. The expanding size of the middle class in North America and the rest of the world is another major opportunity because this means that more people are economically empowered to use the products offered by the company. Most of the products offered by this firm are more appealing to people who have some level of literacy. This population is rapidly increasing in the global market, increasing the number of those who will find products of this firm relevant to them. The local and international market has a number of factors that are a threat to the success of this firm. From the case study, the biggest threat of this firm is the level of competitive rivalry in the local market. The decision of the firm to start developing computer and Smartphone hardware makes it a direct market rival of Apple Inc, a major player in this industry. Its successful entry into the software industry makes it a competitor of Microsoft. These two giant firms have proven that they know how to manage competition, especially the rivalry that comes from the emerging firms. These two firms are expected to offer very stiff competition to this company in the local market. Grand strategy The grand strategy that Google Incorporation is currently using in the market is majorly based on the premise of diversification. For the first ten years of its market entry, Google Inc was keen on developing its competitiveness in the search engine market. Most of its revenues were generated from the advertisement as it won the trust of the national and international community as the most reliable and efficient search engine. However, this firm has changed this strategy and it is currently keen on diversifying its products. The diversification strategy has been made possible by two main approaches. The first approach is acquisitions. As t his firm strives to diversify its sources of income, it has acquired a number of firms such as YouTube, Motorola-Mobility, and Double Click. Google Inc acquired these firms to enable it expand its sources of income. The other approach that has helped in diversifying its product lines is strategic alliance. In instances where this company realizes that it cannot purchase a given company that it desires, then it is always willing to enter into strategic alliance with them. That is how it was able to come up with Google TV after forming an alliance with Sony, Intel, Adobe, Logitech, and Networks. This alliance has been beneficial in promoting the capacity of this firm to deliver better hardware in the market. Product development It is clear from the case study that Google Incorporation has decided to diversify its products. This means that it has a number of direct market rivals and this increases the competitive rivalry in the market. To manage this market rivalry, this firm will need to differentiate its products in the market by enhancing some of their features to be better than what the competitors offer. All the products of this firm should be designed to be unique in terms of delivering value. This will make them successful in the market. Market development The current market position of Google Incorporation requires it to develop effective strategies that would enhance its competitiveness. This can be done on the basis of the 4 Ps of marketing mix elements. The product element has been discussed in the section above. As stated above, this firm will need the products that are superior and differentiated from what others offer in the market. Having superior products will give it a competitive advantage over its market rivals. The firm should be very cautious when pricing its products in the market. The pricing strategy should attract the target clients, but it should not provoke a possible price war in the market because this may be very disastrous. The prod uct of this firm should be readily available in the places where clients expect them to be, especially the software and hardware products. The promotional strategy used by this firm should use both the social and mass media platforms to reach a wider segment of the market. Conclusion and Recommendations It is clear from the case study that Google Inc has achieved massive success over the past decade due to management strategies that not only focuses on diversification, but also delivery of high value products to clients. It was not an easy decision for this firm to challenge some of the most successful technology-based companies such as Microsoft Corporation and Apple Incorporation. The progress of this company in the software market has generally been a success. The stiff competition from the market leaders did not deter it from making progress. However, its ability to be successful in the computer hardware market is yet to be determined. As it seeks to achieve greater success in a ll the industries where it operates, Google should consider taking into account the following recommendations. Generic strategy Porter’s Generic Strategy offers a number of options that a firm can use to achieve competitive advantage in the market. Each of these options fits into various contexts based on the position of the firm in the market and the variety of products that a firm offers. This company now finds itself in a situation where it has to find an effective competitive strategy because its market rivals are now ready to deal with the new competitive market condition. Its diversification clearly shows that the strategy will have to put into consideration a number of factors in order to achieve the intended outcome. Under this generic strategy, there are three options available for the firm as shown below: Cost leadership Cost leadership strategy involves setting friendly prices on products in order to attract customers. Under this strategy, Google Inc may need to ch arge a below-market average price for all its major products as a way of gaining competitive edge over its market rivals. Using cost leadership is not possible for this firm, especially in the computer hardware and software market where there are established market leaders. The market leaders have the experience and financial muscle that can easily make them win such wars if this company chooses to use the strategy. However, this strategy may work in the search engine market where it is the market leader. As a market leader, it has the power to adopt the strategy, especially when the aim is to fight off new entrants or weaker competitors. Focus strategies Focus strategy is always considered appropriate for small companies that are keen to avoid upsetting the market for fear of eliciting stiff competition from the market leaders. It always enables a firm to enter a given market in a quiet way and sometimes without the knowledge of the industry leaders. For Google Inc, this strategy m ay not be applicable because it is a large firm with clearly defined competitors. This strategy should, therefore, be avoided. Differentiated strategy The best strategy that this firm can use is differentiation. The stiff competition in the market requires a strategy that will enable Google Incorporation to achieve uniqueness in the market. It means that this firm will have to differentiate its products from those of the market rivals in order to make them unique. This strategy enabled it to become an industry leader in the search engine market. This strategy may enable it achieve success in the other markets despite the threat of stiff competition it faces from the industry leaders. Objectives The objective of these strategies is to create a competitive advantage for Google Inc that will enable it to manage the threats it is currently facing in the market. The strategies seek to find the best ways in which this firm can ensure that its products are successful in the market without jeopardizing their profitability. If implemented properly, these strategies should make the products offered by this company different from that of other market rivals in terms of value they give to the customers. Strategic justification Google Incorporation has taken very ambitious projects which may pose serious financial consequences if they fail to work as per the plan. The investment made in the software and hardware projects is significant, and the marketing team at Google must ensure that it is successful. That is why this strategic marketing plan is very important. It will determine the ability of this firm to continue on its successful path even after taking this risky but ambitious plan that promises a lot of prosperity. Appendices Appendix 1: Porter’s Five Forces As shown in the Porter’s Five Forces figure above, Google Inc must find a way of dealing with the five strategic issues in this industry to achieve sustainable growth. Appendix 2: SWOT Table STR ENGTHS: Effective leadership Efficient and highly skilled workforce Financial power Innovation and quality production Experience in the search engine market WEAKNESSES: Limited experience in computer and Smartphone hardware market Unsuccessful acquisitions of some ventures Slow in understanding laws in international markets OPPORTUNITY: Growing middle class in various markets in the world Growing number of people using computers and phones Increasing number of people using internet Increasing number of literate people THREATS: Massive market competition The unpredictable nature of technology Unfavorable laws such as that witnessed in China Government interference in some markets Appendix 3: Financials Financial Ratios 2012 2011 Liquidity Ratios Quick ratio 4.2 5.9 Cash ratio 3.4 5.0 Current ratio 4.2 5.9 Asset Turnover Ratios A. collection period 0.52 0.49 Financial Leverage Ratios Debt ratio 0.18 11899/72,574 Profitability Ratios O. profit margin 0.25 0.31 ROA 0.11 0.13 Activity Ratios A.C. Period 57.36 103.85 Appendix 4: 4 Ps of Marketing Product: High quality products that meet customer needs Price: Effective pricing strategy that will not promote price wars in the market Place: The products must always be made available to customers Promotion: Effective promotional strategies on mass and social media Appendix 5: Strategic Group Map Reference Gamble, J., Peteraf, M. Thompson, A. (2015). Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage. New York: McGraw Hill.

Compel, Impel, and Propel

Compel, Impel, and Propel Compel, Impel, and Propel Compel, Impel, and Propel By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, Would you explain the differences among compel, impel, and propel. Here is an instance that I read:â€Å"†¦I find myself returning again and again to the question of what compels us - what propels us - to record our impressions of the present moment in all their fragile subjectivity.† The pel in compel, impel, and propel derives from the Latin verb pellere, â€Å"to drive,† as in the way one drives sheep, forcing them to go in a certain direction. compel: transitive verb. To urge irresistibly, oblige, force. â€Å"The police compelled the motorist to stop.† impel: transitive verb. To drive, force, or constrain a person to some action by acting upon her mind or feelings; to urge on, incite. In a literal sense, impel means to cause something to move onward. An engine, for example, impels a vehicle. propel: transitive verb. To drive away or out. to drive or push forwards, onwards, or in a specified direction; to cause to move along. Figuratively, propel means â€Å"to encourage or promote an enterprise or activity.† One can â€Å"propel a person† in the sense of urging or spurring him on. In the example provided by the readerwhat compels uswhat propels usto record our impressions, both compel and propel convey the idea of being driven to do something. Compel conveys the idea that the person is being forced to do it; propel shows that the person is encouraged to do it by the same â€Å"what† that forces him to do it. Three other pellere verbs in English are: dispel: to drive asunder, scatter expel: to drive out repel: to push or thrust away Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Structure A Story: The Eight-Point ArcDisappointed + PrepositionThe Two Sounds of G

Eng Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Eng - Research Paper Example It is difficult to say exactly where soccer originated as there have been several games from different countries that have the same foundations as the soccer game that we know today. There is a record in China, wherein soccer was called Cuju which literally means â€Å"kick ball†. There was a claim that Cuju was invented by the Yellow Emperor as fitness training for military men and cavaliers. These Cuju matches were held at the Imperial Palace and was said to be played by scholars and intellectuals of Ancient China. There is also once record of Mesoamericans playing a game similar to soccer but instead of using the traditional soccer ball, they used rubber balls which made it a little more difficult to play with. The said game is said to be a combination of soccer, volleyball and basketball. It is said that the object of the game is to kick the rubber ball up the basket in order to score a point. Among the Ancient Greeks and Romans, the game that is similar to soccer is calle d Pheninda. It is said that Pheninda is a combination of soccer and rugby. In this game, there are no rules thus making it quite a dangerous game and a lot of players were injured. The Middle Ages saw the birth of a soccer game called Mob Soccer in Europe. In this game, the ball that they have to kick is made of pig’s bladders and sometimes, stuffed leather skin. ... The object of this game is to strike the ball into the other team’s goal by whatever ways they have. This meant that one can use a club, a stick or any other means in order to score. One can only imagine the injuries the players have sustained in an effort to hit the ball but hit another instead. This same game was played in England, but due to the nature of the sport, this was banned by Nicholas de Farndone in 1314 of London. But this ban did not stop soccer from growing in Medieval England. Soccer has become a fitness sport for English boys in boarding schools. It was a sport enjoyed by Aristocrats and Upper-class Englishmen but even though it started that way, it later evolved into a sport for the commoners as well since it is very inexpensive and easy to learn. Soccer then started really growing among public schools, so then the concept of a tournament was born in the 19th century. Since different schools have then, different rules, Cobb Morley formed a semi-professional s occer club in Barnes and called it Barnes Club. He suggested a central body for rules and regulations be put into place. This idea then was put to practice on October 26, 1863 when a few soccer clubs set the base for the future organization, eventually called Football Association, met at the Freemasons’ Tavern in the English Capital. Cobb Morley came up with the rules of the game which set the official rules which would be put in place in every soccer game. He is now considered the father of soccer for his monumental contributions and his idea of the official rules which were put into place. In three decade after Cobb Morley set the official rules, soccer became a widespread sport around Europe, America and even Australia. In the early 20th century, the national teams were being

Discussion board forum Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Discussion board forum - Assignment Example Concurrently, it is domineering that ethical issues are considered during the formulation of the evaluation plan; likewise, the most common and essential considerations during the process include: informed consent, voluntary participation, do no harm (Beneficence), respect for confidentiality and anonymity, respect for privacy and assessment of only the relevant components. Informed consent is considered to be the most major ethical issue in conducting research and most of the experienced researchers give it the definition of a person expressively, willingly and logically, and in a clear and manifest way gives his consent (Deborah 2003). Basically, it is one of the most outright ways that a person’s autonomy is protected as it circles around that particular person being fully informed about the evaluation being conducted. The informed consent ethic seeks to integrate the rights of self-governing participants through autonomy and also prevent assaults on the integrity of the patient and protect personal freedom and genuineness (Johnstone 2009). Any additional information should also be provided in any event that the participant becomes distressed in any way since the main purpose of informed consent is that the participant is able to make informed decision as to whether they will participate in the evaluation or not. Normally, voluntary participation goes hand in hand with the informed consent ethic and means that the people participate in the evaluation free from intimidation and they are free to withdraw their participation at any time without negatively impacting on their involvement in future services or the current program and relationships with any of the researchers or research bodies involved (Deborah 2003). Sometimes there can be a lot of challenges especially in situations where one has the task of encouraging high risk youth to become engaged in a program hence making the situation difficult mostly when the