Fast food †Hamburger Essay

Fast food can be defined as any food that contributes little or no nutrient value to the diet, but instead provides excess calories and fat. Nowadays, there are millions of fast food restaurants in the world that offers their costumers plenty of different meals with a special price. Fast food can be a good way to save time ,but it is not the proper way for nutrition. Researchers found that eating fast food meals more than twice a week was associated with double the risk of abnormal glucose metabolism. Also, those products cause a great gain in weight and may cause many heart diseases. Burgers, French-fries, soft drinks are just a few examples of junk food. Fast food refer to any poor nutrition food that is easily prepared. Fast food may includes chips, hot pies ,pasties, sandwiches, burgers, croissants, kebabs, pizzas, chicken, soups, and salads. It also includes drinks, for instance, milkshakes, and soft drinks. ORIGIN OF FAST-FOOD The ‘fast’ in fast food is there for a reason. It is designed to serve the customer as quickly as possible. In order to do this, fast foods are highly processed with standardized ingredients, cooking and production methods. History Indian fast food The fast food industry in India has evolved with the changing lifestyles of the young Indian population. The sheer variety of gastronomic preferences across the regions, hereditary or acquired, has brought about different modules across the country. Popular formats of fast food business in India have the following features in common: * Wide opening on the road side * Easy to maintain and durable decor * A cash counter where food coupons are sold * A food delivery counter which invariably is granite topped. Additional counters for Ice Creams, Chaats, Beverages etc. * A well fitted kitchen located so as to be visible to the customers * Tall tables, usually of stainless steel, where one can eat while standing * A drinking water fountain adorned with a water filter * Rust-proof and non-breakable crockery Food courts Another concept of fast food that is becoming popular is that of Food Courts. It is like putting together a number of Darshinis serving different cuisines under one roof. Here also one has to purchase coupons and collect the food from one of the several counters. Each one of these counters serves specific variety of food and may be owned by different individuals or caterers. Food Courts are normally located on much bigger premises and may provide seating facility in addition to the stand and eat arrangement. Typically one entrepreneur owns or takes on lease the entire premises and promotes the place under one name. He then lets out individual counters to different independent operators to offer different menu. Internal competition is avoided by not allowing more than one counter to offer similar food. Several international fast food chains like Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s and Barista Coffee have their outlets in major cities. Cafe Coffee Day, again a brainchild of Bangalore based businessman, is the only Indian chain which boasts of hundreds of outlets and is present across India. But then it is classified more as a coffee shop than a fast food place. Varieties of food offered The kind of food they offer as of date could be just anything and everything. Preference of the local population and the location of the outlet influence the menu more than anything else. Some of the popular dishes offered at Indian fast food outlets are: (Most preferred in Mumbai city) 1] vada pav 2] dosa 3]samosa 4] pav bhaji 5] chat: pani puri, ragda pattice, bhel etc. 6] sandwich 7] pizza 8] burger & chips 9]Frankie & rolls 10] hot dogs etc.. Disadvantages of Fast Food Although it is convenient, fast and tasty, the many disadvantages of fast food should discourage people from indulging in eating this type of fare on a regular basis. Unfortunately, marketers target the youngest of the population, enticing our next generation to eat unhealthy with dire consequences ahead of them. Fast food is a relatively new interference in our dietary habits, having only been popular for about the past 60 years. Coinciding with the rising popularity of the automobile, fast food restaurants are believed to have originated in California to take advantage of a growing population of mobile individuals. The preface of the industry was a sound one, and a plethora of businesses offering a diverse assortment of foods served quickly and with few frills soon emerged across the United States. The main principle behind fast food is that the food is served fast, hence the name. Eating on the run has become a familiar and all too convenient course in the busy lives of people in the United States. Whether the food is hamburgers, chicken, pizza, Mexican fare, fish or salads, there is generally something on the menu for each member of the family for a fraction of the cost of preparing it homemade. Added to these attributes is the fact that this food does indeed taste delicious. The disadvantages of fast food, however, greatly outnumber the convenience, availability and speed of the fare; especially when the indulgence for the food occurs on a regular basis. Fat is probably the number one issue with fast food products. Considering the fact that the average human should have no more than 65 grams of fat each day, choosing a value meal at a fast food restaurant that includes a large hamburger, a large order of French fries and a beverage which combined contains at least 63 grams of fat is an obviously unhealthy choice for a meal. Unless each of the remaining two meals consumed that day were totally lacking in fat, these numbers would soon add up to extra unwanted pounds. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a fish or chicken sandwich would be a better choice, even though these foods are touted as being healthy. Many of the fish and chicken offerings at a fast food restaurant have a higher fat content than is found in a hamburger purchased at the same joint when breaded and fried. The calories consumed in a fast food meal are equally as damaging to our health. Unless our energy output is greater than the calories we take in, our weight begins to edge up the scale. As excess fat accumulates on our frames, it begins to take a toll on our heart, blood pressure and blood sugar. Most kids need only 2,000 calories per day, while adults require even less. Yet just one fast food hamburger can carry up to 750 calories, not to mention the French fries which carry at least another 350 calories. More and more children are beginning their lives obese because of poor food choices and lack of exercise. Another disadvantage of fast food is the breakdown of family life. A family together in the kitchen, preparing dinner, is an opportunity to bond and communicate. Eating on the run means less time spent around the dinner table, where the day’s experiences are shared with other members of the family. Fast food is certainly an occasional fun treat, and there are healthy menu choices. Sadly, too many people visit too often, with unwholesome results and bad habits setting the stage for health disasters for our young people. What is fast food and why is it so popular? Fast food is any food that is quick, convenient, and usually inexpensive. You can buy fast food just about anywhere that sells food and snacks. Vending machines, drive-thru restaurants, and 24 hour convenience stores are probably the most common places to find fast food. It’s so popular because for under $5. 00 you can usually get a filling meal. However, fast food is inexpensive because it is usually made with cheaper ingredients such as high fat meat, refined grains, and added sugar and fats, instead of nutritious foods such as lean meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables.

Business Research Methods Essay

1. Distinguish among the following sets of items, and suggest the significance of each in a research context: a. Concept and construct – A concept is a generally accepted collection of meanings or characteristics that are concrete whereas a construct is image or idea invented for a particular theory or research problem; a construct is an abstract concept. To successfully perform a research, we must form common ground; hence, the need for concepts and constructs. b. Deduction and induction – a deduction is a conclusive inference while an induction is a conclusion from one or more pieces of evidence. c. Operational definition and dictionary definition – an operational definition is a definition based on measurement criteria that have empirical reference while a dictionary definition is based on synonyms. d. Concept and variable – a concept is a generally accepted collection of meanings or characteristics associated with certain events while a variable is value or set of values related to a property being studied. e. Hypothesis and proposition – A hypothesis is a is a declarative statement that states a belief while a proposition is a statement about concepts that may be regarded as true or false. f. Theory and model – a theory is a set of systematically inter-related concepts, definitions and propositions that are advanced to explain and predict phenomena while a model is a representation of a system that is constructed to study some aspect of the system. g. Scientific method and scientific attitude – The scientific method deals with rationalism and empiricism: formal structured proofs and observable, concrete data; the scientific attitude deals with curiosity 2. Describe the characteristics of the scientific method a. Direct observation of phenomena b. Clearly defined variables, methods and procedures c. Empirically testable hypotheses d. The ability to rule rival hypotheses e. Statistical justification f. Self-correcting process 3. What are the differences among the research approaches (and thinking styles) that guide the predominant kinds of studies done in operations research, marketing, finance and/or organizational behaviour? – There are six different styles of thinking: Postulational – rational and idealistic, Self-evident truth – fairly rational and idealistic, Method of authority – fairly rational and idealistic, Literary – informal and interpretative, Untested opinion – Very informal and fairly idealistic and finally, there is the scientific method which is empirical and rational. 4. Here are some terms commonly found in a management setting. Are they concepts or constructs? Give two different operational definitions for each. a. First-line supervisor – concept; person directly in charge of line workers; person reporting to unit manager b. Employee morale – construct; that which is measured by how an employee feels toward the job; that which is measured by how often an employee reports for work on time c. Assembly line – concept; area where the items are assembled; area where line workers spend most of their day d. Overdue account – concept; account balance that is past 30 days; an account where the amount owed is past 60 and less than 25% has been paid toward the balance. e. Line management – concept; person to whom all line supervisors report; head of each functional area f. Leadership – construct; quality defined by how many persons emulate this person; quality defined by a rating by asking persons how good a leader is the subject under study g. Price-earnings ratio – concept; the measure of how much an incumbent makes in reference to an average in the same job position; the amount someone makes in reference to others in similar jobs, having similar education and experience and within similar industries, in the same region. h. Union democracy- construct; the measure of how people say they have a say in the union; the measure of how the union heads have proceeded to do what the majority of the members asked. i. Ethical standards – construct; the value tha t an employee places on a variable; the untested opinion of how employees feel about the ethics within a company on a scale of 1-10. 5. In your company’s management development program, there was a heated discussion between some people who claimed: â€Å"Theory is impractical and thus no good†, and others who claimed: â€Å"Good theory is the most practical approach to problems†. What position would you take and why? – I would take neither side. Both statements have their value and can be argued at length. In support of the first statement: this falls into one of two categories: untested opinion or self-evident truth. Some say that theory is the opposite of fact and does not form a practical approach to problems, for solutions require facts. In support of the second statement: theory forms a systematic set of concepts, definitions and propositions that are advanced to explain and predict phenomena. Therefore, theory can be used as a good starting point for factual explanations. In my opinion, good theory and fact-based rationale are necessary; a good balance of both is required. 6. An automobile manufacturer observes the demand for its brand (DV) increasing per capita income increases (IV). Sales increases also follow low interest rates (MV), which ease credit conditions. Buyer purchase behaviour is seen to be dependent on age (IVV) and gender (IVV). Other factors influencing sales appear to fluctuate almost randomly (competitor advertising (EV), competitor dealer discounts (EV), introductions of new competitive models (EV)). a. If sales and per capita income are positively related, classify all variables as dependent, independent, moderating, extraneous or intervening. b. Comment on the utility of a model based on the hypothesis – DV depends directly on IV. MV is a secondary independent variable affecting the DV. The EVs are used to show variables that occur randomly or those that can be safely ignored. The IVVs are used to show variables that theoretically affect the DV, but have not actually been empirically in the study. 7. You observer the following condition: â€Å"Our female sales representative have lower customer defections than do our male sales representatives†. a. Propose the concepts and constructs you may use to study this phenomena – concepts and constructs: male definition; female definition; customer; customer defections (construct) b. How might any of these concepts/constructs be related to explanatory hypotheses? – the explanatory, or casual hypothesis, of female reps having lower customer defections than male reps can be tested by using research questions, built from concepts, constructs and definitions 8. You are the office manager of a large firm. Your company prides itself on its high quality customer service. Lately complaints have surfaced that an increased number of calls are being misrouted and dropped. Yesterday, when passing by the main reception area, you noticed the receptionist fiddling with his hearing aid. In the process, a call came in and would have gone unanswered if not for your intervention. The particular receptionist had earned a poor review for the last 3 months. Your inclination is to urge this 20-year employee to retire or to fire him. You know the individual is well liked and is seen as a fixture in the company. a. Pose several hypotheses that might account for dropped or misrouted calls. – the employee is too old to handle the load; employee cannot afford a proper hearing aid, the lack of which causes problems in directing calls properly, or answering calls in a timely manner; there is a problem with the phone routing system; there is a problem with the main phone at the call desk. b. Using the double movement of reflective thought, show how you would test these hypotheses – fact: calls are being misrouted; induction: why are calls not reaching their proper destination; hypothesis: any of the above; deduction: calls will be misrouted if the operator’s h earing aid is mal-functioning. 9. The Institute of Transport Engineers, a nationwide trade association with thousands of members, was dissatisfied with the way that State Farm arrived at its dangerous intersection list. a. If the ITE were to conduct a study of its own, what constructs and concepts would they define differently? – concepts and constructs defined differently: dangerous intersection; crash claim b. What hypotheses would ITE formulate to guide its version of the dangerous intersection study? – dangerous intersections have already been identified by engineers; dangerous intersections lack certain security features; dangerous intersections have a high volume of accidents 10. Identify and classify all the variables in the army’s â€Å"dud-shell† research – a. Dud shell (DV) b. Shell that explodes (IV) c. Persons coming into contact (EV) 11. What was Myra’s hypothesis for the army’s dud-shell research? What was the army’s hypothesis? – She believed that the dud-shell was incorrectly defined; she hypothesized that the dud-shells defined by the army were not all dud-shells, but were comprised of both dud-shells and shells that have a delayed exploding time; Myra’s hypothesis was: Civilians were coming in contact with potentially dangerous shells that could explode when manipulated. The army’s hypothesis was: shells that did not explode on impact were inert. 12. Graph your inductions and deductions in the following statements. If there are gaps, supply what is needed to make them complete arguments. a. Repeated studies indicate that economic conditions vary with – and lag 6 to 12 months behind – changes in the national money supply. Therefore, we may conclude that money is the basic economic variable. – induction: what causes economic conditions to vary; deduction: available money causes an alteration in economic conditions. b. Research studies show that heavy smokers have a higher rate of lung cancer than no smokers; therefore, heavy smoking causes lung cancer. – induction: does smoking increase the risk of lung cancer? Deduction: smoking does increase the risk of lung cancer. c. Show me a person who goes to church regularly and I will show you a reliable worker. – induction: what makes a reliable worker? Deduction: a regular church patron makes a reliable worker.

Character in Hamlet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Character in Hamlet - Essay Example For instance, Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia and her untimely death; Claudius’s plot to get Hamlet killed through the two minor characters: Rosencratz and Guildenstern; Polonius’s accidental death and so on. Among these minor characters Polonius’s son, Laertes, performs a vital role in the play. Over time, Hamlet’s character has come to be symbolic of indecision and postponement of action. In contrast to this is Laertes who is, in several ways, the exact opposite of Hamlet. This paper will explore what function Laertes serves in Hamlet and how this affects the reader’s perception of him. In the play, Laertes embodies quick decision-making and action and has been deliberately created to serve as a foil to Prince Hamlet, but is ultimately the more sympathetic character. Laertes is introduced in Act I, Scene II where Claudius with almost fatherly affection asks him of his news. Laertes reveals that he is about to return to France. The figure of Laertes then, is introduced at the beginning of the play but only to have him depart soon. His introduction, therefore, must be of some importance as it could easily have been postponed in the play. It is also significant that he is introduced before Hamlet himself. It is only after speaking to Laertes that Claudius turns to Hamlet: ‘But now, my cousin, Hamlet, and my son-.’ This turning from Laertes to Hamlet establishes right at the beginning, some degree of opposition between the two. It is as if Shakespeare, right from the start, deliberately and subtly positions Laertes in contrast to Hamlet. It is also significant to our argument that Laertes too is opposed, to some extent, to Hamlet from the beginning. He advises Ophelia to not take Hamlet’s profession of love for her too seriously: For Hamlet and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The perf ume and suppliance of a minute; No more (I.iii.6-10). He also cautions her in no uncertain terms – ‘Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister’ – that Hamlet’s affections may change. Laertes believes that ‘his will is not his own.’ Laertes, therefore, is the first character in the play to recognize Hamlet’s indecisive nature and notably, is the first to criticize or oppose Hamlet in any way. Structurally then, Laertes is cleverly presented in clear contrast to the main protagonist of the play. But Laertes is also quite different from Hamlet in behavior and action. Hamlet is crippled by the death of his father and is unable to act. His paralysis is so frustrating for him that he turns near suicidal, wishing that his ‘too too solid flesh would melt.’ Whereas, the death of his father only spurs Laertes into further action. He vows that he shall ‘be reveng’d’ and immediately sets upon taking his reveng e upon first, Claudius, and then, Hamlet. He is also successful in killing Hamlet, although not without getting himself killed in the process. It is significant to our argument that Hamlet and Laertes kill each other with the same poisoned sword. It is symbolic of their dependent opposition that one cannot die without killing the other in the process. We see then, that in terms of plot action Laertes is clearly established as Hamlet’s polar opposite: right from the beginnin

Religious Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Religious Terrorism - Essay Example Both the US and UK leaders are careful not to cross the line and publicly condemn Islam in its entirety, offend Muslim allies and fail to get the support of the "moderate" Muslims. However the terms that Bush and Blair have used are clear condemnations of at least a part of Islam. However, other statements from official and unofficial sources and media's treatment of the issue have gone further, reducing the world's perception of the situation to a battle between civilizations, between demons and angels, good and evil, black and white. Former US Speaker of the House and neo-conservative Newt Gingrich has openly spoken of World War III between "the West and the forces of Islam" and ruled out the possibility, and even desirability, of accommodation and compromise between the two parties (Lobe, 2006). The grandson and namesake of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill spoke of "radical Islam" as a threat equal to the WWII Nazis and Soviets in the Cold War era. The concept of Islam as the "main threat to Western civilization" has also been popularised by writers such as Samuel Huntington in his work, The Clash of Civilizations (Nasser, 2006). The question that must first be addressed is how big a threat terrorism actually is to global peace and human security. The US State Department has defined terrorism as "premeditated and politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets bygroups or clandestine agentsto influence an audience" (Whitaker, 2001). In its 2006 Country Reports on Terrorism, the US State Department reported that 14,000 terrorist attacks were launched all over the world, resulting in 20,000 fatalities or an average of 1.4 fatalities per attack. These figures represent an additional 25 percent in the number of attacks and an additional 40 percent in the number of deaths compared to 2005. It should however be clarified that fully 45 percent of the incidents and 65 percent of the fatalities reported were concentrated in Iraq, a nation where the entry and continued presence of the US-led coalition has sparked off some intense resistance (often reported as terrorist activities) from many se ctions of the population. Demons and Angels 4 On the other hand, the Human Security Report (2005), after three years of an intensive research effort, concluded that political violence has decreased significantly since the early 1990s (with the only exception being international terrorism). The study, which was supported by the UK, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, noted an increase in the total number of terrorism-related casualties from 1982-2003. However, even with this trend, the casualties from terrorism still amount to less than 1,000 people each year for the last three decades, and comprise only a "small fraction" of total fatalities due to political violence (including wars and genocides) or even common crime. Despite that relatively low number, the public's fears and insecurities have been exacerbated by high profile terrorist attacks since the entry of the new millennium, namely the July 2005 bombings in London, which killed more than 50 and injured hundreds, the March 2004 bombings in Madrid which killed 190 and

Ethical implications of leading in the healthcaare environment Essay

Ethical implications of leading in the healthcaare environment - Essay Example It is expected from all members of the organization to a show commitment towards these codes with the conduct of a professional particularly in the field of healthcare management. These codes can be viewed as a formulation of personal responsibility. The most identifiable significance being the mode of commitment that an individual possesses. In general, sense the code possesses all aspects of professional situation as both a human and a proficient member of the organization. It is obvious that an organization is formed with human aspects and for an organization to become ethical, it is important the human aspects be indulged into following the code. It is imperative that these codes of ethics would be subjective and open to individual interpretations but it should also be noted that in such incident these codes, phrases, or word of the codes would be judged upon individual approach of humane solution. (Zimmerman, 2002) In this respect of Ethics and Leadership qualities of an organization, it would be relevant to mention the emergence of Professional Care Organization (PCO, a newly established health care organization). Its very existence may be definitely seen as a paradigm shift. The clientele is the public in need of medical treatment. The organization employs a staff of 120 professionals (doctors, paramedics, assistants, nurses, health-care assistants, and maintenance staff). PCO intends to become the leading health-care services provider in its region. It also plans to alter the general conception for high medical care costs by implementing a society benefit program that will allow to significantly reducing the patients’ expenditures. The modern American health industry is going through a difficult period, one characterized by new concerns about rising health costs. The major concern that had directed medicine until that time was that Americans required more medical care—more than the marketplace would

The Politics of a New Industrial Order Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Politics of a New Industrial Order - Essay Example elieved that every individual is equal and no one should be treated unequally in the society so they struggled to remove corruption and influence of rich people on the society. They also aimed to increase the government-public relationship so that there will be no communication gaps between and the problems of people could be solved. (Ideas and movements, 19th Century) To carry on with their motives and beliefs the progressives used different tactics. Many intellectuals wrote about the horrors of poverty, urban slums, dangerous factory conditions, and child labor to inform the people and get their support which was needed for the movement to succeed. The next major thing in the early reform period was abolitionism that is the force to remove slavery from the society. It also prohibited the intake of intoxicants as it pollutes the mind. After that was the struggle for the rights of women and the decreasing value of rural areas. After that it was the turn of social Darwinism to be removed from the society. This step was taken to loosen the grip of wealthy people on the society. The movement benefitted the people by loosening the power of their bosses on them. It helped them in getting rid of the gentry. The steps to stop labor exploitation gave safer work environment to the workers and this dropped the death rate. Different acts that were passed helped the investors (Sherman Antitrust Act 1890). Apart from benefits, the movement had some drawbacks. It triggered long work hours as the economy was expanding and the labor worked for very long hours. The next flaw was that by increasing the public-government relationship, the movement increased the chances of corruption and bribery. The movement encouraged schooling but at that time the industry had a great influence due to which the intellectual became reluctant to teach and thus the students became reluctant to study.

The movie essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The movie - Essay Example It is important to note and mention that the all the political parties, the Republicans and the Democrats are never willing to cross the aisle or compromise their tough political stance at the expense of national issues and good. A practical instance of this situation as captioned in the movies shows a Republican member of the houses heckling down President Obama. At the very minimum, he ought to have shown respect and reverence to the head of state, but the fact that he heckles shows the level of intolerance, tough stance and hate along political party lines. The movie also explains the enmity or difficult to agree or compromise to the fact that the elected politicians gather in rallies to vent out hatred towards to their opponents of other different parties. Thus, the movie represents the level of intolerance by the public due to political party loyalty. It is thus safe to assert and mention that it is the political parties which got use â€Å"here.† Specifically, it is the Republican Party and the Democratic Party which got the political landscape and environment to be that heated and divisive. It is the political parties that are also able and capable of getting the country out of the acrimonious state of affairs. Borrowing an example from the past, where political parties would have their members live in Washington to a state where they were friends and developed working relationship. In the seventies and eighties, all the congress members regardless of their political parties lived in Washington for a long period of time to the extent where they tore down their political acrimony and tough stance (Iyengar and Hahn, 19). As a remedy, the movie alludes that the political parties ought to tone down their loyalty of political parties and compromise on issues of relevance and national importance. The media and internet by extension has also helped to fuel the political divide

To combat poverty and increase growth in the worlds poorest countries Essay

To combat poverty and increase growth in the worlds poorest countries policy makers need to focus on decreasing world income inequality - Essay Example In the second section I will be dealing with the effectiveness of the policies in reduction of poverty and growth of economy in poor countries. I agree with the statement because, income inequality affects a country’s economy; which comes as a result of poverty in the society. Research done shows that income inequality is reflected in high relation to income poverty rates. Income inequality has also been linked with health problems. This is because income inequality is associated with many issues that affect the health of children adversely (Wilkinson 1996). Many health problems are also associated with the amount of income people earn. In a psychological interpretation, the health status of person affects their income and thus if one is unhealthy, there is a possibility of low income. Income inequality is also associated with mental illness. People with poor living standards are at higher risks of physical and mental illnesses as a result of stress and lack of balanced diet. According to Wainwright (72-69) to help in fighting poverty, equal distribution of income, developments in social and economic environments mus t be looked into. Income inequality affects the economy in ways and it leads to inflation too. It is therefore necessary for the government and the citizen to come up with policies to help curb income inequality which has lead to poverty in the society mostly affecting the poor countries. To combat poverty and economic discrimination, there has to be application of polices that are made and implemented by the society with total assistance by all sectors of the government. The implemented policies should enhance and promote equal opportunities and offer access to basic social services, strengthen collective and individual participation and responsibility in the fight against poverty, establish specific

Suicidal messages Essay Example for Free

Suicidal messages Essay However, the early 2000s werent as kind to Carey. After signing an 80-million-dollar deal in 2001 with Virgin the biggest record contract ever she experienced a very public personal and professional meltdown that included rambling; suicidal messages on her website; an appearance on TRL where, clad only in a T-shirt, she handed out Popsicles to the audience; and last but not least, the poorly received movie Glitter and its attendant soundtrack (which was also her Virgin Records debut). Both the film and the album did poorly critically as well as commercially, with Glitter making just under four million dollars in its total U. S. gross and the soundtrack struggling to make gold sales (Johnson, 2001). Following these setbacks, Virgin and Carey parted ways early in 2002, with the label paying her 28 million dollars. That spring, she found a new home with Island/Def Jam, where she set up her own label, MonarC Music. In December, she released her ninth album, Charmbracelet, which failed to become a success. The Emancipation of Mimi After more than a decade of hits that include the staggering success of 15 #1 singles, Carey released her most revealing album to date, The Emancipation of Mimi, in April of 2005. Entirely written and co-produced by the gifted Carey, her tenth studio album is an intimate portrayal of both the challenges and successes that she experienced during her rise to unparalleled fame. Carey explains the inspiration behind her new album, With this album, I am embracing my independence and celebrating the person that I have become. Over the years, I have evolved into a better person and an even better artist. For the first time in my life, I am proud and unafraid to be who I really am, and thats what the music of this album and its title reflect. By naming my album The Emancipation of Mimi andreferencing ‘Mimi a nickname only used by those closest to me, I am inviting my fans into my life. A brilliant artist who has co-written every song on each of her albums since 1990, Mariah Carey has consistently shown her willingness to express herself both as a remarkable vocalist and an acclaimed songwriter. The Emancipation of Mimi offers more than a glimpse into Mariahs world featuring tunes like the heartfelt Circles and Fly Like a Bird, with their positive messages of affirmation and hope. While being honest and vulnerable in expressing her emotions through songs like I Wish You Knew and Joyride, Mariah leaves no doubt that she is a woman who speaks her mind. The infectious, edgy Its Like That, co-produced by Jermaine Dupri is the albums first hit single and a definitive statement of where Mariah stands at this point in her life, and is her fastest climbing single in five years. At Present On April 15, 2008, Mariah released her latest album, entitled â€Å"Touch My Body†. Already well acclaimed by the critics, the album serves as a culmination of the fact that Mariah Carey is indeed back and better than ever. She has put all of her past ordeals behind, as is now just looking to push through with her ever increasing success. With â€Å"Touch My Body† as a number one hit, she overtook Elvis Pressly as having the most number one hit singles of all time. Truly, this was a sign of good things to come for the very talented singer and song writer. During the month of May, Mariah Carey married actor Nick Cannon in what was considered as one of the biggest shockers of the year. Cannon, who was more than a decade younger than Carey, is considered by many to be perhaps â€Å"the luckiest man†, with Mariah Carey estimated to worth tens of millions of dollars. Many doubt their marriage as a publicity stunt, but the couple has presented themselves to be well into their marriage. But only time will tell whether this marriage is built to last, or Cannon will be just another chapter in Mariah Careys roller coaster life. Charitable Works Apart from her musical achievements, Mariah Careys depth of person stems from her love and support of children in need; evident through her continuous involvement in a host of charities dedicated to ensuring their happiness and well being. Mariah is devoted to such charities as The Make-A-Wish Foundation, The Fresh Air Fund, Save the Music, and The National Adoption Center to name a few. With an unwavering effort through appearances, concerts, and donations to these organizations, Mariah has raised millions of dollars. Her generous involvement and on-going support of the Fresh Air Fund resulted in Camp Mariah, the funds first camp named in honor of an individual. Conclusion To conclude, Mariah Carey has indeed had a very colorful career since she broke into the music scene almost twenty years ago. She has proven time and time again that she is here to stay, and have weathered all the trials that have been thrown at her. With a voice that is unmatched and a song writing skill that is rare these days, Mariah has been able to reinvent herself in each single and keep her sound fresh for her fans. Of all the successes and failures that she has experienced, one thing is for certain: Mariah is not going to go down easily, and she will remain atop the charts until someone takes the throne away from her. References Mariah Carey – Awards (2008). IMDb. com. Retrieved 30 May 2008 from http://www. imdb. com/name/nm0001014/awards Mariah Carey – Biography (2008). IMDb. com. Retrieved 30 May 2008 from http://www. imdb. com/name/nm0001014/bio Johnson, Kevin C (2001). Mariah Careys New Glitter Is a Far Cry from Golden. † St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. F. 5.

Competitive Advantage of Wal Mart Essay Example for Free

Competitive Advantage of Wal Mart Essay Every company is trying to avoiding failure and the goal is to have a sustaining competitive advantage. But when do companies have a sustainable competitive advantage? It depends on three factors: the barriers to imitation, the capability of competitors and the dynamism of the industry development. In the 1970s Wal Mart lost their competitive advantage. Sears had a better positioning like Wal Mart. Therefore Wal Mart distinguished the situation and improved its distribution system. It created new trade channels to save costs and invest in new information technology to improve their situation. Wal Mart found a way to change their strategies and structures to change their competitive conditions. Over time, Wal Mart got strong partnerships with suppliers. This was a key element to improve their performance on the market and it`s not easy to imitate. Those partnerships work now since a long time and other competitors might lack the volume of purchases Wal Mart can offer. With some diversifications like Sam’s Club, a new way of supercenters or their plan for the international expansion Wal Mart was able to confine from their competitors. Wal-Mart was the first low price company and retailer which expanded around the world. The CEO of Wal Mart focused on small-town markets and ignored the national discounters. So, Wal Mart has huge distribution capabilities and this is very difficult to imitate from competitors. The most significant advantage of Wal Mart is their using of the satellite system. They are using this system to compress their costs and get a distinguished communication system with all employees to every time. The overall achieved employee satisfaction has the advantage of highly motivated employees. This is an overall management issue and when the employees are motivated, the customers are feeling good and well served. In future, Wal-Mart was committed to find new ways to have the competitive advantage of the market. They invest in different strategies like trendy fashions, offering organic food and remodeling stores to achieve a high satisfaction during the shopping by customers. So, they were able to use the economic crisis to win new customers. A lot of people search after low price shopping possibilities. So investors cheered at Wal-Mart and the company outperformed both rival target and the SP 500 index. Wal Mart holds its quality due to the constant low priced policy. This EDLP is not easy to replicate unless you can offer consistently low prices. On account of the points Wal Mart is able to secure a sustaining competitive advantage at the moment. They are reacting directly and design their company with the time and respond on their employees and customers. Their competitors are able to imitate their policies but this can`t happen within the next year because Wal Marts` advantages are way to complex. As long as Wal Mart is always developing its competencies and keeping on track with the environmental changes, they do have a sustainable competitive advantage in the US.

The Pleasure Image Of Honolulu Tourism Essay

The Pleasure Image Of Honolulu Tourism Essay When we say Hawaii, the first things that come to our mind are nice weather, sandy beaches and relaxation. For my assignment I chose the capital and largest city of Hawaii, Honolulu. The reason of choosing this heaven on earth as the convention destination is not only because of its personality as the city of pleasure, but also because Honolulu represents an economic centre and principal port of the Hawaiian Islands where business can be conducted. Due to the fact that Hawaii ranks among the top 3 destinations for leisure travel in the US, Honolulu is a location that attracts a possible event clientele. From the pleasure side, Honolulu has an agreeable year-round climate, so planned events could be held at any given time of the year. Due to the fact that Honolulu has the lowest rate of violent crime of any US city, visitors can feel safe and secure. Besides enjoying the great climate and swimming on the magnificent beaches, the spectacular views of active volcanoes on the outlying islands also represent an attraction. The wealth of natural beauty combined with the splendid volcanoes offers a truly great choice for tourists. However, regardless of all the beauty of the volcanoes, tourists primarily are coming because of sun, sea and beaches. Several beaches are covered with black and green sand, which leaves no one indifferent. Their banks are covered with finest black and green stones, which are incurred by volcanic activity. The color of the beach combined with the beautiful blue oceans is unforgettable. Honolulu is a popular tourist destination and Surfers Paradise. The most famous and popular local beach is Waikiki Beach. Waikiki Beach has numerous hotels. Above the town rises the volcanic crater Diamond Head. From the top of the volcano is a beautiful view of Honolulu and surrounding areas. A further tourist attraction is the famous military base of Pearl Harbor. Additionally, in the surrounding areas are bamboo forests. Additional places of interest are: Aloha Tower, is described as the beautiful 10-story Aloha Tower, one of Hawaiis best-known landmarks. It is built in 1926 when all travels were done by boat. The tower was created in order to make an impression for tourists during entering and leaving the harbour. Kapiolani is Honolulus largest park, which contains a zoo, an aquarium, and the well -known Waikiki Shell structure. The Honolulu Botanical Gardens which contains four gardens in and around the city. The Arizona Memorial, for the 1,100 who died during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The University of Hawaii The Bishop Museum, well-known for its studies of Polynesia. The Honolulu Academy of Arts, known for its Asian and Hawaiian collections. Kawaiahao Church (1841), where funerals for Hawaiian monarchs and nobility were held. Iolani Palace, the previous home of Hawaiis kings, which represents the only royal palace in the United States. The factors that affected the citys growth as the business centre of Hawaii are: geo-political position of Honolulu; tourism development; diversification of industry; development of harbour facilities; the achievement of an international airport; constructions of luxury hotels; natural habitats of endemic species; ores; forests and volcanoes. Because of all this, Honolulu attracts a large number of tourists yearly. The Hawaiians make several hundred billion dollars annually selling sea, sun, palm trees and its superior climate. THE BUSINESS IMAGE OF HONOLULU From the business point of view, Honolulu has the remarkable 1.1 million-square-foot Hawaiian Convention Centre. Moreover my research indicates that Honolulu has hosted conferences and events for many well-known corporations, including: The National Psychological Association National Medical Association Hawaiian State Department of Health As a result of developed tourism, the population is focused on tourism and hospitality. During the past 100 years and due to its many advantages, the island attracted investors from the United States to invest considerable sums of money in its development. Honolulus current industry foundations include tourism, followed by: federal defence expenditures; agricultural exports (chiefly pineapples); telecommunications and mining. Moreover, worthwhile mentioning industries of Honolulu are: jewellery; printing and publishing; clothing; food and beverages; rubber products; construction materials and electronics and computer equipment. Additionally, Honolulu represents the regional headquarters for many well-known companies such as: Hawaiian Airlines; Bank of Hawaii; Oahu Transit Services, Inc. and Kaiser Permanente Medical Group. In addition, this city has several colleges and universities, including the University of Hawaii-Manoa, Hawaii Pacific University and Chaminade University of Honolulu. MEETING SERVICE PROVIDERS Based on my research extra meeting service providers in Honolulu are: The Catering Connection Unlimited Inc. represents the Award Winning Catering Connection Unlimited. It offers detailed execution, superior quality, creative culinary creations and complete beverage services. Creations in Catering represent Food Services famous for creating and producing successful on-premise and off-premise catered functions and special events. Creations in Catering is Known in the industry for producing award-winning presentations, Creations in Catering has gained recognition on the international, national and local levels for its expertise and creativity. Production Hawaii is Event Rental Dà ©cor service which offers event equipment such as Clear-span structures, Canopy tents, Stages, Portable floors, Carpeting, Dance floors, Tables, Chairs, Bleachers, Air conditioners, and Pipe Drape Trade Show Booths. Anthony Calleja Photography is Production Design Service by a professional photographer and artist whose specialities include Commercial, Corporate, Events, Banquet Dinners, Conventions, Product, and Stage Performances. CONVENTION AND VISITOR BUREAUS SERVICES Convention and visitor bureaus are organizations which offer to the meeting planners access to a variety of services, packages and value-added extras through meeting preparation, planning and applying. The main functions of CVBs are locating meeting places, checking hotel availabilities, arranging events. The advantages that CVB facilities offer to meeting planers are: Access to a range of services and value-added extras through a bureau. Help for developing the convention schedule through the creation of pre and post-conference activities, spouse tours, and hosting of special events. Direction for products and services that will work best to accommodate clients needs and budgets. Mediatising and matching meeting needs to the products, services, and speakers available in a community. Connecting planners with the suppliers, from motorcoach companies and caterers to off-site entertainment venues. Offering information about services and facilities in the destination. Informing about local events with which your meeting may beneficially coincide (like festivals or sporting events). Providing hotel room count and meeting space statistics, keeping a convention/meetings/events calendar in order to help planners avoid conflicts and/or space shortages. Matching properties to specific meeting requirements and budgets. Work with city government to get special permits and to cut through formalities. Some of the specific services that can be offered to the meeting planners are as well: collateral material ; help with on-site logistics, including registration ; housing bureaus ; supplementary services, for example production companies, catering, transportation ; speakers and local educational opportunities ; security ; coordination of local transportation and access to special venues. Hawaii Visitors And Convention Bureau http://custom.cvent.com/33CBACD109164CAB81B5F1D8FEA72786/pix/RFP/CF55FB69F5CF4D158028D9B5B66451AA/8e9114ca3d454f94aad464c7693ef81b.jpg 2270 Kalakaua Avenue Suite 801 Honolulu HI 96815 Listing/VenueOverview.aspx?ofrgstub=cf55fb69-f5cf-4d15-8028-d9b5b66451aapnum=1so=1returl=%2fRFP%2fVenues.aspx%3fma%3d47%26vtt%3d1%26wt.mc_id%3dDG_Right_Nav%26vt%3d32ckm=L1JGUC9WZW51ZXMuYXNweD9tYT00NyZ2dHQ9MSZ3dC5tY19pZD1ER19SaWdodF9OYXYmdnQ9MzI= 21.275800 -157.823400 3 CVB According to the Hawaiian Visitors and Convention Bureau description, Hawaii is world renowned destination of breathtaking natural beauty. Despite the image of a dream destination, Honolulu is a centre of international commerce and business meetings. AVAILABLE HOTELS AND CONFERENCE CENTRES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS My research points towards available hotels and conference centres as follows: The Hawaiian Imin International Conference Centre is designed for an international audience, offering outstanding resources to produce successful events of all kinds. The Hawaiian Convention Centre is easily located closest to the hotel-plentiful Waikiki Beach, which offers more than 30,000 hotel rooms. The centre is located 7.5 miles of The Honolulu International Airport .The Hawaii Convention Centre gives to the guests opportunity to take pleasure in Hawaii from inside. As it described more than 60 percent of the centre is landscaped with palm trees and green tropical plants. The Centre includes tropical garden and waterfall. Worthwhile mentioning is the fact that the centre was voted the most beautiful convention centre in the world by the International Association of Exhibition Management and is the winner of nine consecutive Prime Site Awards. The convention center has nearly 150,000 square feet of meeting space, cutting-edge technology and delicious Hawaiian cuisine. Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa according to the description represents an ideal place for planning an event by reason of premier meeting rooms set in the heart of a tropical island getaway. The hotel as it is described features 19,500 square feet of function space, 2,050 square feet of pre function space, and 9,800 square feet of exhibit space. Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort Waikiki Beach is located in the heart of Waikiki, with short walking distance from shopping, dining, and attractions. It includes more than 12,000 square feet of gathering space provides the perfect setting for parties, weddings, or business functions. As it described, there are eight meeting rooms ranging from the intimate 780-square-foot Board Room to our 4,340-square-foot Ballroom, which can host a reception for up to 300 guests. Outdoor spaces include the simply outstanding Diamond Head Lawn Terrace with breathtaking views of Diamond Head and the Pacific Ocean. The beautiful Roof Garden and Roof Garden Lanais are ideal for small to mid-size meetings and receptions for up to 50, and our private beach perfect for a sunset wedding for up to 150 guests. Best Western The Plaza Hotel is located just half mile from Honolulu International Airport and Honolulu Military Bases.The hotel is nestled between downtown Honolulu, Waikiki and the military bases, close to some of Honolulus major business districts. The hotel has four different size banquet facilities, enabling to accommodate from 10 to 200 guests. Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki Hawaii offers excellent facilities and services as well as the perfect location for events. The Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio hotel is located in the heart of Waikiki, closed to the famous Waikiki Beach. Apart the good location, the hotel has flexible meeting facilities of 17,000 sq ft. The Doubletree Alana Hotel Waikiki is located at the entrance to Waikiki in Hawaii. As it described, hotel is four miles from downtown Honolulu, and short walk from Hawaii Convention Centre. Turtle Bay Resort represents a breathtaking background for meetings and events. Featuring 31,000 square feet of function and pre-function space it represents an ideal destination for events. THE OBSTACLES OF HONOLULU The biggest problem for the local population is constant volcanic activity, which often forced population to change residence and move the entire settlement away from active volcanoes and earthquakes, which are the results of their activities. Furthermore, a double-edged sword is the major waves that sometimes reach the height of 25 ft.   Waves are known to have destroyed the coast, particularly these associated with frequent hurricanes and tropical storms. One of the disadvantages of Honolulu is the high cost of living. Moreover, according to information given by tourists experiences, Honolulu has more cars than the Roads and Highways which can cause massive traffic. In my opinion, some of the obstacles, such as the high cost of living and the issues with the considerable traffic need to be addressed and solved. From my point of view, the costs of living should be decreased, as well as the number of cars. Furthermore, by decreasing the number of cars and developing a more organized traffic system, road congestions may be avoided. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, Honolulu interested me as a location for pleasure tourism and as an economic centre as well; what I gained from my research was that I went deeper into the analysis of the city and its facilities available for conventions and meetings. Additionally, based on my research and looking at Honolulu at the point of view of meeting planner, I learnt a lot about city facts and facilities available for organizing conventions and meeting, moreover Meeting service provides, available hotels and conference centre for special events and convention and visitor bureaus services. Feb. 6th, 2010

The Role of Justice in Society Essay -- Just Justice Fair Philosophy E

The Role of Justice in Society Through the egalitarian reasoning of John Rawls and the act-utilitarianist perspective of J.J.C. Smart, I will analyze the concept of justice. In accordance with Rawls, I intend to argue that any changes in society that will increase the burden carried by the poorest 5% are unjust, even if these changes increase the average level of happiness for the other 95%. With regard to ethics, justice is defined as fairness, where all situations should be treated alike. For one to exhibit justice, one must portray the quality of being fair and reasonable in all situations. While egalitarians evaluate justice based on equality, utilitarians are only interested in justice as a means to an end. Smart advocates the principle of utility, which defines the morally action as whatever produces the greatest net happiness for everyone affected by that act. To identify an act as ‘just,’ Rawls employs the theory of justice as fairness. This theory stresses the principle of equal rights, and that an act is ‘just’ if equality is realized by everyone affected by the act.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before delving into John Rawls’ views on a ‘just’ society it is essential to understand his perception of the role of justice in society, as described in his book A Theory of Justice. Justice in society enforces individual’s rights and to â€Å"[deny] that the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater good shared by others†. When the notion of justice becomes shared by all citizens, and equality is achieved, civility between members of society will restrict the use of some individuals as means to personal ends. Overall, Rawls argues that the most distinctive role of justice in society is to equally distribute rights and duties to individuals. The underlying egalitarian viewpoint is that individuals do not possess any characteristics that would â€Å"justify inequalities in the distribution of social benefits and burdens†. The principles of justice, as depicted in Rawls book, are chosen by individuals an initial position of equality. These principles can be applied to solve structural issues in society such as the distribution of social and economic advantages, the distribution of basic rights and duties to citizens. Rawls argues that in order for the principles of justice to establish an ideal society, where equality between citizens is realized, several hypothetical ... ... interest while in pursuit of maximizing happiness. Overall I agree with the principles set forth by John Rawls in his book A Theory of Justice, because it protects against discrimination of the lowest 5 of the population whose voice is usually discredited and overlooked in society. Works Cited Bayles, Michael, ed. Contemporary Utilitarianism. Garden City: Anchor, 1968  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hoffman, Michael W, Robert E. Fredrick, and Mark S. Schwartz. Business Ethics Readings and Cases in Corporate Morality. 4th Canadian ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001 Lamont, Julian. "Distributive Justice." The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2003 Edition). Main. Edward N. Zalta. 13 March 2004. . Nussbaum, Martha. The Enduring Significance of John Rawls. Evatt Foundation. 13 March 2004. Rawls, John. A Theory of Justice. Revised Canadian Ed. Cambridge: The Belknap Press, 1971 Scott, Alex. John Rawls’ A Theory of Justice. 14 March 2003. Smart, and Bernard Williams. Utilitarianism: For and Against. Trowbridge: Redwood Burn, 1973 Utilitarianism Resources. BLTC Research. 15 March 2004. Williams, Jon. An Examination of John Rawls’s Critique of Utilitarianism. 13 March 2004

The Death Penalty: Necessary and Effective Essay -- Pro Capital Punish

It has been abolished in 75 countries and 15 states in the US. Twenty countries report they do not use it, while 100 countries, including the US and 35 of her states, still retain its use. In modern society, the topic of capital punishment remains controversial. Many people question the morality and ethics of executing a human for a crime he or she has committed, which is by all means a valid argument. However, murder is a crime that involves taking the life of another human, and that act needs to be punished justly. We are a society that generally believes a punishment should fit the crime. A life term in prison (three warm meals a day, a bed, medical care, and cable television) is not an appropriate punishment for a capital offense. Those whom claim capital punishment is immoral and unethical would likely say that murder is also immoral and unethical. So, to say that capital punishment for a capital crime is immoral and unethical is hypocritical. Many supporters of abolishing capital punishment in America state that the US constitution prohibits cruel and unusual...

Euro Disney

Case Study: 1 The Not-So-Wonderful World of Euro Disney BONJOUR, MICKEY: In April 1992, EuroDisney SCA opened its doors to European visitors. Located by the river Marne some 20 miles east of Paris, it was designed to be the biggest and most lavish theme park that Walt Disney Company (Disney) had built to date – bigger than Disneyland in Anaheim, California; Disney World in Oralando, Florida; and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan. Much to Disney management’s surprise, Europeans failed to â€Å"go goofy† over Mickey, unlike their Japanese counterparts.Between 1990 and early 1992, some 14 million people had visited Tokyo Disneyland, with three-quarters being repeat visitors. A family of four staying overnight at a nearby hotel would easily spend $600 on a visit to the park. In contrast, at EuroDisney, families were reluctant to spend the $280 a day needed to enjoy the attractions of the park, including les hamburgers and les milkshakes. Staying overnight was out of the ques tion for many because hotel rooms were so high priced.For example, prices ranged from $110 to $380 a night at the Newport Bay Club, the largest of EuroDisney’s six new hotels and one of the biggest in Europe. In comparison, a room in a top hotel in Paris cost between $340 and $380 a night. Financial losses became so massive at EuroDisney that the president had to structure a rescue package to put EuroDisney back on firm financial ground. Many French bankers questioned the initial financing but the Disney response was that their views reflected the cautious. Old world thinking of Europeans who didn’t understand U. S. -style free market financing.After some acrimonious dealings with French banks a two-year financial plan was negotiated. Disney management rapidly revised their marketing plan and introduced strategic and tactical changes in the hope of â€Å"doing it right† this time. A Real Estate Dream Come True : The Paris location was chosen over 200 other poten tial sites stretching from Portugal through Spain, France, Italy, and into Greece. Spain thought it had the strongest bid based on its yearlong temperate and sunny Mediterranean climate, but insufficient acreage of land was available for development around Barcelona.In the end, the French government’s generous incentives, together with impressive data on regional demographics, swayed Disney management to choose the Paris location. It was calculated that some 310 million people in Europe live within two hours’ air travel of EuroDisney, and 17 million could reach the park within two hours by car – better demographics than at any other Disney site. Pessimistic talk about the dismal winter weather of northern France was countered with references to the success of Tokyo Disneyland, where resolute visitors brave cold winds and snow to enjoy their piece of Americana.Furthermore, it was argued, Paris is Europe’s most-popular city destination among tourists of all nationalities. Spills and Thrills: Disney had projected that the new theme park would attract 11 million visitors and generate over $100 million in operating earnings during the first year of operation. By summer 1994, EuroDisney had lost more than $900 million since opening. Attendance reached only 9. 2 million in 1992, and visitors spent 12 percent less on purchases than the estimated $33 per head. If tourists were not flocking to taste the thrills of the new EuroDisney, where were they going for their summer vacations in 1992?Ironically enough, an unforeseen combination of transatlantic airfare wars and currency movements resulted in a trip to Disney World in Orlando being cheaper than a trip to Paris, with guaranteed good weather and beautiful Floridian beaches within easy reach. EuroDisney management took steps to rectify immediate problems in 1992 by cutting rates at two hotels up to 25 percent, introducing some cheaper meals at restaurants, and launching a Paris ad blitz tha t proclaimed â€Å"California in only 20 miles from Paris. An American Icon : One of the most worrying aspects of EuroDisney’s first year was that French visitors stayed away; they had been expected to make up 50 percent of the attendance figures. A park services consulting firm framed the problem in these words; â€Å"The French see EuroDisney as American imperialism – plastics at its worst. † The well-known, sentimental Japanese attachment to Disney characters contrasted starkly with the unexpected and widespread French scorn for American fairy-tale characters.French culture has its own lovable cartoon characters such as Asterix, the helmeted, pint-sized Gallic warrior who has a theme park located near EuroDisney. Hostility among the French people to the whole â€Å"Disney idea† had surfaced early in the planning of the new project. Paris theater director Ariane Mnouchkine became famous for her description of EuroDisney as â€Å"a cultural Chernobyl. † In fall 1989, during a visit to Paris, French Communists pelted Michael Eisner with eggs. The joke going around at the time was, â€Å"For EuroDisney to adapt properly to France, all seven of Snow White’s dwarfs should be named Grumpy (Grincheux).Early advertising by EuroDisney seemed to aggravate local French sentiment by emphasizing glitz and size, rather than the variety of rides and attractions. Committed to maintaining Disney’s reputation for quality in everything, more detail was built into EuroDisney. For example, the centerpiece castle in the Magic Kingdom had to be bigger and fancier than in the other parks. Expensive trams were built along a lake to take guests from the hotels to the park, but visitors preferred walking. Total park construction costs were estimated at FFr 14 billion ($2. 7 billion) in 1989 but rose by $340 million to FFr 16 billion as a result of all these addons. Hotel construction costs alone rose from an estimated FFr 3. 4 billion to FFr 5. 7 billion. EuroDisney and Disney managers unhappily succeeded in alienating many of their counterparts in the government, the banks, the ad agencies, and other concerned organizations. A barnstorming, kick-the-door-down attitude seemed to reign among the U. S. decision makers. â€Å"They had a formidable image and convinced everyone that if we let them do it their way, we would all have a marvelous adventure. One former Disney executive voiced the opinion, â€Å"We were arrogant – it was like ‘We’re building the Taj Mahal and people will come – on our terms. † STORM CLOUDS AHEAD Disney and its advisors failed to see signs at the end of the 1980s of the approaching European recession. Other dramatic events included the Gulf War in 1991, which put a heavy brake on vacation travel for the rest of that year. Other external factors that Disney executives have cited are high interest rates and the devaluation of several currencies against the franc.EuroDisney also encountered difficulties with regard to competition – the World’s Fair in Seville and the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona were huge attractions for European tourists. Disney management’s conviction that it knew best was demonstrated by its much-trumpeted ban on alcohol in the park. This proved insensitive to the local culture because the French are the world’s biggest consumers of wine. To them a meal without unverre de rouge is unthinkable. Disney relented. It also had to relax its rules on personal grooming of the projected 12,000 cast members, the park employees.Women were allowed to wear redder nail polish than in the United States, but the taboo on men’s facial hair was maintained. â€Å"We want the clean-shaven, neat and tidy look,† commented the director of Disney University’s Paris branch, which trains prospective employees in Disney values and culture. EuroDisney’s management did, however, compromise o n the question of pets. Special kennels were built to house visitors’ animals. The thought of leaving a pet at home during vacation is considered irrational by many French people. Plans for further development of EuroDisney after 1992 were ambitious.The initial number of hotel rooms was planned to be 5,200, more than in the entire city of Cannes on the Cote d’ Azur. Also planned were shopping malls, apartments, golf courses, and vacation homes. EuroDisney would design and build everything itself, with a view to selling at a profit. As a Disney executive commented, â€Å"Disney at various points could have had partners to share the risk or buy the hotels outright. But it didn’t want to give up the upside. â€Å"From the time they came on, Disney’s Chairman Eisner and President Wells had never made a single misstep, never a mistake, never a failure,† said a ormer Disney executive. â€Å"There was a tendency to believe that everything they touched w ould be perfect. † The incredible growth record fostered this belief. In the seven years EuroDisney opened, they took the parent company from being a company with $1 billion in revenues to one with $8. 5 billion, mainly through internal growth. Telling and Selling Fairy Tales: Mistaken assumptions by the Disney management team affected construction design, marketing and pricing policies, and park management, as well as initial financing. Disney executives had been erroneously informed that Europeans don’t eat break fast.Restaurant breakfast service was downsized accordingly, and guess what? â€Å"Everybody showed up for breakfast. We were trying to serve 2,500 breakfasts in a 350 – seat restaurant (at some of the hotels). The lines were horrendous. And they didn’t just want croissants and coffee, they wanted bacon and eggs. † In contrast to Disney’s American parks where visitors typically stay at least three days, EuroDisney is at most a two- day visit. Energetic visitors need even less time. One analyst claimed to have â€Å"done† every EuroDisney ride in just five hours.Typically many guests arrive early in the morning, rush to the park, come back to their hotel at night, and then check out the next morning before heading back to the park. Vacation customs of Europeans were not taken into consideration. Disney executives had optimistically expected that the arrival of their new theme park would cause French parents to take their children out of school in mid-session for a short break. It did not happen, unless a public holiday occurred over a weekend. Similarly, Disney expected that the American-style short but more frequent family vacation, usually taken in August.However, French office and factory schedules remained the same, with their emphasis on an August shutdown. In promoting the new park to visitors, Disney did not stress the entertainment value of a visit to the new theme park; the emphasis was on the s ize of the park, which â€Å"ruined the magic. † To counter this, ads were changes to feature Zorro, a French favorite, mary Poppins, and Aladdin, star of the huge moneymaking movie success. A print ad campaign at that time featured Aladdin, Cinderella’s castle, and a little girl being invited to njoy a â€Å"magic vacation,† at the kingdom where all dreams come true. Six new attractions were added in 1994, including the Temple of Peril, Storybook Land; and the Nautilus attraction. Donald Duck’s birthday was celebrated on June 9 – all in hopes of positioning EuroDisney as the No. 1 European destination of short duration, one to three days. Tomorrowland: Faced with falling share prices and crisis talk among shareholders, Disney was forced to step forward in late 1993 to rescue the new park. Disney announced that it would fund EuroDisney until a financial restructuring could be worked out with lenders.However, it was made clear by the parent company, Disney, that it â€Å"was not writing a blank check. † In June 1994, EuroDisney received a new lifeline when a member of the Saudi royal family agreed to invest up to $500 million for a 24 percent stake in the park. The price has an established reputation in world markets as a â€Å"bottom-fisher. † Buying into potentially viable operations during crisis when share prices are low. The prince’s plans included a $100 million convention center at EuroDisney. One of the few pieces of good new about EuroDisney is that its convention business exceeded expectations from the beginning.MANAGEMENT AND NAME CHANGES Frenchman Philippe Bourguignon took over at EuroDisney as CEO in 1993 and has navigated the theme park back to profitability. He was instrumental in the negotiations with the firm’s bankers, cutting a deal that he credits largely for bringing the park back into the black. Perhaps more important to the long-run success of the venture were his changes in m arketing. The pan-European approach to marketing was dumped, and national markets were targeted separately. This new localization took into account the differing tourists’ habits around the continent.Separate marketing offices were opened in London, Frankfurt, Milan, Brussels, Amsterdam and Madrid, and each was charged with tailoring advertising and packages to its own market. Prices were cut by 20 percent for park admission and 30 percent for some hotel room rates. Special promotions were also run for the winter months. The central theme of the new marketing and operations approach is that people visit the park for an â€Å"authentic† Disney day out. They may not be completely sure what that means, except that it entails something American. This is reflected in the transformation of the park’s name.The â€Å"Euro† in EuroDisney was first shrunk in the logo, and the word â€Å"land† added. Then in October 1994 the â€Å"Euro† was eliminated completely; the park is now called Disneyland Paris. In 1996 Disneyland Paris became France’s most visited tourist attraction, ahead of both the Louvre Art Museum and the Eiffel Tower, 11. 7 million visitors (a 9 percent increase from the previous year) allowed the park to report another profitable year. THEME PARK EXPANSION IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY With the recovery of Disneyland Paris, Disney embarked on an ambitious growth plan.In 2001 the California Adventure Park was added to the Anaheim complex at a cost of $1. 4 billion and Walt Disney Studios Theme Park was added to Disneyland Paris. Through agreements with foreign partners, Disney will open Disney-Sea in Tokyo and plans are underway for a theme park in Shanghai that Chinese officials hope will open in time for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and a park in Hong Kong is to open in 2006. A decade after being slammed for its alleged ignorance of European ways with EuroDisney, Disney is trying to prove it’s go tten things right the second time around.The new movie-theme park, Walt Disney Studios, adjacent to Disneyland Paris, is designed to be a tribute to moviemaking – but not just the Hollywood kind. The Walt Disney Studios blend Disney entertainment and attractions with the history and culture of European film since French camera-makers helped invent the motion picture. The park’s general layout is modeled after an old Hollywood studio complex, and some of the rides and shows are near replicas of Disney’s first film park, Disney-MGM Studios.Rather than celebrating the history of U. S. Disney characters, the characters in the new theme park speak six different languages. A big stunt show features cars and motorcycles that race through a village modeled after the French resort town of St. Tropez. Small details reflect the cultural lessons learned. â€Å"We made sure that all our food venues have covered seating,† recalling that, when EuroDisney first opened, t he open-air restaurants offered no protection from the rainy weather that assails the park for long stretches of the year.On the food front, EuroDisney offered only a French sausage, drawing complaints from the English, Germans, Italians, and everyone else about why their local sausages weren’t available. This time around, the park caters to the multiple indigenous cultures throughout Europe – which includes a wider selection of sausages. Unlike Disney’s attitude with their first park in France, â€Å"Now we realize that our guests need to be welcomed on the basis of their own culture and travel habits,† says Disneyland Paris Chief Executive.Disneyland Paris today is Europe’s biggest tourist attraction – even more popular than the Eiffel Tower – a turnaround that showed the park operators’ ability to learn from their mistakes. The root of Disney’s problems in EuroDisney may be found in the tremendous success of Japanâ₠¬â„¢s Disneyland. The Tokyo Park was a success from the first day and it has been visited by millions of Japanese who wanted to capture what they perceived at the ultimate U. S. entertainment experience. Disney took the entire U. S. theme park and transplanted it in Japan. It worked because of the Japanese attachment to Disney characters.Schools have field trips to meet Mickey and his friends to the point that the Disney experience has become ingrained in Japanese life. In the book, Disneyland as Holy Land, University of Tokyo professor Masako otoji wrote: â€Å"The opening of Tokyo Disneyland was, in retrospect, the greatest cultural event in Japan during the ‘80s. † With such success, is there any wonder that Disney thought they had the right model when they first went to France? The Tokyo Disney constitutes a very rare case in that the number of visitors has not decreased since the opening.While Disney Japan was a success the company also admitted making a major fina ncial error when the park was launched. It had licensed its name and image to another company that actually owns and operates the park as well as the land where it sits. Disney collects only a small fraction of the revenues that run into hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Since they were not certain of the success of the first international venture, it was the price they were willing to pay; however, it vowed never to repeat that error and to never have its hands tied again.As a consequence, when they began the jParis Park, they were fanatically intent on owning and controlling the park as well as enough adjacent property for its own exclusive hotels – â€Å"they were sure they had the right model and they were going to own it all. † Thus, they began planning EuroDisney. QUESTIONS 1. You as Disney’s Chairman Eisner Present the Euro Disney project as success of Global marketing. 2. To what degree, you as Eisner,consider the disturbing factors were (a) fo reseeable and (b) controllable by the parent company, Disney? 3. What then you think as the factors that stop standardized marketing practice.

Dbq Protestant Reformation

Protestant Reformation The Protestant Reformation took place in Germany in the 16th century. During this time, Roman Catholic Church had a lot of power, and a priest called Martin Luther noticed their abuse of power. He decided to show people how the church was abusing of its power. He started by criticizing the sale of indulgences, and how priests, cardinals and even the Pope did not follow the teachings of the Bible. To criticize the Church, Luther wrote the 95 Theses and translated the Bible into German.This way, people could see how the Roman Catholic Church was not following the teachings of God. This caused a great controversy in Europe. He was accused of heretic and excommunicated from the Catholic Church. But some Germans, mostly peasants but also a few nobles, liked his teachings and agreed with him. The Holy Roman Emperor told German princes to kill Luther, but instead, they decided to convert to Protestantism and follow Luther. The Emperor Charles V and the princes finally agreed that every German state was able to choose their own religion.This series of events are called the Protestant Reformation. The Protestant Reformation had political and social impacts in Europe by promoting the idea of religious freedom, increasing the power of monarchs, and spreading of the idea of equality. One of the effects of the Protestant Reformation was the promotion of religious freedom. After this Reformation, each German State could choose which religion to practice. This treaty was concreted in the Peace of Augsburg in 1555. It was signed by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and the German princes. â€Å"15.In order to bring peace to the Holy Roman Empire of the Germanic Nation [†¦] let them (each German State) enjoy their religious belief, liturgy and ceremonies. † (Document 6) This document shows the part of the contract where the Holy Roman Emperor and German princes agreed in having a religious freedom in each State. This made Europe had more than just a religion. During this time, there was not a Religious unity between German States within themselves and neither with the rest of Europe. Other very important effect of the Protestant Reformation was the increase of power of the monarchs.During the 16th century, the Roman Catholic Church had a lot of power. Not many monarchs were happy with their excess of power. With the Protestant Reformation, some monarchs saw the perfect opportunity to stop sharing power with the Roman Catholic Church. One example is King Henry VIII of England. â€Å"[†¦] the king’s Majesty [†¦] is and ought to be the supreme head of the Church of England. † (Document 5) This is an excerpt taken from The Act of Supremacy, a Parliamentary Act from 1534. King Henry VIII decided to break apart from the Roman Catholic Church, and this way, have absolute power in England.Being the politic and religious leader allowed him to spend less money and at the same time gain more. All the income from the Church was now his, and he did not have to pay this entity any taxes. Henry did not have to share the power with anyone else; he was now an absolute ruler. Another impact the protestant Reformation had in Europe was the spread of the idea of equality. Catholicism already had this idea of all people being the same, but clearly they were not putting it into practice. Not even the Pope, who should have been a role model, was being humble and he even felt superior to the rest.In Luther’s 95 Theses he says, â€Å"86. Why does not the Pope [†¦] build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers? † (Document 2) This thesis says that the Pope should not be greedy and take money from the poor. He should instead give his money to the poor. Luther says that the Pope is not superior from the rest of the believers and should contribute economically to the Church, just as the rest of the people did. Another of his theses says, â€Å"37. Every True Christian [†¦] has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church [†¦]. (Document 2) In this specific thesis, Luther is criticizing the sale of indulgences. He says that there? s no need to buy indulgences because every Christian, rich or poor, is the same to the eyes of God. One should do good actions, rather than buying indulgences, to go to heaven, and these actions should be done by the common people, the priests and even the Pope. The Protestant Reformation clearly had religious impacts on Europe, but it also had social and political effects. Even though Luther criticized the Roman Catholic Church, his ideas were used by political figures to be able to get rid of the oppression of the Church.The promotion of the religious freedom is both a political and a social impact. The division from the Church and the German States is political, while the ability to choose which religion to practice is social. The increase of the power of the mona rchs is a political impact. The fact that Henry VIII was the religious and political leader in England meant he had absolute power. The spread of the idea of equality is social because it means to say common people are the same as the Pope. These social and political changes later lead to many things that are used nowadays.The idea of religious freedom is an idea that remains nowadays. Today, every person has the right to choose its religion, not like before which was every State. The idea of equality between all people was an idea that was used in the French Revolution and of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizens. The increase in the power of the monarchs led to the later Age of Absolutism. These three ideas shaped the world into what it is today. They helped make the world be what it is today.

Google’s Channel Strategy

Google’s corporate strategy can be divided into four segments: Product and Marketing strategy, Competition strategy, Growth strategy, and Financial strategy. Google has a strategic orientation of immediate policy focus, for example, the company’s concern for competition associated matters. In other words, Google is more inclined to find the need to beat rivals rather than being held up with a strategic policy. Therefore, product orientation strategy has an immense predisposition to identify faults and space of rivals and getting in there to diminish the competition.They are also highly focused on which segments of the mass market are neglected and would afford their products. This includes whether to expand in a certain region or pull out of an area due to failure to achieve set goals. The marketing strategy is influenced by the approach of product placement. Google would like to make the glasses accessible to everyone. It is a device that can be used by the mass market and Google has the background and tools to market successfully to those targets. They want to make it usable for all groups and that means making the device simple and easy to use.Google’s growth is immensely mounting and is directly associated with the managing of customer relations. Google’s made a great choice to grow through their customers because their technological capabilities such as detection of bad practices, customer feedback, information management and result analysis have improved greatly through staying connected to a loyal customer base. Through the eyes of the customer, Google has matured through new products and services such as Google Calendar, Groups, Gmail, Docs, Mobile, Maps, Blogger, and more that have all successfully given the customers their satisfaction.Their growth ties in with their devotion to focus on the user and having all else follow. Google knows that they are a Search Company first. This means that Google recognizes what they are be st at, and to do that one thing, which is to solve search problems, to the best of their ability and focus mainly on that. Secondly, they try to improve in the areas that they are somewhat weak in. But this doesn’t mean they lose focus of their strategy of putting their strengths first and improving them to such a degree to create an everlasting competitive advantage. Google’s distribution objective is to increase exposure to the business markets.We will be exclusively dealing because it encourages marketing support. We will be able to work with another company in getting the product out there and making it known while Google doesn’t have to bear the whole burden. It also allows Google to be a step ahead of its competitors in having a big retailer to sell through and having them only committed to Google. This gives Google a great advantage over their competitors and separates Google from their competitors. There are three main goals for distribution. First, Goog le will have functioning marketing channels within 1 year after launch.This will allow them to transport and store goods as well as gather information and market research in order to plan and assist in exchange. Second, Google will gain market share in the consumer cell phone market within 2 years. From this, Google then poses a challenge towards its competitors by offering a better performance through introducing an innovative new product and gaining a competitive edge. The last goal is that Google Glasses becomes the dominant business communication tool within 3 years. It’s a one of a kind product as or right now and getting a head start allows Google to achieve this objective.Their strategy for differentiation is to gain direct access to business clients to support distribution goals. With goals come key issues that affect the attainment thereof. Google has to create relationships with its channel members. They need to have cooperation and collaboration to create synergy. Along with this, proper training and execution of sales force to target business market needs to be implemented. Creating such a motivating channel member force will only bring positive rewards towards making this product a success and accomplishing our goal to get it in the hands of those that Google is pursuing.

Hyundai Mission Statement and Goals Essay

I have chosen the Hyundai Company to work with during this course. When I was reviewing their mission statement I saw that they really commit themselves to a lot of accomplishments. Their mission statement is as follows: At Hyundai, we commit ourselves to the accomplishment of the following goals: * To give equal consideration and opportunity to all individuals seeking a partnership with us in securing a Hyundai dealership. We will continue to strive to become the premier franchise with the broadest minority representation possible. To provide equal opportunity to all suppliers and vendors seeking to do business with our company. Our selection of business partners will always be predicated upon our duty to provide our customers with safe, quality and affordable automobiles. * To continue to be committed to the philanthropic sharing of our profits to promote community development and improvement (focusing on the education and health of young people), protect our environment, and implement programs to improve understanding and respect within our society. To expand our brand image by committing funds and effort to communicate a clear and accurate portrayal of our products, services and company values to all of our customers, regardless of their demographic status. * To hire and retain an executive management and employee staff based on equal participation and opportunity for all, regardless of race, gender, age, national origin, religion, or any other legally protected characteristic. To solicit the advice and wise counsel of nationally recognized persons of achievement and character to assist us in fulfilling our goals. Hyundai mission statement acts as more than just a lot of words on a piece of paper. The mission statement is a vital tool that helps to keep everyone at Hyundai on the same page working towards the same goal. This mission statement also identifies Hyundai and how they are going to be able to meet the goals of their clientele. Hyundai mission statement was designed and inspired to assist with the internal efficiencies like commitment from the staff and loyalty by customers and vendors. The mission statement can be used to help redirect the company when and if needed once you ask yourself a few questions. 1. Where are we today? 2. Where do we wish to arrive, and when? 3. How do we get from here to there? Once these questions are answered they should go back to the mission statement and review what their goals were from the beginning and begin to set new goals to help get the company back on track. This will help them to begin to create some strategic planning. This will also help them find the internal strengths and weaknesses as well as the external opportunities and threats. If the mission statement does not assist with the goals and strategy planning they may need to revamp the mission statement to include the internal and external dimensions. Times change and with that being said sometimes what use to work may not work at this time so making changes may need to take place.

How to Write the UT Austin Supplemental Essays 2017-2018

Founded by the Congress of the Republic of Texas in 1883, the University of Texas at Austin is home to 51,000 students and 3,100 faculty members. As the â€Å"Public Ivy† of the South, UT Austin annually ranks among the Top 20 public universities. As UT Austin’s reputation grows, its applicant pool becomes increasingly competitive as well, leaving its current acceptance rate in the low 40% range, one of the lowest among public schools. Noted departments at UT include petroleum engineering, history, and linguistics. Additionally, UT permits students to apply directly to programs that are occupation-specific, an aspect that differentiates UT from other institutions. UT Austin provides multiple essay prompt options for students to choose between. There is one mandatory essay prompt that all students must respond to, as well as secondary questions that you may answer depending on your intended major. Note: UT recommends that you keep your essays between 350 and 500 words, with no more than 650 words. 650 is also the word limit for the Common Application, so it’s easy for you to get an idea for how much room you have to get your point across. For more tips on how to write the Common Application Essay, feel free to check out ’s Common App 2017-2018 Guide . As the only essay prompt required by every applicant, this topic allows you to expand and describe your personal background or story. Where are you from? How did you get here? How has your community influenced you to become the person you are today? Because every applicant will write this prompt, the goal is to be as original as possible. Prompt A is the only mandatory question out of the topics in UT’s Essay requirement. For your second essay, you should choose just one from the following prompts. Answer this topic by explaining the origin and goals of your decision to pursue nursing; UT seeks to understand how your specific experiences will aid you along this path. Additionally, explain the future opportunities you want to participate in, and how these will help you reach your long-term goal in nursing. Submit your essay and we’ll get back to you with helpful edits. Along with your main essay, you must submit at least three additional short essays. According to the UT Austin application requirements , your answers should be limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250–300 words. While not quite as elaborate as a traditional common app essay, you still have sufficient space to develop a compelling response. The following sections will discuss strategies to approach the UT Austin short answer prompts. If you could have any career, what would it be? Why? Describe any activities you are involved in, life experiences you’ve had, or even classes you’ve taken that have helped you identify this professional path. Some Tips to Consider: Even if you aren’t sure what you want to do for your career, you can still write an excellent response. First, notice that this prompt is hypothetical in that it asks, â€Å" if you could have any career, what would it be?† With that being said, you can feel free to explore and select between countless options for your topic, and they don’t necessarily need to be exactly what you want to do. The career path does not necessarily need to match every aspect of your skill set and personality; rather, it should incorporate your experiences and interests, and potentially complement other information you’ve provided. One strategy to write this essay is to match an aspect of your personality to a career. For example, if you are very meticulous and attentive to aesthetic details and love to travel, you may want to consider writing about being a photographer for National Geographic . You could discuss how viewing awe-inspiring photographs on Instagram has motivated you to travel and see different cultures. At the same time, you could take the response a step further by explaining how you would love to incorporate aspects of your cultural anthropology class to better document the lives of the people or communities you photograph. Instead of focusing too much on the career path itself, you can make the task of writing easier by expounding upon your relevant activities or experiences. For example, if you want to be a product manager for a high-tech company, you could discuss how your leadership role in the robotics club has taught you valuable lessons in failure. Now, whenever you design, you take a skeptical approach and assume things will never work the way you intend, which causes you to iterate quickly as a manager. Do you believe your academic record (transcript information and test scores) provide an accurate representation of you as a student? Why or why not? Here is a tip directly from the UT Austin Admissions Office: â€Å"Feel free to address anything you want the Office of Admissions to know about your academic record so that we can consider this information when we review your application. You can discuss your academic work, class rank, GPA, individual course grades, test scores, and/or the classes that you took or the classes that were available to you. You can also describe how special circumstances and/or your school, community, and family environments impacted your high school performance.† Essentially, you can discuss anything you want with respect to your high school academics. Some potential topics could include: You may feel compelled to â€Å"explain† a bad grade in a class or convince admissions that your GPA could have been higher, but that’s not really the point of the prompt or what admissions wants to hear. Instead of focusing on making excuses, focus on the lessons you’ve learned from mistakes . For example, if you struggled in calculus, explain why you may have found the subject challenging and how you worked hard to change your study habits by setting up weekly meetings with your professor to work on the concepts. A response like that could shed light on a lower grade on the transcript while revealing positive aspects about your character. Whatever you choose to write about, try to incorporate the positives of what you took from the experience and show why you are now a better applicant due to the experience. Keep in mind that admissions officers consider your potential as well as your past accomplishments. How do you show leadership in your life? How do you see yourself being a leader at UT Austin? Here is a tip directly from UT Austin: â€Å"Leadership can be demonstrated by positions you hold as an officer in a club or organization, but other types of leadership are important too. Leaders can emerge in various situations at any given time, including outside of the school experience. Please share a brief description of the type of leadership qualities you possess, from school and non-school related experiences, including demonstrations of leadership in your job, your community, or within your family responsibilities, and then share how you hope to demonstrate leadership as a member of our campus community.† The most effective way to respond to this prompt is to split it into two parts. Part 1 should concern your experience with leadership or cultivating a leadership skill. Part 2 should directly respond to Part 1 by analyzing how the identified skill will apply directly to a campus group or community at UT Austin. For example, you could begin by describing your experience volunteering or tutoring at a local elementary school. Instead of simply saying you were â€Å"a leader† to the younger kids, focus on describing the types of qualities you learned and how. If the kids often struggled with paying attention or staying on task, you could explain how you learned to temper expectations, be patient, and interact with a cool head. When the kids recognized how patient and composed you were, they adopted the same demeanor when solving problems and improved drastically. You could even go in-depth about particular moments or instances in which you learned a certain skill or developed a leadership quality. Further, you can also discuss what leadership means to you, potentially touching on the types of qualities you value in a leader. Following your anecdote, you can specifically show how your leadership qualities will be used at UT Austin. For example, if you are interested in leading outreach projects in local Austin communities or even other countries, you can explain how the quality of â€Å"patience† will come in handy when convincing organizations to let you work with them. If you do a mission trip in another country, patience is often crucial for forming relationships and overcoming social or linguistic barriers, as well. The point of this example is to show how clearly you must organize the response and how the specific quality you discuss in your personal anecdote must also motivate your application to UT Austin. Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area? This topic confirms that UT Austin is searching for two things in applicants applying to a degree in architecture, art history, design, studio art, visual art studies/art education: 1) relevant past experiences and 2) how and why those experiences motivate you to pursue one of the above-mentioned fields. Discuss the reasons you chose social work as your first-choice major and how a social work degree from UT Austin will prepare you for the future. This topic essentially asks the same thing as Prompt N, for social work. Describe how your decision to pursue social work came about. Relate previous experiences in social work to how they will guide you in your pursuit down this career path. UT’s requirement of Prompt A and short answer essays is a chance for you to show off yet another aspect that readers have not been exposed to. Remember that an unforgettable essay can go a long way in convincing readers to grant you admission to the home of the Longhorns! Looking for additional guidance in essays or college apps in general? Check out our Essay Editing Program and College Apps Program . Want us to quickly edit your college essay? Submit it to our Rapid Review Program , and we’ll get it back to you quickly with comments from our expert team.