Amazon Swot Analysis

The company’s positioning and business model * Amazon is the first mover of virtual retail supercenter selling products which started off from selling only books online and also offer the lowest possible prices to its customers. * Thus, Amazon is likely to be seen as a ‘broad differentiator’ who is in the middle of differentiate and cost leaders approaches. * However, it can be seen as more leaning to differentiators as most of its past and current strategies are focusing more on innovation of services to its customers.For example, Amazon Fresh for grocery, 1-Click Checkout system, cloud computing and storage etc. * Amazon apply the second approach for market segmentation; it recognize the different customer groups and offers as various products as possible to the customers to attracts more sales and gain more market shares. Successful strategies * First mover of IT retailer shop, popular feature on website such as product reviews, rating * 1-Click system, Mix pur chase, The Amazon Associate program * Growing to sell music CDs, then electronics products and so on. Avoid distribution and stocking cost strategy: Free shipping deal/promotion, cooperate with B&M companies so buyers can pick up product at B&M stores. * Online services for small to medium business, sell its SOA software services * Zshops for used products, and Amazon Web Service These strategies allowed Amazon to obtain its competitive advantage over its rivals, as it’s a unique and utilize the existing distribution channel and IT services advantages Failure strategies Online auction; lost to eBay and the market trend ( fixed-price market booming) * Unbox, Search engine market (track its customer across WWW) * Amazon Prime and Kindle book reader; lost to Google free online data storage and iPad These failure strategies result in declining in stock prices and investing funds, which can be huge in some of the project ie. Kindle, It can be seen as inefficient move which can be avoid if Amazon had done more planning and market research beforehand.Recommendations * Amazon should focus more on cost controlling strategy because the persistent issue for Amazon is high value chain cost, such as IT infrastructure cost, innovation investing, and operating cost. * Amazon can also put more effort on proper market research or planning strategy for shareholder interests, as the CEO seem to be having fun to innovate new services and learning from the market responses, either good or bad, he seem to be okay with both as a learning experience.

Realism vs. Romanticism

Realism and romanticism have been writing styles that have been going on for centuries. Realism sprouted from romanticism around the late 1800s when people grew tired relating to the romanticisms â€Å"fairy tale† nature. People wanted a fake character going through many things they did on a daily basis. Edna and Hester represent each of these. Hester represents romanticism while Edna represents realism. Both of the characters are women in later times that go through the hardships close to their era. The Scarlet Letter is a romanticism novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hester is a young lady in the seventeenth century that is constantly surrounded by her sin of adultery. Throughout the novel, Hester becomes more of her own person as she cares for her daughter Pearl on the edge of the woods. The format of the novel is written in a romanticists way; formal and fitting for the setting. The writer also expresses splashes of color in the story to retain a positive outlook or effect as the novel goes on. Symbols in the novel are naturalistic, such as roses; the symbol of hope for change. Pearl is also a symbol; a symbol of transgression and Hester’s reason for living. The setting of the novel is slightly depressing, but grows into this mystical-like town as the novel goes on. Hester redeems herself for her sin, the letter â€Å"A† in her bosom’s meaning turns into â€Å"Able†. The story reveals more secret, though each one brings Hester closer and closer to closure on her sin. There is an antagonist as there usually always is for romanticism novel, though it is usually never the actual main character that is the true antagonist. Chillingworth bogs down on Dimmesdale, mentally tearing Dimmesdale apart to find out the father until helped by Hester. The Awakening is written by Kate Chopin. In the novel Edna is realistically trapped in her own world of self doubt and sense of unknowing. The novel is written in a modern setting, though the setting is much different. The explanation of the islands makes them seem bland and unlikeable. There is expressed color in the novel, but seems dulled out by the unhappiness of the ladies that inhabit the islands. There are many symbols, most of them consisting of the ocean; which represents freedom. Another, the parrot; is said to represent Edna; trapped. Edna is represented going through many ordinary circumstances of her time, being stressed with the concern to be the perfect house wife. Her life spirals downwards as she loses herself and eventually leaves her children in care of her mother. She is given time after time to redeem herself but only degrades herself by giving in to her own selfish human characteristics. Edna herself is the antagonist as she fights with her spiritual and physiological being for a better life, but eventually looses. Edna eventually gives up and swims as far out into the ocean, drowning herself; Thus, ending the novel. Both realism and romanticism reflect on life lessons and inspire many readers. This American literature is sure to be passed down from generation to look back and reflect on the possibilities in life. Both genres drastically changed the literature, and art movements.

Human Resource Management- Cases Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Human Resource Management- Cases Study - Essay Example The baby boomers were loyal workers that gave their lives for the companies they work for. The generation Y members have no loyalty for corporations and will work for the highest bidder that provides working environments that they like. The employee retention rate of companies among generation Y workers is much lower than other generations. 3. Generation Y workers will have to make adjustments in the workplace in order to be successful. The workers have to accommodate their styles to the corporate culture of their workplace. If the workplace has a specific dress code the generation Y workers have to act maturely and professional and follow the corporate guidelines. 1. I believe offshoring jobs to developing nations like India in a necessary strategic move that increase labor opportunities in India, while at the same time protecting thousands of jobs in America because the savings achieved in these arrangement are invested to improve the domestic business operations. 2. There are plenty of adjustments an employee needs to make when starting out in a job for an Indian company. There are cross cultural differences that must be studied in order to understand each other. When communicating with colleague one must act with respect and listen well perform making a respond. 1. The direct labor or non-managerial employees of a company represent a labor force whose behavior influences the performance outcome of a corporation. This group must be included in the design process of an incentive compensation plan. 3. The American Woodmark scorecard approach is an analytic tool whose application is more effective in flexible organizations. A company whose organizational structure follows a matrix mechanism can benefit from implementation of the Woodmark method because different team members would be able to receive unbiased feedback from outside workers that are not part of their immediate teams. 1. It is completely unethical to promise employee benefits and then many

Drama Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Drama - Essay Example â€Å"Well, all right. (Pause) Let’s see. (He reads.) I find that I am sexist. That I am  elitist. I’m not sure I know what that means, other than it’s a derogatory word, meaning â€Å"bad.† (Mamet, 2004). Also invasive in the play is the playwright’s use of the telephone, which never stops ringing and interrupting the characters, especially at key points of tension. â€Å"in class I†¦ (He picks up the phone.)  Ã‚  (Into phone:) Hello.  Ã‚  I can’t talk now.  Ã‚  Jerry?  Ã‚  Yes?  Ã‚  I underst †¦ I can’t talk now.  Ã‚  I know †¦ I know †¦ Jerry.  I can’t  talk  now† (Mamet, 2004). Mamet chooses the phone and office because they represent John’s threatened work life, and also, in the case of the phone, to introduce a sort of third, unintelligible, character. The use of the office changes between Act I and Act II of the play, but its purpose remains essentially the same: it is the space of tension in the play, as the audience tries to figure out what happened, and whether or not Carol was harassed. The office also informs the behavior of the characters, such as John’s patronizing, self-aggrandizing tone. â€Å"That I That I insist on wasting time, in nonprescribed, in self-aggrandizing and theatrical diversions  from the prescribed  text  that these have taken both sexist and pornographic forms here we find listed† (Mamet, 2004). When they are immersed in the world of the office that Mamet creates, the audience has to pay attention to the dialog and relationship between the characters. They are not distracted by different sets and a lot of decorations; the drama becomes the focal point. â€Å"All right?  Ã‚  I’m sure it’s going to be †¦ (Pause)  Ã‚  I hope so.  Ã‚  (Pause)  Ã‚  I love you, too.  Ã‚  (Pause)  Ã‚  I love you, too.  Ã‚  As soon as †¦ I will. (He hangs up.)† (Mamet, 2004). The office is also a space which, even though it technically remains the same, changes between Act I and Act II in terms of the way in which the audience sees

Four HR Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Four HR Questions - Essay Example However, it is vital to note that the decisions taken under particular situation may not hold good for all situations, in fact they may give negative results under different circumstances. This implies that effective leadership calls for consistently making situation based decisions. From literature, situational leadership advocates for greater participation of employee in decision making on the premise that the more employees participate in decision making the more they will accept the decisions taken. It with this line of thought that Vroom and Yetton (1973) proposed a Situational leadership model called the normative decision model. The normative model identifies five different decision procedures that range on the situation and level of involvement from autocratic to consultative to group-based decisions. Even though, situational leadership advocates for greater employee participation, Vroom and Yetton (1973) identified that not all decision making situations need to go throu gh the process of consultation. To enable leaders isolate the instances where decision making would require consultation from those where consultations would add little value, Vroom and Yetton (1973) formulated seven questions which leaders can use to determine the level of subordinate involvement in decision making. The seven questions touch on problem information, commitment, and decision quality and acceptance. Putting Vroom and Yetton (1973) normative model to use it can be discovered that consultation would be a waste of time in the following circumstances: (1) where the leader has sufficient information to make a high quality decision and acceptance of the decision by subordinates is not critical for its implementation; (2) where neither the nature of the solution nor the acceptance of the decision by subordinates is critical to the implementation of the decision; (3) where the nature of the solution is not critical and whatever the leader decides it is reasonably certain th at his / her subordinates would accept; (4) where the nature of the solution is critical but the leader has sufficient information to make a high quality decision. In this instance even though the acceptance of the decision by subordinates would be critical to its implementation, if the leader is reasonable certain that he / she has sufficient influence over his / her subordinates to the extent that they would most certainly accept his / her decision then consultations would be a waste of time. In conclusion, to enable effective decision making a leader would find using Vroom and Yetton (1973) seven questions and normative model a critical tool that will save him / her time, effort and likelihood of success for the decisions that he / she takes. Identify the potential difference in human resource management (HRM) policies between two organizations where one follows a low-cost strategy and the other follows a differentiated, quality enhancement

Organization's Management and organization's structure Essay

Organization's Management and organization's structure - Essay Example This essay discusses that organization involves prudent utilization of assets to accomplish the best out of the workers. Poor administration prompts despondent representatives who inevitably make issues that lead to problems for themselves and also the company. Leaders must set clear focuses for the colleagues. Managers must verify his colleagues work as one towards a common goal. He is the person who chooses what might be right in a specific circumstance. Managers must be mindful of what is occurring around them. Hierarchy orders ought to be all around characterized for a powerful administration. The reporting supervisors must survey the execution and advancement of their subordinates and aide them at whatever point needed. Efficient time management helps the workers to make the best choice within the provided time frame. Motivation issue is much wider than tying the workers together for teamwork and cooperation. Organization management alludes to the art of getting individuals toge ther on a typical stage to make them work towards a typical predefined objective. It empowers the ideal utilization of assets through careful arranging and control at the working environment. The administration gives an ability to read a compass to the workers. The people are very much aware of their parts and obligations and recognize what they should do in the association. Thus it becomes evident that effective organization management implies a variety of options to support all the aspects of the lifespan of the company.

The Future of Mass Media Programming Term Paper

The Future of Mass Media Programming - Term Paper Example The term paper "The Future of Mass Media Programming" analyzes the future of different types of mass media such as the broadcast and print medias. The paper discusses if their way of presenting the information will change due to the appearance of new technologies. The future of the mass media programming will comprise of a highly integrated single electronic system that will have the ability to output high-quality audio, video, and printed materials. In this case, everything will be obtained electronically, including newspapers, movies, videos. Everything is going digital, and in the future, it seems there will be more smart media devices, which will be controlled using voices. In ten years time, media landscape will be far much change whereby print and broadcast forms of media will be accessible via the internet. The Broadcast form of content will be replaced by streaming content. Many people will have large OLED screens connected to the internet. The large audience will be in a position to watch or view television at the same time globally. Printed physical materials such as books and newspapers will not be competent as compared to those that are accessible online. Eventually, publishing companies will have to collaborate with the internet to provide their information on time. So, the media companies will have to give the best quality of information since competition will be very high and profits will mainly depend on the value of information delivered and the number of the audience who find the information valuable. (Daud, 2008). Actually, there will be one main channel of information distribution, and it will only require one device that has access to the internet. Everything will be accessible in there, and this will force media companies to change their production strategies. Application of blogging will help the forms of media to persuade the audience to access information. All media companies and institutions will have to start a marketing strategy that will help in reaching a big audience. A global media policy m ust be established to protect media companies from hackers and a mode in which the companies will make a profit. Print media will have to make their products available online for easy access and selling. Bookstores will be having very few books on the shelves. The customer request for a book and it is printed and bind at that moment. However, it will be important to avail all books and other print resources in the internet, to ensure that there is easy access by the customers. Therefore, all publishing companies will have to provide all of their books online. Electronic books will be the best selling and maximize profits of the author and the publishing companies. Another strategy of availing the books to the readers is through the creation of audio books. Many people have a problem reading a book online because of different commitments, but they can listen to audio books while

Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Information Systems - Essay Example The next to be exhaustively discussed are the differences that make a company unique. A detailed examination of these unique qualities will be essential in determining how ERP or any software implementation no matter how the company complies with the standard as mandated by the software still manages to operate differently. Using SAP as an example of how applications affect or impact companies within the same industry this paper shall detail the way SAP is implemented. The details of how SAP is implemented hopefully would provide a logical explanation on how the company’s collective consciousness and culture influences the decision of every individual in the company. This paper shall similarly examine how the collective consciousness and culture is displayed if not manifested. ASAP or accelerated SAP is the process in which SAP is implemented or rolled-out in every company. The utility of the ASAP itself indicate the commonality of how SAP is implemented indicating that each c ompany has the same processes that could be automated by SAP (Khan, 2002). However, even if SAP’s implementation is managed uniformly, there exist variances in the way companies operate even if they are using the same application or were implemented in the same way. According to ASAP, the business processes of each company intending to implement SAP could be documented uniformly using the same discovery techniques. However, ASAP equally mandate that in the documentation of the business processes it is imperative that the business process owners (BPO) and the subject matter experts (SMEs) assist if not be the one to define the â€Å"as is† processes. In the development of the â€Å"to be† process, the SMEs and the BPOs are not only needed but is also essential (Keller & Krugger, 2002). The standards The IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) are not only accepted by companies all over the world but governments likewise use the standards imposed by IFR S in conducting audits to companies. The provisions and interpretations of each terminology are therefore the uniform and constant all over the world. The format in which reports are printed or displayed on screen is equally identical (Mackenzie, Coetsee, Njikizana, & Chamboko, 2011). To illustrate: The way â€Å"revenue† is defined in one country or specifically in a company is the same all over the world. This is similarly true for the word â€Å"expense† and â€Å"taxable income† and a few more. The way debit and credit is qualified is also the same including how it is presented in the books or ledgers of the company (Bragg, 2010). Regulatory Reports are the reports mandated by the government. A close examination of the reports of each country would reveal that even though the format maybe different but the contents are generally the same. The way Financial Statements are presented all over the world is also the same. This would include the way books are main tained and logged (Morley, 2009). Standard Management Reports for each industry is also the same. The contents are the same even the presentation is the same. However, even SAP acknowledges that there are some management reports containing specific information that are needed by a certain

New York Times Annotated Bibliography Essay Example for Free

New York Times Annotated Bibliography Essay 6 September, 2008. â€Å"U. S. Jobless Rate Rises Past 6%, Highest Since ‘03. † Uchitelle, Louis. New York Times. This article informs about the fact that the unemployment rate reached its highest level since 2003; causing workers to worry about the fact that many of them will be jobless and also centers on the high unemployment rate became one of the centers of the presidential debates. This article relates to our course since it suggests how unemployment can affect the economy as a whole and how inflation impacts the job status of a society. The article is also relevant to our course because it also gives the opinion of both McCain and Obama on the unemployment escalation and gives a glimpse of what both candidates would do about it. 9 September, 2008. â€Å"Who Else Can Pile on for a Federal Rescue? † Schwartz, Nelson D. New York Times. This article informs about the federal rescue of the companies Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The article also informs about the automakers worries and the bailout plans that Washington D. C. has proposed to help automakers out of the same financial crunch. It further opens a debate of whether or not we should allow companies to fail or if we should bail them out as has been proposed by some. This article relates to our course since it suggests that in our market economy we should be realistic enough to realize that at times companies do fail and that economic bail out plans are good as a quick fix but they fall short in the long term. Often we like to think that big business is above the common failings, but as we see from the recent events, big business is no longer an elite thing. It is just what it has always been, businesses that have been built over years with the hard work of the owners. Big business is no different then the small company and in this tough economic times this is spelled out clearly. 13 September, 2008. â€Å"Off the Charts: The Return of the Misery Index. † Norris, Floyd. New York Times. This article informs about the â€Å"misery index†. The misery index is the sum of the inflation rate and the unemployment rate over the preceding 12 months. The misery rate hasn’t been seen since the Carter administration, but yet in this year both rates have seen to be rising. The article also looks at how the misery index has risen in the past during the past presidencies. This article relates to our course since it suggests unless something is done, we are likely to not see an improvement in either the inflation rate or the unemployment rate. The article also is relevant to the course since it suggests by looking at this index we can have a very good gauge of how our economic atmosphere will fare in the coming months. 15 September, 2008. â€Å"A Video Contest To Illustrate Democracy. † Cohen, Noam. New York Times. This article informs about the International Democracy Day and the video contest that was created in conjunction with this day. The video contest offers students and people around the world the chance to say what democracy means to them. This article relates to our course since it talks about the importance of democracy on the global and business stage. Democracy is not just an American concept but one that transcends our country. The article also talks about the companies that are helping with this contest. The companies include NBC and YouTube. The partnership between these companies act as a hallmark for all of us because they are showing that everyone from all walks of life cars about democracy and through democracy we can work together. 18 September, 2008. â€Å"As Fears Grow, Wall St. Titans See Shares Fall. † White, Ben and Dash, Eric. Contributed reporting by Sorokin, Andrew R. New York Times. This article informs about the failing of Wall Street titans like Morgan Stanely and Goldman Sachs. The fear that other company could face the same fate as these giants has spread through Wall Street in the last few months. It is estimated that globally there are losses in the 100 billions as far as stocks are concerned. This article relates to our course since it suggests that the failure of investment firms such as Morgan Stanley affects not only the market here in the United States but also has an impact on the global market as well. We tend to forget when we think about our own economic bad times, that other countries the world over are also experiencing the same economic crunch. 23 September, 2008. â€Å"With Politics in the Air, a Freedom Free-for-All Comes to Town. † Cotter, Holland. New York Times. This article informs about an art exhibit that was going on at the Park Avenue Armory during the middle of September. This exhibit is a tongue-in-cheek look at the political system and demonstrates the true meaning of democracy: the right for people to express their views, no matter how differently they do it, and to show other people a different side to every subject. The art exhibit used speeches, music and silly hats to give people another side to the political elections. This article relates to our course since it suggests that elections and democracy can be talked about in a completely non-partisan, non-electoral but still intensely political way. People who went to the exhibit also got a first hand look at how the freedoms of our country allow for people to express themselves in the ways that they want to, which is what democracy is all about. 25 September, 2008. â€Å"Criticizing Capitalism From the Pulpit. † Pfanner, Eric. New York Times. This article informs about how even religious leaders have joined the crusade in criticizing America’s rogue style of capitalism. World religious leaders have taken the fall of Wall Street icons and used that as a means for criticizing the cowboy style of economics that America has been globally portrayed to utilize. This article relates to our course since it suggests that even a pulpit is a place where economics and business standards can be discussed from. Religion is as far from economics as one can get yet this article clearly shows that the global economics pictures is something that is on everyone’s mind, no matter where they live or what they do. We tend to forget that all things are connected and this article clearly shows us that everything in life is connected and has a more far reaching affect then we first may think. 1 October, 2008. â€Å"Brother, Can You Spare a Loan? † Tarquino, J. Alex. New York Times. This article informs about the credit crisis that the small business and individuals have faced in the last few months. The article also talks about the speculation of many in the business world that the escalation towards the credit crisis will only get worse and will eventually be the death of the small businessman. The article ends by saying that the saddest day for America will be the day that small business does die in this country. This article relates to our course since it suggests that in these frightening economic times we could see the end of the small business. American was founded on the ideals that anyone could make their dreams come true and if the credit crisis totally obliterates the small business it will be a sad day indeed for America. 3 October, 2008. â€Å"As Economy Weakens, Federal Reserve Officials Consider Lowering Rates. † Andrews, Edmund L. New York Times. This article informs about the Federal Reserve’s feelings on the Bush administrations economic bailout plan. According to the Fed, even if the bail out is approved it is too little to late and will do hardly nothing to stop the economic slow down from happening. The reason, in the Fed’s eyes, is that financial institutions are fearful of lending out cash and making bad investments. This article relates to our course since it suggests that the economic slow down affects everyone in our economic atmosphere. It also allows people to see how the Federal Reserve is interpreting what is happening so that the average citizen can gauge what they should do in this economic turmoil. 4 October, 2008. â€Å"End of an Era on Wall Street: Goodbye to All That. † Arango, Tim and Creswell, Julie. New York Times. This article informs about theft of a bronze bust of a saloon owner on Hanover Street. The saloon was a frequent favorite of Wall Street execs and the theft happened just as Wall Street was swept up in the financial whirlwind of economic troubles. This article isn’t about a theft of a statue, but more indicative of the times that we are living in when someone would take a well loved art piece, bound with tradition, to perhaps make a quick buck. This article relates to our course since it suggests that the traditions and ideals of Wall Street are slowly falling by the wayside as the economic crunch gets tighter. Wall Street has always been steeped in economic traction, but the theft of this well loved art piece shows that even tradition can be trampled in the hopes of making some money to pay your bills. 12 October, 2008. â€Å"Finance Students Keep Their Job Hopes Alive. † Leland, John. Contributed Reporting by Fairbanks, Amanda M. ; Koppel, Niko; and Zezima, Katie. New York Times. This article informs about the current job outlook for those who are thinking of making finance a possible career. The article talks about how for many business majors law school seems a viable option now more then ever. Others look at the current economic situation as just something they shouldn’t worry about since they have already figured that they will change jobs five or six times in their careers. This article relates to our course since as people who have made business our major (or for those who this is a first class and they haven’t made up their minds on this as a major) it is important to take a look at the job outlook that we will have to look forward to in the coming years. 14 October, 2008. â€Å"Commodity Prices Tumble. † Krauss, Clifford. New York Times. This article informs about how the global financial panic and economic slowdown has lead an end to the commodity bull market that we have seen in the last seven years. This ending of the commodity market has sent prices on the raw ingredients (such as oil) of the world economy tumbling to an all time low. This article relates to our course since it suggests that we don’t just have economic worries here in the United States, but that other countries are also worried about the current state of the economic situation. The United States is part of a broader wide sweeping world economy and the economic slowdown is not just affecting things here at home but also globally. This article clearly gives the reader a better idea of how the United States fits into the broader global economy. In our own economic hard times we tend forget that we are not alone, but are facing the same issues that other countries are. 19 October, 2008. â€Å"The Guys From ‘Government Sachs’. † Creswell, Julie and White, Ben. New York Times. This article informs about how Treasury secretary Paulson used his former firm of Goldman Sachs as a means to investigate what was happening on Wall Street prior to the financial difficulties. It also raises eyebrows and speculates about the amount of participation Goldman Sachs is being perceived to have in the Treasury Department. This article relates to our course since it speculates on corporate interference in a governmental department. In the world economics, such speculation is something that we have to watch carefully so that the economic system is not stained in anyway. When companies interfere with the running of government departments, it makes all actions that have sprung out of that suspect. By bringing Goldman Sachs into the Treasury, Paulson has created a suspicious circumstance that we all should learn from. That above all else is what should be learned from this article. 22 October, 2008. â€Å"China, an Engine of Growth, Faces a Global Slump. † Yardley, Jim and Bradsher, Keith. New York Times. This article informs about the slump in economic level of China. Always seen as the world’s workshop, the threat of global recession has many wondering if the prevailing Communist Party has the wherewithal to stop the further economic decline of China. The article makes a nice point in saying that China is the world economy gauge for how the economic slowdown will eventually affect everyone. This article relates to our course since it informs on how one country is dealing with the long reaching effects of the global financial slowdown. It is interesting to see how one country is going to deal with this global issue because then other countries have a blueprint by which to also take action. 28 October, 2008. â€Å"Denmark Is Rethinking It’s Spurning of the Euro. † Dougherty, Carter. New York Times. This article informs about looking closely at one country and the effect that the global financial situation has on it. Denmark, a country formerly against the euro, now is rethinking things because of the ice cold credit situations of the banks of Denmark. As it stands now a bare majority of Danes do back the adoption of the Euro. This article relates to our course since it suggests that countries that were previously opposed to a financial idea may now have to rethink their opposition as the global economy faces this slowdown. Every country has to figure out ways in which they are going to deal with the global financial crunch. It also relates to this class because it shows us how as a global economy we are all in the same boat. 29 October, 2008. â€Å"Paterson Sees a Budget Gap $47 Billion. † Hakim, Danny and Peters, Jeremy W. New York Times. This article informs about the deficit that the state of New York is facing and the loss of job in the 100,000 in the private sector. The article also suggests the ways in which the state plans on fixing the deficit. Deficits are something that we as a society have to watch carefully especially in these economically unstable times. This article relates to our course since it suggests that everyone, from the state level to the private sector, is affected by the financial crunch that is being seen globally as well as here at home. We tend to forget when we look at big businesses that the private sector is just as affected and this article gives us a glimpse into this fact. We all tend to forget that big business is run by people and people do make mistakes. 31 October, 2008. â€Å"Economy Shrinks With Consumers Leading the Way. † Goodman, Peter S. ; contributing reporting by Norris, Floyd and Zeleny, Jeff. New York Times. This article informs about how the drop in the economy is a bad precursor to the coming holiday seasons. Consumers who are being laid off and having their hours cut have less to spend this holiday season and this is being reflected in the economy more then ever. This especially hits home as we think about the upcoming holiday season, a time when consumer spending is at a high point. This article relates to our course since it shows how the economy is really a circular relationship. The consumer has to work to make money, but no job or less working hours leads to zero money to be spent. This article is important because everything in the world of business and life are interconnected and this article is a very good example of that idea. 4 November, 2008. â€Å"Wall Street’s Extreme Sport: In Modeling Risk, the Human Factor Was Left Out. † Lohr, Steve. New York Times. This article informs about how the risk models that have been used on Wall Street for years have failed due to not being applied, managed, or even understood. Technology that has been made use of on Wall Street has gotten ahead of our ability to act responsible. Often, we forget that technology is only as good as the people that run it, and as such has the capacity for many risks. This article relates to our course since it suggests that risk factors that are associated with the economic downturn come from every sector and that they have a more far reaching concern then we first thought. Risk factors are important to look at since by seeing where the risks have been in a situation, we can hopefully in the future prevent the same economic situation from happening again. 8 November, 2008. â€Å"Colleges Rich and Poor Strain to Respond in Tough Times. † Lewin, Tamar. New York Times. This article informs about how colleges are more then ever struggling to meet the financial needs of students. In the past, the majority of college students were able to fund their education through scholarships that the colleges and universities offered. In this tough economic time, that no longer looks like it will be an option. Students will have to rely more on grants (which may be just as limited), loans and paying out of pocket. This article relates to our course since it hits close to home about how the financial crisis that we are seeing everywhere even affects those of us in college. Previously, being in college meant all you had to do was study hard for finals. Now, though, even college students are feeling the economic burden. 9 November, 2008. â€Å"Remember That Capitalism is More Then a Spectator Sport. † Blinder, Alan S. New York Times. This article informs about the daunting tasks that are ahead for president elect Obama. Among these tasks are to restore a sense of fairness in and faith to our economic system. This article relates to our course since it gives a nice overview of how President-elect Obama needs to go about restoring the faith of he American people in the tattered economic system that has failed us time and again. In watching the elections, President-elect Obama made a lot of nice speeches about what he plans to do, and this article gives us a first glimpse of rather he will be successful or not. I think it is also a nice all inclusive article that sums up the ideals that we have been studying in this course.

Persuading the Teacher to let me do my Research Paper on Prison Essay Example for Free

Persuading the Teacher to let me do my Research Paper on Prison Essay Abstract   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The United States is currently facing an overcrowding crisis in its prisons today. Increased rate of crime and the refusal by the relevant state authorities to expand the number of correctional facilities has put a strain to the existing prisons. This has been recently been revisited in the national forums with calls from the concerned stakeholders to address the situation before it gets out of hand. Overcrowding according to prison authorities has reached peak levels to an extent that inmates are forced to share cells. The negative impacts of overcrowding are known and they include aggression and a higher likelihood of disease spreading (Paulus, P et al 112).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This situation needs to be arrested. There exist many strategies on the table that can be used to curb overcrowding. These would range from building new facilities, alternative correctional methods and proper designs of the correctional facilities. (www.johnhoward.ab.ca). The purpose of this short essay is to apply all the persuasive and writing schools acquired, use them to convince my instructor on why I should be allowed to tackle the above topic.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this paper, I shall look at the resources that are they’re touching on this topic, and use them to present a solid case and position regarding the topic. This all is meant to prove to my instructor that this is a topic worthy tackling and that I am the right person. The possible thesis statement for the essay will be: The federal government should allocate adequate resources to alleviate the problem of overcrowding in our prisons. This thesis statement emanates form a personal belief and strong conviction that the situation as it stands in our prisons breeds more problem that it seeks to solve. The government has a key duty to provide essential services to all the citizens of this nation in spite of the status in life. The inmates are no lesser human beings than us ad deserve all the resources possible to make their stay in prison meaningful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are two very specific reasons that have aroused my intense interest of covering this specific topic. The first is my background and secondly is my interest in championing for human rights. Having been born and bred in a crime prone environment I have a first hand experience with criminals and a better understanding of why people indulge in crime. The political, social and economical factors that can lead to crime. The prisons are supposed to be correctional facilities and not to excessively punish and waste the potentials possessed by the inmates.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In writing this research paper I intend to utilize a large number of resources. The Internet and the library will provide a good source of information on overcrowding. Goggle scholar for example has lots of articles covering this topic. For example an article by Anne Bolduc â€Å"our crowded prisons† provides useful insights (Pg 45-57). From the library, a book by Stephen D, et al (America’s correctional crisis, Pg 12-56) focuses on the topic. There will be supplemented by other journal articles and materials from the web. This is an interesting topic and I plan to invest a lot of my time to expound more on the existing information. Works Cited Paulus, P, Cox V McCain, G: Death rates, Psychiatric commitments, blood pressure and perceived crowding as a function of institutional crowding. Environmental psychology and non-verbal behavior, 3, 1978. 107-116 Prison overcrowding. John Howard Society of Alberta, 1996. Retrieved on 21/09/07 from http://www.johnward.ab.ca/pub/c42.htm Anne Bulduc. Our crowded prisons, animals of the American academy of political and social science. 1985, 45-57 Stephen D. Gottfredson, Sean McConville. America’s Correctional Crisis. Prison populations and public policy. Greenwood Press, 1987, 12-56