The Convergence of Business and Technology

The Convergence of Business and Technology While technological convergence is no longer a new idea, the fascination with the subject lies with the capabilities and applications of both hybrid and brand new technological platforms and the ways previous stand alone industries, have been reconfigured and thereby mobilised to provide enhanced service delivery. Such convergence pertains to the â€Å"digitisation of communications and the ways discrete media formats have become accessible to other media forms; have been further factors in this process† (Saltzis, 2007). In technical terms, Saltzis (2007) reminds us that â€Å"the new technologies convergence can be attributed to developments in digitization, bandwidth and compression; as well as interactivity. Moreover, the rapidity and pervasiveness of technological convergence has seized the entrepreneurial imagination and arrested the attention of economic rationalists, with respect to â€Å"the devices used by institutions within the communications and media industries, as well as the information they process, distribute, and exchange over and through these devices† (Mosco and McKercher 2008: 37). Such convergence also focuses upon the â€Å"integration of or interface between and among different media systems and organizations, made possible by the development of new technologies† (Mosco and McKercher 2008: 37). With this being said, a more fertile field to explore, derives from the recognition that while technology continues to converge, so does the corporate world. The nub of this issue is the nature and extent of the link between these two types of convergence, and the nuanced ways in which one shapes and is shaped by the other. Corporate convergence, according to Babe (1996:284-285) refers to the â€Å"mergers, amalgamations, and diversifications, whereby media organisations come to operate across previously distinct industry boundaries.† Babe extends this explanation stating that corporate convergence refers to the non-technical features of convergence, which also â€Å"contribute to the blurring of industry boundaries† (Babe 1996: 284-285). Examples he cites in the 1990’s from his Canadian context include â€Å" Time Warner combining book publishing, music recording, and movie making, not to mention cable television, (while) Rogers Communications, Inc. engage in n ewspaper and magazine publishing, long-distance and cellular telephony, cable television, and radio/television broadcasting† (Babe 1996: 284-285). While it is self evident that â€Å"corporate convergence promotes and is promoted by technological convergence† (Mosco and McKercher 2008: 37), closer attention is warranted to examine the nature of the promotion and the ways these two significant convergences influence each other. It is illuminating as we do this to itemise dimensions of technological convergence, to begin to pinpoint the areas of synergy between technology and corporate enterprise. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has been helpful in its examination of convergence, by singling out ‘device convergence,’ ‘network convergence,’ ‘service convergence’ and ‘regulatory convergence’ (ITU 2008). While the ITU cites examples of devices include mobile phone, camera and internet access device, network examples include fixed-mobile convergence and next-generation networks (ITU 2008). Moreover, service convergence is exemplified by voice services over th e internet; not to forget regulatory convergence for broadcasting and telecommunications, citing the example of the Office of Communication (Ofcom) in the United Kingdom (ITU 2008). The view of convergence from the corporate stakeholder, according to Andriole (2005:28), is ideally a â€Å"multi-disciplinary, anticipatory, adaptive and cautious† one, no longer about â€Å"early adoption of unproven technology,† but instead about questions of â€Å"business technology acquisition, deployment and management† (Andriole 2005: 28). The sense that the momentum has changed within the corporate sector, prompting corporate leaders to be ready to have ‘convergence conversations’ is clearly articulated by Andriole (2005). It is advocated that companies will benefit by thinking in terms of â€Å"business technology convergence plans† (Andriole 2005: 28). Instead of technology being a footnote or a discrete department within a corporation, through its own array of convergences, it now occupies a central position in underpinning corporate cultures. As a response to this generational shift in consciousness, business planning now closely consults with technological providers, shaping corporate decisions and goals. This change of thought led spawned a new series of business planning questions, which demonstrate some of the links between technological and corporate convergence. Questions which illustrate this include: â€Å"‘How does technology define and enable profitable transactions?’; ‘What business models and processes are underserved by technology?’; ‘Which are adequately or over-served by technology?’† (Andriole 2005: 29) Now when strategic planning is tabled as an agenda item within companies, the matter of technological capabilities is taken seriously, as corporations realise that sidelining technological innovation, is a stepping stone towards giving away market edge to one’s competitors. Indeed, Andriole (2005: 30) forewarns of the perils of business technology segmentation. Instead of a new business initiative being conceived then asking what technological capability exist to support it, Andriole (2005: 30) argues that technologists must be present as part of the materialisation process of a company’s development goals and strategies. One fundamental area a business model which values efficiency and effectiveness is the calibre of the internal and external communications systems and infrastructure. In the 21st century business context of global interfacing, communications which are â€Å"pervasive, secure and reliable† (Andriole 2005: 30), are a base line issue. The incentive to acquire such state of the art systems is one factor driving further technological convergence, as the market demand fosters technological innovation to bring market edge to communications. The airline industry is a practical case in point, with specific international airlines branding being fostered by the level of their onboard entertainment systems for travelling customers. Some international airlines have invested heavily in this component of their corporate identity to enhance their market niche, displaying convergence through the multi-media, multi-channel video and music on demand, personalised entertainment systems, which now permit replay and play back functions (Yu 2008). We are reminded us that a large area of compatibility and synchronicity between technological and corporate convergence relates to the classical knowledge networks, such as universities, corporations and investors, who derive great benefits from convergence, finding more penetrating ways to exchange information and knowledge, their primary resource Saltzis (2007:2). Additionally, since political, economic and financial power is derived from shared information, the value of corporate convergence to the stock markets and to companies is self evident. In relation to the priming of information flow via the synergy between corporate and technological convergence, some observers are beginning to draw attention to the sociological trend that knowledge, through these processes, has become less of a community resource and increasingly a commodity. As information is commodified, it is packaged to target specific interest groups and economic stakeholders, who prize specific knowledge for specif ic outcomes, in terms of client need and demand. This instance of the knowledge super highway shows that knowledge can be ‘positioned’ within the market with greater precision through convergence, yet , in so doing, may easily lose its original contextual underpinnings that imbued it with richer nuances of meaning in the first place. This phenomenon is perhaps no more evident than in cable television, where networks and individual channels are devoted to specific content delivery 24 hours a day. The downside of course, is that information must be assimilated rapidly on the take up side by the media corporation, just as it is foisted upon the consumer with a ‘forced- feed’ pretext, to make room for the next feed. Information, through such convergent capabilities, that permit ‘bites’ of knowledge to be digitally transferred globally and instantaneously, allows knowledge to be stripped of the framework in which it emerged, just as it is quickly, y et superficially digested by the global consumer. When information held the status of being a community resource, rather than a global commodity, it could be used at the will of the consumer, for their own determined purpose, rather than the commodified purpose preselected by the respective media conglomerates that perpetuate the promulgation of endless information. Further challenges to technological and corporate convergence trends, apart from dilution of meaning due to the multiplicity and potentially splintering of sources, according to ITU (2008) concerns, â€Å"content distribution and management, sustainability and scalability, innovation management, competitive dynamics, tariff policies, network security, regulatory coherence and consumer protection† (ITU 2008). While the broadening of avenues for content distribution has the allure of versatility, the revolutionary distribution of music in the past decade illustrates the potency of convergence, threatening to undermine the very industry it was seeking to promote. I-Tunes and other legal internet based distribution pathways for music radically altered the income and revenue streams derived from popular music providers globally. While the consumer was benefited through the open door of access to music, (just as the educational market was reconfigured once educational corporations b egan to exploit the potentialities of online delivery of educational content at school and university level), the demand for live music globally initially declined, yet has now been buoyed up by the benefits of enhanced global exposure, on account of the global penetration capacity of online music. Another aspect of this link that has pressurised corporations like never before has been how to safeguard the integrity of informational, entertainment or intellectually creative products, once they are so widely available via the world wide web. The proliferation of cloned products has the tendency to diminish the quality, reputation or demand for the original. Corporations have had to weigh the benefits of more universal distribution, against this tendency to have the integrity of a product compromised. This, in one sense has been as much about re-education of the consumer, who remains driven by the desire for quality in many instances, overlooking the detracting influence of You-Tube look alike musical bands renditions of hit singles by either reputable or promising new talent. Patently, issues of security remain paramount, in this race towards virally changing convergences, whether it is the protection of personal data by entertainment companies, the finance sector or an individual relying upon social networking websites to foster their new relationships. Banks reputation for safety once built at the store front only, to remain competitive amid their market rivals, has now shifted to the quality and integrity of their web presence. This same notion extends of course, to an ever growing margin of the retail sector, and the sporting sectors, who realise that within the 21st century era of the new media users, the ‘digital native’ populations will increasingly rely upon web based sources for their interfacing with the world. Ironically, even large scale media conglomerations recognize the technological convergence can allow the operator of a mobile phone with a camera component, to drive world changing conditions, in the event that anybody happen s to be at the right place at the right time, and films an international crisis on the telephone, then posts it on the web, embarrassingly before a major news corporation has the time or the infrastructure to outrun them. This realization has brought a new sense of recognition from major news broadcasters, to the power and penetration of websites like You-Tube, creating in journalists a scrutinizing eye for such alternate culture havens to assist the construction of mainstream breaking news stories. The future looks bright for the ongoing convergence of technologies and corporate agendas. We are reminded of the profound benefits of the digitization revolution, yielding â€Å"enormous gains in transmission speed and flexibility over earlier forms of electronic communication,† (Mosco McKercher 2008: 38) â€Å"extending the range of opportunities to measure and monitor, package and repackage entertainment and knowledge† (Mosco Mckercher 2008: 38). Nonetheless, the need to balance economic welfare and human welfare continues to be of concern, and one of the many implications of the increasing reciprocity, between technological and corporate convergence. In the field of media journalism news production convergence, Klinenburg reiterates that convergence facilitates a more rapid confluence of sources impinging upon an event or a story, yet it also intensifies the pressures upon the journalists time to â€Å"conduct interviews, go out into the field, research and write† (2007: 128). The processing time available at the human level continually diminishes, and when the technical speed is permitted to eclipse the human processes of digestion of knowledge and subsequent reflection, the result may ironically, in spite of a seemingly infinitely greater number of sources, be inferior, less news worthy and more insubstantial, than in would have been if the journalist had to rely upon more traditional methods of crafting a story to be broadcast or published. While we have such warnings of convergence being manifest as a â€Å"concentration of technological ownership, in the form of the global media conglomerates† (Saltzis 2007), occurring in tandem â€Å"at the three levels of networks, production and distribution† (Saltzis 2007), it is prudent to be cogniscent of the fact that such monopolization can create an hegemonic corporate empire, allowing such media outlets to in effect be massive funnels for particular ideological positions. Divergence of ownership, on the other hand, may be a way to democratise control and use of these powerful message delivery mechanisms, yet without inbuilt check and balance systems, the corporate stakeholder will rarely consider that their over- influence in the market place of ideas is detrimental to society. Since convergence researchers are ambivalent about the relative degree to which the â€Å"conglomeration of the global media has been the causal factor of technical convergence, or whether it is its by-product† (Saltzis 2007), there remains much to scrutinize, as we more globally to a yet more convergent means of conducting business; as well as producing, disseminating and consuming information, for diverse purposes. Saltzis’s observations seem pertinent in the final analysis. While the â€Å"benefits of these transitions include the merging of consumer bases; the creation of synergies with shared resources (utilising economies of scope and scale); as well as cross-promotion, the instability of the global media system, with its intense competition, advertising, peer-to-peer file sharing technologies, have established significant challenges for both the music and film industries† (Saltzis 2007). The matter of e-regulation is, as Saltzis asserts, â€Å"in its infa ncy† (2007), with many more competing political, economic and ethical questions to consider, as the global market place continues to converge. Bibliography Mosco, V. McKercher, C. (2008) The Laboring of Communication: Will Knowledge Workers of the World Unite? Rowman Littlefield Saltzis, K. (2007) Corporate and Technological Convergence (Lecture 8): New Media and the Wired World MS2007. International Telecommunications Union (2008) World Telecommunications Policy Forum 2009 ‘Convergence’, accessed December 13, 2008 from http://www.itu.int/osg/csd/wtpf/wtpf2009/convergence.html Yu, R (2008) Airlines Upgrade Entertainment in Economy Cabin USA Today retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-05-05-inflight-entertainment_N.htm December 13, 2008.

Jihad: Moving Beyound Cultural Biases and Misconceptions Essay

The concept of Jihad was not widely known in the western world before the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Since then, the word has been woven into what our media and government feed us along with notions of Terrorism, Suicide Bombings, Hamas, Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, and now, Jihad. Our society hears exhortations resounding from the Middle East calling the people to rise up in Jihad and beat back the imperialist Americans. Yet, if we try to peel back all of these complex layers of information we can we attempt to find out what Jihad really means. Webster’s Dictionary defines Jihad as â€Å"a holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty or a crusade for a principle or belief† (1). Often, media depicts Jihad in the same manner—as a vicious clash between two very different peoples, each of whom believes that righteousness, and in many cases God, is on their side. From this interpretation and our daily media intake, one may re asonably assume that Jihad refers to nothing more than violent acts, or â€Å"holy wars.† While there is no precise definition of the term, the meaning of Jihad is far more complex. In fact, the term Jihad generally refers to the struggle one must undertake as one â€Å"strive[s] in the path of God† (Church 110). That struggle is defined both externally and internally. As so, they are classified in terms of an external struggle with enemies or non believers, or an internal struggle with oneself to reject greed and temptation. While popular opinion has been misconstrued to see Jihad as a malevolent, violent action; a serious investigation of the term’s historical and religious background reveals a multi-defined word. An examination of the Jihad’s etymological context will lend a k... ... As Americans, we must approach Jihad with sensitivity, an admission of our ignorance on the subject, and an earnest attempt to properly educate ourselves. Works Cited Church, Kenneth. â€Å"Jihad.† Collateral Language. Ed. John Collins and Ross Glover. New York: NYU Press, 2000. 109-123. Engineer, Asghar Ali. â€Å"The Real Meanings of Jihad.† December 2001. 1 October 2003.Husaq, Nina. E-mail to the author. 19 October 2003. Juergensmeyer, Mark. Terror In The Mind Of God. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (6th Edition) Springfield: Merriam-Webster, 1999.Rogers-Melnick, Ann. â€Å"Jihad Misused, Misunderstood.† Post-Gazette 23 September 2001. 2 October 2003. The Qu’ran. LXI:11, p.398; IX:41, p.149. Witham, Larry. â€Å"Muslims See Wordplay as Swordplay in Terrorism War.† The Washington Post. 24 July 2002. 3 October 2003.

Digital Single-lens Reflex Camera

Brochure More information from http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/2104103/ Digital Camera Market in India 2012 Description: Digital camera market in India can be characterized with strong growth potential in the ensuing years. Currently, the market is mainly dominated by a handful of players and a cut-throat competition exists amongst these players. The market was valued at INR 17. 5 bn during the fiscal year 2010 and is expected to attain a CAGR of 43% to reach INR 104. 6 bn by 2015. Rising disposable income and increased consumerism primary boosts the market in India.The report begins with a market overview, which provides an insight to the overall digital camera market. It describes the primary reasons which are propelling the market forward. The section also talks about the prevailing competition amongst major players and the market size and growth figures in India in terms of revenue as well as total camera units. This section also features Porter’s five forces a nalysis of the digital camera market in India, thereby offering a clear picture of the market scenario and market entry barriers for prospective new entrants.This section is followed by the technology section which enlightens the readers about the image sensors used in digital cameras for producing images. The sensors discussed in the report comprise of CMOS and CCD sensors. The section enlists the working procedures and advantages of these sensors, thereby providing detailed information about the Pros and Cons of each individual sensor. Distribution model section of the report briefly summarizes the various channels of product distribution, adopted by major players in the market to sell their products.It brings forth the present marketing strategies put in place by the players so as to increase their market reach and penetration. Pricing strategy analysis of top three vendors in the market have been derived after an in-depth analysis of the players concerned. The list generated aft er the research offers valuable insight about the various lucrative segments in the market. This section also features a separate analysis column which helps in clearly distinguishing the prime product segments on which these vendors primarily emphasize on.An analysis of the drivers and challenges explains the factors leading to the growth of the market including increased disposable income, declining prices, rise in e-commerce, increased travel plans and growing inclination for digital cameras. Strong opportunity exists in the market as increasing disposable income and higher consumption pattern drive the demand for digital cameras. This coupled with the fact that the increasing travel plans and constant decline of prices will lead to a developing market.Additionally, growing tendency to own a digital camera and to be able to share images online will fuel growth in this market. The key challenges identified are presence of grey market and emergence of Smart devices with camera feat ures. Basically, grey markets sell products prior to their official launch at comparatively lower prices and hence consumers are attracted by the fact of getting the latest product first hand, which in turn reduces the revenue generated by the overall market.The unprecedented growth in adoption of smart devices capable of capturing high quality images is also a factor hindering the full fledged growth in the market. A majority of the population still prefer devices such as Smartphones as a substitute of digital cameras. The prime reason for this tendency happens to be the common notion to own a multifunction product. Trends identified in the market comprise of introduction of mirrorless cameras, maintaining an India specific product portfolio, providing attractive features and specific focus on a particular range of products.Some of the key players in the market have introduced the mirrorless cameras in their product portfolio. This segment has attracted a lot of attention as these products have a comparatively lower body weight and are much more compact as compared to bulky DSLR cameras and hence owing to the portability quotient, these devices are finding a growing acceptability amongst both consumers as well vendors. It is also seen that most of the major players in the market India specific product portfolio wherein they price their products by keeping in mind the fact that India is a price sensitive country.Off late, the digital camera market has also seen the emergence of products with attractive features such as swivel LCD screens, direct image sharing over the internet, HD video recording and 3D imaging amongst other. Players are primarily incorporating these attractive features so as to lure consumers and gain a competitive edge over their competitors. Lastly, the key players in the market have exhibited a common tendency to bank upon a particular range of products. They spend a substantial amount of their operating expenses for the marketing of these products.This strategy is primarily adopted so as to increase brand visibility and awareness amongst consumers. The competition section provides detailed information about the competitive landscape in the market and includes a detailed profile of the major players in the market. This section covers crucial information about the players such as their corporate information, business highlights, a brief history of their respective corporate activities and sales intelligence. It further elaborates on the player’s detailed SWOT analysis and a comprehensive list of their product portfolio.A separate section on the future strategies of key vendors is also included in the report which gives value added information about the future plans of the top vendors in the market. This section highlights the key areas which these vendors are currently focusing on, so as to generate a better amount of revenue and garner a larger share in the overall market. The report concludes with a section o n strategic recommendations which comprises of an analysis of the growth strategies of the digital camera market in India. Contents:Page 1: Executive Summary Market Overview Page 2: Digital Camera Market – Overview; Digital camera – Market Size (FY 2010-2015e), Page 3: Porter’s Five Forces Analysis – Digital Camera Market Technology Page 4: Image Sensors – Working; Advantages Distribution Model Page 5: Distribution Model – Consumer Electronic Stores, Retail Showroom, Channel Partners, Distributors and Dealers Pricing Strategy Analysis of Top 3 Vendors Page 6: Pricing Strategy – Point and Shoot Segment Page 7: Pricing Strategy – DSLR Segment Drivers and Challenges Page 8: Summary Page 9-13: Drivers Page 14: Challenges Trends Page 15: Summary 16-17: Trends Competition Page 18: Canon Inc – Corporate Information; Sales Intelligence; Brief History and Business Highlights Page 19: Canon Inc – SWOT Analysis Page 20-23: C anon Inc – Product Portfolio Page 24: Eastman Kodak Company – Corporate Information; Sales Intelligence; Brief History and Business HighlightsPage 25: Eastman Kodak Company – SWOT Analysis Page 26: Eastman Kodak Company – Product Portfolio Page 27: FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation – Corporate Information; Sales Intelligence; Brief History and Business Highlights Page 28: FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation – SWOT Analysis Page 29-31: FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation – Product Portfolio Page 32: Nikon Corp – Corporate Information; Sales Intelligence; Brief History and Business Highlights Page 33: Nikon Corp – SWOT Analysis Page 34-36: Nikon Corp – Product Portfolio Page 37: Olympus – Corporate Information; Sales Intelligence; Brief History and Business Highlights Page 38: Olympus – SWOT Analysis Page 39-41: Olympus – Product Portfolio Page 42: Panasonic Corporation – Corporate Information; Sales Int elligence; Brief History and Business Highlights Page 43: Panasonic Corporation – SWOT Analysis Page 44-47: Panasonic Corporation – Product Portfolio Page 48: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. – Corporate Information; Sales Intelligence; Brief History and Business Highlights Page 49: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. – SWOT Analysis Page 50-53: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Product Portfolio Page 54: Sony Corp – Corporate Information; Sales Intelligence; Brief History and Business Highlights Page 55: Sony Corp – SWOT Analysis Page 56-57: Sony Corp – Product Portfolio Future Strategies of Key Vendors Page 58: Future Strategy – Major Players Strategic Recommendations Page 59: Strategic Recommendations List of Charts & Figures Market Overview 1. Digital Camera Market Size – Revenue (FY10 – FY15e) 2. Digital Camera Market Size – Volume (2010-2015e) 3. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis Pricing Strategy – Digital Camera Market 4. Pricing Strategy – Point and Shoot Segment 5. Pricing Strategy – DSLR Segment Drivers and Challenges 6. 7. 8. 9. Total no. f household (mn) – (2005, 2015e, 2025e) Aggregate Annual Disposable Income (2005, 2015e, 2025e) e-Commerce market growth – India (2010 – 2015e) Travel and Tourism – Size and Growth (2010 – 2020e) List of Tables Distribution Model 1. Sales Channel – Major Vendors Competition 2. Major Players a. Corporate Information b. Sales Intelligence c. SWOT Analysis d. Product Portfolio Future Strategy of Key Vendors 3. Future Strategy – Major Vendors Ordering: Order Online – http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/2104103/ Order by Fax – using the form below Order by Post – print the order form below and send to Research and Markets, Guinness Centre, Taylors Lane, Dublin 8, Ireland. Page 1 of 2 Fax Order FormTo place an order via fax simply print this form, fill in the i nformation below and fax the completed form to 646-6071907 (from USA) or +353-1-481-1716 (from Rest of World). If you have any questions please visit http://www. researchandmarkets. com/contact/ Order Information Please verify that the product information is correct and select the format(s) you require. Product Name: Web Address: Office Code: Digital Camera Market in India 2012 http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/2104103/ OC8DJJJMQQSOPR Product Formats Please select the product formats and quantity you require: Quantity Electronic Single User: Electronic Site License: Electronic Enterprisewide: EUROâ‚ ¬ 595. 00 EUROâ‚ ¬ 1,190. 0 EUROâ‚ ¬ 1,785. 00 Contact Information Please enter all the information below in BLOCK CAPITALS Title: First Name: Email Address: * Job Title: Organisation: Address: City: Postal / Zip Code: Country: Phone Number: Fax Number: * Please refrain from using free email accounts when ordering (e. g. 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Free Essays on Noble Lie

Phil. #1 – Noble lie In order to understand these different arguments of telling a noble lie one must first understand what it is exactly that a noble lie is and how it should be considered when assessing a question like this. The way I understand a noble lie is that it is a lie that is told in order to keep some sort of control over society, along with it a sense of organization over a group of people. Once a noble lie is told in this form we can assume that people would realize their destinies and understand that they have certain duties to perform because they were given certain metals in their bodies. The question of this assessment is why were these lies told? Is it ever ok to tell a noble lie? Over the next couple of pages I will try to explain the different arguments for and against these questions. Plato feels that the people should not even be able to control themselves. He thinks that the people should be controlled by a higher power. Thus, might be the reasoning for telling the people a noble lie, in order to lay a foundation for people to assume their roles in life. Plato argues, that the masses of people should be split up into different groups in order to achieve certain levels of balance. Plato says that guardians will be guardians, while those who are to be guardians soon can be in training, these people called auxiliaries, and there should be farmers, merchants, craftsmen, and poor people as well. When this occurs people will then know their place in society, and there should be little conflict among them. However, this does not mean that all people will be satisfied with their roles and duties, so Plato and Socrates reveal this Myth of the Metals in order to claim some sense of unity. Otherwise there would be a lot of fighting and agitation between these class es. One question that needs to be considered for this is what makes a lie noble in the first place? Is a lie noble because it is for the be... Free Essays on Noble Lie Free Essays on Noble Lie Phil. #1 – Noble lie In order to understand these different arguments of telling a noble lie one must first understand what it is exactly that a noble lie is and how it should be considered when assessing a question like this. The way I understand a noble lie is that it is a lie that is told in order to keep some sort of control over society, along with it a sense of organization over a group of people. Once a noble lie is told in this form we can assume that people would realize their destinies and understand that they have certain duties to perform because they were given certain metals in their bodies. The question of this assessment is why were these lies told? Is it ever ok to tell a noble lie? Over the next couple of pages I will try to explain the different arguments for and against these questions. Plato feels that the people should not even be able to control themselves. He thinks that the people should be controlled by a higher power. Thus, might be the reasoning for telling the people a noble lie, in order to lay a foundation for people to assume their roles in life. Plato argues, that the masses of people should be split up into different groups in order to achieve certain levels of balance. Plato says that guardians will be guardians, while those who are to be guardians soon can be in training, these people called auxiliaries, and there should be farmers, merchants, craftsmen, and poor people as well. When this occurs people will then know their place in society, and there should be little conflict among them. However, this does not mean that all people will be satisfied with their roles and duties, so Plato and Socrates reveal this Myth of the Metals in order to claim some sense of unity. Otherwise there would be a lot of fighting and agitation between these class es. One question that needs to be considered for this is what makes a lie noble in the first place? Is a lie noble because it is for the be...

The Coca Cola Company and Its Myths

The Coca Cola Company and Its Myths Free Online Research Papers Research shows that The Coca Cola Company has become a prominent corporation, with branches in over two hundred countries. An analysis has been conducted to identify the elements that have made this company successful. The findings vary from the approach of its employees to the cultural issues, to the company’s marketing strategies. The myths that have surrounded Coca Cola through the decades will also be explored with the intention of finding the impact they have had in the company’s growth. The Coca-Cola Company and its Myths Introduction Coca Cola products can be found practically anywhere in the world, such as on the tables of people in Tanzania, one of the poorest countries, and on the tables of the wealthiest people in the United States, where the company was founded. The success of this worldwide organization can be attributed to more than just its flavorful beverages. The following elaborates on the company’s mission, product line, organizational structure, and its marketing strategies. A brief overview of some of the myths that have surrounded Coca Cola will also be helpful in finding out how a backyard operation evolved into a multi-million dollar business. Coca-Cola’s Background Coca Cola has been linked to American culture for many years. John Pemberton, who invented the formula in his own back yard, founded Coca Cola in 1886 in Atlanta, Georgia. The first serving of Coca Cola was sold at a pharmacy in Georgia on May 8, 1886. This company has since grown into a multi-million dollar industry, in large part due to their mission and goals. One of the major strengths of Coca Cola is their capability to conduct business on an international scale while sustaining a local approach. To date, this company now produces nearly 400 brands, expanding to over 200 countries worldwide. Coca Cola’s vision involved adapting and evolving to the business conditions of each day. They also embodied employees who upheld strong ideals, commitment, and integrity. The Coca Cola Company believes that there are many experiences in the world and in life to rejoice, enliven, reinforce, and care for (Coca Cola, 2004). One of the missions of the Coca Cola Company is to dev elop a higher quality of life in communities. They are greatly involved in methods and programs, which promote improving individual opportunity through education. Programs that they support and contribute to include: scholarships for aspiring students, encouragement to young people of the importance of staying in schools, and the development of cultural understanding and appreciation (Coca Cola, 2004). Organizational Structure and Targeted Consumers The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone it touches. The company is the worlds leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, used to produce nearly four hundred beverage brands. The corporate headquarters are in Atlanta, with local operations in over two hundred countries around the world. (www.2cocla-cola.com) The basic proposition of the business is solid and timeless. When bringing the refreshment, value, joy and fun to the stakeholders, then they successfully nurture and protect the brands, particularly Coca-Cola. That is the key to fulfilling the ultimate obligation to provide consistently attractive returns to the business owners. The company is committed to manage business with a consistent set of values that represent the highest standard of quality, integrity and excellence. Through actions as local citizens, they strive everyday to refresh the market place, enrich the work place, protect the environment, and strengthen the communities (www.2cocla-cola.com). The company’s target is to reach everyone’s home, from young children to the older public. It is the most recognized trademark in the world. The reputation of the Coca-Cola Company is built on trust. They seek to develop relationships with suppliers and share familiar values and conduct business in an ethic al manner (Leith, S. 2002). Marketing and Advertisement Strategies When it comes to marketing, â€Å"The objective of Coca-Cola’s advertisements is to strategically position their product in people’s minds in order to maximize its acceptance. This strategy would in some way or another have a correlation to the changing social values of the period. Trying to keep step with each generation and era has been an important factor in advertising for Coke.† (oppapers.com) The marketing view must penetrate all other views to make a firm successful in the marketplace. Marketing forecasts and plans are multi-factor calculations and predictions, where holistic approaches are needed. Coke uses careful marketing research to discover the trends and desires of target markets, creates products to meet those needs, and then plans ad campaigns to lure in the targeted market segments. It would be ideal if the information gleaned through this process was exclusive, but eventually other soft drink companies pick up on Coke’s trends and try to use it to their advantage as well, at which time Coca-Cola starts the process over. The format in which the information is delivered to decision makers is not as important as the way they then use the information in the effort to win or keep customers. An example of Coca-Cola’s use of marketing is evident in the new advertising campaign, which the company believes, â€Å"reflects genuine, authentic moments in life and the natural role the brand plays in them.† Chris Lowe, North America’s Coca-Cola chief marketing officer explained that, â€Å"consumers today are telling us they want brands that are genuine, authentic and real and these are values they associate more strongly with Coca-Cola than any other brand. Authenticity, originality and ‘real’ refreshment are part of our heritage, and what the brand has always stood for.† (Coca-Cola Website) â€Å"Coca-Cola’s goal is to make their costumers think of their product and this commercial whenever they are reminded of a sentimental and enjoyable event† (www.louisville.edu/~rljohn10/pepsi.html). Cocaine Myth It will be inevitable for The Coca Cola Company to reach a global market without having myths associated with its name. The most widely known myth about Coca Cola is that it contained extract of coca leaves. In fact in 1886, when it was introduced in the market, it did. Exactly how much cocaine was in the formula itself has not been determined, but Coca-Cola did contain some cocaine when it was first developed. What researches do know is that in 1902, 1/400 of a grain of cocaine per ounce of syrup was in the drink. Apparently in 1929, Coca-Cola became cocaine free. â€Å"By Heaths calculation, the amount of ecgonine [an alkaloid in the coca leaf that could be synthesized to create cocaine] was infinitesimal: no more than one part in 50 million. In an entire years supply of 25-odd million gallons of Coca-Cola syrup, Heath figured, there might be six-hundredths of an ounce of cocaine. So, yes, at one time there was cocaine in Coca-Cola.† (Mikkelson, B. snopes.com/cokelore/c ocaine.asp) Ethylene Glycol Myth Another myth basically states that Cola-Cola used ethylene glycol in their soft drinks. People have apparently confused ethylene glycol with polyethylene. Ethylene glycol is a compound that is used to make antifreeze and de-icing solutions for cars, airplanes, and boats; to make polyester compounds; and as solvents in the paint and plastics industries. Polyethylene glycol is non-toxic and is used in a variety of products. In fact, it is the basis of a number of laxatives (e.g. macrogol-containing products such as Movicol ®). As far as Coca-Cola is concerned, polyethylene glycol is not an added ingredient in soft drinks. However, polyethylene glycol is safe and suitable for use in foods and beverages, according to the U.S. FDA and other Regulatory authorities. (Coca-Cola Website. Source: http://www2.coca-cola.com/contactus/myths_rumors/ingredients_antifreeze.html) Risquà © Myth One of the myths that were discussed back in the 1980’s was the Coca Cola an advertising poster due to a risquà © image hidden within. The poster was released in the mid 80s and provoked a total argument because of the picture painted in ice-cubes, a woman performing a bad action. The graphic artist who designed the picture put this as a joke and it went unnoticed. This artist lost his job and was sued for a lot of money. All the posters and advertisement was destroyed and new ones and to be made. The poster shows a cartoon version of a coke bottle sitting on a bed of ice under the words â€Å"Feel the Curves†. The president of the Australian Marketing Rep, Coca-Cola South Pacific, Mr. Mike Bascle said the action of the artist was â€Å"quite irresponsible and not amusing†. The company had lost millions of dollars in revenue as a result of this careless pornographic advertisement, but later recreated new glossy posters (â€Å"The Adelaide Advertiser† ) snopes.com/cokelore/poster.aspp) Santa Claus Myth The likeness of Santa Claus has, for many years, been attributed to the image that Coca Cola embodies during their holiday advertisements. Myths have implied that Coca Cola created the representation of Santa Claus being in a red and white suit as a marketing ploy to promote sales. In actuality, the real history of Santa Claus predates Coca Cola’s introduction of him during the 1930’s. The earliest records of Santa Claus reflect that he was actually an evolutionary invention resulting from two religious people, St. Nichols and Christkindlein (Snopes, 2001). St. Nichols was a patron saint known for bearing gifts. Adults who clothed themselves in furry attire and visited children while they were awake to put on a scary performance represented Christkindlein. Once the children awoke, they found gifts and believed Christkindlein left them; hence the story behind Santa Claus involving his attire and gift giving beliefs. Coca Cola however, capitalized on the belief of Santa Claus. In 1930, the Coca Cola Company was looking for a way to encourage sales during the winter months, which was normally a slow sales period for the soft drink market. Haddon Sundblom, a cartoonist, was contacted to create a marketable image on behalf of the company (Snopes, 2001). After much deliberation, he invented a vision of Santa Claus wearing a red and white suit, drinking and enjoying coca cola. The success of this invention was enormous and his ingenious creation was just the marketing ploy Coca Cola needed to catapult their sales during this slow season. Conclusion The Coca Cola Company has come a long way from selling a few servings of carbonated beverages in a pharmacy, to an international scale business. The company has accomplished that objective thanks to dedicated people who have collaborated through the years with the mission to attain high quality standards. Their product line has grown with the approach of cultural appreciation and understanding, which has been a key factor in the introduction of the products in over 200 countries. Coca Cola’s commitment to remain at the forefront of the changing social values in developing their marketing strategy has proven to their advantage. The negative myths that have targeted Coca Cola might have had a harmful impact on the sales at the time of their circulation. On the other hand, the creative idea of dressing Santa Claus in the company’s red and white colors proves that some myths can be very beneficial to a corporation. Undoubtedly The Coca Cola Company has developed all th e elements necessary to run a multi-million, worldwide enterprise and refreshes all the people that come in contact with their products. References A Tale of Two Colas: The Cola Wars, Retrieved September 08, 2004 from: oppapers.com/print.php?id=41272idenc=GVZFVAx0QBK2o9e And the Cola Wars Continue, Retrieved September 08, 2004 from: louisville.edu/~rljohn10/pepsi.html Bellis, M. (2004) The History of Coca Cola, From About.com Website Retrieved September 09, 2004 from: www.inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcocacola.htm Coca-Cola Website. Retrieved September 08,2004 www.cocacola.com Inventors Website. Retrieved September 08, 2004. From www.inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcocacola.htm Leith, S. ( July, 2002)â€Å"Coke Website Debunks Myths† retrieved info from Apollo Library Infotrac Onefile/Knight Tribune Business News on September 8, 2004 Snopes Website. Retrieved September 08, 2004. From snopes.com/cokelore/ Research Papers on The Coca Cola Company and Its MythsMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaOpen Architechture a white paperNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceDefinition of Export QuotasTwilight of the UAWInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito

Organizational Leadership Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Organizational Leadership - Term Paper Example Description of situation The organizational transformation Before moving into the realms of the organizational transformation a clear picture of the main parameters regarding the organization entails a necessary significance. The prime parameters encircling the transformation of the organization depend upon people, technology and structure (School of Business, n.d). People Connection to the external environment is done by the people and people are the holders of multi identity in different environment. People can be directly influenced by the external environment despite the fact that the public pressure groups or culture can divert the people’s behavior and attitudes. So people play a dominant role in the organizational transformation. To what extent people play an important part in the company profile of Hewlett Packard (HP) will be discussed in the analysis section (School of Business, n.d). Technology: Technology plays a significant role in the discussion of transformation of organization. Depending upon the complexity and level of technology adopted by the competitors firms must formulate its strategies accordingly in order to develop its technology and simultaneously formulate the profit structure. Although the main concern will be to look upon development of technology depending upon the customers’ need (School of Business, n.d). Structure: The structure of the organization is usually affected by the external environment. It has been found out that when external environment is highly skeptical or uncertain then the optimal requirement is to adjust the internal environment and make it flexible so that it can easily adapt to the... From the discussion it is clear that considering the complex transformation of today’s nature and economy of market the transformation of the business organization has become a very common issue. So the issue of transformation in the organizational leadership in Hewlett Packard will be the prime focus in this paper.As the paper stresses  connection to the external environment is done by the people and people are the holders of multi identity in different environment. People can be directly influenced by the external environment despite the fact that the public pressure groups or culture can divert the people’s behavior and attitudes. So people play a dominant role in the organizational transformation. To what extent people play an important part in the company profile of Hewlett Packard (HP) will be discussed in the analysis section.  Technology plays a significant role in the discussion of transformation of organization. Depending upon the complexity and level of t echnology adopted by the competitors firms must formulate its strategies accordingly in order to develop its technology and simultaneously formulate the profit structure. Although the main concern will be to look upon development of technology depending upon the customers’ need.  The structure of the organization is usually affected by the external environment. It has been found out that when external environment is highly skeptical or uncertain then the optimal requirement is to adjust the internal environment and make it flexible so that it can easily adapt to the uncertainties of the environment.

The Progress of Women in Pakistan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Progress of Women in Pakistan - Essay Example Muslim reformers like Sir Syed Ahmed tried their best to educate the Muslim women of the subcontinent (Virdee). There were a lot of hurdles for women, imposed by the society, and attainment of education in the sub-continent was not an easy task for women of that time. Many women participated in public rallies during the Pakistan movement and women leaders took active part in the movement along with the wives of the Muslim leaders. After independence, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah became a symbol of inspiration for the Pakistani women. She was the sister of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and was very politically as well as socially active. The provision of reserved seats for women existed all through the constitutional history of Pakistan. They had the right of suffrage from independence (D. S. Ahmed 32-42). But the quota was, at the beginning, almost negligible. The progress of women in Pakistan suffered a great set back in the 1980’s, during the dictatorship of Zia-ul -Haq. He formulated and imposed oppressive laws that ran counter to the true spirit of Islam as he introduced his own radical extremist approach to Islam. On the other hand, this dark period for the women of the country was followed by the election of the first woman to be the prime minister of an Islamic state; Benazir Bhutto which was a big achievement for a woman belonging to a predominantly patriarchal society. Another major hurdle in the way of the progress of Pakistani women has been, and still is to this day, the strong feudal system. Women are still seen as objects of use, or rather misuse in feudally administered areas. Statistics show that violence against women is the greatest in these areas. This first decade of the 21st century saw the condition of women in Pakistan improve significantly, with inductions of ladies being carried out in all three armed forces in operational capacity. The proportion of women in the parliament has seen sizeable increase compared to the yest eryears. Women have access to equal education and are being inducted in all fields on equal pays. But the patriarchal mindset has not subsided, and women face discrimination and gender based prejudice and harassment in the workplaces. EFFECTS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM The constitution of Pakistan is mostly based on the principles of Islam. In its true essence, Islam is a very moderate religion that gave women the right to suffrage and inheritance when the west was still in the dark ages. The much debated ‘Hadood Ordinance’ is a section of the law that deals largely with the punishments regarding limitations imposed on men and women individually and together. Some of the clauses are a distortion of the true limitations present in the Holy book of the Muslims; the Quran. The requirement of four witnesses to prove a woman’s claim that she had been sexually molested raised a storm of protest and criticism by the more sane minded people of the civil society (Khan 34). The l aw said that a woman could be held guilty of adultery herself if she fails to produce 4 male witnesses. This law was amended under the women protection bill of 2006 under the orders of Pervez Musharraf (Prisoners".). The women protection bill came under a lot of scrutiny from the radical religious factions who charged Musharraf with meddling with