Christopher Columbus Essay -- Christopher Columbus Essays

Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen-hundred-ninty-two. He came over from Spain in three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria and discovered America, or at least that was what I was taught in elementary school. Since then there has been much controversy going on over the issue of weather or not Christopher Columbus really â€Å"discovered† America because when he landed in San Salvador he was not alone. Native Americans already inhabited the land and they had been there long before Columbus, but this doesn’t mean that he should be atacked stripped of his dignity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Reed Irvine, chariman, and Joe Goulden, director of the media analysis for Accuracy in Media, state in the acticle History Should Continue to Acknoledge Columbus as a Discoverer:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The â€Å"presence† of the North American Continent had been known to the persons living   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  there for centuries before arrival. But Columbus, and those who followed him, recognized   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  the significance of the New World; in this sense they certainly deserve credit for having   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"discovered† America.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Over five hundred years ago he landed in the Americas and now we are starting to question weather or not he should be given credit for discovering America. This doesn’t seem fare. After so many years without controversy it’s just been recently that we have started to question the lagitamitity of his discovery. What brought on this sudden change? Perhaps is was the coming of the five hundred year celebration of our country that brought this on, or maybe now some of the Native Americans are finally starting to speak out, but no matter what the reason may be it shouldn’t be taking place. Columbus should still be given the credit for discovering America. It was the first time that anyone was recognized for landing on a new continent and he still deserves respect.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Irvine and Goulden feel bad for Columbus, too. â€Å"Poor Christopher Columbus. Five hundred years after the fact, the explorer is beng stripped of recognition as the man who ‘discovered’ America and the New World.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many people who bel... ...;  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  quest for new frontiers continues today as earthlings burst terrestrial bonds and begin the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  endless voyage beyond planet and galaxy into the illimitable dark.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  That desire to go where no one has ever been before is inside of all of us. All of us enjoy exploring new teritory that we have never been on before. It’s that thrill and excitement that fills our heart and soles.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Columbus landed on the new land he put a flag in the ground claiming it for Spain. Then he met the Native Americans and was very friendly to them. â€Å"I want the natives to develop a friendly attitude toward us because I know that they are a people who can be made free and converted to our Holy Faith more by love thwn by force,† Columbus wrote in his journal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From everything that we know thus far there isn’t a big enough reason as to why we should all of the sudden stop recognizing Columbus as the founder of our nation. Therefore, he should be given recignition of his accompishments and still be known as the one who discovered America.

Trading Route Implications of Widening Panama Canal

ABSRACT The Panama Canal Authority is responding to the necessity to accommodate larger ships through the canal; a 5. 2 billion dollars investment to deepening and widening the canal is in place and expected to conclude on August 2014. The new infrastructure will affect today shipping dynamics and only a few ports on the East Coast of the United States will be ready to receive the post-Panamax vessels; in this document we will discuss what the Miami (FL), Jacksonville (FL) and Freeport TX) are doing to get ready. Trade Route Implications of Widening the Panama CanalThe Panama Canal is about to celebrate its 100 years operations with a 5. 2 billion expansion that will allow a more efficient transit from the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean; the expansion includes deepening and widening the entrances & navigation channels to allow 12,000 TEUs ships to pass; plus and an additional set of locks. Global changes are expected including higher volume of goods from Asia to US and Canada; new market s opportunity for raw materials sourcing; cost-effective routes options and shorter times to mention some of them. Accenture, 2011,page 3 & 4). The US East Coast will be definitely impacted; different ports are already working on its expansions but we cannot tell by certain how, where and what type of impact will land for sure; the fact that larger ships will pass through the canal does not mean that they will stop on all ports or that the trade volume will increase and maintain. During a Seminar organized by the U. S.Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration; Rodolfo Sabonge, Vice President of Market Research and Analysis of the Panama Canal Authority explained that the principle east coast ports to be call for this larger ships are New York, New Jersey, or Norfolk. New York, New Jersey but they would have to work on the bridges issues; in the southeast ports of Charleston, Savannah and Houston where distribution centers are located; the West Coast of Flo rida is expected to be touch too to serve South Florida.All this port will face general challenges such as distributions center; connectivity infrastructure to concentrate, load and move the cargo inland; logistics where truck companies will be highly involved, equipment; railroads, inspection and security processes (Sabonge, October, 2009) In the same conference, Richard Wainio, Port director and CEO of the Tampa Port Authority mentioned that Florida, have 14 ports; four of them share the states’ trade: Tampa, Everglades, Miami and Jacksonville.The port of Tampa manages nearly 40% of the trade by tonnage in Florida and serves local markets; the Port is already planning to build and integrated a logistic center. Everglades & Miami are the largest container ports; while Jacksonville is a key and major player for the Canal Expansion. (Winio, October, 2009) The Port of Miami is already in process of expansion; and the following information is published in their website: â€Å"G overnor Rick Scott asked the Department of Transportation to allocate $77 million to the Port of Miami to deepen the channel to minus 50 feet so larger ships can gain access to the port.The Port’s Deep Dredge project is timed to coincide with the opening of an expanded Panama Canal in 2014, which will allow a new generation of larger cargo vessels to pass through the Canal† The dredge in the Port of Miami is expected to generate 30,000 new jobs and become the first port of call for post-Panamax vessels. â€Å"The deep dredge is critical to our future growth,† Port of Miami Director Bill Johnson said. â€Å"Port of Miami will be one of only three U. S. Atlantic ports to be at [minus] 50 feet when the expanded Panama Canal opens. (Dredging Today, 2012). Additionally, the construction of a tunnel to connect the Port and the I-395 is already in place to support trucks direct access and double port capacity. The US Department of Transportation granted 22. 7M to resto re and put in function the Coast Rail Yard in Hialeah which will provide direct access to the national rail system. â€Å"This is the type of infrastructure project that will pay permanent, long-term dividends, and provide a solid return on investment for Florida’s taxpayers,† said Mayor Alvarez. (Miami Port, 2012).On the other hand Freeport, Texas that has served the Gulf Coast for 100 years and its tanked 16th in the U. S for foreign tonnage; as describe in their website a well-built infrastructure for transportation via highway, railroad and intercostal will support the transit for post-Panamax vessels. (Port Freeport, 2012). The Marine Link online magazine published on September 13, 2011 that â€Å"the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and Port Freeport in Texas established a strategic alliance today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)† that will promote and increase the trade between Asia and Gulf of Mexico of the U.S. ; the MOU has been sign ed for one year but renewable upon request. The MOU will play a key piece by allowing both parties to share information to promote market research, modernization and technological improvements in general. â€Å"This partnership was perfect for each of us because we are both interested in investing in infrastructure and growth. We each are building new facilities at a time when others are standing on the sidelines so it is only natural that we assist each other in the promotion of international trade in this hemisphere. This partnership is a win, win, for each of us. † said Pete Reixach CEO of Port Freeport† (para. 4). The Port of Jacksonville employs 23,000 people and impacts an additional 43,000 employees related to the port’s activity. The cargo activity generates 19 billion USD and as mentioned in their website its physical facilities include docks â€Å"docks and wharfs, cranes, a passenger cruise terminal, warehouses, paved open storage areas and road conne ctions to the public highway system† (Jacksonville Port Authority, 2012).On September 27, 2011 Paul Anderson, Jacksonville Port Authority CEO addressed his concerns in a communication â€Å"I have no doubt that US East Coast ports will soon be called upon to handle increased volumes but I harbor great doubt as to whether we — any of us — will be ready† (para. 2). Anderson mentions that Congress must act fast and focus on critical investment, prioritization and infrastructure for ports to continue its contribution. The TraPac Container Terminal has been affected in doubling its capacity due to the nations slow down; authorizations and processes.Also, Korean shipping company Hanjin has put in hold 200 million investments until they understand what the Government is planning to do and invest to be prepared for the post-Panamax ships. As Anderson said â€Å"these are our choices: get ready or lose† (para 10). Several considerations must be raised to und erstand the impact that the Panama Canal expansion will produce, how many deep water ports will be needed to serve post-Panamax ships? Which of those ports will be touched by the ships? How the trade patterns will change?How much are the investments require to serve the post-Panamax ships and what is the specific infrastructure require at each port and in land? How much is the Government willing to invest in infrastructure? Yes, we should accommodate to globalization; the cost and outcome are unknown yet. On the other hand; infrastructure such ports capacity, extra labor to improve productivity, facilities, equipment; technology and a good connectivity network for in land transportation and railroad are key to the success of these investments.To conclude, it looks that competition among the Florida coast ports will be hard; Tampa and Miami are getting ready and making its expansion; Jacksonville understand the needs of expansion but is raising very fair questions not only on the pro jects but to the Government capacity to respond and maintain infrastructure. Are taxpayer’s dollars’ worth the effort? I believe yes if we take quick action to the new requirements and get a clear understanding that we can afford the expansions. I believe the main question is; which port(s) in South Florida will have the final benefits? It will be interesting to find out in some years.References Accenture. (2011). A global operation game changer. The 2014 expansion of the Panama Canal. Retrieved from http://www. accenture. com/us-en/Pages/insight-2014-expansion-panama-canal. aspx Dredging Today (2012). USA: Miami Port dredging plan gets final environmental ok. Retrieved from http://www. dredgingtoday. com/2012/05/25/usa-miami-port-dredging-plan-gets-final-environmental-ok/ Jacksonville Port Authority. (2011). Anderson addresses Panama Canal expansion concerns. http://www. jaxport. com/about-jaxport/newsroom/news/anderson-addresses-panama-canal-expansion-concerns Marine Link. 2011). Panama Canal and Port Freeport (TX) sign MOU. Retrieved from http://www. marinelink. com/news/freeport-panama-canal340393. aspx Port Freeport (2012) Retrieved from http://www. portfreeport. com/about. htm Port of Miami. (2012). Deep Dredge Project. Retrieved from http://www. miamidade. gov/portofmiami/deep_dredge. asp Sabonge, R. , Wainio, R. , (2009) Proceedings from Talking Freight Seminar Series: The Panama Canal widening and implications for Gulf and Atlantic Coast ports. Retrieved from http://www. fhwa. dot. gov/planning/freight_planning/talking_freight/oct2109transcript. cfm

Facebook Privacy And The Privacy Essay - 1869 Words

Facebook Privacy As technology advances, social media websites such as Facebook have grown and become a platform for over 1.7 billion users around the world. Facebook may be used for many individuals to display their life on the internet through pictures and word statuses to connect with others. Being a part of many people s lives, Facebook opens a controversial topic about how some employers during job interviews will ask for a prospective employee s Facebook username and password. Many Facebook users may find this to be an invasion of privacy, but companies may find this to be a way of protecting the company s reputation. Employers should not be allowed to ask for prospective employees Facebook passwords because under the Fourth and First Amendment the employer s rights may be violated. During job interviews many Facebook users may be opposed to employers asking for their Facebook and passwords because it is an invasion of privacy. Americans are protected under the Fourth Amen dment, which does not allow unreasonable search and seizure without a warrant. Under the Fourth Amendment employers should not be able to ask for passwords because without a warrant they may be violating the Fourth amendment. On November 15, 2016 at Sill Hall 10 classmates in class Aviation Maintenance were surveyed and asked if they would give their employers their Facebook username and password during an interview. Seven out of 10 of the participants said no, they would not give outShow MoreRelatedFacebook Privacy And The Privacy Essay1835 Words   |  8 Pages Facebook Privacy As technology advances in social media websites such as Facebook (Facebook.com) have grown and become a platform for over 1.7 billion users around the world. Facebook may be used for many individuals to display their life on the internet and connect with others. 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The main objective of marketing is to identify trends and patterns in consumer behavior, and utilize the data to influence consumers to purchase more goods. From a macroenviroment standpoint, the general conditions of a market are heavily dependent on global environmental factors. The most significant factor that influencesRead MoreUser Awareness Regarding Privacy Settings in Social Media Sites - Facebook/ Orkut3505 Words   |  15 PagesABSTRACT Privacy of information has turned out to be a paradoxical issue in the information age(Barnes, 2006). One of the prime driving forces to this has been the rise of social networking sites. It is observed that these sites gather considerable amount of information about their users (Baruh, 2007). Research illustrates that social networking users are unaware of their personal information being compromised on both traditional and online commercial marketplace within different companies without

Business Experts, And A New System - 2731 Words

â€Å"Some co-workers are really good and you can count on them at all times. Some are bad, which means they just don’t know what they are doing and they make mistakes. Others are ugly, meaning they are out to get you.† So, should Mark be fearful of Nicole, and her possible attempts to sabotage him at work? There are mixed opinions amongst business experts, and mixed opinions from myself. Mark has had success in the past, but can he continue it in this new job role, with new co-workers, and a new system? Mark Landstad was due to present in front of the CliffBank’s senior management team for the first time. He had recently moved from the research division, in to the investment banking division. Wanting to impress the senior management team, he had been working on a presentation for their meeting, and was keen to make a good impression. He was seeking some more up-to-date information, and was unsure on where to look for it. As part of the Millhouse project, he thought that perhaps Nicole, his new co-worker, and teammate could help. Unfortunately, she was in the middle of a flight over China, but she did however recommended that Mark should look through the files or a previous employee at the company, Patrick, as he was a member who was very good with the numbers and a â€Å"master of M A,† as well as knowing the retail sector inside-out. However, Patrick was somewhat disorganized, so finding the files that Mark required for the presentation was going to be an uphill batt le. He thenShow MoreRelatedInformation system has become as universal in our daily business activities as human resource800 Words   |  4 PagesInformation system has become as universal in our daily business activities as human resource management, marketing, finance or any other major business functions. Information system play vital role to provide management with control over their data and to operate successful businesses. They make up a significant field of study in business administration and management, and this is the most business imperatives that include in a course in information system. If we want to understand informationRead MoreChapter 11 Review Questions1 What Is1233 Words   |  5 Pages1. What is the role of knowledge management and knowledge management programs in business? Define knowledge management and explain its value to businesses. Knowledge management is the set of processes developed in an organization to create, gather, store, maintain, transfer, apply, and disseminate the firm’s knowledge. Knowledge management promotes organizational learning and incorporates knowledge into its business processes and decision making. Describe the important dimensions of knowledge.Read MoreProposal : A Proposal For Proposal1064 Words   |  5 PagesIn business, a request for proposal is a contract between two partners, or companies that one side offers the proposal while the other side will help to take care and mange that proposal to make it more successfully. This agreement is considered as a type of document which investors announce that funding is available for a particular project. Companies or investors have money, however the project is over their control because it requires a long and complex process. Therefore, a request for proposalRead More1. 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Third Party Logistics firms help many businesses to oversee and manage their supply chains. This paper will discuss and help answer the following questions; what is are Third Party Logistics; the advantages and disadvantages of using a 3PL; and how are they able toRead More1. Analysis of the Knowledge Management at Tcs Using the Knowledge Management Value Chain Model.1341 Words   |  6 Pagescommunities of practices (CoPs) with an animator expert in an area of knowledge to gather best practice on different a rea of expertise using business case documenting problem and solution. -Then TCS tried to capture technology, processes and case studies called Process Asset Libraries. 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We are the number one Buffalo roofing company offeringRead MoreDepartments Strategic Objectives, And Key Services1131 Words   |  5 PagesPurpose The purpose of this memo is inform staff of the new IT department’s structure. This document outlines the department’s strategic objectives, and key services they it provides. Leadership Philosophy As the new CIO of RR the leadership philosophy that I have adopted revolves around getting the tools needed to the people that need them. For instance, providing the financial team with a system that allows quickly report information up the chain. The management style that I find most effective

Workplace Culture - 8726 Words

HR articles: Workplace culture Workplace culture is often hard to describe, because it means something different in every organisation and many times employees feel it’s ‘just the way things are’. But so often it can define a company and when it’s not working well, everyone knows about it. Below are some blog posts on what culture in the workplace is and how to positively cultivate it throughout your business. The happier an employee is at work, the more productive they are. It’s never too late to make improvements. Culture: Your Environment for People at Work Susan M. Heathfield Human Resources Guide What Is Organizational Culture? People in every workplace talk about organizational culture, that mysterious word that characterizes a work†¦show more content†¦* Sub-cultures Form Through Rewards.. Employees have many different wants and needs. Sometimes employees value rewards that are not associated with the behaviors desired by managers for the overall company. This is often how subcultures are formed, as people get social rewards from coworkers or have their most important needs met in their departments or project teams. * ï‚ · People Shape the Culture. Personalities and experiences of employees create the culture of an organization. For example, if most of the people in an organization are very outgoing, the culture is likely to be open and sociable. If many artifacts depicting the company’s history and values are in evidence throughout the company, people value their history and culture. If doors are open, and few closed door meetings are held, the culture is unguarded. If negativity abou t supervision and the company is widespread and complained about by employees, a culture of negativity, that is difficult to overcome, will take hold. * ï‚ · Culture is Negotiated. One person cannot create a culture alone. Employees must try to change the direction, the work environment, the way work is performed, or the manner in which decisions are made within the general norms of the workplace. Culture change is a process of give and take by all members of an organization. Formalizing strategic direction, systems development, and establishing measurements must be owned by the group responsibleShow MoreRelatedOrganizational Culture At The Workplace1749 Words   |  7 PagesOrganizations as culture are able to create a vision for leaders to use in order to guide organizational objectives. It can also provide a perspective so followers can measure their leader’s performance in achieving the vision. Organizational culture can determine the way employees interact at the w orkplace and helps guide and give them a sense of direction at the workplace. 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Apple Computers, a leading technology corporation, leverages its brand by promoting connectivity between all Apple devices. Walmart Corporation requires all associates to dress in dark blue shirts and beige slacks. This document will discuss cultural assessment tools used in assessing organizational cultureRead MoreThe Organizational Culture On Workplace Productivity And The Overall Impact On The Organization1500 Words   |  6 Pagesleadership team, with the purpose of developing culturally appropriate groups to carry out the expansion goals in these markets. In order to develop a successful global team, I must scrutinize the organizational culture, the necessary leadership style, the impact of the group’s culture on workplace productivity, and the overall impact on the organization itself. Cultural Assessment Since the expansion effort includes several different cultural norms, the leadership team must both recognize these uniqueRead MoreHow Culture Influenced The Values Rooted Within The Workplace1872 Words   |  8 PagesOxford Dictionary, culture is defined as â€Å"the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people or other social group (Oxford, 2016).† With the rise of multiculturalism and diversity across many nations, understanding and practicing cultural etiquette within the business arena has never been of greater importance. Geert Hofstede, a well known leader in intercultural research and studies, conducted a comprehensive study in which he analyzed how culture influenced theRead MoreWhat Impact Does A Negative Personality Have On Workplace Culture?847 Words   |  4 PagesMy research question focuses on workplace culture. â€Å"What impact does a negative personality have on workplace culture, and how does it affect the other peop le working in the effected environment?† My hypothesis is that negative personalities destroy workplaces and leave employers with a high turnover rate as well as many unhappy workers. However, my follow up question is, â€Å"is there a way to fix negative personalities in the workplace?† My paper answers these questions using strong research evidenceRead MorePositive Workplace Culture974 Words   |  4 PagesOne of the most important things that can be done to create a more positive workplace culture in the work environment is to build trust. Building trust requires you to do what you say you are going to do. Being yourself, ‘walking the talk’. To be reliable, responsible and accountable all assist in creating a trusting environment. Staff members need to understand that you are a person of your word. Building trust takes a long time, if your words dont match your behaviours trust will be easily lost

Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008 Free Essays

Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008: Netflix and Blockbuster Battle for Market Leadership Although the corporate strategies implemented by Netflix and Blockbuster have allowed them to become leaders of competitive advantage in the movie rental industry, they sometimes encounter strategic issues that slow down their product and services process. My research of Netflix and Blockbuster will enable me to present a SWOT analysis and recommendations for each company. Netflix, founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings, has achieved its goal of becoming the largest online movie rental service in the world. We will write a custom essay sample on Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008 or any similar topic only for you Order Now By the end of 2007, Netflix recorded revenues of $1. 2 billion. With a library of 100,000 movie titles and a subscriber base of over seven million, they had become the leaders of the movie rental industry (Gamble Thompson, 2011). Netflix’s business model of internet subscription enabled them to compete in the movie industry. Consumers love going to the movies, but with increasing theatre prices found it too expensive to attend public viewings. Netflix provided an inexpensive way to view movies which could be done from the comforts of home. According to the text, (Essentials of Strategic Management, 2010), â€Å"Netflix’s success is due to its six-pronged strategy of providing comprehensive selection of DVDs, easy way to choose movies, fast delivery, no return due dates, and convenient drop in mail movie returns† (Gamble Thompson, 2010). In an online survey by Nielsen Online, Netflix was rated number one for three years and for nine consecutive periods by Forsee/FGI Research (Netflix, 2009). Netflix Strategic Issues Blockbuster, Netflix’s fiercest competitor, experience many rental issues until 2007 when they regained market shares forcing Netflix to reduce subscription prices. Not only did Blockbuster gain presence, other competitors like Redbox also gained presence in the market due to new technologies (VOD DVR) that are influencing the business environment. The business model used by Netflix caused a stir in the market industry. However, the damage control strategies of competitors and competitor recapture of market shares is threatening Netflix’s competitive advantage. Netflix has to change with the times. Competitive Forces Netflix and Blockbuster are affected by the five forces of competition which are potential new entrants, bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of substitutes, and rivalry among existing competitors (Gamble Thompson, 2010). The companies must understand how these forces work and affect their operation. Threats of New Entrants -In the home video/game industries, new entrants must own large amounts of movies/games for rental or sale to fulfill customers’ demands. Meanwhile they have to build up various distribution channels for products to reach customers in a very quick way (Xie Lin, 2008). Bargaining Power of Suppliers -The inputs of suppliers in the home video/game industries are very important and since there are only a few qualified suppliers in the industry, their bargaining power is high. Netflix acquires its movies from movie studios and distributors, buying DVDs on a fee-per-DVD basis, paying license content fees, and signing revenue sharing agreements. Blockbuster also has revenue sharing agreements with its suppliers. To some extent, these agreements reduce the bargaining power of suppliers. In terms of the computer system, Blockbuster is using Provia’s Viaware warehouse management system (packaging, sorting, and distributing rental products) in its supply chain management to keep costs down (Xie Lin, 2008). Threats of substitutes -Substitutes include movie theaters, satellite TV, and cable TV. Customers can go to movie theaters and enjoy the vivid atmosphere. Alternatively, they can order â€Å"pay-per-view† or subscribe â€Å"on-demand† from satellite TV and/or cable TV providers to watch movies at home. Users can watch anytime they want. Satellite and cable TV offer sufficient selections of new releases and are is easy to watch with just click on remote. Netflix and Blockbuster compete for customers by offering various kinds of movies and internet access (Xie Lin, 2008). Rivalry among industry competitors – Netflix and Blockbuster are in a highly competitive industry. Competitors include merchant retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Target; video and game store like Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery, and Game Stop; supermarkets, convenient stores such as Publix, and McDonald’s. The significant rival is Hollywood Video which offers movie and game rentals (Xie Lin, 2008). Bargaining power of buyers -Buyers are not in concentrated groups and do not buy in large amounts. However, within the entertainment industry, customers have a lot of alternatives and have no switching cost. However the introduction of DVDs, influenced customers to purchase DVDs since the cost is almost the same cost of rentals. This makes buyer power moderate (Xie Lin, 2008). The five forces of competition of the movie rental industry presents little force against a competitor’s market position based on buyer power, supplier power, and new entrant threats. However, threat of substitutes and rivalry among competitors can affect the amount of profits a company will gain and retain. Netflix SWOT Analysis The presence of Netflix and Blockbuster in the movie rental industry has assisted me in developing this analysis of each corporation’s strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as followed: Netflix’s strengths are: Good reputation, unlimited movie rental subscription, no due dates or late fees, easy website access, and large movie selection. Netflix’s weaknesses are: Limited to internet rental access, and long waiting period for new releases. Netflix’s opportunities are: To provide Video on Demand media access, music and movie download, and acquire partnership with gaming industry. Netflix’s threats are: Low DVD rentals, government regulation of rental distribution, high level of competition, and new movie media technology. Blockbuster SWOT Analysis Blockbuster’s strengths are: national and international recognition provides movie and game rentals, various vices for rental access (i. e. stores, kiosk, and internet), offers snacks and beverages for purchase in stores, and accommodates all customer types. Blockbuster’s weaknesses are: Poor distribution process, increased operating expense, decreased reputation, limited new released video games, unable to compete with game distributors (i. e. GameStop), and constant rental policy changes. Blockbuster opportunities are: Unlimited access to downloadable media libraries, increased production of brand movie rentals, and partnership with gaming system industry. Blockbuster’s threats are: New video formats, decreased DVD movie rentals, increased competition, and government regulation of movie rentals. The SWOT analysis shows that Netflix and Blockbuster have strong strengths and opportunities, however in order to Netflix to maintain its competitive advantage there needs to be an upgrade in innovation and technology that will strengthen their reputation and reliability. Blockbuster’s loss in reputation will continually plague their ability to remain competitive and maintain the customer base that they have. Blockbuster will continually face challenges until they upgrade their innovation and technology to level where they will enter into recovery mode. As I studied the financial information presented in the text, it appears that Netflix has been able to offer customers the benefit of low rental fees because they have been able to maintain a low level of expenses. The benefits offered to customers have increased the amounts of net income and movie rentals. Netflix prides itself on promoting customer satisfaction and meeting demands of its internet base. According to the numbers presented by Internet World Stats, the percentage of internet penetration by the North American population was 74. 2 percent in 2009, which was a 134 percent increase from 2000. At this rate, Netflix could secure an internet rental customer base of 74. 2 percent which would strengthen its success (Miniwatts Marketing Group, 2009) Blockbuster’s biggest challenge is development of a viable strategic approach to price setting. When Netflix entered the game, Blockbuster began to lose profits. In an attempt to recoup some of its losses, Blockbuster presented campaign where the rental policy constantly changed leaving customers confused and unsure of the rental process. Although Blockbuster has a large selection of movie titles and global presence, its reputation of dissatisfied customers and inefficient distribution has caused its overall cost to rise significantly. Blockbuster’s competitive advantage is that it offers various channels by which customers can access entertainment media. According to Blockbuster, â€Å"The same customer can choose different ways to access media entertainment on different nights† (Blockbuster, 2010). Recommendations In order for Netflix to maintain its competitive advantage there must be an adjustment of their strategy. Customer satisfaction should be a key factor of its strategy. I recommend that they base their marketing promotions on increasing customer awareness of the variety of accessible content offered. They should also implement the availability of music content and digital media to their library. The development of an award program for customers with lengthy memberships would influence word of mouth recommendations. Most of all, Netflix must continue to offer their customers the benefit of more titles at modest cost subscription memberships. In order for Blockbuster to regain its competitive advantage and reputation there must be the development of a strategy that will increase their profit. They have to become more innovation in internet and in-store rental process. There should be monitoring devices placed on scanner registers and mailed movie rentals to better track returns in order to keep their cost at a minimum. Staff should be trained and monitored on a constant basis to ensure that customer satisfaction is the key priority. Blockbuster must implement policies that will be enforced and understood by customers. They should also team up with gaming system producers to ensure that they will be supplied with current games and possibly offer gaming system rentals. Most of all they should find their own niche market which will provide them with a specialized competitive advantage. The information researched on Netflix and Blockbuster has enabled me to conclude that competition in the movie rental industry is highly competitive. There are new companies entering the market that have a competitive advantage whether it consist of internet rental, vending machine rental access, or in-store rental access. Netflix and Blockbuster have taken the lead in providing thousands of movie title to be viewed in the comfort of our own homes without the expense of movie theatres. Although both companies have a competitive advantage, they each have a following of dedicated customers who will stay with them because of familiarity. Through my research I have learned that consumers are the controllers in the movie rental industry. If consumers dislike the way they are serviced or the cost of movie rentals they will most certainly move on to a company which will cater to their movie wants and needs. However, the movie rental industry must stay up on new innovations and technologies in order to remain competitive, profitable, and maintain modest levels of overall costs. How to cite Competition in the Movie Rental Industry in 2008, Essay examples

Literary Analysis of Rip Van Winkle free essay sample

â€Å"Rip Van Winkle† is a magical fiction written by Washington Irving in the early nineteenth century, and, of which the main character is Rip Van Winkle exactly. What made me be interested in the mystical story, was not only the developing plot that went on compactly, but also the various description of all the setting in the story which made the plot of the entire story seemed to contain much more emotional coloring. One day, after a long time stroll to the peak of the Kaatskill Mountains, Rip Van Winkle was exhausted because of keeping haunting as his favorite pastime even when the nightfall came. â€Å"Panting and fatigued he threw himself, late in the afternoon, on a green knoll, covered with mountain herbage, that crowned the brow of a precipice. From an opening between the trees he could overlook all the lower country for many a mile of rich woodland. † Here Washington Irving described the surrounding setting of Rip Van Winkle right after he was panting for breath as feeling tired at the time. We will write a custom essay sample on Literary Analysis of Rip Van Winkle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This description is just appropriate for both the atmosphere and plot that were going along in the story. A person was so tired that he even has a heavy breathe and when he sees the graceful natural scene presenting in his sight at that time, he must be comfortable as a feeling and wants to have a nice rest at once. So Rip Van Winkle lay musing on the scene and the mood of this part of story is presented as leisurely and comfortable for Rip Van Winkle enjoying the beautiful scenery. Not a long while from Rip Van Winkle appreciating the natural setting, the plot of story goes to a wide transition when Rip Van Winkle heard a voice from a distance hallooing his name but there was nothing but just the evening closing in. And what made the atmosphere became so fearful and suspenseful was the description in the story that â€Å"At the same time Wolf bristled up his back and giving a low growl, skulked to his master’s side, looking fearfully down into the glen. Rip now felt a vague apprehension stealing over him; he looked anxiously in the same direction and perceived a strange figure slowly toiling up the rocks and bending under the weight of something he carried on his back. He was surprised to see any human being in this lonely and unfrequented place, but supposing it to be someone of the neighborhood in need of his assistance he hastened down to yield it. † This quote of the description that fully expresses a certain feeling of terror and eerie which has the same effect on the mood of story. The narration of the reaction of Rip Van Winkle’s dog which â€Å"bristled up his back† and howled could be considered as a really lively depiction to show the unusual actions of animal, which is a population that also has vital signs as human. As a result of using the side description effectively by Washington Irving, the major mood of each part of the story was clearly revealed such as the quote above. As Rip Van Winkle followed the old stranger and saw a group of weird people playing a novel game, there is still a description that â€Å"Nothing interrupted the stillness of the scene, but the noise of the balls, which, whenever they were rolled, echoed along the mountains like rumbling peals of thunder. † and â€Å"that his heart turned within him, and his knees smote together. His companion now emptied the contents of the keg into large flagons and made signs to him to wait upon the company. He obeyed with fear and trembling†. This two quotes indicates a strong expressive force by portraying a silent and depressive surrounding environment so that to make the noise of rolling balls prominent for the figure and simultaneously, for the reader that from their heart when reading the description. Therefore, what the readers’ feeling was like is the same as what the mood of this part of story displaying. That is, the depressive depiction has an affection of making the environment of story seemed dreadful and frightens both the character and readers. In conclusion, the description that went through the entire story is, as I said in the beginning of essay, diversiform and remarkably true to life for not only expressing the primary plot of story, but also builds up the most changeful mood for each different scene. Among all of the Romantic authors, Washington Irving is one of the most outstanding one who has done well in describing a scene of story that reveals the mood distinctly to indicate the main idea of story.