Cold War Era Movie Assignment - 1538 Words

Cold War Era Movie Assignment The movie/TV clips that we watched in class were all made between the years 1954 and 1964. World War II and The Cold War between The Soviet Union and the United States became the subject of many TV shows and movies of the time period. The paranoia and fear of communism and nuclear war was very real in the 1950’s/1960’s and it shaped the cultures of both the United States and the Soviet Union. You will be asked questions not only about the clips you will view but how they relate to World War II and The Cold War. You must use the historical events and facts that we have covered in class in your answers. Guiding Question: What do you think the attitude of Americans was towards Germans and Russians during this period of time? How did movies and television affect their opinions? â€Å"Gojira† (Godzilla) 1954 and â€Å"Them!† (1954) 1) What is the Japanese film â€Å"Gojira† trying to warn the world about? What happened in 1945 that influenced this film? The Japanese film â€Å"Gojira† was made in the early 1950’s, shortly after WW2 and the 2 atomic bombs dropped on Japan. The nuclear bombs American forces dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki left a sore spot in Japanese society. It reminded and allowed Japanese citizens to relive the horrible horrors that occurred after the blast. 2) What do you think the Japanese opinion of nuclear war was in the aftermath of World War II? Why? Japanese citizens were not too keen as they had witnessed the devastating power a nuclearShow MoreRelatedStereotypes Of Stereotypes Are Everywhere2445 Words   |  10 Pagesfirst instinct is to imagine an extremely studious child with millions of extracurricular who stays upridiculouslylate doing homework. He or she sits in a dark room, illuminated by only a small desk lamp, bending over the twenty page math homework assignment due for weeks in advance. In addition, if an Asian isn t getting straight A s in all of his or her classes, then the only valid conclusion is that they must be doing drugs. I mean, there is absolutely no other possible reason for a student ofRead MoreAliens in America: The Impact of Alien Invasion Upon American Culture3216 Words   |  13 Pages In the proposed assignment I intend to support that the theme of â€Å"alien invasion† constitutes a significant parameter in the American culture as it reflects the fear of the unknown. American society, likewise any other society, fears greatly that anything unknown, such as a person or an idea, will suddenly appear in their peaceful life, will not be assimilated and as a result will contribute to the distraction of their American identity. Given that US is a materialism-based culture, which contradictsRead MoreArthur Miller s Psychological And Social Magnitude Of His Characters1657 Words   |  7 Pagesdramas allowed ordinary people an honest examination of the course their country had taken post WWII. C. Arthur Miller created characters that wrestled with power conflicts, social and personal liability, influenced by the Great Depression and World War II, he tapped into the turmoil and dissatisfaction within the American mind. II. Arthur Miller was born in October 17, 1915 to Augusta and Isidore Miller in lower Manhattan near Harlem in the state of New York. Miller’s young adulthood was shaped byRead MoreThe Green Berets And Apocalypse Now2667 Words   |  11 Pageswill be discussing the two movies The Green Berets (1968) and Apocalypse Now (1978), and argue how The Green Berets is a propagandist pro-war film depicting the unrealities of the Vietnam War while Apocalypse Now is an ambiguous anti-war film that shows the social and political absurdities of the Vietnam War. The Green Berets is would be classified as a pro-war film depicted in favor of the American troops. The Green Berets, contrasts the harshness and brutality of the Vietcong with the generosityRead MoreMake Mine Freedom by John. Q. Public2599 Words   |  10 PagesIn the time after WWII, propaganda that was used to garner support and encourage patriotism for the war had turned into a tool to perpetuate a state of paranoia. America feared losing its integrity to the conflicts that continuously cropped up on the other side of the world. One of the greatest threats came from communism: an entity that seemed to be intent on the consumption the entire European continent and would quickly reach out towards U.S. shores. In an attempt to combat this perceived threatRead MoreNazi Germany And The Nazi War11227 Words   |  45 Pagesemphasized physical training and provided for such in both the morning and evening. Of course, the camps provided sporting activities involving competition among t eams, and being in rural areas, there was camping and hiking. During the 1930’s, before the War, except for the grammar school work, the â€Å"training† for the children, was similar to the structure and activities of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in the United States. Over time, the Nazis sent millions of German children to Hitler Youth campsRead MorePrimary Sources for Social Studies Essay3976 Words   |  16 Pagesand Research course on Communism in Europe from 1945 to 1989. In this class we studied the spread of communism, mainly through Eastern Europe, during the post-World War II era. I sat in on lectures and participated in the readings and exams required for the undergraduate portion of this class, PSC 433. In addition, I read extra assignments in the form of books and web based documents that I discussed with the professor. A majority of the extra reading that I participated in were primary sources. I readRead MoreEnglish All Semester 26504 Words   |  27 PagesEnglish III- segment 2 Semester 2 17 Assignments Week 5 Pre-Test, 5.03, 5.04A, 5.06, 5.08 Week 6 6.02C, 6.03, 6.04A, 6.08B Week 7 7.03A, 7.03B 7.05B, 7.08 Week 8 8.01, 8.02A and B, 8.03, 8.05 (segment exam) 5.03- A rose for Emily Part I: Character Identification in A Rose for Emily In complete sentence format, identify each of the following characters. Remember reporters, be sure to include as much information as possible to give your readers a vivid picture of each of the followingRead MoreTeaching Notes Robert Grant - Strategy 4th Edition51665 Words   |  207 PagesOutstanding business leaders are innovators – they seek to identify and exploit new opportunities for proï ¬ t. In making recommendations I shall be expecting you to generate innovative yet feasible solutions to complex business problems. assessment and assignments Final Examination Group Project Case Submissions Class Participation 30% 30% 20% 20% 6 INTRODUCTION Final Examination: Details of the format and date of the ï ¬ nal exam will be announced. Case Submissions: You must analyze and write up anyRead MoreEast African Culture Reflects on Their Drama Using Aminata, Echoes of Silence and I Will Marry When I Want as Case Study12168 Words   |  49 PagesEKITI STATE UNIVERSITY ADO - EKITI FACULTY OF ARTS DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND LITERARY STUDIES AN ASSIGNMENT ON: ELS 226 (MODERN AFRICAN DRAMA) SUBMITTED BY : GROUP 4 QUESTION: THE CULTURE OF THE PEOPLE DETERMINES ITS DRAMA. DISCUSS THE EAST AFRICAN EXPERIENCE AS EXEMPLIFY IN FRANCES LIMBULGA’S AMMATA, NGUGI WA THIONGO’ S I WILL MARRY WHEN I WANT AND JOHN RUGANDA’S ECHOES OF SILENCE. LECTURER-IN-CHARGE: DR OLANIYAN MRS LIST OF GROUP MEMBERS. OGUNFEIBO AYOKUNLE O 1002630 IBITOYE

Perry Smiths Nature And Nurture - 1304 Words

Are people designed or defined? Some say that inherited traits design individuals. However, others say the way life treats a person defines them. In the case of Perry Smith, nurture seems to be casting the deciding vote in his life. Nurture definitely trumps nature in deciding the way Perry Smith s inner thoughts, feelings, and actions take shape. Perry Smith s inner musings form as a result of the suffering he undergoes throughout his life. Perry contemplates many thoughts that the reader is able to see in In Cold Blood, and these thoughts seem to have a great deal to do with his turbulent past. He divulges, quite clearly, just how much every major event in his life affected him. For example, Perry describes to the reader the first†¦show more content†¦Humankind has mistreated him repeatedly since he was a child. Children can’t handle emotions very well. If they feel mistreated they believe they are being mistreated, and if they feel unloved they believe they are unloved.Young juveniles don t try to reason away their emotions; they are what they are. So when a child builds up so much negative emotion, those feelings don t just go away. They stick with the child forever, or until the child resolves them. The psychiatrist who evaluated Perry in In Cold Blood(Pg. 191) stated quite distinctly, The history relating to extreme violence, whether fantasied, observed in reality, or actually experienced by the child, fits in with the psychoanalytic hypothesis that the child s exposure to overwhelming stimuli, before he can master them, is closely linked to early defects in ego formation and later severe disturbances in impulse control. In all of these cases, there was evidence of severe emotional deprivation in early life. This clearly describes the person of Perry Smith. He underwent severe emotional deprivation as a child, and as an adult, he does indeed have defects in ego formation and no impulse control. His lack of impulse control is evident when Perry slits Herb Clutter s throat. But I didn t mean it. I meant to call his bluff, make him argue me out of it, make him admit he was a phony and a coward. See, it was something between me and Dick. I knelt down beside Mr.Show MoreRelatedTruman Capote -In Cold Blood - Nature vs Nurture1274 Words   |  6 PagesBlood. Question 2 â€Å"Nature vs Nu rture† Truman Capote’s acclaimed â€Å"non-fiction† novel, In Cold Blood explores the concept as to whether killers are born or made, following the brutal murders of the Clutter family in rural Kansas. Capote develops Perry Smith’s horrid, unfortunate upbringing as a key narrative device which serves to illustrate the effect of childhood experiences on adult behaviour. Capote manipulates the reader’s idea of morality, controversially portraying Perry Smith in a sympatheticRead MoreIn Cold Blood: Nature vs Nurture Essay885 Words   |  4 Pagestrial: death penalty. The final outcome of the trail was never to be any different than death. â€Å"Of all the people in all the world, the Clutters were the least likely to be murdered† (Capote 85). We know the two men who killed the Clutter family, Perry Smith and Bill Hickock, preplanned the crime with malice and forethought. Although the actions were crul and grusome, does Death Row fit what they did if their pa sts, childhood environments and situation, are bad. Capote shows the effect of childhoodRead MoreAnalysis of In Cold Blood by Truman Capote Essay911 Words   |  4 Pages and execution of the killers. As this twisted novel unravels, Capote defines the themes of childhood influences relevant to the adulthood of the murderers, opposite personalities, and nature versus nurture. Truman Capote gives the reader a detailed report of Perry Smiths and Dick Hickocks childhoods. Smiths childhood was very problematic and scarred by years of abuse. He witnessed his father abusing his mother, which happened to result in a divorce. Due to these problems, he ran away from homeRead MoreNature vs Nurture in Truman Capote’s Novel, In Cold Blood Essay1058 Words   |  5 Pagesof English, once wrote, â€Å"Nature makes the boy toward, nurture sees him forward.† Mulcaster recognizes that both genetic and environmental factors determine the type of a person one becomes. Truman Capote’s nonfiction novel, In Cold Blood gives the reader an opportunity to see prime examples of how nature and nurture influence one’s character. Capote’s novel, In Cold Blood introduces the reader to two men; Richard Eugene Hickock known as Dick throughout the novel, and Perry Edward Smith whose livesRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture1360 Words   |  6 PagesNature vs Nurture Nature versus nurture is a complicated subject to speak about. If one’s abilities or lack of are due to their environment or their genes. For example, a child is behaving negatively in class. Many individuals are quick to jump to the conclusion that â€Å"Oh, that kid’s parents don’t care, or just don’t know how to raise their child.† That could very well be a possibility, but most people never think that maybe they have a hereditary problem, such as ADHD, that was passedRead MoreTruman Capotes In Cold Blood1591 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Dream is a dominant theme in American literature, and in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, the idealistic dream is critically evaluated. In this paper, I will explain the context of the work, and then I will compare and contrast Dick any Perry (the murderers) with the Clutter family (the murdered) in relation to the theme of the fragility of the American Dream. Capote wrote what he considered to be the first nonfiction novel. Simply defined a nonfiction novel is one in which an eventRead MoreEssay on HUMAN BEINGS AND NATURE DURING THE REVOLUTION OF THE MIND3395 Words   |  14 PagesHUMAN BEINGS AND NATURE DURING THE REVOLUTION OF THE MIND Enlightenment is mans release from his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is mans inability to make use of his understanding without direction from another. Self-incurred is this tutelage when its cause lies not in lack of reason but in lack of resolution and courage to use it without direction from another. Dare to Know! Have courage to use your own reason!- that is the motto of enlightenment. -Immanuel Kant, 1784 (1) From theRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility10163 Words   |  41 Pagesenvironmental, and computer ethics- -relating them to real-world problems facing society. FROM MEDICAL TO BIOMEDICAL ETHICS From its earliest history, medicine was associated with the acceptance of special moral obligations by those who attempted to assist nature in promoting health and overcoming illness. Because physicians brought specialized knowledge or expertise to bear on vulnerable patients, the Hippocratic tradition of medical ethics emphasized their responsibilities not just to avoid harm and to doRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesgraphs that are found in the text. Videos on DVD Adopters can access the 48 videos on the 2013 Organizational Behavior Video Library DVD. These videos have been produced to depict real-world OB issues and give students a taste of the multi-faceted nature of OB in real companies. Learning Management Systems BlackBoard and WebCT Course Cartridges are available for download from www.pearsonhighered.com/irc. These standard course cartridges contain the Instructor’s Manual, TestGen, Instructor PowerPointsRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesand the past is not sufficient to explain the future.† Almost no one would argue that â€Å"permanent white water† best characterizes our current environment. Almost everything is in flux, from our technology and methods of transacting business to the nature of education and the definition of the family. INTRODUCTION 3 Despite all this change in our environment, there is something that has remained, and continues to remain, relatively constant. With minor variations and stylistic differences,

Justification And Weaknesses Of Non

Justification And Weaknesses Of Non-Interpretive Essay Justification and Weaknesses of the Non-Interpretive Model Brief: Justification and Weaknesses of the Non-Interpretive Model The question of Constitutional interpretation still has yet to be resolved. Should only the explicit commands of our nations Founding Fathers be referenced in courts of law, or can it be justified that an outside body should extrapolate from the specific text of the Constitution to define and defend additional fundamental rights? Further, if this body, namely the Supreme Court, bases its decisions of constitutional relevance not wholly on exact interpretation, then regardless of reason, are they wholly illegitimate? The non-interpretive model allows the Court to interpret beyond the exact wording of the Constitution to define and protect the values of a society. The question of how the non-interpretative model can be justified must be answered. Despite much remaining confusion between the two models, it is clear that history has chosen the non-interpretative model without which many of the defining points in our nations history would be unjustified. The overwhelming strength of the non-interpretive model is that it has allowed for many fundamental decisions that have served to protect the natural rights of the members of this society. If on the other hand the interpretive model is to be accepted, a significant number of decisions must be revoked. Briefly, the majority of the due process clause is no longer justified. Fair criminal and civil procedures must be dismantled since they have no specific textual reference in the Constitution. Freedom of speech, religion, and property rights are all called in question. Also affected is the legitimacy of franchise and legislative apportionment bodies of doctrine. The equal protection clause of the Constitution when read literally outlines the defense of some forms of racial discrimination. However, it does not immediately guarantee the right to vote, eligibility for office, or the right to serve on a jury. Additionally, the clause does not suggest that equal-facility segregation is not to be allowed. Finally, the freedom from cruel and unusual punishments as outlined in the eighth amendment loses its flexibility. In this manner, a prima facie argument against the interpretive model is evident. Without the ability to move beyond the specific wording, the Court loses its authority to protect what society values as basic human rights. A fundamental question relevant to this debate is whether or not values within our society are time-enduring or changing. When the Supreme Court makes a controversial decision, does it use the text of the Constitution to legitimize principles of natural law, social norms and arrangements? Or, is it acting as an interpreter of slowly changing values and imposing its views on society through its decisions? The Constitution is not a stagnant document; it is very much alive and changing with the times. Critics argue that the amendment process was created to allow change and that the role of the Judiciary does not include the power to change stated commands in addition to that of enforcing them. However, in many cases, the amendment process is inadequate for clarification of issues of human rights. A great virtue of the non-interpretive model is that the Court has the power to strike down unconstitutional legislation that allows for the Court to preserve the rights of the people. Non-interpretation then requires the application of understood codes, yet the decision-making process is far from mechanical. Critics contest that the Court should not have the ability to interpret societal values in a given period of time. However, as has been shown, history has upheld this tradition. A number of questions now arise. Is it practically wise to place the responsibility to define and protect human rights in the hands of Supreme Court Justices? The answer lies in ones interpretation of history. While it is true that the Court has made decisions that reflect its own biases and interests, it can be shown that the Court has also consistently acted to secure the rights of citizens and to limit federal and state powers. Following, is the definition and enforcement of human rights a judicial task? The adjudication of the Supreme Court over issues of human rights as opposed to this power residing in other branches of government must be answered. While there is no direct statement regarding judicial review in the Constitution, Marbury v. .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 , .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 .postImageUrl , .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 , .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8:hover , .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8:visited , .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8:active { border:0!important; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8:active , .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8 .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufa02ba4f77bda687e5fe00e37a6345c8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Soldiers Of Destruction By Charles W. Sydnor, Jr: Eicke’S Cultivation Of Elitism Essay Madison is referenced here as the greatest of all cases justifying this judicial power. Thus arises the penultimate question of the authority of the Supreme Court. Constitutional adjudication was allowed for implicitly by the Founding Fathers. Only some of the principles of higher law were written down in the original document; however, the distinction between those .

UPS versus FedEx Head-to-Head on Wireless Essay Example

UPS versus FedEx Head-to-Head on Wireless Essay FedEx and UPS are prime examples of war in the market place. Both are always seeking a competitive edge over one another and stay short at nothing. As the two companies are encroaching on each others primary businesses (UPS on overnight delivery and FedEx on ground delivery), they are concurrently stepping up their wireless deployments as well in their own unique ways of doing business. FedEx deploys new technologies as soon as it can justify the cost and demonstrate improved efficiencies and customer benefit. UPS however refreshes its technology base roughly every five to seven years, when it rolls out a unified system in stages that it synchronizes with the life span of the older system. Both are looking ahead to potential applications of radio frequency identification and GPS wireless technologies.UPS and FedEx have used various forms of wireless technology since the late 1980s, usually proprietary processes developed with vendors. But in recent years, both have switched to standa rds-based technologies such as 802.11b wireless LANs, Bluetooth short-range wireless links and general packet radio service (GPRS) cellular networks that provide lower development and maintenance costs, greater throughput and security, and lower acquisition and deployment costs.Both UPS and FedEx rely on near-real-time data to manage their operations, and the only way for the companies to get this near-real-time information is through the use of wireless technology in the field and in their facilities. Both have tens of thousands of couriers roaming the world to pick up and deliver packages, making millions of stops per day. Their challenge is to use wireless to speed up the process to improve customer service. FedEx’s new PowerPad device uses a Bluetooth radio to send package information—scanned during pickup—and frees the courier from having to dock the handheld in order to activate the data transfer, which shaves off about 10 seconds per stop. The PowerPad al one will save the company $20 million per year among the 40,000 couriers. A new handheld, the Delivery Information Acquisition Device (DIAD) IV, is UPSs counterpart to FedExs PowerPad. Functionally, the DIAD IV is analogous to the PowerPad, except the 70,000 handhelds transmit the data directly to UPS using a digital cellular connection. The business challenge for both companies is to reduce the cost of sorting. In the sorting facilities, both companies use a device called a ring scanner, which is a bar code reader mounted on two fingers and wired to a terminal strapped to the forearm. As they move onto new wireless platforms, both companies are also changing their approaches to network security.Outside of the two delivery companies major package scanning retooling efforts, FedEx and UPS continue to investigate what business benefits they might gain from other wireless technologies. Two have gained particular attention: RFID tags, which could replace bar code scanners, and GPS, whic h can precisely locate field units.Although few companies have the scale of UPS and FedEx, they can adopt many of the wireless technologies scaled to their size and use devices and network components that fit their operations.

What’s a Perfect PSAT Score and How to Get It

What’s a Perfect PSAT Score and How to Get It SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The mission: a perfect score on the PSAT.The method: serious test prep. Achieving a perfect score is no easy feat, but with the right study plan and materials, you can master this important exam. This guide will go over what makes for a perfect score on the PSAT and how you can prep to conquer the test. Read on to learn how to succeed in your mission to get a perfect PSAT score, should you choose to accept it.

118 Great Questions to Ask on a College Tour

8 Great Questions to Ask on a College Tour SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Touring your prospective colleges is a great opportunity to learnfrom thepeople who study, work, and teach on campus. By keeping your eyes and ears open, you can gain a strong sense of a school and its culture, far beyond the facts and figures on its website. To make the most of your visits, you should prepare thoughtful questions to ask on a college tour. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive college visit checklist of questions for your tour guide, current students, admissions officers, financial aid officers, and professors. Plus, we’ll offer some advice on what not to ask. Before breaking out the list of college tour questions, let’s review the point of campusvisits in the first place. Why Are College Tours Important? If you have the means and time to do so, you should definitely take advantage of campus tours. They’re an invaluable opportunity to explore your prospective college campuses, as well as their surrounding areas, in person. You can check out the school’s facilities, like the library, dorms, dining halls, gym, and science labs, as well as branch out to see its surrounding city or, if you’re aiming for rural, dairy farms. Gathering your impressions of your college’s campus and beyond will help you gain a much stronger sense of whether or not it’s a place you’d like to live and learn for four years. If you have an amazing visit, then you might feel that much more empowered to put together a stellar application. If not, then you might save an application fee and cross that school off your list. Besides sampling the dining food or hanging out on the quad, you can also learn a lot about the student experience from your tour guide, usually a current student, and other students that you meet. You might arrange to stay overnight in a dorm or set up meetings to speak with admissions officers, financial aid officers, and/or professors. All of these people can offer their unique perspectives and experiences, especially if you ask meaningful college tour questions that lead tobroader conversations. As everyone reading this will have different goals, keep in mind that you shouldpick and choose based on your specific interests.If a question asks about popular classes in general, for instance, you can adapt it to ask specifically about popular classes in, say, the Biology Department. Besides customizing to your interests, you also would be well served to prepare different questions for different people.This first group of good questions to ask on a college tour would be best suited to your tour guide or other current students of the college. Find out what students have to say about their college experience. Questions to Ask Your Tour Guide or Other Current Students Most college tour guides are big fans of their colleges and are enthusiastic to share why. They tend to know lots of history and fun facts about the school, butyou shouldn’t necessarily expect them to rattle off specific data and statistics about graduation rates and financial aid packages (save those kinds of questions for administrative officers). Apart from knowing a lot about the college, tour guides are usually current students, so they can also speak to their personal experience. Remember, they were in your shoes just a few years before! Let’s consider what questions would be appropriate for tour guides, divided up by academics, support resources, internships, study abroad programs, extracurriculars, residential life, and general culture. Finally, we’ll suggest some personal questions for your tour guide. As you read, consider which questions you’d like answered, and how you might customize them to meet your specific interests and needs! Academics Are some majors or departments considered stronger or more popular than others? How large are the classes? Are the classes more lecture-based or discussion-based? Would you describe any classes as especially innovative or project-based? How many of the classes are taught by a professor, and how many are taught by a teaching assistant? Are the professors accessible outside of class? What kind of classes have smaller section meetings? What are they like? Are there any especially popular classes or must-have professors? How much freedom do freshmen havein choosing courses? Are students usually able to take their first choice courses? How’s the Wi-Fi? How are freshman advisors assigned? Is it easy to change your major? How would you describe the freshman experience, in terms of advising or any classes that everyone has to take? Do the professors hold office hours? How often can students interact with professors outside of class? Can undergraduates work with professors on research? Are there honors programs or capstone classes? If so, what are they like? How many hours of class do students typically have each week? How much homework outside of class? Are finals more exam-based or project / essay-based? Where are the best places to study on campus? What are the hours for the library? Do these change during reading periods or exam weeks? Are there any research methods or databases I should learn about for my classes? Do any majors require seniors to write a thesis or complete a senior project? As mentioned above, you might alter some of these questions to refer to a specific major or class. An intro science lecture, for instance, might contain hundreds of students, while a literature class could be discussion-based and limited to twelve students. Keep this in mind as you check out the rest of the questions on thiscollege visit checklist. Like the fearless owner of this rainbow Beetle, don't be afraid to customize your college visit questions. Academic and Social-Emotional Support Can you get help from professors outside of the classroom? Is there free academic support or tutoring? Is it effective? What kind of resources are there for international student support and orientation? What kind of learning disability resources does the school offer? Is there a writing center to help with essays and research papers? Are academic advisers accessible and effective? Do the librarians help with research? Do students organize study groups or online discussion forums? Are there computer labs? How accessible and helpful is health services? Do students or administrators organize conversations for students to talk about their feelings on important issues and events? Are there social orientation programs for freshmen? Are they enjoyable? Is there career counseling? Is it helpful? Research, Internship, and Study Abroad Opportunities What kind of opportunities exist for undergraduates to work on research or academic projects with professors? What kind of internships are available? Do a lot of students get internships? Are any departments known for their contribution to research? Do any majors prepare students to continue as researchers in a Master’s or doctoral program? Are study abroad programs popular? Any ones in particular? Do most students study abroad on a program through the school or an external program? Do students of certain majors, like engineers, find it difficult tostudy abroad? Are there internship opportunities abroad? Are there opportunities through the school for summer internships or research? Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Extracurriculars What are some of the most popular extracurriculars and why? What clubs or other opportunities exist for community service? Do sports play a large role on campus? What divisions are the sports teams? What about intramurals or exercise classes? Can you talk about the fill-in-the-blankclub? (Examples might include the student newspaper, student magazine, international relations clubs, art groups, science clubs, musical performances, plays, bands, ensembles...whatever you’re interested in!) In what ways do students connect with and volunteer in the surrounding community? How many students do they really squeeze into those dorm rooms? Residence Life What are the dorms like? Are there lounges, laundry, and kitchens? Sharedor private restrooms? Do certain dorms appeal to students with different interests, like a â€Å"healthy living† dorm? Do most students live in the dorms? What about after sophomore or junior year? If they move off campus, do they live in apartments or shared houses? Are any students placed in triples? How are the resident counselors? Do they plan social events for freshmen to get to know one another? Do most students get along with their randomly assigned roommates? What would I do in case of a conflict or need for a room switch? Is that possible? What kind of food does the dining hall serve? Are there different options? How is it, really? Does the dining hall accommodate special dietary restrictions? Are there any aspiring chefs on campus who host occasional exclusive gourmet pop-up dinners? (This question may be exclusive to this kidand this kid. So cool!) Campus Culture and Surrounding Area Where do students tend to hang out on and off campus? Are there movie theaters and concert venues? What about good cafes for getting work done or finding the perfect pumpkin spice latte? How would you describe the presence of Greek life? Do a lot of students belong to fraternities or sororities? How ethnically diverse is the campus? How many international students are there? What countries do they come from? Do students stick around or go home on weekends? What’s the party scene like? (This might be a question to ask current students away from the group tour.) Have there been any recent student protests? What were they protesting, and how did staff and faculty respond? What are some big campus events, like homecoming or alumni weekend? Is it easy to get around campus or get off campus without a car? What transportation options are there around campus? Is it a safe area to walk around at night? What kind of safety measures are in place? Do many students work on or off campus? How easy is it to find a part-time job? You don't want to put your tour guide too much on the spot, but you should feel free to ask about her experience at college! Personal Questions As mentioned above, tour guides are typically current students who went through the same college application process just a few years earlier! Most tour guides are also, presumably, happy about their choice to attend. I wouldn’t recommend prying into their high school grades and test scores, but there are other personal questions that are fair game, like the following: What’s your favorite class and why? What’s it like to study in your major? How helpful did you find your freshman year advisor? What do you wish you had known going into freshman year? What do you wish you had asked on a campus tour when you were in my place? What’s a typical weekday like for you? What surprised you about campus life here? Is there anything you wish you had done differently to improve your experience here? Are there any things you’d like to change about the school? What would be your most important advice for freshman? What’s your favorite spot you’ve discovered on campus since arriving? Your tour guide, along with any other current students you meet, isa great resource for honest, firsthand feedback about the student experience. As students, they’re likely to have similar experiences and concerns as you, and they can give you a sense of what’s in store if you're accepted and decide to enroll in the college. For more technical information on admissions policies and financial aid offers, you might set up meetings with the relevant offices. Read on for questions to ask the administrative staff. Boldly go where no collegestudent really has to go again once she's accepted. Questions to Ask an Admissions Officer Making contact with the admissions office can not only get your questions answered. It can also get your â€Å"demonstrated interest† on file, which may help when it comes time to review your application. Rather than appearing as an anonymous applicant, admissions officers may recognize you from a meeting, email, or other records of contact. Not all schools keep track of this, but for some, establishing some kind of relationship may help show your enthusiasm for the school and thereby give you a bit of an edge. If you want to meet with an admissions officer, make sure to set up a meeting via email or calling beforehand. If it’s application season, usually March and April, try to schedule this a few weeks early to make sure they’re not too busy to meet with prospective students. Then have your list of questions ready to show that you prepared and are ready tomake the most of your conversation. Here are a few questions you might ask. What's unique about this college? What leads most students to choose this college? What qualities and experiences are you looking for in applicants? Can you tell me more about the application evaluation process? How large of a role do SAT scores play in admissions? Do you have any advice for applicants? Does this differ for early versus regular decision applications? What percentage of students graduate in four years? What are the college’s most important values, and how does it demonstrate this to students? What sort of student would succeed here? What sort of student might not be happy here? Can you tell me about career placements or grad school acceptances for graduates? How do you help students prepare for post-grad employment? Do you have an active alumni network? Just as the admissions office will have lots of facts and advice about the admissions process, the financial aid office can walk you through your financial application. The next section covers questions you might have for them. All of these are good topics to discuss witha financial aid officer. Questions to Ask a Financial Aid Officer Most schools offer a good deal of information about the cost of tuition, room and board, books, and other fees online, as well as the steps to take to apply forfinancial aid. If financial aid’s an important factor for you, it could be helpful to meet with an officer and make sure you’re doing everything you can to get your financial needs met. I would suggest researching the school's financial aid website first, so you’re not asking about info that’s readily available online. Then you can use that base knowledge as a stepping off point for other queries, like the ones below: What kind of need-based financial aid do you offer? Do you meet 100% of demonstrated financial need? What information do you require besides the FAFSA? How many students receive merit-based scholarships? How much is offered? Are there other scholarships that students can apply for at the time of application? How much do students typically owe after graduating? Can I renegotiate my offer if it’s lower than I expected? What are some opportunities for work-study? The financial aid office is the best place for any and all your money-related questions. If you get the chance to meet with a professor, then you can shift back into academic mode. Tell me, Professor McGonagall, how serious are you about deadlines? Questions to Ask a Professor Finally, meeting with a professor could be a great way to make contact and learn about a department and class, especially if you have a strong sense of what you want to study. You can learn about her teaching style, the department’s approach, and any opportunities for independent projects or research. What are your expectations for students in your class? How can students succeed in your class? What are typical requirements, like exams, papers, or presentations in a semester? What kind of materials would I use in your class? What skills or knowledge would you consider to be prerequisites? Do you offer any opportunities for students to do research? What other opportunities are available outside of the classroom to reinforce my learning, like cultural clubs or festivals? How often do you meet with or mentor students outside of class? What are the strengths of your program? Department? What’s the community of students who major in this program like? Do they act as peer mentors, collaborate on projects, or form study groups? What could I do to prepare for further research at the graduate level? Would I be required or able to write a senior thesis or do a capstone project? How much flexibility would I have in shaping my major or taking an interdisciplinary approach? As you can see, there’s a wide rangeof questions you could prepare to ask tour guides, admissions officers, financial aid officers, and professors. In addition to knowing what to ask, it can also be useful to know what not to ask. Are there any questions you shouldn't askon your campus tours? This question, for example, would be less than ideal. Questions to Avoid on College Visits I know, I know, they say there are no dumb questions - but there may be some worth keeping to yourself on your college visits. For instance, I mentioned above that it would probably be inappropriate to ask your tour guide to recite her high school resume to see how your grades, scores, and involvements stack up. While she can talk about her experiences applying and attending, asking for specific info like that would probably cross the line from curious to prying. You should also avoid asking questions that are overly personaland not helpful to others in the group when you’re on your tours.For example, I wouldn’t advise sharing your life story and then asking your tour guide (or a professor, for that matter) to speculate about your admissions chances. She probably can’t speak to highly specific concerns, and your fellow tour group members won’t find it helpful either. If your question feels likeTMI for a group setting, then cross it off your list. A final good rule of thumb to follow is to avoid asking basic questions that can be easily answered via Google or a quick search of the school’s website. For instance, questions like the following fall into that category: Do you have a psychology major? When was the school founded? How many students are in the freshman class? What was last year’s rate of acceptance? Based on these guidelines and suggestions, you probably have a sense of the kind of questions to ask on a college tour that will help you make the most of your campus visits. Most are prompts that may open into a more in-depth discussion. That being said, how can you use these questions to prepare for your college tours? Start gathering your tastiestcollege tourquestions. How to Prepare for Your College Tours Your first step is scheduling and signing up online for your college tours, as well as any other meetings or overnight stays. The best time to tour is when classes are in session so you can get the truest sense of the college in action. Since you should prepare questions and take notes on the answers, I recommend writing them down and bringing a notebook (paper or electronic) to take notes. You’ll be getting a lot of information, along with walking around and seeing everything, so it will be useful to have a record to which you can refer at the end of the day. You certainly don’t need to go overboard with the college tour questions. I would suggest preparing five to ten of your most important questions for each person (student, admissions officer, professor, etc). You may find you should choose about three during your tour, while you may be able to ask a lot more during a one on one conversation or meeting. Better to over-prepare than under-prepare, and you could list your highest priority questions at the top to make sure you get to them first. In addition to asking questions and jotting down notes on the responses, you should take the time to observe everything going on around you. Beyond viewing the facilities, try to notice how the staff responds to you or how students interact with one another. Perhaps most importantly, is it a place where you’d feel comfortable? Finally, spend some time writing and reflecting after your visit. Does the school seem like a good fit with your personality, interests, and goals? Do you feel excited about the prospect of attending? At the end of the day, you must save the final questions for yourself. What's Next? Are you in the midst of researching colleges and narrowing down your college list? This guide has some seriously helpful suggestions for figuring out what you want and choosing the colleges that best match your goals. Once you’ve found some exciting schools, head on over here to learn when to apply. This comprehensive guide goes over the various application deadlinesyou need to know, along with some examples of regular and early deadlines for popular schools. Finally, check out this guide on all the steps to apply to college, starting with choosing the best high school classes as early as freshman year and finishing with submitting your college apps! Want to improve your SAT score by 160points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The Inter-relationship between Structural Engineering and Architecture Essay

The Inter-relationship between Structural Engineering and Architecture - Essay Example Throughout human history, architects have ranged from learned men revered by royalty, to anonymous craftsmen rising through the ranks of guilds. Both have built castles, cathedrals, and chateaux. Until the last century, there were no schools of architecture, no building codes, etc. There were no ready-made building materials to purchase structures. Anyone could hang out a shingle as an architect, and did (Schekkerman). Barbacci (Barbacci) describes; traditionally, the architect was a master in control of all functional, structural, and aesthetic decisions; the method of construction; and the supervision of the building process. This tradition continued until the 19th century, where the complexity of the application of structural steel forced architects to deligate the matter to the structural engineers. The primary role of the architect as the overall builder was further diminished during the 20th century by the growth in complexity of building systems such as the passenger elevators (Schekkerman). Today, building human shelter is no longer a work of any single individual, rather by a group of specialists from various fields. Thus, building a shelter is already a collective effort amongst talents of a team. Architects now had to collaborate with mechanical and electrical engineers as well. Engineers in these disciplines were experts in their subject matter but not on buildings and could not assume the role of the architect. The need for people whose professional focus was on the design of buildings but whose education as engineers allowed them to master the technologies and materials in structural, mechanical, and electrical systems led to the emergence of architectural engineering as a new profession (Schekkerman). The relationship between practising architects and structural engineers is to achieve the common goal of creating a work of architecture. Yet the very roots of modern misconceptions about this process are that the conventional' architect purports to represent art while the conventional' engineer purports to represent science. This was not, however how the creators of Gothic Cathedrals saw it (Ardill).Circa 25 BCE, Vitruvius described the role of an architect as (Schekkerman): The ideal architect should be a man of letters, a mathematician, familiar with historical studies, a diligent of philosophy, acquainted with music, not ignorant of medicine, learned in the responses of jurisconsultis, familiar with astronomy andastronomical calculations. The architect has the vision; the structural engineer creates the reality. Engineers are artists grounded in concrete, steel, and glass (among other materials), and it is up to them to ensure that a building can be built as it was designed. Engineers work in close partnership with architects throughout the design process, and when analysing the finished product, it is often difficult to clearly define between the two professionals (Hagberg).The Architect has always been perceived as the "Artist". Most Architectural drawings can be a true work of art that has been affectionately created with a zealous eye for detail. The architect coordinates the entire design and ensures that from the aesthetic point of view his intentions are being conveyed with every

Should Scotland be independent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Should Scotland be independent - Essay Example For the understanding of the phenomenon from every angle, let’s try to consider should Scotland be dependent or not by researching pros and cons of the question. To begin with it must be said that the Scottish referendum of 2014 has brightly demonstrated the whole picture of Scots’ unsteady views about their future. Numerous surveys are the evidence of such a position. The people tend to shift their opinions under the influence of this or that factors. Today they are for the independence or undetermined with decision, and tomorrow they can radically change it or accept any of sides. â€Å"For the independence camp it is in many ways a race against time: Over the last six months the momentum has shifted toward independence, but at least one-sixth of Scottish voters in recent polls have said they were undecided or refused to answer† (Erlanger, 2014). One of the rationales is weight of political leaders’ speeches for a particular result, namely: being within (the Unionists) or being without the United Kingdom (the Scottish National Party). The other reason of Scots’ uncertainty is absence of precise understanding of times to come under the new governing, or in other words, the disparity in successful life after the winning of independency. In practice, the latter serves as a great ground for the first reason causing the appearance of great many supporters of Scotland secession of the United Kingdom. But it is an extremely controversial matter whether they really want or need it. Naturally, there are positive and negative motives of Scots’ aspiration for independence. Well-known reasoning of independence supporters includes several points. First of all, it is a need of increase of Scottish participating in affairs relating solely Scotland, and decrease of England’s interference into them, for only the absolute Scottish Parliament outright familiar with amount problems of its country is capable of solving them. Now â€Å"It has

Organisational Behaviour Essay Example for Free

Organisational Behaviour Essay The concept of the balanced scorecard (BSC) was first introduced by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton (1992) in their now widely cited Harvard Business Review article, â€Å"The Balanced Scorecard—Measures that Drive Performance.† The widespread adoption and use of the BSC is well documented. For example, Kaplan and Norton (2001) reported that by 2001 about 50% of the Fortune 1000 companies in North America and 40% to 45% of companies in Europe were using the BSC. The basic premise of the BSC is that financial results alone cannot capture value-creating activities (Kaplan Norton, 2001). In other words, financial measures are lagging indicators and, as such, are not effective in identifying the drivers or activities that affect financial results. Kaplan and Norton (1992) suggested that organizations, while using financial measures, should develop a comprehensive set of additional measures to use as leading indicators, or predictors, of financial performance. They suggested that measures should be developed that address four perspectives: 1. The financial perspective. Measures in this perspective should answer the question, â€Å"How should we appear to our shareholders?† 2. The customer perspective. These measures should answer the question, ABSTRACT. Although the application of the balanced scorecard (BSC) in the business sector is well documented, very little research has been reported regarding the adaptation or application of the BSC in the education sector. In this article, the authors (a) describe how the Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence has adapted the concept of the BSC to education and (b) discuss significant differences as well as similarities between the BSC for business and the BSC for education. The authors also present examples of the BSCs of three Baldrige Education Award recipients. financial performance (Kaplan Norton, 1996). Thus, the BSC enables managers to monitor and adjust the implementation of their strategies and to make fundamental changes in them. The Baldrige National Quality Program: An Overview The Baldrige National Quality Program is the vehicle of implementation of The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Improvement Act of 1987–Public Law 100–107. This law was enacted on the basis of a set of â€Å"Findings,† one of which was that [T]he leadership of the United States in product and process quality has been challenged strongly (and sometimes successfully) by foreign competition, and our Nation’s productivity growth has improved less than our competitors’ over the last two decades. (Baldrige National Quality Program, 2003a, p. 61) â€Å"How should we appear to our customers?† 3. Internal business processes perspective. Measures in this perspective should answer the question, â€Å"What processes must we excel at?† 4. Learning and growth perspective. These measures should answer the question, â€Å"How can we sustain our ability to change and improve?† A critical factor for an effective BSC is the alignment of all the measures in the four perspectives with the company’s vision and strategic objectives. The BSC allows managers to track short-term financial results while simultaneously monitoring their progress in building the capabilities and acquiring the intangible assets that generate growth for future The primary objective of the Baldrige Program is to help American businesses improve their competitiveness in the global market. Businesses can improve their competitiveness by identifying role-model organizations, recognizing them, and disseminating their best practices throughout the United States. The Baldrige Program is widely recognized as a very significant factor in strengthening U.S. competitiveness in the global market. In its 1995 report Building on Baldrige: American Quality for the 21st Century, the Council on Competitiveness made the following statements: â€Å"The Baldrige National Quality Award and its state and local offshoots have been key to the effort to strengthen U.S. competitiveness† and â€Å"The Baldrige Award Program, having galvanized U.S. quality efforts, is now positioned to become the vehicle to stimulate and coordinate efforts to expand quality as a national priority† (Council, p. v). The Council (p. 22) also stated that it â€Å"is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of chief executives from business, higher education and organized labor who have joined together to pursue a single overriding goal: to improve the ability of American companies and workers to compete more effectively in world markets, while building a rising standard of living at home.† In 1995, The Council was chaired by Paul Allaire, CEO, Xerox, with Thomas E. Everhart, President, California Institute of Technology, and Jack Sheinkman, President, Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, AFL-CIO, CLC, as vice-chairmen. Recipients of the Baldrige Award are obligated to present their â€Å"best practices† at one national and two regional conferences. In addition to these obligatory presentations, there is a great demand for additional presentations. Through 1998, past Baldrige Award recipients made approximately 30,000 presentations. The centerpiece of the Baldrige Program is the Criteria for Performance Excellence. These criteria define a stateof-the-art management model that integrates the following seven areas into a comprehensive system: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; human resource focus; process management; and business results. In Figure 1, we show the framework of the criteria in a systems perspective. The criteria maintain currency through annual revisions and improvements that incorporate emerging issues and best practices (Baldrige National Quality Program, 2003a). The criteria place heavy emphasis on the development of a comprehensive measurement system that is aligned with the company’s strategic objectives. The measurement system yields results in the following areas (Baldrige National Quality Program, 2003a): 1. Customer-focused results 2. Product and service results 3. Financial and market results 4. Human resource results 5. Organizational effectiveness results, including key internal operations performance measures 6. Governance and social responsibility results Clearly, this set of results is consistent with the basic concept of the BSC. The financial and market results are the only lagging indicator and cover the BSC’s financial perspective. The customerfocused results obviously cover the BSC’s customer perspective. The product and service results together with the organizational effectiveness results cover the BSC’s internal business perspective. The human resource results cover the BSC’s learning and growth perspective. The governance and social responsibility results were added in 2003 and represent a new perspective in view of the recent, well known collapses that giant corporations experienced owing to unethical practices. The Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence In 1995, the Baldrige National Quality Program began the process of converting the business criteria for use in the education sector. This process culminated in the development of the Education Criteria for Performance Excellence and with Congressional approval of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Education in 1999. In Figure 2, we show the framework of the education criteria in a systems perspective. Clearly, this framework is very similar to that of the business criteria shown in Figure 1. In 2001, three educational institutions became the first recipients of the Baldrige Award. The BSC in the Education Criteria for Performance Excellence Although the concept of the BSC has been widely adopted and used in the business sector, the education sector apparently has not embraced the BSC concept widely, as indicated by the dearth of published research on this topic. A thorough review of the literature yielded few significant publications. For example, Cullen, Joyce, Hassall, and Broadbent (2003) proposed that a balanced scorecard be used in educational institutions for reinforcement of the importance of managing rather than just monitoring performance. Sutherland (2000) reported that the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California adopted the balanced scorecard approach to assess its academic program and planning process. Also, Chang and Chow (1999) reported that responses in a survey of 69 accounting department heads were generally supportive of the balanced scorecard’s applicability and benefits to accounting programs. The importance of measurement permeates the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. The focus on measurement in the criteria first appears in the set of â€Å"Core Values and Concepts.† These factors comprise the philosophical foundations of performance excellence and are as follows (Baldrige National Quality Program, 2003b): 1. Visionary leadership 2. Learning-centered education 3. Organizational and personal learning In the â€Å"focus on the future† core value, the criteria state that â€Å"a major longer-term investment associated with your organization’s improvement is the investment in creating and sustaining a mission-oriented assessment system focused on learning† (Baldrige National Quality Program, 2003b, p. 3). The criteria recommend that organizations use both (a) formative assessment to measure learning early in the learning process to allow for timely intervention, if needed, and (b) summative assessment to measure progress against key relevant external standards and norms regarding the knowledge and skills that students have (Baldrige National Quality Program, 2003b). In the â€Å"management by fact† core value, the criteria make the following statement: â€Å"A major consideration in per-formance improvement and change management involves the selection and use of performance measures and indicators. The measures or indicators you select should best repres ent the factors that lead to improved student, operational, and financial performance. A comprehensive set of measures or indicators tied to student, stakeholder, and/or organizational performance requirements represents a clear basis for aligning all processes with your organization’s goals† (Baldrige National Quality Program, 2003b, p. 4). The congruence of the portion in italics with the basic premise and the perspectives of the BSC is clear. In the â€Å"focus on results and creating value† core value, the criteria state that â€Å"the use of a balanced composite of leading and lagging performance measures offers an effective means to communicate short and longer term priorities, monitor actual performance, and provide a clear basis for improving results† (Baldrige National Quality Program, 2003b, p. 4). The criteria make the following statement in the â€Å"systems perspective† core value: â€Å"Alignment means using key linkages among requirements given in the Baldrige Categories to ensure consistency of plans, processes, measur es, and actions† (Baldrige National Quality Program, 2003b, p. 5). The 11 core values and concepts are embodied in the following seven categories: 1. Leadership 2. Strategic planning 3. Student, stakeholder, and market focus 4. Measurement, analysis, and knowledge management 5. Faculty and staff focus 6. Process management 7. Organizational performance results In Figure 2, we show the framework connecting and integrating these seven categories into a comprehensive system. In describing Figure 2, the criteria state, in part, that â€Å"Measurement, Analysis, and Knowledge Management (Category 4) are critical to the effective management of your organization and to a fact-based system for improving performance.

The Punishment of a Sinner in The Scarlet Letter :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Punishment of a Sinner in The Scarlet Letter Who should punish a sinner? Should it be religion, society, or the individual? In Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter all three affect the main character Hester Prynne. Religion punishes her with the Scarlet Letter, society ostracizes her as punishment, and individually she was able to move on in life but still returned to her haunting past where she died. Religion plays a big part in the Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne wore the Scarlet Letter to remind her of the mistake ahe made. Instaed of taking Pearl away the people wanted her to wear the "A" for adultry. Hester brought up her child forcing the the thought of the heavenily father. Hester's whole lifestyle was altered. She obeyed everyone and for seven years was cursed by standing on the scaffold. The people's beliefs strongly enforced the idea that Hester would wear the Scarlet Letter, so she did. It constantly forced the tought of the sin she had commited and would haunt her for good. "I have thought have death," said she, - "have wished for it, - would even have prayed for it, were it fit that such as I should pray for anything." Society was an influence on the scarlet letter. People of the town believed that Hester was a witch as well as sinner. Society ostracized her because no one in the town had ever delt with any kind of sin as adultry so they looked at her as a witch. The people in a way wanted to ruin her life because people actually thought she was bad. One of the real canadites that wanted to ruin Hester was Mistress Hibbins. Through out the whole story Mistress Hibbins constantly gives Hester her piece of mind. "Thou thyself wilt see it, one time or another. They say, child, thou art of the lineage of the Prince of the Air! Wilt thou ride with me, some fine night, to see thy father." Individually she was ostracized and critizied no matter where she went. As time went on she helped the people proving there was a true side to Hester Prynne. That led to the "A" no longer standing for adultry but for able.

History of the Soft Drinks Industry Essay

Introduction Soft drinks, more popularly known as sodas, are not exactly referred to as items of necessity. People can live without sodas. In fact, people might be safer if they don’t drink soft drinks so much. And yet, soft drinks somehow make it to the top of the list of items bought by the average consumer. Why is this, exactly? Well, for one thing, sodas are delicious. They stand between liquor and juice. Those who are too young to drink beer but think that fruit juice is too juvenile can order sodas. Those too old and are putting their health at risk by drinking hard drinks can enjoy soft drinks and no one would think any less of them. In short, sodas have a mass appeal. They carry an image with them; an image of a person with a comfortable lifestyle. This report will take a look at the soft drink industry as a whole and particular industry’s leaders, brief history and description of the industry; will show industry characteristics, trends, changes, and competitive factors; will give recommendations for the companies within the industry. My experience of the consumer and the seller of the soft drinks, allowed me to say, that the soft drinks industry deserves attention. It is one of the biggest, fast growing, perspective, and profitable industries in the world. It takes a big place in our life as consumers. Soft drinks, and such big companies as Coca – Cola or PepsiCo, are widely spread everywhere and available in any country in the world. I decided to choose the soft drinks industry, because it illustrates the great production and distribution; and important business innovations, such as product development, franchising, and mass marketing, as well as the evolution of consumer tastes and cultural trends. History of the soft drinks industry. The soft drink industry began in the mid-1880s with the creation of syrup that was mixed with carbonated water and served at drug store lunch counters. During the early years, soft drinks were sold only in stores that could provide fountain service. Increasing distribution was tied to building additional syrup manufacturing plants. With the advent of bottling machinery, soft drinks began to be distributed beyond the town drug store. The first bottled soda water or soft drink in the United States was produced in 1835. These drinks were called soft drinks, only to separate them from hard alcoholic drinks. This drinks do not contain alcohol and broadly specifying this beverages, includes a variety of regular carbonated soft drinks, diet and caffeine free drinks, bottled water juices, juice drinks, sport drink and even ready to drink tea or coffee packs. So we can say that soft drinks mean carbonated drinks. Charles Aderton invented â€Å"Dr Pepper† in Waco, Taxes in 1885. Dr. John S. Pemberton invented â€Å"Coca – Cola† in Atlanta, Georgia in 1886. Caleb Bradham invented â€Å"Pepsi – Cola† in 1892, and so on. Bigger and smaller companies appear on a soft drink market since the greatest profitability (advantage) and cheap manufacturing of this industry was discovered. Today, soft drink is more favorite refreshment drink in the United States then tea, coffee, juice and etc. Soft drinks industry overview in the United States and World Wide. The soft drinks industry is very big, very visible, highly concentrated, and appears to have been very profitable. The leaders of the Soft Drink Industry are the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Cadbury Schweppes/Dr. Pepper Snapple, Cott Corp. , and National Beverage Corp. There is also noticeable Asian and European influence on a world market of the soft drinks. Leading companies have prominent presence in the soft drink industry. This industry is well established already, and it would be difficult for any company to enter or exit successfully. According to the Coca- Cola annual report (2009), it has the most soft drink sales with 24. 4 billion dollars. The Coca-Cola product line has several popular soft drinks including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, Barq’s, and Sprite, selling over 400 drink brands in about 200 countries. PepsiCo is the next top competitor with soft drink sales grossing 21 billion dollars for the two beverage subsidiaries, PepsiCo Beverages North America and PepsiCo International (annual report PepsiCo Inc. , 2009). PepsiCo’s soft drink product line includes Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Slice which make up more than one quarter of its sales. Cadbury Schweppes/Dr. Pepper Snapple had soft drink sales of 6 billion dollars with a product line consisting of soft drinks such as A&W Root Beer, Canada Dry, and Dr. Pepper (annual report Cadbury Schweppes/Dr. Pepper Snapple, 2009). Cott Corporation is one of the world’s biggest soft drinks manufacturers, but has a low profile among consumers because it specializes in producing private label products for retailers. In fact the company is largely credited with revitalizing the supermarket own-label beverage market during the early 1990s, scoring a number of important goals including the introduction of Sam’s American Choice cola by Wal-Mart and Sainsbury’s Classic Cola in the UK. Currently, its small portfolio of consumer brands includes RC Cola, Stars & Stripes and Red Rain. National Beverage Corp. (National Beverage) develops, manufactures, markets and distributes a portfolio of beverage products throughout the United States. The Company develops and sells flavored beverage products, including a selection of flavored soft drinks, juices, waters and energy drinks. Its brands include Shasta and Faygo, each of which has over 50 flavor varieties. The Company also maintains a line of flavored beverage products for the health-conscious consumer, including Everfresh, Home Juice and Mr. Pure 100% juice and juice-based products The Coca-Cola Company accounted for 26. 5% of the world’s soft drinks sales and 43 % of the US market, almost double the amount of rival PepsiCo, which holds a 13. 4 % share of the world market and 32 % of the US market. Both companies appear to be keen to extend their focus by expanding into growing segments for soft drink production. In the last month Coca-Cola has revealed it is extending began researching benefits of Chinese herbal remedies to target growing demand for nutritional benefits and functionality in their products. PepsiCo at the same time has increased its focus in production of non-carbonated beverages with juice in particular becoming important to its operations. Both companies remain significantly ahead of their rivals, reflecting the increasingly competitive nature of the soft drinks market. Cadbury Schweppes/Dr. Pepper Snapple takes 15 % of the US market and 3 % of the world market. Cott Corp takes 5 % of the US market. National Beverage Corp. takes 2% of the US market. (Table 1. â€Å"The top 10 Soft Drinks Companies in 2008 by global market share†, Page 21 and Table 1. a. â€Å"The Top 10 Soft Drinks Manufacturers in the US in 2008 by volume†, Page 21 ). At the core of the beverage industry is the carbonated soft-drink category. The dominant players in this area (Coca Cola, Pepsi, and Cadbury Schweppes/Dr. Pepper Snapple) own virtually all of the North American market’s most widely distributed and best-known brands. (Table 4 â€Å"Top Ten Soft Drinks in the US, 2009. † Page 24) They are dominant in world markets as well. These companies’ products occupy large portions of any supermarket’s shelf space, often covering more territory than real food categories like dairy products, meat, or produce. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo continued to dominate the soft drinks market in 2010 accounting for more than a third of global sales in the sector, according to market analytic. Soft drinks industry description. The market size of this industry has been changing. Soft drink consumption has a market share of 46. 8% within the non-alcoholic drink industry. (Table 2, 2. a. â€Å"Global Soft Drinks Market Segmentation: % Share, by Value, 2008†, Page 21). Total market value of soft drinks reached $367. 2 billion in 2008 with a market value forecast of $377. 1 billion by the end of 2010. In 2013, the global soft drink market is forecast to have a value of $456. 3 billion. The 2008 soft drink volume was 325,367. 2 million liters (Table 3 â€Å"Global Soft Drinks Market Volume: liters million†, Page 22). In 2013, the global soft drink market is forecast to have a volume of 474 million liters, an increase of 22. 3% since 2008. Soft drink industry is lucrative with a potential for high profits, but there are several obstacles to overcome in order to capture the market share. Carbonates sales proved the most lucrative for the global soft drink market, generating 46. 8% of the total value. However, the volume of the U. S. carbonated soft drinks declined -3% in 2009. That compares to – 2. 3% decline in 2008; a – 0. 6 % decline in 2007; and a -0. 2% decline in 2006. Top companies, Coke and Pepsi, generated similar results last year. Coke carbonated soft drinks volume was down -3. 1% and PepsiCo’s was down -4%. Both lost share. Dr. Pepper Snapple’s carbonated soft drink volume was down -1. 3%. (See below, Table 5 â€Å"Carbonated soft drink Companies in the U. S. for 2009†). In the U. S. , with the carbonated soft drinks decline accelerating, other categories are slowly growing. (For example, bottled water and energy drinks market. ) The Coca-Cola Company accounts for 22. 6% of the global soft drink market’s volume. Supermarkets and hypermarkets distribute 48. 4% of the global soft drink market’s volume. Table 5. â€Å"Carbonated soft drink Companies for 2009†. Top -10 CSD Companies in the US for 2009| 2009| 2009| 2008| | 2009| 2008| | Rank Companies| Market Share| Market Share| Share Change| Cases (millions)| Cases (millions)| Volume% Change| 1| Coca-Cola Co| 42. 7| 42. 8| -0. 1| 4107. 6| 4241. 1| -3. 10%| 2| Pepsi Co| 30. 8| 31. 1| -0. 3| 2960. 4| 3082. 8| -4. 00%| 3| Dr Pepper Snapple| 15. 3| 15| 0. 3| 1471. 2| 1491. 3| -1. 30%| 4| Cott Corp| 4. 7| 4. 8| -0. 1| 448| 476. 6| -6. 00%| 5| National Beverage| 2. 6| 2. 5| 0. 1| 247. 5| 243. 9| 1. 50%| 6| Hansen Natural| 0. 8| 0. 8| flat| 79| 76. 5| 3. 30%| 7| Red Bull| 0. 7| 0. 6| 0. 1| 67. 2| 63. 9| 5. 20%|. 8| Big Red| 0. 4| 0. 4| flat| 43. 6| 42. 4| 2. 70%| 9| Rockstar| 0. 4| 0. 4| flat| 40. 2| 41| -2. 00%| 10| Other| 1. 6| 1. 6| flat| 156. 3| 160. 3| -2. 50%| | Total Industry| 100| 100| | 9621| 9919. 8| -3. 00%| Statements of leading companies within soft drink industry of the US| | Coca – Cola Company | PepsiCo| Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. | National Beverage Corp| Cott Corp (2008) | Net operating revenue| millions $ 30. 990| 43. 232| 5. 531| thousands $ 575. 177| millions $ 1. 648| Cost of goods sold| 11. 088| 20. 099| 2. 234| 405. 322| 1. 467| GROSS PROFIT | 19. 902| 23. 133| 3. 297| 169. 855| 181|. Selling Expenses| 11. 358| 15. 026| 2. 135| 131. 918| 179. 8| OPERATING INCOME| 8. 231| 8. 044| 1. 085| 24. 742| loss 113. 0| TOTAL ASSETS| 48. 671| 39. 848| 8. 776| 265. 682| 873. 1| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY| 48. 671| 39. 848| 8. 776| 265. 682| 873. 1| OPERATING ACTIVITIES| 8. 186| 6. 796| 865| 35. 829| 66. 9| INVESTING ACTIVITIES| used in 4. 149| used in 2. 401| used in 251| used in 3. 491 | used in 54. 8| FINANSIAL ACTIVITIES| used in 2. 293| used in 2. 497| used in 554| 305| used in 19. 4 | Five Forces of the Soft Drinks Industry. ( Figure 3. â€Å"Five Forces of the Soft Drinks Industry†. Page 24). Threat of New Entrants. Significant barriers exist to entering the soft drink industry. Bottling operations have a fairly high minimum efficient scale and require fixed assets which are specific not only to the process of bottling but also to a specific type of packaging. Entering bottling, meanwhile, would require substantial capital investment, which would deter entry. Exit costs are thus also high. Bottling operations do exist which in theory could be contracted out, but they are tied up in long-term contracts with the major players and thus can only contract with other producers in a limited way. Perhaps the most significant barrier to entry, however, is the strong brand identity associated with the best-selling soft drinks. Placing another cola on the market is not an attractive value proposition. Bargaining Power of Suppliers. Suppliers to the soft drink industry are, for the most part, providing commodity products and thus have little power over the industry. Sugar, bottles and cans are homogeneous goods which can be obtained from many sources, and the aluminum can industry has been plagued by excess supply. The one necessary ingredient which is unique is the artificial sweetener; aspartame is clearly preferred by consumers of diet beverages and for a time was under patent protection and therefore only available from one supplier. However, the patent expired and another producer entered, reducing the market power of NutraSweet. For example, the inputs for Coke and Pepsi’s products were primarily sugar and packaging. Sugar could be purchased from many sources on the open market, and if sugar became too expensive, the firms could easily switch to corn syrup, as they did in the early 1980s. Bargaining Power of Customers. Buyers can be considered at the consumer or the retail level. The soft drink industry sold to consumers through five principal channels: food stores, convenience and gas, fountain, vending, and mass merchandisers, fast food restaurants. For consumers, taste will be an important part of the preference for a particular soft drink; thus although there is no monetary switching cost, there may be a loss of enjoyment associated with a less-preferred brand. Because of this, consumers have historically been brand-loyal and not based purchase decisions on price. Retail outlets have not been able to exhibit much buyer power over the industry, although they can do so more easily than consumers. Traditionally these outlets have been fragmented and have been reliant on the major soft drink brands to increase store traffic. However, at the time of the case there has already been evidence of some buyer power on the part of grocery stores, as they successfully resisted an attempt to price the varieties with more costly inputs higher. As grocery chains increasingly consolidate and as discount outlets continue to grow, buyer power on the part of retailers is likely to increase. Threat of Substitute Products. While the U. S. soft drink market was growing, substitutes did little to interfere. Soft drinks are sufficiently unique that when a consumer wants a soft drink another product is not likely to satisfy. Other cold drinks such as water, juices and iced tea offer similar refreshing qualities, yet they do not have the same taste or properties. Hot beverages and alcoholic beverages are not desirable or appropriate for many of the occasions when one would want a soft drink. The one category which threatens soft drink producers is the â€Å"new age† product which offers (or implies) more natural ingredients and/or health benefits. The soft drink industry’s initial answers to these beverages, in the form of Tab Clear and Crystal Pepsi, are not going to compete effectively with the new age products. Competitive Rivalry within an Industry. The concentration in the industry (mainly between its leaders: Coke, Pepsi and Cadbury/Schweppes) would suggest that internal rivalry is somewhat less than if there were many players of equal size. Although the competition between Coke and Pepsi has become fiercer over time, they traditionally competed primarily on advertising, promotion and new products rather than price (although the explosion of new brands did eventually lead to some price competition). The products are similar but not homogeneous and buyers are fairly brand loyal. Retail buyers have significant costs for switching from the major brands since those are responsible for bringing people into the store. Flattening and potentially declining U. S.demand may be a factor which increases internal rivalry and encourages more price competition and thus erosion of profits. Revenues are extremely concentrated in this industry, with Coke and Pepsi, together with their associated bottlers, commanding 73% of the case market. In fact, the soft drink market can be characterized as an oligopoly, or even a duopoly between Coke and Pepsi, resulting in positive economic profits. As analysis using Porter’s five forces shows that the soft drink industry is very profitable. Suppliers and buyers have not had more power over the industry than it has had over them. Internal rivalry, while seeming intense, has not eroded the profitability of the industry because of its concentration and the fact that the two major players have primarily competed on the basis of advertising and promotion and not price. Entry is difficult both for reasons of scale and the strong brand identity of the current major players. Substitutes have not been close enough to take away significant market share, although the emergence of new substitutes may pose the largest threat to the industry’s profitability. Soft drink industry has an oligopolistic character. SWOT analysis of the main producers in the soft drink industry. Coca – Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s leading manufacturer, distributor and marketer of Non- alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups, in the world. Coca – Cola has a strong brand name and brand portfolio. Business – Week and Interbred, branding consultancy, recognize Coca – cola as one of the leading brands in their top 100 global brands ranking in 2009. The Business Week – Interbred valued Cocoa – Cola at 67,000 million dollars in 2008. Coca – Cola ranks well ahead of its close competitor PepsiCo which has a ranking of 22 having a brand value of 12,690 million dollars. The Company’s strong brand value facilitates customer recall and allows Coca – Cola to penetrate market. However, the company is threatened by intense competition which could have an adverse impact on the company’s market share. Strengths| Weaknesses| World’s leading brand| Negative publicity| large scale of operations| Sluggish performance in North America| Robust revenue growth in three segment| Decline in cash from operating activities| Opportunities| Threats| Acquisitions Intense competition| Intense competition| Growing bottles water market| Dependence on bottling partners| Growing Hispanic population in US| Sluggish growth of carbonated beverages| Strengths. World’s leading brand: The Company owns four of the top five soft drink in the world: Coca – Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite and Fanta. Strong brands allow the company to introduce brand extensions such as Vanilla Coke, Cherry Coke and Coke with Lemon. Over the years, the company has made large investments in brands promotions. Consequently, Coca – Cola is one of the best recognized global brands. The company’s strong brand value facilitates customer recall and allows Coca – Cola to penetrate new markets and consolidate existing ones. Large scale of operations: With revenues is excess of 24 billion dollars Coca – Cola has a large scale of operation. Of the approximately 52 billon beverage servings of all types consumed worldwide every day, beverages bearing trademarks owned by or licensed to Coca – Cola account for more than 1. 4 billion. The company’s operations are supported by a strong infrastructure across the world. Coca – Cola owns and operates 32 principal beverage concentrates and/or syrups manufacturing plants located throughout the world. In addition, it owns or has interest in 37 operations with 95 principal beverage bottling and canning plants in the US. The company also owns bottled water production and still beverage facilities as well as a facility that manufactures juice concentrates. The company’s large scale of operation allows it to feed upcoming markets with relative ease and enhances its revenue generation capacity. Robust revenue growth in three segments: Coca – Cola revenues recorded a double digit growth, in tree operating segments. These tree segments are Latin America, East/South Asia, and Pacific Rim and Bottling investments. Revenues from Latin America grew by 20,4% during 2007, over 2006. During the same period, revenues from East/South Asia and Pacific Rim grew by 10. 6 % while revenues from the bottling investments segment by 19. 9%. Together, the three segments of Latin America, East/South Asia and Pacific Rim and Bottling investments, accounted for 34. 8% of total revenues during 2007. Robust revenues growth rates in these segments contributed to top-line growth for Coca – Cola during 2007. Weaknesses. Negative publicity: The company received negative publicity in India during September 2006. The company was accused by the Center of Science and Environment (CSE) of selling products containing pesticide residue. These pesticides included chemicals witch could cause cancer, damage to the nervous and reproductive systems and reduce bone menial density. Such negative publicity could adversely impact the company’s brand image and the demand for Coca- Cola products. Sluggish performance in North America: Coca – Cola’s performance in North America was far from robust. North America is Coca – Cola’s core market generating about 30 % of total revenues during 2007. Therefore, a strong performance in North America is important for the company. Sluggish performance in North America could impact the company’s future growth prospects and prevent Coca – Cola from recording a more robust top-line growth. Decline in cash from operating activities: Cash flows from operating activities decreased 7% in 2008 compared to 2007. Decline in cash from operating activities reduces availability of funds for the company’s investing and financing activities, which, in turn, increases the company’s exposure to debt markets and fluctuating interest rates. Opportunities. Acquisitions: Strong international operations increase the company’s capacity to penetrate international markets and also gives it an opportunity to diversity its revenue stream. Coca – Cola made acquisitions in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and China for the last 3 years. These acquisitions strengthened Coca – Cola international operations. It gives Coca – Cola an opportunity for growth, through new product launch or greater penetration of existing markets. Growing bottled water market: Bottled water is one of the fastest – growing segments in the world’s food and beverage market owing to increasing health concerns. The market for bottled water in the US is forecast to reach revenues of about 19. 3 billion dollars by the end of 2010. The company’s Dasani brand water is the 3rd best-selling bottled water in US. Coca – Cola could leverage its strong position in the bottled water segment to take advantage of growing demand for flavored water. Growing Hispanic population in US: Hispanics are growing rapidly in number and economic power. As a result, they have become more important to markets than ever before. The company can benefit from an expanding Hispanic population in the US, which would translate into higher consumption of Coca – Cola products and higher revenues for the company. Threats. Intense competition: Intense competition Coca – Cola competes in the nonalcoholic beverages of the commercial industry. The company faces intense competition in various markets from regional as well as global players. Also, the company faces competition from various juice drinks and nectars. In many of the countries in which Coca – Cola operates, including the US, PepsiCo in one of the company’s primary competitor. (Other significant competitors include Nestle, Cadbury/Schweppes, Group DANONE and Kraft Foods. ) Competitive factors impacting the company’s business include pricing, advertising, sales promotion programs, product innovation. And brand and trademark development and protection. Intense competition could impact Coca – Cola market share and revenue growth rates. Dependence on bottling partners: Coca – Cola generates most of its revenues by selling concentrates and syrups to bottlers in whom it doesn’t have any ownership interest or in which it has no controlling ownership. Loss one or more of customers by any one of its major bottling partners could indirectly affect Coca – Cola business results. Such dependence on third parties is a weak link in Coca – Cola’s operations and increases the company’s business risks. Sluggish growth of carbonated beverages: US consumers have started to look for greater variety in their drinks and are becoming increasingly health conscious. This led to a decrease in the consumption of carbonated and other sweetened beverages in the US. The performance of the market is forecast to decelerate, with an anticipation compound annual rate of change of -0. 3% for the five-year period 2005-2010 expected to drive the market to a value of 62. 9 billion dollars by the end of 2010. Coca – Colas revenue could be adversely affected by a slowdown in the US carbonated beverage market. PepsiCo. In 2009 PepsiCo estimated that its annual retail sales had reached $92 billion, offering over 100 brands around the globe. The main cash cow of PepsiCo of course being the Pepsi carbonated drink that owned 10% of the US beverage market in 2008. PepsiCo offers the world’s largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 19 different product lines that each generates more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. PepsiCo mains businesses – Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade – also make hundreds of other nourishing, foods and drinks. Strengths| Weaknesses| Strong core brand | Concentrated in North America . Strong market position | Health Craze will hurt soft drink | Solid brand portfolio | Negative publicity| | Strong revenue growth | | Economies of scale | | Opportunities| Threats| Food division expansion| Sluggish growth of carbonated drinks | Hispanic growth in the US | Competition with Coca-Cola & others| Bottled water growth | Declining economy/recession | Growing consumer health consciousness | | Cadbury Schweppes/Dr. Pepper Snapple. Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (formerly Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages) is an American soft beverages drink company, which was spun off from Britain’s Cadbury Schweppes. Company manufactures, markets and distributes more than 50 brands of carbonated soft drinks, juices, ready-to-drink teas, mixers and other premium beverages across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Our diverse portfolio includes Dr Pepper, Snapple, 7UP, Mott’s, A&W, Sunkist Soda, Canada Dry, Hawaiian Punch, Schweppes, Penafiel, Squirt, Clamato, Mr & Mrs T Mixers, Rose’s, Yoo-hoo and other consumer favorites. Most of the brands in this segment are CSD brands. In 2009, our Beverage Concentrates segment had net sales of approximately $1. 1 billion. Strengths| Weaknesses| Strong portfolio, consumer-preferred brands| Weak performance in Asian Market| Integrated business model| A substantial amount of outstanding debt| Strong customer relationships| | Strong operating margins and stable cash flows| | Opportunities| Threats| New distribution channels in a market| Changing consumer tastes| Growing consumer health consciousness | Operating in highly competitive markets| Focus on opportunities in high growth and high margin categories| Depend on the 3rd party bottling and distribution companies | Cott Corporation. Cott Corp is one of the leading non-alcoholic beverage companies and retailer brand soft drink providers. The company primarily operates in the US, Canada, the UK and Mexico. It is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and employs 2,803 people. The company recorded revenues of $1,648. 1 million during the financial year ended December 2009, a decrease of 7. 2% compared to 2008. The operating loss of the company was $113 million during 2009, compared to the operating loss of $54. 5 million in 2008. The net loss was $122. 8 million in 2009, compared to the net loss of $71. 4 million in 2008. Strengths| Weaknesses| Leading Producer of Retailer Brand Beverages with Diverse Product Portfolio | Unable to compete successfully in the highly competitive beverage category. | Extensive, Flexible Manufacturing Capabilities | May not be able to respond successfully to consumer trends | | significant amount of outstanding debt| Opportunities| Threats| New distribution channels in a market| Changing consumer tastes| Growing consumer health consciousness | Intense competition| Focus on opportunities in high growth and high margin categories| | National Beverage Corp. National Beverage develops, manufactures, markets and distributes a portfolio of beverage products throughout the US. The company develops and sells a selection of flavored soft drinks, juices, sparkling waters and energy drinks. It is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and employed about 1,300 people. The company recorded revenues of $566 million during fiscal year ending April 2008, an increase of 5% over 2007. The increase in revenue was due to 9% growth in case volume of energy drinks, juices, and waters. The operating profit of the company was $172. 6 million during 2008, a decrease of 0. 4% compared with 2007. The net profit was $22. 5 million in 2008, decrease of 8. 9% compared with 2007. Strengths| Weaknesses| Extensive Brand Portfolio| Geographic concentration| | Declining Profits| Opportunities| Threats| Focus on Asia Pacific Market| Limitations on Commercialization of Alcoholic Products| Rise in Demand for bottled Water in the US| Riding Input Costs| Change in Consumer Preferences| Intense Competitive Pressures| Company’s key success factors within the soft drink industry. Key factors for competitive success within the soft drink industry branch from the trends of the microenvironment. Primarily, constant product innovation is imperative. A company must be able to recognize consumer wants and needs, while maintaining the ability to adjust with the changing market. They must keep up with the changing trends. Another key factor is the size of the organization, especially in terms of market share. Large distributors have the ability to negotiate with stadiums, universities and school systems, making them the exclusive supplier for a specified period of time. Additionally, they have the ability to commit to mass purchases that significantly lower their costs. They must implement effective distribution channels to remain competitive. Taste of the product is also a key factor for success. Moreover, established brand loyalty is a large aspect of the soft drink industry. Many consumers of carbonated beverages are extremely dedicated to a particular product, and rarely purchase other varieties. This stresses the importance of developing and maintaining a superior brand image. Price, however, is also a key factor because consumers without a strong brand preference will select the product with the most competitive price. Finally, global expansion is a vital factor in the success of a company within the soft drink industry. The United States has reached relative market saturation, requiring movement into the global industry to maintain growth. Soft drink industry main characteristics, trends and changes. Soft drinks are an integral part of American life and culture and soft drinks have been produced or consumed in nearly every corner of the world. The industry is lucrative with a potential for high profits, but there are several obstacles to overcome in order to capture the market share. Growing consumption trends can be attributed to rising disposable incomes, falling trade barriers, universal product acceptance, and a rising demand for American consumer goods. It would be very difficult for a new company to enter this industry because they would not be able to compete with the established brand names, distribution channels, and high capital investment. Likewise, leaving this industry would be difficult with the significant loss of money from the fixed costs, binding contracts with distribution channels, and advertisements used to create the strong brand images. This industry is well established already, and it would be difficult for any company to enter or exit successfully. The carbonated beverage industry is a highly competitive global industry, and has some characteristics of an oligopoly in the US. Three leading companies have prominent presence in the soft drink industry. The leaders include the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Cadbury Schweppes. Leader companies have to hold the highest percentage of the global market share; therefore, companies need to be able to compete globally in order to be successful. Profitability in the soft drink industry will remain rather solid, but market saturation especially.