Columbia Coffee Study Juan Valdez

1. Procafecol S. A. Basic information 1. 1. Development and History CH2. Participants in international business – Say if Procafecol is Multinational enterprise (MNE), Small and medium-sized enterprise, or the born global firm CH1. Why Colombia trade coffee? Theories advantages, etc. Coffee was introduced in Colombia in the late 1700s and the first commercial production began in the early 1800s. Despite these early developments, the consolidation of coffee as a Colombian export did not come about until the second half of the 19th century.The great expansion that the world economy underwent at that time allowed Colombian landowners to find attractive opportunities in international markets. Little by little, the United States became the most important consumer of coffee in the world, while Germany and France became the most important markets in Europe. In 1927 the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC) was created to help the Colombian coffee growers on structuri ng a very traditional and atomized sector.In 1959, during a crisis that came about due to instability of the coffee trading price, the FNC decided to work with Doyle Bernback, an advertising agency (ex DDB) with the goal of building a strong symbol, highly identi? able, that would allow them to promote the speci? cities of the Colombian Coffee and sell the production at a higher price than the current market price. Presently, Colombia is the second largest coffee producer in the world (after Brazil). It accounts for almost 12% of the world’s total production. Coffee accounts for 8% of Colombia’s GDP.A personi? ed brand since its creation Following the advice of the advertising agency, Juan Valdez was personified since its creation. He would be the symbol of a Colombian coffee grower worldwide. A mere six months after the launch of the campaign, 87% of the American people associated Juan Valdez with Colombian coffee. In 1961, Juan Valdez was launched on the European mar ket with similar success. Since then, a limited number of actors have personi? ed the emblematic coffee grower focused on protecting the traditions that make his coffee the â€Å"best in the world†.Between 1959 and 2000 more than 750 million dollars were allocated to develop the image of Juan Valdez and to promote the Colombian coffee. Transformation into a commercial icon After a particularly dif? cult political and social period it was really important for the FNC to help the Colombian coffee growers in both economic and social aspects. Procafecol SA was created in 2002 by Fedecafe Federacion Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, being the major shareholder along with Colombian coffee growers which own 13,000 shares.Since 2004, the company has been fully responsible for the operation of Juan Valdez ® stores in the country and in 2006 began the distribution of packaged coffee in retail and horeca (hotels, restaurants, catering) channels. Juan Valdez is also offered to passeng ers of Avianca, the most important airline in Colombia. In a coffee market where prices and margins are really low, a diversi? cation strategy is indeed really pertinent considering the gross margins of gourmet coffee houses (Starbucks, Colombus Cafe†¦ and even more if we consider its direct relation with coffee growers as a strong competitive advantage. Positioned as Gourmet Since the beginning of the project it was made clear that the Tiendas Juan Valdez ® are a chain of coffee houses focused on selling coffee products to the consumers. These coffee houses were created to be a part of the coffee supply-chain and to strengthen the awareness of the Colombian coffee. This would gradually increase the incomes of Colombian coffee growers, historical mission of the FNC.Since their launch, the Tiendas Juan Valdez ® was designed to reach the up-market, with an ambiance mixing the Starbucks standards and the touch of a Lounge coffee shop of Barcelona. The warm colors symbolize Sou th American tradition, however they also exhibit luxury and a calm atmosphere. The ? rst Tiendas outlets were opened near business centers, high-end malls and trendy sectors of the cities. Since its creation, this ambitious project based its expansion on a 3 step strategy: 1. Colombian Pilot (2003-2006) 2. International Pilot (2004-2007) 3.International Development (2006 -†¦) In 2003, year that the project was launched, 10 coffee houses were opened in Colombia. Since 2004, this international expansion made possible the creation of 10 coffee houses in the USA (Washington, New York, Seattle, Philadelphia) and 2 in Spain (Madrid) 3/ Strengthening the brand image and the commercial development Renewal of the icon In order to sustain the international development of the project it was considered as important to renew the image of the Juan Valdez person, taking care of preserving its historical values.Since 1994, according to the recommendations of the DDB agency, a new advertising c ampaign was created to conquer the youth segment. Juan Valdez was acting in different TV commercials and Out Of Home formats where his codes (hat, poncho, moustache) were shown in extreme situations (sur? ng, snowboarding, hang-gliding†¦), with the strong presence of the historical logo, seal of authenticity and quality for the consumer.This innovative mix had enormous success in the USA and was awarded in 2005, during the New York AdWeek, it was named as top icon of the year in the USA, even before Ronald McDonald or the Nike Swoosh. Diversifying to fashion Propelled by the commercial success of the Tiendas Juan Valdez ®, Procafecol decided to develop a line of alternative products around the authentic image of Juan Valdez. From coffee mugs to umbrellas, more than 50 products were created and sold to consumers. In 2006, the ? rst clothing collection based on the historical icon was launched.In trendy neighborhoods of Bogota you may ? nd executives with a Juan Valdez jacket o r women with the latest model of a leather handbag. Gaining the European market When considering the conquest of the European market, the FNC did a thorough analysis of the consumption trends. Two ? gures impacted the directors of the Federation: European consumers are willing to pay 10% more for a product with a European Label and 73. 9% of them consider it as a quality seal. In September 2007, after 33 months of legal procedure, Colombian coffee became the ? st non-European product to obtain the PGI European Label (Protected Geographical Indication). Juan Valdez could now develop its commercial strategy and think of opening new coffee houses. Two were just created in Madrid while Paris and Moscow are now on the list of the international expansion plan of the Colombian Federation. By the end of 2007, the FNC and Procafecol were running more than 100 coffee houses in Colombia, 10 in the USA and 2 in Europe. They are now launching a new coffee house per month and want to make 2008 th e year of their European expansion. 1. 2. Juan Valdez BrandDescribe who Juan Valdez, what the brand represents, is and general details about it. Principal characteristic of the brand, why it is known, importance and recognition of Colombian coffee 1. 3. Strength of identity: Colombian Coffee To understand the influence of GI among Colombia the following four elements represent its national advantage in coffee industry. Factor conditions Due to the uniqueness of topographical factors and two rainfall seasons creates strongly national advantages. 6. 4% of total area of Colombia is cultivation zones, and 12% of coffee production area producing â€Å"GI coffee†.It provides 11 to 12 million production possibility per year. In addition, in 2010, there were 990 airports with 196 thousand air transport carriers, 6 ports and terminals with 2 million port container traffic, 874 km railway routes, 141,374 km roadways (CIA 2010 and The World Bank 2010). 18% of total 22. 5 million labour force involving agriculture, there have been an increasing number of producers after joining GI (Figure1) (Gomez, 2007) as well as foreign direct investment with 6. 7 billion in 2010 (The World Bank 2010). Demand conditionsThe demand of domestic market is one of important forces for development of industry. Compared to other countries, Colombia had lower needs of domestic market, which has low per capita consumption with 2. 8 kg only 5% of total national coffee production ( Benni, N. E. and Reviron, S. 2009). The domestic consumption did not increase even joining GI system, maintained at 1,400 thousands bags from 2007 to 2010 (Figure 2). Related and supporting industries In this factor, Colombian coffee industry has lower related and supporting industries.These industries and processes are mostly run by family or small businesses, due to the relatively simple methods and low investments needed. Firm strategy, structure and rivalry As one of well know coffee producer, Colombia has su ccessfully increased its competitiveness via sophisticated marketing strategies of the FNC. It applies trademark and certification mark to protect Colombian coffee. Since registered GI it has increased consumer’s awareness and creates better advantage against other competitors

Perkin Warbeck Essay

Explain why Perkin Warbeck remained a threat to the security of Henry VII for so many years. Perkin Warbeck was the second Yorkist pretender to the English throne after Lambert Simnel was defeated at the Battle of Stoke in 1487. Between the years 1491-99, he posed a significantly destabilising threat to Henry VII in dynastic terms, impersonating Richard of York, the younger son of Edward IV. The successes of Warbeck, which led him to remain a threat to the King’s security, may be largely categorised into the support from foreign powers during this period and discontent existing in England due to Henry’s methods of ruling with relation to sustaining an authoritative and respected status both within his own country and abroad. Whilst it is possible to challenge such a concept of a threat, Warbeck was eventually executed in November 1499, demonstrating in a modern context that the King’s perception of this pretender was one of great concern for his position. Steven Gunn has suggested that ‘Henry was a usurper and carried with him the problems of this title’. Upon taking the English throne, it was inevitable that Henry would face opposition to his rule, particularly in consideration of his lack of familiarity with English politics and those supporters of the Yorkist claim. With the knowledge that Richard III intended John de la Pole to inherit the crown and having already fought at the Battle of Stoke to secure his position, it would seem almost equally likely that Henry would be a paranoid character by the time that Perkin Warbeck came to attention, and he could not predetermine the reactions of the De la Pole family, who were largely responsible for the pretenders. It is significant not only that Warbeck was the second embodiment of discontent within Henry’s reign, but also that political unsettlement had been apparent under his predecessor – also a usurper. Henry is likely to have feared reaching the same fate as Richard III, whose reign had been plagued with suspicions surrounding the Princes in the Tower controversy and indeed, the dating of his coronation to appear three days before his victory at Bosworth suggests paranoia existing even before his rule. Thus Warbeck is best viewed in one sense as a non-military threat, being an encouragement of this paranoia through the exploitation of Henry’s potentially weak position. He reminded the King of the existence of dissatisfaction within his own country and later among foreign powers. The princes had never been seen again and were presumed murdered by their uncle, Richard III. In this way, there was an immediate simplicity for Warbeck to exploit the lack of clarification as to what had happened to them. Whereas Lambert Simnel’s claim was flawed in that Henry was able to parade the true Earl of Warwick through London during the crisis, Warbeck was imitating Edward IV’s younger son, Richard of York. Hence this crisis was much more serious, for Henry was unable to prove the existence of the true Richard and if Warbeck truly was the prince he impersonated, his claim to the English throne would have been superior to that of Henry. The threat of Warbeck was enlarged by the context in which it occurred – those behind the pretender were able to follow a potentially fatal method by which Henry’s position could be destabilised. In order to ascertain why any pretender to the throne would become a prolonged threat, the nature of the monarch’s rule must be evaluated. The view of Steven Gunn could be expanded upon to maintain that Henry’s rule naturally had characteristics of that of a usurper: unlike a hereditary monarch, he required more stringent methods of discipline to enforce his position as a ruler. In addition to passing attainders against those involved with the pretenders (Edmund de la Pole was fined à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5000 to inherit some of his brother’s lands and never inherited the dukedom of Suffolk for his involvement with Simnel) Empson and Dudley greatly assisted in coordinating the increased use of bonds and recognisances against subjects. Then in 1497, Perkin Warbeck’s forces rallied the rebels during the second Cornish Rising in protest against raised taxes to support the invasion of Scotland and together, they nearly took the city of Exeter. In this way, it can be observed that Warbeck becoming a threat was in a paradoxical sense – Henry needed to use more powerful methods of rule to secure his own position and dynasty than an ordinary monarch due to his status, though the discontent which such methods brought about led to resentful individuals turning to the diversion of Warbeck. Threats in military terms from Perkin Warbeck during this period may be largely attributed to foreign support. Indeed, Warbeck potentially had concern also from nobility such as Sir William Stanley, as Margaret of Burgundy, sister of Edward IV, proclaimed him as her long-lost nephew. The role of France was crucial in causing Warbeck to remain a threat to the security of Henry’s position. In 1491, he moved to the French court and was treated similarly to a prince by Charles VIII, which illustrated to Henry a possibility of an invasion – the French had funded his own invasion of England in 1485 to overthrow Richard III, and the case could potentially have been that this claimant was genuine. The threat was heightened by Charles’ discontent in 1492 after Henry’s assistance of the Duchess of Brittany in an attempt to retain her independence from France, whilst the 1489 Treaty of Medina del Campo with Spain led the French to encourage James IV of Scotland to invade England. It was Henry’s invasion of France in 1492 which appeared to be a very drastic action with regard to this pretender – it was clear that with foreign military backing, his position could be significantly threatened. However, in this respect, it must be noted that the threat was not Warbeck as an individual, but rather the concept of the proceedings and those supporting him. He became a focus for French discontent with Henry VII in the same way that he had been a Yorkist focus in England. A prolonged threat from any pretender to any throne can always be attributed to discontent with a monarch’s rule. Conformingly, Perkin Warbeck was often able to exploit this to enlist support and increase opposition to the King. It is clear that the level of foreign support given to the pretender ultimately was the greatest contributing factor in threatening Henry’s security due to the possibility of a successful invasion, though the paranoia and the methods of rule enlisted to secure his dynasty were equal factors in causing Warbeck to remain a threat. In contrast, it is very significant that Warbeck was never a primary threat as an individual, but merely a strong secondary threat behind the foreign powers and nobility that supported him – it was the concept that destabilised the position of Henry VII.

Globalization of Technology Essay

Politics – Technology enables and even promotes changes in every aspect of our lives. Through the years it has changed what and how we eat (the microwave), how and where we work (the internet), how we are entertained, and even how we keep in touch with friends and family. And though many people may notice these types of quick advances of technology, many may not notice how technological advances have tied into changes in politics and the way they have been run. †¢The power of mass images has really become a major influence on politics as a product of a increasing technology. In the 1960’s, images of wealth in the west eventually exposed the weakness of the communist regime running the old Soviet bloc. There is the story Nikita Khrushchev narrating a film of Harlem in the 1960’s to demonstrate poverty in America. Instead, his poor, struggling citizens focused on the nylons hanging on backyard clothes lines and the number of fine autos in the street, and saw wealth rather than poverty. Today, the pictures from Iran appear in graphic detail on our televisions. The power of the mass media has made it more difficult for the state to wall off the outside world. †¢The television has been used to promote politics through commercial advertisement since the Dwight D. Eisenhower campaign in 1952. That was over 50 years ago. It has been used to broadcast presidential debates since the Kennedy vs Nixon Great Debate in 1960 which was exactly 50 years ago. However, nothing is like the way the television is used today. †¢The most recent Presidential campaign, in 2008, showed how fundraising is being impacted. President Obama raised a record breaking 600 million dollars in contributions during his run up to the election. Of that 600 that Obama received, 500 million came from the internet and through public financing through the internet. He ran as fierce an internet campaign as he did his television and radio campaigns. Later the same young people who followed Obama’s every move online, turned out to vote. †¢Is technology damaging politics? †¢For example, you can argue that because there are dozens of news channels. Campaigns are now much more media run. The media decides what is news worthy (which as of the past few years has been whatever gets ratings), interprets the meaning of events for its viewers, and manipulates the decision making process of its viewers. †¢Can technology be damaging to political candidates themselves? †¢Political videos of nearly every 2008 presidential candidates can be found on YouTube. In many of the posted videos, candidates are engaged in old speeches, contradicting their current political positions. †¢Also, since the election, the internet seems to have gone from President Obama’s best friend, to his greatest political enemy. Some of the most controversial legislation in US history is being introduced and posted online for all Americans to see, online commentators who once supported Obama are continuously pointing out unfilled promises. Economy and Social Relations – Technological progress is the key to offering future populations the potential for improved standards of living. Technical change enables firms to combine inputs in a novel manner to produce existing products more cheaply and to develop new products to meet consumer needs. Economists and other social scientists pretty much agree that technological change is the most important contributor to economic growth in the modern era and it is estimated that more than half of the country’s long-run growth is can be attributed to technological change. †¢A prime example of technology based increases in productivity comes from the field of agriculture. Until at least the 17th century, about 90% of the population was directly involved in agriculture. In the United States, the farm population was 44% of the total population as recently as 1880. Currently, the U.S. farm population is about 2% of the total population. But over that same period, total production from farms has more than doubled. The increase in productivity is correlated with several technological innovations in the field of farming. The innovations include the widespread use of farm chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides), and farming equipment. Thus, the tremendous increase in farm productivity is seen as a direct result of the technological advances that were made in the field. †¢Technological change in production processes like that often reduces the amount of labor and other resources needed to produce a unit of output. This is good on one hand because it reduces the cost of production for products but on the other, it also results in a loss of jobs in the short-r un. The long-run is a different story though. By reducing the cost of production you thereby are lowering the price of a particular good in a competitive market, which then frequently leads to a greater demand for that good. And a greater output demand results in increased production, which requires more labor, and offsets the effects of losing jobs in the short-run. †¢Along with production technology, constant improvements of transportation and communications technologies have also had major impacts on today’s economy. Previously, physical and human resources moved around the world by means of land, sea, and air transportation. Now, with data serving as a basic resource and digital communications the means of transport, financial capital is moving throughout the world at nearly the speed of light. †¢How has technology negatively affected the economy? †¢One challenge that technology has brought about to the new global economy comes from the new wave of outsourcing. As a concept it’s not new. Companies have chased cheap labor around the globe for decades, making cars in Mexico, plastic toys in Taiwan and shirts in Malaysia. But in the past couple of years, the debate over outsourcing has intensified as technology companies reduce costs by sending technical support, software development, quality assurance and other functions offshore. A few years ago this idea would have been impossible. The world mostly turned to its technology leaders, companies such as Microsoft Corp. for example, when it needed software. But with the growth of broadband Internet connections and e-mail, technical support staff and software developers can respond to questions with the same speed in Bangalore, India, as they do in Bellevue. And they can do it at a fraction of the cost. †¢Of course this comes at the expense of not only lower class and low skilled workers in the U.S., but even in the middle classes, there are plenty of jobs that are now outsourced.. Again, inability to find work means inability to purchase homes, spend money, and profit companies. When people don’t buy, corporations that produce things don’t make money, which can thus â€Å"trickle down† to fewer jobs available and a greater desire to outsource to make things more cheaply so they will be more attractive to consumers. †¢Those supporting outsourcing say that lowering expenses of corporations will create jobs. There are plenty of government agencies that outsource some of their work, saving them millions of dollars, a direct effect on the US economy and on federal spending. A common theory contends that being able to pay people lower wages for work means that companies will be able to produce things with less expense and transfer this saving to consumers. Lower prices may mean more consumer spending, and companies will be able to hire more workers in the US because they’re paying less for workers outside of it. †¢Further, many argue that giving jobs to workers in less developed countries improves those countries economically and increases trade for US products. It also increases a country’s ability to pay back debts to the US, and may promote better political relationships. Companies economically benefit by selling their products in other countries. This means they can hire more people in the US and lower their prices on products for US consumers.

Problem question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Problem question - Essay Example Donoghue became ill after consuming a drink which contained a decomposed snail. The House of Lords found that she did have a valid claim against the manufacturer of the drink. A three-step criterion later emerged, which was solidified in the case of Caparo Industries Plc v Dickman.5 A duty between defendant and claimant exists in the presence of a reasonable forseeability of harm, a relationship of proximity between defendant and claimant, and it being just, fair and reasonable to impose liability on the defendant for his careless actions.6 In the present matter, the police were at the festival in order to provide security and crowd control. Based on the number of people in the park, a reasonable forseeability of harm did exist. The facts state that the amount of people in the park threatened to become a safety hazard. A relationship of proximity existed between the police and everybody at the festival, since their job was to provide security at the festival. ... each of duty occurred.7 The test asks whether the actions of the defendant were below the threshold of a â€Å"reasonable man†.8 Defendant must perform his job as a reasonably skilled and competent person.9 On the night of the festival, in an effort to control the crowd, the police erected barriers and cordoned off the area of the park where the band was playing. By doing so, they had not lessened the number of people, but had virtually trapped the people that were there. A â€Å"reasonable man† would not trap a crowd of people when there was already a concern about the number of people in the area. Instead, perhaps dispersing the crowd or refusing entrance to additional people would seem better alternatives. Simple causation is established if â€Å"but for† the actions of the defendant the harm would have occurred.10 The case of McGhee v National Coal Board is usually followed when determining causation.11 With regard to the Jigger matter, since the police had t rapped the people around the stage area, they had no means of escape when the crowd panicked. The surging crowd was also trying to escape, crushing anybody in their path, causing Mike Jigger and Uncle Lewis’ injuries. Finally, the fourth element of negligence is the injury cannot be very remote from the breach that occurred. In the present matter, the claimants’ injuries occurred almost immediately after the breach. Therefore, this element of negligence is satisfied. Based on a review of the facts, it appears that Mike Jigger and Uncle Lewis can establish a claim against the police for negligence. None of the three main defenses to negligence liability appear to be available to the police in this matter. Volenti non fit injuria is a Latin phrase meaning â€Å"to the willing, no injury is done.† This defense

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 22

Essay Example The essay, though apparently seems a difficult text for reading, has been established on firm and definite norms and objectives. â€Å"The first paragraph establishes the essays objective: to investigate technology in order to prepare us for a "free relationship" to it. One of the fundamental questions of the essay has to do with how "we†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ currently relate to technology, how we think about it, what we imagine it to be.† (Heidegger: The Question Concerning Technology, hawaii). Thus, in an ultimate evaluation of the essay one finds the worthiness and value of it. An exceptionally remarkable aspect of the essay "The Question Concerning Technology† is that it, more than any scholarly article on the complex questions around culture and technology, has influenced several other writers and thinkers as well as it is formed on the basis of the existing paradigms and scholarly works on the similar topics. Conspicuously, the interest of the author in "The Question Conce rning Technology† falls not on technology or the various forms of it but on an orientation of the readers towards technology. The essay seems to be very relevant and valid to the modern age of technological age as it has been a relevant interpretation of the modern man in relation to the technological advanced universe. Thus, the essay also amounts large scale influence and significance among the modern writers and it has been structured rooting its arguments and thoughts on the terminology of German, Greek, and Latin. For example, we may consider â€Å"episteme,† the first word that is significant to the idea of information that Heidegger explains to the reader. It can be defined, in simple translation, as "knowledge." In an analysis of the influences that informed this significant essay, it is important to note that the interest of the writer was to orient the readers to technology and act as a tool or mediator between the

Financial Decision - Making Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Financial Decision - Making - Assignment Example For example, it would not have enough cash to pay creditors the 180,000 due in October, to pay the salaries of staff on time until perhaps January 2007 when a cash inflow of over 1 million is expected, and even to pay its promotional expenses. Note from Table 1 that the 42,000 depreciation, since it is not a cash transaction, is not included in the cash forecast as an outflow from the business during the period. The beginning cash balance includes the 30,000 in cash on 30 September 2006. The beginning and end balances reflect the cash balances at the start and end of the month. If the cash forecast showed a negative amount, how could there be a net profit at the end of the period The answer is that the Profit and Loss (P&L) Report captures the business activity during the period, which is profitable (note the gross and net profit margins of 6.3 and 4.6 percent respectively). The cost of sales includes payments for activities required to generate the sale, to which we add agents' commissions, direct (flight and hotel) and variable costs, administrative overhead, and penalties if booking target volumes of 10,000 holidays are not reached. Two cash transactions are not in the P&L because they refer to past business activities (like paying a 180,000 loan in October 2006 and the 20,000 principal for a previous loan by March 2007) or investments (fixed asset investment of 50,000 in March 2007) that will generate returns over the coming years. Loan repayments and investments in fixed assets are balance sheet transactions and not included in the P&L. The Balance Sheet as in Table 3 before adjustments on 31 March 2007 is as follows: Summary from Table 3 BALANCE SHEET 31-Mar-07 30-Sep-06 Fixed Assets 568,000 560,000 Current Assets (40,000) 30,000 Trade Creditors 0 (180,000) Loans (90,000) (110,000) Total net assets: 438,000 300,000 Share capital 100,000 100,000 Reserves 200,000 200,000 Profit and Loss 138,000 Total shareholders funds: 438,000 300,000 The balance sheet includes figures from Tables 1 and 2 and shows where profits during the 6-month period were used. The negative cash flow of 40,000 from our cash forecast is included as current assets column. This overdraft can be booked as advances from owners that need adjustments (as a current liability or additional equity). We have also added the net

The Impact of Strategic Alignment on IT Projects Essay

The Impact of Strategic Alignment on IT Projects - Essay Example Governing information technology is one of the most critical issues facing governments today. Henderson and Venkatraman [2] argues that Information Technology (IT) can deliver no value without carefully planning to achieve the potential of IT implementation with business goals. Such concern is a focus of many business executives today [3, 4]. The concept of the Strategic Alignment perspectives is used as a systematic measurement tool to better achieve the mutual linkage between business and IT strategies. This paper sheds light on how Strategic Alignment perspectives have an impact on the success of government IT projects. The subject frames the general contribution of this paper. Organization strategy, knowledge, decision-making, Enterprise Architecture (EA) and public value are among key perspectives that are examined to enhance organization performance. The current SA perspectives is then analyzed in a local Australian Council context in which these perspectives are most appropriately used and the appropriate practices for IT value is recommended to be used in public policy. An Australian Council is responsible for a city's basic needs like garbage removal, planning of the town, and parks. The focus on an Australian Council was chosen due to the simplicity of this type of governance. Henderson and Venkatraman [2] define Strategic Alignment as 'selecting appropr... Henderson and Venkatraman [2] define Strategic Alignment as 'selecting appropriate alignment perspectives for achieving business objectives'. Reich & Benbasat [9] defines alignment as the degree to which the information technology mission, objectives, and plans support are supported by the business mission, objectives, and plans. Luftman [4] defines business IT alignment as applying IT in an appropriate and timely way in harmony with business strategies, goals and needs. Kearns & Sabherwal [10] argue that in order to improve organizational performance, achieving Strategic Alignment between business and IT is essential. Others argue that firm's failure to realize the potential value of IT is due partially to the absence of Strategic Alignment [2, 11, 12]. In 2007 Chan and Reich [3] published an annotated bibliography of alignment which listed over 150 articles. The current concept of the Strategic Alignment models in some ways reflects and accommodates a long history of research and practice concerning the most effective means of linking business and technology strategies. However, it is important to measure this alignment, and to quantify its effectiveness. Responding to a call for a more comprehensive alignment measurement, many models have been developed. For example the Critical Success Factors (CSF) model developed by Rockart [13] is one of the earliest models that link the use of IT to the organizational objectives and its strategies. The CSF is still widely used today. The Strategic Grid model, developed by McFarlan [14], addresses four quadrants: support, factory, transition, and strategy each of which represents a situation for the company. This model explains how IT is related to strategy and business operations in a company. The

The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren - Essay Example It should also be highlighted that this book is not only aimed at a particular Christian denomination, say Protestant or Catholic, rather the author tackles a universal theme that most, if not all, churches can relate to. The book is divided into six major portions. The first part provides an overview on how one should perceive his purpose in life. In this chapter, Warren asserts that what is of utmost importance to human beings as God's creation is to know God's purpose in our lives. In this regard, our greatest achievement is to live for God's glory and purpose. With this, it should be realized that it is important to focus on God and in know His purpose for us. Focusing on ourselves, as what other instructional books suggest, would never reveal this purpose. In the five remaining chapters, Warren discusses the five basic purposes of our lives. The first purpose pertains to our glorifying God by worshipping Him. The type of worship that Warren refers is the one which is motivated by our love, gratitude and delight in God. We are able to glorify God by worshipping Him not only out of duty or obligation but wholeheartedly. The second purpose is to glorify God by loving other believers. ... This means that by becoming like Jesus, believers are able to reach spiritual maturity. Warren points out that in order or us to be like Jesus in our thought, emotion and action, change in character is needed. This may be very difficult considering human nature. Nevertheless, we are called to develop our character for the main purpose of glorifying God. The fourth purpose is related to our responsibility towards our fellowmen. According to Warren, we glorify God by utilizing God-given gifts to serve others. He asserts that God has granted us talents, skills and abilities which should be used not only for personal gain but more so for the benefit of others. The author explains that we are able to serve God by serving others. Such is the pathway to real significance and fulfilling one's purpose here on earth. The book ends with the fifth purpose that sends off readers with a mission. This mission entails glorifying God by telling others about Him. In this regard, we have a mission to evangelize others. Such requires the sharing of the Good News and helping others discover their purpose. Warren puts forth that living with a purpose is the only way to truly live. As such, we should be mindful not only of knowing our purpose but aiding others in discovering theirs as well. Personal Reflection Despite the advent of a culture that focuses on man as an independent entity, the substantial sales of Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life indicates how religion continues to play an important role in our lives. In this book, Warren tackles the main concerns in the aspect of religion, i.e. finding the purpose and meaning of life (Macionis). This may be the root of the worldwide commercial success of

Articulate an analysis of the various physical geography Essay

Articulate an analysis of the various physical geography - Essay Example While at the background, a bare mountain with a white surface can be observed. This makes it concluded that the white pigment are snow and it is due to the probable freezing temperature that the trees cover cannot extend to the top. However, few adapted plant species can be spotted on the mountain top. Composition of the biosphere of the area is diverse. For plants, the range is from herbs, shrubs, and trees. Though it is not captured in the photo, the area is also compost of animals like the rodent, many and different birds’ species, insects, and other big and medium mammals. When it comes to vegetation, the forest of the region is constituted of natural pine tree which are adapted to the snow condition in the region during winter. Their cones like shape enable them to avoid the breaking of their branches due to snow accumulation (Strahler 14). This is because the snows easily slide down and drop on the ground. In some regions of the forest, there are a few planted pines to increase the forest cover. Other than the plants, the present of fresh water bodies in the area has provided good habiting grounds for fresh water fish species. These species are available in the river, and Lake Heart and Box. Additionally, rabbits, rats, poisonous snakes and wolf also roam the area. The background covers of vegetation provide hiding covers for predators and preys. Therefore, hunting, fishing, and mountain climbing are practice in the area. The succession of vegetation of this area is highly influenced by the climatic conditions, hydrological factors, topography, and soil factors. The same is applied to animals since they are also dependent on the plants. Further, this forest area is rich in organic matter, which makes the deep soil. Droppings of death leaves and their subsequent decomposition also supply the much-needed nutrient to tress and microorganisms. On the mountain top, the soil is shallow due to the avalanches of snows downhill that erode soil

The Longest Day (World War II) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Longest Day (World War II) - Essay Example Although "The Longest Day" to some extent lacks personality development and the typical film plot that trails the "plight of the hero", it still succeeds to include the watcher in the dreadful actions that encircled the D-Day. The movie depicts to carry all the divides impartially, from the Germans, the United States, French and the British. Â  The film regularly covers the German point of action, and how they are getting ready for the violence against the allies, who were their enemies. What makes this movie so convincing is that it attempts to cover the two sides. The film is approximately two hours and fifty minutes in length with a vast joint of a cast, all playing supportive roles. The performers were at all times of the identical race as their fellow characters, and spoke in their instinctive languages. This mouthwatering film offers the feel of the ‘D-Day’ Offensive, "Operation Overlord" which occurred on June 6th, 1944. This mission involved about three and a ha lf million men, two-thirds of whom were Americans. It shows the horror which was undertaken during the preparation and final assault taking place. An issue of the film was the site of invasion. The movie clearly shows that it was difficult for the Germans to comprehend the day when invasion was to happen (Blouin, Blouin and Rosenberg). The allies echoed the airwaves for several months with coded messages about the expected invasion that was taking the place by surprise. Their main objective was to create or awaken resistance from the French forces (Zanuck). The movie did not show the fact that the French soldiers had been mobilized to start assault on the morning when the allied forces began to attack. Hitler during the attack was asleep and the surprise caught everyone by surprise. Â  The film had many fine performances. One of which involved a brave woman who attacked a German soldier at the railway. In deception, John Wayne's firm, petulant commander retaliating his troops, the courageous, British soldier who hints the first round of attack in the at dark to seize a passage, the UK beach commandant who pushes his troops to stand up because the organizations charm is in vulnerability. This scene shows "Winston", the talisman and friend of the beach frontrunner, and the quarrelsome, pessimistic German; Luftwaffe pilot, who constantly is in worry for his weary superiors (A&E Television Networks, LLC). The play’s act was very informative. Â  One of the German high command officers wondered if the allies were on their way to attack the ‘Pas de Calais’ in the place of Normandy. They seem troubled and worried, and tried but were deprived of attainment to reach Adolf Hitler. They made a wrong choice to let German troops under their control stay on base. The German High official in France ascertained that the Allied strategy of attack would finish them off. The movie started by covering a short background of political and military leaders that led the invasion (A&E Television Networks, LLC). One of the notable civilian scenes was when a German soldier goes to French dairy rancher and orders him to give up his milk and leaves on a mule. These actions made the French inhabitants very angry (Blouin, Blouin and Rosenberg). Later on, same French dairy rancher overhears the commencement of the scuffle and the weaponry blasts; he opens his door and praises the Allies. This movie heavily embedded in the allies’

Students Persistent Failure in English Language Examinations in Nigeria Essay Example for Free

Students Persistent Failure in English Language Examinations in Nigeria Essay Abstract Education is now a global product with institutions worldwide competing for students and finding ever more creative ways to satisfy student needs and preferences. The optimism and belief in educational progress has gingered the new wake of marketing approaches that boarder on how to properly deal with the intricate issues of qualitative educational service, value as well as customer satisfaction. With the continuing rise in the preference for flexible distance learning, educational institutions are finding that when students and faculty have significantly different cultural backgrounds and learning styles that the expectations of the learning experience can be unfulfilled. Today in Nigeria, education is the responsibility of government, religious organizations as well as private individuals, although in recent years, the private sector has entered the market providing educational services at all levels. There are over 90 universities in Nigeria with more than 2.000.000 students enrolled in these universities. Of these students, less than 100,000 are registered in the National Open University of Nigeria which is the largest of the universities that provide distance education in the country. With such large student numbers, competition between the public and private universities for students has intensified particularly over the last decade. As a consequence, the need to develop strategies for attracting students has become more important. The contribution of technologies to education processes has been immense with students and faculty each learning to adapt to an environment of continuous change and opportunities. This paper therefore, seeks to explore the marketing approaches that could galvanise the growth of the Open and Distance learning institutions, and is subsequently predicated on the view that a competitive advantage in marketing of the Open and Distance learning programmes can be attained by customizing learning experiences for students in a pro-active and constructive way. INTRODUCTION The fast competition that is taking place in the current global market has affected the educational sector. In Nigeria for instance, it has been observed that when education is taken for granted not only the state institutions providing conventional education are prevailed. Starting from the early 1990’s higher education has been provided by either public or private universities either conventionally or extensively. The increase in the products and services that are provided by different parties has affected the educational institutions and the power of marketing communications is utilized in order to pull more customers both by private and state institutions. The marketing of education is a controversial issue. Although the opinions on the signification of the educational institution as a product and the students as the customers still remains arguable the transformation of the instruction process as a student-based model requires the utilization of the marketing opportunitie s are used. Teaching has been increasingly developed as a learner-centered model, shaping the process as a life-long learners experience to match their existing knowledge and skills is crucial. At the open and distance education institution level, being market oriented means adapting a client-centered perspective and managing the institution in a way that matches the needs of primary and secondary clients. This student-based model is not much different than the client-based utilization of marketing strategy. In the marketing approach, the needs and desires of the customers are given a primary and major importance so they are treated as â€Å"kings†. When this strategy is employed in the open and distance education, the course programmes and materials are observed to be shaped in accordance with the needs and desires of the students. The multimedia used is also observed to be very common with those that are presented within the most appropriate channels to the students. The customer â€Å"king† then transforms into the student â€Å"king†. Marketing is about achieving organizational goals, and these are determined by the values of the organization (its culture) and shape its decision-making. Good marketing techniques will definitely help the Open and Distance learning institutions achieve set goals that will help them identify with those clients for whom they offer an appropriate range of learning opportunities. The objective of this study therefore, is to discuss the notions like advertisement, public relations, personal sales and fairs that make effecting marketing communication strategies possible in a nationwide manner and compare the Open and Distance learning educational institutions in Nigeria and other nations of the world to concentrate on the marketing of effective educational programmes, quality educational service and the appropriate pricing of the educational programmes because these are some of the major approaches that can satisfy the wishes of the consumers of their educational services. WHAT IS OPEN DISTANCE LEARNING (ODL)? Open and Distance Learning is the combination of on-line learning (e-learning) and other distance education delivery methods. It is the introduction, utilisation and application of ICT to enhance open and distance education thus implementing open and distance learning policies in order to make learning activities more flexible and enable these learning activities to be distributed among many learning venues. It is an amalgam of two approaches to different forms of education that focus on expanding access to learning. It is a sort of blended and distributed learning, which incorporate elements of tutor mediated and self-directed and resource-based learning process. The pedagogical shifts from face-to-face traditional way of teaching or even the traditional distance education (called correspondence education) to on-line education is what Open and Distance Learning is all about. It represents significant changes in the assumptions on which teachers, learners and support staff go about their business and to the technological infrastructure and skill base that support the moves. According to Reju S. A. (2007), this type of education is characterised by two factors: its PHILOSOPHY and its use of TECHNOLOGY. The Open and Distance Learning Philosophy aims at removing barriers to education allowing students to study what they want, when they want and where they want. In summing up the Open and Distance Learning Philosophy, it aims at increasing educational ACCESS and increasing educational CHOICE of students. As for the TECHNOLOGY, in order to achieve a complete migration from the post-box and hard text delivery of conventional distance education to on-line education, operators must satisfy at least three preconditions: First, the technical infrastructure needs to be transparent to users. Second, its operational framework must address teaching and learning decisions when it describes its functions. Third, systematic and local professional development in online teaching and learning using a just-in-time and just-for-me approach must be available to academics (Nunan, Reid, Mc Causland 2002 :10) BASIC OPERATING SYSTEM OF ODL INSTITUTIONS CHARACTERISTICS AND ADVANTAGES OF ODL The nature and characteristics of Open and Distance Learning gave it wider opportunities as advantages over the classical and conventional system of Education: †¢ Accessibility – overcoming barriers related to: – Prior academic credentials – Time – Physical location – Financial constraints – Personal characteristics – Social responsibility †¢ Flexibility and easy access to instruction in order to ensure broad availability of educational opportunities to all characterized by: – Frequent admission periods – Self-pacing – Optional support services (tutoring, counselling, advising) †¢ Learner control over content and structure †¢ Choice of delivery systems: Instruction delivered through a variety of media including print and other information communication technologies to learners, Learners have control over the course delivery system(s) that suits their purpose †¢ Accreditation – characterised by: †¢ Recognition of courses accredited by other institutions for transfer of credit. †¢ Opportunities for learners to â€Å"challenge† courses for credit. †¢ Provision for â€Å"experiential learning†. †¢ Instruction by a mode other than the conventional face-to-face method †¢ Physical separation between the teacher and the learner †¢ Openness disregard age, previous level of academic achievement, and other factors, creating artificial barriers to education as a life-long pursuit in a democratic environment †¢ Cost-effective system of instruction independent of time, location, pace and space †¢ Used for a variety of learning situations: primary, secondary, tertiary, vocational and non-formal education †¢ It allows for wider Range Extension †¢ Thrives on economy of scale †¢ It is weapon of mass instruction †¢ ODL is more suited to Adult Learners †¢ It democratises and liberalises education †¢ It is more of learner centred and learner friendly programme which includes all in its planning and execution †¢ Focused on QA, well designed instructional packages, student support: It gives learners Qualitative Education and Course Range. VISIBLE PROBLEMS THAT COULD RESULT TO FALL OF SALES AND PATRONAGE IN ODL SYSTEM A good marketing strategy has two parts. The first includes an overview of your industry and how your company fits within it. It identifies who your marketing should be targeted at and what challenges you may face when trying to read your target audience. This part also helps you hone in on your specific marketing goals (i.e. increase client base by %). The second part is all about what you will do to reach to overcome the challenges identified in part one and how you will reach your goals (i.e. develop brochure/ website, etc.) The following issues can create a fall of patronage in the Open and Distance learning system. †¢ Poor quality educational service, poor value and customer dissatisfaction. †¢ Poor and inadequate designing of educational programmes. †¢ Unnecessary overpricing of educational programmes †¢ De-emphasising quality, especially service quality †¢ Regular students frustration in learning how to get on-line (especially for novices). †¢ Time lapse between student input and feedback -Time lapse between need for learner support and resolution †¢ Occasional internet provider downtime (server usually inaccessible to students) †¢ Student become less active and less self-directed in the learning environment which depends largely on individual motivation and initiative. †¢ Occasional feelings of isolation- Potentially less group support for learners leading to isolation and possible non-completion of programme †¢ Instructional design for group activities and group interaction more demanding on the instructor †¢ Demands large effort and cost to develop appropriate materials †¢ Demands large effort to create and maintain the technological infrastructure When these problems persist, the message becomes very clear; ‘Distance Education is not for everyone’. – Unfortunately, the problems becloud the fact that Open and Distance learning is not for undisciplined learners nor inflexible instructors. QUALITY ASSURANCE AND GOOD MARKETING STRATEGY AS PANACEA TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS OF FALL OF SALES AND PATRONAGE IN ODL SYSTEM What is Quality assurance? According to Wiley (2009), Quality assurance, or QA for short, refers to a programme for the systematic monitoring and evaluation of the various aspects of a project, service, or facility to ensure that standards of quality are being met. It is important to realize also that quality is determined by the program sponsor. QA cannot absolutely guarantee the production of quality products, unfortunately, but makes this more likely. Two key principles characterise QA: fit for purpose (the product should be suitable for the intended purpose) and right first time (mistakes should be eliminated). QA includes regulation of the quality of raw materials, assemblies, products and components; services related to production; and management, production and inspection processes. It is important to realize also that quality is determined by the intended users, clients or customers, not by society in general: it is not the same as expensive or high quality. Even goods with low prices can be considered quality items if they meet a market need. QA is more than just testing the quality of aspects of a product, service or facility, it analyzes the quality to make sure it conforms to specific requirements and comply with established plans. Accuracy of Quality Assurance There is an extensive process of trial and error in order to ensure quality assurance. By the end of the trials you arrive at an acceptable process that helps you decide the reliability and efficiency of the sample. The process involves meeting specifications such as performance measures and depends on environment operation. The cost of resulting in failure is very high which result in the process of Quality Assurance to be extensive and it is acceptable to delay production until all tests are done and double-checked. Steps for Quality Assurance Process †¢ Test previous article †¢ Plan to improve †¢ Design to include improvements and requirements †¢ Manufacture with improvements †¢ Review new item and improvements †¢ Test new item The process for Quality Assurance is very rigorous and requires a lot of testing and planning. The team or firm has to comply with previous requirements, implement new requirements and improve the old item. Other than following requirements, the team or firm has to comply with consumers needs. WHAT IS MARKETING? Marketing is defined by the American Marketing Association as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large Simply stated, marketing is everything you do to place your product or service in the hands of potential customers. It includes diverse disciplines like sales, public relations, pricing, packaging, and distribution. In order to distinguish marketing from other related professional services, S.H. Simmons, author and humorist, relates this anecdote. If a young man tells his date shes intelligent, looks lovely, and is a great conversationalist, hes saying the right things to the right person and thats marketing. If the young man tells his date how handsome, smart and successful he is thats advertising. If someone else tells the young woman how handsome, smart and successful her date is thats public relations. You might think of marketing this way. If business is all about people and money and the art of persuading one to part from the other, then marketing is all about finding the right people to persuade. Marketing is your strategy for allocating resources (time and money) in order to achieve your objectives (a fair profit for supplying a good product or service). Yet the most brilliant strategy wont help you earn a profit or achieve your wildest dreams if it isnt built around your potential customers. A strategy that isnt based on customers is rather like a man who knows a thousand ways to make love to a woman, but doesnt know any women. Great in theory but unrewarding in practice. If you fit the classic definition of an entrepreneur (someone with a great idea whos under-capitalized), you may think marketing is something you do later after the product is developed, manufactured, or ready to sell. Though it may feel counter-intuitive, marketing doesnt begin with a great idea or a unique product. It begins with customers those people who want or need your product and will actually buy it. Entrepreneurs are in love with their ideas, and they should be. After all, why would anyone commit their energy, life savings, and no small part of their sanity to anything less than a consuming passion. Because entrepreneurs are passionate about their idea, product, or service, they innocently assume other people will feel the same. Heres the bad news it just doesnt work that way! People have their own unique perceptions of the world based on their belief system. The most innovative ideas, the greatest products, or a superior service succeed only when you market within the context of peoples perceptions. Context can be many things, singly or simultaneously. To name a few, you may market to your customers within the context of their wants, needs, problems solved, or situation improved. Entrepreneurs need to be aware of many other contexts, such as social and economic trends or governmental regulations, which well discuss another time. People dont just buy a product. They buy the concept of what that product will do for them, or help them do for themselves. People who are overweight dont join a franchise diet center to eat pre-packaged micro-meals. They buy the concept of a new, thin, happy and successful self. Before you become consumed with entrepreneurial zeal and invest your life savings in a new venture, become a smart marketer. Take time at the beginning to discover who your potential customers are, and how to effectively reach them. Without a plan, your entrepreneurial dream is really wishful thinking. While a marketing plan can be a map for success, remember that the map is not the territory. A strategy that ignores the customer isnt an accurate reflection of the landscape. A good marketing plan can help you focus your energy and resources. But a plan created in a vacuum, based solely on your perceptions, does not advance the agenda. Thats why market research, however simple or sophisticated, is important. Just keep in mind that research attempts to predict the future by studying the past. It reveals what people have done, and extrapolates what people might do not what people will do. Planning is imperative, research is important, but theres no substitute for entrepreneurial insight. After all, as Mark Twain wrote, You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. Marketing strategy’ Wikipedia dictionary defines ‘Marketing strategy’ is a process that can allow an organization to concentrate its limited resources on the greatest opportunities to increase sales and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. A marketing strategy should be centered on the key concept that customer satisfaction is the main goal. Services marketing Services marketing, as the label suggests, relates to the marketing of services, as opposed to tangible products (in standard economic terminology, a tangible product is called a good). A typical definition of a service (as opposed to a good) is thus: †¢ The use of it is inseparable from its purchase (,i.e. a service is used and consumed simultaneously) †¢ It does not possess material form, and thus cannot be smelt, heard, tasted, or felt. †¢ The use of a service is inherently subjective, in that due to the human condition, all persons experiencing a service would experience it uniquely. As examples of the above points, a train ride can be deemed as a service. If one buys a train ticket, the use of the train is typically experienced concurrently with the purchase of the ticket. Moreover, a train ride cannot be smelt, heard, tasted or felt as such. Granted, a seat can be felt, and the train can be evidently heard, nonetheless one is not paying for the permanent ownership of the tangible components of the train. Services (by comparison with goods) can also be viewed as a spectrum. Not all products are pure goods, nor are all pure services. The aforementioned example of a train ride can be deemed a pure service, whilst a packet of potato chips can be deemed a pure good. An intermediary example may be a restaurant (as the waiter service is intangible, and the food evidently is tangible in form). VARIOUS STRATEGIES AND APPROACHES OF GOOD MARKETING THAT COULD HELP IN GROWTH OF SALES AND PATRONAGE OF ODL PROGRAMMES It is the explicit recognition of the tensions between old and new learning styles which our paper seeks to highlight as the basis for attaining a marketing advantage. To allow students to learn in styles that commence with recognition of diverse foundations provides an environment where students are given greater opportunity for academic success. The view that all students can be blended into one learning environment as though one stylized type of pedagogy would be suitable for all students in a mixed cohort, presumes that a standardized approach to learning is indeed appropriate. The concept of ‘one size fits all’ education may have been appropriate in old economies where students represented a homogenous group from the same cultural group with a known entry level skill set. Where students do not fit this form of stereotyping it makes sense to approach the task of designing an appropriate learning environment which suits the majority of learners. Eisner also claims that communication and multiple intelligence literature suggest that effective teaching involves reaching students, and that reaching students involves taking their frames of reference into account. Knowing where our students are coming from and meeting them there may increase the chance that students will absorb the information we seek to teach (Eisner 2003, 34-5). Indeed, the arrival of technologies to supplement, enable, enrich and mediate learning experiences challenges traditional education pedagogies. To actively respond to such pressures in a way that is positive can contribute to academic outcomes. Businesses and governments have called into question the relevance of quality of the education that has been provided by post-secondary institutions as well as their continued ability to deliver education in a manner that the new forces of the globalizing marketplace would deem efficient (Montgomery, L., M. Canaan, J., E.) (2004). Nagy (2007) demonstrated via a case study that student outcomes could be dramatically improved by specifically recognizing the needs of the cohort and tailoring assessment tasks to suit the cohort. This style of customization is a reaction to market needs in a proactive way to ensure that student success is achieved without variation in the quality or content of course design. To take this analysis one step further, for a chosen unit of study where it is known that the student population incorporates variable educational foundations within the student population, a university could recognize this variation and provide 2 streams of learning for the same material using alternative pedagogies to achieve outcomes. One alternative could embrace student centered learning and the other teacher centered learning. Each of the alternatives may then employ the best practice pedagogies appropriate to the identified style of learning, and utilize different assessment strategies. Students are then free to choose which alternative learning environment best suits their learning foundations and preferences, at the commencement of the subject. This approach has the potential to promote a more confident attitude to learning with less alienation from the learning environment, greater student self esteem and improved learning outcomes. The term learning styles is used as a description of the attitudes and behaviors which determine an individual’s preferred way of learning. Some students tend to focus on facts. Some respond strongly to visual forms of information; others are able to learn more from verbal forms written and spoken explanations. Some prefer to learn actively and interactively; others function more introspectively and individually. No one learning style is better than another; it is simply that people learn in different ways. The best learning style is the one that works for an individual in a particular situation. Those universities with sufficiently large and diverse student cohorts may be able to further refine a process of variable pedagogies. Costs would not be significantly different and yet the provision of alternative learning experience can be employed for both on campus and distance education institutions representing a way of marketing subjects that may entice particular students to particular universities. Our suggestion places the emphasis back on the student; with the student selecting the mode of learning best suited to their personal learning style. These choices made available to students can thus be regarded as part of a suite of marketing tools that universities can make use of. Generally, action must be taken to develop a complete marketing program to reach consumers (life-long learners) by using a combination of factors which can be referred to as the 4P’s. The 4 P approach to marketing includes product, price, place and promotion are illustrated as follows: Product: It is a good, service or idea that the consumers need for satisfying their wants. Physical product can be described in terms of its physical characteristics and is what most people actually think of as the product Sussane and Chris(2010) suggest that education is a product, and see distance education as a product instead of a tool for distributing education. They say that in order to most efficiently use our resources, the needs of the student/consumer should be assessed. By doing so, we can learn from the students and then apply that knowledge to attract future students while meeting the needs and improving upon the services offered to the current students. The products have a different name, logo, color and physical attributes. We can say that Distance Education institution is a brand and a brand is a way of differentiating one product from another; the greater the perceived similarity of products, the more important the brand in establishing the differences. Some schools will clearly feel that they are different from others, or that the market perceives differences, which makes it less important for them to establish their corporate identity (Galbraith, K. 2003). Price: This concept embodies more than a value that someone will pay for it. The meaning associated with price changes is contextual. Institutions have different pricing policies and all institutions compete against each other to increase their application and enrollment rates. Pricing policies will impact student choice between institutions. Place: It is a means of getting the product into the consumer’s hands. The personality of the place sends messages to the target audience. The vehicle which is used to reach the students can be a physical location or a virtual space where the connection speed of internet used, e-mail, can serve as a differentiating mechanism. Promotion: Promotion is a means of communication between the seller and buyer. It includes advertising, public relations, personal selling, publicity, and sales promotions. If one higher education institution wants to enroll more students than other, it will need to use corporate advertising or engage in activities that create a liaison between the students and the institutions. Publicity provides media coverage to the institutions and visibility can create confidence about an institutions reputation and quality perceptions. Marketing initiatives include print based products and internet-based advertisements, brochures, and word-of-mouth (WOM) communication. According to Buttle (1998: p. 242) WOM has been shown to influence a variety of conditions: awareness, expectations, perceptions, attitudes, behavioral intentions and behaviour. Because of these factors positive WOM may affect the awareness of the open and distance university and this awareness can turn the behavioral intentions of students. Fairs are also benefited to communicate with the students. Every year education fairs should be organized and all universities that run distance learning programmes should be represented. Where the cost of registration is same between universities, the image of the university plays an important role in the process of selecting that university. The image consists of two criteria. One of it is tangible criteria like, academic staff, profile of the graduated, facility of the university, curriculum, and opportunity for internship etc. Intangible criteria are good or bad experiences about university, negative or positive WOM. Internally developed strategy Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and/or video signals which transmit programs to an audience. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of the whole, such as children or young adults. Here, the FM station of NOUN becomes important. In his essay, John Durham Peters wrote that communication is a tool used for dissemination. Durham stated, â€Å"Dissemination is a lens- sometimes a usefully distorting one- that helps us tackle basic issues such as interaction, presence, and space and time†¦on the agenda of any future communication theory in general† (Durham, 211). Dissemination focuses on the message being relayed from one main source to one large audience without the exchange of dialogue in between. There’s chance for the message to be tweaked or corrupted once the main source releases it. There is really no way to predetermine how the larger population or audience will absorb the message. They can choose to listen, analyze, or simply ignore it. Dissemination in communication is widely used in the world of broadcasting. Broadcasting focuses on getting one message out and it is up to the general public to do what they wish with it. Durham also states that broadcasting is used to address an open ended destination (Durham, 212). There are many forms of broadcast, but they all aim to distribute a signal that will reach the target audience. Broadcasting can arrange audiences into entire assemblies (Durham, 213). Effective use of the University website According to Ms.Bindu Rathore, CEO WebTotal Marketing, Many Educational Institutions have a website, but they don’t know how to combine offline and online marketing to increase their profits and reduce their advertising costs. She therefore recommended that the concept WebTotal Marketing is now available to help such Educational institutions to have a complete web marketing system so they can enhance their brand and attract more prospect students at an affordable cost.† This postulation is basically predicated on the fact that students have become very Internet savvy these days and are cautious in their selection of institutions of higher learning. They actively participate in forums and group discussions along with feedbacks from past students to analyze a particular college or university before they make their decision. University Publications The word publication means the act of publishing. To publish is to make content available to the public. While specific use of the term may vary between country, it is usually applied to text, images, or other audio-visual content on any medium, including paper or Electronic publishing forms such as websites, E-books, Compact Discs and MP3s. THE ROLE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, GIFT ITEMS/SOUVENIRS, EVALUATION (of process, input and products) AND AFTER-SALES-SERVICES IN GOOD MARKETING Promotional merchandise, promotional items, promotional products, promotional gifts, or advertising gifts are articles of merchandise that are branded with a logo and used in marketing and communication programs. They are given away to promote a company, corporate image, brand, or event. These items are usually imprinted with a companys name, logo or slogans, and given away at trade shows, conferences, and as part of guerrilla marketing campaigns. The giving of gifts goes back throughout the hostory of man. Gifts would be, and still are, given for various reasons including: to welcome, for appreciation, and for celebration. In the late 20th century a new industry evolved around the concept of giving gifts. Industry and commerce recognised the benefits that could be gained by a company and corporate organisation in giving gifts to existing and prospective customers. Promotional merchandise is now used globally to promote brands, products and corporate identity. They are also used as giveaways at events like exhibitions and product launches. Almost anything can be branded with a company’s name or logo and used for promotion. Common items include t-shirts, caps, key chains, posters, bumper-stickers, pens, mugs, or mouse pads. The largest product category for promotional products is wearable items, which make up more than 30% of the total. Most promotional items are relatively small and inexpensive, but can range to higher-end items; for example celebrities at film festivals and award shows are often given expensive promotional items such as expensive perfumes, leather goods, and electronics items. Companies that provide expensive gifts for celebrity attendees often ask that the celebrities allow a photo to be taken of them with the gift item, which can be used by the company for promotional purposes. Other companies provide luxury gifts such as handbags or scarves to celebrity attendees in the hopes that the celebrities will wear these items in public, thus garnering publicity for the companys brand name and product. Brand awareness is the most common use for promotional items at 12.59%. Other objectives that marketers use promotional items to facilitate include employee relations and events, tradeshow traffic-building, public relations, new customer generation, dealer and distributor programs, new product introductions, employee service awards, not-for-profit programs, internal incentive programs, safety education, customer referrals, and marketing research. Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. According to Galbraith, K. (2003). â€Å"Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer expectation. Its importance varies by product, industry and customer; defective or broken merchandise can be exchanged, often only with a receipt and within a specified time frame. Customer service may be provided by a person (e.g., sales and service representative), or by automated means called self-service. Examples of self service are Internet sites. However, In the Internet era, a challenge has been to maintain and/or enhance the personal experience while making use of the efficiencies of online commerce. Writing in Fast Company, entrepreneur and customer systems innovator Wiley, J. made the point that Online customers are literally invisible to you (and you to them), so its easy to shortchange them emotionally. But this lack of visual and tactile presence makes it even more crucial to create a sense of personal, human-to-human connection in the online arena. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organizations ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. CONCLUSION In many countries, open and distance learning methods have become an effective and equitable means of providing learning for people in all situations and of all ages. Our postulation in this paper is that the effective marketing of the operational infrastructure for the delivery of an Open and Distance Learning programme is critical to its success. Yet all too often this element is overlooked or seen as incidental to the design and quality of the distance learning materials and programmes themselves. We then went ahead to address very salient issues that can help the Open and Distance Learning institutions adopt new approaches as regards the rapid strategic marketing of ODL systems that will ultimately lead to increased success in the operation of the system worldwide. These issues include †¢ coming to grips with the socio-cultural drivers of education in the 21st century †¢ anticipating the future and activating the potential of innovation as a prerequisite for outstanding success and †¢ interpreting latent educational needs and effectively creating a demand for the ODL system worldwide. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Buttle, F. (2005). Word of Mouth: Understanding And Managing Referral Marketing, Journal of Strategic Marketing, (6) 241–254. Eisner, S. P. (2004). The Class Talk Show: A Pedagogical Tool, SAM Advanced Management Journal, Winter 2003, 34 49. Galbraith, K. (2003). Towards Quality Private Education in Central and Eastern Europe, Higher Education in Europe, XXVIII, (4) pp. 539-558. Garrison, D. R. Anderson, T. (2003). E-Learning in the 21st Century, Routledge- Falmer, London. Wiley, J (2009) The Quality Assurance Journal http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/15634/home Durham, J. P. (2006) Communication as Dissemination. Communication as†¦Perspectives on Theory. Thousand Oakes, CA: Sage,. 211-22. Montomery, L., M. Canaan, J., E. (2004). Conceptualizing higher education students as social actors in a globalizing world: a special issue, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 17 (6), 739-748. Nagy, J. (2007). Market forces in higher education: cheating and the student-centred learning paradigm, book chapter in â€Å"Ethical Practices and Implications in Distance Learning† Indira Gandhi National Open University, Simonetta C. Christian V. (2009) Path to a new Prosperity; A new Approach to Marketing. London, Keegan Paul. Suzanne .A. Chris. P. (2010) Managing expectations: effective support systems for distance learning the experience of the Warwick MBA by distance learning. www.effectivemarketing.com

Comparison of the discrimination Essay Example for Free

Comparison of the discrimination Essay To conclude this comparison of these two groups, the Dalits in India and the Indigenous Australians, I believe their situations can be linked and related to. The Dalits in India are regarded as the lowest of the low and are treated like rats. They are not given proper education and healthcare and not allowed to mix with non-Dalits. The IA on the other hand had there numbers decline mostly due to the European diseases brought to the country and also due to cultural genocide (the process of taking the aboriginal children and breeding them with non IAs, thus killing off the IA population). These two groups are closely related however in the case of the IAs they were the first natural inhabitants of Australia. This is the opposite to the Dalits, they were originally from India however the caste system in India has forced them into poverty. What has forced IA into poverty is the massive presence of the white population and has made the IA into a minority. However there have been recent apologies by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia to the indigenous Australians, which I would say is respectful. However there has been no sympathy towards the Dalits from the upper classes, they want the Dalits to stay in this low status for as long as possible. To conclude I believe the Dalits suffer more than the IAs, not just because of the way they are treated but the sheer number of them as a whole. Bibliography: Research on Dalits: Internet (www.wiki.com, www.dalitnetwork.org) Research on IAs: Internet (www.wiki.com, www.indigenous.gov.au, www.pm.gov.au/media/Speech/2008/speech_0073.cfm Research using class notes on IAs and Dalits.

Platos Cave Analysis

Platos Cave Analysis Imagine a subterranean cave in which humans are shackled by their necks to a single place. They have been held there all of their lives. Fires placed behind the group by unseen forces have left these prisoners to see their own shadows play upon a screen. Those held are not even aware that the images and shadows that they see are themselves. Yet, these shadows hold sway; the prisoners are fascinated. The illusion so effective, that the prisoners do not recognize their imprisonment and are satisfied to live their lives in this way. What would happen if one of these prisoners would be set free? The prisoner would be helpless, his eyes would be overloaded, and he could not stand up on his own. Inundated with sensory information, his mind would refuse to accept what the senses were submitting as true. It would not be surprising if anyone released from such a prison would wish to stay. Stay with the known. Stay with what is comfortable. Not for our prisoner though. Our prisoner, forced to turn away from the fire, begins a long uncomfortable journey through a tunnel toward a blinding light coaxed by the liberator toward the uncomfortable. The light is blinding. Finally emerging from the cave, eyes burning, senses raging, the prisoner soon finds a new, unimaginable world. No longer fascinated by shadow, the prisoner is free to learn about the world, and more importantly, themselves. This paper will explore how this story has been translated to modern audiences through the film, The Matrix (Wachowski Bros 1999). Platos cave myth has been a wonderful allegory for the quest for knowledge for 2,400 years. Plato published this cave myth in The Republic; the allegory of the cave is arguably the most famous section of this work. What may come as a surprise to many is that there are parallels to the cave myth in many of todays contemporary stories. One of which, is the tale of Neo in The Matrix (Wachowski Bros 1999). Who can forget the image when Neo wakes to find himself bound in a tube, he struggles free, released from his prison, he is made to grasp the truth of his life and the world. He finds that all of his life up to that point has been an elaborate illusion created for him to hide him from the fact that he been held prisoner his entire life. This paper will show that both of these stories reflect a Socratic search for knowledge and a deeper understanding of the good. The myth of the cave is an allegory in which we follow our prisoner on his quest for what Socrates, Platos teacher, referred to as the just life (Plato: The Republic). Socrates primary concern was that our souls be in the best condition possible (Plato: Phaedo). The way in which this is accomplished is through examination and questioning ones place within the world. The cave myth gives a literary account of the Socratic Method, as well an example as to the logic and approach of Socrates relentless questioning. In this way, we have a view into Socrates methodology, and furthermore, into Socrates notion for care of the soul (Plato: Phaedo). Socrates care of the soul is comprised of these four elements: beliefs in meaning, admission of ignorance, questioning of reality, and hope in an answer, or to put it another way, trust in the knowledge of the good (Plato: Phaedo). On this subject of care of the soul, there is a deep comparability between The Matrix (Wachowski Bros 1999)and Platos a llegory (Plato: The Republic). We can make a closer examination into the comparison between Neo and our prisoner on his quest for the care of the soul. Like the allegory of the Cave, The Matrix dramatically conveys the view that ordinary appearances do not depict true reality and that gaining the truth changes ones life. Using the ideas of care of the soul, we are asked to examine belief in meaning. Saying this differently we are asked to believe what we hold to be true. The prisoners can differentiate shadows and sounds, apply names to the shadows depicting things and even discern the patterns in their presentation. To this extent, they have some true beliefs and some false assumptions, but before the discussion regresses into a metaphysical exercise; whether or not a thing is a thing because we name it so, or whether or not the thing has its own inherent thingness it is safe to say that we can all hold some things to be true. However, there are things that are mysterious to all in the case of the cave and in The Matrix. In both stories, there is omnipresent image of the unseen hand at work; those who are responsible for the structure of the cave and the world in which the matrix exists. In an online posting, John Partridge, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Wheaton College, explores the correlation between these two stories. He suggests that, Many contemporary readers recoil at the awful politics of the Cave. Who, after all, are the puppeteers? Why do they deceive their fellow cave dwellers (Partridge)? It is only through the understanding and realization that there is an unseen hand, or truths with which we had been oblivious, that we can fully come to learn the truth. For the prisoner, it is through his release that he comes to realize that his notion of truth is skewed. For Neo, he had been suspicious of his reality for some time and seeks understanding. The fascinating thing for Neo is that when his situation comes to a head and he finally meets Morpheus, his liberator and teacher, he is informed that he cannot be told what is untrue, he must be shown. Interestingly, Neo is afforded a choice, the path of ignorance in the form of a blue pill or the path of knowledge in the form of a red pill. The taking of the red pill is an admission of ignorance. In this way, the notion of admission of ignorance is forced on him in the form of a choice. The prisoner and Neo are similar, they must be brought into the light of knowledge, and into the admission of their own ignorance. The similari ties continue, they both share a common path to understanding that their notions of truth have been given to them and that reality itself is not what it seems. Conversely, there are some differences between the two stories by way of the coming to admission of ignorance and the understanding of truth. Neos path to understanding truth is one that starts out with him living comfortably with the sneaking suspicion that there is a something not quite right with the world. His quest to understand what is wrong with the world leads him inexorably into a very dark and dystopian reality filled with conflict and misery. Their only purpose is as food for the machines. Furthermore, it is a world with people forced underground. His quest literally leads him into the cave. By contrast, we have the story of the prisoner. The prisoner is released from bondage. He/She did not actively seek to understand their world or acquire new knowledge. He/She would have been just as happy watching shadows on the screen. The path to understanding may have been difficult and uncomfortable, but in the end, the prisoner is lead to the light of knowledge, a utopian world wi thin which the prisoner is now truly free. Neo, knowing what being a prisoner means, has his greatest fears realized when he discovers that he has always been a slave and is now relegated to a fearful existence. The prisoner, on the other hand, comes to the realization of what being a prisoner means, and is delighted with his/her new life. Thus, we have the juxtaposition of the objective versus the subjective. The next tenet of understanding Socrates care of the soul is the questioning of reality. Released from the illusory world, our prisoner is lead down the path of understanding. Socrates states, and then conceive some one saying to him, that what he saw before was an illusion, but that now, when he is approaching nearer to being and his eye is turned towards more real existence, he has a clearer vision, what will be his reply (Plato: The Republic)? What would his reply be? He would be drawn into questioning everything after he now believes that he had been mystified all this time. This is where we would find Neo brought back into the matrix for training by Morpheus, again we have an inverse of realities but the aims are the same. The prisoner is coming to question and understand the real world. Neo is coming to question and understand the unreal world of the matrix. Now we are diving into the world of the metaphysical. Discerning whether we can determine reality in either of these two worlds is a real problem. Partridge states, Since the real world and the simulated world are worlds in which the senses receive information, the practical problem is not that they are discontinuous, but that they are indiscernible (Partridge). This is a real problem for Neo; as we find after his kung fu training with Morpheus, when his teacher questions Neos understanding of reality, You believe your really breathing? He is later told, coming upon a child bending spoons with his mind in Yuri Gellar fashion, that he will only come to understand the real nature of the matrix once he comes to understand that in the matrix, there is no spoon (The Matrix). It seems as though the differences between the two tales on a metaphysical level does not inhibit them from sending a similar message. They both send the message of the unreliability of the epistemological information gathered through the senses. They stress a need to disconnect from the senses in order to attain genuine knowledge. The stories also wonderfully illustrate the psychological hardship that is placed on the characters having to do so. Thus, the question, by what means does Neo come to discover hope in an answer or trust in his knowledge of the good. For our prisoner, the question is answered very succinctly, Last of he will be able to see the sun, and not mere reflections of him in the water, but he will see him in his own proper place, and not in another; and he will contemplate him as he is Clearly, he said, he would first see the sun and then reason about him (Plato: The Republic). For Neo hope in answer comes in a much more personal form. After many trials, the film climaxes with Neo coming to grips with the fact that he has been The One all along. Coaxed into questioning his reality by Morpheus, he is left to follow the path of self-realization on his own. In this way, he can develop his own care of the soul. He overcame the introduction of self-doubt in the form of the oracle. He overcame the overpowering force of the agents to become reborn, phoenix like, to the understanding of himself. This revelation would prove to be extremely transformative. Clearly, he has come to grips with his knowledge and belief in the good. Partridge claims, There is a single item the knowledge of which makes the knower more integrated and more powerful, and for Neo it is self-knowledge. The same message holds true for our prisoner. It is through the knowing of the true self, which causes the prisoner to become productive, a savior of himself and others. After the prisoners revel ation of the good, his first thoughts are of the others in the cave. They both have come to know of Socrates primary concern of care of the soul, trust in the knowledge of the good. Finally, we look to ourselves concerning what these stories tell us. It is the path of knowledge that is placed before us and the stakes are for the care of the soul. For Neo, his quest was to take him through the trials and hardships of self-realization that he would have to endure so that he might come to know for himself that he was indeed The One. Our prisoners quest mirrors this. Ultimately, we are drawn to Socratic questions; in what ways are we living diminished lives? Are we resting on our own ideas of knowledge? Are we even asking the right questions? It is through the stinging realization of our own ignorance that we are finally able to start our own paths toward the understanding of the good. Plato makes it plain when he uses Socrates to tell us that we are all prisoners in the cave. If any doubt this, recall the position we are in when go to see movies such as The Matrix itself. Imagine a dark world filled with people watching shadows on a screenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦

Pure Luck :: English Literature Essays

Pure Luck During a warm and lucid evening in September my life would change forever. Something like this does not just happen to anyone; fate decides who deserves such a wake up call. That seemed to be the last night I expected a scene so horrifying to happen because the vibe of the whole evening was uplifting. Everything seemed perfect since everyone happened to be in that happy-go-lucky mentality. We did not expect the events that were to follow later that evening. I heard the restlessness in his voice. â€Å"You got a light?† Steve questioned with eagerness. He was not the only one with the anxious tone to his voice. I hooked him up with that so needed light to calm his nerves a little. We were on an excursion to one of the greatest places in the world: New York. Steve, Dennis, and I had planned this journey for several weeks now. Our anticipation grew immensely. The outing was to a club in New Rochelle which would be a new experience for all of us. Riding in the car seemed ominous. â€Å"Na man, you gotta take the exit for the George Washington Bridge,† I nearly screamed at Steve when he almost took the wrong exit, which would have put us in a position we absolutely did not want to be. â€Å"Alright, DICK† he sarcastically replied. After what seemed like an eternity we hit the right exit and it put us down the road from the club. We arrived, jumping furiously out of the car and hauling ass to the line at the front of the club. At the club there were many DJ’s and live acts that I looked forward to catching. Fortunately I got to see most of them. The experience was quite a relief after that car ride. The inside of the club appeared amazingly pleasing to the eye. The surroundings were the most comfortable of leather couches and a balcony over the main floor that was humongous. More than two hundred people occupied the balcony alone: drinking, talking, and staring awestruck at the sights, which included a thirteen foot tall glass case housing two six foot long iguanas and two sixteen-foot long Burmese pythons. After a few hours the party ended and patrons dispersed including my friends and I. Once outside, the masses gathered around handing out flyers that would most likely end up with a new home on the sidewalk.

Professional Athletes who Cheat in Sports Essay -- steroids, asca, bal

Professional athletes are role models to the American children across the Nation. Professional athletes must follow ethical standards to play fairly in their sport. This means that players must compete without the assistance of performance enhancing drugs such as steroids (Tynes, 2006). Yet, professional athletes choose to cheat by taking illegal substances, which results in the death of some players and a wide variety of health problems. The Federal Government realized that the use of anabolic steroids is a form of cheating and defrauds the players and fans of â€Å"real† competition. As a result, for the concern of the athletes’ health and concern for the ethical standards of the game played, the Anabolic Steroid Act of 1990 (ASCA) was enacted (Tynes, 2006). The ASCA was passed to help the growing concerns of the wide spread of harmful substances that could cause long- term effects (Tynes, 2006). The ASCA made it illegal to take an unapproved substance while playing a professional sport. This research paper will examine professional athletes who participated in the major leagues and Olympic Games who used steroids to defraud the Major Leagues Business and Olympic Associations to gain fame and fortune. The paper will examine the BALCO scandal (CNN.com, 2014), where many professional athletes admitted to taking steroids to improve physical sports performance. The BALCO scandal "outs" players from the American National sports leagues to Olympic competitive sports. A cover up of drug use led to not just a few but many players who chose to use steroids to improve their game. The case went to the courts and left many players to tell the ugly truth about other professional players. In some cases, the players denied responsibility and ... ...BILITY OF THE LEAGUES?. Marquette Sports Law Review, 17(2), 651-678. Thompson, T. (2007) Giambi admits he took steroids. DailyNews. New York. Tynes, J. (2006) Performance Enhancing Substances: Effects, Regulations,and the Pervasive Efforts to Control Doping in Major Leagues. Journal of Legal Medicine. 27:493-509. Unknown Author (2014) Barry Bonds convicted of obstruction of justice in performance-enhancing-drugs case. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. USAToday (2007) BALCO Investigation Timeline. USA TODAY SPORTS ONLINE NEWSPAPER. Retrieved from: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/balco-timeline.htm USAToday (2007) Mitchell Report Timeline. USA TODAY SPORTS ONLINE NEWSPAPER. Retrieved from: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-12-13-mitchell-report-timeline_N.htm Wikipedia (2014) BALCO Scandal. Retrieved from Wikipedia.com on March 14, 2014.