The Mozart Effect Essay - 931 Words

It has long been believed that music can evoke specific thoughts and feelings from the listener. But can music –specifically the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart- summon hidden intelligences within the human brain? That is the question scientists are trying to answer. In the mid-nineties, scientists, Frances Rauscher, Gordon Shaw and Katherine Ky, claimed that music could boost the listener’s intelligence up to 9 points (Steele 2). To many, this allegation seemed a bit far-fetched and soon other researchers began recreating the Rauscher, Shaw, and Ky experiment in hopes of discrediting their findings. The conclusions that resulted confirmed that the skeptics were right: the evidence was inconclusive and revealed that music did not make the†¦show more content†¦In the replication, the researchers played disco music that had a repetitive beat instead of Mozart’s music and then measured the IQ of thirty subjects. The results of the experiment were not much different than the results of the Rauscher, Shaw, and Ky experiment. This conclusion was groundbreaking in the science world because it completely discredited the claims that music has the ability to change the way a person thinks and potentially make them smarter. After the original experiment was published, marketers took advantage of the profitability of the claims. They distributed cassettes, books, and CD’s across the globe with guarantees that if parents expose their infants to the right kind of music, it â€Å"would speed intellectual development† (Steele 3). Their promises and claims were successful and Baby Mozart CD’s are still being played through headphones around the big bellies of pregnant women. The experiments that later proved that the â€Å"Mozart Effect† did not, in fact, make a person smarter, did not have much effect on the sales of these items. After the hype of these experiments died down, Rauscher and Shaw fueled a frenzy by adding that â€Å"listening to this sonata could reverse the effects of senile dementia, epileptic seizures, and improve the maze-learning ability of rats† (Steele 3). Unfortunately, this startling claim could not be proven by any other researchersShow MoreRelatedThe Mozart Effect Essay1461 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Mozart effect† is a believe that listening to music could enhance individuals’ intelligence, and therefore lead to better performance in various spheres, such as languages and arithmetics. There are researches pointed out that listening to music while tasks performance would result in significant boost of scores. The effect of listening to Mozart’s music on spatial seasoning was looked over in 1933 by Dr. Rauscher, three common tests about abstract spatial reasoning were given to the participantsRead More The Mozart Effect Essay1215 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mozart Effect Ever since human intelligence has been a factor for survival, people have been trying to think of new, innovative ways to increase their mental capabilities. In the past, people have taken pills, prepared home-made concoctions, and have even shaven their heads to clear their minds. Even now, new ideas, such as magnetic mattresses for better blood circulation to the brain, are patented and sold promising mental wellness and stability – and making money for the inventor. WhenRead MoreEssay On Mozart Effect1061 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mozart Effect, broadly stated, is the idea that music can help with many other aspects of a student’s education. Its research started decades ago and is still highly debated today, with some condition to the findings. However, in Bob Duke’s article, he explains why it doesn’t matter whether of not it helps tests scores. He believes we should not be using this as an excuse for keeping music programs because there are countless better reasons. Duke’s article highly reinforced why I personally believeRead More The Mozart Effect Essay1250 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mozart Effect is a study that shows listening to classical music can have positive effects on learning and attitude. This occurrence is called the Mozart Effect, and it has been proven in experiments by many scientists. This research has caused much controversy between believers and nonbelievers, because The Mozart Effect is said to enhance the brain and reasoning; it is also used to reduce stress, depression, or anxiety; it induces relaxation or sleep; and the Mozart Effect activates the bodyRead MoreMozart Effect And Its Effect On Mental Development1479 Words   |  6 PagesThe Idea of the Mozart effect came at a time when scientists were trying to merge the aspect of psychology (the science of the mind), and neuroscience (the science of the brain). Scientists felt that music plays a major role in the learning and thinking processes (â €Å"The Mozart Effect†). The Mozart effect refers to the resultant enhanced mental performance that arises when one listens to Mozart’s music. It is suggested that listening to Mozart makes one smarter by improving their spatial intelligenceRead MoreThe Mozart Effect and Infant Intelligence1408 Words   |  6 PagesIn modern society intelligence is highly competitive and subject to scrutiny; therefore, it is understandable that a child’s intelligence is a primary concern for many parents. The Mozart effect, popularised in the 1990s, resulted in many parents believing that simply exposing their child to music composed by Mozart would improve their intelligence (Campbell, 1997). The claim was founded by research published in the journal Nature, which suggested that spatial reasoning could be temporarily enhancedRead MoreEssay on Psychology: The Mozart Effect1332 Words   |  6 Pagesevaluate the questionable validity of the â€Å"Mozart Effect†. The Moza rt Effect implies that playing Mozart to a baby will increase its cognitive abilities, a claim which has instigated a rapidly increasing market of â€Å"CDS to make your baby smarter†. This claim, despite having partial merit and widespread popular acceptance, is fundamentally incorrect. Through the analysis of various attempted replication studies, it is abundantly clear that the ‘Mozart Effect’ is a falsehood. This is evidenced by: theRead MoreMusic Of Mozart Effect On Children1266 Words   |  6 PagesThe â€Å"Mozart effect† is a statement based on research studies claiming that listening to the music of Mozart may produce an increase in your IQ and performance in certain types of mental tasks. This effect was applied not just to adults, but later also to unborn and postpartum babies up to 60 days old. The â€Å"Mozart effect† stemmed from research carried out in 1993 by researchers Frances H. Rauscher, Gordon L. Shaw and Katherine N. Ky at the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at UC IrvineRead MoreThe Mozart Effect of Boosting IQ863 Words   |  3 Pagesthemselves as entrepreneurs are going along with this and trying to build up their IQs because they feel it may end up helping them in the long run. This people are the ones who are motivation is the center of this book by Don Campbell called â€Å"The Mozart Effect: Tapping the Power of Music to Heal the Body, Strengthen the Mind and Unlock the Creative Spirit†. Music is what has a outstanding result on individuals because they tend to take time to listen to Music, and this people are the ones who possessRead MoreEssay about The mozart effect1002 Words   |  5 Pages The Mozart Effect Does classical music really help you study better? Many recent research studies show that music idoes in fact improve cognitive thinking. In 1993, researchers at the University of California at Irvine discovered the so-called Mozart Effect - that college students â€Å"who listened to ten minutes of Mozarts Sonata for Two Pianos in D major K448 before taking an IQ test scored nine points higher† than when they had sat in silence or listened to relaxation tapes. Other studies have

American Rock N Roll Essay - 1578 Words

American Rock ’n’ Roll was a huge influence on the idea of Pop as it affected young people and gave them their own distinct interests. Pop figures at the time such as Elvis Presley and the Beatles gripped the youth of the mid-20th century and defined a discernible difference between the young and the old. Post-war depression was replaced by a youthful optimistic spirit, which allowed for expression of self among the youth of American society. The optimistic spirit offered by pop culture icons allowed the youth to recover from a society which condemned them. An extreme example of this condemnation is the Kent state massacre of 1970 where 4 students were killed and 9 were wounded (History.com Staff 2009). Fashion, particularly the mini skirt, was the largest expression of Pop. The mini skirt displayed multiple Pop styles through the change of its shape while also being visually influenced by art styles coming into existence at the time such as Pop art and art deco. Pop wa s also influencing art/design and architecture/furniture styles. These styles are evidenced through bold designs that included bright colours, patterns, and unusual shapes but overall were exciting and eye-catching. They gave people incentive to keep up with current styles while still maintaining appeal to the young people. Both during and after this period of pop and consumerist development, a change in designoccurred. The American design profession was developed in the late 1920s when people realised thatShow MoreRelatedAmerican Pie Is A Song That Made A Huge Impact On Americans850 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican Pie is a song that made a huge impact on Americans in any time period. Don McLean sang about the events from the nineteen fifties through nineteen seventies after Buddy Holly’s death. Many events from those years are controversial. McLean also stated how music changed from these decades. Rock ‘n Roll used to be popular since the fifties. American Pie by Don McLean describes the transition in Rock ‘n Roll music from the iconic history of the mid nineteen hundred. Nonetheless, many criticsRead MoreA Perspective Of Rock And Roll s Impact On Society1653 Words   |  7 PagesA Perspective of Rock and Roll’s Impact on Society â€Å"Rock and roll keeps you in a constant state of juvenile delinquency,† stated Eddie Spaghetti; this quote captures the essence of rock n roll. It speaks it s truth about the influence on attitudes towards authority and implies how society reacted to the new revolution created by Rock ‘n roll, transforming the world into what it has become today. The music affected how people used recreational drugs, having unmarried sex, and threatened the traditionalRead MoreHow Rock N Roll Changed America Essay1241 Words   |  5 Pages Rock ‘n’ roll has played a major role in some known historical developments post World War 2. Music plays a significant part in America s Cold War culture. Music gave us a sense of new technologies and helped the world to prosper. It also is linked with African Americans living in the South. Music was known for shaping the lives of the people during the 1950s and 1960s. Music was geared towards the youth, race, ethnicity, gender and class. â€Å"All Shook Up: How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America†Read MoreThe Genre Of Rock N Roll1062 Words   |  5 PagesElvis Presley, also known as the king of Rock ‘n’ roll, once said â€Å"Rock ‘n’ roll music, if you like it, if you feel it, you can t help but move to it. That s what happens to me. I can t help it.† The genre of Rock ‘n’ roll has been a part of the world since the early 1940’s. According to Just a Half a Mile from the Mississippi Bridge: The Miss issippi River Valley Origins of Rock ‘n’ Roll, this genre was born in the Mississippi River Valley and moved up and down its course, including its tributariesRead MoreRock n Roll and Cultural Revolution656 Words   |  3 PagesRock n Roll and Revolution As a distinctly American form of cultural expression, Rock n Roll may be our nations greatest global export. Its influence on popular, social and artistic mores on a global basis is incomparable. Indeed, one could make the argument that most modern forms of popular music derive from the basic components, if not the underlying attitude, or Rock Roll. However, this observation should not be at the expense of considering the yet more powerful influence that this musicalRead MoreThe Impact of Rock n Roll on the Civil Rights Movement1590 Words   |  7 PagesIt was no coincidence that rock ‘n’ roll and the civil rights movement started at the same time. The genre originated from African American music and was greatly discriminated against. Traditional white Americans would target anything bad about it. But as the teenager demographic of the 1950s started increasing the sales of the music, the genre started gaining more popularity. It was the style of Elvis Presley and his n ew voice that made girls weak in the knees and boys want to be him. Artists suchRead MoreChuck Berry An Eccentric, African American Rock N Roller From St. Louis1408 Words   |  6 PagesIn the winter of 1957, Chuck Berry—an eccentric, African American rock ‘n’ roller from St. Louis—recorded one of his most popular and influential songs: â€Å"Johnny B. Goode† (Taylor 27). During a time when Jim Crow laws still had a place in American life and active racism towards African Americans and minorities was commonplace, Chuck Berry’s hit â€Å"Johnny B. Goode† became popular amongst a white audience, and it reached the number eight position on the Billboard List in 1958 (Cooper 301). The rollickingRead MoreRock And Roll : Rock Roll1169 Words   |  5 PagesRey Marinas Mus160 CRN 10962 Homework # 2 Rock Roll Rock music has come a long way since its development in the early 20th century. The genre, defined â€Å"as a merger between rhythmblues and country† (Scaruffi, The History of Rock Music:1955-1966), started out more as an underground market, but ended up becoming a significant aspect of American popular music history. Rock-n-Roll music produce many legendary artists who will forever be known as innovators of the genre. Elvis Presley and ChuckRead MoreAfrican Americans Influence On Music1229 Words   |  5 Pagestoday’s day and age, it’s easy to hear black culture represented in most hip-hop; that is the dominating music genre that expresses African American views. It’s not so easy to remember where African Americans influence on music al began. Black influence on music today is really unrecognized but it’s important to bring to light just how much African Americans really have contributed to the sound, style, and feel of today’s music. Not j ust hip-hop or rap, but all kinds of music. There was one particularRead MoreAll Shook Up: The Birth of Rockn ´ Roll820 Words   |  4 PagesRock ‘N’ Roll’s birth came after the Great Depression and World War II. It was in the 50’s called the baby boomers that started it all. It expanded the teenage population with 3.4 million babies born. The 1950’s scrap the ideology of a conservative family, where the father is the bread winner and the mother was a stay home mother. The young adults found an escape and enjoyment in Rock ‘N’ Roll. Rock ‘N’ Roll started from Southern Blacks slaves that migrated to the North. They brought in a sound

Happiness Essay Example For Students

Happiness Essay HappinessHappiness: In one word, this concept exemplifies the American dream. People go to any means by which to obtain the many varied materials and issuesthat induce pleasures in each individual, and intrinsically, this emotionremains the ultimate goal, John Stuart Mill, a nineteenth century philosopher,correctly advocated the pursuit of happiness, and maintained the concept thatabove all other values, pleasure existed as the final destination, Millshedonistic views correctly and rationally identified a natural human tendency,and his Utilitarian arguments strongly support the theory that above all else,happiness is the most important dream to be fulfilled. Upon researching forthis paper, I came across a counter argument, which was based on metaphysics. Immanuel Kant, in Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, defends his strongbeliefs in the issue of a good will, and surfaces as MMs chief opponent on thetopic of metaphysics, The issue diminishes to a clash between emotions andpleasures ve rses rationality and logic. Yet, what use is logic when the goodagent is miserable? Mills stance within Utilitarianism exists as the morefavorable of the two beliefs, for happiness exist as the one intrinsicallyfavorable element, not an emotionless mind. The main defender of the Utilitarian system exists within the Greatesthappiness Principle. Mill lived as a chief advocate of this concept, whichsupports the idea that a decision is morally correct as long as it increases andencourages pleasures and happiness. Kant, however, in his endless quest toremain separate from emotions and thrive only on logic, would argue thatautonomy should be placed above happiness in a list of intrinsic values. A goodwill, however, does not comfort an individual in any way if happiness does notaccompany this asset, Consider this example of a seemingly happily marriedcouple. The wife in this duo is madly in love with her husband fiercely loyal,and completely happy with her marriage and children. The husband, however, aswrongfully strayed, and had a brief, but damaging affair behind his wifes back. Kant would argue that autonomy reigns over pleasure, and the woman shouldtherefore want to be informed of her husbands adultery, Mill would greatlydisagree. By revealing the secret of the past affair, the womans happy worldwould be instantly shattered. Her pride would diminish, her stability wouldfall apart, and the children especially would be forced to view a nasty side oftheir beloved father. In this case, individual control is greatly overshadowedby the need for happiness. The husband is no longer acting unfaithful and thefamily can easily continue to live in a happy realm, If the secret were tobecome uncovered, all members of this circumstance unavoidably would becometerribly disappointed, Under the Greatest Happiness Principle, the wife shouldnot be informed. Since happiness truly lives as the ultimate in human desires,sparing such immense amounts of pain truly is the logical choice, Millsargument prevails, and all those involved remain happy. Through this example,one can easil y see that although autonomy is often a favorable feature, it doesnot overshadow the importance of happiness. One of the main arguments against Utilitarianism exist in the lack ofapparent fairness. An advocate of the Kantian logic principle would argue thatMills belief system does not allow for equal treatment, When considering whatis best for an entire society, however, it is necessary for certain individualsto endure suffering. The good of society remains the ultimate goal, andunfortunate pain is therefore inevitable, If young children are being killed ina certain community, the obvious good for this society is discovering andpunishing the murderer. Especially when children are involved, peopleautomatically demand prompt justice. The officials of this area have searchedimmensely for the accused, yet no leads have surfaced, and the communitysuddenly erupts with anger, they demand that someone be punished, As aUtilitarian, the police chief sees a window of opportunity. A drug dealer hasrecently been brought in on yet another drug selling offense, and the chiefdecides to coerce the invalu abl e member of society into confessing the crime athand, By doing so, the community instantly reunites in support and a dangerousand deadly revolt is avoided, and a menace to society is right back where hewould have been regardless of his confession: behind bars, Kant, however, wouldargue that logically, the chase for the true offender should continue. He wouldshun the emotional decision to make the whole society happy by ignoring therational decisions. But since the community obviously chooses happiness overlogic, Kants arguments are irrelevant. In addition, Kant believes in adecision making process completely separate from the natural human emotions,Such a demand is possible only for a character such as Star Treks Dr. Spock,for human emotions are as much a part of every day life as the decision makingprocess itself. Logically speaking, therefore, Mills Utilitarianism argumentsmaintain the largest dose of validity. .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e , .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e .postImageUrl , .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e , .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e:hover , .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e:visited , .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e:active { border:0!important; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e:active , .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufab5a64e46b910581aede84a3640893e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Eliezer Wiesels Night EssayOther opponents to the philosophical viewpoint of Utilitarianism statethat followers of this belief system often promote an ignorant lifestyle, Theymaintain that advocates of the Greatest Happiness Principle believe in thetheory that ignorance is bliss, Again, such reasoning is quite faulty. Displaying the erroneousness of this statement can be done by examining theissue of AIDS, An opponent of Utilitarianism would say an Infected HIV victimwould not want to be aware of his disorder, Such a belief is extremely incorrect. Mill and other Utilitarian are strong advocates of education, for withintelligence, greater levels of achievement and happiness can be obtained. Amember of this belief system would rightly argue that being aware of thedisorder could increase long-term happiness, for treatments and support fromfriends and family could greatly aid the victims fight against his or heralhnents, Mills therefore strongly support education systems and believe inmaking society as a whole as happy as possible. In the case of the AIDS victim,a Utilitarian would also support the notification of the disorder to the victimin order to spare others of contracting the virus, The happiness of the majoritywould not be increased by an unknowing HIV carrier spreading the disease toother defenseless individuals, Utilitarianism clearly is not a ignorant way tolive, and the Kantian philosophy of ignoring the irrational system of emotionscannot refute this standard. Without happiness, the other opportunities and necessities lose nearlyall levels of importance. A true Utilitarian supports only those concepts thatpromote the highest levels of pleasures, and as Mill states, encourages onlythose actions that promote real happiness, From a Kantian viewpoint, rationalityand the possession of a good will remains the most important element, but evensomeone with the truest and most logical of intentions can easily exist in arealm of pure depression. The one link that exists between these oppositebelief systems is the concept that, all decisions should be made outside ofones personality. The key is that Kant said this decisions should be madewithout any regard for human emotions, A request of this magnitude is a part ofa utopian society only, for ignoring ones emotions is an illogical assumptionin itself, If your child and wife are both dying, deciding which one to savecannot be made without some emotional influence, Utilitarianism allows for theemotional side of life but requests only that the Greatest Happiness Principlebe strictly followed. Any truly decent human being naturally follows such arequest every day, Decisions are made based on the greatest level of happiness,That way, the largest majority of people benefit, and the greatest amount ofhappiness is achieved. Yet as Kant believed, a more morally correct decisionlies at the heart of every dilemma. How does one decide who is morally more correct to save in an instancewhere two cherished loved ones are passing away, and only one individual may besaved? And even more importantly, how does one do so without regard emotions?I personally feel that living strictly by the doctrine of Kantian philosophy iscompletely impossible. Being a Utilitarian and hedonist, such as Mill, makesmore sense to me.

What Is Science Essays - Science, Research, Scientist,

What Is Science What is Science? Several dictionary definitions of science in Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary define science as a system of knowledge about a specific topic. The systems come from systematic, or precise, observations of natural events; a random example would be the study of the movement of a caterpillar. This very fact would make one think that science encompasses every topic in the world. It amazingly does; from apples to zucchini (in the science called botany). Science is not just the systems of Chemistry, Physics, and Biology as traditionally known. It is the systems of our knowledge about everything on this planet, beyond, and even the human race. Science is an action word in most cases. I am witnessing the topics in the science of anatomy and physiology as type this home-lesson: the blood vessels supplying blood to my bones are allowing me to move my fingers and press the keys. Furthermore, science is a vehicle for change in our society today. The systems of knowledge are communicated by scientists through science media such as journals, web-sites (the internet), newspapers and through person-to-person interaction. At Tufts University a Ph.D. student may share his experiment on drug metabolism rates in the form of a presentation; moreover, someone in his same lab might use points from his research as a stepping stone or bridge leading and connecting, respectively their research to success. Science is what we are and what shapes our world. Science Essays

6 Strategies to Prove You Deserve a Raise

6 Strategies to Prove You Deserve a Raise It’s the end of a productive year, and you’re sure you deserve a raise. After all, no one knows better than you do about what you’ve accomplished this year. Now the key is making sure your employer knows that, as well. Whether you  want  to ask for a raise straight-up or negotiate a bigger one during an annual review, there are steps you can take to put you in a better position to increase your paycheck. Know your market value.It’s entirely possible you’re being underpaid relative to other people in similar positions. It’s also possible that your desire for a 43% increase is totally unrealistic. Thus, it’s time to hit the Internet. Do as much research as you can to determine what your role is worth at a range of companies. Sites like Glassdoor and PayScale can be excellent resources to give you a sense of what others are making in your field. Knowing what you can reasonably expect is crucial in preparing your raise request.Look at your company’s overall health.Is your company in cost-cutting mode? Did it have a banner year with high-profile clients? Understanding how your company is doing in general can help you figure out where to set your raise expectations. If it hasn’t been a great year for your employer, a huge salary bump just may not be feasible or likely, so shoot for a moderate one instead. This shouldn’t stop you from asking for a raise, but it can help you figure out what to ask for. If your company is struggling, acknowledge that in your request: â€Å"I know we’re cutting back, but I’d still like to discuss a salary increase.†Don’t wait for them to come to you.Use the year’s end or a scheduled performance review process to let your boss know that you’d like to discuss salary and career growth. Schedule some time to talk about it with your manager, or at least to touch base before a more formal meeting.Practice negotiating.Grab a frien d to practice your spiel of reasons you deserve a raise. Have the person be as tough a counter-negotiator as possible, so you’ll be ready for any kind of resistance. Know your accomplishments and strengths cold, so you can rattle them off when asked. Try different ways of working them into conversation so they don’t come off like a recited list.Have others sing your praises.If you can walk into the room with kudos from other people, it shows your boss you’re an essential team member. If you’ve received any grateful emails or nice compliments from colleagues or clients over the past year, now’s the time to dig through your email archive to find them.Don’t make it personal.This is not the time to bust out sob stories about your finances. This raise is about being compensated specifically for your work and your role in the company. Similarly, don’t try to exploit whatever personal relationship you may have with your boss. If you two go o ut for happy hour drinks twice a week or snark on each other’s Facebook, that needs to stay separate from your professional performance evaluation.No raise is guaranteed, but being extra-double prepared for the discussion, as well as having realistic goals in mind, will show that you’re ready for the next step up.

Forensic Science essays

Forensic Science essays Crime today is at an extreme high. However, forensic science has been there to help solve every crime committed. Science is the technology used to help forensic teams to analyze and solve crimes. What can look obvious to the naked eye could actually be a whole other story. Evidence can range from hair samples, to DNA, to semen, to finger prints, and many more. Over the years, forensic science has helped revolutionize law enforcement. Forensic science has been around for a long time and many of the old techniques are still used today. Many people have contributed to the start of forensic science. Edmond Locard was a physician who established one of the first crime laboratories in 1910, in Lyon, France(Crime Laboratory 909). He helped develop various methods to investigate crimes. Alphonse Bertillon developed a method of identifying persons according to their measurements. This method is called the Bertillon method(Crime Laboratory 910). However, by late 1910, fingerprinting had replaced the Bertillon system almost entirely as a more accurate method of identification. This new method was developed by Sir Francis Galton. The first crime laboratory in the United was established in Los Angeles in 1923. Today, the nation has over 250 crime laboratories(Crime Laboratory 910). Many other organizations would soon be developed. The FBIs crime laboratory was organized in 1932. It ranks as one of the finest in the world(Crime Laboratory 910). A crime laboratory uses several different techniques to identify and analyze evidence. Such techniques include microscopic examination, chemical treatments, and the use of special instruments. The most effective type of evidence is DNA identification. It has the power to save people and to prosecute the guilty. DNA helps to identify potential suspects involved in a crime, exonerate a...

Business Performance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Performance - Assignment Example Barclays provides such a service for charities and fundraisers. The goal was therefore to convince Barclays of the publicity and prestige it would gain from helping us. - Find sponsors for the X-Box360, the V3 pink razor and the VIP tickets. Our targets were large electrical companies such as Comet, Currys and Dixons. We will have to bargain and negotiate with them as successfully as possible because obtaining the prizes for free would allow us to save the funds that we have raised. - Marketing the raffle as efficiently as possible in order to raise interest for our cause and seduce the potential participant with the prizes. However, we will need to be careful not to spend an important amount on marketing and not target a too important group. - Distributing the tickets to the target market i.e. the 1.500 students who compose the school. We will need to make the students aware of the cause we are defending to make the cost of a raffle ticket worth spending. Ali was the team leader elected by the members. Unfortunately, he did not show leadership as he did not establish any contingency plan, budget or strategy. He also failed to allocate tasks to other members. As a member he had to research and print advertising flyers. All the team members were asked to pay 20.00 for a total payment of 120.00 for 5000 flyers when the target market was composed of 1500 students. Ali has to work on his communication skills to reach a better understanding within the group and should really consider planning his actions as it resulted that he produced 3 times the flyers needed. Sukhdeep was charged to go negotiate the scheme with Barclays. He only went once to the bank and claimed that it was a success even if there was not written proof of the agreement. He often proposed marvellous ideas which could never be put into practice, he frequently arrived late at our meetings and was very aggressive when selling the tickets. I believe Sukhdeep should be more committed and professional in his work by showing that he can complete the tasks given to him. Also, he should really work on his sales skills. Umer was responsible of the administration work: making memo's to be sent out to all teachers with form classes as reminders, buy raffle ticket books, to set out the proposal that was to be presented to the bank manger and head teacher, which proved to be very important. (sorry but you did not comment on Umer so please could you complete this part as I don't have any information) Tauseef was tasked to create and produce the flyers and posters. Though very optimistic, Tauseef's ideas were not very creative and he was not able to complete his task within a reasonable budget.

Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Business Plan - Essay Example It serves as a â€Å"bridge way† to three continents Europe, Asia and Africa. It boasts of an educated English-speaking population, moderate living costs, good airlines and telecommunication connections (US Department of State. 2007). Cyprus Financial Limited’s objectives are to make an equal and fair profit in the business-to-business and business-to-consumer financial services industry. This goal is to be reached by attaining the numbers presented in the sales forecast and financial plan topics. 1. Selling and Marketing Power – The services company’s products are made attractive in order to maintain a certain percentage of clients. CFL demonstrates a successful approach in converting its reputation into an excellent brand to ensure the conversion of its clients’ knowledge into their intellectual property, thus creating value for its clients. 2. Create multiple opportunities from a single line of expertise – Cyprus Financial Limited is able to leverage from a single pool of expertise into multiple revenue generation opportunities: business development, market development, personal financial planning, corporate management services, and tax and financial consulting. Cyprus is now living in an interesting era: the process of change from the "old economy" to the "global new economy" brings a tremendous development growth of e-commerce, mobility of capital, and liberalization to the region. Since the new global economy brings new economics, new market structures, new industry structures, and new company structures, the profile of customers has also changed. Customers have evolved from "solution demander" to "value demander," and from "clients† to â€Å"business partners†. CFL is a Private Limited Company and shall be headed by a Director, with two full time Account Managers. These account managers will handle all end-to-end processes, from sourcing clients to providing financial consultancy services, and shall report directly to the Director.

Coffee and Starbucks Essay Example for Free

Coffee and Starbucks Essay The overall goal of Starbucks Management was to create an American version of the Italian coffee bars that Howard Schultz had experienced first-hand in Milan. He believed that Starbucks should function as an important part of the community, as a meeting place for its customers. He wanted Starbucks to become an experience that would differentiate itself from its competitors. One of their key strategies in meeting this goal is a focus on customer service in order to create an experience for its consumers. Another one of their strategies is to ignite their emotional attachment with consumers. They also have a commitment to improving their business through better training, tools, and products and to give attention to store-level economics and operating efficiency. All of these are prongs to their strategy that will allow Starbucks management to turn Starbucks into a location where people don’t just go to grab coffee, but to experience the atmosphere of an Italian coffee shop. Another prong to their strategy is to offer many different products and to distribute them among a variety of distribution methods. Which one of the five generic competitive strategies discussed in Chapter 5 most closely approximates the competitive approach that Starbucks is employing? There are five generic competitive strategies that can be employed and they are low-cost provider strategy, broad differentiation strategy, focused low-cost strategy, focused differentiation strategy, and best-cost provider strategy. The strategy that Starbucks uses is broad differentiation where they seek to differentiate their product offerings from rivals’ with attributes that will appeal to a large variety of consumers. The key market characteristic for the strategy of differentiation to work is that buyers’ needs and preferences are very diverse and cannot be satisfied with a standardized product offering. This is an evident characteristic of the market because consumers all have different preferences on the way they like their coffee. Which is the reason why Starbucks offers many different product options like lattes, skinny lattes, coffee, iced drinks, blended drinks, etc. They also offer fruit cups, water, and bakery items to provide even more options for their consumers. If a differentiation strategy is successfully implemented the firm will be able to do one of the following: command a premium price for its products, increase unit sales, and/or gain buyer loyalty to its brand. Starbucks has some of the highest prices for the type of products they offer and people tend to be extremely loyal to whatever coffee they are used to purchasing, because they trust the quality. Methods to enhance differentiation 1. Create superior product features, design, and performance Starbucks has a superior knowledge of coffee and a commitment to providing customers with quality coffees. Providing top-quality, fresh-roasted whole-bean coffee was the company’s differentiating feature and a core value since the beginning of its founding. Couches, fireplaces, newspapers, drive-through windows, kiosks in supermarkets and other public places were added to locations depending on what would add value to their consumers. Due to their focus on providing a different experience depending on the location of the store, their international strategy is a multi-domestic approach. The core characteristics of each new store was based on local materials and craftsmanship, a focus on reused and recycled materials and exposure of structural integrity and authentic roots. Most important of all they believed that coffee should be central and that distractions should be removed. They believed that the combination of all these elements should tell a story that would engage the consumer’s five senses and provide them with flexibility to meet the needs of the many different consumers that would be attracted to Starbucks. 2. Improving customer service or adding additional features When Howard Schultz first became part of the company he realized that one key problem Starbucks was having was that first-time consumers often felt uneasy about their absence of knowledge about high-quality coffee. An additional problem was that the employees came off as arrogant and unapproachable. He then worked with employees to teach them about friendly customer service and created a pamphlet to teach new customers about coffee. He also began to offer part-time employees health insurance and a stock option plan for all employees, because he believed that if a company treated their employees well, then they would in turn treat their consumers well. The additional features that Starbucks offers are fireplaces, couches, music, Wi-Fi access, ability to use paid sites and services like Wall Street Journal’s site, exclusive content and previews, free downloads, local community news, and activities. 3. Pursuing production RD activities Starbucks is constantly brewing new flavors and blends to offer their consumers a variety of coffee to try. Flavors are rotated daily or weekly to offer constant variety. They also test new product offerings like Frappuccino’s, Lattes, Skinny Lattes, and seasonal drinks. 4. Striving for innovation and technological advances One way that Starbucks was able to constantly strive for innovation was by controlling the cost of opening and renovating stores by centralizing buying, developing standard contracts and fixed fees for certain items, and consolidating work under those contractors who displayed good cost-control practices. Starbucks retail operations group outlined the minimum amount of equipment each store would need. This meant that standard items could be ordered from vendors in volume at 20 to 30 percent discounts. The items would then be delivered to the site from a warehouse or from the vendor. A technological advance was that they used computer software to build store layouts that would calculate costs as the design progressed. This cut costs by a significant amount and shortened the process of opening a store to 18 weeks. 5. Increasing intensity of marketing and sales activities Originally, Starbucks didn’t spend a lot of money on advertising, because they relied mostly on word-of-mouth. In 2008 McDonald’s stepped up their advertising to highlight their McCafe coffee drinks. In order to counter this Starbucks undertook the largest advertising campaign ever. 6. Seeking out high-quality inputs Starbucks promotes environmentally sustainable practices in coffee cultivation methods and have specific guidelines they follow called Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices that help farmers to grow high quality coffees in environmentally beneficial ways. In 2000 they began purchasing their coffee organically and a growing percentage of their coffees were grown organically as well as Fair Trade Certified. 7. Improving employee skill, knowledge, and experience Starbucks has a commitment to training their employees so that they are better able to serve their customers. All partners and baristas receive at least 24 hours of training in their first two to four weeks on topics such as coffee history, drink preparation, coffee knowledge, customer service (for a total of 4 hours), and retail skills. Baristas in particular are required to learn how to grind beans, steam milk, pull perfect shots of espresso, memorize recipes, practicing how to mix drinks, and how to customize drinks. Sessions also include how to operate the cash register, clean the milk wand, explain the Italian drink names, and making eye contact with customers. Management trainees are required to attend classes for 8-12 weeks and learn about store operations, practices, and procedures. When a new store is opened a Star Team of experienced employees are sent to make sure everything runs smoothly. From time to time, Starbucks conducts special training programs, including a coffee masters program, leadership training program, and career programs for partners in all types of jobs. When does a differentiation strategy work best? A differentiation strategy works best when buyer needs and uses of the product are diverse, there are many ways to differentiate the product or service that have value to buyers, few rival firms are following a comparable differentiation approach, and technological change is fast paced and competition revolves around rapidly evolving product features. Starbucks’ actions to differentiate their product line They have expanded their product offerings along many different distribution channels by capitalizing on their growing brand name and awareness. First they were able to market their product to restaurants, airlines, hotels, universities, hospitals, business offices, country clubs, and select retailers. United Airlines, Hyatt, Hilton, Sheraton, Radisson, Westin hotels, and Wells Fargo all began to serve Starbucks coffee. A joint venture with PepsiCo came with the sale of a bottled version of the Frappucino drink and Starbucks Doubleshot espresso drinks. In 2008, they partnered with Suntory to sell ready-to-drink Doubleshot drinks in Japan. In 2010 a partnership with Arla Foods spread Doubleshot products and Starbucks chilled cup coffees into retail stores in the UK. A 1995 partnership with Dryers created a new line of coffee ice cream under Starbucks names that was later disbanded in 2008. At this time the rights to manufacture, market, and distribute Starbucks ice cream was given to Unilever. In 1998 Kraft Foods began marketing and distributing whole bean and ground coffee to supermarkets in the US. Tazo Tea was acquired by Starbucks in 1999 and in 2005 they acquired Ethos Water. A partnership with Jim Beam Brands created Starbucks Coffee Liqueur in 2004 and Starbucks Cream Liqueur in 2005. In order to offer healthier options they began offering skinny lattes, banana walnut bread, fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, a farmer’s salad, and smoothies in 2008. Also in 2008, Starbucks responded to customer’s wishes to have a blend of coffee that was always in stores. They created the Pike Place Roast in order to satisfy these customers. 2009 saw the introduction of VIA instant coffee. In 2009 the retail sales mix of Starbucks was 76% beverages, 18% food items, 3 percent coffee-making equipment and other merchandise, and 3% whole bean coffees. What are the key policies, practices, business principles, and procedures that underlie how Howard Schultz and Starbucks’ management have implemented and executed the company’s strategy? Key Policies, Practices, Business Principles, and Procedures The key policies that have been implemented can be broken down into five groups. First is how the company goes about expanding the number of Starbucks stores. The second is their international expansion practices. The third group is their staff training. The fourth is their principles towards ethical business practices. Fifth, is their coffee roasting practices. Store Expansion Starbucks management’s approach to store expansion is using a hub city approach. After a suitable demographic area is chosen Starbucks begins to open up stores in a large city that serves as its hub. After about 20 stores are opened in this hub city, they will then move on to the surrounding areas that are the spokes. This expansion strategy serves to create buzz and brand recognition for the company in an area that has a high amount of foot traffic before moving into a location that has less customer traffic. When a new area was selected for expansion a group of professionals were sent to facilitate the opening. Starbucks also had zone vice presidents who would oversee the expansion process and instill the culture of Starbucks in the new stores. International Expansion When expanding internationally Starbucks has two options; they either open company-owned and operated stores or license to a company that has a good reputation and the knowledge of retailing in that area. Starbucks prefers to license, rather than franchise because licensing provides more assurance of quality control. When they move into foreign markets one of their practices is to use a partner or license to help recruit individuals for employees, set up relationships with suppliers, find store locations, and learn how to cater to local market conditions. For stores that were licensed Starbucks would receive a license fee and a royalty on sales. Companies that were licensed to supply Starbucks coffee were required to follow their detailed operating procedures. Not only that, but managers and employees were required to attend the same training as employees at company-owned stores. Staff Training. As mentioned previously, employees are put through an extensive amount of training to learn daily practices and how to treat customers. They are put through this training because customer service is so integral to their organization. Some of the things that baristas learn in their 24 hours of training are coffee history, drink preparation, coffee knowledge, customer service, retail skills, and beverage preparation. Beverage preparation includes grinding the beans, steaming milk, pulling a perfect shot of espresso, memorizing the recipes, practicing the drinks, and learning how to customize drinks. Finally, partners were trained on cash register operations, how to clean the milk wand, how to explain Italian drink names, how to sell espresso machines, making eye contact, interacting with consumers, and taking responsibility for the cleanliness of the store. Not only that but they had many rules that needed to be learned as well such as: milk needs to be steamed to 150 degrees Fahrenheit but not more than 170 degrees, an espresso shot not pulled within 23 seconds needs to be thrown out, coffee can’t sit in the pot more than 20 minutes, and disgruntled customers were given a coupon for a free drink. Managers were required to go even more in depth with their training. Ethical Business Principles Starbucks purchases products that are Fair Trade Certified, meaning that farmers make a fair amount of money for their products. They are very involved in Corporate Social Responsibility and take a number of measures to reduce, reuse, and recycle. They are also committed to purchasing from companies that use environmentally sustainable growing practices. Coffee Roasting Practices Coffee recipes are put together by the coffee department once all components have been tested. In order to be sure of consistency computerized roasters are used. Trained personnel are required to monitor the process by using hearing and their sense of smell to check when the beans are perfectly done. There are extremely exacting standards that must be met and the color of the beans is tested in a blood-cell analyzer and if it doesn’t meet the requirements the batch is discarded. Directly after roasting and cooling coffee is vacuum-sealed into bags that are guaranteed to preserve freshness for 26 weeks. However, policy says that after three months they need to be used. Once opened the shelf life is seven days. What â€Å"values† does Starbucks have? How well do they connect to the strategy and to the manner in which the company conducts its business? Are they successful in implementing to them? The values that Starbucks consider important are included in their mission statement and those are: 1) Coffee: They are committed to providing their consumers with top-quality coffee that is ethically sourced, and to improve the lives of the people who grow the beans. They do this through a variety of methods. First is their Coffee and Farmer Equity Practices (C. A. F. E Practices). These practices specify product quality, that the price received by farmers/growers is fair, that safe and humane working conditions are being used, and that the methods of growing are environmentally responsible. Second, they do not add artificial flavorings to their coffee beans. Third, they have Farmer Support Centers in Costa Rica and Rwanda. These support centers were staffed with agronomists and experts on environmentally responsible coffee growing methods and worked with coffee farming communities to promote best practices in coffee production They also worked to improve coffee quality and production yields. 2) Partners: In order to better care for their employees Starbucks has a health care plan available for all employees, a stock purchase plan, employee training, and employee recognition. Some of their employee recognition awards include Coffee Master awards, Certified Barista awards, Spirit of Starbucks awards, Manager of the Quarter, Green Apron awards, Green Bean awards, and Bravo! Awards, 3) Customers: They value connecting with customers and uplifting the lives of consumers by providing the perfectly made beverage and going the extra mile for their customers. Employees are trained to take heroic measures to make customers happy. 4) Stores: Starbucks management’s goal was to create the stores to be a haven where customers belong and meet with friends. They do this by creating a store ambience, having interesting music playing, leather couches to sit and read newspapers in, and they make sure that nothing overpowers the smell of coffee. 5) Neighborhood: Their stores are part of its community and to be a force of positive good in the area. One way they do this is by using local materials and craftsmanship. They are also extremely involved in Corporate Social Responsibility. The commitment to do the right thing has been a significant part of how Starbucks operates as a company ever since Schultz became CEO. Starbucks has been named to Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s list of â€Å"The 100 Best Corporate Citizens† for the 10th time in 2010. 6) Shareholders: Starbucks is committed to getting all of the above values right so that they can help everyone that is involved and affected by Starbucks thrive. What is your evaluation of Starbucks social responsibility strategy? How much does it help to create their public image? Starbucks CSR strategy has four main parts which are: 1) Ethical sourcing of products: They do this through their C. A. F. E Practices, purchasing Fair Trade Certified products, and buying from manufacturers that have a commitment to environmental and social responsibility. 2) Community involvement: Starbucks has several organizations to foster community involvement. First, is the Starbucks Youth Action Grants which involves young people in community involvement projects. Second, is their program to give medicine to people suffering from HIV in Africa. Third, is the Ethos Water Fund where they donate 5 cents every time somebody purchases a bottle of Ethos Water. Fourth, they donate money to the Starbucks Foundation which was the fund that was started in 1997 to handle all the Starbucks’ philanthropic actions. 3) Environmental Stewardship: In order to achieve this goal they have several methods. First, they focus on increasing recycling and reducing waste which they do by giving discounts to people who bring in their own mugs, coffee grounds are donated for use as a soil amendment, they take part in Earth Day activities, they purchase paper products with recycled content and unbleached fiber, and they encourage their suppliers to provide energy-efficient products and eliminate unnecessary packaging. They also have commitments to be more energy efficient, use renewable energy sources, conserve water resources, use green facilities, using environmentally friendly building materials and energy-efficient designs. They also have plans to achieve LEED certification globally. In 2009 they became part of the Businesses for Innovative Climate Change and Energy Policy coalition. They have also collaborated with the Earthwatch Institute and work on replanting rain forests, mapping water resources, and biodiversity indicators, and sharing sustainable agriculture practices with coffee growers. 4) Farmer loans: They provide funding to organizations that make loans to coffee growers. Their goal for 2015 is to donate $20 million dollars to these funds. They have also committed money to hurricane Rita and Katrina victims, as well as to help the devastation after the earthquake in Haiti. Having a strong CSR campaign adds to the value of Starbucks’ products if consumers know that they are involved in these activities. It lets consumers know that part of the money they are spending is going to a good cause. By getting on the Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s list of â€Å"The 100 Best Corporate Citizens† for the 10th time in 2010, it increases the knowledge that people have about their CSR strategy. Compare the US and International share of yearly revenue, revenue growth, and operating income/revenue. What do these ratios tell you? What is your overall assessment of Starbucks’ financial performance during fiscal years 2005-2009? Explain the performance of Starbucks stock. Exhibit 1 Comparison of Starbucks Financial Performance in the US and Internationally| | | 9/27/2009| 9/27/2008| 9/30/2007| 10/1/2006| 10/2/2005| Yearly Revenue ($ millions)| | | | | | | United States| $ 6,572. 10 | $ 6,997. 70 | $ 6,590. 20 | $ 5,495. 20 | $ 4,359. 50 | | International| $ 1,608. 00 | $ 1,774. 20 | $ 1,437. 40 | $ 1,087. 90 | $ 852. 50 | Revenue Growth ($ millions)| | | | | | | United States| -6. 08%| 6. 18%| 19. 93%| 26. 05%| | | International| -9. 37%| 23. 43%| 32. 13%| 27. 61%| | Operating Income/Revenue ($ millions)| | | | | | | United States| $ 531. 80 | $ 454. 20 | $ 1,005. 20 | $ 955. 20 | $ 818. 50 | | International | $ 92. 90 | $ 110. 00 | $ 137. 70 | $ 108. 50 | $ 82. 30 | These ratios tell us that overall they have been increasing their revenue growth by significant percentages of an average of 20% internationally and 12% domestically. Domestically the amount of revenue growth per year slowed down in 2008 and went negative in 2009. Revenue growth also went negative in 2008 internationally. This makes sense because 2008 was the beginning of the economic downturn which affected the company’s bottom line. Operating income has fluctuated quite a bit since 2005 and since its peak in 2007 ($1,0005. 20 million) has decreased significantly to $531. 80 million. Internationally it has remained steadier at an average of $106. 28 million. Again these numbers make sense because it was in 2008-2009 that the economic downturn occurred and Schultz instituted strategic initiatives and revamped strategy execution efforts to fix these financial problems. One reason that the economic downturn affected Starbucks’ bottom line badly is because it was considered a treat to go to Starbucks and to get coffee that wasn’t brewed at the home. Less people were indulging in coffee by the cup. In 2006 and 2007 Starbucks reached its peak growth in the period displayed in exhibit 1. This is represented in the stock chart because it is also when their stock performance reached its peak at 40. The lowest point on the stock chart was in 2008 which makes sense because this is when the economic downturn occurred so many people were selling stocks. In 2008-2009 Schultz’s measures to institute strategic initiatives and revamp strategy execution efforts began and clearly worked because in the period of time from 2008-2010 stocks returned to almost 30. What are the key elements and your evaluation of Howard Schultz’s transformation agenda for Starbucks during 2008-2010? What do you think of the letters shown on page C-364 and C-365? Has Schultz done a good job since his return as Starbucks’ CEO? Why or why not? Elements of the Transformation Agenda Howard Schultz’s transformation agenda during 2008-2010 had several key elements. First, he planned on slowing new store openings to 73 internationally. Second, 900 underperformed company-owned stores were closed in the United States. The goal of this action was to raise sales and traffic at nearby sales. Around 75% of these stores that were considered underperforming were within three miles of an existing store which shows that their strategy of having a Starbucks everywhere was cannibalizing their sales. The third element of the transformation agenda was raising the projected return on capital requirements for proposed new store locations. This is a way for Schultz to be more particular about new store placement and to have a better chance of making a significant amount of profit and not losing traffic to existing stores. Fourth, he planned on revamping the company’s locations in Australia with a focus on Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney as the hub cities. He planned on closing 61 under-performing locations in order to do this. Fifth, it was important to Schultz that there be an emphasis on developing new store designs in order to promote a refreshed customer experience. In order to do this the character of each store would be a reflection of the area it was in to make the customers feel more at home and to make Starbucks the center of that community. Sixth, customer experience would be heightened through a variety of methods. The first method was by removing warmed sandwiches from the menu, because it inhibited the aroma from the coffee. Second, high-quality baked goods and pastries would be offered at the store along with new menu items for healthy eating on the go. For example, fruit cups, skinny lattes, yogurt parfaits, salads, smoothies, and healthier bakery selections were all a result of this step in Schultz’s transformation agenda. The seventh part of the agenda was to create a program to share best practices in stores globally, this would promote quality control and improve customer service, which was one of the things that Schultz had found lacking when he became CEO again. Eighth, Schultz thought it was important to provide resources and tools for store employees such as laptops and internet-based software for scheduling. Ninth, there were cost-containment initiatives put in place in order to improve the bottom line that included a reduction of 1,000 people in staffing. Finally, the last part of the agenda was to renew the attention placed on employee training in order to reignite the enthusiasm to please customers that is vital to the mission of Starbucks. Evaluation The goal for 40,000 stores worldwide as a long-term objective and the rapid expansion that Jim Donald began led to a decrease in customer traffic in the US stores, new store openings that continued at a rate of 6 per day worldwide, and the emphasis on increased store operations efficiency put financial strain on the company and led to a decrease in customer service. Good customer service is one of the cornerstone values of Starbucks and was a central idea during Schultz’ leadership. Schultz’ return to CEO and his strategic initiatives mentioned above will help to return Starbucks to the values it originally held as very important and to return it to profitability by slowing down on expansion to focus more on the three main themes Schultz saw as important to his strategy. These themes are: strengthening the core, elevating the experience, and investing and growing. Before he can focus on growing the company, they need to have a strong base of employees and a focus on the experience that Starbucks is meant to provide its consumers. Letters from Schultz The letters that are shown on page C-364 and C-365 of the case show that Schultz is dedicated to his shareholders, which is one of the values in their mission statement. He is being extremely open and upfront the concerns of shareholders and about the actions that will be taken to address those issues. The first letter is addressed to customers and he explains that he has come back to Starbucks as CEO in order to ensure that the customers receive the experience that he believes Starbucks is known for. This letter shows that he truly cares about the thoughts and concerns of consumers. The second letter is to the employees of Starbucks. In this letter Schultz addresses them as partners in the path to revitalizing Starbucks’ mission. He even says, â€Å"I am proud to be your partner†¦Ã¢â‚¬  By treating his employees like this he is able to foster accountability for the actions that everybody can take in helping to turn around Starbucks to what Schultz’ vision for it is. Evaluation of Schultz’ work. Schultz has done a good job by creating strategic initiatives in order to return Starbucks to where he thinks the company should be. His vision includes becoming the authority on coffee, engaging and inspiring Starbucks’ partners, igniting the emotional attachment with customers, expanding global presence and making each store the neighborhood’s heart, being a leader in ethical sourcing and environmental impact, creating innovative growth platforms, and delivering a sustainable economic model. Every one of these visions is addressed in some way in his agenda, which shows he has a clear idea of where the company should go and how to get it there. In 2008-2009 the company experiences five quarters of deteriorating sales, but from 2009-2010 had five quarters of improving sales, which shows that Schultz’ transformation agenda has been working. What issues confront the company as of mid-2010? What should Starbucks’ management be worried about? What are the challenges in expanding internationally? Issues as of mid-2010. 1) Oversaturation of the market: With the â€Å"A Starbucks Everywhere† approach and the rapid expansion steps taken by Donald, there was a decrease in customer traffic at the stores, resulting in a loss of profit. 2) Lack of emphasis on customer relationships: The emphasis on increased efficiency in store operations led to a decrease in good customer service. 3) Drifting away from the original values of Starbucks: Starbucks was built with an emphasis on high-quality coffee, good customer service, and a commitment to creating an experience for customers. However, when Schultz became CEO again he noted that this was lacking. 4) Offering high-quality products: As Starbucks moves into new locations in order to draw attention away from local popular spots they will need to offer a product that is of high enough quality to keep consumers coming back. 5) Differentiation: Again, as they move into new markets they will need to do significant research to find out what those consumer’s value. They need to be able to give it to them in order to achieve their goal of being the heart of the neighborhood. 6) Coffee prices: Coffee prices fluctuate significantly due to weather, economic, and political conditions in the countries where they are grown. What should management be worried about? Management should be worried about offering high-quality products. If they cannot prove that their product is better due to quality or differentiating features then locations that sell coffee and consumers are already loyal, they will have issues drawing consumers away. However, Starbucks does have an extremely strong brand image and hype associated with their name, which is an asset for them in entering new markets. International Challenges Some challenges that Starbucks will face internationally are: 1) Adapting their stores to fit the location they are in 2) Creating partnerships and licensing agreements with reputable companies to offer their products abroad 3) Regulations on foreign businesses moving into their country 4) Having enough control over the quality in the international stores that are licensed. 5) Higher production costs Starbucks has chosen to follow a multi-domestic approach to international expansion, meaning that they customize their product offerings to match the tastes and preferences of local buyers. The main challenge that Starbucks will face in entering international markets is knowing what that group of people wants and prefers. Another problem is that they will need to make partnerships and licensing agreements with reputable companies in order to be sure that the culture of Starbucks is continued to their new stores. Finally, they will have the issue with tailoring their stores to fit the environment they are in, because they will be unable to use a set design which could raise production costs. What recommendation would you make to Howard Schultz to sustain the company’s growth and support continued strong financial performance in the years ahead? Consider both the US and International strategies. Recommendations * Coordinate with suppliers to address consumers’ needs better: By coordinating with the farmers and growers they source their beans from they will be able to add value to their product.

Paris 1900 - Petit Palais :: Architecture History

Missing Image Paris 1900 - Petit Palais Along with the Grand Palais and the Pont Alexandre III, the Petit Palais served as one of the main focuses of the International Exhibition of 1900 and helped solidify the position of France as artistic world leader. Despite its inferiority in size to the Grand Palais, contemporary critics noted that the Petit Palais is of "equal importance in creating an impression of the artistic success of the Exhibition" (Boyd, 194). From its inception, it was built to serve as a permanent gallery of painting and sculpture. This black and white postcard represents the inner courtyard of the Petit Palais, which was established at the expense of the Palais de l'Industrie that had been erected for the 1855 Exposition. Architect Eugà ¨ne Hà ©nard (1849-1923) proposed the destruction of the Palais De l'Industrie. In 1894, Hà ©nard received one of three first prizes (others were granted to Charles Girault and Edmond J.B. Paulin) in the competition for the general plan of the Exposition. The final layout of the fair incorporated his suggestion of cutting a new street from the Champs-Elysees through the Palais de l'Industrie which would cross the Seine River on a new bridge and then terminate at the Dà ´me des Invalides (Wolf, 29). Although some Frenchmen opposed the destruction of the Palais de I'lndustrie, which was seen as one of the most conspicuous landmarks on the Champs Elysà ©es and served as an exhibition hall at the time, many agreed it was obsolete. According to Richard Morris Hunt, a prestigiou s American architect, "from the very day it began to rise above the ground the critics cried against the destruction of one of the finest perspective views that Paris afforded, and condemned this heavy and compact mask that was being interposed between the Champs Elysà ©es and the dome of the Invalides" (Hunt, 31). Hà ©nard recommended replacing the Palais de l'Industrie with two buildings, Palais des Beaux-Arts and Palais des Lettres (Wolf, 29). From Hà ©nard's idea came the establishment of the Grand Palais, Petit Palais, and the Pont Alexandre III. In 1896, Charles-Louis Girault (1851-1932) was nominated chief architect for the Petit Palais. He found his inspiration mainly in eighteenth century French architecture. The main faà §ade was located across from the Grand Palais on the East Side of the Avenue Nicholas II (today Winston Churchill). Of the three other facades, one faced the Seine River, another Avenue des Champs-Elysà ©es. The plan of the Petit Palais was that of a regular trapezoid and was arranged around a central closed courtyard.

Australian Federalism

This essay will outline the issues discussed during the ‘Policy Roundtable on Federalism’ hosted by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) and the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) on the 17–18 May 2007 and will explore their impact on federalism and provide possible steps to overcome them. The Roundtable discussion made it apparent that Australian federalism is dysfunctional and needed shaping up. The reasons included a combination of external and internal factors and pressures. The pragmatic reform process could address these factors and pressures to improve Commonwealth-State relations. This could achieve enhanced policy outcomes for the Australian community and provide a system of government that â€Å"delivers the Australian people the opportunities they deserve† (Brumby 2008). David Black (1998) describes federalism as ‘the process by which the Commonwealth of Australia was formed on 1 January 1901, was unusual then, and still is†. The federal system has provided a relatively stable cooperative form of government, however, changing demographics, global pressures and fiscal situations within government have meant that the system is now seen as being in a malaise and in need of repair (Wanna 2007). The modernisation and globalisation of markets, media and communication has eroded regional identities in Australia. In the past the Australian states were protected from a centralised form of federalism but as modern technology reduced the physical distance institutional barriers were decreased. These global pressures mean that Australian states risk becoming agent providers for a central government (Wanna 2007: page). Increased activity has resulted in hyper-interaction involving all three levels of government. Additionally, lack of cultural regions in Australia unlike most other federations meant lack of regionally based governance system (Wanna 2007: 276). Australia retains a highly centralised fiscal system, holds a high amount of concurrent powers across all levels of government and lacks institutional barriers that prevent a centralised system. Fiscal imbalance between states and the Commonwealth impacts directly at a regional level even though policies are driven nationally. Concurrent Commonwealth-State powers also impact at regional level due to lack of adequate attention given to real impacts while decisions are made at federal level. The reduced effectiveness of federalism has contributed towards these issues and has failed to keep pace with modern times. It is now in need of repair to make it more efficient and capable of providing support to the modern Australian public. Current federal arrangements are holding back necessary micro-economic reform while there is a continuous struggle to respond to global economic forces. (Podger 2008). Although federalism can work it is not performing at the level expected. Participants at the Roundtable agreed that the process of reform can improve federalism but needs a different policy approach. Individual agreements on shared responsibilities will be needed to reshape policy areas. Increased cooperation and collaboration around national and state issues would need to be achieved. Participants started by looking at improving the generic architecture by enhancing the primary cooperation of levels of government through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). This could be the platform for any further detailed reform in order to avoid policy making failures around shared responsibility between governments. It is also important to note that the attendees agreed reform would need to start from the current position and not echoing any previous attempts. The Australian federal system is characterised by a significant level of vertical fiscal imbalance and this issue would need to be addressed to assist in reforming federalism. The Commonwealth holds the monopoly on tax revenue from income and GST and much of this is paid back to the states by way of Specific Purpose Payments (SPPs). These SPPs allow the Commonwealth to grant funds to states with conditions in areas that are constitutionally the states’ domain. As SPPs make up 40 % of Commonwealth grants the streamlining of these with a focus on outcomes would allow increased efficiency. In addition, guaranteed revenue would allow states to fund their responsibilities without central pressures. Whilst this imbalance could be reduced by assigning state expenditure responsibilities to the Commonwealth, it is an unrealistic expectation to reduce such a significant imbalance. (Carling, 2008: page/s) Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for the different levels of government is essential, as Carling (2008: page) states, â€Å"A federal system needs to be ?rmly anchored to a rational allocation of roles and responsibilities for the different levels of government† Lack of clearly defined roles can cause duplication of processes and conflict in policy making, giving states the opportunity to avoid accountability. A review of roles and responsibilities is a logical starting point, with the functional roles of Commonwealth and the state’ clearly defined. This may require that the Commonwealth takes a leadership role to ensure states are able to effectively deliver services. It is important to understand that the distribution of responsibilities between the levels Government has evolved aver time, and will presumably continue to change as policy and political imperatives require. (Podger 2008) Collaboration between governments to deliver long term sustainable national solutions is needed to face the significant social, economic and environmental challenges. Recently, all three levels of government have become receptive towards the idea of cooperative federalism. For effective federation architecture of cooperation consisting components such as principles to guide, supporting legal and institutional arrangements and appropriate cultural practices and attitudes are required. Focus could be on formalisation of COAG through intergovernmental agreement, clarification of COAG and ministerial council relation, ongoing review of federal financial relations and development of cultural practices to support the best of federalism. The change offers opportunities to make lasting improvements and Australian governments should seize the opportunity towards delivering effective national responses and generating substantial benefits for Australians. (Wanna, J. May 2009) Although the Australian federal system is perceived as declining and in need of reshaping, Australia is a prosperous nation. Federalism has seen Australia through times of significant stress including depression and war, and has led to the development of a welfare state. Rapid globalisation and modernisation demands that federalism adapt and adjust to meet competing demands. The options outlined in this essay provide the extending steps for already happening improvements by an ambitious government.

A Comparison of “Everyman” and Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus”

A Comparison of â€Å"Everyman† and Christopher Marlowe's â€Å"Doctor Faustus† Everyman and Doctor Faustus are both Morality Plays, these are specifically plays that existed within the Medieval period. They were popular during this period as they were intended to instruct the audience in the Christian way and attitudes to life. The morality play is essentially an allegory written in dramatic form. In the fourteenth Century, morality plays were mainly based on the seven deadly sins as in everyman with each character representing each sin. Everyman centers around allegory. It focuses on the allegorical representations of moral issues with the inclusion of figures that represent abstractions of the issues that are confronted. Doctor Faustus follows the general five-act structure of an Elizabethan Romantic Tragedy. However Christopher Marlowe used the structure of an older Medieval form of English Drama, the morality play as a model. Morality plays tended to show the moral struggle of mans soul and the conflict of good and evil. This is evident in the play of Doctor Faustus who is embroiled in a battle between the temptation of the devil and God. You could argue that Doctor Faustus is not classed as a morality play. Because in the tradition of a morality play God and the devil are external forces that affect the individual. However, in Doctor Faustus it is far more of an internal drama inside Faustus? own mind. Both are entirely didactic in nature, they were made with the intent to educate their audience in one respect or another. There was a moral to each that conveyed similar messages. Therefore the term ? morality play? correctly defines each one. The medieval time period in which Everyman was written contained a society that revolved around religion (Ecclesiasticism) The fact that Everyman can get nowhere without turning to religion directly reflects on the attitudes of the middle ages. There is constant references to the beliefs and ideas of the Catholic Church such as confession, penitence and the Virgin Mary this suggests the catholic centered society in which the play existed. It concentrates on the qualities of the catholic religion that are important in the journey to heaven. Everyman is a symbol of the human condition and how t is understood by medieval Catholicism. Whereas in the sixteenth century in which Doctor Faustus was written, saw a shift of Christian ideals. No longer was there only the strict belief in God but also the equal belief in the existence of the devil and the ? work of the devil.? The medieval world placed God at the centre of existence, leaving the individual and the natural world in second place. The emergence of the Renaissance is evident in Doctor Faustus by the clash between the church and the introduction of knowledge through science. The Reformation caused a dramatic change at that particular time, England had converted from predominantly catholic to a protestant country. This shift becomes apparent in Doctor Faustus in the scenes with the Pope. The Renaissance was also a time when the bubonic plague was at its peak of destruction. As a result the plague was a great concern of the theatre, audiences and writers. The plague was a large part of Marlowe? s life and work. Marlowe refers to the plague regularly in Doctor Faustus with examples such as ? A Plague on her.? Here Marlowe is using specific language to reflect certain aspect of the precise period, being Reformation. When considering the audience of each play, this can again create disagreement concerning the meaning of the term ? morality play.? Morality plays, as I have mentioned like Everyman, primarily express aspects of moral doctrine to the audience. In the Play Everyman, the anonymous author may have been a priest or teacher who was explaining the Christian values to an uneducated society. It is written by and for people of catholic religion. This would fit accurately into the description as a ? orality play.? However, some may argue that Doctor Faustus is more comically delivered as opposed to morally. Elizabethan audiences often viewed great tragedies such as this in a slightly humorous manner. Scenes such as the one with the Pope? s food and drink being stolen highlights this point. Also Marlowe includes numerous comical characters such as Wagner and Faustus? servant. Therefore ca n we still group this together with the other morality plays such as Doctor Faustus? Contrary to this, it is clear that the audience of the play Doctor Faustus are not simply an audience of ? Commoners or clowns,? they have to employ a certain level of intelligence and education to understand the symbolism and allegory present in the play. We can acknowledge the play of Doctor Faustus as one from the Elizabethan period as its verbs differ from modern day usage, with phrases such as ? What see you and ? You look not well.? Also Elizabethan playwrights wrote in blank verse or iambic pentameter, as its evident here. Marlowe uses various Christian phrases to summon the devil, who is providing the power. The most obvious reference to Christian language is shown through Faustus? Latin Chant which is used to raise the devil. Marlowe? s technique of hyperbole is demonstrated by his regular usage of blasphemy in the play. By using exaggeration like this, Marlowe is affecting the audience? s perception of the character of Faustus. The language used gives the character heroic stature. Contrast to Doctor Faustus, The language in Everyman is solely based on religion. There is reference to the original sinner Adam and the seven deadly sins, this mainly focuses on the notions of Christianity. The language used in both Everyman and Doctor Faustus represents the conflict between power and Christianity. In conclusion, Marlowe borrows many of the conventions of a morality play especially with the inclusion of the good and bad angels. This symbolizes his divided will. This is mirrored in the play Everyman where there is an obvious spiritual crisis of an individual who must chose between good and evil. Both Everyman and Doctor Faustus effectively reflect the periods in which they were written. Faustus is the product of an era that was deeply torn, it stands in the threshold between two periods-The Renaissance and the Middle Ages. It includes the notions of Good and evil, sin and salvation, as did religious dramas of the medieval period such as Everyman. Although some may see this comparison as the rejection of the medieval due to further emphasis on the individual rather than God. After all, the opening scene of Doctor Faustus was praising science and magic in favour of God. So where do we draw the line? Everyman statically reflects the period of medieval whereas Doctor Faustus focuses on the actual change in that particular period of the Reformation. Therefore it is possible to see the alteration from one period to another.

Plant Biology †Tobacco Research Paper

Plant Biology – Tobacco Research Paper Free Online Research Papers Taxonomy: The Nicotiana tobaccum plant (smoking tobacco) comes from the kingdom Plantae, and subkingdom Tracheobionta (vascular plants).It is also a Spermatophyte which mean â€Å"seed plant† and is also considered a Magnoliophyte (flowering plant) Its subclass is Asterides, and comes from the Solanaceae family (potato family). The plants genus is Nicotiana (tobacco) and similarly its species is the Nicotiana Tabacum (cultivated tobacco). Tobacco is related to many other plants which include; vegetables, flowers, weeds, and poisonous herbs like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and petunias. The plant family is Solanceae and the genus, Nicotiana contains about 100 different species, however only two of them have been heavily cultivated. Natural History: This type of tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum) which was originally only native to the eastern United States was the first form of tobacco that was introduced to the Spanish by Jerez and Torres, and has been the preferred tobacco since settlers in Virginia started to grow it. Planters thought that the tobacco had to be grown on virgin soil, so it made its was to the eastern part of the U.S (which is now the North Carolina area). The eighteenth century became the â€Å"Age of Snuff†. The tobacco from North Carolina was used for snuff and pipe smoking, and at this time cigarettes were mainly used in Spain. However by the 1840’s cigarettes became popular by French women, and many anti-tobacco societies were born, as the cigarette market made its way to the United States, and the rest is history. Characteristics:The Nicotiana tobaccum plant is an annual herb that ranges from .9- 2 m tall. The leaves are elliptic in shape; the flowers grow in clusters at the end of each branch and range from white to light red in colour and form globular seeds. The plant itself is a stalk with large leaves drooping off the main stem. It also has a short root that branches into a very dense root system. The crop can take between 2-5 months before it is ready to be harvested. Tobaccum is quite sensitive to temperature, air and ground humidity, as well as the type of land. A temperature of 20-30 degrees Celsius is best and for best growth, a humidity of 80-85% and soil without a high level of nitrogen are also needed. The plant is native to tropical and subtropical American conditions, but is now grown commercially worldwide. The plant is mostly grown in the eastern United States, Brazil, and Argentina. And is often found on dry grasslands, clearings, and along the edges of forests and roads in natural form as well as in cultivated areas. Plant Products Products: The nicotine in the tobacco can be used as an effective insecticide, as it is completely biodegradable. Tobacco is also used in enemas for the treatment is intestinal worms or constipation. And lastly, the most common use is the dried tobacco leaves used for chewing, snuffing, or smoking (cigarettes). There are also many other products that use nicotine to help people stop smoking. (Patches, gum, etc.) Also researchers at the Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center are working on different ways to use the plant for â€Å"molecular farming† by adding different genes to the plant to make new products like medicines, and enzymes for industrial uses. Properties: The most valuable part of the plant used is the nicotine, which is found in all parts except the seed. The concentration of nicotine increases with the age of the plant. A mature plant has about 64% nicotine in the leaves, 18% in the stem, 13% in the root, and 5% in the flowers. The chemical structure of nicotine consists of pyridine and pyrrolidine ring. Another chemical property is Anabaseine, an alkaloid similar to nicotine. The physical properties are also very distinct. Nicotine is colourless to pale yellow, very oily and has an unpleasant odour and sharp burning taste. It also slowly becomes brown after it is exposed to light or air. It is soluble in water, alcohol, chloroform, ether, kerosene, and some fixed oils. It should be stored in an airtight container and protected from light. Historical Connections Time Line of Nicotiana Tobaccum: c. 6000BCE Tobacco begins to grow in Americas. 1 BC Inhabitants find ways to use tobacco, including smoking and chewing. 1492 Christopher Columbus is offered dried tobacco leaves by the natives. 1559 Tobacco is called Nicotiana in honour of Jean Nicot, who finds medical uses for tobacco. 1628 Virginia has a monopoly on tobacco exports to England. 1730 First American tobacco factories are started in Virginia in the form of â€Å"snuff mills.† 1843 First commercial production of rolled cigarettes (France). 1880 Four leading cigarette companies sold 532,718 cigarettes in 1880 and 2.4 billion cigars. Also first cigarette machine is made. 1912 13 billion cigarettes sold in U.S. 1950 Scientific links are made between smoking and lung cancer. 1994 Tobacco companies release the â€Å"list† of the 599 additives to tobacco. 2003 Canada implements a full smoking ban in restaurants and bars have to have separate ventilated smoking rooms. Product Influences: Nicotiana Tobaccum is most commonly associated with cigarettes. The product that has most influenced our society in every way imaginable, including globally. It has been said by Statistics Canada that 21.5% of Canadians are smokers. That is over 6 million smokers. Statistics Canada, also states that in 2002, about 38.4 billion cigarettes were sold in Canada, which surprisingly is a 9% decline from the year before. Also, there were 45,215 deaths in Canada alone last year due to smoking related diseases. As you can see, smoking has a huge impact on all our lives, because even if you do not smoke, secondhand smoke is even worse. There are over 3,000 deaths by non-smokers because of second hand smoke, and thousands of others who get respiratory problems. Tobacco has drastically changed people’s quality of life, for the worse. There are over 48,000 easily prevented deaths, each year. It also harms our environment, due to the pollution is causes which again lowers our quality of life. And lastly, tobacco’s influence on the economy is unfortunately, helping. Since all tobacco products are heavily taxed, the government gets a lot of money from smokers. Globally it is the same, as in Canada, just on a wider scale, with more people dying, more cigarettes being sold, and more money for the governments. Technology Research Costs: There are many costs associated with tobacco products. Socially, and economically medical bills caused by smoking deaths and diseases are very high, it is estimated at $75 billion in the U.S alone are the medical costs associated with smoking. Also, there are very high costs caused from the legal aspect, people suing tobacco companies. Plus the cost of smoking in general, because of the health risk, the government has raised the taxes on tobacco products and now supporting your habit is very expensive. New Research: Again, the new research comes from Kentucky, where they are trying to find new uses for the tobacco plant. By using â€Å"molecular farming,† they are adding new genes to produce new helpful products like vaccines, medicines, and enzymes for industrial uses. Scientists are trying to promote the advantages of tobacco by developing new markets and new customers for the â€Å"new gene enhanced tobacco.† Some questions I have about the issue: If the tobacco plant is poisonous, is the result of over 48,000 deaths in Canada alone (every year), is a habit that harms others around you through secondhand smoke. Why are governments allowing the product to be sold? Technology:Jobs in the tobacco industry have being declining because of new technology. Machines are continuing to take over the jobs that once employed many workers. Also because of all the new control policies, the industry is getting smaller. However, in developing countries, the tobacco industry is on the rise, because they do not have any control policies that affect the people’s employment. The World Health Organization is working on making the policies world wide, but it may take a while. The policies state: 1. â€Å"Assisting, as appropriate, tobacco workers in the development of appropriate economically and legally viable alternative livelihoods in an economically viable manner; and 2. Assisting, as appropriate, tobacco growers in shifting agricultural production to alternative crops in an economically viable manner; † Career Connections Occupations: Farmer- responsible for the land (planting, growing tobacco) Seasonal Worker (harvesting the crop) Factory worker (Curing, drying the tobacco, packaging) Advertising (designing the package, layout of magazine ads, creating slogans.) Sales (selling the products) Educational Background for Farming: If you are going to be responsible for the land being used to grow and harvest tobacco plants, a general agriculture degree is important. There are many courses that Universities offer that have to do with agriculture and farming. But first, you need to have a strong science background because the farming occupation requires the knowledge of plants and animals and it is a prerequisite for most of the courses in University. A Bachelor of Science in agriculture, a program that is offered at many universities including Lethbridge, British Columbia, McGill, Saskatchewan, Western, and Nova Scotia is the course necessary to become a successful farm owner. After completing the University course, you would go on to becoming a farm labourer, where you would gain technical and farm related experience. The next level is to become a farm manager, where you would acquire the business experience, agricultural knowledge and administrative experience. The third and final step is to become a farm own er and with this job you would be responsible for all resources (labour, capital, and machinery), and be in charge of ensuring proper crop and irrigation techniques. The farm owner is the one associated with the first step in the flow chart, as they are the ones who are responsible for the growing and cultivating the tobacco that is later sold and marketed. Conclusions Based on my research and analysis I have discovered that the tobacco plant, nicotiana tobaccum is one of the most significant plants in our history and has made a huge impact on society and in our daily lives. It is one of the most controversial plants today, as almost all of the plant is poisonous yet smoking is one of the most common habits and most deadly. It is said that at least one in every 5 people smoke and the impact that smoking deaths have had on many lives is evident. The properties of the plant are understood with the knowledge of plant science since the plant contains a very harmful, addictive toxin, Nicotine and the fact that tobacco causes damage to the respiratory system. The information and technology gained from science could hopefully be used to improve the products that are currently being made by the nicotiana tobaccum plant. It is a proven fact that the nicotiana tobaccum plant by itself is a lot less harmful then after commercial tobacco companies put 599 additives into the plant that are much more harmful. There is also ongoing research about tobacco and many scientists are trying to use technology to improve tobacco products and make new ones that could have a positive impact on our society and our daily lives. Bibliography Dr. Julia Higa Landoni. (1990, March). IPCS Inchem: Nicotiana Tobaccum L site. Retrieved January 2, 2004, from inchem.org/documents/pims/plant/nicotab.htm#Secti onTitle:2.6%20Main%20toxins Natural Resource Conservation Service. (2003, December 29). Plants Database. Retrieved December 30, 2003, from http://plants.usda.gov/index.html University of Florida. (2002, February). Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences site. Retrieved January 2, 2004, from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_AA260 Anaca Technologies Limited. (2004). Career Cruising site. Retrieved January 2, 2004, from careercruising.com/caschool_pro_prov.asp?LoginID=92 824953793rdLevelProgramCode=01.11013rdLevelProgramName= Plant+Science Weil, A, Rosen, W. (1993). From Chocolate to Morphine. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. 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