Features and Themes of Victorian Poetry Flashcard

Features and Themes of Victorian Poetry

David by Earle Birney Essays

David by Earle Birney Essays David by Earle Birney Paper David by Earle Birney Paper David, written by Earle Birney is a very emotional piece. The poem is narrative as told through the eyes of Bob, Davids friend. One of the themes that follow throughout this poem is the onset of maturity and all the barriers that must be over come. The tone is a cynical one, when Bob is asked by David to push him over the edge to his death. This poem also includes figurative language and poetic devices that help to develop an element of suspense, complication, and emotion. Birney has created a poem that consists of eleven sections that break down into quatrains. There is not a set pattern that is constant throughout this poem. Some verses are different from other verses, thus do not follow the same rhyming scheme, it adds the story element. One of the rhyming schemes that does occur in some verses which have the first and the fourth lines rhyming, it reminds the reader that it is also a poem. Alliteration is also included in his poem. It helps the reader flow from one word to another; seracs that shone is one example of this device. There is no exact rhythm in this poem; it is more of a story then a classical poem. Since not all of the verses rhyme or follow the same rhyme scheme it sets the emotion of the poem to a more serious and mature piece then a happy and fun poem. Birney has used the lack of verse to clearly set the subject matter for a very serious and emotional poem. This piece has impressionistic, decorative, and picturesque imagery. All of these images allow the reader to visualize whats going on and experience the emotion expressed. There are many symbols to help add to the picture conveyed by the poet. The symbol of a bird that has a broken wing and is going around in circles symbolizes that everyone is impermanent and can get hurt. The goats bones on the mountain also symbolize the danger that is always present in the our lives and paints the reader a picture that danger is even in ordinary activities. One of the similes that gives the reader a very vivid picture is an overhang crooked like a talon. It shows the power and threat that the mountain gives off. mountains were made to see over,/ Stairs from the valleys and steps to the suns retreats. Is a very metaphorical image, it relates to life and how the mountains are barriers in life and you can always find a way to get past the barrier. The image of the stairs relates to your chance to overcome the barrier. The sun setting is an image, which defines missed opportunity. The conveyed imagery gives the reader the emotion and feeling of actually being present and climbing along side David and Bob. The diction that is used in thi s poem is very effective. There are many geological terms that associate David and Bobs action, with mountain climbing and traveling through the wilderness. Terms like crevasses, moraine, hawks, firs and larches are used in a proper diction. The time that the story is taking place is not really made clear, it would is suggested to take place during mid-afternoon to afternoon. The poems setting is the rugged Rocky Mountains located in Canada. The narrator, Bob, uses some words that are hard to comprehend, but mostly a dialect that everyone can understand. Bob uses words that are sometimes unfamiliar and seems to be well spoken. This causes the reader to assume he has been well-educated and is from a prominent family. This poem brings a lot of emotion and complications into discussion. It shows that everyone will have to face decisions will prove to be difficult, but will be for the best. Birney has successfully created a poem that shows the reader the connection between two men and the complication they must have. The things that are good about the poem are the use of the proper diction and lingo that describe what David and Bob are doing. This makes it easier for the reader to understand, which captures the readers emotions on different levels.

Nursing Shift Handover Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Nursing Shift Handover - Research Paper Example The key feature not present in this approach is the individual care planning and the gathering of all the information about patients was written inward diaries using nurses notes (Kasseau). In post-modern nursing, shift handover includes communication between the change of shift, communication between care providers about patient needs, handoff, records and information tools to assist communication between care providers about the care provided for patients (Clinical handover). Shift handover procedures are essential when considering that nurses take breaks from tasks of which they have joint responsibility and that under these conditions communication fosters coordination of activities and accountability. Nursing provides continuous care services to patients and a shift handover is generally a time of; preparation by outgoing personnel; shift handover wherein incoming and outgoing nurses exchange information; and cross-checking of information by the incoming nurses as they take on the responsibility for tasks. The ideal outcome of shift handover is precise and reliable communication of task-relevant information across shifts to guarantee continuity of safe and efficient working environments.   Hospital in the UK, and a relevant literature review. Firstly, an example of a shift handover will be presented. Secondly, a literature review will outline communication theory in regards to nursing handover, as well as review the most up-to-date studies into efficient shift handover in a nursing setting. Thirdly, the key principles involved in developing efficient shift handover will be listed.  Ã‚  

Furniture Scenerio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Furniture Scenerio - Essay Example The sheet is very helpful in ascertaining the advantages and disadvantages of each course of action. An example of this is the data that compares the "benefits cost" among the alternatives. The data shows that indeed, the "broker" option yields the largest savings in wages, which can be very essential information if labor cost is forecasted to continuously increase. On the other hand, if equipment prices will continue to rise, the data will also be helpful in identifying the disadvantage of "hi-tech" and broker options. The Assets, Liabilities and Equity Information basically provide a glimpse on the financial health of the company. Particularly, it tells about the company's liquidity which may allow it to invest in hi-tech equipment or its liabilities record which can guarantee a source of leverage in case the current cash standing is not enough. The Accounts Receivable is also useful in determining possible source of cash in the future, while the equity information gives information into the ownership of shareholders in the company. The budget data and variance analysis helps to distinguish which of the inputs to production needs to be economized and which among these are kept within the budget. Similarly, variance analysis helps keep the cost within the budget. ... ct of interest for Guillermo as he also carries his own brand and his own type of products which are comparable and which may be in direct competition with the products that he distributes for other companies. As was stated, he still has the desire to retain hid high-end customer particularly for his flame retardant and stain resistant furniture, in which only he has the patent. Although, it was stated that the market for this is smaller compared to the finished coating, Guillermo has all the reasons to push more for his product than that of the foreign business partner. The conflict of interest might pose a serious ethical problem in the future which might ruin his relationship with the foreign manufacturer. Being a representative of another company whose product is in competition with your own will definitely affect your loyalty to the company. In fact, it is often a business policy for employees or business partners to avoid conflict of interest, such as Blue Cross' policy of avoiding situations where personal interests can run in contrast to the interest of the company (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois). Conflict of interest, if not resolved, can create impropriety that can undermine confidence in the conflicted individual or organization (Wikimedia Foundations, Inc, 2009). The income information is still the most relevant information especially that it gives the direct comparison of the benefits and costs of each of the alternatives. It reveals specific details such as production capacity, direct costs and indirect costs incurred for every alternative. Looking at the future of the company, this information would be relevant and essential. In the field of Economics, each alternative represents the opportunity cost of the other decision. Comparing the benefits

The Value Chain Analysis: Sony

The Value Chain Analysis: Sony According to Porter (1985, cited in Gershon and Kanayama, 2002:115), strategic planning is a set of managerial decisions and actions that determine the long-term performance of an organisation. Lasserre (2003:33) agrees with this suggesting further that a company business strategy is a set of fundamental choices which define its value proposition to the market, how it intends to build and sustain a competitive business system and how it organises itself. This means in order for Sony to regain its global competitive advantage it has to develop effective business strategy, which will provide the organisation with clear direction, tactics, improved communication and as a result better organisational growth and performance (Yavitz and Newman, 1982:10). However, in order to develop and implement right strategic decision Thompson and Martin (2005:138-141) suggest that organisation have to pay attention to internal and external analysis. Conversely, they suggest that whilst analytical frame works can provide valuable insight into many issues, by themselves they cannot provide the answers. Consequently, they provide a base for evaluating the effectiveness of current and proposed strategies. Internal Factors/Analysis In order to develop the right strategy the organisation has to take into account several internal factors that may affect business environment. (Thompson and Martin, 2005:145-155) For example, analysis of strengths and weaknesses focuses on internal factors that may give Sony certain advantages in meeting the needs of its target markets, such as ability to (re)act to environmental influences quicker than competitors. (SWOT, PESTEL, Porters 5. Appendix 1) Culture For example, understanding core competencies and culture will enable Sony to boast its organisational performance and thus increase its market share. Hofstede (1991:50) agrees with this suggesting that strong culture enables employees to see the goal alignment and thus motivates them to higher levels of performance, as shared values make people feel good about the organisation and commit their capability and potential sincerely for the company, as a result, creating competitive advantage for the organisation. Deal and Kennedy (2000:3-20) agree with it, suggesting that the more highly successful companies are those that exhibit a strong organisational culture. They also identify several component parts to a solid organisational culture, including values, heroes, and rites and rituals. For example, values are the intrinsic beliefs that members hold for an organisation. It can be said that Sony displays many features of a traditional Japanese company, for example there is a sense of fam ily and/or missionary passion that is decidedly Japanese in approach. Most of Sonys top officials are also Japanese and together they share in the companys collective mission. Sony also carefully grooms its future leaders over many years of service. However, writers like Bennis (1986, Cited in Armstrong, 2006) oppose that the single most important determinant of corporate culture is the behaviour of the chief executive officer, as the CEO is the person most responsible for shaping the beliefs, motivations and expectations for the organization as a whole. The importance of the CEO is particularly evident when it comes to the formation of business strategy, for example, CEO Nobuyuki Idei has embraced the principle that digital communications must be at the centre of Sonys competitive business strategy (Digital Dream Kid, 1996). Disregarding of contrasting views, the above suggests that it is crucial for Sony to maintain and take pride in its organisational culture, as it will provide Sony with competitive advantage through attracting, motivating and retaining the best talent, promoting organisational values and believes, as well as promoting the spirit of innovation (SWOT, Appendix 1), as it will help the company to grow and develop, and thus achieve further organisational development. Resource Based View In order for Sony to achieve competitive advantage and organisational development, it may be suggested the organisation applies the Resource Based View (RBV) to strategy, which deals with the competitive environment facing the organisation taking an inside-out approach (Johnson et al, 2005:114). Henry (2008:129-150) agrees with this suggesting that RBV emphasises the internal capabilities of the organisation in formulating strategy to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in its markets and industries, suggesting further that in some cases organisational capabilities may allow it to create new markets, such as Apples iPod and Toyotas hybrid cars. This means that by analysis internal capabilities Sony can determine the strategic choices it can make in competing in external environment. Thus, for example, analysis (SWOT, PESTEL and Porters 5, Appendix 1) suggests that Sonys strengths lies with its brands strong name and reputation for innovation and excellence, thus it may be sug gested that by reducing portfolio of electronic goods and focusing attention on fewer products and new technologies, for example in TV market, organisation may once again become market leader. However, Henry (2008:150) critiques that RBV shows very little on the vital issues of how resources can develop and change, or become redundant over time. Priem and Butler (2001, cited in Henry, 2008:150) agree with it, proposing that RBV lacks detail and therefore is difficult to implement. Latter suggests that although RBV may offer a good insight into current resource situation, other analytical tools have to be used to ensure a correct picture of internal environment, such as, for example, Value Chain Analysis. Value Chain Analysis Porter (1985, cited in Thompson and Martin, 2005:251) argues that in search for competitive advantage a firm must be considered as part of a wider system suppliers, firm, distributors, consumers a supply chain, which is a process by which cost savings and service differentiation can be achieved. As part of the process of evaluating the strategic competences of the organisation a resource audit can provide substantial insights into the competitive possibilities open to the organisation. The model against which to do this is Porters value chain (Appendix 2). Thus, value chain analysis may provide Sony with a framework for evaluating relative significance of various activities undertaken by an organisation, from the perspectives of cost and value added (Robson, 1994:41). By applying the results of SWOT and Porters 5 Forces Analysis to Value Chain of Sony it can be suggested that the organisation focuses on high-quality/high cost exclusive products, offering its customers excellent fol low-up Service afterwards. This suggests that Inbound Logistics and the retail Operations must be tightly managed to keep the cost of production and delivery down, and thus offer a higher profit margin. SWOT and Porters 5 also suggest that Technology Development and Engineering would have to be reorganised in order to be able to keep up with progress of the industry, and thus competitors. In order to achieve this, it could be suggested that Sony should reduce the portfolio of extensive product range and focus attention on best-selling and most promising products. Robson (1994:45-48) suggests latter can be achieved by applying the Boston Matrix to product portfolio, as well as undertake the analysis of Core Competences offered by Prahalad and Hamel (1990, cited in Robson, 1994:46-48) (Appendix 3). Similar to Inbound Logistics, it could also be suggested that Sonys Outbound Logistics, such as warehousing and distribution, would have to be re-organised in order to achieve most cost eff ective outcome. SWOT, PESTEL and Porters 5 also suggest that Sony possess brilliant opportunity for Marketing and Sales, as the organisation owns Sony Entertainment and thus, is able to use media productions as an extensive free advertising for its product range. For example, using Sony laptops and other gadgets in new 007 blockbuster, to re-introduce the organisation to world-wide audience, as well as indirectly advertise its products. The analysis of Support Activities, based on the outcome of SWOT, PESTLE and Porters 5 also suggests several recommendations. For example, being global organisation, Sony suffers from a duplication of workforce (Human Resource Management). Thus, to reduce replication it could be suggested Sony performs major reductions in global workforce (Ferrari, 2012), which could potentially lead to easier flow of communication, and thus, quicker strategic and general day-to-day responses, and as a result, help return company to profitability. For Technology Development and Engineering analysis suggests that it may be worth drastically reducing product portfolio (particularly portfolio of TV models). This could potentially drastically improve Research and Development, allowing it to keep up with technological progress, and giving it time to work on new technologies. Baring in mind the above analysis, Henry (2011:112) suggests that organisations value chain activities represent the cornerstone of competitive advantage. And recommends that its value chain should not be seen as a series of independent activities, but as a system of interdependent activities, where each value chain activity is related to the others by way of linkages in the value chain. For example, Toyotas just-in-time production reduces inventory and material handling. Therefore Sonys competitive advantage can derive not only from the activities themselves, but also from linkages between its different activities, internal, as well as external. (Henry, 2011:112) External Factors Stakeholders and Corporate Social Responsibility Foot and Hook (2008:23) suggest that there is a wider group of stakeholders that may affect business strategy. For example, apart from the shareholders, workforce, suppliers and customers, organisation may also be affected by local communities, government, and pressure groups. As Johnson et al (2005:585) suggest it is impossible to meet the demands of all the stakeholders, as they invariably conflict. This suggests that Sony must prioritise stakeholder demands and thus, balancing out competing requirements create a strategy that will satisfy main stakeholder groups, will be in line with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of organisation, and in its turn relate to the culture in which the organisation is operating. Thus for example, as it is the core corporate responsibility of Sony Group to the society to pursue its corporate value enhancement through innovation and sound business practice, the organisation conducts CSR activities with a focus on sustainability in two areas t rying to ensure sustainability of its business operations, as well as striving to contribute to the realisation of a sustainable society. For example, Sony has established effective systems for corporate governance and compliance to ensure sound business practices, such as, eco-friendly product cycle from the materials Sony sources, recycles and reuses in manufacture, to the development of smaller packaging that takes less space for more energy-efficient transportation. Sony also believes in the importance of fostering diverse and lively workplaces and employees with a high level of social awareness, which in effect contributes to employee loyalty and thus, reduces staff turnover, which in its turn contributes to competitive advantage of organisation. (Sony, 2012) Conclusions Business strategy is a set of vital choices which define its value proposition to the market, how it intends to build and sustain a competitive business system and how it organises itself. In order to gain competitive advantage organisations may use internal and external analytical tools that will help build a good picture of environment of given organisation. These tools, such as SWOT, PESTEL, Porters 5, RBV and Value Chain suggest that Sony remain a reputable brand, and providing a new strategy and allowing restructuring of the business, may help it regain its competitive advantage in global market. Sony also fully recognises that its business activities affect both society and the environment in direct and indirect ways, thus takes steps to minimise that impact to the best of its ability. Recommendations In order to regain its competitive advantage, it can be proposed that Sony undertakes a drastic restructuring of its business model. For example, it can be suggested that the company will benefit from either minimising the amount of factories across the globe and removing factories from areas affected by hurricanes and floods in order to minimise production costs. Conversely, as more value-added component sourcing, production and logistics may be outsourced to contract manufacturers and trading partners. Portfolio of goods (especially electronic goods, and TV market) have to be reduced, allowing RD to focus on bringing excellence to Sonys customers, keeping up with technological advancement and boosting competitiveness of products. The television business may also enhance integration with Sony ´s mobile products and network services, as it aims to offer unique user experiences, drive hardware differentiation and enhance the attractiveness of Sony ´s television line-up. Now owning 100% of Sony Ericsson, with own tablets, VAIO PCs and TVs, Sony can increase product appeal by offering its customers special programmes only available to share between those Sony products (to gain market-share of Apples iPhone, iPod and Apple Mac). A previous culture of inflexibility in product demand forecasting needs to be replaced with product demand sensing and response capabilities linked to constantly changing consumer needs and market trends. Through developing these new strategies, accelerating selection and focus, Sony can invest in core and new businesses which could help to transform organisation into a more profitable structure with competitive advantage against its competitors. References Books Armstrong M., (2005), Strategic Human Resource Management: A Guide To Action, 3rd Edition, London: Kogan Page Deal T. E. and Kennedy A. A., (2000), Corporate Cultures: The Rites and Rituals of Corporate Life, New York: Perseus Books Publishing Foot M. and Hook C., (2008), Introducing Human Resources, 5th Edition, Essex: Pearson Education Press Garratt B., (1995), Developing Strategic Thought: Rediscovering the Art of Direction-Giving, Berkshire: McGraw-Hill Book Company Europe Henry A. E., (2011), Understanding Strategic Management, 2nd Edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press Hofstede G., (1991), Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind, London: McGraw-Hill Johnson G., Scholes K. and Whittington R., (2005), Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases, 7th Edition, Essex: Pearson Education Limited Robson W., (1994), Strategic Management and Information Systems: An Integrated Approach, London: Pitman Publishing Tapscott D., (2009), Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World, London: McGraw Hill Thompson J. and Martin F., (2005), Strategic Management: Awareness and Change, 5th Edition, London: Thomson Yavitz B. and Newman W. H., (1982), Strategy in Action: The Execution, Politics, and Payoff of Business Planning, London: Collier Macmillan Publishers On-line Journals, Articles and Websites Black J., (2003), Big Music: Win Some, Lose a Lot More?, BusinessWeek Online, Business Source Online web.ebscohost.com, accessed on 10 November 2012 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) News, (27th October 2011), Sony buys the rest of mobile phone firm Sony Ericsson www.bbc.co.uk, accessed on 4 November 2012 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) News, (21 May 2009), Sony to halve number of suppliers www.bbc.co.uk, accessed on 22 November 2012 Consumer Electronics, (30th July 2009), Sony Is Still Feeling the Recessions Bite, Bloomberg Business Week www.businessweek.com, accessed on 4 November 2012 Corporate information/Environmental (1 April 2012), Sony news.sel.sony.com, accessed on 7 November 2012 Corporate Social Responsibility (2012), Sony www.sony.co.uk, accessed on 29 November 2012 East J., (2007), The Electronic Industry: The Power to Change, Portable Design, 13 (10) pp 16-19, Business Source Complete web.ebscohost.com, accessed on 7 November 2012 Fatakia K., (3rd February 2012), Sony Corporation: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats www.dailyfinance.com, accessed 2 November 2012 Ferrari, B. (2012), Descartes Systems to Acquire Europe Based Infodis, Supply Chain Matters, 04 June 2012, [Online]. Available at: www.theferrarigroup.com, accessed on 20 November 2012 Glendinning L., (4th November 2012), The Telegraph, Sony PlayStation Store: why the redesign matters www.telegraph.co.uk, accessed on 4 November 2012 Hall R., (1992), The Strategic Analysis of Intangible Resources, Strategic Management Journal, 13 (20), pp135-144 http://web.ebscohost.com, accessed on 19 March 2010 Kosner A. W., (25th June 2012), New Sony Google TV Set-Top Box Disappoints, Increases Desire for Apple TV www.forbes.com, accessed on 3 November 2012 Kosner A. W., (28th June 2012), Google Nexus Q: Simple, Sleek, Sexy And Made In The USA www.forbes.com, accessed on 3 November 2012 Our Working Culture (2012) Sony www.sony.co.uk, accessed on 26 November 2012 The Times 100, (no date), Responding to changes in the market environment: A Jessops case study businesscasestudies.co.uk, accessed on 9 November 2012 Singh P. P., (13th October 2011), BBC News, Can Sony succeed where Sony-Ericsson partnership failed? www.bbc.co.uk, accessed on 4 November 2012 Sony Announces Revision of Consolidated Forecast for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2012, (10th April 2012), Sony www.sony.net, accessed on 4 November 2012 Sony Annual Report, (2009), Sony www.sony.net, accessed on 4 November 2012 Sony Global Supply Chain Management (2012), Sony www.sony.net, accessed on 22 November 2012 Tang H., Misra R. and Shanholt E., (2012), Sony Corporation, Griffin Consulting Group Economics-files.pomona.edu , accessed on 20 November 2012 The Video Game Industry, (no date), Social and Environmental Factors sites.duke.edu, accessed on 5 November 2012 Yasu Mariko, (1st November 2012), Sony Posts 7th Straight Loss as TV Sales Slump on Economy www.businessweek.com, accessed on 3 November 2012 Bibliography Ciborra C. and Jelassi T., (1995), Strategic Information Systems, Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley Sons Ltd BBC News, (27th October 2011), Sony boss Sir Howard Stringer on Ericsson purchase www.bbc.co.uk, accessed on 4 November 2012 Houlden B., (1993), Understanding Company Strategy: An Introduction to Thinking and Acting Strategically, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers McCurry J., (30th July 2009), Sony sales plunge by a fifth in two months, The Guardian www.guardian.co.uk, accessed on 4 November 2012 Stacey R., (1993), Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics, London: Pitman Publishing SWOT Analysis Strengths Over the years Sony has built a strong, reputable and well-known brand. This is highlighted by the fact that the company was labelled in a 2011 survey as Asias most valued brand (Fatakia, 2012) Sonys culture is aimed at nurturing talents, where organisation helps its employees to foster working practices that help to regularly replenish energy and build physical, emotional and mental resilience. Sony culture emphasizes a spirit of freedom and open-mindedness, and a fighting spirit to innovate as well as takes a Worksmart approach to help employees achieve an acceptable work/life balance (Sony, 2012) The company has established a broad sales network, registered in approximately 200 countries and territories (Tang et al, 2012) One of Sonys greatest strengths is their ability to produce innovative, quality products, or as Sonys web page states Sony innovations ´ have become part of mainstream culture (Sony, 2012) The company is synonymous with technological excellence and has a rich heritage of technological expertise. Besides creating the VCR, Trinitron, and Walkman, the company facilitated in development of the magnetic recording tape, the compact disc, and the Blu-Ray disc, used today as a medium for high-definition video playback. Its latest innovation, a Crystal LED television, was well received at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas (Fatakia, 2012) Out of all its products, Sonys success with the PlayStation is most notable it has been successful since launch, and still sees tremendous consumer demand as by 2000, it was accounting for a third of Sonys operating profits (Glendinning, 2012) Sony has a number of Japanese and foreign patents, and is licensed to use a number of patents owned by other organisations. Sony considers their overall license position beneficial to their operations (Tang et al, 2012) The release of PlayStation 2 triggered a high rise of shares ($300 per share, an all-time high) Sony has a strong position in the entertainment industry with Sony Music and Sony Pictures, which has been beneficial to the company by off-setting losses in its electronics/consumer-products division Sony also provides financial services, such as life and auto insurance and banking, that accumulate Weaknesses The high cost of media production, especially in its television business, as well as loss of market share to cheaper manufacturers, such as LG and Samsung, has affected the companys pricing strategy. In addition, instead of forecasted loss of $2.7 billion during the fiscal year that ended 31 March, the organisation is now expecting to suffer a loss of $6.3 billion due to cumulative losses of consolidated deferred tax returns and additional tax expense for the transfer of profits between Japan and selected Sonys overseas subsidiaries (Sony, 2012) While diversifying into too many business segments, Sony has shifted its focus from its core competency making great consumer-electronic products. This has resulted in a distortion in Sonys brand. Apple, which is also in the consumer electronics space, has managed to focus on just a few products, build competency, and make them incredibly successful (Fatakia, 2012) Furthermore, the product lines have few connections between themselves, and therefore do not generate many network externalities or cost advantages (Tang et al, 2012) The current financial performance of organisation is weak, showing high liquidity risks, decreasing sales, slowly recovering profitability, low operating efficiency, underperforming stocks, and low investor confidence (Tang et al, 2012) The current management team has been relatively conservative, with departments working in silo, which led to little, if no flow of communication. While restructuring has frequently been implemented, it was usually done on a small scale. Strategically significant mergers and acquisitions were seldom conducted (Tang et al, 2012) As Sony expanded into more segments and geographic locations, they became more sensitive to exchange rates and interest rates that are exogenous factors out of Sonys control (Tang et al, 2012) Japanese laws and the countrys lingering culture of lifetime employment limit the ability of Japanese firms to close plants and shed jobs, thus resulting in incapability of the organisation to quickly adapt to fast-changing market environment, thus resulting in further financial losses Opportunities The company has the opportunity to enter the healthcare-imaging sector, as in September Sony agreed to invest 50 billion yen in Olympus, the worlds biggest maker of endoscopes. Under agreement, Sony will by 11.46% stake and become the largest shareholder in two steps. The two companies are planning to set up a joint venture by December 31 to develop, make and sell new endoscopes and other medical devices (Yasu, 2012) Sony Google TV, and particularly Nexus Q has a potential of regaining its TV market as, in comparison to Apple TV, Roku and similar products, Q is the only product that combines streaming internet content to a TV with a built-in 25 watt-per-channel sound amplifier that can run two sets of speakers. And its the only streaming TV product that allows itself to be controlled by more than one device simultaneously. And one thing Google has been making a point of saying about the Nexus Q, that Apple cannot say about any of its products, is that it is Designed and Manufactured in the USA, thus making it more attractive to those customers who are concerned with the ethics behind product manufacture (Kosner, 2012) As the organisation wanted to integrate its phone division with its mobile games machine and tablet computer units, the purchase of full control of mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson may give Sony the opportunity to act independently and innovate its smart phone and tablet market. The transaction that also includes patent, which is an important component of success in the smartphone arena, as it can give organisation the right to block sales of the competitors and vice-versa. With already established network of marketing, distribution and retail channels, it may help push through the products much quicker (Singh/BBC News, 2011) The company can take advantage of its movie and music business along with its experience in the gaming space to deliver value-added content to support and integrate its product line. It has talked about doing this with a four-screen strategy, which looks like a good concept (Fatakia, 2012) Kazuo Hirai, appointed CEO of Sony in February 2012, might bring changes to the company. His expertise in computer entertainment and PlayStation might bring more focus to the firms product lines (Tang et al, 2012) Threats As many of Sonys manufacturing plants are located in Japan, area that is prone to tsunamis and earthquakes, the company faces a constant threat of damage to the facilities and machinery and thus, disruptions in production line, which may lead to further loses of operating profit Organisation faces strong price competition from competitors such as Samsung, LG and even Tescos own electrical goods line Technika, who are gaining attraction from customers with lower-cost products such as televisions and mobile devices (Fatakia, 2012) Introduction of Apple TV, interactive television increased falling demand on Sony products as consumers switch to Apple (Kosner, 2012) Foreign exchange rate fluctuations can affect financial results because a large portion of Sonys sales and assets (more than 75%) are denominated in currencies other than the Yen (Tang et al, 2012) Threats from hacking attacks. Hacking attack on the companys PlayStation network resulted in leakage of confidential customer data, such as credit-card information As the global recession continues, consumers are no longer spending much money on electronic products, as they now have smartphones to satisfy most of their needs (Kosner, 2012) Sonys business restructuring and transformation efforts are costly and may not attain their objectives (Tang et al, 2012) PESTEL Analysis Political Businesses can be affected by many aspects of government policy. In particular, all businesses must comply with the law. They must also consider the impact of any forthcoming legislation on their operations. Subsequently, this may require taking action before the legislation comes into effect. (The Times 100) One issue that affects manufacturers and retailers of electronic goods is the disposal of these products. Thus, recycling is high on the public agenda. There are government initiatives to promote more recycling, which are often backed by legislation. (The Times 100) As the global recession had a negative effect on the economy of many countries, governments had to adopt a nationalist approach in an effort to stabilise their domestic economy and become more self-sufficient, by for example, raising trade barriers, such as taxes, tariffs and quotas. (Business Europe, 2009) This means Sony, alongside other multinational organisations was affected by decrease in exports and/or heavier import/export costs which may have reduced its global profits. The Government also has the power to change minimum wage, tax, VATs and other expenditures. This means even higher expenditures that, as the report shows, may be critical for the bottom line of the organisation. (Sony, 2012) Economic The global recession has been a threat to Sony since 2009, as Consumer Electronics for Bloomberg Business Week reported on July 30, Sony posted a $271 million operating loss for the April-June quarter, down from a $772 million profit in the same quarter a year ago, revenues dropped 19%, to $16.8 billion with the forecasts for an operating loss of $1.16 billion in the fiscal year through March 2010. (Consumer Electronics, 2009) Additionally, the strength of the yen against the dollar and the euro has reduced Sonys exports making products less competitive and as a result reduced organisational revenue, especially in overseas markets (Sony Annual Report, 2009; Hall, 1992) Social One of the most important social trends of new generation is the development and increase in use of internet activities, such as online shopping, social networks and media on-demand. The Net Generation also demands its products to perform fast (Tapscott, 2009:15), and be of high-quality and multi-functional (Sonny Annual Report, 2009). As the new generation likes to be creative and be able to personalise its products, the technology have to offer high quality art applications that will allow them to do so. As video games are gaining an enormous place in society most kids are exposed to video games in some sort of capacity growing up, Sony have to ensure that their technology does not lose competitive advantage to their opponents, such as Wii (Nintendo) and/or Xbox (Microsoft). Technological The electronics industry is very well known for the fast development of the cutting edge products that facilitate our everyday life and business. Introduction of the internet, smartphones, as well as recent development of TVs that are connected to the internet shows a direction for smart, multi-functional devices. This means, in order for Sony to keep up with its main competitors, such as Apple, the organisation has to adopt the same strategies and be able to offer its customers high quality multifunctional products. Environmental Electronic devices that improve our quality of life are at the same time posing a great threat and contribute immensely towards global warming (East, 2007). Almost 50 million tons of electronic products are disposed of each year, and the figure continues to grow as the lifespan of new devices continues to fall (The Video Game Industry). As a leader in the consumer el

Media and the Public :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When radio became popular around the forties and fifties, it was the one source of entertainment and news that people could enjoy in the comfort of their own home. In â€Å"Radio Days†, radio was a central part of the lives of the movie’s characters, especially Joe. Today however, radio does not act as the â€Å"hub† of information, like it was depicted in â€Å"Radio Days†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Joe, played by Seth Green and narrated by Woody Allen, had a miniature obsession with a radio program called â€Å"The Masked Avenger†, and other characters had similar fixations with different radio programs. Today the radio isn’t even considered, when people want entertainment. Television has replaced the format that radio used to have. No longer do people eat dinner and then gather in front of the radio to listen to a program. Radio had become a background soother. When driving in the car, one may turn it on and listen to it on a low volume, just so that there isn’t silence. Aunt Ceil, played by Renee Lippin, went on a date with a fellow who ran off in the middle of the date because they were listening to a program that involved an alien invasion, and he believed every word the DJ was saying. Even though there rarely is any programming like that on the radio anymore, today people are much more aware of what they hear on the radio. At the birth of radio, everyone believed everything they heard on the radio. People have become more critical and attentive as to what they HEAR and what they BELIEVE. In the forties and fifties radio format had mostly talk shows, news and occasionally music. Now it is almost opposite of what it was. Music has taken over radio, especially FM stations. There are news stations and a small amount of sports stations, but no more programs like â€Å"The Masked Avenger† anymore. AM stations still have some entertainment programming and NPR still has talk shows, but these stations are just no longer popular. In fact, they are a dieing breed; almost extinct. Radio holds a place in people’s lives today that is relevant, but not central as it was shown in â€Å"Radio Days†. I believe it has become better. In â€Å"Radio Days† the character actually listened to the radio. Today people only really hear the radio. With the inventions of the TV and internet, the fact that radio still holds its own in the entertainment industry is amazing. Media and the Public :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When radio became popular around the forties and fifties, it was the one source of entertainment and news that people could enjoy in the comfort of their own home. In â€Å"Radio Days†, radio was a central part of the lives of the movie’s characters, especially Joe. Today however, radio does not act as the â€Å"hub† of information, like it was depicted in â€Å"Radio Days†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Joe, played by Seth Green and narrated by Woody Allen, had a miniature obsession with a radio program called â€Å"The Masked Avenger†, and other characters had similar fixations with different radio programs. Today the radio isn’t even considered, when people want entertainment. Television has replaced the format that radio used to have. No longer do people eat dinner and then gather in front of the radio to listen to a program. Radio had become a background soother. When driving in the car, one may turn it on and listen to it on a low volume, just so that there isn’t silence. Aunt Ceil, played by Renee Lippin, went on a date with a fellow who ran off in the middle of the date because they were listening to a program that involved an alien invasion, and he believed every word the DJ was saying. Even though there rarely is any programming like that on the radio anymore, today people are much more aware of what they hear on the radio. At the birth of radio, everyone believed everything they heard on the radio. People have become more critical and attentive as to what they HEAR and what they BELIEVE. In the forties and fifties radio format had mostly talk shows, news and occasionally music. Now it is almost opposite of what it was. Music has taken over radio, especially FM stations. There are news stations and a small amount of sports stations, but no more programs like â€Å"The Masked Avenger† anymore. AM stations still have some entertainment programming and NPR still has talk shows, but these stations are just no longer popular. In fact, they are a dieing breed; almost extinct. Radio holds a place in people’s lives today that is relevant, but not central as it was shown in â€Å"Radio Days†. I believe it has become better. In â€Å"Radio Days† the character actually listened to the radio. Today people only really hear the radio. With the inventions of the TV and internet, the fact that radio still holds its own in the entertainment industry is amazing.

Marijuana Tax Act

Marijuana was declared an illegal drug in the USA with the passing of the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937 under dubious circumstances. 1 Since that time numerous studies have shown that the drug is less harmful than tobacco and alcohol. Despite the available evidence and the enormous cost of enforcing the marijuana ban, it is hard to understand why this relatively harmless drug continues to remain illegal in the United States. This essay argues why marijuana should be decriminalized without further delay. Opponents of legalizing marijuana contend that it is a dangerous drug; this is far from the truth. For example, there has not been a single recorded case of death due to marijuana overdose. On the other hand, a legal intoxicant like alcohol results in the death of about 5,000 persons every year due to overdose. The reason for this is that the ratio of cannabinoids2 necessary for intoxication is 40,000:1 while that for alcohol is generally between 4:1 and 10:1. (â€Å"Answers To†¦ ,† 2005) As such marijuana is one of the least toxic substances and would have to be consumed in physically impossible quantities to prove fatal. As for the health effects of marijuana, a World Health Organization (WHO) Study, which was scheduled to be published in December 1997 but was suppressed by its top management due to political pressure, had reported that Cannabis fared better than alcohol and nicotine in five out of seven comparisons of long-term damage to health. (Concar, 1998) In terms of addictiveness too, most studies show that marijuana was less addictive than alcohol, nicotine and caffeine. (Quoted in â€Å"Study Compares†¦ ,† 1994) A common myth about marijuana is that it acts as a ‘gateway' drug, i. . , marijuana use leads to use of harder drugs such as heroin or cocaine. This theory is disproved by the fact that after the legalizing of marijuana in Holland in the 1970s, heroin and cocaine use declined markedly, despite a slight increase in marijuana use. If the ‘gateway' theory were true, the use of hard drugs should have gone up rather than down. (â€Å"Answers to†¦ † 2005 ) Other charges against marijuana, based mainly on prejudiced and unreliable studies, are that it contributes to an escalation in crime and is responsible for increased driving accidents. The linkage between marijuana and crime is absolutely false because, if anything, marijuana actually lessens aggressiveness in the user. Only â€Å"driving under the influence of marijuana† could be hazardous but it is far less problematic as drunken driving. (Ibid. ) Enforcing the ban against marijuana in the US costs the tax payers as much as $ 12 billion annually; it also diverts the energies of the law enforcing agencies that would be better served in fighting the spiraling crime rates in the country's cities. This is reflected in the fact that there have been nearly 6. 5 million marijuana arrests in the United States since 1993,3 far exceeding the total number of arrests for all violent crimes combined, including murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. (â€Å"Marijuana Prohibition Facts,† 2004) Apart from the ‘direct' estimated cost of $ 12 billion that would be saved by legalizing marijuana, the government would also be able to collect a considerable amount of money by way of taxes. Moreover, de-criminalizing of the drug would eliminate much of the underground criminal network in the country that gives rise to numerous social problems such as spreading corruption and graft among the law enforcing agencies. It is unfortunate that policy makers and law enforcers have failed to learn the lessons of Prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s when a similar ban against alcohol had escalated crime to astronomical levels and deprived the government of much needed tax revenue. It would, therefore, not be wrong to conclude that the rationale behind the continuing criminalization of marijuana is based on false premises and difficult to defend. Most scientific studies have conclusively shown that marijuana is a far less harmful drug than alcohol and tobacco. The cost of enforcing the existing harsh laws against marijuana possession is unnecessary and diverts the attention of the American justice system, which would be better served in fighting violent crime and terrorism. As such, there is no reason why marijuana should not be legalized forthwith.