Greek Golden Age essays

Greek Golden Age essays This paper tells you about the Golden Age of Greece, which is from 500 to 350 BC. It tells about what Greeks did, who they worshipped, and other important things. The thing the Greeks are best known for, is their gods, and stories about them. The stories explained how things became. For instance, one story said that before the earth was made, there was a fight between a god, and a giant. The god killed the giant, and the parts of the giant became the earth. His teeth became the rocks, and his hair became the grass. His hands and feet became mountains, and his toes and fingers became trees. Some of the gods were Zeus, who was the ruler of all the gods, Hera was his wife, and Hermes was his messenger. Artemis was the goddess of the moon, and Apollo was the god of the sun. Poseidon was the god of the sea, Loki, the god of mischief, and, Dionysus, the god of wine. The Greeks, made sacrifices to the gods, so that the gods would honor them, and help them in times of trouble. They sacrificed animals, and other things that were special to them. The Greeks built temples, where they worshipped the gods. Each city had several temples, because each temple was used to worship one god. In each temple, there was a statue of a god that they worshipped. They had an extra big temple, and statue for the god that guarded their city. The Greeks had lots of heroes, who were like role models for their children. Hercules was the strongest man ever, and destroyed many monsters with his strength. Perseus had killed a monster called the Medusa. If someone looked at it, they would immediately turn to stone. Oddysseus beat the Trojans in the Trojan war, and on his way home, with his cunning, tricked, and killed many monsters. The Greeks are also known for their creativity, and knowledge in arts, such as making sculptures, music, and paintings. They made statues out of clay, gold, silver, and bronze. For instruments, they used harps and flutes. ...

Informative Analysis BMW Group

Informative Analysis BMW Group Company history Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Informative Analysis: BMW Group specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The BMW Group has positioned itself amongst the 10 largest car manufactures globally The BMW Group was established in 1917 and has managed to position itself amongst the 10 largest car manufacturers globally. Initially, the firm’s core operations entailed designing and production of aircraft engines. Over the past few years, the firm has undergone significant growth. The growth has arisen from implementation of Strategy Number One which was formulated in 2007. The strategy is aimed at attaining two main goals which include; To boost the firm’s long-term value growth. To attain a high level of profitability and returns. Mission statement The firm is guided by a clear mission as stated below; To become the world’s leader in provision of premium services and products in order to enhance individual mobility. Values The firm’s operations are guided by a number of core values which have been the cornerstone of its success. These values include; Responsible action Long-term thinking Environmental protection Social and ecological sustainability Corporate governance The firm’s corporate governance strategy is aimed at enhancing its ability to attain the set goals, objectives and values. The BMW Group has incorporated a comprehensive corporate governance strategy that is comprised of a set of principles, systems and processes.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The firm’s corporate governance strategy is aimed at enhancing its ability to attain the set goals, objectives, and values. Moreover, the firm intends to maximize shareholders’ wealth through corporate governance. The Group is cognizant of the fact that its success will be dependent on the effectiveness with which its operations are managed. As a result, the firm’s management team is constituted of two main organs which include; The Board of Management The Supervisory Board The two boards are constituted of experienced individuals who ensure that effective decisions are made. A high level of trust is ensured between the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board. As a result, the degree of collaboration is improved significantly. Additionally, the BMW Group has formulated its code of operation on the basis of the German Corporate Governance Code. This has enabled the firm to effectively address the shareholders and other stakeholders’ needs. Corporate sustainability Currently, sustainability is one of the most important aspects that firms should consider in their quest to remain competitive. Elmaraghy (34) is of the opinion that adherence to sustainable development determines an organization’s long-te rm success. Elmaraghy (35) cites three main aspects that contribute towards sustainable development. They include; environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Informative Analysis: BMW Group specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The firm’s commitment towards economic sustainability is evidenced by incorporation of a value-added supply chain Environmental sustainability The BMW Group appreciates the importance of developing sustainability in its quest to attain long-term and profitable growth. One of the sustainability issues that the firm focuses on is environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability is concerned with improving and safeguarding human welfare for example by conserving the environment within they operate. In the course of its operation, the BMW Group is committed towards environmental sustainability by ensuring gentle and efficient resource utilization. Adoption of product diversification strategy is motivated by the need to generate profitable growth. Social sustainability According to Elmaraghy (35), a firm attains social sustainability by respecting the needs of the society which it operates. In line with social sustainability, the BMW Group appreciates the fact that there are risks associated with failure to adhere to social sustainability. Such risks may result in loss of reputation and hence the firm’s long-term survival. The BMW Group has developed a strong relationship with the society within which it operates. The BMW Group encourages its employees to be involved in social activities. In 2012, the firm awarded some of its employees for their commitment to the society (Tricker 12).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Economic sustainability This aspect of sustainability involves developing a firm’s long term economic viability and profitability. The firm’s commitment towards attainment of economic sustainability is evidenced by incorporation n of value-added supply chain. In 2012, the BMW Group was ranked 2nd on the basis of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Products The firm has incorporated a comprehensive financial services portfolio. In the course of its operation, the BMW Group appreciates the fact that the market is characterized by varying product and service tastes and preferences. Consequently, the firm has integrated the concept of product diversification. Adoption of this strategy is also motivated by the need to generate profitable growth. The firm specializes in production of premium car and motorcycle brands. Some of the premium car and motorcycle brands that the firm produces include; BMW BMW-Mini BMW Motorrad Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The BMW Group top premium bra nds include Rolls-Royce, Mini and BMW. On the other hand the two main motorcycle brands include Husqvarna and BMW (BMW Group 1) The firm’s motivation to generate profitable growth is one of the factors that drive the firm to expand its product range and to strengthen in global market position. The firm’s production processes are guided by innovation, high performance and engineering excellence. The Group’s products are ranked amongst the best automobile brands in the world. Services The BMW Group is focused towards profit maximization. Consequently, it has incorporated a comprehensive financial services portfolio. The financial service portfolio developed by the firm is based on appreciation of the fact that financial services constitute an essential component in the success of the mobile world. The BMW Group Financial Services is composed of a number of services which mainly relate to provision of financial information. The Group provides financial services in approximately 50 countries globally. Multi-brand financing Leasing Insurance Asset management Dealer financing Company car pools Banking In The BMW Group is cognizant of the global changes that are currently being experienced. One of the elements that the group appreciates relates to mobility. Demand for new individual mobility solutions within the society has increased significantly. However, the global economy has become very volatile as evidenced by increased economic uncertainty thus affecting the group’s operation. One of the ways through which the firm intends to achieve profit growth is by investing in continuous product improvement. Despite these challenges, the BMW Group is committed towards attainment of its goals and objectives. One of the ways through which the BMW Group intends to achieve this is by investing in continuous product improvement. The product improvement process is conducted on the basis of three main product aspects which include technological, cu ltural and structural aspects. In its product development process, the firm ensures that its products and services appeal the target customers. The Group achieves this by offering superb products that are characterized by; A high level of aesthetic appeal Innovative and modern technology High quality Dynamic performance Human capital The BMW Group considers human capital as one of the cornerstones in its future success. The BMW Group considers human capital as the most important factors in its future success. Consequently, the firm has developed a comprehensive employee development policy. The policy is aimed at developing a dedicated and motivated workforce. In 2012, the firm increased the number of apprentices by 10%. Additionally, more than 1,376 young individuals were signed into the firm’s one year training program. This increased the number of employees on the apprenticeship program to 4,266.The firm spent approximately â‚ ¬280 million on professional and vocationa l training. The training program is aimed at developing the firm’s competitive edge in an environment that is characterized by technological change. By investing in human capital development, the BMW Group is able to maintain its competitiveness with regard to technological excellence and innovation. For example, the firm’s research and development team is able to incorporate the consumers taste and preferences when designing their new automobile models (Deschamps 54). Earnings and performance Increment in sales The BMW Group has managed to sustain its profit growth over the past few years. However, 2012 was the most successful financial year in the firm’s history. During this year, the firm’s sales for BMW, Rolls-Royce and Mini premium brands increased to 1,845,186 units, which represent a 10.6% increment compared to 2011. The sales increment has enabled the firm to continue at the helm of the premium brand market segment. By adhering to Strategy Number ONE, the BMW Group intends to sell over 2 million MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW brand vehicles. The projection underscores the fact that the firm’s future success is anchored on its profitability. Growth in financial services segment Investment in the financial services segment also contributed towards an increment in the level of profitability. An additional 117, 000 customers were added to the firm’s customer base. The Chart below illustrates the firm’s earnings over the past two years. Group Income Statement in million â‚ ¬ 2012 2011 Sales revenues 76,848 68,821 Cost of sales -61,354 -54,276 Gross profit 15,494 14,545 Sales and other administrative expenses -7,007 -6,177 Operating income 829 782 Operating expenses -1,016 -1,132 Profit before financial result 8,300 8,018 Result from equity accounted investment 271 162 Interest income 753 763 Interest expenses -913 -943 Other financial results -592 -617 Financ ial result -481 -635 Earnings before tax 7,819 7,383 Corporate tax -2,697 -2476 Net profit 5,122 4,907 Source: (BMW Group 52) Sales and distribution networks The sales strategy adopted by a firm has a significant impact on the sales revenue generated. The BMW Group has adopted an effective sales strategy which entails establishment of sales subsidiaries. Currently, the firm has a sales network of 41wholly-owned sales subsidiaries. Moreover, the firm’s distribution network is also composed of over 3,000 dealerships. To satisfy international demand, the BMW Group has also incorporated the concept of exportation. Approximately 100 countries around the world are supplied by local importers. Production and assembly locations The BMW Group is cognizant of the fact that the premium car brand market is becoming competitive. Consequently, the firm has established 13 assembly and 24 production plants around the world. This has enabled the firm to effective and e fficient in meeting the global demand. The production plants are located in Germany, South Africa, Austria, Italy, and China. On the other hand, assembly plants are situated in Russia, Egypt, Thailand, India, Indonesia and Malaysia. The assembly plants are mainly operated in collaboration with external partners. For example, in Austria, the firm has entered into a contract production with Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG Company. Investment in research and development The BMW Group has established a comprehensive research and development network in various countries such as the US, China, Germany and Austria. Its commitment in research and development enables the BMW Group to be effective and efficient in aligning its products and services with market trends. The firm’s quest to achieve profitable growth motivates its investment in research and development. In 2012, the BMW Group invested â‚ ¬3.9 billion in research and development in order to secure its future growth. The BMW Group has been leading with regard to incorporation of new information technology options in its car models The firm has been at the forefront in integrating new technology in its car models. Some of the technologies that the firm has incorporated include BMW ConnetedDrive and the iDrive. Controversies The BMW Group was accused of launching pre-production prototype in the market (Herron para. 5). In line with its commitment towards environmental sustainability, the BMW Group invested in a program that was aimed at electrifying its Mini brand. However, the firm was accused by Marc Geller and Plugged In America that it did not comply with the CARB regulations. On the contrary, the firm introduced the new model in a rush in order to meet the deadline set. Moreover, the firm was accused of introducing a pre-production prototype which means that the new model was not a properly designed electric vehicle. Succeeding in the premium car brand industry is a challenging task. Consequentl y, firms in the industry have to ensure that they invest in research and development. Additionally, firms have to ensure that they continuously improve their products and services in order to align with the market changes. BMW Group: Brands 2013. Web. BMW Group: Annual report 2012. Web. Deschamps, Jean. Innovation leaders: how senior executives stimulate, steer and  sustain innovation, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2009. Print. Elmaraghy, Hoda. Enabling manufacturing competitiveness and economic  sustainability, Heidelberg, New York: Springer, 2012. Print. Herron, David. BMW mini e-program has major problems. 6 July 2009. Web. Tricker, Ian. Corporate governance: principles, policies and practices, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.

10 Writing Tips for a Winning Web Site

10 Writing Tips for a Winning Web Site 10 Writing Tips for a Winning Web Site 10 Writing Tips for a Winning Web Site By Mark Nichol Some time ago, I posted some general guidelines for writing for an online audience. Here are some specific time-tested tips for attracting and keeping site visitors with clean, clear writing: 1. Keyword Top Labels Use keywords for window titles and taglines, and keep them sharp and succinct. These labels are for helping Internet users get to your site because they typed them into a search engine and your site came up in the results, not for wowing visitors when they get there (assuming they get there, because you’re not using keywords to help searchers). 2. Keyword Display Copy Employ keywords, not clever words, to begin headings, headlines, and link names, and keep the display copy brief. Most Web site visitors scan just the first one or two words of display copy. In â€Å"Where to Go on Vacation This Summer,† the first keyword appears as the fifth word of seven. (Go isn’t a keyword, because you don’t yet know what kind of going is involved.) â€Å"Summer-Vacation Destinations,† by contrast, gives you three keywords out of three, with the two most important ones in first and second place. This approach is especially advantageous for a commerce site, but your personal blog shouldn’t be any different (assuming you want to attract new site visitors, not just impress current ones). 3. Avoid All Capital Letters Don’t use all capital letters, even in display copy. All-cap text is harder to scan and to read. Do, however, use initial caps for headings and headlines. 4. Avoid Exclamation Points Unless your site is all about bringing the funny or attempting to do so don’t use exclamation points. (Another exception: if all the i’s are dotted with circles or hearts.) 5. Omit Extraneous Spaces or Punctuation All-cap initials and acronyms, of course, but don’t separate letters with word spaces or with periods. Omit apostrophes when attaching a plural s to such abbreviations. 6. Avoid Superfluous Headings Eschew headings and headlines like â€Å"Features† and â€Å"Links† for self-evident sections. 7. Make Navigation and Display Easy on the Eyes Make it easy to find other pages and archived content, and avoid making the home page and other pages busy in general. 8. Keyword Navigation Never use â€Å"Click here† or â€Å"More† (by itself) or â€Å"Next page† for a link name. Use keywords: â€Å"Archive,† â€Å"More Top 10 Lists,† â€Å"Ski Trip, Day 2.† 9. Limit Font and Background Styles Avoid multiple fonts, font sizes, font colors, and background colors. Use one font for display copy and another for running text. Limit italics to emphasis of words and short phrases. Employ boldface generously in display copy but sparingly in running text. 10. Write for First-Time Visitors If you want to attract a general readership, write for a general readership. Don’t dumb down, but do explain obscure terminology and do spell acronyms out. (You could provide a glossary, but briefly explaining, or spelling out, an unfamiliar term needn’t be distracting to either lay readers or experts.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Business Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Passed vs Past7 Tips for Writing a Film ReviewHow Do You Fare?

Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of labour process Outline - 1

Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of labour process theory for our understanding of the impact of information and communication technologies in the workplace - Outline Example In this regard, the workers will lack an opportunity to develop and build on their talents. It is important to note that the adoption of LPT leads to the compromised output to the work done. The affinity of the machines to making mistakes is higher than that of human skills. LPT limits the aspects of innovation in that discoveries are hard to be deduced by the use of machines as opposed to the use of skilled work force (Price & McConney, 2012). Conversely, LPT fosters management control in that by using the ICT, the management system of the organization enables the management of the organization network and monitors all transactions done by the respective employees. LPT enables the use of various softwares such as the use of the Transaction processing systems among others. Data mining and cloud computing enables the activities of the organization to be managed from one central point. This is beneficial to the organization in that it is able to monitor the trend and performance of its employees (Downard 2009). Price, A, Mansfield, C, & McConney, A 2012, Considering ‘teacher resilience’ from critical discourse and labour process theory perspectives, British Journal Of Sociology Of Education, 33, 1, pp. 81-95. Pushenko, SL 2013, Risk-management and its integration to the system of labor safety management. (Russian), Vestnik Volgogradskogo Gosudarstvennogo Arhitekturno-Stroitelnogo Universiteta. Seriya: Stroitelstvo I Arhitektura, 34, 53, pp.

International business Case Analysis - Wal-Mart Essay

International business Case Analysis - Wal-Mart - Essay Example Why was Wal-Mart unsuccessful in Germany, withdrawing in 2006, and relatively successful in the UK? 12 Reference 16 How attractive was the discount retailing industry in the USA when Wal-Mart first began operations in the 1950s. The US retail industry has considerably changed over the few decades due to two related trends, one being the discount retailing and second factor is the increasing prevalence of the large retail chains. The discounting retailing sector is controlled by chains. The concept is fairly new and the first discount store appeared in the 1950s. Discount retailing is one of the most dynamic sectors in the retail industry. Until 1990s two important retail chains were Wal-Mart and Kmart (Jia, 2007, p. 5). The retailing industry is known to be the second largest industry across the globe with respect to total number of establishment as well as total number of employees. The retail industry generates about $3.8trillion annually. The top five retail industry operating acr oss the world are Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Costco and Kroger. Wal-Mart apart from being the largest retailer globally is also the largest company and generates approximately $256billion sales annually. In discount retailing industry the two main competitors are Wal-Mart and Target. ... With regards to Wal-Mart, suppliers who do not maintain or live up to the expectation of Wal-Mart point of system are thus replaced. Wal-Mart being a big brand and is powerful enough to make the suppliers recognise the fact and the situation when they do good business and thus can very conveniently switch suppliers at its convenience when they do not perform the work as expected. The suppliers also cannot afford to lose on the big brands, the key players and hence the supplier power tends to be low. As shown above the bargaining powers of customer are relative high as discount retail purchase can be substitutable and thus consumers has the power to go between the competitors depicting a high bargaining power. The switching cost involved in shifting from one competitor to another is also low and the consumers demand for high quality products at discount price. It is important to understand that consumer as individual does not have bargaining power with the retail stores but as a group consumers can demand a higher quality product at low price. Consumers are also price sensitive as a result the suppliers need to keep the price low to succeed indicating high customer power. Threat of new entrant is particularly low in the discount retailing industry as there exist a high barrier to enter the discounted retail industry with respect to investors, capital and competition. The huge capital required by a new entrant to compete with all the established retailers will take a longer time and establish them in the retail market. Although the switching cost is low for the consumers but brand loyalty towards a particular brand are relatively high and consumer would not like to shift towards a

Movie Scene Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Movie Scene - Research Paper Example He was afraid and worried for walking alone at this time of the night with so much money in his bag. There was certain type of uneasiness in his movement. Rain and alcohol made his vision blurred he was unable to see distant objects. Joey was almost ten steps away from his vehicle, when he suddenly heard screeching of wheels, and within a blink of an eye, a black SUV stopped in front of him. The doors of the car opened, and three well suited Chinese men stepped out of it. Joey knew all the three men from poker table. They were here to take away Joey’s winnings for this night, which they had lost to him earlier that night. Joey, who was already drunk, could not show any resistance to their assault, and he was on the ground with a few blows. Two of these men went back into the car, while the third one stood there and took three gun shots at their prey; he did not left Joey’s body, until it stopped responding. SUV disappeared into the dark, while Joey’s blood flowed along with runoff. The next time when Joey opened his eyes, he was in the ambulance, there were two female paramedics around him, while still half unconscious. He could listen to female voices around him, one of them was going through his wallet for his identification, she called out Joey’s name, his weight an height. After that Joey got lost, he saw his past rewinding in his mind. He recalled his assault with the Chinese gangsters, and the way called him â€Å"Gweilo†, which means white man. By putting more stress on his mind, he was able to discover the reason for his violent encounter with Chinese. It was the money that he had won from them, and they have come back to recollect their wealth, and they believed that he was a wicked American who tricked them in game of cards. He knew how to play poker, and he was best at it when he was drunk. He had memories of his uncle Franco, who taught him, tricks of how to win at poker table. Franco was probably

Tools of Organizational Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Tools of Organizational Change - Essay Example It is most viable to formally advise the employees why shifting to biometrics would be more effective than their current system, of say, manual checking of IDs by security personnel. Through an organizational or departmental meeting, the advantages of the biometric system should be communicated, as well as potential resistance to this application should be solicited and addressed (motivating change). By creating a vision through emphasizing a more secure working environment and a security system that is more effective through biometric, employees would realize its benefits through the ease of identifying, verifying, and cross-checking the validity of people entering the organizational premises. Developing political support entails the full acknowledgement and support from senior management, as well as all security and administrative personnel who would orient employees during the transition. Managing the transition entails determining the progress of the biometrics application, including addressing problems and unforeseen issues. Finally, sustaining momentum requires monitoring effective acceptance of the biometric system by the employees as they proceed with their daily organizational activities; as it apparently becomes integrated as part of their organizational life. Only then would this particular organizational change be deemed effective and smoothly enforced by