Marketing Syllabus Spring

The student will then have ten (10) days to respond in one of the following ways: Sign the form and request a meeting with the Academic Dean to discuss the allegations and or proposed sanctions; Sign and return the form to the Academic Dean accepting responsibility for the violation and agreeing to the recommended sanction(s); If the student fails to respond within thirty (30) days, a hold will be placed on the students account and the right to participate in the resolution of the allegation will be forfeited.Formal Resolutions: If the alleged violation could result in the suspension or dismissal from the university, or if the student or faculty member requests a formal resolution, the Academic Dean will notify the faculty member and the student(s) that a formal hearing of the Academic Dishonesty Committee will be convened. The committee will be comprised of seven (7) full time faculty members to be appointed by the Vice-President for Academic Affairs on an annual basis. The Academic Dean will serve as chair and will not have voting privileges. The Vice-President for Student Development will serve as an ex officio member of the committee.The Academic Dean will schedule a hearing in a timely manner and all parties will be notified often and location. If the accused student requests, the Academic Dean will assist the student in securing a member of the university community to advise and assist the student in preparing for the hearing. All parties will have the opportunity to present his/her evidence to the committee. The documents, testimony and record of the hearings will be confidential. Upon completion of the testimony, the Committee will meet in closed chambers and vote on the disposition of the student's status at the university.Penalties: Depending upon the intent and severity of the violation, a student found responsible for any act of academic dishonesty will be subject to one or more of the following penalties: The student is placed on academic honor pro bation until graduation. For any student on academic honor probation, a second violation will result in a minimum sanction of one semester of suspension from the university. In addition to academic honor probation, a student might also receive a grade of â€Å"F† on the assignment or test; students might also receive an â€Å"P' in the course; or be suspended or dismissed from the university.No provision will be made for the student to receive a â€Å"W† regardless of whether the professor or student initiate said request. If the student receives a grade of â€Å"F† for the course or is suspended or dismissed from the university, the transcript will indicate the grade with â€Å"HP† and/or the notation â€Å"Academic Honor Suspension (Dismissal). † All students found guilty of academic honor violations shall have a written letter detailing the violation and sanction placed in their permanent record. Copies of this letter will also be sent to the f aculty member of the course, appropriate College Dean, and to the Vice-President for StudentDevelopment. Appeals: A student may submit a written appeal of a guilty finding to the Vicissitude for Academic Affairs within ten days of receipt of the original decision. Appeals must be based on new evidence, additional information, or procedural errors or misconduct. The Vice-President's decision is final. 4) Exam Policy: The administration of a final examination prior to the date designated is considered a violation of University policy; therefore, no final exams for this course will be given other than on the specified day and time without the express approval of the Dean of the College of Business and Management.Such exceptions may be given for only the most extreme and sensitive cases. Other than such exceptions, no â€Å"make-up† examinations shall be administered. It is essential that each student plan accordingly, especially regarding post-term travel plans. 5) Accommodation Statement: â€Å"Lynn University makes reasonable accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (DAD) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. If special accommodations are needed, please contact the DAD compliance Officer at 561-237-7069 or [email  protected] Du to assist in commenting and defining those needs.Accommodations are not retroactive therefore, for any accommodation the instructor must be presented with the form specifying the needs. The Academic DAD Specialist is located in the Green Center. 6) Incomplete Grade: A. For a student to be eligible to receive an incomplete for a course: 1) The student must provide to the dean of students documentation of the extenuating circumstance(s) that prevent him/her from satisfying the course requirements and learning outcomes of that particular course. 2) The student, at the time of applying for an incomplete, must have employed 2/3 of the term and have a passing gr ade.B. The application process: 1) The student will have the option of applying for an incomplete in one or more courses. 2) The student will obtain and complete the incomplete application form and bring it to the dean of students with appropriate documentation. The dean of students will verify that the student's application satisfies the eligibility criteria. If the application satisfies the eligibility criteria then the dean of students will return the approved form to the student who will then take the form to the professor of the course.The professor and student will draw out contract, which includes but is not limited to: all coursework to be completed and the deadline for this material to be submitted. After the student agrees to the terms of the contract and signs the form, the professor will take the contract to the dean of his/her college. The dean will then review the contract and sign the form upon approval. The â€Å"l† is now official and the contract is binding. The dean of the college will distribute copies of the contract to the professor, the student, the dean of students and the Registrar.Each recipient will place the copied contract in the appropriate file. The roofless will keep one copy and the original will be placed in the student's file in the college of his/her major. C. The form: 1) Will be available online. 2) Will contain current grade, what specific assignments are to be completed due date for all material (not to exceed One year beyond the original term final grade due date), and state that the final course grade will be a ‘W† if the student does not complete the requirements. 7) Withdrawals: Students are limited to eight undergraduate and three graduate course withdrawals. ) Assignments: Papers must be submitted ONLY through the Assignment link n Blackboard. For assistance with Blackboard, contact the IT Help Desk at 561-2377979. Late papers will not be accepted without penalty without the prior consent of the professor. Extensions may be granted on an individual basis and will only be granted for particularly sensitive cases. The granting of makeup papers shall be at the sole discretion of the professor and will not be given except for particularly sensitive cases that are discussed at length with the professor.In any group project, the student is expected to become an integral team member, with active input, interaction, and contributions. Once mea members have been selected, it is the responsibility of the team to agree upon the work assignment and allocation of team resources. A student who does not completely follow through with that student's commitments to the team will not receive a passing grade for the project. 9) Dress code: For all activities in the classroom that involve a guest presenter, as well as for field study visitations, the student shall be required to dress in business casual attire.If the instructor determines that the student's appearance is inappropriate for a sc heduled activity, the student will not be permitted to participate. 0) Questions and concerns: Students who have concerns or questions regarding academic matters relating to this course are urged to consult with the instructor. Students should be familiar with information found in the current Lynn University Academic Catalog. Required Texts Articles, Videos, and e-mails throughout the term as provided by the professor, including postings on this course's Blackboard companion site.Suggested Reading and Sources (1) Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, subscription available at www. Superciliousness's. Com Course Requirements Each student will complete all assignments and is responsible for Discussion Board postings on Blackboard. Details about each of these projects are attached to this syllabus. You may complete any assignment in any order you please. Try to complete one project every two weeks, and to complete your Discussion board posts on a Weekly basis. All work is due by Fr iday Feb. 27 at 1 1 :pm properly posted in Blackboard.Grading Grading is based on the following system: Deal Maker USB LOC Discussion Board USB Advertising USB Launch Party Total 20 points 100 points Grades for each of the factors listed above will be posted progressively throughout the semester, and will be accessible to the student through the university online Blackboard system. Student final grades shall be rounded by tenths to the nearest whole number. A grade of exactly one-half point shall be rounded to the next highest whole number. Student grades shall not be rounded by hundredths to the nearest tenth.

Case Analysis Essay

The case exposes problems that a world leading mobile telecommunication handheld producing company is facing under the pressure of complex internal and external challenges. The company, Research In Motion (RIM), is experiencing success in the smart phone market with explosive growth rate and big market share. The BlackBerry products which integrate different functions have reached 14 million subscribers worldwide and have over $ 6 billion in revenue. However, the great potential smart phone market also comes along with intense competition. RIM can hardly rest on its success and have to face other strong competitors. Meanwhile, several SHRD problems arise from the explosive growth of RIM. The R&D, the key factor to RIM’s success, has increased significantly both in terms of total number of employees as well as geographic scope of its operation. The explosive growth has caused great pressure on the R&D team. What’s more, great demand for engineers has made the talent and space scarce. Several feasible options are offered in the case, providing solutions to address the SHRD issues. The company is facing the problem in finding the way to manage its explosive growth. Environment Analysis RIM is operating in a sunrise market, a market with great potential and immense competition. RIM is the leading figure in the telecommunication market with explosive growth. BlackBerry which is RIM’s featured products, has reached 14 million subscribers worldwide and has over $6 billion in revenue.( Mazutis, 2011) RIM has more than 100,000 enterprise customers and an estimated 42 percent market share of converged devices thanks to its â€Å"push† e-mail architecture and built on security.( Mazutis, 2011) Besides North America, the telecommunication market has great potential worldwide. In China, there are over 524 million subscribers with only 39 percent penetration. (Mazutis, 2011) India is also experiencing fast growth rate with a 60 per cent increase and only 21 per cent market penetration. (Mazutis, 2011) However, great potential comes with great competition. Several competing platforms exist in the market. Symbian holds an estimated 65 per cent worldwide share of c onverged devices. (Mazutis, 2011) Apple’s iPhone also has a great impact on the smart phone market. What’s more, Microsoft and Apple are actively pursuing the business segment. The explosive growth rate has caused great pressure on RIM’s R&D teams at the headquarters in waterloo. In order to catch up with the dynamic market situation, RIM needs to ensure its R&D investment match its total sale. The hiring department at RIM has to work overtime in order to keep up with the growing demand for qualified engineers. Moreover, the R&D group has expanded to more locations not only in North America but also in England. Problem Identification The problem lies on the conflicts between traditional growth strategy (enterprise culture) and the high demand of R&D resources from rapid growth. RIM has unique culture that keeps a low employee turnover rate and maintains a good working environment for engineers. Centered in waterloo is the core to keep such culture. However, such concentration has caused SHRD issue regarding the high demand of R&D resources. The historic growth strategy makes the recruitment can hardly catch up with the pace of fast growth. To source from local talent pool, through employee referrals and new graduate recruitment has already consumed most of the best developers in the area (Mazutis, 2011). What’s more, attracting outside talent to Waterloo was difficult given the competitive nature of the global software development industry. The shortage of physical space at RIM’s Waterloo campus and the specific recruitment make it even harder for RIM to find qualified engineers. Solution: Enterprise culture is needed to be changed in the RIM case; The DNA of the company is needed to be rearranged. Instead of keeping the â€Å"Waterloo centered† culture, RIM should make further move in the direction of â€Å"dual core†. It is obvious that Waterloo is facing both talent and physical space scarcity. The location lacks the ability to attract talents out of the region due to the nature of the highly competitive software industry. Although RIM has already made expansion outside Waterloo, the â€Å"Waterloo centered† is so deeply rooted in the culture that makes the expansion lagging behind the fast growth. RIM should reinforce the status of its research facilities in America. Instead of keeping two separate R&D departments at different locations, RIM should merge the two departments into one big â€Å"Headquarter† in America at a desired location. By merging to one location, RIM can avoid the problem of development integration and promote innovat ion. Thanks to the comprehensive legal framework to protect intellectual property in America, RIM can put parts of its core work at the â€Å"headquarter† in America without worrying piracy and relief the pressure at Waterloo. What’s more, the American headquarter also has strong advantage in recruiting talents nationwide. The HR department should establish co-op program to attract talent new graduate student. The nationwide campus recruitment campaign should also be conducted by the lead of the HR department. In order to maintain low employee turnover rates, competitive employee benefits and enterprise culture education should be guaranteed as part of the HD strategy. Action Plan: Phase one: American headquarter location selection. In order to select the most suitable location for the headquarter in America, the location must have the following characteristics:1) technology sector has already been existed in the location 2) big local talent pool 3) close to top level universities with strong engineering program. The mentioned location selection criteria would make sure the company has the ability to meet the high demand from R&D group. Current location Dallas or Chicago are the best choice relocation cost would be minimized. Phase two: The involvement of HR department. Enterprise culture shift should be conducted by the HR department. The â€Å"dual core† culture should be introduced to current employee and managers. Current Waterloo employee should be contacted whether they have the will to relocate. Phase three: The HR department should establish new co-op program at the new location. On campus recruitment campaign should be conducted at universities with strong engineering program. Meanwhile, good employee benefits and enterprise culture education should also be provided in order to keep a low employee turnover rate. References: Mazutis, D, (2011)ï ¼Å' Research in Motion: Managing Explosive Growth. Richard Ivey School of Business, The University of Western Ontario.

Summary of chapter 11- business ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Summary of chapter 11- business ethics - Essay Example Any business in the creation of its products will use resources and make waste by products. Through this process it functions within an ecological system. Ecology is the â€Å"science of the interrelationships among organisms and their environments.† Ecosystem refers to everything within the ecology which is both living and nonliving. These systems are interconnected and have a framework of checks and balances. If one of these systems experiences a change, all those that are connected to it will be affected as well. Effects of tampering by man can have unforeseen consequences which can be both injurious and beneficial. Though businesses are usually blind to such factors they have a duty to take them into consideration. In a traditional sense both society and business have considered the environment a free and unlimited resource. Though actions by a singular company are negligible, collectively their pursuits cause depletion of natural resources. In certain cases these policies may end up affecting the public such cases are known as spillover or externality. Thus spillovers cause the public to not only pay for their products but also the byproducts of their manufacturing process. The efforts taken to internalize processes so they do not adversely affect the environment are essential for our own benefit. Certain businesses may choose not to follow this business contract and the public would find themselves dealing with the spillover. According to Blackstone, every person â€Å"has this right qua being human and because a livable environment is essential for one to fulfill his human capabilities.† Given this right, acknowledging our actions is the moral course. Though despite this acknowledgement all this does is prevent the environment from degrading further. We must thus be careful to not consume that which we know is scarce. Before we can save the environment, it must first be decided which state we want to leave it in. Do we want to preserve it or restore

Risks Assessment of Work Environment of Titanic Cove Resort Essay

Risks Assessment of Work Environment of Titanic Cove Resort - Essay Example This paper analyzes all the hazards, which are present in the workplace of Titanic Cove Resort as well as the risks associated with each hazard. Moreover, this paper puts forward suggestions and suitable measures for dealing with these hazards in order to reduce their riskiness. Cost-benefit analysis has also been done to state the costs and benefits related to non-compliance with the legislation, hazards and recommended controls. In the end, risks assessment table has been attached in order to provide the glimpse of overall situation at Titanic Cove Resort. Along with that, an action plan has also been prepared to notice how the suggestions and measures can be put into effect. WHS legislation is the legalities and laws that are formulated for the health and safety of workers of organizations. All the employers and workers are required to comply these laws. Non-compliance with these can be hazardous for not only the workers but for the overall organization because if the workers are not performing up to the mark due to hurdles in working environment lack of good health, then it can result in monetary as well as non-monetary loss of the company. Examples of monetary losses include loss of profits, increased costs etc whereas non-monetary losses include loss of reputation, brand image, and goodwill. Complying with WHS Legislation is compulsory for every organization. Titanic Cove Resort also needs to comply with WHS Legislation because the number of hazards and associated risks are present in the work environment of the respective organization. Breaches of Legislation can provide a glimpse of the expected losses that might result in non-compliance with the WH S Legislation. A slight glance at the results of Breaches of WHS Legislation has been mentioned below.

Reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Reading - Essay Example In past people used to willing spend much time on reading, reminiscing and thinking about what is written in these materials. Furthermore, the content provided by present writers lacks investment of much effort and thought. Previously, writers used to spend great amount of time on writing and paying close attention to what they write. This is quite evident as old writings used to have in-depth details. Today’s writers focus on the quantity of writing instead of focusing on the quality of it. I agree with Macdonald’s opinion that the printed material in present days is not worth reading and putting in extra effort to understand what is written in a patient and involved manner. We can simply skim these materials quickly to know what is being talked about in these writings and that is all we need to know. When I was in secondary level of schooling in China, I was accustomed to reading the daily newspaper as soon as I used to wake up. This custom was handed to be by my own grandparents. My grandparents used to read the newspaper in quite an attentive manner. They used to do so even when they had obtained ample amount of information from televised news. They used to claim that reading the news is much satisfactory than simply watching it over television. They instructed me to decrease the rhythm of reading newspaper because they believed that newspaper have a lot of information and knowledge to offer. However, now I have being betraying their custom of reading newspapers. I feel that I am betraying them because I believe that reading newspapers and articles again and again is of no use and I even find this practice quite boring. Every day newspapers and their different sections contain information that is simply flashy and these newspapers lack significant information. The information in the newspaper is overwhelming to me because I do not have enough time to read them. I feel that reading newspapers is a waste of time. Due to

Global Warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Global Warming - Essay Example The solution is through the concerted efforts of various nations to help each other deal with this environmental trouble in one accord. There are international treaties or agreements that have been made by various nations to help lessen and remedy the damage done by global warming to the environment. Two international and multilateral agreements, the Montreal Protocol of 1987 and Kyoto Protocol of 1998, pay much attention to the damaging effect of world activities to the atmosphere. As cited by Morissette (1989): Its formulation was a response to a growing international consensus on the need to protect stratospheric ozone from depletion by CFCs. The Montreal Protocol is a landmark agreement in that it is the first international treaty for mitigating a global atmospheric problem before serious environmental impacts have been conclusively detected. Upon the agreement of the various countries that participated in the formation and agreement to the Montreal Protocol, the battle against global warming further developed as time went by, and with new concerns. This eventually led to a new agreement known as the Kyoto Protocol.   The  Kyoto Protocol of 1998  is an international treaty deliberated to communicate nations collectively to decrease  global warming,  and to deal with the effects of temperature increases that are inevitable after more than a century of heavy industrialization. Manne and Richels (1998) exposited that this was â€Å"to reduce their aggregate anthropogenic carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by at least 5 percent below 1990 levels in the commitment period 2008 to 2012.† (p.2). The nations that approve of the Kyoto Protocol concur to decrease emissions of six greenhouse gases that increase the problems of global warming. These nations are also permitted to utilize emissions trading to reach their obligations if they maintain or increase their greenhouse gas emissions. All of these activities

Business law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Business law - Essay Example The second area of grounds for action is the failure of the transit agency, with regards to assigning a staff member, who would oversee the safety measures to be observed while using the buses owned by the company. Further, the roles of the safety director should be clearly stated. From the case of the Lancung bus, it is apparent that the driver took the responsibility for safety, by refraining the dancing of the passengers at the bus, which was not enough to maintain safety during the duration of travel. The other area that a suit against the company could be based on is the limitation of the role of employees, towards accident prevention at the bus. First, it should be noted that the responsibility of accident prevention lies with all personnel, including higher ranking staff like the board of directors to low ranking staffs like drivers. In this area, the company holds the responsibility of hiring qualified personnel, who can aid in the prevention of accidents. The orientation and training of employees should also be carried out, with special regard to accident prevention. Particularly, in the case of drivers, the agency should have employed drivers who are knowledgeable in the area of the accident prevention system, procedures and policies, which were not observed by the driver in question (Byman 5-7). Other areas that drivers should be knowledgeable in, include federal, local and state regulation on safety, these including the OSHA, state safety belts. This is especially an important area, as the driver – from the case – only required that the passengers sit down, but did not give any regard to the use of safety belts – which may have avoided the injuries noted. The company should also have checked the driver for knowledge on safe limitation and operation of brakes and transit emergency procedures. Of particular significance to the case is the questionable experience of the driver, who should be knowledgeable in avoiding sudden stops à ¢â‚¬â€œ which were the direct cause of the injuries, on-board altercations and the action to be taken, and passenger evacuation – where there is need for that. These areas will offer the grounds for action in law to the passengers of the company in question, which may be sued for the injuries sustained by the passengers (Byman 8-15). This case is comparable to that of Donoghue v Stevenson  [1932]  UKHL 100, where Mrs. Donoghue drank a bottle of ginger beer, which contained a snail. After the incident, she fell ill, which made her sue the ginger beer manufacturer. During the hearing, the house decided that the manufacturer had failed to exercise their duty of care to her – as a customer of their beer. Therefore, it was noted that there was the breach of that duty of care, as the manufacturer’s failure to check the safety of the product had caused her harm. In the same line, the case of Lancung transit shows a case of breach of the duty of care, as the company , according to its accident prevention program – should have ensured that the safety of all the passengers was maintained at maximum. An example of the duties of care breached include requiring the

The growth in internet use has affected cultures around the world, Essay

The growth in internet use has affected cultures around the world, leading to a westernised, homogenous culture - Essay Example This is so especially in the case of internet, which is a rapidly growing service almost available and accessible in all parts of the world. The internet, thus is known to have a major influence in people’s lives, their values, traditions as well as culture. This influence is steering the minds of the users into a westernised path of life. However, on the other hand, people are also seen to work towards the uplifting their own culture, as more and more languages are added to the internet in the present time, in order to increase the number of local users. Therefore, growth in the use of internet brings the whole world together into one large westernised homogenous culture while people also follow their own local cultures. Since the ancient times, the superior cultures have almost always had their influence on other cultures. This can be seen by taking the example of the British rule over India, Africa and such other countries or even when the Germans gained control over France . The dominating country always tried to imbibe their way of living as well as culture on the suppressed. This has both benefited the oppressed country as well as had negative influences too. But basically, taking the case of India, the country is in a much better position in terms of intellectuality and has been able to grasp modernity more because it was once under the rule to the British government, which was the driving force back in those days. Now with the advent in technology as well as with the creation of the mass communication computer network called ‘Internet,’ it is easier for the leading countries to promote their own culture. Now the difference here is that, in the olden times people were forced to accept the culture of the dominators, whereas now they have a choice, where they can choose whether to accept this culture or not. In the present world, globalisation aims at â€Å"interdependence† between different countries â€Å"rather than dominanceà ¢â‚¬  of developed nations over the developing or underdeveloped ones (Samovar et al. 2009, p.296). Internet is like an exchange forum, where people communicate and they come to understand the cultures of other people and also share their own cultures in this process of interaction. Internet is growing and now possessing its own culture, it is known by different terms such as â€Å"super-medium, meta-medium or a hybrid-medium† (Elm, n.d., p.85). It is this medium that enables the formation of various â€Å"virtual communities† throughout the world, resulting in a global coming together of people belonging to different nations (Hongladarom, n.d., p.2). Now the main people behind the development of such a medium are obviously the Westerners, who have always remained a superpower, and it becomes clear that the United States as well as UK has major â€Å"cultural and commercial influences† on countries all over the world (Chapter 4, p.49-http://wlxt.whut.edu.cn/new /wlyx/Resource/PaperAnswer/chap04im.pdf). As mentioned earlier, this paper aims to evaluate the influence of internet use in bringing together different cultures into a more homogenised one through the fields of business and language. Both these fields are interconnected and it is possible that when one aspect is taken into consideration, the other may be a prevalent affecting factor there. In order to know

Japan Earthquakes' Effect on Japan's Environemnt Research Paper

Japan Earthquakes' Effect on Japan's Environemnt - Research Paper Example In 2011, Japan recorded the strongest earthquake in the recent past, which later triggered a devastating tsunami along the northern pacific coast. This earthquake, named the Great East Japan earthquake, caused massive losses in Japan. The 9.0 earthquake caused a 124 foot tsunami wave, deaths of close to 20’000 people, and massive destruction of homes. Apart from these losses, the earthquake caused the nuclear accident that occurred in Fukushima Prefecture (LÃ ¼sted 4). The fact that Japan is an earthquake prone country makes it prepare for such happenings. In 2011 earthquake, tsunami early warning signs enabled Japan to take the necessary precautionary measures that helped in saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Unfortunately, the 2011 earthquake struck with massive waves that were of bigger magnitude than it was previously predicted. This was the reason why many people lost their lives, massive property destruction, and severe damage on the environment. The massive losses of lives that are evident in different earthquakes that have struck Japan are mainly due to subsequent effects that follow an earthquake. Majority of these effects are environmental in nature, and their impacts may last for a prolonged period of time (LÃ ¼sted 11).usted 11). What is an earthquake? An earthquake refers to a sudden movement of the earth due to an abrupt release of energy that has piled up over a prolonged period. Numerous studies support that a majority of earth quakes occur along boundaries where plates making the earth’s outer layer meet. Scientists use the knowledge of locations where earthquakes take place and the nature of ruptures they produce to describe the plates boundaries. It is worth noting that a majority of destructive earthquakes are as a result of dislocation of the earth’s crust. In such situations, the crust exacts its effects by bending and then breaks and snaps to a new position when the prevailing stress exceeds the pressure exerted by rocks (Alexander 47). The earth has three types of plate boundaries. The first boundaries are the spreading zones. In these zones, molten rock material rises up; this leads to the separation of two plates and addition of material along their edges. Spreading zones are most common in oceans. The second types of boundaries are the transform faults, which occur where plates move past each other. Earthquakes that occur along these plates happen at shallow depths, leading to visi ble straight linear patterns. The third types of plates are the subduction zones, which occur in earth’s regions where one plate subducts another plate. This phenomenon pushes the subducted plate downwards into the mantle causing it to melt. Subduction zones form shallow or deep earthquakes, deep ocean trenches, and mountain ranges that have volcanic activities (Alexander 55). Geologists have evidence that supports the idea that earthquakes occur frequently along faults. These regions of the earth show areas of weakness along the earth’s crust. Once an earthquake has occurred along a fault zone, it is unlikely that all stress is relieved from the earth crust. This situation creates a chance for another earthquake to occur in the future. In some cases, earthquakes are likely to strike before, during or after a volcanic activity. In this case, earthquakes are not linked to the occurrence of the volcanic eruptions, but the force associated with the volcanic eruption cause s the earthquakes to happen (Oxlade 35). Seismographs are the

What is meant by the term gothic Essay Example for Free

What is meant by the term gothic Essay Gothic literature, which is sometimes referred to as Gothic horror, is a genre that links horror and romance into one tale of ‘transgressing the boundaries’. Gothicism was unheard of until the late 1700’s, this movement into a new genre of literature. This was pioneered by the English author Horace Walpole, in his famous fictional book ‘The Castle of Otranto’, or as Walpole alternatively titled it ‘a Gothic story’. Horace Walpole himself had transgressed the boundaries slightly; by introducing this new style of writing he had added a whole new genre into literature. Walpole’s style of writing was unique and captivated the readers mind and imagination to let he or she share the act of transgression, or as Robert Kidd, a renowned critic put it, â€Å"The Gothic has somehow seduced the reader so that he or she is complicit in engaging in whatever he or she might encounter†. This is what kept Gothicism alive, the author’s ability to intrigue the reader and give them a thirst to read more gothic literature. The term Gothic has been viewed as very different things over time. Gothicism came about at a very tumultuous time, after the fall of the Roman Empire, a time of raw and uncontrolled exercise of physical power. The Goths were a barbaric tribe of murderers, rapists and thieves, later the term was known as ‘Medieval’. Nowadays the term Gothic is viewed very differently by modern society, when thought about now, one thinks of it as horror. It is in rock bands, the theatre, but mainly in the modern film industry. Gothicism has become somewhat of an obsession to modern film producers and leading film companies in recent years. This acceleration of Gothic themed films started in 1922 with the film ‘Nosferatu’; this was then followed by ‘Rebecca’ in 1940. And the list continues, Sleepy Hollow (1999), Corpse Bride (2005), Sweeney Todd (2007), and one of the more modern examples, the newer version of The Woman in Black (2012). This just highlights the extent of interest in modern society about modern Gothicism. The standard thought of somebody, when they are posed with the question ‘What do you understand about the term Gothic?’ would most likely be fairly predictable. The scene would be set in the heart of a dark, wet forest away from any normal civilisation. The building would be a dark and rundown old mansion in a large empty clearing with large empty  rooms and halls. Gargoyles would be clinging to the exterior of the building, and a decrepit, collapsed roof leaking and dripping in the driving rain. When the innocent traveller knocks on the door hoping to gain refuge and shelter from the storm, he is greeted by an emaciated, gangly butler who invites them in, as they fail to notice the menacing grin as they enter the dark, badly lit and claustrophobic corridor. The scene created is one of fear and horror which is typical of Gothicism. All these features are motifs in Gothic literature. These tools are what all authors of Gothic literature use without exception. This is for the simple reason that these tools are what keep the genre of Gothic literature alive. The author uses the reader’s natural, urge for adrenalin boost and thrill, through suspense and mystery to make the book successful. In almost every Gothic text, the reader is in a position of dramatic irony where he or she can see everything happening and unfolding, without the ability to stop it. Another one of the main reasons, as to why Gothic Literature is such a success is because; Gothic texts allow the reader to think the unthinkable, and to sublimate their innermost desires, psyche and their wildest imaginations. The reader is able to satisfy his or hers innermost desires through the pages of the book. The reader finds refuge through Gothic text. This is no exception with the authors. The author also wants to satisfy their imagination by creatively and articulately channelling their thoughts into a work of art. Robert Kidd writes in his ‘Transgressing the Boundaries’ article, â€Å"The power and passion of Gothic Literature seemed eminently suited to the iconoclasts who wished to challenge the status quo†. There were many famous writers like this, for example, Horace Walpole, Lewis, Godwin and of course Mary Shelley. The authors and readers of Gothic Literature share a very special connection. Both sides gain from books and share the same feelings as one writes and one reads the book, with both satisfying their imaginations. Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ or ‘The Modern Prometheus’ is a known as a Gothic text. Although Frankenstein is indeed a gothic text, it does not include every element of Gothic text. However it is impossible to read the book without realising that there are a lot of Gothic techniques within. A major part of Gothic literature is mystery, and this is present from the very beginning of the book. We experience mystery firstly in the letters on  pp. 15-31. The reader at this stage does not know who is writing the letters (He is soon revealed as Robert Walton) and who the Mrs Saville he is writing to is. This is the first mystery; the next is why Robert Walton is writing in such a serious tone, â€Å"Rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied†. Already the reader is feeling a sense of danger and mysteriousness in the book. This is an exact example of the reader being driven to read further to satisfy their curiosity. Gothic Literature is not only about horror; romance also plays a very large part in it. And this is also present from the very beginning of the book. In the letters mentioned in the previous paragraph, as well as the mystery and danger sensed by the reader (â€Å"Rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied†.), the reader also senses the love between Robert Walton and his sister, Mrs Saville. There are of love and affection in every single letter without exception, for instance â€Å"Farewell, my dear, excellent Margaret.† And the list can continue with numerous examples. The various examples above that contribute to a Gothic text are not lone samples. These various themes and motifs continue throughout the text. Gothic text also has a reputation for not immediately beginning with horror and dark mystery; rather it begins with peace and harmony that gradually changes throughout the text, and again ‘Frankenstein’ is a testimony to this. When Victor completes his pride, his experiment, his son, his reaction is one of ecstasy, â€Å"Beautiful. Beautiful!† which quickly changes to one of disgust and abhorrence, with his words â€Å"the beauty of the dream vanished, and a breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.† This emotion of love changing to disgust is verification of Shelley’s efforts make ‘Frankenstein’ a Gothic text, as many texts do. Mary Shelley, in the book ‘Frankenstein’ or ‘The Modern Prometheus’, went to great lengths to make the book a Gothic text, and indeed it went on to become one of the most famous Gothic texts in history.

Daimler Chrysler Customer Service Review

Daimler Chrysler Customer Service Review How Effective Customer Services  Are Provided at DaimlerChrysler Customer Service We have all heard, demanded, used and complained about customer service at some point in our lives as consumers. And depending upon what the issue was, the term ‘customer service’ differed based upon whatever it was we received, did not received, or thought we should have received. The preceding is exactly the point. Customer service seemingly differs depending upon the industry as well as the segment within the particular company that the public deals with. And while the corporations we deal with are huge organizations, our conception of customer service comes down to those individuals within the company with whom we come in contact, as well as those we do not. Blacharski (2006, p. 17) in his book â€Å"Superior Customer Service: How to Keep Customers Racing Back to Your Business – Time Tested Examples from Leading Companies â€Å" tells us that â€Å"Customer service is not just the responsibility of the service center or call center †¦Ã¢â‚¬ , it represents â€Å"†¦ a comprehensive, integrated strategy that involves every single area of the company†. In today’s highly competitive environment, customers have the information as well as option to pick and choose from any number of competing products which aside from elements of style, manufacturing processes and some features, are basically highly similar. Lilien’s (1974, pp. 279-285) examination of why consumers buy as contained in his work â€Å"An Application of a Modified Linear Learning Model of Buyer Behavior† found that consumer learn on a continual basis of the quality as well as characteristics of the brands they purchased, as well as those of friends and associates. And therein lies the point, a brand represents a certain image it conveys, and we expect that image to deliver in real terms when and after we purchase. Mention a brand, is if the company has successfully cultivated its image, that brand will conjure up certain thoughts and a stance regarding the company in our minds. Mention Microsoft, Coca-Cola, IBM, BMW or DaimlerChrysler and you probably form some sort of opinion or image just from hearing the names, either from personal experience, those of associates, friends or the company’s advertising and or market reputation . The preceding companies are recognized as the top most respected companies according to surveys and studies by the Financial Times PriceWaterhouse Coopers in 2005 (FinFacts Ireland, 2005). The foregoing is integral to what is termed branding, as well as customer service, as these images or expectations are what we are lead to believe we are buying, in addition to the actual product, the company behind it! The foregoing leads us to an examination of how effective customer service is provided, utilizing DaimlerChrysler as the example, compared against the next best or best company in this area in the automotive industry. We will look at what makes these companies revered, and why, and how they stack up against the industry as well as each other. In order to equate customer service as it applies to the automotive industry, we will need a standard of measurement as well as some baseline areas from which to make an assessment. To do so, we will utilize the ranking and rating system employed by JD Power and Associates (2006a) who are recognized as the foremost independent authority in this area. According to the JD Power and Associates ‘2006 Customer Service Index (CSI) Study’ in the United States conducted among â€Å"†¦ 79,580 owners and lessees of 2003 to 2005 model year †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (JD Power and Associates, 2006b) automobiles. Lexus, a Toyota Motor Corporation (Wikipedia, 2006) ranked as the number one company in customer service with a ‘Customer Service Index Ranking’ of 912 out of a possible 1,000, with Mercedes ranked at number 22 with a ranking of 872 (JD Power and Associates, 2006b). Surprised? This means that there are 21 companies rated ahead of Mercedes in terms of customer service satisfaction, yet mention Mercedes and it still conjures up images of superior craftsmanship and quality. So, what exactly were the determining factors in arriving at the preceding rankings and what were the reasons? According to JD Power and Associates, customer satisfaction is the overall experience one has with the dealership, and particularly the service department, whereby they interface with the personnel regarding routine as well as other vehicle service needs during ownership (JD Power and Associates, 2006b). The importance of the preceding is that those customers who are satisfied with service as well as their experience with the dealership, which represents their point of contact with the automobile company, will be likely to not only return for service, they will likely purchase their next vehicle from the company as well. And the preceding 22nd ranking has not been lost on the executives at Mercedes. The company has announced they are focusing upon a new image that â€Å"†¦ emphasizes service †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Crain Communications, Inc., 2006), with the label for this new direction termed as â€Å"Appreciation†. The foundational pillars of Mercedes strategy are centered upon service, value, comfort and safety in a push to win back buyers who have been put off by a decline in quality, the centerpieces of success which Lexus has focused on. The company’s group vice president, Bob Carter, stated that the goal of Lexus â€Å"†¦ is to deliver 100% customer satisfaction† (PR News Today, 2006). To understand the success of Lexus, and the repositioning of Mercedes, one needs to understand that customer service means (Carlaw and Deming, 1998, p. 4): â€Å" Doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. Going beyond what’s expected. Adding value and integrity to every interaction. Being at your best with every customer. Discovering new ways to delight those you serve. Surprising yourself with how much you can do. Taking care of the customer like you would take care of your grandmother.† Introduced as an automotive brand seventeen years ago (1989), Lexus has captured the number one spot in this category eleven times (PR News Today, 2006). Effective customer service is not what the company thinks it is, it is what the customer thinks it is, and this is the important distinction in understanding effective customer service. The measurements entailing the rating of customer service include (USA Today, 2004): obtaining a service appointment at a convenient time, having the maintenance and or repair work performed correctly the first time the quality of work performed user friendliness pertaining to the service the overall customer service experience fairness of charges for service and repairs speed in completing the service appointment A big aspect of customer service rankings lies in the initial vehicle quality, meaning the improved quality of new vehicles thus necessitating the need for repair visits (USA Today, 2004). The preceding aspects represents one of the most important facets in garnering high levels of customer service satisfaction in that the lower the need for the customer to contact the company regarding things that need fixing, the higher their satisfaction will thus be. The foregoing has been consistently mentioned in customer service rating comments regarding the surveys conducted by JD Power and Associates which stated that brands have moved up in their customer service rating through â€Å"†¦ improving the quality of new vehicles †¦Ã¢â‚¬  with this aspect thus resulting in â€Å"†¦ fewer repair visits† (USA Today, 2004). With this in mind, along with the other customer service points, lets look at the reasons behind Lexus high rated performance versus Mercedes 2006 Vehicle Brand Ratings 5 Star Rating Points (With 5 representing the highest) (JD Power and Associates, 2006c) The preceding, as pointed out by JD Power and Associates provides a strong correlation between the high customer service ratings achieved by Lexus, and the lag Mercedes has felt in this quarter, and the resulting lower customer service satisfaction scores. Conclusion As stating in the beginning of this presentation, consumer perceptions regarding the aspects of customer service varying according to what they individually find and deem as important to them. A long wait on the telephone, a missed service appointment call back, an out of stock part, an automotive rattle, a mechanical breakdown, warranty areas for areas that might be borderline in terms of coverage are all facets that figure into the broad world of customer service. Thus, an automotive manufacturer’s best defense against all of these variables is the building of a quality product that results in fewer potential problem areas for their customers. This has been the approach of Lexus, Lincoln BMW and other brands, and now this mantra has been taken up by Mercedes as well. And while the best customer service is a result of not needing to contact the company at all, as a result of a worry and defect free product, the fact is that taking care of customer needs in every contact represents the opportunity to build upon their purchase experience and gain their loyalty. Mercedes has this lesson to build upon. Bibliography Blacharski. D. (2006) Superior Customer Service: How to Keep Customers Racing Back to Your Business – Time Tested Examples from Leading Companies. Atlantic Publishing Company. ISBN: 0910627525 Crain Communications, Inc. (2006) Mercedes’ new image emphasizes service; Sporty is downplayed, brand focus returns to value, comfort, safety. Retrieved on 20 October 2006 from http://www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1referid=2930purchase_type=ITMitem_id=0286-15953710 FinFacts Ireland (2005) World’s Most Respected Companies 2005. Retrieved on 20 October 2006 from http://www.finfacts.com/biz10/worldsmostrespectedcompanies.htm JD Power and Associates (2006a) Autos. Retrieved on 20 October 2006 from http://www.jdpower.com/autos JD Power and Associates (2006c) JD Power Consumer Center. Retrieved on October 21 2006 from http://www.jdpower.com/autos/brand-ratings/ JD Power and Associates (2006b) Lexus Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Dealer Service. Retrieved on 20 October 2006 from http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2006119 Lilien, G. (1974) An Application of a Modified Linear Learning Model of Buyer Behavior. Vol. 11. August 1974. Journal of Marketing Research PR News Today (2006) Lexus Reclaims Top Spot in JD Power and Associates Customer Service Index Study. Retrieved on 20 October 2006 from http://www.prnewstoday.com/release.htm?cat=autodat=20060720rl=LATH10120072006-1 USA Today (2004) Lincoln owners rate service best. Retrieved on October 20 2006 from http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-07-20-dealer_x.htm Wikipedia (2006) Toyota Motor Corporation. Retrieved on October 20 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Motor_Corporation