A 13th Century Blockbuster Hit :: essays research papers

A 13th Century Blockbuster Hit   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  If one were to ever watch the movie The Usual Suspects he or she might get bored with all the flash back storyline, the change in stories of the suspects, and the play between the characters, but if one were to hold out till the very end of the movie they would see what a great movie it truly is. Now, one must not worry that this ending will be divulged in any shape, way, or form, that would be rude and would ruin the greatness that is the movie’s ending. However, from one great ending to another, the ending of Dante’s Inferno will be discussed in all its glory of storyline, symbolism, and imagery. So sit back, relax, grab some popcorn and try to enjoy (at least a very small bit) this boring synopsis of a great ending to a 13th Century movie (or what some may call, â€Å"a book†). Canto 31 is not a very significant canto; it is merely a transition canto from Circle 8 to Circle 9 with a small story thrown in so that it is not so obvious to what is being attempted. This canto begins with Dante and Virgil walking through a rocky area as Dante sees what appear to be towers of some great city in the distance. As the pair progress onward, Dante realizes that these are not towers but rather four giants buried in the rock, up to their navels. Of the four giants, Dante attempts to talk to one named Nimrod who is believed to be the King of Babel the legendary city that attempted to build high enough to reach heaven. It was due to this action that the city was knocked down in punishment and people were given different languages so that they would not be able to communicate such a project again. With such a punishment upon his people, Nimrod himself could speak nothing but gibberish so Dante and Virgil proceeded onward to Antaeus another giant to whom Virgil speaks kindly in order to be placed down into circle nine. At the end of Canto 31 and the beginning of Canto 32, Virgil succeeds in his flattery and so Dante and Virgil are lifted into the giant’s hand that then lowers them down into Circle 9, the circle of traders. They are now in the frozen city of Cocytus, which consists of a giant frozen lake of the worst sins committed throughout all time.

BMW’s Competitive Edge †A Case Study

Premium car makers operate in a highly dynamic and competitive marketplace. BMW is among the companies that have shown a stronghold on global markets that include Europe, US, Asia, and emerging markets in the Middle East. Its history shows instances when it has come under pressure from market forces, but the European carmaker has proven, time and again, that it can spring back and rejoin the race of top industry players. Recent years have even seen BMW appealing to new-generations users opting for winning design standards and quality. Indeed, BMW’s latest car models boast of enhanced performance and dynamics, making the carmaker one of the strongest luxury car contenders that continues to aggressively battle for consumer attention in the contemporary age. BMW’s Competitive Edge – A Case Study Cutting-edge technology, driving pleasure, comfort and luxury are closely associated with luxury cars like BMW, Lexus, Mercedes Benz, and Audi. For the average car buyer, each of these marques commands a strong presence. On the other end of the spectrum are the discerning clientele, whose fierce loyalty to a car brand or high regard for automaking heritage may account for sales volume uptrends. Indeed, premium carmakers, among them German automaker BMW, continually vie for consumer attention and nurture high hopes of hitting record sales despite rising costs related to materials and new model launches. What BMW has in great measure, though, is a sound business strategy that banks not so much on decades of experience and foresight but more on using a coherent theme or image as â€Å"the ultimate driving machine† to utmost advantage. After many false starts in the twenty years after the war,† (Kay, 1999, para. 8) BMW has clearly made â€Å"the match between the distinctive capabilities of the organization and the market opportunities it faces† (Kay, 1999, para. 8). In recent years, the pressure on BMW has been emanating mainly from the persistent threat of substitute products. Notwithstanding its vast experience and â€Å"ability to develop and use sophisticated technical skills†¦ the source of competitive advantage for so many German companies,† (Kay, 1999, para. ) BMW faces the tough possibility that luxury car buyers may opt for alternative brands in the market vis-a-vis the latter’s price offerings. The perceived level of product differentiation is another thing to contend with in the highly competitive luxury automobile industry. What may strike some customers as a refreshing innovation may be totally revolting for others. In most cases, it all boils down to a brand war. A satisfied BWM owner, as personified by the high-level executive of a fast-expanding conglomerate in Asia, cited brand as the most compelling reason to purchase a BMW. â€Å"It’s a good, reliable car† (J. Lucas, personal communication, July 31, 2008). Yet, as another ranking business executive asserted, â€Å"Mercedes Benz is still the best, while Audi is the rising star† (A. Lagmay, personal communication, July 31, 2008). Indeed, consumer tastes and requirements are evolving, and premium car producers who have made sizable investments in automobile design, quality and performance stand to reap some profit. In BMW’s case, solid growth was realized during the first half of 2008, despite testing economic conditions in certain automobile markets across the world (â€Å"BMW Group increases sales,† 2008, para. ). Today, pressure is mounting with the threat posed by the entry of new competitors. Automobile industry players stepping up price competition had been evident in the first few years of the 21st century, with â€Å"low price or incentives† serving as the â€Å"prevalent means to displace market share from competitors† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 735). To contain the costs, companies like BMW set up production plants in global growth markets. Business cycles fluctuate, though. While the European prestige car maker posted increased sales of its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands by 4. percent from January to June 2008 (â€Å"BMW Group increases sales,† 2008, para. 1), it was â€Å"not entirely able to avoid the difficult economic trends in important individual markets such as the USA and Japan†¦ global sales slipped 2. 8 per cent in the month of June to 146,138 units† (â€Å"BMW Group increases sales,† 2008, para. 2). Under its Chief Executive Helmut Panke, BMW has dramatically expanded its product offerings, setting its sights on market segments of the future. However, â€Å"moving into smaller cars meant earning the lower margins that were typical of those market segments† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 41) as compared to mid-size sedans and luxury limousines. As an analyst pointed out, â€Å"Compared with volume producers, BMW’s manufacturing costs are much higher, its product development cost more costly, and its purchasing costs higher† (Edmondson, Palmeri, Grow, & Tierney, 2003, para. 13). In essence, BMW has had to contend not just with the bargaining power of customers, but also with the bargaining power of suppliers which provide the unique resources to sustain its main sources of competitive advantage: brand quality and reputation of reliability. Nowadays, as the intensity of competitive rivalry heats up, BMW’s burning obsession with performance and brand identity or image has aided the firm in closing the widening gap with other luxury cars. BMW’s research and development teams have been caught in a frenzy to maintain competitive edge. â€Å"Development teams that pore over everything from (such) market feedback to innovations are encouraged to engage in `friendly fighting’ to decide the vital characteristics of a new BMW† (Edmondson, et. al, 2003, para. 24). As it faces countless threats and risks, BMW remains poised to prevail and deliver. Among the critical success factors in the high-end market where BMW competes is its design and brand appeal, which had become the customers’ overriding choice features (Lencioni, 2004, p. 741). Effective branding, likewise, created â€Å"emotional connections between customers on one side and products, salesmen, other users on the other† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 736) although this was true not just for BMW but for other luxury marques as well. One thing that worked to BMW’s advantage had been its â€Å"firm control on the supply chain† (Lencioni, 2004, p. 737). BMW nurtured long-running and dependable supplier relationships. Coupled with a highly talented workforce that operated at â€Å"the most flexible and most productive† factories in Germany (Edmondson, et. al, 2003, para. 20) to churn out vehicles with styling variations, unprecedented performance and safety features and individuality, the German carmaker remains a potent force to reckon with in the international automobile industry.

Business Explore

The rise of integrated reporting and increased investor focus on extra-financial factors are part of a new global attitude toward business. One example of this trend is provided by research from Ceres, an advocacy organization for sustainability leadership, into the evolution of sustainability practice in companies (Ceres, 2014; Ceres & Ramani, 2015). To understand what makes some companies more useful when it comes to delivering sustainability performance without sacrificing mission, Ceres focused its studies on how boards and directors provide oversight for sustainability. Their research discovered that by making both executives and governing boards formally accountable for sustainability performance, organizations can face the increasing pressure to deliver on sustainability and maintain social mission. Governance practices can provide a framework for building mission into the DNA of organizations. To take this inquiry further, more research is needed to capture current learning across sectors and to identify mission-supportive governance practice as it evolves. Sharing this information with budding social entrepreneurs, MBA students and investors, to increase their understanding of governance as a solution to mission challenges, could help develop more sophisticated attitudes toward the role of governance across the sector. Additionally, more research into Mission monitoring that makes use of metrics and enables governing boards and managers to evaluate mission alongside financial performance and deliver oversight and accountability in both areas is needed. Investor engagement is another area where more research could be beneficial. As the sector continues to expand into the mainstream, new investors will be joining the boards of growing social entrepreneurships and exerting their influence. More work on how the leaders of these organizations can create proactive strategies to identify investors who align with the mission and negotiate favorable terms for mission preservation would be welcome. More research into how investor behavior, and the impact that has on mission preservation, could yield clues as to why so many businesses find mission pushed to the margins as they grow. There is also room for developing practical resources to help social entrepreneurships establish effective investor engagement and communication strategies. As the sector matures, finding the right people remains challenging for organizations in the hectic scaling stage. More extensive use of skills matrices—and matrices developed especially for mission-driven businesses—could help. A specialist referral service, online skills bank or recruiting agency could be established to connect organizations with appropriate candidates.

John Muir Essays

John Muir Essays John Muir Essay John Muir Essay Brendon Guichet HIST 1020 John Muir paper In a lifetime of exploration, writing, and passionate political activism, John Muir made himself Americas most expressive spokesman for the mystery and majesty of the wilderness. A crucial figure in the creation of our national parks system and a visionary forecaster of environmental awareness, he was also a master of natural description who suggested with exceptional power and intimacy the landscapes of the American West. The Boyhood of a Naturalist† is Muirs account of growing up by the sea in Scotland, of coming to America with his family at age eleven, and of his early fascination with the natural world. As a boy, Muir was fond of everything that was wild† and took great pleasure in the outdoors. He explored nature with an intellect of no other and articulated a great concern toward animals and everything that surrounded him. In 1849, Muir and his family immigrated to Wisconsin. The great forests of Northern United States capt ivated him and fueled his desire to learn more. In Wisconsin Mr. Muir commenced in farming along with his brothers and father. The whole family had to work very hard to help clear the land and run the farm. A lot of the responsibility fell to John as the oldest son, since his father was often away doing church work. He had a great interest in and love of nature and all living things. Of the many advantages of farm life for boys, one of the greatest is the gaining a real knowledge of animals as fellow-mortals, learning to respect them and love them, and even to win some of their love†. Another way that Muir relates his writing to the surrounding nature is the way he loved his animals. John was extraordinary when it came to recounting his occurrences with nature and animals. John writes, â€Å"She was the most faithful, intelligent, playful, affectionate, human-like horse I ever knew, and she won all our hearts†. John even appreciated women especially his mother by studying birds. He understood everything his mother did for him especially when he says, â€Å"to feel that it in no way differed from the divine mother-love of a woman†. Even though John related his works through nature, animals, and women he also examined the class structure in a different way. During this time period many gender and race issues were prevalent. We are able to see John’s perceptions on many class, race, and gender matters when he says, â€Å"they have no rights that we are bound to respect, and were made only for man to be petted, spoiled, slaughtered, or enslaved†. When John and his family migrated over to Wisconsin, they had servants who worked on the farm for them. This was not uncommon as to slavery was legal during this time period and no one questioned this. John, his father, and brothers traveled first to make sure they had a house to stay in. Before winter came, the house was ready for occupancy, and in November, Mrs. Muir and the rest of the family arrived from Scotland. Gender differences were very common and John understood this. John was surrounded by the males everyday doing farming activities, while the women stayed inside cooking and cleaning. In a fairly common custom of earlier day morning and evening family worship, the Muir family regularly practiced religion on a weekly basis. John’s father was very harsh on him and made John study the bible everyday. He went to Sunday school, bible lessons, and church all through out the week. John writes, â€Å"father carefully taught us to consider ourselves very poor worms of the dust, conceived in sin†. In conclusion, John Muir used his perceptions and surrounding by connecting them in his work with nature. John showed us that we can accept nature’s distinctiveness as one of our own. He showed us that at a young boy he still understood gender, class, and race differences. John later on became one of the most respected natural writers that ever lived. We can all learn life lessons from John and his experiences he had as a young boy.

Modal Verbs Quiz with Answer Explanations

Modal Verbs Quiz with Answer Explanations This quiz asks you to match each sentence about Jack to its explanation. Reach each sentence and read the possible meanings until you find a sentence that expresses the main idea. Match the following statements with the meaning below.   Jack could get to work earlier.Jack must get to work earlier.Jack should get to work earlier.Jack needs to get to work earlier.Jack might get to work earlier.Jack has to get to work earlier.Jack couldnt get to work earlier.Jack doesnt have to get to work earlier.Jack mustnt get to work earlier.Jack shouldnt get to work earlier. Its absolutely necessary for Jack to get to work earlier.Its possible for Jack to get to work earlier.Jacks unable to get to work earlier.It isnt necessary for Jack to get to work earlier.Its forbidden for Jack to get to work earlier.Its important for Jack to get to work earlier.Its a good idea for Jack to get to work earlier.Its absolutely necessary for Jack to get to work earlier and someone forces him to do so.Its a good idea for Jack to get to work earlier.It isnt a good idea for Jack to get to work earlier.Its a possibility that Jack might get to work earlier. Modal Verb Quiz Answers with Explanations 1. Jack could get to work earlier. Answer:  Its possible for Jack to get to work earlier. 2. Jack must get to work earlier. Answer:  Its absolutely necessary for Jack to get to work earlier. 3. Jack should get to work earlier. Answer:  Its a good idea for Jack to get to work earlier. 4. Jack needs to get to work earlier. Answer:  Its important for Jack to get to work earlier. 5. Jack might get to work earlier. Answer:  Its a possibility that Jack might get to work earlier. 6. Jack has to get to work earlier. Answer:  Its absolutely necessary for Jack to get to work earlier and someone forces him to do so. 7. Jack couldnt get to work earlier. Answer:  Jacks unable to get to work earlier. 8. Jack doesnt have to get to work earlier. Answer:  It isnt necessary for Jack to get to work earlier. 9. Jack mustnt get to work earlier. Answer:  Its forbidden for Jack to get to work earlier. 10. Jack shouldnt get to work earlier. Answer:  It isnt a good idea for Jack to get to work earlier. Did you have a hard time understanding? Here is a quick guide to  basic modal verb usage. Learn more about modals with this discussion about modal verbs of probability.

Modern Finance Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Modern Finance - Coursework Example The management style and organisation culture are the main factors in determining the ways of growth. The organic growth involves internal improvement of organisation. Internal improvement includes the achievement of core competency that leads to develop competitive advantage in the industry. Organic growth is a long term process where the growth rate is comparatively low. In case of inorganic growth, company aims to achieve higher success within a short period of time. Inorganic growth can be achieved by merging or acquiring other companies, strategic alliances etc (Indian Council for International Amity, n.d.). Inorganic growth is the latest trend of the business world. Increasing competitiveness raises demand for inorganic growth. Merger and acquisition (M&A) is the most desirable approach in inorganic growth strategy for a company seeking rapid growth. Mergers and acquisitions are different concepts. According to Zeng, â€Å"merger is term used for companies and similar bodies rather than assets and liabilities† and these two companies joins together and becomes â€Å"a single indistinguishable whole† (Zeng, 1999, p.19). In case of acquisition, â€Å"ownership passes from one person to another† as an acquirer company completely takeovers an acquired company. (Zeng, 1999, p.19) This paper will attempt to deal with the merger and acquisitions and its various aspect. In this process, the reasons behind the M&A and its influencing factors will be analysed. The process and issues in M&A will figured out with proper example. The impact of M&A on the business environment will be discussed pointing out its positive and negative effects. Before focusing on the motives of mergers and acquisitions, it is necessary to analyse the growth oriented corporate strategies of organisations. An organisation must decide its ways of growth. In order to achieve higher market share and profit, and to become the market leader, an organisation tries to growth in an inorganic

Education Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Education - Coursework Example The session is followed by a fifteen minutes of group or individual work, which gathers students in order to share the progress of their work. Additionally, students prefer the use of projection slides, as well as handouts in order to complete their presentation. The teacher supervisors, these presentations and group discussions in order to ensure that the content brought to class is relevant to architecture and is helpful to other students (Isenberg & Jalongo, 2010, p. 110). The lesson entails a number of practical lessons where students are involved in some architectural drawing and building and construction works. Cognitive theorists were largely concerned with various changes in the understanding of a student resulting from learning, as well as with the fundamental environmental importance. However, constructivism itself bears a number of variations like cognitive apprenticeship, discovery learning, and generative learning, based learning, and situated learning. Therefore, constructivism promotes the exploration of students within a certain structure or framework. When architecture students are working on a similar task their objectives, goals at times are different, and the discovery theory should be applicable to enable them discover on their own. At the end of every task, students should share their creations and solutions since it helps to motivate them and more importantly, it demonstrates various ways in which a single task can be completed (Kay, 2005, p.79). Group discussions are necessary in developing English, ICT, and mathematics as well as acquiring wider skills. A large number of students easily acquire knowledge when shared by their peers and can easily remember compared to the thing taught in class by a teacher. Architecture students are supposed to present using proper English, which enables students, learn fluent English outside and in class. Students undertake a large number of activities