Tackling Gender Inequality Raising Pupil Achievement By...

In a society that claims to strive for gender-equality, would it be possible to apply measures in order to put to an end the mutual exclusion created by both genders from a young age? In her book Tackling Gender Inequality Raising Pupil Achievement, Christine Forde analyzes and critiques the policy and strategies implemented to tackle gender inequality. Forde’s work is still relevant to today’s society as it deals with issues such as the ‘underachievement’ of boys making it a perfect text to study in order to further understand the underlying causes and problems left to resolve. In this book review, we will be objectively and critically looking at the main arguments within the text, the positive and negative aspects of Forde’s critique as†¦show more content†¦This shows the reader the difficulty of the topic from the very start. This suggests that the educational system will always be more favorable to a certain group within our society beca use of societal expectations. It is also clear that because of the engrained stereotypes such as â€Å"girls are all hardworking† (Forde, p.5) and â€Å"boys are inevitably troublesome† (Forde, p.5) complicates the task of creating a gender-equal curriculum and environment. This is why it is important to realize that gender in education cannot only be evaluated as an individual variable, other factors (such as disability, poverty, religion†¦) come into play and can affect one’s education and identity. The first part of the book gives us background knowledge on this issue. Chapter two deals with distinct policies and strategies put in place since the 1970s in order to identify common trends to tackle gender inequalities. Most of the policies mentioned in the text explain that â€Å"’gender’ was a part of a more general inclusion policy and not dealt with explicitly† (Forde, p.15) but all do nevertheless try to create a ‘positive ethos’. In this chapter, it is shown that although policies did not have a focus on gender, when children participated in gender â€Å"played role† (Forde, p.17) stereotypical views would arise. â€Å"Girls thought that boys got more attention and both boys and girls agreed that girls were better learners† (Forde, p.17) this emphasizes and

Poverty in Everyday Use, Sonnys Blues, and The Cathedral...

Poverty in Everyday Use, Sonnys Blues, and The Cathedral Works Cited Not Included Comparing ?Everyday Use?, ?Sonny?s Blues? and ?The Cathedral?, one can conclude that they share a common meaning. Although all three stories consider poverty as their theme, each chooses to elaborate it in a different manner. In fact, ?Everyday Use? emphasizes on the state of extreme poverty in which certain people live. On the other hand, ?Sonny?s Blues? contributes to the theme by describing the poverty of spirit of Harlem?s ?inner kids?. Carver?s ?The Cathedral?, however, prefers to explore the notion of poverty as a state of one?s mind rather than the environment in which one lives. In ?Everyday Use?, Alice Walker chooses to develop the idea of†¦show more content†¦In fact, these boys grow rushingly until they reach the height where they could no longer grow because their heads ?abruptly bump against?(5) the low ceiling of their actual possibilities. These boys see no sense for their life, as there is nothing that can motivate them to study and believe that they will actually succeed: They were filled with rage. All they really knew were two darknesses, the darkness of their lives which was now closing in on them, and the darkness of the movies, which had blinded them to that other darkness and in which they now, vindictively, dreamed, at once more together than they were at any other time, and more alone (5) Instead, their poverty of spirit transforms them into isolated, ?fierce animals? that are filled with extreme rage towards others. They no longer look like other kids, as even their laugher bears no joy but is mocking and insular, and intends to denigrate others. Furthermore, the author questions the usefulness of teaching to these ?spiritually poor boys?. Since their futures are so hopeless, there is little benefit of teaching to them. In fact, there is no purpose for the narrator ?talking about algebra to kids that may all popping off needles every time they went to the head. Maybe it did more for them than the algebra could.?(4) In ?the Cathedral?, Carver chooses to explore a completely different aspect of poverty. Contrary to ?Everyday Use? and ?Sonny?s Blues?, CarverShow MoreRelatedJames Baldwin s Short Sonny s Blues And Raymond Carver1132 Words   |  5 PagesBeing able to relate to people can often be a huge problem. In both James Baldwin’s short Sonny’s Blues and Raymond Carver short story Cathedral. The main focus of the story is realization. In both stories the main characters are challenged with situations in which they must break free of their judgments. Both characters undergo a transformation and views life through the eyes of another character. What are their transformations and how are they similar, how they are different, and what does the

Strategy and international management Honda motors Free Essays

string(126) " different region is practicing a boom, so operating in different countries instability can be less experienced by companies\." Introduction This essay is about the potential objective of the multinational company of entry in to the new market for expanding business and maximizing profit in new explored market, and will highlights possible insinuation of a global company in host country economy. In this essay Auto car manufacturing Company will be critically highlighted that why multinational auto manufacturing company expands business to other regions and discover new market places and what are the grounds behind that step. The chosen company for this critical essay is Honda Motors. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategy and international management Honda motors or any similar topic only for you Order Now Before discussing Honda motors foreign direct investment (FDI), its motives of investing abroad from its home country, and the home country policies regarding FDI. It is vital to provide company background first and its history. Honda is sustaining a global point of view, and is devoted in supplying products of the uppermost excellence keeping in view a reasonable price for worldwide buyer’s satisfaction. Honda Motor Company Limited is possibly best branded as an auto maker. Among the car manufacturing companies in Japan Honda is second and fifth biggest and successful car manufacturing company in the world. Today Honda is renowned for its innovation, excellence, well-built and advanced engineering which combine to get the best possible output in auto market and that is the reason why Honda has strong image among leading car manufacturing companies. Honda is a Japan based company, which has made its name in the manufacturing of cars in very short period of time. Honda Motor Company was founded by Soichiro Honda and his partner, Takeo Fujisawa (Source, www.honda.com). Innovative strength of mind is obvious in the absolute name of their business, which is Honda Technology Research Institute Company Limi ted. Honda is considered to be the primary producer of engines across the world in terms of the complete volume of the engines it manufactures annually. Honda endeavoured into the Japanese car industry after 1960 with the T360 (Source, www.honda.com). In this essay I will focus Honda Motors investment in Pakistan. Honda Atlas Cars Pakistan Limited is a mutual enterprise between Honda Japan Motors and the Atlas Group Pakistan. Honda Company was established in 1992 and combined agreement was signed in 1993. The inauguration ceremony was held on 17th of April 1993 and within a very small time of 11 months, construction and erection of machinery was completed. Honda invested in Pakistan because of numerous reasons which can be called the perfect location for investment. As per Dunning the location, owner specific and internalisation advantages are three basic fundamentals for multinational company to invest across the border. Pakistan got strategic importance because of its prominent geography. Indian Ocean on one side and very close of Persian Gulf which is very significant for trade import and export purpose. Pakistan is like a gate way for Middle East, for Central Asia to China and India. Pakistan is at number 9 with a population of 140 million, so it is clear that Pakistan has got a vast market and around 40 million hard working cheap labour. Road and rail infrastructure of Pakistan is reasonable well dev eloped and it is developing time by time. Because of its link with Persian and Arabian Sea export processing zone is working from 1980 and because of large demand three more export processing zones have started working in Sialkot, Risalpur and Saindak. Honda invested in Pakistan because Pakistani economy usually showed sensitivity and possible aptitude to convene exogenous blows and minimize risk (Source:- www.unescap.com). Pakistan got very strategic place in term of foreign direct investment (FDI) as per economic survey of Pakistan FDI is increasing from 2006-2007 from 6 billion US dollar which is almost 48% higher than last year. According to figures there are around 3.9 million auto cars on the roads of Pakistan, and the demands for vehicles individually and combined are increasing rapidly, and prominent figure is calculated of 300,000 as an annual demand. Multinational companies from Japan, Europe and Korea have invested around 1.5 billion dollars in Auto industry of Pakistan (Source:- www.unescap.com). It is the matter of fact that developed markets drench with the passage of time, keeping this point companies still want to preserve expansion. Honda keeps a strong point of expanding their business to areas which are less saturated. Most of the certain saturated markets may welcome variety from other developed economies and companies attempt to invest in those markets to capture market share. Pakis tan government has eased up the investment policy environment foreign private investment. For welcoming and encouraging foreign direct investment in export-oriented industries, an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is set up in Karachi. The government of Pakistan has also ratify a wide set of investment incentives including credit facilities, fiscal incentives, and visa policy. Foreign controlled manufacturing companies exporting 50% or more of their production can now borrow working capital without any limit. Other foreign-controlled manufacturing companies including those not exporting and selling in the domestic market can borrow rupee loans equal to their equity without prior permission of the State Bank of Pakistan. Foreign investment in Pakistan is sheltered through the Constitution (Article 24) as well as through specific laws. Section 8 of the Protection of Economic Reforms Act 1992 provides legal cover to foreign investment in Pakistan. Honda established its unit in Pakistan due to several factors which they believe that will maximise their profit by investment abroad like abundant low cost land and natural resources, vast cheap and technical working people, increasing local market, reasonably developed infrastructure and important and critical location. As According to Dunning (2008) company invest abroad because of suitable climate, proximity to relevant markets, availability of raw materials and minerals, and availability of low cost advantages such as cheap labour. Honda invests overseas to lessen revelation to one market. This gives Honda international diversification and leads to benefits for Honda. As the global economy changes over the time and recession is affecting one area some time another economy in different region is practicing a boom, so operating in different countries instability can be less experienced by companies. You read "Strategy and international management Honda motors" in category "Essay e xamples" According to Dunning (2008), It has to be more gainful for the company to develop its resources in overseas, rather than in domestic, locations. Honda chose site in Lahore, Honda current location in Lahore Pakistan is near to Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore which can be easily and affordably accessed adding to this it can be easily access from motorway which connect main cities of Pakistan and nearly 90 km from Faisalabad international dry port. Honda is enjoying economical delivery of cars with its well managed delivery set-up all over Pakistan. Pakistan government policies are very much in favour for investors of auto makers to invest in Pakistan. Honda invested huge amount of investment in Pakistani market so that to get more benefit and capturing more international reputation from the cheapest cost of production in Pakistan economy, as there is availability of cheap and skilled labour as it is fact that companies with labour intensive production processes hav e a larger incentive to invest overseas and thus benefit from these cost efficiencies. This gives host country many advantages like increase in export, boost in economy and linkage with other countries. According to Lipsey (2002), FDI has a great influence on any host country economy and increases the interaction of countries and export from the host country increases as well. Customers who are interested in new models are manufactured in the local country (Japan) and as well as manufactures in Pakistan, is another, verdict weighty factor and gives a extra advantage to Honda FDI policy. Dunning (2000), said that market seeking factor is appropriate in the FDI decision making process. One of the reasons why Honda invests abroad is diversification. By diversifying, it reduces risk and by diversifying worldwide, one can reduce the risk further. International investing provides investors the opportunity to spread risks over more than one market. Due to rise in oil prices that increases transportation cost of vehicles from one country to other country so the prices of imported vehicles are normally are very high than the cars which are manufactured and assembled in home country. Honda is enjoying this case by establishing its manufacturing and assembling unit in host country as to maximise its markets shares and reduce risk. High import duties make imported cars prices higher and unaffordable. Market saturation and increased competition at home have lead automakers to the evident termination that future growth will occur in investing abroad where population is more and where the demand of cars is much. Honda motors have domination over its firm specific advantages and can exploit them abroad, ensuing in a higher trivial return or lower trivial cost than its opponents, and thus in more profit. This was said by Cantwell (2000), that advantage in technology might be used to increase international expansion and this can be motivating factor as well for companies. The s ubsistence of a particular know-how or core ability is an asset that can give rise to economic rents to Honda. These rents are gathering by Honda by licensing the Firm Specific Advantages to another firm, exporting products using Specific Advantages as an input, or amendment subsidiaries abroad. Honda has its unbeaten technological power and innovation in their manufacturing and this makes it the successful car manufacturing company in the competition. There were and still there are competitors for Honda in Pakistan as some companies started well before than Honda in Pakistan, they know how the market and environment is. According to Hymer’s (1966), to compete in the overseas market foreign companies must possess some kind of advantage. Such advantage can be of many different types, but the most obvious is size and market power. A business intend to build up a firm precise advantage in international market and development tends to be completed in the market because of locali sation feature like trading hurdles, expensive carrying costs, company mostly adopt this criteria by investing out from its home country in their own services to a certain extent than through, let take a example of a licensing or agreements. The more insubstantial the company exact advantage is much stronger that propensity would be. To do business with intangible assets are very tricky and difficult to handle. There is some significant argument is that transnational corporation exist because information crossways boundaries can be moved much powerfully in the corporation rather than among independent industry, the reason is not of market collapse. That extracted that in common intangible asset can be taken as a demanded asset, but can rarely be separated from the company itself and it is impossible to be taken as a community good (Source, www.ousest.com). As the oil prices are increasing day by day so to afford heavy cars are getting tougher so trends towards small and local manufactured cars are increasing and that is the reason why Pak Suzuki Motors enjoys a domination in the car market with 40.2% of car market share and Honda has 14.7% of market share and trying its level best by deploying the new and advanced technology to its cars with affordable price (Source:- www.ousest.com). Honda has transferred nearly all its advanced technology to the unit working in Pakistan so that to facilitate the customers with innovation and advance technology with low prices as exporting cars from Japan to Pakistan becomes more expensive and unaffordable for buyers to grab the car of their dream and also buyers tends to buy relative cheap and locally manufactured and assembled cars so to reduce the factor of losing customers Honda makes sure that market must be in hand by investing more in host country. According to Dunning firm must have some owner ship advantages to penetrate in any country and capturing the market through that ownership advantages. Initially Honda was emphasizing on investments in countries where political situation were stable and government policies were in favour of foreign investment to reduce barriers in their investment and returns, Pakistan political matters were never been much stable but the policies and climate are always in a favour of foreign investment, Honda neglected the political factor and invested hugely in Pakistan to capture the uprising car market of Pakistan. This showed the interest of Honda as an active market seeking FDI. Economic prosperity is the main ingredient to the country’s progress and advancement. Foreign investment gives the strong base for economic development. FDI added notably in the human resources development, capital formation, and organizational and managerial skills of the people in the country. One of the positive spillover effects was that the occurrence of foreign firm helps in enlargement infrastructure facilities, which makes it easier and profitable for local firms to crowd-in (Lemi, 2004). In developing countries like Pakistan FDI is helpful to narrow down the Saving-Investment gap. The economic benefits of FDI were extensive ranging, it unlock new opportunities of knowledge, transfer of technology, training of manpower, market networking and externalities in the host countries. The potential advantages of the FDI on the host economy are it facilitates the use and utilization of local raw materials, it bring in modern techniques of management and marketing, it eases th e access to new technologies, Foreign inflows could be used for financing current account deficits, it increases the stock of human capital via on the job training. The local ventures are able to learn by watching if the economic structure is suitable (Bhagwati, 1994) also it stimulates the investment in RD (Calvo and Robles, 2003). Although there is huge positive impact of FDI on host country economy there is some negative implication that results due to FDI. Often seen that host country faces problems with FDI, government has less control over the foreign companies which are operating in the country and this results in not adopting the economic policies of the host country. Defence of the country has to face some risk due to incoming foreign investment. Foreign firms deploy its home country policies in the host country firm which sometimes are not suitable for the workers of the host country. Inflation rate increases in a considerable amount in host country. One of the main negative impacts of FDI is that the economically backward section of the host country is always inconvenienced when the stream of foreign direct investment is negatively affected (Source:- economywatch). Honda is providing advanced and innovated cars to the its customers mostly in affordable price and playing important role in the economy of the country as well. Honda investment resulted not only in maximizing their profit but resulted in opening of thousands of jobs and also pays taxes to the government. Honda successful investment and increase in profit motivated other companies to invest in Pakistan which will be again beneficial to locals and to government. But going to the depth of Honda investment, Honda is getting more than their investment but Honda is still not able to provide more employment opportunities by expanding their units to other cities in Pakistan. Although the unit is fully working in Pakistan but still car prices are not in a range of middle class community which could be in affordable price if Honda management reduces a small percentage from their profit. Highly technical staffs are still called from Japan and avoiding local technical staffs to remain where the y are, Honda must send host country technical staff to trainings abroad so that human resource of host country can go further up in the company making more opportunity for others. This will in return reduces Honda cost and will be helpful for host country human resource. References: Bhagwati, J.N. (1994), â€Å"Free trade: Old and new challenges†, Economic Journal, 104, pp.231-246. Cantwell. J. (2000). A survey of theories of international production: the Nature of the transitional firm, London: Routledge. Dunning, J.H. (2000). â€Å"The Eclectic Paradigm as an Envelope for Economic and Business Theories of MNE Activity†, International Business Review,9, pp. 163-190. Dunning electic paradigm, information available http://www.ousest.com/internalis, accessed on 4th March 2011. Hymer, H. (1979). The Multinational Corporation: a Radical approach, New York: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. Information available on www.ousest.com, website accessed on 21st April 2011. Information available on www.honda.com, website accessed on 2nd March 2011. Information available on http://www.adb.org, website accessed on 22ndFebuary 2011 Information available on www.dawn.com, website accessed on 1st March 2011. Information available on www.honda.com.pk, website accessed on 2nd March 2011. Information available on www.economywatch.com, accessed on 5th March 2011. Investment Policy, Information available on www.sbp.gov.pk, accessed on 5th March 2011.  · Information available on www.unescap.org/tid/publication/part_two2223_pak.pdf, accessed on 7th April 2011.  · Information available on http://www.ousest.com/transact.html, accessed on 7th April 2011. Lemi, A. (2004).â€Å"Foreign Direct Investment, Host country productivity and export: The case of US and Japanese multinational affiliates†, Journal of Economic Development, 29. Lipsey, R. E. (2002). â€Å"Home and Host country effects of FDI†, NBER Working Paper No W92923, available on www.ssrn,com, accessed on 27thFebuary 2011. Pakistan Research Repository, information available on www.eprints.hec.gov.pk, accessed on 1st March 2011. . How to cite Strategy and international management Honda motors, Essay examples

Olympics Raising the UKs Profile

Executive Summary The Summer Olympics is among the world’s favorite sporting event. The popularity of this event means that the sport has a global audience. Apart from the sporting aspect of the Games, the Olympics are also seen as an avenue by sponsors to market their products.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Olympics Raising the UK’s Profile specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With the next Olympics scheduled for the summer of 2012 in London, preparations are underway. The body tasked with this responsibility is the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games. This report examines the marketing practices that the organisation is using to raise its profile, as well as the technological challenges and opportunities at its disposal. Introduction Every four years, in recent decades, thousands of athletes all over the globe, with a similar number of coaches and officials, and accredited media repre sentatives and hundreds of thousands of spectators have gathered for more than two weeks to participate in, report on and watch a sporting event which is in turn viewed on television, listened to on the radio, read about in the print media and followed on the Internet by billion of people around the world. Each Olympic Games has cost enormous sums of money to stage, funded by the taxpayers, sponsors, and television companies and their advertisers. Sporting records have invariably been broken, and national and international heroes created. It is the world’s biggest peace-time event: the Summer Olympic Games (Girginov Parry, 2005). This report critically examines the marketing practices of the organizations tasked with staging the event, the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG). The report will, in particular, evaluate the effectiveness of the marketing practices adopted by the organization, and the use of new technology for future competitive advantage. B rief history of the modern Olympic Games The history of the Olympic Games begins at least 3000 years ago in ancient Greece. In their ancient form, while they celebrated physical excellence, the Games served a primarily religious purpose. In their modern form, while still ostensibly about physical excellence, they also play a cultural and economic, and often political, role. The history and global significance of the Olympic Games, in sporting, cultural, economic and political terms, therefore, justifies their serious consideration as an object of academic enquiry (Veal, 2007). There is a widespread sense of public ownership of the Olympic Games, which does to extend to other sporting events such the World Cup.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The relationship between the media and the Olympic Games For some 25 years, newspapers enjoyed a monopoly for coverage of the Olympic Games. Interestingly, the arrival of new media forms has always been perceived as a threat and usually had to face strong opposition. In 1920, the first radio station, KDKA, went on air in Pittsburg, USA. KDKA is also accredited with broadcasting the first ever-sporting event, which was a boxing match in 1921 (Smith, 2000). Broadcasting services in Great Britain began in 1922 with the establishment of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Sports commentary, however, was not allowed until 1925. Radio commentaries were covering the Olympic Games in Paris (1924), Amsterdam (1928), and Los Angeles (1932), but due to technical limitations, this medium remained local and regional until 1936 (Findling Pelle, 2004). By the time that the radio made its genuine debut as an international communication medium at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, television had already made its appearance. The first regular television services began in Germany in 1935, followed by Britain in 1936, France in 1937, the former USSR in 1938 and the United States in 1939. However, it was not television, but the cinema, which was responsible for making the first moving pictures of an Olympic Games: in 1900 in Paris and a special feature on the Olympics in 1912, in Stockholm. These developments in cinematography had an impact on the TV coverage of the Games, which began in 1936, in Berlin (Dorling Kindersley Publsihing Inc., 2000). Over the years, the relationship between the Olympics and the media has evolved into three intertwined symbolic associations- economic, promotional, and passion. The economic association is based on the economic interests of the two companies. TV companies pay fees for rights, but at the same time derive profit because of the advertising revenue from sponsors (Shilbury, 2003). The promotional association suggests that sport is a major source of revenue and program content. It is, therefore, in the best interest of other media to sustain and promote a positive image of th e Olympics. The passion association stems from the media dual responsibility to inform, analyze and comment, and to be a counter-authority. Despite their economic interest in sport, it is the nature of the media to keep a distance from it, to maintain their credibility, and to serve the truth and their audience. The International Olympics Committee grants TV rights to air Olympic Games based on exclusivity per country or region, and free coverage to the largest possible audience (Preuss, 2004).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Olympics Raising the UK’s Profile specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The interaction between the Olympics and the mass media resulted in a transformation of the Games from being merely a sporting competition for aristocratic elite, to a special genre appealing to millions. When the organizers of the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games demanded remuneration for the right to televise the compe titions, this unprecedented decision was met with a massive outcry from the networks (Girginov Parry, 2005). They argued that the Olympic Games were a news event, similarly to the print media; television should also have free and open access. The organizers insisted that the Olympics were an entertainment event and, therefore, subject to a rights fee, before contests could be included in television programming. This episode proved critical for the development of the Olympic Games as a media event (Mullin, 2007). The Olympics, as a genre of media experience, has a number of characteristics (Rogan Rogan, 2011). First, they are televised and rely on the impact of visual images. Second, the Games interrupt daily routines and at times virtually bring the life in a country to a halt. Third, the Olympics are monopolistic in the sense that all channels focus on the event, and it is very close to being watched at nearly all times (Girginov Parry, 2005). In addition, the Olympics competiti ons are live and unfolding. The IOC and the host city organize them in a location outside the media. The Games are also not spontaneous but pre-planned, announced and advertised in advance. In particular, the Olympics have unusual and unprecedented audiences who are drawn to watch television individually, as a family, a group of strangers in front of a street screen, as a community in the pub, or a virtual community on the Internet (Smith, 2000). The above characteristics of the Olympic Games as a media event portray them as a social construct, which is achieved through the contribution of three main actors: the IOC and the host city, TV networks, and the global TV audiences (Dorling Kindersley Publsihing Inc., 2000).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is important to note that the social construction of the Games has economic consequences, one of which involves the transformation of the audience from sport followers to a commodity with an economic value expressed in terms of its size and composition. Subsequently, audience demographic reports and media usage patterns become crucial for the commercial success of the media and of the Olympic Games (Girginov Parry, 2005). Millions of dollars are paid for broadcasting rights, but broadcasters charge their advertisers tens of thousands of dollars per second of airtime. Such profits are, however, contingent upon the delivery of certain viewing figure levels and failure to achieve these could result in huge losses for the media companies. For instance, NBC had to refund some US $ 90 million to its advertisers as compensation for the low ratings achieved by their coverage of the Barcelona Games of 1992 (Findling Pelle, 2004). Marketing through the Olympics The above discussion of th e integration of the media in the Olympic Games lays a foundation for the discussion that is going to follow about the marketing practices for LOCOG. This is because the kind of marketing strategy that is adopted by the body is typical of any sport marketing approach, which is largely depended on the mass media. Sport marketing can be approached through two different perspectives: marketing of sport and marketing through sport. On the other hand, marketing through sport is typical of a scenario where large corporations use sporting as an avenue to promote and advertise their products, usually to specifically identifiable demographic markets known to follow a particular sport. The perspective of sport marketing that is going to be given prominence in this report is that of marketing through sport (Jackson Andrews, 2005). Technological challenges and opportunities facing LOCOG The victorious bid team made some big promises in Singapore and wasted little time coming out of the blocks quickly. Sebastian Coe, chairperson of the LOCOG announced a first one hundred pays plan. One of the most important initial moves was the separation of the body responsible for building the infrastructure for the games- the Olympic Deliverance Authority- from the one responsible for the commercial and operational side of making the Games happen- the London Organizing and Committee of the Olympic and Paralympics Games (Great Britain Parliament, 2009). Effectively, this separated the day-to-day public purse commitments to regenerate East London from the revenue generation and Games delivery private sector responsibilities. This has proven to be a significant and successful move. While both organizations are joined at the level of the Olympics Board, each is free to develop the culture and approach that match their very different immediate priorities (Mullin, 2007). London has hosted Olympic Games twice in the past: in 1908 and 1948. Indeed, it is the only city to do so thrice. This im plies that the LOCOG has a point of references to refer. It is able to correct its past mistakes, and improve its successes. However, the fact that London has hosted the Games in the past and, hence, can borrow a lot form the past is limited by the dynamic nature of technology, which is a key factor in organizing and staging the event. One of the central challenges for London 2012 organizers has been to build a plan for the Games against a staggering technological pace of change (Rosner Shropshire, 2010). Coe and his team had no idea in 2005 when the bid was won what technologies would be contemporary in 2012 by 2012, and which would still be a figment of fanciful imaginations. The technology for London 2012 represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the Organizing Committee and its partners. The biggest challenge that is facing the LOCOG and its technology partners, which include BT, Atos Origin and Cisco Systems, is to deliver information around the world in real time (Ro gan Rogan, 2011). Internet development is changing and evolving at such a pace that even short time frame comparisons offer little guidance. For instance, the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano generated one terabit of data, or five times as the preceding Lillehammer Games. This amount of data can now be purchased for 60 British pounds on eBay (Mullin, 2007). This implies that the LOCOG and its technology partners are faced with the technological challenge of handling vast amounts of data. In addition, the lure for sponsors to grasp the moment to display their technology on the world’s biggest stage makes it worth the risk in order to create the ultimate corporate case study (Shilbury, 2003). BT, one of the main technology partners with LOCOG has embraced the challenge of delivering for London 2012. The scale of the media scrutiny is, vast and failure is not an option for both LOCOG and its technology partners. If BT communications lines go down in the middle of yet another World R ecord for Usain Bolt in the Men’s 100 Meter Final, or in the final strokes of Greg Searle’s gold medal 20 years on from his first, BT and LOCOG will be culpable in the eyes of the global public. London clearly signaled its desire to embrace new technology in all its forms with the early launch of its contemporary logo. The early message that the London 2012 Olympic Games would be a ‘new media’ Games was initially greeted with skepticism. However, LOCOG insisted that it could not be sure how the action would be distributed come 2012, that alternative methods of distribution to the TV screen or internet would be necessary and that the logo would need to work in all new media environments. These initial aspirations have been made a reality by the new media. For instance, the BBC Trust has recently approved plans to distribute BBC New through mobile phone applications. However, this, move is regarded as surrounded with controversy because it puts the BBC in di rect competition with commercial broadcasters; the new media market (Mullin, 2007). Marketing practices used by LOCOG There is a unique breadth of skills, which are required in an organization such as LOCOG to deliver the Olympic Games. Effectively, it is parts sports body, part business, part political entity and part project management organisation. In its business approach, LOCOG has to embrace marketing practices that ensure that its books stay balanced. This has been done through a number of ways, one of them being sponsorship. As a discipline, sponsorship has traditionally been rather uncomplicated. Rights holders such as LOCOG have a long tradition of selling attachment to their sporting event based on market value of their assets. The assets include advertising hoardings, tickets, television billboards, and corporate hospitality (Preuss, 2004). Nevertheless, sponsorship in the Olympics is quite different from sponsorship in other games such as World Cup. This is because ther e is no advertising inventory to bundle into the organizers sponsorship deals since the Games would unusually be shown on non-commercial terrestrial television in the domestic UK market. In addition, part of the equity in the Olympic Games brand is that the Games remain the only global sports property to continue to avoid any commercial messaging within the venues themselves. While this is part of the appeal and difference of the Olympic Games, and arguably valuable legacy of the obsession with amateur deals, it makes life harder for Organizing Committees (Jackson Andrews, 2005). Another marketing strategy that is being used by LOCOG is merchandising. A short visit to the Adidas store in Oxford Street demonstrates that this phenomenon has gone full swing. Aisles are often full of the very tourists Britain aims to lure come Games-time. This is an area, which the Beijing Games failed to maximize, probably because the implications of a scale merchandising operation were too explicitly commercial in a communist country. Certainly, the sponsor village was hidden away in the outskirts of the Olympic Park, in Beijing. In contrast, products could already be found on the shelves in London as early as of 2010 (Rogan Rogan, 2011). Following the above marketing strategies coupled up with ticketing, LOCOG now has the vast majority of its revenue commitments filled. This puts it in an admirable position since it is able to consider supplier deals, which shave cost from the accounts, as well as drive revenue. Traditionally, Olympic Organizing Committees have been criticized for fire sales at the end of their tenure. For instance, Vancouver’s final; sponsor signed up a matter of weeks before the event. This is far less likely concerning London 2012. Instead, there are expectations of creative supplier barter deals, which minimize significant remaining cost liabilities for the organizers and maximize the impact of the Games (Great Britain Parliament, 2009). Recommenda tions for strategic responses to the above discussions There is no doubt that the LOCOG is enthroned with a big task of organizing and staging the London 2012 games. One of major challenges discussed earlier that the organisation is facing is the dynamic nature of the technology. If the organisation has to ensure that its promise of staging an Olympics that has never being witnessed, it has to be at par with the technological advancements of the day. This can be achieved by collaborating with technology companies that are able to deliver real time events to the global audience, hence, ensuring that consumer get real value for their money (Rosner Shropshire, 2010). Given the global reach of the event enhanced by the new media, there is no doubt that marketers are bound to take advantage of the event and use it to market their product even if they are not official sponsors (Great Britain Parliament, 2008). This phenomenon is known as ambush marketing. As such, LOCOG should put in pla ce the necessary measure and legislation to deal with such cases. This is because such behaviors deprive the real sponsors the exclusive rights to market the event, which beats the logic of paying the rights fee. Fortunately, the organisation did take the requisite measures as seen with the creating of the Olympic Rights Association to oversee the use of the Olympic Brand (Great Britain Parliament, 2008). Conclusion In conclusion, this report has a brief history of the modern Olympic Games and the role of the media in the Games. The report dealt in depth with the marketing practices that LOCOG, which is organizing for the Olympics in 2012, is using. The report saw that sponsoring and merchandising are some of the key strategies embraced by the organisation. The report has also examined the technological challenges and opportunities faced by the company. The rise of the new media is posing a major threat and opportunity for the organisation, but this can be remedied by choosing the r ight technology partners. Reference List Dorling Kindersley Publsihing Inc., 2000. The Olympic Games. London: Dorling Kindersley. Findling, J., Pelle, K., 2004. Encyclopedia of the modern Olympic movement. London: Greenwood Publishing Group. Girginov, V., Parry, J., 2005. The Olympic games explained: a student guide to the evolution of the modern Olympic Games. London: Routledge. Great Britain Parliament., 2009. Potential benefits of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. London: The Stationery Office. Great Britain Parliament., 2008. Preparing for sporting success at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond. London: The Stationery Office. Jackson, S., Andrews, D., 2005. Sport, culture and advertsing: identities, comodities and the politics of representation. London: Routledge. Mullin, B. J., 2007. Sport marketing. London: Human Kinetics. Preuss, H., 2004. The economics of staging the Olympics. London: Edward Elgar Publishing. Rogan, M., Rogan, M., 2011. British and t he Olympic Games: past, present and legacy. London: Troubador. Rosner, S., Shropshire, K., 2010. The business of sports. New York: Jones Barlett Publishers. Shilbury, D., 2003. Strategic Sport Marketing. London: Alen Unwin. Smith, S., 2000. The Olympics at the millenium: power politics, and the games. New York: Rutgers University Press. Veal, A. J., 2007. The Olympic Games: a social science perspective. London: CABI. This report on Olympics Raising the UK’s Profile was written and submitted by user Jul1us to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

A PET

A PET Each family consists of a certain number of members who may share many similarities and differences among themselves. They may share same viewpoints, while others may think otherwise. All members of the family are essential, yet there are some individuals in the family whose roles can be related to as being very similar to that of a pet. In the story "A Bricklayers Boy" Lubrano's role can be compared to that of a pet. In the story Lubrano has similar distinctions of a family pet.Lubrano lives with his parents. Lubrano's father pays for his college tuitions and his everyday financial needs just like a pet owner would take care of its pet providing it with all needs. In return Lubrano's father wants him to follow the Blue-collar rules of the family which were to chose a good career and make good money, to keep the family happy. Lubrano though, has a different view about life.A view of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park looking fro...

C. A. Tripps Book Asserts Abraham Lincoln was Gay

C. A. Tripp's Book Asserts Abraham Lincoln was Gay Was Abraham Lincoln gay?  In his  book The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln, historian C.A. Tripps  makes the case that Abraham Lincoln  was indeed gay and had several homosexual relationships throughout his life. However, the controversy surrounding the book overshadowed an important fact that Tripp revealed a fact even his harshest critics accept as true Ann Rutledge was not the love of Lincolns life. Tripps extensive new research proves it simply could not have been the case. And many experts, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Lincoln historian David Herbert Donald now concede it is so. A Firestorm of Debate As you might expect, Tripps book created a firestorm of debate most of it predictable along political lines. The left proclaimed a curious victory saying incorrectly that the book shows beyond all doubt that Lincoln was gay. The right responded angrily that Lincoln could not have been gay since he fathered four sons and they dismissed his so-called encounters as false and malicious. Tripp could not respond. He died two weeks after completing his book and one of the key elements of his work, proving that Lincoln and Rutledge were not star-crossed lovers, is in serious danger of being  ignored. Tripp told a friend shortly before he died that he knew the work would be controversial and that, while he believed he had made his case, he wanted each reader to draw his or her own conclusion. As the books editor, Lewis Gannett puts it: You get to a point where you just shake your head and say, How the hell did [Lincoln] do it? How did he save the union, survive the challenges of his troubled wife Mary, endure the deaths of two sons, preside over the bloodiest era of American history, all the while fending off widespread contempt, and in the end emerge a hero? A secretive, enigmatic, genius hero? With a manic and dirty sense of humor? Who had close and controversial relationships with other men his entire life? Lincoln is far from solved and probably never will be satisfactorily explained but Tripp has made the picture less murky. His accomplishment is stunning. Lincoln Loved Only One Woman And She Was Not Mary Todd For years, historians have assumed that Lincoln loved only one woman, Anne Rutledge and courted Mary Owens before marrying Mary Todd, whom he avoided whenever possible. Tripp, however asserts that Lincoln actually loved none of these women and has sex – though reluctantly only with his wife and mother of his children, Mary Todd. While it has never been proven, several historians contend that Mary Todd suffered from mental illness. â€Å"And it is true that Mary Lincolns actions, as reported by newspapers, often invited criticism from the public,† writes About 18th Century History Expert Robert McNamara. â€Å"She was known to spend money extravagantly, and she was often ridiculed for perceived haughtiness.† Intimate Relationships With Men Tripp contends his research into Lincoln’s private life suggests that his relationships with several men were more intimate  and possibly more sexual than those he had with any of the women he supposedly â€Å"loved.† For example, Tripp asserts that Lincoln shared a narrow  bed with Joshua Speed for at least four years  and that as president, he often shared the presidential bedroom with another man during the many times Mary Todd was â€Å"away.† Early Lincoln biographers, John G. Nicolay and John Hay, called Speed â€Å"The only as he was certainly the last intimate friend that Lincoln ever had.  In their analysis letters from Lincoln to Speed before and after Speed’s eventual marriage in 1842, Nicolay and Hay described Lincoln’s tone as â€Å"fretful,† like that of a military commander before a risky battle. Several of Lincoln’s letters were signed â€Å"Yours forever.†Ã‚   Through a plethora of letters and other personal data, Tripp’s book at least leaves the interpretation that Lincoln might have been gay. The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln by C.A. Tripp was published by the Free Press, a division of Simon Schuster.

Comparative and Contrast Essay Christianity and Islam

Comparative and Contrast Christianity and Islam - Essay Example   Jesus is the â€Å"Christ† which means the â€Å"anointed one†.   Jesus is the anointed one from God the Father who came to this world, fulfilled the Old Testament laws and prophecies, died on the cross, and rose from the dead physically (Slick, n.d.). The religion teaches that there is an existence of only one God. According to Christianity, God made the universe, the Earth and created Adam and Eve. Therefore, the best way to answer what Christianity is about is to say that it is a relationship with the true and living God through the person of Jesus Christ by whom we are forgiven of our sins and escape the righteous judgment of God (Slick, n.d.). Islam is regarded as one of the three central Abrahamic faiths along with Judaism and Christianity (Duncan, n.d.). Islam is derived from the word salaam which means â€Å"peace†, â€Å"submission to God†, and â€Å"way to peace†. The followers of Islam are the â€Å"Muslims† or those who â₠¬Å"submit† to God’s will. Duncan (n.d.) described Islam as a universal religion that teaches that God is merciful and compassionate, and that promises the faithful worldly peace and equality and entrance to a sublime eternity. It is a monotheistic religion which believes only in the existence of one God. Comparing and Contrasting Islam and Christianity These are some of the main similarities between Christianity and Islam. Peter Jackson (n.d.) stated that both religions say that there is only One God. This God is the most sovereign and he rules the history. The two religions also believe in Jesus. However, there are quite differences in how they believe him. Another similarity is the existence of Angels. Both religions believe in the existence of angels which are the referred to as the messengers of God. Both religions have Prophets and prophecy which includes many of the same characters such as Abraham, David, Noah and the like (Jackson, n.d.). The two religions also b elieve the concept of Heaven and Hell and God’s future judgment (Jackson, n.d.). Heaven is often portrayed as the holiest place in which people who have died continue to exist in an afterlife. Hell, on the other hand, is a place of suffering and punishment afterlife. God’s judgment will determine whether a person will be sent to heaven or hell after death. Although these two religions are similar in many ways, we can’t deny that they differ in a lot of ideologies and theologies. In both religions God is the creator of everything and he is loving and forgiving (McLean, 2007). One major difference between the beliefs of Christians and Muslims regarding God is that while Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, or three persons in one divine nature, Muslims believe that God is only one person and that the Trinity is the belief in three Gods (McLean, 2007). The two religions differ in their founder. Muhammad is the founder of Islam and believed by Muslims to be perfe ct and sinless. In Christianity, the founder is Jesus. For Muslims, Muhammad was not only a religious leader, but also a political leader, which explains the common practice of integrated church and state in many Muslim countries (McLean, 2007). Both religions recognize Jesus but their beliefs about him vary. Islam and Christianity believe that Jesus was sinless, perfect and born of the Virgin Mary (McLean, 2007). The two religions accept that Jesus performed miracles and was ascended, or raised up, to God. McLean (2007) stated that Muslims see Jesus as a highly regarded prophet, while Christians see Him as God himself.