Black Skin, White Masks

Frantz Fanon, an afro-Caribbean psychiatrist has so painstakingly showed the Black social reality of the to the whole world, through his book Black Skin, White Masks. He was clear to show that until today, this particular Black race is suffering from a â€Å"mental illness† that hinders his very existence into today’s society. Mental chains bound blacks. They are being restricted to act naturally in this world because they are unconsciously captivated by their own mindset and their own take on the French European White race.The colonized black Martiniquians are subject of Fanon’s psychoanalysis. He is a black man himself who belongs in a middle-class family in Martinique, which is a colony of France. The Black Martinique is socially ill in such a way he lets himself be an object of a White man’s pleasures. In page 40 of the book, Fanon says â€Å"the Negro is a toy in the White man’s hands; so, in order to shatter the hellish cycle, he explodes. â €  The Martinique Black men are regarded similar to a plaything of the White French European in Fanon’s eyes.And sadly enough, Black people believe that they have the power to do so. In their minds, the idea that there could be no race more dominant, more powerful, or more superior to that of the Whites is slowly building up. And as a result, the Black men unconsciously put themselves into the White Frenchmen’s authority. The educated Martinique blacks are socially anticipated to stand up for their race and individuality. But they fail to recognize this expectation of them. Instead, they strive to pattern their selves to be comparable to the French whites, rather than uphold their own race.These well-schooled Blacks gradually assume that they are raised to a certain status otherwise reserved for White people alone. They assess their success against the triumphs of the French Europeans; therefore they are following their standards. They then started to ignore their o wn states of being Black. Soon, the Martinique Black men developed immense inferiority complex. Fanon further states in page 25 of his book that â€Å"the Negroes’ inferiority complex is particularly intensified among the most educated, who must struggle with it unceasingly. †The Martinique Negroes or the Blacks referred here started to go out of their ways to prove their own existence, rather than to uphold their inherent worth, essence, uniqueness, and accomplishments. They started to be recognized in such a way they are not Blacks, but something else closer, if not equivalent, to the French European race. A mentally challenged Black man, as Fanon would put it, would evaluate himself in the perspective of a White person, rather than his own race’s. He would compare himself, all that he attained, and his personal value against his fellow Black brothers but under a White man’s scrutiny principles.A socially sick Black person lives under the shadow of a Wh ite man. The meaning of love and companionship of Martinique Blacks involved a mixed relationship scenario also becomes disoriented. To a Black man, being with a White person is considered as a dream relationship. They begin to believe that having a White partner is a form of an achievement in its own. It seems as if their social status is somewhat raised as they marry a White husband or wife. Given this reality, Martinique Blacks people tend to choose a White person to be their life-long companion instead.They would easily choose a White partner even though they seem to be less compatible than their Black counterparts. It would not matter if another Black person seems to be their own perfect match; what matters more is the stature a White person would give in their state of minds. A White partner seems to serve as a trophy, a medal, or a plaque. And it stops there. The real essence of choosing the person to love and to be with is all ignored. To quote Fanon in page 42, â€Å"I sho uld have like to be married, but to a White man. But a woman of color is never altogether respectable in a White man’s eyes.Even when he loves her. I knew that. † Given these facts, the Black Martiniques who are the subject of Fanon’s book do have psychopathology or mental illness. And majority of this is because of the trends in their current world. Their present state is lacking in Black advocates in general. There is really no institution that genuinely champions the Black cause. There is no Black-oriented entity that is well accepted and is not ridiculed. Everything that is Black in nature and in concept is trivialized and is deemed second-rate. Fanon’s suggested solution to a Black man’s sickness is to restructure the world.This is not going to be a simple task, given the situation. But it still has to start somewhere. And the solution has to start with the Martinique Black race. Black people should begin to realize that they have a dignity of their own. They should begin to establish their black race. They should unite together and make an impact to the society. They should all act according to their customs, their traditions, and their history that are mistakenly forgotten. It is about time that they should discontinue living within the standards of a race not their own.The sickness is merely mental, therefore the ultimate solution will come from the mind as well – inside the Martinique Black’s mind. Victory over this mental illness will be achieved by psychologically breaking away from the French European influence. Black people should come to realize that the White race is dominant only because they believed so. The White race is powerful only because lived in a society where it seems so. Without the Black people’s unconscious assumption that the Whites will always be better and stronger than Blacks, the mental chains will continue to exist.

Uses of ICT

This section will discuss the background of the study, the statement of the problems, the objectives of the study and the method and limitations of. BACKGROUND. The integration of Information and communication technologies (ICT) into the curriculum is one of the most challenging tasks facing schools. It raises fundamental questions regarding the purposes of schooling and the nature of the curriculum. Information and communication technologies (ICT)—which include radio and television, as well as newer digital technologies such as computers and the Internet—have been touted as potentially powerful enabling tools for educational change and reform. When used appropriately, different ICTs are said to help expand access to education, strengthen the relevance of education to the increasingly digital workplace, and raise educational quality by, among others, helping make teaching and learning into an engaging, active process connected to real life.. The effective integration of ICT into the educational system is a complex, multifaceted process that involves not just technology—indeed, given enough initial capital, getting the technology is the easiest part! —but also curriculum and pedagogy, institutional readiness, teacher competencies, and long-term financing, among others. The positive influence of ICT in schools continues to rise and can no longer be denied. Although, as yet, ICT is by no means at the heart of our education system, it is now widely recognised as an essential tool for learning in the twenty-first century. Indeed, it is vital that today’s children are enabled to take advantage of lifelong learning if they are to survive the constant pattern of change that is likely to mark their working lives. This means not only being comfortable with ICT as a medium, but also being able to exploit its potential to the full and understanding the ways in which ICT can make learning more effective.

Case 29 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case 29 - Coursework Example Equally, United Technologies Corporation has not been left out in same scenarios. Integrating the new branch previously run from a different forum from that of UTC forms the companys crisis. The large population of 46000 employees also hinders the companys integration of the Chubb system. United Technologies Corporation faces the challenges of harmonizing the new task force with their code of conduct. The aspect of integration becomes a challenge since the employees served under the company that lacked ethics. Therefore, there is a likelihood of experiencing resistances from the employees. The other obstacle is the distance. Most of the Chubb’s sub branches are located far away from the Headquarters. It is then evident that, training process of the employee will require more investment due to movements, and time since the distribution of systems spread across the globe. The concept of open management structure is the other obstacle. There is no organized structure entrusted wi th the management. The employees report to their place of working. Lack of technological infrastructure poses another obstacle in the aspect of integration since the top management cannot effectively communicate with the employees in their working locations. Finally, the aspect of cultural diversity of the employees poses another challenge. Despite the various challenges, Gnazzo must be prepared to employ the strength of the organization to counter the weakness of the new system branch being adopted. As long as Chubby is bringing value to UTC, then the project is worth consideration. Gnazzo has to put in place the necessary infrastructures to ensure that, the above obstacles get eliminated and at the same time ensure minimum cost is incurred by the organization. Furthermore, He will be required to choose the right team to eliminate the various obstacles. Necessary resources will also be a required. In this whole process, it is Gnazzo’s role to ensure that, the competitors have no

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

Poetry - Essay Example â€Å"The Mending Wall† basically tells the story of two men, the narrator and his neighbor, and their annual ritual of walking along the wall between their two properties and mending the stone fence. He starts the poem by indicating how unnatural a wall is in the words â€Å"Something there is that doesn’t love a wall† (1). Within this single sentence, Frost has already managed to establish a rambling rhythm to his poem. The reader is forced to slow down and pay attention to the grammatically correct but unusual phrasing of this statement. As the story continues, this rhythm is punctuated by sudden bursts of energy from the narrator, â€Å"’Stay where you are until our backs are turned!† (19), answered by the steady beat of the neighbor’s response, the repetition of an old adage, â€Å"Good fences make good neighbors† (27). Thus, if rhythm were light, we’d see steady pulses interrupted by sudden flashes of color rebuffed by an equally sudden, light-deadening gray wall. The rhythm of the poem is echoed by the symbolism of the poem. As the narrator tries to determine what it is that doesn’t love fences, he manages to convey the sense that it is something larger or deeper than the superficial elements he is naming: â€Å"The gaps I mean, / No one has seen them made or heard them made, / But at spring mending time we find them there† (9-11). This prompts the reader to begin thinking below the surface early in the poem and, as the narrator continues to discuss the mundane elements of rebuilding a fence that will only be falling down again ‘the moment their backs are turned’, the sense continues to build that the fence is not a physical fence at all, but a fence upon the mind. This is made much clearer by the end of the poem as the narrator, after several attempts at levity, watches his neighbor bringing more rocks

An operation management (ASDA -UK company) Essay

An operation management (ASDA -UK company) - Essay Example The intention of this study is ASDA as one of the biggest retailing companies in the UK and it is the major subsidiary corporation of Wal-Mart. It deals with several merchandise products comprising food, grocery, housing, and entertainment goods in their retail stores. In the year 2004, ASDA had almost 259 retail outlets and 19 storehouses throughout the UK. It captures significant amount of share of the market of the UK. As a major supermarket, ASDA confronts with numerous supply chain issues which need to be rectified in order to gain competitive advantage. Few problems were identified in the process of operations management of the company ASDA. One of the problems increasingly witnessed by the company was regarding the procedure of reverse logistics. The company has been stated to deal in a varied range of products, most of which entails consumable products. With regard to the kind of business that is conducted by the company, it can be understood that the concept and the process of reverse logistics form an integral part. The company was encountering certain problems in the management of the procedure with regard to the return of goods and products that are received from the customers to the suppliers as well as the manufacturers. ASDA was learnt to witness increased volumes related to returns of electrical products owing to the moderate returns guidelines. Thus, with the intention to deal with such returns in an effective, suitable and cost efficient method, the company requires to concentrate on a competent strategy related to reverse logistics. ... Understand the solutions to deal with the issues identified in ASDA Company Background ASDA is one of the biggest retailing companies in the UK and it is the major subsidiary corporation of Wal-Mart. It deals with several merchandise products comprising food, grocery, housing, and entertainment goods in their retail stores. In the year 2004, ASDA had almost 259 retail outlets and 19 storehouses throughout the UK. It captures significant amount of share of the market of the UK. As a major supermarket, ASDA confronts with numerous supply chain issues which need to be rectified in order to gain competitive advantage (Corporate Watch UK, 2004). Problem Number 1 Reverse Logistics Few problems were identified in the process of operations management of the company ASDA. One of the problems increasingly witnessed by the company was regarding the procedure of reverse logistics. The company has been stated to deal in a varied range of products, most of which entails consumable products. With r egard to the kind of business that is conducted by the company, it can be understood that the concept and the process of reverse logistics form an integral part. The company was encountering certain problems in the management of the procedure with regard to the return of goods and products that are received from the customers to the suppliers as well as the manufacturers. ASDA was learnt to witness increased volumes related to returns of electrical products owing to the moderate returns guidelines. Thus, with the intention to deal with such returns in an effective, suitable and cost efficient method, the company requires to concentrate on a competent strategy related to reverse logistics. The reverse logistics plan of the company would require controlling the flow related to the products

Fareed Zakaria article The Rise of the Illiberal Democracy, Civil Research Paper

Fareed Zakaria article The Rise of the Illiberal Democracy, Civil Rights, and Women Suffrage Movements - Research Paper Example Democracy is something much broader and holistic in its scope. It is a model of governance in which no individual, group or institution is endowed with absolute power so that it may ignore the aspirations expressed as seemingly disparate and conflicting opinions. Democracy is about liberty, separation of powers and assimilation and recognition of diverse opinions. Liberalism according to Zakaria is primarily an antithesis of absolutism in the political, civil and legal sphere (Zakaria 24: Online). Liberalism is a political doctrine that not only tolerates dissent and political, religious and ethnic pluralism, but goes a step ahead to recognize the opinion of the minorities and conflicting opinions, and extends them a fair opportunity and environment to have a say in the socio-political life of a nation. It is a political doctrine that gives every individual and group the access to some inalienable rights like the right to expression, assembly, religion and property. Illiberalism, sim ply speaking, is a way of politics, which curtails on the essential and fundamental rights of some or all segments of a society that includes the quintessential liberties like the freedom of speech, property, religion and assembly. (Zakaria 27: Online) Liberalism is the actual rule of the people, without any exception, not an arrangement in which an individual or a party rules by proxy and justifies the annihilation of civil liberties in the name of popular support and validation. For instance, Singapore is a liberal democracy in the sense that tough it offers limited political choices to its citizens; it does recognize and support their essentially human aspirations and rights, irrespective of their ethnic background or religion (Zakaria 25: Online). Modern Russia is actually an illiberal democracy in which the ruling party has usurped and appropriated political authority both horizontally and vertically, and has severely curtailed the civil and political rights such as the right t o speech, expression, assembly, and dissent (Zakaria 28: Online). In the context of the American constitution, liberalism certainly came first, followed by democracy (Zakaria 29: Online). Fear of absolute power and authority was the guiding spirit behind the architecture of the American constitution. That is why the American constitution provided for a clear cut division of powers between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. It was unlike the British polity where the ministers are also a member of the House of Commons and the powers of the executive, the legislature and the judiciary tends to overlap or diffuse. In America the secretaries of state and the other government officials are not the members of the Congress. This arrangement negated the concentration of power in any one pillar of the American democracy. Civil Rights Movement The American civil rights movement that unfolded in the period 1955-1968 and aimed at the abolition of racial discrimination in the Ameri can socio-political setup and restoring the voting rights for the African Americans in the Southern States is an apt example of the liberal strains woven in the American democracy (Dierenfield 17). The very Declaration of Independence that can be considered the bedrock of the American constitution states that human beings have â€Å"certain inalienable rights†

Study abroad application Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Study abroad application - Scholarship Essay Example Most importantly, the study abroad scholarship will be an important financial boost to my personal, academic, and professional goals and objectives. This is because the study abroad program will enhance my communication skills, broaden my adaptability and independence, and subsequently promote culturally diverse and interpersonal skills. In light of these insights, the scholarship will go a long way in enhancing my academic and career opportunities. The scholarship, therefore, is a significant platform upon which I will not only share, but also learn cultural competency. In conclusion, I value academic interactions with peers and teachers because every individual is different and unique in his/her own way. In that regard, the scholarship is a good opportunity for me to travel abroad, meet and make new friends, learn international differences in academic curriculum, and ultimately share my experiences and competencies with different cultures firsthand. It is my sincere hope that this study abroad scholarship application will be

Organisational Strategy and Decision Making Essay

Organisational Strategy and Decision Making - Essay Example This is the simplest definition of the term strategy. However in real life, the organization faces a lot of complexity to form & maintain a strategy. (Jeffs, 2008, pp. 13-14) A strategy addresses questions like- What’s the objective of the firm What are the resources of the firm Who are the competitors What strategy are they adopting What pros & cons did they face In which ways our product is separate from theirs Who are our target consumers How to reach them What’s the budget allocated for the promotion of the products The prices fixed are according to the market or not How to know the customer’s preference Through which channels we can promote our products Are we adapting an ethical approach Are we carrying out the Corporate Social Responsibility These questions are never ending. From the questions it’s clear that strategy can be formed to address any issue, be it the launch of a new product, be it a sales promotion effort or be it budget creation. Strat egies ultimately helps the organization in the decision making process. Introduction Strategy formulation depends on the management’s ability & organizations resources. These are the predictable issues which can be answered by forming brilliant strategies. But we should also keep a provision for the uncertainties of the environment. These uncertainties can destroy any good enterprise if the provision to face them is not properly & timely created. The objectives of a firm are the primary guideline for preparing the strategy. These objectives are clearly mentioned in the Vision & Mission Statement of the company. The Mission Statement is a written document where the ideas & thoughts of the company are communicated & the purpose of the firm is clearly defined to the internal & the external stakeholders. This statement helps the managers in the decision of resource allocation & investment. The Vision Statement is a kind of future planning document which states where the company w ants to reach in future. It deals with the questions like what are the company’s upcoming projects, what are their future plans, how are they going to achieve those plans etc. These statements are very useful in the strategy making decision of the firm. (Harrison & St. John, 2009, p 74) The anticipation of the future risks & benefits is termed as SWOT analysis in the language of management. It helps in getting knowledge about the past & thinking about probable solutions to an existing or potential problem. The method involves detailed study of the market, the company & competitors. The analysis includes two parts; the internal environment includes the strength & weaknesses of the company which is controllable by the company itself. The external environment consists of the threats & opportunities which are completely controlled by the outside sources like market & competitors. The product of our choice is British Airways. Company Background British Airways is the largest airli ne company based on sizes of the fleets and the second largest in passenger carriage. It is based near the main hub at London Heathrow Airport is the leading airline in the United Kingdom. Previously The British Airways Board was formed in the year 1971 and the task of the board was to control BOAC and BEA, the two nationalized airline corporations. In 1974, British Airways came into existence with the merger of two state-owned airlines, British

Life without Art Essay Example for Free

Life without Art Essay Life without art is boring and dull. But often at times, art is a subject that is underestimated in schools. The art courses in many schools are being cut back across the country. Many classrooms now have little supplies, and some courses are being taken away entirely. There are many reasons to which students need the aspect of art education in their curriculum, whether it is because it is an outlet for them to explore their creativity, or to work in a way that is soothing and in a stress- free environment. Art should be a mandatory subject to be taught in elementary and middle school as a child is growing up, but cutting back on art programs in schools seems to be a common solution to budget cuts since the 1970s when budget cuts began. Fewer public schools are offering art classes, whether it is in drama, dance, or visual art. This decline is due to budget cuts and an increased focus on math, science, and reading. Unfortunately, art classes are the first to be cut from schools, because the arts aren’t taken as seriously as subjects such as math and science because the arts programs are the first to be cut. This is a major problem in education. The movement to cut art from many schools has been growing in recent years. Education cuts are becoming more prevalent as schools face tough decisions on budgets. Unfortunately, art classes are usually some of the first victims of these cuts. Recent protests in California reflect the growing concern about budget cuts. Schools have already made cuts of $18 billion in California and more cuts totaling $4. 1 billion may be necessary (Kirkland 1). California is not the only state facing this situation. Lower tax revenues, increasing prices and the slow economic recovery have created problems across the United States. The event of recent cuts in the art programs is a serious issue, and when I become an art teacher I want to take a stand against it and teach my students how important art is in school. Why do people view art as a â€Å"light† or and â€Å"unimportant† subject? In the old days, fine art was considered a hobby for the rich and privileged. Now, it is talked down upon. According to Olivia Hauck, the author of 2009-10: Against Cutting Art and Music Programs in School, the study of music, theatre, and other forms of art have been shown to stimulate other parts of students’ minds and even keep them out of gangs and other harmful situations (1). Art and music programs in schools provide a different kind of learning environment that supplies alternative activities, while avoiding bad behavior. If kids are having fun in this different kind of stress free and expressive environment, they will be less likely to want to go and act recklessly. The arts are a way to present opportunities for jobs to students and other forms of self-discipline. Art increases critical thinking skills and enhances creativity, because drawing and working with different mediums to create pictures is expanding thinking and working on solving problems in a new way. This is important, especially for students that aren’t skilled at math or science. Art is crucial in schools so students have the opportunity to explore their interests and passions. The students that are affected by cuts in the art programs may not be able to afford private lessons or classes after school. And for some of these students, arts are what pushes them to continue going to school. Bob Sabol, president of the National Art Education Association, says, You hear students say, I found out who I was because I was able to explore my identity in the visual arts. ’ It validates who they are as individuals† (2). Art programs in education make it possible for students to explore themselves and their talents, which is the most important aspect of school. Its the responsibility of educators to make sure that every kid is exposed to the arts, that they get their shot at being creative because — who knows — the person who cures something like cancer will probably be somebody who thinks like an artist† (Stauter, 1). Having an open mind and seeing things in different ways makes a person more likely to succeed in all areas of life. You could have a budding Beethoven that could go undiagnosed because you didnt have a music teacher to identify and nurture that talent, said Debbie Fahmie, fine- and performing-arts resource teacher for Osceola County. If schools had no fine art classes, many students would have no opportunity to identify and develop their talent. They would be forced to go into fields that aren’t meant for them. Students are our future, and a future education without fine art could mean no more musicians, artists, actors, etc. Our world would be bland and lifeless without our artists, and the last thing that should be cut from schools are the art programs. I believe that all schooling should be divided into science, humanities and art. Science deals with the concrete, direct figures, and numbers that neglect emotions and view all humans as representatives of the living world and nothing more. Humanities are the classes that deal with the behavior, problems, and society. Art on the other hand is the subject that deals with the forms and beauty and allows us to think of the things around us as of useful objects that are worth our attention, time and effort. It should be treated just as equally as all other subjects. When I become an art teacher, I will make sure that I stress how important art is. I will show my students that art goes into all aspects of life. I want to expose my students with all different kinds of art, and encourage them to take different classes like drama, music of creative writing. It is important that students experiment with these subjects, because if not they may not have a chance to discover their passion. Cutting art programs in schools will be detrimental to education, especially for students that are more creative thinkers than concrete ones. Students mold our future, and they need to be able to explore their creativity as they grow up.

Coffee and Starbucks Essay Example for Free

Coffee and Starbucks Essay Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin and Ziv Siegl founded Starbucks in 1971. Their goal was to sell the finest quality whole beans and ground coffees (Starbucks timeline and history, 2004). In 1982, Starbucks had grown to five stores and started serving coffee to restaurants and espresso bars. Harold Schultz was employed as the director of retail operations and marketing. Harold Schultz convinced the founders of Starbucks to open a downtown Seattle coffee bar, which opened in 1984. With the success of Seattle coffee bar, Schultz left Starbucks to start his own company named Il Giornale. In 1987, Il Giornale acquired Starbucks retail operations for 4 million dollars. In addition, Il Giornale changed its name to Starbucks Corporation and open locations in Chicago and Vancouver, B. C. (Starbucks timeline and history, 2004). Starbucks continued its expansion throughout the late 1980 and beyond. In 1991, Starbucks became the first privately owned U. S. Corporation to offer stock options to part time employees (Starbucks timeline and history, 2004). In the early 1990s Starbucks started setting up coffee shops in Nordstrom?  ¦s department stores, Barnes Noble bookstores and ITT/Sheraton hotels. In 1995, the corporation began selling compact discs and formed an alliance with the Canadian bookstore, Chapters Inc. In 2000, Schultz promoted Orin Smith to the position of CEO. Schultz remained chairman for the corporation. This allowed Schultz to focus on Starbucks?  ¦ global strategy. Starbucks operates and licenses more the 7,500 coffee shops in more than 30 countries. Coffee Industry In the United States, coffee is the second largest import (Roosevelt, 2004). Furthermore, the United States, consumes one-fifth of all the worlds?  ¦ coffee (Global Exchange, 2004). The present industry is expanding. It is estimated that North America? ¦s sector will reach saturation levels within 5 year (Datamonitor. n. d. ). According to National Coffee Association (NCA), 8 out of 10 Americans consume coffee. In addition, it is estimated that half of the American population drinks coffee daily. The international market remains highly competitive. It is estimated that 3,300 cups of coffee are consumed every second of the day worldwide (Ecomall, n. d. ). The latest trends included dual drinkers, an increase in senior citizens consumption and a shift in consumption away from home. There has been a significant increase in the consumption of dual drinkers (NCA, 2004). Dual drinkers are people who drink both traditional coffee and gourmet coffee. According to NCA, 54% of America?  ¦s coffee drinkers are dual drinkers. Gourmet coffee is experiencing substantial growth with senior citizens. According to NCA, senior citizens coffee consumption leaped from 9% to 13%. Another trend is coffee consumption is moving outside the home. Coffee consumption away from home increased by 6%. Mission Statement The current mission statement is ?  §Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow. This mission statement fits well with the general direction and the future strategies of Starbucks Corporation. Principles The following principles compliment both Starbucks mission statement and their strategies. Our recommendation is to keep the current mission statement and principles. ?aProvide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity. ?aEmbrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business. ?aApply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting and fresh delivery of our coffee. ?aDevelop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time. ?aContribute positively to our communities and our environment ? aRecognize that profitability is essential to our future success. SWOT Analysis StrengthWeakness ?aFinancial Resources ?aGlobal Presence ?aBeverage Innovator ?aReliance on US Domestic Markets ?aReliance on Beverage Innovation ?aInternational Expansion Problems OpportunitiesThreats ?aInternational Operations ?aContinued Growth of Gourmet Coffee Market ?aExpanding ? V Unit Clustering ?aSupply Risk/ Dependence on Trading Companies and Exporters ? aUS Market Reaching Saturation Levels ?aCompetition Internal Strength. A few of Starbucks strengths included strong financial position, name recognition and being creative beverage innovators. Starbucks has reported revenue from January to July 2004 as 409 million dollars, which gives the company a strong financial position. Starbucks has a strong global presence from its many stores and licensees units, which has made Starbucks a household name. Starbucks is known for their creative innovations of beverages. Starbucks is not afraid to experiment and test new drinks in their stores. Some of the beverages introduced are Fappuccino Blended Beverages or Iced Shaken refreshments. Internal Weakness Some of the weakness the corporation faces includes international expansion problems and dependence of the United States markets and beverage innovations. The corporation was forced to close a number of stores. These stores failed to entice potential customers and Starbucks was forced to end a joint venture due to the lack of success. Starbucks has a dependency on beverage innovation and US markets. It is estimated that 85% of the corporation revenues come from the United States (Datamonitor, n. d. ). Starbucks contributes its growth based on beverage innovations (Datamonitor, n. d. ). External Opportunities One opportunity deals with clustering its business units. Starbucks uses clustering to ensure domination in chosen geographical areas. This practice allows Starbucks to bring conveniences to customers and at the same time preventing new business from entering the market. The last two opportunities are profitability of international operations and the expected growth of the specialty coffee market. The profitability of international operations and the expected growth will give the company greater leverage into the world market and will promote new market expansions. External Threats. One major threat is the lack of superior coffee beans. The expansion of Starbucks operations and limited quantity of superior coffee beans may result in a shortage of supply. Other factors, which could affect the coffee beans, are weather, political and economic conditions. Organizations like Fair Trade could change or alter the coffee industry. Another threat to Starbucks is the dependence on trading companies and exporters for their supply of superior coffee beans. Although Starbucks has limited the risk by paying above average prices for the superior coffee beans, the risk is still there. The last threats are competition and market saturation. The success of the coffee industry will attract more competitors. A competitor with a serious financial backing and resources could compete against Starbucks (Datamonitor, n. d. ). It is estimated that if the current market growth continues saturation levels will be reached in five years (Datamonitor, n. d. ). Customer Satisfaction Customer Satisfaction is defined as the measure or determination that a product or service meets a customers expectations, considering requirements of both quality and service (www. eglin. af. mil/46tw/StrategicPlan/glossary.htm). A customer?  ¦s expectations of product quality, service quality, and price, then a firm will achieve high levels of customer satisfaction. On the other hand, if the customer?  ¦s expectations are not met, the customer will be disappointed and this is likely to lower the satisfaction level. Due to lowered satisfaction, the customer could choose to stop buying from the firm/company. There have been many studies done that have shown that high customer satisfaction increases the likelihood of corporate profitability. It also showed that the costs incorporated with keeping an existing customer are five times that of getting new ones The Starbucks Customer The Starbuck?  ¦s Corporation is the leading retailer in the coffee industry. The market size of the coffee industry in the United States for 2003 is near 18 billion. The company?  ¦s sales have increased 23. 9% in the year 2003. These statistics show how many people in the U. S. are drinking Starbucks coffee. Starbucks attracts a cult-like following, serving 25 million drinks a week at nearly 7,000 locations worldwide. At one time or another, just about everyone has been a customer at a Starbucks retailer. Based on research done on the Internet, we have identified who the typical Starbucks?  ¦ customer is. A typical Starbucks customer is a male or a female, age ranging from 18 to 55. In most cases, the Starbucks?  ¦ customer is a college student, businessperson or someone in their mid to late fifties. A Starbucks customer tends to be very loyal to the company and will not accept substitutes. The usage level of a typical customer is at least three times a week, for some; it is every day. The benefits sought by customers range from enjoyment, relaxation, energy, and reward. Those who are not in a hurry like to sit down for a cup of coffee, listen to the relaxing songs played at the shops, enjoy a conversation with a friend, or just way to be alone and study. Another important characteristic of a typical customer is that most of the customers are financially stable enough to be able to afford to spend at least $2. 50 for a small cup of coffee. A typical Starbucks?  ¦ customer spends and average of $40 to $65 a month for coffee drinks. However, there are many customers who spend well over $65 a month. Improving Customer Satisfaction According to Schultz, ? §our success is based on their continued trust in our people and our environment over long periods of time. Redefining the industry youre playing in doesnt just mean hiring an agency to think up a fancy new slogan. To make it work, you have to offer high-quality new products and services that customers actually want, and that will reinforce the value offered by your core brand and expand the emotional connection your customers feel with it ( www. fastcompany. com from Issue 84 July 2004, Page 50 by:Alison Overholt). To continue the success that Starbucks had over the years, there must be ways to measure the customer? ¦s perceptions of the company. The customers are what make Starbucks what it is today, and to keep them we need to know what they expect from us. Based on research done on starbucks. com, it is evident that Starbucks values their customers. On the main page of the website there is a link to Customer Service; here the customer can ask questions or leave comments. This tool could be much more beneficial to the company if questions and/or comments could be asked by the customer. In the area of questions/comments-there is a drop down list of freqeuntly asked questions/comments, from this list the customer must pick. There could be many times when a customer has a question/comment, but it is not included on this list. The idea of having this link makes the customers feel that their opinions are valued, but there are a few areas that could be improved on that would be much more beneficial to the company. It is important that Starbucks asks for the opinions of their customers, but why only offer this online? Even though we have become such a computer savy world, there are still many people out there that are not computer literate. Many do not have access to computers, or some just do not know how to use them. This does not mean that these people don?  ¦t drink Starbucks coffee. To increase overall customer satisfaction, we should also incorporate a general product/service survey or some type of comment card in the retail stores. Surveys may seem tedious at times, but to help us find out information that could help our company in the long run, it is worth it. Surveys will give us an idea of how we can improve our product and service to satisfy the customer. Typical customer surveys are designed to measure: ?aOverall satisfaction ?aProduct-level satisfaction ?aImportance vs. satisfaction ? Timeliness of delivery ?aCustomer service process satisfaction ?aReturns and exchange process satisfaction ?aInterest in new potential products and services Included is sample survey that could be used to get a general idea of how our customers feel about our products and services. The main goal to achieve customer satisfaction needs to be: to find ways to deliver a great customer experience around your product or service. Customer expectations may be set, the idea is to exceed those expectations that they might already have. The recipe for a great cup of coffee includes four fundamentals, proportion, grind, water and freshness. Using the right proportion of coffee to water is the most important step in making great coffee. The shorter the brewing process, the finer the grind. The amount of time the coffee and water spend together affects the flavor elements that end up in your cup of coffee. Using fresh, cold water heated just off the boil is perfect for extracting the coffee?  ¦s full range of flavors. Use fresh ground coffee by grinding beans each time you brew the freshness is preserved. Starbucks quality is dependent on trading companies and exporters for its supply of green coffee. The company is looking to secure long term supply contracts, and in some cases has had to pay inflated prices in order to obtain such contracts. Starbucks responded to world coffee prices reaching 30-year lows during fiscal 2001 by offering suppliers more money to guarantee supply, and as such the risk of non-delivery on such purchase commitments is low. However, the nature of the business dictates that the company?  ¦s dependency on suppliers does put it at risk. Starbucks quality is at risk to the volatility of the supply and price of coffee. The company?  ¦s search for the superior standard coffee mean in can be adversely affected by multiple factors in the producing countries, including weather, political, and economic conditions. In addition, green coffee prices have been affected in the past, and may be affected in the future, by the actions of organizations and associations that have in the past attempted to influence prices of green coffee through agreements establishing export quotas or restricting global coffee supplies. The actions of these associations could cause a degree of costly disruption to Starbuck?  ¦s operations. Purchasing Guidelines Starbucks has also introduced coffee purchasing guidelines. The goal of these guidelines is to support Starbucks commitment to purchase coffee that has been grown and processed by suppliers who meet environmental, social, economic, and quality standards. Global coffee production can only be sustainable if it is economically viable, socially responsible, and environmentally sensitive at all levels of the supply chain. Over the past few years Starbucks has been working on the sourcing guidelines and they feel that is an important step that will help increase the production of high quality coffee and improve the health of the specialty coffee industry. With these guidelines, Starbucks is taking a leadership role in addressing the environmental and social issues surrounding the global coffee industry. This initiative is part of a long-term partnership between Starbucks and Conservation International to promote methods of coffee production that help to conserve global biodiversity. To launch these guidelines, Starbucks will enlist the support of coffee suppliers who are sustainable advocates. Starbucks has instituted a flexible point system that rewards performance in sustainable categories. Points will be accrued based on a supplier?  ¦s ability to meet sustainability guidelines, and suppliers who earn more points in the program will receive higher purchasing preference when Starbucks purchases green coffee. Starbucks has a long-standing practice of paying premium prices for coffee, and has always paid an average of at least $1. 20 per pound. As part of this practice, Starbucks will provide additional premiums of up to ten cents per pound to vendors based upon how well their coffee samples meet the standards. These financial incentives will help defray the costs incurred by participating suppliers. Suppliers wishing to participate will be required to provide independent, third party verification of their performance against the guidelines. Starbuck?  ¦s hopes that the success of this program demonstrates to the rest of the coffee industry that they can benefit by producing coffee in a way that protects global biodiversity and improves the livelihoods of coffee farmers. The Three Keys to Quality Coffee The three keys to quality coffee are: 1)Quality Green Arabica Coffee The best coffee beans produce the best cup of coffee. 2)Fresh Roasted Great tasting coffee relies on how soon the coffee is brewed, and consumed after roasting. For coffee to be fresh, and best, it must be consumed within five days after roasting, three hours of grinding, and fifteen minutes of brewing. The first sign that coffee is stale is a bitter taste. 3)Proper Brewing ? V Temperature and time, brewing is the extraction of coffee flavor oils from the roasted grounds using water. The best temperature for optimum extraction is water just off the boil (195 degrees to 205 degree Fahrenheit). This temperature will extract the full range of flavors from fresh roasted beans. Time is a function of brewing method and grind size. There are many ways to brew good coffee. Steeping and espresso are the two best methods. Financial Analysis Total net sales for Starbucks Corporation were analyzed for 2001, 2002, and 2003. The company had a total net sales increase of $639. 9M between the years 2001 and 2002. Another net increase of $786. 6M in sales occurred between 2002 and 2003. This is a positive sign because in a growing company, of course, we would expect a consistent increase in sales. A result of the increase in sales in part is due to a recent innovation of drive-throughs being added for the convenience of its many customers. Net income increased substantially to 215. 1M in 2002. This was due to the boom in sales and good control of its cost of goods sold. Net income increased to $53. 2M in 2003. The coffee giant acquired Seattle Coffee Company from AFC Enterprises for $72. 0M in 2003, as well. Income from operations took a boost up from $281. 0M in 2001 to $318. 7M in 2002, a difference of $37. 6M. Income from operations saw a considerable upturn of $424. 7M in 2003. In a growing company we would expect income from operations to grow from year to year. Cost of sales continued to increase $237. 2M between the years 2001 and 2002 and it peaked again $335. 9M between 2002 and 2003. This is normal when sales are increasing significantly. Management Strategies From cappuccinos to lattes to just regular coffee, the quality of Starbucks fine coffee beverages is worth the cost in dollars. An article from the Internet stated ?  §At $43 in mid-June, a share of Starbucks (SBUX) cost 47 times what Wall Street analysts expect the coffee-shop chain to earn per share this year. The typical stock in the SP 500 index trades at just 19 times earnings (Rosato, D. , 2004, p. 124). The article continued to state that management is projecting Starbucks earnings to grow to 20% every year for the next three to five years. With an amazing growth rate like that its no wonder that their growth far exceeds the typical SP stocks growth rate by as much as three times. Starbucks has a very strong balance sheet. It has little long-term debt and $380. 0M in cash. It continues to expand its long-term assets and finances them from its own cash flow. If a company is in a state of expansion, we would expect long-term assets to increase. The total current assets for the year ending September 29, 2002 for Starbucks Corporation were $847. 5M. For the year ending September 28, 2003 total current assets grew $76. 5M. This gives us a good indication that the company is expanding. Inventory increased from $263. 1M in 2002 to $342. 9 in 2003. In a growing company, we would expect inventory to increase. An article in the Internet stated that in November 2001, Starbucks offered their own Starbucks card. It was a convenient way for coffee drinkers to pay quickly and easily for their morning cup of coffee (Kuykendall, 2004, p. 7). Starbucks sold roughly $18. 0M of these gift cards. This strategy is a great way to increase volume and unlike other cards Starbucks said, ?  §It had never charged the fee noted on its cards $2 a month after on year ? V to anyone (Kuykendall, 2004 p. 7). Another vision to increase its financial strategy was the introduction of the Duetto combo prepaid/credit card in late 2003. An article on the Internet stated how the Chicago based Bank One Corp. called Duetto worked with Starbucks to generate a program where cardholders would receive rewards based on their spending habits. Starbucks conducted a survey to determine the gift that was most attractive to customers and Colette Courtion, director of Starbucks Global Card Services stated, ?  §Duetto cardholders receive a one-time $10 ?  §preload and 1% in so-called Duetto dollars that are automatically loaded on the stored-value side each month for every Visa purchase made. Starbucks also donates $5 to the Starbucks Foundation, after every customer?  ¦s first Starbucks Card Duetto Visa purchase (Martin, Z. , 2004, p. 22). A half-pound of coffee was one of the great appealing rewards, as well. Bank One and Starbucks were very well pleased with the markets positive response to the Duetto card. We are in agreement with these financial strategies and as a team, we concur that Starbucks Corporation should continue the card services as a strategic process that gives their company a great competitive advantage. A key strength of Starbucks is being a disciplined innovator. Frappuccino blended beverages and iced refreshments were new innovations and helped the growth of Starbucks. Starbucks should continue coming up with new kinds of beverages, as that is its core product. Perhaps a vegetable drink that is geared more toward the healthier population like a low calorie, low fat, and low sugar carrot drink that is actually providing the body with good vitamins and minerals. According to information retrieved from the Factiva database, Starbucks Price/Earnings ratio in the last twelve months was 56. 9 and its current ratio was 1. 8. Starbucks is on the right track with their strategies and they have done such an excellent job so far that we believe these strategies will continue to bring revenues for many upcoming years. Growth Starbucks Corporation has a good strategic growth plan currently to enhance their business and gain market share over their competitors. In this section of the report, it will go over Starbucks current ideas about their growth and give different recommendations in how some other ideas may increase their current and future growth. In the current high completive coffee market Starbucks has a good market share and are opening location across the world. Starbucks have opened their location in markets before any of their competitors has any of their location even around that market. Starbucks has a global brand name over their competitors. Starbucks Corporation has roughly 7,500 retail locations across the world, with majority are owned and operated in the United States of America. Starbucks currently has locations across 30 different countries to set their business in the market before any competitors due. Even with Starbucks aggressive move to open many locations across the world they have very little profit with their business. The reasons that Starbuck?  ¦s profitability is low because they?  ¦re trying to cease the market first. In the fiscal year of 2003, the company has a total of nearly 1,300 licensed retail stores, with 1,000 in Asia-Pacific region, 176 in Europe/Middle East/Africa and the remainder in America, excluding North America (Canada, Hawaii, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Peru and Chile). Starbucks is headquartered in Seattle, derives approximately 85% of its revenues and substantially all of its profits from its domestic US market. The US market is the market that gives them the most profit of all markets. Starbucks started most of their locations at cold states based that more coffee drinkers live in cold states. With the new innovation of the cold flavored coffee drinks increased their chance to open more location in warm clement locations. Even with the rapid growth of coffee businesses in the US Starbucks has a large market share and with any change the Starbucks may due their competitors looks to target. Starbucks looks to enhance their brand image in the US market to increase their product sales from the stores that carry Starbucks coffee drinks, like Seven Eleven that carry only Starbucks coffee only. Starbucks reliance on the beverage innovation is important for the Starbucks future growth. With the increase for coffee store based on the need for coffee because of the new flavors, coffee market is growing but Starbucks looks to bring a new innovation to the market. The only problem at hand would be how long will the need and growth of the market last. In the international markets need less innovation then the US market based that there are less competitors in the market. International markets may need to have certain products for their taste. Most often different countries have different customs and life styles that could change the need for each custom. By the fiscal year of 2004, Starbucks international market will achieve profitability. About 23% of the company?  ¦s stores locations that are profitable are located in North America markets that include UK and Japan. Currently the specialty coffee sector accounts for 15% of the US retail market, and which is already worth $21 billion. By 2005, the retail coffee market will be worth $22 billion, and the specialty coffee will account for 41% of the market. Also Starbucks are looking to invent a coffee ice cream and ice cream coffee drink. All of the ice cream has many different flavors and if the newly product takes of like it?  ¦s planned on doing. The specialty coffee products are now sold even at retail store based on the growing need for it. Starbucks is looking to open coffee and ice cream combined stores in start a new market. Starbucks currently sees that more and more coffee business are opening threw out the US by small business owners, so Starbucks is selling more stores to lessen the opening of small businesses. Starbucks feels that if they sell their name that more small business owner would rather have a well-known name to enhance their chances in doing well. Starbucks owners will learn and gain from the innovation and marketing ideas that Starbucks will give. Starbucks will grow faster if they sell of most or all of their location because their will be less need in maintaining their stores and more need in bring new ideas to the market. Now their competitors are franchising their location to. Most of the Starbucks locations in malls or in strip malls across the world. Currently Starbucks are building freestanding locations and designing a drive threw so their customers can have a more convenient way when needing their service. With these newly developed locations will have a food line. They?  ¦re looking to have hot food and cold food to compete with the Tim Horton coffee business. They are also looking to stay open 24 hours, seven days a week. Starbucks is looking to carry donuts, breakfast sandwiches, bagels and other morning food. Starbucks interest to change to compete with Tim Horton?  ¦s may hurt their business or help their business based on the cost involved in the change. Starbucks has concerns regarding the US store growth potential. Currently if the growth continues, saturation levels within the North American retail division will be reached inside five years, the reasons why Starbucks has some concern is that about 75% of the companies revenue growth and a greater portion of its profit. Before the US market becomes saturated, the US market sales growth will grow slowly over the next three to five years. With this change of saturation point coming, the pressure will be on the international Starbucks division will need to grow faster. Currently Starbucks global coffee market is very competitive, and must compete against the likes of restaurants, coffee shops, and street carts. Any major competitors, with a large financial background and the same resources as Starbucks can enter the market at any time and compete directly against the company. Starbucks feels that they have a good market share and are aware of competition on all levels and can maintain its operational performance if its to maintain its status as the world?  ¦s leading specialty coffee retailer. Starbucks was one of the first coffee businesses in the market and will try to be one of the last to leave. The recommendation to Starbucks Coffee that if they are going to grow in the market faster than their competitors is not to change their business to be more like Tim Horton?  ¦s and have their own identity. Currently Starbucks started the wireless Internet access in their stores and now every competitor is doing it. Also, it will help Starbucks if they would enhance the online service to provide laptops and other computers at their locations. They should have online ordering of coffee so when business people need to go fast they can order online and pay online to have a faster way in getting there coffee. With the innovation of new products, Starbucks should think in expanding in creating a coffee machine that can be place at schools, hospitals, and other companies that may need coffee and late hours or that don?  ¦t need a store. They currently market their own coffee brand coffee to purchase at other store but they should have it accessible online to order. The best thing that Starbucks has going for them is that none of its direct competitors are selling their product at store and online. With the increase in people that drink specialty coffee, Starbucks should innovate more different flavored coffee to increase their potential growth currently and in the future. The international looks to be the best growth for their business and they should invest more into locations and countries. Summary In order to ensure future success, we feel that Starbucks should implement the following suggestions. To improve customer satisfaction, Starbucks should include a section where customers actually ask questions and/or leave comments both in store and at their website. In addition, Starbucks should incorporate a survey to measure customer satisfaction. To ensure quality, Starbucks should continue its current practices. The practice includes securing long-term contracts, paying premium prices for coffee and additional premiums to suppliers to ensure quality needs are meet. To guarantee financial security, Starbucks should continue its role as a disciplined innovator. Starbucks should continue to promote the use of Starbucks cards and Duetto combo prepaid credit cards. An important part of Starbuck continued growth is emphasizing their unique image and to continue to provide the latest technical advancements. Starbucks should start expanding by providing coffee machines at schools, hospitals and other similar organizations. These strategies will continue to promote Starbucks as a leading retailer in a highly competitive coffee industry. Starbucks Customer Survey Dear Customer: I want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you. Please help us serve you better by taking a couple of minutes to tell us how we are doing. We appreciate your business and want to make sure we meet your expectations. Attached you will find a coupon good for 1 free coffee.

SWOT Analysis of Starbucks

SWOT Analysis of Starbucks 1. INTRODUCTION The following content is a case study on Starbucks company one if the famous and well known coffee shop in the world. This case study highlights about the:  · SWOT ANALYSIS  · PESTLE ANALYSIS  · PORTERS FIVE FORCES The history of Starbucks takes us back in the year 1971. It is a trade mark of (SBUX) in Seattle. In the start it was a purchaser and roaster of whole coffee beans. In the year 1970 the first Starbucks out let opened which used to provide finest coffee and coffee related products to the thirsty people of Seattle. In the year 1990 Starbucks went global expanding in the United States and soon become a publicly traded company. In 2000 the company expended in more than 15000 outlets in around more than 15 countries. Starbucks mission statement is simple; to inspire and nurture the human spirit— one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time 2. Swot analysis for Starbucks 2.1 Strength * The Starbucks has a strong ethical values and also a strong ethical mission statement ‘Starbucks is committed to a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business a positive approach towards had made Starbucks one of the no1 specialty retailer. * The market share and capitalization Starbucks owned  £4596.6 million and sales growth by 20.9% * Starbucks holds a strong position in the market wherein they have 8,500 shops owned by Starbucks directly and also around 6,500 shops on franchises and licences with excellent workforce and management that provide excellent service to the customer * In 2005 Starbucks was one of the fortunes in 100 companies to work for this was mainly because of the well efficient organisation resource management. 2.2 Weaknesses: * The key weakness of Starbucks is their weakened innovation and creativity that has limited them to coffee and coffee related products * As competitive pressure increases the lower price rivals such as Mc Donald or costa coffee can undercut the company profits as the Starbucks has premium brand with premium prices. * It only depends on coffee and coffee related products that give them a limited growth this criticises them from not using free trade products and a bad reputation from pressure group. * Since Starbucks is a US based company it mainly focuses on the domestic markets of US though Starbucks had grown worldwide none planning on the markets outside the US can affect the targeted profits. 2.3 Opportunities * Starbucks is global cooperation which sells coffee to about 16,000 coffee shops in over 35 countries, established relation with pepsi-co, barners and nobles, dreyrers ice cream and other major brands this gives them a opportunity to diversify. * Addition of more coffee products and expanding the menu gives them an opportunity to grow * Outside the domestic US markets there are a lot of opportunities for joint ventures.thr planning restrictions can be considered by reducing costs by relocating at super market chains, pubs and restaurant. * Become more of social and environmental responsible brand by better public relation activity,fair trade policies and ethical sourcing practices * Licensing its name through ambient coffee through super market that gives them an opportunity to increase their revenue. 2.4 Threats * Downturn in the economy affects consumer spending, with less income to spend this has been the threats in the recent years. * Criticizing on the web site about companys fair policies, labour relation and environmental hazards had a bad effect on the companies goodwill and has hence affected the revenue * The threats have been increasing by competition from national brands and new entrants, this putting pressure on profit margins. Companies seeks new way to differentiate to retain customers. * Saturation in the coffee market can be the worst threat as the Starbucks in very much linked with coffee and coffee related products 3. Pestle analysis for Starbucks 3.1 Political-Current tensions in the Middle East and boycotts of American made products are strategic concerns for Starbucks globalization plans. Starbucks also imports their coffee beans and thus any changes in import laws should also demand special attention. 3.2 Economic- Economic factors basically concern the nature and direction of the economy in which a firm operates. Current recession has forced people to limit their spending hence this has affected the sales of Starbucks. Also the price hike in the commodities e.g. coffee beans which are used to make coffee in Starbucks has forced them to increase the prices of the coffee. Consumers dont find as much worth in spending $4.35 for a cup of coffee when they can purchase the same size coffee at 7-eleven for $1. 75 3.3 Social- Promoting the health benefits of coffee remains a challenge for the industry and consumers are often confused with the myths propagated by the media. Social concerns regarding caffeine and it addictive properties also need to be considered these days the people are so environment concern that the company should learn how to reduce their plastic waste and use recyclable items. 3.4 Technological Factors -Starbucks has been continually looking for ways to enhance the customer experience. They have also expanded their partnership with ATT. ATT offered consumers Wi-Fi service in more than 7,000 Starbucks locations in the U.S. in spring of 2008 also the use of latest technology in brewing coffee beans to enhance the taste and flavour of the coffee served. 3.5 Legal Labour laws( for e.g. increase in the minimum wage of employees) Environmental law (e.g. ban on non recyclable cups and bottles used for take away drinks). 3.6 Ecological Factors- Starbucks also has a strong environmental mission statement. Starbucks promotes ethical sourcing as well and encourages the use environmentally friendly products. Starbucks uses key performance indicators to be sure they are measuring the degree to which they fulfil their social and environmental responsibilities. Starbucks should maintain abreast of any changing environmental legislation that could impact their corporate strategies. 4. Porters Five Forces Analysis The Porter 5 forces analysis is a framework by Michael E. Porter in 1979 for industry analysis and business strategy development to achieve its organisational goal. According to Michael porter there are 5 major factors which influence the business. * Bargaining power of suppliers * Bargaining power of buyers * Threat by substitute products * Rivalry between competitors * Threat of new entrants to a market. Starbucks should consider the following: 4.1 Power of Suppliers: Starbucks prides itself on its guiding principles one of which states, â€Å"Our Coffee-It has always been, and will always be, about quality. Were passionate about ethically sourcing the finest coffee beans, roasting them with great care, and improving the lives of people who grow them.† Therefore, in keeping with their mission and principles, Starbucks must ensure that the type and quality of coffee it offers is always the same. This means they would use the same suppliers that integrate their standards. An over-populated market could also give the suppliers more bargaining power. Starbucks needs to be aware of supplier power and potential price increases. 4.2 Power of Buyers/Customers: A buyer group is powerful if the industrys product does not save the buyer money (Pearce and Robinson, 2007) This is a plus for Starbucks as their coffee products are higher in price and considered a luxury brand. Starbucks is much more concerned with the quality of their product versus price. However; the other consideration is small local coffee companies that were around before Starbucks took over the marketplace. These smaller coffee shops may have their core customers who will not give their business to anyone else. 4.3 Available Substitutes: Starbucks must be aware of substitute products. Given the current grave economic crisis, consumers are vying towards less expensive alternatives than the luxury coffee Starbucks provides. This effect could alter Starbucks current pricing strategies. As more substitutes become available, the current pricing model would become more elastic since customers have more alternatives. Potential substitutes include bottled water, healthy water/juice drinks, and at home espresso machines. 4.4 Current Competitors: While companies like Dazbog and Caribou Coffee appear to be the most obvious competitors, McDonalds and Dunkin Doughnuts are Starbucks tops competitors. Both these organizations can compete with Starbucks in terms of sandwich items and coffee related products. More of a concern with these two competitors is their pricing modules. Both competitors are priced less than Starbucks products. 4.5 Threat of New Entrants: Starbucks provides a luxury good that consumers often scale back on when they want to save money. In 2007, Starbucks saw its shares fall more than 30% partly down to customers deserting it for cheaper rivals. As McDonalds and other chains like Dunkin Doughnuts realize the money in luxury coffee more companies will begin to enter the marketplace offering similar product lines for less cost. 5. Reference To conclude the Starbucks has done very well in the terms of business they have managed to grow within the industry in few years. Ill say this because from a single privately owned coffee house Starbucks was able to expand as a well known coffeehouse internationally and they managed to keep their position in the market. Starbucks needs to keep a close watch on its competitors because of the risk for competitive pressure. Also it needs to develop new types of coffees to sustain the threats for subistutes and also from competitors. They also need to utilize their opportunities to greater extant to be more successful in the future. 6.REFERENCE * Information and financial management, swot analysis, pg 23,10th edition ( Trowbridge, Wiltshire, 2005) * Bob Nelson and Peter Economy, Managing for Dummies, 2nd ed. (New York: Wiley, 2003) * Forbes Magazine. Forbes, S. (2005, December 12). Whoda Thunk It? Coffee Is Hot. Forbes, pp. 33, 33. Retrieved May 15, 2009, from Business Source Premier Database * Starbucks. (2009b). Company Profile. Retrieved May 10, 2009, from http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/Company_Profile.pdf * Moneyweek Magazine. Which firms can survive a storm? Tim Bennett, Nov 27, 2007 http://www.moneyweek.com/investment-advice/how-to-invest/which-firms-can-survive-a-storm.aspx * Brewing Battle: Starbucks vs. McDonalds, from http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1702277,00.html * Starbucks. (2009c). Our Starbucks Mission. Retrieved May 10, 2009, from http://www.starbucks.com/mission/default.asp * Starbucks 2007 Annual Report. Corporate Social Responsibility Brochure * Howard Schultz: Chairman of Starbucks Corporation. http://www.marketingcrossing.com/article/220025/Howard-Schultz-Chairman-of-Starbucks-Corporation/ * Regis University (2009). Strategic Management and Financial Ratio Analysis. Columbus, OH: McGraw Hill/Irwin

People know what they do; they frequently know why they do what they do

People know what they do; they frequently know why they do what they do; but what they don't know is what what they do does. Introduction With technology moving at such a rapid pace, etiquette and ethics have a hard time keeping up. Five years ago few people had even heard of electronic mail or "e-mail" and even today, whether to add a hyphen or not it is of trivial debate. As a society, we hold dear the value of privacy and confidentiality as a basic fundamental right. Access to the new technology of electronic mail can jeopardize both values. What privacy rights should employees enjoy, and how can these be reconciled with the legitimate need of organzations to control and manage their network? People have come to depend on email as a way to communicate, even actually creating less of a divide for families that live far away or even in another country. But there are quite a few ethical concerns that we, as a society, should begin to consider. The hardest part, as with most ethics, is definition of what is right or wrong and ultimately . . . compliance. Does electronic mail present ethical dilemmas in the areas of confidentiality, security, and ownership? And further, will the actual tone of writing create ethical and social implications in the way that we communicate? This is an essential issue for society as a whole. If this newly created "cyber-community" doesn't have some kind of consistency then frequent misunderstandings can and will occur perhaps even causing social turmoil. A Bit of History In 1775, the colonies needed a way to communicate with each other. Statesman Benjamin Franklin, the first Postmaster General, helped develop the postal system we know today. This system helped bind the new natio... ...uman Resource Management. " Workplace Privacy Poll." 1999 Online. Available:http://www.shrm.org/surveys/privacy.htm Soden,A., "Protect Your Corporation From Email Litigation," Corporate Legal Times, May 1995. http://www.stedwards.edu/stubook/comput.htm www.aptosjr.santacruz.k12.ca.us/computers/page9.html USPS History: http://www.usps.gov/history/his1.htm http://www.nua.ie/surveys, Apr. 16,1999. "300 Million Online by 2005 Asia, South America to Lead Way," http://cyberatlas.internet.com/big_picture/demographics/data.html (March 31,1999) University of Massy. http://www.massey.ac.nz/~wwits/emailpol.htm Haisting, Larry J. EDI: A New Way of Doing Business, St. Paul, MN,1993. Moore, Dinty W. The Emperor's Virtual Clothes, Workman Publishing, 1995. Sims, C. (1993 Dec. 6) Reporter discipled for reading his co-workers email. New York Times, P.A3.

Crime, Violence and Masculinity Essays -- essays research papers fc

Can the nation-state and culture combine forces to reduce interpersonal violence in the West?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Violence is a difficult term to define, but for the purposes of this assignment violence can be defined as a crime or the threat to commit a crime by one person upon another person, and that usually that has negative physical or emotional effects upon the victim. Violence in Western society has been increasing steadily and has become a major concern for many nations. Increasingly, much of the violence is committed by male children and teenagers. Crimes by young people are no longer just misdemeanors, but they now include the major felonies of rape, robbery and homicide. The rise in violent crime in the last few decades has been accompanied by a rise in violence in the media, especially television, movies and music. To protect society, the US government must impose regulations on these media outlets so that audiences are not subjected to too much gratuitous violence that may influence them to commit such acts of violence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Much of Western society’s contemporary behavior is influenced by popular culture, usually by such media outlets as television, movies and music. Arguments exist today concerning the amount of responsibility that the media has to portray such violent crimes as unacceptable. The most popular of such beliefs is one that argues that the media is currently romanticizing the use of violence to gain an audience. Proponents of such an argument claim that if the media displays violence in a less glamorous way, interpersonal violence can be reduced. For this to happen, the nation-state must play the important role of regulating how much and what types of violence media sources can show, and to which audiences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some people, mostly men, enjoy viewing or hearing about acts of violence. Some even find it exciting to participate, on one level or another, in violent acts. Television programs, movies and music capitalize on this fact by showing or describing gratuitous acts of violence. Even news programs see the importance in covering violent interpersonal crimes in their broadcasts to gain high ratings. Western society is interested in conflict, and enjoys being a third party audience to such violence. The problem with this is that by consuming too much violence through th... ...duce more violent behavior from their audiences. The governments of the Western world cannot altogether prohibit the media from showing violence to their citizens, but they can impose more strict limitations on the amount of violence shown and to which audiences. More mature audiences can handle violent content better than younger, more impressionable audiences. Bibliography American Psychological Association Website www.apa.org/journals/xap/xap44291.html Anderson Ph.D., Craig â€Å"Exposure to Violent Media: The Effects of Songs with Violent   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lyrics   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  on Aggressive Thoughts and Feelings† Iowa State University. Texas   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Department of Human Services; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vol. 84, No. 5. Egger, S. Violence and Masculinity: A Commentary Huston, A.C., et al 1992 Big World, Small Screen: The Role of Television in American   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Society. Lincoln Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press Strang, H. 1992, Homicides in Australia 1990-1991, Australian Institute of Criminology,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Canberra. Crime, Violence and Masculinity Essays -- essays research papers fc Can the nation-state and culture combine forces to reduce interpersonal violence in the West?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Violence is a difficult term to define, but for the purposes of this assignment violence can be defined as a crime or the threat to commit a crime by one person upon another person, and that usually that has negative physical or emotional effects upon the victim. Violence in Western society has been increasing steadily and has become a major concern for many nations. Increasingly, much of the violence is committed by male children and teenagers. Crimes by young people are no longer just misdemeanors, but they now include the major felonies of rape, robbery and homicide. The rise in violent crime in the last few decades has been accompanied by a rise in violence in the media, especially television, movies and music. To protect society, the US government must impose regulations on these media outlets so that audiences are not subjected to too much gratuitous violence that may influence them to commit such acts of violence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Much of Western society’s contemporary behavior is influenced by popular culture, usually by such media outlets as television, movies and music. Arguments exist today concerning the amount of responsibility that the media has to portray such violent crimes as unacceptable. The most popular of such beliefs is one that argues that the media is currently romanticizing the use of violence to gain an audience. Proponents of such an argument claim that if the media displays violence in a less glamorous way, interpersonal violence can be reduced. For this to happen, the nation-state must play the important role of regulating how much and what types of violence media sources can show, and to which audiences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some people, mostly men, enjoy viewing or hearing about acts of violence. Some even find it exciting to participate, on one level or another, in violent acts. Television programs, movies and music capitalize on this fact by showing or describing gratuitous acts of violence. Even news programs see the importance in covering violent interpersonal crimes in their broadcasts to gain high ratings. Western society is interested in conflict, and enjoys being a third party audience to such violence. The problem with this is that by consuming too much violence through th... ...duce more violent behavior from their audiences. The governments of the Western world cannot altogether prohibit the media from showing violence to their citizens, but they can impose more strict limitations on the amount of violence shown and to which audiences. More mature audiences can handle violent content better than younger, more impressionable audiences. Bibliography American Psychological Association Website www.apa.org/journals/xap/xap44291.html Anderson Ph.D., Craig â€Å"Exposure to Violent Media: The Effects of Songs with Violent   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lyrics   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  on Aggressive Thoughts and Feelings† Iowa State University. Texas   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Department of Human Services; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vol. 84, No. 5. Egger, S. Violence and Masculinity: A Commentary Huston, A.C., et al 1992 Big World, Small Screen: The Role of Television in American   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Society. Lincoln Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press Strang, H. 1992, Homicides in Australia 1990-1991, Australian Institute of Criminology,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Canberra.

Psychoanalytical Reading at Roald Dahl Short Stories Essay

Psychoanalytical Reading Psychoanalysis is a theory that was found by psychologist and neurologist in the 19th century who came from Austria, Siegmund Freud. As a psychologist, in dealing his patients, Sigmund Freud always give questions and analyze every problem that they face, so he then get a lot of bright spots which states that personal experiences that they experienced as a child, have an impact in influencing the personality of a person when they was growing up. Based on that statement is then also can be concluded that the events of the past or a person’s life experience can affect their psychological condition, and consequently impact on the activities that will performed by the patient in the future. The statement above is one of the applications of the theory of psychoanalysis to the psychology of someone who is discovered by Freud. This case was also found in one of the famous writer on the Victorian era, Roald Dahl. The story of a childhood that passed by him regarded as a trigger of ideas for Dahl in composing children stories that are very well known until this time, such as Matilda, George’s Marvelous Medicine, The Witches, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, and some of his work that is quite popular. Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, Wales, on September 13, 1916. He was born from a family to a Norwegian. He was the son of the second wife of his father, Harald Dahl, and is the only son in the family. In his works, Roald Dahl describes his parents as being strong or as parents is very great. In the book Boy: Tales of Childhood, in telling that his father figure was superb, although his father lost his left hand, he is very adept at writing diaries, sculpt, and gardening. Dahl’s father died when he was 3 years old. Since his father’s death, the figure of a mother became the savior of their families. In her memoirs, recounted that Dahl has a very close relationship to his mother. For Dahl, his mother is someone who has the strength, which is responsible and very caring towards his family and his children. For example, the character of Grandmother in the story of The Witches is a picture of Roald Dahl’s mother. Dahl considers that the figure of the mother  is ver y valuable for them and can provide a convenience. The chosen short story that used by the writer in this essay is Boy: Tales of Childhood, which is one of the works of Roald Dahl that tells about the life of his childhood. This short story may be said to be the autobiography of Roald Dahl, but in the book Boy: Tales of Childhood, Dahl explains that this book is not an autobiography of him, but just a story about memories of his live gone through as a child, starting a story about his father, Harald Dahl, a tremendous diary-writer, the birth of a Roald Dahl, to the story of his school years until he left school at the age of 20. In this critical essay, the writer will criticize Boy: Tales of Childhood (1984), a story that tells about the early life of Dahl. Theory analysis used by the writer is the theory of psychoanalysis proposed by Sigmund Freud and utilizes the issues of the psychology of Dahl and the effect of his authorship. Writing can absolutely reflect the author’s psychological problem, or basically, his/her biggest desire or fear. It is explained in the quotation below that in a piece of writing, we can search for: Evidence of unresolved emotions, psychological conflicts, guilts, ambivalences, and so forth within what may well be a disunified literary work. The author’s own childhood traumas, family life, sexual conflicts, fixations, and such will be traceable within the behavior of the characters in the literary work. But psychological material will be expressed indirectly, disguised, or encoded (as in dreams) through principles such as â€Å"symbolism† (the repressed object represented in disguise), â€Å"condensation† (several thoughts or persons represented in a single image), and â€Å"displacement† (anxiety located onto another image by means of association). (Delahoyde 2011) Therefore, Boy: Tales of Childhood can be a basic source to find an issue from his unconscious. Based on that case, the writer raised issues about the state of psychology and experiences faced by Dahl when he was still sitting in school at the age of 7-18 years and the impact to the his authorship of children’s literature. The specific issue is about bully since the book  tells about it and later, I find that issue occurs in some other books by Dahl. During his childhood, Dahl was including as a resilient and strong kid, because in every level of education that he went through, from elementary, junior high, and high school, Dahl had always found himself bullied by people who are more mature than Dahl, such as seniors or boazers, matron, the hallway guard, and headmaster. Began when he attended Llandaff Cathedral School, where he was once punished by the headmaster, Dahl had to get strokes with a cane on his ass for what he did because Dahl is known to have tricked a woman selling sweets and candy in the they town, because the seller, Mrs. Pratchett, never show politeness and unfriendly to kids and costumers. Then, while attending St. Peter School when he was 9 years old, he also received harsh treatment from the guards/matron, masters, and the headmaster. One act of bullying that he got was when the school Latin teacher, Captain Hardcastle, Dahl accused of cheating while working on a writing assignment, but by Dahl was borrow his pen to a friend who broke his side. Because of allegations that, Dahl back should feel to get stroke with a cane on his ass AGAIN! The last, when he entered a public school in Derbyshire, Paxton, Dahl also harassment, insult and mockery, from the masters. The same ritual is contained in the boazers schools and principals als o punish students with strokes with a cane, but fortunately the same experience gained by Dahl had previously made ​​him cautious in every action that he did. It could be said in this case, past events or experiences that ever passed by Dahl when his school years were filled with unpleasant actions of the school officials, it could be a strong reason for the figure of a Dahl to write the story works containing about rudeness, or which is now better known as Bullying by adults or people who have a higher authority on children. In the two works which Dahl wrote, Matilda (1992) and George’s Marvelous Medicine (1981), we can see that the theme of both of these stories is  bullying, where the two characters in the works, Matilda and George had felt the bullying from people who are more mature than them both. Matilda always received harsh treatment from both the parents and her headmaster, and George have always had nagging and scolding of the grandmother who is not like him. In both of story above, Dahl used his childhood experiences in school to raise an issue, bullying and anti-bullying. It was concluded that Dahl wants to tell and invite readers, especially young readers, to be able to resist the actions of bullies from the other people. In conclusion, the writier end up using psychoanalytic theory of evidence that Roald Dahl uses his life experiences, especially when he was a child to adolescence as a matter of helping him find his ideas in writing his works. Thus, the state of a person’s psychology, personal experiences, is it good or bad experiences, can affect the activities to be gone through in the future, and sure enough, Dahl uses his school experience which can be considered extremely unpleasant and other matters as the originator the presence of the works he wrote. REFERENCES Dahl, Roald (1984). Boy: Tales of Childhood. Penguin Book Ltd: London Minderop, Albertine (2010). Psikologi Sastra: Karya Sastra, Metode, Teori, dan Contoh Kasus. Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia: Jakarta Abrams, M.H (1999). A Glossary of Literary Term: Seventh Edition. Hcnle & Heinle: United State of America

Standards & Discipline: “Discipline” Video Case Study

Facilitator: Watching the video twice often ensures that participants are prepared to discuss the issues. Remember that SSG John Diem volunteered to share this story and served admirably and heroically in combat. Video summary: John Diem discusses the importance of discipline within the unit and the individual. â€Å"Just because you are overseas does not mean you do not continue to follow rules/standards/disciplines. You may not understand the reasoning behind these rules, but as professionals, you are expected to enforce and adhere to them. Length: 2:59 ? SSG Diem says, â€Å"When you allow your lack of understanding of these rules to become how you lead Soldiers and you allow yourself to discount them, that’s when you start having a negative effect. † o What should a leader do when they don’t understand Army rules & standards? o Have your group write down and discuss when they’ve enforced a particular standard. ? Diem says, â€Å"So I don’t exp ect lieutenants, sergeants, privates, even staff-sergeants to understand all of these rules. But I think the Army has the right to expect them to enforce them. † o What do you think of this statement? o How can a leader use their military expertise to learn rules in order to enforce them? o Ask the group to share what impact a leader’s misunderstanding of rules or SOPs had on them as a subordinate? ? Diem also said, of upholding standards, â€Å"You have to find when to ease up on that and (when to) harshly enforce it. † o How can â€Å"easing up† on a standard affect the performance of duties?

Structural-Functionalism and Conflict Theory

Theories in sociology provide us with different perspectives with which to view our social world. A perspective is simply a way of looking at the world. A theory is a set of interrelated propositions or principles designed to answer a question or explain a particular phenomenon; it provides us with a perspective. Sociological theories help us to explain and predict the social world in which we live. Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives: the structural-functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionist perspective. Each perspective offers a variety of explanations about the causes of and possible solutions for social problems (Rubington & Weinberg, 1995). Structural-Functionalist Perspective The structural-functionalist perspective is largely based on the works of Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and Robert Merton. According to structural-functionalist, society is a system of interconnected parts that work together in harmony to maintain a state of balance and social equilibrium for the whole. For example, each of the social institutions contributes important functions for society: family provides a context for reproducing, nurturing, and socializing children; education offers a way to transmit society's skills, knowledge, and culture to its youth; politics provides a means of governing members of society; economics provides for the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services; and religion provides moral guidance and an outlet for worship of a higher power. The structural-functionalist perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of society by focusing on how each part influences and is influenced by other parts. For example, the increase in single-parent and dual-earner families has contributed to the number of children who are failing in school because parents have become less available to supervise their children's homework. Due to changes in technology, colleges are offering more technical programs, and many adults are returning to school to learn new skills that are required in the workplace. The increasing number of women in the workforce has contributed to the formation of policies against sexual harassment and job discrimination. Consideration In viewing society as a set of interrelated parts, structural-functionalists also note that proposed solutions to a social problem may cause additional social problems. For example, racial imbalance in public schools led to forced integration, which in turn generated violence and increased hostility between the races. The use of plea bargaining was adopted as a means of dealing with overcrowded court dockets but resulted in â€Å"the revolving door of justice. Urban renewal projects often displaced residents and broke up community cohesion. Structural-functionalist use the terms â€Å"functional† and â€Å"dysfunctional† to describe the effects of social elements on society. Elements of society are functional if they contribute to social stability and dysfunctional if they disrupt social stability. Some aspects of society may be both functional and dysfunctional for society. For example, crime is dysfunctional in that it is associated with physical violence, loss of property, and fear. But, according to Durkheim and other functionalists, crime is also functional for society because it leads to heightened awareness of shared moral bonds and increased social cohesion. Sociologists have identified two types of functions: manifest and latent (Merton, 1968). Manifest functions are consequences that are intended and commonly recognized. Latent functions are consequences that are unintended and often hidden. For example, the manifest function of education is to transmit knowledge and skills to society's youth. ut public elementary schools also serve as baby-sitters for employed parents, and college offer a place for young adults to meet potential mates. The baby-sitting and mate selection functions are not the intended or commonly recognized functions of education–hence, they are latent functions. Structural-Functionalist Theories of Social Problems Two dominant theories of social problems grew out of the structural-functionalist perspective: social pathology and s ocial disorganization. Social Pathology According to the social pathology model, social problems result from some â€Å"sickness† in society. Just as the human body becomes ill when our systems, organs, and cells do not function normally, society becomes â€Å"ill† when its parts (i. e. , elements of the structure and culture) no longer perform properly. For example, problems such as crime, violence, poverty, and juvenile delinquency are often attributed to the breakdown of the family institution, the decline of the religious institution, and inadequacies in our economic, educational, and political institutions. Social â€Å"illness† also results when members of a society are not adequately socialized to adopt its norms and values. Persons who do not value honesty, for example, are prone to dishonesties of all sorts. Early theorists attributed the failure in socialization to â€Å"sick† people who could not be socialized. Later theorists recognized that failure in the socialization process stemmed from â€Å"sick† social conditions, not â€Å"sick† people. To prevent or solve social problems, members of society must receive proper socialization and moral education, which may be accomplished in the family, schools, churches, workplace, and/or through the media. Social Disorganization According to the social disorganization view of social problems, rapid social change disrupts the norms in a society. When norms become weak or are in conflict with each other, society is in a state of anomie or normlessness. Hence, people may steal, physically abuse their spouse or children, abuse drugs, rape or engage in other deviant behavior because the norms regarding their behaviors are weak or conflicting. According to this view, the solution to social problem lies in slowing the pace of social change and strengthening social norms. For example, although the use of alcohol by teenagers is considered a violation of a social norm in our society, this norm is weak. The media portray young people drinking alcohol, teenagers teach each other to drink alcohol and buy fake identification cards (IDs) to purchase alcohol, and parents model drinking behavior by having a few drinks after work or at a social event. Solutions to teenage drinking may involve strengthening norms against it through public education, restricting media depictions of youth and alcohol, imposing stronger sanctions against the use of fake IDs to purchase alcohol, and educating parents to model moderate and responsible drinking behavior. Conflict Perspective Whereas the structural-functionalist perspective views society as comprising different parts working together, the conflict perspective views society as comprising different groups and interests competing for power and resources. The conflict perspective explains various aspects of our social world by looking at which groups have power and benefit from a particular social arrangement. The origins of the conflict perspective can be traced to the classic works of Karl Marx. Marx suggested that all societies go through stages of economic development. As societies evolve from agricultural to industrial, concern over meeting survival needs is replaced by concern over making profit, the hallmark of a capitalist system. Industrialization leads to the development of two classes of people: the bourgeoisie, or the owners of the means of production (e. g. , factories, farms, businesses), and the proletariat, or the worker who earn wages. The division of society into two broad classes of people–the â€Å"haves† and the â€Å"have-nots†Ã¢â‚¬â€œis beneficial to the owners of the means of production. The workers, who may earn only subsistence wages, are denied access to the many resources available to the wealthy owners. According to Marx, the bourgeoisie use their power to control the institutions of society to their advantage. For example, Marx suggested that religion serves as an â€Å"opiate of the masses† in that it soothes the distress and suffering associated with the working-class lifestyle and focuses workers' attention on spirituality, God, and the afterlife rather than on such worldly concerns as living conditions. In essence, religion diverts the workers so that they concentrate on being rewarded in heaven for living a moral life rather than on questioning exploitation. Conflict Theories of Social Problems There are two general types of conflict theories of social problems: Marxist and non-Marxist. Marxist theories focus on social conflict that results from economic inequalities; non-Marxist theories focus on social conflict that results form competing values and interests among social groups. [Note: Non-Marxist theories are also referred to as neo-Marxist theories–â€Å"non† and â€Å"neo† are interchangeable. ] Marxist Conflict Theories According to contemporary Marxist theorists, social problems result from class inequality inherent in a capitalistic system. A system of â€Å"haves† and â€Å"have-nots† may be beneficial to the â€Å"haves† but often translate into poverty for the â€Å"have-nots. Many social problems, including physical and mental illness, low educational achievement, and crime are linked to poverty. In addition to creating an impoverished class of people, capitalism also encourages â€Å"corporate violence. † Corporate violence may be defined as actual harm and/or risk of harm inflicted on consumers, worker s, and the general public as a result of decisions by corporate executives or manages. Corporate violence may also result from corporate negligence, the quest for profits at any cost, and willful violation of health, safety, and environmental laws (Hills, 1987). Our profit-motivated economy encourages individuals who are otherwise good, kind, and law-abiding to knowingly participate in the manufacturing and marketing of defective brakes on American jets, fuel tanks on automobiles, and contraceptive devices (intrauterine devices [IUDs]). The profit motive has also caused individuals to sell defective medical devices, toxic pesticides, and contaminated foods to developing countries. Blumberg (1989) suggests that â€Å"in an economic system based exclusively on motives of self-interests and profit, such behavior is inevitable† (p. 06). Marxist conflict theories also focus on the problem of alienation, or powerlessness and meaninglessness in people's lives. In industrialized societies, workers often have little power or control over their jobs, which fosters a sense of powerlessness in their lives. The specialized nature of work requires workers to perform limited and repetitive tasks; as a result, the workers may come to feels that their lives are meaningless. Alienation is bred not only in the workplace, but also in the classroom. Students have little power over their education and often find the curriculum is not meaningful to their lives. Like poverty, alienation is linked to other social problems, such as low educational achievement, violence, and suicide. Marxist explanations of social problems imply that the solution lies in eliminating inequality among classes of people by creating a classless society. The nature of work must also change to avoid alienation. Finally, stronger controls must be applied to corporations to ensure that corporate decisions and practices are based on safety rather than profit considerations. Non-Marxist Conflict Theories Non-Marxist conflict theorists such as Ralf Dahrendorf are concerned with conflict that arise when groups have opposing values and interests. For example, antiabortion activists value the life of unborn embryos and fetuses; prochoice activists value the right of women to control their own body and reproductive decisions. These different value positions reflect different subjective interpretations of what constitutes a social problem. For antiabortionists, the availability of abortion is the social problem; for prochoice advocates, restrictions on abortion are the social problem. Sometimes the social problem is not the conflict itself, but rather the way that conflict is expressed. Even most prolife advocates agree that shooting doctors who perform abortions and blowing up abortion clinics constitute unnecessary violence and lack of respect for life. Value conflicts may occur between diverse categories of people, including nonwhites versus whites, heterosexuals versus homosexuals, young versus old, Democrats versus Republicans, and environmentalists versus industrialists. Solutions to the problems that are generated by competing values may involve ensuring that conflicting groups understand each other's views, resolving differences through negotiation or mediation, or agreeing to disagree. Ideally, solutions should be win-win; both conflicting groups are satisfied with the solution. However, outcomes of value conflicts are often influenced by power; the group with the most power may use its position to influence the outcome of value conflicts. For example, when Congress could not get all states to voluntarily increase the legal drinking age to 21, it threatened to withdraw federal highway funds from those that would not comply. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Both the structural-functionalist and the conflict perspectives are concerned with how broad aspects of society, such as institutions and large groups, influence the social world. This level of sociological analysis is called macro sociology: It looks at the â€Å"big picture† of society and suggests how social problems are affected at the institutional level. Micro sociology, another level of sociological analysis, is concerned with the social psychological dynamics of individuals interacting in small groups. Symbolic interactionism reflects the micro sociological perspective and was largely influenced by the work of early sociologists and philosophers such as Max Weber, Georg Simmel, Charles Horton Cooley, George Herbert Mead, William Isaac Thomas, Erving Goffman, and Howard Becker. Symbolic interactionism emphasizes that human behavior is influenced by definitions and meanings that are created and maintained through symbolic interactions with others. Sociologist William Isaac Thomas ([1931] 1966) emphasized the importance of definitions and meanings in social behavior and its consequences. He suggested that humans respond to their definition of a situation rather than to the objective situation itself. Hence, Thomas noted that situations we define as real become real in their consequences. Symbolic interactionism also suggests that our identity or sense or self is shaped by social interaction. we develop our self-concept by observing how others interact with us and label us. By observing how others view us, we see a reflection of ourselves that Cooley calls the â€Å"looking glass self. Lastly, the symbolic interaction perspective has important implications for how social scientist conduct research. The German sociologist Max Weber (1864-1920) argued that in order to understand the individual and group behavior, social scientists must see the world from the eyes of that individual or group. Weber called this approach Verstehen, which in German means â€Å"empathy. † Verstehen implies that in conducting research, social scientists must try to understand others' view of reality and the subjective aspects of their experiences, including their symbols, values, attitudes, and beliefs. Symbolic Interactionist Theories of Social Problems A basic premise of symbolic interactionist theories of social problems is that a condition must be defined or recognized as a social problem in order for it to be a social problem. Based on this premise, Herbert Blumer (1971) suggested that social problems develop in stages. First, social problems pass through the stage of â€Å"societal recognition†Ã¢â‚¬â€œthe process by which a social problem, for example, drunk driving, is â€Å"born. † Second, â€Å"social legitimation† takes place when the social problem achieves recognition by the larger community, including the media, schools, and churches. As the visibility of traffic fatalities associated with alcohol increased, so the the legitimation of drunk driving as a social problem. The next stage in the development of a social problem involves â€Å"mobilization for action,† which occurs when individuals and groups, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, become concerned about how to respond to the social condition. This mobilization leads to the â€Å"development and implementation of an official plan† for dealing with the problem, involving, for example, highway checkpoints, lower legal blood-alcohol levels, and tougher drunk driving regulations. Blumer's stage development view of social problems is helpful in tracing the development of social problems. For example, although sexual harassment and date rape have occurred throughout this century, these issues did not begin to receive recognition as social problems until the 1970s. Social legitimation of these problems was achieved when high schools, colleges, churches, employers, and the media recognized their existence. Organized social groups mobilized to develop and implement plans to deal with these problems. For example, groups successfully lobbied for the enactment of laws against sexual harassment and the enforcement of sanctions against violators of these laws. Groups mobilized to provide educational seminars on date rate for high school and college students and to offer support services to victims of date rape. Some disagree with the symbolic interactionist view that social problems exist only if they are recognized. According to this view, individuals who were victims of date rape in the 1960s may be considered victims of a problem, even though date rape was not recognized at that time as a social problem. Labeling theory, a major symbolic interactionist theory of social problems, suggests that a social condition or group is viewed as problematic if it is labeled as such. According to labeling theory, resolving social problems sometimes involves changing the meanings and definitions that are attributed to people and situations. For example, as long as teenagers define drinking alcohol as â€Å"cool† and â€Å"fun,† they will continue to abuse alcohol.