Chem Lab Mixtures Essay

In this lab, a mixture of naphthalene (C10H8), common table salt (NaCl), and sea sand (SiO2) will be separated using the separation techniques in order to demonstrate the properties of mixtures and their ability to be separated by physical means. INTRODUCTION: This lab was based on the separation of the components of a mixture. A mixture can be defined as a physical combination of two or more pure substances. Separation techniques are used to separate components that are not chemically combined. All of these techniques involve changes in the physical state of a chemical compound rather than chemical changes. The three objectives in this lab were 1. Learn the different separation techniques which include; sublimation, extraction, decantation, filtration and evaporation. 2. Separate three components in a mixture using the separation techniques learned. 3. Determine the mass percentages of each of the three components present in a mixture. The 5 separation techniques are†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 1) Sublimation: involves the heating of a solid that passes directly from the solid phase into the gaseous phase. The reverse process where a gas goes into the solid phase is called deposition or condensation. 2) Extraction: involves using a solvent that selectively dissolve one or more components from a solid mixture. 3) Decantation: involves the separation of a liquid from insoluble solid sediment by carefully pouring the liquid from the solid without disturbing the solid. 4) Filtration: involves separating a solid from a liquid through the use of a porous material such as filter paper. The porous material allows the liquid to pass through it but not the solid. 5) Evaporation: involves the process of heating a mixture in order to separate a volatile liquid in the form of a vapor, while the remaining component dry. The mixtures that will be separated are naphthalene, common table salt, and sea sand. The separation of this mixture involves three steps which are heating the mixture to sublime the naphthalene, then dissolving the table salt with water to extract and evaporating water to recover dry NaCl and sand. To determine the percentage of each component in the mixture, this formula can be used. % component= grams of component isolated grams of initial sample PROCEDURE: A. Preliminary Steps 1. Obtain a clean, dry 150-mL beaker and weigh it to the nearest .001g. 2. Obtain a sample of the mixture from your instructor and carefully transfer 2g of the mixture into the beaker. 3. Record the weight of the beaker with the mixture inside to nearest .001g and calculate the exact weight of the mixture by subtraction. B. Sublimation of Naphthalene 1. Set up and do the sublimation in the hood. 2. Place an evaporating dish with some ice on top of the beaker containing the mixture and place the beaker on a wire gauze with an iron ring and ring stand assembly. 3. Carefully heat the beaker with a Bunsen burner until vapors appear in the beaker. A solid should collect on the underside of the evaporating dish. Continue heating for 10 minutes. 4. After 10 minutes, remove the Bunsen burner from under the beaker and then remove the evaporating disk from the beaker and collect the solid by scrapping it off the dish with a spatula onto a weighing paper. 5. Stir the contents of the beaker with a glass rod. Return the evaporating disk to the beaker and apply the heat again. Continue heating and scraping off solid until no more solid collects. 6. Weigh all the naphthalene collected and record it on the Report sheet to the nearest .001g. 7. Allow the beaker to cool and then weigh the beaker with the contained solid. Record the weight of the naphthalene sublimed by subtracting the weight of the beaker with remaining solid after sublimation from the weight of beaker 1 with original mixture. C. Separation of the Water Insoluble Solid 1. Add 25mL of distilled water to the solid in the beaker. Heat gently and stir continuously for 5 min. 2. Weigh a second clean, dry 150-mL beaker with 2 or 3 boiling stones to nearest .001g and record its mass onto the data sheet. 3. Assemble the apparatus for gravity filtration as shown in Figure 3.4 4. Fold a piece of filter paper according to the technique in Figure 3.5. 5. Wet the filter paper with water and adjust the paper so that it lies flat on the glass of the funnel. 6. Position beaker 2 under the funnel and pour the mixture through the filter, first decanting most of the liquid into beaker 2 and then transferring the wet solid into the funnel. Collect all the liquid in beaker 2. 7. Rinse beaker 1 with 5-10-mL of water, pour over the residue in the funnel and add the liquid to the filtrate. *Repeat this step once more. 8. Place beaker 2 on the wire gauze with an iron ring and ring stand and heat using the Bunsen burner. As the volume of liquid is reduced, sodium chloride will appear. When the liquid is fully evaporated, allow the beaker to cool d own. 9. Weigh the beaker, stones, and the solid residue to the nearest .001g. Calculate the weight of the recovered NaCl by subtraction. D. Drying the Sea Sand 1. Weigh a third dry 150-mL beaker and transfer the sand from the filter paper to beaker 3. 2. Place beaker 3 with the sea sand on the wire gauze with an iron ring and ring stand and heat the sand to dryness. When dried, the sand should be freely flowing. 3. Allow the sand to cool to room temperature. 4. Weigh the beaker and the sand to the nearest .001g. 5. Calculate the weight of the recovered sand by subtraction. Results and Discussions: In this lab certain separation techniques were used and learned. When measuring the different amounts of the three components of the mixture, all measurements were based on significant figures. Thus, each certain digit plus one uncertain digit was included in all measurements. First, the sublimation of naphthalene was done by heating the mixture. The original weight of the naphthalene collected was .070g and after sublimation the weight of naphthalene was .095g. Next, extraction was observed in separation of the water insoluble solid. The NaCl was separated from the SiO2 because of the solubility of NaCl in water and the insolubility of SiO2 in water. Solubility is the ability of a substance to dissolve when in the presence of a certain solvent. The NaCl was said to dissolve leaving only the insoluble sea sand in the beaker with the water. Filtration was also observed in this experiment when the piece of filter paper was wetted and used for gravity filtration. The NaCl dissolved in the water, and by decantation, the process of separating a liquid from a solid by gently pouring the liquid from the solid so as not to disturb the solid, the NaCl solution was separated from the SiO2. Heating can cause substances to evaporate, which represents a change in state, so the water was evaporated from the NaCl, which left behind the solid NaCl. The amount of NaCl in the experiment was measured to be 0.822g, but the origi nal sample with the weight of the beaker included actually weighed 65.001g. Then, the remaining component of the mixture, SiO2, was measured to be .927g once it had dried out. Originally the weight of the beaker and SiO2 was 67.078g. The comparison between the measured masses of the three different substances in the mixture and the actual masses of the components proved that the substances of mixtures are able to separated, yet still retain their chemical and physical properties. After the components of the original sample were successfully separated, their weights were added together. The measured total weight of the three separate components of the recovered solids was 1.844g. The percentage yield and percentage of all the substances was found. The percent yield was found by dividing the mass of the recovered solids by the mass of the mixture, then multiplying the answer by 100. The percentage yield for this experiment was 88.314%. The makeup of that 88.314% is divided between naphthalene at 4.550%, NaCl at 39.368%, and sea sand at 44.397%. Sources of Error: Ideally, the total percentage should have been 100%, because substances are neither created nor destroyed during these physical separation methods but due to minor errors such as incorrect measurements, could have caused this slight deviation from the actual total. One possible lab error that may have affected this outcome is that some amount of naphthalene may have been lost to the air, thus resulting in a lower calculated mass. or because there was not enough ice on top. It can also be possible that accurate weighting measurements of the mixtures were not taken. Sample Calculations Weight of naphthalene after sublimation =(weight of beaker 1 and mixture) – ( weight of beaker 1 and solid after sublimation) (68.239)-(68.144)= .095g Percentage yield= (grams of solid recovered/grams of initial sample) x 100 Percentage of naphthalene: (1.844/2.088)x100= 88.314% Conclusions: The main concept I learned that was being applied and studied in this lab was that mixtures can be separated into their components by physical means. The purpose of the lab is to become familiar with the methods of separating substances from one another using decantation, extraction, and sublimation techniques. Mixtures occur in everyday life in materials that are not uniform in composition. It is a combination of two or more substances. Mixtures are characterized by the fact that each of the substances in the mixture retains its chemical integrity, and that mixtures are separable into these components by physical means. In this lab, the starting point was a mixture of naphthalene, NaCl (sodium chloride), and SiO2 (sand). In the lab, it was determined that naphthalene can be sublimed from the mixture without having an effect on the other substances. It was also realized that NaCl is water soluble, while SiO2 is not water soluble. Since the SiO2 is not water soluble, is would remain a fter the water with NaCl was decanted.

Gender Project

Today more than ever, toys are incredibly gendered, and send highly gendered messages to the children who play with them about what an ideal male or female looks like, acts like, and how he or she lives their life. This project aims to look at the ways in which toys are so gendered (based on one trip to a Toys R us store in Greensboro, North Carolina) and to describe the gendering of toys through three sociological perspectives.Section One- Observations In this particular Toys R us, Items were displayed In segregated zones; meaning that there were very clear areas that were for girls' toys and separate, very clear areas that were for boys toys. From far away, these sections could be easily distinguished from one another by the headings above each of the aisles that held the toys. On the left side of the store, the signs hanging above the aisles read- Star Wars, Action Figures, and Sports, respectively. On the right side of the store the aisles were marked- Dolls, Dolls, and Pretend P lay.Clearly the toys on the right side of the store were meant for girls, and the left side toys were meant for boys. The segregated zones were also easily distinguishable at a glance by the packaging and presentation f the toys on their shelves. Boys toys were packaged In more stereotypical â€Å"masculine† colors- red, blue, grey, and black. Further, all the boxes containing boys' toys portrayed some sort of motion or action on the boxes. The action portrayed was almost always violent In one way or another; a tank moving, a fist or bullet flying through the air, etc.Girls' toys, by contrast, were packaged completely differently. The boxes for girls' toys were pink. Purple, covered in glitter and sparkles, and almost all had light, feminine language on them- words like â€Å"magical†, â€Å"sparkly', and â€Å"princess†, o name a few. Toys R us' selection of Nerd- brand toys are an excellent example of how using different packaging and presentation for essenti ally the same item can be heavily gendered. Being a toy whose concept is rooted in violence, Nerd toys are typically for boys. However, Nerd recently released a line of toy weapons for girls called Rebelled.All the Rebelled toys are pink or purple with flowers and glitter on them to make them appear more feminine', and they also have very girl names, such as ‘Heartbreak Bow', ‘Diamonds', ‘Dart Diva', ‘Femme Fire', ‘Angel Aim', ‘Pink Crush', etc. Even If two Nerd guns of the same make and model were presented side-by side, no shopper would have any trouble knowing which one was being marketed to girls and which to boys. This loaded difference in packaging and presentation was also present everything in the store, whether it could carry a perceived gender role or not, was gendered.Instruments, pens and pencils, notebooks, walked-talkies, playing balls, and several other kinds of toys were packaged in ways in which two items that were essentially the same would be obviously be marketed to one gender or another. Toys hat recreate stereotypical home life are essentially having children play out their societal predetermined future roles. This is seen specifically in the ‘pretend play genre of toys. These are model replicas of the realms that children ‘should' grow up to occupy.What this means for girls is child-size kitchens and child-size cleaning toys, and baby-dolls. Girls grow up learning through these toys that their place in society is in house and home, cooking, cleaning, and caring for children. The boy versions of these toys are child-size model grills, toolkits, and car-building toys. The brands Home Depot and John Deere both have lines of toys for boys, depicting specifically male things for them to do. Many girl toys also demonstrate that a girl should be heavily focused on keeping herself beautiful.There are a huge amount of toys dedicated to teaching girls how to do the hair, nails, and makeup on their do lls, and most of the dolls marketed to girls all are sold with makeup painted onto their faces. Going even further, the toys also include makeup for the girl to use on herself, teaching girls at an early age that wearing makeup is preferable for women in this society, and generally necessary for them to be considered beautiful. Additionally, dolls marketed to girls all wear makeup and have the societal accepted standard of ‘beauty.Their bodies are skinny, tall, big-breasted, and completely disconnected with what any real human woman's actual body might look like. They give girls an image to look up to that they will never attain. Boys also face unrealistic representations of the human physique in their toys. Action figures marketed to them all have huge muscles, square Jaws, and other features that conform to the societal idea of the deal male body. Toy companies go even further than giving girls unrealistic body expectations in terms of not working to connect their toys to re ality.They girls' toys section had absolutely no toys that were designed to be replicas of real people from the real world. Girls had no role models foam reality represented in toys. Boys' toys, on the other hand, had several role models represented in their action figures. These men were almost entirely athletes; baseball or basketball players, wrestlers or MASCARA drivers (another male-dominated field). These toys teach boys to idealize throng, wealthy, masculine, sometimes violent men, without giving them any more realistic images to aspire to.Section Two- Perspectives Looking at the issue of highly gendered toys through various sociological lenses can provide us with several insights on why the toys children play with carry such thinly veiled and heavily stereotyped messages. Through a Symbolic Internationalist lens, toys themselves are symbols used to convey meaning. This paradigm focuses on the role of symbols in colonization and social interaction, and argues that society is formed when groups of people all give the same meaning to the same symbols and Greer on how these symbols play into their colonization.Using this paradigm, toys can be regarded as symbols in that in many cases they are child versions of adult things, meaning the toy replicas of kitchens, babies, tools, cars, grills, etc. They symbolize the appropriate material symbols in the life that the child will grow in to. Stages of their development, is directing them to live and act in a certain way that society considers ideal. Structural Functionalism dictates that society is a functionally integrated, problem- solving entity.Through this lens, the subject of gendered colonization through toys loud be seen as a developed response to a certain problem. Hypothetically, using toys to teach children how they ought to behave could be a carefully constructed response on behalf of toy manufacturers to the problem of children not being socialized ‘properly. If children were not being socializ ed to behave in their predetermined manners, this ‘deviance' could pose a threat to traditional gender roles in the United States and to keeping things functioning the way they ‘should'.The function of the gendered toys could be to keep society working ‘properly in whatever way they could. One last way of looking at the gendering of toys is through a Social Conflict perspective. This perspective conceives the emergence and persistence of social institutions and practices as the consequence of the exercise of power and explains their transformation as the result of conflict between different groups contending for power. In terms of toys and their messages, the two groups contending for power are less groups than they are ideas.One idea would be that people and the gender roles they should occupy should remain the same as they've been for generations, with omen occupying domestic spheres of society and men occupying public ones. The idea that battles this one would b e a more modern idea that men and women can and should hold the same positions in society. The fact that toys are generally more in line with the former idea shows that that is the side of the battle that is currently Winning, making it the societal norm, at least in the realm of children's toys.Toys are a constant in the development of children and thus play a large role in their colonization. While some toys teach children positive messages about caring for ACH other, sharing, and other healthy traits, the majority of the child-play market is saturated with heavily gendered and extremely antiquated messages about children's bodies and looks, traits, roles, behavior, and almost all aspects of their lives.The result of this is generation after generation of children who subconsciously take in false information about what it means to be a boy or a girl, a man or a woman. Social behavior is learned at a young age, and to teach children these outdated gender roles is to freeze our soci ety in an era gone by when we should be advancing toward a more equal world instead.

Beloved Character Analysis

Is Beloved the ghostly reincarnation of Sethe’s murdered baby, a flesh and blood version of the spirit Paul D. drives from the house? Or is Beloved unquestionably a ghost? The uniformly accepted notion that Beloved is a ghost is interesting, given that evidence throughout the book suggests that she is a reincarnated being. As the reader recalls, Sethe killed her first daughter with the idea that doing so would free her daughter from slavery. As a result of Sethe’s â€Å"motherly† actions, Beloved, enslaves the rest of the family including Sethe’s daughter, Denver. The family becomes disconnected from and outcasted by the black community, as everyone fears approaching the residency â€Å"haunted† by the supernatural. As the novel progresses, the presence of an unknown girl at 124 intrudes, yet again, on the lifestyle of Denver and Sethe. This character, who is identified as Beloved is ambiguously portrayed and therefore her analysis is the topic of debate and discussion. The character that is recognized at the 124 residency is in fact the reincarnation of Sethe’s first daughter, Beloved. The idea of the reincarnated in this novel is well established. Although, to the reader the possibility of this seems unlikely, in the book there are several examples that point to this being true. For example, the reader witnesses Sethe overlook obvious signs showing that this girl actually could be the personification of her murdered baby daughter. Additionally, Beloved is approximately the same age that Sethe’s first born would have been if still alive, and more evidence lies in the fact that she shares the same name as the one engraved on the baby’s tombstone. It happens that these trails of evidence all occur in order in the same scene. One evening Denver, Sethe, and Beloved are all gathered around a fire, and Sethe comes to a realization about the aforementioned evidence about Beloved. â€Å"The click had clicked; things were where they ought to be or poised and ready to glide in,† (Morrison 207). Beloved hums a tune, one that Sethe immediately recognizes. The scene seems surreal as Sethe is taken aback by the occurrence. â€Å"I made that song up. I made it up and sang it to my children. Nobody knows that song but me and my children,† (Morrison 207). Additionally, Beloved’s demeanor is that of a typical two year old. Her thoughts and actions mimic those of a young child rather than a young adult. For example, Beloved deeply loves her mother, Sethe, and is attached to her just as a young child would be. Not only does Beloved share a passionate love for her mother, but feelings are mutual toward, Denver, her sister. Beloved is jealous of the relationship Denver and Sethe share. Once again, these all point to the childish characteristics Beloved possesses in her reincarnated form. In referring to Sethe Beloved states â€Å"I am Beloved and she is mine† (Morrison 248). â€Å"It was Beloved who made demands. Anything she wanted she got, and when Sethe ran out of things to give her, Beloved invented desire† (Morrison 240). â€Å"When once or twice when Sethe tried to assert herself, be the unquestioned mother whose word was law and who knew what was best – Beloved slammed things, wiped the table clean of plates, threw salt on the floor, and broke a windowpane† (Morrison 242). Taking all of these factors into account, many would find it hard to dispute against Beloved’s reincarnated state. There are many supporting details that point to Beloved’s true identity. Beloved’s portrayal is in fragments and the reader must pay close attention to give away details about this young woman identity. Unraveling the great mystery of this young woman lies within the text, but yet many different opinions of Beloved still exist. Beloved Character Analysis Is Beloved the ghostly reincarnation of Sethe’s murdered baby, a flesh and blood version of the spirit Paul D. drives from the house? Or is Beloved unquestionably a ghost? The uniformly accepted notion that Beloved is a ghost is interesting, given that evidence throughout the book suggests that she is a reincarnated being. As the reader recalls, Sethe killed her first daughter with the idea that doing so would free her daughter from slavery. As a result of Sethe’s â€Å"motherly† actions, Beloved, enslaves the rest of the family including Sethe’s daughter, Denver. The family becomes disconnected from and outcasted by the black community, as everyone fears approaching the residency â€Å"haunted† by the supernatural. As the novel progresses, the presence of an unknown girl at 124 intrudes, yet again, on the lifestyle of Denver and Sethe. This character, who is identified as Beloved is ambiguously portrayed and therefore her analysis is the topic of debate and discussion. The character that is recognized at the 124 residency is in fact the reincarnation of Sethe’s first daughter, Beloved. The idea of the reincarnated in this novel is well established. Although, to the reader the possibility of this seems unlikely, in the book there are several examples that point to this being true. For example, the reader witnesses Sethe overlook obvious signs showing that this girl actually could be the personification of her murdered baby daughter. Additionally, Beloved is approximately the same age that Sethe’s first born would have been if still alive, and more evidence lies in the fact that she shares the same name as the one engraved on the baby’s tombstone. It happens that these trails of evidence all occur in order in the same scene. One evening Denver, Sethe, and Beloved are all gathered around a fire, and Sethe comes to a realization about the aforementioned evidence about Beloved. â€Å"The click had clicked; things were where they ought to be or poised and ready to glide in,† (Morrison 207). Beloved hums a tune, one that Sethe immediately recognizes. The scene seems surreal as Sethe is taken aback by the occurrence. â€Å"I made that song up. I made it up and sang it to my children. Nobody knows that song but me and my children,† (Morrison 207). Additionally, Beloved’s demeanor is that of a typical two year old. Her thoughts and actions mimic those of a young child rather than a young adult. For example, Beloved deeply loves her mother, Sethe, and is attached to her just as a young child would be. Not only does Beloved share a passionate love for her mother, but feelings are mutual toward, Denver, her sister. Beloved is jealous of the relationship Denver and Sethe share. Once again, these all point to the childish characteristics Beloved possesses in her reincarnated form. In referring to Sethe Beloved states â€Å"I am Beloved and she is mine† (Morrison 248). â€Å"It was Beloved who made demands. Anything she wanted she got, and when Sethe ran out of things to give her, Beloved invented desire† (Morrison 240). â€Å"When once or twice when Sethe tried to assert herself, be the unquestioned mother whose word was law and who knew what was best – Beloved slammed things, wiped the table clean of plates, threw salt on the floor, and broke a windowpane† (Morrison 242). Taking all of these factors into account, many would find it hard to dispute against Beloved’s reincarnated state. There are many supporting details that point to Beloved’s true identity. Beloved’s portrayal is in fragments and the reader must pay close attention to give away details about this young woman identity. Unraveling the great mystery of this young woman lies within the text, but yet many different opinions of Beloved still exist.

The Emergence of Globalization and the Marketing Mix Essay

The Emergence of Globalization and the Marketing Mix - Essay Example The marketing mix that is appropriate for all this multicultural world market for multinationals must converge to achieve the same goal of expanding the market while at the same time saving the firms cost of operation. Different regions or countries have a specific social framework and any marketing strategy and the communication strategy need to conform to this diversity factor lest it realizes insignificant publicity and product promotion. The cultural factors are closely attached to the economic policies of the specified regions, their religious beliefs, political ideologies and the level of economic development. An effective marketing communication plan needs to be designed to promote the image of the firm at the local level with a global view. It is therefore imperative that market research is thoroughly carried out to develop a communication plan that is in line with the demands of cultural diversity and political environment (Smith, Pulford, & Berry, 2009, pp.75). In reporting this subject a case study of two firms is important to bring out the real concept of integrated market communication strategy. Some examples of multinational companies include Coca-Cola, Toyota, Nokia Inc and others. These firms have central headquarters in a given country but their operations are decentralized in different regions like the Middle East, West Africa, North America, and Europe, East and Central Africa and many other regions. In this report, Middle East market is to be compared with Europe such that appropriate marketing plans can be observed by the multinationals to capture a substantial market share through the market (Bjerregaard, Lauring, Klitmoller, 2009, pp.55). One product that would serve best to be used for comparison is the Coca-Cola soft drinks which are consumed at international level. Comparing the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia would provide the best results in terms of the best-integrated marketing communication plans viable across two market environme nts. The choice of these two states is based on their cultural, taste, behavior and the general spending pattern differences across the consumer body. This would facilitate designing of a customer-focused marketing communication strategies for Coca-Cola Company and other multinational counterparts operating in the same product line like Pepsi (Egan, 2007, pp.134). To establish this comparison, the local cultural model of the two states need to be discussed and the prevailing marketing communication environments in each provided by the aid of graphs and charts. Some of the key marketing focal points that will provide comparison grounds comprise of the culture of the citizens of the two countries, their political system, consumer behavior, level of media activity and effectiveness and the overall competition within each country’s local market.

High Bypass Gas Turbine Engine Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

High Bypass Gas Turbine Engine - Coursework Example Application of Newton’s First Law related to thrust: # If thrust and Drag are equal, the aircraft maintains a constant speed. # If thrust is increased, the speed of aircraft increases. Since drag is proportional to speed, drag also increases till it equals thrust. When drag again equals thrust, the aircraft travels at constant higher speed. Application of Newton’s Second Law related to mass flow and exit velocity: Force Mass * Acceleration F ma F=kma When SI system is used,the basic unit of force is the Newton, which is the force that will accelerate unit mass of 1 kilogram at a rate of 1 metre per second per second. Under these conditions, the constant k is unity. Therefore, F=ma F=ma=m di/dt=(m/ft) dV=d (mV)/dt =mass flow rate times change in velocity =(mv)dot Where â€Å"m dot†=Mass flow rate is the amount of mass moving through a given plane over a given period of time. Mass flow rate=r * V * A where r is the density and V is the velocity of the fluid passing through area A. This is denoted as m dot (m with a little dot over the top) m dot= r * V * A If we denote exit of the turbojet by ‘e’ and free stream by ‘0’, then we get, F= (m dot*V)e-(m dot *V)0 Thus by maintaining the exit velocity at much greater values than the velocity at intake, high thrust can be produced in turbojet engines (High Exit Velocity). Application of Newton’s Third Law related to thrust: Thrust is the reaction force developed in the forward direction by accelerating a mass of fluid or gas backwards to the rear of the engine. The turboprop propulsion system consists of a core engine and a propeller. The general principles in Application of Newton’s First Law and Third Law in Turboprop engines are the same as given in Turbojet engine. Application of Newton’s Second Law related to mass flow and exit velocity in Turbo Prop: The general thrust equation is F= (m dot*V)e-(m dot *V)0 This means that if the exit velocity is m aintained at a higher value than free stream velocity, and simultaneously, the engine flow rate (m dot) is kept as high as possible, the high engine flow will produce a high thrust in a turboprop engine. Even though a large amount of air is ingested, the change in velocity is very minimal between the intake and the exit so that the exit velocity is at a low value (Low exit velocity). Due to the large value of m dot, a high thrust is developed. Total Thrust= Thrust of Propeller Thrust of Core If we denote the free stream conditions by â€Å"0†, the propeller exit conditions by â€Å"1†, core exit conditions by â€Å"e† and core entrance conditions by â€Å"c†, then from the basic thrust equation we get: F=(m dot)0 * V1 – (m dot)0 * V0 + (m dot)e * Ve – (m dot)c * V1 In Turboprop engine, the mass flow rate through the propeller is much greater than that of core engine(High mass flow ). The mass flow rate entering the core is almost equal to th e mass flow rate exiting the core. The exit velocity from the core is almost the same as inlet velocity into the core(Low exit velocity). Hence the thrust equation can be rounded off to get: Thrust F=(m dot)0 * (V1-V0) + (m dot)e * (Ve-V1) High Bypass Gas Turbine Engine: The 5 basic modules- Along with a Detailed Description of operation of each. Inlet Components and Purpose: The intake also called the inlet serves three purposes, namely (1) recovering as much of the total pressure of the free air stream required for combustion, from free-stream conditions to the conditions and deliver this pressure to the entrance of fan or compressor.

River Woods TEAM Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

River Woods TEAM Assignment - Essay Example First and foremost, the plant manager should possess competent knowledge, skills and expertise in the various domains he/she is expected to oversee. Knowledge is power, goes the saying. Thus, if the manager possesses the knowledge and expertise required, people will seek out his opinion, they will listen to him/her and will always perceive him/her as an expert. This way, he/she will be able to gain authority. Secondly, the plant manager should have authority. He/she should be responsible and accountable for all the responsibilities under him/her. Thirdly, the plant manager must have courage and confidence. In simpler terms, the plant manager needs confidence so as to know that he/she has power, and needs courage to use the power. For personal power to exist, it has to be acknowledged and used. The plant manger should be in position to always do and say what is needed. He/she should have the confidence to ask anything he/she is in need of. Finally, the plant manager has to possess good interpersonal relationship skills. Thus, in order to prevent the looming unionization of the firm as a result of inevitable complains from the employees, the plant manager should be in a position to gain power through his/her relationship with them. He/she should be able to build trust and closer relationships with them, so as to make it easy to influence them. The fact that the plant is decentralizing its management structure, call for a plant manager who will be in direct touch with the employees.teh manager will be in regular contact with them, thus, he/she to develop a good rapport with them. This can only be done through ensuring the new plant manager is endorsed with the necessary power and resources required to command authority from the employees. Thus, In order to ensure that the new plant general manager is in a position to accomplish the assigned duties, the following actions have to be taken. First, legitimate/position power has to be

Materials selection for made umbrella Coursework

Materials selection for made umbrella - Coursework Example Other parts include the spring, the runner and the finial or ferrule. This paper will discuss the materials suitable for making the pole or shaft, the canopy, and the ribs. The pole is the metallic or wooden shaft that connects the handle to the canopy. The shaft should be strong enough to withstand different forces such as part of the weight of the user (if used as a walking stick), and to avoid breaking during windy conditions. The shaft of the umbrella should be rust resistant as it commonly gets into contact with rain water. The shaft should also be made of a material that is light so that the overall weight of the umbrella is bearable. One material that is suitable for use in making the umbrella shaft is aluminium. Aluminium is more suitable for use as an umbrella shaft compared to steel, wood and other materials for several reasons. First, compared to wood, it is not affected by moisture making it suitable during rainy days (Ashby, Rayner, & Hunkin 2012). It also does not rot or gets eaten by pests such as termites, and it can withstand changes in temperature without bending or loosing shape. Compared to steel, it is light in weight and is not su bject to rust, making it more durable and long-lasting (Ashby, Rayner, & Hunkin 2012). In terms of cost, aluminium is relatively inexpensive and readily available. The canopy is the part of the umbrella that serves to keep away the rain or shield the user from sunshine. The canopy should be made of a light material that is foldable. The materials should also be washable if its get dirty. The material used to make the canopy should not be one that gets easily destroyed by water or ultraviolet rays. Most important is that the material should be water proof so that the user does not get wet in the rain. One material that is suitable for use in making the canopy is the canopy is nylon taffeta. Nylon is water proof and more durable compared to cotton and other materials

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

Operations Decision - Essay Example The business has of late been working under pressure due to the warning given by the state concerning the fictitious businesses operating in the country that they will all be shut down. However, the main worry of this business is how to maximize profits at the lowest cost possible (Gee, 2006). Environmental scanning means possession and usage of data about events, blueprints, trends, and associations inside an institution’s internal and outside environment. It assists the mangers make conclusions on the prospect path of the company. Scanning should establish the risks and opportunities prevalent in the environment. In strategy invention, an institution should take advantage of the opportunities and reduce the risks. A risk of an institution can be an opportunity for the other. Internal breakdown of the environment is the initial step of environmental scanning. Institutions must observe the internal institutional environment, which constitutes worker association with different workers, worker association with management, manager association with different managers, and management association with shareholders, availability of natural resources, brand sensitivity, institutional culture, major personnel, operational capacity, among many more. In addition, debates, interviews, and explorations can be applied to evaluate the internal environment. Breakdown of internal environment assists in establishing powers and weaknesses of an institution (Cross & Miller, 2009). An enterprise becomes further competitive, and there exist sudden reforms in the external environment, data from the outside environment brings vital factors to the efficiency of long-term arrangements. Since the environment is changing, it becomes important to establish the competitor’s steps and deeds. Institutions have as well to update the key competencies and interior environment as per outside environment. Environmental factors are infinite, thus institution must be lively and vigilan t to admit and regulate to the environmental reforms. The external factors will very much influence the decision-making and the plant operations than the internal operations. This is because they mainly contribute to the existence and progression of the organization. If the competition in the market is stiff for the business, then there will be no other option other than to close. The level of advancement in the business, market tastes and preferences, competition; the external environment, and so forth determines the viability of an enterprise. They lead the managers in making decisions. Low technology level in a computer business will mean production of outdated items thus the business might close; if the products produced lack customer tastes and preferences, they will get damaged and depreciate in the store (Agtarap-San, 2007). The company consisting of 100 workers and producing 6,000 computers per month, this means each worker per day produces: 6000/20= 300 computers are produc ed per day Each worker= 300/100= 3 computers per day. The daily wage per worker is $70, thus the total salary for the employees= $70x100= $7,000 per day. The total salary per month is $7,000x20= $140,000 Total sales = 6,000x $32= $192,000 Total production cost= $140,000+ $2,000= $142, 000+ X (fixed cost) X (Fixed costs) = $192,000- $142,000= $50,000+y (to make the production cost exceed the revenue) The business at this point is making losses. Total marginal cost= $30x1= $30 In the above situation,

Choice of Brand Strategy for Metroville Cars Essay

Choice of Brand Strategy for Metroville Cars - Essay Example Lately, we have seen that brand strategy and brand identity is playing a very important role in marketing and selling products. You would be amazed to know that even in a recession, branded goods are doing more sales than generic or unbranded goods. History records that it was K-Mart who was the first retailer than asked Jaclyn Smith of Charlie’s Angels fame to endorse a brand (Anonymous, 2007). From then on, brand marketing has exploded and today there are celebrities like Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Tiger Woods, David Beckham and others who have not only endorsed brands but also created some of their own. A variety of celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Jessica Simpson, the Kardashian sisters and Kanye West are also going into the retail clothing business and adding their own names and logos to these products. The reason is simply that people want to identify with these celebrities and buying their brands makes the consumer feel closer to these personalities- it’s a psychologi cal and emotional bonding of sorts. Branding thus is the best strategy to follow and I propose that we brand the Metroville by using a deer as a logo. This deer will form part of the car insignia and sit atop the vehicle in the same fashion as an angel atop a Rolls Royce. The deer are known to be sleek and fast and to be able to outrun and outmaneuver its prey by its quickness and agility and that is exactly what we are trying to convey with the Metroville. In fact, the deer often wins by tiring out its pursuers and zigzagging instead of running in a straight line. The ability of the Metroville that is small and lightweight but with a durable engineering and ergonomic design would appeal to the mass market of young consumers- from college kids getting their first car to newlywed families in the process of setting up their lives and homes. The deer is to be a prancing one, one who has leaped ahead and thereby avoided its pursuer. I would like Taylor Swift or Robin Williams to be the brand ambassadors for the Metroville. Taylor Swift has a squeaky-clean image, avoids scandals or cheap publicity and is an all round good and law-abiding country singer. She does not engage in risque behavior just to be in the limelight. She represents the younger generation. Robin Williams could also be considered as his witty image gives one the feeling of a good time, and that is what we want consumers to have in a Metroville. If you remember he recently scored a hit with ‘RV’ at the box office, so people would identify with his image as the fun-loving driver of a Metroville. For advertising purposes, we could use Robin Williams to appeal to the 40 and under crowd and the images and videos of the late Sam Walton to appeal to the crowd that is 40 and over and who are more concerned with cost-cutting and fuel economy in the recession. Metroville has been engineered for the best fuel efficiency possible and also supports alternative fuels, another thing that would appea l to the younger environmentally conscious generation. If the Metroville were a person, I would prefer it to be Robin Williams. He is small and quick, easygoing but intelligent, witty and will get you if you don’t watch out.  

Summary paper on book 1 free choice of the will by Augustine of hippo Essay

Summary paper on book 1 free choice of the will by Augustine of hippo - Essay Example On the other hand, those who do evil and sin but are God’s chosen, are not going to be punished because they still remain saved, regardless of their behavior. Augustine persists that wrongdoing is a substance of free will at its cause, where he sounds sensible and is the least uncertain. He further stresses this by detaching wrongdoing from God’s cause. All what is God-made is good according to Augustine, and for that reason, he says god cannot be the cause of evil. He argues that evil is committed in the act of free will of humanity, and adds that it can also be in free will of angles, but not God. On the other hand, his persistence about Gods actions of good will being by God’s grace seems to disagree with his own affirmation on choice of free will. While God should not be the one to blame for wrong doing, God is given all the praise and glory for good, despite the bad deeds committed by those who have done things according to the good will. Therefore, people should be blamed for the bad things they do and cause, but do not deserve any recognition for whatever good they do. According to Augustine, people’s capability to operate according to their own free will has been seriously weakened by the obsession and desires. They lack the strength to control their needs, so they are controlled and driven by lust. Augustine believes that lust is one of the biggest sin of all and that it troubles very many people, who end up giving in to it readily and gladly. This is proof of the weakness of free will. Where Augustine makes outstanding points on the way flesh desires directly disagreeing with the spirit, the way he argues that we behave in good manner by God’s grace is in direct disagreement with his persistence that evil is a deed of free will. If we are made good by God, then why cannot the devil be the cause to sin, when we act badly? As Augustine insists that we as human beings have free will, it means we are responsible for the bad

Approaches to Exceptional Psychology Essay Example for Free

Approaches to Exceptional Psychology Essay Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapies are possible in intervention for hydrocephalus. This approach focuses on changing problematic behaviors, feelings, and thoughts by discovering their unconscious meanings and motivations. Psychoanalytically oriented therapies are characterized by a close working partnership between therapist and patient. Patients learn about themselves by exploring their interactions in the therapeutic relationship. While psychoanalysis is closely identified with Sigmund Freud, it has been extended and modified since his early formulations. Psychoanalytic therapies have a strong research base confirming their efficacy. Hydrocephalus is usually the result of another medical problem within the skull. Medical interventions of hydrocephalus usually include a surgical shunt or medication or both. Therapist and patients should have a good relationship with each other. Cognitive approach Cognitive approach can be either applied in hydrocephalus intervention. Cognitive therapy emphasizes what people think rather than what they do. Cognitive therapists believe that its dysfunctional thinking that leads to dysfunctional emotions or behaviors. By changing their thoughts, people can change how they feel and what they do. The therapist role is to strengthen and encourage the families of the client that there is still hope inspite of the unwanted condition. The therapist can change the mindset of the client and the families of the client to still look in the positive outlook of the situation. While there is no cure for this ailment, there are still two surgical treatment that can be applied to Hydrocephalus. These are Shunt Placement and Third Ventriculostomy. Shunt Placement diverts the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a site within the central nervous system (CNS) to another area of the body where it can be absorbed as part of the circulatory process. For some people, hydrocephalus treatment can be performed using an alternative procedure called third ventriculostomy. With this option, a neuroendoscope(a small camera designed to visualize small and difficult-to-reach surgical areas)allows a healthcare provider to view the ventricular surface using fiber optic technology. The scope is guided into position so that a small hole can be made in the floor of the third ventricle, allowing the CSF to bypass the obstruction and flow toward the site of resorption around the surface of the brain. Approaches to treating hydrocephalus are both patient-focused and family-centered. Therapist should never lose sight of the fact that the client is , first and foremost, an individual—not merely a patient.

Leonardo, Michelangelo and Titian Essay Example for Free

Leonardo, Michelangelo and Titian Essay His statement argues that the latest and unfinished works of the artist should be reassessed with more appreciation than the works completed during his mature period, as they enable the viewer to understand the trace of the under painting and the original intention of the artist, not necessarily because of the virtue of incompleteness and ultimo that they spellbound the viewer. Pliny the Elder’s statement seems to be valid explaining artists’ old-age style, especially for the ones who had a long career like Michelangelo and Titian. The old-age style is not necessarily limited to the aesthetic style, which the artists from the same period perhaps shared in common, but it also refers to the latest phase of the artistic career of the artists who were active for a long time. Therefore, each old-age style of them is obviously differentiated in terms of their perception, ideal, and background. However, Pliny’s statement is not thoroughly suitable, but sound feasible for reassessing their art historical values. He warns on the contradiction of giving the works the biased credits for only being latest and unfinished, which would be false impression on the contrary. Michelangelo and Titian, whose time frames partially overlap to each other, certainly built up the established fames based on the long artistic career incomparable to their contemporaries. The old-age style literally refers to the style of the artist in his old age, but we should not limit the meaning of this temporal phase as the word ‘old’ explicitly connotes. Apparently, the term gives a sense and expectation that those work will be somewhat less refined, polished, vital, perhaps aesthetically regress compared to the ‘mature’ style of the artist that established an honor to add the suffix ‘-schi’ to the end of their names. Although the works they created are static and permanent objects, their artistic styles that dominated the period are in flux. The old-age styles of the high Renaissance artists predict the forthcoming of the Maniera and Baroque generation, and demonstrate the senile sublime, freely emancipated from aesthetic vanity, emotionally touching, and revealing much enhanced psychological depth. The latest works of Michelangelo, the two frescoes at the Pollini chapel in Rome he worked for almost a decade, close the long painting career of him. Although these works were completed officially, they imply non-finito aspect enhanced by the medium, which began to be noticeable since the Last Judgment. The Conversion of Saul, executed first about two decades before his death, became the center of controversy immediately and got negative reception from the contemporaries. What Michelangelo depicted is far from the classical physical beauty and the artist engaged with his own perception to the episode. The vision of Christ is exclusively shown to the anti-Christian Saul, as he becomes temporarily blind and gains insight instead. The artist explicitly illustrated the very internal experience of Saul and placed it above the earthly space parallel to the troops who fear the unknown voice from the sky. A newly suggested diagonal along with light and darkness enhance the dramatic tension from the left top to the foreground center connected by the beam of the God. The compact figures shown in each zone are the continuation of Michelangelo’s terribilita. In the latter fresco, Crucifixion of Saint Peter begins to show the bold diagonal, which gives almost a proto Baroque aspect. Saint Peter with the upside down cross and the void surrounding him occupy the central picture plane. Although there is no strong suggestion of the light source other than sunset, the surrounding figures, especially their features, are in shade and less individualized. As they focus the center scene like mere spectators, the overall composition of the painting engages the viewer’s attention to be concentrated to the center as well. The heroic torso of Peter fights against the gravity by lifting himself up and delivers the pain caused by the four nails on each feet and hands. He throws a daring gaze to the outward, invites the viewers into the pictorial space. The shallow space, as if the figures would spill into our space, no more retains the high Renaissance balance and harmony, as well as the figures somber and gracelessness suggests the end of its era with the negation to the fixed beauty. The contrast of light and dark of Michelangelo is not as radical as the later phase of Leonardo foreshadowing the tenebroso of the next century but enough to inform that he as well acknowledge to the limit of the high Renaissance style and gradually shift to the new style. As these works are Michelangelo’s last effort in the art of painting finished about a decade before his death, they deserve Pliny the Elder’s statement as the example fits into the artist’s old-age style. Not necessarily the artist weakened physically, but crucial as the works suggest that the artist perhaps had reached the pinnacle of his mature style, being free from the obligation to maintain his signature style. Pieta, the last work of Titian, which was left unfinished due to the death of the artist in 1576, perhaps is more feasible for Pliny the Elder’s statement as the example which is unfinished, and delivers the ‘sorrow for the hand that perished at its work’ due to the physical deterioration of the artist. Titian’s mature style based on the Tuscan monumentality and Venetian colorito tradition enabled him to achieve international success from the early career. Titian’s figures, which were very palpable and articulated with sfumato begin to possess terribilita as he moves towards the later period, the tension and fear overwhelm in the pictorial space. His works executed in the last decade of his life, such as Flaying of Marsyas and Pieta, explicitly demonstrate the radical change in the artistic style. Despite the tragic subject, Titian narrates the scene without any pity. His brushstroke handling different textures are somewhat minimized, rather showing rough and hazy painterliness, and the conventional palette suggests the radical changed in its tonality, which is no longer vivid or individualized; these intense styles almost foreshadow the later style of Rubens and Rembrandt. The Pieta also conveys the same dramatic tension, not as much as overwhelming like the former work but represent the subdued grief and agony. Against the background architecture, marble nave with pediment, and two statues looking out of the pictorial space, four figures are arranged in almost like statues sculpted for a pediment. Moses and figures form a bold diagonal, balanced with a putto holding torchlight on the other side, yet conventional composition of Titian. Among the figures in a grief over the death of Christ, only Magdalena is stand out as a true protagonist whereas others are static and silent in subdued grief; she evokes the vivid drama into the painting with her explicit expression about to cry out and theatrical pose. However, the most striking changes in the latest Titian’s are the tonality and brushstrokes, which are totally different from the old-age style of Michelangelo in terms of its artistic style and later appear in the latest style of Rembrandt. Perhaps it is due to the old-age that caused the bold and hazy brush strokes and change in his palette. Nevertheless, Titian was able to sublime his physical defect into the artistic style that is more grandeur, and filled with dramatic tension. If Pliny’s ideal is the art in flux, these latest and unfinished works of old-aged masters should be praised more than the previous works in their oeuvre although the mature works reached the artistic pinnacle of the style of the time and the latest works with innovation suggested the foreshadowing of the later style. The artist’s work is a response to the style of the current and the great artists who we remember as old masters and whose styles never remained static. Their works suggest innovation, and the styles were in flux; they learned, influenced, and built their own styles. Especially Michelangelo and Titian had a long artistic career that enabled them to reach the pinnacle and experience limit of the high Renaissance style. We see the grace and virtue of the old-aged master, who lacks the strength to leave the refined brush strokes or represent the subtle tonality, but whose work is free from all the obligations of the long-time practiced convention.

Comparing Costa and Starbucks

Comparing Costa and Starbucks One of the biggest and fastest growing industries today is the coffee industry. This industry basically includes individual cafes, hotel cafes and retail chains. In this study, we shall be focusing on the Retail Chains that belongs to the organized sector. The retail outlets share a particular brand and have similar kind of management, with standardized business procedures and practices. The major players today covering market share all over the world are Starbucks Coffee, Barista Coffee, Cafà © Coffee Day, Costa Coffee, etc. For this study, the two retailers Starbucks Coffee and Costa Coffee are chosen because of their identical pattern of functioning and growth. They are the two major players in the coffee cafà © industry, and their customers consider them both as interchangeable brands. That is why it is important to study how these brands differentiate themselves from each other, and attempt to improve brand loyalty amongst the customers. Objectives of the Study By conducting a comparative study of Starbucks Coffee and Costa Coffee, we shall study why one retailer is more successful than the other, and how the performance of these retailers can be improved. Studying the characteristics, history, performance and marketing strategies adopted by both the companies, and the customers perception about the two is the centre point of this research. The objectives of the study can be summarized as below: To compare and study the 4Ps, namely Product, Price, Promotion and Place, of Starbucks Coffee and Costa Coffee. To understand how these cafà ©s have positioned them in order to differentiate them in the market. To find out the customers perceptions and preferences about both these cafes and what motivates the customer to visit these coffee houses. To identify the areas where both organizations are performing well and areas where they need to improve. Research Methodology The methodology for the research includes: Survey Collection of Data Findings Recommendations Formulation of Questionnaire Classification Analysis Collecting primary data from the customers visiting Starbucks Coffee and Costa Coffee and the personnel of the organization through observations, filling up of questionnaires as well as interviewing them. The sample size is very small, i.e. only 5 customers, each belonging to a different age group and background. Collecting relevant secondary data from various sources like magazines, books, journals, internet, and Companys website. The data so collected shall be classified, tabulated and analyzed through graphs and pie charts to extract findings from the collected data. Based on the relevant secondary and primary data, a comparative analysis will be done so as to find out the areas of excellence and areas needing improvement. In the light of these findings, critical aspects shall be evaluated and recommendations and suggestions will be provided for the overall improvement of the Starbucks Coffee Company. Knowing Starbucks Coffee Company Starbucks Coffee Company (Starbucks), one of the worlds premier roasters and retailers of specialty coffee, has travelled a journey beginning from opening just a narrow, single store in Seattles historic Pike Place Market in 1979, to more than 17,000 stores in 50 countries today. Starbucks offers one of the finest and fresh-roasted coffee beans in the world. The coffee buyers of the company personally travel to the coffee farms in Latin America, Africa and Asia to select the best quality Arabica beans, which is roasted into a blend exclusively for Starbucks by the Starbucks experts, who bring out the rich flavor of the beans. Mission Statement To inspire and nurture the human spirit one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. Starbucks Products Starbucks offers a variety of products, ranging from hot cold beverages to eatables like sandwiches, salads, wraps, ice creams, etc. Keeping in mind the health and wellness of its customers, it has a separate menu for low-calorie food and beverages, along with its nutritional data. Knowing that some of its customers may be allergic to certain ingredients, the company offers products under Food Allergens section, specifying the food and beverages which do not contain the ingredient the customer is allergic to. The products are well designed, and are served in different measures, not on the basis of quantity, but according to the value for money. They also provide bottled drinks, which can be refrigerated and used at home later on. Moreover, there is a separate menu for kids keeping in mind their taste and health. Starbucks Price Starbucks has a skim pricing policy. They began with a higher price, and skimmed the cream of the market. With the growth in the number of outlets, came the benefits of economies of scale. Because of this, they have been able to gradually lower their prices, and appeal to different segments of their target market. The main factors that affect their pricing are their cost of goods sold, which is quite high because imports form a majority of its products. Starbucks Place Starbucks cater to their target market with strategically located outlets at main markets, malls, and family entertainment centers. The stores are considered to be having a warm and welcoming ambience whether for meeting friends and family, or enjoying time alone. There are around 8870 company owned stores and 8139 licensed stores. Starbucks Promotion Starbucks carries out mass promotion campaigns, mainly in the form of promotions on the Print, TV and Radio Medias. At present, they do not rely heavily on advertising, but rely more on sponsorships and strategic alliances with other corporations. It also takes part in various sales promotion activities to help increase sales at their outlets, some of which are Sponsorships, Collaborations, Tie-ups, Starbucks Membership Card, etc. Starbucks People The people at the stores have to undergo a training procedure so that they have an in-depth knowledge of the companys products and are able to provide best customer service. All employees are treated as partners and provided with comprehensive health coverage and stock in the company through the Bean Stock program to inculcate a sense of ownership and motivate them to perform their best. Starbucks Process The order and delivery process at Starbucks is based on self- service, where a customer goes up to the counter to place the order, and goes back to the counter to pick the delivery once it is prepared. The company believes that although it is just a moment, in which one hand reaching over the counter to present a cup to another outstretched hand, but it establishes a connection between the company and its customers. (Starbucks Coffee, n.d.) Knowing Costa Coffee Costa coffee was introduced in 1971 at 9 Newport Street, London, by Sergio and Bruno Costa. Worlds best Arabica and Robusta beans, sourced from Central and South America, Africa and the Far East, are blended to create a unique taste and aroma from its own blending company (Mocha Italia). Costa was the first UK-based coffee retail chain which operates the entire coffee making process from sourcing, blending, roasting, grinding and making coffee. Costa Coffee Products Like many other brands, Costa Coffee also offers a wide range of products in its retail outlets which includes hot chocolate, teas and infusions, iced coffees frescato. The USP of the company is its customized products without any extra charge. It prepares its coffee according to the exact requirement of the customer, where the customer can state its preference in terms of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee; skimmed, full fat or soya milk; variety of syrups; flavors of vanilla, hazelnut or caramel, etc. Moreover, the store provides a nutritional content chart and lists of allergens in their food and drinks for its health-conscious customers. Costa Coffee Price The pricing policy of Costa Coffees is not to touch the upper cream of the society, but to penetrate the market. Hence, price of its products is lower than that of Starbucks. Costa Coffee Place The location of Costa Coffee outlets is in the areas where there is maximum youth movement. It is found generally near colleges, shopping malls, petrol pumps, and areas which are easily visible and approachable. It is also located at all 57 Moto motorway services around UK. This shows the accessibility and availability of the Coffee Cafà © Day outlets for drive in customers. Costa Coffee Promotion Costa Coffee does not believe much in mass media promotions. But like other brands, it also has Costa Coffee Club Card. Its promotion techniques are unique. For e.g. it offers points when a customer goes to a Moto motorway services. Costa Coffee People The people at Costa Coffee are characteristically trained to be pleasant, polite and positive with the customers. They ensure that the customers have a memorable visit. Costa Coffee Process The order and delivery process at Costa is not based on self- service. The staff member fetches the order to the table of the customer. (Costa Coffee, n.d.) Findings and Recommendations Starbucks has an extremely strong brand image but they need to work hard on improving their quality of product as taste plays a major role in coffee industry. Starbucks should prepare its communication program in such a way that it changes customers perception and makes it an affordable brand. A majority of Costa outlets are located in the posh areas. Starbucks must open some outlets near residential areas in order to increase its market coverage. Starbucks should consider a change in its delivery process. It must shift to a more convenient format where a cafà © attendant delivers the product to the table. This change may seem insignificant but it also improves customer satisfaction. Conclusion Our survey made us reach the conclusion that both, Costa Coffee and Starbucks Coffee, enjoys equal customer preference. Although price and promotional schemes influence the decision of the people, but the taste of coffee is a very important factor in deciding the store to visit. Costa coffee has a unique taste which attracts the customers. Moreover, people love to sit in the excellent ambience provided by Costa coffee. The visitors in Starbucks outlets are basically executives and elite class, whereas Costa Coffee is preferred by youth. As far the prices were concerned, our research led us to the conclusion that the Costa Coffee offered low prices as compared to Starbucks Coffee and Starbucks can invite more crowd if they reduce their prices, along with providing offers. Bibliography Coffee Market. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2011, from http://www.maketradefair.com/assets/english/CoffeeMarket.pdf Costa Coffee. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2011, from http://www.costa.co.uk/ Starbucks Coffee. (n.d.). Retrieved May 4, 2011, from http://www.starbucks.com/

Jules Vernes A Journey to the Center of the Earth :: essays research papers

In the novel, A Journey to the Center of the Earth, author Jules Verne tells the fictitious story of three men and their adventures as they descend into the depths of the earth. The leading character in this expedition is a fifty-year-old German professor named Hardwigg. He is an uncle to the narrator, Henry (Harry), a simple Englishman. The other man is Hans, a serene Icelandic guide. Professor Hardwigg finds a piece of parchment that written in Runic in a book. Harry finds out before his uncle that it says there is a way to get into the center of the earth through a mountain (Mt. Sneffels) in Iceland. Harry is reluctant to tell his uncle the message because he is afraid his uncle will actually want to visit the center of the earth. He was right because the professor wanted to explore as soon as possible. They head off to Iceland, and, along the way, receive Hans as their guide. The journey to the mountain itself takes a while. They reach the entrance to the center, and from there, they head inside. Once in the dark labyrinths, they descend (this goes on for days). The three men then face difficulties: thirst, light, getting lost, injuries, and fatigue, were among them. They make many discoveries. They find that there’s a sea, with fish and sea monsters. They find forests, giant mushrooms, animals that look like dinosaurs, and even what seems to be giant human beings. The idea of writing this story came from a scientist who explored the crater of a certain mountain. Verne got the idea that maybe it would be possible to descend even further into the earth. Many of Verne’s â€Å"fantasy† stories have come true in the years following his death in the year 1905. A Journey to the Center of the Earth is farthest from reality. Even with the technology we have today, it would be impossible for one to descend into the earth. For one thing, we know now that the earth can’t be hollow because of extreme pressures and temperatures. People became interested in Verne’s stories during his time because though they were unrealistic, they were too interesting and entertaining to pass up. Some people even believed he had traveled to the many places that he wrote of. While checking into a hotel once, the woman told him to rest well in the room because he must be tired from his many adventures.

Competitive Advantage Essay -- essays research papers fc

Corporate Strategy "Sources of competitive advantage rarely yield added value that can be sustained over time." The following essay is going to attempt to assess the above proposition and try to find if it is possible to add value continually over a period of time. I will first discuss what competitive advantage is and what it means to a firm. Then I will explain the sources of competitive advantage and how the distinctive capabilities of a firm allow it to sustain added value. The discussion is based on a number of viewpoints from different authors who will be clearly indicated and acknowledged. I begin with explaining what competitive advantage is. So, what is Competitive Advantage? In a number of industries, the average performance of the industry is usually no better than the average performance of industries' as a whole. However particular firms or groups of firms manage to do considerably better than average. In this case, the high performing firm or sub-group has something special and difficult to imitate to offer which allows it to outperform it's rivals. Porter (1985) refers to such special assets as the firm's competitive advantage. "A firm's competitive advantage are those characteristics that allow it to do well even in the face of mediocre industry wide performance and free entry into the industry as a whole." The firm has certain capabilities which allow it to be different from the other firms in the industry. It has certain distinctive capabilities which cannot be reproduced by competitors. However, it is not enough for that characteristic to be distinctive. It is also necessary for it to be sustainable over a period of time. As Oster (1994) points out, " The key success factors in an industry are those assets that allow a firm to outperform it's rivals for a sustained period of time." Competitive advantages are always relative. For example, Sainsbury's has a very slight competitive advantage over Tesco. These firms serve similar markets and they see themselves as members of the same industry and strategic group. Tesco has a competitive advantage over Argyll. In a paired comparison one firm will have a relative competitive advantage over another. The resource based theory of the firm indicates, " If all firms in a market have the same stock of resources and capabilities, no strategy for value creation is... ...ge a firm has in the market. Word Count: 1450 words Bibliography Combined Bibliography for essay an related case study. Firm Resources & Sustained Competitive Advantage, 1991 J. Barney Foundations Of Corporate Success, 1995 J. Kay Modern Competitive Analysis, 1994 S.M. Oster Competitive Advantage, 1985 Micheal Porter Other sources: Exploring Corporate Strategy, 1989 G. Johnson & K. Scholes IBM website on the Internet, http:/www.ibm.com Newspaper articles and CD ROM Combined Word Count: 2500 words

Jungle Book :: essays research papers

Part 1: Identifying 1.) Protagonists- In a story or movie the Protagonist(s) is/are the main character(s). In the story A separate Peace the protagonist is Phineas(Finny). 2.) Antagonists- In a story or movie the Antagonist(s) is/are the character or force in conflict with a main character, or Protagonist(s). In the story A Separate Peace the Antagonist is Gene. 3.) Setting- In a story or movie the Setting is the time & place of the action. In the story A Separate Peace the setting is at the Devon School. 4.) Mood- In a story or movie the Mood is the feeling created n the passage. In the story A Separate Peace the mood is sad because jealousy ruined Gene & Finny’s friendship. 5.) Conflicts- In a story or movie the Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. There are two types of Conflicts: Internal & External. An Internal Conflict involves a character in conflict with himself or herself. In the story A Separate Peace the Internal Conflict is Gene vs. himself. In an external conflict, the main character struggles against an outside force. In the story A Separate Peace the External Conflict Gene vs. Finny. 6.) Suspense- In a story or movie the Suspense is the feeling of curiosity or uncertainty about the outcome of events. In the story A Separate Peace the Suspense is when Gene shakes the tree limb & Finny falls & shatters the bone in his leg. Part 2: Elements of plot   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.) Exposition- In a story or movie the exposition is the background information, which sets the scene for the conflict. In the story A Separate Peace the exposition is the following: At the beginning of the story Gene has been out of school for fifteen years & has decided to come back & visit. While visiting he saw the tree that Finny & he had jumped from into the Devon so many years a go, which brought back a lot of memories. He then remembers the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session. That was the club that Finny came up with.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To be in the club you had to jump off a high tree limb & into the Devon. Since Finny was a daredevil, he decided to go first. Gene was an intellectual & was afraid to jump, but he jumped anyway. They were then late for supper, which had been noted by Mr. Prud’homme.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next morning Mr.

Ford vs. Gm

FORD MOTOR COMPANY . VS. GENERAL MOTORS Ford Automotive Company Background The Ford Automotive Company began as a vision of its founder Henry Ford. Henry Ford was born in 1863 on a farm near Dearborn, Michigan. In 1890 Ford’s hobby in the engineering field became a career as he began his employment at Detroit Edison Company. In 1892, Ford built his first gasoline buggy in which he sold in 1896 to help fund the construction of a new automobile. Three years later in 1899, Ford was forced to quit despite his promotion to chief engineer because of his hobby outside of work.The loss of his career at Detroit Edison Company did not slow Ford down. Soon after that he started Detroit Automobile Company with the help of some private investors. Shortly after, he withdrew from that business association because of accounting and prices of the cars produced by the company. On June 16, 1903 Henry Ford opened a converted wagon factory on Mack Avenue in Detroit which became known as the Ford M otor Company. After the company was formed it went through ups and down like any other company.The Ford Motor Company fought with the Licensed Association of Automobile Manufacturers over rights for a patent held on road locomotives with internal combustion engines when the company began. The Model T was the beginning mark of Ford’s success being one of its most popular cars in 1908. Ford was also involved in the war effort in World War I. The Ford Motor Company placed its resource at the disposal of the government providing large quantities of automobiles, trucks, ambulances, Liberty airplane motors, Whippet tanks, and Eagle submarine chasers.The Ford Company later expanded into other countries such as England, German, and Russia. The Ford Motor Company has been through many changes in time that include two World Wars, the Great Depression and more. General Motors Automotive Company Background William C. Durant, founder of General Motors Company was born in Boston, Massachus etts on December 8, 1861. Durant was also the grandson of Michigan Governor Henry H. Crapo. Durant dropped out of high school to work in his grandfather’s lumberyard. He went from the lumberyard to selling carriages. In 1886, Durant founded the Flint Road Cart Company which transformed from $2,000 start-up capital into a $2 million business that made sales around the world. Durant teamed up with Josiah Dort to create the Durant-Dort Carriage Company based in Flint, Michigan in 1890. Their company became the number one leading manufacturer of horse-drawn vehicles in the world. After Durant produced the modern system of automobile dealer franchises, he was offered a general manager position of Buick in 1904. Shortly after obtaining this position and being successful in it, Durant became president of the company taking it in a different direction.Durant arranged the incorporation by proxies of General Motors and quickly after sold stock and with the proceeds acquired Oldsmobile in 1908. After that acquisition, Durant acquired Oakland, Cadillac. In 1911, Durant went into a partnership with Louis Chevrolet, starting the Chevrolet Company. In 1916, GM was incorporated as General Motors Corporation. GM went on to expand by purchasing McLaughlin Motor Car Company in Ontario, Vauxhall Motors of England, and 80% share in German automobile manufacturer Adam Opel AG. Under the leadership of Alfred P. Sloan, GM had successfully exceeded the sales of Ford Motor Company.GM also became versatile by purchasing Fokker Aircraft Corp of America and Berliner-Joyce Aircraft in which later merged into General Aviation Manufacturing Corporation. GM manufactured vehicles and aircrafts for both Allied and Axis customers during WWII. GM continued expanding and came out with more brands the almost any other automobile company in the world. Ford Motor Company Profile Ford Motor Company is a public company that is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Ford is a worldwide company lo cated in Dearborn, Michigan which is also part of the S & P 500.The key people involved in the success of this great company include William C. Ford, Jr. (Executive Chairman) and Alan R. Mulally (President & CEO). Ford’s production consists of automobiles and automotive parts. Ford produces amazing vehicles such as the Mustang, F-150, Fusion, Taurus, Focus, etc. Ford also has subsidiaries such as Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo. Ford has its own luxury cars under the Lincoln brand. The line of services that ford provides involves automotive finance, vehicle leasing, and vehicle service.Ford Motor Company has had an exceptional year with revenue up $136. 26 billion, operating income up $8. 681 billion, net income up $20. 21 billion, total assets up $178. 35 billion, and total equity up $15. 07 billion. General Motors Company Profile General Motors Company is labeled as a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. The headquarters of GM is located in Detroit, Michiga n in the Renaissance Center. GM has 156 facilities on six different continents and serves the public worldwide. One the key people in the current success of GM is Daniel Ackerson (Chairman and CEO).Their products include automobiles and automotive parts and also financial services. GM has a many subsidiaries that consist of CAMI, Adam Opel AG, Holden Ltd, Vauxhall, and more. GM’s divisions include Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC. The 202,000 employees have helped to produce revenue adding up to $150. 28 billion in 2011. To add to GM’s great year, the operating income is up $9. 287 billion, net income is up $7. 585 billion total assets are up $144. 60 billion, and the total equity is up 38. 9 billion. Employee Benefits Ford provides a great benefits package.There employee package includes: * Medical * Dental * Vision * Paid Vacation * Paid Company Holidays * Ford Flexible Work Program * Savings & Stock Investment Plan (401K) * Ford Retirement Plan * Vehicle Purchase Plan * Community Service Program * Ford Employee Recreation Program (FERA) General Motors also provides an excellent benefits package. GM employees’ benefits package includes: * Medical * Dental * Vision * Savings-Stock Purchase Program 401(k) * Personal retirement income plan * Financial planning * Life insurance * Disability benefits * 17 Paid holidays 2 Week vacation with 1-3 years of service * 5 Week vacation for longer service employees * 5 additional paid days off Employees and immediate family members purchase vehicles at a significant discount The Customer is Always Right Our principal purpose in presenting you with this information is to help you with your decision in choosing a company to work for as a communications consultant. Through our research we have found a considerable amount of data that should not only help you decide which company you will be choosing, but clarify which company would be the best choice.In presenting information there are several challen ges in deciding which categories would peak your interest in a company. While there are vast amounts of information at your fingertips we have reviewed personal accounts of employee satisfaction experiences as well as customer satisfaction surveys, challenges that each competitor faces both near and far, and the tough decisions that Ford and GMC have had to make during the times of financial crisis. It is our belief that employee satisfaction is a key to a successful business and so do most major businesses, including Ford and General Motors.Employed persons spend the majority of their time at work, and that makes it obvious that employee satisfaction should be the one of the most important categories researched. To determine if not only the company fits you, but to see if the â€Å"YOU† fit the company. Since 2009, the year of GMC filing bankruptcy, 29,000 or more salaried employees are operating under a new policy that concentrates efforts towards placing the customerâ€⠄¢s needs first, and receiving a bonus when customer retention goals are met. These efforts are to improve customer relationships with the GM products and services. Here are some comments from glassdoor. om about General motors recent customer experiences, â€Å"GM is the place to go† says a former project manager in Chicago, Illinois. A former engineer in Detroit, MI on a recent visit to a GMC dealer said â€Å"management is working hard to improve the culture which has been slow and cumbersome. † GMC since their recent financial crisis has placed a concentrated effort on employee and customer satisfaction, and it has proven to be a key to their revival. Their initiative is to increase its customer retention from 52 percent to 58 percent, if the employees reach the company’s retention goal it will add $4. billion in annual revenue. â€Å"Mark Reuss, General Motor’s North America President stated it’s the first time in his 26-year career that the automaker will reward employees based around how well they retain their customers. † General Motors is definitely creating a change in policies and procedures and only employee effort and good managing decisions will decide the future success of the company. Ford on the other hand stood strong through the financial crisis of the latter part of the 2000’s, declining acceptance of the Tarp money offered by the Government, and choosing not to declare bankruptcy.Ford’s success is due mainly to the Ford family giving up the reigns and allowing an outsider executive control over the company, and other employees making good decisions, and allowing the company to rely on employees and great customer satisfaction to keep the ball rolling. William â€Å"Bill† Clay Ford, Executive Chairman of the Board for Ford Motor Corporation, and former CEO, acknowledged that there may have been some gain from taking TARP money, but nothing is forever, and people have short memor ies. So it is really up to Ford everyday to earn our respect. GM is a great competitor, and we know that.I like where we are positioned and I like that we have positioned ourselves to earn that respect† he was quoted in an article â€Å"How Ford did it† on Cnn. com. Ford’s Pulse Survey Ford motor company has gone through great lengths to improve their company not only as an automotive manufacturer but in terms of employee satisfaction. In 2009, 80 percent of Ford’s salaried employees participated in their annual Pulse survey. The Pulse survey gives Ford an insight into employee’s actual satisfaction with the company, their job, diversity, and other aspects of the workplace.The Pulse survey includes several categories one being an (ESI)- Employee Satisfaction Index, in which 68 percent gave a good rating which was a two percent increase from the previous year and a third year with improvement to the company’s scores. The area of greatest impro vement was the employee overall satisfaction and information received from upper level management. Other areas that have improved over the years are supervision and diversity. Ford has placed a highly concentrated effort into improving communications internally to build trust and increase transparency amongst employees.Diversity in the Workplace Since 1903 Ford has been known as a leader in the automotive industry and a leader in diverse practices in the workplace. Ford is still committed to hiring a highly skilled workplace that reflects many different aspects of our country including culture, ethnicity, race, age, perspective, religion, physical ability and sexual orientation. In 1913 Ford offered five dollars a day to factory workers to attract the African American and immigrant citizens in the community helping create the black middle class.By 1916 Ford was proud to have employed with them, men and women from 62 different nationalities, and 900 disabled employees. In the year 19 19 Ford is responsible for leading to the first mosque in the United States. By 1920 Ford had more African American employees than any other automotive company in the world. That year they also employed their first Asian-Indian employee whom later established the Ford of India. In 1941 Ford negotiates its first collective bargaining agreement which was groundbreaking, mostly because it explicitly prohibited discrimination based on race, color, national origin, or creed. 944 is when Rose Will Monroe, a rivet gun operator, was chosen to appear in a commercial for the Ford Motor Company showing determined women factory workers and personifying the Ford image of diversity for all in the workplace. In 1970 several women join the company as salaried employees. They quickly moved up the executive ranks becoming the first women to enter Ford’s Marketing and Sales Management Program. Today, Ford’s efforts continue in hiring female employees in the executive, management, and eng ineering divisions. Barb J.Samardzich, Vice President of Powertrain Engineering has said that today 18% of Ford employees are women, which is 5% higher than it was when she graduated from college. In 2003, the company included an expanded definition of diversity to include not only race, ethnicity, age and gender but also many things are unique to employees unique such as backgrounds, opinions, experiences, perspectives and life situations. â€Å"It also put an emphasis on fostering an inclusive culture that is free of barriers, and in which all employees are included, respected and appreciated†, says Ford executives. At GM, we view diversity as a critical business imperative that in the long-term will benefit each of us, and all of us. We drive diversity throughout our organization by focusing on five areas: Customers, Communities, Dealers, and Suppliers† says GM executive. GMC hasn’t always made the best decisions as a company, but one of the keys to their succ ess is creating a strongly diverse workforce. On March 14 GMC hosted a luncheon celebrating their 50th anniversary of Inforum a professional organization focused on creating strategic connections and accelerating careers for women throughout Michigan.This year GMC showed a bit of Latin flair when they allowed designer Johanna Medina, designer of GMC’s Acadia to be the keynote speaker. She spoke to students of Bronx high school of visual arts about her path to working as a designer for GMC and how much she enjoys the diversity of their workforce. The General Motors African Ancestry Affinity Network (GMAAN) held its 6th Annual Black History Month Celebration on February 24, 2012 at the Grand Ballroom inside the Greektown Hotel in Detroit, MI. This year’s theme was â€Å"Influencing a New Generation† and GM’s own Mr.Ed Welburn, Vice President of Global Design, was the Keynote Speaker. Ed spoke about his love and passion for designing vehicles and how it was influenced by GM at a very early age and he was absolutely determined to work for the company that inspired him. He manages 11 Global design studios in eight countries and over 1,800 creative people that continue to design the best award-winning vehicles around the world. Ed is the 6th person to lead GM Design in the company’s 100 year history and the first to lead a united GM Global Design organization.GM also supports diversity by recognizing women of color in the workplace. In 2011, Chevrolet was the sponsor for BET’s first annual award show for women of color, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! â„ ¢ & Soul Tour. GMC has constantly showed their efforts to encourage diversity in the workplace from Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. to being one of the Gold sponsors of the Special Olympics of Michigan which were held on Macomb Community College Campus in Warren, MI. First Lt. Travis Manion was moved by the members of FDNY Rescue Company One, one of the first fire companies to respo nd to the World Trade Center on Sept. 1, after spending a day with them before his last tour of Iraq in 2006. Their hard work and sacrifice only reinforced Travis’ belief in serving his country. While Travis was killed by enemy fire in Fallujah later that year, his spirit lives on thanks to the Travis Manion Foundation. In July 2011, the GM Foundation and Chevrolet donated $250,000 to the Travis Manion Foundation to help take its 9/11 Heroes Run fundraiser nationwide. Ford and GMC are two very great companies that show much promise for the future. They have increased size, profitability, technology, but most importantly employee and customer relations.Ford was built on tradition and has set several market trends in which most automotive companies have followed including GMC. General Motors has also made a name for itself in the automotive industry becoming a known producer of quality cars and other automotive parts. They have partnered with several diverse groups to spread an image of how much they care about keeping culture, diversity, and employees ‘ rights and freedoms amongst the highest priorities. These are only a few aspects that define both of these companies without diving into financial statements and stock prices.The more important points we hope to reach in coming to a conclusion on the decision for you is what the companies plan to do with their futures. What challenges does each of these competitors face? What difficult decisions have each had to make for each of them to still be thriving as much as they are today? Looking Ahead The most important part of planning your future career with a company is to research what decisions they are making currently about guiding their future. The automotive industry faces several challenges in today’s struggling economy while trying to make those choices.Globalization, Demographics, General Motors is currently going through a complete renovation with their new business model in place, comb ining automotive aspects with new digital technology, and competing with new entrants into the industry that now have a competitive advantage with smaller more economical alternative vehicles. In today’s U. S. automotive market there are companies such as Nissan, Honda, Toyota, Fiat, and more who have become heavyweight competitors in the national and international industry.Detroit was for years the epicenter of the American automotive industry; it was not until recently when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) allowed foreign companies to open factories in the South-Eastern areas of the country. This move actually gave foreign companies a great perception in the public’s eyes because it created thousands of employment opportunities for locals and those who lived in northern states who were struggling to find jobs. The Southern Auto Corridor† which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Ca rolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia serves as the production center of foreign automotive companies and provides the biggest competitor for auto makers such as Ford and General Motors. They not only have to compete with the public’s opinions of the companies providing better jobs, but also the foreign companies cornering the fuel efficiency market. Ford, since it was established has been an innovator in the automotive industry, from the T-model to the Ford F-150.Ford has set the standard with being the first to release new technology and set trends in the highly competitive industry. In the 1960’s it was the Mustang and today it’s vehicles such as the Fusion, and Focus with incredibly economical technology setting the car’s estimated fuel economy over 40 miles per gallon. General Motors has also been one of the industries top competitors and most creative innovators. In the 1960’s when Ford released the Mustang, setting an industry stand ard for American vehicles, General Motors released the Camaro and Firebird which became the Mustang’s number one competitor.Today they are at the top of the American automotive industry, releasing the Chevy Volt a hybrid vehicle that offers consumers enough fuel efficiency to make a trip to the gas station only once a month with regular charging. The competition continues between these two mega competitors in the research and development of hybrid vehicles, Sports Utility Vehicles that can hold large families and achieve the same fuel economy as the smaller hybrid vehicles.In today’s economy efficient personal finance has become the key to our success, and as a smart business model Ford and General Motors has realized that creating smarter, more economical vehicles is the best way to increase consumer perception and retention. With gas prices fluctuating daily, hybrid and alternative vehicles have become the future of the automotive industry. They have become the futur e not only because of consumer’s personal finances, but because of global warming. The environmental affects of motor vehicles is threatening the way of life as we know it.Global Warming is a rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and is affected heavily first by the ocean, but secondly by large factories and vehicles such as cars and trucks giving off large amounts of CO2. As time goes on the Earth will be plagued with horrible climates and scarce resources, that’s why the automotive industry and the people of the world are strongly pursuing alternative vehicle options to save the environment. The environment changes as well as the societal views and opinions. Cars that were once considered popular are no longer the talk of the town.The age group that vehicles are sold to is often identified by the amount of digital technology it has or the sport styled body kits. Demographic and Consumer behavior have always been a challenge for the automoti ve industry. It is why they change models yearly in efforts to incorporate new and improved functions. Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. are America’s legendary competitors in the automotive industry. There is not a person in the United States that does not know at least one or two vehicle models of either company.Who Has the Advantage? Ford Motor Company and General Motors have both competitive advantages over each other and over other automobile companies. Both companies make all types of automobiles, from cars to SUV’s, which gives them an advantage of offering all types of automobiles. â€Å"Ford Motors adopted the strategy that allowed it low production cost by cutting all the excessive cost involved in its operations. †(Ford Case Study) This strategy gave Ford a big cost advantage over other competitors in terms of lower cost.By cutting the costs on materials and production supplies that were not being used effectively, Ford increased their profits and could increase their market share. Ford increased its market position in the automobile industry by increasing consumer trust by fighting against bankruptcy. A competitive advantage that both companies have in the industry is the cost of their products. Both companies provide affordable vehicles that consumers are looking to buy during these hard economic times.Although the automobile industry has taken a huge hit in recent years due to the recession, they are still fighting hard to produce new and eco-friendly vehicles for consumers. General Motors has a competitive advantage in the selection of vehicles they offer to the public. Since General Motors is made up of four widely known automobile companies (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC), they have a wider target market and are therefore able to appeal to more consumers. Both Ford and GM offer great service. This gives them a competitive advantage over other automobile companies that lack in service and part availability.Compani es such as Mercedes-Benz and Audi, which are built in foreign countries, sometimes take a little longer to get parts and that could make some consumers shy away from them. Our conclusion is that Ford Motor Company’s ability to cut cost while still making a quality product gives them the advantage over General Motors. The Great Automobile Recession Both Ford Motor Company and General Motors have faced challenges in the past that were hard for them to overcome. We can start to look as recent as the last ten years to see challenges that had to be overcome.Ford and General Motors were both near bankruptcy due to the most recent depression. â€Å"In 2006, Ford posted its biggest operating loss to date: $12. 6 billion. This coincided with continued deterioration in market share, with the majority of these losses being captured by Toyota and General Motors. From 1997 to 2007, Ford’s United States market share plummeted from 25% to 15%. †(Oasis Consulting) Ford is makin g moves to try to get the company back on its feet and moving in the right direction. One thing that Ford did to get through these rough economic times was to sell Jaguar and Land Rover.They are also in the process of trying to sell Volvo, which could be very economically productive for them. The Ford Motor Company is trying to get rid of all their other companies to cut costs and help overcome the enormous debt owed by the company. General Motors went through the same economic challenges as Ford, except their situation was a little worse. As General Motors got right to the threshold of bankruptcy, they were bailed out by the U. S. Treasury in an effort to keep the United States automobile companies afloat. â€Å"GM, critically short of operating cash, received a bridge loan from the U. S.Treasury, under the conditions that the company further accelerates a tough restructuring of its U. S. operations that had been underway for several years. †(General Motors web site) These e conomic hardships pushed both of these companies to the limit, but they were both able to overcome these challenges and become stronger because of it. Due to the extreme consequences General Motors had to face during the recession, we believe that Ford Motor Company is in better shape as an overall company. General Motors had to be â€Å"bailed out† by the government, which means that they were going bankrupt before being given money by the government.Company Success Both companies have had plenty success in their histories. One of Ford Motor Company’s biggest successes is the creation of the Mustang in the 1960’s. â€Å"The sharp, four-seat 1965 Mustang became the â€Å"darling† of America. The â€Å"love affair† brought about the sale of 100,000 Mustangs in the first 100 days. Total sales for the year reached 418,812, far exceeding the 100,000 projected by market research. † The Mustang has been one of the most popular cars in the automobi le industry. For forty years, Ford has made a huge profit from the selling of the Mustang.Another success story was the creation of the Thunderbird. This car came out before the Mustang, and was equally as popular. â€Å"The 1955 Thunderbird made its first public appearance in dealer showrooms on Oct. 22, 1954 with a selling price of $2,695, although delivery prices ranged from $3,000 to $4,000. The public went for the Thunderbird in a big way, placing more than 3,500 orders in the first 10-day selling period. † This shows just how popular this Ford model was in its time. Two thousand dollars was a lot during that time period, and to sell that many means major profit for Ford Motor Company.General Motors also has their share of success stories. â€Å"To be the best, General Motors must continually meet and exceed customer expectations. To be flexible and successful across our organizations – Vehicle Manufacturing (Assembly, Powertrain and Stamping), Manufacturing Engi neering, and Service Parts Operations – we use a single common manufacturing system to ensure high quality and reliability. † This shows that General Motors takes great pride in making sure that each vehicle is created to the best of their ability. For most of the twentieth century, General Motors was biggest company in the automobile industry.We have given several reasons why we have chosen Ford Motor Company as the company you would prefer to work for. Ford Motor Company is in better financial shape, has remained a leader in employees overall Quality of Life, and has made smart, progressive, and innovative decisions concerning the future of their company as a leader in the automotive industry. General Motors, who had been bailed out by the government is making a turn around since the crisis, but the company is still searching for an identity as a brand, and has a lot of work to do in directing their company.There are several challenges for both companies and with comp etition comes job opportunities. As a communication consultant for Ford or GMC would be a great career, but our consulting group is sure that we have displayed to you that Ford is the company for you. Works Cited A&E Television Networks, LLC. â€Å"William Durant creates General Motors†. http://www. history. com/this-day-in-history/william-durant-creates-general-motors (2011). Dornbach-Bender, Rhett, Bill Slade & Joe Thorpe. â€Å"Strategic Report for Ford Motor Company. † Oasis Consulting. 20 April 2009. Web. 11 April 2012. http://economics-files. pomona. du/jlikens/SeniorSeminars/oasis/reports/F. pdf Ford Motor Company. â€Å"An American Legend. † Web. 13 April 2012. http://media. ford. com/article_display. cfm? article_id=81 Glassdoor. â€Å"Ford Motor Reviews†. http://www. glassdoor. com/Reviews/Ford-Motor-Reviews-E263. htm (2012). GM Historical Pamphlets. General Motors. http://www. gmheritagecenter. com/gm-heritage-archive/historical-brochures. html (2012). Sabatini, Jeff. â€Å"GM now tying all employee bonuses customer Loyalty†. Automotive News. http://www. autoblog. com/2012/06/05/gm-now-tying-all-employee-bonuses-to-customer-loyalty/. (2012). Sustainablity Report: â€Å"Employee Satisfaction†.