Business Proposal for Weichert Realtors to Enter the International Term Paper

Business Proposal for Weichert Realtors to Enter the International Market - Term Paper Example As a result, the company has developed a wide array of services, which focuses on providing a high level of convenience to the customers with the process of buying their dream shelters of the future. The company’s broad mix of product and service offerings comprises of the processes of buying, selling, arranging for open houses, mortgage processes. The company, by maintaining a dedicated team of housing experts focuses on the process of providing solutions to mortgage issues, as well as providing housing recommendation and advices to the customers (Weichert.com). Talking about the company’s area of operations, it can be said that the company is currently focused on providing operations to key markets in the United States. The company in all their business related affair handling focuses on the process of giving high importance to their customers. With the passing of time, the real estate company Weichert Realtors has focused on the process of providing high level of cus tomer satisfaction to the consumers. As of today, the company has become a major player in the housing segment and has developed a high level of expertise for representing the best homes in the community. The company through the process of conducting their highly popular home marketing programs has achieved a great deal of success in the process of being able to get identified by the customers in the fastest and quickest manner. Global Real Estate Market The real estate market around the world has been through a tremendous amount of growth phase in the early part of this decade. The growth phased continued till the subprime crisis in the United States in the year 2008 triggered a tremendous global slowdown which led to a significant amount of reduction in the growth rate of this sector all over the world. In an effort to tackle the global recession, banks all over the world increased their lending and interest rates, thereby making large amount commercial loans costlier than before. Also, the companies around the world focused on achieving significant cost reduction, thereby slowing or delaying their large scale investments as well as laying off extra staff from their payrolls for the purpose of attaining sustainable growth rate at that time. However, with the easing of pressures in relation to the global crisis, the real estate market around the world started to regain its luster. Talking in terms of market capitalization, the global real estate industry achieved a growth of over 2.5% and reached a capitalization value of around $544 billion in the year 2011. As of the data gathered in the recent times, Europe dominates the real estate market around the globe, with around 36%, followed closely by America at 35% market share. The real estate market comprises of around 20% of the entire global real estate market, while the rest of world comprises of the remaining 9% (â€Å"Prestige MLS Luxury Real Estate†, 13). Talking in a more specific manner, it can b e said that the there are a wide range of demand based factors that significantly influence the individual real estate demand in various parts of the world. In the cities like Paris and Moscow, the main factor that pushes the demand for the real estate market is the lifestyle and prestige related needs of the masses. In terms of cities of the Asia Pacific region like Singapore, Hong Kong and Mumbai, the demand is triggered in regards to investment needs of the mass

Organizations and Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Organizations and Behaviour - Essay Example At Tesco the focus is on young people and hence it looks at providing the opportunities for the people in their working lives. Culture helps the employees bind them together with their colleagues, customers and their communities. They aim at creating trust by having a culture which is anchored in truth. Tesco have the culture which is characterised by a collective desire to do the right thing. Right culture has helped Tesco steer their business in the right direction in how they serve their colleagues, customers and communities. In Tesco in the financial sector there is a manager or an employee who has to follow the structure of the organisation. The decisions are made by the management throughout the working day and it impacts the structure and practice of all other employees in the company. There are both internal and external factors which motivate an employee. The internal factors include communication, motivation while the external factors include incentives and sales target. Communication is crucial and is important for the employees to be able to exercise their right. Further the whistle blowing policy at Tesco helps raise ethical issues and report grievances. Tesco understands the importance of motivated staff and supports the staff with a work-life balance through flexible working, discount gym membership etc. Tesco offers competitive salaries at all the levels and offers a whole package in ways that help the employees make more money, look after their health and safeguard their future. The communication of Tesco should ensure that appropriate communication policies are put in place and work effectively in building and protecting the reputation of the Group both internally and externally. It should to have a structured communications programme to provide the colleagues with clarity on matters. The Board of directors should review the performance targets for the current year and give awards to employees to ensure that they remain motivated to the

The Relationship Between Force Velocity And Power Physical Education Essay

The Relationship Between Force Velocity And Power Physical Education Essay In many sporting activities it is particularly important for success and when it happens the body is considered to have the ability to quickly accelerate from a resting position. As most daily and sport activities involve the generation of force through ranges of joint movements it is important to understand the relationship between the force, velocity and power of the movement. The concept of a force- velocity relationship was based on the research performed by A.V Hill on the muscle mechanical model (Hill, 1938). Based on his research the force velocity relationship is described as the amount of force generated by a muscle as a function of the speed at which a muscle length is shortening by stimulating the muscle under isotonic conditions. At a fastest speed of shortening the muscle generates the lowest force but when the speed of shortening decreases the force output of the muscle in concentric contractions increases that maximum force occurs. However as the load on the muscle continues to increase the speed of shortening will decrease due to the load becoming greater than the ability of the muscle to generate enough force to overcome the imposed load. Small loads enable the muscle to react with high shortening velocities and heavy loads require most of the cross-bridges for lifting the load rather than accelerating it. 2 The other relationship to consider is the power velocity relationship. Power is the rate at which a muscle can produce force and is defined as a product of force multiplied by velocity. The peak power that a muscle can generate increases rapidly as velocity increases until it reaches speeds up to 200 300 degrees-s-1, when velocity increases beyond these values the power output of the muscle declines due to the reduced overlap between actin and myosin filaments. Peak power is also related to the fiber type composition of the muscle. Muscles that have a greater percentage of fast-twitch fibers generate a greater peak power than muscles that are mostly composed of slow-twitch fibers because fast-twitch fibers contain higher ATPase activity than slow-twitch therefore ATP is broken down more rapidly. For athletes who engage in sports involving brief spurts of high power the explanation of the force, velocity and power relationship shows that these athletes generally contain a higher per centage of fast-twitch muscle fibers than slow-twitch. Basketball is among the most popular sports internationally. It is a dynamic game with intermittent high intensity exercise that incorporates frequent sprinting, rapid and repeated sudden changes in direction and jumping. These actions require adequate leg muscle strength and anaerobic power that are frequently required during critical episodes of the game. Jumping is the most dominant act performed by a basketball player as it plays a part of various defensive (blocking, rebounding and stealing)and playing offensive ( passing, shooting, lay ups and rebounding) manoeuvres during practices and games. When under real game situations are not only required to perform numerous high jumps but they have to perform them in a competitive and demanding environment against the opposing team. Not only are they required jump higher they also have to jump higher than their opponents in a given defensive or offensive situation. As a result it is one of the desired goals of basketball players, rega rdless of their playing position whether it is a guard, forward, or centres, to improve their jumping ability in addition to them achieving a high level of competence in the other defensive and offensive plays they have to perform during the game. A number of studies have assessed vertical jump heights in basketball players and come across mean values of jump heights ranging from 24.8cm3 in one study up to 48.2cm4 in another. However most studies have found values that were above 40cm. For female players they can have values of 22 48cm and male players 40-75cm1. Also from one of the studies they found that vertical jump heights improved after part taking in plyometric training and when just taking part in resistance training alone the results showed that there was a lack of improvement in jump height but was a significant improvement in strength. The purpose of this investigation is to look at the relationship between force, velocity and power by taking part in commonly used resistance exercises the flat bench press and dumbbell squat jumps. Also to design a training session for a basketball player to improve their fitness in the aspect of power. Method The participant that volunteered in this study was a 21 year old male student studying level 2 sport at Sunderland University and plays for the universitys basketball team. The student is 5ft 10 inches and a weight of 71kg. The subject was informed about the procedures and demands of the study and signed a written consent form which was approved by the ethics committee at the university. As the subject is a basketball player they are regularly involved in team practices and matches and have had some experience in weight training as trains for strength 3 times a week. Flat bench press The protocol for the flat bench press is that the subject was well warmed up and stretched the relevant muscles before beginning the exercise. When ready to perform the exercise the subject would assume a supine position by lying with their back on the bench, once comfortable on the bench theyd then grasp the bar slightly wider than shoulder length with a closed grip. The spotter waits for the subject to give a signal for them to help assist in moving the bar off the supports. All repetitions started from the position of the bar resting lightly while touching the chest with the subjects elbows flexed. From the start position the subject pushes the bar upwards until the elbows are fully extended and then lowers the bar to touch the chest and not bouncing off it while keeping the wrists rigid and directly above the elbows. The subject will first perform 5 repetitions with the bar unloaded and then increase the load to 10kg each time until they can no longer lift the current load. For t his exercise it was important that two spotters were positioned at either end of the barbell (but not too close to distract the subject) and that they kept their hands in a position close to the ends of the barbell. The spotters also paid close attention to the subjects forearms and the barbell especially when the subject was experiencing difficulties in completing the repetitions. When following the bar they kept their back flat, knees, hips and torso slightly extended when spotting the movements. Velocity, force and power was measured using the Globus machine by having a line attached onto the end of the barbell ensuring that it didnt interfere with the movement. Dumbbell Squat jumps The subject performed a warm up for 5 minutes by cycling at 60 W on a cycle ergometer and then practiced performing squat jumps in a controlled manner with no mass. The athlete squats down until the knees are bent at 90 degrees with weight distributed evenly over both feet which they maintained for couple of seconds and have both arms by their sides with some light bars. The athlete then jumps up vertically as high as possible by applying force as fast as possible and then land back on the floor with both feet landing at the same time. On every squat jump the mass should be increased by 5 or 10kg increments until the subject is unable to perform a controlled squat jump. Every time the squat jump was performed the force, velocity and power was measured using the Globus system by attaching the line onto the end of the dumbbell. The subject also had 2 spotters supervising them while performing the squat jumps making sure there was minimum risk of injury. The data from both exercises were then presented on the computer and then plotted into force, velocity and power curves. Fig 1Results Presented above in figure 1 is a graph of the force, power curve. The power curve is shaped like an inverted u and can see where the maximal amount of power of the muscle has peaked. From the graph power has peaked at 535 and decreased after this point. The subject lifted up to 90kg during the exercise but his maximal power was obtained at 40kg so 45% of the subjects 1RM is at 40kg. Dumbbell mass (kg) Total mass (kg) Velocity Force Power 0 75.1 2.64 1819 3270 10 85.1 2.1 1010 1720 28 93.1 1.76 971 1397 34 109.1 1.2 957 970 44 119.1 1.11 940 850 54 129.1 0.8 731 517 Fig 2 Above in figure 2 is a table of the results from the squat jump test. From looking at the first score we can see that there was a significantly high force being generated for the jump and resulted in the high amount of power but when the load was increased the amounts of power within the jumps seemed to decrease. Discussion From the results collected in the study the maximal power was found to occur at 40% of the subjects 1RM and compared to other studies it confirmed these results. The reason why the squat jump power scores are low could be down to jump not using any stored elastic energy in the musculotendinous unit due to it being too slow to allow potentiation from the stretch reflex because of there being no eccentric phase. To help improve jumping ability it may be beneficial to see whether plyometric training would be better instead of regular strength training as Plyometrics training involves lower loads and fast explosive movements using a prestretch or counter movement that involves the stretch shortening cycle and are related to skills relevant in the game of basketball. The purpose of plyometric exercises is to increase the power of subsequent movements by using both the natural elastic components of muscle and tendon and the stretch reflex. Plyometric training can increase muscle power by the explanation of two proposed models mechanical and neurophysiological. In the mechanical model elastic energy is stored in the musculotendionous unit by the result of a stretch during the eccentric phase of a movement and when followed by a concentric muscle contraction the stored elastic energy is released and increases the total force production. The neurophysiological model involves the stimulation of mus cle spindles at the eccentric phase caused by a rapid stretch and making a reflexive movement action meaning when the concentric phase happens after there is increased muscle recruitment. Also the stretch shortening cycle employs both the storage capabilities of elastic energy and the stimulation of muscle spindles from the stimulation of stretch reflex. I think the basketball player would benefit greatly from a Plyometric training session as they are required to jump repeatedly throughout the game for rebounds, defending, shooting. By taking part in a mixed upper and lower body session the player would have the ability to produce more force in a shorter time when jumping giving them the chance to jump higher. Training Session Plyometrics training Warm up

Personal Computers are better than Macintosh Computers Essay -- Techno

The conflict between personal computers (PCs; developed by Microsoft) and Macintosh computers (Macs; developed by Apple) has occurred for many years. The two are constantly competing with each other to win over the computing market. Macintosh claims that their computers are more efficient when working with graphic design and media arts, while a PC is known for mathematical superiority and a stronger variety of hardware and software. Many myths about both systems have been spread amongst the consumer world. However, proper research can easily clarify these fictions. Someone looking to buy a new computer has a right to know the truths behind both systems. Though the Macintosh computer and the personal computer have been competing for years, a PC is a much wiser choice for the average consumer. The PC and the Mac have many factors that can be compared and contrasted. Walking through the computer store, a shopper can see the two side-by-side and begin to make conclusions. The Mac looks sleek and fancy with all sorts of different colors while a PC may appear to be nothing more than a vanilla-colored box. However, when the shopper looks around the store, it is easy to notice "that Mac titles aren't easy to find" (Kantor). Microsoft's operating system, Windows, is supported by many software developing companies, while only a small selection is made available to Mac owners. Something else someone might notice is that only Apple makes Macintosh computers, while many different companies can make a PC that supports Microsoft Windows. Taking a brief look at the interface of the systems, the Mac looks bubbly and "cute" while the Windows desktop tends to look more corporate or professional (Farmer, Harris, Kantor, Marks). Let's look a littl... ...list of companies while only Apple makes Macintosh computers. Both Macs and PCs are vulnerable to viruses, so one of Mac's few advantages is actually a myth. It would seem that a personal computer has many advantages over a Mac. Therefore, it would make sense that PCs make up "95 percent or more of the market" (Kantor). By sticking with the majority, a user has easy access to people who are trained to repair their computer and to hardware and software selections (Kantor). Due to of the reasons stated, a personal computer is a much better choice than a Macintosh computer for most consumers. People with certain needs may be happier with a Mac. However, the majority of consumers will find reliability and satisfaction in a PC. An educated shopper knows what they are personally looking for, and hopefully those who read this essay can confidently make their own choice.

Western Farmers Dbq

From 1880-1906, western farmers were affected by multiple issues that they saw as threats to their way of life. The main threats to the farmers were railroads, trusts, and the government, because these institutions all had the power to drastically affect the ability of the farmers to make profits. Therefore, the farmers were not wrong to feel frustration toward those institutions when the institutions caused the farmers to live lives of increasingly extreme poverty.The main source of agrarian discontent with the railroads was a result of the rising railroad rates that made it increasingly difficult for the farmers to make a decent living by shipping their crops via freight trains. In a book called The Octopus, a farmer named Dyke planned to ship his hops and was shocked upon discovering that the railroad rate had increased from two cents per pound to five cents per pound, rendering him unable to make any profit at all (Document H).This practice of raising the railroad rates without w arning was unfair to the farmers and made it virtually impossible for any farmer to make a profit by shipping his crops. The farmers were also largely affected by the activity of trusts and banks and the control that trusts exerted on their particular lines of business. In a book by James B. Weaver the argument is made that trusts were in complete control of the situation, having power over both the producer of raw materials and the consumer of the products (Document F).In most cases, the farmers fell under both categories, and the trusts often took full advantage, buying raw goods from farmers at very low prices that made it very difficult for farmers to profit and selling back the completed goods at high prices the farmers could barely afford if at all. The Eastern banking conglomerates were especially powerful due to their ability to call in debts and repossess homes of the farmers. The picture in The Farmer’s Voice, a Chicago newspaper from the late 1880s, depicts the pow er an eastern banker held over the poor western farmers who are unable to pay their bills.The trusts did have an extremely high degree of control with little to no opposition, so the farmers were right to disapprove of trusts and call for legislation to disband them. The government’s actions concerning the inflation of the American dollar were extremely detrimental to the ability of the average farmer to make a living. In president William McKinley’s acceptance speech in 1896 (Document B), McKinley argues that free silver would decrease the value of money, and â€Å"no one suffers so much from cheap money as the farmers and laborers. The decrease in the value of money caused by inflation would make the farmers’ crops almost worthless. The farmers’ complaints regarding the government were valid due to the failure of the government to stop inflation, which is shown in the table comparing the population to the money in circulation (Document C). The amount o f money in circulation increased constantly from 1880 to 1895. It could be argued from the railroads’ point of view that if the prices weren’t increased to keep up with inflation, the railroads would be unable to make profit.In a testimony before the Senate Cullom Committee, George W. Parker, vice-president of the Cairo Short Line Railroad, testified that if the railroads kept their prices at constant levels, they would go bankrupt (Document G). However, the main problem with the railroads the farmers had was not necessarily the rising prices, but the fact that the prices rose without warning. It was extremely difficult to plan shipments and end up making profits. J. Lawrence Laughlin wrote that the farmers are wrong to blame the decrease in prices of wheat on the scarcity of gold (Document E).Laughlin claimed that such a decrease was simply a result of global overproduction of wheat. While he made a valid point, it did not change the fact that wheat prices were still extremely low and the government could still have been at fault. The farmers still had reason to be angry at the government due to the government’s failure to protect the farmers from such a global overproduction by implementing a tariff on foreign wheat and its failure to regulate railroads and trusts, leaving them free to excavate the pockets of the farmers as deeply as they pleased.It was certainly not easy being a western farmer in the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The farmers were complete slaves to the more powerful industries, especially the railroads. The farmers had valid reasons to be discontent with the circumstances. The railroads and other trusts had complete control of the markets and trade systems, while farmers faced constantly rising shipment prices and constantly decreasing crop prices and sales. The government simply stood idly by and watched the farmers be manipulated and taken advantage of by the titans of industry, forcing the farmers into increasingly severe poverty.

Ehe development of Scrooge’s Character Essay

But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear your company, and do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak to me? † The underlined sentence shows a complete character reversal, such a drastic change in Scrooge’s character in comparison to that at the beginning of the book. We are shown a person who gains an insight into his true character. At the onset of the book some may have seen it an impossible task to change a seemingly impenetrable character such as Scrooge into a good man and that he was past redemption. However, Dickens shows that no matter whom the person is, irrespective of what that person has done in the past, everyone is able to have a second chance and that forgiveness is an attribute which we should all ourselves hold. The spirit takes him to the Cratchit’s house once again. However, there is no laughter this time, just silence. Scrooge is eager to find out what is troubling the Cratchit’s and this is revealed when Bob Cratchit returns to the house. It is then that he remembers the empty stool by the fire and the crutch resting upon the floor. This is a shocking reminder that Tiny Tim has died. It now lies heavily on Scrooge;s conscience as he could have prevented it. As the family is torn apart and he witnesses Mr Cratchit break down into tears he also sees his children rushing to his side. There is still a lot of love within the family even though there is not happiness. Scrooge felt that he had been through enough and that nothing else could shock him especially after all he had seen so far. But Scrooge couldn’t be more wrong. As the Ghost takes him to see his own grave Scrooge releases a loud cry. Prior to this the ghost takes Scrooge along the streets where he lives. He makes Scrooge listen to the conversations people are having on the street about a recent death; â€Å"It’s likely to be a very cheap funeral,† said one speaker; â€Å"For upon my life I don’t know of anybody to go to it. Suppose we make up a party and volunteer? † Scrooge feels pity for the fellow who has died as no one misses him and no one feels sorry that that he has gone. He listens as a few men decide that they will volunteer to go to the funeral but only if there is a large spread put on for lunch. Hhe also witnesses people bringing many items to the pawnbrokers from the deceased man’s home, pulling down curtains and removing bed linen and even removing the shirt which the man is laid to rest in whilst in the coffin. These sights disgust Scrooge especially when he realises that it is he who he pities. The change in Scrooge’s character is shown within one line â€Å"I am not the man I was. Ii will not be the man I must have been† which he cries to the spirit whilst clutching at its robe. Dickens uses a very clever comparison when he shows the reader the future detailing Scrooges death and Tiny Tim’s death. As Tiny Tim’s family long for him to be with them and cry in sorrow, Scrooge only has people stripping him of his materialistic possessions and a few businessmen volunteering to go to the funeral as long as they are fed. Theses two deaths show a boy who was loved dearly contrasted with a man who was hated within his town. This shows that even after death our relationship with other people and the way we have behaved still live in. The harsh scenes that Scrooge has witnessed throughout this night have left a deep impression on him, significantly changing him and his life. The following morning being Christmas Day, Scrooge awakens displaying many new, startling emotions. He says, â€Å"I am as light as a feather. I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy, I am as giddy as a drunken man. A Merry Christmas to everyone! † As Scrooge buys a large turkey and sends it to the Cratchit’s house for dinner he then dresses and arrives at the house of his Nephew who greets him warmly shaking his hand and offering him a seat. As the room fills and they sit down to eat Scrooge feels great warmth, for the first time he can truly see again and he forgets about his business and about money and begins to live his life opening his heat to those around him. The Following morning on Boxing Day, Scrooge makes a conscious effort to get to work early so that he can catch Bob Cratchit arriving late for work as he did every year. He acts like he would have usually done pointing out that he is late and asking his for his excuses and then he says â€Å"I am not going to stand for this sort of thing any longer, and therefore, I am about to raise your salary. † It is then that Bob realises Scrooge is not the miserly cold man he one was, but is now transformed. Dickens talks of Scrooge’s actions which followed and how he kept the word he had given to the Spirits, he informs us that Tiny Tim did not die and that Scrooge became a wonderful citizen and a great friend to the Cratchit’s as he did to he Nephew. When Dickens published this book he aimed it not at the poor but at the upper class. This was obvious as the poor in Victorian times would not have been able to read such books as these. He wanted to change society’s views and create awareness of the poverty that existed. His emphasis on Children’s ignorance and want I think is a brilliant use of imagery. Dickens subtly insults the rich calling them ignorant and greedy. Despite this, however, Dickens did not receive criticisms for this book but received high commendations and it is still regularly referred to and read by children and adults of our generation. This book is just one of the wonderful creations of Dickens’ imagination, carrying a powerful and profound message that will educate all generations to come.

Experience Psychology, 3rd edition Essays (818 words) - Free Essays

Experience Psychology, 3rd edition Essays (818 words) - Free Essays Experience Psychology, 3rd edition Chapter 6, Memory Vocabulary, Key Terms Amnesia: The loss of memory. Anterograde amnesia: A memory disorder that effects the retention of new information and events. Atkinson-Shiffrin theory: Theory stating that memory storage involves three separate systems: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Autobiographical memory: A special form of episodic memory, consisting of a person's recollections of his or her life experiences. Connectionism: Also called parallel distribution processing (PDP), the theory that memory is stored throughout the brain in connections among neurons, several of which may work together to process a single memory. Decay theory: Theory stating that when an individual learns something new, a neurochemical memory trace forms, but over time this trace disintegrate; suggest that the passage of time always increases forgetting. Divided attention: Concentrating on more than one activity at the same time. Elaboration: The formation of a number of different connections around a stimulus at a given level of memory encoding. Encoding: The first step in memory, the process by which information gets into memory storage. Episodic memory: The retention of information about the where, when, and what of life's happeningthat is, how individuals remember life's episodes. Explicit memory (declarative memory): The conscious recollection of information, such as specific facts or events and, at least in humans, information that can be verbally communicated. Flashbulb memory: The memory of emotionally significant events that people often recall with more accuracy and vivid imagery than everyday events. Implicit memory (nondeclarative memory): Memory in which behavior is affected by prior experience without a conscious recollection of that experience. Interference theory: The theory that people forget not because memories are lost from storage but because other information gets in the way of what they want to remember. Levels of processing: A continuum of memory processing from shallow to intermediate to deep, with deeper processing producing better memory. Long-term memory: A relatively permanent type of memory that stores huge amounts of information for a long time. Memory: The retention of information of experience over time as the result of three key processes: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Motivated forgetting: Forgetting that occurs when something is so painful or anxiety-laden that remembering it is intolerable. Priming: The activation of information that people already have in storage to help them remember new information better and faster. Proactive interference: Situation in which material that was learned earlier disrupts the recall of material that was learned later. Procedural memory: Memory for skills. Prospective memory: Remembering information about doing something in the future; includes memory for intentions. Retrieval: The memory process that occurs when information that was retained in memory comes out of storage. Retroactive interference: Situation in which material that was learned later disrupts the retrieval of information that was learned earlier. Retrograde amnesia: Memory for a segment of the past but not for new events. Retrospective memory: Remembering information from the past. Schema: A preexisting mental concept or framework that helps people to organize and interpret information. Schemas from prior encounters with the environment influence the way individuals encode, make inferences about, and retrieve information. Script: A schema for an event, often containing information about physical features, people, and typical occurrences. Semantic memory: A person's knowledge about the world. Sensory memory: Memory system that involves holding information from the world in its original sensory form for only an instant, not much longer than the brief time it is exposed to the visual, auditory, and other senses. Serial position effect: The tendency to recall the items at the beginning and end of a list more readily than those in the middle. Short-term memory: Limited-capacity memory system in which information is usually retained for only as long as 30 seconds unless strategies are used to retain it longer. Storage: The retention of information over time and how this information is represented in memory. Sustained attention: The ability to maintain attention to a selected stimulus for a prolonged period of time. Tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) phenomenon: A type of effortful retrieval associated with a person's feeling that he or she knows something (say a word or name) but cannot quite pull it out of memory. Working memory: A combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow

The Conditional Tense of Spanish

The Conditional Tense of Spanish Just as in English, the conditional tense of verbs in Spanish is difficult to classify. Unlike the past, future and present tenses, it doesnt always refer to a particular period of time. And while its name suggests that it is used when theres a condition involved, in Spanish it also has some close connections with the future tense. In fact, in Spanish, the conditional tense is known as both el condicional and el futuro hipotà ©tico (the hypothetical future). The conditional also has various uses that dont at first glance seem closely related. But the connection among them is that verbs in the conditional dont refer to events that definitely or necessarily have happened or are happening. In other words, the conditional tense refers to acts that can be seen as hypothetical in nature. Conditional Tense Often Translates English 'Would' Fortunately for those of us who speak English, the theory is fairly easy to apply, since the conditional tense can usually be understood as the Spanish verb form that is used to translate English would verb forms. In most cases where we use would in English we use the conditional in Spanish, and vice versa. As long as you remember the rare exceptions, you wont go wrong often by thinking of the conditional as the would tense. Here are some examples (in boldface) of the conditional tense in use: No comerà ­a una hamburguesa porque no como animales. (I wouldnt eat a hamburger because I dont eat animals.)Si pudiese, vivirà ­a en Guadalajara. (If I could, I would live in Guadalajara.)Hay seis pelà ­culas que yo pagarà ­a por ver. (There are six films I would pay to see.) Here are the major usages of the conditional that can be understood by using the English would. If the explanations are confusing, read the examples for clarification: Using the Conditional for Actions Conditioned on Something Else Another way of putting this is that the conditional indicates the possibility of an action related to specific circumstances. The circumstances (that is, the condition) can be stated, but they dont have to be. Note the following examples, with the conditional verb in boldface: Si tuviera dinero, irà ­a al cine. (If I had money, I would go to the movies. The condition is having money. In this case, the condition in Spanish is stated in the imperfect subjunctive, as is very common. It is also stated in the subjunctive in the English sentence, and this is one of the few constructions where the subjunctive form is still used in English today.)Yo comerà ­a la comida, pero soy vegetariano. (I would eat the meal, but Im vegetarian. (he condition is being a vegetarian.)Marà ­a habrà ­a venido, pero su madre estaba enferma. (Mary would have come, but her mother was sick. The condition is her mothers sickness. This sentence is in the conditional perfect form, using the conditional tense of haber followed by the past participle.)Marà ­a habrà ­a venido. Mary would have come. (This sentence is the same as the one above, but without the condition explicitly stated. The condition would have to be inferred from the context.)Con ms dinero, yo ganarà ­a. With more m oney, I would win. (The condition is having money. This is a case where a condition is expressed without using si.) Yo no hablarà ­a con ella. (I wouldnt talk with her. The condition is unstated.) Using the Conditional in a Dependent Clause Following a Past Tense Sometimes, the conditional is used in a dependent clause that follows a main clause that uses a past-tense verb. In such cases, the conditional tense is used to describe an event that might have happened after the event in the main clause. A few examples should help clarify this usage: Dijo que sentirà ­amos enfermos. (He said that we would feel sick. In this case, feeling sick happened, or might have happened or will happen, after he made his statement. Note that in such a sentence construction, the que, or that, doesnt always have to be translated into English.)Supe que yo saldrà ­a. (I knew I would leave. As in the above sentence, the act of leaving isnt connected to a specific period of time, except that it takes place, or could take place, at some time after the knowing.)Me prometià ³ que ganarà ­an. (She promised me they would win. Again, we cant tell from this sentence whether they actually won, but if they did it came after the promise.) Using the Conditional for Requests The conditional can also be used to make requests or some statements sound less blunt. Me gustarà ­a salir. I would like to leave. (This sounds gentler than Quiero salir, I want to leave.) ¿Podrà ­as obtener un coche? (Would you be able to get a car?) Note that querer in the subjunctive is sometimes used in a similar way: Quisiera un taco, por favor. I would like a taco, please. Conjugating the Conditional Tense For regular verbs, the conditional tense is formed by adding a suffix to the infinitive. The same suffixes are used for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs. Hablar is used here as an example: hablarà ­a (I would speak)hablarà ­as (you would speak)hablarà ­a (you/she/he/it would speak)hablarà ­amos (we would speak)hablarà ­ais (you would speak)hablarà ­an (you/they would speak) Key Takeaways As its name suggests, the Spanish conditional tense is typically used, like would, to indicate that a verbs action that is conditioned on some other event, which need not be explicitly stated.The conditional tense can refer to real or hypothetical actions in past, present, and future.The same method is used to form the conditional tense for all regular verbs, regardless of whether they are -ar, -er, or -ir verbs.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Working In A Group Psychology Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Working In A Group Psychology Essay According to Ian Brooks, â€Å"Organisation behaviour (OB) is the study of human behaviour in organisational contexts with a focus on individuals and group processes and actions†. â€Å"Hence it involves an exploration of organisation and managerial processes in the dynamic context of the organisation and is primarily concerned with the human implication of such activity† (Brooks, 2009). Overview Groups Group has always been a characteristic of human behaviour According to Aronson’s (2007) people is ‘Social Animal’, and often need interaction with others to function effectively as individuals. Definition of Group ‘Two or more people who are perceived by themselves or other as a social entity.’ (Arnold et al, 2005) The Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in a Group for the Individual When people are working in group have to be anticipated each other opinion and individual working alone cannot perform the more efficiently than what gr oup do. So there is some reward as well as weakness for individual working in group. A number of time questions have been raised whether group problem solving is superior, inferior to individual problem solving. (Hoffman, 1965 and Kelley Maier, 1930). Many problems will face by individual in order to achieving a goal. Thus he become handicapped in his approach and also fails to discover a further approach that may work out problem but in group is opposite to this. For examples the group member do not have the same approach that individual thinks but they will contribute by knocking their ruts in thinking in order to solve the problem. Participation in Problem Solving Increases Acceptance Group problem solving authorize participation and influence, it follows that more individuals acknowledge solutions when a group solves the problem than when one person solves it. When one individual solves a problem he still has the task of convincing others. Therefore, when groups solve such prob lems, a greater number of persons accept and feel responsible for making the solution work. Better Comprehension of the Decision Decision made in group is directly utilized by the group member were as when individual make a decision he has to consult with decision maker to the decision-executors. Disadvantages Social Pressure Social pressure is a major force making for agreement good member will accept tends to silence disagreement and favours consensus. Minority opinions in leaderless groups have little influence on the solution reached, even when these opinions are the correct ones (Maier & Solem, 1952). Reaching agreement in a group often is confused with finding the right answer, and it is for this reason that the dimensions of a decision’s acceptance and its objective quality must be distinguished (Maier, 1963).

Analysis of The Best Man Film Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analysis of The Best Man Film - Research Paper Example They are a perfect way for humans to connect emotionally, communicate between each other, and highlight evil and good incidents in the society. Stories enable societies to pass important virtues, history through generations, and build strong relations. Stories are powerful tools, which if well narrated can posses enormous power that establishes a profound connection with the audience. Connecting with the audience is a crucial aspect in storytelling, which moves and creates lasting memories in the audience. Telling a compelling story is the sure way of ensuring that people do not forget the story. This is because the feelings and emotions from a superb story are inerasable. The Best Man film is an example of a compelling story, narrated in the form of a movie. It achieved this quality through the various aspects, which include proper selection of setting, themes, cinematography and directing. Perhaps, the producers achieved this through properly identifying a particular audience, thei r profound goal, and the particular message the writer wants to pass across. The best man film capitalizes on these aspects to bring out a superb connection with its audience. To start with, the film uses real-life characters to communicate with its audience. This is a realization that stories in films are about people. People are what the audience connects with, and the film achieves this goal using characters, which the audience appreciate and connect with completely. The directors of the film further, in the cinematography, exploit the use of characters to speak their story themselves. Through this way, the piece becomes relatable and personalized, which makes the film authentic and captivating. To keep the audience connected to the story and avoid boring them, ‘The Best Man’ creates suspense throughout its narration. The characters constantly stir up emotions by bringing out issues that the society highly appreciates. Throughout the film, the use of clear meaning an d direction provides a clear meaning and decisive moment. These entirely enable the movie to create cathartic moments with the end of each episode. This of course, leaves the audience craving for the next episode. The film does not leave out the theme either. The setting is in a society that is traditionally renowned to be romantic, a factor that captivates a sense of authenticity of the entire action. Filmsettings are an important area of concern for movie producers. The setting in the film affects its cinematography. In the production of any movie, there are things that are not possible to shoot both in full scale and in real time. Others come with an unacceptable expense in terms of time and money. Special effect is the domain of showing the impossible or impractical: the art of making things appear to have happened. Production effects, including mechanical, are those that producers can stage during the principal or second-unit photography; the crew can photograph in one pass usi ng unmodified cameras. Special photographic effects, often referred to as special effect cinematography, employ photographic techniques to achieve their illusion. They may call for modified production camera, a special process camera (used in optical printing houses and laboratories rather than on a set), unconventional lighting, fixed and travelling matters, bi-pack and optical printing. They also require unusual degree of creative resourcefulness. Because of the extreme care and precision required, a separate unit working at its own pace, without tying up production personnel and full-scale production sets, handles special effect cinematography. However, the most important reason why producers consign

Maison Bouygues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Maison Bouygues - Assignment Example It is irrefutable that amidst the effort of companies to deliver the value which they have chosen to impart, there have been discrepancies with these two. The tactical aspect of marketing often does not fully embody what has been strategically formulated. In line with this, this paper looks at the value creation within MB, identifying the value that it chooses and how it provides this value to its clientele. At the end, this paper will give further recommendations on how value creation can be enhanced through the alignment of strategic and tactical marketing. As with any business organization, MB's strategic aspect of marketing is comprised of its segmentation, targeting, and positioning. The company's identification of the value that it wants to provide is rationally through identifying its customers and their specific needs and wants and specifically pinpointing what image the company wants to build in the mind of its customers. Among these client groups, the New Anxious represents approximately 25% of the company's customers. This segment, having the least income (average is FF12, 700), demands the most value for their hard-earned money for their first homes. It should also be noted that MB has a relatively high presence in this group indicated by the 138 MB presence index reported. The Wealthy Savers comes next with approximately 24% of MB's clientele. Directly opposed to the New Anxious, this group generates high income which averages FF18, 100 and have owned their previous homes. MB also has a high presence in this segment relative to the industry (MB presence index is 123). Autonomous Independents represents 19% of the MB's total market. Having an average income of $16, 500, this group occupies high social level and desires to own their home after renting for some time. Relative to its competitors, MB has a relatively low presence in this market indicated by MB's presence index which is reported at 53. Wealthy Spenders and New Responsible both share approximately 16% of MB's entire market. Wealthy Spenders have the highest average income at FF19, 700. However, MB's presence in this sector is only limited compared to the whole industry. New Responsible group has a low average income of FF14, 400 who demands more value and quality from MB's products because they would want to leave their house to their children. The company has a very high presence in this segment (MB's presence index is 123). The conducted market segmentation above clearly distinguishes the targeting strategy employed by MB. Furthermore, looking at the history of the company shows how it has alters and augments the particularly markets that it intended to serve: "Initially MB focused on building small, basic homes for middle and lower-income households. During the mid-1980s, the company shifted its focus to the higher end of the single family market." This shift in targeting strateg

Contemporary Issues in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Contemporary Issues in Business - Essay Example In fact, planning is not about predicting the future, but preparing for it disregarding the fact of which future will eventually come true (Wade, 2012, p.31). Therefore, scenario planning is about trying to formulate plans that are addressing the what-if scenarios in the future (Hill and Jones, 2009, p.26). It is therefore easy to understand that scenario planning is a used tool for flexible long-term plans, which also allows decision makers to understand the nature and impact of uncertainties that affect the world (Northumbria University, 2014). This technically does not mean forecasting the future, but eventually preparing for the future to come based on the possible scenarios to take place. After all, scenarios are considered to be as strong supports for strategic planning (Zahradnickova and Vacik, 2014, p.665). The reason why there is a need to prepare for the future with various plans addressing the what-if concerns is due to the fact that the business environment is affected by many forces. This leads to the point that in the actual business, scenario planning is considered as an analytical tool that allows the business people to prepare things in the future, because it allows them to develop a framework that can lead them further to develop visions for the future as they analyse the environmental forces in the environment that can hinder growth. In the business environment, an organisation is faced with various forces such as politics, economics, social, economics, technological and legal concerns. These are important factors that could substantially affect the business outcomes. In the first place, there are various cases by which the success of an organisation depends on the prevailing legal concerns in an organisation. On the other hand, the success of a certain brand for instance ma y depend on the prevailing social trend that people accept in the society.

Time Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Time Management - Essay Example In the article, entitled Time Management Essential, the author emphasized the need to have enough time to achieve all of one’s set goals. The author gives a simple but clear definition of time management. â€Å"Time management really means managing yourself and your job responsibilities effectively.† (Ohio.com -Time Management Essential 2004) Bruch and Ghoshal (2002) reported of a ten year study of busy managers in which researchers found that managers fritter away 90 percent of their time in ineffective activities. Not only do managers utilize their time ineffectively but Jane Bergen (2006) noted that 30 percent of all employees time was spent searching for lost documents. (Key Organization Systems 2000-2008) The author of Time Management Essential posits two major reasons for the inefficiency of small businesses, namely, poor planning and poor communication. Similarly, Patricia Katz 2006, argues that â€Å"a lack of communication and a lack of attention† are tw o factors for spouses to separate. (Key Organization Systems 2000-2008) Katz 2006 proposes that the there has been an increase by 33 percent for individuals reporting excessive work hours on the part of their spouse. Further Hewlett and Luce in 2006 noted that 45 percent of high-earning managers are so fatigued at the end of a work day; they are unable to have a proper conversation with their partner. (Key Organization Systems 2000-2008) 13 percent of workers claimed to have seen their coworkers display angry outbursts because of stress in the workplace. Maseda in a 2004 Gallup Poll noted that 80 percent of workers reported stress from job related activities. (Key Organization Systems 2000-2008) Poor planning results in long unproductive hours at work and subsequently an increase in the stress level of employees. Consequently, it is essential that an organization develop strategies to assist in the effective

Macro8C Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Macro8C - Essay Example In order to close this gap, the governments needs to take some expansionary fiscal policy i.e. increase government spending and/or reduce taxes. If only government spending is to be considered, At the end of your presentation, the president decides that any change in government expenditures would be politically unpopular at the moment, so she asks you how she might solve the same problem with a tax change instead. What change in taxation will you recommend? Be specific and show all of your work. Since there is a recessionary gap, the government would need to reduce the taxes. An increase in tax would mean lesser income available to spend. As the goal is to increase aggregate demand, taxes would need to be reduced. Cutting taxes will increase disposable income, which will stimulate consumption with multiplier effects & expanding output and employment. This implies that taxes need to be reduced by an amount of $ 500 in order to close the recessionary gap. So, it takes a larger deficit to get the same stimulus with a tax cut than it would with increased government spending. Suppose that a balanced budget amendment forces the president to match each dollar increase in government spending with an equal offsetting dollar increase in taxation, and each dollar decrease in federal spending with an equal decrease in taxes. Would fiscal policy be weakened, or even rendered useless, by such a law? Why or why not? The fiscal policy is not rendered useless as there is still change in GDP. If we look at the overall effect, the balanced budget multiplier allows us to close the gap without an increased deficit or decreased surplus. If, however, the recessionary gap to be closed is large, it would imply that the government needs to increase spending by a large amount, and also increase taxes by an equally large amount. This may not be very popular with the people and the government may be reluctant to enforce such a measure due to political

Contemporary Issues in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Contemporary Issues in Business - Essay Example In fact, planning is not about predicting the future, but preparing for it disregarding the fact of which future will eventually come true (Wade, 2012, p.31). Therefore, scenario planning is about trying to formulate plans that are addressing the what-if scenarios in the future (Hill and Jones, 2009, p.26). It is therefore easy to understand that scenario planning is a used tool for flexible long-term plans, which also allows decision makers to understand the nature and impact of uncertainties that affect the world (Northumbria University, 2014). This technically does not mean forecasting the future, but eventually preparing for the future to come based on the possible scenarios to take place. After all, scenarios are considered to be as strong supports for strategic planning (Zahradnickova and Vacik, 2014, p.665). The reason why there is a need to prepare for the future with various plans addressing the what-if concerns is due to the fact that the business environment is affected by many forces. This leads to the point that in the actual business, scenario planning is considered as an analytical tool that allows the business people to prepare things in the future, because it allows them to develop a framework that can lead them further to develop visions for the future as they analyse the environmental forces in the environment that can hinder growth. In the business environment, an organisation is faced with various forces such as politics, economics, social, economics, technological and legal concerns. These are important factors that could substantially affect the business outcomes. In the first place, there are various cases by which the success of an organisation depends on the prevailing legal concerns in an organisation. On the other hand, the success of a certain brand for instance ma y depend on the prevailing social trend that people accept in the society.

Macro8C Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Macro8C - Essay Example In order to close this gap, the governments needs to take some expansionary fiscal policy i.e. increase government spending and/or reduce taxes. If only government spending is to be considered, At the end of your presentation, the president decides that any change in government expenditures would be politically unpopular at the moment, so she asks you how she might solve the same problem with a tax change instead. What change in taxation will you recommend? Be specific and show all of your work. Since there is a recessionary gap, the government would need to reduce the taxes. An increase in tax would mean lesser income available to spend. As the goal is to increase aggregate demand, taxes would need to be reduced. Cutting taxes will increase disposable income, which will stimulate consumption with multiplier effects & expanding output and employment. This implies that taxes need to be reduced by an amount of $ 500 in order to close the recessionary gap. So, it takes a larger deficit to get the same stimulus with a tax cut than it would with increased government spending. Suppose that a balanced budget amendment forces the president to match each dollar increase in government spending with an equal offsetting dollar increase in taxation, and each dollar decrease in federal spending with an equal decrease in taxes. Would fiscal policy be weakened, or even rendered useless, by such a law? Why or why not? The fiscal policy is not rendered useless as there is still change in GDP. If we look at the overall effect, the balanced budget multiplier allows us to close the gap without an increased deficit or decreased surplus. If, however, the recessionary gap to be closed is large, it would imply that the government needs to increase spending by a large amount, and also increase taxes by an equally large amount. This may not be very popular with the people and the government may be reluctant to enforce such a measure due to political

Determinant of Supplier Power Essay Example for Free

Determinant of Supplier Power Essay Sony’s Play station 3 is slated to be a next generation computer entertainment console which will provide the facility of playing titles which are available on PlayStation and PlayStation 2. In addition it is also enabling internet connectivity for downloading a variety of games as also access to online games and services. It can support a wide range of NTSC/PAL standards on the TV including high definition TV. (Introducing Play station 3, 2006). Nintendo Nintendo has been an established leader in the interactive entertainment industry for many years. It has successfully sold one billion video games worldwide. It markets hardware and software for its popular home video systems such as the Game Cube and the Game Boy series which the company claims to be the world’s best selling video game system. (History, 2006). The company has been developing its consoles based on technology developments and the needs of the customers. Software is also built up to support the consoles in a consolidated mode. Nintendo entered the American market after the industry had virtually crashed in the 1980’s and exploited the performance play as per Kline, Dyer-Witherford and Peuter (2003) by introducing proprietary standards and denying competition for other players. It also created brand loyalty by having a magazine for its product and also created sustainment lines so that the product was effectively supported after sales, a novel concept in the entertainment industry but which is essential for experiential marketing. This company as per Kline, Dyer-Witherford and Peuter (2003) was the first to close the technology, culture and marketing loop as others followed suit to ape Nintendo. The company has also recently launched a Nintendo WiFi connection which will enable the Nintendo DS owners to connect with gamers around the World and it is reported that over 10 million connections were made available only two months from launching. Its Resident Evil 4 programme on Game Cube was adjudged by many as the best game of the year as per the company. (History, 2006). The other innovation was to develop the company’s programme of Game Play Counselors on the web to provide the gamers and developers instant connect with the company. (History, 2006). Nintendo has also sponsored Digipen program at the DigiPen Institute of Technology which is an accredited college level program for designing video gaming applications. The company has initiated this keeping in view the large number of requests it has been receiving from gamers as well as amateur developers. The company also has a Nintendo Power magazine which communicates with the gamers. Contests such as Player’s Poll care enable the company to get feedback from gamers and also rate its own games for further sponsoring and development. The company has an active forums program from which game ideas are developed (http://forums. nintendo. com/nintendo) Nintendo also has a policy for licensing a number of third party publishers to use its patenting technology, copy rights and trade marks to develop video games (Legal, 2006). Nintendo also has a very powerful community participation program called as NSider forum which provides Nintendo fans a venue for discussion through message boards, posting questions and answers, discussions and email on new activities. This acts as a powerful link between the company, the gamers and the developers. (Community Participation, 2006). Micro Soft Micro Soft has been the latest entrant in the field of console gaming. It has also depended on the resources of developers and consumers to progress its gaming strategy, despite the considerable software resources that the company has at its disposal as the worlds leading legacy software developer. It has two programs which are specifically targeted at the developers and consumers for providing it inputs for game development. Micro Soft Xbox Developer programs enable developers, publishers, tool makers and hardware vendors to support the Xbox and Xbox 360 video consoles. The Registered Developer Program in particular has been designed to allow access to external developers to the hardware and support of Xbox and Xbox 360 and take advantage of the features to develop software and support projects for the Xbox consoles. Xbox Central and Xbox 360 Central web sites permit access to those who have been accepted for this program and also for participation in technical seminars and sessions. (Xbox Developer Programs, 2006) The Xbox 360 Registered Content Creator Program is a similar program which allows freelance content creators access to Xbox 360 content creation tools to enable them to secure projects for Xbox console. These positions are offered by Microsoft Game Studios. (Xbox 360 Registered Content Creator Program. 2006)

Importance of Consumer Behavior to Marketers

Importance of Consumer Behavior to Marketers Previously marketers had only limited tools that allow them to affect customers, to make them do the purchasing process only. They were focusing on the product itself and how to change it to make more convincing to the customer, they were also modifying the prices to make it acceptable by the customers, they were looking for the best places to offer their products to make sure they have enough demand, and they were doing some promotion activities to motivate customers to buy their products. Importance of consumer behavior Consumer behavior is very important to marketers because it gives them a lot of extraordinary tools that allows them to manipulate and persuade customers. But with consumer behavior now, they can design and manufacture their products and services based on the needs and wants of consumers, they take into their considerations what the customer like or dislike, then they produces their products and services according to that. They can also understand the consumer purchase decision making process when a customer start asking himself what to buy and how to buy it, and when he start meeting with other people and friends who likes other types of products or services, that might change or affect his purchase decision also. Marketers now can understand how the consumer think and behave, and what are the reasons behind his actions, that allows them to make more marketing efforts based on their understanding to the consumer way of thinking, and even more, with in depth understanding to consumer behavior, they are able now to change the way the customer think and behave, to make him fit with their marketing goals and objectives. Importance of perception With consumer behavior, Marketers now can make consumers think that they want their products, even though they might not really want. This goal can be achieved using the fantastic consumer behavior theories and concepts. Starting with the perception concept in consumer behavior, which is the process by which consumers use and interpret their sensory system. Perception explains how consumers see the products and services of the company, and how they feel and think about it. The image is considered as the basic factor that affects the purchase decision for most customers. Customer now don ¿Ã‚ ½t only want to make the right choices, customers now wants to be perceived by other people and friends as being able to make the right choices and choose the right products. Marketers can successfully use senses as sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste to stimulate and motivate customers to try to examine their products and services. Marketers can do the marketing for their products in a totall y different way to create a distinct perception for their product to make it received by the customers more favorably. Marketers can also differentiate their message from other competitor ¿Ã‚ ½s messages to get more attention from the consumer. They can also make their products more expensive than other identical competitors ¿Ã‚ ½ products, and can make customers buy it just because they think that it is better because it is more expensive. Marketers can change the way consumers perceive their products and services. They are a lot of ways marketers can do that, they can successfully use the human sensory system to affect and manipulate consumers. They can use the vision sensory to change the way the customer think, for example they can change the design and shape of a container of product like perfume or juice to make it look bigger while actually it is still having the same volume or size, they can use some colors that can give a specific emotions to consumers, like giving pink colors to most female products like cloths, or even making mobiles and laptops with pink colors to attract female customers, or using black color to send a message of mystery or power about the product. They can also change the packaging by using an expensive finishing or packaging to give the impression that this packaging contains inside a luxury product or an expensive product, or they can change the packaging to make it look like other famou s products. Marketers also can change the touch of a product to make it different to give you a special implication, we can see that in manufacturing mobile phones for example, some mobile phones are being manufactured now with aluminum or glass from outside instead of plastic, this will result in giving the image of quality and power to the product and it will be accepted to be a high priced mobile phone. Marketers can also now choose the correct stimulus level that they want to expose to consumer sensory, they will make the stimulus level above the consumers awareness if they want the consumer to notice the change they made in the product if the consumer will like or accept this change, and they can make the stimulus level below the consumer awareness if they were afraid that the consumer will reject or resist the change. Importance of learning and memory Learning is the permanent change in behavior caused by experience, where memory is the process of gathering information and storing it over time to be available whenever we need it. Marketers can start using the learning and memory concept of consumer behavior to make the consumers learn about their products and their brand as well in the way they want. After choosing the correct stimulus to make the desired perception by consumers, marketers can start learning consumers about what their brand means, some companies try to attach their brand name to the meaning of quality, while some others try to make their brand name means variety, or any other meaning they want. If we look at apple, we can directly say that it means high quality and luxury computers, if we say Mercedes it means luxury cars and BMW means sport cars. That what marketers learned us about their brand names by successfully using the sensory system and stimulus. Not only that, after learning the consumers about the brand image, marketers can get use of the learning in many ways, they can use their brand name image to offer other product line, depending on that consumer have already learned that this brand name means good products like LG, or they might use their established brand name to add more related products like Apple, after they succeeded in their luxury computers and laptops, they have introduced their iphone and ipod and Apple TV and other products. They can even offer their popular brand name for rent for other companies who don ¿Ã‚ ½t have a popular brand, or a brand with negative image. Importance of motivation Marketers can also use the motivation concept of consumer behavior. Motivation process is what stimulates all types of consumers. Motivation happened when consumer have an unsatisfied need which result in a tension, then the consumer will make all the required effort to reduce or eliminate this tension to satisfying his need. Marketers can the different needs a consumer can have to persuade and motivate him to purchase their products. Marketers for example can use the biological or physiological needs such as need for water to offer their products that can satisfy this need like juices, so the consumer will be motivated to go for these products to satisfy his thirsty. Marketers also can use other types of needs to motivate consumers, like need for power when consumer wants to feel that they have mastery over their surroundings, marketers can offer products like muscle cars, or they can offer luxury resorts. They can also use the need for affiliation to offer products like sports equi pment ¿Ã‚ ½s and cloths. Marketers can also use the purchase situation involvement in their motivational tools, like offering special products for Valentine ¿Ã‚ ½s Day or mother ¿Ã‚ ½s day where the consumer will be purchasing in a different situation, he will be looking for more extraordinary and expensive jewelry or other gifts, while in other normal conditions he might be looking for a normal and low price gift. Sometimes also consumer could have a motivational conflict between his needs, even in this case also marketers can get use of such a situation, they can offer a products that can give solution for these conflicts, like when consumer want to have a heavy food but he is afraid of the calories, so marketers try to offer him a good food with no calories, or when consumer want to purchase cloths with animal leather finishing but he don ¿Ã‚ ½t like animals being killed for that, then marketers could offer him cloths with fake leather that looks exactly like real one. Conclusion As we can see, all these consumer behavior concepts can help marketers persuade the consumer behavior in many ways, they can change the way he sees the product, they can change the way he think or feel about a product, they can even motivate the consumer to make him willing to buy a product or service, they can also reach a point where finally they can make consumers buying products not for what they do, but for what they

Comparing Jane Smileys A Thousand Acres and William Shakespeares King

Comparing Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres and William Shakespeare's King Lear Jane Smiley's novel A Thousand Acres is a modern version of William Shakespeare's King Lear.   The tragic ideas brought out by King Lear are revisited in A Thousand Acres both containing universal themes in which societies from past to present can identify with.   Tragedy is a form of drama that depicts the suffering of a heroic individual who is often overcome by the very obstacles he is struggling to remove.   The novel and play each contain distinct tragic elements that lead to the development of similar characters, plot, and images but both have distinct themes.   A Thousand Acres provides a new interpretation of Shakespeare's classic tragedy allowing the reader to create a unique twist to their opinions of the Lear family. William Shakespeare's tragedy of King Lear begins with the King's decision to divide his kingdom between his three daughters.   He gathers them all together, and tells them he will divide up the kingdom according to whoever has the most love for him.   Goneril and Reagan, the two older daughters, make big declarations of love in order to get the shares they want of the kingdom.   The youngest daughter, Cordelia, tells Lear that she loves him, as a daughter should love a father.   Lear becomes angry and disappointed with Cordelia's response feeling she has shown a lack of devotion so he takes action and banishes her.   When Kent, a close friend of Lear, attempts to defend Cordelia, but as well he is banished by Lear.   Cordelia marries the King of France and goes to live there. The kingdom is equally divided between Goneril and Regan.   These two daughters are evil and decide if Lear becomes too much of a problem then they will take d... ... which would have prevented this tragedy.   The blinding Gloucester becomes ironic because when he is blinded he is able to see that he has judged his son Edgar wrongly and it is Edmund who is evil.   Similarly, in A Thousand Acres   Loren the loyal son is the cause of his tragedy.  Ã‚   Both Lear and Larry become mad after giving up their power too early.   When Lear turns his kingdom over to his daughters he looses respect and power which cause him to go mad.   When Larry signs his farm over to his daughters he looses control of the land and goes mad.   Works Cited and Consulted Bradley, A.C. "King Lear." 20Lh Century Interpretations of King Lear. Ed. Jane Adelman. New Jersev; Prentice-Hall, 1978. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of King Lear.   Ed. Russell Fraser.   New York: Penguin, 1998. Smiley, Jane.   A Thousand Acres.   New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1991.

Discussion Surrounding Global Alliances Operating in the Airline Indust

The international aviation industry is arguably one of the most competitive and cut-throat businesses in the world today. Characterised by high revenue but notoriously thin profit margins, modern international airlines are constantly searching for methods to gain advantages over their competitors and attract new customers. One of these methods which has become popular since the late 1990s is that of the global airline alliance. Today there are three major alliances in operation, each containing different member airlines. These alliances offer airline customers various advantages over travel with a traditional carrier. Nevertheless, these advantages have been criticised by some as being anti-competitive, there are several examples of airlines that prefer to remain unaligned, and have become extremely successful. Who are these alliances, why are they so popular, and why are they so strongly criticised by some? The Star Alliance was founded in May 1997 by five airlines from three different continents, and today is the largest and oldest of the three major alliances in operation today. It features the highest number of member airlines of any alliance, and also the greatest number of flights and destinations served (Star Alliance, 2011). It is also independently rated by Skytrax (2011) as the world’s best airline alliance, having additionally won the award every year it has been presented except for 2010, when the award went to Oneworld. Furthermore, the Star Alliance is probably the most useful for New Zealand based frequent fliers, as New Zealand’s principal airline, Air New Zealand is a member. Air New Zealand frequent fliers are able to take maximum advantage of co-ordinated scheduling, frequent flier points, and international lo... ...df O’Sullivan, M. (2010, September 17). Virgin hints at signing up to Skyteam. The Sydney Morning Herald, p. Business 3. Oneworld. (2011). An introduction to Oneworld: The alliance that revolves around you. Retrieved 17 September 2011 from http://www.oneworld.com/content/factsheet/W1_2011-01%20Introduction%20to%20oneworld.pdf Rodrigue, JP. (2005). Market share of world airline traffic. Retrieved 18 September 2011 from http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch3en/conc3en/airalliances.html Skytrax. (2011). World Airline Awards. Retrieved 17 September 2011 from http://www.worldairlineawards.com/Awards_2011/alliance2011.htm Star Alliance. (2011). Star Alliance: About. Retrieved 17 September 2011 from http://www.staralliance.com/en/about/ United Airlines. (2011). Star Alliance. Retrieved 18 September 2011 from http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6867,1519,00.html

Linear Equality Applied in Real Life Essay

From the real life situation described in the prior DQ 1, I found out the form of the equation that can be used to analyze situations wherein decisions have to be made. This linear equation is that of the slope: y = ax + b, wherein x is the independent value and its value is fixed. In the problem 40, the x denotes the fixed rate for each minute used. The variable a is the number of minutes consumed for the call and b is the fixed amount the company charged just for using the service. The variable y is the dependent variable and the total amount for the whole service, depending on the number of minutes used. Figure 1, based on problem 40 (McGraw-Hill Companies, 2005) will help to further illustrate the use of the equation. Based on the graph, Company A costs more than Company B up until a certain point, which is when the sum of the calls Rafaella made in one month was 45 minutes. On the other hand, when she made 60 minutes worth of calls in one month, it is seen that Company B started to become a bit more expensive than Company A. Thus, based on the results, Rafaella should choose based on her own estimate of her usage of long-distance calls. If she’ll rarely make calls or call for only a few minutes each month, she should stay subscribed at Company B. However, if she thinks that her total calls would exceed 60 minutes per month, then it is advisable for her to subscribe to Company A. Table 1. Total charges for total minutes of of long-distance calls in one month for Company

New York’s Money Drain

ALBANY, NY – Rising energy and health care prices have been slowly creeping their way up the city of Albany’s annual budget, backing a nationwide trend towards higher state expenditures on these basic costs. Mayor Gerald D. Jennings, in his State of the City Address to the Albany common council mentioned the costs currently appropriated in Albany’s budget.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Expenses such as State pension payments and health insurance expenses for employees, utility expenses and the like continue to be a challenge,† he said. Residents of Albany won’t have to fear a deficit or higher city taxes just yet, since according to Jennings, Section 19-a payments, which come from the state of New York, currently offset these increases in city expenditures. â€Å"We’ve succeeded in this regard largely because of the successful efforts to obtain and increase the State payment in lieu of taxes on the Empire State Plaza – our Section 19-a payments,† the mayor said. â€Å"During 2006 and again for 2007 through 2010 our 19-a payments will total $22,850,000.† For the state of New York, however, the problem is mirrored, albeit in a much larger scale. The State and the Cost of Health Currently, the state capital Albany allocates fifteen percent of its annual budget of around $175 million on health insurance expenditures for its employees, or around $27 million annually.   Employees of the local government are in pretty good shape however, compared to their private sector counterparts, where employers are facing a rough choice on how to face the escalating cost of health care. Yet New York is again facing a cut in health care spending, ushered in by then-incumbent Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who had previously proposed a $1.3 billion, cut in the expense last year. Gov. Spitzer resigned last March after an unrelated prostitution scandal, which left the talks with the health care lobby hanging.   Before Spitzer left, discussions about the cut in health care services this year were already ongoing. In a New York Times interview, Dennis P. Whalen, Spitzer’s deputy secretary for health, commented on the change of mood.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"I think you can see already that the level of discussion and reaction is different this year than it was last year,† said Whalen.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"We’ve been engaged in productive discussions with hospitals about these changes that we’re pursuing.† While health care budgets are being cut, health insurance has been growing at a steadily alarming rate in recent years.   In 2007, nationwide averages for health insurance premiums increased by 6.1 percent—two times the rate of inflation. For employees’ insurance, the state isn’t so much squeezed as much as small businesses are.   Private employers are taking the brunt of the action, especially with state mandated benefits which in New York cover more than 30 different instances.   According to the Employer Alliance for Affordable Health Care, New Yorkers pay 26 percent more than the national average for health care. The Alliance is also pointing fingers at the proposed 2008-09 budget plan for the state, which includes a $140 million increase in the Covered Lives Assessment—a surcharge paid on every insurance policy and premium tax on some health insurers, which the Alliance claims will ultimately be borne by consumer. â€Å"With small and medium businesses in New York struggling to provide health insurance coverage and state leaders who have called for expanding health insurance coverage to all New Yorkers, it doesn’t make sense to propose taxes that will make it even harder for business to offer coverage at all,† said Alliance chair Jeff Leland. It all makes for a sticky situation, but another potential headache for legislators is simmering within New York’s extensive power supply grid Rising Energy Last winter, Gov. Spitzer announced additional emergency home heating assistance to New York’s most vulnerable residents.   That winter, qualified applicants through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), a federally funded program, issued benefits to more than 719,000 families, totaling more than $178 million. The government subsidizing energy costs is inevitable however, with the way energy prices are going.   Residents of New York have long paid some of the highest electricity prices in the United States.   According to a conservative think tank, New York should reconsider some of its most ambitious energy policies to keep costs down. The study, â€Å"NY Unplugged?   Building Energy Capacity and Curbing Energy Rates in the Empire State,† was released in March by the Empire Center for New York State Policy, which is a project of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. â€Å"New York will need a lot more power—the equivalent of more than five new 500-megawatt generating plants—to avoid blackouts early in the next decade,† said the study.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Yet only one new large-scale generating plant, representing barely one-eighth of the required additional capacity, has been proposed in the state since the expiration five years ago of Article X, the landmark state law designed to speed the building of such facilities.† Donald LaVada, director of marketing and development at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, said energy spending in New York tops $53 billion annually, and 85 percent of the energy used is imported into the state.   And half of it comes from OPEC nations.   With oil heading towards $120 a barrel, energy spending has nowhere to go but up. The cost to the local government remains a drain for taxpayer money.   Back in Albany, the 2008 has appropriated around $33 million for operating expenses, the majority of which will go pay for energy consumption by the city.   A policy change, however, remains to be seen in the country’s third largest state. R E F E R E N C E S Peters, Jeremy W. (2008). Time Runs Short to Decide Albany Health Care Cuts. The New   York Times. February 22, 2008. â€Å"A Better Albany†. (2007). State of the City Address by Mayor Gerald D. Jennings of   Albany New York. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from http://www.albanyny.gov/Government/ MayorsOffice/StateOfTheCity.aspx â€Å"Governor Spitzer Announces Additional Heating Assistance to Combat Rising Energy   Prices†. (2008). Division of Housing & Community Renewal, New York State.   Retrieved May 2, 2008 â€Å"NY Unplugged? Building Energy Capacity and Curbing Energy Rates in the Empire State†.   (2008). Empire Center for New York State Policy. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from   http://www.empirecenter.org/Special-Reports/2008/03/NYUnplugged.cfm â€Å"Proposed Budget Increases Costs to Small Business†. (2008). Alliance Alert. The   Employer Alliance for Affordable Healthcare. Retrieved May 2, 2008 from  http://www.employeralliance.com/images/Newsletter_spring08.pdf

The Complete 2018 AP Exam Calendar

If you’re like many high school students, with the second semester now underway your thoughts may be turning to the end of the year. Specifically, you might be starting to think about AP exams, and you’re right to do so. Whether you’re enrolled in AP classes or planning to self study for AP exams , now is a great time to turn your eye towards the AP calendar. Each year, AP exams are administered over a two week period in May. In 2018, the tests will begin on May 7 and, with the exception of specially administered late exams, they will wrap up on May 18. Because different tests are administered on different dates and at different times, you’ll need to plan well in advance to accommodate the tests you want to take. In this post, we’ll present the complete 2018 AP Exam Calendar along with our favorite advice for AP exam prep. With the holidays behind us and the new year underway, ’tis the season to think about spring testing. Are you ready? *This data is taken from the CollegeBoard AP Calendar Also keep in mind that if you are an AP Studio Art student, your portfolio is due online by Friday, May 11. Your teachers or coordinators must upload your digital portfolio by 8 PM EDT and hold the portfolio assembly for 2-D Design and Drawing by this date. Also keep in mind that AP Seminar End-of-Course Exams are available only to students enrolled in the AP Capstone Program. You may not self- study for this test. For more information about the AP Capstone Program, see our post An Introduction to the AP Capstone Diploma . Finally, if you identify a scheduling conflict in your exam schedule, talk to a teacher or counsellor as soon as possible. The College Board will coordinate late testing dates if your situation necessitates one, but you will need to apply to do so. You can find more information about late testing on the Late Testing Dates page . Our Early Advising Program helps students in 9th and 10th grade discover their passions and build strong academic and extracurricular profiles to succeed in high school. If just looking at the test schedule makes you dizzy, don’t worry. AP exams are intimidating to many students at first. Luckily, if you approach each exam individually and use our time-proven study guides and test strategies, you’ll be ready on AP exam day.

The Advantage of Pragmatism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Advantage of Pragmatism - Essay Example Thanks this paper   we shall see the theories’ relevancy on Centrica’s progress and how creative thinking in adapting new set of ideas as well as proper utilization of resources and advance technology can greatly contribute to progress. One kind of resource that will be emphasized would be Human resources and that how could this be an asset or a hindrance, on the other side, to company’s goals. We shall be dealing on factors like stress control, support and performance as a key of business improvement and success. Human resource is one of the most essential element of a business or company in the long run including today, whilst the expansion and enhancement of technology. This could be hardly eradicated in business, although they are already experiencing recession, still a company needs a human workforce for it to work (regardless of its size). One main reason for this is because human have the capability to think unlike of machines. We have interesting mental capabilities that only us could analyze and implement solutions and answer to predicaments and that machineries are just by-product of our creative thinking being a secondary source of our solution.

Art and cinema Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Art and cinema - Assignment Example They seem to be at peace with themselves and those around them. The disruption in narrative convention is apparent in the man’s time-space travel, where nothing is lasting and completely certain. The man and woman are as temporary as the dead animals they are gazing at. The parallel scene with Twelve Monkeys is the scene where the animals run free and James Cole (Bruce Willis) and Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe) see the animals for the first time. See Figure 2. James and Kathryn are in mid cut away shot at eye level. The impact of them together and the animals running free is the perceptions that they are not free compared to the animals. Like the animals, as in La Jetà ©e, the only time they can assuredly have is the present. The future is unreliable in giving happiness for it may even lead to their separation or death. The narrative is disrupted by the constant reference to life’s temporariness. In the clip from Godard’s Band of Outsiders, Odile (Anna) Karina recites from â€Å"Les Poà ¨tes† by Louis Aragon. Odile is represented in a different light from the woman in La Jetà ©e because the former is darker and less hopeful of the future. In this scene, Odile looks forlorn, as she says: â€Å"All they’d ask for was a light. They settled for so little. They had so little anger in them.† The sad tone of her voice and poem suggests that she is unhappy and she longs for something better in the future that she cannot enjoy at present. She is different from the woman in La Jetà ©e who no longer questions the comings and goings of the man. She just enjoys every moment they have. Odile is similar with the woman though because she also strives to be happy. She is unsure how, but she does want to have true happiness in her life. In the essay, â€Å"On Photography,† Susan Sontag explores the meaning of photography, based on its uses and impacts on human behaviors. She argues that photography is a process of collecting

Dance 234 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dance 234 - Assignment Example The dance is about the event that brought together various choreographers and performers who took part in the performance. The BoSoma2 created the choreography for the dance as created by the directors of the dance company. The leadership of the company consists of three members of the company. The company seeks to utilize the rigorous athleticism that exists within the entertainment industry. Judging by the movie, the dance was on 27th of February 2015. The show presented is the Third Life Choreographer that involves several performers including Rowan Salem, Bosama 2 Dance, Jennifer Farrell, Kelley Donovan, Bryce dance company, Olivia Coombs, Catherine Wagner and Kelly Engel. The program involves performances including the Real Rosie that involved several performers. Variations on the story were a performance choreographed by Kelly Engel. The performers included Kelly Engel, Malone Thermitus, Previlu, Lisa Lin and Erica Lin. The performers dance to music by Susie Suh and Koch Robert. The Hunt was the performance that followed and choreography of Shannon Luchs. The dancers in the performance include Grace Stauffer, Tessa Hamza, and Sahaiyai Khalili. The dancers performed music by Bjork, which was a remix of the song, Cover me. The Freedom Dances was an exceptional performance that presented sections of work in progress. The choreography was by Laliberte Nicole instructing several dancers including Stephanie Walsh, and Luciana Lyans. The performers danced to music by Antonio Vivaldi and Vann Teirsen. Madeline Douglas and Elizabeth Griffin appeared courtesy of the spindle city Ballet Jr.Co. The second section was an untitled dance by several performers such as Erin Gridea, Tara Gragg, and Lauren Difede. The appearances were courtesy of the Island moving company that presented a great performance. The dance tells a story that provides the audience with an

Reflection Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reflection - Case Study Example In addition, the author has explored the roles of managers, CFO’s, and strategists in ensuring that the aspects of competitive advantage and shareholder value coexist well in their companies. The author of this article has also discussed the aspects of short-term and long-term measures of earnings in a company. According to the author, most managers believe in short-term measures and dismiss the long-term. However, the author proves that it is important for a manager to focus on long-term valuations of cash flow. A major reason is that long-term orientation takes into account various important aspects in the market; include the pricing mechanism of the market. This article has a considerable relationship with basic financial management. Overall, the article addresses an aspect that involves planning and directing the use of the financial resources of a company. This includes all cash acquired from lenders and investors, as well as the cash obtained through the operations of the company. The author has tied this role to the Chief Financial Officer and other managers responsible. The responsibility of financial management in a company belongs to senior financial officers and/or owner of the company. Therefore, the author has tied this role to the responsible and relevant parties. The content of this article also to a larger extent addresses the aspect of cash management, which is important in Financial Management. For instance, in the article, the focus on cash flows in a company and how it affects company productivity and competitive advantage sheds light on the important practices that financial managers should adopt in order to ensure increased productivity, competitive advantage, and shareholder value for the company. The content of the article also addresses an important aspect in financial management, planning and forecasting. For instance, in the long-term orientation, the author notes that in order to have an accurate view of market pricing,

Battle of the Bulge Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Battle of the Bulge - Research Paper Example However, the Germans were crushed by the joint armed forces of Bastogne and St. Vith that placed the Germans’ communication lines in danger. The St. Vith encounter chose time over space: the time required to set up a strong shoulder defense on the Bulge’s northern border.2 The triumphant defense of Bastogne’s transportation center pushed German forces into combat grounds and reset the German timeframe.3 Military Tactics of the Battle of the Bulge In the two encounters, a combination of intense and mild defenses was employed successfully. In the northern side, airborne and infantry forces reinforced the 7th Armored Division stronghold in St. Vith. The 7th Armored Division’s triumphant fighting withdrawal provided an opportunity to assemble a solid defense on the Bulge’s north border.4 This disrupted the timeframe for the German offensive and its troops were not able to recover their strength; hence, the German circumstances for victory were never att ained. In the southern side, the traces of the 9th and 10th Armored Divisions, as well as their crude weaponry and a number of VIII Corps Artillery forces, gave the armament support and mobile counter-offensive force for the overpowered units of the 101st Airborne Division enclosed in Bastogne.5 The Bastogne stronghold demonstrates how a light force, reinforced with armament support and well-equipped forces, was successful in holding out the assault of heavily armed German troops. This case was adopted as part of the basis for the creation of U.S. light divisions and to validate their importance in a NATO context.6 As a proof to the value of a combination of light and heavy forces in mid- to- high-level fighting, combinations of heavy and light forces have been required for the circumstances of the Army’s Battle Command Training Program’s automated, HQ practice combat games. They have been proven successful in Iraq as well.7 The capacity to envision the combat zone, as in the focused lens of Napoleon, that defines an exceptional war leader, was shown by General Anthony McAuliffe, Troy Middleton, and Bruce Clarke in making a decision where to battle and how to carry it out. Middleton understood that controlling the major road intersections of Bastogne and St. Vith for the longest possible time was needed to ward off the German forces.8 By choosing to defend these road intersections, Middleton identified the battle’s operational direction. McAuliffe and Clarke contributed to the cause by understanding the enormity of their task and by confronting excellent strategic battles to control those road intersections and hinder the opponent.9 Another official who was able envision the combat zone and who had an outstanding hold of his battleground was Lt. Col. Creighton W. Abrams, who led the ultimate attack that released Bastogne.10 According to a report: Abrams, when he got into combat, knew everything was going on. How he knew it, nobody knew, bu t he did. He knew where every tank was. He knew where every piece of equipment was, and he could command and move his outfit and always defeat the enemy in front of him. It was just that simple.11 Abrams undoubtedly had situational understanding and a general working image of what was taking place. Although Middleton and his commanding officers were able to envision the combat zone after the Germans revealed their plan, the German deception scheme was