Science, Religion or a Combination †Theology Essay

Science, Religion or a Combination – Theology Essay Free Online Research Papers Science, Religion or a Combination Theology Essay Some people claim the Christian Bible to be not only the true word of God in complete disregard for other religions beliefs they also consider it to be a book of science; that holds absolute truth about Mankind, the Earth, and the Universe. Religious fanatics have been trying to discredit evolution ever since Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1859, these fanatics once defeat which they have been countless times always go back to the drawing board and produce the same thing as before usually just with a different name and some minimal revisions and the zealots attack evolution with renewed fervor. In recent year thought the reoccurring debate has become political, as creationist struggle to force schools to abandon evolution and adopt creationism. This continued debate is unique for an industrialized country such as the united states thou it is pretty commonplace in the unindustrialized world consequently America is setting a bad example for countries that are struggling to break the grips of religious fundamentalists and embrace free thought and a more rational way of thinking. Although evolution is imperfect it is much better explained then creationism and is able to withstand attacks as it has done for over a century now and continues to be the only theory widely ac cepted by scientist. Evolution tells that all life not just humans at one time in the past shared a common ancestor. The theory has three major points first; the common descent of all organisms formed from a single ancestor, second the appearance of important traits in a lineage or through time, and the mechanisms that cause some traits to persist while others perish. These three ideas make up the backbone of evolutionary theory. All living organisms share common traits, which would mean that all life comes from an extreme distance common ancestor. Back in Darwin’s’ day only simple observations could be made to verify his and others hypothesis that all life developed from the same origin. Now with the major breakthrough of genetics in the 1980s it is now known that every living being makes use of nucleic acids as its genetic material, and uses the same twenty amino acids as the building blocks for proteins. Also almost all of living organisms use the same genetic code to convert nucleic aci d sequences in proteins. Because the selection of these traits is somewhat arbitrary, they strongly suggest common ancestry.* fossilization is very important to understanding the history of the earth and life that once existed moreover fossilization is very rare requiring an animal to die where sediments are being deposited therefore the fossil record can only provide sparse information on the evolution of species. But fossils have been found all over the world of prehistoric organisms their age is identified by radiometric dating; which is a technique used to date materials based on a knowledge of the decay rates of naturally occurring isotopes, and the current abundances. There are many different dating methods used by geologists for example, Radiocarbon dating, this technique measures the decay of Carbon-14 in organic material (plant macrofossils).Other methods are used for dating rocks and bones. Furthermore the materialization of some traits while others fail. When evolutionary theory was first supposed only direct observations could be made and it was believed that just basic chance was the determining factor. Now we know it to be much more complex then ever imagined before with mutations occurring to DNA or RNA that usually happens when coping errors are made during cell division and can also be caused by exposure to radiation, chemical, or viruses. These changes can effect the person or person in a positive or negative way and frequently are acted upon by natural selection thou most of the time there are only minor alterations and don’t have any noticeable effect on the person. Natural selection is the main function that allows certain inheritance of some genes rather than others. Research Papers on Science, Religion or a Combination - Theology EssayGenetic EngineeringBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenQuebec and CanadaThree Concepts of PsychodynamicLifes What IfsThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationHip-Hop is ArtMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever Product

Biography of Annie Jump Cannon, Classifier of Stars

Biography of Annie Jump Cannon, Classifier of Stars Annie Jump Cannon (December 11, 1863–April 13, 1941) was an American astronomer whose work in star cataloging led to the development of modern star classification systems. Along with her groundbreaking work in astronomy, Cannon was a suffragist and activist for women’s rights. Fast Facts: Annie Jump Cannon Known For: American astronomer who created the modern star classification system and broke ground for women in astronomyBorn: December 11, 1863 in Dover, DelawareDied: April 13, 1941 in Cambridge, MassachusettsSelected Honors: Honorary doctorates from University of Groningen (1921) and Oxford University (1925), Henry Draper Medal (1931), Ellen Richards Prize (1932), National Womens Hall of Fame (1994)Notable Quote: Teaching man his relatively small sphere in the creation, it also encourages him by its lessons of the unity of Nature and shows him that his power of comprehension allies him with the great intelligence over-reaching all. Early Life Annie Jump Cannon was the eldest of three daughters born to Wilson Cannon and his wife Mary (neà ¨ Jump). Wilson Cannon was a state senator in Delaware, as well as a ship builder. It was Mary who encouraged Annie’s education from the very start, teaching her the constellations and encouraging her to pursue her interests in science and math. Throughout Annie’s childhood, mother and daughter stargazed together, using old textbooks to identify and map out the stars they could see from their own attic. Sometime during her childhood or young adulthood, Annie suffered major hearing loss, possibly due to scarlet fever. Some historians believe she was hard of hearing from childhood onward, while others suggest that she was already a young adult in her post-college years when she lost her hearing. Her hearing loss reportedly made it difficult for her to socialize, so Annie immersed herself more completely in her work. She never married, had children, or had publicly known romantic attachments. Annie attended Wilmington Conference Academy (known today as Wesley College) and excelled, particularly in math. In 1880, she began studying as Wellesley College, one of the best American colleges for women, where she studied astronomy and physics. She graduated as valedictorian in 1884, then returned home to Delaware. Teacher, Assistant, Astronomer In 1894, Annie Jump Cannon suffered a major loss when her mother Mary died. With home life in Delaware becoming more difficult, Annie wrote to her former professor at Wellesley, the physicist and astronomer Sarah Frances Whiting, to ask if she had any job openings. Whiting obliged and hired her as a junior-level physics teacher- which also enabled Annie to continue her education, taking graduate-level courses in physics, spectroscopy, and astronomy. To continue pursuing her interests, Annie needed access to a better telescope, so she enrolled at Radcliffe College, which had a special arrangement with nearby Harvard to have professors give their lectures both at Harvard and Radcliffe. Annie gained access to the Harvard Observatory, and in 1896, she was hired by its director, Edward C. Pickering, as an assistant. Pickering hired several women to assist him on his major project: completing the Henry Draper Catalogue, an extensive catalogue with the goal of mapping and defining every star in the sky (up to a photographic magnitude of 9). Funded by Anna Draper, Henry Draper’s widow, the project took up significant manpower and resources. Creating a Classification System Soon into the project, a disagreement arose over how to classify the stars they were observing. One woman on the project, Antonia Maury (who was Draper’s niece) argued for a complex system, while another colleague, Williamina Fleming (who was Pickering’s chosen supervisor) wanted a simple system. It was Annie Jump Cannon who figured out a third system as a compromise. She divided stars into the spectral classes O, B, A, F, G, K, M- a system which is still taught to astronomy students today. Annie’s first catalog of stellar spectra was published in 1901, and her career accelerated from that point on. She received a master’s degree in 1907 from Wellesley College, completing her studies from years earlier. In 1911, she became the Curator of Astronomical Photographs at Harvard, and three years later, she became an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society in the U.K. Despite these honors, Annie and her female colleagues were often criticized for working, rather than being housewives, and were often underpaid for long hours and tedious work. Regardless of criticism, Annie persisted, and her career flourished. In 1921, she was among the first women to receive an honorary doctorate from a European university when the Dutch university Groningen University awarded her an honorary degree in math and astronomy. Four years later, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Oxford – making her the first woman to receive an honorary doctorate of science from the elite university. Annie also joined the suffragist movement, advocating for women’s rights and, specifically, the extension of the right to vote; the right to vote for all women was finally won in 1928, eight years after the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. Annie’s work was noted for being incredibly rapid and accurate. At her peak, she could classify 3 stars per minute, and she classified around 350,000 over the course of her career. She also discovered 300 variable stars, five novas, and one spectroscopic binary star. In 1922, the International Astronomical Union officially adopted Cannons stellar classification system; it is still used, with only minor changes, to this day. In addition to her work on classifications, she served as a sort of ambassador within the astronomy field, helping forge partnerships among colleagues. She assumed a similar role for the astronomy field’s public-facing work: she wrote books presenting astronomy for public consumption, and she represented professional women at the 1933 World’s Fair. Retirement and Later Life Annie Jump Cannon was named the William C. Bond Astronomer at Harvard University in 1938. She remained in that position before retiring in 1940 at the age of 76. Despite being officially retired, however, Annie continued to work in the observatory. In 1935, she created the Annie J. Cannon Prize to honor women’s contributions to the field of astronomy. She continued to help women gain a foothold and gain respect in the scientific community, leading by example while also lifting up the work of fellow women in science. Annie’s work was continued by some of her colleagues. Most notably, the famous astronomer Cecilia Payne was one of Annie’s collaborators, and she used some of Annie’s data to support her groundbreaking work that determined that stars are composed primarily of hydrogen and helium. Annie Jump Cannon died on April 13, 1941. Her death came after a long illness and hospitalization. In honor of her countless contributions to astronomy, the American Astronomical Society presents an annual award named for her- the Annie Jump Cannon Award- to female astronomers whose work has been especially distinguished. Sources Des Jardins, Julie.  The Madame Curie Complex- The Hidden History of Women in Science. New York: Feminist Press, 2010.Mack, Pamela (1990).  Straying from their orbits: Women in astronomy in America. In Kass-Simon, G.; Farnes, Patricia; Nash, Deborah.  Women of Science: Righting the Record. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1990.Sobel, Dava.  The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars. Penguin: 2016.

Victim Assistance Office and Organizational Structure Assignment

Victim Assistance Office and Organizational Structure - Assignment Example In addition, the services to be offered in the office will be discussed. Other aspects to be analyzed include associate agencies necessary for the success of the office, outreach programs, and how to seek and receive funds. The office will have three posts including Prosecuting Attorney, Chief Assistant, Counselor and an Office Administrator. The Prosecuting Attorney must have a law degree from the internationally accredited university. The Prosecuting Attorney will be the overall manager of the office and will thus be in charge of the affairs of the victims. Secondly, the Chief Assistant, who is subordinate to the Prosecuting Attorney, must also have a law degree from the internationally accredited university. The Prosecuting Attorney will work in collaboration with the Chief Assistant in meeting the objectives of the office. Finally, the office administrator will be in charge of administrative duties at the office such as handling of victim records and correspondence. Counseling services will be provided by the Counselor. Associate agencies will include police departments. The police will help the office in ensuring that suspects are arrested. In addition, the police, especially the FBI, will help victims to carry out investigations. Community organizations will also help the office in ensuring that crime victims are assisted in coming up with the challenges that affect them. The victim assistance office main aim will be to provide direct assistance to individuals who have been affected by criminal activities. The counselor will ensure that the traumatized, as well as, confused victims are assisted. After counseling, the prosecuting attorney will be required to provide referrals to effective agencies that will help the victim in understanding the justice system. In the current society, there is still lack of knowledge on what should happen after crimes have been committed (Doyle, 2008). The victim assistance office will help  in creating and disseminating understandable information to crime victims.  

Customer Retention and Loyalty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Customer Retention and Loyalty - Essay Example There are the few major factors that can give a slight glimpse on the behavior of customers in relation to the services.â€Å"Imitation strategies beyond a certain point can have harmful consequences for both firms and consumers. Two occasions for potential harm to firms occur when a consumer unknowingly purchases an imitator brand. First, the consumer may be dissatisfied with the product purchased and attribute his or her dissatisfaction to the original brand, never realizing that the brand consumed was an imitator. Second, the consumer may be satisfied with the imitator brand, become aware that it is not the original brand, and switch brand preferences in favor of the imitator brand†(Berger, Foxman, Muehling 170, Vol 24: 1990).This all is clearly showing what possible outcomes may take place. It is seriously distracting to the goals of the service provider where as the customers can also be in loss as it is quite fair to say that each and every financial service provider cha rges a lot for the service, however if the company is having some good reputation than due to a variety of customers, they take good care of services and also charge relatively lesser than many of the other service providers in the industry. Another problem is the repurchase of any particular service, such as people often change their leasing service providers after they pay the entire due, rather than buying the next product through the similar service providers they start looking for new and even better ones.... This all is clearly showing what possible outcomes may take place. It is seriously distracting to the goals of the service provider where as the customers can also be in loss as it is quite fair to say that each and every financial service provider charges a lot for the service, however if the company is having some good reputation than due to a variety of customers, they take good care of services and also charge relatively lesser than many of the other service providers in the industry. Another problem is the repurchase of any particular service, such as people often change their leasing service providers after they pay the entire due, rather than buying the next product through the similar service providers they start looking for new and even better ones, which at times they get successful in, as the newly entered firms have some courage to serve the clients and they keep their promise in the beginning of their existence, however they mostly get distracted later on, and in this wa y people make repurchases from the new service providers at least for a while. So these all factors are influencing consumer behavior. "The majority of consumer purchases are potential repeat purchases. With the exception of one-time purchases, consumers buy similar products repeatedly or make repeated purchases from similar sellers. Thus, the majority of purchases represent one in a series rather than an isolated event. Understanding of any current purchase must be based on an understanding of the influence of prior purchases on later purchases. Major questions are how often and under what circumstances consumers make another purchase of a product they have tried or purchase from a

Mip for Saint Maybe Essay Example for Free

Mip for Saint Maybe Essay â€Å"Ian had stopped rasping and ran a hand along the slat’s edge, trying to gauge the curve. All his years here, he had worked with straight lines. He had deliberately stayed away from the bow-back chairs and benches that required eye judgment, personal opinion. Now he was surprised at how these two shallow U shapes satisfied his palm. (347-348) 1. Context: This passages is found towards the end of the book in chapter 10,†Recovering from the Heart-of-Palm Flu† While making a crib for his soon to be child, Ian comes across this thought. This was around the time Ian and Rita had gotten married. It show how after Ian let and tried new things in his life that made him happier. Also this made him more open-minded as a person by seeing that there are more ways than just one to do things, and not being afraid of things that are different than what he is used to. Another interpretation is that Ian has been freed from his guilt and is now allowed to experience things, get on where his life left off so long ago. This is really the resolution of the internal conflict that Ian has been going through since the climax of the book at the start. He is now guilt free and able to enjoy life. This also really effects the kids, Thomas, Agatha, and Daphne, because they felt like they had ruined his life by having to raise him, and so they still felt like they owned him. Now they can feel content know that his life is moving forward. The Bedloe’s don’t have to carry their burdens and are all able to carry on now. 2. Significance: This connects to the essential questions and themes of Saint Maybe. Theme #2,† Redemption can only be achieved through forgiveness of oneself and others,† This shows that Ian forgave himself because he changed his life for the better. Had he not forgave himself he would still be using â€Å"straight lines†, or still be the same Ian who felt guilty about causing his brother’s death being cautious not using his â€Å"personal opinion†, and not being able to have â€Å"U shapes† or happiness with his life. So, in a sense, by being able to create what he did show that he has feels redeem, by being able to move on and try new things. This Passage also answers Essential Question #2, â€Å" Does forgiveness need to be earned or should it be given? † because it show how Ian had to work so hard to achieve the â€Å"satisfaction† of being set free from his guilt, or forgiven, for what he thought he did. Had he not tried he would have never been forgiven he would still lead a life of despair and depression and die not ever getting to enjoy his life. Another that can be answered is Essential Question #4,† Under certain circumstances do individuals deserve a second chance? †Cleary Ian need a second for what had happened. Ian blamed himself at first but since he tried so hard and changed what he is used to doing just for forgiveness he is entitled to a â€Å"second chance† a chance to live again and have a good outlook on life, to grow up. 3. Literary Devices: One literary device used in this passage is tone. The tone use here is happy and uplifting. This voice the author chose, by using worse like, â€Å"satisfied† and â€Å"surprised†, tells us he is now not the same depressed person that he once was and that he is content with where his life is now. He has stop dwelling on the past and changed for the better. Another literary device is used here is foreshadowing. It foreshadows that the rest of Ian life, and all the Bedloe’s lives, will not be plague with what had happened and will live normal lives. By being able to try new things such as the â€Å"U shapes† it shows that he has moved on and is able to try new things without the fear of making a mistake. In other words he is no longer a â€Å"saint maybe† and is a new man. This passage is really is symbolism for Ian’s forgiveness and him being able to move on. The â€Å"straight lines† symbolize Ian’s life before he forgave himself not able to put his own â€Å"†¦ judgment and personal opinion† in things because he felt guilty for what he did to his brother and was afraid to do anything like it again because he was so traumatized. After he forgave himself he was able to do the â€Å"bow-back chairs and benches† because he is able to use his opinions. He is able to do so because he is now a different person, a free (forgiven) man, able to do as he pleases, not able to doubt himself anymore. So the change in his style of wood working really displays the change in his life.

Essay on China :: essays research papers

China is a geographical region in East Asia. It holds over one-fifth of the world’s population. Most of it is now known as the People’s Republic of China, but the name of the region refers to one of the world’s longest standing civilizations, which dates back almost 5,000 years. Because the length of China’s history, it has been characterized by repeated overthrowings and reestablishments of the government, and many civil wars. China was governed as an empire until 1912, when the Republic Of China, or the ROC, was established under Sun Yat-sen. China was the world’s technological leader for centuries, credited with the invention of paper, rockets, and other things. However, by the 19th and 20th centuries, China was losing political and economical power. Japan and the Western Powers were gaining influence, which eventually led to the evolution of the PRC, or the Peoples Republic of China. China has the world’s fastest growing economy, but it’s an unstable state underneath. It has the biggest rich/poor urban/rural divide, which means that the farmers are poor, and the people who have city jobs are rich. China is also hugely overpopulated, so as a population control method families can have only one child. Because of traditional honor, everybody wants male children instead of female ones so that they can carry on the family name. This has led to an imbalance between genders in China, so the government has established a program to compensate families for having female children. China has been working to reform its economy from a centrally planned economy to a market oriented economy. A centrally planned economy is where decisions about production, consumption, and allocation of goods is managed by a central power. This basically means that the government has complete control over what’s made, where it goes, how it’s made, and how it’s used.

500 Word Illustration Essay

A sense of humor can make a hard time easier to bear. It does not matter what type, from sarcasm to the everyday â€Å"knock-knock† joke, humor has always been a way that I have expressed emotion. Bad days are always going to be around, there is no way to change that, but Humor is always a way to make the saddest of people crack a smile. Laughter is a powerful path into peoples mind, and can relieve pain by forgetting and living in the moment. Pain can be caused by basically anything, death, bad grades, work, or family, but at the end of the day I am always smiling.Laughter is the best medicine has been able to cure people with mental and physical injuries. For me when I am hurt, I do not cry but laugh , maybe from shock of a physical injury, but I always feel better when laughing. When attending an event where something tragic has occurred or at a funeral, I hear laughter. I believe laughing is a way to remember and express feelings. The most unbearable thing I have ever done was say good bye to my team mate, Andy. Having died at the age of thirteen, it was a horrible experience to go through. My defense was humor, and being my sarcastic self relieved the pain and was the only option for me.I remember sitting at the wake feeling extremely uncomfortable, but just laughing with a friend on mine because if we weren’t laughing the pain and shock would tear at us. Math class was unbearable for me. Trying to find the the length of the arc of a circle, at ten in the morning was never fun. Usually my daily nap occurred during that forty minute period, but the constant jokes and comments kept me awake. I began to actually like the class, only because the inside jokes the class had without my teachers knowledged. Obviously Pain is unavoidable, and even though I am young, I have lived through my fair share of pain.I have seen death, and sorrow, but I always moved on with life. Pain never leaves but can be covered by happiness, which laughter creates, and wh ich is very contagious. Living or even being around happy people always makes me smile. A joke is told and laughter explodes. Laughter makes me feel better, because it can make me feel alive, living in that moment and helping me forget the troubles. Laughter can truly cure anything. It helps me forget the pain and live my life. Making a bad situation into a bearable time is always good, Laughter is the key to move on, to smile and to be happy. If there was no humor, how would people react?

Nordstrom Case Study

Customer Service at Nordstrom and Potential Conflicts Case Study Vanessa E. Rivera Saint Leo University Customer Service at Nordstrom and Potential Conflicts Case Study With 50,000 employees and 170 stores throughout the United States Nordstrom is a major player in the luxury goods department. Founded originally as a shoe store by John W. Nordstrom and Carl Wallin, Nordstrom became the largest independent shoe chain in the United States. By 1960, Nordstrom decided to enter the clothing arena by purchasing Best Apparel, and continued to expand it markets through the acquisition of other luxury goods. Nordstrom’s continued growth and success stem from their business philosophy based on â€Å"exceptional service, selection, quality and value† (About Nordstrom, 2011). Today Nordstrom â€Å"has grown from one downtown Seattle shoe store into a nationwide fashion specialty chain with renowned services, generous size ranges and a selection of the finest apparel, shoes, and accessories for the entire family† (About Nordstrom, 2011). For over 100 years, the focus continues to be the same; catering to customer needs, individually. Nordstrom’s business philosophy could not be achieved without its exceptional employees. Nordstrom has an excellent record in the advancement of women and minorities. In their commitment to diversity they â€Å"cultivate an environment where the contributions of every employee, customer and vendor  are respected† (Nordstrom Cares, 2011). Their focus on caring for their people even goes to creating a wellness program. The wellness program designed to help employees focus on better eating, better living, and a better sense of balance. Their wellness program provides support through on-site health screening, coaching, and online resources. Nordstrom employees  are treated  as a part of a family. It is no wonder why Nordstrom continues to be voted Forbes 100 Best Companies to work for. Their empowering of the employees is what stimulates the excellent customer service they provide. Their reverted pyramid is a representation of their philosophy and structure. At the top, of the pyramid are their customers, followed by sales and support people. In the middle are the department managers followed by the merchandising group, store managers, and regional managers. At the bottom, of the pyramid is where you will find the executive team and board of directors (Nordstrom Our Structure, 2011). Nordstrom’s  outstanding  efforts have helped steer this luxury retailer from the economic problems in 2008 and 2009. The 2010 annual report card shows an increase in net sales, earnings before income and taxes, net earnings, earning per basic share, earning per diluted share, and cash dividend paid per share. To be specific, net sales for 2010 have increased by 12. 7% from last year and net earnings have increased by 39%. Nordstrom came out of the Great Depression and will continue to come out of the many financial crises they encounter because of their approach to dealing with customers. The implications of their philosophies can be seen in their annual report. In times of recession were customers choose to spend their money wisely, they choose to spend it in a place were their experience  is maximized. â€Å"Nordstrom knows  it’s  not the price but the customer service that gains and retains loyal customers that generate strong profits† (Nelson & Quick, 2011). Conflict is â€Å"any situation in which incompatible goals, attitudes, emotions, or behaviors lead to disagreement op opposition for two or more parties† (Nelson & Quick, 2011). Dealing with dissatisfied customers can be a great source of conflict for retailers. Conflict can be considered as â€Å" a breakdown in the standard mechanism of decision making, so that an individual or group experiences difficulty in selecting an alternative† (Rahim, 2000). Given Nordstrom’s approach to customer service and customer relationships the â€Å"breakdown† causing difficulties does not occur. They diffuse conflict situations by choosing to take the blame or burden of proof away from the customer. Their ability to deliver happy customers has led them to continue for over 100 years through the various ups and downs of the economy. One of the major problems affecting Retailers with their success is customer satisfaction. Retailers know that satisfied customers are loyal customers† (Ahmad, 2009). Nordstrom’s approach to customer service and customer relationship management  is intended  to build relationships that result in customers returning to make more purchases. Nordstrom seeks to enhance customer relationships by carrying the right products that satisfy client needs, their presentation of goods generate interest in their clients, and their ability to provide extraordinary customer service been proven to be appropriate with the release of their 2010 annual report. Customers are the most important assets of a company, therefore, the â€Å"competitive leadership goes to those companies that are customer-oriented. Customers are increasingly demanding unique, individualized buying experiences that enhance existing relationships as well as provide fresh, exciting sources of value† (Ross, 2008). Customers today perceive value arising from their experience they receive to be greater than the actual goods they acquire. Nordstrom’s approach to customer service and customer relationship management allows Nordstrom to continue to be a competitive giant in the retailer industry. One way of classifying styles of conflict management styles is to examine the styles’ assertiveness (the extent to which you want your goals met) and the cooperativeness (the extent to which you want to see the other party’s concern met)† (Nelson & Quick, 2011). Nordstrom’s management culture states, â€Å" healthy competition is good† (Nordstrom Cares, 2011). Competing is a style that is assertive in nature and usually uncooperative. This is not the case with Nordstrom. Management encourages winning through a team environment. Competition in small doses is stimulating; competition encourages people to go above and beyond to meet their goals. The key to Nordstrom competing style is that they do not achieve their goals at the expense of others. They recognize outstanding performance but value kindness above all. â€Å"We still believe the golden rule has a lot of merit: Treat others as  you’d  like to be treated. We work hard to offer great service to each and every customer and we believe great service begins with courtesy to everyone, customers and coworkers alike† (Nordstrom Cares, 2011). Their style also reflects collaboration. Nordstrom works towards collaboration arriving at a solution that is satisfactory to both their customers and employees. Their focus is providing customers with the best possible service. They meet client needs and while doing so accomplish their desire of excellent customer service. It is a win-win style for the organization and the client. Nordstrom also approaches customer relationship management through compromising. In a compromising style, both parties are equally powerful. A compromising style  is used  Ã¢â‚¬Å" for avoiding protracted conflict† (Rahim, 2000).

Marketing strategies of BMW and Mercedes-Benz Essays

Marketing strategies of BMW and Mercedes-Benz Essays Marketing strategies of BMW and Mercedes-Benz Paper Marketing strategies of BMW and Mercedes-Benz Paper These people have high incomes, and have usually completed higher education. The family life cycle that the brands market themselves to differs, depending on the particular model of the car. (See above. ) 3- Psychographic Segmentation: BMW markets itself to the upper middle, as well as both the lower and upper upper class. Mercedes-Benz markets itself mostly to the upper class. 4- Behavioural Segmentation: People usually buy cars on special, as opposed to regular, occasions. The buyers of BMWs and Mercedes expect extremely high quality and service. MARKET POSITIONING. BMW and Mercedes both put much effort into making sure that their respective products leave enthusiastic impressions in the hearts and minds of their customers. They both developed slogans that they hoped would stick in customers minds; Mercedes-Benz is known for its quality engineering, while BMW markets itself as the ultimate driving machine. BMW and Mercedes-Benz also have to differentiate themselves from each other in order to draw customers to their respective brands. One example of how Mercedes tried to do this was when it developed the CLS model. 1This model was positioned against the BMW 645Ci,2 while at the same time being positioned between the E- and S-Class sedans. The CLS was close enough in price to the BMW 645Ci so as to appeal to the same group of consumers, so in this way, Mercedes-Benz was directly challenging one of their major competitors. When tested by drivers, some concluded that the 645Ci was a better drive, but the CLS was more comfortable. From this, it is clear that Mercedes-Benz succeeded in positioning itself in customers minds as separate from BMW. MARKETING MIX Product Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz offer customers a wide range of products. Mercedes-Benz has twelve separate classes 3 of automobiles just within the passenger car sector. BMW, meanwhile, has nine series. 4 The way in which both brands try to differentiate themselves from each other is evident even in the dissimilar names they have given their line of products. Price Mercedes-Benz does not place much emphasis on keeping prices down. Indeed consumers expect both Mercedes-Benz and BMW, being in the luxury automobile market, to be priced higher than the average car. Therefore, Mercedes has to concentrate more on how its prices compare with its competitors rather than on how high its prices are in absolute terms. BMW, as part of its premium brand strategy, (see Promotion) wants to maximize its revenues per vehicle; they think that their strong brand recognition and the excellent quality of their products will help them achieve this goal. This means that they do not focus their efforts on keeping prices down; instead they want to sell exactly the right number of well-produced cars so as to attain a targeted profit. 5 Both Mercedes-Benz and BMW have relatively low price elasticity. This is because the consumer who can afford to buy the car in the first place will most likely not be deterred from making the purchase simply because the price went up by a few thousand dollars. However, since BMW markets itself to the upper-middle class, which is more price conscious than the upper class that Mercedes-Benz focuses on, it has higher price elasticity. People in the upper-middle class might change their minds about the purchase of a car if the price went up by a few thousand dollars. Promotion BMW promotes itself using a highly selective strategy. It has chosen certain segments in the automobile market, and it does not involve itself in the mass market, otherwise known as the volume segments of the automobile market. BMW calls this selectivity premium brand strategy. This means that BMW does not promote itself to all segments of car buyers; instead, it concentrates on targeting those consumers who it thinks will be interested in automobiles from their specifically chosen markets. Mercedes-Benz promotes itself as the worlds leading luxury brand. Within its target market of upper class middle-aged people, it is not as selective about who exactly to promote itself to as BMW is. It wants to attract and keep as many customers as it can. It promotes itself as innovating products rather than simply designing new versions of the same old product. For example, in promoting the Compact Sports Tourer, Mercedes-Benz said it: is the astounding response to a new zest for life: athletic, distinctive and versatile. For people who wish to live out their individuality. 6 It is promoting itself as a company that makes cars for people who are not afraid to stand out from the crowd; in much the same way, Mercedes- Benz Brand wants to stand out among its competitors. Place Most sales for both BMW and Mercedes-Benz take place at car dealerships. However, oftentimes consumers research the vehicles on the Internet before coming to the dealership, so the companies websites are also an important place where they can connect with consumers. It is therefore in the best interests of both brands to foster a strong presence online. To this end, Mercedes-Benz worked with iProspect, a search engine marketing firm, in order to increase its websites visibility within the major search engines. 7 Recommendations for futures strategies Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz want to build up a good relationship with female buyers, car buyers especially, and then the overall objective is to keep these buyers buying their products. Female buyers may feel nervous or even scared when going to look far a new car, especially if they are alone and do not have much knowledge or any confidence in their knowledge about cars, and with this nervousness they probably will be approached by an aggressive salesman, who may feel has got an easy target to sell a car to that they may not necessarily want or need, the salesman would just be trying to get a sale and get their commission. This may mean that many potential female customers to these two companys may feel overwhelmed and put off going to the dealer, which may result in a loss of a customer. Female buyers may feel a lot more comfortable when approached by a female sales representative at the dealership. BMW and Mercedes-Benz may want to look into employing more female sales representatives, especially in areas where they feel or know there are numerous prospective female buyers of their products. After sales customer service is a major area in which a customer will buy or re-buy their products. If for whatever reason, the customer, is not completely satisfied with the service they have received or they feel or have heard by word of mouth that they can get better service from another company, they may buy from that company, even if they feel the car is not as good as one from BMW or Mercedes-Benz. In a survey carried out by the BBC television show Topgear, where the general public with cars no older than three years where asked to write in or vote for how satisfied they where with the after sales service from the dealer and overall reliability of their car. In this vote there were a total of a hundred and forty two different cars included written in about or voted for. From these 142 cars the Mercedes-Benz M-Class was voted one of the most unreliable cars, and was also one of the cars that would be least recommended to someone else, or bought again. Also, from this list of 142 cars there were a total of six Mercedes-Benz models in the bottom third of the list, showing a general dissatisfaction of the service received after the initial sale of the car, and more worryingly for Mercedes-Benz none of their models made the top ten of the list. Even though none of BMWs models made the top ten list for the overall after sales service, BMW did have two cars in the buy again top ten with the BMW Z3 and 5-Series. The rest of BMWs models may not have made any other of the top ten lists; none of their models made the bottom ten lists, therefore according to the survey, the general public prefer the service offered by BMW than Mercedes-Benz. Although both companies may provide a friendly, professional looking service, they may want to look at the structure of their service, as the consumer that have purchased their products clearly are not greatly satisfied with the service they have received, according to the survey carried out by Topgear, shown on the next page. One reason why the Mercedes-Benz range of cars and especially the M-Class may have done so badly in the Topgear survey is because the consumers who purchased these cars are likely to have had experiences with other companies and there dealers and may have thought that Mercedes being classed as a luxury brand expected more than the other brands offer, which may have not been the case and therefore, the customers may feel that even though they spent more money on the car, they did not receive a better service, and may have been disappointed by this. 2004 Top Gear Survey the Last 10 (Ranking: Model Score out of 100) 133: Fiat Stilo 73. 7 134: Renault Megane 73. 6 135: Citroen Xsara 73. 5 136: Peugeot 206 73. 5 137: Citroen Saxo 73. 4 138: Fiat Bravo 70. 7 139: Renault Espace 70. 6 140: Renault Laguna 70. 3 141: Peugeot 307 69. 8 142: Mercedes M-Class 69. 8 The 10 most unreliable cars There were 142 cars listed in the final survey, of which the following 10 were ranked as the most unreliable. Citroen C3 (133rd) VW Polo (New) (134th) Citroen Xsara (135th) Citroen C5 (136th) Fiat Stilo (137th) Renault Megane (New) (138th) Mercedes M-Class (139th) Peugeot 307 (140th) Renault Laguna (141st) Renault Espace (142nd) Would you buy this car again? Top 10 who said Yes, Id buy this car again! Jaguar XJ (100%) Honda S2000 (99%) Subaru Forester (99%) Honda Jazz (98%) Skoda Fabia (98%) Skoda Octavia (97%) Seat Toledo (97%) Honda CR-V (96%) BMW 5-Series (96%) BMW Z3 (96%) Taken from www. bbc. co. uk/topgear website under the car survey link Another area which both companies may want to look is the cost of maintaining their cars. Many customers that can afford to buy a BMW or Mercedes-Benz, be it brand new or second hand, may not necessarily be able to afford to maintain the car. The labour charge that is incurred by both these companies is around the i 90 per hour, which is about three times more than if you were to go to a private mechanic. The labour charge does not include parts which are added on top. Some parts have to be specially ordered from Germany as authorised dealers do not carry all the parts, this means that the customer will have to wait until the part is shipped over to have their vehicle repaired. Therefore both companies may want to look at maybe reducing their labour charges, as this may attract less wealthy customers to the range. In the Topgear survey (shown above), the Mercedes-Benz M-class may have done so poorly in the reliability section because it did not have a proper target audience, it was not targeted at the wealthy customers nor the poorer customers, and therefore the wealthier customer may have expected more from the car than it delivered, and the poorer customers may not have been able to afford to maintain the car as Mercedes-Benz cars ought to be maintained. The two companies should also look into carrying all the parts, even if its one or two of the less popular parts that are required, this would mean that customers would have their vehicles repaired back to them sooner. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1- onemotoring. com 23/11/04 2- autointell. net 22/11/04 3- mbusa. com 19/11/04 4- bmwusa. com 18/11/04 5- irishtrucker. com 23/11/04 6- criticalmass. com 23/11/04 7- bmw. com 18/11/04 8- unb. ca 17/11/04 9- johnkay. com 19/11/04 10- bmw. com 17/11/04 11- iprospect. com 22/11/04 12- mercedes-benz. com 18/11/04 13- mercedes-benz. com 18/11/04 14- bmw. com 22/11/04 15- bbc. co. uk/topgear 22/11/04 16- whatcar. com 22/11/04 1 onemotoring. com 2 bmw. com 3 mercedes-benz. com 4 bmw. com 5 unb. ca 6 mercedes-benz. com 7 iprospect. com.

How to Spell Pendulum

How to Spell Pendulum How to Spell Pendulum How to Spell Pendulum By Maeve Maddox A Facebook comment alerted me to a misspelling of the word pendulum that I’d never seen before. Once I began looking, I found thousands of examples. I wasn’t too surprised to find the word misspelled in social media, but it did seem strange to see pendulum spelled â€Å"pentulum† on sites selling clocks. Here are a few examples of this misspelling of pendulum: The pentulum swings. Public opinion will out in the end. (Facebook) In some countries, [the] political pentulum can swing wildly between opposite extremes. (political blog) I plan to start researching ideas to re-enter [the market] when the pentulum swings back to oversold. (stockmarket site) The one-day weight-driven movement has brass and steel gears that swing the pentulum. (clock merchant’s site) Pendulum is from the Latin adjective pendulus, â€Å"hanging down.† Literally, a pendulum is a weighted rod, cord, or wire suspended from a fixed point. The word is most closely associated with the pendulum that regulates the movement of a clock. Figuratively, a pendulum is anything that swings back and forth from one extreme to another. For example, one may speak of â€Å"the pendulum of public opinion† or â€Å"the pendulum of fashion.† English has several â€Å"pend words† that derive from the idea of hanging down or hanging from. See Hanging Words. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:10 Rules for Writing Numbers and NumeralsTime Words: Era, Epoch, and EonA Yes-and-No Answer About Hyphenating Phrases

AP American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

AP American History - Essay Example The emphasis on the candidate’s winnability loses the significance of the party because choice of candidate is no longer based on the party either by nomination or by vote of the electorate. In a candidate-centered politics, political parties lost their power because it is being transferred to the candidate. b. Primary elections   Primary election is the process by which political parties chose their candidates. In this process, politicking and horse trade occurs and the end result does not necessarily give the best candidate possible but rather who does the politicking and horse trading best. The result would be a disappointing candidate that voters no longer rely on party nominations to provide them the best possible candidate. Thus, political parties lost their credibility in the eyes of their voters thereby eroding their power because voters are the source of any political party’s power without which, political parties becomes insignificant. c. Interest group and media influence over politics Lobby groups pose a strong influence not only in terms of the policy created in the Executive and laws passed in Congress but also among party members that could influence the selection of a candidate of a party. Interest groups that has significant base in terms of voters and/or resources hold sway on the candidates that will be running as well as the programs that they will carry making sure that it will reflect their interest. Media at this day and age has a huge influence over its audience and these audiences are also voters. This can be either good or bad for a politician. It can be good if the media portrayal is positive and it can also be bad if the reputation of the politician is smeared in the media and both can affect the result of election. Having this influence over the voters, parties are considering candidates who are more â€Å"media friendly† or have more media mileage over program of government or integrity and thus, deteriorates the kind of politician who are running to the dismay of thinking voters. Thus, political parties their power as their party criteria, programs and platform is no longer important in the choice of candidate but rather base it on the popularity of a candidate. Fareed Zakaria, CNN host and political analyst elaborated â€Å"recent technological and organizational changes have accelerated the shift, making it easier for outsiders to raise funds, get access to free media and establish direct connections with voters† This in effect weakens the power base of political parties that instead of candidates adapting and to party platforms and programs, it is now political parties who has to align themselves to the candidate effectively abdicating its power. d. Campaign financing   One of the realities in election is the high cost of running a campaign. No matter how qualified or experienced or honest a candidate is, but if he or his party does not have the necessary resources to mount a campaign, he or she will not have a chance of winning. Most candidates however do not have enough money to finance an election campaign because it is very expensive. Their parties in turn solicits and accepts campaign financing and this is when financiers comes in to influence the candidate that will be running and the program of government that they will be adopting. It is important to note that most significant campaign contributors do put money in a