Monday, September 30, 2019

Jazz: Urban and Rural Reactions In the 1920s Essay

Subject Area: Music and American CultureTopic: Jazz: Urban and Rural Reactions in the 1920sIn parallel with the uproar of jazz during the 1920s came the commotion of different critics from various geographical settings. Many of the white people living in rural areas disliked and rejected jazz as a musical genre. However, the urban city-dwellers were more fond of it; therefore, it was more generally accepted and frequently found in city nightclubs and radio stations. Several characteristics of cities also allowed jazz to survive in urban areas over the rural ones, such as: diversity, tolerance, a more progressive attitude, technology (media, radio), more entertainment locations, and a more educated populace. Cities were known for the more relaxed and less-religious atmosphere; in contrast with cities, the rural setting was dominated by a more religious and conservative mood with a homogenous population that was more opposed to the cultural liberalism found in the cities, jazz, and the black society in general. Unlike the rural areas of the time, the socio-cultural dynamic of urban areas, with respect to tolerance, diversity, education, nightlife, and the media, allowed jazz to thrive and become a huge part of American culture. The formation of jazz occurred between the years 1897 and 1917. When jazz bands started playing, they had no way of recording their music until 1917; and even then, the quality of these recordings were atrocious. Another aspect of early jazz was that anything that was played was ever written. Jazz evolved from the blues, ragtime, brass band music, and other musical works that were all around the United States. â€Å"One important factor that existed only in New Orleans, namely, the black Creole subculture† allowed jazz to emanate from the mentioned city (Weinstock). Another aspect of New Orleans that allowed jazz to thrive in this city was the medley of â€Å"ethnic, cultural, and musical conditions [†¦] [and] the necessary philosophical impetus for [j]azz i.e., [†¦] freedom of individual expression supported by group interaction† (Weinstock). This implies that New Orleans was one of the cities, and most likely one of the first, that hosted the new counter-culture that would soon spread throughout the United States. â€Å"The preeminence of New Orleans as a Jazz center came to an end in 1917 during World War I as a result of still another ordinance when Storyville [(an area of New Orleans that was full of dance halls and bordellos where Jazz was the  dominant music)] was closed by the Navy Department† (Weinstock). As a whole, the United States embraced jazz, but there were still many groups of people who disliked jazz and all that it represented. These close minded people, especially those in small-town America, were afraid of the fast changes that were occurring in society and that jazz was the â€Å"cause of [the] loosening [of] morals and frightening dislocations† (Roaring 1). The New York American published an article expressing the views of many conservative, white Americans who thought that â€Å"moral disaster [was] coming to hundreds of young American girls through the pathological, nerve-irritating, sex-exciting music of jazz†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Roaring 2). White audiences in the southern part of the States were ruthless towards black people and their music. The north appeared to be more tolerant, but there were still many confrontations between blacks and whites. Jazz was a part of modernism which helped pave the way for liberals who felt pinned down by the older conservative generations. It also served as a medium for white musicians searching to liberate themselves from the conservative constraints of their time. One can see that the northern part of the states, where cities were mostly located, accepted jazz more easily and quicker. The predominance of racism and general intolerance towards the black culture was another aspect of rural areas that did not allow jazz to thrive. Since jazz was also rejected because of its African American origins, and not only because of the supposed moral decay that it provoked in the youth of America, racism also tied into the calumniation of jazz. This also affected the conservative populace of the suburbs who were afraid their young girls were mesmerized by the â€Å"black music.† Jazz was so closely tied with to African American culture that it was often referred to as being â€Å"the accompaniment of the voodoo dancer† (Roaring 2). By referring to jazz in this manner, critics were trying to degrade and undermine everything that it meant to the black community. They were also trying to lure white Americans into their train of thought and trying to get them agree with their mind mapping accusations. â€Å"Many [†¦] Americans were appalled to see their children dancing to music that was believed to have emerged from [†¦] [the] Negro brothels of the south†(Roaring 2). In addition, a plethora of jazz critics  became famous for voicing their dislike of jazz. But in fact, they hid behind their critiques of jazz in order to express, not the dislike of the music, â€Å"but the social and political dislike of the black population† (Anderson 135). The problem that worried white conservatives the most was interbreeding between black and white young people who were really into jazz mainly because it belonged to the new counter-culture. Jazz served as the highway that joined blacks and whites. Whites were not only racists towards blacks emotionally, but their prejudice expanded to influencing their physical behavior as well. Many times did the racist, anti-jazz white population try to sully jazz to something much dirtier than it truly was. Since jazz came from the black population, who were once slaves, jazz was not socially accepted as a real musical genre. It often occurred that jazz musicians were characterized as viruses that tried to infect the general population through their music. Jazz was labeled Mumbo-Jumbo (meaning non-sense) by many critics, and by this discounting jazz as any kind of music where talent is needed. It seemed like the white trend was being against jazz and it’s black producer. According to an article in the September 1918 issue of the Current Opinion: â€Å"One touch of [j]azz makes savages of us all† (Anderson 138). The goal of white critics was to undermine black music and culture. Hate towards jazz and jazz musicians in general came to such extremes as to where they were threatened through magazine articles. These articles suggested lynching, kidnappings, and murders, among others, to scare the black population. Even though that by the 1920s and early 1930s jazz had gained an international reputation and was already part of the American culture, the â€Å"racial innuendoes in articles on jazz continued† (Anderson 141). The white population continuously tried to limit jazz’s growth, by letting the jazz musicians know that their music was not welcome through critical and controversial magazine and newspaper articles. The main goal of the critics who published articles dehumanizing blacks and bashing jazz was to disenfranchise the jazz industry and to label blacks as savages who wanted to recruit more and more people to their music. â€Å"[M]usic soothes the savage beast, but we never stopped to consider that an entirely  different type of music might invoke savage instincts†(Anderson 141-42). With this, Anderson is trying to imply that blacks are savages and those who listen to jazz will turn into savages as well. By the latter part of 1924, jazz had gained many white musicians and had also grown in popularity among the white crowd. The white population came to believe that notion that â€Å"[†¦] when white people play jazz, it is jazz music, but when black people play jazz, it is jungle noise† (Anderson 144). So, in order to accept this, many critics came to the conclusion that white and black jazz were different and that white jazz was pleasing while black jazz tried to make music but only succeeded in producing noise. Critics played a huge role in dehumanizing jazz and the black population. During the late 1920s to early 1930s, Jazz became so big that it came to shape and represent the new American culture of the cities and the people of this time. â€Å"Jazz music [†¦] became a symbol for all the modern innovations that traditionalists despised[:] the new leisure, city life, Freud, and other elements of the 1920s cultural modernism†(Peretti 2). Peretti is implying that jazz became a huge part of America in a way that it helped shape the culture to what it is today. In fact, it became such a big influence, that during the 1930s white jazz musicians tried to get all the credit for jazz and succeeded in many places. Audiences would consider many white performers (i.e. Benny Goodman) symbolic to jazz. However, in big cities like Chicago, blacks were credited with the invention of jazz and their seemed to be more cooperation between black and white musicians. Chicago was one of the main destinations for black musicians who moved from rural to urban areas of the country in order to play and promote their music. It is speculated that white musicians only exploited jazz because of the commercial gain and the huge public attention that it had. It is also believed by some that they played the music in parody: in order to mock the black musicians and jazz. In many places, whites tried to take all the spotlight for inventing jazz while whites in other locations stepped out and let the black culture shine. The big cities of America were famous for their animated and wide ranging nightlife that allowed jazz to be heard by a manifold of people. Many clubs  around the states opened their doors to jazz and jazz musicians from various ethnicities, though mainly white and black. Jazz nightlife reached its peak in Harlem, New York during the 1920s. This era was also known as the Harlem Renaissance. During this time one of the most eminent clubs in that area was the Cotton Club. The elite would frequently congregate at this location which was famous for having alcohol, during the age of prohibition, and because of its jazz. Although jazz and black jazz musicians were welcomed and most of the time the protagonists on the stage, they were not allowed to be part of the regular crowd or mingle with the white throng; admission to the Cotton Club was strictly limited to whites. This was an example of how the white population discriminated the black people but embraced their music and part of their culture. American cities, like New Orleans, New York, and Chicago, were the birthplaces of jazz and allowed jazz to spread throughout the other states. Another northern city that was also affected by the ‘big bang’ of jazz music and its culture was Chicago. This was also a scene where prohibition loomed and nightclubs defied it. Big jazz bands were many times features in lavish shows put on in cabarets. Many Chicago residents turned to these destinations in search of a fun night. For many city-dwellers, joining the jazz scene was a way of protesting against prohibition. â€Å"Biting and incisive, jazz personified this protest, this direct, raw approach to life, which offended the â€Å"solid† citizen and was looked upon as sinful by puppeteers and preachers and as cheap and tawdry by small-minded classicists†(Dexter 34). Chicago was not only the scene of protest against prohibition, but also the place where many young musicians moved to with a goal to start and succeed at their own musical careers. Many prospered, but many more did not; Chicago became such a hotbed for jazz, that there were too many musicians trying to spread their sounds. One of the places where musicians could go to listen and talk to other musicians was the Three Deuces (later known as the Off-Beat Club). It was a â€Å"convenient and cheap place to meet and jam between jobs†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Dexter 38). When jazz was on the verge of expansion, numerous small clubs appeared in many cities were jazz musicians could congregate and listen to different songs and interpretations. The invention of the â€Å"talkie†, an early form of the jukebox, had a great impact on the spread of jazz. At first, many musicians had no idea how the talkie could revolutionize the music scene. At this time, the only way to listen to music was to presence it live. The talkie allowed for a raunchy reproduction of several tunes, which became the perfect tool for the spread of the popularity of jazz. These talkies were soon spotted and nightclubs, diners, bars, and other locations, for their customers to listen to jazz (or any form of music) freely. The talkie sparked a new interest for jazz, which later led to the dispersion of many musicians from Chicago who moved on to accept jobs in other cities (especially New York). The invention of the talkie gave people from all around the country access to jazz anytime they pleased. Jazz owes all its fame, glory, and expansion to the great cities of the 1920’s America. Full of diverse people, vast places for entertainment, the radio and a more educated populace that yielded more tolerance to new ideas and forms of expression, cities opened their doors to jazz and all that this new music represented. They were responsible in allowing for the formation of jazz to what it is today; embedded in the American culture, jazz has become the only true American form of music. Though often challenged by close-mindedness, jazz managed to prosper. Jazz has not only maintained its original form through the interpretation of some talented musicians but it has also evolved to influence the popular music of today. Works Cited Anderson, Maureen. â€Å"White Reception of Jazz in America.† African American Review. 8.1 135-145 (Spring 2004). Dexter Jr., Dave. The Jazz Story: from the ’90s to the ’60s. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1964. Peretti, Burton W. Jazz in American Culture. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 1997. Peretti, Burton W. The Creation of Jazz: Music, Race, and Culture in Urban America. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1992. â€Å"Roaring Twenties – History in the Key of Jazz.† PBS – Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns. 7 September 2004. Weinstock, Len. â€Å"The Origins of Jazz.† The Red Hot Jazz Archive. 29 January 2005.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Eric Peterson and Jenkins Case

Eric Peterson & Jenkins Case Management of Organizations How was Jenkins’ view of the situation different from Erik’s and why? Jenkins believes that the struggling Biometra is having in the product launch derives from a combination of factors whose responsibilities are shared among SciMat top Management (including Jenkins) and Peterson himself as the general manager of the company. We can summarize them in three main points: * Lack of support from SciMat management Peterson weak management and leadership of the launch * Peterson inappropriate personal decisions Jenkins view of Biometra problems differs from Peterson one because he considers also the responsibilities of the latter. A part some inappropriate decisions took by the general manager related with Biometra salaries attribution, Jenkins criticizes Peterson for his low level of enterprisingness and enthusiasm which results in a weak management of the launch.Their views are very different because of the experience and the position of Jenkins which allows him to have a well rounded understanding of the situation being some time even auto critical. Peterson instead seems to be affected by self-serving bias attributing all the responsibilities to external factors (i. e. Andrews Curtis incompetence †¦ ). What is the main problem at Biometra and what should Jenkins have done differently? The main problems at BioMetra are: 1. Lack of competencies 2. Low SciMat commitment and support in the launch activities 3. Similar essay: My Problem With Her Anger CritiqueBureaucratic and slow moving times culture (1) The launch is within a new industry and the risk, although the excellent business idea, is very high. Jenkins had to assure proper competences within the start up hiring people with experience in the field. Otherwise he could have asked support to external consultants as an interim solution. (2) The weak relation between SciMat management and Biometra is another big cause of launch problems. It seems that senior management is not directly committed with the launch even is a key target for the company new strategy.To mitigate this Jenkins could have aligned the management system of incentives to have a overall better commitment and secondly he could have legitimated Peterson position in a better way at the beginning of his mandate with an official nomination. (3) SciMat culture is far from being dynamic and aggressive as it should be for a company willing to enter a new market. To been able to change it Jenkins should start from Biometra which represents the future for SciMat, spending more time working side by side with the management to spread his enthusiasm and hiring assertive people like Samantha.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Implementation of the Marketing Strategy Research Paper

Implementation of the Marketing Strategy - Research Paper Example The researcher of this essay aims to analyze the Implementation of the Marketing Strategy. This essay demonstrates that the second thing that will be key in the implementation will be visiting bars near campuses to promote the beer brands. This will require the participation of the marketing team, sales team and the suppliers in the areas selected.The online marketing will begin in March 2015 and will be carried out throughout by means of the social media platforms. Also, it is interesting that since there are minimal costs associated with the platforms, the plan will last for the whole year but will be updated, regularly, so that the right content is displayed. And it is clear, that the campus promotions, on the other hand, will take place during the school going seasons.This paper makes a final conclusion that to be able to engage the potential consumers and buyers, online interaction and sharing of ideas between the company and the users of its profiles will be facilitated. The ma rketing team will respond to the questions, thoughts, and issues raised by the consumers in the various channels used (Barker, ‎Barker & ‎Bormann, 2012). It will also entail tracking and be monitoring the reaction of the fans and followers and adjusting the products and sales as per the needs of the market. All in all, the author of this paper underlines that the implementation of the marketing plan is truly the most important aspect and Hop Valley Brewing Company will publish content on the various social media platforms.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Reading questions on environmental law article Essay

Reading questions on environmental law article - Essay Example People thought the animal would be made extinct unless the hunt was regulated. Many proponents of the idea of banning the whale hunt point out that the when the hunt was unregulated, several species of whales were made extinct by over-hunting. They say that we have forever lost a number of animals that were unique in their biodiversity. They point out the same thing would happen if the hunt was made legal in certain areas again. However, the damage done to whale stocks occurred almost entirely before the advent of the International Whaling Commission. That is to say, that whale stocks were depleted in the days before there was any real regulation whatsoever and that the current system is quite sustainable. Also very few of the species that animal-rights activists claim are endangered actually are. The numbers are very unclear. Few people no the real dimensions of the whale population today. There is no clear-cut evidence that a regulated return to the whale hunt by countries that currently ban it would have a devastating impact on whale stocks. And without thi s evidence it is hard to suggest that continuing the whale hunt would be a negative thing. Many of the other arguments made by whaling conservationists are similarly flimsy. While few would argue that the methods for hunting are especially humane—for example the use of the exploding harpoon is a bit cruel—these things can easily be improved and suffering can be reduced. Just as in Canada, Canadian sealers must use more humane methods, so can whalers stop exploding whales and instead start killing them more humanely. No one is arguing for a completely unregulated hunt—that is a red herring. The animal rights activists have created a false dichotomy. It is part of rhetoric trick on their part when they argue that to hunt whales means to have no rules whatsoever. A properly regulated hunt can reduce the suffering of whales and bring rogue, illegal hunters (who are inclined to use cruel

Thursday, September 26, 2019

The brand has become the critical source of competitive advantage for Essay

The brand has become the critical source of competitive advantage for many hospitality organisations. Critically evaluate the importance of Human Resource Stra - Essay Example However, to create time for hospitality management to focus on the customer experience, means executives must free themselves from running the less-value added parts of the core business. This is often becoming difficult to achieve because of the volume of issues hospitality companies deal with today: The total guest experience is often more than a particular lodging or food service organization. For instance, customers may want to find other points of interest near their current lodging or dining location. By definition, a brand is a promise made by a company to its customers. This promise is a bundle of goods that includes the product, its related services and intangible elements such image. Essentially, the brand promise reassures the customers in the purchasing process: they know what it is they are buying and they know what they will get. In the hotel business, this notion is very important. When traveling, a customer will seek to eliminate as many unknowns from the process as possible. In planning the trip, the choice of the hotel becomes a key decision. Knowing beforehand where you are going and what you will be experiencing once you are there, substantially reduces stress. Therefore, a well recognized and defined brand stands to gain a substantial share of the traveler market compared to a local, unknown brand. Furthermore, the known brand can sustain a competitive advantage having attracted the traveler the first time around. If the brand met the customers expectation, there is little incentive to change the next time. So the notion of the hotel brand plays an important role in attracting customers and retaining loyalty. Branding begins with principles. And the brand experience is shaped by every action of every associate. Take the lead and help determine the guiding values that inform and shape every decision which impacts those associate actions.( Rick Hendrie, 2005) Though the hospitality industry maintains the brand,

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Common problems in bulidings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Common problems in bulidings - Essay Example These are problems experienced by modern construction as well and building managers aim to provide solutions to them. With more research into the building sector, several solutions have been found that could help in mitigating these problems. Even then, they are still a subject of concern among many. Cracking refers to the disintegration of particles from each other resulting in a line of weakness in the walls and is because of unequal application of force to the particles often in opposite directions. This problem manifests because of the other problems experienced in building and construction. Subsidence means the gradual sinking of a structure to a lower level than the way it was designed on the plan. This can be caused by various reasons. It could be because of settlement of mines below the building over time often at great depth, which results in destruction of buildings. Uneven sinking would result in crack in the walls. Water flowing underground below the building could potential damage the subsoil the repercussions of which would be leaking drains hence creating weakness. The result is a heavy structure pressing down on the soil hence subsiding. Furthermore, decomposition and degradation of the soil, which results in shrinking, and consolidation of the soil fill potential results in long term change in the level of the soil as the weight of the structure presses down on it. Usually this is the case when the soil is above the water table, which gives it room to dry and allow for biodegradation. This uneven movement of the building causes particles to disintegrate hence the walls crack and form crevices. Earthquakes and tremors are the major causes of cracking. One way of combating subsidence and hence cracking is careful construction of houses by isolating them from trees, mines and unstable ground to reduce risk of such uneven forces. Moreover, the construction engineers

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Global Geopolitics of the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Global Geopolitics of the Middle East - Essay Example It is speculated that this US indifference is entrenched in the inexorable commitment with the state of Israel. This is why the ideology behind planning attacks against the US leading to 9/11 incident is reportedly related to violent disagreement of the masterminds with the US foreign policy which apparently primarily favors Israel. Similarly, majority of the Arabs in the Middle East opinion that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has never been evaluated and approached by the US with objectivity. There is widespread animosity for the US foreign policies and the Iraq war has only intensified the Arab anger for the America. To cap the chaotic political mess, extremely harsh ideas related to the Jews prevail in the Middle East. But, this speculation of US indifference is criticized on grounds that it is actually the flawed perceptions held by the Arabs against the US policies in the context of Zionism and Israelis which work to foster anti-Americanism and threat US’s national secu rity. This is why the mainstream Middle Eastern ideology that the US politics is based on nepotism has little to do with

Monday, September 23, 2019

European Union and Human Rights Watch Research Paper

European Union and Human Rights Watch - Research Paper Example The European Union (EU) is one of the many institutions created with the solid intent of promoting and fostering peace among the constituent members and the world in general. The EU has led to the achievement of many goals and missions among them protection of sovereignty of the member countries, enhancing economic status of the member states, promoting democracy and literacy in the member states. EU has also fostered and as well as establishing adaptable regional and international relation of the member countries and outside world. The ideas that led to the formation and establishment of the European Union (EU) emerged in the early 1940s (Briney). The main idea was to reduce the series and cases of wars that involved individual European nations and to steer the constituent countries towards positive social-economic and political growth. It is important to reckon that the existence of small institutional relations otherwise called alliances, which consisted of friendly EU nations, wa s the main escalator and stimulator of the World War II that rocked the continent. The purpose of the alliances was to help create a protective shell developed on pacts signed by friendly nations to assure military, political and economic support upon external attacks and threats against any member. Alliances defined the political organization of the European states during and immediately after the end of World War I. However, this changed during and after the World War II as states settled to deliberate and solve differences that spurred conflicts among them. The first step was the unification of the coal and steel industries under the umbrella of European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). This organization became operational upon the signing of the Paris Treaty in 1951 under the chairmanship of Robert Schuman, who was French minister for foreign affairs. Upon formation, ECSC consisted of six member countries namely, France, Belgium, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, and West Germany. In collectivity, the member states exercised control over the steel and coal industries, which produced ammunitions among other things (Dimitrakopoulos 13). The year 1957 saw the signing of yet another important pact named the Rome Treaty. Rome Treaty led to the creation and establishment a common market known as the European Economic Community (EEC). The main reason behind signing and commencement of the EEC was to unify the Eastern and Western fronts that tended to be at war. EEC could therefore help spread diversity across the contradicting fronts as people moved and traded freely across the member states that included the initial six members of ECSC (Dimitrakopoulos 14). During the same year of 1957, and still in Rome, was the signing of another treaty that led to the creation of the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or EURATOM). The three organizations that included the ECSC, EEC and the EAEC reduced to what was the European Communities. According to Carbaugh, the need to consolidate the operations of the three organizations under single commission and council attracted a meeting in Brussels that led to the eventual signing of the Treaty of Merger in 1965 (7). Denmark, United Kingdom and Ireland joined the European Communities in 1973, raising the number of members to nine. The increasing

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Case Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Case Analysis - Essay Example The customers do not need to participate in the problem-solving process. If there is no way through which customer relationship is examinable without biasness, then it is better not to talk to any of them to avoid misleading information. This is because there is a danger of over-emphasizing the relevance of the whole process by dismissing its importance. It is better to have less information than misleading information (Kipping & Clark, 2012). The second project shock is that the AVS deal with renewable contracts, which are renewable every year, over a three- to five-year period unlike the parent company whose contracts fixed for at least fixed for at least five years. To find the efficiency of the current plan, the overall effects of consulting project in the short, medium and long-term effect are evaluated. First, the impact of the consulting project encompasses assessment using analyses and the methods appropriate for the evaluation design and the level of measurement for the outcome variables. Secondly entails use of quantitative and qualitative data in explaining the results and efficacy of the problem. Third, is the conducting of cost and resource analysis to appraise the efficiency of the project and its components (Buono, 2009). The initial scope of the consulting project was to review the AVS management team’s business plan to ascertain whether it is a good investment for the medium term. After speaking with the manager at Martins Private Equity, the scope changed to preparation of a more robust business plan with the management team. This would involve changing the way AVS operates to ensure longer, more sustainable contracts. A consultant, who is an expert in the field, must be equipped with knowledge on how to prepare for all types of changes and how to bring the right people together in ensuring the change is set up for success from the beginning

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Most Power In Modern Western Societies Essay Example for Free

Most Power In Modern Western Societies Essay Assess the view that most power in modern western societies is held by people who have not been democratically elected. It is believed that people who have not been democratically elected hold most power in western societys, however how true is this? Throughout history people have been born into positions of power, if your father was a lord, you would most likely also be a lord. Marxists believe that this division of power still exist in modern society today. Unlike Functionalists who believe in a fair merocratic society, Marxists believe that the social class you are born in is where youll most likely end up staying. However this theory is critised for being far to deterministic as many people from the working classes are able to make there way up the social ladder. Marxists believe that everything designed in society is there to favour the bourgeois, from the State to the legal system. Althusser believes that economic determinism needs to be rejected. According to Althusser, societies comprise of 3 levels: The economic, the political and the ideological. Although the economy is determinant in the last instance, the political and ideological levels are not mere reflections of the economy but have relative autonomy and dont have effects on the economy. Stephen Lukes identified three ways in which sociologists have approached the study of power. Each involves studying a different dimension or face of power. He argues that an understanding of power requires an awareness of all three faces. The first face of power is success in decision-making (this has been adopted by pluralists). The second face of power is managing the agenda and the third is manipulation the views of others. Weber is usually considered the starting point in the study of power. Unlike Marx he believed that power was not automatically linked to ownership of wealth. Ordinary people with little or no money could exercise power by joining parties, not only political parties but pressure groups. He defined power as the chance of a man or a number of men to realise their own will in a communal action even against the resistance of others. Weber defined 3 types of authority: Charismatic Authority (The type of authority based on charisma), Traditional Authority (The type of power based on established customs) and Rational-legal authority (The type of authority devised from impersonal rules). Weber saw rational-legal authority as the dominant form of authority in modern societies, not only armies but also political, religious and educational organisations. He believed that they were organised on bureaucratic lines with structures of authority and rational rules designed to ensure that power is used to achieve the goals of organisations. Webers work has been critised as the types of authority he described are ideal types. Ideal is a model of the purest type and in reality ideal types do not exists. Political scientist Robert Dahl developed Webers ideas into what has become classical pluralism. Classical pluralism represents the way in which many people believe liberal democrats such as the UK and USA operate. It suggests that such political systems are truly democratic and that power is distributed throughout society. Classical pluralists except that they have very little direct involvement in political decision-making however this doesnt mean that these societies are undemocratic. They are seen as representative democracies where citizens elect political leaders who are charged with carrying out the wishes of those who elected them. Pluralists see political parties and pressure groups as crucial for the democratic process, as through political parties we seek to gain power by putting up candidates into elections with the aim of forming a government and through pressure groups seek to influence those in government to follow policies which individual groups favour. Robert Dahl conducted a study of local government in New Haven and found that no-one group is seen to actually dominate the decision-making; power is therefore shared among a range of groups. The idea is rejected by pluralists that democracy is possible in a one-party state, since there must be opposition parties and a range of pressure groups to represent the views of those who disagree with the governing party. Pluralists claim to have solid evidence for their view of the distribution of power from case studies of decision-making on a local level (Dahl) and at a national level (Hewitt) There have been many criticisms of pluralism, first of all it is believed that measuring power by examining decisions ignores non-decision making. It also ignores the fact that that people may accept and even welcome decisions which are against their interests and its is shown that some groups exercise more power than others and so is an unequal representation of interests and many interests may not be represented at all. Marxists also argue that the pluralists focus on the decisions taken by local and national governments ignores the possibility that the real centre of power is elsewhere. As a result of the criticisms of pluralism many classical pluralism supporters modified or changed their positions. Robert Dahl has accepted that the unequal distribution of wealth and income in the USA makes equal political influence impossible. David Marsh describes this position as elite pluralism. Elite Pluralists accept that many political interests are under represented. However, since they constitute a significant number of voters the government will eventually be forced to take note of their interests. It is accepted that some groups have greater access to the government than others, however they point out that governments must minimise conflict by consulting with a range of interest groups. Elite Pluralism answers some of the criticisms of classical pluralism. It acknowledges the existence of under-represented interests and accepts that power is to some degree concentrated in the hands of a few elites. However there are also criticisms of this theory. Its said to undermine the pluralist position that power is widely dispersed in capitalist societies. Also the assumption that elites or leaders act in the interests of their members is also open to question. Finally Elite pluralism like Classical pluralism fails to take into account the third face of power the ability to shape and manipulate the desires of others. Elite theorists reject the pluralist view that power in liberal democracies is widely dispersed. They argue that power is concentrated in the hands of a small minority called the elite. The elite theory was originally developed as a response to Marxism, which claimed that democracy was only possible under communism. They asserted that rule by elites was inevitable in all societies, even communist ones. However not all views of elite theory are so pessimistic. Many modern elite theorists argue that rule by elites results from the way in which societies are organised, rather than being n inevitable feature of human society. Vilfredo Pareto and Gaetano Mosca rejected the idea that real democracy was possible in either liberal democracies or under communism. They argue that in all societies and elite, a minority of individuals with superior personal qualities, would monopolise power. While Pareto and Mosca saw the elite as an inevitable thing Wright Mills saw the elite rule as a result of the structure of society which allowed a disproportionate amount of power to be held by a few individuals who occupied what he called the command posts. These individuals are called the power elite. He identified 3 key institutions as the centres of power, The Federal government, the major corporations and the military. Mills believed that these 3 elites are closely related because of their similar origins, education and kinship and because there interests are in twined. Critics of Mills argue that he only showed that the elites in the USA have potential for control, he failed to show that they had actual hold control. In addition pluralist disagree with this theory and argue that there are many other elites such as pressure group leaders, religious, trade unions and so on, who can provide a counterbalance to these more powerful elites. Marxists also reject the notion of a power elite, arguing that real power in capitalist societies derives not from positions in institutions but from ownership and control of the means of production. In conclusion it seems as though there are many different approaches to the view on power in society, whether the people are in power because they were democratically elected or whether there, there because they were born into it. However many of the views tend to ignore the problems with black people and women. Why are there only 25% of women in parliament and why are there only 6 black MPs? Although functionalist believe we live in a fair merocratic society its becoming fairly obvious that we dont. Though many views have may have some truth behind them it extremely hard say that one persons opinion of power in society is wrong. It really depends if you believe in the power of the people or not.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Business Essays Marketing Strategies HSBC

Business Essays Marketing Strategies HSBC HSBC Marketing Strategies One of the largest banking and financial services organisation in the world is known as the HSBC Group. It has established businesses in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. In 1991, HSBC holdings were incorporated in England, with its head office based in London. In 1999, the company established its international brand name, which ensured that the Groups corporate symbol became a familiar sight all across the world. HSBC differentiates its brand name from those of its competitors by describing the unique characteristics which distinguish HSBC, namely being, The worlds local bank. As at 31st December 2004, its total asset was valued at  £660 billion. It has over 9,800 offices worldwide. It employs over 253, 000 people, across different countries and territories. Its shares are held by around 200,000 people in some 100 countries and territories. The companys shares are also traded on most of the worlds renowned stock exchanges, namely, London, P aris, New York, and Bermuda stock exchanges respectively. One of the major tools it uses for functionality on a worldwide scale is the companys use of information technology. Its e-business channels include the internet, PC banking, interactive TV, and telephone banking. It maintains its own private network (intranet and extranet), in which HSBCs websites attracted 900 million visits in 2004. The HSBC group provides a comprehensive range of financial services namely: Personal Financial Services: It has over 100 million personal consumers worldwide (including Consumer Finance customers). It provides a full range of personal finance services, including current and savings accounts, mortgages, insurance, loans, credit cards, pensions, and investment services. It is one of the worlds top ten issuers of credit cards. Consumer Finance: The Companys Finance Corporations consumer finance business ensures point of sale credit to consumers, and lends money and provides related services to meet the financial needs of everyday people. In 2004, it completed the integration of its former household businesses. Commercial Banking: HSBC is a leading provider of financial services to small, medium-sized and middle market enterprises. The group has over two million such customers, including sole proprietors, partnerships, clubs, and associations, incorporated businesses and publicly quoted companies. In the UK, 209 Commercial Centre were launched to provide improved relationship management for higher value small-medium-sized enterprise customers, while in Hong Kong, Business Banking Centres, were expanded to provide a one-stop service. Corporate Investment Banking and Markets: Tailored financial services are provided to corporate and financial clients. Business lines include Global Markets, Corporate and Institutional Banking, Global Transaction Banking, and Global Investment Banking. Global Markets includes foreign exchange, fixed income, derivatives, equities, metals trade, and other trading businesses. Corporate and Institutional Banking covers relationship management and lending activities. Global Transaction Banking includes payment and cash management, trade services, supply chain, securities services, and wholesale banknotes businesses. Global Investment Banking involves investment banking advisory, and investment banking financing activities. Private Banking: HSBC is one of the worlds top private banking businesses, providing financial services to high net worth individual and families in 70 different locations. HISTORY OF THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION The HSBC group evolved from The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, which was founded in 1865 in Hong Kong with offices in Shanghai, London, and an agency in San Francisco, USA. The company expanded primarily through already established offices in the banks name until the mid 1950s when it began to create or acquire subsidiaries. The following are some of the key transitions in the Groups growth and history since 1959. In 1959, HSBC acquired the British Bank of the Middle East formerly known as the Imperial Bank of Persia. In 1965, it acquired a majority shareholding of the Hang Seng Bank Limited. In 1971, the British Bank of the Middle East acquired a minority stake of 20% in the Cyprus Popular Bank Limited, which currently trades as the Laiki Group. In 1972, Midland Bank acquired a shareholding in UBAF Bank Limited (now known as British Arab Commercial Bank Limited). In 1978, the Saudi British Bank is established under local control to take over the British Bank of the Middle Easts branches in Saudi Arabia. In 1980, it acquired 51% of New York States Marine Midland Bank (now known as HSBC Bank USA). At the same time Midland acquired a controlling interest leading German private bank, Trinkaus and Burkhardt (now known as HSBC Trinkaus Burkhardt KGaA). In 1981, HSBC established a branch in Vancouver, Canada. In the same year the Group acquired a controlling interest in Equator Holdings Limited, wh ich was a merchant bank engaged in trade finance in sub-Saharan Africa. In 1982, Egyptian British Bank S.A.E. is formed, with the HSBC group holding a 40% stake. In 1983, Marine Midland Bank acquired Carroll McEntee and McGinley (now HSBC securities (USA) inc.), a New York based primary dealer in US government securities. In 1986, HSBC Australia was established. In 1987, it acquired the remaining shares of Marine Midland and a 14.9% equity interest in Midland Bank (now HSBC Bank Plc). In 1991, HSBC Holdings was established (as mentioned previously); its shares were traded for the first time in London and Hong Kong stock exchanges. In 1992, it purchased the remaining equity stake in Midland Bank. In 1993, it moved its head office to London. In 1994, HSBC Malaysia was established. In 1997, the group established a subsidiary in Brazil, Banco HSBC Bamerindus S.A., and acquired Roberts S.A. de Inversiones in Argentina, HSBC Brazil, and HSBC Argentina, respectively. In 1999, shares of HSBC began trading on a third stock exchange, New York. In the same year it acquired, Republic New York Corporation, which was then integrated into HSBC USA Inc and its sister company Safra Republic holdings S.A. (now known as HSBC Republic Holdings Luxembourg). At the same time Midland acquired a 70.03% stake in Mid-Med Bank Plc (now HSBC Bank Malta Plc.), the biggest commercial bank in Malta. In 2000, HSBC acquired CCF, one of the largest Banks in France. Its shares were also traded on a fourth stock exchange, Paris. The group also increased its shareholding in the Egyptian British Bank to over 90% and then later renames it HSBC Bank Egypt S.A.E. It went on to acquire Demirbank TAS, now HSBC Bank A.S., Turkeys fifth largest private Bank in 2001. Additionally, it signed an agreement to purchase 8% stake in the Bank of Shanghai. In 2002, it acquired Grupo Financiero Bital, S.A., de C.V., one of Mexicos largest financial services groups; and a 10% interest in Ping An Insurance Company of China Limited, the second largest life insurance operation in China. In 2003, it acquired Household International (now HSBC Finance Corporation), a leading US consumer finance company; and Lloyds TSBs Brazilian assets including Losango Promotora de Vendas Ltda, a major consume credit institution. Four French private banking subsidiaries combine to form HSBC Private Bank France. The companys insurance brokers at the same time formed a joint venture Beijing HSBC Insurance Brokers Ltd, in which it has a 24.9% stake. Hang Seng Bank also acquired about 16% of Industrial Bank Co. Ltd, a mainland Chinese Commercial Bank, and HSBC agrees to purchase 505 of Fujian Asia Bank Limited (now known as Ping An Bank Limited). In 2004, it acquired the Bank of Bermuda Ltd, a leading provider of fund administration, trust, custody, asset management, and private banking services. It also opened in a fifth stock exchange, the Bermuda stock exchange. In the same year it acquired about 20% of the Bank of Communications Limited, Chinas fifth largest bank. EXISTING LITERATURE REVIEW Around the world corporations are increasingly becoming aware of the enhanced value that corporate branding strategies can provide for an organization. According to Weitz and Wensley (1988), they define marketing strategy as an indicator that is specific towards which activities are to be targeted and the types of competitive advantages that are to be developed and exploited. Implicitly, the strategy requires clear objectives and a focus in line with an organisations corporate goals; the right customers must be targeted more effectively than they are by its competitors, and associated marketing mixes should be developed into marketing programmes that successfully implement the marketing strategy, Varadarajan (1999). A strategic market plan is an outline of the methods and resources required to achieve an organisations goals within a specific target market. It takes into account not only marketing but also all the functional aspects of a business unit that must be co-ordinated. These functional aspects include production, finance and personnel. Environmental issues are an important consideration as well. The concept of the strategic business unit is used to define areas for consideration in a specific strategic market plan. Each strategic business unit (SBU) is a division, product line or other profit centre within a parent company. Each sells a distinct set of products to an identifiable group of customers, and each competes with a well defined set of competitors, Dibb et al. (2001). Each SBUs revenues, costs, investments and strategic plans can be separated and evaluated apart from those of the parent company. SBUs operate in a variety of markets, which have differing growth rates, opportunitie s, degrees of competition and profit making potential. HSBCs business units includes, personal financial services, consumer finance, commercial banking, corporate investment banking and markets, and finally, private banking. Strategic planners within the group therefore must recognise the different performance capabilities of each business unit and carefully allocate resources or strategically implement its business objectives in order to meet the companys long term goals. They must also ensure that the business units complement each other for the greater good of the overall business. The process of strategic market planning yields a marketing strategy that is the framework for a marketing plan. A marketing plan includes the framework and entire set of activities to be performed; it is the written document or blueprint for implementing and controlling an organisations marketing activities. Thus a strategic market plan is not the same as a marketing plan; it is a plan of all aspects of an organisations strategy in the marketplace, Dibb et al. (1996). A marketing plan, in contrast, deals primarily with implementing the marketing strategy as it relates to target markets and the marketing mix, Abell and Hammond (1979). To achieve its marketing objectives, an organisation must develop a marketing strategy, or a set of marketing strategies. The set of marketing strategies that are implemented and used at the same time is referred to as the organisations marketing programme. Most marketing programmes centre on a detailed marketing mix specification and include internal controls and procedures to ensure that they are implemented effectively. Through the process of strategic market planning, an organisation can develop marketing strategies that, when properly implemented and controlled, will contribute to the achievement of its marketing objectives and its overall goals. However, Harris (2002) argues that companies operating in the financial services market, particularly the big four retail banks (HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds TSB, and the Royal Bank of Scotland (with its acquisition of Natwest), primarily rely on generic marketing strategies. To formulate a marketing strategy, the marketer identifies and anal yses the target market and develops a marketing mix to satisfy individuals in that market. Marketing strategy is best formulated when it reflects the overall direction of the organisation and is co-ordinated with all the companys functional areas. The strategic market planning process is based on an analysis of the broader marketing environment, by which it is very much affected. Marketing environment forces such as legal forces, political forces, technological forces, economic and competitive forces, societal/green forces, and regulatory forces, can place constraints on an organisation and possibly influence its overall goals; they also affect the amount and type of resources that a business can acquire, Dibb et al (2001). They also do create favourable opportunities as well, such as internet banking in which HSBC and Merrill Lynch created an online banking and investment facility, which has proved profitable for both companys as a whole, Eppendorfer et al. (2002). Marketing enviro nment variables play a part in the creation of a marketing strategy. When environment variables affect an organisations overall goals, resources, opportunities or marketing objectives, they also affect its marketing strategies, which are based on the factors mentioned previously. They impact consumers needs, desires and they affect competitors plans. Now, according to Polito (2005), branding in the classic sense is all about creating unique identities and positions for products and services, hence distinguishing the offerings from competitors. Corporate branding employs the same methodology and toolbox used in product branding, but it also elevates the approach a step further into the board room, where additional issues around stakeholder relations (shareholders, media, competitors, governments and many others) can help the corporation benefit from a strong and well-managed corporate branding strategy. Not surprisingly, a strong and comprehensive corporate branding strategy requires a high level of personal attention and commitment from the CEO and the senior management to become fully effective and meet the objectives. Corporate branding is a serious undertaking that entails more skills and activities than just an updated glossy marketing facade with empty jargon. A strong corporate branding strategy can add significant value in terms of helping the entire corporation and the management team to implement the long-term vision, create unique positions in the market place of the company and its brands, and not the least to unlock the leadership potential within the organization. Hence a corporate branding strategy can enable the corporation to further leverage on its tangible and non-tangible assets leading to branding excellence throughout the corporation, Polito (2005). HSBC as stated in the latter has in recent years acquired a vast number of companies across the globe and adopted them fully under its international corporate brand with great success and within a surprising short timeframe. A strong brand is about building and maintaining strong perceptions in the minds of customers. This takes time to establish and many resources to keep, but eventually no one remembers what the local banks used to be called, and HSBC has managed to transfer the brand equities from the acquired brands into its own corporate brand equity. There are several benefits for employing a branding strategy that a corporation can exploit. First of all, a strong corporate brand is no less or more than the face of the business strategy, portraying what the corporation aims at doing and what it wants to be known for in the market place. The corporate brand is the overall umbrella for the corporations activities and encapsulates its vision, values, personality, positioning and image among many other dimensions. Think of HSBC, which has successfully implemented a stringent corporate branding strategy. HSBC employs the same common expression throughout the globe with a simple advertising strategy based on the slogan The worlds local bank.  This creative platform enables the corporation to bridge between many cultural differences, and to portray many faces of the same strategy. Additionally, HSBCs brand name has enabled a number of key mergers and acquisitions (mentioned previously) around the globe, which has so far strengthened its market presence in the banking world, Brand Finance (2000). The Marketing Strategies of the HSBC Group 2005 Towards the end of 2003, HSBC launched Managing for Growth, a strategic plan that provides HSBC with a blueprint for growth and development during the next five years. The strategy is evolutionary, not revolutionary. It builds on HSBCs strengths and it addresses the areas where further improvement is considered both desirable and attainable. HSBC concentrates on growing earnings over the long term at a rate which will place it favourably when compared with its peer group. Also it focuses on investing in its delivery platforms, its technology, its people and its brand to support the future value of HSBC as reflected in its comparative stock market rating and total shareholder return (TSR). HSBC remains committed to benchmarking its performance by comparison with a peer group. Its core values are integral to its strategy, and communicating them to customers, shareholders and employees is deemed as intrinsic to the plan. These values comprise an emphasis on long-term, ethical client relationships; high productivity through teamwork; a confident and ambitious sense of excellence; being international in outlook and character; prudence; creativity and customer focused marketing. Under the managing for growth scheme, eight strategic imperatives were identified as the key marketing and business strategies for 2004 2008. They are: Brand: make HSBC and its hexagon symbol one of the worlds leading brands for customer experience and corporate social responsibility Personal Financial Services: drive growth in key markets and through appropriate channels to make HSBC the strongest global player in personal financial services Consumer Finance: extend the reach of this business to existing customers through a wider product range and penetrate new markets Commercial Banking: make the most of HSBCs international customer base through effective relationship management and improved product offerings in all the Groups markets Corporate, Investment Banking and Markets: accelerate growth by enhancing capital markets and advisory capabilities focused on client service in defined sectors where HSBC has critical relevance and strength Private Banking: serve the Groups highest value personal clients around the world People: attract, develop and motivate HSBCs people, rewarding success and rejecting mediocrity; and TSR: fulfil HSBCs TSR target by achieving strong competitive performances in earnings per share growth and efficiency. RESEARCH APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY EMPLOYED Research Approach The research approach will be carried out using the positivist case research approach. According to Cavaye (1996), positivist epistemology tries to understand a social setting by identifying individual components of a phenomenon and explains the phenomenon in terms of constructs and relationships between constructs. The theoretical constructs describing the phenomenon are considered to be distinct from empirical reality. Hence, empirical observations can be used to test theory. This looks at the world as external and objective. Positivism employs four major research evaluation criteria: a good research should make controlled observations, should be able to be replicated, should be generalizable and should use formal logic. Under positivism, case research findings are not statistically generalizable to a population, as the case or cases cannot be considered representative of a population, however case research can claim theoretical generalizability. This will also include comparing, contrasting and critically evaluating past and present papers, articles, journals, and established theories that have been published on the subject matter. Methodology Employed Multiple-Case Study Design This project uses the multiple case study method in order to enable analysis of data across cases and relating it to the theoretical perspectives in the available literature of marketing strategy. This enables the researcher to verify that findings are not merely the result of idiosyncrasies of research setting (Miles and Huberman, 1984). According to Yin (2002), in such a method it is important to use: multiple sources of evidence. The appropriate number of cases depends, firstly, on how much is known about the phenomenon after studying a case and secondly, on how much new information is likely to emerge from studying further cases (Eisenhardt, 1991). This paper detailed analysis about the marketing strategies employed by HSBC, in comparison to its other major competitors, namely Barclays Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Citibank. Analysis of the marketing strategy of HSBC is evaluated with regard to the organisation meeting customer needs and requirements, advertising strategies and the need to increase its customer base and market share are all addressed. One wants to see if there are any matches with regard to the theoretical literature of marketing strategy and what the empirical evidence gathered says and also any mismatches. This also relates to the literature review. Qualitative Data Cavaye (1996) states that qualitative investigation refers to distilling meaning and understanding from a phenomenon and is not primarily concerned with measuring and quantification of the phenomenon. Direct and in-depth knowledge of a research setting are necessary to achieve contextual understanding. Hence, qualitative methods are associated with face-to-face contact with persons in the research setting, with verbal data (Van Mannen 1989) being gathered. Qualitative data can be collected in a number of forms. One major form of qualitative evidence is interviews, which may be recorded and later transcribed. Qualitative data are rich, full, holistic real their face validity seems unpeachable; they preserve chronological flow where that is important (Miles 1979). In spite of the abovementioned, qualitative data have weaknesses (Miles 1979; Miles and Huberman, 1984). Collecting and analysing data is time-consuming and demanding. In addition, data analysis is not easy, as qualitative data analysis methods are not well established. Recognised rules of logic can be applied to verbal data in order to make sense of the evidence and to formally analyse the data. Rubin and Rubin (1995) state that it is most desirable to disclose the identities of both the case and the individuals interviewed because, The reader is able to recall any other previous information he or she may have learned about the same case from previous research or other sources in reading and interpreting the case report. The entire case can be reviewed more readily, so that footnotes and citations can be checked, if necessary, and appropriate criticisms can be raised about the published case. Nevertheless, there are some occasions when anonymity is necessary. The most common rationale is that when the case study has been on a controversial topic, anonymity serves to protect the real case and its real participants. The second reason is that the issuance of the final case report may affect the subsequent actions of those that were studied. Quantitative Data This is concerned with measuring aspects of a market or the population of consumers making up the market. This includes soft approaches such as consumer attitudes as well as the hard things such as market size, brand shares, purchase frequencies etc. Quantitative data on a market or consumer group can be obtained through carrying out a census, obtaining the relevant measures from every single consumer or player in the market. In practice, research through a census collection is very rare; for one thing it is usually prohibitively expensive to obtain data from every individual (the government only carries out a population census once every 10 years) and even if the money is available the timescales involved are likely to be too long to meet commercial deadlines, Meier (1991). Furthermore, a census is unnecessary since the alternative; sampling can normally produce adequate and acceptably reliable data for a fraction of the cost. Quantitative research is, therefore, nearly always based on more or less rigorous sampling methods which have in common the assumption that the data from the samples can be taken to represent, within estimated levels of accuracy, the population or universe from which they are drawn, (Hague 2002). Types of Quantitative Data The range of information which can be and is collected through quantitative research is enormous if not infinite. In relation to deciding how data should be collected, all the possibilities can be categorised into a simple threefold classification: 1.Market measures 2.Customer profiles or segmentation 3.Attitudinal data. Market measures quantify and describe a market. Common examples include: market and sector size; shares of the market held by suppliers or brands; penetration levels (what proportion of all potential consumers own or buy a product); purchase and consumption frequencies; patterns of consumption and seasonality. Data of this type is very essential for any manager developing or reviewing a marketing plan for a company, product group or brand name like HSBCs hexagon logo. Market measures taken from a sample are generally projected or grossed up to the total market or population, e.g., the proportion of households in a sample found to be without a PC can be multiplied by available estimates of the number of total households to provide an indicator of untapped potential. A vital concern in the marketing of a product or service is knowing and understanding the potential customer base; what type of people or organisation are they? What other types of products or services do they own or use? What is required to meet this need is customer profiling or segmentation data and it is quantitative in nature because reliable breakdowns are needed for the whole market or population, Buck (1990). Hague (2002) argues that profiling data can take various forms: socio-demographics (age, sex, income and occupation group, education level, home tenure etc); geo-demographics; various business classifications such as company size, industry etc. for business to business research or it can relate to consumer behaviour (ownership of various products, purchase or usage levels, media exposure etc.). Unlike market measures, consumer profiling data can be collected only from consumers (including organisations in the case of business to business research) although the distribution or manufacturing levels in the market may also need profiling. Attitudinal data is used in a quite general sense to cover concepts such as awareness, perceptions, beliefs, evaluations, preferences and propensities. In other words they are, in their various forms, subjective and reside in the minds of individuals. Much market research under this is concerned with attitudes and attitude measurement because attitudes and your marketing may mould consumer choice in your favour. Attitudes are of course very much the subject of qualitative research which is often concerned to identify relevant dimensions and categories of attitudes. In quantitative research, the focus is on establishing the degree to which specific attitudes exist among the market and population. The most important tool for data collection under quantitative research is face to face interviewing. However, in situations where over a hundred firms need to be interviewed, due to the cost attached to carrying out such a task, doing a telephone interview would seem more appropriate. The methods used to record data and data analysis here, is predominantly through questionnaires. Most questionnaires used in quantitative research involve a predominance of pre-coded or closed questions and the layout of the response points can help to minimize problems of mis-recording. More problematical, however, is the recording of open-ended questions, such as why did you buy this product, then? This usually leads to a lengthy or rambling response from the individual, in which what is said is then summarized or abbreviated and there is no way of knowing whether what is recorded reasonably reflects the response given. In the case of this paper, due to the short deadline associated with writing this paper, one was only able to get a telephone interview (primary data collection method) from a senior manager of customer relationship management at one of HSBCs flagship branches in the London area. Additionally one has also used multiple sources of evidence, i.e. secondary sources of information, articles, journals, established theories, HSBCs annual report, comments by top management within the organisation are analysed and also the companys website are all used to evaluate and address the effectiveness of its use of market strategy to increase its market share and customer base. The remainder of this paper proceeds as follows, analysis of findings, overview of the marketing strategy, criticisms, summary and conclusion. ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS Central to achieving a companys corporate vision is the need to build up a loyal customer base of satisfied customers. HSBC did not overtake its major competitors by chance in acquiring foreign financial institutions; it developed a clear marketing strategy based on a desire to fully satisfy a carefully targeted set of market segments. As the BBC (2004) gathered, a quarter of HSBCs 2003 profits were made in the UK, and it made around  £70 profit per customer. Additionally, the bulk of its profits came from acquisitions elsewhere, US personal loan firm Household International and HSBC Mexico. Although Household International operates in the UK, HSBC says its British market accounts for less than 10% of this divisions profits. Market segmentation is at the core of robust marketing strategy development. This involves identifying customer needs, expectations, perceptions, and buying behaviour so as to group together homogeneous customers who will be satisfied and marketed to in a similar manner. One segment will differ from another in terms of customer profile and buying behaviour, and also with regard to the sales and marketing activity likely to satisfy these customers. Having sufficient knowledge of these customers is fundamental. It is important to remember that the process of market segmentation involves more than simply grouping customers into segments. Shrewd targeting of certain segments and the development of a clear brand positioning are part and parcel of the market segmentation process. Now, HSBC launched a marketing strategy called Managing for growth, which is to cover and deal with its strategic outlook for the period 2004 2008. From the company website, they have stated that they will deliver this by; focusing on enhancing HSBCs revenue generation culture, develop its brand name further (hexagon logo), manage costs strategically, maintain a prudent credit/market risk stance, and invest further in its people. Addition ally, acquisitions still remains an integral part of their strategy. As stated from the companys website, they will concentrate on growing earnings over the long term at a rate which will place it favourably when compared with its peer group. It will also focus on investing in its delivery platforms, its technology, its people and its brand to support

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1804. His parents were Nathaniel and Elizabeth Hawthorne. When he entered Bowdoin College in 1821, he studied to be a professional writer. He was well aware of the fact that being a writer was not supported by his puritan forefathers and was even looked down upon as a wasted life. In 1842 Nathaniel married Sophia Peabody and they lived in Concord, which was known in that time as the center of transcendentalism, the idealistic philosophy that opposed puritanical and materialistic values. They also lived in the house of Ralph Waldo Emerson, a very famous transcendentalist had lived and written Nature in1836. He later moved to Salem, where after his mothers death in 1849 he started writing The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter, which is set in colonial seventeenth-century New England, was actually written and published in the middle of the nineteenth-century. Because Hawthorne wrote about an earlier time than his book was publish, it is thought to be a historical romance written in the middle of the transcendentalist movement. Even though this was going on at the time of publication, Hawthorne did not put any of his views about this matter in the novel, instead he poked fun at his other colleges that did write about it. Abolitionism was more important in The Scarlet Letter, because Hawthorne saw this as threatening instability in America and thought he should address his concerns through his book. This entire novel takes place in and around the colonial town of Boston, Massachusetts, somewhere around the seventeenth century. At this point in history he describes Boston as being the frontier between the settled sea and the untamed wilderness of the west. He describes what is on the outside of the town as a " Black Forest", which is a symbol of evil. Pearl is the daughter of Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. She first appears in the novel as an infant, again at three years old, and finally at seven. She grows up as an intimate of nature, but like most of the characters in The Scarlet Letter, Pearl is very complex and contradictory. At one point in the book she hates the Puritan elders for what they did to her mother (the game she imagined about the weeds in the garden). Then when her mother tries to throw away the scarlet letter it is her daughter Pearl who insists she wear it again.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Frustration and Denial in Morrisons Sula Essay -- Sula Essays

Frustration and Denial in Morrison's Sula A book which is most celebrated for its tale about friendship is found to have a more important theme and role in literature. "In Search of Self: Frustration and Denial in Toni Morrison's Sula," the author Maria Nigro believes Sula has much more important themes in modern literature. "Sula celebrates many lives: It is the story of the friendship of two African American women; but most of all, it is the story of community" (1). And it's not just any community is the community of the Bottom. African Americans who are a working class community. Their main problem is surviving. They must work any job they can get so that they and their families can live a life with food and a roof under their head. These jobs and sacrifices shape each of their lives. Nigro claims this is the most important theme in Sula because working-class people have been left out of modern literature. "literature has been created for the cultural elite, and the rest of us have come to consider literature as a reflection of an elitist lifestyle to which the ordinary person cannot hope to relate" (1). Sula proves to fit this hole missing in the literature world. A community that seems to have all the cards stacked against them. Being black during this era, 1915-1965, means fighting for survival. It means scrimping to get by, doing menial jobs, doing all they can to get by. Nigro continues on describing the women of Sula. The struggles of Eva after Boy-Boy leaves, unable to get a decent paying job because she was a black woman. Finding herself sacrificing her leg for the love of her children. How Eva shaped the lives of her ... ...introduction I believed Nigro thought the novel was important because it gave every working-class person a representation in today's literature. But by the end it's clear she meant it gave the African-American working-class person, if not the whole race a representation in today's literature. Even though each group, African-American's and the working-class community, are missing from today's literature; I think Nigro could have made her purpose or thoughts a little more clear. This article gave me a wider prospective on the whole theme of Sula. And since I have chosen to write about the women in Sula and their struggles to survive I found the article very useful in narrowing down my argument. And even though her thesis might have not matched her entire article, Nigro definitely understood Sula, the women, and the many themes of the novel.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Phonics vs, the Look Say Method

Over the past decades, the decline in the rate of literacy in America has baffled many. At least 20% of high school graduates are functionally illiterate, despite the education they receive in the public school system. As these graduates enter the world reading at an elementary level, they are unable to live a normal life, which leads to poverty and can lead to delinquency and imprisonment. This decline is not only a decline of literacy, but also a decline of independence, ingenuity, and responsibility.The beginning of this decline can be traced back to a certain event in the history of the public school system: the introduction of the look say method in the 1930s. Ever since the look say method, or Whole Word instruction, took the place of phonics, the number of illiterate graduates has grown higher and higher. Evidence proves that the look say method is not sufficient to properly teach students how to read. Phonics is far superior to the look say method of learning to read. First o f all, phonics is better than the look say method of learning to read because phonics has a firmer foundation than the look say method.Phonics is based on rules that the child memorizes; therefore, when he has memorized these rules, he can read almost any word he sees. A small article by the Abeka reading programs shows many rules that are taught in phonics, such as the following: â€Å"When there is one vowel in a word, that vowel usually says its short sound† and â€Å"when there are two vowels in a word, the first vowel says its long sound, and second vowel is silent† (â€Å"Six Easy Steps to Reading,† 1). When the child learns definite rules such as these, he is more likely to apply them because he knows that they will not change.Sebastian Wren writes in his article â€Å"Developing Research-based Resources for the Balanced Reading Teacher,† he tells that â€Å"children are explicitly taught the ‘rules’ about the way words are written an d spelled, and they are taught spelling-sound relationships. After the teacher provides an explicit lesson in a particular Phonics rule, the child is presented with a passage text that contains many words consistent with that rule. This provides the child with an opportunity to apply each Phonics rule on a variety of words in context of the passage.The goal of the Phonics teacher, then, is to instill the children with the Phonics rules and the common spelling-sound relationships, and to teach children to apply this knowledge in sounding-out each word they encounter, making that assumption that comprehension and appreciation will be a natural consequence of accuracy† (Wren, 1). Basically, when the child is taught these rules and then given the opportunity try the rules, he will find that these rules can help him to read with ease. In contrast, the look say method has no definite rules that he can put into practice as he reads.Phonics is better than the look say method because i t has a definite set of rules that the child can apply when he reads. The look say method requires much guessing if the child does not know the word that he is trying to read. Because he has not been taught definite rules like those of the phonics method, he is unsure of how to accomplish the task of reading. In her book The Good School, Peg Tyre tells: â€Å"‘Instead of children being expected to learn individual letters by rote memory, then syllables, and finally words, they were given books with pictures of common objects.Underneath each picture was its simple name. ’ Kids were taught to derive meaning from words by memorizing the look of the words, or looking at the picture and guessing, or reviewing the context and extrapolating, instead of sounding them out† (96). Rather than being taught how to read using rules and hints, the children are taught to read by guessing what the word is based on the context. Samuel L. Blumenfeld explains in his book The New Ill iterates some of what the students are taught: â€Å"He is taught the names of seventeen consonant letters and their sound values only as appear at the beginnings of words.What phonetic value they have in the middle of words is neither considered nor discussed. The letter is taught merely as a phonetic clue to the word—one clue among several taught as word-attack skills. In fact, the child is not encouraged to use a phonetic clue until he has first exhausted context and word-form clues. If these fail him, then he is to try the phonetic clue of the initial-consonant sound† (74). Phonetic rules are not demonstrated clearly, and looking at the context to determine the word and its meaning is encouraged. However, simply guessing what the word is only makes the child unsure of himself.Phonics and its rules are far better to teach than the look say method and its guessing. Secondly, phonics is better than the look say method because it is far easier for the child to comprehe nd, conquer, and enjoy. In an article entitle â€Å"Whole Language vs. Phonics,† Sebastien Wren, Ph. D. says that the look say method is â€Å"nothing more than the rote memorization of every word in the English language† (â€Å"Whole Language vs. Phonics,† 1). The look say method basically requires the student to basically memorize every single English word in existence, an extremely difficult feat for a young person.The article â€Å"Whole Word Versus Phonics† tells that â€Å"only the smartest Chinese can memorize 20,000 of their ideograms, but Whole Word promoters expect you to memorize 50,000 to 10,000 English words. In short, Whole Word expects ordinary people to accomplish a feat that’s only possible with a photographic memory† (â€Å"Whole Word Versus Phonics,† 1). A young student can hardly expect to conquer reading this way. Memorizing that many words is absolutely ludicrous when one could read them if they knew the simple r ules of phonics. Phonics is especially needed with someone who may be slow at learning.Blumenfeld writes it in his book NEA: Trojan Horse in American Education: â€Å"Slow learners in particular found look-say ‘overwhelmingly difficult. ’ That would explain why before look-say was adopted slow learners learned to read without great difficulty via the alphabetic phonics method† (118). The phonics method is far easier than the look say method to understand for any person. Progress with the phonics method is far more rapid than that of the look say method. The article â€Å"Whole Word Versus Phonics says :â€Å"Phonics, it is claimed, can teach almost all children to read by the end of first grade.The reading may be slow and halting at first, but in a few years the child is able to read ordinary books for amusement or education† (â€Å"Whole Word Versus Phonics,† 1). This is vastly more rapid than the look say method. The article continues: â€Å"In fact, few students can memorize even 300 words per year. This difficulty is confirmed all over the Internet by lists of sight words that have third grade students learning simple one-syllable words such as: bring, clean, cut, done, draw, drink, eight, fall, far, full, got, grow, hold, hot, hurt, if, and keep† (â€Å"Whole Word Versus Phonics,† 1).Students learning phonics would have conquered these words in the first grade, if not sooner. The progress of the look say method is significantly slower than that of the phonics method. Phonics is more entertaining for the child, whereas the look say method becomes dull and monotonous. Learning phonics is more interesting for the child because they are able to use the rules themselves and apply it to the words themselves. However, the look say method is very repetitious. Blumenfeld writes the following about his research in his book The New Illiterates: â€Å"Oh is repeated 138 times and see 176.Repetitions of these two words alone must equal the entire wordage of the first Pre-Primer. What a slow, tedious, monotonous way to learn two words! † (43). The look say method is dull and monotonous to the point of being just unnecessary. The children who are taught this method become extremely averse to reading because the way that they were taught is so tedious and uninteresting. Phonics is better than the look say method because it easier for the child to comprehend, conquer, and enjoy.Finally, the phonics method produces a larger number of competent, literate students than that of the look say method. Phonics gives the students a sense of definite understanding and accomplishment that can encourage them to make something of themselves. Because they feel confident, they will want to show the world what they can do. However, the reading students that the look say method produces do not feel as confident. The disappointment that this child will feel because he cannot read is acute.In his book NEA: Trojan Horse in American Education, Samuel L. Blumenfeld cites an article by Dr. Samuel T. Orton: â€Å"Faulty teaching methods may not only prevent the acquisition of academic education by children of average capacity but may also give rise to far reaching damage to their emotional life† (111). The look say method could not only cause the child to be a poor reader but also harm the child’s confidence. However, the phonics method gives the child a desire to use this ability to make a name for himself.Students who cannot read well are less likely to be productive in productive in their living. In her book The Good School: How Smart Parents Get Their Kids the Education They Deserve, Peg Tyre tells of some research on the outcome of learning the look say method: â€Å"Seventy-four percent of struggling third-grade readers still struggle in ninth grade, which in turn makes it hard to graduate from high school. Those who do manage to press on—and who manage to graduate fr om high school—often find that their dreams of succeeding in higher education are frustratingly elusive.It won’t surprise you to know that kids who struggle in reading grow up to be adults who struggle to hold on to steady work—they are more likely to experience periods of prolonged unemployment, require welfare services, and are more likely to end up in jail† (94). Learning the look say method has wrought horrible effects on the lives of many students in terms of their future. Because these students were taught how to read using the look say method and therefore do not read well, they are most likely not going to live productively. Phonics is far better than the look say method of learning to read.Evidence proves that the look say method is not teaching students how to read properly. The public school claims that they teach children how to read exceptionally well; however, if that is the case, these students who graduate should be reading at high levels. But as more and more functionally illiterate students graduate, they find it extremely difficult to live the lives they had always dreamed for themselves because they cannot read well. This inability to read leads to many of the problems that are in society today, such as unemployment, negligence, and dependence on the government.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Essay about Mandates and Federalism Essay

Over the last twenty-five years, federalism has transformed due to the increase in federal mandates on state and local governments. Federalism refers to a political system in which there are local units of government, as well as a national government, that can make final decisions with respect to at least some governmental activities, and whose existence is protected. When the Framers devised this political system their goal was to protect personal liberty and create a separation of powers. Over the years, federalism’s goal of decentralization evolved giving states more leeway. Mandates, however, have in a way, increased federal power, imposing requirements and/or conditions for obtaining federal grants. These mandates provided federal restrictions on states’ economic actions and have served the former purpose of protecting personal liberties because they usually concern civil rights and environmental protection. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, for example, shows how federalism has changed and how mandates have augmented the regulation of state and local governments’ actions. Mandates created a new form of a â€Å"check† on state governmental activities. Mandates increased federal supremacy because they were mandatory. They take the form of regulatory statutes. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, for instance, required that businesses and state and local governments provide the disabled with equal access to services, transportation systems, employment, and buildings. In enacting this mandate, the federal government’s objective was to create equality and regulate what the states did with federal funds by imposing costs. State or local governments may not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. All government facilities, services, and communications must be accessible consistent with the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Individuals may file complaints with federal agencies to be designated by the U.S. Attorney General or bring private lawsuits. The ADA helped to change federalism because it had a great impact on state and local government budget priorities. Because the Americans with Disabilities Act did not specify what it’s definition of equal access was, the states had no idea as to what this mandate would cost. It provided no outline for how the mandate was to be administered, nor did it provide dependable estimates on  how much it could possibly cost to employ. The mandates provided the disabled with equality, preventing discrimination, at a fairly high cost. Since the states were not certain about the definition of equal access, they had to facilitate services, building equipment on buses, ramps in buildings etc. There’s no doubt that mandates have an impact on state and local budget priorities. By trying to meet the terms of the ADA, states had to shift their attention from other projects, which were perhaps more important (maybe because of the low number of disabled in the area). State governments had to make mandates a priority because they were federal â€Å"commands† that had to be obeyed. Thus, mandates not only increased involvement between the states and the federal government (federal-state relations), but they also nationalized the government more. Mandates allowed the states to spend with respect to important matters. States obey the mandates and by doing so they create legislation that benefits the people. By having mandates, the federal government prevents the states from misspending federal money. The potential consequences of removing the Americans with Disabilities Act would have great effects on federalism. If the mandate were removed, the federal government wouldn’t have as much power to control how federal money was spent. States wouldn’t be pressured into passing legislation that benefit a certain group. In addition, those who benefited from the mandate, the disabled, would not be treated equally since there would no longer be handicap access in public places. The removal of mandates affects the federal-state relations in that it decentralizes the government more and diminishes whatever authority the federal government has over the state government. Federalism has in fact changed over the past twenty-five years. It has become more complex, creating things like mandates, which control state actions. Mandates changed federalism, perhaps for the better. Because of the federal demands, states and federal government had to work together in order to protect certain rights and meet the needs of the people. Public policies became more nationalized as a result of mandates. They had an impact on the devolution revolution, which for some time had shifted responsibilities to the states , giving them more power and involvement in policies. However,  with mandates, the power was shifted back the federal government, the supreme. Bibliography Wilson American Government http://www.icanonline.net/news/fullpage.cfm/articleid/6CAEB15E-3A1A-4743-8BCCD55D82731B98/cx/issues.stay_informed/article.cfm

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Solutions: Self-esteem and Professional Sports Events

Solutions The Mayor of a large city was given a free membership in an exclusive golf club by people who have received several city contracts. He also accepted gifts from organizations that have not done business with the City but might in the future. The gifts ranged from $200 tickets to professional sports events to designer watches and jewelry. The Mayor of the city actions are self-serving. , for he is receiving all the benefits.The greater good is not being served here because small businesses may not be able to pay the Mayor for city contracts. Because of this, outside organizations are benefiting with city jobs, causing small businesses in the city to go out of business. It may also cause taxes to increase and loss of city jobs. The Mayor is abusing his office by not putting his cititizens needs before his own. Locke would agree with me, he would say that the Mayor has a responsibility to his people.He would also say that the people have the right to choose a different Mayor wh o would put there need before his own. A college instructor is pursuing her doctorate in night school. To gain extra time for her own studies, she gives her students the same lectures, the same assignments, and the same examinations semester after semester without the slightest effort to improve them. The college instructor is just serving herself. She is not fillful her duties to her students, she finds it easier to keep repeat the same material semester after semester.She is not teaching her students with updated material, when they enter the work force they will be ill prepared to compete with others. Locke would agree that the students have the right to expect their instructor to take as much time and effort in their lessons as she does in her own work. Todd and Edna have been married for three years. They have had serious personal problems. Edna is a heavy drinker, and Todd cannot keep a job. Also, they have bickered and fought constantly since their marriage.Deciding that the way to overcome their problems is to have a child, they stop practicing birth control, and Edna becomes pregnant. To raise a child is difficult even when you are prepared. But to have a child to fix a marriage is wrong. You put a lot of pressure of the child, and when things go wrong, you will start to blame and resent the child. Which in turn will cause the child to have a low self –esteem and then the child will be taught how to make poor decisions. That s if Edna is lucky to have a healthy baby. Her heavy drinking could have negative ramification such as fetal syndrome and other birth defects. Babies are very expensive and Todd not be able to keep a job is just going to increase the bickering and arguing. So, there is no greater good in this scenario, It does no good for Edna and Todd to care for a child that may have defects because the Edna’s drinking. It does no good for the child to have to deal with two parents who make poor decisions.

Leadership: Invictus Movie Report Essay

Clint Eastwood, with his movie Invictus, notches another success which uses a rugby championship as a means for examining South Africa’s transition from apartheid. Two characters are highlighted: Nelson Mandela (played by Morgan Freeman) the new president of South Africa (1994-1999) and the captain of the Springboks, Franà §ois Pienaar (played by Matt Damon). After being locked up for 27 years, Nelson Mandela returns to politics. He symbolizes the new South Africa in which Black and White have the same rights, and the same opportunities. Mandela is calm and confident, but fully aware that his country could erupt into political violence with the least provocation. Mandela’s strategy is to embrace his opposition, a tactic that distances him from his core supporters. But some of his fellow compatriots disagree with that. The main example is when the chief of his bodyguards, who asked more men, refuses to work with the white bodyguards of the former president Frederik de Klerk. Part of being a great leader is setting your organization on a new course well before anyone else can see it. At that moment in the movie Nelson Mandela surprises his bodyguard by showing integrity and by saying: â€Å"The Rainbow Nation starts here. Reconciliation starts here. Forgiveness starts here too.† Black people think that they will get revenge from all the persecutions and all the acts of racism. But Nelson Mandela as their leader has already a new plan for his Nation: gather these two populations and create a modern country without racism. To achieve his goal he uses the white population symbol, the Springboks team, as the key factor. He demonstrates here his ability of visioning. Since South Africa is hosting the 1995 World Cup, Mandela throws his support behind the Springboks, who are representing the country. Those who don’t oppose the sport’s racist undertones have little regard for the team’s ability to compete on a world stage. Nelson Mandela uses the rugby team to change mentalities. The president wants the team to be good enough to impress other rugby nations. However it’s composed by a majority of white players who don’t care about Nelson Mandela’s plan, except for one, Franà §ois Pienaar. Pienaar is the captain of the Springboks, and has a role of leader. He wants to inspire his teammates with the use of the right techniques. â€Å"How do we get them to be better then they think they can be? That is very difficult, I find. Inspiration perhaps. How do we inspire ourselves to greatness when nothing less will do? How do we inspire everyone around us? I sometimes think it is by using the work of others.† Nelson Mandela, with these words, wants Pienaar to lead by examples and to become a source of inspiration for his teammates but also for his nation. Mandela says some of the most powerful words to achieve convincing Pienaar â€Å"This country is hungry for greatness†. Black people want to change the name of the rugby team, but Mandela shows up at the committee meeting. Mandela explains that removing the name and colors would merely reinforce the fears of the country’s white minority. Besides, he has a bigger plan: to turn a symbol of apartheid into a unifying force. Brenda Mazibuko knows that’s a risky move and she confesses her thoughts to the president â€Å"You’re risking your political capital, you’re risking your future as our leader.† Great leaders make the right choice, even when it is not the most popular one. A popular choice is what the crowd wants, what they understand. That’s why Mandela goes against the unanimity to impose his opinion, and he is not afraid of doing so: â€Å"The day I am afraid to do that is the day I am no longer fit to lead† Nelson Mandela’s answer to Mazibuko’s fear. He accepts his responsibilities and changes the majority’s opinion, especially when he talks about â€Å"Our enemy†, when he emphasis the importance of rugby for Afrikaners. â€Å"You elected me as your leader. Let me lead you now†. Franà §ois Pienaar receives the message loud and clear and tries to inspire his teammates by asking them to learn the new national anthem, by visiting Mandela’s cell, by taking them all over the country to play with black children. Some of them don’t want to go there and don’t want to learn this anthem. Pienaar has one sentence that impacts people minds: â€Å"Times change, we need to change as well†. That’s the start of this new fighting spirit that leads the Springboks to the World cup championship game. In this movie we have the feeling Pienaar learns from a great leader, Mandela, and he gets how to be one in the last game. All the team is defeated. The Springboks don’t succeed to stop Lomu, the best New Zealand player. Pienaar takes his responsibilities and leads the others to victory. â€Å"Come boys. What the heck are we doing? Lomu is killing us. Forwards, we must start scrumming. We must disrupt them at the first phase. Can’t allow Lomu to get the ball in space. He’s freaking killing us. But listen, if Lomu gets the ball, whoever’s there†¦ James, Joost†¦ hit the fucking guy, hold onto him, hold him. Help will come, help will be there. He may break my arm. He may break my leg. He may break my neck. But he is not going to get past me.â€Å" Franà §ois Pienaar becomes what Mandela was expecting him to be before the World Cup. He is the captain of the new symbol of South Africa. He has not only inspired his teammates but also all the white population. He is now an example for everyone. Francois’ last speech is an inspirational one. During the final game against New Zealand, Pienaar impresses his teammates with his communication skills and his energy. â€Å"Heads up! Look in my eyes. Do you hear? Listen to your country! Seven minutes. Seven minutes. Defense! Defense! This is it! This is our destiny! Kom Bokke.† These few words go way beyond the game. It’s not a normal game. He wants to help his new family, Mandela’s family which is composed of 42 million people. And they both achieve building this rainbow nation.