Research Report on Nokia Essay Example

Research Report on Nokia Essay Nokia Research Paper Nokia is a Finnish transnational company which produces telecommunication devices for mobile and other IP networks and the former manufacturer of mobile and smart phones. According to the information of the year 2013, the staff of the company is no more than 100 thousand employees in comparison with the end of 2010s when the number of employees was 132 thousand people. The company’s production is sold in more than 150 countries of the world. From 2000 to 2011 Nokia was the most successful manufacturer of mobile phones and occupied the most profitable position on the market. In 2011 Nokia started to cooperate with the US giant Microsoft rejecting from its own operation system for the mobile devices Symbian and substituting it with Windows Phone. In 2013 Nokia announced the sale of its mobile business to Microsoft for 5,44 billion euro. The history of Nokia is very long and it has its beginning in 1865. At first it was a paper factory and in the first part of the 20th century the company produced cables. In 1980s began the rapid development of Nokia’s electronics. The company invested money into technologies and manufactures home appliances, being the third biggest manufacturer of TV-sets in Europe. In the end of 1990s Nokia started manufacturing mobile phones which got their popularity all over the world for their price and quality. In the middle of 2000s Nokia was the most successful and profitable telecommunications company. Because of the reduction of the demand for the production of Nokia the company decided to sell its mobile department with all patents to Microsoft for quite a low and â€Å"shocking† price. We will write a custom essay sample on Research Report on Nokia specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Research Report on Nokia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Research Report on Nokia specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Nokia is a well-known company which produced quality mobile phones which could compete with other companies for the leading positions. The student who has decided to prepare a research report is expected to observe the long history of Nokia, think about the importing strategic decisions and solutions taken by the owners and decide what factors helped Nokia to become one of the most influential manufacturers of mobile phones on the market. The student is supposed to observe the production, its strong and weak sides and observe the strategy of the company and the effectiveness of its economic decisions. The difficulty of the right organization of a research report lies in the appropriate formatting and analysis of the topic form the most objective side. A free example research report on Nokia vs Samsung can become a great piece of help for every student who requires advice on writing and analysis of the problem. It is reasonable to look through a free sample research report on Nokia mobile completed in the Internet and learn about the correct structure and style of writing of the assignment.

Major General Winfield Scott Hancock - Biography

Major General Winfield Scott Hancock - Biography Winfield Scott Hancock - Early Life Career: Winfield Scott Hancock and his identical twin, Hilary Baker Hancock, were born February 14, 1824 at Montgomery Square, PA, just northwest of Philadelphia. The son of school teacher, and later lawyer, Benjamin Franklin Hancock, he was named for noted War of 1812 commander Winfield Scott. Educated locally, Hancock received an appointment to West Point in 1840 with the aid of Congressman Joseph Fornance. A pedestrian student, Hancock graduated in 1844 ranked 18th in a class of 25. This academic performance earned him an assignment to the infantry and was commissioned as a brevet second lieutenant. Winfield Scott Hancock - In Mexico: Ordered to join the 6th US Infantry, Hancock saw duty in the Red River Valley. With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War in 1846, he received orders to oversee recruiting efforts in Kentucky. Successfully fulfilling his assignment, he continually requested permission to join his unit at the front. This was granted and he rejoined the 6th Infantry at Puebla, Mexico in July 1847. Marching as part of his namesakes army, Hancock first saw combat at Contreras and Churubusco in late August. Distinguishing himself, he earned a brevet promotion to first lieutenant. Wounded in the knee during the latter action, he was able to lead his men during the Battle of Molino del Rey on September 8 but soon was overcome by fever. This prevented him from taking part in the Battle of Chapultepec and capture of Mexico City. Recovering, Hancock remained in Mexico with his regiment until the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in early 1848. With the end of the conflict, Hancock returned to the United States and saw peacetime duty at Fort Snelling, MN and St. Louis, MO. While in St. Louis, he met and married Almira Russell (m. January 24, 1850). Winfield Scott Hancock - Antebellum Service: Promoted to captain in 1855, he received orders to serve as the quartermaster at Fort Myers, FL. In this role he supported US Army actions during the Third Seminole War, but did not take part in the fighting. As operations wound down in Florida, Hancock was transferred to Fort Leavenworth, KS where he aided in combating partisan fighting during the Bleeding Kansas crisis. After a brief period in Utah, Hancock was ordered to southern California in November 1858. Arriving there, he served as assistant quartermaster under future Confederate commander Brigadier General Albert Sidney Johnston. Winfield Scott Hancock - The Civil War: An avowed Democrat, Hancock befriended many Southern officers while in California, including Captain Lewis A. Armistead of Virginia. Though he did not initially support the Republican policies of newly-elected President Abraham Lincoln, Hancock remained with the Union Army at the beginning of the Civil War as he felt that the Union should be preserved. Bidding goodbye to his southern friends as they left to join the Confederate Army, Hancock travelled east and initially was given quartermaster duties in Washington, DC. Winfield Scott Hancock - A Rising Star: This assignment was short-lived as he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on September 23, 1861. Assigned to the newly formed Army of the Potomac, he received command of a brigade in Brigadier General William F. Baldy Smiths division. Moving south in the spring of 1862, Hancock saw service during Major General George B. McClellans Peninsula Campaign. An aggressive and active commander, Hancock mounted a critical counterattack during the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5. Though McClellan failed to capitalize on Hancocks success, the Union commander informed Washington that Hancock was superb today. Seized upon by the press, this quote earned Hancock his nickname Hancock the Superb. After taking part in the Union defeats during the Seven Days Battles that summer, Hancock next saw action at the Battle of Antietam on September 17. Forced to take command of the division after the wounding Major General Israel B. Richardson, he oversaw some of the fighting along the Bloody Lane. Though his men wished to attack, Hancock held his position due to orders from McClellan. Promoted to major general on November 29, he led the First Division, II Corps against Maryes Heights at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Winfield Scott Hancock - At Gettysburg: The following spring, Hancocks division helped cover the withdrawal of the army after Major General Joseph Hookers defeat at the Battle of Chancellorsville. In the wake of the battle, the II Corps commander, Major General Darius Couch, left the army in protest of Hookers actions. As a result, Hancock was elevated to lead II Corps on May 22, 1863. Moving north with the army in pursuit of General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia, Hancock was called into action on July 1 with the opening of the Battle of Gettysburg. When Major General John Reynolds was killed early in the fighting, new army commander Major General George G. Meade sent Hancock ahead to Gettysburg to take command of the situation on the field. Arriving, he took control of Union forces after a brief squabble with the more senior Major General Oliver O. Howard. Asserting his orders from Meade, he made the decision to fight at Gettysburg and organized Union defenses around Cemetery Hill. Relieved by Meade that night, Hancocks II Corps assumed a position on Cemetery Ridge in the center of the Union line. The next day, with both Union flanks under attack, Hancock dispatched II Corps units to aid in the defense. On July 3, Hancocks position was the focus of Picketts Charge (Longstreets Assault). During the artillery bombardment that preceded the Confederate attack, Hancock brazenly rode along his lines encouraging his men. In the course of the subsequent attack, Hancock was wounded in the thigh and his good friend Lewis Armistead was mortally wounded when his brigade was turned back by II Corps. Bandaging the wound, Hancock remained on the field for the rest of the fighting. Winfield Scott Hancock - Later War: Though he largely recovered over the winter, the wound plagued him for the remainder of the conflict. Returning to the Army of the Potomac in the spring of 1864, he took part in Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grants Overland Campaign seeing action at Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor. Arriving at Petersburg in June, Hancock missed a key opportunity to take the city when he deferred to Baldy Smith, whose men had been fighting in the area all day, and did not immediately assault the Confederate lines. During the Siege of Petersburg, Hancocks men took part in numerous operations including fighting at Deep Bottom in late July. On August 25, he was beaten badly at Reams Station, but recovered to win the Battle of Boydton Plank Road in October. Plagued by his Gettysburg injury, Hancock was forced to give up field command the following month and moved through a series of ceremonial, recruiting, and administrative posts for the remainder of the war. Winfield Scott Hancock - Presidential Candidate: After supervising the execution of the Lincoln assassination conspirators in July 1865, Hancock briefly commanded US Army forces on the Plains before President Andrew Johnson directed him to oversee Reconstruction in the 5th Military District. As a Democrat, he followed a softer line in regard to the South than his Republican counterparts elevating his status in the party. With the election of Grant (a Republican) in 1868, Hancock was moved to the Department of Dakota and Department of the Atlantic in an effort to keep him away from the South. In 1880, Hancock was selected by the Democrats to run for president. Squaring off against James A. Garfield, he narrowly lost with the popular vote being the closest in history (4,454,416-4,444,952). Following the defeat, he returned to his military assignment. Hancock died at New York on February 9, 1886 and was buried at Montgomery Cemetery in near Norristown, PA.

U06d2 Market Competition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

U06d2 Market Competition - Essay Example Considering the health care industry, it is clear that the level of competition and the type of competition is very different when compared to that in other industries. The health care industry revolves around the services that it provides to the customers and the industry as a whole is very customer centric. The competition in this industry is more impacted by the external environment that it operates within and the healthcare environment as a whole (Teisberg & Porter, 2006). There is a direct impact on the healthcare industry from all the industries and also from the external environment as a whole. The competition in this industry is based more on the type of changes that the organizations are able to make to themselves and how the organizations are able to adapt to the needs of the people. Unlike the other industries, here in this sector, if an organization is unable to change and adapt to the changes in the markets, then the organization will be faced with instant downfall and the resistance will lead to loss of customers and clients in the market. Also considering the healthcare industry where the use of technology is so high that each day new and improved products are introduced to the markets. The competition in this market can be good to some extent. However concentrating on people who come from a relatively lower financial background and cannot afford to pay for expensive treatment, this can be a deal breaker (Swayne, Duncan, & Ginter, 2009). However, if the industry is looked at without concentrating on the different strata of people, then it is best and most effective that the industry is flooded with high levels of competition and development. Competition in any field is very effective as it allows everyone to realize their strengths and weaknesses and work on improving their weaknesses to strengths. This improvement will not only

First Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

First Exam - Essay Example Usage of alcohol on private property is also somewhat legalized by some States but presence of a guardian or adult member is essential. Medical intentions, educational intentions or religious intentions also allow alcohol consumption to some extent by some States. However, all these allowances are not legal in all States but a few States only (Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934 As Amended Through Public Act 89-0376). As per American Law, non-resident defendant could be brought to the court of law only when service of process was ensured within the territorial jurisdiction of state. Jurisdiction for an out-of-state defendant considered as extra territorial jurisdiction. A state can exercise its jurisdiction within its area of operations (Long-Arm Statute - Further Readings 2011). â€Å"Any person under the age of 21 years who presents or offers to any licensee, his or her agent or employee, any written evidence of age and identity that is false, fraudulent, or not actually his or her own for the purpose of ordering, purchasing, attempting to purchase or otherwise procuring or attempting to procure, the serving of any alcoholic beverage, who falsely states in writing that he or she is at least 21 years of age when receiving alcoholic liquor from a representative, agent, or employee of an express company, common carrier, or contract carrier, or who has in his or her possession any false or fraudulent written evidence of age and identity, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor wherein sentence of imprisonment for the guilty person varies from state to state and the persons sentence shall include, but shall not be limited to the following: If any guardian or parent of a minor allows his premises or residential area to an invitee of ward or child and in case the invitee is less than 21 years, this is categorized as breach of law and is totally illegal. Under the mentioned scenario, Mr. Adamson cannot initiate legal action against Makers

The business scenario of Hong Kongs Hotel Industry Essay

The business scenario of Hong Kongs Hotel Industry - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that Hong Kong offers a stable and efficient business environment to its entrepreneurs with modern infrastructural facilities along with technologies in order to cope up with the challenges of globalisation and industrialisation. In the year 1995, Hong Kong positioned itself as the eighth leading trading nation in the global world. Thus, most of the leading companies attempted to establish one of its franchisees in Hong Kong with the expectation that it might enhance its growth prospects and profitability as well. Moreover, the government of Hong Kong has adopted a strategy of non-intervention, which was also categorised as quite beneficial for any business entrepreneur to operate within the economy. In addition, the government of Hong Kong also offers a sound lawful and administrative support for improving the scope of its business environment to encourage foreign and national entrepreneurs. Thus, it can be avowed that the economy of Hong Kong offers high opportunities for growth and development of industries, in order to improve its image in the international business forefront. Hence, it can be clearly depicted that as Hong Kong is one of the rapidly developing and most promising international centres for trade, business and finance with less governmental intrusions. Notably, it is due to this reason that Hong Kong is now categorised as one of the feasible places for introduction of new business projects. 1.1 Background of the Study Hong Kong is one of the fastest developing nations among the Asia-Pacific regions and so it can prove beneficial for the introduction of a new business project. Apart from this, Hong Kong is often regarded as a feasible place for introduction of new businesses as it offers soaring quality of banking, insurance and proficient services along with hard working and skilled workforce. Moreover, it is also the main gateway to perform business operations in the market of China. This is because , China offers workers at a sustainable rate which is not only helpful for any business enterprise, but also tends to preserve the interests of the workforce. It is also a significant factor which helps in expansion of the business in the national as well as international context thereby augmenting growth and brand identity (Bingley, 2011). Hence, with due consideration to these factors, Hong Kong might prove to be the most efficient place for the introduction of a new business project. 1.2 Literature Review According to Lethbridge & et. al. (2000), the location of Hong Kong is becoming one of the most favourable places for performing business operations being influenced by varied factors such as low tax requirement, freedom of currency exchange in trade and being the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, which offers a stable political environment of any business project. Thus, the nation of Hong Kong is highly preferred by most of the reputed industries operating globally (Deloitte, 2012). In addition, about 300 Chinese organisations are listed in Hong Kong, with a

Passivhaus Standard Replacing The Code For Sustainable Homes Construction Essay

Passivhaus Standard Replacing The Code For Sustainable Homes Construction Essay Should the PassivHaus standard replace the Code for Sustainable Homes as the UKs national standard for the design and construction of all sustainable dwellings? Overall Summary The term PassivHaus refers to a specific ultra low-energy construction standard developed in Germany, and now used throughout Europe, for buildings which have excellent comfort conditions in both the winter and summer. The Code for Sustainable Homes is the national standard for the design and construction of social housing in England, which measures the sustainability of a home against design categories, rating the whole house as a complete package. The project I am proposing involves comparing the two standards to determine which performs better in a range of different circumstances, and why? I also propose to establish whether the whole of the UK housing sector would benefit from adopting the PassivHaus standard in place of its current Code for Sustainable Homes standard. Introduction / Background In practice I am currently involved primarily in the design of social housing development projects which require full compliance with Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard. Through my experience working on these projects I have noticed an increase in the adoption of concepts used as part of the PassivHaus standard to assist in achieving full compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes. These adopted concepts have included increasing the levels of insulation used in the external envelope of new dwellings, improving the air tightness of the construction details used, and increasingly specifying mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) units for new dwellings. The PassivHaus standard was first developed in the early 1990s in Germany, by Professor Wolfgang Feist of the PassivHaus Institut in Darmstadt, where the first dwellings to be completed to the PassivHaus standard were also constructed in 1991. The core focus of the PassivHaus design is to significantly reduce the requirement for space heating and cooling, without compromising thermal comfort or relying on the falling cost of renewable energy technologies. This focus is also what enables new PassivHaus dwellings the ability to typically achieve an energy saving of 90%, compared to existing housing. The PassivHaus design principles are not exclusively applicable to the residential sector, they can also be applied to commercial, industrial and public buildings, which can also achieve the classification of PassivHaus status upon completion. The performance of the first dwellings to be completed to the PassivHaus standard were subsequently monitored, which eventually led to other PassivHa us projects being monitored around Europe as part of the European CEPHEUS project. The CEPHUS project involves the construction and scientific evaluation of 250 housing units built to the requirements of the PassivHaus standard, in five European countries, with in-process scientific back-up, and with the evaluation of building operation through systematic measurement programmes. To date there are approximately 17,000 buildings, worldwide, that have been constructed in accordance with the PassivHaus principles, several of which projects are now nearing completion and certification in the UK. The PassivHaus standard is publicised as representing one approach that the building industry can adopt in its aspiration towards zero-carbon buildings, and it is proposed that although a PassivHaus building is not in itself carbon neutral, the reduced energy requirements should allow potentially smaller and cheaper quantities of renewable technologies to be specified to achieve zero-carbon stand ards. The Code for Sustainable Homes standard was introduced in England in April 2007, replacing the EcoHomes scheme developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), and acting as a voluntary national standard to improve the overall sustainability of new dwellings. The EcoHomes scheme was a version of the BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), developed for homes, intended to provide an authoritative rating for new, converted, or renovated homes and was developed to be applicable to houses, flats and apartments. The Code for Sustainable Homes standard measures the sustainability of new dwellings against 9 design categories: Energy and CO2 emissions, water, materials, surface water run-off, waste, pollution, health and wellbeing, management, and ecology, in order to provide a sustainability rating for the whole dwelling as a complete package. The Code for Sustainable Homes standard uses a rating system of 1 to 6 stars to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a dwelling, based on the extent to which it has achieved the required standards. From its inception in April 2007, compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes standard was voluntary. But from the 1st May 2008 the UK Government enforced the requirement of a minimum of Code Level 3 for all new social housing developments. The Code for Sustainable Homes standard was prepared by the Government in close working consultation with Building Research Establishment (BRE) and Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA), and through consultation with a Senior Steering Group consisting of Government, Industry and NGO representatives. The standard was also developed so that it could be integrated with current UK Building Regulations and other relevant design guides, such as Robust Details and Lifetime Homes. The Code for Sustainable Homes standard is publicised as aiming to protect the environment by providing guidance on the construction of high performance homes with sus tainability in mind. Since April 2010, planning authorities across the UK have increasingly demanded the achievement of Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable homes on new developments. This has been done so in anticipation of the Governments intention to update the UK Building Regulations in 2013 so that they fall in line with the energy requirements of Code Level 4. The Government are also committed to achieving zero-carbon homes by 2016. There remains speculation from professionals in the construction industry that the Governments 2016 target for zero carbon homes is unrealistic, and many developers still believe that building to Code Level 6 is too expensive and unviable. The recent 2010 revisions to the Code for Sustainable Homes standard have been done so in parallel with the 2010 revisions made to the UK Building Regulations. These revisions are already showing a step towards the concepts employed by the PassivHaus standard, with a redefined section relating to Fabric Energy Efficiency Standards (FEES), which will reward reductions in predicted energy demand for space heating and cooling in terms of kWh/m2/year. Currently the PassivHaus standard enforces tough energy efficiency standards and a maximum calculated energy demand, which it also measures in kWh/m2/year. At present, dwellings which are constructed in the UK to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus standard will expect to achieve a Code for Sustainable Homes rating of Code Level 3 or 4. This level is achieved through highly insulating the external fabric, passive use of solar energy, air tightness, heat recovery, use of energy efficient appliances, and ensuring a low energy demand for space heating and cooling. But doesnt factor in water efficiency, surface water management, site waste management, household waste management, and use of materials, which are all addressed within the Code for Sustainable Homes standard. Formal Proposal In this study I am proposing to provide answers to a range of sub-questions, which are intended to provide a wider context to the subject topic and enable an informed conclusion to be made with regard to the overarching question Should the PassivHaus standard replace the Code for Sustainable Homes as the UKs national standard for the design and construction of all sustainable dwellings? These sub-questions are detailed within this section, along with the means in which I intend to answer them, the tasks associated with providing an answer to them and what I anticipate the outcome of each question will illustrate. I propose to provide an answer to the question: what are the full ranges of criteria addressed by the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards? I intend to answer this question by analysing and comparing the full range of criteria addressed by each standard, and in doing so provide a full explanation of the list of requirements for each of the two standards. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that the differences between the requirements of each standard are clearly identifiable. I also anticipate that the outcome will show that the PassivHaus standard involves the use of more passive concepts for achieving sustainability, which are mainly applicable during the design stages of a project. Whereas the Code for Sustainable Homes standard involves more active concepts for achieving sustainability, which are mainly applicable during the occupancy stage of a project and heavily reliant on the actions of the end user. I propose to provide an answer to the question: are the design principles employed by the PassivHaus standard suited to the construction of dwellings in the UK, and suited to the UKs climate? I intend to answer this question by exploring the suitability of designing and constructing dwellings in accordance with the requirements of the PassivHaus standard, which are also suitable for production in the UK. I intend to implement this through the analysis of existing dwellings that have been constructed in the UK in accordance with the PassivHaus standards principles and have achieved PassivHaus status, and through the analysis of personally prepared questionnaires completed by professionals in the construction industry. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that it is possible for dwellings to be designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of the PassivHaus standard within the UK, and that those professionals who are familiar with the PassivHaus standard will be receptive to the integration of its principles within the UKs construction industry. But that they will however, be required to vary slightly in their design from PassivHaus dwellings constructed throughout the rest of Europe, and therefore adjustments to the original PassivHaus model may be required for it to be practically applicable to dwellings within the UK. I propose to provide an answer to the question: what implications will the predicted affects of global warming have on PassivHaus dwellings and those designed to meet the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and are these standards capable of easily adapting to take account of future climate change? I intend to answer this question by analysing the predicted affects that global warming will have on dwellings within the UK, according to publications by leading specialists in the field, and by analysing the adaptability of dwellings designed and constructed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that dwellings designed and constructed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus standard will be more easily adaptable to the predicted climate change, whereas dwellings designed and constructed to meet the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes will potentially demand additi onal cooling during the summer months to account for the rise in temperature. I propose to provide an answer to the question: what affect do the occupants have on dwellings designed and constructed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus and the Code for Sustainable Homes standards? I intend to answer this question by exploring the effect occupants have on the sustainability of dwellings designed and built to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards. I intend to implement this by analysing the reliance each principle of the two standards has on the end user and by analysing case studies. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that the sustainable principles that the Code for Sustainable Homes standard employs are more reliant on the occupants of a dwelling, as they tend to be more active principles. Whereas the sustainable principles that the PassivHaus standard employs tend to be more passive principles designed in to the fabric of the dwelling, and therefore are less reliant on the occupants of a dwelling. I propose to provide an answer to the question: which option is more economical in terms of cost, a dwelling designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of the PassivHaus standard, or a dwelling designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard? I intend to answer this question by performing a cost analysis taking into account the design, construction and occupancy of a dwelling. This cost analysis will then be applied to a standard house type model, designed to meet the requirements of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard and achieve compliance with the UK building regulations, and designed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus standard. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that designing a house to achieve Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes will be more expensive overall than designing a house to the requirements of the PassiveHaus standard, which also achieves the equivalent of Code Level 4. I also propose to provide an answer to the question: can a dwelling designed in accordance with the PassivHaus standards principles, be developed to the equivalent of Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, and meet the Governments 2016 target for the construction of zero-carbon homes? I intend to answer this question by performing simulations on standard house type models in order to produce a range of dwelling designs which achieve Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The methods used to model these zero-carbon dwellings will simulate the upgrade of a range of house types designed to achieve Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard and designed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus standard, into zero-carbon homes which achieve Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard. I anticipate that the outcome of this task will show that dwellings which have been upgraded from the PassivHaus standard so that they meet the requirements of Co de Level 6 will be less expensive, less complicated and quicker to upgrade, compared to the upgrade of Code Level 4 dwellings into zero-carbon homes. I predict that the outcome of this study as a whole will prove that the ideal solution will be for the UK to adopt a new sustainability standard which includes all of the design principles of the PassivHaus standard and also incorporates the more active concepts used as part of the Code for Sustainable Homes standard. I also predict that this study will highlight that the immediate adoption of the PassivHaus standards design principles, in the construction of new dwellings in the UK, could enable the simple future upgrade of existing dwellings into zero-carbon homes, which would also be adaptable to future climate change. Literature Review The topic that this research will focus on specifically is whether the German PassivHaus standard would be more suitable than the UKs current sustainability standard, the Code for Sustainable Homes, in terms of achieving the UK governments 2016 target of zero-carbon homes. The parameters of this topic will take into account the predicted affects of future climate change, according to publications by leading specialists in the field, and aims to analyse the effects that the occupants have on dwellings designed to meet the requirements of the two standards, the cost implications of designing homes in accordance with each standard, and the potential for existing dwellings designed and constructed to both PassivHaus and the Code for Sustainable Homes standards to be upgraded to zero-carbon homes in the future. The selection of literature that I have chosen to review mainly consists of journal articles as I have been unable to find any published books that directly address this topic area . The journal articles chosen for this review have been selected according to the authors affiliations with the subject matter, and according to their date of publication, with the most current literature prioritised over older articles, to eliminate reference to outdated views and information. From the literature I have reviewed it is evident that the principal questions being asked in relation to the topic, by professionals in the construction industry and sustainability specialists, include: whether it is possible to design and construct dwellings in accordance with PassivHaus standards principles, in the UK, using traditional methods of construction; what the potential cost savings of a dwelling designed and constructed in accordance with the PassivHaus standard are, over a dwelling designed and constructed to meet the requirements of Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes; and whether it is possible to achieve Code Level 6 of the Code For Sustainable Homes by adopting the principle of the PassivHaus standard. The current discoveries relating to this topic suggest that the two standards are not directly comparable, because the PassivHaus standard is measured in terms of the total energy use for space heating only, whereas the Code for Sustainable Homes standard and the governing UK building regulations, set standards according to reductions in carbon dioxide emissions for space heating, heating of water and lighting. Literature published by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) suggests that new-build dwellings designed and constructed in accordance with the PassivHaus standard can be expected to typically achieve the equivalent energy requirements of Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, but states that it is not possible to go beyond Code Level 4 without specifying renewable energy technologies, and also states that the fabric requirements of Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes is currently based on the PassivHaus standard. Discoveries presented by the literature I have reviewed also suggest that PassivHaus dwellings are capable of using up to 90% less energy to heat them than the average UK house, and can cost about a tenth of the price to run. The general consensus from the literature I have reviewed seems to be that environmentalists and sustainability experts are eager for UK architects and other professionals in the construction industry to adopt the principles of the PassiveHaus standard in the UK as a means of reaching the Governments 2016 target for zero-carbon homes. The literature relating to this topic also speculates that there hasnt been a wider uptake of the PassivHaus standard within the UK due to a range of misconceptions related to the quality of internal comfort levels achieved by PassivHaus dwellings, and it is suggested that for dwellings to be effectively designed and constructed in accordance with the PassivHaus standard, in the UK, professionals within the construction industry would need to be educated accordingly. However the PassivHaus standard is criticised in the literature as requiring the use of synthetic materials and products in their construction, which involve the depletion of non-renewable resource in their production and transportation, and which may be difficult to recycle at the end of their lifespan. Also it has been highlighted that the PassivHaus standard. In the literature reviewed it is also expressed by professionals in the construction industry that the PassivHaus standard is only suitable for producing highly energy-efficient building fabric, whereas the Code for Sustainable Homes standard has been meticulously developed to incorporate existing building regulations and collaborate with new design legislation. It is also commented that the Code for Sustainable Homes standard is continuously evolving at regular intervals, working towards the 2016 target of zero-carbon homes, at which point it is believed that the industry will emerge with similar levels of energy efficiency for new homes as the PassiveHaus standard, but with a more holistic context of sustainability, which will incorporate water efficiency, waste management and consideration of the environmen tal impact of building materials. However, it is highlighted in the literature that there is a very little monitoring of low-energy buildings that have been designed and constructed in accordance with the Code for Sustainable Homes standard, in the UK, but those that are monitored are often found to be lacking. The methods of investigation used in the literature relating to this topic are predominantly case studies, performed on occupied dwellings which have been designed and constructed in accordance with the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards. The disadvantage of using this type of methodology however, is that it can result in subjective data. The reviewed literature relating to this subject area encourages the adoption of the PassivHaus standard within the UK construction industry as a means in which to achieve zero-carbon homes in the future, and emphasises the suitability of energy efficient dwellings to be designed and constructed in accordance with its principles within the UK. But however, highlights the concerns surrounding the sustainability of PassivHaus materials, and the rigidness of the standard as just a guide for producing highly energy-efficient building fabric. The Code for Sustainable Homes is complimented, in the reviewed literature, for the way in which it incorporates existing and new legislation, and is continuously evolving into a better performing, more holistic sustainability standard. Very little direct comparison is made between the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards in the available literature, and very few informed conclusions are drawn. Also due to the selected literature consi sting mainly of journal articles, much of the information available is presented from the authors perspective and consequently is mainly subjective and lacking in sufficient statistical data, which is vitally needed to support the authors arguments. The study I am proposing will attempt to collate factual secondary data taken from a range of sources, addressing a wider scope of parameters than has previously been attempted, and supplement this research by running simulations on model house types, which will produce a range of primary data that can also be analysed and compared. Thus enabling a more holistic conclusion to be formed in relation to whether it is feasible, and indeed practical, for the German PassivHaus standard to be adopted in place of the current UK governments Code for Sustainable Homes standard. Methodology and Research Methods I am proposing to conduct a deductive study which involves the collection of primary research data and the analysis of secondary research data. The inclusion of primary research will be in the form of simulation and modelling, and questionnaires. This will be used to supplement the collected secondary research, due to gaps in the current literature relating to directly comparable cost analysis and efficiency ratings. It will also be used to explore the practicality of upgrading dwellings designed in accordance with the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards, into zero carbon homes, and to obtain current opinions regarding the integration of the PassivHaus standards design principles into UK building projects, from professionals working in the construction industry. The primary research data will be used independently in a comparative analysis, from which conclusions can be drawn. The secondary research will be used in the form of correlational research, and will involve the analytical comparison of secondary data and case studies, from which conclusions can be drawn. The research itself will be predominantly quantitative, but will however contain some qualitative elements. The secondary correlational research will be used to form comparisons between the content of the PassivHaus and Code for Sustainable Homes standards, and to form case study analysis of existing dwellings in the UK designed and constructed in accordance with the two standards. The research data obtained from these methods will be subsequently analysed and enable the deduction of an informed conclusion. The primary simulation and modelling research will be used to form a cost analysis for a range of modelled dwellings designed to meet the requirements of the PassivHaus and Code for sustainable Homes standards, and to simulate the upgrade of dwellings designed in accordance with the two standards, into zero carbon homes in accordance with Code Level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The primary research based questionnaire will be used to obtain the views of a limited number and range of professionals working in the UK construction industry, relating to the suitability of employing the principles of the PassivHaus standard into the construction of dwellings in the UK. The research data obtained from these methods will be subsequently analysed, independently, and definitive conclusions will be formed. The results obtained and conclusions formed from each methodology will finally be comparatively analysed as a whole, and form the basis for an overall conclusion which aims to answer the question Should the PassivHaus standard replace the Code for Sustainable Homes as the UKs national standard for the design and construction of all sustainable dwellings?

Selbstüberschreitung: Jonas Cohns Wertphilosophie und Pädagogik vor dem Hintergrund der Ethik Friedrich Nietzsches :: German Essays

Selbstà ¼berschreitung: Jonas Cohns Wertphilosophie und Pà ¤dagogik vor dem Hintergrund der Ethik Friedrich Nietzsches ABSTRACT: Teaching philosophy and pedagogy at the University of Freiburg from 1897 to 1933, Jonas Cohn fought mainly against Friedrich Nietzsche and the influence of the ethics of Nietzsche on the youth of his time. A declaration made by Cohn in the Preface of his Science of Value (1932) shows this: "The title 'science of value' means polemics, too: I fight against all, who following Nietzsche deny the possibility of a science of value." But this opposition to Nietzsche and to his followers is not the only aspect of Cohn's relation to Nietzsche. On the other side, Cohn attempted to integrate some of the important traits of Nietzsche's ethic in his own conception of philosophy and pedagogics. The expression "self-transcendence" (Selbstà ¼berschreitung) stands for this ambition of Cohn. This can be demonstrated by some biographical data and by the interpretation of Cohn's philosophy of value. "'Wertwissenschaft' ist auch polemisch gemeint: Ich kà ¤mpfe gegen alle, die im Gefolge Nietzsches eine Wissenschaft vom Werte leugnen." - Diese eindeutige Erklà ¤rung stellte der reife Jonas Cohn, Philosoph und Erziehungswissenschaftler an der Università ¤t Freiburg von 1897 bis 1933, seiner "Wertwissenschaft" von 1932, seinem Hauptwerke, im Vorwort voran. Hat Jonas Cohn seine Lebensarbeit gegen Friedrich Nietzsche und dessen Wirkung ausgerichtet? Ich mà ¶chte diese, von Cohn selbst nahegelegte, Auffassung relativieren und aufweisen, daß Cohns Wertphilosophie und Erziehungslehre trotz weitreichender Differenzen Zà ¼ge Nietzschischen Geistes aufgenommen hat. Der Titel und Grundbegriff der Cohnschen Ethik "Selbstà ¼berschreitung" signalisiert nicht nur Parallelità ¤t und Nà ¤he zu Nietzsche; "Selbstà ¼berschreitung zeigt auch an, daß Cohn Intentionen Nietzsches, Momente des fà ¼r Nietzsche signifikanten Begriffs der "Selbstà ¼berwindung" in seine "objektive Wertlehre" à ¼bergefà ¼hrt hat. Ich werde zunà ¤chst anhand einiger biographischer Daten die Bedeutung Nietzsches fà ¼r Cohn wahrscheinlich machen, bevor der Inhalt der Wertphilosophie und Ethik Cohns selbst kurz zur Sprache kommen soll. Drei Momente sind auszufà ¼hren, die Cohn in seiner Biographie mit Nietzsche konfrontierten: Zeitliche und à ¶rtliche Nà ¤he zu Nietzsche und die persà ¶nliche Begegnung mit Denkern, die Cohn beeinflußten. Jonas Cohn (1869-1947) studierte nach einem glà ¤nzenden Abitur in Berlin (1888) zunà ¤chst in Leipzig, Heidelberg und Berlin Naturwissenschaft und promovierte mit einer experimentellen Arbeit in Botanik in Berlin 1892 zum Doktor der Philosophie. Nach der Promotion in Botanik wandte sich Cohn dem engeren Gebieten der Philosophie zu, ohne dabei zu unterlassen, seinem "geistigen Leben durch empirische Einzelarbeit gleichsam einen festen Unterbau zu schaffen". (SD, (1) S. 6) Diesen empirischen Unterbau erwarb sich Cohn in der experimentellen Psychologie bei Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) und Oswald Kà ¼lpe (1862-1915) in Leipzig, wo Cohn in den Jahren 1892 bis 94 am Psychologischen Institut arbeitete.

Othello Essay

The Jacobean era in which William Shakespeare first wrote Othello, eventually published in 1622, is one which is rightly remembered as being held to strict, dogmatic codes of sexuality and gender-power structures. On the threshold of Queen Elizabeth’s crowning, England under King James continued to be a strictly patriarchal society, with the realms of war and diplomacy being fully impenetrable to women. Considered the primary means to demonstration and execution of power, such venues were perceived to have held sway over all manner of social order. From a cosmetic vantage, it appears through characters such as Brabantio, Othello and Iago that Shakespeare acknowledges a sociological structure which largely keeps women beholden to these powers of men. However, through its intricate weaving of deception which is continually based on a distortion of the realities between men and women, Shakespeare wily toys with conventional wisdom regarding sex and power, dismantling many of the assumptions pertaining to the topic which were processional from the cultural hegemony of his time and place. While the work is constantly given over to opportunistic sleights against the cunning malice of the female heart, the flaws of the male characters are ultimately the cause of tragedy. Shakespeare’s work is marked by a rare propensity for his time, to encourage a reconsideration of the reciprocal relationship inbuilt to the breakdown which occurs between love, lust and loyalty  While men such as Othello and Brabantio characterize power as being in the hands of the wealthy and physically impressive, Desdemona silently and passively illuminates that sexuality is the true power broker. Even before it is the force which weakens his senses, Othello recognizes that all of his fearsome strengths are blunted by his infirmity in the hands of love and lust: â€Å"When light-winged toys Of feathered Cupid seel with wanton dullness My speculative and officed instrument, That my disports corrupt and taint my business, Let housewives makes a skillet of my helm.† (1.3, 263-267) Fittingly, the conclusion magnifies this irony, consistent with the convolution of gender power and responsibility as it persists throughout. Othello recognizes that it is his indiscretion, not Desdemona’s, which has delivered him to incurable suspicion. When he finally succumbs to his misguided jealously, it becomes invariably clear that his physical strengths, those very same which were said to have won him the heart of Desdemona, were not simply made benign by the power of her sexuality. Worse, his powers are turned against him, unleashed from his control and wielded by a fog of lustful rage. In the denouement of the play, Othello is inconsolable of his own guilt. After choking the life out of his innocent wife, Othello is left powerless. In this is the eventual resolution of Shakespeare’s treatise on the falsehood in the power dynamic between men and women. Indeed, the power which is shown to be reflected in the woman is one which contradicts traditional assumptions of 16th century female gender roles. That the women in this play, and Desdemona in particular, ultimately command such power over the judgment of men is quite telling of Shakespeare’s unique perspective. The twisted frustration which marks the conclusion of the play is a strikingly aggressive declaration by the playwright that cultural assumptions regarding the genders are not just too often grossly misunderstood, but consequently also subject to terrible repercussions.

Mountain Man Brewing Company Case Study Essay

What is the current situation? Mountain Man Brewing Company (MMBC) is a family business founded in West Virginia in 1925 by Guntar Prangel. The company is now operated by Guntar’s grandson, Oscar. Oscar’s son, Chris, is slated to inherit the business in five years when his father retires. Mountain Man (MM) Lager is the flagship product and the only beer currently produced by the company. The recipe for the lager was based on a refined family recipe and is known for its flavorful, bitter taste. By the 1960s, the lager had established itself as a legacy beer with a rich history, and the company continues to maintain its independent, family-owned status which appeals to its core drinkers. By 2005, the popularity of MM Lager in the East Central region of the U.S. had grown to generate revenues of just over $50 million, and the beer held the top market position among lagers in West Virginia. MM Lager won â€Å"Best Beer in West Virginia† in 2005 for the eighth year in a row. What has made MMBC successful & distinguishes it? MMBC has enjoyed success because of several factors. Although it is a regional brewer, it has superb name recognition. A recent study showed that Mountain Man Lager was considered by many to be West Virginia’s best known beer. In addition, it has very strong brand position with consumers favoring MM Lager’s unique taste and quality ingredients from the family recipe. Finally, MMBC has a trained sales force that is very adept and getting its product into the right channels to compete with national breweries. The legacy of the company is its main distinguishing trait from its competitors. As mentioned before, the very strong brand equity has made MMBC stand out as a brewery that has experienced customer loyalty for successive generations. Holding the title of â€Å"West Virginia’s Beer† allows MM Lager to have an ingrained exposure to consumers in the region and act as a natural default for its blue collar patrons. What enabled MMBC to create such a strong brand? To quote the Mission Statement, â€Å"Mountain Man is still standing because we manufacture an exceptional beer with a great brand name, we’ve never lost sight of our core customer, and we’ve never been seduced by the other guy’s market.† MMBC stands for such unique qualities that have been the boilerplate for developing an enriched brand with strong equity. For almost 50 years it held the top market share for lagers of West Virginia in the majority of the states where it was distributed distinguishing them in prime position among competitors. Research of working-class males determined that MMBC was as recognizable as leading manufacturers Chevrolet and John Deere in the East Central region. Besides successful branding efforts in a large  market, MM Lager was priced with an extremely competitive Every Day Value below specialty brands, but above premium domestic brands. This allowed for an aura of authenticity distinguishing it as higher quality than Mill er and Budweiser, for instance, all while gaining incremental revenues from the craft brewers like Sam Adams. MMBC could generate increased turns at registers without having the deep pockets of their competitors. What has caused MMBC’s decline in spite of its strong brand? Analysis of MMBC’s business model requires the backdrop of the U.S. beer industry. Since 2001, U.S. per capita beer consumption has declined by 2.3% due to increasing competition from wine and spirits-based drinks. MMBC’s revenues are down 2% relative to the prior fiscal year. The current state of the company and market conditions suggests that a single product line may be unsustainable. As of 2005, MMBC was the only major regional beer company to not expand beyond its flagship lager product. A segment of the population was still interested in MMBC, but that segment, while loyal, was aging. The rate at which MMBC was building new consumers was only going to replace a fraction of their current buyers. Distributors were discriminating about which smaller brands they would carry, and the percentage of new consumers by age group was continuing to decrease. There have also been numerous uncontrollable circumstances that have been attributed to MMBC’s decline despite their strong brand. Increased taxes and fees to manufacturers have been clearly evident in the rising retail costs of goods in the marketplace. Companies cannot afford to absorb the added expenditures and therefore pass them on to the consumer whom tends to buy less as prices increase; these increases are hitting their pockets on the home front as well. In addition, the average consumer is becoming much more health conscious and has made changes in their preference of alcoholic beverage segment. Beer is very high in calories; for instance, as compared to wine or spirits and decreasing caloric intake has been one of those fairly recent health conscious changes being made. Beer lovers are sticking with their choice of libation; however, substituting a light version of their favorite brand. With these factors on the rise every day and the core demographic of MM Lager reaching an age bracket were considerably less  portions of income are dedicated to alcohol purchases, the brewery has slowly lost market share to the larger domestic brewers that have been fortunate enough to capital to invest on increased advertising and marketing. Should MMBC introduce a light beer? With sales declining and seeking new areas of business growth, Chris Prangel, a recent MBA graduate, is considering a campaign to launch MM Light. Light beer sales in the U.S. have been growing at a compound annual rate of 4%, while traditional premium beer sales, such as MM Lager, have declined by the same percentage. The core age group for light beer drinkers is 25- 44 which extends below the current core age group of MM Lager (men over the age of 45). Currently, MM Lager has a 4-to-1 male-to-female ratio while the light beer category ratio is roughly 3-to-2. Using current rates of decline with profit margin down 6.2% in 2005, 2010 sales of MM Lager will continue to decrease at the current rate of decline. Given the current state of the beer industry, it is reasonable to project that the rate of sales decline will continue to accelerate in the future. In 2005, MMBC was still profitable and could afford to take on the costs of extending its product line; however, each year that the company waited to do so jeopardized its ability to afford new costs. At first glance, there appears to be an obvious opportunity to expand the brand by introducing a light beer to the market. The concern is that a light brew would alienate the core customer base and erode the attributes that make MM a profitable company. MM Light will add additional capital expenditures for plant and equipment upgrades and could potentially hurt sales of the lager as brand loyalty may become threatened. To arrive at a well-informed decision  supported by strong financial calculations, it is first necessary to perform a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis (Exhibit 1). While weaknesses and threats identified are serious, they are few in number when compared to the many strengths and opportunities of expanding the MMBC product line. Because 9.4% of the region’s light beer production was captured by small brewers, there are successes to be had in producing a light beer. In addition, light beer is responsible for more than 50% of all beer sales in MMBC’s East Central region. Even a small percentage of the biggest market had the potential to be valuable for MMBC. Is MM Light financially feasible for MMBC? MMBC must produce a light beer product in order to remain a competitive player in the beer industry. This decision is based on financial projections of sustained profitability. Both industry and company data were initially provided to set the groundwork for these calculations (Exhibit 2). MMBC revenues for 2005 were estimated at $50 million; however, that revenue base was projected to decrease by 2% annually. Additionally, the number of barrels of MM Lager sold in 2005 was approximately 520,000. Regional light beer sales totaled just over 18.7M barrels that year and were estimated to grow at an annual rate of 4% as judged by industry experts. As judged by Chris Prangel, the initial market share for MM Light in 2006 is estimated to be 0.25%. Following Chris’ prognostication, we also assumed an annual growth rate of 0.25% in MM Light revenue for follow-on years. Lastly, we were provided with variable cost per unit data: $66.93 for MM Lager and $71.62 for MM Light. This foundatio nal set of data allowed for a series of critical assumptions to be logically made (Exhibit 2). Break-Even Point (BEP) Analysis In an attempt to demonstrate the viability of extending MMBC’s product line to include a light beer, breakeven point (BEP) analysis was conducted. These calculations were performed for both MM Lager and MM Light as both products will comprise MMBC’s total revenue in years to come (Exhibit 3). It is important to note that MMBC’s fixed costs were partially comprised of aforementioned financial assumptions. SG&A costs for each product line were given, however we chose to allocate an additional $50K in fixed costs for MM  Light to help with label design. Advertising remained consistent with 2005 data for MM Lager, but an additional $750K was added for MM Light as part of an intensive six month marketing campaign. This incurred cost is significant in introducing a new product to the burgeoning light beer market in the east central region. Completing the BEP calculations, we have determined that 66,982 barrels of MM Light and 364,738 barrels of MM Lager must be produced in order for MMBC to break even (Exhibit 3). At a cost of $97/barrel, this is possible for MMBC to achieve by 2008. The following cannibalization analysis provides added detail to support this assertion. MM Lager Cannibalization An increase in MM Light production will require shelf space that had previously be devoted to the MM Lager product. This will directly impact the sales of MM Lager to some degree. Analysis of cannibalization is necessary in order to show sustained profitability despite an anticipated drop in MM Lager sales. Three estimates (Optimistic, Realistic, and Extreme) were chosen for this analysis, each associated with a percentage (5%, 10%, and 20%, respectively) of MM Lager revenue cannibalization (Exhibit 4). In all three cases, as the revenue from MM Lager decreases each year, that loss is offset by the revenue gained from MM Light. Of particular interest is a comparison of Total Revenue (with MM Light) and Total Revenue (without MM Light). Although higher levels of cannibalization negatively affect MMBC’s total revenue each year, the growing revenue of MM Light will continue from 2007-2010 as MMBC earns a larger share of the light beer market. In a worst case scenario of 20% cannibalization of MM Lager, MMBC’s total revenue with  MM Light is projected to overtake its revenue without MM Light by 2009 (Exhibit 4). It is important to consider, however, that extending the product line does not necessary equate to MM Lager cannibalization. Shipping light beer as a standalone product offers MMBC freedom to market to a totally new segment without alienating their existing drinkers. MM Light should not erode sales of their core Lager product as MMBC’s sales were already declining due to erosion by other brewers light beers. Also a brewer with a broad product offering was seen as a more attractive prospect to consumers. According to consumers, additional products not only introduced new drinkers to the brand, but to the brand’s other product lines. If MMBC did not branch out, they are in jeopardy of being dropped from sales channels in their home territory. Additionally, the same amount of effort that supported their single product could be going to support multiple products from a different brewery because MM Light would not require capital expenditures in plant and equipment in the short term due to existing excess capacity in MMBC’s facility Product line extensions help brewers obtain greater shelf space for products and created greater product focus among distributors and retailers. MM Light Marketing Strategies The issue of marketing and advertising the new MM Light product was analyzed using industry data from 2005 along with an aggressive marketing plan for the first six months of production. We examined marketing strategies for introducing MM Light to not only MMBC’s current customers, but also to the growing population of light beer consumers. Basing our calculations off of industry advertising expenditure data from 2005, we segmented our $750K advertising budget for the first six months of 2006 as shown in Exhibit 5. This strategy, based on prior successes throughout the U.S. beer industry, will help gain consumer confidence in our new product primarily through the medium of television. After the first six months of 2006, a refined analysis of marketing alternatives will be necessary in order to judge MMBC’s next steps. Producing a light beer also presents an opportunity for MMBC capture part of the 19.5 million barrels forecasted to sell in 2006. The introduction of light beer will cause a 7% increase in per barrel cost but  given current trends the company needs to change the status quo or risk succumbing to the fate of many other regional brewers (Exhibit 2). MMBC has the chance to tap into a large sales opportunity. Since light beer sales in  U.S. have been growing at a compound annual rate of 4% whereas traditional premium beer sales had declined annually by 4%. Also, younger beer drinkers view MMBC as strong and a â€Å"working man’s beer†. This represents younger people‘s general dislike of â€Å"big business†. It would be effective to entice younger beer drinkers to emotionally and intellectually support the product whil e catering to their general taste for light beer. MMBC has also strategically positioned itself from a marketing perspective as a preferred alternative to large breweries due to its brand and business model. For example, MMBC does not attempt to compete against large breweries directly in its advertising with MM Lager. Instead, they pursue their own style of marketing, chiefly with a trained sales force. What is required is a strategy founded on the principle that MM Light should have a new product name and logo to differentiate it from MM Lager. For example, a bold new label with a subtle, â€Å"by Mountain Man Beer Company† would help further this cause. MM Light should also be marketed as a reducedcalorie beer brought to consumers by the legendary craftsman of MMBC. MM Light needs to set itself apart from the light beer crowd with quality ingredients and complement the bitterness of MM Lager by delivering a rich distinct flavor of its own. The introduction of light beer to MMBC product portfolio represents a classic adapt-or-die scenario. Fortunately for MMBC, its strong brand equity makes it possible to leverage the brand to expand to new products. MMBC must be  aggressive in developing a light beer to take advantage of its brand power, the economic conditions, and its current ability to afford the costs associated with a start-up product. It is imperative that MMBC market its extended product line to customers with the goal of taking advantage of its attention to quality and its niche hold in regional beer brewing.

The Lost Generation in The Sun Also Rises Essays

The Lost Generation in The Sun Also Rises Essays The Lost Generation in The Sun Also Rises Paper The Lost Generation in The Sun Also Rises Paper Essay Topic: Literature The Sun also Rises As World War I ripped through many European countries in the early twentieth century, the population suffered not only physically, but mentally. In addition to the many lives lost in this war, the youth of the world was greatly affected by this relatively new idea of death. Consequently, the Great War caused a lapse in values and standards in the generation who suffered through it, permanently damaging the remainder of their lives. Earnest Hemingway takes a glimpse into the lives of the people of this so-called lost generation in his novel The Sun Also Rises. Set in this post World War I age, The Sun Also Rises shows the physical and emotional wounds, the religious abandonment, and the way in which members of the lost generation escape from their lives that were greatly affected by the first World War. Every character in The Sun Also Rises has been affected by World War I in some way. Some wounds show outwardly, while others are internalized, producing an even greater emotional and often psychological trauma on the character. The narrator of this novel, Jake Barnes, is a character whose physical wounds from the Great War cause him both emotional and psychological grief. While fighting in the War, Jake suffers an injury that leaves him impotent, but still desiring sexual activity. This wound causes him not only pain, but a great deal of confusion in regard to his relationship with Lady Brett Ashley: both partners know they love each other, but Jakes inability to sexually fulfill Lady Brett Ashley causes her to reject him. In his book on Hemingway, critic Earl Rovit asserts that [Jakes] wound still throbs and gives him pain (157). He cannot escape from his war injury and it continues to haunt him everyday he lives. Using his situation with Brett as a basis for all future relationships, Jake decides that he cannot please anyone and he must instead be content with wandering aimlessly through life without a true love. The severity of the emotional side of Jakes wound is in this belief that he cannot hope to find a mate. His interaction with a French prostitute shows the hopeless feeling that Jake receives from his War injury and how it has changed his life forever. When the prostitute simply lays her hand on Jakes, he pushes her away and tells her that he is sick. This emphasizes Jakes truly hopeless notion that he can never have any type of a physical relationship with a woman due to his wound. The French prostitutes response to Jakes revelation that he is sick emphasizes even more the hopelessness of the entire generation of the post-World War I era. Everybodys sick. Im sick too, replies the prostitute (Hemingway 21). Although she does not specify exactly how she herself is sick, the prostitute believes that the Great War has caused everyone a certain degree of sickness and suffering. Michael Friedberg states that the prostitutes statement is no doubt also a reference to the state of the world itself (176). The state of the world, including the other characters in The Sun Also Rises, is as lost and hopeless as Jake, predominantly because of the War. The truth of the prostitutes statement comes in the form of other characters in The Sun Also Rises including Lady Brett Ashley and Count Mippipopolous. Critic E. M. Halliday speculates that Jake Barnes war-wound impotence[is] a kind of metaphor for the whole atmosphere of sterility and frustration which is the ambiance of The Sun Also Rises (303). The other characters of this novel experience grief, frustration, and pain from the situations the War has dealt them, just as Jake does. The Count is a character who has been physically wounded by the Great War and war in general. The scars of arrow wounds pierce the Counts torso from a battle in Abyssinia when he was a young man. His involvement in seven wars and four revolutions (Hemingway 61) including World War I gives him the aged disposition of a person who has been through very hard times. Brett Ashley is an additional example of a character whose war-time experiences greatly affect her life. During the Great War, Lady Ashley orked as a nurse and was heart-broken when her true love was killed in battle. She consequently had a series of bad relationships in which she was physically and verbally abused and emerged with only her title, Lady Ashley. She recognizes her love for Jake as fruitless and is instead content with wandering aimlessly from one man to another. The effects of the War on Brett are seen in her loose, discorded relationships [that] reflect the shattered unity ( ) of the modern world (Martin 69). Lady Ashleys post-war position in The Sun Also Rises symbolizes the death of aristocracy that was suffered through the war. According to Richard Lehans essay on Hemingway, the post-War Lady Ashley represents the purposelessness and moral abandonment of the [aristocracy] (197). Her values and lifestyle were both destroyed when the Great War ended, and in essence, so was Lady Ashley. The Great War causes the characters of The Sun Also Rises not only physical and emotional suffering, but moral and religious abandonment as well. Although none of the main characters in this book professes true devotion to their religion, it is the contrast among characters that illustrates the morally lost state of the generation. Essayist John Pratt points out that, [E]ach major character represents one religious attitude (151). Hemingways novel contains a semi-pious Catholic, a detested Jew, and a pagan who combine to portray the religious abandonment that World War I essentially created. Jake Barnes is the semi-pious Catholic. Although Jake is deemed one of the more religious characters in the novel, his attitude towards religion and the Catholic faith in general show that the War affects him in this way too. Once again it is his relationship with Brett that causes his religious hopelessness. Jake admits that when he first met Brett, he sought advice from the Catholic Church on how to handle their relationship while dealing with his injury. He knew that he and Brett would not be able to have children because of this injury that left him impotent, but Jake went to get advice from a religion that sees marriage as first a procreative and then a unitive sacrament. The Catholic Church had an awfully good way of handling that. Not to think about it (Hemingway 35). Therefore, Jake is bitter toward what he thinks to be the Churchs unacceptable attitude toward his wound (Pratt 153). This very advice causes him much pain in his relationship with Brett that came as a result of the War. Lady Brett Ashley is the pagan. It is clear from the very beginning of The Sun Also Rises that Brett lacks certain beliefs and values that other people normally possess. During her stay in Pamplona, Spain, however, Brett makes it clear that she also lacks morals and any kind of religious beliefs. During the Pamplona fiesta, Brett tells Jake that she wishes to hear him confess. Jake, however, tells her that if she listens to him confess, it will be in a language she does not know. The obvious reason for this is that Jake will confess in Latin or Spanish, but it is also possible that it means she will not understand the language of the Christian religion (Baker 89). After Brett meets Pedro Romero, the absence of God in her life can be seen again. Brett asks Jake to take her to a cathedral so she can pray for her new beau, but she soon becomes uncomfortable. After trying to pray for only a couple of seconds, Brett leaves the cathedral. Im damned bad for a religious atmosphere, Ive got the wrong type of face (Hemingway 188). Brett, therefore, knows that she has rejected God and she accepts this. She re-emphasizes her pagan state at the end of the novel when she commends herself for deciding to end her relationship with Romero in an effort to save him. Brett tells Jake that her decision makes her feel good and that her goodness is what she has instead of God. Jake tells her that many people have God to which Brett replies, He never worked very well with me (Hemingway 221). Lady Brett Ashley, then, is most likely a pagan due to her War-time experiences, but she believes that her being so has worked to her advantage. Robert Cohn represents the detested Jew in a more symbolic sense than the rest of the characters in The Sun Also Rises. During the course of the novel, not much is said about Roberts religious preferences, but it is in fact his religion that makes him the scapegoat for the anger of his so-called friends. Jake states that Robert is a Jew within the first few pages of the novel. Jake also states that until Robert went to college, no one made him feel that he was a Jew and therefore different from anyone else. The significance of this statement lies in the fact that Jake, and other members of their circle of friends, do see Robert as different just because of his religion. While Brett is never referred to as the pagan, Robert is often called the Jew, with a variety of derogatory terms attached to it. The first fault that Jake and his friends find with Robert is that he did not fight in the War. They attribute this to the fact that Robert is Jewish so right from the beginning, the Great War causes problems in Robert Cohns life. Throughout the remainder of the novel, Robert suffers a variety of insults pertaining to his religion. When he becomes upset in Burguete because Brett has not yet arrived, Bill and Jake attribute this to his Jewish superiority. Well, let him not get superior and Jewish, remarks Bill at one point (Hemingway 92). During the fiesta in Pamplona, Mike Campbell calls Robert a steer. By using this term, Mike is saying that Robert is inferior to the rest of the bulls (he, Jack, and Bill) because steers lack not only testicles, but also the ability to inspire passion (Quieto sec. 1). In this statement, Mike emphasizes his dislike of Cohn simply because of his religion. Mike sees that Cohn can become Jewish and superior at times so he feels that he must make him feel inferior in all other ways. Although Robert never discusses his religion anywhere in the novel, he is detested by the majority of the characters for the simple fact that he is a Jew. By not fighting in the War, Robert receives further criticism from his friends and this emphasizes the idea that the Great War ruined religion for many people. The War wounds suffered by the characters in The Sun Also Rises cause a variety of responses in each character. While heavy drinking seems to be one of the ways in which these characters find solace for their miseries, traveling seems also to be a popular trend. The very book itself is an example of this in that Jake Barnes narrates from Paris, completely detaching himself from the Kansas City life in which he once lived. The gaiety and entertainment associated with Paris serves as a means by which he tries to forget his unfortunate station in life caused by the Great War. In an attempt to forget his wound, Jake submerges himself in a seemingly care-free life of habitual drinking and dining as a French expatriate. Youre an expatriate. Youve lost touch with the soil Fake European standards have ruined you (Hemingway 109). One of Jakes friends makes this remark to him, proving that Jake has in fact adopted the standards of a completely different continent to leave behind the world that he holds responsible for his current situation. Jake also uses travel later on in The Sun Also Rises to escape from a variety of people and situations that remind him of his hopeless state. When his relationship with Brett becomes too much, Jake accepts Roberts invitation to join him on a fishing trip in Spain. Jake and his friend, Bill Gorton embark for this trip and immediately the tone of the book becomes lighter and happier. Aside from their frequent disagreements with Robert, Jake and Bill manage to have a good time fishing in Burguete, a small town in the Pyrenees mountains. Instead of obsessing over his relationship with Brett, Jake concerns himself only with fishing, drinking, and enjoying himself. We stayed five days at Burguete and had good fishing There was no word from Brett or Mike (Hemingway 117). It is on this trip to Burguete that Jake and Bill become good friends through their mutual desire to get away from the petty and noxious tribulations of Robert Cohn and company (Baker 84). Their camaraderie also stems from their shared need to escape from the world that the Great War has created from them and Burguete is the closest each character comes to experiencing this. Robert Cohn is another character who uses travel as a way to escape from the harsh realities of the times. The novel begins with Robert in a somewhat disastrous relationship that he was forced into by his lady. Things begin to go awry in the relationship and this, combined with Roberts new interest in the book The Purple Land cause him to yearn for a change of scenery. He suggests a trip to South America to Jake who cynically replies, You cant get away from yourself by moving from one place to another (Hemingway 18). Jake speaks from experience for his current place of habitation is a desperate attempt to get away from himself and the way he has become. Robert, however, does not take Jakes advice and after ending his relationship of four years, he sets off for San Sebastian, Spain. More than half of The Sun Also Rises is set in Pamplona, Spain where Jake, Brett, Robert, Bill Gorton, and Mike Campbell attend the summer fiesta. Although Jake attends this fiesta almost every year to watch the bullfights, this year he cannot truly escape from himself because his past haunts accompany him on the trip. Therefore, he must resort to a lifestyle of perpetual drunkenness to deal with his problems, as do many of the other characters. The world of The Sun Also Rises is a world of drunken promiscuity, shot through with streaks of pity (Wagenknecht 374). Although Jake turns to alcohol frequently on this trip, his relationship with Brett manages still to tear at his emotions. After he and Bill discuss the idea of irony and pity, Jake feels especially low as he realizes that irony and pity are the combination he used whenever he thinks about Brett (Baker 92). Their relationship is ironic in that they both love each other but can never be together, and pitiful in the same sense. The trip that is supposed to help Jake escape reality actually makes him realize his hopeless state even more. He proves his own advice to others during the course of this trip; You cant get away from yourself by moving from one place to another (Hemingway 18). Jake knows this from experience, but he also keeps reliving it every time he goes away. The characters of The Sun Also Rises never do manage to get away from themselves. The Great War, it seems, has caused permanent damage to the lives of those who suffered through it. At the end of the novel, Jake attempts to rescue Brett after she runs off with Pedro Romero. Once he arrives, Brett begins to speak nostalgically of their relationship, saying that they could have had a good life together. Yes, isnt it pretty to think so? is Jakes reply (Hemingway 222). This is true for the entire lost generation affected by the War. It is quite possible that any of the characters in The Sun Also Rises could have led normal lives, but the influence of World War I was too much. According to Rovit, World War I had been the catalytic agent in releasing the stark factor of nothingness and absurdity at the very root of traditional values (159). The Great War destroyed the traditional values of love, faith, and hope and consequently, the characters of The Sun Also Rises wander aimlessly through their resultant lives, constantly seeking ways to escape.

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