Jean Paul Sartre Philosophy And The Existence Of God

Jean-Paul Sartre was an influential 20th century existentialist who mostly acquired information on the study of consciousness and the study of being. Sartre spent many years studying philosophy and the existence of God mostly studying the works of Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger. He became a Professor of Philosophy at Le Havre in 1931 and then began teaching at Lycà ©e Pasteur in Paris from 1937 to 1939. During his career, Sartre wrote about many philosophical theories, some notable books include La nausà ©e published in 1938, Being and Nothingness published in 1943, and many more lectures and literature for individuals to read for years to come. Sartre was an important figure of existentialism and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1964 but turned it down. Some of Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist principles are the act of free will, forced to take responsibility for all actions, and the existence of God. Jean-Paul Sartre was a renowned intellectual, writer and philosopher. He was born in Paris in 1905 the only child of a French Navy officer, Jean-Baptiste Sartre and Anne-Marie Schweitzer. At an early age his father died of a fever and shortly thereafter his mother moved in with her parents in Meudon, this was instrumental in Sartre’s journey to philosophy. Her father taught her son mathematics and classical literature. At the young age of twelve Sartre’s mother remarried and the family moved to La Rochelle where he was bullied by other children from the area. As a teenager inShow MoreRelatedJean-Paul Sartre’s Philosophy: Radical Freedom and Responsibility 1253 Words   |  6 Pagesis condemned to be free† (Sartre 32). Radical freedom and responsibility is the central notion of Jean-Paul Sartre’s philosophy. However, Sartre himself raises objections about his philosophy, but he overcomes these obvious objections. In this paper I will argue that man creates their own essence through their choices and that our values and choices are important because they allow man to be free and create their own existence. I will first do this by explaining Jean-Paul Sartre’s quote, then byRead MoreJean Paul : The Philosopher Of The Twentieth Century1387 Words   |  6 Pages Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre is arguably the best known philosopher of the twentieth century. He was born in Paris France on June 21st in the year 1905, and died on April 15th 1980 at age 74. He was a French philosopher, novelist, literary critic, playwright, political activist and biographer. Jean-Paul attended the École Normale Supà ©rieure from 1924-1929 and became the professor of philosophy in 1931 at Le Havre. He is a well known figure in the philosophy of Essentialism and Phenomenology,Read MoreExistentialism1408 Words   |  6 Pages Existentialism and its facets There are many philosophies that people use in their lives. Some of the ways of thinking are linked to some prominent people. There is idealism, naturalism, experimentalism, and existentialism among others. This essay explores existentialism, which has been postulated by Sartre among others. The other proponents of existentialism include Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, martin Buber, Martin Heidegger and Martin Buber. The weakness and strengths of existentialism are going toRead MoreA Concrete Human Existence, And The Conditions Of Such Existence1689 Words   |  7 PagesJuan Linares Mr. Maust English IV AP 26 September 2015 Thematic Project Outline Introduction Thesis. Existentialists focus on the question that is a concrete human existence, and the conditions of such existence; they do not dwell on a hypothesis for human essence, instead they stress that this essence is determined by an individual’s own life choices. Although humans live in the world, a distance is created in order to add meaning to the disinterested world; however, this meaning is fragile andRead MoreExistentialism And The Beliefs Of The Movement1454 Words   |  6 Pageswhat it is today and without it people would most likely be more close minded and less free. Existentialism was a very influential movement with many impactful authors and will forever be remembered in history because of it’s unique ideas about the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will and how it shifted a culture. Existentialism is a philosophical idea within ethics that was developed in the 19th century and progressedRead More Sartre’s Existentialism in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot1572 Words   |  7 Pagesoften misunderstand the quintessence of Sartre’s philosophy. Jean-Paul Sartre, in his lecture â€Å"Existentialism is Humanism,† remarks that â€Å"existence precedes essence† (2), that is, man first materializes and then searches for a purpose – an essence. Samuel Beckett, through his play Waiting for Godot, affirms Sartre’s core argument. Misinterpreting Godot, critic Edith contends that it differs fundamentally from Sartre’s philosophy; Kern acknowledges the existential elements withinRead MoreHsà ¼n Tzu and Jean-Paul Sartre Comparison of two Philosophers1527 Words   |  7 Pagesunderstanding of our human nature? Does man act according to his divine plan, or is he taught how to act? In analyzing the works of Hsà ¼n Tzu and Jean-Paul Sartre, I will determine which of these two philosophers offers the strongest foundation for living an ethical life in the modern era. HSÃÅ"N TZU Hsà ¼n Tzu is one of the main founders of eastern philosophy and is considered one of the three great sages in China along with Mencius and Confucious. Tzu’s style of writing is poetic and easy to understandRead MoreExistentialism And How This Philosophical Theory Has Developed Over The Years1443 Words   |  6 Pagesprecursors of this movement. Other major philosophers like Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger also deny any association with the movement yet their work is pivotal in bringing this theory to the world. Writers like Fyodor Dostoevsky, Franz Kafka also discuss this theme in their work, thus creating literary work on existentialism and developing this theory further. Existentialism taken up by Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Simone de Beauvoir in the 20th century in their literaryRead MoreAnalysis Of Jodi Picoult s My Sister s Keeper Essay1701 Words   |  7 PagesExistence precedes essence. These three words sum up existentialism in a nutshell and is the single most important of all of its theories. Originating from a nineteenth century Danish philosopher, this theory is still found throughout many literary works. Among these literary works is Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper, a novel in which the theory of existentialism is actively present and found in many elements of the story. These elements, upon further observation, exhibit the six major conceptsRead MoreExistentialism And Human Emotions By Jean Paul Sartre1513 Words   |  7 PagesJean-Paul Sartre s novel Existentialism and Human Emotions discusses his philosophy that man is responsible for what he is and what he does; that man chooses his values and makes himself. At the beginning of the book, Sartre defends existentialism against several charges that had been laid against it. Throughout the book, Sartre refers to the basis of existentialism using the phrase ‘existence precedes essence . With this, phrase lies the basis for the argument that Existentialism is a Humanism

Understanding of God in Ancient Rome Essay - 1009 Words

The Roman Empire was unparalleled in the ancient world. With strong a military, technological development, and widespread infrastructure, Rome easily became the undisputed superpower of the Mediterranean. Lurking underneath this greatness was a deadly secret that caused the eventual collapse of the empire. The secret that eroded Rome, as outlined by Francis Schaffer in How Should We Then Live?, was the civilization’s understanding of God. Rome’s initial understanding of God laid the groundwork for the civilization’s fall. For a worldview to shape a person’s actions, a detailed description of God’s existence and his qualities must be outlined. From one’s definition of God, all other basic worldview questions are related and†¦show more content†¦After centuries of belief in gods who held no influence over values, average Roman citizens succumbed to anything that was gratifying when faced with the unhappiness of life. This submissi on is evidenced when Francis Schaeffer (1976) describes the later days of Rome as a people concerned with socializing and sex more than cultural or technological advancement. In Schaeffer’s opinion, Romans gave into lethargy because they did not believe in a God-given mandate to pursue moral living and progress. While this sentiment is largely due to Schaeffer’s Christian background, it is nevertheless a true statement. A civilization cannot progress without a sense that God has given it that imperative. Overall, Rome’s fall is related to its early understanding of God. In addition to the gods of Roman civilization, the later Roman concept of God in relation to the Caesars contributed to the empire’s decline. When describing the role of the Caesars in the religious life of Romans, Francis Schaeffer (1976) observes â€Å"the emperors ruled as gods†¦ [and] tried to legislate morals and family life† (p. 22). The author’s note is sign ificant in light of the Roman understanding of God. The Romans already worshiped gods who were merely exaggerated forms of humanity, but the civilization proceeded to worship a man who claimed to be a god. While the Caesars tried to maintain morality,Show MoreRelatedThe Literary Works Of The First Century Romans993 Words   |  4 PagesUnderstanding ancient civilizations is always a hard process. The only resources that are readily available, are the texts written by people of the times. But which helps better the understanding of the society and political structures: historical or literary works? The first century Romans are a great example of this. The literary works of the first century Romans, help further the knowledge about the ancient civilization. While the historical works do show a lot of the facts from the era, theRead MoreThe Colosseum : Cultural And Cultural Values1305 Words   |  6 Pagesthe societal and cultural values of Rome. In addition to this, the essay also demonstrates the technical and spatial features of the buildings and illustrates the way through the building is able to develop a language of classical architecture in Rome. The thesis statement of the present essay can be stated as ‘The extent to which the architectural building of ‘The Colosseum’ in Rome depicts the cultural and societal values and principles practiced in Ancient Roman Society’. Critical Analysis ofRead MoreAncient Greek And Roman Worlds1502 Words   |  7 PagesWintersole ENGL 1302 4 November 2015 Greco-Roman Aesthetics The ancient Greek and Roman worlds made important contributions to both religion and philosophy, the study of the nature of truth, knowledge, and moral values. In fact, the word philosophy is Greek origin, containing the world s philia or to love with Sophia or wisdom. Two of the most powerful empires in the ancient world were Greece and Rome. In order to understand these two different yet similar worlds, you have toRead MoreThe Iliad And The Odyssey1693 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The ancient Greeks were a deeply religious people. They worshipped many gods whom they believed appeared in human form and yet were endowed with superhuman strength and ageless beauty. The Iliad and the Odyssey, our earliest surviving examples of Greek literature, record men s interactions with various gods and goddesses whose characters and appearances underwent little change in the centuries that followed. The Greeks attributed these epic narratives to Homer, a poet living at the end of the 8th Read MoreCultural, Economical, Religious, And Political Contributions847 Words   |  4 Pagescontributions made by both Ancient Greece, 800 B.C - 500 B.C , and Ancient Rome, 31 BCE – 476 CE, assisted in the development of western culture. Albeit Rome embraced and developed some characteristics of Greek culture, they still made prominent contributions of their own. Rome and Greece contributed Christianity, Philosophy, The Republic, and Literature. At the time, Roman religion was centered on gods and the interpretation of why things were the way they were. Each god had its own special dayRead MoreThe Understanding of Medicine of the Ancient Romans1364 Words   |  5 Pagesago, being passed down to our hospitals today. Some of our practices started from Ancient Rome.The understanding of medicine from the Ancient Romans evolved from the many â€Å"medical methods of the Greeks, the Etruscans, the Egyptians, the Persians, and other conquered peoples (Crystallinks, â€Å"Medicine and surgery†, Source 1).† They mainly received imports of medicine from other cultures that they adopted from. Ancient Roman’s based their medical practices on science along with their religious beliefsRead MoreAncient Rome, The Heart Of A Great Empire1545 Words   |  7 PagesAncient Rome, the heartbeat of a great empire, was the birthplace of one of the best civilizations on earth. Its ruins tell a story of the world’s firs t metropolis. Rome was built on a swamp with extraordinary engineering. Buried underground beneath the streets of Rome are the pillars of Rome’s power. Archeologists are now analyzing pieces of infrastructure about the city of Rome and the people that profoundly influenced the world. Rome was the first civilization to conquer the western world. AtRead MoreThe Differences Between The And Roman Society1350 Words   |  6 Pagesinfluenced the overall well-being of Rome. In Ancient Rome, rituals and prayers played a tremendous role in society. As stated in Jo-Ann Shelton’s book, As the Romans Did: A Sourcebook in Roman Social History, â€Å"The religion protected the state, and the state protected the religion. The two were interwoven, and religion was an intrinsic part of the very fabric of Roman society† (Shelton 359). In addition to the main gods, the Romans had spirits and other gods, like household gods, that they would pray and makeRead MoreThe Analysis Of My thology Of The Environment And The Unconscious Mind978 Words   |  4 Pagesprocess known as enculturation. Anthropology researches the way people interpret their surroundings, as well as the actions and responses of the other members of their society. These interpretations shape a more universal cultural system --i.e., â€Å"understandings shared, to varying degrees, among members of the same society† (Des Chene 1996:1274). Cultural anthropology is established through the cross comparison of cultures. The study of mythology in relation to anthropology has evolved from the originalRead MoreThe Great Differences Between Ancient Greece And Rome And Modern Life1200 Words   |  5 Pagescomputers, are we that different than many of the ancient societies that we have studied? No doubt there are great differences between ancient Greece and Rome and modern life in the US. But the needs of people to live well, create a social structure and advance as a people are all things that we share. Furthermore, the human emotions that drive discoveries and advancements have been consistent throughout time. Let’s take a look at ancient Greece and Rome and see how much we have in common. Let’s start

QNT Final Free Essays

What will be the probability that z is greater than 1. 75? 0. 0401 z end up in the higher than 1. We will write a custom essay sample on QNT Final or any similar topic only for you Order Now 75. 22) A null hypothesis will make a claim about what? A Population parameter Explanation: A null hypothesis is the general default position in a survey and requires a claim off population parameter. 23) Describe the level of significance? Probability off Type I error Explanation: A type 1 error happens when the null hypothesis is true, but rejected at he same time. 24) Let’s perform a statistical test of the difference between two proportions at the 0. 05 level of significance. If the computed z is -1. 07, what will be the correct decision? Do not reject the null hypothesis. Explanation: The z is of -1. 07 is acceptable within the range of a . 05 level of significance. 25) What condition must be met to perform a test for the difference of two sample means? Data must be at least of interval scale and populations must be normal. 26) Consider a hypothesis test that compares two population means. The combined degrees of freedom equal 24. What statement about the sample sizes is NOT true? Let’s assume the population standard deviations are equal. Sample A = 11. Sample B = 13 Explanation: This must NOT be true because it is outside the limits set by the degree of freedom. 27) What type of chart do we call it when paired data is plotted? Scatter diagram Explanation: Paired data must be plotted in a way that shows the relationship 28) When a variable is used to predict the value of another variable, it is called: Independent variable Explanation: The independent variable is useful for determining the values of variables that are not explicitly known. 29) 20 randomly selected online students were given 1 5 multiple-choice problems ND 15 open-ended problems that cover the same topics. The teacher wanted to know which questions the students scored better on. What kind of test is this? A paired t-test Explanation: The paired t-test evaluates the mean values that result form a set of data. 30) The weights of 100 units of a product created by two identical processes have same mean, but the standard of process A is 15 while that of B is 7. What is true about this scenario? Unit weights in process B will be grouped closer than in process A. Explanation: A wider standard of process is going to create greater deviation in the end products. How to cite QNT Final, Papers

Ghosts 2 Essay Example For Students

Ghosts 2 Essay In his play â€Å"Ghosts†, Ibsen forces the reader to think about his own ideas and believes, as well as those of society and past ages. Symbolism is one technique repeatedly used to portray the author’s ideas through rain, light, fire, the orphanage, Oswald, and through Engstrand himself. The use of religion is also interesting in the way the town people and Pastor Mander uses it. There are many symbols present throughout Ibsen’s work. Rain is used as a symbol of the cleansing of evil and impurities. Outside of Mrs. Alving’s home it remains rainy and stormy until she faces the truth about her husband. The rain washes away the disguises so that the truth may be seen. Generally when this takes place the sun, another symbol, rises, revealing the reality of the situation. Mrs. Alving said, â€Å"And there we are, one and all, so pitifully afraid of the light† (271). All the characters are afraid to face reality, especially Mrs. Alving, represented by t he light. Fire is yet another symbol Ibsen uses. When Oswald comes downstairs with Alving’s pipe, he recalls an incident when he was given a pipe in his youth. Young Oswald smoked until he became sick. This is a foreshadowing of his illness, another sickness caused by careless actions. Another example of fire is seen when the orphanage, built in honor of Alving, is burned (287). The fire creates a symbolism that represents the truth, rising quickly and devouring all illusions. However, when the fire is extinguished, the fantasy world is up in smoke and all that remains are the painful ashes of the past. The orphanage is used as a subtle symbol for the illusion created by Mrs. Alving. The brothel, Captain Alving’s Home, symbolizes the reality of his life. In the end however, the truth is made known about both by the burning of the orphanage (287), and the brothel taking its place. These two actions illustrate the awakening from illusion to reality in the play. Oswald can also be seen as a main symbol. He is ignorant of the truth, giving him a false sense of innocence. He seems to have some power to stand up for his own beliefs, something his mother lacks. Oswald, is used to represent the truth of his situation which is hidden in is past. His illness and his wanting to die illustrate this idea. A final symbol used throughout the play is that of Engstrand. He represents society as a whole. Engstrand has a crippled leg; yet he says about his ethics he has â€Å"two good legs to stand on† (277). Society is very much like this. It seems to be solid and stable but has weak fo undations. Society will never completely heal or lose its flaws, nor will Engstrand. Religion plays a major role in the everyday lives of the townspeople. The members of this community do not have not have the same direct contact with their God as the members of the ancient Greek world, but reach their God through a divine person (Pastor Manders). In this way, the society presented is further away from the Holy Spirit, but closer to the priest. This gave the priest enormous power as he was a â€Å"Pathway to Heaven† for his congregation (265). This may be seen in Pastor Mander’s obsessions of how he is perceived by the people who entrust him. His power is illustrated during his discussion with Mrs. Alving over whether or not the orphanage should be insured or not. â€Å"You see! In town, we have a great many such people. Followers of other denominations. People might very easily come to the conclusion that neither you nor I have sufficient trust in the ordinance of the Higher Power† (254). The orphanage is to be raised in Captain Alving’s honor, yet it’s his own reputation which Manders is worried about. Mrs. Alving’s name is just mentioned to obscure the obvious reason for saying this. This illustrates how the church was used for personal achievements, and not only to reach divine sanctity. The common people’s conduct is also an important is also in important mirror in how the religion permeates the society in this drama. Mrs. Alving has been living on her own, unbounded from society and regulations. She has become a free-thinker, commonly reading books that are not sociably accepted. Manders response to this, reflects the attitude of the time by saying, â€Å"Remember the duty you owe to this orphanage which you decided to found at a time which your attitude towards spiritual matters was quite different from what it is now- as far as I can judge† (253). In the society Ibsen creates, it is not God’s role to judge, but that of Manders and the other members of society. .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 , .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 .postImageUrl , .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 , .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9:hover , .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9:visited , .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9:active { border:0!important; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9:active , .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9 .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u46f185c25cddf4cce4bcfd1876dccbd9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Frees - The Catcher In The Rye Catcher Rye E EssayMany ideas are presented in Ibsen’s play â€Å"Ghosts.† The use of symbolism, such as rain, light, fire, and characters illustrate various concepts involved throughout the play. Religion, and the misconceptual use of it by Manders and society, also illustrates the unusual scenes painted by Ibsen within the play.

International business Essays (479 words) - Business, Economy

International business Tarhab Motiwala Assignment 2 Answer questions page (129) Q: Reread the Country Focus about Islamic capitalism in Turkey. Then answer the following questions: a. Can you see anything in the value of Islam that is hostile to business? b. What does the experience of the Regio around Kayseri teach about the relationship between Islam and business? c. What are the implications of Islamic values toward business for the participation of a country such as Turkey in the global economy? ANS: Responses to this question will obviously vary based on the countries chosen by the students and their knowledge of the countries. Hopefully students can present some information on the dimensions of culture including values, norms, social structure, religion, language, and education of the countries and also describe the key differences and similarities of the countries along these dimensions. Relating the differences between the countries along these dimensions to differences in the costs of doing business, the potential for economic development, and business practices. Answer question page (171) Q: Should Nike be held responsible for working conditions in foreign factories that it does not own, but where subcontractors make products for Nike? ANS: yes, I agree that Nike should be held responsible for the working conditions in foreign factories where subcontractors make products the company sells. As perspective are likely to argue that since the workers are there to produce the products for Nike, the fact that the company does not actually own the facilities is immaterial - Nike is the beneficiary of the work done in the factory. Some students may suggest that Nike be resolved of some responsibility if the factories also produce products for other companies. Q: What labor standards regarding safety, working conditions, overtime, and the like, should Nike hold foreign factories to: those prevailing in that country, or those prevailing in the United States? ANS: whether to hold foreign factories to the same standards as domestic factories is difficult. Some might argue that Nike should require all factories regardless of their location to maintain the same standards when it comes to working conditions, overtime, and so on. Other however, may suggest that it would be completely out of line to pay workers the same wages around the world, or require factories to follow expensive safety procedures. might argue that doing so could push some factories out of business and leave workers in an even less desirable state. Some might also argue that if working conditions, wages, and so forth are standardized around the world, there will be little incentive for companies to outsource production, and countries like Indonesia will suffer. Still other students may suggest that some middle ground be found, where wages are in line or slightly above local wages, and some basic safety procedures are required. Students advocating this approach might suggest that Nike invest in the factories to ensure that working conditions are safe.

The History of Human Interactions with Caribou

The History of Human Interactions with Caribou Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus, and known as caribou in North America), were among the last animals domesticated by humans, and some scholars argue that they still arent fully tame. There are currently about 2.5 million domesticated reindeer located in nine countries, and about 100,000 people occupied in tending them. That accounts for about half the total population of reindeer in the world. Social differences between reindeer populations show that domestic reindeer have an earlier breeding season, are smaller and have a less-strong urge to migrate than their wild relatives. While there are multiple subspecies (such as R. t. tarandus and R. t. fennicus), those subcategories include both domestic and wild animals. That is likely the result of continued interbreeding between domesticated and wild animals, and support of scholars contentions that domestication took place relatively recently. Reindeer Key Takeaways Reindeer were first domesticated in eastern Russia between 3000–1000 years agoThere are about 5 million reindeer on our planet, about half are domesticated todayArchaeological evidence shows reindeer were first hunted by humans during the Upper Paleolithic of about 45,000 years agoThe same species are called caribou in North America Why Domesticate a Reindeer? Ethnographic evidence from pastoral peoples of the Eurasian Arctic and Subarctic (such as the Sayan, Nenets, Sami, and Tungus) exploited (and still do) the reindeer for meat, milk, riding, and pack transport. Reindeer saddles used by ethnic Sayan appear to be derived from horse saddles of the Mongolian steppes; those used by Tungus are derived from Turkic cultures on the Altai steppe. Sledges or sleds drawn by draft animals, also have attributes that appear to be adapted from those used with  cattle or horses. These contacts are estimated to have occurred no longer ago than about 1000 BCE. Evidence for the use of sledges has been identified as long ago 8,000 years ago during the Mesolithic in the Baltic Sea basin of northern Europe, but they were not used with reindeer until much later. Studies on reindeer mtDNA completed by Norwegian scholar Knut Rà ¸ed and colleagues identified at least two separate and apparently independent reindeer domestication events, in eastern Russia and Fenno-Scandia (Norway, Sweden, and Finland). Substantial interbreeding of wild and domestic animals in the past obscures DNA differentiation, but even so, the data continue to support at least two or three independent domestication events, probably within the past two or three thousand years. The earliest event was in eastern Russia; evidence for domestication in Fenno-Scandia suggests that domestication may not have occurred there until as late as the Medieval period. Reindeer / Human History Reindeer live in cold climates, and they feed mostly on grass and lichen. During the fall season, their bodies are fat and strong, and their fur is quite thick. The prime time for hunting reindeer, then, would be in the fall, when hunters could collect the best meat, strongest bones and sinews, and thickest fur, to help their families survive the long winters. Archaeological evidence of ancient human predation on reindeer includes amulets, rock art and effigies, reindeer bone and antler, and the remains of mass hunting structures. Reindeer bone and antler and artifacts made from them have been recovered from the French Upper Paleolithic sites of Combe Grenal and Vergisson, suggesting that reindeer were hunted at least as long ago as 45,000 years. Mass Reindeer Hunting Rock art of Alta (UNESCO World Heritage Site), petroglyphs in the Alta Fjord, Norway.   Ã‚  Manuel ROMARIS / Moment / Getty Images Two large mass hunting facilities, similar in design to desert kites, have been recorded in the Varanger peninsula of far northern Norway. These consist of a circular enclosure or pit with a pair of rock lines leading outward in a V–shape arrangement. Hunters would drive the animals into the wide end of the V and then down into the corral, where the reindeer would be slaughtered en masse or kept for a period of time. Rock art panels in the Alta fjord of northern Norway depict such corrals with reindeer and hunters, substantiating the interpretation of the Varanger kites as hunting corrals. Pitfall systems are believed by scholars to have been used beginning in the late Mesolithic (ca. 5000 BCE), and the Alta fjord rock art depictions date to approximately the same time, ~4700–4200 cal  BCE. Evidence for mass kills involving driving reindeer into a lake along two parallel fences built of stone cairns and poles has been found at four sites in southern Norway, used during the second half of the 13th century CE; and mass kills conducted this way are recorded in European history as late as the 17th century. Reindeer Domestication Scholars believe, for the most part, that it is unlikely that humans successfully controlled much of reindeer behavior or affected any morphological changes in reindeer until about 3000 years ago or so. It is unlikely, rather than certain, for a number of reasons, not the least because there is no archaeological site which shows evidence for the domestication of reindeer, at least as yet. If they exist, the sites would be located in the Eurasian Arctic, and there has been little excavation there to date. Genetic changes measured in Finnmark, Norway, were recently documented for 14 reindeer samples, consisting of faunal assemblages from archaeological sites dated between 3400 BCE to 1800 CE. A distinct haplotype shift was identified in the late medieval period, ca. 1500–1800 CE, which is interpreted as evidence of a shift to reindeer pastoralism. Why Werent Reindeer Domesticated Earlier? Why reindeer were domesticated so late is speculation, but some scholars believe that it may relate to the docile nature of reindeer. As wild adults, reindeer are willing to be milked and stay close to human settlements, but at the same time they are also extremely independent, and dont need to be fed or housed by humans. Although some scholars have argued that reindeer were kept as domestic herds by hunter-gatherers beginning the late Pleistocene, a recent study of reindeer bones dated from 130,000 to 10,000 years ago showed no morphological changes in reindeer skeletal material at all over that period. Further, reindeer are still not found outside their native habitats; both of these would be physical marks of domestication. In 2014,  Swedish biologists Anna Skarin and Birgitta Ã…hman reported a study from the reindeers perspective and conclude that human structures- fences and houses and the like- block the reindeers ability to range freely. Simply put, humans make reindeer nervous: and that may very well be why the human–reindeer domestication process is a difficult one. Recent Smi Research Indigenous Smi people began reindeer husbandry by the Medieval period, when the reindeer were used as a food source, but also for traction and carrying loads. They have been interested and actively involved in several recent research projects. Evidence for physical changes in reindeer bones caused by humans using them for load-pulling, carrying and riding has been investigated recently by archaeologists Anna-Kaisa Salmi and Sirpa Niinimki. They examined skeletons of four reindeer reported to have been used for traction, and while they did identify some evidence of patterned skeletal wear and tear, it was not consistent enough to be clear evidence without additional support for the reindeers use as a draft animal.   Norwegian biologist Knut Rà ¸ed and colleagues investigated DNA from 193 reindeer samples from Norway, dated between 1000 and 1700 CE. They identified an influx of new haplotypes in reindeer who died in the 16th and 17th centuries. Rà ¸ed and colleagues believe that likely represents trade in reindeer, as the annual winter Smi trading markets including traders from the south and east into Russia were instituted by then.   Sources Anderson, David G., et al. Landscape Agency and Evenki-Iakut Reindeer Husbandry Along the . Human Ecology 42.2 (2014): 249–66. Print.Zhuia River, Eastern SiberiaBosinski, Gerhard. Remarks on the Grave above Burial 2 at the Sungir Site (Russia). Anthropologie 53.1–2 (2015): 215–19. Print.Ingold, Tim. From the Masters Point of View: Hunting . Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 21.1 (2015): 24–27. Print. IsSacrificeOShea, John, et al. A 9,000-Year-Old Caribou Hunting Structure beneath Lake Huron. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111.19 (2014): 6911–1015. Print.Rautio, Anna-Maria, Torbjà ¶rn Josefsson, and Lars Ãâ€"stlund. Sami Resource Utilization and Site Selection: Historical Harvesting of Inner Bark in Northern Sweden. Human Ecology 42.1 (2014): 137–46. Print.Rà ¸ed, Knut H., Ivar Bjà ¸rklund, and Bjà ¸rnar J. Olsen. From Wild to Domestic Reindeer – Genetic Evidence of a Non-Native Origin of Reindeer Pas toralism in Northern Fennoscandia. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 19 (2018): 279–86. Print. Salmi, Anna-Kaisa, and Sirpa Niinimki. Entheseal Changes and Pathological Lesions in Draught Reindeer Skeletons–Four Case Studies from Present-Day Siberia. International Journal of Paleopathology 14 (2016): 91–99. Print.Skarin, Anna, and Birgitta Ã…hman. Do Human Activity and Infrastructure Disturb Domesticated Reindeer? The Need for the Reindeer’s Perspective. Polar Biology 37.7 (2014): 1041–54. Print.Willerslev, Rane, Piers Vitebsky, and Anatoly Alekseyev. Sacrifice as the Ideal Hunt: A Cosmological Explanation for the Origin of Reindeer Domestication. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 21.1 (2015): 1–23. Print.

The development of institutional investors, and their growing Essay

The development of institutional investors, and their growing dominance as owners of modern corporations, has had a deep impact - Essay Example The concern is that deficiencies in the monitoring of institutional shareholders have led to a quality of oversight far below that which is required, being reactionary and passive in the exercise of their voting rights. They are perceived to be ineffective in challenging boards, relegating their decisions to proxy advisers or alternatively constraining management to decide in favour of short-term financial profits at the expense of more prudent long-term benefits. This study conducts an inquiry into the academic literature on the role currently played by institutional investors in corporate governance. The study may provide insight into the control and accountability procedures in the large domestic and foreign corporations, since these are the entities which cause the greatest damage in every global financial crisis. Defining corporate governance Corporate governance is ‘the system of laws, rules, and factors that control operations at a company.’2 It has developed into a major area of concern because potential conflicts of interest (otherwise known as agency problems) tend to arise among stakeholders in the corporate structure. It generally assumes the inevitability that ownership and control are separate in public corporations, where management which exercises control over operations acts as agents of the owners or shareholders. Agency problems tend to arise from two sources: (1) the differences in the goals and preferences among the stakeholders; and (2) the lack of perfect information among stakeholders about each other’s knowledge, actions, and preferences. Corporate governance consists of the set of structures that define the boundaries for firms’ operations. Among the factors influencing corporate governance are the board of directors, laws and regulations, labour contracts, the competitive environment, and the market for corporate.3 The board of directors is the significant driver of internal control in the governance of the corporation because it has the right to hire, fire, and compensate managers. The party which drives the external control mechanism of corporations, however, would be the institutional investors who own equity in the corporation. In light of the recent financial crisis, institutional investors are gaining increasing importance due to what is perceived to be the failure of the board of directors to maintain sufficient internal control over the corporation. The effectiveness of their control, however, is still a matter of debate due in part to the difficulty of isolating and identifying those changes in corporate conduct that are attributable directly to the workings of the institutional shareholders. The formulation of corporate governance guidelines is the means by which a firm may seek to reduce agency costs (the consequences of the separation of ownership and control). Agency costs come in the form in the cost of hiring management personnel, and from costs incurred due to divergenc e in the acts of management from the wishes and interests of the owners of the business. Institutional share

Financial Analysis of Capital Structure Term Paper

Financial Analysis of Capital Structure - Term Paper Example The decision regarding finding the optimum mix of equity and debt capital depends on capital spending, expected returns, optimum levels of debt, liquidity, cash levels, interest rates and risks, and dividend policy (Mallicoat, 2011). The following is a snapshot of the possible Capital Structures that Competition Bikes Inc. could acquire while expanding to Canada. The following were the alternatives available while choosing the right Capital Structure mix: 1. Capital Structure consisting only of bonds 2. A capital structure consisting of only stocks, with 50% preferred and 50% Common Stock 3. With 20% bonds and 80% common stock 4. Capital Structure consisting of bonds of 40% and Common Stock 60% EPS (Earning Per Share) is the portion of company’s profit that is allocated to each share of the common stock. It is the most important measure or figure for any shareholder. However, we would analyze the capital structure not only according to the EPS but also analyze the risk inheren t in the capital structure. The first alternative of the capital structure comprising only of bonds would allow the company to borrow capital at an interest rate that is lower than the interest rate for other types of borrowing. Bonds are written promises to pay back specific amount at a certain date and some interest payments at specific rates. They are pretty similar to the conventional loans with a few perks. Debt financing is favorable than equity financing as interest expense is tax deductible. However, one problem with this form of capital structure is that it is more risky as corporations are required to make interest payment even when they are not making profits making them vulnerable to bankruptcy and solvency (Brown, 2006). The EPS of this capital structure is also lowest at -0.042 under the current scenario. Hence, having the capital structure completely rely on bonds is a very risky option, specifically for Competition Bikes Inc. when they are expanding and exploring new opportunities. The second alternative is of 50% preferred stock and 50% common stock. Preferred stock offer dividend incentive to the shareholder as they are second in line to be paid after the bond holders when a company is facing a loss making them more risky than the common stock. Common stocks are favorable for companies with good financial health. However, the risk of losing ownership is inherent in common stocks as stock holders have the right to elect the board of directors. Moreover, equity financing is more expensive than debt financing and it is not feasible for a capital structure to be totally based on it (Other ways of raising capital – stocks and bonds, 2011). Therefore, the Capital Structure must include both debt and equity financing. All the third, fourth and fifth alternatives are mix of equity and debt financing. We need to find the right kind of mix between equity and debt. As debt is more risky and equity is more expensive and the objective of the compan y’s capital structure is to maximize shareholder return, we can decide on the basis of Earning per Share (EPS). EPS is the earning of each outstanding share. An important aspect of EPS is the capital required to generate the income used in the calculation of EPS. As all our Capital Structure alternatives use the same amount of capital, we can decide on the basic of the highest value of EPS while keeping the risk factor under check. Since Competition Bikes Inc. is expanding in Canada, they need time before they can start making large

The Goddess of 1967 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Goddess of 1967 - Essay Example The film, The goddess of 1967 (Law, 2000) has a duration of 118 minutes in which the viewer is invited to traverse a beautiful physical landscape that parallels a bizarre and melancholy emotional landscape. Before immigrating to Australia, Clara Law, the director of this film, had made a number of films in Hon Kong which won good reception also (Phillips, 2001). This particular film had earned entry into prestigious film festivals like Venice and Toronto film festival (Phillips, 2001). The theme of the film is a journey undertaken by two strangers- a man and a woman- under odd circumstances, and the recollections they make of their lives through which they heal themselves as well. On surface, it is for the sake of a car, the whole journey is undertaken, but deep inside it is a journey through one’s own self for the protagonists. This was a movie that perplexed its viewers so that they were divided into its fans and foes (Coyle, 2005, p.67). Only two things that are seemingly perfect in this film are 1) the car, which is a much coveted Citroen DS, and 2) the natural beauty that encompasses the visual narrative of the film. Everything else is flawed- the minds of the characters, the life situations and the memories. Yet the beauty of the car is paralleled by the beauty of the landscape in each frame in which they appear together. And the film, like many other travel films, shows how the emotional wounds are healed by mutual understanding and companionship, by revisiting the past with a retrospective calmness. What the director tries to explain This film is about a lot many things including the mechanical life that one encounters in a city, the helplessness of human existence, loneliness, crime and the baser elements of human mind. Chaudhuri (2007) has called this film based on â€Å"themes of exile† whe rein the male protagonist is a temporary migrant in Australia and the female protagonist is alienated from her society and family in her own land and hence living a life of exile (p.122). Fung Cheu (2007) on the other hand has opined that the theme of this film is â€Å"cultural dislocation† (p.129). From a direct view point, this film has been also called the story of an abused woman (Fung Cheu, 2007, p.141) By making a car the major presence in this film, a car with a history, a car venerated as perfect and elegant in all times, the film contrasts the perfection of a machine with the liveliness of even a flawed human existence. A machine cannot sin against its design and it is built to behave, but a human being is prone to vices but still retains a hand full of godly moments in his/her life. In a feminist interpretation of the presence of this car in this film, some critics (Senzani and Florida Atlantic University, 2008) have said that the car represented a channel of †Å"escape†¦ for the abused women†, and even a â€Å"mobile home† (p.431). It is also a depiction of how circumstances make and carve human characters. The film is made in such a way that this conclusion can be arrived at either with pessimism or optimism. The beauty of the film is in that it never advises the viewer to make either of this choice. The director herself has called this film â€Å"an attempt to portray the dysfunctional character of contemporary life and personal relations† (as cited by Phillips, 2001). The isolation that comes inevitably with urbanization, the bizarre ways in which humans try to relate, even by trying to love reptiles and strangers, and the visible absence of a community around human lives, are some aspects that gets subtly discussed in this film.

Is There Life On Mars?

Is There Life On Mars? In order to conclude whether a life-form can exist on Mars, much research must be done in order to gain an understanding of its atmosphere, surface, nutrients and minerals available to possible biological life-forms on the planet. Mars is the fourth planet in our Solar System and is known as the Red Planet due to iron oxide found on the surface. Having been studied for decades, Mars shows the most suitable conditions, of all the planets in our solar system, for our presumptions of evolution of life (Klein, Lederburg et al. 1976). There has been much evidence put forward contributing to the theory of a biological life-form on Mars, the most documented and well known of which being the study of the meteorite ALH 84001. This meteorite was believed to have been projected from the surface of Mars around 16 million years ago and landed in Antarctica 13,000 years ago(Frankel Buseck, 2000). The 2kg carbonaceous meteorite studied by McKay et al. contained globules of chemicals and also conta ined bacterial-shaped objects which resembled fossilized terrestrial microorganisms, ranging from 10-100nm long (McKay, et al., 1996). It is believed by many that there are too many factors such as UV radiation and extreme temperature environments which could inhibit a life-form on Mars. Although the distance from Earth to the Sun is considerably less than that of the Sun to Mars, our atmosphere protects living organisms on Earth. Studies have shown that an atmosphere is present on Mars through the identification of an insignificant ozone layer, however this atmosphere is not the most suitable for living organisms but unlikely to be a life limiting factor (Cockell, et al., 2000). Some arguments which both oppose and agree with the theory of extra-terrestrial life include studies carried out by the Viking Explorers and MER programmes which landed on Mars. These man-made devices studied the atmosphere and the top layer of soil to discover a very high oxidation factor which could inhibit growth by converting living matter to CO ², as well as studying sedimentary rocks on the surface of the planet. The search for life on Mars shows interesting differences in both personal theories and scientific studies. Panspermia is the theory that living organisms can be transported throughout the Universe, travelling in meteorites. The theory was first proposed by Arrhenius who believed that living bacteria could be transported through space, and therefore believed this was the reason for the beginning of life on Earth (Tepfer, 2008). These meteorites are projected from the surface of plates through collisions of boulders and/or planets in the Solar System. Many meteorites have landed on Earth from Mars, including ALH 84001, NWA 1195, NWA 2046, DaG 476 and the latest NWA 2626. The most famous of these meteorites is ALH 84001 which shows evidence of a life-form embedded in the meteorite. The theory of Panspermia can be justified by a study carried out by D.Stà ¶ffler et al.. The range of pressures observed in Martian meteorites range between 5 and 50 GPa. Bacterial spores, cyanobacteria and lichens (all of which appear to be embedded in the meteorite ALH 84001), were exposed to this range of shoc k pressure. The study revealed that bacterial spores and lichens could withstand the pressure up to 45 GPa while cyanobacteria was killed at 10 GPa. This study implies the potential for transfer of life throughout the Universe from one planet to another(Stà ¶ffler, et al., 2007). Analyses and Results of the Martian Meteorite ALH84001 Analysis of the meteorite show results which support and oppose the hypothesis of extra-terrestrial life to be found on Mars (Gibson, et al., 2001). The meteorite, which was studied by McKay et al, showed evidence of an extra-terrestrial life-form embedded in the rock. There were globules of Ca, Mg and Fe carbonate minerals which are believed to have been distributed by a biological factor. It is believed by McKay et al. that these globules were formed at low temperature. Otherwise high temperature (over 118 °C) would have killed any bacteria which are believed to have formed these globules. However, others who oppose the theory of extra-terrestrial life, believe that these globules may have been distributed by a non-biological factor which renders this piece of evidence quite unreliable. There were other factors noted which shows the possibility of extra-terrestrial life: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were observed and showed a different distribution than that of terrestr ial PAHs. Another factor observed was bacteria-shaped objects found on the surface of the meteorite, which resemble fossilized terrestrial micro-organisms, up to 100 µm long (Frankel Buseck, 2000). Some of the bacteria shaped objects are however extremely small in size which range from 20-100nm. This piece of evidence is ridiculed by some scientists, in which they declare that these tiny objects resemble artifacts in the meteorite (Bradley, et al., 1996). http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpi/meteorites/s9612609.gif Bacteria shaped objects on Martian meteorite, Allan H. Treiman, Lunar and Planetary Institute. The Viking and MER Missions The first Viking mission was launched in the summer of 1976. It consisted of two orbiters, which had a main objective of photographing the planet from orbit, and two landers, which studied the surface of the planet. The main emphasis was on photography, in which orbiter 1 produced over 10,000 pictures, taken from the planets orbit(Snyder Evans, 1981). In 2003, two rovers were launched, called Mars Exploration Rovers. The objective of this mission to Mars was study and to determine whether Martian conditions and its atmosphere could support the theory of a possible life-form having ever existed on the planet (Squyres Knoll, 2005). The MER missions include the Rovers; Spirit and Opportunity which carried out surveys and analyses on the surface of Mars. File:NASA Mars Rover.jpg Rover Opportunity, Maas Digital LLC for Cornell University and NASA/JPL The two Rovers covered specific regions known as Gusev and Meridiani Planum respectively for over a year and a half. The Rover Opportunity landed on the surface of Mars on January 24th and travelled through two craters (Eagle and Endurance) while carrying out experiments on both craters. Experiments and Results from Viking and MER programmes Aerosols and water vapour were detected in the Martian atmosphere by the Viking orbiter and other scientific research objects, which included: Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), Mars Atmospheric Water Detector (MAWD) and Thermal Emissions Spectrometer (TES). This water vapour was detected in the North Polar region during Spring and Summer seasons. MAWD detected twice as much vapour in the region than any of the other orbiters (Pankine, et al., 2009). The detection of water in the Martian atmosphere contributes a large amount of evidence to support the theory of a suitable atmosphere for a biological life-form to exist. Hematite was discovered on the surface of the planet, by the rover Opportunity, in the Meridiani Planum. This mineral form of iron-oxide is a possible preservative for pre-biotic and biotic processes carried out on the surface of Mars. These processes are carried out on Earth in rock varnishing, in which micro-colonial fungi and bacteria are present in rock varnish matrices, which were documented in America and Australia (Allen, et al., 2004). It is believed that water did once flow on the surface of Mars through the discovery of rippled like curves, indicating that streams once flowed through the Meridiani Planum (Horneck). Ancient, sedimentary rocks were also found at Meridiani plain by the Rover Opportunity, which consist of sandstone composed of sand grains which consisted of a variety of sulphate salts formed by erosion and re-deposition (Squyres Knoll, 2005). One of the most important findings of the mission however was a record of aqueous processes found on the Meridiani plain both in surface and sub-surface regions. Although these aqueous processes were identified, there is still no record of liquid water on the surface of Mars. Any water present on Mars, is found in the atmosphere as water vapour, located at the north Polar region. UV Radiation: Because of a thin atmosphere and an insignificant ozone layer, the surface of Mars is exposed to high UV radiation, which includes UVA, UVB and UVC. UV radiation is known to be a cause of DNA damage and mutation in bacterial species and also more developed life-forms. UV radiation is also known to inhibit photosynthesis in plants. Life-forms on Earth contain processes that protect them from exposure to UVA radiation. However, because of high UVB and UVC radiation exposure to the Martian surface, and also conditions such as extreme temperature changes and a lack of liquid water on the surface, it is unknown for any life-form to withstand such conditions(Cockell, et al., 2000). In order to understand and examine bacterial behaviour under exposure to this high UV radiation, an experiment was carried out by Scheurger et al.. Seven different Bacillus spp. were exposed to conditions similar to that of the Martian surface. The Bacillus spp. were exposed to the radiation in time sets of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 5, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes. The bacteria were prepared for the experiment as thin monolayers of endospores. The results showed that B. pumilus SAFR-032 (surviving for 180 minutes) was the most resistant to the Martian conditions, while B. megaterium and B. subtillis 42HS-1 (which were inactivated after 30 minutes) were the least sensitive under exposure of high UVB and UVC radiation. Conclusion It is very difficult to conclude whether or not life does or even did exist on the surface or in the Martian atmosphere. Evidence from both sides of the theory are being analysed in extreme detail in order to come to a conclusion. The analyses and study of the Martian meteorite ALH84001, is considered the most studied and detailed analyses ever to be carried out on an igneous rock. Even with this extent of analyses being carried out on the meteorite, we still cannot come to a clear and concise conclusion to whether or not it contained traces of extra-terrestrial life. Although the detection of carbonate globules and bacterial shaped objects suggests that life theoretically could have existed on the planet of Mars, scientists who oppose the theory of extra-terrestrial life disagree that these discoveries indicate a life-form present in the meteorite. They suggest that because of the small size of these bacterial-shaped objects that they could represent artifacts in the meteorite. There was also some criticism about the Viking and MER missions. Although a small amount of atmospheric water vapour was observed, the lack of liquid water on the surface declares this evidence inconclusive. However there was some very interesting discoveries made by the Rover Opportunity, including the detection of hematite. This mineralised form of iron-oxide can be used for the preservation of aqueous processes. This discovery, along with the discovery of ripple-like curves in the Meridiani plain, could indicate a past life-form having existed on the surface of the planet many years ago. I believe that an extra-terrestrial, biological life-form could have existed on the surface of Mars, in past decades or even centuries. Evidence from both the Mars Exploration missions and the study of the Martian meteorite, ALH84001, provide much contribution to the theory that life did exist on the planet in the past. It is clear that life cannot survive in the Martian atmosphere at present because of extreme conditions. The exposure to high UV radiation, extreme temperature changes and also a lack of liquid water on the surface indicate to me that these conditions are not only unfavourable to the survival of a life-form but are far too extreme for a biological life-form to survive for a significant time frame. In relation to the theory of Panspermia, I believe that it can be justified by the experiment carried out by D.Stà ¶ffler et al.. If the bacteria shaped objects found in the meteorite prove to be biological life-forms this piece of evidence could explain another widely investigated theory of where and when life began on Earth. Through the study and analyses of Mars and its atmosphere, I believe that many of the questions and theories about life on Earth can be answered.

Essay --

When John Browne set in motion the strategy that put BP on its course to become a â€Å"green† oil company, his plans seemed ripe with promise. Despite criticisms of â€Å"green-washing,† the company enjoyed recognition and admiration from the media and non-government organizations, and rose in the public esteem as an advocate for investments in renewable energy technology and responsible energy use. For years, the move looked to be good strategy: the benefits of the decision seemed to offset the costs incurred to implement it, some of which included: †¢ Risk of minimal benefits if policies or requirements do not change †¢ Foreclosing on future non-green opportunities †¢ Impacting the company’s portfolio of non-green products †¢ Committing to future green investments †¢ Creating a â€Å"higher bar† for ongoing business practices †¢ Increasing the cost of blunders or accidents on the company’s credibility and public standing BP might have understood the price it was paying for its green personality, but the company seems to have underestimated the latter two cost descriptors. Its newfound environmental acclaim and the public awareness that came with it brought closer scrutiny to the company’s ongoing activities and much higher expectations for how it would conduct its business moving forward. The Texas City tragedy in 2005 and the Prudhoe Bay spill of 2006 should have been lessons to the company: unless it can get the basics of corporate responsibility right, drawing public attention to its business is inviting trouble. Disaster at the Macondo Well On April 20, 2010, a BP exploratory well at Macondo exploded, causing 11 deaths, sinking Deepwater Horizon and starting a massive oil leak, that persisted for weeks. The event highlighted BP’s inability t... ... the industry and the multitude of spills occurring since the Deepwater Horizon events point to a much lesser impact on the industry’s performance. Alas, large-scale environmental abuses such as the repeated spills in the Niger Delta, where spills are responsible for degradation equivalent to the Exxon Valdez disaster yearly, are not widely discussed, and much information is still obscured from the public. As non-market pressures increase for corporations around the globe, the hope is that companies will learn from the longer-term de-valuation effect suffered by BP and take its economic value into account. There is hope for responsible behavior; bright will be the day when instead of being more than marketing campaigns, environmental and social responsibility outreach by major companies will exist to maximize social objectives, subject to profitability constraints.

Capitol Lake

The history Of the lake goes all the way back to 1951 , when a dam was built, as well as a concrete passage on 5th Avenue. The initial design was too construct a man-made lake though a dam with underwater mudflats. The dam was finally constructed to help renew a part of Bud Inlet shores that was in deterioration. Many years later in the year of 1997, a team of representatives was formed to study the problems of the lake. In 2009, an endorsement was made for the future of preserving the lake. One issue among Capitol Lake is the sediment that comes and reconciles to he bottom of the lake.Over 35,000 cubic yards a year of sediment travel into the lake a year! This means now that the lake is 21 % smaller than it was when it was created. This small amount of water is turning the lake into a swamp. Since the capacity of water in the Capitol Lake is much smaller than it was before, the temperature in the lake is getting much higher. The shallow waters cause the lake to heat up much quicker. These high temperatures support aquatic weeds to grow in abundance, and put anxiety on the fish and other marine life.Another problem among Capitol Lake is the water quality. Phosphorus and bacteria are both found in the water, posing a negative effect to the lake. The high levels of phosphorus promote the growth of algae. Oxygen is also used up for marine life in the lake, by algae that putrefy. As well as fecal chloroform bacteria are found among the lake, that wash into the lake and can be very harmful to health. Lastly, the lake has invasive species. Eurasian million weeds crowd the shoreline for native plants, reducing populations of native fish and other species.The New Zealand Mutandis is also another invasive species which is taking over the habitat and native snails which depend on food. As you can see Capitol Lake is very polluted and unhealthy. But there are solutions. The Descartes Estuary Restoration Team (DEER) and the Capitol Lake Improvement & Protective Association (CLIP) have both proposed suitable ideas to save the future of Capitol Lake. The first possibility by DEER would be to remove the dam, letting Capitol Lake and the Descartes River to meet and create an estuary, like it was back in the sass.The benefits of an estuary are that it would return everything to a natural presence. An estuary would give the lake and opportunity to flush and purify. It would also result in the temperature of the water to drop, greatly reducing algae population. Removal of the dam would also result in a possibility of the invasive species not surviving as well as young salmon would be able to access the estuary. Water quality would improve, as bacteria would decrease. Lastly, it would show an increase in native wildlife and different recreation.Establishing the estuary would result in over 114 million dollars, and without sediment rearrangements. Further cost details and endowments are still being inquired. The idea by CLIP would be to keep the lake as a lak e, but to dredge and clean it as needed; this would tidy the lake without having to remove the dam. The benefits of keeping the lake, would be hold the lake as one of the â€Å"Jewels of Thornton County as well as a major part of the State Capitol Campus. The lake very much protects the downtown area of Olympia by controlling floods.Opening the dam would result in smelly mudflats, as well as change the Marina and Boating Recreation. Keeping the lake as it is also would prevent an increase of sediment flow into the Bud Inlet. Culpa also believes that keeping the lake would prevent Nitrogen and Phosphorus from accessing the river. The also lake supports the local economy and local events such as Lake Fair, and is a key location for tourism in the Olympia area. Financially, this plan would cost about million dollars over a fifty year period. This includes mainly dredging, renewal of habitat, and dredging.This project would be paid from partnerships and state funding such as the City o f Olympia, Marine and Yacht Club, and Port of Olympia. So as you can see both proposals, have their pros and cons. Based on these two main ideas have researched about, I believe that the Capitol Lake Improvement & Protection Association (CLIP) is the best plan for the future of Capitol Lake. The lake is truly a major icon to Olympia and if an estuary were to open, the beauty and tourist attraction the lake delivers would greatly reduce.For example, if the dam were to be taken away, what would happen o Likelier and other large city events? Traditional events and activities by the lake might not even happen anymore if it becomes an estuary. But most importantly based off scientific evidence, removing the dam, would result in smelly tidal mudflats. Nobody wants a stench that will wander the air every time they go outside. As World War II veteran who grew up in Olympia (who has experienced these mudflats), Dick Seward, explains â€Å"The Mudflats and any water in the area had a stench that I'll never forget.All this pollution is what nearly killed off the Oysters†. So as you can see the smell really isn't pleasing. Creating an estuary would also greatly increase the flow of sediment, and Nitrogen into Bud Inlet, which shouldn't be there. CLIP'S proposal is half the price as well, and will save a lot of money. So who wants an unbearable terrible stench that will fill up the atmosphere? Why should the harmful chemicals be brought up to Bud Inlet and the Descartes River? Why should we risk the future of our economy and one of our main tourist attractions?

Neoclassical poetry vs romantic poetry Essays

Neoclassical poetry vs romantic poetry Essays Neoclassical poetry vs romantic poetry Paper Neoclassical poetry vs romantic poetry Paper Essay Topic: Poetry Age of Reason/the enlightenment 1660-1770 Reason good Passion bad Neoclassical Neoclassical Nature is defined as human nature Neoclassical Tradition is good and honored Neoclassical Society is more important than the individual Neoclassical Urban is the setting for most literature Neoclassical Intellect, reason seen as key to good Neoclassical Public is the focus Neoclassical Logical, stable, solid Neoclassical Aristocratic Neoclassical Cultivated, formal, social Neoclassical Conformist Neoclassical Constraint Neoclassical Formal diction Romanticism 1792-1840 Romantic Passion good reason bad Romantic Nature is woods, trees, oceans Romantic Experiment good tradition bad Romantic Individual is more important than society Romantic Rural is setting for most literature Romantic Imagination and emotion Romantic Private, subjective becomes the focus Romantic Mysterious, supernatural, bizarre Romantic The common people Romantic Primitive is focus Romantic Independent, rebellious spirit Romantic Spontaneity becomes the norm Romantic Natural diction, slang, dialects Epigram Neoclassical Formal essay Neoclassical History book Neoclassical Rhyming couplet Neoclassical Discipline and law Neoclassical Oligarchy Neoclassical Conservatives and tradition Neoclassical Conservatives Neoclassical Even tempered and reserved Neoclassical Formal portraits Neoclassical Stately houses Neoclassical Versailles gardens Neoclassical Zoos Neoclassical Neoclassical Reality is absolute Authority Neoclassical Distance and external structure Neoclassical Planned and deliberate form Neoclassical Lyrical poem Romantic Mythological story Romantic Ode Romantic Supernatural tale Romantic Democracy, freedom, liberty Romantic Revolution Romantic Liberals Romantic Melancholic Romantic Outspoken Romantic Jungles Romantic Landscapes Romantic Rock gardens Romantic Wild outdoors Romantic Romantic The self determines reality Romantic Individual man Romantic Closeness and inner structure Spontaneous content Romantic Neoclassical Learn through studying the ancients Neoclassical Emphasis on light, the past, knowledge, proper form of beauty Neoclassical Stylized language Neoclassical Status quo Romantic Emotions lead to insight and understanding Romantic Learn through experience and contemplation Romantic Worship of night, emphasis of medieval, the unknown, beauty undefined Romantic Language of real men Romantic Political and rebellious reform Romantic Reference for self

7 Types of Hyphenation That May Seem Wrong But Arent

7 Types of Hyphenation That May Seem Wrong But Arent 7 Types of Hyphenation That May Seem Wrong But Aren’t 7 Types of Hyphenation That May Seem Wrong But Aren’t By Mark Nichol You know, of course, that a phrasal adjective, or compound modifier two or more words that combine to modify a noun are usually hyphenated to signal that link (only before the noun, however, and not if, as with â€Å"income tax† and many other permanent compounds, the open compound is in the dictionary). Even though the relationship often seems obvious, this is language law. Phrasal adjectives, however, aren’t the only grammatical category in which hyphens are required even though they don’t seem necessary. Here are seven others: 1. Job Titles Some job titles, such as secretary-treasurer, are hyphenated to signal the combined roles. Others, such as secretary-general (the title of the head of the United Nations), retain this form as a holdover from a time when hyphenation of compound nouns was rampant, though technically, general is an adjective modifying secretary (as in the example of president-elect, below). However, this usage is an anomaly: similar terms like â€Å"attorney general† and â€Å"major general† are open. Note that the adjective+noun combination â€Å"vice president† is open, but some other such compounds are hyphenated (vice-consul) or closed (viceroy). 2. Compound Nouns A handful of noun compounds stubbornly resist the usual usage evolution of open, hyphenated, and closed (or sometimes open to closed without the hyphenation middleman): The ones I can think of are by-product, life-form, light-year, and mind-set. Many people treat these artificially preserved throwbacks incorrectly the first and last compounds are often erroneously closed, and the hyphen is frequently omitted and a letter space inserted in the second and third ones and why shouldn’t they? Omitting hyphens and treating these words as open or closed compounds doesn’t violate any scientific laws. However, until dictionaries respond to the attainment of a tipping point where most people are writing such terms incorrectly, these words should be hyphenated. (Light-year may someday be closed, but because the first element of life-form ends with a vowel, it will likely remain hyphenated. On that note, the disinclination to close this type of open compounds affects other terms, such as shape-shifter.) 3. Compound Verbs When you use two words together to refer to a single action, such as referring to air-conditioning a house, jump-starting a car, or mass-producing a product, a seemingly extraneous hyphen is required. (The same is true regardless of the form of the verb: air-condition and air-conditioned but â€Å"air conditioning.†) 4. Fractions Hyphens in compound numbers such as twenty-one seem natural, but hyphenation of fractions (one-third) is counterintuitive. How many thirds? One. One is an adjective that modifies the noun third, so why hyphenate them unless they’re linking to modify a noun (â€Å"one-third full†)? I don’t make the rules; I just follow them. 5. Homographs Sometimes, prefixes you’d expect to be closed up to the root word are hyphenated, because closing them up would cause confusion with identical words with distinct meanings. Examples include resign/re-sign, resent/re-sent, and recreation/re-creation. (A rare case of a similar pair with a prefix other than re- is unionized/un-ionized.) 6. Prefixes Generally, permanent compounds beginning with the prefixes alls include all-around, ex-governor, and self-control. (Selfish and selfless, as well as the unfortunate unselfconscious, are exceptions with self-.) Some words beginning with co- (co-chair) and pro- (pro-choice) just look wrong closed up and are anomalously hyphenated, as are words in which the last letter of the prefix and the first letter of the root word are the same: anti-intellectual, co-owner, ultra-aggressive. Words beginning with non- are almost always closed, but occasionally they’re seen hyphenated and for good reason: â€Å"Nonlife-threatening injury† is an awkward treatment. Insert a hyphen when the prefix precedes a hyphenated phrasal adjective. And why, if we refer to the early or late part of an era, such as a decade or a century (â€Å"early 1920s,† â€Å"late nineteenth century†), no hyphen is used, but a reference to the middle of a period requires one, as in mid-1970s or mid-century? Consistency would call for referring to â€Å"the middle 1970s† or â€Å"the middle of the century,† but mid- has replaced this usage. 7. Suffixes Constructions such as president-elect may seem to be unnecessarily burdened with a hyphen, but they’re equivalent to modified phrases such as daughter-in-law. (Note, though, that such constructions do not include a hyphen when the first element is an open compound, such as in â€Å"vice president elect.†) However, â€Å"editor in chief† shed its connective tissue long go without difficulty (though some people still incorrectly hyphenate the phrase), so similar constructions may follow suit. For now, though, go with the flow. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Structure A Story: The Eight-Point Arc3 Cases of Complicated Hyphenation7 Other Types of Pronouns

Cross-ultural Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cross-ultural Management - Essay Example The opportunities presented by globalisation are immense. The access to a global marketplace has been a big boost to companies’ efforts to expand their business empires. However, aside from the consumption side with access to more buyers, companies are also benefitting on the production side with regards to their capabilities to produce at lower costs. This has been made possible by their access to cheaper labor in the developing economies. This, however, presents companies with more challenges since these are people who, although like machineries are inputs for production, are much more difficult to handle. Hence, Mendenhall, Oddou and Stahl (2007) emphasizes the need to be able to handle the challenges presented by having a global workforce for managers in firms that operate globally. Companies must be able to face up to the challenges presented by the different culture of the different people that will be working with them. More so, the concept of having global operations in different countries will present HR practitioners with an array of culture and people necessitating the capability to be able to handle the different issues that will arise from such workforce diversity. This, however, is easier said than done for Hofstede (2001) warns that there are more chances for conflict than synergy when different cultures are mixed. Cross-cultural management therefore is very important since this is a pressing reality that companies wanting or are operating globally must face and succeed if they are to survive and thrive in the global business environment. Cultural Challenge According to Hofstede (2004), there are five cultural dimensions that HR practitioners and managers faced with cross cultural challenges can use to somehow understand the differences that are characteristic of their global workforce. One of the possible sources of conflicts that must be understood properly is the way people may view how p ower is distributed. Hofstede calls this the Power Distribution Index (PDI) whereby there is a bottom to top view of the inequality of the distribution of power. Hence, usually easterners identify strongly with their ethnic groups meaning they find power in their groups or by being collectively identified with each other while westerners are more individualistic. Thus, this shows that these people must be treated differently. Also, there are the poles of masculinity and femininity which reflects to a person being assertive or modest. Looking at a countrywide perspective, there is a significant difference among men towards women. Thus, companies operating globally ought to be sensitive to the inclination of their employees towards power as well as with the actuations associated with the poles of masculinity and femininity. The myriad of personalities that they will be handling can spell the difference between the success and failure of their global endeavor since these employees are central to their business successes. It would be unwise to hire cheap labor if the company cannot get them to work harmoniously raising the risk of attaining poorer quality and even defects on their products. When conflicts abound in an organization, the results are seldom fruitful. Also, there is the tendency to be risk averse or to be cautious and avoid uncertain situations. Hence, for cultures that have these tendencies, there are usually stricter laws and regulations in order for them to mitigate such risks and uncertainties. On the other side, there are cultures that are more lenient who are generally more relaxed and displays a high level of tolerance. Finally, there is the long term orientation (LTO) vis-a-vis short term orientation displaying the various tendencies of

The Political Classification of France Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Political Classification of France - Essay Example For instance, it recently contributed to the fall of dictatorial leadership of Libya in Africa. The country has experienced many rulers under a monarchy and even empire1. The political institutions in the Country have undergone several changes since the 1789 revolution. This paper brings to attention the study of France as a country and its classification in terms of politics. Regime European countries have for a long time employed communism. Liberalization in the region introduced the issue of totalitarianism2. In the period between 1922 and 1989, there were waves of democratization which were reversed by authoritarian and totalitarian systems of governance which believed in the ideologies of National Socialism and communism. This was also the case in France which is among the European countries. The regime that is in use today in the country is totalitarianism. System of governance of the French Republic Most countries have their system of governance which may differ or be the same as of the other countries. They chose between presidential system of governance where power is not confined to one person and parliamentary system of government where executive power is rested upon collective executives. Adoption of any system under which power is shared is intensely critical in the political economy of a particular nation. France has been under a hybrid system since it was made to be a fifth republic. The system of the government is based on characteristics of both the presidential and parliamentary systems3. This means that, the country partially separates the powers and partially fuses them. The hybrid form of the republican government was created by the constitution of the fifth republic which was fully in use, in the year 1958. The authority that the parliament had been cut down, and the president was embrowned with a lot of powers such as the power to dissolve the National assembly and power to appoint the prime Minister. This was rhetoric since the prime min ister had authority as the heads the council of ministers and he was also the leader of the party that had the majority seats in the National Assembly. France was termed as a sovereign country, according to this constitution. It stated that the national sovereignty belongs to the citizens of France. The constitution further gives people the right to practice their political desire in elections and referenda which took place after some specified period. Legislature of France The legislative France is entailed in the parliament. The parliament is composed of two chambers namely the National Assembly and the Senate. The two are referred to as â€Å"Assemblee Nationale† and â€Å"Senat† in French. The senate has approximately 318 members who are elected indirectly by an institution set for the purpose. The upper chamber, which is the National Assembly, is more powerful than the Senate, although both chambers share legislative authority. Members of the national assembly are about 577 in number and are elected directly by the citizens of France. The members of the senate serve a term of nine years in which a third of the seats fall for elections after every three years4. The national assembly serves for a period of five years. The charter, which is in use now, was adopted in 1958 and revised in 1962, established the Fifth Republic and provided for a powerful president, and a bicameral legislature with less power than it had in the past. The Constitution of France France has had

Modern Database Managment Assignment Three Essay

Modern Database Managment Assignment Three - Essay Example Furthermore, the volume/size of a database can differ extensively from a few megabytes for personal databases to huge terabytes of large business databases. The data and information of a business or personal database is stored on a nonvolatile medium that can hold huge amounts of data. However, the most frequently utilized storage mediums are magnetic disks. Magnetic disks are capable to store huge amount of data as compared to computer memory, at a great deal lower cost per unit of data. For data organization, logically data in RDBMS are structured like a group of relations/tables, each table/relation composed of a group of records (Hoffer, Prescot, & Topi, 2009; Shelly, Cashman, & Vermaat, 2005). DDC (Data Definition Command) is utilized to describe the database as well as other linked functions similar to creating views, tables, indexes etc. Below I will outline some data definition commands (Hoffer, Prescot, & Topi, 2009): Data control commands in SQL allow us to control access to data inside the database. These data control commands are usually employed to create objects and to control the allocation of privileges among users. A number of data control commands are (Hoffer, Prescot, & Topi, 2009): A View contains a stored query which is accessible like a virtual table composed of resultant group of a query. As compared to ordinary tables in a RDBMS a view is not a structured part of the physical representation. It is a dynamic, virtual table calculated or gathered from data in the database. Altering the data in a table changes the data represented in subsequent invocations of the view. Security in views can be applied for the users as the underlying tables are not straightly accessible. Thus, it helps DBA present users simply the data they require, as protecting additional data in the same table (Hoffer, Prescot, & Topi, 2009). To create a view

Using surveys to conduct research Essay Example for Free

Using surveys to conduct research Essay What are the advantages and disadvantages of using surveys to conduct research?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Surveys have been used as methods of collecting data for as long as can be remembered.   In practically all scientific fields, surveys have proven invaluable in obtaining data that would otherwise be impossible to gather.   As a method of determining certain behavioral aspects of society and man, surveys have also proven to be beneficial to all research in that field.   Yet as with everything in this world, there will always be advantages and disadvantages.    This short discourse will outline the advantages and disadvantages of using surveys to conduct research.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   First of all, the advantage of having a survey is that it allows the researcher to gather more date in a shorter amount of time.   The questions in a survey are able to address a multitude of issues that would require a researcher more amount of time in lieu of a survey.   Aside from the ability to allow access to more information, surveys can be specifically designed to elicit objective responses. This lends to its value in highly quantitative research that deals with hard data instead of non-quantifiable aspects.   In short, surveys are advantageous because they allow the researcher to obtain the information that is required much faster and more efficiently than other sources.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The problem with surveys, however, is that it is difficult to construct an accurate survey that removes biases or false data.   Surveys are prone to providing the wrong information.   Another problem of surveys lies in the fact that it is not as accurate when gathering qualitative aspects or figures.   Opinions or sentiments are very hard to capture and quantify in surveys.   As such, as a method of conducting research, depending on the subject matter involved, surveys can be very disadvantageous.   Surveys may not always represent the mean of every sample.   Surveys must be given accurately in order to obtain an approximate cross section of the sample used.   The disadvantage, therefore, lies in making an accurate survey that will lead to the correct data.

Sanofi-Aventis Business Strategy

Sanofi-Aventis Business Strategy Question 1 Introduction According to analysts, the pharmaceutical industry is changing rapidly and undergoing a shift. Sanofi-Aventis are therefore changing its strategy to help transform itself from a Europe/US-centred pharmaceutical company to a global diversified healthcare company. These changes include a change in its products, markets, top management and its capabilities. This essay aims to discuss the environment within which Sanofi-Aventis is operating, identifying the reasons why the company need to change its strategy and how it will achieve this. Harrigan (1980) and DAveni (1989) showed that when performance is declining or poor, organisations tend to principally alter their activities. This is the case with Sanofi-Aventis, it is running like a French national treasure and performance is declining in the rapidly changing pharmaceutical industry. The Strategic Position of Sanofi-Aventis Porters five forces framework (1980) can help to identify the attractiveness of an industry for a firm by drawing attention to the external pressures it may face. Figure 1 shows that buyers in the industry have a low bargaining power. The major consumers of the industry include doctors, hospitals, patients and pharmacists. Buyer power is dependent on factors such as the number of buyers, switching costs and buyer competition threat. The industry has many buyers and the competition usually takes place between them. Thus the power of buyers in terms of the number of buyers is reasonably small. However buyers are able to choose from other similar products. To avoid this problem organisations within the industry usually spend most of their research and development on new patent drugs to keep up competition. The suppliers within the industry have a certain level of power but it is not such a high threat. The suppliers could include providers of raw materials and intermediates, the manufac turing and production plants and labour. The suppliers provide different levels of threat and cannot easily be changed in this industry, even if suppliers refuse to supply. Thus there are high switching costs for companies within this industry. However, the threat from suppliers in this industry is not much bigger than that in other industries. In the pharmaceutical industry, there is a high barrier to entry. This is due to the high costs which are required to enter the industry. There are high RD costs because the research and development of new drugs is time consuming and costly. There is also heavy regulation of the industry where drugs need to be approved, as well as patent restrictions. Patents are a high barrier for organisations who are trying to enter the market. Organisations already existing within this market have already established a strong brand name with loyal customers and have a large budget to spend on marketing to continuously support their brand. New companies th erefore find it difficult to build up a brand name. The main substitutes for products in the pharmaceutical industry are generic brands of medication. The price of brand name medicines is kept competitive with generic brands. However, there is not always a generic medicine available as a substitute due to patents. Other substitutes include methods such as Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, hypnosis, diet-based therapies, chiropractic care and Reiki. In terms of competition, the industry is very competitive. With high RD cost, strict government regulations and extremely competitive products in the market, companies are constantly trying to release the next best product so that they can stay ahead. Advances in technology are also another factor affecting competition because it opens new avenues for research. Companies are dependent on the long run success of their ideas which puts a lot of pressure on them to find drugs which have high pay-offs. It is common for firms in the indu stry to merge together to gain competitive strength so that it can take on the leaders of the industry. In this industry the competition is such that only the strongest firms will survive. By analysing the five forces for this industry, it can help to determine what problems Sanofi-Aventis may incur. The barrier to entry into the industry will be high which works in the favour of Sanofi-Aventis. In terms of buyers and suppliers, these are low. The substitutes are also fairly low until the patents expire between 2009 and 2013. The power of substitutes will then increase along with rivalry and the bargaining power of buyers as buyers will switch to generic drugs. This will result in a reduction of costs of the drugs and profitability. In terms of PESTEL analysis, this legal factor of the patents is a key driver for change because it is enforcing a threat on the company. Companies within this industry have opted for mega-mergers. This could be another threat to the company as these companies have more competitive strength. Sanofi-Aventis need to overcome these problems by differentiating its products and the company itself for the existing markets as well as for new marke ts. This suggests that a transformation of the companys strategy is required for them to exist in the changing industry which will align them with the changing environment. The company have already a #1 position in emerging markets, so they have an opportunity to exploit this in order to overcome some of these threats and gain a sustainable competitive advantage. The company also need to take into account the other main influences on its strategy. These influences can help determine what threats the company has and how the strategy should be changed so that it can overcome some of these issues. The culture of the company can have a major impact because the company can be confined by that culture making it difficult to change outside the bounds of it. Sanofi-Aventis was being run like a French national treasure. This shows that the company is too rigid and too traditional. Johnson (1992) suggests that changes going on within or without the organisation will affect organisational performance. However, even if managers, as individuals, perceive such changes they may not necessarily acknowledge them as impinging on the strategy or performance of the organisation. Sanofi-Aventis had this problem as the management had acknowledged that the environment was changing but were not changing its strategy greatly to be in line with this. To rise above thi s issue the company have brought in a non-french manager Christopher A. Viehbacher, which has helped to show analysts and investors that the company will not be run like a French national treasure and that the company have changed their attitude. This suggests that the company will not be based on its past ways of doing things and the lessons learnt from the evolving environment of the organisation, as this has not been successful in the rapidly changing pharmaceutical industry. This shows that Sanofi-Aventis have tried to change its culture so that it avoids the problem of strategic drift resulting from focusing on the existing culture when dealing with the changing environment. This is a change in the companys power structure. The company have also changed its organisational structure by changing the management team and by creating customer-focused teams. Looking at Johnsons (1987) cultural web, it can be seen that the company are changing two factors (Appendix 1), which will help Sanofi-Aventis to transform its strategy more easily. The strategic capabilities of the company provide a view of the internal influences on strategic choices for the future. The competences and resources which are distinctive or superior relative to those of rivals may become the basis for competitive advantage if they are matched appropriately to environmental opportunities (Andrews, 1971; Thompson and Strickland, 1990). In terms of Sanofi-Aventis, the threshold level has changed over time and so the company need to invest in its resource base so that it can stay in this industry and gain a competitive advantage. They have an opportunity to exploit its #1 position in emerging markets, so they are creating new strategic capabilities to achieve this by having a better position in emerging markets, adapting its RD efforts to new regulatory and economic constraints and making disciplined decisions about how the company should grow and through what activities for example diversifying into vaccines, OTCs and biologics and not to opt in mega -mergers like all the other companies within the industry. Instead they are going ahead with bolt-on acquisitions as this will add more value to the company. This shows that Sanofi-Aventis have acknowledged that for them to survive they need to differentiate itself from other organisations within the industry and this can be achieved by exploiting its opportunities. The stakeholders play an important role as the strategy of the company needs to take into consideration their interests. Sanofi-Aventis have failed to do this, which has resulted in investors reducing their stake in the company. Sanofi-Aventis need to adapt its strategy so that it takes into consideration the interests of its stakeholders. However the companys stakeholders are changing as they enter into new partnerships and change its management team. These stakeholders will be focused on the external stakeholders (the customers) and so the company need to fulfil the customers needs in order to take into consideration the internal stakeholders interests. The strategic choices and actions Sanofi-Aventis are taking Sanofi-Aventis are responding to these pressures by making choices about the companys future. At a corporate level, Sanofi-Aventis are launching new products such as vaccines, OTCs, diabetes drugs and branded generics and offering them to emerging markets as well as existing markets. This in terms of Ansoffs Matrix (1957) can be seen as diversification at an international level and product development at a national level (Appendix 2). Although the company is providing the existing market with new products such as vaccines to give them a pre-eminent position, major rivals such as Novartis, GSK and Pfizer are closing the gap. Sanofi-Aventis therefore need to continue to focus on the RD of its products to sustain this position. By producing new drugs, the company are trying to fulfil its external stakeholders needs, which in turn takes into consideration the internal stakeholders. At a business level, Porter (1985) provides a framework of generic strategies and suggests that they are distinct mutually exclusive alternatives. However the idea that the generic strategies are mutually exclusive has been criticized (Hill, 1988; Murray, 1988), and studies have shown that mixed or hybrid strategies may be profitable (Miller Dess, 1993). By looking at Bowmans strategy clock (1996), it can be seen that the company are going against Porter and are taking up a hybrid strategy in its existing markets which involves having a low cost base and differentiating its products (Appendix 3). They are trying to develop products that are better than that of its competitors by posing the question ‘why is the drug better than what theyve already got? If this question cannot be answered then the product does not add any extra value for the customer compared to its competitors products and the product does not become a part of the companys product portfolio. In new markets that have fewer economic resources the company are taking up a low frills strategy which involves producing cheap goods with low added value. In terms of Porters generic strategies, the choice of taking up a hybrid strategy can be seen as a differentiation strategy as well as a cost leadership strategy (Appendix 4). By differentiating its products, the company are trying to produce goods which its customers will value so that it can overcome the threat that is enforced from the patent expiries. The way in which differentiation is achieved can be seen by Porters (1985) value chain (Appendix 5). Value is built on the activities that are a part of creating the product, whilst sometimes reducing costs in these activities. For example, the company are trying to achieve this by restructuring its RD as it was costly and unproductive and reduce its operating costs. This makes the product unique compared to those of competitors. These value added products can be charged at premium prices to help achieve higher profitability. This will help make up for the loss of revenues from the patent expiries. The company have chosen to pursue its strategy through organic development, which has also led to the decision of pursuing its strategy through acquisitions. The company are strengthening its capabilities, one of which is the ability to make effective decision which has therefore led to the company taking on acquisitions. The reason behind these choices is because it will allow the company to add value to its products. These are carefully thought out decisions that the company are undertaking so that they have a competitive advantage. When observing how Sanofi-Aventis are changing its strategy to help it to become a global diversified healthcare company, it can be seen that the strategy is an intended one. This is because Viehbacher entered the company having ideas about how the strategy would be changed. The design lens can be used to explain this strategy because Viehbacher has been in charge of making all the strategic decisions, ‘Dehecq, who had long been considered as the driving force behind Sanofi-Aventis, was conspicuous by his absence at these meets. This led to analysts opining that Viehbacher was in sole charge of strategy. The change that the company are seeing is a result of implementing the planned strategy that Viehbacher had when he joined the company. Conclusion Sanofi-Aventis are under-going a transformational change in a short period of time. They have been able to achieve this by first considering the influences on the companys strategy such as its environment, its culture, its strategic capabilities and its stakeholders. These create opportunities and threats for the company and so by looking at these the company have been able to make strategic choices to help them to decide which direction to move their strategy towards and the methods by which this is to be done to help them to overcome some of the problems that they are facing. Question 2 Introduction In the future, the company needs to create a more sustainable growth. Sanofi-Aventis are changing its strategy to deal with the market pressures and demands while focusing on its main activities and developing strategic capabilities. The company need to utilise its resources and competences in such a way so that it can sustain growth and gain a competitive advantage over other key players in the pharmaceutical industry. Viehbacher was aware of this when he first joined the company and questioned ‘How can we change the model? How can we create more sustainable growth? For Viehbacher to be successful in achieving this he had to first identify the resources and competencies the company would need to grow and then decide how these would be developed and utilised efficiently. The resource-based model states that the competitive advantage and superior performance of an organisation is explained by the distinctiveness of its capabilities. Peteraf (1993) explains that the resource-based model can help to understand the long-lasting differences in the profitability of the firm, which cannot be attributed to variations in industry conditions. Wernerfelt (1984) states the model shows that the competitive advantage of a firm lies primarily in the application of the bundle of valuable resources at the firms disposal. Barney (1991) suggests that the resources have to be valuable, rare, inimitable and non-substitutable because then the competitors will not be able to mimic the companys strategy. This can help to explain the heterogeneity or firm-level differences among companies that allow them to sustain competitive advantage. Sanofi-Aventis is in the exploration stage and so during the transformation they are experimenting with new alternatives that will help the company to gain this competitive advantage. One of the major reasons why the company have to do this is because the main resource that they rely on; the patents, are soon to expire. Also in an emerging market the company needs better, more refined resources to compete with. Johnson et al (2008) suggest that for a company to have strategic capabilities and competitive advantage they need to have the necessary resources and threshold competences, which competitors may have or can easily imitate, as well as unique resources and core competences which are better than the competitors or difficult for the competitors to imitate (appendix 6). Viehbacher became CEO of Sanofi-Aventis in December 2008. The experience of working at GSK for 20 years and the knowledge that he has brought to the company is unique and difficult for competitors to gain. His way of thinking and style of leadership is helping the company to transform itself because it varies from the companys old leadership which was like a French national treasure. Thus it can be seen that Viehbacher is developing a new culture for the company by changing the power structure. This will allow any new CEO joining the company, if Viehbacher leaves, to be able to continuously align the companys strategy wit h the changing environment through incremental change by building on the familiar. The company will also be able to develop dynamic capabilities if the environments changes which is mostly likely to be the case. The rapid changes in the industry have meant that for Sanofi-Aventis to be a more competitive organisation, a change in the companys structure is needed. Thus Viehbacher has put a new team in place after joining the company. Only Jean-Francois Dehecq remains chairman and two of the top management team, namely, Marc Cluzel (head of RD) and Hanspeter Spek (head of pharma operations) continue to hold their positions. Laurence Debroux has been promoted as chief strategic officer (in charge of MAs) and Jean-Pierre Lehner as chief medical officer (in charge of drug safety). Elias Zerhouni has been brought in as scientific advisor, Jerome Contamine as the CFO and Paul Chew as chief medical/science officer. By making this change in structure, Viehbacher is further developing the culture of the organisation. His team together have the knowledge and expertise in different areas, which will allow the company to grow as they will be adding value to the different activities of the company. With a stronger management team, the companys future can be and will continue to be shaped allowing it to be more customer orientated. However the team will need to bring new ideas to the company in order for this to happen. The company were the thirds largest pharmaceutical company as of 2009 but it had a costly and unproductive RD pipeline. The transformation of the companys strategy entails restructuring the RD organisation so that it is productive and in sync with patients needs. The company are changing to a company that is based on biotech and specialist-driven therapies research. The RD of the company is a core competence that Viehbacher is creating. It is helping the company to meet the demands of the rapidly changing pharmaceutical environment by shifting its efforts to new regulatory and economic constraints. By moving away from blockbuster drugs, the company can concentrate on medicines that add value for the customers. It is important for Sanofi-Aventis to keep the customers in mind as they will have a major effect on the success of the business. By meeting their needs, the company can create customer loyalty which will provide the company with a steady income. The new approach to RD is allow ing the company to enter into new partnerships to boost its base business. This is an opportunity for the company to try to overcome to some extent the threats that will occur from the patents expiring. These threats include the increase in substitutes and rivalry. If they can achieve this through their new RD approach, this will help the company to achieve growth in the future. Viehbacher was quick to note that Sanofi-Aventis was the #1 pharmaceutical company in emerging markets. This is because they have the ability to make efficient and effective decisions, as well as being able to move quick, ‘everybody says they want to go there, but were already there. Were in business while other companies are still trying to find their way from the airport to the hotel. This is a core competence that the company has, thus as new markets emerge in the future the company need to uphold this status. This is possible for the company to accomplish if they continue to focus on global public health issues and not the traditional markets that are becoming saturated. They also need to continue to act fast as they have done when moving into emerging markets such as Africa, India and China. The market the company was catering to was diverse, so they are moving towards branded generics, consumer healthcare and vaccines to create the basis for more sustainable growth. Viehb acher pointed out that the company was in a strong financial position generating à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬4 billion in cash each year. This capital can be used to invest in RD, which will help the company to grow and strengthen its position in emerging markets as it finds new healthcare businesses and products to diversify into. Using the companys finance, respectable reputation and ability to expand into emerging markets, it will allow the company to compensate from the patent expiries of its top-selling drugs and make larger capital gains in the future. Sanofi-Aventis have the ability to make logical decisions with the help of their CEO. For example they have decided not to be part of any mega-mergers as this would sap the organisations creativity and productivity. By opting for a mega-merger, the company would not be adding to shareholder value, so Viehbacher felt it was not necessary to do so. The capability to make these decisions has come from Viehbachers experience where he has been a part of two mega-mergers in the past. Instead of the mega-mergers Viehbacher has decided to go ahead with bolt-on acquisitions. The five acquisitions the company have taken up has given the company opportunities to tap markets such as the Central and Eastern markets, boost its presences in countries and the OTC business and provided it with a launching pad for the Asia-Pacific region. It has also given a push to its vaccines segment. These acquisitions are helping to fuel its growth in emerging markets whilst reducing its risk profile. In the futu re, the company need to maintain making disciplined decisions about the acquisitions that it takes on, only investing in those that add value. The company should be able to maintain this because Sanofi-Synthà ©labo acquired Aventis and both companies had a history of mergers and acquisitions. By taking on acquisitions, the company can also increase its customer base quicker than with mergers because the company can take on more than one acquisition at a time. Conclusion Sanofi-Aventis are carefully designing their strategy to allow them to have a competitive advantage. They are creating core competences and resources to aid them to survive and compete in the emerging pharmaceutical market. The resource-based model has facilitated the understanding of how Sanofi-Aventis is able to enter the new market and how it can in the future strengthen its position in this market. It is possible for the company to have sustainable growth and a competitive advantage, but they need to utilise its resources successfully in order to achieve this. However if in the future the needs of the environment change, Sanofi-Aventis will need dynamic capabilities to achieve a competitive advantage. Although Viehbacher is creating resources and core competences when transforming the companys strategy, these may need to be renewed and recreated because in more dynamic conditions competitive advantage is achieved when there is a capacity for change, learning and innovation.