Ebay Case Analysis 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ebay Case Analysis 2 - Essay Example In the event that a sale materializes, the customers pack, insure, and ship the sold items to the buyer. The buyer, on the other hand, handles the payment and verification of the sold items. Collectively, the outlined measures make eBay’s model scalable† (expandable devoid of a proportional rise in cost). #2. eBay’s possible rationale for expanding internationally The speedy development of internet technologies has yielded to the emergence of e-business companies (Dutta 684). eBay offers a broad range of products, globally expanding and generating a community for all clients to join eBay. The potential rationale for eBay international expansion hinges on the desire to increase its: number of registered users, user activity, PayPal transactions, user gross merchandise volume, and number of listings. eBay’s global presence seeks to take advantage of the growing online shopping usage (Hitt, Ireland, and Robert 235). # 3. International arenas for eBay: France a nd Japan The CAGE Distance framework highlights cultural, administrative, geographic, and economic differentials or distances between countries that ought to be addresses when coming up with international strategies. CAGE framework can also be employed to dissect patterns of trade, information, capital, and people flows. In terms of cultural distance, there is â€Å"wide† cultural distance owing to different languages, diverse ethnicities (absence of connective ethnic and social networks), diverse values, norms, and dispositions (Hitt, Ireland, and Hoskisson 236). With regard to geographic distance, both France and Japan are far-off the parent company’s location; nevertheless, the rise of globalization and the advancement of ICT has facilitated trounced over geographical distance. Hence, Japan and France can still remain desirable markets for eBay. # 4. Alternative vehicles that eBay has used to pursue international expansion There are several components that can be ci ted as contributing to eBay’s strategic plan for growth. In its expansion efforts, eBay employs investment and acquisition strategy. eBay is a very diverse entity and services that the company avail is appealing to individual customers, as well as large corporate customers (Hitt, Ireland, and Hoskisson 235). eBay’s corporate strategy centers on diversifying business to products offered, as well as customer base and global reach. eBay keeps on changing, adapting, and highlighting fresh ways to master its environment. # 5.Issues and problems that eBay is facing In the case, eBay is attempting to address one prominent problem: Competitions, as other players such as Yahoo! push for a slice of the market. eBay pursues to have the largest user base to attempt to fend off the growing competition, which means that it has to try to lure customers from its competitors. With regard to entering the Japanese market, eBay was hoping to take advantage of the giant market given that J apan had evolved to become the second largest market for person-to-person auctions. However, Yahoo, in a joint venture with Softbank, had already made successful inroads into the Japanese market to the level of commanding a sizeable market share. As a result, eBay faces the problem on whether it should cut its losses and exit the Japanese market. With regard to the acquisition of iBazar, eBay was counting on

Science and Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Science and Politics - Essay Example Another example as to how science works within the political structure is in regards to chemical warfare. It is well known that despite the various differences between the political view on this and the scientific one, politics have been mediating the science of chemical warfare throughout history (Tuite 2005). When history recalls the Persian Gulf War and the syndrome the soldiers experienced following it, from a political view, the government attempted to deny its existence, claiming there never were chemicals involved at first. This was due to the fact that when scientific explanations were wholly considered, they proved to be extremely costly and the government did not want that. However, it was a fact there was undeniable scientific proof of its existence. In this regard, science and politics clashed. Science had a concern for the emerging illness while those in governmental positions were too concerned with the costs arising from the problem and wanted to be done with it. What Science pushes for is government funding so that it can research unusual illnesses and then make political figures aware. Without science there is no way of avoiding mass epidemics of illness, such as in the concern of the bird flu right now.

Buyer Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Buyer Behavior - Essay Example Various models of consumer behaviour have been developed over the years. The models reflect the different buying situations in which consumers find themselves. Factors influencing consumer behaviour must be considered as well as similar factors influencing the buying decisions in business to business transactions. An understanding of these factors and how they influence the buying decision are extremely important when putting together a selling strategy. Market research also plays an important part in helping to identify relevant facts about buyer behaviour (consumer or organizational) and provides all kinds of information which forms the basis of strategy formulation. A motive to make a certain purchase is an internal state of the purchase. While consumer behavior is observable, motives are psychological constructs that can only be inferred. Buying motives for consumer products may be classified as economic, emotional, product, and retail patronage. Some of the motives may be rational while others are emotional. To illustrate, economic motives include product durability or economy in use. Emotional motives might include romance, pleasure, or prestige. Product purchase motives might involve ease for making repairs or ease of installation. Patronage motives relate to variety for selection or promptness in delivery. Motives relate to perception. Motives come from the consumer's real self, self-image, ideal self, and looking-glass self. The way consumers envision the situation to themselves helps to shape their reactions or responses to marketers' appeals (Sharon, Boyle, 2004: 343). Consumer goals and needs are constantly changing in response to environmental conditions, interaction with others, and physical conditions. As individuals realize their goals, new objectives may be established. New levels of aspiration may surface. For example, if an individual loses ten pounds of weight another objective to lose an additional fifteen pounds may be established. Moreover, marketers need to be attuned to changing needs and goals. Automobile manufacturers have recognized the consumer's need for prestige or status. This need may be less important as some consumers seek safety or family enjoyment as reasons for purchasing a new car. Since many families own more than one motor vehicle, ownership of a Volvo sedan or station wagon, a pickup truck, and an economical used car for an adolescent might represent diverse needs. The reason consumers choose one brand over another may be vague and unknown to them. Why consumers choose one brand of refrigerator over another may be based on personal experience, an advertisement, a friend's comment, a salesperson's presentation, the location of the retailer for service or some other factor or combination thereof. Brand switching may occur as a result of changing needs, a dissatisfaction with the current brand used, or because a friend, relative, advertising campaign, an article in Consumer Reports, or other influence persuaded that consumer that a better benefit or value can be derived by switching brands. Marketers, by identifying and appealing to consumers' motives, can generate a positive environment for the sale of their products. A study of men depicted

The Stone Carvers Essay Example for Free

The Stone Carvers Essay The Stone Carvers is a book of obsessions. Each one of the characters has their own obsessions that at one point they believe to be a natural and helpful to their lives. However each of the characters in The Stone Carvers learns that these obsessions with perfection, love, adventure, or anything end without them being able to be satisfied and on many occasions without achieving what they were obsessing over. The author Jane Urquhart made a compelling story on the nature obsession and the effects of obsession over any matter. The characters of the novel were fixated on a large range of ideas; they were obsessed with ideas from love to architecture and because of the diversity that Jane has shown that obsession of any form will always end without resolve. The conclusion about obsession can be grasped through the various trials that each character of the story is placed under. In The Stone Carvers Urquhart is able to show that obsession can never lead to a successful happiness, through a few powerful ideas; when someone is fixated on an idea the task may not be able to be completed, a person’s obsession can be counterproductive to their cause, and fixating on one thing can cause the person to lose track of the rest of their life. When someone is fixated on one task or idea their obsession may not ever be complete in their eyes. In Klara’s love affair with Eamon, Klara is obsessed with staying with and caring for Eamon. When Klara was not with Eamon she was thinking of him; â€Å"All the rest of the day she was thinking of the moments when Eamon’s arm was on her shoulder or his hands were in her hair.† (pg. 121) This obsession of love seems like a natural and healthy idea to have however Klara’s work begins to be influenced by their love and she begins to be jealous of anyone with a relationship with Eamon. Klara becomes particularly upset at one point she exclaimed â€Å"I saw you laughing, Eamon, with your friends outside the brewery. I think you’d forgotten me altogether, that’s what I think.† (pg. 117) Klara’s obsession with Eamon was never able to be complete because she would never be able to complete her storybook obsession of loving him and him loving her. Her obsession eventually led to an extended period of grieving her lost lover. Sometimes an obsession with something can actually blind the obsessed person into actually being counterproductive to their goals. In a minor case in The Stone Carvers Refuto, who broke down because he held himself responsible for his brother’s death, ran from his family to not bear with the pain of reuniting with them. Refuto’s reasoning for not going back to his family was that: â€Å"I could not put the burden of a killer on their shoulders.† (pg. 211) Refuto was obsessed with keeping his name clean and his family safe. When he ran away from home however his family was left to fend for themselves and live without his support. When he and Tilman had become friends was the only time that he realized he had been hurting his friends with his own obsession. When Refuto did get over his obsession and went home, his wife and he talked at length about the family and how they were able to get along for so long without him. Refuto said that â€Å"I was gone but Tilman told me to come back.† (pg. 215) Since his departure Refuto was able to â€Å"clear my head in four directions at once.† (pg. 215) This fixation on Refuto’s name had kept him away from his family but finally he was able to go back and correct what his obsession did to him. His obsession had blinded him to the harm that his actions had caused to his family. Instead of helping keep his family safe he was only harming it and only once he accepted that he had an unhealthy obsession was he able to return to his life with his family. When someone is fixated on an idea they tend to lose focus on other important aspects of their lives. In The Stone Carvers an example of this would be in Tilman and Klara’s mother, Helga. Helga had recently mourned what she thought was her son’s death and became obsessed, as soon as Tilman came home, with controlling where Tilman went and how he would live. Tilman however â€Å"responded neither to her questions nor her attempts at incarceration and intimidation but looked at her with confusion on his perfect face.† (pg. 63) Helga became so hysterically obsessed with keeping him with her that eventually she chained Tilman to the house however â€Å"Helga would never recover – not from his imprisonment and not from his escape.†(pg. 67) Tilman screamed and refused to eat while he was chained and his mother only then realized that she had made a mistake in obsessing over keeping Tilman caged. She pushed Tilman away with her passions for keeping him with her. The Stone Carvers shows that someone who is obsessed with an idea or task is more prone to making mistakes or causing a problem in a related aspect of their life. Throughout the book Jane was able to show her views on obsessions in persuasive undertones and themes throughout the entire novel. Jane was able to show that no matter how justified a fixation may seem the outcome is always negative. Throughout the novel the theme of obsession can be seen from the minor characters all the way to the major events of the story. Jane makes her case with many examples of the ways obsession can lead to the destruction of a person. She does this through showing that when someone has an obsession they might never be able to complete, a person’s obsession could be counterproductive to their cause, and fixating on one idea can cause the person to lose track of the important parts in their life. The persuasive undertones in the story are able to clearly convey the message of obsession being something that only harms the obsessed person. Walter Allward once said â€Å"I have been eating and sleeping stone for so long it has become an obsession with me. And incidentally, a nightmare.† (pg. VI) The inspiration for such a great novel and theme can be found in this quote because the amount of emotion that went into Walter’s work on the Vimy Ridge Memorial but also the tragic way Walter was unable to be truly happy after his most amazing creation. Works Cited

An aging population Essay Example for Free

An aging population Essay Factors such as an aging population, technological advances, and the advent of managed care have indeed changed the way health care is being offered and is being perceived in the United States; for one, having an aging population means that the demand for nurses has increased.   Another impact is that of certain technological advances which make it easier to give healthcare at a more affordable rate.   In light of managed care and these other factors, much more is also required of a nurse aside from the standard of health care that was previously provided. Given the level of competition in this field and the increasing demands for highly specialized and trained nurses, I feel that the only way to continue my career in nursing is by being able to earn a bachelors degree in nursing.   More and more job opportunities these days require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nursing. While all of these technological advancements in health care have indeed raised the standard of health care being provided in the United States, there are a few intangible factors that can never be replaced.   I see my future role as being able to develop these intangibles.   One important example is the special type of manner by which a nurse must conduct herself in order to be effective in performing her task.   The bedside manners are very important and it is something that just cannot be taught in classrooms.   Nurses need to be more than just machines that come in and punch in their time cards but rather professional registered nurses who show their passion and dedication to the profession through their approach and practice There will always be future developments in technology and there will always be an aging population.   The key to succeeding in this profession is in maintaining the level of professional conduct that people expect from the nurse and this is the future role that I see myself in the profession of nursing.

Inequalities in Bahamas

Inequalities in Bahamas Inequalities associated with class in the Bahamas One of the greatest tragedies in The Bahamas today, is that after decades of Majority Rule many are still beguiled by the illusion that constructs a superhighway of class equality. Alarmingly, many Bahamians appear to be oblivious to the underlying prejudicial rhetoric used by politicians, the prevailing class oriented mindset and the privileged minority who continue to steer and controlled the wealth and economic course of this country. Due to profound the inequalities associated with class in The Bahamas, there is a division between thousands of Bahamians economically, educationally and in the health care system. This division has had a significant effect on the social development of the Bahamas. It can be implied that class has become the architect of a national plutocracy that furnishes the wealthy, powers the elites and elevates the corporate masters to control and dominate the political and economic system of The Bahamas. As asserted by Author, Glinton Meicholas â€Å"This di visive sociological phenomenon is creeping quickly into Bahamian Society which will create another divide social class and Economics† (pg.2). In a class society there are three type of classes the upper class, the middle class and the lower class. According to Krieger and Moss, 1997, â€Å"since prehistory, all societies have perceived hierarchy among their members. Leaders and followers, strong and weak, rich and poor: social classifications are universal. Humans have invented numerous ways to classify people—by wealth, power, or prestige; by ability, education, or occupation; even by where they live† and this is seen in the Bahamas today. Krieger and Moss further stated that â€Å"the term social class originally referred to groups of people holding similar roles in the economic processes of production and exchange, such as landowner or tenant, employer or employee. Such positions correspond to different levels of status, prestige, and access to political power, but social class eventually took on a more generic meaning and came to refer to all aspects of a persons rank in the social hierarchy† (pg. 45). The upper class in The Bahamas is very diverse and consists of the old rich white Bahamians who were born into wealth and who control the countrys means of production, economic resources as well as land and capital, whereas, the middle class and the lower class are made of predominantly black Bahamians, whose acquisition of wealth is extremely limited. Even thought The Bahamas is viewed as one of the more stable Caribbean countries both politically and economically and continues to be listed among the top nations in the Caribbean for it Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP), high standard of living, and high per capita earnings there are still thousands who have low income and consumption levels, and low levels of human development in education and healthcare thus, contributing to poverty. Poverty according to the World Bank is defined as the inability of people to attain a minimum standard of living. The annual poverty line in the Bahamas is $2863 per person. Someone who lives on this line would be able to spend $7.84 per day on a basic diet (, 2400 calories per day) and non-food needs. According to The Bahamas Living Conditions Survey presented to Parliament on October 5, 2005, the Bahamas poverty rate stood at 9.3 percent or about 28,000 people half of whom are children, are living below the poverty line. National statistics Our national statistics record that 77% of the poorest people, those who fall in the bottom 20% of the country when it comes to income and expenditure, live in New Providence and Grand Bahamas, whereas, 91% of the wealthiest people also live in the aforementioned locations. Statistical data reveals that more that 75% of all poor Bahamian households have five or more members, an estimated 42% of poor heads of household have completed some secondary schooling, 34% of poor youth, ages 19- 24 are out of school and unemployed, 54% of people living in poor conditions do not have piped water, 33% lack access to a flush toilet, 58% of poor families rent rather than own their homes and 50% crowd more than three people into their bedroom. Among the more wealthy class in The Bahamas, there are higher rates of investment and capital formation, higher salaries and employment, more luxurious lifestyles and homes, more entrepreneurial activity, self-sustained economic growth, higher levels of savings and higher levels of consumption. The upper Bahamian class would have more natural asset, land, human assets, financial Assets, including access to credit, social assets, and greater influence on the Bahamas macro and micro economic policies and conditions. Their life expectancy, education, literacy and health provision would be higher than the other classes of society. Usually it is the upper class of society that controls the means of production and consumption. The middle class on the other hand would have moderate rates of investment and savings, average employment, medium salaries, and high levels of consumption. While their access to credit may be disparate compared to the upper class it is not limited. Additionally, th is class would also have some natural assets, land- though more generational than purchased, and their life expectancy, educational, health and literacy levels would be on a similar level as the upper class. The population of The Bahamas comprises of a sizeable number of underclass of citizens who are relegated to perform menial and labour intensive work. Their living environments take on the existence of a filthy, unmaintained and poorly sanitized ghetto. Unfortunately, these ghettos have forged chains that keep many of the local residents imprisoned since they lack the necessary wherewithal to elevate themselves or to escape the trenches of the ghetto, crime is rife, unemployment and the rate of illiteracy are high, the scores of high school dropouts staggering, and there is a sense of political disenfranchisement . In The Bahamas, every boy and girl enjoy equal access to education at all levels. However, equal access to education does not mean equal participation in education. While William Allin implies that Education is not the answer to the question but the means to the answer to all questions†, author Laurence J. Peter states that â€Å"Education is a method whereby one acquires a higher grade of prejudices†. Unfortunately, it is quite the popular belief in a wide cross section of society that we are a classless society and that class should not matter. Perhaps, it should not, but unfortunately, it is evident everywhere. In our education system inclusive of elementary school settings, and college settings, class is quite apparent. Statistically, the achievement gap between the lower class students in comparison to the upper and middle class students is relatively wide. It must be noted that social class including students family characteristics affects learning and has a great influence on the academic achievement of students even in elementary settings. This is substantiated when both the public school and private school exams result are compared. Students who attend private schools The majority of the students who attend private schools such as St. Anns High, Queens College, St. Augustines and St. Andrews are from the affluent / upper and middle class who have either a steady income or who just have money at their disposal. In contrast the students who are attending Government Schools usually have to struggle to get the materials needed or have to rely on the limited resource provided by the government who is subsidizing many of the private school through funding and ensuring that the materials needed are there at their disposal. This in itself speaks of the inequalities and the injustices in the educational system that is the apparatus responsible for producing the nations future leaders. Because of the inequalities that exist in our health care system, many of the poor, especially the elderly meet their demised due to the mere fact that they can not afford proper medical assistance. These persons are made to rely on the Public Health care systems which at time can not carry it own weight or meet the demands of the general, and frequently lack the doctor prescribed medication needed for persons to get well. In other instances the medication is either expired or the public hospital and clinic is just not in the position to render the services required. On the other hand, the elite or the socialite of the country can afford to go abroad or seek medical attention at the private medical facilities such as Doctors Hospital. Alder and Steward paints an accurate picture of this relationship, comparing societal classes (or the resources associated with them) to be like rungs on a ladder. Our relative positions on the ladder, â€Å"predicts how long you live and how healthy you are during your lifetime†. (2007: 4) They further states that ‘one of the major issues of the differences between social classes in the U.S. is that the distances between the top and bottom rungs are massive. A perfect example of the massive, who at times are considered to be the under privilege attends the Princess Margret Hospital and are made to feel like second class citizens. Whereas, those who are considered the privilege are treated as first class citizens and are able to seek medical attention at Doctors hospital. Adler and Stuart goes on to state that â€Å"people at each social class level tend to have different, associated health levels. People in the lowest social classes are at greatest risk of dying before age 65 and are sicker throughout their lives, people in the middle class are healthier than the lowest class, but not as healthy as those in the highest class (Adler Steward: 5). Paradoxically, many in the lower class of society can and could have achieved national leadership in many different spheres if they were not disadvantaged and stagnated by our deeply embedded and covert class system. It would be untruthful to say that our nation has not made significant strides in dismantling the socio-economic barriers of the class system; however, the inequality gap is continually widening and the bonds of the class system becoming even stronger. In our foremost areas of society, such as business and politics, there is still the covert prevailing class system that endorses the son or daughter of an old wealthy Bahamian to carry the mantle of and leadership. It is imperative, therefore, that given our history of slavery, and colonialism, that we begin to place collaborative efforts to provide each citizen with equal opportunity, both social, educational and in the health care arena. As the old say goes â€Å"A generation which ignores history has no past and no fu ture†. The greatest lesson we can learn from the past . . . is that freedom is at the core of every successful nation in the world.(Frederick Chiluba) therefore, it is imperative to understand how the class system deprives citizens of their rights to thrive, to prosper and to participate in the socio-economic development of The Bahamas. References (2006). Central Bank of The Bahamas Annual Report. Central Bank of The Bahamas (2007). Central Bank of The Bahamas Annual Report. Central Bank of The Bahamas Alder, Nancy, Judith Steward. Reaching for a Healthier Life. (2007). The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Socioeconomic Status and Health. Corcoran, M. (1995). Rags to rags: Poverty and mobility in the United States. Annual Review of Sociology. (1995) 21:237-267. Austin, M. J. (2004). Changing Welfare Services. New York: The Haworth Press, Inc., ISBN: 0-7890-2313-X. Central Bank of The Bahamas. (n.d). Monetary policy in the Bahamas: Overview of the financial services sector. Retrieved September, 2009. http://www.centralbankbahamas.com /policy_overview.php. Citizenship, Community Empowerment, and Advocacy. Office of Refugee Resettlement. 2001 Dec 28. Retrieved September , 2009 from Coley et al. 2007. â€Å"Maternal Welfare and Employment Experiences and Adolescent Well-Being: Do Mothers Human Capital Characteristics Matter?† Children Youth Services Review, 29,p. 193-215. Commonwealth Fund (CMWF), Analysis of Minority Health Reveals Persistent, Widespread Disparities, press release (May 14, 1999). Commonwealth of the Bahamas labour force and household income report 2005. The Department of Statistics. (2005). David, B. (2003). Rethinking the Sociological Measurement of Poverty, Social Forces Vol. 81 No.3, (March 2003), pp. 715-751 (abstract online in Project Muse). Davis, L. E., Proctor, E. K. (1987). Race, Gender and Class. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Department of Statistics. (2004). Bahamas living conditions survey, 2001. Department of Statistics. (2008). Report of the 2000 census of population housing. Gerth, Hans C. Mills, W. (1958) From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology, (Oxford University Press, 1958). (Webers key statement of the multiple nature of stratification). http://www.ilheadstart.org/history.html http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20000403monday.html http://www.justicelearning.org/viewissue.asp?issueID=12 http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenshistory1.html http://www.acenet.edu/hena/facts_in_brief/2000/05_15_00_fib.cfm http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~ulrich/femhist/education.shtml Krieger, N.; Williams, D. R.; and Moss, N. E. (1997). Measuring Social Class in U.S. Public Health; Research: Concepts, Methodologies, and Guidelines. Annual Review of Public Health 18:341-378. Lloyd. W. (1949). et al. Social Class in America: A Manual of Procedure for the Measurement of Social Status (1949). Milton, F. Poverty, Inequality, and Crime: There are two kinds of money: your money and my money. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th edition) (ISBN: 1557987912) Saunders, O. C. (2003b). The Bahamian economy in the context of the western hemisphere. Journal of The School of Business The College of The Bahamas, 12, 100-107. Saunders, O. C. (2004). The unique Bahamas. Readings in Banking and Finance, 3, 73-84. Thompson, T. (2007, November 10lb). â€Å"Child rights activist call for focus on rehabilitation for troubled youths†. The Tribune, p. 3. United Nations Development Programme. (2005) Human development report: International cooperation at a crossroads: Aid, trade and security in an unequal world. New York: Author. Retrieved September, 2009 from http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/pdf/HDR05_frontmatter.pdf. Zastrow, C. (1993). Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare (5th ed.). California: Books/Cole Publishing Company.

English Language and Literature in the Middle ages Essay -- essays pap

English Language and Literature in the Middle ages English Society of the Middle Ages saw many developments and new trends, but none so plainly as the developments witnessed in the Language and Literature of that time. It began with the Norman Conquest: eloquent french words substituted for the â€Å"harsh† saxon equivalents, primarily in the upper levels of society. Literature began to reflect these changes in the language, and continued to evolve throughout the Renissance. Together, these aspects helped define the Middle Ages. The Norman Conquest took place in 1066 with the death of King Edward. William of Normandy, later to be reffered to as â€Å"The Conquerer†, fought King Harold in order to claim the crown in Britian. Succeeding, William integrated Norman life into the Old English culture, concentrating in the higher courts and plitical scene. This integration of the Norman culture then filtered down to the underclass. The developmental trends of the English Language can be clearly seen in the literature of the time. Geoffrery Chaucer, who’s works were a precursor to t...