International Strategic Plan to help Apple company expand in China

Executive summary Since China is enjoying a speedy economic growth, many individuals are starting their ventures in the country thus creating stiff competition. In this regard, multinational companies, like Apple Company, have found a good center for economic development in addition to affluence.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on International Strategic Plan to help Apple company expand in China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Apple Company should choose licensing, joint ventures, and wholly owned foreign enterprise licensing as its modes of entry. An evaluation of the business atmosphere in China would give a general image of the market. Additionally, with an excellent evaluation of the market, Apple Company can capitalize on the viable opportunities and reduce the existing threats, as a precise strategic planning will give the company a stable and suitable setting for its growth. Profile Economic Economic aspec ts have a direct impact on companies since they influence the accessibility of capital, charges, provision, and demand. In the contemporary era, the economic development of China has been fast and the industrial segments can attest to this assertion. From around 1978, China turned out to be a market centered economy. In addition, as the central bank in China, the Bank of China employs monetary strategy to raise or reduce the rates of interest and regulate the sum of money in the financial system to attain a steady economic development. The Bank of China as well assumes the responsibility of regulating conflict and surplus, in addition to raising taxation for import duty (Isenberg, 2008). In a period of inflation, the financial system is short of investment and exports normally suffer from the price hikes since inflation raises the cost of exports but it supports imports.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper wit h 15% OFF Learn More Socio-cultural Disproportionate income distribution and poverty act as hindrances for the development of China and thus the government should regulate the taxation system, decrease income variation, and enhance socio-cultural security to increase the safety of existence. With the changing way of life, individuals desire to work from home, which increases the need for such things as computers. Moreover, the level of single households is on the rise and companies have a tendency of deploying such employees far away from home (Acs, 2006). With regard to attitude of work and leisure, individuals become more considerate and flexible when they have an opportunity to take pleasure in life after work. In this regard, it is critical for companies to set aside time for leisure activities of their personnel and encourage the capacity to communicate and socialize irrespective of their cultural origins, and thus improve their health of body and mind in addition to c reating a suitable ground for their effectiveness at work. Legal The legal aspects deal with the manner in which regulatory and government strategy impact economic aspects and judgments by the government. Following the economic change in 1978, the financial system of China is rising outstandingly and influences the encouragement of the growth of non-public companies, foreign trade, industrial manufacturing, in addition to the employment report. When the security of consumers is increasing, Apple Company and other international companies will acquire gains from carrying out business in China.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on International Strategic Plan to help Apple company expand in China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The emergence of foreign trade in China is leading to a rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) and in 2008, the FDI rose to around 110 billion US dollars in China. Moreover, the excellent asso ciation involving nations is very significant for economic growth (Li Zhou, 2010). Competitive profiles With China enjoying a fast economic growth, many individuals are starting their ventures in the Chinese market thus creating competition amid different companies as aforementioned. In a bid to draw foreign direct investment and operate a thriving business in the Chinese market, it is critical to assess the macro-environment and recognize the aspects that would influence financial systems of different companies like the cost of demand and supply (Doole Lowe, 2008). Additionally, there exist some suggestions for local and foreign shareholders and business individuals to access the market in China and distribute information such as high-expertise, cultural, and management proficiencies with companies in China in a bid to create competition and encourage rapid growth of the economy in China. Entry mode The following are some of the entry modes available in China. Licensing In this e ntry mode, one company that has intangible possessions offers a foreign company the permission to utilize that possession for a particular period. The licensed possession could contain exclusive rights, patents, and procedure in addition to trademarks (that encompasses designs and names of brand).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is normal in the manufacturing sector for companies to be given the right to make use of some process expertise in return for royalties (for example companies like Apple that deal with computers and other electronics). Franchising Franchising denotes a special kind of licensing and signifies a situation where a company supplies a different company with intangible possessions as well as other support for a long period in exchange of compensation in terms of costs and royalties. Whereas the licensing method is widely practiced in the manufacturing segment, franchising mode of entry is commonly practiced in the service sector. Strategic alliance: In this mode of entry, at least two companies collaborate to realize strategic objectives. Strategic alliance is mostly practiced between a business and its customers, competitors, and suppliers. Joint venture For the case of a joint venture, the partners structure an autonomous and jointly possessed but detached company in a bid to realize particular business objectives. The types of joint ventures include frontward/rearward incorporation, buyback and multi-phase. Wholly Owned Foreign Enterprise (WOFE): WOFEs denote facilities that are possessed and run by a single parent corporation via foreign direct investment, which could be the outcome of attaining an installation at hand or a development of a new installation from scratch. Chosen mode of entry Apple Company could use licensing, joint ventures, and wholly owned foreign enterprise as its modes of entry in the Chinese market. The company would choose licensing as its mode of entry since it does not have to take up expansion charges and risks associated with venturing in a foreign market. Apple Company would choose joint venture as a mode of entry as being a multinational company it might gain from the knowledge of a local partner in the competitive situations, culture, and business systems of China (De Wit Meyer, 2010). Lastly, Apple Company could employ wholly o wned foreign enterprise as its mode of entry as for a company anchored in control over technical proficiency, this mode of entry decreases the risk of losing management over that proficiency. Wholly owned foreign enterprise offers a company the type of firm control over functions in a number of nations that is essential for pursuing an international strategy. Product Product components around physical product The products of Apple Company such as computers and cell phones denote a significant building block in different systems envisaged for the Internet. Some of the components that could be built around these physical products include cameras, Near Field Communication (NFC) module, and visual markers. Visual markers anchored on Radio Frequency expertise could assist cell phones to recognize every kind of physical object rapidly and effectively. Most computers and cell phones could as well be fitted with powerful cameras that can even decode universal barcodes that can be accessed o n virtually every consumer good. Moreover, computers and cell phones can read Radio Frequency Identification tags with the help of inbuilt Near Field Communication module. Apple Company could offer value addition to clients by enhancing its physical products with digital services, thus making sure that there is an unending attractiveness and constant contact with the product (Jones, 2010). Demographic profile of customers Some of the demographic characteristics of the customers of Apple products are as follows Middle and high-income customers that are ready to pay more for greater user experience. Customers that have fun with technology: this segment could represent customers that enjoy shooting digital videos and photos Lovers and fans of music between 12 and 35 years of age Experts in media and design Low income earners that can only afford cheap products with basic features Competitors Table 1: Competitive Analysis Factor Our Firm Strength Weakness Competitor A Competitor B Importance to Customer Products Computers, mobile phones, music players and other electronics Has a range of products that suit all classes of customers Competitors are copying its products Supplies similar products as Apple Company Offers similar products as Apple Company A wide range of products to choose from Price Suits all levels of customers Advanced products are available at a higher cost Very high prices when compared to prices offered by competitors Cheap products available Offers products at a cheap cost Get products at reduced prices Quality Has provided of low to high quality Customers desiring high quality products get them High quality products are very expensive High quality products are offered at a low cost Quality does not very high prices Get excellent quality Selection Has the greatest market share Has managed to convince most customers Is slowly losing to competitors Are waging competition for an outstanding selection Posing a tough competition Benefit f rom the competition through low prices and high quality Service Has the best and most convenient services Customers are assured of good service Offer some of their services at a high cost Slowly catching up Employing fast-paced digital technology Go for excellent service Reliability Well known for excellent products Excellent products and services make it reliable Higher prices make it gradually loose to competitors Has not been clearly known thus customers have doubt Is yet to be fully approved by most customers Rely on dependable products only Stability Has maintained a leading position over years Has the greatest number of royal customers Is losing some customers to competitors Has developed hitches occasionally Products are not constantly available in the market Never lack what they want Expertise Does not stop inventing Employs modern technology Advanced products go for very high prices Is applying modern technology Offers modern expertise Acquire products of high exper tise Company Reputation Brand loyalty is indubitable Customers are ever attracted to it Is losing regard to competitors Has not gained sufficient reputation Is slowly attracting customers Choose where they benefit most Location Operates globally Has managed the greatest share in almost every market Its high prices are making it loose in some markets Is a multinational corporation Is slowly going global Can get quality products wherever they go Appearance Appealing to all its customers Its constant invention ensures outstanding appearance always Its appearance is being blurred by low prices offered by its competitors Is gradually appealing to its customers Does not appear to offer aggressive competition Go where it appeals most Sales Method Sales in its retail stores as well as online Can reach customers that can have access to its retail stores Acquiring products online has additional charges Sales in its retail stores as well as online Sales in its retail stores Can get the products at their convenience Credit Policies Influenced by economic situation and degree of risk Loyal customers do not have to pay in cash Fail to have a one-suits-all credit policy Value the circumstances for a credit policy Bill some of their customers for the products they buy Acquire products at the most convenient method Advertising Employs appealing slogans for particular products in its campaigns Its slogans are able to attract a huge number of customers Keeps changing its slogans and that may confuse some customers Basis its campaigns on cheap costs Music and media plays a key role in its ads Choose products that attract them most Image Internationally regarded as a market leader Uses its image in satisfying the needs of clients Is losing its image as a result of criticism from some of its competitors Shaping to image to appeal to most customers Faces tough financial constrains that bar it from making sufficient progress Acquire brands with the most preferred image I would standardize a new product as interchangeability brought about by standardization yields a greater efficiency and cheaper costs of manufacturing new products and these gains are conveyed to the customers due to increased competition. Price I would set the prices of the products by first ensuring that I factor in every cost involved in the production and before factoring in the profits. Moreover, I would conduct a market research to know the prices offered by competitors for similar products. I would standardize the price for products by employing calculated amount while considering impacts of cost reduction on the continued operation, which would be adaptable for the people as it will be considerable and as per the quality of the product (Santos-à lvarez Garcà ­a-Merino, 2010). Promotion The promotional tools available for Apple Company are Internet advertisement, direct marketing, and sales promotion. The tools that would be best suited for Apple is Internet advertise ment since most people in the modern world have gone digital and the Internet has converted the world into a global village (Santos-à lvarez Garcà ­a-Merino, 2010). Standardizing a new promotion mix for Apple Company will ensure easy availability of products with a great number of varieties being in stock. Distribution The following are the min distribution channels for Apple Company Figure 1: (Prashantham Dhanaraj, 2010). The best channel for Apple Company in China is the second one, viz. from the company through an agent to the customer. The company will standardize the new distribution channel, as standardization will ensure that a uniform terminology is employed. Conclusion China is a fast developing nation, which has several prospective business opportunities. Nevertheless, it is significant for Apple Company to evaluate the investment environment in China and ensure that it is safe before making an entry. An assessment of the business environment would give a general rep resentation of the market. In this regard, Apple Company can take advantage of the suitable opportunities and reduce any threats. The right strategic planning will present Apple Company with a stable and suitable environment for its growth. Reference List Acs, Z. (2006). How is entrepreneurship good for economic growth? Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization, 1(1), 97-107. De Wit, B., Meyer, R. (2010). Strategy: Process, content, context, an international perspective. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning Business Press. Doole, I., Lowe, R. (2008). International marketing strategy: analysis, development and implementation. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning EMEA. Isenberg, D. (2008). The global entrepreneur. Harvard Business Review, 86(12), 107-111. Jones, G. (2010). Organizational theory, design, and change. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Li, J., Zhou, Z. (2010). How foreign firms achieve competitive advantage in the Chinese emerging economy: Managerial ties and market ori entation. Journal of Business Research, 63(8), 856-862. Prashantham, S., Dhanaraj, C. (2010). The dynamic influence of social capital on the international growth of new ventures. Journal of Management Studies, 47(6), 967-994. Santos-à lvarez, V., Garcà ­a-Merino, T. (2010). The role of the entrepreneur in identifying international expansion as a strategic opportunity. International Journal of Information Management, 30(6), 512-520. This report on International Strategic Plan to help Apple company expand in China was written and submitted by user Gemma Pacheco to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

A Complete Christmas Tree Care and Buyers Guide

A Complete Christmas Tree Care and Buyers Guide Every year millions of families shop for and buy a real cut Christmas trees from Christmas tree farms and local lots. According to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), 56 million trees are planted each year for future Christmases and 30 to 35 million families will shop and buy a real Christmas tree this year. Finding your perfect Christmas tree can be a challenge. Shop Early to Find a Christmas Tree The weekend after Thanksgiving is traditionally when most Christmas tree shopping occurs. But you should really shop for a Christmas tree earlier as it will pay off with less competition for higher quality Christmas tree selections and a fresher holiday tree. You should consider mid-November a time to find a tree and follow through on your Christmas tree procurement. Remember, every year is different when it comes to Christmas tree availability. Some years have less shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tree sellers will be busy over a shorter period of time and you might not have as many days to shop for a Christmas tree. Start your tree search early. Natural disruptions (insects, disease, fire, drought or ice) can cause regional Christmas tree shortages which can make certain Christmas tree species hard to find. In any event, if you are buying you need to plan and purchase early to pick from the best holiday trees on the lot or on the farm. 10 Species of Christmas Trees Christmas tree growers offer an awesome selection of Christmas tree species with excellent aromatic varieties that retain their needles through the entire season. At least 10 species of Christmas trees are commercially grown and sold in large quantities in North America. Buying Online You can now shop for and buy a Christmas tree online with only a few keystrokes - and 300,000 people shop this way every year. Buying Christmas trees directly from a quality Christmas tree grower will save valuable holiday time plus you will avoid a cold, overcrowded holiday tree lot only to find poor quality Christmas trees. It is especially handy to order online for someone who has trouble getting out to buy. A special Christmas treat for even the healthy would be seeing a delivery truck delivering their own fresh tree for Christmas (make sure you know the size and varieties they like). Read about five of the most popular internet Christmas tree dealers selling fresh from the farm. You need to order early when using catalogs and the Internet as these companies have limited supplies and may require you to furnish a shipping date. Most will not deliver a Christmas tree after December 12th. Retail Lot Versus Farm Selecting a Christmas tree  at a nearby retail lot or from a Christmas tree farm can be great family fun. To help find a quality Christmas tree near you, check out  NCTAs online member database. The National Christmas Tree Association represents the best tree farms and merchants in the United States. If you are buying a Christmas tree from a retail lot, the main thing to remember is freshness when selecting a Christmas tree. The needles should be resilient. Take hold of a branch and pull your hand toward you, allowing the needles to slip through your fingers. Most, if not all, of the needles,  should stay on the Christmas tree. What to Look For Lifting and tapping the Christmas tree on a hard surface should not result in a shower of green needles. Brown needles that have shed the previous year are ok. The Christmas tree should have a fragrance and a rich green color. Branches should be pliable and bend without much resistance. Actually, none of this will be necessary if you purchase the Christmas tree fresh from a local Christmas tree farm. In most  cases,  you can find a Christmas tree farm close enough to allow you and/or your kids to cut the tree or buy one that the farm has just cut. Harvesting a tree from a local farm is becoming more and more a favorite family event. Again, you need to use NTCAs member database to find a farm. How to Help Your Tree Last Through the Season Once you get your Christmas tree home there are several things you need to do to help your tree last through the season: Cut  one-quarter  of an inch off the base of the trunk if the Christmas tree has been harvested over 4 hours. This fresh cut will encourage the free flow of water into the tree to preserve freshness.Mount tree in a water-holding catchment container attached to a  sturdy tree stand. Avoid stands without the ability to provide water.Keep a constant check on stand water and dont let the water ever go below the fresh cut base. This will cause the base to seal and the trees premature drying out.Maintain adequate watering. Christmas trees are very thirsty and will use up to a gallon of water each day. Check the stand each day for water.Display your Christmas tree in a cool place but out of a draft. Fireplaces can dry your tree very quickly and reduce  tree freshness. Buying a "Living" Christmas Tree People are beginning to use  living plants  as their Christmas tree of choice. Most living Christmas tree roots are kept in a ball of earth. This ball can be wrapped in burlap or set into a container or pot. The tree should be used very briefly as an indoor tree but must be replanted after Christmas Day. Remember that live trees should not stay inside longer than 10 days (some experts suggest as few as three or four days).After Christmas, slowly remove it to the outside using the garage, the shed, then to the  planting  site.You  should not  plant in frozen soil and have heat protecting plastic put down if that possibility exists after planting. Do I Add Anything to the Water? According to the National Christmas Tree Association and Dr. Gary Chastagner, Washington State University, your best bet is just plain tap water. It doesnt have to be distilled water or mineral water or anything like that. So the next time someone tells you to add ketchup or something more bizarre to your tree stand, dont believe it. Most experts insist that plain old water is all you need to keep your Christmas tree fresh through Christmas.   Grow Your Own You may want to start growing your own Christmas trees! If you are curious how Christmas tree farming takes place, the NCTAs  website  is probably the best place to go to get into the business. They help you market  your  trees, pick the tree best suited for your area, give advice on the care of your trees, and more.

10 Tips for Getting Rid of Fruit Flies

10 Tips for Getting Rid of Fruit Flies Fruit flies are one of the most persistent kitchen pests. These tiny winged marauders procreate quickly and stick around long after youve tossed the fruits and veggies that first attracted them. If youre at your wits end with these nuisances, dont despair. Getting rid of them requires patience and smarts but these tips will help you eliminate any potential fruit fly breeding grounds in your home so youll be able to make them go away- and keep them from coming back. 1. Dispose of Any Rotting Fruits and Vegetables First things first: The minute you see even a few fruit flies, its time to purge your unrefrigerated produce. Anything thats beyond ripe, oozing liquid, or has been cut or broken open must go. Dont just throw things in the garbage or compost bin, either- unless your compost bin is outdoors and located a distance from your house. Bag everything up and take it outside to the trash. And be sure to clean up any residual mess left behind on countertops or in containers. 2. Scrub Your Recycling Cans Anything thats sweet or fermented or has a little moisture is a suitable habitat for fruit flies. Empty soda cans, wine bottles, and beer cans completely and rinse them out. After youve taken all bottles and cans out for pickup, give the bin a thorough scrubbing to remove any beer, wine, or juice residue. 3. Take Any Compost Scraps Outside If you compost kitchen scraps and find you have fruit flies buzzing about, its time to clean out the compost bin. Until you get the infestation under control, youll need to take produce scraps directly to your outdoor compost pile. Empty any indoor compost containers and give them a good scrubbing, too. 4. Replace Old Sponges, Mops, and Dishrags Did you know that fruit flies can breed on sour sponges, mops, and dishrags? If you havent changed your kitchen sponge or your mop refill recently, replace them. Throw any reusable dishrags in the wash and put disposable ones in a sealed bag. 5. Clean Your Dishes Immediately Dont wait until the end of the day to wash your dishes, especially if they have residue from things like jelly or wine. At the very least, give the dishes a good rinse to remove any food or beverage remnants. When you scrape leftovers into the garbage, be sure to take the trash outside promptly. If you have a dishwasher, rinse food particles from your dishes and run the load as soon as you can. 6. Check Potato and Onion Storage Bins Most people store potatoes, onions, and other root vegetables in a cool, dark bin or cupboard. If fruit flies persist, be sure to check these storage areas for old, rotting produce. Just one old potato is all it takes to keep a fruit fly population going. Dispose of any soft or mushy potatoes or onions, and give the bin a cleaning before putting in fresh ones. 7. Set Vinegar Traps in Problem Areas Sometimes the quickest way to eliminate a population of insect pests is to wipe out the reproductive adults. Fortunately, fruit flies arent all that smart. If something smells remotely like fermenting fruit, theyll dive right in. Place a few cider vinegar traps around problem areas in your home, and you can quickly get rid of large numbers of fruit flies. You can make a vinegar trap in just a few minutes with things you probably already have in your home. 8. Fix Slow Drains and Keep Plumbing Clean Fruit flies arent above living in the muck, and that includes the muck inside your plumbing. If you have any slow-moving drains in your house, there may be enough organic matter hanging out inside your pipes to support a breeding population of fruit flies. Tape some plastic wrap over suspect drains for a few days to check for fruit flies. If you see adults on the underside of the plastic, theyre breeding in your drain. Fix any drainage issues. Pour boiling water down problem drains to help loosen accumulated deposits. If accessible, you can also use a firm brush to scrub the inside of the pipe to free it of debris. 9. Give the Kitchen a Thorough Cleaning Youd be surprised where food bits can accumulate in a kitchen. If you have a particularly stubborn fruit fly infestation, it may take some elbow grease to eliminate all of their food sources. Check the lip of your kitchen sink. There could there be food bits underneath it. Clean the burner drip pans and lift the stovetop, if possible, to remove spilled food, and check under the refrigerator for sticky spots where juice may have spilled. 10. When Canning, Make Sure Jars are Sealed Securely Not everyone is into home canning but if you are, you should know that a fruit fly infestation can sometimes be traced to even one improperly sealed jar of fruit preserves. If you keep a supply of homemade jellies or sauces on hand, take some time to doublecheck that all the seals are closed tightly. As much as a fruitfly would take delight in supping on something youd inadvertently left open, you wouldnt want to dine on anything that came from an improperly sealed jar anyway, right?

Spotify E-Commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Spotify E-Commerce - Essay Example On a day-to-day basis, the company utilizes technology in conducting their operations. Additionally, the management uses generic marketing strategy in products and services to consumers. In addition to using Apple airplay, Denon and Marantz, Logitech squeezebox, Onkyo Network-Capable Receivers and Sonos Digital Music Systems, the company employs a combination of marketing strategies in promoting their products to clients. According to Gilmour (2012), Spotify uses cost leadership, product differentiation and generic strategies in the market. As discussed in the report, innovations are vital to success at spotify. The discussion is highlighting the implications of technologies at Spotify, the types of technologies used by the company, and the information systems used in conducting operations at the company. The report’s aim was to analyze the strategies that Sportify uses in conducting its operations in the global market, thereafter make recommendations that will suit the intere st of the company. According to Sehgal (2010, p. 12), the report used online content in analyzing the stratagem that Sportify use in the market. The information was sourced from journals, books and sportify’s website. E-commerce Introduction Spotify TM is a Swedish company that offers a variety of entertainment services to consumers in different parts of the globe. The company has its head office in London but it still conducts some of its operations in Sweden. Additionally, the company offers services that include streaming of music and sharing of data via the internet (Eldring, 2009). Sportify TM works in conjunction with companies like Sony, universal records and EMI in ensuring that the company meets the growing demand in entertainment industry. Currently, the company serves more than twenty million customers on an annual basis. In 2010, records indicated that the company surpassed its initial target by supplying close to 10 million customers entertainment services. Profe ssionals in Stockholm came up with the idea of starting the company in 2006. Daniel, E. K spearheaded the process with the assistance of Martin Lorentzon. Thereafter, the two came up with software that offers clients registration to the site. Generally, Spotify TM has revolutionized the entertainment industry despite facing challenges in their operations. In 2009, hackers invaded the sites of the company and got away with sensitive information that belonged to clients. This contributed to major losses recorded in that year. However, the company was able to regain back its position with support from Founders funds. Besides, Spotify recruited Sean parker who reintroduced the winning strategies at the company. According to Porter (2008), the manager used a combination of marketing strategies and technologies in putting back the company to its positions. At present, Spotify is leading distributor of music in the world’s entertainment industry. Spotify TM Spotify is a cloud-based music-streaming process delivered via desktop and mobile phone. It was launched in October 2008 and offers subscribers access to a vast database of songs via the internet. In order to achieve this, Spotify TM uses many information systems, some of which are so unique to its operations. An individual could play Spotify music through their network devices, smart phones and mobile devices. Spotify also continue to innovate new features that enhances music listening from inside the house. It allows people to simplify their work and vitality as they develop an admirable in music catalogue. Additionally, Spotify availability is also found in UNIX, Microsoft spotify code windows and Macintosh. These sites contain

Do IM and SMS contribute to decay of language Essay

Do IM and SMS contribute to decay of language - Essay Example The modern generation’s introduction to texting of these sorts has influenced their behaviour in academic writing (Momberg). The fact of importance to most is which kind of effect is it having. Lecturers in the universities have been attributed to having said that the use of SMS to an extent nearing generalized communication over the day has resulted in loss of punctuation and proper spellings for most of the students (Momberg). On one hand it might have been the sole reason for their to the point replies with brevity (Momberg) since they have now gotten used to it. The conciseness something that would be considered as a positive effect of instant messaging and short message service but does it even out the loss of literature's grasp itself as well or does it help evolve it? It might be interesting to note that jargon of such kind was not really introduced by texting (Crystal), it was there 50 years before the introduction of texting. English, infact, is said to have been gene ralizing abbreviations since its epoch. Words such as car, exam, ok, etc (pun intended) were often abbreviated long before the modern age. All these first forms of the words were criticised in their own time, but have now become a part of the formal english literature (Crystal). Do we consider that evolution of culture or decay of language? It is the perspective that matters. To weigh the pros and cons of such an evolution might be the way to go. In 1711, Joseph Addison is said to have criticised the abbreviation of words. These abbreviations and short words are often SMS-esque and are often blended with the modern day short messaging and texting, be it over internet or a cellphone. The text messaging differ in terms of their abbreviations over individual writing styles. Although, some standards are now settling in as trends, there is no standard style or expectation of writing a short message or an instant message (Crystal). To find the origin of the usage of abbreviations in texti ng, it is not hard to see that it was to overcome the technological bounds of typing with a cell phone’s keypad rather than a full keyboard or even, for some, due to shifting newly to a keyboard from a traditional pen and paper writing as well as to save the costs by writing the minimum amount of text characters. On the other hand is it really just this which influences the transforming of correct spellings in to, often, more complex ones which might apparently take more time and energy. David Crystal regards it as a need to play with words and sounds to form a language without barriers that pushes the trend forward to even use words and abbreviations that are rather more complex than the language they are replacing (Crystal). The trend of texting might also be used as a cover up by many who can’t actually spell. On reading a text message full of SMS jargon, you have no way to tell whether the sender can spell proper english and has done it deliberately or doesnâ€℠¢t know how to spell and is using the short message jargon as a way to escape scrutiny of the reader (Clarke). This might be of interest to those who think that sms is decaying the english language; SMS is only hiding the facts that people have abandoned reading and writing proper literature. SMS, on the other hand, might be informally educating the readers to a new trend and evolving global language. The debate between these two sides would depend on how the abbreviations and the jargon is being used. Plain writing is not the only thing that has been influenced by short messaging and instant messaging. Poetry has also come in the line of texting through these

Us Vs Japans Education Essay -- Education

Us Vs Japan's Education Education is the foundation of a strong and productive individual as well as being the foundation for a strong and productive country. Any country that keeps its' people uneducated or does not help to educate them cannot hold them entirely responsible for their actions that result from their lack of education. The United States and Japan both feel very strongly about education and that they need to have well educated people. Both of these countries have educational systems that are similar in some ways and yet very different in other ways. Both the similarities and the differences of these two systems give light to how each of these countries go about educating its' people and how much each of these countries value education. The educational system in Japan has not always been the way it is today. In fact it went through the very drastic changes in the end of the eighteen hundreds and then again in middle of the nineteen hundreds; right after World War II. The Meiji government was the first imperial government and it came into power in 1868. This government had a relatively nonrestrictive textbook policy. Then in 1872 it passed the School System Law, but it still did not include a Textbook Compilation Bureau. In the 1880's, there was a surging of nationalistic sentiment among Confucian scholars and this group was led by Motoda (1818-91). Due to this feeling sweeping the country, Mori Arinori (1847-89) became Education Minister and under his leadership state control on what was taught and what was in textbooks tightened. Then there was the Imperial Rescript on Education of 1890. This document had three themes: that the foundation of the nation is Confucian Values, that the role of education is perfect... ...rent ways; ways that pander to the results they want. Bibliography: A. Education in Japan: A Century of Modern Development Ronald A. Anderson, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, 1975 I think that this is a very good source because it was put out by the U.S. Government. B. Education in Japan: A Source Book Edward R. Beauchamp and Richard Rubinger, Garland Publishing, Inc. New York & London, 1989 This was an excellent source because it was very unbiased and factual C. Dimensions of contemporary Japan: Education and Schooling in Japan Since 1945 Edward R Beauchamp Garland Publishing, Inc. New York & London, 1998 This source is also very good and it is very new, which is always a good thing D. The American School 1642-1993 Joel Spring McGraw-Hill Inc., 1994 This was very strait forward and factual, meaning it is a good source.

Historically Australian Indigenous Art Is Often Politically or Spiritually Motivated Essay

Historically Australian art is often politically or spiritually motivated. This statement is proved by a number of indigenous Australian artists including, Nellie Nakamarra Marks, who uses traditional techniques and motives to relay her spirituality, and Tony Albert, who recontextualises mainstream items, to create a postmodern collection, challenging the idea of stereotypical representations in mainstream culture. All spiritual beliefs in Aboriginal culture relate back to the idea of creation and dreaming. The dreaming is the ongoing cultural and spiritual progression that informs identity and knowledge, which is expressed through traditional indigenous art. This reflects a spiritual connection to the land, which is represented by signs and symbols as well as other various techniques, which are unique to traditional indigenous art. Signs and symbols can represent a particular location, object or landmark, or a particular story or totem that would be specific to a particular tribe, corroboree or dreamtime story. In traditional indigenous artworks, there is no perspective or fixed vanishing points for landscape artworks because indigenous Australians do not see their environment as a landscape, but their particular world and universe. They create a concept of place by using signs and symbols to create a map-like artwork, which represents their particular ‘world’ and universe. Essentially, traditional indigenous Australian artists are painting their spirituality, by expressing their connection to the land through signs, symbols and their world. Nellie Nakamarra Marks is a traditional indigenous artist, from the east of Kintore in the Northern Territory. In her work Kalipinypa, there is no set pattern and everything is connected which suggests her spiritualty and connection with the land. Her use of the traditional form of dot painting for her particular area of the Central Desert Region symbolises her world as she sees it, and how she heard about it through stories. In the middle of the right hand side there is lack of colour, which could symbolise a particular place that has particular spiritual significance. The dark shapes also look like leaves, which could represent the end of season and the coming of autumn, which is supported by the deep, vibrant colours in the painting. The colours also represent her region and place in Australia. The many different varieties of the same shapes could symbolise diversity within their own tribe, as well as the different shapes and movements of the land. The purpose of this artwork is to educate and pass on a particular story to younger generations. Postmodern art challenges mainstream ideas, which usually creates a political or social statement about modern society. Contemporary indigenous art in particular would be classified as postmodern because the artists are communicating their feelings and thoughts about certain aspects of society in modern Australia, which in turn, challenges some pre conceived notions about indigenous Australians in today’s society. These particular works by Tony Albert are postmodern, because he recontextualises items from recent history, that were used to create an unrealistic connection between White Australia and indigenous Australia in the 50’s and 60’s, to challenge history, both politically and socially. Tony Albert’s collection recycles kitsch black velvet paintings produced in Australia in the 1950’s and 1960’s. These velvet paintings were very popular in the last fifty years as home decorations, and like many objects from this period, they were characterized by their depictions of Aboriginal people as simple folk. These ornaments enabled white Australians of the time to have a distant and unrealistic connection to indigenous people. Albert recontextualises these paintings by introducing stenciled slogans to the paintings to create a complex and identifiable character. He uses the languages of politics and pop culture to reconnect the artworks with modern Australia and therefore reality. These slogans reclaim the faces of the aboriginals, transferring them from helpless and cute, to bold and complex, which asserts a modern identity and sense of self. This makes the characters more personal, which then creates a connection between the viewer and the subject that is mimicked throughout the collection. The slogans are derived from pop songs, nursery rhymes, advertising, political speeches and life stories, which has launched these velvet paintings into a new identity, which enables the viewer to connect with the characters beyond a stereotyped context. The generic and common velvet paintings have become empowered and personalized, asserting a new sense of self, which makes this collection truly compelling. This collection by Tony Albert, addresses the issue of stereotypical representations of indigenous Australians in mainstream culture. He challenges this present and historic issue of cultural alienation and displacement experienced by Indigenous Australians by appropriating slogans and recontextualising them to create a sense of lost identity and estrangement. Through the use of many different mediums, Aboriginal artists are motivated by their spirituality or political standpoint to produce art. This is shown by Nellie Nakamarra Marks, who is motivated by her connection to the land and her spirituality, and Tony Albert, who was trying to communicate the stereotypical views of indigenous Australians in mainstream culture. Kalipinypa – NELLIE NAKAMARRA MARKS Acrylic on linen, 90? 90cm Kalipinypa – NELLIE NAKAMARRA MARKS Acrylic on linen, 90? 90cm.