Porter Essay Example for Free

Porter Essay Porters Five Forces Analysis Threat of New Entry There are many companies manufacturing and selling office products at an International level. New entrants can find it easy to enter and establish their position In the market by basing their strategy on low cost. The market offers growth opportunities to new entrants as well Indicating low entry barriers for the firms wanting to enter into the area of office products. Therefore It can be stated that Staples Inc Is operating In an Industry where the threat of new entry Is high. Buyer power The bargaining power of buyers Is determined In an Industry on the basis of the Influence that they can have on the price structure of the products of a firm. In case of organizations manufacturing office related products the issue they are facing is that few of the products that they are manufacturing are easily available in the market, such as stationery items. Staples Inc is dealing with medium organizations and fortune 1000 companies as customers of their products. They need to provide these organizations with a competitive price structure or the customers can shift to another company for the supply of office items. But the company also has an dvantage that it provides them with products that have unique designs and packaging. Therefore it can be stated that Staples Inc is operating in an industry where the customers have moderate bargaining power. Supplier Power There are many suppliers operating in the industry of office supplies and office related products. The large number of suppliers has resulted in low level of bargaining power of suppliers. The companies that are manufacturing the office related products can select the suppliers that offer them the most suitable package. In case of Staples Inc they have strong ties with their suppliers and are taking dvantage from a network of supply parties that maintain the effective flow of raw materials being supplied to the company. Threat of Substitutes There are many companies manufacturing office related products and offering them at a lower cost than the price charged by Staples Inc for their products. This situation has resulted in moderate level of threat of substitutes. In case If an organizations is not satisfied with the price structure offered by Staples Inc for their products, It can opt for other companies which are manufacturing slmllar products and charging less for them. Threat of Competitors The Industry In which Staples Inc Is operating In, It has many small and large scale companies. Therefore the Industry has a high level of threat of competitors. Staples Inc Is dealing with competitors such as Office Depot Inc ; OfficeMax Inc (Staples Inc TOP competitors, 2011). PESTEL Analysis Political Factors The political disturbance in US or in other countries of the world disrupts the supply and manufacturing process of Staples Inc. Other political factors such as changes in tne rules ana pollcles developed Dy OITTerent governments 0T tne world In wnlcn Staples Inc has its stores also have an impact on the profitability of the organization. Economic Factors Financial condition of a country has an influence on the price and purchase of the raw material, manufacturing of the number of products and buying behaviour of the people. Staples Inc also faced problems due to global financial crisis. Abelson (2008) has reported that due to the economic crisis, Staples Inc had to take steps such as decreasing the rate of capital investment for manufacturing of certain products which were facing low demand due to recession. One of the products that were ompromised on during economic downturn was office furniture, as the sales of these products had declined and customers were avoiding the purchase of these items. Social Factors Many organizations around the world have been trying to bring in changes in their set up and to participate in activities that are a reflection of corporate social responsibility. Staples Inc has also been focusing on participating in community building activities to create a positive image in the mind of the consumers. Staples Inc has been trying to share in the process of community development by providing unds for social causes and benefit of the people (What is Staples Soul, 2010). Technological Factors Staples Inc is a supplier of computer related products and also offers after sales services related to these products to the organizations that are their customers. Technological changes and advancements enable the company to bring in necessary modifications and provide its customers with the latest version of the computer and its related accessories. Technological factors have a significant impact on the production of Staples Inc as they can not only develop new product designs but also evelop low cost manufacturing means. Environmental Factors Many organizations around the world have been required to alter their business processes top meet the policies developed by the governments and environmental protection agencies. As stated by the annual report of the company, the Race to the Top strategy applied by the management of the company is a reflection of the efforts they have been putting in to obtain a competitive position in the market through effective business practices and environment friendly products (Staples, Inc Annual Report, 2010). Legal Factors Staples Inc is currently dealing with legal issues related to the lawsuits filed by its employees with the claim that the organization has been indulging in unjust business practices. For instance the company had to manage the case in which claim was made that it was not paying the workers with over time charges (Lawsuits: Staples Inc, 2007). Along with that the company has also been dealing with the patent issues. These issues not only portray a negative image of the company in front of the public but also require capital investment by the company.

Role of Requirements of a Nursing Entrepreneur

Role of Requirements of a Nursing Entrepreneur Nursing Entrepreneur There are numerous careers and opportunities available in the nursing and health care field. The health care industry is expected to have one of the fastest growth rates through the next 10 years. What better time than now to proclaim a self made product or idea, especially when registered nurses have definite advantages over the general public when it comes to starting a business. This growth rate of healthcare jobs is expected to add a projected 4 million new wage and salary jobs, indicating the optimal time for nurse entrepreneurs to seek the opportunity to create and start their own business. Nursing entrepreneurship can vary widely by the type of career one would want to uphold. This can include starting a company or clinic, independent contractor, developing medical devices, computerized systems, a home health business, developing home health products, infection control, case management, telehealth nursing and can even include known careers such as a Legal Nurse Consultant or f amily/nurse practitioner. Nursing entrepreneurship is a complex career choice but can yield beneficial results concerning compensation, settings, demand, and legal implications. Requirements and Compensation The educational requirements for a nursing entrepreneur are similar to the requirements of a registered nurse. This begins with starting education for an ASN, Associate of Science in Nursing, or a BSN, Bachelor of Science in Nursing. To be an entrepreneur, it would be wise to consider taking Business classes, or better yet to consider a double major or even a minor in Business. According to Colorado State University Pueblos requirements for a minor in Business Administration, a total of 21 credit hours are needed to understand the fundamentals of accounting, economics, finance, and to understand the basics of managing a business by marketing a product or service. (CSU-P, 2013). With this, to become any type of registered nurse, one would then need to successfully pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain a nursing license. To start off a nursing career, one can work as an RN and begin their profession as a nurse entrepreneur from there. Starting a business requires a few more steps after becoming a nurse. To start a business, one must establish a business entity with the Secretary of States office. This requires filing a document and creating a new record with the Secretary of States office and after, the entrepreneur can register a Trade name or reserve a name. Then, one must obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), with the Internal Revenue Service in the occurrence of a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or even sole proprietor with employees. Then, filing your business with the State of Colorado online or a CR 0100 form is the next step. This involves applying for sales tax account, wage withholding account, and/or unemployment insurance account at the Department of Revenue, Colorado Business Registration. The final step is business licensing and registration, which is not necessary for every business, but obtaining a Nurse Licensure compact may be wise. License verification can be done through NURSYS verification to verify license and to receive detailed report. The National Nurses in Business Association offers their members a free business plan template that is customized for nurses and offers unlimited help to complete the plan. The typical salary for a nursing entrepreneur can vary greatly based on the type of entrepreneurship one plans on acquiring. Typically this can be in an average range of $129,000 for a registered nurse entrepreneur job in the state of Colorado. (Simply Hired, 2014). It can vary based on the industry, company, location, and experience. Independent nurse contractors set the terms of their services and negotiate their salary for themselves. Job Description and Setting The career path of a Nursing Entrepreneur has countless possibilities. This involves the capability of promoting oneself, being able to start a business while also creating and selling a product and/or providing a service. Nurses can venture off in many different directions concerning what type of business they want to establish. To illustrate how vast the career field is for nursing entrepreneurship, lets begin with a few different career choices and their descriptions. Physicians can establish their own medical office and collaborate with other specialty physicians to provide a wider base of care providing to patient needs. Nurses can open and operate a consultancy company providing a service offering clients information, instruction, advice and even opinions based on their needs and what they seek. A healthcare risk management (HCRM) reduces the risk for financial loss and property loss by identifying a clients risk and reducing and eliminating them. A legal nurse consultant, LNC, can be hired by law firms as an independent consultant as well as an in-house staff, they combine entrepreneurship work with attorney-clients and define applicable standards of care. A legal nurse consultant reviews and interprets medical records as related to a case, research medical issues, medical diagnosis along with terms and procedures of treatments, medical examinations, prepare discovery and disclosure of documents, reviewing a case for merit, and obtaining autho ritative witnesses. These are prime examples of career paths an entrepreneur can follow, although being an entrepreneur is not limited to just these options. The work setting of any entrepreneur can take place at home or where ever the entrepreneur decides to take practice as a self-employed, independent practice including; hospitals, clinics, healthcare facilities, law firms, agencies, insurance companies and establishing business made by the entrepreneur. History and Demand The role of a nurse entrepreneur dates back to 1854 in England by Florence Nightingale who established a worldwide change in health care. She introduced the first secular nursing training. The history continues with Mary Grant Seacole and Clara Barton, who were both considered entrepreneurs of their time. Mary Grant Seacole was rejected by the Nightingale School of Nursing and governing military forces. Without help in the 1850s, she fearlessly began a hotel to house wounded soldiers on both sides of the Crimean war to recover. Clara Barton founded the American National Red Cross in 1881 and also established the Bureau of Records of Missing Army Men at her own expense. The opportunities of an entrepreneur was quickly changing and expanding through time and during the 1970s nurses began to develop businesses and consulting services. (NNBA, 2013). The demand for nurse entrepreneurs is growing, like most health care careers, as more nurses step out and begin their own businesses. Entrep reneurs are self-employed and may employ others to work with and for them, creating more jobs for more individuals. Legal Implications As a nurse entrepreneur, a standard of care needs to be followed along with identifying safety measures and pursuing a standard of policies and procedures. If the career path is in pursuit of developing a product, registering a trade name for the product is well advised. The product also needs to be safe or the entrepreneur can be held liable for use of the product by consumers if the product is deemed unsafe or defective. Warnings about the product also need to be provided. Product liability insurance protects the business from claims of damage caused by a product from the client. A nurse entrepreneur should obtain an errors-and-omission professionally liability insurance. This insurance protects a company and individuals from claims made by clients for inadequate work or negligent actions. Nursing Theory Alberta Benduras self-efficacy theory (SET) best reflects entrepreneurism. Self-efficacy is defined by the belief that one has the power to produce an proficient outcome by completing a given task or an activity related to that competency. An entrepreneur is a person who is set to accomplish a goal to own their own business and self-efficacy relates a persons perception of their own ability to reach a goal. The three factors that influence self-efficacy are environment, behaviors, and personal/cognitive factors. The environment reflects where and what type of business the entrepreneur created and what they present to the client. Behaviors from both the client and entrepreneur affect each other in the terms of effective service. A mastery of this theory is by achievement through perseverance and overcoming of obstacles by observing others succeed through a sustained effort. An entrepreneur succeeds when the business has successful growth while obtaining a clients satisfaction of servi ce. Motivation, performance, and feelings of frustration associated with repeated failures determine affect and behaviour relations (Bandura, 1986). Conclusion Nursing entrepreneurship is a special career designed for those who want to take charge of the service they provide to the public. Entrepreneurship provides the opportunity to be ones own boss while maintaining the freedom of hours and work setting. Bendura provides an excellent theory for entrepreneurs to base their business on and provides the perspective of success by maintaining self-efficacy through environment, behaviors and personal/cognitive factors. Nursing entrepreneurship is the ideal career for those who are business savvy and have a passion for providing a product or service to their expanding customer/client base. A successful nurse entrepreneur demonstrates great leadership and remarkable creativity skills while also remaining fearless enough to take risks and venture their own path. References Banduras Self-efficacy Theory. Nursing Theories. AIPPG, 12 Feb. 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. Brief History of Nurse Entrepreneurs. Nurse Entrepreneurship New Rules. National Nurses in Business Association, 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. . Business Administration. (n.d.). > Malik Seeme Hasan School of Business > Colorado State University-Pueblo. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://hsb.colostate-pueblo.edu/UndergraduatePrograms/Minors Dickinson, J. (2011). The origins and evolution of legal nurse consulting. Journal Of Legal Nurse Consulting, 22(2), 3-7. Robson, B. (2009). From emergency nurse to legal nurse consultant and independent practitioner: legal nurse consulting? What is that?. NENA Outlook, 32(2), 24-26. Simply Salary. Registered Nurse Entrepreneur Salaries in CO. Simply Hired, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. . Tag Archives: Nurse entrepreneur. Nurse Entrepreneurship New Rules. National Nurses in Business Association, Inc., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. . What is an LNC? American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC). (n.d.). What is an LNC? American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants (AALNC). Retrieved February 9, 2014, from http://www.aalnc.org/?page=whatisanlnc

Everyday Use Essay -- Literary Analysis, Alice Walker

The characters in â€Å"Everyday Use† by Alice Walker serve as a comparison between how family heritage and traditions are viewed. Walker illustrates that heritage is represented not by the possession of items or how they look, but buy how they are used, how one’s attitude is, and how they go about a daily lifestyle. Every memory or tradition in â€Å"Everyday Use† strengthens the separation in the relationship between Dee and her mother, the narrator, which involves different views on their family heritage. Mrs. Johnson, the mother, is described as, â€Å"a large, big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands† (6). She tells some of her capabilities including, â€Å"I can kill and clean a hog as mercilessly as a man. . .I can work outside all day, breaking ice to get water for washing; I can eat pork liver cooked over the open fire minutes after it comes steaming from the hog† (6). This description informs readers that Mrs. Johnson has learned all the ways and traditions of her ancestors and knows how to survive from day to day. She and Maggie’s lives in the small home represent a simple, unsophisticated way of life. Dee, on the other hand is described as, â€Å"[light-skinned], with nicer hair and a fuller figure† who â€Å"wanted nice things† and â€Å"had a style of her own† (7). The clothes Dee wears and the phrases she uses to greet her mother and sister show that she has no real understanding of her background and where she comes from. Th is shows Dee to be materialistic, complex, and lead a life where heritage is looked upon as a trend and not for what it really represents. Although neither Maggie nor Mrs. Johnson are very well educated they show an understanding of where they come from. Mrs. Johnson and the community raised money to send Dee to a school... ...cause she had been â€Å"savin ‘em for long enough with nobody using ‘em† (12). After Dee gets the picture she walks out of the house and tells her mother â€Å"You just don’t understand. . .Your heritage. . .† (13). Dee is in fact the one who does not understand. Dee thinks of heritage to be as tangible as hanging the quilt on her wall or using the churn as a decoration for her table. Her mother, on the other hand, knows about traditions and heritage. Using the quilts would put the memories of their ancestors to everyday use. â€Å"Everyday Use† shows readers that heritage and culture is not speaking in a foreign language, wearing different clothes, or the changing of one’s name. One’s heritage and culture is taught and learned through generations, not just picked up. Walker illustrates that a person who truly has heritage and culture makes use of it every day of their life.

How the Computer Works :: Personal Computers PC

Many people assume that computer are difficult to understand and difficult to use; however, the first step is understanding and learning to use the computer. The types of hardware that all computer systems use and the types of software that make them run. Like millions of computer users, microcomputers where used to play games, explore the Internet, write papers, build spreadsheets, or create a professional-looking proposal or flyer. You can perform all these application without understanding exactly what goes on behind your computer case or monitor screen. We the computer user, turn on the machine, load software program, and use that software to accomplish a task without knowing what goes on behind the scenes or the basic functions of the computer components. It is also important to know how to protect the computer. The complete computer system consists of four parts; hardware, software, people, and data. The term hardware refers to the physical components of the computer, such as the monitor, keyboard, memory chips, and hard drive. The term software refers to the set of instructions that directs the hardware to accomplish a task. People are the customer operators, known as users. Data consists of raw facts, which the computer stores and reads in from of numbers. In order to perform a computing task, hardware is used by software for four basic functions: input, processing, output and storage. The computer user interacts with a computer in a language that the user understands, but software must convert that instruction into a form that hardware can understand. Hardware stores data and communicates with software by only one fundamental method--binary--and, in effect, speaks a language that only has two words, "on" and "off." All communication, storage, and processing of data inside a computer are in binary until presented as output to the user. The binary number system, is the language of the computer. The central, most important hardware device in a computer is the central processing unit (CPU) or microprocessor. Date received by input devices goes to the CPU, and output travels form the CPU to output devices. The CPU stores data and instructions in storage devices and performs calculations and other processing of data as well. A method for the CPU to communicate with the device will need to send data to and/or receive data from the CPU.

Hamlet †the Wise Polonius :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Hamlet – the Wise Polonius      Ã‚   The older gent in Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, namely Polonius, is no type character. Rather he is quite rounded and complex. This essay will explore his character.    In the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Hamlet, David Bevington presents Polonius as similar to Hamlet in various ways:    Polonius, his [Hamlet’s] seeming opposite in so many ways, is, like Hamlet, an inveterate punster. To whom else but Polonius should Hamlet direct the taunt of â€Å"Words, words, words†? The aged counselor recalls that in his youth he â€Å"suffered much extremity for love, very near this,† and he has been an actor at the university. Polonius too has advice for the players: â€Å"Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light.† When Hamlet jibes at â€Å"so capital a calf† enacting Julius Caesar, killed in the Capitol, he reinforces the parallel to his own playacting and anticipates the slaying of Polonius behind the arras. (4)    In â€Å"Shakespeare’s Nomenclature† Harry Levin discusses the name â€Å"Polonius’ and other names from the play:    The Latinism Polonius reminds us of the Polish question, moot throughout Hamlet, where the onomastics are polyglot. If Marcellus and Claudius are Latin, Bernardo and Horatio are Italian, and Fortinbras signifies â€Å"strong arm† not in Norwegian but French (fort-en-bras). On the other hand, the son of Polonius has a Greek godfather in Laertes, the father of Odysseus. The Scandinavian names, at least the Germanic Gertrude, stand out because they are in the minority. (79)    What’s in a name like Polonius? Polonius’ entry into the play occurs at the social get-together of the royal court. Claudius has already been crowned; Queen Gertrude is there; Hamlet is present in the black clothes of mourning. When Laertes approaches Claudius to give his farewell before returning to school, the king asks Polonius: â€Å"Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?† And the father dutifully answers:    He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By laboursome petition, and at last   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I do beseech you, give him leave to go. (1.2)    So right at the outset the reader/viewer respects the lord chamberlain as a very fluent spokesman of the language, and respectful of his superior, the king. Later, in Polonius’ house, Laertes is taking leave of his sister, Ophelia, and, in the process, giving her conservative advice regarding her boyfriend, Hamlet. Hamlet – the Wise Polonius :: GCSE English Literature Coursework Hamlet – the Wise Polonius      Ã‚   The older gent in Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet, namely Polonius, is no type character. Rather he is quite rounded and complex. This essay will explore his character.    In the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Hamlet, David Bevington presents Polonius as similar to Hamlet in various ways:    Polonius, his [Hamlet’s] seeming opposite in so many ways, is, like Hamlet, an inveterate punster. To whom else but Polonius should Hamlet direct the taunt of â€Å"Words, words, words†? The aged counselor recalls that in his youth he â€Å"suffered much extremity for love, very near this,† and he has been an actor at the university. Polonius too has advice for the players: â€Å"Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light.† When Hamlet jibes at â€Å"so capital a calf† enacting Julius Caesar, killed in the Capitol, he reinforces the parallel to his own playacting and anticipates the slaying of Polonius behind the arras. (4)    In â€Å"Shakespeare’s Nomenclature† Harry Levin discusses the name â€Å"Polonius’ and other names from the play:    The Latinism Polonius reminds us of the Polish question, moot throughout Hamlet, where the onomastics are polyglot. If Marcellus and Claudius are Latin, Bernardo and Horatio are Italian, and Fortinbras signifies â€Å"strong arm† not in Norwegian but French (fort-en-bras). On the other hand, the son of Polonius has a Greek godfather in Laertes, the father of Odysseus. The Scandinavian names, at least the Germanic Gertrude, stand out because they are in the minority. (79)    What’s in a name like Polonius? Polonius’ entry into the play occurs at the social get-together of the royal court. Claudius has already been crowned; Queen Gertrude is there; Hamlet is present in the black clothes of mourning. When Laertes approaches Claudius to give his farewell before returning to school, the king asks Polonius: â€Å"Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?† And the father dutifully answers:    He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By laboursome petition, and at last   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I do beseech you, give him leave to go. (1.2)    So right at the outset the reader/viewer respects the lord chamberlain as a very fluent spokesman of the language, and respectful of his superior, the king. Later, in Polonius’ house, Laertes is taking leave of his sister, Ophelia, and, in the process, giving her conservative advice regarding her boyfriend, Hamlet.

My Interpretation of the Chrysanthemums

My Interpretation of â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is one of John Steinbeck’s popular short stories. â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† represents inequality of gender, limitations, and feminism. The story is about a married woman living in the early 1900s who longs for a more exciting, meaningful existence. Elisa Allen is intelligent, accomplished, attractive, and ambitious. Yet she feels confined in her life and marriage. Steinbeck uses the world around Elisa to give the reader a comparison to her life. The story takes place in the Salinas Valley at her husband, Henry Allen’s, ranch in the foot-hills.Steinbeck opens the story up by describing to us how the fog closes off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from the rest of the world. â€Å"The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed of the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world† (438). This comparison shows how Elisa feels inside. Even her house compares to a prison. â€Å"Behind her stood the neat white farmhouse with red geraniums close-banked around it as high as the windows† (439). Elisa spends most of her days alone, behind her wire fence. She feels cut off from society.Elisa’s husband works as a successful rancher but doesn’t involve the smart and interested Elisa with the business of the ranch. In his eyes she belongs in the house or the garden. They don’t have an intimate relationship and it lacks any kind of romance. In the beginning of the story, she watches from a distance behind the wire fence as her husband talks with the men in suits but Henry does not invite her over. Elisa wants to travel and be free to do as she pleases but is suppressed by society because of her gender. She becomes intrigued when she meets a traveling repairman by his way of life.When Elisa expresses interest to him about his life, â€Å"It must be very nice. I wish women could do such things. † The wanderer tells her, â€Å"It ain’t the right kind of life for a woman† (445). Elisa feels a little off-put by his response and tries to argue with him. Elisa asks â€Å"How do you know? How can you tell? † He protests â€Å"I don’t know ma’am, of course I don’t know† (445). We are given the impression of strength and capability in Elisa. We can tell Elisa’s a good nurturer because of the way she tends her garden and keeps a clean organized home.Her chrysanthemums are the biggest healthiest chrysanthemums around. Despite all that she has no children. Elisa puts all of her motherly energy into her flowers to fill the void of childlessness. Henry makes the statement to Elisa how she could make anything grow. â€Å"You’ve got a gift with things, some of those yellow chrysanthemums you had this year were ten inches across. I wish you’d work out in the orchard and raise some apples that big† (439). I believe this represents El isa’s fertility and Henry’s lack thereof. Steinbeck describes Elisa’s clothing in the beginning of the story as masculine. A man’s black hat pulled low down over her eyes, clod-hopper shoes, a figured print dress almost completely covered by a big corduroy apron with four big pockets to hold the snips, the trowel and scratcher, the seeds and the knife she worked with. She wore heavy leather gloves to protect her hands while she worked† (438-439). This description reflects her lack of sexuality. Shortly after she meets the traveler she begins to shed some of these items, like the gloves and hat. At first she feels irritated by the insistency of the man because she had no need for someone to repair her pots or sharpen her scissors.Her attitude changes toward him when he expresses interest in her flowers. The thought of her chrysanthemums shared with another part of the world makes Elisa feel like a little part of her might escape. Her demeanor suddenl y changes. He makes her feel intellectually and physically stimulated. Her feminine sexuality awakens. She turns the conversation of the chrysanthemums into something sexual. â€Å"When the night is dark-why, the stars are sharp-pointed, and there’s quiet. Why, you rise up and up! Every pointed star gets driven into your body.It’s like that. Hot and sharp and lovely† (444). She completely surrenders herself to him as manifested by her kneeling before him â€Å"like a fawning dog† as she hands him the chrysanthemum shoots. But despite all that, the traveler holds no interest in her or her flowers. This symbolizes society’s rejection of women in the workforce no matter their talents. Elisa has hope of a more interesting life. She takes special care in dressing for dinner. She stares at herself naked in the mirror. She pokes her chest out and tightens her stomach.She puts on sexy lingerie and a dress that brings out her beauty. She puts make-up on. By Elisa looking more like a beautiful sexy woman, she is stepping into her femininity. When Henry gets home and starts dressing for dinner Elisa nervously waits on the porch for a reaction on her appearance from her passionless husband. â€Å"She looked toward the river road where the willow-line was still yellow with frosted leaves so that under the high grey fog they seemed a thin band of sunshine† (447). Sunshine symbolizes happiness, she’s slightly hopeful for some happiness in her life.When Henry walks out onto the porch he feels off-put by her appearance. She fishes for a complement. Henry tells her she looks strong and she comments back to him â€Å"I am strong. I never knew before how strong† (447). Before they leave Elisa goes into the house and takes extra care in putting on her hat and her coat, which I think is interesting because she doesn’t put on gloves so there is still a feeling of feminine sexuality there. She isn’t hiding herself like in the beginning of the story. As Elisa and Henry drive to town she sees a black speck in the road.She immediately knows what it is, her chrysanthemum shoots she had given the traveler. He tossed them out on the road. She feels betrayed by this man. He didn’t care about her flowers, he only wanted her money. Her hope dwindles. Elisa starts to step back into herself. This act symbolizes how society deems woman as unimportant just as how the traveler sees her flowers as unimportant. She then asks her husband if they could have wine with their dinner. She tries to satisfy some of her needs through this small act of abnormality. She then asks her husband about going to watch the men fight.Henry says he will take her but doesn’t think that she will like it and was unaware that she was interested in such things. Elisa asks if any women go to the fights, Henry tells her there are some that go. Elisa changes her mind because she understands that it is not acceptable for a lady in those times to watch such things. Now she could have gone to the fights, of course, but fear holds her back. I believe in that moment she loses hope for a brighter, more exciting existence. â€Å"She turned up her coat collar so he could not see that she was crying—weakly like and old woman† (448).Notice how she covers her body again. I think the assumption can be made by the last sentence in the story that Elisa’s life doesn’t become what she subconsciously hoped. She realizes her closed off, uneventful, lonesome way of living will continue. She grows old with this same unsatisfactory life, no children, passion, or exploration. â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† is an interesting story because it was published in 1937 when a married woman’s only place in society was at home, yet it is unashamedly written in the point of view of the woman.This story was carefully written by Steinbeck so we as readers don’t condemn her for her actions. We could have felt that she was betraying her husband in a way by flirting with the wanderer. Instead we sympathize with her and understand her feelings, and why she does the things she does and feels the way she feels. It is almost like John Steinbeck could see into the future and what was to come. Did he see society’s unequal treatment of women and men? Did he feel that it was wrong to treat women as if they had no other use in society?I believe he did. He uses this story to show the society of that time the inequality of men and women, and the way it makes a woman feel. The reader reads this story and doesn’t even realize that what they are feeling is compassion for Elisa Allen because of limitations that are set on her and every other woman at that time. This story could have been a very strong political tool in its time for feminism. Bibliography Steinbeck, John â€Å"The Chrysanthemums† The Seagull Reader Stories. Ed. Joseph Kelly. 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008. 437-448. Print

Services Marketing and Management

Defining Services Services are about the economic activities offered by one party to another. On the other hand is about exchange for the customer money, time, and effort, service customers expect to obtain value from access to goods, labor, facilities, environments, professional skills, networks, and systems; but they do not normally take ownership of any of the physical elements involved. And then services also involve a from of rental, offering benefits without transfer of ownership such as include rental of good. Defining four categories of services and exampleBased on differences in nature of service act tangible or intangible and who or what is direct recipient of service people or possessions, there are four categories of services: first one is people processing second one is possession processing, third one Mental stimulus processing, the last one is information processing. (1) People Processing is about services that are directed at the people themselves. Customers must phys ically enter the service factory. The managers should think about the process and output from customer's perspective.The people processing example have hospitals and fitness centers. (2) Possession Processing is about customers may ask service organizations to provide treatment for some of their physical possessions. Customers are less physically involved compared to people processing services. Production and consumption are separable. The possession processing example have repair services and house cleaning services (3) Mental Stimulus Processing is about the services touch people's minds, and have the power to shape attitudes and influence behavior. Core content of services is information-based. t can be inventoried The mental stimulus processing example have consulting, education and broadcasting. (4) Information processing is about information is the most intangible form of service output but may be transformed into enduring forms of service output. Some services are most highly dependent on the effective collection and processing of information. The information processing example have accounting, banking and financial. â€Å"It has been argued that businesses should see themselves as offering a customer-satisfying service rather than a goods-producing process. In this question, I think different companies will have different practices, some businesses should see themselves as offering a the customer-satisfying the service rather than a goods-producing process. Although a company can do these two completely to satisfy the customer needs. but some businesses need to provide themselves as offering a goods-producing process. But now companies are more focused on customer service. About the J. B. McKitterick, a General Electric executive, he say some marketing concept about the customer service is important.In a paper written in 1957, he observed that the principal marketing function of company is to determine what the customer wants and then develop the appr opriate product or service. Which was to develop products and then build customer interest in those products. The foundation for the marketing concept about the customer satisfaction is of primary importance. A growing number of company are giving increased attention to customer service. such as Financial institutions, beauty industry, airlines, retail stores, restaurants, manufacturers, and wholesalers face the problem of gaining and retaining the patronage of customers.Building long-term relationships with customers has been given a high priority by the majority of Hong Kong this place most successful enterprises. Many companies realize that customer satisfaction is an important key to success. Customer service can be defined as those activities that enhance or facilitate the purchase and use of the product. Competition in the industry too many, their products are the same or very similar. We have entered the age of boundless competition, triggered in large part by an expanding gl obal economy. Multinational competition has increased dramatically in recent years.To compete successfully in markets where products are the same or very similar, and prices are basically the same, so the customer service is often the only competitive advantage available. Many companies will do the survey, they will ask the customer need and they want the company will focus on customer-satisfying service or goods-producing process, the customer's answers is want to focus in customer-satisfying service. such as the company will have some training programme to give the staff. Now more people want the company can provide a good service more than a goods-producing process. ecause customers want the sales can to help them and address their needs. They will feel happy for their shopping. After their shopping, if some people feel this company have a good service, they would recommend to their friend. I think this can effectively to promote their company's products. It can attract more peop le to come the company to buy their product. On the other hand, such as financial, beauty these industries, these industries need to have and provide good customer service, because these industries require face-to-face contact with customers every time. o they need to provide the good customer service. And then the companies also hope that the customer service is ranked first, in addition, for the brand name of the company to establish good reputation, and this can increase the visibility of their company, more people can know their company information. On the other hand, they can attract more customers use the company's services or to buy the company's products. I think every company need have their customer-friendly systems and training. because the staff can know how to handled in a timely fashion. it can add value and build customer loyalty. uch as the cashier at the supermarket, the receptionist at the doctor's office, and the front-desk clerk at the hotel often have the first opportunity to serve the customer. they need to possess the social skills needed to build customer loyalty. The ultimate purpose of every business should be to satisfy the customer. Increased levels of competition require a greater commitment to customer service. some company is offering a goods-producing process rather than a customer-satisfying service. if they don't have a good service, the customer will not come to second time. o this type company can not only focus in the producing process. They also need to focus in the customer service. it can attract the customer come to next time. in this time, i think all company need focus this two type can do a good company and do very well. the company need to have quality results, good service, and a fair price to sell their product and provide their service. If the businesses that did not focus on customer feelings and emotions so they will lost customer. I will suggest the company need for continual reinforcement, and continuing good customer service programs.