The Impact of Colonialism

It is almost a given now that most everyone considers colonialism as a mistake. They thought that the spreading of ideas, culture, and religion would have a positive effect on the native cultures they colonized. In fact though, these changes had an adverse effect on the peoples of these countries. For although many laud the efforts of these countries to spread Christianity, some question the motives of these countries in dealing the everyday needs of these people. In seeing the natives as inferior the mother countries were able to justify their treatment of them. At this time many subscribed to the belief of manifest destiny and social Darwinism. This is the belief in which the colonizing of other countries is justified by the belief that if God hadn†t wanted these people to be colonized He wouldn†t have let it happen, or would have provided the colonized with the same technology which would make an invasion impossible. Another item that has caused a lot of strife within the lives of the natives is in the area of education. For many natives the history of their country before colonization is very foggy. They have been schooled from day one on the histories of their European conquerors, but seldom is the history of the native cultural even discussed let alone taught. This reminds me of the point made in Jamaica Kincaid†s novel â€Å"A Small Place† in which she comments about getting a day off of school for Queen Victoria†s birthday. In the book Kincaid states that most of the people on the island of Antigua don†t even realize why they have been given a holiday. This type of confusion is typical in dealing with the relationship between colony and colonizer. It is however easy to sympathize with the colonizing country because they are teaching the only thing they know. They can†t teach about the native culture because they have no clue of the history. In fact probably the best method would have been to leave the history part of education in the hands of the natives. In other subjects, such as math, the colonizing may then be able to add insights that may not have been apparent to the natives. But as for the history of the country, there is nothing that a colonizing country can tell a native culture that wasn†t already known. As Jamaica Kincaid implies in her book, if there is one thing that was sorely missed after the English left Antigua it is the fact that for the first time in Antigua there were quality built, well organized places to learn. As kincaid explains in the book, the beautiful library built by the British has since been demolished. And although the renovations for a new one were supposed to end years ago it hasn†t worked out that way. The library has now been moved to a tiny apartment above a grocery store. Where once these books had been categorically stacked on shelves, they were now gathering dust, strewn across the floor and randomly inserted into cardboard boxes. This demise of education in Antigua says only one thing to me, that being that the emphasis of the government is in the wrong place. It is true that Antigua has had their problems with a corrupt government that is more interested in padding their pockets with foreign money than doing anything to improve the state of education. For what does it mean when you have a Minister of Education, possibly that you have no education? Often in looking for the hard-hitting effects of colonialism, the biggest effects are often missed. While pondering the effects of religion, commerce, and education, sometimes the effect of prejudice is left forgotten. We must realize that these are human beings that, in some cases, have just recently gained independence from their mother country. The problem with one country capturing another is the fact that the capturing country now thinks they are in some way superior to the country they have defeated. There is an air of inequality in these situations. One country is taught to feel as if their people are inferior and are therefore subject to obey the laws and rules set down by the ruling peoples. The obvious problem that arises from this position is the fact that there is now a proud native people that have been reduced to feeling as though they are less than the Europeans who have colonized them. This in turn creates a ripple effect that infects the future generations that also feel as though they are inferior. Hopefully eventually this lengthy chain ends, and a few are able to see beyond the situation being presented directly in their face. They are able to see that the prejudice is simply one country trying to keep another subservient to their wishes. And are in turn able to avoid the pit to which every other native has fallen victim to. These are sometimes the leaders that are able to lead their countries out of colonialism and into independence. Then again these leaders sometimes end up being as ruthless, or worse, than the colonizing country. This is where Kincaid†s comment from her book must be looked at a little more closely. She states that it is unfair to harshly judge the job of ruling that the Antiguans did after independence. Her point is that if corrupt ruling is all that you have ever witnessed, one can†t be expected to know how to suddenly run a successful country. For in many of these countries they are neck deep in problems with no end in sight. Yes, they were given their independence by the mother country, but in most cases the natives were left high and dry by the mother country financially. In conclusion, it is unfortunate that our world has been marred by the practice of colonialism. And even more unfortunate that so many countries in the world subscribed that same practice. It is hard to argue that we as a people have matured all that much since the days of colonialism. But if we as humans are able to avoid this terrible practice we are taking a step in the right direction.

Luxury Car Market in India Essay

The Luxury goods industry is a very wide industry comprising of products from watches, jewellery, perfumes, expensive wines to yachts, expensive pens, and clothes. Goods for which demand increases more proportionally as compared to income, are known as ‘Luxury goods’, in contrast to a â€Å"necessity goods†, for which demand increases less proportionally to income. Some luxurious goods are bought due to the tag implied of a status symbol, such goods tend to signify the purchasing power of those who buy them. These goods are not always better in quality or appearance than their less expensive substitutes. The main purpose of purchasing these goods is to display the wealth of their owners. The industry is said to be highly cyclical and the driving force behind the growth of this industry is wealth worldwide, while the economic growth and conditions of various regions affect this industry. Jewellery has been part of the Indian civilization since ancient history. They were in fashion since ancient civilizations as Harappa and Mohanjodaro. Made out of almost any material, jewelry is basically adorned to highlight nearly any body part. Be it the traditional jewelry or the latest ones which are increasingly in demand, i. e. the costume & imitation jewelery. There is no dearth when it comes to accentuating the beauty with varied imaginative & stunningly designed jewelry items. This report has focused on luxury product categories & jewellery. The report provides an overview on the size of the market, importance of luxury goods, target market, problems faced and the various driving factors as well as the latest trends. The major global luxury market players have been profiled. STATEMENT OF RESEARCH QUESTION? The Indian gems and jewellery sector is also largely unorganized at present. There are more than 15,000 players across the country in the gold processing industry, of which only about 80 players have a turnover of over $4. 15 million. I want to evaluate the problems faced by the jewellery sector and come up with measures to help make the sector more organized. ?The rise of the middle class population in India is estimated to be around 120-150 million. Keeping this in mind I want to potray the market potential of luxury goods in India. ?India as a Manufacturing Hub for Global Luxury Brands. I want to study and evaluate methods adopted by major countries and conclude the possibility of India being the manufacturing hub for global luxury brands. THEORETICAL RATIONAL The advent of foreign luxury brands is in a way an indicator of the promising India growth story. Looking to reap early mover advantages, these brands have set up shop in our country. The Indian luxury market, currently in its growth stage needs to address key concerns like the lack of adequate retail infrastructure and limited availability of trained workforce for the trade if it wishes to promote luxury retail in the country. The world today is looking at India, and the products coming out of it. Our skills pool speaks of the highest level of craftsmanship and creativity as it has evolved and been refined by many generations that carry on the trade. India is also well poised to be an outsourcing destination for foreign luxury brands. The obvious benefits that India has to offer such as low labour costs, superiority of fabrics and customization, gives it an advantage over other mass producing countries. To achieve the objective of promoting indigenous brands and positioning India as a future manufacturing hub for luxury goods, consolidation in the industry is imperative. The need of the hour is for the industry players to create a sophisticated business model supported by financial and legal footings, and for the government to develop the requisite infrastructure. India’s luxury sector has gained significant speed. It has the potential and resources, to outshine other developing economies. Thus the route is chalked out and the objective is known. If the road can be cleared of challenges and impediments, luxury retailing in India will have a smooth drive ahead. THE EXPECTED IMPLICATIONS OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT FOR ORGANIZATIONS My research on luxury goods and jewellery is innovative because it brings together analysis of national discourses about Indian market with a study of the practices and choices of the Indian government and the luxury goods and jewellery sector. I believe this research can be helpful to the nation, development agencies, and indigenous organizations. I am particularly committed to sharing the results of my analysis with the Jewellers Association in India and hope that my work will not just be an extraction of truths, but will give them information with which they can help make the sector more organized. PRELIMINARY LITERATURE REVIEW Attempting to break into markets overseas is generally more challenging than trying to expand into new domestic markets. Globalization is the process of social, political, economic, cultural and technological integration among countries around the world. (Hodgetts / Luthans / Doh, 2006:pg. 7). Evidence of growth is seen by increased levels of trade, capital flows and migrations; a lot of changes in the environment have taken place. India is the world’s second most populous country; it has traditionally had more than its share of political and economic problems. The per capita GDP remains low, but the recent environmental trends have boosted thus helping to bolster a large middle and upper- class market for goods in the luxury and jwellery industry. The industry is dominated by family jewellers, who constitute nearly 96% of the market. Organised players such as Tata with its Tanishq brand, have, however, been growing steadily carving a 4% market share. As India’s jewellery market matures, it is expected to get more organised and the share of family jewellers is expected to decline. There are more than 6,000 players in domestic diamond processing industry. The average gestation period for setting up a diamond cutting and polishing unit is 15 months. The low gestation period, coupled with low capital cost allows easy entry into the sector. This has led to the industry being largely characterised by a large number of small scale players. However, just as in the case of jewellery, the share of the organised sector has increased significantly in recent years due to an increase in demand for better and finer quality of finished goods. India Gems and Jewellery Industry – Highlights Jewellery market size – $13 billion Diamond jewellery – $1. 2 billion Gold jewellery market growth year on year – 15% Diamond jewellery market growth – 27% (By bharatbook. com Dated: Jul 24, 2008). According to market reports, around 6- 7 million Indians can afford to buy luxury goods but hesitate to do so since they are unfamiliar with brands and products. With a growing millionaire base in India, the luxury market is growing annually at around 35% CAGR (The Economic Times: August 10, 2008) If India keeps the last three years average growth at 9%, the income levels of consumers is expected to almost triple by 2025. By 2025, it is estimated that India will become the fifth largest consumer market, rising from 12th largest today. High disposable income and a largely young population will drive consumption patterns upwards. With a huge youth populace below 25 years and having a 17% share of the world working population, India presents a huge market for brands across the spectrum. It is estimated that 52% of luxury customers are in the age bracket of 25-34years old. By 2033, the active age group 25-45 years is expected to be around one third of the population. With the average age of potential luxury consumers decreasing, the country is a goldmine waiting to be tapped. Given the core strengths of the manufacturing sector, India can well become a manufacturing hub for global luxury brands. Already brands like Louis Vuitton and Frette are looking at India as a manufacturing base for their products, but there are others who simply source their requirements from India. It is estimated that the manufacturing of luxury items in India can grow to US $500 million13. This manufacturing capability if harnessed properly can propel India as one of the leading destinations for manufacture. The cost advantages, particularly in labour intensive sectors like leather and accessories add to the advantage of the country. Luxury in India To be successful in India, it is both necessary to gauge the financial potential as well as the mindset of the Indian luxury consumer. This will help in bringing forth the right product offerings to the Indian consumer as well as targeting them better. Qualitative Insights 1. According to a study by American Express, ‘Inside the Affluent Space’, the mindset of the Indian consumer is a desire to prove that â€Å"I’ve Made It†. This can be related to the luxury categorization which is based on the fact that luxury is seen as a reward, both for achievements in life as well as showcasing these achievements to others. 2. The Luxury Marketing Council Worldwide has established a chapter in India, with the aim of promoting luxury in India. Their task will also be to build synergy between various luxury brands interested in India by way of sharing of consumer insights as well as best practices. 3. Even the Asian region is not uniform in its preference for luxury in terms of need fulfilment. Therefore, it becomes important to delineate the needs of the Indian consumer from the other Asian regions to target them better. This agenda gains importance because many Indians look at acquiring luxury from places such as Hong Kong, Tokya, China etc. Eg. It is interesting to note that Singapore consumers are more of connoisseurs compared to Hong Kong consumers who want Talk-Value from their luxury goods. 4. Hindustan Times has been at the forefront of driving the luxury revolution in India by organizing two Indian Luxury Conferences in the last 4 years. To add to it, it also brings out a monthly supplement of luxury goods available in India, thereby creating awareness for the luxury brands. Quantitative Insights. 1. As far as quantitative estimates are concerned, there will be 135,000 millionaires (in US dollar terms) in India by 2009. 2. The affluent market is set to grow at a rate of 13% in India, and by 2009, there will be approximately 1. 1 million affluents here. 3. The wealth potential of India’s affluents was to the tune of US$ 203 billion as of 2005. HYPOTHESES Keeping my literature review in mind my hypotheses would contain: Aim †¢The aim of this research is to study the different entry strategies and analyse which strategy is the most appropriate for luxury goods and jewellery in India. Objectives †¢Develop a case study on Indias luxury goods and jewellery industry and its progress to date and to seek secondary information that relates to entry strategies in the luxury goods and jewellery business. †¢Study the luxury goods and jewellery industry environment and Indias modifications. DATA SOURCES AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CHOICE Secondary Data Source The secondary data source would be documentary data: books, electronic media, and articles published in journals and newspapers which would help to answer the research question. Primary Data Source. To validate the finding of the research, interviews will be taken from the people who are in the jewelry and luxury goods industry. Semi structured interviews will help in putting across our research question and also listening on the topic area which interest the interviewee. Questionnaires data under this would help me to evaluate the general perceptions. Sample Size of primary Data Large qualitative methodology will be adopted for primary data collection. A survey conducted by e-mail questionnaire. A sample size of a few questions will be analyzed and interpreted with an approval from the supervisor. Method of Data Collection The literature search will aim to be comprehensive, but restricted access to primary literature. The collection of primary data will be based on a survey; the number would be restricted due to the restrictions of time to complete the project and resources to support it. I intend to collect data from luxury goods and jewellry industrialists who include manufacturers, exporters, traders, agents, lecturers, and students through questionnaire. Surveys and questionnaires will be administered on paper, in different formats. All may take place in person, or by mail, over the phone or via Internet/ Email. Data Analysis Both qualitative and quantitative techniques will be used in this research. The data obtained from the questionnaire will be analysed using quantitative technique. An interview and data which is collect from secondary source will be analysed qualitatively.. Interview data will be transcribed and then analysed qualitatively. Here, qualitative research would be used explore and understand peoples beliefs, experiences and attitudes. And quantitative research would be all the numerical data which would be from the surveys and questionnaires. RESEARCH DESIGN Dissertation Time Plan. MonthActivity December 3rd/4th weekStart thinking about the research ideas and data collection January1st/ 2nd weekLiterature searching and define objectives. January 3rd/4th weekLiterature searching/ writing. Submission of proposal Febuary1st/2nd weekDrafting of literature review/ working on Research Methodology/Conduction Interviews/ Meeting the tutor and taking a feedback February3rd/4th weekChecking literature review/ Analysis of the data collected and linking theories to the case study. July 1st/2nd weekMeeting tutor and check for final revision. July 4th weekSubmission of final draft. METHODOLOGY TO BE EMPLOYED The research for this dissertation would be done using multi-methods this is because different methods can be used for different purposes in this study. The research would have an inductive approach as I would collect data from companies and bring out responses to the research questions. The time horizon would be cross- sectional because this study is of particular trend, and not longitudinal analysis as they are made on observations over a period of time. The data collected would be by multi-methods i. e. qualitative and quantitative. These methods would be used to study the changes in environments. There would be secondary data to analyze the changes within the context of the organization. Details of any ethical considerations and steps taken to meet potential ethical concerns. Luxury goods should not be confused with the moral legitimation of their consumption. Especially if you are yourself a merchant who profits from the trade in luxury goods. Spending money on luxury goods, does good to the poor by inducing them to exert the industry, rather than keeping them idle. Hence creating employment for the poor. This kind of justification takes the issue of motivation for granted, that is, it assumes that people desire to consume luxury goods with a good conscience, thus keeping money in circulation. The following steps can be taken to meet potential ethical concerns: †¢Raising awareness of the code with subsidiarys. †¢Evaluation of the ethical monitoring programme. †¢Further monitoring of additional high risk suppliers from whom the company sources goods †¢ †¢Respect the use of banned substances/chemicals and provide an â€Å"alert service† to the retailers. References Books †¢ Charles W. L. Hill (2003), International Business †¢ Financial Times Management (1999), Mastering Global Business. †¢ George S. Yip (1992), Total Global Strategy. †¢ Gill, J. and Johnson, P. (1997) Research Methods for Managers (2nd edition), London, Paul Chapman. †¢ Harold chee, Rod Harris (1998), Global Market Strategy. †¢ Helen Deresky (2006), International Management, 5th edition: Managing across borders and cultures. †¢Hodgetts, Luthars, Doh (2006), International Mangement: culture, strategy and behaviour(6th edition), America, Mc-Graw-Hill/Irwin. †¢Isobel Doole, Robin Lowe (2004), International Marketing Strategy: analysis development and implementation. †¢GEMSTONES By Ronald F. Balazik †¢Fortune Magazine, 2007 †¢Mintel International Group, 2006 Websites †¢AmCham Shangai, http://www. amchamshanghai. org/AmchamPortal/MCMS/Presentation/Publication/Insig ht/InsightDetail. aspx? Guid=%7BFCCD3DCF-18BB-4705-9C8D-C677B764ACE1%7D †¢The Economist, August 2007 http://www. economist. com/business/displaystory. cfm? story_id=9005244 †¢Seeking Alpha http://seekingalpha. com/article/15478-growth-in-chinas-luxury-goods-market-to-be-fueled-by-2nd-tier-cities †¢http://www. just-style. com/store/product. aspx? ID=53193 †¢http://www. robbreport.com/News/Press-Releases/Robb-Report-Launches-Robb-Report-Global. asp †¢The Economist, August 2007 http://www. economist. com/business/displaystory. cfm? story_id=9005244 †¢International Herald Tribune, 2005 http://www. iht. com/articles/2005/12/04/opinion/rbuy. php †¢Forbes, 2005 http://www. forbes. com/2005/06/22/luxury-wealth-trends-cx_sr_0622luxury. html †¢Wikipedia http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Luxury_good †¢Harvard Business School, http://hbswk. hbs. edu/item/4321. html †¢Miami Herald 2007, http://www. miamiherald. com/business/story/271242. html †¢Boston Consulting Group, http://retailindustry.about. com/od/seg_luxury/a/bl_bcg071304_2. htm †¢International Herald Tribune, 2007 http://www. iht. com/articles/2007/01/15/bloomberg/sxlux. php †¢Alf Nucifora, http://www. nucifora. com †¢HNWIs Behaviors and Portfolios Globalize, 2006, Merrill Lynch-Capgemini †¢Harvard Business School, http://hbswk. hbs. edu/item/4321. html †¢The Economist, August 2007 http://www. economist. com/business/displaystory. cfm? story_id=9005244 .†¢The Economist, August 2007 http://www. economist. com/business/displaystory. cfm? story_id=9005244 †¢Cosmetics Design – Europe, 2006 http://www. cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/news/ng. asp? id=65405-luxury-goods-experiences †¢Boston Consulting Group http://retailindustry. about. com/od/seg_luxury/a/bl_bcg071304_2. htm †¢WWD. The Magazine, The Luxury Institute http://www. luxuryinstitute. com/about/news. html †¢Forbes, 2005 http://www. forbes. com/2005/06/22/luxury-wealth-trends-cx_sr_0622luxury. html †¢Wikipedia, http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Concierge_medicine †¢Forbes, 2005 http://www. forbes. com/2005/06/22/luxury-wealth-trends-cx_sr_0622luxury. html †¢WWD The Magazine, The Luxury Institute http://www. luxuryinstitute. com/about/news. html †¢The Economist, August 2007. http://www. economist. com/business/displaystory. cfm? story_id=9005244 †¢US Chamber of Commerce, January 24, 2007 http://www. asiapacificms. com/articles/korea_counterfeits/ †¢http://www. iltm. net/en-gb/press/pressreleases680. cfm nation master. com Articles †¢Luxury goods market in India keep its cool – 10 Aug 2008, †¢The Kirk Report Problems With Luxury Goods -TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23,2007 †¢Market for luxury goods: THE CASE OF THE COMIT? – COLBERT By Giacalone, Joseph A Publication: Southern Business Review Date: Fall 2006 2006 †¢Why The Luxury Market Continues To Roar by Alf Nucifora.

Analysis for Buzzard Ltd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Analysis for Buzzard Ltd - Essay Example 1998) Supplier firms play a very important role in the development and performance of automobile industry world over. Analysts observed that there had been drastic shift in the organization of automobile production across firms in the automobile industry. This shift has further increased the role and importance of supplier firms. The importance at lower levels of the supply chain required many firms to meet new standards of product quality. Buzzard Ltd is also a first-tier supplier automobile industry. Keeping in view the demands of market Buzzard made investment in R&D and technology in 1990s. Because of its investment in R&D Buzzard is regarded as one of the World's leaders in design, manufacture and supply of innovative automotive systems. Buzzard is passing through a transition phase. After planning and implementation of new business strategy company needs some time to start functioning at its full capacity. During this transitional phase company needs to be careful as it is facing various internal and external threats or risks. Some of the threats have been discussed above some internal and external risks faced by the company during its transitional phase are given as under: 1. As discussed earlier company is little over burdened because of the loan taken by the company for its needs. It is quite likely that burden of this loan may de-stabilize the company. It is therefore quite necessary that management of company should consider all the aspects related to loan matter. 2.

Impact of Shelf-Positioning On Impulse Buying of Fast Moving Consumer Research Paper - 1

Impact of Shelf-Positioning On Impulse Buying of Fast Moving Consumer Goods - Research Paper Example This paper tells that the findings of the research study of Kollat and Willett highlight that 65 percent of buying decisions in supermarkets are made in-stores, 50 percent of these decisions are unplanned and vary based on products and 50.5 percent of the products are bought in supermarkets as unplanned purchases. These unplanned decisions contribute to impulse purchasing which is considered very favorable for the sales of consumer products. Patterson argues that impulse buying is a result of various factors and one of these factors is the store location. Two important factors that influence impulse buying decisions include product packaging and positioning. Breygelmans, Campo & Gijbrechts conducted a research to study the impact of self-positioning on online grocery store choices and they have found that shelf management is an important factor even in the case of online grocery stores. By studying the in-store marketing of Norwegian retailing, it has been identified that are the pro motional techniques which are used to normalize consumers purchasing behavior. By positioning products on the top shelf or near the center, attention and evaluation of brands can be improved whereas, positioning brands on the middle shelves achieve attention but do not improve evaluation. Another important factor that leads to impulse buying is packaging. The difference in packaging directly contributed to sales appeal. Packaging is very significant for low involvement products like impulse purchase categories because, in these categories, consumers do not have the desire or need to investigate the products. Packaging is the key driver of impulse buying and it is significant to understand whether planned versus impulse shopping occurs as a result of packaging.

Greece - National Technological Infastructure Step 2 Research Paper

Greece - National Technological Infastructure Step 2 - Research Paper Example According to the 2009 estimates, 6,779 barrels of oil were produced everyday in the country’s reserves. The oil in the reserves is estimated to be about 10 million barrels. Consumption of oil is high at 414,400 barrels per day. The country also imports 553, 000 barrels of oil every day (CIA World Factbook, 2010). Natural gas is also another source of the country’s energy and power, according to the World Factbook. There are several natural gas reserves in Greece which have an estimated 1.982 billion cu m of natural gas. The production rate of natural gas from these reserves is at 9 million cu m per year. The annual consumption of the same is at 3.528 billion cu m, which is way above the production level. This has made the Greek government to include the importation of 3.556 billion cu m of natural gas to take care of the deficit. Greece has also embarked on an ambitious program to increase the use of natural gas in different industries. One of the main energy development projects is the National Gas System (ESFA) which facilitates the transportation of natural gas in different regions in the country. Going by the present trends in the Greece energy and power sector, natural gas is increasingly becoming a common feature in industries, residential areas and in the commercial and public services sector. However, oil continues to account for more than half of all of the country’s energy and power usage. The transport and industry sector are the major consumers of oil in Greece. Electricity is also quite reliable in the commercial and public services sector as is the use of wind power in the smaller industries. There are plans to have wind power to account for about 15% of the country’s energy needs by the end of this year (World Factbook, 2010). The communications system in Greece is characterized by a network of landline telephones as well as mobile cellular communication. Greece has about 5.975 million main telephone lines which are in active

5 Questions Integrated Marketing Communications Essay

5 Questions Integrated Marketing Communications - Essay Example Also, a non-human character is more likely to attract attention of the watcher in the first place! The identification of a human with an animal is a common literary theme and the relationships with animals are used to symbolize key passages in a child’s life like integration into the society upon saving an animal from a bad situation (Lerner, Kalof, 1999). The animal double also portrays a character’s abuse of animals as the result of abuse he or she has experienced. Animals are also symbolized as loved one, as savior, as threat, as a tool, as victim, as sex object, and as an object of wonder. Animal characters may make serious products like insurance less drab and at the same time add humor and lightheartedness to otherwise common product (Inglessis, McGavock & Korzenny, 2007). Use of non-human character may not be appropriate for every category but it positions the product and differentiates it from competitors. 2. Innovation is essential to convert the dream to into a marketable product. Innovation directs the leader to set challenging targets (Zien & Buckler, 1997). If marketing personnel are involved, the innovation will respond to either user needs or to competition (Moenaert & Souder, 1990). Innovative products have been found to be successful if marketing personnel are involved than those developed by the research and development department or the top management. Marketing communications theory which suggests that it is not enough to listen to the customer, it is essential to understand the customer (Olorunniwo, Hsu & Udo). If the product uses some new technology demand is definite to be created (Ettlie & Subramaniam, 2004). Every step has to be integrated and creating a demand would require a stepwise process involving information acquisition activities and evaluation points. Once the user needs have been identified it would be easier to create demand. The company should also be prepared to face environments that

Critical Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Critical Review - Essay Example Mike and Scott, the main characters in this film, are deviant individuals in the society. Viewers cannot emulate their behaviors, for instance. Besides being drug addicts, Mike and Scott earn their money through prostitution that is an immoral act in the society. The Scene at the cafe shows young and desperate male prostitutes willing to engage in sex with strangers to earn money. The scene emphasizes on the dominance of homosexuality in the society. Bob appears at the Hotel scene for the first time in film and display unacceptable characters such as drug abuse, theft, and planning robbery. Gus Van Sant’s film is a story of two friends, Mike and Scott, leading their lives on the streets and engaging in homosexual prostitution. The film is not open-minded about homosexuality in society. The film does not command influence to transform individuals political sensitivity. Instead, it majorly focuses on societal vices such as prostitution, homosexuality, and drug abuse. Canby, Vincent. â€Å"Movie Review: My Own Private Idaho (1991).† The New York Times. September 27, 1991. Web. October 15, 2014. Accessed from,

System Information System Planning & Management Essay

System Information System Planning & Management - Essay Example The methodology section entails different mechanisms through which the company will employ to achieve the info for success. The report findings will provide the actual issues for analysis. There will be discussion of the issues and conclusion basing on the rationale. Finally, the recommendations will be suggested to allow for the actual specifications of the report stipulations and measures for improvements. Introduction GLM is a company that deals with the production of a large range of small products made from plastics and their customization. The business has managed to hire competent personnel who have in turn availed viable ideas that have seen the business navigate challenges and manifest excellent performance. The Greens Lime Mouldings (GLM is a business that began as a single entity, but has experienced significant economic revolution through better service offerings to the clients. The business deals in the production of plastic products through the involvement of an appropr iate technology. The systems incorporate persons, technology and data. The information systems are essential in the in provision of options for decision-making. The business targets full satisfaction of the workers through provision of best services on time. The objectives of the report an the business; i. To provide excellent services to the customers ii. To lead in innovation of products iii. To operate in the global scope iv. To utilize best technologies in its operations The Mission Statement To provide the best production and information system services in the globe. The vision statement To provide the best products with a commitment to competence and life- changing services which are critical whole the world through the application of appropriate technology. Even though the company has strategized and formulated the procedures, the company requires clear understanding on the impacts of deviations from its stipulations. The company cannot attain its objectives without strict fo llow up of the set policies. Nonetheless, there are other factors that have to be regarded to as being potential and without their considerations there cannot be significant improvements, instead, there can be decline in the business performance. Considering the role of IS/IT in the enterprise The information technology and the information systems fit in all departments of the company. The information systems help in the improvement of management. For instance, information management systems assist in the decision making process of the business after a critical evaluation of the prevailing situation. The transaction processing systems assist the company’s billing systems in obtaining and disbursing payment to different individuals or companies. The negotiation support systems involve in he exchange of direct information and from the company and into the business. The information technology provides efficiency to individual and improves the accuracy of the operations in the bu siness. A description of your choice of the 3 most important areas of technology for GLM’s business and the benefits and opportunities provided by each of the technologies in relation to GLM’s information systems strategy and aligned business strategy Mobile Technologies Mobile technologies refers to variant types of cell communication know -how. The mobile technology has transformed rapidly in the past few years. The GPS connection device has also enable the connection has

Ernest Hemingway Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Ernest Hemingway - Annotated Bibliography Example He sees Mr. Shirtlet as an empty man emotionally who only wants the car that Mrs. Crater possesses. He also points out that Mrs. Crater is also empty. The point of the story in his idea is that both people are willing to trade their humanity for something material. Desmond, John. F. â€Å"The Lessons of History: Flannery O’Connor’s ‘Everything that Rises Must Converge’. The Flannery O’Connor Bulletin, 1, Autumn, 1972. Gale Literary Database. Blinn Library. 6 March 2012. This article provides an understanding of O’Connor’s point of view as to whether this work is religious or not. She does not feel that the work is religious because she does not thinkit is right for her to put her religious views into her stories. Desmond states that he feels that it is religious and because of who she is, she cannot get away from influencing her characters in some way through religion. The article is a short critical essay about this short story and how the women in the story are under the delusion that they are better than everyone because of their wealth. The problem is that the males in the story have all the power, although the main female characters do not understand this fact. Here, there are two women, Mrs. Prichard and Mrs. Cope. One is savvy and the other one is seen as dense. The criticism is very short and interesting because the boys eventually set fire to the woods and are in some ways redeemed because of it. Paulson, Suzanne Morrow. "Male/Female Conflicts." Flannery OConnor: A Study of the Short Fiction. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1988. 28-45. Rpt. in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Schoenberg, Thomas, J., and Lawrence J. Trudeau. 82. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Literature Resource Center. Web. 8 Mar. 2012. Gale Literature Resource Center. Blinn Library. 6 March 2012. This article compares several of O’Connor’s short stores with the theme of male-female conflicts. Most of the stories were listed that were read for this research paper. The

Change managemaent models Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Change managemaent models - Essay Example The integral competent of every organization is to choose effectively change management models which can help to stay vibrant and gain competitive advantage over other rivals in the market. Three important change management models that organization must adopt are Bridge transition Model, Kotter 8 Step of Change management and Lewin change Management Model. The transition model of Bridge provides a solution for understanding the changes undergoing in an organization. The three phases of transition model are ending, neutral zone and new beginning. Ending phase process is to identify the reasons behind the changes and acknowledge openly the losses arising in an organization. The neutral zone phase is to reduce the deteriorating of motivation on individuals within the workplace. The neutral phase is the process of treating employees to fell as a part of change management process. The new beginning phase is to motivate and effectively communicate with the employees to make them understand about the purpose of implementation of change management process in organization. Change management model by Kotter suggests that the momentum of the change adopted in an organization must be maintained to maintain continuous cycle. First step is to increase the sense of urgency. Next step is to form a guiding and powerful team to resist the change in the workplace (Green, 2012). Next is to create strategy and vision for change. Then communicate the vision and strategy for change. Empower staff and remove the obstacles for application of change management. Next step is to create short term goals for organization. Then unite the gains and stay tenacious. Final step is to anchor the change which can help to make the change permanent. Change management model of Lewin is preferred by most of the companies to enact the changes in an organization due to its simplicity and easy to use. Three stages of the model are unfreezing, change and

The Elements of Religion in 19th Century in America Essay Example for Free

The Elements of Religion in 19th Century in America Essay In the 19th century United States of America was experiencing new developments in religion. Different movements and sects emerged as a result of the inspirations by the new interpretation of the Bible, the expectation of the second coming of Christ and the teachings by the new thinkers and prophets The philosophical and scientific questions that arose at this time also contributed to the changes that took place in the religion in this country. This period was characterized by the second and the third great awakening in the religion The spirit of revival was spreading all over the country just like it had happened in the first Great Awakening. This wave led to the emergence of the new movements such as Restorationism, Mormons and the holiness movement in New York. The revival saw the growth of the Methodists and Baptists as the two denominations gained new members especially the freed slaves. Missionaries’ societies were set up to help in the process of evangelization in the country. Members of the missionaries’ societies acted as the educators and the apostles. (Noll,Mark 1992 93) The Baptists and Methodists sent missionaries to the south where they were able to convert many people especialy the slaves. Protestants also gained members although not to a greater extent as the the evangelical churches. There was a marked growth of the non denomiational churches such as the Churches of Christ which advocated to the return of the standard teaching of the Bible. Many people were seeking a return to what they believed as the fundamental teachings of the New Testament. The missionaries society in the south converted both the slave owners and the slaves. The changes that took place in this region gave the slaves some freedom in the course fof conducting their own affairs in the church. Though there was some attempt by the slave owners to control their services the move was met with a stiff opposition from the slaves who maintained that they will be running their own affairs. This happened despite passage of legislation requiring the Balck slaves to have a white man anytime they were conducting In the Appalachian the revival was done through use of the camp meetings where mutiple preachers evangelized to the locals for several days urging them to turn away from their sins. There was an emotional following that characterized these meetings where converts came together and formed small local gatherings. (Noll,Mark 1992 254) The revival spread ot the other parts of the country where different denomination were busy converting followers. The methods were not one of the denomination that employed the best method and had a very efficient organization. Baptist on the other hand did not have any church organization ,its first prechers were people who had receive4d a call from God. Noll in his book a History of Christianity in United States and Canada observes that the second great awakening was very influential in the American church history. It brought a wide and strong rekindling of interest on religion all over the country. It provided a platform through which similar patterns of revivals were experienced at different times of the century in the country. During the American Revolution war the state of Christianity in this country had been injured greatly, the war had disrupted church activities especially in the regions where the war was very intense. The congregations had been disrupted such that in some areas they had ceased to operate. This affected the mission of theses gathering as they were not in the position to continue with their evangelization activities during the war. The war had dealt a very heavy blow on the church especially the Episcopal Church which was believed to be closely associated by England. It was treated with suspicion due to the fact that many people saw its association with the England the former colonial power. There was a general decline on the interest of the church affairs. People were more concerned with the issues at hand leaving very little time for the church and its activities. (Noll,Mark 1992 156) The revival occurred again after the end of the war, the immigrant communities had kept the fire burning as far as Christianity was concerned. The end of the war brought back the interest that had been there on the religion, again there was a renewed interest on religious matters across the country. There was peace again and the missionaries could continue with their work. They carried their mission with zeal as they reached every corner of the nation. The American Christians took as their responsibility to reform the society also. There are several notable changes that were brought about by the revival of the religion after the war. There was a spirited campaign to rid the society of the veils that characterized it at this moment. The antebellum reform which included: the abolitionism, the fight for women rights and other issues that faced the society. This was seen as God’s plan to purify America. (Noll,Mark 1992 203) Religion in the 19th century underwent tremendous changes which saw the revival of faith in different parts America. The number of denominations increased as well as the members of these churches. The period saw the emergence of sects and movements which have shaped the history of the church since this period. This period emerged as one of the most important in the history of religion in United States of America. Work Cited Noll,Mark A history of Religion in America and Cananda,Grand Rapids W. M. B. Eerdman Publishing Co (1992)

Nightmare Before Christmas | Analysis

Nightmare Before Christmas | Analysis Tim Burton rings in my ears as one of Hollywoods most eccentric directors. There is a distinct and unique phenomenon in his films: the genre of his most films are between animation films and real person films; his animation films overturn the world of traditional fairy tales, showing the darkness of horror, but did not give us the feel of fear. Nightmare before Christmas, which reflects his typical paradigm, is a fantasy mixed of horror, magic, darkness, holidays, the jolly guys, and an interesting skeleton. The features of Nightmare before Christmas have a similarity with Bakhtins theory of carnivalesque. In Bakhtins view, everyone lives a carnivalistic life as long as those carnival laws. His feel of carnival is full of grotesque realism, which can get rid of the horrable things in the world. And the grotesque style can also turn the world into a bright and cheerful one. (Bakhtin,1989). There is always a feel of carnival surrounded in Nightmare before Christmas. Because of the feel, audience can get away from the fear successfully. On the other hand, Bakhtin believes that carnivalistic life is a life drawing out of its usual rut; it is to some extent life turned inside out, the reverse side of the world.( Bakhtin,1989) Similarly, Burton sets two worlds to make a comparision: the human world and underground world; the grotesque world of Halloween and the happy world of Christmas. The confrontation of the two worlds represents Burtons inclination. The happy world is boring while the eerie wolrd is vivid and interesting. In my Nightmare before Christmas lingers on the edge of conventional culture and popular culture, it challenges the conventional culture and queries on the popular culture. So Burton makes an utmost effort to prove the rationality of his subversion in this film. It takes delight in talking about Burtons Gothic darkness of horror. The story happens in the world of ghosts and monsters where we are totally un familiar. The vampire bats, red eye demon , black monsters and even the wretched green, these gothic images are everywhere in the film. They stand in stark contrast to the simplicity of traditional animation films. However, the audience feel more closer to them and come to realize their subsistence status trenchantly. The American animation films have a heroism complex, but Burton deconstructs our expectation of the traditional hero. In Nightmare before Christmas, the character Jack is frightful and he has no mission to save the world. Other character is treated equally, eg. the pet comes along with Jack is soul of a dog instead of a brilliant white horse. More importantly, Burton wants to create a balance between creepy and interesting. So he gives life to the grotesquery Jack who actually is virtuous. He demonstrates the characters individual emotions and action which has no relationship with hero. Specificly, the modeling of Jacks eyes are just two black holes which thoroughly give expression to the meaning of the character. Lets turn to the other film: No Country for Old Men In this film No Country for Old Men the genre pushes the envelope of sanity. It is an unconventional western film, mixed with action, crime drama and dark humor. The McCarthys novel No Country for Old Men is an ideal vehicle for the Coen brothers, who have used violence and emptiness laced with dark humor as an artistic aesthetic in their directing careers. The films greatest achievement is its ability to transport the audience into a world where the predestination, death, fears, choices, morals and realities of life are strikingly brought to life and make the audience reflect upon and look back with careful consideration after the whole experience. The violence and bleakness of it all is not to simply evoke reaction or engage the audience, it is to tell a story and impart an experience of great intention, to which the Coens have brilliantly succeeded. To some extent, this film is a character study of Sheriff Bell, an honest lawman who is wise, observant, grounded in reality, and has a long memory. No Country for Old Men is really his story. And also, The Coen brothers direction of the particularly intense chase scenes between Chigurgh and Moss are masterful, evoking emotions of suspense to the highest level and pushing the audience to the very edge of their seats. At the same time the movie is a character study on the effects of evil and innocence lost, an exploration on the themes of fate and chance, an analysis of the freedom to choose and its consequences, a reflection on evil and good as forces of society and the investigation of basic human emotions such as hope, fear, love, violence and aspiration in the face of a variety of situations. The ending of the film is about death. Faced with the overwhelming fact of death, all of us humans find meaning only by making up their own spiritual codes. The murderers code, the good old boys code, the sheriffs code, the wifes codethey are all equally meaningless, equally inadequate in the face of death, but they are all perfectly legitimate responses to the fact of universal death. The film is also about predestination and free will, Chigurgh doesnt believe in free will, I got here the same way the coin did , he is almost like a robot , and scientifically he is totally right we dont have free will , Chigurgh is not guilty , he just has killer genes and his mother didnt hug him so thats why he turned out to be this way, there are no choices in matter , just cause and effect , only quantum psychics can show some difference. In conclusion, Film genres can take culture as very important elements into consideration. And also, we can characterize a culture by its genre set. Obviously through the film review, we can see that genre can function as a tool to define and describe a culture. Heroes and Villains: Historical Analysis Heroes and Villains: Historical Analysis Heroes, Villains or Both? Austin Rappel What I found most interesting in this weeks readings was the myths behind the men; specifically Ulysses S. Grant, general in chief of the United States Army, William T. Sherman, general in The United States Army and Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States. Grant was considered a drunk, Whatever happened, the story of his drinking became a staple of gossip in the old army. (McPherson, pg.114) Sherman was considered crazy; But Sherman could never entirely escape the reputation of madness (McPherson, pg 114) Lincoln was considered passive: a basic trait of character evident throughout Lincolns life: the essential passivity of his nature. (McPherson, pg. 206) I think it is important to determine if these things were true or if there is enough evidence to ever know for sure the mindset or character of the men that are known to us as the men that defined and ultimately were the victors of the Civil War. Grant quickly rose through the ranks during the Civil War; command of a brigade, a division, an army (Army of Tennessee), an army group, an all of the armies of the United States. (McPherson, pg 110) These accomplishments are a big contrast to what one could consider could be an accomplished by a drunkard. Brooks Simpson , a biographer concluded, Although Grant sometimes took a drink during the war, and may on occasion have taken two, his colleagues who knew him best and were in the best position to observe him were unanimous in their testimony that he was rarely if ever drunk. (McPherson, pg. 114) Grant was also given the reputation as a butcher when the general most deserving of the title was Robert E. Lee. (McPherson, pg 113) Sherman is best known for his March to the Sea; a march of over 700 miles, in which psychological warfare was used in order to stop the war. As stated in McPherson, The terror that his soldiers provoked among Southern whites was a power, he wrote, and I intended to utilize it to humble their pride, to follow them to their inmost recesses, and to make them fear and dread usà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ We cannot change the hearts and minds of those people of the South, but we can make war so terrible and make them so sick of war that generations would pass away before they would again appeal to it.(McPherson, pg. 124) As stated in the article by Matt Carr, General Shermans March to the Sea, Shermans plan was to attack the infrastructure of the south and therefore end the war; After more than three years of violent and seemingly endless conflict, Sherman had decided to take the conflict beyond the battlefield and subject Georgia to a level of devastation that would make its population realise that w ar and ruin are synonymous terms. (pg. 30) Its hard to imagine that these strategies were those of a crazy man. Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States and the author of many documents most notably the Emancipation Proclamation was seen at least by one biographer, David Herbert Donald, to be passive. However, as stated in McPherson, at the very outset of his presidency Lincoln demonstrated traits that were the opposite of what Donald calls his essentially passive personality. (McPherson, pg. 207) Its hard to believe that the man that set into motion the Civil War and wrote one of our most historical documents has a passive personality. Maybe the passivity noted by some is more a compassion than anything else. As stated in, Lincolns Legacy, Lincoln Lives Through His Words by Gail Fineberg, Lincolns first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, which he presented to his cabinet on July 22, 1862. Nobody liked it Sellers said. Lincoln came back to his cabinet with a second draft in September, and admonished members to comment not on substance but on his style. (pg 38) The quote goes witho ut saying to the mindset of a determined man more so to the mindset of a passive man. Although it may never be known the actual character of Grant, Sherman or  Lincoln, it will be left up to the readers and historians perceptions of whether are not these men were heroes, villains or maybe a little of both during and after the Civil War. It goes without saying that these men, however viewed, will always be remembered for the mark they left on the Civil War and wars to come. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): Optimization Parameters Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): Optimization Parameters IGHODARO OGHOGHO UYIOSA Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): Evaluation of different optimization parameters for appropriate PCR process. Abstract PCR is a method used to produce relatively large amounts of a specific DNA sequence. The productivity of PCR method depends on different reaction conditions such as the concentration of the DNA template, concentration of magnesium ions, DNA template dilution and polymerase concentration. The aim of this study was to find optimal reaction conditions required for appropriate PCR process. To check the correct conditions the agarose gel and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used. One single, strong amplified band and no unspecific product describe the most suitable amount of given conditions. In the results of this experiment, the most suitable annealing temperature was 62oC, the most proper amount of concentration of magnesium was 2nMol, and the best template dilution was 2 µl. The important parameters evaluated in this experiment were template optimisation, annealing temperatures and magnesium chloride concentrations with and without touchdown PCR. Introduction PCR is a simple, enzymatic assay, which allows for the amplification of a specific DNA fragment from a complex pool of DNA. PCR can be done using source DNA from a variety of tissues and organisms, including peripheral blood, skin, hair, saliva, and microbes. Only trace amounts of DNA are needed for PCR to generate enough copies to be analysed using conventional laboratory methods. For this reason, PCR is a sensitive assay (Lilit andNidhi 2013). To carry out a PCR it is essential to have the following reagents: DNA template, forward and reverse primers, PCR buffer, magnesium chloride (MgCl2), dNTP and DNA Taq polymerase. The annealing temperature allows for the annealing of the primers to the single stranded DNA. It depends on the length and composition of the primers. If the temperature is too high, then the primers will not anneal correctly, and if the annealing temperature is too low then the primers will anneal non-specifically (Hecker et al. 1996). Magnesium ions interact with the DNA polymerase enzyme during this process. The magnesium ion interacts with negatively charged molecules in the reaction. Positive ions of magnesium interact with the negatively charged DNA strands to mask the forces of repulsion (Markoulatos et al. 2002). Template DNA is a fragment of DNA which is needed to create required copies. DNA Taq polymerase is a polymerase enzyme, which is essential for DNA replication, this means that DNA polymerase synthesizes DNA molecules from their nucleotide building blocks (Huang et al. 1992). The nucleotides include the four bases – adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine (A, T, C, G) – that are found in DNA. These act as the building blocks that are used by the DNA polymerase to create the resultant PCR product. During this experiment, two methods were used to visualise the PCR products formed. These were Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Agarose gel electrophoresis method. Electrophoresis is a separation procedure which is based on the separation of DNA fragments by size, shape and charge. The clue of this process is the mobility of ions in an electric field (nucleoid acids, which are negatively charged migrate to the anode – positive electrode) (Stellwagen, 1998). Aim The aim of this experiment was to assess which parameters as annealing temperature, concentration of magnesium, and template DNA influence DNA amplification efficiency and specificity. 2.0  Materials and methods This section was divided into two parts. In part A, a PCR reaction 1 set-up using optimised PCR mastermix was done, while in part B, a PCR reaction was set-up to test four different variables to optimise a PCR reaction. 2.1  Part A Setting up the PCR reaction A mastermix enough for four reactions was made. 30 µl of H2O, 50 µl of 2X PCR mastermix and 4 µl each of forward and reverse primers were pipetted and mixed in an Eppendorf tube from which, 24 µl of the mastermix was pipetted into three separate PCR tubes (i.e. tube 1, 2, and 3). 1 µl of sample DNA, 1 µl of 1/10 diluted DNA and 1 µl of H2O were added to each tubes respectively and each amplified on a PCR block running the following programme: Denaturing step done at 94oC for two minutes Amplification step done at 94oC for 30 seconds, 55oC for 30 seconds and 72oC for 1 minute. This step was repeated for 35 cycles. Finally, the extension step was done at 72oC for 3 minutes. Agarose gel electrophoresis (2% agarose gel for PCR) An agarose gel was submerged in a gel tank filled with TBE buffer. Then 5 µl of gel loading buffer was added to each sample and mixed. Next, the first well was loaded with the molecular weight marker and then 10 µl of each sample was loaded into each respective wells. Next, the gel was run for 45 minutes at 80V. Finally, the gel was visualised on the gel documentation system to show separation and migration of the DNA. 2.2  Part B PCR optimisation reaction For this protocol, PCR reactions were set up and individual components of the reactions were varied in other to optimise them as follows: Annealing temperature optimisation 17.75 µl of water, 2.5 µl of 10x reaction buffer, 0.75 µl of Magnesium Chloride (50mMol), 0.5 µl of dNTPs, 1 µl each of forward and reverse primers, 0.5 µl of Taq polymerase and 1 µl of DNA were pipetted into 5 separate tubes (i.e. tube 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) which were then placed on a gradient PCR block, with one tube at each of the following temperature 46oC, 52oC, 55oC, 58oC, and 65oC. Next, the PCR block was set to the following programme: Denaturing step at 94oC for two minutes Amplification step at 94oC for thirty seconds, 46-65oC for thirty seconds, and 72oC for one minute. This stage was repeated for thirty-five cycles. Finally, the extension step was done at 72oC for three minutes. Template optimisation A PCR mastermix containing 13.75 µl of water, 2.5 µl of 10x reaction buffer, 0.75 µl of 50mMol magnesium chloride, 0.5 µl dNTPs, 1 µl each of forward and reverse primer and 0.5 µl of Taq polymerase were pipetted into five tubes. Next, 5, 2, 1, 0.1, and 0.01 µl of template DNA and, 0, 3, 4, 4.9. 4.99 µl of H2O were added to each tubes respectively. Next, the tubes were then amplified on a PCR block using the same cycle parameters as set out in part A. Magnesium concentration A PCR mastermix mastermix containing 16 µl of water, 2.5 µl of 10x reaction buffer, 0.5 µl dNTPs, 1 µl each of forward and reverse primer, 0.5 µl of Taq polymerase and 1 µl of DNA were pipetted into five tubes (i.e. tube 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). Next, a Mgcl2 dilution was prepared to get a final Mgcl2 mMol of 0.5, 1.5, 2, 3 and 5mMol which were then added to each tubes respectively to give a final volume of 25 µl. Next, the tubes were then amplified on a PCR block using the same cycle parameters as set out in part A. Touchdown PCR A PCR mastermix was prepared using the same variables outlined for magnesium concentration. Then the touchdown PCR programme used was as follows: 94 °C for 3 minutes then 94 °C for 30 seconds, 64 °C for 30 seconds and 72 °C for one minute for three cycles, 94 °C for 30 seconds, 61 °C for 30 seconds, and 72 °C for one minute for three cycles, 94 °C for 30 seconds, 58 °C for 30 seconds, and 72 °C for one minute for three cycles, 94 °C for 30 seconds, 55 °C for 30 seconds, and 72 °C for one minute for three cycles, 94 °C for 30 seconds, 53 °C for 30 seconds, and 72 °C for one minute for thirty cycles, and finally 72 °C for three minutes. Sample preparation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis After all the different optimisation protocols, the samples to be loaded into the gel were prepared by adding 5 µl of loading buffer to each PCR reaction and mixed. Next, 5 µl of DNA ladder was pipetted into the first well while 10 µl of sample were pipetted into each designated wells. The gel was then run at 100V for 45 minutes. After which, the gel was recovered and placed in a weighing boat containing 1x TBE buffer. Next, 5 µl of ethidium bromide was carefully introduced into the weighing boat and left for 10 minutes before visualisation with a gel documentation system. 3.0  Result PCR reactions were set up in 5 different PCR tubes with all the required components for complete PCR reaction , save for a particular factor which was varied to ascertain the optimal concentration necessary for the production of the highest amount of pure specific product. The results obtained from these various optimised factors are represented in the gels below. Part A Optimized PCR 1 µl of DNA template was loaded in the well labelled neat DNA and it revealed the highest amount of product formed, the well containing a 1/10 diluted DNA had a much lower amount of product formed while the well with the water blank yielded no product. Also, unspecific products were not formed. Figure 1: Optimised PCR agarose gel. Part B The results of different PCR optimisation reactions PCR annealing temperature optimisation Figure 2: PCR annealing temperature optimisation polyacrylamide gel. Key: L-molecular weight ladder, lane 1- 48 °c, lane 2- 52 °c, lane 3- 55 °c, lane 4- 62 °c, lane 5- 65 °c, unspecific product, specific product. From Figure 2 above, there are three unspecific products formed in lane 1, a greater specific product with insignificant unspecific product formed in lane 2, insignificant unspecific products formed in lane 3 and there is also a decrease in the intensity of the specific product formed compared with that of lane 2. While in lane 4, there is a minor decrease in the intensity of the specific product formed thus, the intense quantity of the specific product formed (i.e. there is a strong amplification here) and in lane 5, there is a major decrease in the quantity of specific product formed. Therefore, the quantity of the product decreases as the quantity of the template DNA decreases, and the quantity of the specific and unspecific products increases as the quantity of the template DNA increase. Template dilution optimisation Figure 3: Template dilution optimisation polyacrylamide gel. Key: L -molecular weight ladder, lane 1- 5 µl, lane 2- 2 µl, lane 3- 1 µl, lane 4- 0.1 µl, lane 5- 0.01 µl template DNA, specific product, unspecific product. From the gel above, there are three unspecific products formed in lane 1 and also the intensity of the specific product formed is high, the unspecific product formed in lane 2 is insignificant and the specific product formed is greater in intensity (i.e. has a higher amplification) compared with that of lane 1, in lane 3 and 4, the intensity of the specific product formed decreased compared with that of lane 2, while in lane 5, there is a major decrease in the intensity of the specific product formed. Therefore, the quantity of the product decreases as the quantity of the template DNA decreases, and the quantity of the specific and unspecific products increases as the quantity of the template DNA increase. Magnesium dilution optimisation Figure 4: Magnesium dilution optimisation polyacrylamide gel. Key: L -molecular weight ladder, lane 1- 0.5mmol, lane 2- 1.5mmol, lane 3- 2mmol, lane 4- 3mmol, lane 5- 5mmol, specific product, unspecific product. Form the gel above, there is an unspecific and a specific product formed in lane 1, in lane 2 there is a decrease in the intensity of the unspecific product formed and also there is an increase in the amount of specific product formed. In lane 3, there were no production of unspecific products and the intensity of the specific product formed remained high. In lane 4, there is evidence of the presence of an unspecific product formed but the intensity of the specific product formed remained high. While in lane 5, there is a minor reduction in the intensity of the specific product formed while there is visible presence of formation of unspecific products. Magnesium touchdown optimisation Figure 5: –Touchdown magnesium concentration optimisation. Key: L – molecular weight ladder, lane 1- 0.5 mMol, lane 2- 1.5 mMol, lane 3- 2mMol, lane 4- 3 mMol, lane 5- 5mMol, unspecific product, specific product. From the gel above, in lane 1, the intensity of the unspecific product formed is the same with that of the specific product formed. While in lane 2, 3 and 4, the intensity of the specific products formed are the same while the intensity of the unspecific products gradually decreased. There was no unspecific product formed in lane 5, however there was a reduction in the intensity of the specific product formed compared to that of lane 4. Discussion This experiment was performed to evaluate different optimisation protocols to optimise PCR reactions. For the PCR reaction using an optimised PCR mastermix in part A, the highest amount of products formed was observed in the well containing 1 µl of DNA template.The annealing temperature is the most important optimisation, because it can have an influence on the specificity of the reaction. If the temperature is too high, the hybridization will not take place thus, templates and primers remain dissociated. If the temperature is too low, mismatched hybrids will occur. Correct annealing temperature must be low enough to start hybridization between template and primer, and also high enough to prevent forming mismatched hybrids (Roux, 2009). According to the results from annealing temperature optimization polyacrylamide gel (Figure 2), the most suitable annealing temperature was 62oC, because the band was clear and single as opposed to the 48oC, 52oC and 55oC, where the smears (i.e. unspecific products) were shown. The intensity of the band in 62oC was the strongest compared with that o f 65oC. The most suitable template dilution for PCR was 2 µl, because it gave in the polyacrylamide gel in Figure 3, the most bright, single band with very low amount of unspecific products formed. Besides, annealing temperature and template dilution parameters, PCR reaction components could also lead to non-specific amplification. Two variables, which are reported to greatly influence the specificity of the PCR reaction, are magnesium and dNTP concentration (Dwivedi et al. 2003). For magnesium dilution touchdown (Figure 5), the molarities at 1.5, 2 and 3mMol showed very similar amount of products formed indicating the importance of the magnesium in PCR amplification while for magnesium dilution without touchdown (Figure 4), it was found that 2mM yielded the best results. Magnesium concentration is known to play a critical role in amplification as it can affect DNA strand denaturation, primer annealing specificity and enzyme fidelity. These observations are in agreement with earlier studies (Innis et al. 1990; Eeles et al. 1993). Even brief incubations of a PCR mix at temperatures significantly below theTmcan result in primer-dimer formation and nonspecific priming. Hot-start PCR methods (Erlich et al. 1991;Ruano et al. 1992) can dramatically reduce these problems. In this experiment, two methods were used to visualise the PCR products formed. They are, Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and Agarose gel electrophoresis. Agarose gel is the most popular medium for the separation of moderate and large-sized nucleic acids and have a wide range of separation but a low resolving power, since the bands formed in the gels tend to be indistinct and spread apart. This is a result of pore size and cannot be largely controlled (Stellwagen, 1998). However, Polyacrylamide gels are normally more difficult to prepare and handle, and it requires a longer time for preparation than agarose gels. However, polyacrylamide gels have a greater resolving power, can accommodate larger quantities of DNA without any significant loss in resolution and the DNA obtained from polyacrylamide gels is extremely pure (Guilliatt, 2002). Hence, they are better than agarose gels. It should be noted that polyacrylamide is a neurotoxin (when unpolymerized), but with proper labo ratory care it is no more dangerous than various commonly used chemicals in the laboratory (Budowle Allen, 1991). Conclusion Optimisation of Polymerase Chain Reaction is very important for PCR performance to minimize failures, avoid the production of non-specific products and increase specificity of the reaction. The knowledge of proper conditions allows to use PCR correctly and to receive good results. According to the results of the research the most suitable annealing temperature was 62oC, the most proper amount of concentration of magnesium was 2nMol, and the best template dilution was 2 µl. Those parameters give DNA amplification specificity and efficiency. (Harris and Jones, 1997). References Alka, D., Sarin, B., Mittar, D., Sehajpal, P. (2003). OPTIMIZATION OF 38 kDa BASED PCR ASSAY FOR DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS FROM CLINICAL SAMPLES. Journal of Tuberculosis. 50:209-213. Budowle, B. and Allen, R. (1991). Discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments. Methods in Molecular Biology. 9:123-132. Eeles, R. and Stamps, A. (1993). Managing the method. In Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) the Technique and its Application. Journal of Applied Sciences Research. 2(3): 12-26. Erlich,H.,Gelfand,D.,Sninsky,J. (1991).Recent advances in the polymerase chain reaction.Science.252:1643–1651. Guilliat, A. (2002). Agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: PCR mutation detection protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology. 187:125-137. Hecker,K. and Roux,K. (1996).High and low annealing temperatures increase both specificity and yield in touchdown and stepdown PCR.Bio Techniques. 20:478–485. Harris, S. and Jones, D. (1997). Optimisation of the polymerase chain reaction. Journal of Biomedical Science. 54 (3):166-173. Huang, M., Arnheim, N., Goodman, M. (1992). Extension of base mispairs by Taq DNA polymerase: implications for single nucleotide discrimination in PCR.Nucleic Acids Research.20 (17):4567–4573. Innis, M. and Gelfland, D. (1990). Optimization of PCR’s. In PCR protocols: A guide to methods and applications. Indian Journal of Tuberculosis. 118:1589-1599. Markoulatos, P., Siafakas, N., Moncany, M. (2002). Multiplex polymerase chain reaction: a practical approach.Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis.16(1): 47–51. Lilit, G.andNidhi, A. (2013). Research Techniques Made Simple: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 133 (3): 4565-4579. Stellwagen, N. (1998). DNA gel electrophoresis. Nucleic Acid Electrophoresis Laboratory Manual. (D Tietz, Ed.). Springer Verlag. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York. Roux, K. (2009). Optimisation and troubleshooting in PCR. Cold Spring Harbour Protocols. doi:10.1101/pdb.ip66. Ruano,G.,Pagliaro,E., Schwartz,T.,Lamy,K.,Messina,D.,Gaensslen,R. et al. (1992).Heat-soaked PCR: An efficient method for DNA amplification with applications to forensic analysis.Bio Techniques.13:266–274.

Globalization And The Impacts Of E Commerce

Globalization And The Impacts Of E Commerce One of the most vital processes of the last several decades has been the emergence and development of the process of globalisation. According to the definition given by Andrew Heywood globalization is the emergence of a complex web of interconnectedness that means our lives are increasingly shaped by the events that occur, and the decisions that are made, at a greater distance from us. The central feature of globalization is therefor the geographical distance is of a declining relevance and the territorial boundaries, such as those between nation states are becoming less significant  [1]  . One of the significant characteristic of globalisation is the Time- space compression. Through the advances in technology, it is easier to communicate and travel internationally and also that the speed at which these things are accomplished has greatly increased  [2]  . This aspect of globalisation has a wider impact on the global commerce were the advances in technology have led to an integration and interconnectedness of the global economy. The pace at which transactions can take place has led to an increased global focus on the integration of economies and has led to the increased involvement of private business actors in the realm of international finance and international markets. Modern technologies have moreover facilitated a scale and speed of communication that is unprecedented  [3]  . The UNDP human development report  [4]  explains that the fusion of computing and communications especially through the internet has broken the bounds of cost, time and distance la unching an era of global information networking. The Internet, digital technologies and the evolution of E-commerce (Electronic Commerce) raised new challenges for the Intellectual property right holders in the digital world. Materials protected by copyright and related rights constitute much of the valuable subject matter of ecommerce. This situation has a wide-ranging impact on the right of copyright holders because they permit new ways of creating, using, and duplicating works of authorship. In the digital world copies can be made cheaply and distributed widely by individuals. The copyright laws that were set to compact with the problems in the physical world had to deal with the issues in the digital world. To achieve the same the copyright laws has to undergo drastic changes. In this context this paper attempts to analyse the evolution of Ecommerce in the background of globalisation and its implications on the Copyright laws. The paper will also focus on the various measures adopted by the national governments to prevent the i nfringement of copyright in the digital world. The paper excludes the disputes related to domain names, Patents and Trademarks. EVOLUTION OF E COMMERCE In the 1990s the information technology led to a new revolution through the commercialization of internet. The limitations of networked systems like the cost structure and that related to geographical limits became irrelevant. Old traditions about the cost structure and geographic limits of networked systems turn out to be irrelevant and it became easy to form a worldwide system quickly and inexpensively. Business people seized this opportunity and responded by creating entirely new types of businesses and fundamentally altering existing businesses. The once limited strategic use of information technology became widespread. Thus new terms were created to label this revolution: electronic commerce (more commonly called ecommerce) and electronic business (eBusiness)  [5]  . In the present scenario we can see the business world is transitioning from a physical reality based on atoms to a digital one of bits  [6]  .The term commerce is viewed by some as transactions conducted between business partners. Therefore, the term eCommerce seems to be fairly narrow to some people. Thus the term eBusiness refers to a broader definition of eCommerce, not just buying and selling but also servicing customers and collaborating with business partners, and conducting electronic transactions within an organization. Business-to-business eCommerce is the largest gold rush international commerce has seen for decades. It may be the largest ever Bridging the profound gap between the way traditional businesses are run and the way virtual communities will be built.  [7]   The rapid growth of the Internet and associated technologies have created a new business environment and opened up numerous new possibilities for conducting and managing businesses. Terms such as digital economy, eBusiness, and eCommerce are being used to characterize these developments.  [8]  Businesses have become internet worked eBusiness enterprises. The Internet and Internet-like networks inside the enterprise (intranets), between an enterprise and its trading partners (extranets), and other types of networks are now the primary information technology infrastructure of many organizations. The Internet is a network of networks. The internet worked eBusiness enterprise enables managers, business professionals, teams, and workgroups to electronically exchange data and information anywhere in the world with other end users, customers, suppliers, and business partners. Companies and workgroups can thus collaborate more creatively, manage their business operations and resources mo re effectively, and compete successfully in todays fast-changing global economy  [9]  . PRINCIPLES of E COMMERCE Organization of Economic Corporation and Development (OECD) deals with five broad themes for a better understanding of eCommerce.  [10]   1. Ecommerce transforms the marketplace: ecommerce is changing the way business is conducted. Traditional intermediary functions will be replaced, new products and markets will be developed, and new and far closer relationships will be created between business and consumers. It will change the organization of work: new channels of knowledge diffusion and human interactivity in the workplace will be opened with more flexibility and adaptability will be needed, and workers functions and skills will be redefined. 2. Ecommerce has a catalytic effect: Ecommerce will serve to accelerate and diffuse more widely changes that are already under way in the economy, such as the reform of regulations, the establishment of electronic links between businesses (EDI), the globalization of economic activity, and the demand for higher-skilled workers. Likewise, many sectorial trends already underway, such as e-banking, direct booking of travel, and one-to-one marketing, are accelerated by ecommerce. 3. ECommerce over the Internet vastly increases interactivity in the economy: These linkages now extend down to small businesses and households and reach out to the world at large. Access will shift away from personal computers to cheap and easy-to-use TVs and telephones to devices yet to be invented. People will increasingly have the ability to communicate and transact business anywhere, anytime. This will have a profound impact, not the least of which will be the erosion of economic and geographic boundaries. 4. Openness is an underlying technical and philosophical tenet of the expansion of ecommerce: The widespread adoption of the Internet as a platform for business is due to its non-proprietary standards and open nature as well as to the huge industry that has evolved to support it. The economic power that stems from joining a large network will help to ensure that new standards remain open. More importantly, openness has emerged as a strategy, with many of the most successful eCommerce ventures granting business partner and consumers unparallel access to their inner workings, abases, and personnel. This has led to a shift in the role of consumers, who are increasingly implicated as partners in product design and creation. An expectation of openness is building on the part of consumers/citizens, which will cause transformations, for better (e.g. increased transparency, competition) or for worse (e.g. potential invasion of privacy) in the economy and society. 5. Ecommerce alters the relative importance of time: Many of the routines that help define the look and feel of the economy and society are a function of time: mass production is the fastest way of producing at the lowest cost; ones community tends to be geographically determined because time is a determinant of proximity. Ecommerce is reducing the importance of time by speeding up production cycles, allowing firms to operate in close coordination and enabling consumers to conduct transactions around the clock. As the role of time changes, so will the structure of business and social activities, causing potentially large impacts. In a nutshell the benefits of Ecommerce are, they offer personalization, high quality customer service and improved supply-chain management. This features of ecommerce has led to a wide scope of Intellectual Property transactions, especially the copyright works in the digital world and thus raise the challenges of protection of the same in the digital world. IMPACT of ECOMMERCE on COPYRIGHT Copyright is a legal term describing rights given to creators for their literary and artistic works. The kinds of works covered by copyright include literary works such as novels, poems, plays, reference works, newspapers, and computer programs; databases; films, musical compositions, and choreography; artistic works such as paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture; architecture; and advertisements, maps, and technical drawings  [11]  . Copyright motivates the creative activity of authors and thereby provides the public with the products of those creators. By granting authors exclusive rights, the public receives the benefit of literature and music and other creative works that might not otherwise be created or disseminated. Effective copyright protection promotes a new Cyber-marketplace of ideas, expression, and products  [12]  . The internet has paved the way for new ways of creating, using and duplicating copyrighted works. Internet and other digital technologies raise new issues for copyright law because they permit new ways of creating, using, and duplicating works of authorship. Copies are made cheap and the distributions of the same are done at a greater pace in the digital world. This creates the major challenge in the present scenario for copyright holders. In this context it is worth to discuss the implications of globalisation of information and its impact on intellectual property laws. The growth of digital information in the background of globalisation has a wider impact on the domestic and international intellectual property regimes. This has led to the standardization of Intellectual Property laws and demand for greater protection. The literature of recent years advocates that these effects on Intellectual Property have positive impact on the intellectual property producing nations and transnational corporations. Another argument put forth in this context is that the sovereignty of the state is compromised to strong and powerful private entities .It is possible that the prevalence of such writings in the literature is a response to the movement toward harmonization and stronger intellectual property protections and an attempt to ensure that some of the less heard voices are expressed.  [13]  Globalization of intellectual prope rty laws is leading to an erosion of state sovereignty or, at least, profound transformations in our notions of sovereignty  [14]   The Internet poses a threat to copyright laws, especially in the areas of illegal music copying and distribution. The Internet is made up of millions of sites with millions of users potentially viewing those sites daily. It is very easy for users to download information from other peoples sites and in many cases this activity is not easily monitored. A user with a personal web page may also upload files to the server where the page is located and then allow other users to copy that file, regardless of the fact that it may be copyrighted.  [15]   The international character of E commerce raises questions about the nature of traditional legal systems in general, and intellectual property law in particular. They are based on notions of sovereignty and territoriality. The Internet, in contrast, like the movement of weather within the global climate, largely ignores distinctions based on territorial borders. Instead, infrastructure, code and language have thus far had a greater bearing on the reach of its currents  [16]  . For example, the most fundamental issue raised for the fields of copyright is the determination of the scope of protection in the digital environment involving how rights are defined, and what exceptions and limitations are permitted. Other important issues include how rights are enforced and administered in this environment; who in the chain of dissemination of infringing material can be held legally responsible for the infringement; and questions of jurisdiction and applicable law. The Internet is multi-jurisdictional. Users can access the Internet from almost any place on earth. The unique feature of digitized information is that they travel through various countries and jurisdictions before reaching its final destination. The major legal issue arise in this context is the problem of jurisdiction to adjudicate a dispute at a particular location. Secondly there arises the question of law that can be made available to the disputes and finally the recognition and enforcement of judgements in courts in foreign jurisdictions. The economic pressures and the growing international significance of copyright have led to new laws. These new laws are overwhelmingly in furtherance of expanding protection, easier protection, and longer protection.  [17]   There is no standard international copyright law, but an international system exists were a set of norms based on national laws. There exist two different traditions with regard to copyrighted works such as common law and the civil law. Public benefit is the principal focus of copyright systems for which the countries the countries that followed common law tradition. In the civil law tradition copyright works are treated as an authors natural human rights, or part of ones right of personality. Thus, under this system, the protection of an authors moral rights is as essential as the corresponding protection of his/her economic rights. The concept of copyright itself witnessed a drastic change along with the development of technology. In the age of printing press copyright was a restriction on the publishers and authors rather than on the readers. Now in the present context the age of the printing press is coming to an end and the age of the computer networks has taken the way. The computer networks and the transactions in the digital world are now taking us back to a scenario that existed at the age of printing press were anybody who can read can also make a copy of his own. This has directed to a different situation were the there is a drastic change in the working of the copyright laws; Copyright law is now no longer an industrial regulation rather it is a draconian restriction on the general public. Earlier the copyright laws were used to restrict the publishers and to protect the authors now in the present scenario copyright laws are used to restrict the public for the sake of publishers. In the present scenario the publishers are vigilant in protecting their copyright and they wish to increase copyright powers to the maximum extent point where they have complete control over the information. The publishers in fact started compelling the national governments for more copyright powers. These situations led to creation of stringent laws were more powers were given to the publishers and freedoms of the public are being taken away to a large extent. The Passing of Digital Millennium Copyright Act by the US can be cited in this context. Similar laws were passed in Australia and European countries as well. In order to prevent the infringement of copyright in the digital world various methods have been adopted. Firstly harsh punishments are inflicted on copyright violators. The word pirate was earlier used to refer the publishers who failed to pay the authors, but in the present scenario it is used to refer the public who escapes from the control of the publisher. In the globalised era of information it is observed that the publishers are compelling the governments to amend the copyright laws to give themselves more power. The publishers are purchasing the laws to empower themselves. Secondly the publishers are also trying to extend the duration of copyright. So the publishers are purchasing laws to give themselves more power. In addition, theyre also extending the duration of the copyright. This can be assumed from the speech delivered by Richard Stallman were he points out The U.S. Constitution says that copyright must last for a limited time, but the publishers want copyright to last forever. However, getting a constitutional amendment would be rather difficult, so they found an easier way that achieves the same result. Every 20 years they retroactively extend copyright by 20 years. So the result is, at any given time, copyright nominally lasts for a certain period and any given copyright will nominally expire someday. But that expiration will never be reached because every copyright will be extended by 20 years every 20 years; thus no work will ever go into the public domain again. This has been called perpetual copyright on the instalment plan.  [18]   The law which was passed in US in the year 1998 that extended the copyright protection for twenty more years was called the Mickey Mouse Copyright Extension Act. One of the main champions of this law was Disney. The copyright of Disney was about to fall in the public domain by the year 2003 and to extend the duration of their copyright they compelled the US government to amend the copyright law. Similar instances can be pointed out from various national copyright legislations across the world. CONCLUSION In the current environment it is seen that globalisation is carried out by a number of policies that are done in the name of economic efficiency or free trade treaties. These treaties are drafted in such a way to empower the Business corporates over laws and policies. Theyre not really about free trade. These treaties transfer power to business corporates and the national governments find themselves in a situation were they cant protect the interest of their own citizens. In the present scenario it is the foreign companies having more power than citizens of the country. The copyright treaties that were designed in the in the 90s begin to impose copyright throughout the world in more powerful and restrictive way. The distinctive features of these treaties were they are controlled by corporate giants. It is an accepted reality that strong Copyright protection hinders the development of a country. When the US was a developing country, The US failed to recognize foreign copyrights because they were well aware of the fact that it can be an obstacle in their development, but in the present scenario the developing countries are compelled to amend their copyright laws for empowering the publishers of developed nations and to protect their copyright in the digital world. The US threatens the developing nations to go against their own interest. In the present scenario it is seen that the existing legal regime for protecting the copyright in the era of digitisation doesnt serve the interest of the public. Developing countries like India are also vigilant in protecting the copyright especially in the felid of softwares. In the recent years, the Indian court shows growing concern and willingness to enforce intellectual property rights. In the 21st century, intellectual property plays an ever more important role on the international stage. The evolution of ecommerce in the context of globalisation had a widespread impact on the Intellectual Property copyrights. There are further digital copyright issues yet to be successfully addressed in the world of ecommerce.

Mastering Takeaway Leadership :: essays research papers

Mastering "Takeaway Leadership" Effective managers remove obstacles for employees -- and then step aside to let them do their jobs The recent flurry of CEO firings (Hewlett-Packard's (HPQ) Carly Fiorina, Merck's (MRK) Raymond Gilmartin, Boeing's (BA) Harry Stonecipher) has again raised the issue of leadership. It's tempting to ask: Has the job of CEO for a megacompany become too complex to handle? Is it asking too much of just one person to expect him or her to build fruitful relationships throughout an industry and the financial community, deliver revenues and earnings that excite the stock market, launch ambitious initiatives for the long term, and avoid product, financial, and sexual scandals -- all while presenting a perennially pleasant personality? The answer is no, it isn't expecting too much, in part because all of that comes second to a CEO's paramount responsibility. That should be to shape the organization's goals, to communicate them through many levels to the people who are charged with getting the work done, and to demand -- and reward -- behaviors that demonstrate the company's ethical values and standards. This is one of those "simple, but not easy" tasks, and it's a critical one to master. Often, CEOs get credit for everything good that happens in a company when, in fact, their greatest impact comes from influencing the people who report to them. OBSTACLE REMOVER. I had a boss, John, who understood this well. I haven't heard a better description of leadership than the one he shared with his team at an offsite meeting. He said: "As your president, I'm here to help you be successful. You already know the company's goals and how your job fits into that picture. If any of that is unclear, I'll expect to hear from you. My job is to take away any obstacles that keep you from succeeding. Then, it's just you and the goal line. If there's an obstacle between you and any of our targets, I need to know about it." What sorts of obstacles was John referring to? Things like red tape, office politics, hierarchical nonsense (a vice-president won't return a director's phone call, for instance), disagreement about direction, territorial disputes, and so on. John's speech was short, but it left three critical impressions: 1 Everyone knew that the usual complaints and excuses (the guy wouldn't call me, I couldn't get the information, I was held up by HR) wouldn't fly in John's organization.