International Management International Business Plan Analysis

International Management International Business Plan Analysis Introduction The recent wave of globalization has transformed business operations on global scale. International businesses have been compelled to modify their products and services as well as management strategies to enable them meet the needs of this modern generation. As such, the banking industry has not been spared at all.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International Management: International Business Plan Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For instance, unlike the traditional trend when banks only concentrated in offering commercial services, modern banking calls for diversification of services to include investment, insurance and pension plans, underwriting securities and portfolio management. On the same note, although Citibank enjoys enormous branch network globally, it has been equally trapped in this mayhem. As a result, the bank has put in place strategies to improve its international presence by expanding into emerging markets. On the same note, product diversification has also been employed by the bank as one of the expansion strategies. Citibank prides itself in the history of international banking for being the oldest operator to venture in international marketing (Deloitte, 2006, p. 14). The company was established in New York way back in 1812. However, it began its international operations in 1902 having been elevated to position of the largest bank in United States banking industry (Cleveland Huertas, 1985, p. 112). It commenced its initial international presence by investing in Asian markets in countries like Manila and Shanghai (Zweig Wriston, 1995, pp. 74-82). The expansion was rapid and heightened by major acquisitions of already established banks such as International Banking Corporation in 1918 and other subsequent mergers with Farmer’s loan and trust company. Hence, by 1929, Citibank had already assumed sterling position in international banking (Clev eland Huertas, 1985, p. 112). It is imperative to mention that Citibank operated under different names until 1980s when it adopted its current name (Zweig Wriston, 1995, pp. 74). Moreover, in 1998, it started operating under Citigroup Inc. and it is under this umbrella that the bank has grown to be a giant player in international banking. It has always remained ahead of competition as illustrated in the figure below (Grosse, 2003, p. 24). Figure 1. Citigroup Major Competitors for the last 20 yearsAdvertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Definitely, the path to Citibank’s success has not been easy. However, the road ahead is not smooth at all as international banking sector becomes more complex due to numerous globalization challenges and opportunities (Ammann, Gemes Lenzhofer, 2010, p. 4). The effects of globalization which have been more pronounced in the 21st century have attracted new challenges for businesses since they have to keep up with the trend to avoid being redundant in the contemporary banking world (Hufner, Metzger Reichenstein, 2000, p. 66). The latest technology in the banking sector has facilitated identification of new market segments, development of customized services as well as opportunities for capturing new markets (Kim, 2010, p. 46). However, the same technological innovation has attracted its own share of management challenges (Kim, 2010, p. 48). Citibank is not an exception in the sense that despite its success stories in the past, the new era might bring devastating outcomes. It is against this background that this insightful analysis was conducted with an aim of establishing challenges of international banking in 21st century. Moreover, this paper provides the much needed business plan guidelines that may enable Citibank to survive amidst myriad of challenges likely to be faced international banking. Study meth od To facilitate the success of this case study, data was collected from credible secondary sources which included authentic websites, books, financial magazines and reputable financial consulting companies’ reports and the justification of each source is explained below. Euromoney –this is very resourceful for this case study because of its long standing reputation in financial publications focusing on the banking industry Datamonitor- is a company that specializes in businesses analysis in six key industry sectors such as health, technology, automotive, energy, consumer markets and financial services Wall street journal and financial news magazine are also reputable for their objectivity in business reporting. Emerald and Ebsco Host online databases provide recent peer reviewed articles on all subjects and hence they are very relevant in this case study. World Bank and OECD journal (financial markets trends) are very relevant for this case study because these report s cover diverse global issues. Booz company, a leading consulting firm on management issues with a high reputation in financial analysis. Citibank is also very insightful especially the Investment research and analysis section which provides current reports about the organization performs across all regions. Organizational Analysis – Citibank products and Services Citibank operates under the wide umbrella of a giant financial services company known as Citigroup (Grosse, 2003, p, 16). The company offers consumer and corporate banking services via wide network of over 1,700 branches which are spread worldwide in over 100 countries (Datamonitor. 2004, p. 4).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International Management: International Business Plan Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These branches are interlinked via strong electronic system and ATMs as well as the World Wide Web. The company is headquartere d in New York. It is further subdivided into sub brands such as Citicorp Investment services, Citiphone Banking and CitiTerm life insurance to facilitate smooth delivery of wide array of services. Citibank mostly concentrates on banking, lending and investment services. It serves wide range of clientele ranging from individual consumers, institutional and individual investors, large corporations and governments to small businesses (Datamonitor. 2004, p. 6). In order to facilitate delivery of the above services, the company has streamlined its operation under three major sectors namely personal finance, small business and corporate/institutional sector. However, most of these products and services tend to overlap across the different sectors. For instance, insurance and credit cards are available across the three sectors. As highlighted above, Citibank is rigorously branded and each of the brands offers wide range of selected products and services. The Citicorp investment services of fers basic banking accounts and investment services such as mortgages and asset management. The banking accounts are further subdivided into savings, checking and college savings categories. Checking accounts are very flexible and they offer different rates depending on the average balance under each category. Therefore, customers have an opportunity to select a checking account within their reach (Grosse, 2003, p, 16). Similarly, the savings account also varies in terms of interest earned and Citibank encourages their customers to maintain large balance by paying attractive interests to big savers. The college savings account allows parents to deposit money for their children until they reach college level of education whereby the amount is paid in installments (Datamonitor. 2004, p. 4). On the same note, CitiTerm Life insurance specializes in business and personal insurance while CitiPhone Banking enables its consumers to access banking services via phones (Datamonitor. 2004, p. 4 ). However, Citibank card division is much diversified and offers quite a number of credit card solutions to businesses and individuals. This credit card services is one of the Citibank’s strongest point and they have diversified them to incorporate each and every need of their diverse customer base. The card services falls under three subcategories namely college, value and reward cards. The most popular are value cards since they offer low interest rate of 11.24 % (Datamonitor. 2004, p. 6).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the other hand, reward cards charge slightly higher interest rate of 14.24% but it has numerous benefits to consumers through the various reward schemes that are earned depending on frequency of usage. The college cards category offers students wide range of credit cards to choose from such as Citi Dividend Platinum and Citi Platinum Select. Each of the cards attracts myriad of benefits and opportunities to users (Citi, 2011b, par.4). Consequently, Citibank has realized significant role of internet to business and by so doing they have embraced online banking services whereby consumers are able to access wide range of their services without the need for physical contact (Datamonitor. 2004, p. 4). Through their effective website, Citibank.com, consumers are able to apply for various Citi Cards, open and access accounts among other functions (Datamonitor. 2004, p. 4). As mentioned above, Citibank originated in the United States. Besides operating in the U.S, domestic market its pre sence is greatly felt in other parts with most of its operations being concentrated in Asia markets such as china, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Singapore and Philippines (Gkoutzini, 2005, p.23). In addition, it has several branches in Europe. Latin America, Middle East and Africa and also its growth vision is to expand in emerging markets in these regions (Citi, 2011b, par.5). International Market Analysis The fact that Citibank presence is felt in over 100 countries indicates that it enjoys a wide market share in international banking. However, a SWOT analysis is necessary to portray the extent to which its strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats affect its business operations within the international market. Strengths Weaknesses Global network Innovative product offering Citigroup support Tarnished brand name Branding problems Online operations restrictive to US clientele Opportunities Threats Emerging markets Chinese and Asian markets Online presence Click C iti Foreign exchange fluctuations Regulatory forces Market conditions Strengths Citibank operations in over 100 countries has given the organization a competitive edge in global arena and also cushioned it against huge losses in case of financial turmoil in any of its representative region (Datamonitor. 2004, p. 6). In addition, Citibank has undue advantage over its rivals because of its huge capital base under the umbrella of Citigroup. Hence management at Citibank is capable of taking huge investment risks (Datamonitor. 2004, p. 8). Similarly, Citibank innovative product offering has enabled it to remain ahead of its competitors because specifically tailored products attract large number of consumers (Citi, 2011b, par. 3). Weaknesses Recently, Citigroup, the umbrella under which Citibank operates, has been accused of wrongful practices leading to severe tarnishing of its brand. This negative perception is likely to drift away investors especially from its investment servi ces since they fear negative outcome from the ongoing law suit (Bianco Timmons, 2002, p. 38). Similarly, Citibank needs to expand its online presence beyond United States in order to compliment physical branch operations worldwide (Bianco Timmons, 2002, p. 42). Past failures in website branding has also cost the organization whereby it relentlessly attempted to sell the company under a different online brand name (Timmons, 2002, par, 8). Opportunities Citibank interest in emerging markets has enabled it to become a pioneer in highly profitable but risky markets such as Moscow and this has given it a strategic positioning advantage (Dennis, 2010, par. 6). However, the Chinese market which is on a fast lane towards becoming fully liberalized presents the best opportunity for Citibank although it is yet to make any significant impact in this market largely due to tight government regulations (Busch, 2009, p. 86). In spite of the increasing tendency towards online shopping, credit car d holders are still reluctant to provide their card details to online vendors (Mullineux Murinde, 2003, p. 70). Therefore, in order to encourage usage of its credit cards for online transactions, Citibank has come up with Click Citi option that enables one to pay online without keying in confidential card details (Citi, 2011b, par. 12). Threats Economic instability following the 2007 financial crisis in the United States has created uncertainties among investors thus negatively affecting financial institutions (Busch, 2009, p. 86). This has lead to fluctuation in foreign exchange rates. As such, Citibank, being a global financial institution, is likely to be hard hit by this fluctuation. Interest rates have also dived thus impacting Citibank profits negatively. For instance, foreign exchange fluctuations in Argentina and Brazil led to substantial losses at Citibank (Datamonitor. 2004, p. 8). In addition, over the recent years, market conditions have not been conducive and the deter iorating financial performance is indeed clear evidence. To make matters worse, strict regulations in consumer banking industry are hurting banks negatively (Gkoutzini, 2005, p. 8). For instance, regulations put a cap on the amount of interests that loans are supposed to earn of which failure to comply might attract far reaching consequences (Mullineux Murinde, 2003, p. 74). Foreign entry in emerging markets In spite of the above challenges, the future looks bright for Citibank if it takes the big leap towards investing in emerging markets in Asia and Middle East. According to Wilkinson (2011, par, 12), Citibank has embarked on massive recruitment drive to hire managers for the new branches that are yet to be opened in Asia and Middle East. Other banks such as Barclays, HSBC, Goldman Sachs and JP Morga have also followed similar trend in preparation for new expansion to Asia-Pacific region. These two markets are quite promising due to recent discovery of potential benefits in Islam ic banking (Divanna, 2007, p. 66). In addition, although these regions are also experiencing spill over effects of financial crisis, there is still some possibility of rebound and subsequent growth. Therefore, reaching out for these customers might prove to be profitable in the near future (Weldon, 1998, p. 46). However, Citibank has to be a bit cautious even as it enters these markets via private banking brand and introduce investment services on a later date (Wilkinson, 2011, par, 8). According to Yuksel (2010, p. 24), private banking services are highly resilient and are able to withstand economic turmoil as evidenced in continued profitability of private banks amidst current economic downturn. International Challenges Volatility of emerging markets As epitomized above, emerging markets present the best opportunity for Citibank to invest during this period of economic downturn. According to Citi (2011a, par 6), emerging markets offer greater potential for growth as compared to ad vanced economies. According to Dennis (2011, p. 5), emerging markets refer to developing countries that are experiencing above average economic growth rate which is fueled by rapid infrastructural development and large populations that provide cheap labor. Economists’ forecasts indicate that emerging markets will recover from economic down turn faster than core economies in the current year (Citigroup Inc. 2011, par, 5). A recent survey by International monetary Fund highlighted a huge disparity between core economies and emerging markets growth rate whereby in 2001 they grew by 2.2% and 6.4% respectively (Dennis, 2011, par, 8). Therefore, markets such as Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa will present the best opportunity for Citibank to invest. Nevertheless, emerging markets should be approached with caution because they are deemed to be very volatile (Jaffer, 2004, p. 8). Mikdashi (2001, p. 112) underscores that although past political instability and lack of t ransparency in emerging markets is slowly fading away especially in large markers like China and India, caution is still needed while venturing in these markets. Therefore, prior research is necessary to determine the volatility risk. This implies that investment managers will have an uphill task establishing whether any venture in emerging markets has potential for profitability or not. Operational Inefficiency due to limited technology in emerging markets Operations in emerging markets especially in Africa will be greatly hindered by too much paper work that reduces efficiency (Clacher et al., 2006, p. 112). This may be due to limitations in technological advancement which has been a persistent problem in African emerging markets. Clacher et al. (2006, p. 112) further underscore that paper transactions are very costly and also tend to expose banks to transactional errors and deliberate frauds. Moreover, due to lags in settlement of cheques and drafts business liquidity is highly c onstrained leading to increased operation risks. Human resource management challenges in highly technological era Over the recent years, employees have been regarded as the most important asset for organizational growth and success (Smith, 2007, p. 130). In banking industry, employees are equally important due to the fact that it is a service industry whereby customers have very high expectations. A cursory look at the new trend of online banking might despise the role of employees in service delivery. Nonetheless, Gkoutzini (2005, p. 8) expounds that they are still critical in facilitating online banking success. According to Citigroup Inc. (2011, par, 5), online consumers have very high expectations and unmet expectations may lead to organizational failure unlike in traditional banking whereby customers can blame an employee. Therefore, the challenge today is how to keep the IT staff on their toes so that they can be more vigilant to avoid service failure. In addition, these emplo yees need to be extra vigilant to protect customers from internet fraud. Otherwise, Citibank might end up losing considerable market share (Gkoutzini, 2005, p. 8) International Business Strategy (Planning): Investment plan for emerging markets In spite of high volatile nature of emerging markets, it is imperative to note that benefits outweigh possible risks if the business plan outlined below can be adopted. Furthermore, neither the core economies nor emerging markets can guarantee 100% return on investment if the recent debt crisis in Europe is anything to go by (The Committee on the Global Financial System, 2010, p.6). To begin with, pooled investment strategy is the best due to minimal risks involved. Citibank bank can merger with existing financial services provider in these emerging marketing and run a joint mutual fund entity (Gkoutzini, 2005, p. 8). Moreover, Citibank investment division might consider investing in Exchange Traded Fund which is usually invested via internati onal brokerage service. The latter is another option of pooled investment. However, it is crucial to mention that the latter move is rather risky due to the high volatile nature of stock markets. Introduce modern banking where absent Citibank has recorded success in implementation of modern banking equipments to facilitate transactions in core and some emerging economies (Citigroup Inc. 2011, par, 5). The same strategy can be adopted in emerging markets where such services are absent. However, great care should be taken to avoid locking out significant clientele who may be unable to use modern technological equipments (Gkoutzini, 2005, p. 8). Most importantly, security concerns should be taken into consideration while adopting modern internet banking (Gkoutzini, 2005, p. 12). Needless to say, such a strategy will facilitate business operations by increasing efficiency and subsequent reduction in transaction errors and fraud. Integrate human asset with technology In this era of globa lization, technology will play significant role in business operations and performance (Citigroup Inc., 2011, par, 5). According to Deloitte (2006, p. 14), banks should strive to reconnect with their customers through a combination of technology and personal service (The Committee on the Global Financial System, 2010, p.6). This implies that employees are still significant in spite of the major shift towards online banking. Although technology is the main resources for performance optimization, full implementation will require huge capital base (Busch, 2009, p. 86). To reduce cost, banks should consider entering into global partnerships on technology in an attempt to reduce initial costs (Gkoutzini, 2005, p. 8). As epitomized above, employees can either make or break online service delivery process, therefore, it is important for human resources managers to ensure that employees are motivated to carry out their duties effectively. According to Walker (2001, p. 102), employee motivat ion is anything from compensation to non-monetary benefits that makes employees loyal towards fulfilling organizational goals. Conclusion In a nutshell, Citibank is obviously a pace setter in international banking. Data collected during this analysis indicate that the bank is headed for notable success owing to its wide capital base and diverse network across the globe. However, some weaknesses still persist. Most of these weaknesses are mainly external in nature. As a critical example, it is imperative to note that businesses today are operating in a highly competitive world due to globalization which has also attracted myriad of challenges for international businesses operations. As such, Citibank interest in emerging markets appears to be an excellent initiative. However, this giant financial institution ought to approach such a move with extra caution owing to the high volatile nature of these markets. Most importantly, the management at Citibank has to come to the realization t hat employees are indeed potential assets. Better marketing strategies should be adopted to integrate latest technological platform in order to boost online marketing and banking. References Ammann, C., Gemes, A Lenzhofer, A. 2010. Private Banking: After the Perfect Storm, BoozCo. [Online] Web. Bianco, A Timmons, H. 2002. Crisis at Citi, Business Week, [Online] Web. Busch, A. 2009. Banking regulation and globalization. New York: Oxford University Press. Citi 2011a. Emerging market growth forecast for 2011, [Online] Available at  https://www.ipb.citibank.co.uk/citigold/index.htm . Citi. 2009. Major and emerging markets agent bank reviews. Web. Citi. 2011b. Our product expertise. [Online] Available at  https://www.ipb.citibank.co.uk/citigold/index.htm . Citigroup Inc. 2011. Citi Private Bank Identifies 2011 Investment Themes. Web. Clacher, I. et al. 2006. Challenges facing banking in emerging markets: A case study of the Tanzanian national payments systems. Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, 14(1, 112 – 118. Cleveland, H. B. Huertas, T. F. 1985. Citibank, 1812-1970. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. Datamonitor. 2004. Citibank, N.A. Swot analysis. [Online] Web. Deloitte. 2006. Global banking industry outlook, growth solutions in changing world. Web. Dennis, G. 2011. Emerging market earnings: Holding up well, Citi [Online] Web. Divanna, J. A. 2007. Middle Eastern Wealth Management. London: VRL KnowledgeBank Limit. Gkoutzini, A. 2005. International Trade in Banking Services and the Role of the WTO: Discussing the Legal Framework and Policy Objectives of the General Agreement on Trade in Services and the Current State of Play in the Doha Round of Trade Negotiations. International Lawyer, 39 (4), 877-915. Grosse, R. 2003. The Challenges of Globalization for Emerging Market Firms. Latin American Business Review, 4(4), 12-32 Hufner, K., Metzger, M. Reichenstein, B. 2000. Challenges for international organizations in the 21st centu ry: essays in honor of Klaus Hà ¼fner. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. Jaffer, S. 2004. Islamic asset management: forming the future for Sharia-compliant investment strategies. London: Euromoney Books. Kim, S. 2010. International banking in the New Era: Post-Crisis Challenges and opportunities. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Group. Mikdashi, Z. (ed.). 2001. Financial Intermediation in the 21st Century. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan. Mullineux, A. W. Murinde, V. 2003. Handbook of international banking. Cheltenham, U.K.: Edward Elgar. Smith, A. D. 2009. Internet retail banking: A competitive analysis in an increasingly financially troubled environment. Information Management Computer Security, 17(2), 127 – 150. The Committee on the Global Financial System (CGFS). 2010. Long-term issues in international banking: new report by the Committee on the Global Financial System. [Online] Available from  https://www.bis.org/publ/cgfs41.pdf Timmons, H, et al. 2002. Citis Sleepless Nights: The Bank Faces Lawsuits, Fines, and Closer Scrutiny,Business Week, [Online] Available from  https://www.bloomberg.com/europe [Accessed 23 September 2011] Walker, G. A. 2001. International banking regulation: law, policy, and practice. London: Kluwer Law International. Weldon, L. 1998. Private banking: a global perspective. Cambridge: Gresham. Wilkinson, T. L. 2011. Managers hire for emerging markets, financial news, [Online] Available from  https://www.fnlondon.com/ Yuksel, U. 2010. A Risky Mode Of Foreign Market Entry: International Portfolio Investments. Journal of Business Economics Research, 8(8), 22-32. Zweig, P. L., Wriston, W. 1995. Citibank, and the Rise and fall of American Financial Supremacy. New York, NY: Crown.

Overview of the Law of the Primate City

Overview of the Law of the Primate City Geographer Mark Jefferson developed the law of the primate cit  to explain the phenomenon of huge cities that capture such a large proportion of a countrys population as well as its economic activity. These primate cities are often, but not always, the capital cities of a country. An excellent example of a primate city is Paris, which truly represents and serves as the focus of France. A countrys leading city is always disproportionately large and exceptionally expressive of national capacity and feeling. The primate city is commonly at least twice as large as the next largest city and more than twice as significant. - Mark Jefferson, 1939​   Characteristics of Primary Cities They dominate the country in influence and are the national focal point.  Their sheer size and activity become a strong pull factor, bringing additional residents to the city and causing the primate city to become even larger and more disproportional to smaller cities in the country. However, not every country has a primate city, as youll see from the list below. Some scholars define a primate city as one that is larger than the combined populations of the second and third ranked cities in a country. This definition does not represent true primacy, however, as the size of the first ranked city is not disproportionate to the second. The law can be applied to smaller regions as well. For example, Californias primate city is Los Angeles, with a metropolitan area population of 16 million, which is more than double the San Francisco metropolitan area of 7 million. Even counties can be examined with regard to the Law of the Primate City. Examples of Countries With Primate Cities Paris (9.6 million) is definitely the focus of France while Marseilles has a population of 1.3 million.Similarly, the United Kingdom has London as its primate city (7 million) while the second largest city, Birmingham, is home to a mere one million people.Mexico City, Mexico (8.6 million) outshines Guadalajara (1.6 million).A huge dichotomy exists between Bangkok (7.5 million) and Thailands second city, Nanthaburi (481,000). Examples of Countries That Lack Primate Cities Indias most populous city is Mumbai (formerly Bombay) with 16 million; second is Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) with more than 13 million.China, Canada, Australia, and Brazil are additional examples of non-primate-city countries.Utilizing the metropolitan area population of urban areas in the United States, we find that the U.S. lacks a true primate city. With the New York City metropolitan area population at approximately 21 million, second-ranked Los Angeles at 16 million, and even third-ranked Chicago at 9 million, America lacks a primate city. Rank-Size Rule In 1949, George Zipf devised his theory of rank-size rule to explain the size cities in a country. He explained that the second and subsequently smaller cities should represent a proportion of the largest city. For example, if the largest city in a country contained one million citizens, Zipf stated that the second city would contain one-half as many as the first, or 500,000. The third would contain one-third or 333,333, the fourth would be home to one-quarter or 250,000, and so on, with the rank of the city representing the denominator in the fraction. While some countries urban hierarchy somewhat fits into Zipfs scheme, later geographers argued that his model should be seen as a probability model and that deviations are to be expected.

Case 5 Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

5 - Case Study Example The p-value can also be termed as the probability of obtaining the exact value for a model built around two hypotheses are neutral or null. The other one is the hypothesis under testing. In case the p-value is less than or equal to the threshold value previously set, one discards the neutral hypothesis and the test on the hypothesis is considered valid. The concept of p-value can be applied in several fields. In approach of Ronald Fisher, p-value is a key concept where uses it to measure the weight of the data alongside a specified hypothesis and as a standard to ignore data that does not have anything to do with any alternative hypothesis, which is instead a feature of the Neyman-Pearson approach. It should not be contracted with the significance level in the above approach defined by Neyman-Pearson approach. Essentially, the p-value does not in itself give support reasoning about the likelihoods of hypotheses, nor selecting among unlike hypotheses–it is just a measure of how possible the data have happened by coincident, supposing the null hypothesis is correct. Arithmetical hypothesis experiments making use of p-values are normally applied in many fields of science and social sciences, such as economics, criminal justice and criminology, psychology, biology, and sociology (Tai, Bee, and David 21). Regression is a degree of the relation among the average worth of one variable and conforming worth of the additional variables. In the other hand, coefficient is the numerical quality placed before and reproducing the variable in an algebraic. Regression can also be referred as the factor that measures some possessions. Regression scrutiny generates an equation to define the statistical interaction between one or more forecaster variables and the same reaction variable. The p-value for each term examines the null hypothesis that

Sturken and Cartwright's Account of Ideological Considerations Essay

Sturken and Cartwright's Account of Ideological Considerations - Essay Example Though films and television programs still use similar techniques as those from the OJ Simpson era, News Media at least must have gotten better, right? The question is both yes and no. In the recent Trayvon Martin scandal, than man that admitted to killing him, George Zimmerman, had many of his own pictures portrayed throughout the media. While media did not make the explicitly editorial decisions they made in the OJ Simpson case. This essay will not discuss the particulars of the horrible tragedy that occurred on the night that Trayvon Martin was killed, but rather the editorial choices that occurred in the portrayal of George Zimmerman. The choice of photographs used on television or news portrayals of the man, however, were chosen specifically to underline his supposed guilt or innocence. The most commonly used image of George Zimmerman, especially immediately after the tragedy, was a mug shot for an unrelated incident some days before, presented below. The choice to use this imag e immediately was somewhat understandable: mug shots are quite accessible to news media, and this would have been one of the only pictures available in the opening hours of the tragedy. Quickly, however, some other images began becoming available, including the one presented left. Both pictures represent George Zimmerman`s likeness fairly well, and they even have somewhat similar framing. Upon the second, and many other photo`s wide use in news media, however, the mug shot image continued to be used quite frequently. The choice of which photos to used represented an ideological slant on the case in fairly clear ways. The initial photograph of George Zimmerman is clearly identifiable as a mug shot taken by police during an investigation. There are very few other cases in which a subject would be framed so narrowly (as for an identification) on a white background with a flat, unsmiling face. Furthermore, and unofortunately for Zimmerman, he was wearing a particularly brightly colored orange shirt on the day that the photograph was taken. Orange is constantly used throughout American prisons as a way to identify prisoners should they escape, make them readily viewable from a distance if the correctional officer needs to see the, and so forth. An unsmiling face, as is used in a mug-shot, also frequently makes people look cold or mean, because there is a social more that people in photographs smile. Finally, the last aspect is the color of Zimmerman`s skin. Zimmerman, a white Hispanic, had parts of his skin look much darker because of the contrast from the glare on his cheeks, which also highlighted his black hair. As ironic as it is to racially profile a person accused of killing through racial profiling, many viewers probably connected Zimmerman`s ethnic heritage, especially in the context of a mug shot, with criminality, deviancy, violence or other social ills. Zimmerman`s second and other subsequent photos differ greatly. He is smiling, for one, and the frame o f the photo is slightly wider, making it look more like a year book photo or something else. He is also much more nicely dressed, in a suit, and has a much more uniform skin tone, making it look less dark than in the mug shot. Gone is the probably villainous person who certainly got arrested and generally looks ``no good,``

Analysis of the Official Website of Major League Baseball :: Website Major League Baseball

Analysis of the Official Website of Major League Baseball Major League Baseball is not only America’s favorite past time but, it is also one of America’s longest known sports. As the playoffs approach this year baseball gets more intense as the teams try to secure their playoff position as well as making the wildcard cut. The Major League Baseball website is to everyone who loves the game and wants to follow up on all the latest games along with the great plays of the day. There is a step by step process for following every game of the day. The website also has a link to each team where you can review you favorite player’s stats. Each team has there own web page where you can shop for clothing hats and other collectables just by clicking their link. The website is extremely affective because it provides everything about baseball and is easy to operate. The official website of Major League baseball (Ethos) has everything posted current and accurate. The webpage also provides the latest trades of players and the hiring and firing of coaches. The other incredible thing about this website is how you can watch the games live, without having to turn on the television. I will always use this website as a reference because I can find out how my team is doing with a click of a button in just an instant without having to wait for the ESPN highlights. The Logos of this website is that you can purchase things on it without the worry of having your personal information like your credit card or address being released to people other than the Major League Baseball Association. The website has a secure feature which only allows you as the user to type in your personal information, and it won’t be given to anyone else. The relevant part to this web page is that not only is it valid, but it just makes things a lot easier when you can shop online and not have to go to store to store to find the best price. Anything you could possibly want for your favorite team can easily be found by clicking on your team and it will take you right to there own page. There are also emotions like (pathos) linked with this page because it shows pictures of players and also clutch situation plays which have huge impacts on players along with viewers.

Job Fair Brochure

Job Fair Brochure This discussion will describe the structure, business model, and culture of a selected business. There will be a justification for why each element was selected, and an explanation of how each choice of elements will impact the chosen business. A business model is like any other model; it represents and summarizes how whole businesses do business. The business model explains, in summary, the fundamental nature of the business and how the business makes money, without having to share complexities of strategies, â€Å"processes, units, rules, hierarchies, workflows, and systems† (Business Model Designs and Innovation, 2005, p. ). For example, the business that is chosen is a Geriatric Health Club and Daycare. The company makes money by offering wellness and exercise services to senior citizens all over the Merrillville community; for a reasonable amount of money. The fundamental nature of the club is to encourage the elderly, ages 55 and older, to continue to l ive a healthier and active life, by offering leisure activities, social interaction with their peers, nutrition education, and exercise (Business Model Designs, and Innovation, 2005). The business model was chosen because research, indicates that â€Å"High-intensity resistance exercise training is a feasible and effective means of counteracting muscle weakness and physical frailty in very elderly people. In contrast, multinutrient supplementation without concomitant exercise does not reduce muscle weakness or physical frailty† (Clements, Evans, Fiatarone, Kehayias, Lipsit, Nelson, O'Neill Roberts, Ryan, and Solares, 2009, 1769). The impact of this business model helps the company to function and guide the company in a productive direction. The business model helps the company to stay profitable by catering to a fast increasing age group. â€Å"The business structure is the type of legal entity that exists to contract to perform licensed work. Examples of legal entities are individual/sole proprietors, corporations, limited liability companies (LLC), partnerships, limited partnerships (LP), and limited liability partnerships (LLP)† are examples of business structures (Minnesota Department of Labor, and Industry, n. d, p. 1). The structure of the Geriatric Health Club and Daycare is a partnership. A partnership is a business agreement between two or more people, with an understanding of making a profit (NSW Small Business, 2001). The geriatric health club and daycare operates under a registered business name. The business name the club operates under is Transitions Senior Health Club and Daycare. The reason a partnership was chosen is because liabilities can be shared (NSW Small Business, 2001). A functional structure is for the staff. The CNAs works directly with customers, RNs oversees the CNAs, trainers, therapist, and assist the Medical doctor. The partnership structure impacts the club by the sharing of liabilities and increased financial investments and the sharing of responsibilities. The functional structure brings order with the staff and creates a harmonious working environment (NSW Small Business, 2001). â€Å"The business culture is the way your organization operates, the customs, attitudes; etiquette and etc. † (Answer, 2007, p. 1). For example, Transitions will use â€Å"The Plane tree’s approach, which is holistic and encourages healing in all dimensions; mental, emotional, spiritual, social and physical† (Axia College of University of Phoenix 2008, p194). The Plane tree’s approach maximizes the outcomes of healthcare by combining â€Å"harmonizing medical therapies, such as mind and body medicine, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, yoga, and energy therapies with conventional medical therapies†(Axia College, 2009, p. 194). The medical staff is well trained, board certified, and licensed by the state. The trainers are certified in yoga, low impact exercises, and small weights. The instructors are RNs with bachelor’s degrees; a Medical Doctor and a certified massage therapist, will be on staff. The staff is given two weeks of vacation and health benefits. They are also given incentive awards for out standing work. The impact that this business culture will have on Transitions is a healthy, safe and serene environment. The customers will be encouraged to reach their wellness goals and lead a longer and active life. Reference Axia College of University of Phoenix. (2009). Job fair brochure. Retrieved August 30, 2009, aXcess BUS 210________Foundations of Business Course Website. This is not a properly formatted reference listing for the textbook for this course. Your citation to this source is incorrect as well for this reason. Answers. (2007). What is business culture? Retrieved August 27, 2009, from http://answers. yahoo. com/question/index? qid=20080209153352AADUsZS Business Model Designs and Innovation. (2005). But What Actually is a Business Model? Retrieved August 27, 2009, from http://www. ask. com/web? qsrc=2417=0&1=dir=what+is+a+business+modle= Clements, K. M. , Evans, W. J. , Fiatarone, M. A. , Kehayias, J. J. , Lipsitz, L. A. , Nelson, M. E. , O'Neill, E. F. , Roberts, S. B. , Ryan, N. D, and Solares, G. R. (2009). Exercise training and nutritional supplementation for physical frailty in very elderly people. The New England Journal of Medicine. 330(25) 1769-1775. Retrieved August 30, 2009, from http://content. nejm. org/cgi/content/abstract/330/25/1769 Job Fair Brochure Job Fair Brochure This discussion will describe the structure, business model, and culture of a selected business. There will be a justification for why each element was selected, and an explanation of how each choice of elements will impact the chosen business. A business model is like any other model; it represents and summarizes how whole businesses do business. The business model explains, in summary, the fundamental nature of the business and how the business makes money, without having to share complexities of strategies, â€Å"processes, units, rules, hierarchies, workflows, and systems† (Business Model Designs and Innovation, 2005, p. ). For example, the business that is chosen is a Geriatric Health Club and Daycare. The company makes money by offering wellness and exercise services to senior citizens all over the Merrillville community; for a reasonable amount of money. The fundamental nature of the club is to encourage the elderly, ages 55 and older, to continue to l ive a healthier and active life, by offering leisure activities, social interaction with their peers, nutrition education, and exercise (Business Model Designs, and Innovation, 2005). The business model was chosen because research, indicates that â€Å"High-intensity resistance exercise training is a feasible and effective means of counteracting muscle weakness and physical frailty in very elderly people. In contrast, multinutrient supplementation without concomitant exercise does not reduce muscle weakness or physical frailty† (Clements, Evans, Fiatarone, Kehayias, Lipsit, Nelson, O'Neill Roberts, Ryan, and Solares, 2009, 1769). The impact of this business model helps the company to function and guide the company in a productive direction. The business model helps the company to stay profitable by catering to a fast increasing age group. â€Å"The business structure is the type of legal entity that exists to contract to perform licensed work. Examples of legal entities are individual/sole proprietors, corporations, limited liability companies (LLC), partnerships, limited partnerships (LP), and limited liability partnerships (LLP)† are examples of business structures (Minnesota Department of Labor, and Industry, n. d, p. 1). The structure of the Geriatric Health Club and Daycare is a partnership. A partnership is a business agreement between two or more people, with an understanding of making a profit (NSW Small Business, 2001). The geriatric health club and daycare operates under a registered business name. The business name the club operates under is Transitions Senior Health Club and Daycare. The reason a partnership was chosen is because liabilities can be shared (NSW Small Business, 2001). A functional structure is for the staff. The CNAs works directly with customers, RNs oversees the CNAs, trainers, therapist, and assist the Medical doctor. The partnership structure impacts the club by the sharing of liabilities and increased financial investments and the sharing of responsibilities. The functional structure brings order with the staff and creates a harmonious working environment (NSW Small Business, 2001). â€Å"The business culture is the way your organization operates, the customs, attitudes; etiquette and etc. † (Answer, 2007, p. 1). For example, Transitions will use â€Å"The Plane tree’s approach, which is holistic and encourages healing in all dimensions; mental, emotional, spiritual, social and physical† (Axia College of University of Phoenix 2008, p194). The Plane tree’s approach maximizes the outcomes of healthcare by combining â€Å"harmonizing medical therapies, such as mind and body medicine, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, yoga, and energy therapies with conventional medical therapies†(Axia College, 2009, p. 194). The medical staff is well trained, board certified, and licensed by the state. The trainers are certified in yoga, low impact exercises, and small weights. The instructors are RNs with bachelor’s degrees; a Medical Doctor and a certified massage therapist, will be on staff. The staff is given two weeks of vacation and health benefits. They are also given incentive awards for out standing work. The impact that this business culture will have on Transitions is a healthy, safe and serene environment. The customers will be encouraged to reach their wellness goals and lead a longer and active life. Reference Axia College of University of Phoenix. (2009). Job fair brochure. Retrieved August 30, 2009, aXcess BUS 210________Foundations of Business Course Website. This is not a properly formatted reference listing for the textbook for this course. Your citation to this source is incorrect as well for this reason. Answers. (2007). What is business culture? Retrieved August 27, 2009, from http://answers. yahoo. com/question/index? qid=20080209153352AADUsZS Business Model Designs and Innovation. (2005). But What Actually is a Business Model? Retrieved August 27, 2009, from http://www. ask. com/web? qsrc=2417=0&1=dir=what+is+a+business+modle= Clements, K. M. , Evans, W. J. , Fiatarone, M. A. , Kehayias, J. J. , Lipsitz, L. A. , Nelson, M. E. , O'Neill, E. F. , Roberts, S. B. , Ryan, N. D, and Solares, G. R. (2009). Exercise training and nutritional supplementation for physical frailty in very elderly people. The New England Journal of Medicine. 330(25) 1769-1775. Retrieved August 30, 2009, from http://content. nejm. org/cgi/content/abstract/330/25/1769

Inequality in Social Classes - 1668 Words

Imagine living in a society full of equality, where everyone would have the same income, house, and social class, in other words a ‘perfect’ world, free of competition, greed, classes, and more importantly inequality. Unfortunately, living in classless society falls under the category of a utopia, as long as greed exists in the heart of society, inequality and the division between classes is not going to end. As Mary Douglas once stated, â€Å"Inequality can have a bad downside, but equality, for its part, sure does get in the way of coordination.† If in today’s society, social classes is more important than race and inequality is breeding more inequality, what effects is elevating the low income class going to have on our society and our way of living, will this further shorten the gap or perhaps break the balance between social classes? In Matthew O’Brien’s article, â€Å"RIP, American Dream? 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