Thomas Jefferson Essay - 951 Words

Thomas Jefferson, born 1743 in Albemarle, Virginia, was a self-made man. He had many endeavors, such as law, and politics in addition to running a 5,000-acre plantation that he inherited from his father. Jefferson graduated from William and Mary College, and was an accomplished lawyer. Tall, red haired, and freckled, he was not what most people would consider attractive. He married the widowed Martha Wayles Skelton and took her to live in his unfinished home in the mountains of Monticello. Jefferson was an awful public speaker, but he was a great diplomat. He sympathized with the situation in France at the time, and he easily filled the shoes of Ben Franklin as minister to France in 1785. He then went on as a member of George†¦show more content†¦However, amazingly, he was able to reduce the national debt of the United States. Although no precedents were set, he added land to the United States with the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon Bonaparte in 18 03. This land purchase was important due to the fact that it nearly doubled the land size of the United States. Throughout his presidency, Jefferson maintained his beliefs in equality and democracy by getting rid of all of the racial and religious standards at his political gatherings. Jefferson left office after two terms in the year 1809, and moved to his mountaintop home in Virginia. In his latter post-political years, Jefferson became what many would call a sage. He advised new presidents on the Napoleonic Wars as well as many other topics of importance. Outside of politics, Jefferson lived life to its fullest. He was in great physical shape. He would rise early and read until breakfast. He would then follow up with a four to five hour horse ride on his farm, and then he would enjoy his dinner. Finally, he would read and write in his study before retiring to his bedroom to read and go to sleep. He never smoked or gambled, but rather spent much of his time designing use ful things for his house like plows, carriages, fences and gardens. In other words, he was something of an inventor. He loved flowers and built a garden with many flowers of rare origins. As an inventor, he played with gadgets and inventedShow MoreRelatedWho Is Thomas Jefferson?993 Words   |  4 Pages Who is Thomas Jefferson? Matthew Backlin United States History 1 A CP October 18, 2015 Who was Thomas Jefferson? Most people just think of him as the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence or just one of our many presidents. That’s not the case. Jefferson was more than that, He was a very intelligent man and a loving father and grandfather. Thomas Jefferson was also an inventor and one of the most significant men in the history of makingRead MoreThomas Jefferson And The Constitution911 Words   |  4 Pagesopinions. However Thomas Jefferson the 4th president of the United States also known as the father of the constitution and Alexander Hamilton who was the author of the majority papers written as well as the leading member of the constitutional convention the both of them took part in creating the(factions) that lead to the political systems also known as democracy being introduced. James Madison was the principle intellecteal leader of the constitutional convention while Thomas Jefferson contributedRead MoreEssay on Thomas Jefferson1532 Words   |  7 PagesThomas Jefferson He is best remembered as a great president and as the author of the Declaration of Independence. He also won lasting fame as a diplomat, a political thinker, and a founder of the Democratic Party. Jeffersons interests and talents covered an amazing range. He became one of the leading American architects of his time and designed the Virginia Capitol, the University of Virginia, and his own home, Monticello. He greatly appreciated art and music and tried to encourage theirRead MoreEssay Thomas Jefferson1012 Words   |  5 Pages Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Albermarle County, Virginia. He was born in a simple four-room house in Shadwell, Virginia, what is now Monticello. His father, Peter Jefferson, was a planter who was a bright, brave, and strong man. His mother was a very gentle lady. She was boring under one of the most distinguished families in the area. His family had prospered since the first Jefferson arrived in America from Whales in 1612. Soon after Jef ferson’s birth, the French and British beganRead MoreThe Contributions Of Thomas Jefferson1474 Words   |  6 Pageshowever, there was a red-haired Virginian who was less than intimidating yet more literate and educated; he was credited for driving the nail in our retaliation against Britain’s lack of representation against the colonists. This man’s name was Thomas Jefferson, a historical figure who wasn’t expected to accomplish much based on his modesty; however, he achieved so many successful pursuits in which the most notable contributions will be included in the following main points: His general background/upbringingsRead MoreThomas Jefferson Essay753 Words   |  4 PagesThomas Jefferson Thomas Jeffersons ideals and beliefs were derived from a deep regard for life, liberty, and freedom. His concept of individual freedoms strongly disagreed with the notion of a guided republic which he believed concentrated a great deal unchecked power among a few people. This could have the potential of tyrannical government that might suppress personal freedoms of any kind especially those of religion, which Jefferson feels very strongly felt should be protected. AfterRead More Thomas Jefferson Essay869 Words   |  4 Pages Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 to Peter and Jane Jefferson. His exact place of birth is not known. But it is believed to be about five miles outside of Charlottesville. He had ten brothers and sisters, but many of them died very young. Jefferson was one of two surviving sons. He was sandy-haired, tall, and awkward. His nickname was â€Å"Long Tom.† He really enjoyed outdoor activities, especially riding, shooting, and canoeing. Jefferson was also great musician and a diligent worker whoRead More thomas jefferson Essay912 Words   |  4 Pages Thomas Jefferson was Born on April 13, 1743,on a farm called Shadwell, what is now called Monticello, in the county of Albermarle, Virginia. Jefferson was the third child in the family and grew up with six sisters and one brother. At the age of five, Jefferson was placed by his father, Peter Jefferson, at an quot;English school, for four years, where he developed an interest in botany, geology, cartography, and North American explorationquot;. After English school, was transferred to a Latin schoolRead More Thomas Jefferson Essay1217 Words   |  5 Pagesthat I read is Thomas Jefferson by Norman K. Risjord. This book was published in 1994. The biography I read was Thomas Jefferson and it was very enlightening and informative. The story began in Shadwell, Virginia where Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743 and raised until he was approximately 18. Thomas Jefferson’s parents were well off, but his father died when Thomas was 14. When Jefferson was 17 years old, he got permission to attend the College of William and Mary. Thomas Jefferson did many thingsRead MoreEssay on Thomas Jefferson841 Words   |  4 PagesFrance Was in favor of this Alliance with France Wanted to work with the British Repelled the judiciary Act of 1801 They were all for it Jefferson had dismissed many federalist and judges so they were against it. Part 2: Response Write a 350-word response to the following question: How â€Å"Jeffersonian† was Thomas Jefferson as president? Jefferson doesnt fit neatly into the label Jeffersonian†. Jeffersons commitment to the separation of church and state, his  Virginia Act for Establishing

Accounting Standards And Financial Statements - 1881 Words

Introduction Every business has to prepare its financial statements for its investors and making its business decisions. Company’s financial conditions are of major concern to the investors and creditors. As capital providers they rely on the financial statement for safety and profitability of their investments. They are also interested in knowing where and for what purpose their money is being used. Financial statements present the financial health of the entity. What are Accounting Standards? A principle that guides and standardizes accounting principles. Accounting standards are necessary so that financial statements are meaningful across the world with wide variety of business, otherwise the accounting rules of different companies would make comparative analysis almost impossible. An accounting standard is a guideline for financial accounting, such as how a firm prepares and presents its business income and expense, assets and liabilities. Uk accounting standards are under institute of chartered accountants of England and wales (ICAEW). Financial reporting In UK is guided by a regulatory framework called UK GAAP (Generally accepted accounting principles) IFRSs (International financial reporting standards) are developed and issued by the IASB (International accounting standard board) Advantages of Accounting Standards †¢ It facilitates achieving harmonization of accounting practices across nations. †¢ It helps in reaching out to global investors. †¢ It helps in takingShow MoreRelatedFinancial Statements and Accounting Standards1216 Words   |  5 Pages | directors | | auditors | | | 6. The main functions of the Financial Reporting Council include: I. overseeing the process for the setting of accounting standards of the AASB II. determining the AASB’s broad strategic direction III. monitoring and reviewing the level of funding for the AASB IV. directing the AASB in relation to the development or making of a particular standard V. the power to veto a standard recommended by the AASB. | I, II, III and V only | | I, II, andRead MoreAccounting Standards And Financial Statements1081 Words   |  5 Pagespositive spin on the financial statements. Over the years, there was a need for improvements in financial reporting. In 1999, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued Statement No. 34; which caused a major change in the reporting requirements of the government (Fischer, Cheng, Taylor, 2009). This also led to a very comprehensive accounting process. GASB 34 made big improvements in how the government views their financial statements. History The GASB released statement 34 in June 1999Read MoreRules Based Accounting Standards And The Decision Making For Accountants Facing Financial Statements Essay892 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Nowadays, with the position of accounting becoming higher, accountants should have enough professional abilities to solve problems or make decisions. In addition, high quality accountants must follow a set of guiding principles for preparing financial reports during their careers. Therefore, numerous principles and rules are significant when it comes to accounting. The External Reporting Board (XRB) which called the New Zealand Conceptual Framework (CF) provides the basic principlesRead MoreUniform accounting standards produce uniform financial reporting. Discuss and evaluate the above statement in the context of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)1064 Words   |  5 Pagesidentify what the phrases â€Å"accounting standards† and â€Å"financial reporting† refer to. Accounting standards refer to the accounting methods used in an accounting system like the IFRS. Financial reporting refers to the representation of financial information, in order to be uniform the financial reporting must be based on a fixed set of rules, invole complete objectivity and no bias. The IFRS (International financial reporting standards) has indeed helped the uniformity of financial reporting. However, inRead MoreThe Important of Keeping Financial Records with Accounting711 Words   |  3 PagesThe meaning and importance of the accounting Accounting by definition from Merriam-Webster dictionary is â€Å"the skill, system, or job of keeping the financial records of a business or a person† (A) or according to investopedia â€Å"the systematic and comprehensive recording of financial transactions pertaining to a business† (B). These two do not show though, how important the accounting is for the company and how strongly it can influence the firm’s position in the stock market and investors’ approachRead MorePurpose And Context Of International Financial Reporting1272 Words   |  6 Pages1.0 Purpose and context of International Financial Reporting 1.1 Description and Role of a Stock Exchange Companies issue share in the primary market through an initial public offering (IPO) in order to raise capital. The estimated value of the companies and number of shares issued determine the price of shares. Companies obtain the money from IPO and no longer receive any money in further trading activity while the shares will be traded in stock exchange market or secondary market. Investors buyRead MoreEvaluation And Disclosure Of Information Essay1674 Words   |  7 Pagesthe financial statements, the accompanying notes and accounting policies of MFT Ltd for the year 2014. This essay will pay specific interest to the application of the conceptual framework of accounting to the relevant Accounting Standards (NZ IAS 1, NZ IAS 7, NZ IAS 8 and NZ IAS 10). The report will comment on why it is essential to regulate external financial reporting by Mainfreight. The second part will discuss the role of conceptual framework to accounting standards in external financial reportingRead MoreSummar y of Research for Accounting Changes and Error Analysis1143 Words   |  5 PagesResearch for Accounting Changes and Error Analysis Companies have always faced issues of how to reflect changes in accounting methods and error corrections in financial statements. A change in accounting principle results when an entity adopts a generally accepted accounting principle different from the one it used previously (Hall 2007). A presumption exists that an accounting principle once adopted shall not be changed in accounting for events and transactions of a similar type (Financial AccountingRead MoreAccounting Regulatory Agencies1280 Words   |  6 PagesACCOUNTING REGULATORY AGENCIES Introduction Accounting standards are needed so that financial statements will fairly and consistently describe financial performance. Without standards, users of financial statements would need to learn the accounting rules of each company, and comparisons between companies would be difficult. Numerous accounting bodies govern the accounting environment and accommodate the success of a business. The four main financial governing bodies includeRead MoreThe Focus Of This Assignment Is To Understand Accounting1070 Words   |  5 Pagesis to understand accounting terms, importance of accounting and reporting and how accounting and reporting take place in the business entity. It is also aimed to find out the flow of accounting information from the beginning to the end. And to understand accounting standards and principles. Accounting can be defined as a systematic process of identifying, recording, measuring, classifying, verifying, summarizing, interpreting and communicating financial information. Accounting reveals profit or

Foundations of Business Computing for Pros- MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theFoundations of Business Computingfor Pros and Cons. Answer: Pros and Cons of Information Technology Information technology is an application that assists human beings in storing, retrieving, manipulating and communicating information mostly in businesses and other enterprises. There are various advantages and disadvantages of always being available to your employees regardless of where you are and what you are doing. Advantages of Information Technology With the help of information systems, the right information is provided to the employees and clients and at the right time. There is the use of direct messaging, emails, voice and video calls which makes communication of important messages fast, contemptible and more efficient. Information technology is cost effective and productive; the business managers or owners can control the productivity in the enterprise using the automatic task managers. For instance, the temperature sensors can be used in bakeries to control increase or decrease of temperature. This saves time and leads to quality products. It improves financial management; using the bookkeepers and the quick books business owners and managers can balance their books of accounts with less knowledge about accounting (Willcocks 2013, p.65). Moreover, IT allows managers to work remotely. The ease of access allows one to boost productivity as one can get things done even when not physically in the office. The use of information technology helps business managers updated on the market trends. This helps them serve their clients with up to start and products and services. They are therefore able to overcome the competition in the market through creativity, innovation, and specialization. Consequently, information technology has made the world a global village because the business managers can reach out to their clients within a short period. Ultimately, information technology has allowed the economy to be interdependent (Orlikowski et al. 2016, p.68). Disadvantages of Information Technology to Employees and Clients Information technology fails in small businesses as the implementation expenses are costly than the services offered to the clients. This will, in turn, lead to loss of clients to big businesses which can manage them. There is also the initial purchasing cost and therefore the maintenance, updates and training costs. Additionally, cyber-crimes has been an emerging issue with any business using information technology. Carter ( 2014, p. 19) stipulates that information security is easily compromised with and sensitive information about the business can lead to a significant loss. With information technology, the manager is always available for his clients despite the location leads to the elimination of jobs to some employees. For instance, the accounting services can be handled by software. Five Forces of Porters Competitive Forces Model Porters competitive forces model is a psychoanalysis tool that uses the business forces to verify the intensity of competition in the market and its productivity level. They include; The threat of new entry: Its a force that limits how simple or tough it is to get in a particular business. In case the industry is lucrative and has few barriers for ingress, there will be a rivalry. This is because many organizations will compete for the same market share; therefore, the profits begin to fall. It is thus necessary for existing firms to craft high barriers to discourage new entrants. E-business models enable easier access to the business. This, in turn, decreases the administration intricacy among the new entrants (Porter 2008, p. 25). Bargaining power of suppliers; suppliers possessing strong bargaining power sell high priced or low-quality products to their target market. This directly affects the profits margins. The suppliers have high bargaining power when they are few in the market or when there are few close substitutes of the raw materials. The internet has increased the suppliers bargaining power as information convenience is increased and information gap is narrowed (Porter 2008, p. 29). Bargaining power of the buyers; buyers with strong bargaining power demand for high-quality products and at a lower price. This results in low-profit margins to the producers. When there are only a few buyers in the market and multiple substitutes, the buyers have strong bargaining power. The Internet has significantly affected it as the e-business has enabled customers to reach which lowers their bargaining power (Porter 2008, p. 31). The threat of substitutes; this is when buyers can easily shift from one product to another which of higher quality and lower cost. This force studies the ease of a consumer to move from one competitor to another. It shows how their profit and excellence of products compare to theirs. For instance, switching from taking tea to coffee if the price of coffee is lower than that of tea (Porter 2008, p. 34). Rivalry among existing competitors; this force determines how profitable or competitive industry is. When products are not highly differentiated and can be easily substituted, rivalry among competitors increase. Rivalry increases when there is only few business selling equally the products and services. The rivalry is quantitatively measured using the concentration ratio (CR) (Porter 2008, p. 38). Is Google Making Us Stupid? The world has evolved from the traditional concepts of gaining knowledge. In the past, people had nurtured a reading culture, and the minds were used to searching for information in large books and turning pages in libraries. Currently, this trend has changed with technology that has facilitated online access of information. Notably, most people prefer reading articles online and books in soft copy rather than hard copy. This trend has manipulated the minds, and often people lack concentration when reading online. It is common for people to skim through paragraphs when reading a long article online instead of reading page deeply after page. Moreover, technology has had an influence of the circle of friends we keep and how we communicate and interact with them. The July/August 2008 issue of The Atlantic, features a cover story by Nicholas Carr: Is Google Making Us Stupid. The story analyses how the internet affects our brains. Nicholas discusses the transformations in reading habits a nd thinking habits about effects of the internet (Carr 2008). Although the internet has changed human thought process, I disapprove the point that the internet makes people stupid. Besides, the internet makes us think and act smarter rather than become stupid. With the global growth of new information, the internet makes us smart rather than stupid. Apparently, the reading habits have changed hence altering information processing (Lajoie Derry 2013, p.91). To sum it up, the society is changing, and it is imperative to keep up with the technological trends hence the broad reading is not necessary to the extensive growth of new information regularly. Ultimately, the society is changing hence people's interest are changing, it is therefore expected that old habits of life will fade away with technological advancement. Will Business Intelligence Replace Business Analysts? Robots will partially replace the human efforts in most businesses in a few years to come. The recent research shows that robots are now designed to solve problems in organizations. Business analysts will always be required for the triumph of the business intelligence (Wixom, Yen Relich 2013, p.10). This will be disadvantageous to the firms because the BI systems are not able to interact with the customers as the business analysts did. The understanding of customers needs is crucial for the decision making and the success of the business as a whole. On the other hand, business intelligence systems can do business calculations faster and accurate than the analysts. The emerging business intelligence has made the business organization more effective, nimble and responsive (Sharda et al. 2014). Is Security a Technical Issue, a Business Issue or Both? Gone are the days when security was only a technical issue. Its both a technical and security issue. Information security is a technical issue in business. The safety of any information in a computer can be compromised if the links are leaked since a mobile device can be accessed by hackers. On the other hand, security can be a business issue when an employee spends time on his or her personal or inappropriate things; it affects the business performance. There will be a breach in the business security to identify and solve the business problem. Security is more of business than a technical problem because the technology only needs to be maintained and advanced unlike the fact that all business plans should focus on its security (Peltier 2016, p.14). How an Organization Can Employ Social Computing Technologies and Applications to Benefit its Business Processes For a business to the full succeed in using the social tools and techniques, it must understand its goals and objectives. The execution plan should slot in with both the domestic and peripheral stakeholders. Organizations can begin small by initiating a Twitter or Facebook account, or they can take an enterprise-wide loom, such as developing a social plan and supporting it with an enterprise-wide employee association application or a social policy to better unite customers with brands (Ngai et al. 2015, p. 792). It is crucial for corporations to take advantage of the global trends about social computing technologies. With the growth of online customers, business should utilize social media tools such as Tumblr, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, WordPress, Instagram and Snapchat for customer relation and marketing purposes. Cybersquatting Cybersquatting is registering, using or selling a domain name with the intention of self-gains from the goodwill a registered trademark. A squatter can register a domain and sell it companies expensively. For instance, a non-profit organization website may be registered by another individual with an aim of selling it back to the rightful owner at a hefty profit. This case of cybersquatting is liege as provided by the Anti-cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA), that gives domain owners authority to sue any alleged cyber squatter in a federal court as far as the domain owner provides legit lea claims to prove cybersquatting allegations. Under the set laws in effect, it is unethical to obtain a website domain with a bad-faith intent to get unwarranted profits from the original trademark owner (Jain 2015, p. 100). Another form of cybersquatting is whereby individuals register domains identical or confusingly similar to the original trademark. For instance, a cyber-squatter may register a company under the domain name samsvng.com to sell services and products similar to Samsung. This case, may attract buyers who are not aware of the misspelling errors and thus it is unethical that the cyber squatter will earn profits from the domain name. Under a federal court, the trademark owner, -Samsung, may sue the cyber squatter for registering a confusing similar website and earning profits from it. However, it may be ethical if a person registers a domain name similar to Samsung but for a different industry such as Samsung Tours. With the global trend of registering webpages with country specific suffixes, it is ethically illegal to take advantage of popular domain names to promote other businesses or to taint the companys image. For instance, suing the popularity of amazon.com to promote other business es or to upload immoral content (Janisand Dinwoodie 2014, p. 56). Role of the Web in Human Resource Management Human resource is a combination of different values, skills, knowledge behaviors and capabilities within an employee. The web is mostly used in recruitment, developing the human resource and management. Recruiting potential human resource using the web is cost-effective compared to the traditional ways of recruitments by use of newspapers, trade journals, and billboards. The web can easily reach out to a lot of candidates and at the same time advertise a lot of jobs. The companies can evaluate the potential candidates and decide on whom to hire using special search engines on the web. The recruited employees are evaluated, maintained and developed. All this is provided through information technology through the web. The web plays an important role in developing new ways of carrying businesses so as to remain marketable and ensure the employees remain knowledgeable. Information technology keeps track of payrolls and employees records. This is mostly done using the e-HRM (Electronic Hu man Resource Management) (Sparrow, Brewster Chung 2016). Difference Between Customer-Facing CRM and Customer-Touching CRM Applications Consumer facing refers to how a consumer views or sees a business service in an enterprise. The principal role of consumer relationship management (CRM) is to provide satisfaction to the customers. The operational CRM consist of direct interaction with the customers. The customer-facing CRM involves literal interaction between the customers and the organizations representatives. For example, when acquiring customers service and reports or while marketing. On the other hand, the customer-touching CRM application occurs when the customers interact with the employees indirectly using the systems (Choudhury Harrigan 2014, p.157). For example while searching for technical information about the organization or asking the frequently asked questions. References Alvarez, J.L. ed., 2016.The diffusion and consumption of business knowledge. Springer. Bratianu, C., 2016. Knowledge dynamics.Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy,4(3), p.323. Carr, N. (2008).Is Google Making Us Stupid?. [online] The Atlantic. Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/ Carter, R., 2014.Students' guide to information technology. Elsevier. Choudhury, M.M. and Harrigan, P., 2014. CRM to social CRM: the integration of new technologies into customer relationship management.Journal of Strategic Marketing,22(2), pp.149-176. Jain, S., 2015. Cyber Squatting: Concept, Types and Legal Regimes in India USA. Janis, M.D. and Dinwoodie, G.B., 2014.Trademarks and Unfair Competition: Law and Policy. Wolters Kluwer Law Business. Lajoie, S.P. and Derry, S.J. eds., 2013.Computers as cognitive tools. Routledge. Ngai, E.W., Moon, K.L.K., Lam, S.S., Chin, E.S. and Tao, S.S., 2015. Social media models, technologies, and applications: an academic review and case study.Industrial Management Data Systems,115(5), pp.769-802. Orlikowski, W.J., Walsham, G., Jones, M.R. and DeGross, J. eds., 2016.Information technology and changes in organizational work. Springer. Peltier, T.R., 2016.Information Security Policies, Procedures, and Standards: guidelines for effective information security management. CRC Press. Porter, M.E., 2008. The five competitive forces that shape strategy.Harvard business review,86(1), pp.25-40. Sharda, R., Delen, D., Turban, E., Aronson, J. and Liang, T.P., 2014.Businesss Intelligence and Analytics: Systems for Decision Support-(Required). Prentice Hall. Sparrow, P., Brewster, C. and Chung, C., 2016.Globalizing human resource management. Routledge. Willcocks, L., 2013.Information management: the evaluation of information systems investments. Springer. Wixom, B.H., Yen, B. and Relich, M., 2013. Maximizing Value from Business Analytics.MIS Quarterly Executive,12(2).

Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying

Introduction Consumer involvement refers to that â€Å"state of mind that motivates a consumer to identify with a product or service offerings, their consumption patterns and consumption behavior†.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Involvement enables consumers to develop the urge to search for or think about the available product categories before selecting a preferred brand and purchasing a product. Involvement reflects the amount of effort (physical and mental) that a person invests in the process of making a purchase decision. Involvement creates a level of relevance to the product or service offering and this, prompts the consumer to collect and interpret relevant information about the product before making a purchase decision (Schiffman and Hansen, 2011, p. 89).Thus, it influences the consumer’s decision making process , as well as, the process of searching, processing and transmitting information. Involvement varies across persons, situations, product offerings and time. The strength and intensity of involvement determines the consumer’s level of involvement. Thus, involvement can be high or low (East, Wright and Vanhucle, 2008, p. 132). Involvement can also be short-term and situational or long-term and enduring. Additionally, involvement is often directed at the elements of marketing mix. This paper focuses on purchase involvement and the process of consumer decision making. Purchase Involvement Purchase involvement refers to the â€Å"level of concern for or interest in the purchase process, once the purchase process has been triggered by the need to consider a particular purchase† (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 67). Purchase involvement is a temporary state that is typical of a consumer, and exists in a process. Purchase involvement is influenced by current external v ariables which include the product, situation, and communication. It is also influenced by past external factors such as enduring, ego, as well as, central values. Thus, purchase involvement reflects the time, thought, as well as, the energy that consumers dedicate to the process of purchasing a given product.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Difference between Purchase Involvement and Product Involvement Purchase involvement differs from product involvement in the following ways. First, purchase involvement refers to the consumer’s interest in the buying or purchase process (Kim and Sung, 2009, pp. 504-519). This interest is initiated by the need to purchase a product. Product involvement, on the other hand, refers to a consumer’s or a person’s interest in purchasing a given product and the consumer’s commitment to purchase a particular brand (Que ster and Lim, 2008, pp. 22-38). Thus, purchase involvement focuses on the interest in the purchase process, whereas product involvement focuses on the interest in a particular product or brand. In the context of product involvement, the arousal, interest, as well as, emotional attachment is evoked by the product, whereas in purchase involvement, these attachments are evoked by the need to purchase the product. Second, purchase involvement is situational, whereas product involvement is enduring. Situational involvement occurs when the consumer attaches relevance to a product in the short-term. Thus, it is temporary in nature. Purchasing a computer as a gift to a student on his birthday is an example of situational involvement. In this case, the involvement disappears as soon as the purchase is completed. Enduring involvement, on the other hand, occurs when the relevance attached to a particular product last for a long period. A high school student planning to purchase a computer to u se in collage three years from now is an example of enduring involvement. In this case, the student has three years to get involved with the product offering and plan for the purchase. Finally, consumers can have a high purchase involvement in a product without necessarily having a high product involvement. For example, a person purchasing a dish washing machine may have a high purchase involvement due to the high cost of the product. However, he may have a low product involvement due to band loyalty.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Factors Influencing Purchase Involvement The factors influencing purchase involvement includes the following. First, the consumer and his personal characteristics such as interests, lifestyle, attitude and motives/ needs determine the level of purchase involvement (Bezenco and Blili, 2011, pp. 682-708). A p rudent consumer will always explore and evaluate the available alternatives before deciding on what to buy. A shrewd consumer tends to search for more information in adverts, and sale offers. Additionally, they are willing to spend more time in shopping in order to obtain the product with the lowest price. A consumer who is price conscious gives priority to price when making a purchase decision (Harari and Hornik, 2010, pp. 499-506). The consumer’s cognitive ability determines the extent to which he or she can process, as well as, draw conclusions before purchasing a product. These characteristics lead to high purchase involvement. In general, products associated with the consumer’s image and personality normally leads to high purchase involvement. Consumers associated with high levels of apathy and hassle-free attitudes tend to be less concerned with the shopping process. Thus, their levels of purchase involvement tend to be low. Second, purchase involvement is determ ined by the product or service to be purchased. The features or benefits associated with the product will influence the level of purchase involvement (Harari and Hornik, 2010, pp. 499-506). Thus, a consumer who is concerned about quality will be willing to spend more time comparing brands with varying benefits and features. Additionally, purchase involvement can be low if the consumer is loyal to a particular brand. The amount of risk associated with the consumption or purchase of the product will also determine the level of purchase involvement. The level of involvement will be high if the product is associated with high risk levels (Radder and Huang, 2008, pp. 232-243).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Third, purchase involvement is determined by the situation under which the act of purchasing a product is undertaken (Ozdipciner, Li and Muzaffer, 2012, pp. 34-43). For example, a person purchasing a gift for a loved one will tend to be highly involved in the purchase process in order to obtain the best product or brand. Social pressures such as shopping in the presence of friends also influence the level of purchase involvement. Socially, individuals tend to be more conscious of the products or brands they buy in the presence of their friends as compared to when they are alone. The amount of time devoted to the purchase process also has a bearing on the level of purchase involvement (Benerjee, Koshy and Shobha, 2007, pp. 746-763). In this case, the available time determines the consumer’s ability to collect and process or interpret the information about the product to be purchased. The level of purchase involvement will be low if the time to be spent in shopping is little an d vice versa. Consumer Decision Making Consumer purchasing decisions â€Å"fall along a continuum of three categories namely, habitual decisions-making, limited decision making and extended decision making† (Neal and Quester, 2007, p. 56). This continuum is anchored by habitual response behavior on one end and extended decision making process on the other extreme. The categories of decision making are influenced by, the level of involvement, available time, information, and the availability of alternatives. The difference between the three decision making categories can be explained as follows. Habitual Decision Making In habitual decision making, the consumers do not make any decisions regarding the purchase of a product (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 67). In this case, the consumers simply purchase a given product whenever there is a need to consume that particular product. The consumers normally depend on their long-term memory to identify the preferred band (Ch ang and Ling, 2003, pp. 94-107). Thus, no effort is devoted to the process of searching for information about the product. In habitual decision making, post-purchase evaluations are rarely done. In most cases, the consumers evaluate the product or brand only when it fails to function as expected. Habitual decisions are often made when the level of purchase involvement is very low. Additionally, the option of not purchasing the product is hardly considered by the consumer. For example, a person whose body lotion has run out may purchase the same brand. In this case, the decision is habitual since, the consumer is loyal to a particular band which she purchases without much thought or consideration of all available alternatives. Habitual consumer decision making can be classified into two categories namely, â€Å"brand loyalty and repeat purchase decisions† (Parsons and Maclaran, 2008, p. 88) Repeat purchase decisions occur when the consumer buys a particular brand repeatedly wi thout being committed to that particular brand. Repeat purchase can be made as a result of apathy. Apathy is a situation in which the consumer is indifferent towards the available brands (Grebila, Colson and Menapare, 2011, pp. 112-115). Consequently, the consumer can settle for any brand that is readily available. For example, a student can be indifferent towards the brands of pens available at a local store. Thus, the student will buy the pen she or he finds in the store. Repeat purchase decisions can also be made due to non-availability of alternative brands. For example, a student can continually purchase locally made pens if the government restrict importation of pens. In the context of brand loyalty, the consumer is usually committed to a particular brand. This usually occurs when the consumer is emotionally attached to a product due to the actual and perceived superior qualities of the product (Gunjan and Amitava, 2011, pp. 430-432). Due to the high level of loyalty, the cons umer will always prefer a particular brand over the rest in the market. For instance, a consumer can consistently purchase a particular brand of soft drink until a better brand is launched in the market. Limited Consumer Decision Making Limited consumer decision-making occurs or exists between the habitual and the extended decision making categories (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 69). The difference between limited and habitual decision making is that the former involves a limited search for information prior to making the purchase decision. For example, a consumer who is interested in purchasing coffee may spare some time to compare the prices of various coffee brands. The consumer may also be interested in trying a new coffee brand. Hence, he or she will have to seek information on the quality and prices of the available coffee brands. Limited decision making is likely to occur if the consumer has past experience with the product. For instance, a consumer interested in trying a new toothpaste brand may allocate limited time to compare available brands. Limited decision making can also occur if the risk associated with the product or making the wrong choice is moderate. In this case, failing to search for some basic information about the product may be costly to the customer (Broderick, Graley, and Dentiste, 2007, pp. 678-681). However, the consumer may not devote a lot of time and resources in searching for product information since the risk associated with the product is moderate. Lack of knowledge about the available brands can also lead to limited decision making. With limited decision-making, consumers tend to depend on personal information rather than external sources of information. Limited decision making is also associated with low levels of purchase involvement. This is because the consumers devote limited time and effort to searching information or comparing available alternatives. Additionally, the post-purchase evaluations are hardly d one. Extended Decision Making This is the most complex purchase decision making process. Extended consumer decision making occurs when the consumer intends to buy a new product. In this case, lack of knowledge about the product will prompt the consumer to consider external sources of information (Torres-Moraga, Vasquez-Parraga and Zamora-Gonzalez, 2008, pp. 302-313). Extended decision making also occurs when the product is very expensive or the product is one that is seldom bought. For example, the purchase of a house involves extended decision making. The person intending to purchase the house must extensively search for information about the house, the financing options and the quality of the environment in which the house is located. Since a house is a very expensive product, purchasing it involves a high risk. This is because the consumer is likely to lose a large potion of his or her investments if the wrong choice is made. In order to avoid these risks, the consumer must engag e in extensive information search, as well as, evaluation of available options (Dobbelstein and Zielke, 2007, pp. 112-121). The evaluation normally involves reviewing the attributes of each brand at a time. The attributes of each brand are then matched to the desired characteristics or expectations of the consumer. The consumer will depend mainly on external sources of information to make the right decision, especially, if the consumer has no past experience with the product. The internal search or the consumer’s memory is also considered an important source of information in extended decision making. Other products that involve extended decision making include cars, and plasma TVs. Extended decision making involves high level of purchase involvement. The extended decision making differs from limited and habitual decision making in the following ways. First, limited and habitual decision making are characterized with low risk products and low purchase involvement. The extende d decision making on the other hand is characterized with high risk products and high purchase involvement. Second, limited and habitual decision-making involve little or no information search. The acquired information is often processed passively, and the consumer is likely to make in-store decisions. Extended decision making, on the other hand, involves extensive search for information about the product’s quality, price, promotions and discounts. In extended decision making, information is often processed actively. Additionally, the consumer usually consults multiple sources before settling on a preferred brand or product. Finally, habitual and limited decision making involves limited shopping time. The shopping process is normally self-service in nature with little or no help required from the store attendants. Additionally, the choice of products or brands is often influenced by the store or shop displays (Delgado-Ballester and Munuera-Allemon, 2001, pp. 1238-1258). The e xtended decision making, on the other hand, involves visiting several outlets in order to find the best shopping deal. Communication or assistance from the store personnel is normally required to help the consumer to make the right choice. Conclusion Consumer involvement is a high state of awareness that stimulates a person to search for, attend to, as well as, think about a product’s information before purchasing the product. It reflects the interest, as well as, the importance that a person attaches to the process of acquiring and consuming a given product. In this context, involvement can be conceptualized in terms of product and purchase involvement. Product involvement refers to the interest a person has in purchasing a product and the person’s commitment to a particular brand. Purchase involvement, on the other hand, refers to the consumer’s interest in the purchase process. The level of involvement influences the purchase decision making process. Consumer decision making can be classified into three categories namely, habitual, limited and extended decision making. Habitual decision making does not involve any decision. In limited decision making, the consumer searches for limited information before making any decision (Quester, Pettigrew and Hawkins, 2011, p. 69). Habitual and limited decision making are associated with low purchase involvement. Extended decision making, however, involves extensive search for information and high purchase involvement. References Benerjee, B., Koshy, A., and Shobha, G., 2007. Brand Specific Association and Consumer Involvement in the Evaluation of Brand Extension. Journal of International Business Studies, 28(5), pp. 746-763. Bezenco, V., and Blili, S., 2011. Segmenting the Market Through the Determinants of Involvement: the Case of Fair Trade. Psychology and Marketing, 28(7), pp. 682-708. Broderick, A., Graley, L., and Dentiste, R., 2007. The Behavioral Homogeneity Evaluation Framework: Multi-Level Evaluation of Consumer Involvement in International Segementation. Journal of International Business Studies, 38(5), pp. 678-681. Chang, L., and Ling, Y., 2003. Determinants of Habitual Behavior for National and Leading Brands in China. Journal of Product and Brand Management, 12(2), pp. 94-107. Delgado-Ballester, E., and Munuera-Allemon, J., 2001. Brand Trust in the Context of Consumer Loyalty. European Journal of Marketing, 35(1), pp. 1238-1258. Dholakia, U., 2001. A Motivational Porcess Model Product Involevement and Consumer Risk Perception. European Journal of Marketing, 35(11), pp.1340-1362. Dobbelstein, T., and Zielke, S., 2007. Consumers’ Willingness to Purchase New Store Brands. Journal of Porduct and Brand Management, 16(2), pp. 112-121. East, R., Wright, M., and Vanhucle, M., 2008. Consumer Behavior: Appliocations in Marketing. New York: Routledge. Foxall, G., 2002. Consumer Behavior Analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill. Grebila, C., Colson, G., and Menapare, L., 2011. Analyzing Pork Purchase at the Point of Sale: the Role of Consumer Involvement. Advances in Management, 3(2), pp. 112-115. Gunjan, M., and Amitava, M., 2011. Consumer Behavior Towards Mobile Phone Services Provider. Advances in Management, 4(6), pp. 430-432. Harari, T., and Hornik, J., 2010. Factros Influencing Product Involvement among Young Consumers. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 27(6), pp. 499-506. Hawkins, D., 2010. Consumer Behavior. New York: McGraw-Hill. Hoyer, W., 1984. An Examination of Consumer Decision Making for a Common Repeat Purchase Product. Journal of Consumer Research, 11(3), pp. 822-829. Kim, J., and Sung, Y., 2009. Dimensions of Purchase Decision Involvement:Affective and Cognitive Involvement in Product and Brand. Journla of Brand Management, 16(1), pp. 504-519. Laaksonen, P., 2004. Consumer Involvement. New York: Routledge. Mittal, B., 1989. Meaeuring Purchase-Decision Involevement. Psychology and Marketing, 6(2), pp. 147-162. Neal, C., and Quester, P., 2007 . Consumer Behavior. New York: Cengage Learning. Ozdipciner, N., Li, X., and Muzaffer, U., 2012. Cross-Cultural Differences in Purchase-Decision Making Criteria. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Reserach, 6(1), pp. 34-43. Parsons, E., and Maclaran, P., 2008. Contemporary Issues in Marketing and Consumer Behavior. New York: Cengage learning. Quester, P., and Lim, L., 2008. Product Involvement/ Brand Loyalty: Is there a Link. Journal fo Product and Brand Mangement, 12(1), pp. 22-38. Quester, P., Pettigrew, S., and Hawkins, D., 2011. Consumer Behavior: Implications for Marketing Startegy. New York: MaGraw-Hill. Radder, L., and Huang, W., 2008. High Involvement and Low Involvement Products: A Comperision of Brand Awareness among Students in a South Afriocan University. Journal of Fashion and Marketing Management, 12(2), pp. 232-243. Schiffman, L., and Hansen, H., 2011. Consumer Behavior: A European Outlook. London: John Wiley and Sons. Torres-Moraga, E., Vasquez -Parraga, A., and Zamora-Gonzalez, J., 2008. Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty Starts with the Product Culminates with the Brand. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 25(5), pp. 302-313. This essay on Purchase and Product Involvement when Buying was written and submitted by user Kamden Sullivan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Lockheed Martin Corporation Essay Essay Example

Lockheed Martin Corporation Essay Essay Example Lockheed Martin Corporation Essay Essay Lockheed Martin Corporation Essay Essay Lockheed Martin is an American aerospace multinational that besides specializes in defence. security and advanced engineering industries. The corporation was instituted in 1995 following the amalgamation between Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta ( Yenne. 2000 ) . The corporation is based in Bethesda in Maryland with planetary centres that specialize in different facets of the corporation’s many operations. Presently. the corporation employs over 120. 000 employees scattered across the universe. Soon. Lockheed is one of the largest defence contractors in the universe and enjoys about limitless orders across the universe. The operations of the corporation are divided into different sections consisting electronic systems ( 27 % ) . astronauticss ( 27 % ) . information systems and planetary solutions ( 27 % ) and infinite systems ( 19 % ) . Today. US authorities contracts account for much of the corporation’s gross while foreign authorities contracts besides make up a significant portion of the gross. On the other manus. orders from commercial clients merely make up a mere 2 % of the entire gross the corporation cyberspaces in a twelvemonth. In 1996. the corporation finalized the programs to get Lorad Corporation which later became portion of the corporation at a cost of $ 9. 1 billion. Like any other planetary corporation prosecuting 1000s of employees across the universe. Lockheed is surely faced with a myriad of challenges that usually define concern operations in the present universe. One of the greatest challenges confronting the corporation is the demand to turn to employee concerns and efficaciously undertake the facets of employee and industrial dealingss without many jobs like is ever the instance. On certain cases the corporation has had to confront the challenge of striking workers and travel slow as employees complained about assorted facets associating to their operations in the organisation ( Terris. 2010 ) . In that respect. the facet of covering with these employee concerns has been one of the greatest employee challenges impacting the organisation. Like most workers in the industry. most of Lockheed’s workers are unionized under the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers and are ever portion and package of the activities steered by the association. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is a worker organisation. which draws its beginning in 1888 when a group of 19 mechanics came together and formed the Order of the United Machinists and Mechanical Engineers. With clip. the little organisation grew in rank and adopted the present name. The organisation has had a disruptive history characterized by the growing of labour motions in the 20th century. The growing of the brotherhood went in tandem with the development of the conveyance industry throughout the old ages as more and more workers became employed in the industry. During its formation. the organisation was by and large a secret matter given that employers of the clip were really critical and hostile toward organized labour motions. However. the Order quickly spread beyond its formation zone of Georgia and was shortly a recognized matter in the United States. Much of the growing in the rank of the brotherhood was largely evidenced during the World Wars when workers in the conveyance industry increased owing to the increased demand of vehicles and aeroplanes ( Cimini. 1994 ) . In the class of the seventiess. the brotherhood was segmented into several divisions covering with specific issues impacting the members. These included civil rights. forming. older workers and retired workers and adult females. At a convection held in 1984 in Seattle. Washington. the delegates voted and decided to utilize the Placid Harbor Education Center in order to develop and educate the members of the brotherhood. In 1998. the centre was renamed to the Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in order to acknowledge and honour the late president of the brotherhood. Throughout history. the brotherhood has ever addressed the issues impacting the workers and negotiated with the relevant employers on specific facets associating to the public assistance of the employees Contract Management. 2010 ) . Over 3000 workers of Lockheed Corporation are unionized under the IAM and are ever in path with the labour brotherhood. The brotherhood has ever negotiated in several cases sing the public assistance of the workers of Lockheed. In 2009. IAM came under much dialogue with the direction of Lockheed at Fort Worth where the corporation manufactures jets. The issues at drama in that instance were healthcare costs and pensions where the workers were over 3. 900 people in entire resistance with the direction of the corporation. At an reference to the workers on 19th April. 2009. IAM President promised the workers that the brotherhood would keenly negotiate for a just and merely contract between the members and the direction of Lockheed ( Julian A ; Denver. 2011 ) . The nucleus of the affair in this respect emerged out of the determination by Lockheed’s direction to denote that it would extinguish pension plans for new hires and would besides increase health care costs for all the workers at the corporation’s Fort Worth works. The IAM Negotiating Committee promised that it would efficaciously turn to the issue with the parties and warned Lockheed against its incorrect moves. There were besides allegations that the company was be aftering to present really expensive health care programs if the workers rejected the thought of riddance of the so present health care program ( Sears. 2006 ) . In the class of the dialogue. the brotherhood thwarted the attempts by the company to maintain the proceedings off from the workers. They sporadically informed the workers on whatever was transpirating between them and the direction. Much of this attempt was complemented when the brotherhood created a web site from where information associating to the predating negotiations was posted and the workers could easy follow. The brotherhood organized a series of commissions to manage the assorted logistics of the work stoppage and to maintain the employees every bit good as the populace good informed of the proceedings. Several commissions came into formation. including the work stoppage commission. communicating. community service. movie crew and kitchen ( 2010 ) . These commissions were fundamentally helping the brotherhood functionaries in turn toing the challenge of the negotiations given that the populace and the authorities had really particular involvement in the whole state of affairs. In the class of the dialogues. the brotherhood functionaries presented the direction of the corporation with an economic counter proposal. The direction was supposed to travel over the proposal and respond to the assorted inquiries that were thereby addressed. After traveling through the contents of the proposal. the functionaries of the organisation invited the brotherhood functionaries to the bargaining tabular array. In their statements. the direction enunciated that their program to cut off the pension for the new hires was merely appropriate and was fundamentally a procedure of turn toing the challenges the organisation was confronting at that clip. In the procedure. it appeared that the direction of the corporation was really inexorable and did non desire to yield land on the bargaining tabular array. While the direction claimed that they really paid their workers good and they could therefore afford the new proposal it was seting frontward. the brotherhood members wholly rejected the impression as giving through one manus and pickings by the other which was fundamentally unethical in concern pattern. As portion of the initial dialogues. the direction of Lockheed confirmed that it had given the brotherhood the option of accepting a 3 per centum pay rise addition for the contract workers who were confronting the challenge of the health care program ( Boyne. 2010 ) . Furthermore. extra subscribing fillip of $ 3. 000 was besides offered per worker as portion of the trade. This was to be supplemented by $ 800 to cover the one-year addition in the cost of life in the United States. Harmonizing to the direction. this was fundamentally to be a eventuality program in order to turn to the cardinal issue at manus and enable the workers to return to their work. In the same procedure. Lockheed was confronting similar force per unit area from Pentagon and was earnestly in a hole to accept the proposals of the brotherhood. It was. nevertheless. a blow for the company when the brotherhood functionaries wholly rejected the eventuality programs on the history that they had neer been successful in the yesteryear and that the company had ever non honored such duties ( Anderson. 2009 ) . In revenge. Lockheed created the position that it could efficaciously go on its operations without much respect to the nonionized workers who were seeking a alteration of the health care programs. The corporation announced that the mployed workers would efficaciously replace the nonionized workers in the class of the operations ( ( IAMAW. 2012 ) . For a piece. amid the dialogue negotiations. it appeared that the work stoppage was really an ageless matter given that most operations in the corporation had began restarting despite the dramatic nonionized members. It was surely a blow and a great challenge to the dialogue procedure and it created the demand for farther negotiations and steps to turn to the state of affairs. The emerging state of affairs presented the brotherhood functionaries with a batch of challenges and they opted to seek for alternate steps of operations while go oning with the dialogue procedure. Corporate bargaining was efficaciously used in the dialogue between the brotherhood functionaries and the direction of the corporation. For a piece. it appeared that much of the attempts of the brotherhood and the workers would non tire any fruit given the adamance of the direction in seeking to revoke the initial programs. However. visible radiation was seen at the terminal of the tunnel when eventually the direction of Lockheed agreed to give their presentation sing a new pension program that they had opted to follow alternatively of their earlier proposal. However. the brotherhood was really acute on accepting the proposal and several more dialogues were farther made before an amicable solution was reached. In any instance. corporate bargaining had been the most applicable scheme in the dialogue procedure and it surely appeared that most of the challenges of the workers at that clip had been resolved at least for a piece. The unit that was involved in the corporate bargaining procedure was drawn from the members of the brotherhood and besides had representation from the nonionized members. The commissions that were established had really been drawn from the corporation’s workers. The dialogue procedure fundamentally consisted of the brotherhood functionaries and the direction of Lockheed who were largely represented by the top functionaries at the corporation. The corporation being the largest defence contractor in the United States and beyond meant that the authorities has a batch of involvement in its operations. Pentagon. therefore. played a great function in the dialogue procedure by its advice on the direction to earnestly see the specific facets that were under consideration in order to avoid any break of the production procedure. At the terminal. it was realized that the basic issues of wellness attention and pension programs that had really affected the workers were resolved rather amicably and the whole episode ended efficaciously. The direction of Lockheed is surely faced with a myriad of challenges. which usually affect the operational procedure. In any instance. the corporation has ever continued to turn to the issues impacting the employees in the most effectual mode that reciprocally benefits all the parties in the negotiating tabular array. ( Rubenstein. 2007 ) In decision. it has to be stressed that the facets of employee dealingss is a cardinal issue that affect big and little corporations likewise. The most of import concern is. nevertheless. the demand to supply effectual working environment and turn to the challenges confronting the employees in the most effectual manner possible. The function of the labour brotherhoods in this respect can non be overemphasized given their imperative function in stand foring the demands of the workers. In the corporate bargaining procedure as a manner of seeking to get at amicable solution with respect to the issues impacting the organisation. it is realized that common apprehension on each portion of the deal squad is surely an of import consideration in the procedure. Whichever the instance. dialogues can ever assist turn to the issues so long as the parties approach such dialogues with the earnestness they surely deserve.

African-American Vernacular English (AAVE)

African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) is a  variety of American English spoken by many African Americans. It has been called by many other names that are sometimes offensive, including African American English, black English, black English vernacular, ebonics, negro dialect, nonstandard negro English, black talk, blaccent, or blackcent. AAVE originated in the slave plantations of the American South, and it shares a number of phonological and grammatical features with Southern dialects of American English. Many African Americans are bi-dialectal in AAVE and Standard American English. Several concepts are related to this complex topic, including: African-American RhetoricBe  DeletionCode SwitchingDialect PrejudiceDiglossiaDouble CopulaDozensDummy  ItEthnic DialectInvariant  BeMetathesisNegative ConcordSerial VerbsSignifyingSubject-Auxiliary Inversion (SAI)West African Pidgin EnglishZero Copula and Zero Possessive Examples and Observations In line with evolving trends within the larger community, linguists use African American English instead of Black English (or even older terms like Non-Standard Negro English) for the English of African Americans, a continuum of varieties ranging from the most mainstream or standard speech (like Bryant Gumbels, virtually indistinguishable from the formal speech of white and other Americans), to the most vernacular or non-mainstream variety. It was to focus on this latter variety that Labov (1972) first started referring to it as Black English vernacular. African American Vernacular English is simply the most recent variety of that term, the one most widely used among linguists...The term Ebonics, which was first coined in 1973 by a group of Black scholars...from ebony (black) and phonics (sound, the study of sound) (R. Williams, 1975)...is regarded by many if not most linguists as very similar if not identical to AAVE in terms of the features and varieties it designates. (Rickford, African American Vernacular English) [C]ontributing to the evolution of American English was the migration of blacks from the South after the Civil War to urban areas of the north. They took their Southern speech patterns with them, including all of the linguistic forms that had been incorporated into the grammatical structure of speech among slaves. Unlike most white immigrants to urban centers, who eventually adopted local dialects, blacks generally remained isolated in impoverished ghettos and as a result, retained their dialect. This physical isolation contributed to linguistic isolation and the maintenance of African American vernacular English (AAVE). The retention of unique linguistic forms, racism, and educational apartheid have since led to numerous misconceptions of this dialect. (Baugh, Out of the Mouths of Slaves: African American Language and Educational Malpractice) The Two Components of AAVE It is proposed that AAVE consists of two distinct components: the General English [GE] component, which is similar to the grammar of OAD [Other American Dialects], and the African-American [AA] component. These two components are not tightly integrated with each other, but follow internal patterns of strict co-occurrence...The AA component is not a complete grammar, but a subset of grammatical and lexical forms that are used in combination with much but not all of the grammatical inventory of GE. (Labov, Coexistent Systems in African-American English) Origin of AAVE On one level, the origin of African American English in the USA will always be a matter of speculation. Written records are sporadic and incomplete, and open to interpretation; demographic information about language use is also selective and largely anecdotal. Furthermore, great variation was exhibited in the speech of Africans when they were first brought to the New World and to colonial America, as indicated in references to black speech in slave advertisements and court records (Brasch, 1981). It is also indisputable that English-lexifier Creole languages developed and continue to flourish in the African diaspora - from coastal West Africa to coastal North America - and that the middle passage for some Africans brought to colonial America included exposure to these creoles (Kay and Cary, 1995; Rickford, 1997, 1999; Winford, 1997). Beyond these acknowledgments, however, the origin and status of early African American speech has been and continues to be vigorously disputed. (Wolfram, The Development of African American English) Sources Baugh, John.  Out of the Mouths of Slaves: African American Language and Educational Malpractice. University of Texas, 1999.Labov, William. â€Å"Coexistent Systems in African-American English.†Ã‚  The Structure of African-American English, edited by Salikoko S. Mufwene, et al., Routledge, 1998, pp. 110–153.Rickford, John Russell.  African American Vernacular English: Features, Evolution, Educational Implications. Blackwell, 2011.Wolfram, Walt, and Erik R. Thomas.  The Development of African American English. 1st ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2002.

Case Company Report-Sony Inc Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Company Report-Sony Inc - Case Study Example Sony, a Japanese multinational conglomerate, was invented in the year 1946. It was formed by Masaru Ibuka who had a radio repair shop in Tokyo and his colleague Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo. In 1955 they produced the first commercial transistor in Japan known as Sony MK-55. Sony was not the first but its transistor was most the most successful in that decade. Sony had the most vital contribution towards making Japan the most powerful exporter in 1960s- 1980s. The company expanded into various areas such as games (Sony computer entertainment), motion pictures (Sony pictures entertainment), holdings and electronics (Sony Corporation), financial services (Sony Financial Holdings), music (Sony music entertainment). The co-founder of Sony was Akio Morita founded in 1960 Sony Corporation in America. Its major part of expansion was convergence that is linking of music, film, and digital electronics via Internet. The Sony Corporation has been accelerating initiatives in the electronic business which generates stable profits for the entire Sony group. The company aims at updating strategies in three core businesses such as games, mobiles and imaging. It has the business strategy of executing growth strategies in the emerging markets. The company engages into aggressive capital investment, explores new technology, and creates value added products (Gershon, 2000). The business model can be further more specifically divided into various parts as state in the diagram below- The company focuses on delivering high quality products to its customers. They continuously measure their performance in forms of different quality standards, review, and even focusing on customer feedback. They have specific quality management organizations in each of its SBUs. It has got service reviews, design reviews, verification system reviews to constantly measure their performance and focus on further improvement. It has even

How do unemployment, under-employment and discouraged workers affect Research Paper

How do unemployment, under-employment and discouraged workers affect GDP in an economy - Research Paper Example The second one that is known as underemployment occurs when workers underutilize their skills in their current employment, and the last one takes place when individuals stop finding jobs because they are discouraged with their fruitless effort of finding one (Thompson 78). All these forms of unemployment lower the Gross Domestic of a country. This paper will analyze how unemployment, discouragement, and underemployment lower GDP. First of all, when individuals finish school, they start seeking employment in the labor market. Some become lucky and get jobs while others remain on the search. The state refers to those who fail to get employed at the existing wage rates as the unemployed. These individuals continue depending on their parents for funds that help them to survive and continue with the job search. The unemployed may also depend on their friends who were lucky to get jobs after school. This further increases the dependency ratio in the economy. This means that the individuals, who support the unemployed by giving them funds, reduce the amount of income that they save and invest (Thompson 81). They instead increase the amount of money that they set apart for consumption. The reduction in savings means that these individuals earn less interest than they used to earn before. The reduction in interest rate then means that they earn less income from investment activities and this reduces the overall incom e of a country. The effect of this unemployment is based on Okun’s law that states that a 1% increase in the rate of unemployment leads to a 2% decrease in the GDP (Boyes and Michael 226). The other form of unemployment takes place when workers discontinue their job search because of hopelessness. These individuals lose hope based on the belief that they will never secure a job in the labor market at the existing wage rates. The loss of hope makes these individuals to either continue depending on their relatives and friends or engage in

Price Elasticity to Identify a Brands Competitors Essay Example for Free

Price Elasticity to Identify a Brands Competitors Essay Firms today are in their perspective industries to maximize consumer satisfaction, increase revenue, and shareholders profits. These tasks require attention to detail when pricing their products. There are always competitors lurking and waiting by the wayside to gain market share and a competitive advantage. When identifying brands competitors, price elasticity is a major determinant. Demand for a product or service constitutes what the company’s price will be and whether the price will be higher or lower than the competitor’s price. In terms of the elasticity, price increases may decrease demand and price decreases may increase demand. However, according to Kotler, The introduction or change of any price may initiate a response (favorable or unfavorable) from customers and competitors† (Kotler, P. and Keller, K., 2012) Ultimately, the concept of price elasticity can identify a brand’s competitors along with marketing research to identify consumer needs, wants, and desires, as well as current industry and competitor’s going- rate pricing. Reference Kotler, P. and Keller, K. (2012). Marketing Management 14E. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc. How might marketers use conjoint analysis to improve pricing strategies? When determining pricing strategies marketers must perform research that allows the consumer to voice their opinions in reference to what they need and how important the product or service is to their well-being. One method of doing so is through conjoint analysis. â€Å"Kotler defines this method as a  means to ask customers to rank their preferences for alternative market offerings or concepts, then they use statistic analysis to estimate the implicit value placed on each attribute† (Kotler, P. and Keller, K., 2012). Marketers have their work cut out for them when a firm or pricing department requests their assistance to establish a competitive advantage for their product or service. In order for a firm to know and understand what value or benefits the customer expects when utilizing their products and services the use value propositions is of the essence. According to the strategy and performance coaching company Edborrows,† items that firms need to consider when applying customer value propositions are as follows: †¢ All Benefits †¢ Favorable Points of Differentiation †¢ Resonating Focus †¢ Resonating focus highlights one or two critical differences between the firm’s offerings †¢ Generic Value Propositions †¢ Operational Excellence †¢ Customer Intimacy †¢ Product/Service Innovation (Barrows, 2010) Price elasticity of demand is a way to determine marginal revenue. Optimal revenue and, more importantly, optimal profit will occur to the point when marginal revenue = marginal cost, or the price elasticity of demand The proportion of the total sales of a product secured by one particular company or brand

The Life of William Shakespeare :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Life of William Shakespeare William Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare, moved to the idyllic town of Stratford-upon-Avon in the mid-sixteenth century, where he became a successful landowner, moneylender, wool and agricultural goods dealer, and glover. In 1557 he married Mary Arden . John Shakespeare lived during a time when the middle class grew and became wealthier and wealthier, thus allowing its members increasing freedoms, luxuries, and voice in the local government. He took advantage of the opportunities afforded him through this social growth and in 1557 became a member of the Stratford Council, an event which marked the beginning of an illustrious political career. By 1561 he was elected one of the town's fourteen burgesses, where he served as constable, one of two chamberlains, and alderman successively. In these positions he administered borough property and revenues. In 1567 he was made bailiff, the highest elected office in Stratford, and the equivalent of a modern day mayor. The town records indicate that William Shakespeare was John and Mary's third child. His birth is unregistered, but legend places it on April 23, 1564, partially because April 23 is the day on which he died 52 years later. In any event, his baptism was registered with the town on April 26, 1564. Not much is known about William's childhood, although it is safe to assume that he attended the local grammar school, the King's New School, which was staffed with a faculty who held Oxford degrees, and whose curriculum included mathematics, natural sciences, Latin language and rhetoric, logic, Christian ethics, and classical literature. He did not attend the university, which was not unusual at this time, since university education was reserved for prospective clergymen and was not a particularly mind-opening experience. However, the education he received at grammar school was excellent, as evidenced by the numerous classical and literary references in his plays. His early works especially dr ew on such Greek and Roman greats as Seneca and Plautus. What is more impressive than his formal education, however, is the wealth of general knowledge exhibited in his works, from a working knowledge of many professions to a vocabulary that is far greater than any other English writer. In 1582, at the age of eighteen, William Shakespeare married the twenty-six year old Anne Hathaway. Their first daughter, Susanna, was baptized only six months later, which has given rise to much speculation concerning the circumstances surrounding the marriage.

Systems Model; Critique

Critique the relevance of the systems model to the study of politics Models, theories and concepts as approaches for analysing policy and decision making have been developed by political and social scientists to guide the study of public policy, to facilitate communication and to suggest possible explanations for policy actions. This essay is a critique of the relevance of the systems model to the study of politics. A model is conceptually defined as a theoretical representation of empirical data that aims to advance understanding through highlighting of significant relationships and interactions. According to Heywood (2007) one of the most influential models in political analysis is the Political system model developed by David Easton (1979, 1981) which aims to explain the entire political process including the functions of the major political actors through what is called systems analysis. A system is an organised and complex whole, a set of interrelated and interdependent parts that form a collective entity. Roskin, Cord, Medeiros & Jones (1997) concur that in the political systems model the politics of a given country worked the same way as a biological system. Here they were trying to emphasise the interrelationships and inter dependence likening it to the biological human body; how the various organs needed or related to each other and likening this to the political system. Systems theory is therefore the theory that treats the political system as a self regulating mechanism responding to inputs (demands and supports) by issuing authoritative decisions or outputs (policies). David Easton’s model illustrated the existence of a linkage between inputs and outputs in a political system(Heywood, 2007). Inputs consist of demands and support from the general public and demands in a political system range from pressure for the need of a higher standard of living, improved employment opportunities, greater protection to minorities, improved social benefits among many. Support on the other hand includes ways in which the public responds to the political system that is by paying taxes, offering compliance to the state through participation in public life and other societal issues. Heywood (ibid) further asserts that outputs on the other and are in the form of laws promulgated by government, consisting of decisions and actions of government that is the passing of laws, the imposition of taxes and most importantly allocation of public funds. The outputs generate feedback which consist of further demands and support from the general public. Further Easton referred to what he called gatekeepers being political parties, church organisations, pressure groups which gatekeepers manage the percep tion of the people and convey their inputs in the form of demands and supports. Outputs from government go back to the people and the cycle goes on and on. He projected that a political system tends to operate at equilibrium as its survival depends on outputs being brought into line with inputs. However, according to Anderson (1997) the usefulness of the systems theory in studying public policy is limited by its highly general and abstract nature. Older studies have devoted little attention to the nature and definition of public problems. It is now conventional wisdom that policy study that does not consider the characteristics and dimensions of the problems that stimulate government action is less than complete. In Easton’s model there is no clarity on the inputs which are the problems of the public. It gives a general picture of society. The importance lies in knowing both why some problems are acted on and others are neglected and why a problem is defined in one way rather than another. It is also important to know the nature of the problem whether it is foreign or domestic, a new item or an outgrowth of an existing policy to determine the ensuing policy making process, issues that the systems model is silent on. According to Jackson & Jackson (2003) the basic argument of systems analysis is that governments are the centre of political systems which involves three stages mainly the effects of the environment on a political system by making multiple demands, as well as providing fundamental support. A demand can be defined as a condition or situation that produces needs or dissatisfaction among people for which relief or redress is sought. For example problems such as air pollution, unwholesome food, abortion, urban congestion, crowded prisons and global warming are conditions that may become problems if they produce sufficient anxiety or dissatisfaction to cause people to seek a remedy. For this to happen people must have some criterion or standard by which the troubling condition is judged to be both unreasonable or unacceptable and appropriate for government to handle Anderson (1997). Conditions do not become public problems unless they are defined as such, articulated by someone or defined as such. The systems model therefore does not explore these highlighted problems. According to Jackson & Jackson (ibid) the systems analysis is criticised often arguing that the model on which it is based does not help discern which part of a political system are essential or influential. It is further argued that it is impossible to predict how or even whether a change in one part of the system will affect another part. Furthermore political systems are not as closely related as the model implies. Political systems are not as static as the model implies Another criticism of the systems theory is that it does not acknowledge the changes that occur with time. According to Roskin (et al) systems change over time with the rise of new powers, new technologies and new alliances. It does not even recognise the existence of bigger entities with many components for example countries or groups of countries that interact with each other forming international systems. To some the fall of the Soviet empire in the 1990’s marked the end of the cold war and the bipolar system. But some argue that the bipolar system did not end with the collapse of the Soviet Union, but rather a multi polar economics race emerged. As Moscow gave up the East European nations and no longer posed any invasion threat to Western Europe which moved closer to unity in the European Union (EU). All barriers among the fifteen members disappeared, producing a single economy if not a single political entity. The United States on the other hand had some economic problems, massive trade deficits following massive budget deficits making it the biggest debtor. It could no longer call the tune and get alliance from allies in Europe and Asia. Countries of the Eastern bloc consolidated their political system significantly. The systems model is limited in this sense in that its diagrammatic representation is only limited to small entities. According to Anderson (ibid) a condition to be turned into a problem, must be seen as an appropriate topic for governmental action and further, as something for which there is a possible governmental remedy or solution. The systems model does not articulate the inputs fed into gate keepers, neither does it clarify the difference between conditions and problems. Those who oppose government action to ban smoking in public places may argue that tobacco smoke is not harmful, or that smoke is a matter of individual choice and should not be regulated. Professor Wildavsky contends that officials are unlikely to deal with a problem unless it is coupled with a solution. He thus, states that ‘a problem is a problem only if something can be done about it’,(Anderson, ibid). Thus in Easton’s model there is no emphasis on the nature of the inputs. Power distribution in the systems model is not adequately explored in the graphical representation. In today’s world for example the American system, political power is fragmented and dispersed by constitutional prescription and political practice. Many points of official decision making exist and a multitude of officials share in the exercise of political power and the formulation of public policy. Structural functionalism focuses on the different levels of a system and their reciprocal influences and also the possibility of making generalisations about them. It is premised on what structures perform what functions in any given system and under what conditions. Key proponent Almond (1960) critically examined Easton’s model and proceeded to look for the functions that could be included among the inputs and outputs of a political system and identified six functions. Chief among these functions is interest articulation, interest aggregation, rule application and adjudication and communication. Political systems consist of units or structures that perform certain or particular functions. The detailed variables with which the model is concerned are structural that is pressure groups, political parties, the legislature among many. Political systems are compared on the basis of the functions that are performed by their units. However, according to Jackson &Jackson (ibid), the structural functional approach does not accommodate itself well to the state as a dynamic entity. The mechanical role of performing functions is assigned to the state. It ignores the human element that those who perform functions of the state may have their own interests. Some critics even argue that structural functional approach places too much emphasis on technology and rational procedures and obscures the relationship between structures and functions. Almond seems to contend that all systems must evolve in the same manner and direction as did the Anglo American Democracies if they wish to develop to higher political stages. David Easton’s model of a political system is the basis of most contemporary political systems. But however, it is only ideal as there are constant changes that occur in the society we live in, therefore an equilibrium can never be achieved. It forms a basis of analysis upon which scientific generalisations can be made. REFERENCE Anderson, J. E. Public policy making; An introduction (3rd edition). Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston Heywood, A. (2007). Politics (3rd edition). Palgrave Macmillan: New York Jackson, R. J. & Jackson, D. (2003). An introduction to political science. Prentice Hall: Toronto Roskin, M, Cord, R. L, Medeiros, J. A, & Jones, W. S. (1997). Political science; an introduction (6th edition). Prentice Hall International (UK) Limited: London

Cellphones Should Not Be Allowed in School Essay

Although may not everybody would agree I believe cellphones should not be allowed in schools. First of all, cellphones can be a distraction to students. Secondly, students can use the cellphones to cheat on a test, quiz, or classwork. Lastly, it can be stolen. To start off, cellphones should not be allowed in school because they can interrupt the class and teacher. For example, if a professor is teaching a class a new lesson and suddenly a cellphones starts to ring, the teacher will have to stop the class and talk to the pupil. After that, they would have to remember their â€Å"train of thought†. Additionally, cellphones can interrupt the class when an exam or quiz is in session. In a recent article done by the New York Times, it was stated that 75% of an eighth grade class failed their state exam because of a cellphone interruption. In other words, the cellphone was â€Å"yelling† really loud, the students were not concentrating and it was difficult to turn off. Furthermore, cellular phones should be allowed in school because it can be a cheating tool. For instance, if a scholar took an exam before their friend and their buddy did not study, that person taking the test can take a picture of the questions to show to their companion. Usually, the student(s) are not caught but when they get caught the superintendent, who runs all the public, charter, private or boarding schools in a city, hears about it and the school can have a terrible reputation. Also, when a minor cheats on a huge test (state test, mid-terms, final-terms, etc.) they can especially get in trouble. Equally important, cellphones should not be allowed in schools because it can be stolen. Read more:  Should Cellphones Be Banned in Schools Essay Many youngsters bring their high-tech cellphones to school, to show it off. However, when their cellphone gets stolen, the child and their parents are furious and that means money coming out of pockets to buy a new phone. Statistics have shown that 80% of the time, the lost or stolen cellphone is not found. Therefore, I consider parents keep their children’s cellphone at home and cellphones should not be allowed in schools. My opponents may say that, cellphones can be used for emergencies. I disagree! During emergencies, the school have telephones available for staff and students and if the minor can’t use the telephones they can ask an adult to call for them. Moreover, my adversaries might say that cellphones can be used as tools when needed. In my opinion, this statement is wrong because school is a place of learning. As a result, it has all the materials youngsters need to learn like, calculators, notepads, and maps, so that scholars can use the resources they have at school and not from the piece of technology in their pocket. In summation, cellular phones should not be allowed in school because it can be a distraction, a cheating resource and it can be stolen or lost. When in school, children should pay attention to their education than the daily gossip spread on the internet.

Free Essays on Analysis

â€Å"After High School† by Jake Smith is a referential text that explains the different options you have after high school graduation. The author uses classification to separates the choices you have and the step to reaching your goals. Smith gives different insights on how the schools and educational plans work. His referential purpose shown through the way he explains the different circumstances they will encounter once they’ve made an educational plan. Smith uses an outline of how the school system and classes entwine with each other. The author explains in details and factors to consider as well as the types of studies that best suit them. He also describes the courses and the fields of studies to accomplish his referential purpose. Each educational option is shown by the different ways to achieve that particular goal. Smith makes the reader understand the process that they’ll be getting into once they’ve made their decision about their educational plans. Smith shows the procedures and the courses a student have to take in order to go through help them achieve their educational goals. Through the text, Smith organizes his informative options by using classification. The educational plans, fields of studies, and types of colleges are outline consecutively in this text. Each step is organizes by the option that the student chooses. The option that a student chooses will lead them to an education plan that will help them through the process. Smith wrote â€Å"consider a number of different factors† then he goes on to explain those factors and what might be the best decision for them. He classifies the type of schools and training a student might encounter. Smith outlines the text into four year schools, technical school, and two year colleges. The he goes on to describe the types of studies, such as liberal arts, pre-professional, professional, and technical. This referential classification is useful to a high school se... Free Essays on Analysis Free Essays on Analysis â€Å"After High School† by Jake Smith is a referential text that explains the different options you have after high school graduation. The author uses classification to separates the choices you have and the step to reaching your goals. Smith gives different insights on how the schools and educational plans work. His referential purpose shown through the way he explains the different circumstances they will encounter once they’ve made an educational plan. Smith uses an outline of how the school system and classes entwine with each other. The author explains in details and factors to consider as well as the types of studies that best suit them. He also describes the courses and the fields of studies to accomplish his referential purpose. Each educational option is shown by the different ways to achieve that particular goal. Smith makes the reader understand the process that they’ll be getting into once they’ve made their decision about their educational plans. Smith shows the procedures and the courses a student have to take in order to go through help them achieve their educational goals. Through the text, Smith organizes his informative options by using classification. The educational plans, fields of studies, and types of colleges are outline consecutively in this text. Each step is organizes by the option that the student chooses. The option that a student chooses will lead them to an education plan that will help them through the process. Smith wrote â€Å"consider a number of different factors† then he goes on to explain those factors and what might be the best decision for them. He classifies the type of schools and training a student might encounter. Smith outlines the text into four year schools, technical school, and two year colleges. The he goes on to describe the types of studies, such as liberal arts, pre-professional, professional, and technical. This referential classification is useful to a high school se...

La Isabela, Columbuss First Colony in the Americas

La Isabela, Columbuss First Colony in the Americas La Isabela is the name of the first European town established in the Americas. La Isabela was settled by Christopher Columbus and 1,500 others in 1494 AD, on the northern coast of the island of Hispaniola, in what is now the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Sea. La Isabela was the first European town, but it was not the first colony in the New Worldthat was LAnse aux Meadows, established by Norse colonists in Canada nearly 500 years earlier: both of these early colonies were abject failures. History of La Isabela In 1494, the Italian-born, Spanish-financed explorer Christopher Columbus was on his second voyage to the American continents, landing in Hispaniola with a group of 1,500 settlers. The primary purpose of the expedition was to establish a colony, a foothold in the Americas for Spain to begin its conquest. But Columbus was also there to discover sources of precious metals. There on the north shore of Hispaniola, they established the first European town in the New World, called La Isabela after Queen Isabella of Spain, who supported his voyage financially and politically. For an early colony, La Isabela was a fairly substantial settlement. The settlers quickly built several buildings, including a palace/citadel for Columbus to live in; a fortified storehouse (alhondiga) to store their material goods; several stone buildings for various purposes; and a European-style plaza. There is also evidence for several locations associated with silver and iron ore processing. Silver Ore Processing The silver processing operations at La Isabela involved the use of European galena, an ore of lead probably imported from ore fields in the Los Pedroches-Alcudia or Linares-La Carolina valleys of Spain. The purpose of the exportation of lead galena from Spain to the new colony is believed to have been to assay the percentage of gold and silver ore in artifacts stolen from the indigenous people of the New World. Later, it was used in a failed attempt to smelt iron ore. Artifacts associated with ore assay discovered at the site included 58 triangular graphite-tempered assaying crucibles, a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of liquid mercury, a concentration of about 90 kg (200 lbs) of galena, and several deposits of metallurgical slag, mostly concentrated near or within the fortified storehouse. Adjacent to the slag concentration was a small fire pit, believed to represent a furnace used to process the metal. Evidence for Scurvy Because historical records indicate that the colony was a failure, Tiesler and colleagues investigated the physical evidence of the conditions of the colonists, using macroscopic and histological (blood) evidence on the skeletons excavated from a contact-era cemetery. A total of 48 individuals were buried in La Isabelas church cemetery. Skeletal preservation was variable, and the researchers could only determine that at least 33 of the 48 were men and three were women. Children and adolescents were among the individuals, but there was no one older than 50 at the time of death. Among the 27 skeletons with adequate preservation, 20 exhibited lesions likely to have been caused by severe adult scurvy, a disease caused by a sustained lack of vitamin C and common to seafarers before the 18th century. Scurvy is reported to have caused 80% of all deaths during long sea voyages in the 16th and 17th centuries. Surviving reports of the colonists intense fatigue and physical exhaustion on and after arrival are clinical manifestations of scurvy. There were sources of vitamin C on Hispaniola, but the men  were not familiar enough with the local environment to pursue them, and instead relied on infrequent shipments from Spain to meet their dietary demands, shipments that did not include fruit. The Indigenous People At least two indigenous communities were located in the northwestern Dominican Republic where Columbus and his crew established La Isabela, known as the La Luperona and El Flaco archaeological sites. Both of these sites were occupied between the 3rd and 15th centuries, and have been the focus of archaeological investigations since 2013. The prehispanic people in the Caribbean region at the time of Columbuss landing were horticulturalists, who combined slash and burn land clearance and house gardens holding domesticated and managed plants with substantive hunting, fishing, and gathering. According to historic documents, the relationship was not a good one. Based on all the evidence, historical and archaeological, the La Isabela colony was a flat-out disaster: the colonists did not find any extensive quantities of ores, and hurricanes, crop failures, disease, mutinies, and conflicts with the resident Taà ­no made life unbearable. Columbus himself was recalled to Spain in 1496, to account for the financial disasters of the expedition, and the town was abandoned in 1498. Archaeology of La Isabela Archaeological investigations at La Isabela have been conducted since the late 1980s by a team led by Kathleen Deagan and Josà © M. Cruxent of the Florida Museum of Natural History, at which web site much more detail is available. Interestingly, like at the earlier Viking settlement of Lanse aux Meadows, evidence at La Isabela suggests that the European residents may have failed in part because they were unwilling to fully adapt to local living conditions. Sources Deagan K. 1996. Colonial transformation: Euro-American cultural genesis in the early Spanish-American colonies. Journal of Anthropological Research 52(2):135-160.Deagan K, and Cruxent JM. 2002. Columbuss Outpost Among the Tainos: Spain and America at La Isabela, 1493-1498. New Haven: Yale University Press.Deagan K, and Cruxent JM. 2002. Archaeology at La Isabela, America’s First European Town. New Haven: Yale University Press.Laffoon JE, Hoogland MLP, Davies GR, and Hofman CL. 2016. Human dietary assessment in the Pre-colonial Lesser Antilles: New stable isotope evidence from Lavoutte, Saint Lucia. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 5:168-180.Thibodeau AM, Killick DJ, Ruiz J, Chesley JT, Deagan K, Cruxent JM, and Lyman W. 2007. The strange case of the earliest silver extraction by European colonists in the New World. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104(9):3663-3666.Tiesler V, Coppa A, Zabala P, and Cucina A. 2016. Scurvy-related Morbidity and Death amon g Christopher Columbus Crew at La Isabela, the First European Town in the New World (1494–1498): An Assessment of the Skeletal and Historical Information. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 26(2):191-202. Ting C, Neyt B, Ulloa Hung J, Hofman C, and Degryse P. 2016. The production of pre-Colonial ceramics in northwestern Hispaniola: A technological study of Meillacoid and Chicoid ceramics from La Luperona and El Flaco, Dominican Republic. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 6:376-385.VanderVeen JM. 2003. Review of Archaeology at La Isabela: Americas First European Town, and Columbuss Outpost among the Taino: Spain and America at La Isabela, 1494-1498. Latin American Antiquity 14(4):504-506.