Views of the Essence of Numbers over the Course of History Essay

Perspectives on the Essence of Numbers throughout History - Essay Example The second is the possibility that arithmetic and numbers are just a method of deciphering and associating with self-assertively characterized images, and that holds their lone value (36). The last is the possibility of the scholars drove by Russel, who guarantee that science are helpful in light of the fact that the universe is organized in a sensibly sound manner, and arithmetic are in this way essentially a declaration of that rationale (36). The last two speculations have enough gaps in them that they have been considered disproven, such a large number of numerical logicians depend on the principal, Platonic hypothesis to portray the job of numbers in our universe. This, in any case, is totally un-provable, and evades around the issue of portraying what numbers are without really clarifying anything; if numbers are basically things that exist in another domain, that isn't thoughtfully helpful and along these lines not an exceptionally convincing hypothesis. I accept that numbers and arithmetic really should be clarified by another hypothesis, and that while we as of now don't have a totally defined hypothesis to clarify what numbers are and how science work, each of the previously mentioned speculations has a portion of the segments that a total hypothesis of arithmetic must have. The single most serious issue with the Platonic hypothesis is its absence of utility. Its primary handiness is in the way that it depicts numerical standards as being on a very basic level genuine dependent on their reality in the Platonic domain, permitting mathematicians to seek after their objectives unhindered by question. The hypothesis, in any case, is difficult to demonstrate, in such a case that numbers exist in a non physical domain that has no contact with our own then it clearly can't be watched (36). The hypothesis that numbers exist in a non-physical domain is similarly as valuable and un-proveable as the hypothesis that numbers exist just in physical structure within dark gaps; it could be valid, however assuming this is the case, what difference does it make? This hypothesis does, in any case, hold one of the central rules that must be in any hypothesis of numbers, which is the possibility that numbers, despite the fact that they may unquestionably not exist in any sort of physical way, are genuine. Their association with the physical world, for example, the way that one can utilize numbers to plot a way to the moon, execute that plot and afterward end up on the moon, shows that there is something on a very basic level genuine. So while the Platonic hypothesis is in a general sense defaced by its absence of convenience and the inconceivability of demonstrating (or negating) its precision, its declaration that numbers are genuine somehow or another must be a piece of any possible hypothesis of numbers. Without numbers being genuine articles no hypothesis of science is finished. Like the non-romantic hypothesis of numbers, formalism, which expre sses that arithmetic are basically a progression of arrangement of show administering images (36), has both hazardous and valuable parts for making a helpful hypothesis of numbers. The basic issue with formalism is that it neglects to represent the way that, as appeared above, numbers do have some relationship to the real world. It is valuable, in any case, in conceding the failings of numbers when applied to this present reality. Numbers, while communicating with physical bodies, depend on a very basic level on human originations and sensibilities. For instance: when an individual sees two coins, they can say that there are two coins and in certain faculties be right. The issue, nonetheless, is this depends on a human made classification of what establishes a â€Å"coin.† When somebody shaves a limited quantity off of one of the coins,

An Inspector Calls Essay Example for Free

An Inspector Calls Essay Miss Sheila Birling, a noticeable character in Priestlys play An Inspector Calls, experiences numerous progressions all through the play. The crowd and perusers viewpoint towards her additionally modifies. Sheila changes before our eyes from a young lady into a solid young lady. In the first place, Sheila is portrayed to us as being in her mid twenties and satisfied with life. This gives us a feeling that she is only a young lady, who has not seen enough of the world yet and is youthful in her contemplations. We consider her to be as a rule extremely juvenile from the outset, tending to her folks as Mummy and Daddy. She is plainly a mummys young lady who adheres to her folks directions and requests For instance, she submissively follows her mom to the drawing-room and leaves the men including her better half to-be. Despite the fact that she is locked in to Gerald Croft, Sheila places her significant other to-be on a platform, appreciating him and calling h9im dear. She takes the wedding band like a young lady would get another toy look, mummy! The way Sheila acts in the initial segment of the play causes her to appear somebody who is delicate, blameless and senseless, or plain juvenile. After the Inspector shows up, our conclusion towards her changes. After she admits to the Inspector, Sheila separates. She feels extremely upset for all the torment she has caused Eva Smith. The Inspector causes her to feel liable for utilizing her riches, significance and impact to get a really honest young lady sacked from her last solid employment. Sheila wails and cries, similar to a youngster. Be that as it may, our supposition truly changes when she stands up to Gerald. Sheila chuckles insanely, toward the finish of Act One, when she says, You fool. Obviously he knows. What's more, I would rather not think what he realizes that we dont know yet. This conduct is somewhat similar to that of a youngster pitching a fit, giving her developing acknowledgment and development. When Gerald starts to admit, Sheila shows an insubordinate streak. She will not be driven away by her folks who need her to be ensured. This resembles what the normal pre-adult would do when they wish to a cross new area. Sheila starts to control herself somewhat more soundly during Geralds cross examination Gerald tumbles off the high putting he was initially on as Sheila calls him by name instead of by some fun loving moniker.

Fresh Ink New Books Out Today January 15, 2013

Fresh Ink New Books Out Today January 15, 2013 Its a nonfictionpalooza this week! Best Sex  Writing 2013: The State of Todays Sexual Culture edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel  (Cleis Press) If the only sex-related pieces youve read latelyor, gasp, everwere about Fifty Shades of Grey, youve got some catching up to do! Start with this annual anthology, which brings together the best essays about sexuality and sexual culture. Judged by Dr. Carol Queen and edited by Rachel Kramer Busseltwo rad women who know from sex writingthis collection looks thought-provoking and fun. Variety being the spice of life, it presents a wide range of topics and perspectives; you might not like them all, but youre bound to love something. While I havent read this years collection just yet (reviewers, too, must sometimes wait for actual publication dates), Ive found the previous installments to do be thoroughly satisfying and filled with Oh, I never thought of that! moments. Friendfluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We Are by Carlin Flora (Doubleday) I was first alerted to this book when fellow Rioter Kim featured it in a list of  books about friendship last month. She recommended it for science nerds, fans of narrative nonfiction, living room sociologists, and I thought, I am all of those things! If you are too, take note. It seems were in a season of  books about friendshipIve recently read and adored Julie Klams Friendkeeping  [reviewed here] and Susanna Sonnenbergs memoir-in-friendships She Matters [reviewed here]and Carlin Flora adds depth the personal stories by presenting a scientific look at why we have friends and how they influence our personalities and behaviors. This is my  favorite kind of nonfiction; its engaging, not stuffy, and directly related to things we all experience in our daily lives. Oh, and it will give you tons of fun facts to spout off at dinner parties, or the next time you need to drive your partner mad with a case of the Did-You-Knows. The Mistress Contract by She and He (Unbridled  Books, now in paperback) Their  relationship began in 1981. It began with a contract. She suggested it, agreeing to provide her lover with housekeeping, companionship, and sexual services, while He agreed to give her a separate home (he was married, living with his wife and children at the time they began) and cover her expenses. Their affair continue through several decades, as they recorded themselves discussing their  relationship and the shifting power and sexual dynamics that defined it. This book presents the transcripts of those conversations, and they are nothing short of fascinating. She and He quarrel about her reluctance to tell him what she wants in bed. They wonder if their  relationship is revolutionary, or really quite traditional. The talk about feminism, and choice, and how this arrangement of theirs is something other than prostitution. They love each other. They age together. They are tender and passionate in private, careful to be discreet in public. They know they have chosen to do something that most consider wrong, and many wouldnt consider at all, and with this memoir, they attempt to put it in context. This is a challenging and provocative read that raises more questions than it answers. It sheds light on one unconventional  relationship, affording readers the opportunity to consider how changes they might make (or dream of making) in their own and inviting deeper deliberation about the organization, construction, and restrictions of committed  relationships in todays society. I loved this when I first read it in 2011, and I appreciated it even more upon rereading. Highly recommended. Sign up for True Story to receive nonfiction news, new releases, and must-read forthcoming titles. Thank you for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox.

Honors Geoscience Summer Project Task 3 - 730 Words

Dan Kondel Honors Geoscience Summer Project Honors Geoscience Summer Project Task 3 Section 1: Earth’s changing climates 1. What do the colors indicate about the change in average temperature over time from 1884 to 2012? The colors indicated that the average temperature rose in all continents from 1884 to 2012. 2. In the past 50 years, where has the temperature changed the most? In the past 50 years, the temperature has changed the most in the northern part of the world. 3. Describe the average temperature change from 1880 to 2010. The average temperature changed 0.7 degrees celsius from 1880 to 2010. 4. Why is the curve between 1950 and 1980 relatively flat and centered around zero degrees difference from the baseline? (Hint: how is the temperature change being compared over time?) 5. The green bars are called error bars. They indicate the range of uncertainty that scientists have about the data on the graph. (Note: Not all error bars are shown.) Why do you think these error bars are smaller near the year 2000 than in the 1890s? I think these error bars are smaller near the year 2000 than in the 1890s because the technology has advanced immensely since 1890. 6. Why is the black line so much more variable than the red line? What s the difference between the data they show? The black line is so much more variable than the red line because the black line represents the annual average temperature and the red line represents the 5 year running average temperature. 7.Show MoreRelatedCNPC CSR report25861 Words   |  104 PagesResponsibility Report China National Petroleum Corporation About the Report This is China National Petroleum Corporation’s seventh annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report since 2006. This report accurately represents what we did in 2012 to honor our commitments to the economy, the environment and society. It is important that we provide the following information: Reporting company: China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Alternative reference: China National Petroleum Corporation is

Use of Private Military Companies (PMCs) in Africa Essay

PMCs emerge in a history course as an inevitable result of the changing in world structure and technology development. This critical review examines Anna Leander’s article on the paradox of implementing private military companies (PMCs) in Africa. The central issue is how security can be influenced by the using of PMCs. Building on Leander’s argument, this review argues that PMC is a double-edged sword that can be used to provide security as well as to stir insecurity. The blurred public and private lines and ambiguous regulations of PMCs cannot be neglect thus the use of PMC forces need stronger regulation and a better system of cooperation with other national or international actors. The review will first analyze the reasons for using†¦show more content†¦What need to be added to this point is that PMCs also diminish the possible hatred which could be brought by ethnic conflicts between states. Ethnic conflicts frequently take place between Africa states as m ost of their economies rely on primary resources and thus they are a huge tempt causing conflicts. While neither the primary sources are part of PMCs goal of profit nor they consist of major ethnic groups in the states, thereby the possibility of causing ethnic conflicts and the aggravation of hostility between ethnic groups by war are less possible. Second, Leander (2005) argues that PMCs are respectable as they follow professional knowledge and business rules (p.609). PMCs are â€Å"strategically effective† for most of their team consist of professional military members, and their equipment are highly effective and advanced compare to the weak military force of African states (Leander, 2005, p.609). A third argument for PMCs in Africa is that they are more efficient and professional forces than local forces (ibid). According to Singer’s work on PMCs (2003), lacking of professionalism and the failure of local military is one of the reasons contributing to the rise of PMCs. The corrupted system, untrained local soldiers and poor arm conditions weaken the local military power, which is unable to solve conflicts (Singer, 2003, p.54). Besides, sophisticated equipment and advanced weapons requires skilled personnel to maintain and control which weakShow MoreRelatedHow Private Military Companies Affect Modern Africa1446 Words   |  6 PagesSouth-West Africa 500 years ago. It is difficult to find a war in Africa, especially post-World War Two, where mercenaries were not employed by at least one side, if not both. With the growth of professionalized military companies and the loss of political will to deploy conventional forces by Western countries, the usage of mercenaries is only going to increase. This growth is leading to studies about the ethical, economic, and political applications and ramifications regarding private military companiesRead MoreThe Role Of Private Military Contractors ( Pmcs )1912 Words   |  8 PagesThesis: The role of private military contractors (PMCs) has expanded tremendously since the end of the Cold War when western governments began the process of trimming their bloated military forces. As privatization commenced, governments began to rely upon a new kind of contractor that sold not only hardware but also manpower and expertise. 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Strategic Evaluation of South West Airlines Free Essays

string(73) " the airline industry as it requires a large initial capital investment\." Introduction Southwest Airlines has been a strong growth company over the last 4 decades. Using its low-cost, no-frill, customer friendly, point-to-point operational strategy, Southwest has been able to sustain considerable growth over the years and reported straight profits since its incumbent. Southwest Airlines now has a market capitalization of $9. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Evaluation of South West Airlines or any similar topic only for you Order Now 1 billion and is positioned as one of the strongest airlines in the struggling airlines industry. Over the last decade, many airlines have reported record losses in the US while many have filed for bankruptcy, Southwest has been able to remain profitable and continue to grow. However, with the airline reaching its maturity, it remains to see whether this growth can be sustained for the upcoming years. This essay uses various tools and frameworks to analyze the external environment and its challenges, and internal resources and capabilities of Southwest airlines. This external and internal analysis is aimed to guide the strategic management of company in understanding the environment it business operates in, and how it can respond to that environment by realizing its internal resources. External Analysis Understanding the environment in which a company operates is a critical element of a rational approach towards strategic management. It underscores an organization’s need to appreciate numerous factors in its operating environment, and how these can impact upon it. For the purpose of evaluating the external environment of Southwest Airlines, this essay uses two of the most popular tools; namely: Liam Fahey and V. K. Narayanan’s STEP or PEST concept (1986); and Michael Porter’s five forces model (1980; 2008). PEST Analysis Political factors Southwest Airline operates domestically in US and therefore its strategy is significantly influenced by the airline policy of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (see www.faa.gov). Specifically, the 1979 ‘Wright Amendment’; a legislation regarding the ‘Wright Zone’ which prohibits any airline to fly non-stop or provide through-plane service from Dallas Love Field to any city in any state except for location in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kansas has been affecting Southwest’s operation for the past three decades. Recently, new legislation has been passed to repeal the Wright Amendment. It would come in effect in 2014 (Thompson and Gamble, 2012). The political environment in the US has been unfavorable for Southwest Airlines over the years due to strong lobbying in congress by supporters of rival airlines against the company’s interests. However, Southwest Airlines has on numerous occasions won le gal battles against rivals in the US courts. An important political factor affecting the Southwest Airlines strategy is terrorism. During the last decade, the threat of terrorism in civilian aircrafts has had a negative impact on airline industry in that it has increased the airport costs incurred due to additional security measures. Economic factors Aircraft derives its fuel from oil; therefore a rise in the price of oil has a major impact upon Southwest Airlines’ profitability travel (Thompson and Gamble, 2012). The future trends of oil prices are highly unpredictable due to the political changes occurring within the Middle-East region, especially the relations between US and Iran. On the other hand, the recession in 2008 has had a favorable impact upon Southwest’s operations. Although the customer demand for air travel reduced due to cuts in personal and business expenses across the US, the consumer demand for low-fares no-frills Southwest Airline underwent a growth due to a shift in consumers’ preferences towards cheaper, no- frill airlines (Southwest, 2010). Concerning monetary issues, since Southwest Airline operates only within US, hence currency fluctuations do not impact Southwest Airlines’ operations. Social Factors Unlike other low-fare and no-frill airlines in the Europe, Southwest Airline has a strong commitment towards customer service. The airline has always adopted a customer centric approach for its management and marketing activities (Campbell, 2010). Its customer services personnel are widely encouraged upon going a step forward in appeasing customers through unusual tactics. Their efforts are rewarded through recognition and rewards, and are not punished for implementing their good judgment (Thompson and Gamble, 2012). Technological factors Technological developments have both created new opportunities as well as threats for Southwest Airlines. The emergence of teleconferencing and robust communication other the internet has provided businesses with an alternative for frequent travelling. On the other hand, technology has also provided airline industry with the opportunity to expand their outreach directly to consumers through e-commerce sites. Indeed Southwest Airlines was the first airline company to introduce ticketless travel and allows customers to make reservations online through its e-commerce website (Thompson and Gamble, 2012). Porter’s Five Forces Model To analyze the operating environment of Southwest Airlines and evaluate the nature of the competition Southwest Airline faces, a Porter’s Five Forces analysis will be used, created by Porter E.M professor at Harvard University Business School. The five forces are as follows: The bargaining power of suppliers is high in the airline industry. For example fuel is a major input into an airline company (it accounts for 40% of all operating costs) (Thompson and Gamble, 2012), and the companies which provide fuel tend to be large, and hence have immense bargaining power. Their bargaining power is further enhanced due to the absence of any viable fuel alternative. Therefore charging a premium price by oil companies is only natural. Another cause of concern for the airline industry is the bargaining power of aircraft suppliers. The aircraft manufacturing companies have a monopoly as only two companies exist in the industry namely Airbus and Boeing. Bargaining power of buyers is also high as the customers of airline industry are constantly looking for alternative air travel companies to get best value for their money. Additionally, many other full service airlines are considering adopting a low cost model for shorter routes with no frills, thus increasing choices for customers (Mouawad, 2010). Competitive Rivalry: Southwest Airlines’ no frills model is been widely pursued by various long-haul, full-service airlines within US. Therefore, the airlines industry is highly competitive for Southwest Airline. Entry Barriers; There are high barriers to enter the airline industry as it requires a large initial capital investment. You read "Strategic Evaluation of South West Airlines" in category "Essay examples" Furthermore, the airline industry is faced with increased competition and is no longer as lucrative as before in conjunction with the price wars, thus making survival difficult for new entrants. Substitutes: Although customers can switch to travel through train, coaches and cars, such travel modes are considered as uncomfortable and the cost advantage is neither too substantial. Therefore, the threat of substitute is very low. Internal Analysis The resource base view of strategy emphasizes upon a company’s internal capabilities in formulating strategies to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in its market (Prahalad and Hamel, 1990). It deals with the competitive environment faced by an organization through an inside-out approach. The following are Southwest’s internal resources. The Combative and Can-do Culture at South West Southwest Airline has a strong combative can-do attitude ingrained in its corporate culture. The company’s legal struggle in its formative years produced a strong ‘esprit de corps’ among the company’s employees. With the media reporting Southwest Airlines difficulties, the company’s employees were clearly aware of the fact that the airlines existence was on the line. According to Colleen Barrett, the challenges faced by Southwest Airlines due to fierce adversaries by rivals and local officials were instrumental in building the passion of Southwest employees and ingraining a combative, can-do spirit in the corporate culture (Thompson and Gamble, 2012). Southwest’s Leadership and Management One of the most celebrated leaders of the company was Herb Kelleher, under whose leadership the company prospered for almost four decades, including its formative struggles. Kelleher preferred to do much of the management from outside the office whilst being among the staff members. He was a good listener, and a proponent of direct observation. He always encouraged his staffers in performing their duties. He attended most of the graduation ceremonies of his flight attendants classes and even helped load bags on ‘Black Fridays’. He was highly combative and had a flamboyant lifestyle; both of which were reflected in the company’s operations and management. Surprisingly, Kelleher was an adherent of conservatism when it came to the financial side of the business (Thompson and Gamble, 2012). Much was the future leadership of the company was directly mentored by Kelleher himself. For instance, James parker (CEO 2001 – 2004) was associated with Kelleher with more than 23 years. Kelleher and Parker were considered to think much alike. Similarly, Colleen Barrette (President 2001 – 2008) was also associated with Kelleher and the company for more than two decades. Both these executive also followed Kelleher footsteps in spending most of their time on culture building, morale building and customer service. Gerry Kelly (CEO 2004 – Onwards) further advanced the corporate culture by through a steadfast focus upon triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet (Thompson and Gamble, 2012). Human Resource Management Herb Kelleher was a strong believer in the principle that if a company keeps its employees happy, its employees will in return keep its customer happy. Therefore, he contended that the employees- not the customers- came first. Kelleher knew thousands of employees by their name. Likewise, Colleen Barrette, put much efforts in creating a family like atmosphere within the company and put forth a network of contacts to stay in touch with each employee (Baum, 2006). The company’s corporate culture treats its employees like a family, insisting upon their important contribution towards having a satisfied clientele. It regards its employees as the ‘creators’ of the company. The company has a strong ethos of listening to its employees ideas, and does not believe in constraining their thinking. The company also insists upon hiring only those who share the same values as its corporate culture and does not lay off any of its employees (Thompson and Gamble, 2012) Southwest Airlines Strategy Southwest has pursued a low-cost, low-price, no-frills, strategy from day one. It made air travel affordable to the mass American population. Southwest advance ticket purchase requirements are more lenient than rivals and the company offers deep discounts for some seats purchased through its website. The company offers ‘Business Select’ fares for economy minded business travelers. This fare offers early boarding privileges to passengers along with extra Rapid Rewards (Anthony, 2011). Despite many of its rivals charging extra for add on services, like checking bags, in-flight snacks, buying a ticket in person from airport, fees for changing reservations, etc., Southwest insists upon an all-inclusive lowest fare. Its concept of price elasticity that is, the erosion of profit margins through offering lowest fares in more than compensated by increases sales volumes is proven to be true for most of its markets. Southwest’s point to point route system also minimizes connections, delays and total trip time. Its emphasis on non-stop flights between pair of cities allows 75 % of its passengers to fly non-stop to their destination. (Thompson and Gamble, 2012; Anthony, 2011) Strategic Options Based on the aforementioned external and internal analysis of Southwest Airlines this essay presents a set of strategic options for the company. First this essay presents a TOWS matrix to generate strategic options: StrengthsWeaknesses OpportunitiesSouthwest Airlines can use its huge customer base to sell ancillary product apart from free add-ons service in its flightsSo far, Southwest Airline is the only airline making a consistent profit and undergoing constant growth in the US. It does not have any particular weaknesses in its current corporate strategy Southwest Airlines can further imbibe e-commerce technology in its operation through developing applications for smart phones that enable customers to purchase tickets, check for promotional and discount offers, and check in. Southwest Airline can promote its Triple Bottom line ethos as its commitment towards environment and promote a ‘green’ image. Sustain its employees motivation and devotion level through further improving the company human resource policies pertaining to  ·Performance management and appraisal  ·Rewards and amenities  ·Stocks and shares options as compensation and bonus ThreatsSouthwest Airline has so far not engaged in strategies that promote the Airline’s ‘green’ and environment friendly image. This can be a threat as customers are increasingly involving environmental concerns in their purchase decisions.The company can react to unstable oil prices by hedging for oil prices Strategic Direction for Growth Strategies Business firms must undergo continuous growth and change in order to retain their relative position in the market and in order to improve their position, they must grow â€Å"twice as fast as that† (Ansoff, 1957, p.113). According to Ansoff, there are four growth strategies namely: market penetration, market development, product development and diversification. Southwest Airlines can pursue growth strategies as its strategic direction for the company. Based on Ansoff’s growth matrix, the following is the strategic growth direction strategies for Southwest Airlines: Products ExistingNew MarketExistingMarket Penetration and ConsolidationProduct Development This should be a key strategic direction for the company. Southwest Airlines should consolidate existing routes and increase its market share on existing routes. The company should also exist from its current routes with low customer volumes where many of the flight seats go empty.Southwest Airlines should expand into ancillary products and services such as car rentals, hotels and accommodations, taxi services, etc. This could be a good strategic fit for its popular destinations. These services should also adhere to its corporate strategy of best value for the money and lowest costs. NewMarket DevelopmentDiversification The company should continue to explore new destinations to expand its business operations. It can be a profitable strategy. Over the years, the company has associated several values with its brand image such as a highly competitive, survivor, and best value for the money. This brand equity could be used by the company to expand into related diversification such as, catering and hospitality business. Expansion outside the US domestic market might not be a viable strategy for the company and it might be a diversion from the company’s core competenciesSouthwest Airlines’ diversification into long haul flight or flying more than point to point flights might not be a good diversification strategy as this would again be a drastic shift from the company’s core competencies Evaluation of Strategic Options According to Goold and Luchs (1993), the management literature and practice has extensively explored how organizations could best exploit their corporate expertise since the early 1990s. This exploration led to the emergence of themes such as core competencies and dominant logic view in formulation corporate strategic direction for companies. Based on these views, three important principles have emerged for corporate growth strategy: Growth and diversification should be limited to those businesses that generate synergy; synergy occurs when the performance of several products and services (or businesses) adds up to more than the sum of its parts. It pertains to the creation of economies of scales in that two or more products/services or businesses can lower their costs by combining operations or manufacturing facilities, using common sales force or advertise jointly (Thompson and Martin, 2005). The corporate strategy focus should be on exploiting core competences across a diverse product and service portfolio, and, Successful growth strategies depend on building a portfolio of businesses or products/services which fit with the managerial â€Å"dominant logic† of top executives and their management style. (Goold and Luchs, 1993; Lasserre, 2003) Coinciding with this dominant business view, the aforementioned strategic directions for Southwest Airlines are deemed suitable and viable for its corporate growth. For instance all the aforementioned strategic options for Southwest Airlines pertain to: Using the airlines strong customer base to sell ancillary products; Further advancing its e-commerce services; Promoting its Triple Bottom line for ‘green’ image And enhancing the company’s human resource policies All of these options are based on the Southwest existing core competencies and management dominant logic view as identified in the internal analysis. Similarly the company’s growth and diversification strategies, which pertain to: Consolidation of existing markets Refraining from diversification is un-related products and services (long haul flight, international flights, hubs-spoke flights) Expansion into ancillary products and services and new profitable destinations within US And diversification through related business (hospitality and catering) All of these options reaffirm the company’s core competencies and management dominant logic view along with creating synergies for the company. Conclusion Southwest Airlines has faced fierce competitive environment and averted intense market entry barriers over the years to emerge as a highly successful and sustainable airline business. It operates in an industry with high bargaining power of suppliers and customers and strong rivalry from well established competitors. The company has successfully mitigated political hurdles and used its core competencies towards its advantage in an economic environment where others have scaled down. Moreover, the company has used technologies in its favor to sustain efficiency in its business operations. The internal strengths of the company lie within its corporate culture, and motivated and committed workforce. It core competency pertains to its point to point, no-frill, low-cost and low-price air travel service business model. Concluding this strategic analysis, this essay recommends Southwest airlines to implement strategic options and embark upon growth and diversification strategies which reaffirm the company’s aforementioned core competencies and further advance its internal strengths. These strategic directions are vital for the company’s continued growth and survival in the upcoming years within its respective industry. References Ansoff, I. (1957) Strategies for Diversification. Harvard Business Review. Vol. 35 Issue 5. Anthony, R. N. (2011) Management Control Systems. Tata McGraw Hills Educations. Baum, T. (2006) Human Resource Management for the Tourism, Hospitality And Leisure. Cengage Learning EMEA Campbell. S (2010) How Southwest Airlines Became a Model for Customer Loyalty. TMCnet. Available from http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/customer-support-software/articles/87080-how-southwest-airlines-became-model-customer-loyalty.htm (cited on 20th, March, 2013) Fahey. L and Narayanan, V. K, (1986) Macroenvironmental Analysis for Strategic Management. St. Paul: West Publishing. Goold, M. and Luchs, K. (1993) Why Diversify: Four Decades of Management Thinking. Academic of Management Executive. Vol. 7 No. 3 Johnson G. Scholes K. Whittingham W. 2008. Exploring Corporate Strategy. 8th edition. Prentice Hall Lasserre, P. (2003) Global Strategic Management, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Mouawad, J (2010). Pushing 40, Southwest Is Still Playing the Rebel. New York Times. Available from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/21/business/21south.html?pagewanted=all_r=0 (cited on 20th, March, 2013) Porter, M. (2001) Service Operations Strategy. Harvard Business School Porter. M (2008). The Five Competitive Forces that Shape Strategy. Harvard Business Review, January 2008, p.86-104. Prahalad, K. and Hamel, G. (1990) The Core Competence of Organization. Harvard Business Review. 68(3), 79-91. Southwest (2010). Southwest Airlines One Report. Available from http://www.southwestonereport.com/_pdfs/2010SouthwestAirlinesOneReport.pdf (cited on 20th, March, 2013) Thompson, A. and Gamble, J. (2012). South West Airlines in 2010: Culture, Values, and Operating Practices. Case 13. In Essential of Strategic Management. McGraw Hill. Thompson J L Martin F (2005), Strategic Management Awareness Change. 5th Edition, Thomson learning How to cite Strategic Evaluation of South West Airlines, Essay examples

Digital Divide People and Communities

Question: Discuss about theDigital Dividefor People and Communities. Answer: Introduction Digital Divide is a term that refers to a gap that exists between various entities in terms of people, communities, organizations and likewise on the basis of various reasons such as social and economic levels that has led to varying opportunity and accessibility to the Information Systems and Technology. The divide is between the sections that have the opportunities along with the accessibility to various components of Information and Communication Technology with the ones that are still not able to make use of the same to gain advantages (Oecd, 2016). There are a number of parameters that help in the better understanding of the concept of digital divide. Primary Subject: The major or the primary subject is the entities that make use of various components of Information Systems and Technology that may be individual users, group of users, entire business and likewise. Attributes: There are a number of attributes that are associated with the presence of the digital gap in terms of gender, ethnicity, geographical areas, and education opportunity and likewise. Usage: Usage of the IT resources and components are associated with the ease of accessibility, requirement of the usage and the opportunities that are provided. Source of Connectivity: There are a number of sources which can be used by the users to make use of IT services and digital components such as mobile devices, laptops, personal computers, shared computers and likewise. Reasons for Digital Divide Education Opportunity and Level The benefits of the Information Technology and Systems is understood in a better way by the users that are educated to benefit from the same and have the knowledge of the potential advantages that they can bring. There are also many individuals who do not get the education opportunities and therefore fail to understand the benefits of Internet. Such individuals do not make an attempt or an effort to gain opportunity of usage. Economic Levels The basic requirement of using the web is to have a device to access the same along with the network infrastructure as well. There are many users who fail to afford these basic necessities to make use of the web whereas on the other hand there are users who can easily afford the same. The varying economic condition of the people and communities is one of the major reasons behind the presence of digital divide. Race and Ethnicity The accessibility and permission to use the web also depends upon the factors such as race and ethnicity. There have been people of particular race that actively make use of the web for various purposes whereas there are some who are refrained from gaining access to the Internet for any of the purposes (CsStanford, 2016). Age and Gender There have been characteristic variances observed in the use of ICT by people belong to a particular gender or a particular age group in comparison to the counterparts. The same has emerged as a prime factor behind the presence of digital divide. Changes with Solutions to Digital Divide Huawei is an organization that collaborated with one of the largest neighborhood transporter in Bangladesh to initiate the Phone Lady extend. The basic idea behind the project was to install banded Communication Information Centers (CICs) to Provide Universal Access Services (UAS) to the users. The project enabled the residents to make use of the web through easy accessibility to the services and gain financial and social benefits out of the same. The major task that was covered in the project was the connectivity of the bearer with a huge number of nearby proprietors with majority of them being females. It included the organization of activities for the purchasing of the cell phone gadgets and providing the basic knowhow on the usage of the same. The project resulted in the understanding of the major issues behind the problem associated with UAS in the region and aided in the creation of the countermeasures to resolve the same leading to better opportunity and accessibility to the w eb. There was another successful activity around the issue of Digital Divide that was conducted by Maitland Commission and was termed as Telephone for All The goal of the project was to allow the broadband inclusion for all the entities and the same has been accomplished as per the report covered by ITU Secretary-General. The project targeted the public and private sector organizations along with the individual users and was a big success in the attempt to provide ease of accessibility and connectivity to the users (Huawei, 2016). Along with the organizations, there are also initiatives and active attempts that are being made by various countries. These attempts are done with the objective to reduce the digital gap and bring together the users at a same platform to allow them to benefit with the opportunities that are offered by web. Singapore Singapore is one of the most active participants in the attempts to include the policies around data innovation, digital advancement and electronic procedures in all of its processes. It stands second in the list of the nations with the opportunities associated with online administrations and cooperation that is provided in terms of electronic instruments standing just behind United Arab Emirates. Also, the nation also stands second with next to Finland in the list of countries that have automated workforce in the business operations and services. With the presence of advanced infrastructure, the nation has been able to achieve an enhanced level of portable broadband memberships per capita. On the other hand, the web uptake is not up to the mark as only seventy five percent of the entire population makes use of the web which can be far better with the existence of the advanced infrastructure. However, the country is making active attempts to improve the numbers and has managed to ach ieve the better percentage of internet users. Finland Finland is another country that has been actively working towards the process of bridging the digital gap that is present across the globe in the present era. It has been recorded as the top most country in the list of the number of licenses per capita that are issued. There are a number of data innovation policies and attempts that are being made by the country to allow the users to benefit from the various opportunities that are provided by web. There have also been a number of approaches that are followed for the improvement in the web based business that is being used all across the nation. The country again scores a top spot in the existence of automated workforce. Sweden More than half of the population that is associated with Sweden is engaged in the information based operations that are carried out. The infrastructure and policies that are present in the country for the use and access of the internet for personal and professional operations are huge in number. The same has led to a number of economical and social benefits to the users as well as the government which has made the country as one of the top most nations in the list of digitally advanced nations. Sweden Government has been constantly working towards the goal of reducing the digital divide. The Netherlands The Netherlands has managed to position itself on the third sport in terms of the ease of accessibility to the devices and network that is required to make use of the web. There are a number of organizations that operate from the country to enable its residents to have hassle free Internet services and allow them to make complete benefit of the same. The country scores will on the basis of the framework that is required to access the web, business operations that are carried out for opportunities and access along with the developmental activities that are carried out associated with the same. Norway In terms of the accessibility, Norway has managed to come second in the race just behind Iceland. The framework and infrastructure that the country provides is ideal to allow the access to the users. The country also makes sure that the correct training is provided to the users to gain maximum benefits out of the Internet sources. Also, the country has managed to grab sixth spot in terms of the optimum utilization of the automated resources (Weforum, 2016). Recommended Solutions for Controlling Digital Divide Mapping of the community Assets It is necessary to have a clear picture of the assets that are associated with a particular community prior to the process of bridging the digital divide that has been created. The same can be done through data collection and analysis around the details and factors such as the individuals and households that have the access to the web, the individuals and households that can easily manage to gain the access to the web in case of absence, the number and types of devices that are owned by each household, the major problem areas that are present and likewise. The analysis of these factors along with the mapping of the same with the requirements would enable a better procedure for the creation of the opportunities to the users who do not have the access and privilege to the web in a particular community (Bates, 2016). Local Support A number of public and private sector organizations along with many of the not-for-profit organizations are currently working to bridge the gap created by the digital advancements. It is necessary for the nations to come up with the Government policies and support to encourage the attempts that are made by such organizations. Also, the local support shall be provided by the community representatives and individuals to make the organizations understand and analyze the requirements in a better manner and come up with the corresponding solution to the same. Cost-Savings through Constant Tracking of Offers There are often scenarios in which the users refrain from the usage of the web due to the high rates of the plans and services that are associated around the same. However, there are numerous plans that are made available by the providers as per the usage requirements. There are also time to time offers that are rolled out by the providers that may benefit the users in terms of low cost and high usage limit. It is recommended to keep a track of such offers and services to avail the same (Dugan et al., 2014). Permission to Make Use of White Space White space is a term that is used in the internet world to those frequencies and bandwidths that are not utilized by any particular channel at a specific timeframe. These frequencies must be allowed to be used by the business units and users to make successful use of web for the execution of operations and transmission of information from one location to the other over the web. It would also allow increased network usage, improved network speed along with lesser collisions among the data packets (Rogers, 2016). Adoption of the Dig- Once Process During the setting up of a network structure, there is a lot of effort that is made towards cabling and installation of the links such as through optical fibers, twisted pair cables and likewise. In case of the wired networks, it is these cables that form the links and connectivity for communication and access to the web. However, there are scenarios in which the network requirements may change over a period of time and the re-installation of these links may require a lot of work and may also damage the existing connectivity. It is therefore required to make use of the dig-once approach during the installations and connections which is a onetime process for setting up the connections and can be scaled up and down as per the requirement without any re-work involved in the process. The process has also proved to be extremely inexpensive as well. The accessibility and connectivity can therefore be provided at low costs to the users (Riggins and Dewan, 2015). Creation of Local Content There are situations in which the users fail to make proper utilization of the web especially the users that do not have the prior knowledge of the benefits that can come out with the correct use of the services and applications that are offered through web. In order to make such users connect with web, it is necessary for the developers and business units to come up with the content that is of particular interest to the users. For instance, a community group shall be introduced with a web application that has all the necessary information associated with the community in terms of location, services, and residents and likewise. It would allow the community users to build interest in the web usage and will also enable them to explore other areas of the web as per their requirements and necessities (IEEESpectrum, 2016). Conclusion Digital Divide has come up as one of the major causes of concern of the current digital era and the issue is being tackled at a number of individual, organizational and national levels. There are attempts that are being made by the entities to bring down the gap that has been created and provide equal opportunities and accessibility to all the users irrespective of their location, race, ethnicity, social status, economical status and likewise. Many countries have been working towards achieving this goal with some of the frontrunners such as Singapore, Sweden, Norway, Finland, The Netherlands and many others in the list. There are a number of solutions which can be used by the entities to control the problem of digital divide such as careful analysis and examination of the community assets that are present, development of local content for the users, local and government support to the organizations, utilization of the white space on the web and many others. It is also necessary to im prove the status and level of education all across the globe to enable the users with the understanding of the benefits of the web and also the ability to afford the same. References Bates, K. (2016). Closing the Digital Divide: Promoting Broadband Adoption Among Underserved Populations. [online] Available at: https://www.nlc.org/Documents/Find%20City%20Solutions/Research%20Innovation/Infrastructure/Closing_Digital_Divide_Promoting_Broadband_Adoption_Underserved_Populations.pdf [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. CsStanford, (2016). The Digital Divide. [online] Cs.stanford.edu. Available at: https://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/digital-divide/start.html [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Dugan, S., Bolsinger, A., Bolsinger, A., Bolsinger, A., Larson, S., Bolsinger, A., Meier, N., Dugan, S. and Dugan, S. (2014). Three ways to bridge the digital divide in Oakland (Community Voices) - Oakland Local. [online] Oakland Local. Available at: https://oaklandlocal.com/2014/04/three-ways-to-bridge-the-digital-divide-in-oakland-community-voices/ [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Huawei, (2016). Huawei India - Bridging the Digital Divide. [online] Available at: https://huawei.com/in/about-huawei/corporate-citizenship/bridging-digital-divide/index.htm [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. IEEESpectrum, (2016). 3 Ways To Bridge The Digital Divide. [online] Available at: https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/computing/networks/3-ways-to-bridge-the-digital-divide [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Oecd, (2016). [online] Available at: https://www.oecd.org/sti/1888451.pdf [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Riggins, F. and Dewan, S. (2015). "The Digital Divide: Current and Future Research Directions" by Frederick J. Riggins and Sanjeev Dewan. [online] Aisel.aisnet.org. Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/jais/vol6/iss12/13/ [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Rogers, E. (2016). The Digital Divide. [online] Available at: https://con.sagepub.com/content/7/4/96.abstract [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016]. Weforum. (2016). The top 10 nations for bridging the digital divide. [online] Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/04/which-nations-are-top-for-digital/ [Accessed 3 Nov. 2016].C