Personal Obsession in The Emperors Babe and Purple Hibiscus Essay

Personal Obsession in The Emperors Babe and Purple Hibiscus - Essay Example Even before they reach adulthood they go through enormous upheavals in their lives. Moreover, their stories fit into a colonial discourse with attendant features of cultural displacement, social alienation and economic exploitation. There is yet another interesting similarity between the two heroines, namely, their personal obsessions. But the objects of their obsessions are not the same. Likewise, secondary characters in the two stories have obsessions of their own. This essay endeavors to show how there are a range of psychological dispositions among various characters which account for their obsessions and how the authors’ own obsessions bear upon them. The Emperor’s Babe is a fresh and vivid verse narrative of a young woman in Ancient Rome. Born into poverty and slavery, she is married off (or rather sold off) when she was merely eleven to a wealthy patrician a few times her age. Despite constraints to her liberty and growth from all sides, Zuleika yet manages to as sert her individuality. It is perhaps due to these powerful extraneous forces acting on her life that she sought refuge in an inner sanctum. This clinging manifests as obsessions of various sorts. For one, her insecurities made her a little aggressive towards others. Aggression expressed regularly betrays an underlying obsession with insecurity. This aggression is also manifest in her sexual behavior, whereby, her attractiveness and youth serves as a source of empowerment over men. As the short and eventful life of the adolescent girl unfolds through Evaristo’s lyrical prose, more dimensions to her heroine’s obsessions are unraveled. Zuleika’s father Anlamani is obsessed with his own position in society. He sees an opportunity to climb up the social ladder by marrying his beautiful daughter to a person of prestige. The person he has in mind is Mr. Felix, a wealthy aristocrat of the Roman Empire. He is quite older to Zuleika (who was just 11 at the time of being betrothed). Anlamani resorts to a menially worded marriage offer to Mr. Felix. For example, he says, "Si, Mr. Felix. Zuleika very obediens girl, sir. / No problemata, she make very optima wife, sir." (Evaristo, p.27) This pitch from Anlamani makes it clear that his daughter’s well being is secondary compared to his own selfish motive. Likewise, Felix is a man with his own obsessions. In his case he is obsessed with power. Having a pretty young wife would add to his prestige. He can show her off in his social circles as a trophy wife. That he is obsessed with power and prestige is evident in his response to Anlamani’s offer of marriage: â€Å"I intend to make this my far-western base/ and I need to warm my home with a wife./ I am a man of multiple interests: a senator,/ military man, businessman, I undertake/ trading missions for the government,/ and I'm a landowner.† (Evaristo, p.29) Kambili is obsessed over her relationship with Father Amadi. She falls in love with him. Although the Father also loves her, he could not consummate his love due to his commitments to Church and community. Her love is expressed overtly and covertly on a few occasions. As Zambilii says wittily â€Å"People have crushes on priests all the time, you know. It’s exciting to have to deal with God as a rival.†Ã‚  (Adichie, p.89) However, Kambili’s obsessive love for Father Amadi pales in comparison to the religious obsession of her own father Eugene. Kambili’s father, Papa as she calls him, is very possessive of his son and daughter. He imposes his authority on them to even the smallest detail. In other words he is obsessive of his son and daughter to the extent of being a control freak. For example, â€Å"Papa sat down at the table and poured his tea from the china tea set with pink flowers on

See atachment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

See atachment - Essay Example btaining additional market share of the competitor that totals 9.1 per cent, Albertsons increases the number of stores to 2400 letting each business unit operate on the regular basis without wrapping up their performance. Buying the assets of its main competitor, Albertsons at once becomes one of the biggest employers within the grocery industry. Though a lot of analysts consider the companys action as an essential step for suppressing numerous competitors due to the significance of scale benefits, some specialists remain skeptical regarding positive consequences of such deal on consumers. It is forecasted that company merger will lead to the narrowed product choice in the market and increased prices on the groceries because these are the major consequences of reduced competition. In contrast to this statement, CEO of Albertsons, Robert G. Miller, asserts that due to the changes of consumer behavior and preferences, the company is forced to adjust in order to save its market position (Hsu par. 14). The combination of businesses will considerably reduce production costs and enhance the quality of products due to raised effectiveness of mutual distribution system. Taking into account that lower costs will result in higher profits, there are no grounds for the company to raise prices, which may lead to the loss of loyal and pot ential customers. In addition, it is less likely that the company will increase prices also because of the great number of existed alternatives in the market. In this respect, according to the prognosis of analysts, consumers are not supposed to face any negative consequences of the impending acquisition. It is fair to state that the deal between Albertsons and Safeway will become a great incentive for other companies to follow their example since benefits of the purchase excel its disadvantages. First of all, Albertsons will upgrade its stores providing fresh and new image to the entire company. Every time when the market environment is

Theory of Alienation by Karl Marx

Theory of Alienation by Karl Marx Introduction Karl Marx has been dubbed as one of the most prolific and influential thinkers of the nineteenth century. He advocated the creation of a classless society that would be guided through proper democracy and equality. In essence, Marx criticized the capitalist system as an order in which the powerful firms have gained considerable power and clout. He argued that workers are treated as commodities under this system. The theory of alienation argues that workers are disenchanted with their work because it is controlled and supervised by hierarchies of managers and supervisors. The individual creativity and freedom has been stifled in the name of efficiency and effectiveness. Furthermore, Marx argues that the abject poverty of workers means that they cannot live in prosperous conditions. The capitalist system reaps tremendous profits but gives meager wages to its workers. Marx also believed that alienation resulted in workers being suspicious of each other due to the competitive nature of c apitalism. Finally the workers are instructed to perform specific tasks which are against the intrinsic nature of humanity. This nature helps them to attain creativity and design robust challenges to new problems. This report will seek to analyze the four types of alienation that are observed in Marxs theory. The personal experiences of the researcher will also be included in this report. Aspects of Alienation Karl Marx argued that alienation was a natural consequence of capitalism because of several reasons. This is because the workers are manipulated by the forces of capitalism in order to increase productivity and output. The results are that the workers will ultimately lose hope and determination (Leopold, 67). This is because the capitalists strive to ensure that the work activities of the workers are oriented towards specific goals and objectives. The desire of organizations is to ensure that workers can be exploited to attain the maximum surplus value. The worker is considered to be an instrument which leads to the loss of personal identity. It can lead to frustration and resentment since the modes of production are privately owned. Alienation from Products of own Labor Marx argued that the capitalist system seeks to create an illusion that workers are adequately compensated for the work that is performed. In essence, the capitalist system seeks to control the workers by deriving the benefits from the work activities of the latter. This can create alienation which can lead to serious consequences for entire society. In addition, the consumers are manipulated which is achieved through the offering of products (Desai, 93). The huge profits reaped by the capitalist system also can cause high levels of resentment and frustration among the workers. Alienation from Act of Producing Itself Marx believed that the capitalist system encouraged mechanical and repetitive work patterns that do not create any intrinsic value for the workers. The power of workers is transformed into a commodity which is manifested in the form of wages (Carver, 78). Capitalism controls the destinies of the workers by supervising and directing their work activities. This creates serious resentment among the workers who feel deprived of their destinies. In addition, the workers are unable to consume the products that are developed by them within a capitalist system. Alienation from his or her species being Marx argued that human beings have the capability to develop dynamic thinking through the pursuit of multiple endeavors. Thus humanity retains the ability to contemplate the surrounding environment and develop robust challenges to problems. Marx therefore argues that human society is characterized by a constant state of flux and change. The social classes emerge to overthrow existing orders and manipulate the masses (Carver, 78). The results are that a new class relationship that exists in capitalism eventually stifles the creativity and innovation of human beings. This can create resentment which leads to serious consequences. Alienation from Producers Marx argued that capitalism eventually confines labor to the position of a commercial commodity. This means that social relationships are ignored while human beings under the system strive to attain endurance or betterment. The competitive nature of capitalism eventually creates conflicts and disputes. This can cause high levels of alienation and resentment among the masses (Carver, 80). The basic structure of the capitalist system is such that it can cause deterioration in social structures and relationships since workers must compete for scarce resources in order to survive. Personal Alienation I have been working as a sales coordinator for a large organization that is involved in the sale of curtains, sofas, beds, and other furniture. Marx argues that the primary form of alienation is when the workers feel disillusioned with the work activities. This is true for me in many ways. A sales job can be frustrating as we are told to meet basic targets and increase the revenues of the firm. Marx argued that pre-capitalist societies allowed artisans to have a degree of independence in their work activities. Modern capitalist organizations tend to have hierarchies in which the workers are controlled through a system of checks and controls (Wolff, 91). Managers seek to develop the targets and ensure that compliance with organizational policies is achieved. As a sales coordinator, I feel disillusioned with my work activities because of the absence of any incentives. The long hours means that I have to ensure that goals are being met in an efficient and effective manner. The sales strategy promoted by the firm is based upon the notion that existing approaches will be implemented. There is no concept of workers autonomy which could lead to high levels of creativity and innovation. This creates problems because Marx argued that it was essential for workers to be given high levels of autonomy in order to increase their motivation. The second point of Marxs theory is the fact that workers are living in abject poverty due to the conditions of capitalism. He argues that workers are unable to meet their basic requirements due to the wage structure and working conditions of the capitalist system. As a sales coordinator, I believe that this is true because I have to ensure that targets are being met in an efficient and effective manner. The commi ssions earned from direct selling are often inadequate to meet the basic requirements of life. Wages earned from a sales position are adequate for sustenance but they do not enable me to improve my quality of life. It means that I continue to remain trapped within my specific social class due to the structure of the capitalist system (Wolff, 96). Income disparities remain in the United States as top executives are earning remuneration that is fifty times greater than sales coordinators like me. The income gaps create a sense of resentment and alienation towards the system. Therefore my organization is an oligarchy which does not have the proper functions of a democracy. Marx argues that workers do not control their destinies because the capitalist system tends to have overwhelming influence over the modes of production. The results are that workers are unable to increase productivity and output. They cannot derive significant social relationships from each other (Wolff, 93). Marx argues that capitalism has created a system whereby work activities are confined to a set of mechanical and repetitive tasks. For these tasks, the workers are provided meager wages that are inadequate to respond to their primary needs and requirements. As a sales coordinator, I have always focused on competition rather than creating a collaborative network with my fellow colleagues. This is because it is essential for sales coordinators to improve the revenues and profits of the firm. Each worker strives to move up the ladder through competitive strategy. the concept of cooperating orÂÂ   working together as a team has been replaced by the notion of competition. Each p erson therefore perceives his or her own interests rather than analyzing the common interests. As a consequence, I have to compete for scarce resources in order to improve sales. My only duty is to ensure that the organizational targets are being met in an efficient and effective manner. Marx argues that humans are born with the intrinsic ability to contemplate and perceive about the entire environment. This helps to encourage creativity which can be used to resolve complex situations. In addition, humans desire freedom and autonomy as a means of escaping the harsh social structures. Marx believes that social structures have always exerted a strong influence on individuals by creating a set of rules and regulations. In addition, humans must be left free to develop according to their interests and passions. This is surprisingly absent in the capitalist system that seeks to control the workers by treating them as commodities (Singer, 67). As a sales coordinator, I have to work according to the whims and desires of the management. This means that I will seek to achieve the targets of the firm. I will be left with no time in order to pursue my passions or interests. The job is necessary because it is vital for survival in a harsh environment. The market conditions determ ine the nature of human work. In my example, the needs of my furniture company are to target consumers and develop robust marketing strategies. As a sales coordinator, I have to ensure that consumers can be reached in an efficient and effective manner. much of Marxs theory of alienation remains appropriate even in the twenty first century. The abject poverty of workers remains in the world with sweatshop like conditions. The power and clout of the capitalist organizations remains superior. The workers are forced to undergo harsh activities in exchange for meager wages. Conclusion Karl Marxs theory of alienation was postulated in the nineteenth century which was characterized by the rise of capitalism. Industrialization had swept the developed world along with other phenomenon like urbanization, immigration, and capitalism. Marx argued that the capitalist system was based upon reinforcing the divisions of class. His theory of alienation appears to be appropriate even today. His first premise was that workers were alienated with their job duties. Capitalism had controlled the aspects of workers by forcing them to perform monotonous and repetitive tasks. Another premise is that workers live in abject poverty because of the meager wages that are given to them. Workers do not have control over their work activities which stifles their creativity and innovation. It also creates the conditions for oppression and exploitation at the hands of capitalist enterprises. Another premise of this theory is that workers do not have social relationships. The urge to compete ha s thus led to the destruction of the notion of cooperation and collaboration. Finally Marx argued that the workers were unable to attain self actualization in the capitalist environment. This is because capitalism seeks to create rules and regulations that will ultimately create bad conditions for workers. Personally, I have been alienated with my job as a sales coordinator. This is because of the poor working conditions. In addition, the checks and controls have led to monotonous work activities.

Essay --

From scandalous to classy, the waltz is a famous type of traditional ballroom dancing that has greatly influenced dance styles around the world. Throughout history, this lovely couples’ dance waltzed through the hearts of millions of people of all backgrounds. Evolution of the waltz from the landler Although the waltz has been around for hundreds of years, the steps used today are not a part of the original dance. It is widely accepted that the exact origins of the waltz are fairly obscure. However, it is theorized that the waltz was a product of evolving from a dance called the â€Å"landler.† As like many other dances, the waltz has evolved with cultural advances. Before the waltz even existed, there was a couple’s dance called the â€Å"landler.† Styles of dancing were often influenced by the exchanges of dances between the royal court and the peasants. Often the people would mimic dances such as the Landler, and bring it to their class of people. As the Landler grew more and more popular, there was much controversy over whether or not to dance this in social settings. Because of the close body contract between the men and women, the Landler was seen as sinful and erotic. The church responded harshly, trying to forbid the Landler (Watson). Description and history of the landler Created in the countryside of Austria, the landler was a type of couple’s dance that became popular in the late eighteenth century when composers began creating music for dance halls. The dance is basically a slow version of the waltz with the man’s hands rested on the woman’s waist, and the woman’s hands on the man’s shoulders (Knowles). At the end of the song, it was typical during the landler for the man to throw the woman into the air and then catch her. Jo... ...r bar. It is not unusal to see a waltz pice with multiple melodies. Famous composers and songs of waltzing music The most talked about waltz music composer is an Austrian composer called Johann Strauss the Elder (1804 - 1849). Along with his talented orchestra, he created 152 compositions that proved to become very successful in not only the waltzing world, but also in classical music. Together, Strauss and Lanner helped bring popularity to the waltz by creating various melodies for the Viennese waltz (Nair.) Modern waltzing music As unconventional as it may be, there is also â€Å"pop waltz music.† Modern music artists that have created music in the waltzing time include Adele, Lifehouse, Kelly Clarkson, and Pink. Because of popular television shows such as â€Å"Dancing with the Stars,† modern waltzing music had made a more vital appearance in the music world. Conclusion

Hp and Compaq Merger

Webster University November 6, 2011 Hewlett- Packard Company, referred to as HP, is an American multinational information technology company. Its headquarters is based in California USA. The company was founded in 1939 built in a Palo Alto garage by Bill Hewlett and David Packard and is now one of the world’s largest information technology companies operating worldwide in almost every country. It has 87,000 employees in 120 countries. HP specializes in developing, manufacturing computing, data storage, and networking hardware. In addition it designs software and delivers services. A majority of HP’s product lines include storage devices as well as computing devices, and a wide range of imaging products and last but not least, printers. Its products are widely available to households, small to medium sized businesses, as well as through online distribution, office supply retailers, and major technology vendors. It also caters to enterprises and office supply retailers. The late 90’s brought innovation but low sales growth, as HP faced troubles in keeping up with the changing market. It was at the point where Carly Fiorina was appointed as the new CEO. The focus then became on customer and internet sales. Carly revamped organizational structure. This led to a revenue growth however, share prices still declined and HP faced recession in 2001, which led to pay cuts and layoffs. Stock prices continues to soar which led to the consideration of acquisitions. HP is committed to the development of products, information, and services that are widely accessible to everyone including those with disabilities. The commitment it provides in catering to everyone supports its diversity and â€Å"Total Customer Experience† objectives ensure that its technological benefits serve all. According to Dave Packard, â€Å"it is necessary that people work together in unison toward common objectives and avoid working at cross purposes at all levels if the ultimate in efficiency and achievements is to be obtained. † HP has a vision of diversity as being a main factor that drives success as well as personal leadership from everyone within the company. Their competitive advantage allows them to learn and to adjust through the depth of their values. It is vital for HP managers to come together regularly in order to discuss and assess the â€Å"HP Way† which ensures their top priorities through lower costs, information technology system improvements, increase in business growth, an improvement in efficiency, and customer service improvements. HP is organized in the form of two groups. The first is the Business Customer Organization, and the second group is the Consumer Business Organization (Wagonfeld, Rubenstein, and Block, 2001). Both groups are supplied through the following product divisions: Computing systems, imaging and printing systems, and embedded personal systems. In addition HP services are available which works between the consumer, the product, and the groups. Major product lines include personal computer (PC), desktop and mobile personal computers, software solutions, copiers, scanners, networking solutions, and consulting services. In addition, the company’s support group offers consulting, education, and solution financing to its users. Compaq was founded in 1982 by Rod Canion, Jim Harris, and Bill Murto and its headquarters is based in Houston, Texas. The three founders invested $1,000 each in order to begin the formation of their company and began their first product, a portable personal computer to run all the software being developed at the time for the IBM PC. Four years into operation, the company was able to pave way to the Fortune 500 more rapidly than any other company in the same domain. Compaq products were developed and placed in three different groups. The first group is the Enterprise Computing Group which designs and develops servers, internet products, and networking products. The second group is the Commercial PC Group which designs and develops commercial desktops, and small and medium business solutions. The final group is the Consumer PC Group which designs and develops consumer products such as desktops, printers, and portables. Compaq markets its products mainly to consumers from the following sectors: Business, home, government and education. In 2001, Compaq and HP engaged in a merger. The new HP will become the second largest global technology provider with around $87 billion in revenue as well as many opportunities to create competitive advantages with their existing resources. It then had the ability to provide a multiple number of solutions and will be in position of competitive advantage in comparison to the leader IBM. Prior to Compaq’s merger with HP, its ticker symbol was CPQ, however after the merger its ticker symbol is now HPQ. . The management’s reasons for the merger included the following: Improved economics and innovation, complementary eadership in key markets, strengthened business provides critical mass in key growth market, and financial benefits. First of all, combining HP and Compaq would result in creating economies of scale, direct sales channel, and a more flexible distribution channel. Second of all, the merger would facilitate the industry leading product line in the entire server category, and gain a broader portfolio of pro ducts and services. Thirdly, having around 65,000 IT architects in 160 countries accelerates growth and leads to better customer loyalty. Finally, financially, it estimated $2. 5 billion in annual cost savings by mid 2004 and the merger would also allow HP to increase investment in the imaging and printing business. Reasons against the merger were the following: HP’s business portfolio would be worse due to an increased exposure in unprofitable PC business, and the PC market was expected to shrink. Second of all, the integration risk of the proposed merger is substantial as no merger involving computer companies had ever met expectations, and analysts estimated a revenue loss that could be as high as 15-17%. Third of all, it would have a negative impact on HP stockholders as a dramatic drop in stock price was announced after the proposal of the merger and Wall Street predicted low estimates for future financial performance. A fourth reason against the merger is that HP’s strategic position will not materially improve as neither company had a profitable business model nor successfully transitioned into a direct distribution model. Furthermore, a merger would not materially improve HP’s market position in high profit areas. Despite the debate for or against the merger, there was a 51. % approval margin and supporters believed it was the best option available for both firms. SWOT analysis: The strengths of the merger are Compaq-Server category and overall storage, HP high-end storage, and strong brand recognition. HP and Compaq were to save $2. 5 billion in operating costs by 2004. After their merger, there was an increase in cash flow. The weaknesses they faced are the develo pment of a direct distribution model, consulting and outsourcing (low market share), and Compaq printers (low market share). Consumers were unsure about the reliability of new products, and HP’s market share was to increase to 18. % only. The opportunities they were faced with are the improvement the merger could have of economics and innovation namely economies of scale. It also strengthened market leadership in storage, and market growth in IT services. Finally, the threats posed were the increases of pressure by Dell in the lower-end server market, and the entrants of IBM and Dell into the market that further eroded more market share. Michael E. Porter draws upon Industrial Revolution economics in order to derive the five forces that determine the competition and the overall profitability of a market. For example, an unattractive industry would be one that combines the five forces that drives down overall profitability. The first force in Porter’s model is the threat of the entry of new competitors. Profitable markets that yield high returns and will therefore attract new firms. The result of this is many new entrants which eventually decrease profitability for all firms in the industry. The merger that occurred between Compaq and HP raises a moderate level of threat for new entrants due to economies of scale that are achieved by the already existing players, and this is what results in their competitive advantage. In addition, there is need for high capital requirement for any new player that wants to enter the market. Another factor is product differentiation which results in a constant need for the improvement in technology in order to grab consumers’ attention. A third factor is moderate consumer switching costs. An example of this is the ease for customers to change their laptops due to the standardization of most computer components. In addition, the access to distribution channels makes it easy for consumers to approach the desired products, due to the availability of direct customer service and both internet and computer retailers. The second force in Porter’s model is the bargaining power of buyers. Moderate consumer switching costs makes it easier for consumers to be able to change their laptops, due to standardization of most computer components. A low number of suppliers are providing HP and Compaq products to consumers. In addition, suppliers operate with high fixed costs, which is the main reason there are a low number of suppliers. The third force in the model is the bargaining power of suppliers, which consists of a high number of customers that are fragmented and providing products to them is not an easy task, which is why suppliers bargain highly. There are however, a few large suppliers which are trustworthy, reliable, and recognized. They provide good quality raw material such as Intel and Hitachi. A fourth force in Porter’s model is the threat of substitutes. Switching costs for consumers is high because of low price HP Compaq laptops that indicate its target towards the middle class and upper middle class segment. These people find it harder to switch from one product to another which is why they are more likely to remain loyal. In addition, frequent product introductions and constant improvements in price serve as a cause for moderate threat. A final force in the model is rivalry. High fixed costs in the cost for setup of manufacturing units increases fixed cost, which makes it more difficult for the existing players to exit the market. Also, constant changes in products and price makes competition stiffer. It is important to note that the two big players that hold the top two market share spots in the computer hardware industry are IBM and Dell. IBM has strong research and development and marketing and gave rise to PC industry with Microsoft Windows OS. IBM global services also have strong customer assistance. The latter is a direct business model with low inventory costs, and Dell’s close relationships with its consumers helped build loyalty, and it ranked number one in the global PC market in 2001. In July 1999, Carly Fiorina was appointed as the CEO of HP, and the board believed she was the saviour of HP. Her goal was to reinvent the company according to the HP way. Her motto was: â€Å"Preserve the best and reinvent the rest. † At the time Carly took over, it was a collection of independent businesses, each selling a different kind of product. Her role was to execute an â€Å"e-services† strategy that would unify them into one profitable whole. After merging with Compaq, the main strategies that are focused on are the following: Sustainability where the new HP must both retain and grab additional market share, Uniqueness by being the largest IT company world-wide, value added by which the merger must demonstrate success, an increased product line through enhancement, adaptation to market forces through flexibility, and the retention of customer base through stability. Fiorina promised balanced revenue and earnings growth, targeting 12%-15% growth in 2000. The problem was that Carly Fiorina held too many offices as she was CEO, COO, and Chairman of the board. This led to an abuse of power, poor decision-making, and miscommunication. Both Compaq and HP were in an unwinnable price war with Dell. The merger of HP and Compaq clearly benefited both companies. From Porter’s five forces model of HP-Compaq, it is evident that there are moderate entry barriers, moderate threat of substitutes, high competition, moderate bargaining of power of buyers, and high bargaining power of suppliers. HP focuses on making technology more simple for its users from individual customers to large businesses. Its top priorities are to lower costs, improve its technology systems, increase business growth, and improve both efficiency and customer service. Despite the fact that both HP and Compaq were mature companies before the merger, the merger is still considered to be under restructuring, which resulted in the company losing some of its ground as a mature company. Blending the culture of both companies resulted in more innovative ideas and is now more supportive in providing more effective customer service. Through the successful merger of HP and Compaq, their costs were reduced by $3 billion annually. From the information provided above, it is important to note that the introduction of improved and more innovative products should be of focus as competition in existing players is high in order to gain market share and competitive position in the market. The company is focusing on its strategies in order to ensure achieving all business priorities by adjusting and optimizing the product line and enhancing high end services. When analyzing a merger between two companies like Compaq and HP, it is worth noting that if we were to do a segment analysis of this merger, a different conclusion would be drawn than an increase of profits in the merged firms. In a segment analysis, the combined firms would adversely lose money while trying to gain advantage over its product line in the business sector for example. A large business segment would only see a small increase in profits in this case. Depending on the elasticity in the market and the relevant position of the firms involved, the effects of a merger would vary significantly across different segments. For example, if Dell and Compaq were to have merged in 1998, it would have resulted in a negative consumer surplus. This in turn allows us to assume that the use of segment analysis can be valuable in assessing what impacts a merger could result in in various markets that have different consumer segments. The evolution of the market also plays an important factor. In the case of the HP-Compaq merger, if the same merge had occurred at a different period like 4 years earlier there would have been a smaller consumer welfare as opposed to the results yielded in its 2001 merger. Baker and Breshnan (1985) proposed a strategy of demand and supply to evaluate the effects of mergers. Products and consumers are observed by market participants according to Baker et. al, which in turn will be correlated with equilibrium prices which will lead the price coefficient to be â€Å"biased towards zero†. Furthermore, providing the consumers with a chance to not purchase any of the products available in regards to personal computers plays an important role as it allows the uniform price increase to change the quantities purchased. In addition, by using the demand parameters that are estimated, price-cost margins and marginal costs can be calculated without the use of actual cost information. According to Nevo (2000), in the HP-Compaq merger, â€Å"marginal costs and the number of products are held constant in their pre-merger level†. Furthermore, post-merger equilibrium elasticities are calculated based on the demand parameters in the pre-merger phase. From this, we can make the assumption that both consumer preferences and the value of the good did not change after the firms merged. However, one cannot ignore the fact that changes in the strategy after the merger took place accounted for price sensitivity and particularly changes outside the industry that could impact demand for the product places doubt on whether such an assumption is valid. A way one can look at the estimates of different segments is by looking at the aggregate demand elasticities over time. This is portrayed in a report by Foncel and Invaldi (2000). It is important to note that the total elasticity for the whole market is increasing over time. This is turn means that consumers are being less sensitive as the market is approaching its maturity, this would lead to the expectation that the demand for personal computers would be more elastic. Income effect plays a big role here as soaring prices means that purchasing a PC would become a smaller share of the budget over time. In addition, further developments in software widened the use of computers and have now become a necessity in our daily lives. The total elasticity of the home segment is the one that faces the largest rise. The reason for this is that this segment became less elastic over time due to two reasons. The first reason was due to high income elasticity and the second was due to higher usage of several developments in other domains such as the internet. Qualitative analysis of coordinated effects in the HP-Compaq merger is essential in understanding the formation of the merger that took place between both companies. In order to coordinate firms that are looking into merging should be able to come to an agreement which is not always easy as products in both firms are complex and differentiated. Compaq and HP should monitor one another’s behaviour closely to detect factors such as undercutting, and keeping rivals out by â€Å"collectively coordinating behaviour between them†, Stigler (1964). The distribution of brands and market shares varies both in time and across markets. Most firms are multi product firms which is why it is essential to bear in mind that there is a substantial number of products. Another important factor here is that firms may face elastic demands which arise from the consumers’ substitution of products in quality segments. In addition, market transparency ensures that all coordinating oligopolists are aware of the changes in the evolving markets. In the HP-Compaq merger, there are several market features that pave way for coordination in the server industry and others that prevent it from occurring. Also, competitors like Dell and IBM did not try to stand in the way of the merger. According to Freidman (1971), the merger between HP and Compaq affects the incentive to cooperate, yet it actively decreases the firms’ incentives to cooperate in a strategic manner. Freidman also goes on to portray that his model does not take into account either the entry or exit of a product, nor uncertainty. The reduction of costs, and enrichment of revenues, growth of the industry, and need of product diversification are several reasons why mergers and acquisitions have become proliferate over the last decade or so. When analyzing the financial results of the HP-Compaq merger, it is important to look at the profitability and efficiency ratios of the companies in the pre-merger and post-merger stages. In order to maximize profit and minimize products, HP and Compaq understand and adjust to the constantly shifting and changing markets, which technologies need acceleration, value creation for its consumers, and global development which serves as a shield against competitors like Dell and IBM. It is essential for a firm to understand its position in the industry especially in a market that is saturated with competition like the computer industry where competitors such as Dell, IBM, Toshiba, Sony, Vaio, are present. An organization must be able to identify the factors that have an effect on the firm such as its suppliers, consumers, and competitors. Those factors enable the industry to know how to maintain itself in such a marketplace in order to be in a â€Å"win-win† situation. One of the benefits that resulted from the HP-Compaq merger is the following. Both firms were in a no win situation price war with Dell. The merger resulted in Compaq and HP to stop competing with one another. In February 2001, Dell, the biggest competitor of HP-Compaq launched a campaign to become the largest competitor in the PC industry. In an attempt to grab the market share, Dell announced and intentional undercut in its prices by 10%. Although some mergers produce marginal results or lead to the sinking of companies, HP and Compaq’s merger created a new corporate culture. This helped the company focus its product development efforts. The company improved its position in a number of core markets. By completing the merger when they did, HP was able to position itself by taking the extra leap ahead of trends that were working against the two companies when they existed as independent entities. In addition, its commitment to cultural change helped the merger go through a smoother transition, although HP took certain measures like reducing its workforce size, the change of 2 CEO’s, and the reorganization of the management’s structure. â€Å"The HP-Compaq merger established what it had set out to. Its main aim was to provide the essential mass and ensure a long term-role in an industry that was undergoing a fundamental transition,† according to Jean S. Bozman, research vice president in IDC’s world-wide Server Group. Furthermore, he added that â€Å"this deal enabled the merged company to grow revenue and profits in an increasingly competitive marketplace. † References: Anon (2002): Investor relations- taking a fair share of the responsibility, Strategic Direction. Bradford: Vol. 18, Iss. 8, pgs. 13-16. Ahles, Andrea (2002): Hewlett-Packard Executives Say Its Company Is on Track to Produce Lasting Benefits, Knight Ridder Tribune Business News. Washington: Aug 28, pg. 1. Anon (2010): HP Hires Gail Galuppo to Lead Wordlwide Strategy and Marketing for Imaging and Printing Group, Business Wire. New York. Brown, Meredith, Kubek, Gary (2002): Court Demands Proof of HP-Compaq vote buying International Financial Law Review, London: Vol 21, Iss. 7; pg 25. Roy, Preeta; Roy, Probir (2004): The Hewlett Packard- Compaq Computers Merger: Insight from the Resource-Based View and the Dynamic Capabilities Perspective, Journal of American Academy of Business, Cambridge. Hollywood: Vol. 5, Iss. Pgs 7,8. Freidman J. (1971), â€Å"A Non-cooperative Equilibrium for Supergames. † Review of Economic Studies, 38, 1-12. Stigler, G. J. (1964) â€Å"A theory of Oligopoly†, Journal of Political Economy, 72, 44-61. Baker, J. P. and T. F. Bresnahan (1985). â€Å"The Gains from Merger or Collusion in Product-Di ¤erentiated Industries†, Journal of Industrial Economics, 33, 427-444. Nevo, A. (2000a). â€Å"Mergers with Di ¤erentiated Products: The Case of the Ready-to- eat Cereal Industry†, RAND Journal of Economics, 31, 3, 395-421. Foncel, J. and M. Invaldi (2001). â€Å"Operating System Prices in the Home PC Market†, mimeo, University of Toulouse. Bozman, J. S. (2006). HP-Compaq merger a success five years on: IDC. URL http://www. itwire. com/it-industry-news/strategy/6879-hp-compaq-merger-a-success-five-years-on-idc

Pest Analysis

PEST analysis: Political: Australia is a type of democratic country and it is stable politically. The characteristics of Australian government such as transparency and having low level of corruption, and being internationally competitiveness helps Australia to have the lowest rank of political instability in Asia-Pacific and it standing on bottom fourth position in the world in political instability (Australian government 2009). Therefore this factor is an advantage and an opportunity for the companies that operate within Australia and for the people who invest in these kinds of companies. Economic:Australia has one of the most stable economies in the world. According to Economist magazine Australia’s GDP in 2012 was about 1. 5 trillion USD and it becomes the 12th country in the world. During the last global financial crisis in 2007 most of the countries such as US, and European countries were suffering and their economic factors such as GDP, Interest rate, growth, inflation w ent downwards and were in recession, but Australian government could control the situation by implementing strategies that helped small businesses and individuals and kept the economy stable (Economist magazine 2013).So the Australian government made an opportunity out of the financial crisis which was a threat for the whole economy and now is one of the best countries for investment with a very low risk. Social: According to Australian Bureau of Statistics census in 2011 there was 3. 5 million student in this country both international and domestics (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2013). So these students are the customer base for Mynetfone at the moment as residential customers and they can be the potential business users in near future.As Australia has a good rate of economy growth, more businesses wanted to operate in this country and as a result they will need more services for their business such as internet, phone etc. Technological: Mynetfone owned Symbio network in 2009 wh ich has the largest VoIP network providing wholesale carrier service to Australian industry in Australia that using number porting, cloud based hosted PBX service, call termination, call origination and many other infrastructure enable services. The Symbio work in wholesale and Mynetfone work on retail sections (Mynetfone 2013).

Definition and Examples of Metanoia

Definition and Examples of Metanoia Metanoia is a  rhetorical term for the act of self-correction in speech or writing. Also known as  correctio or the figure of afterthought. Metanoia may involve amplifying or retracting, strengthening or weakening a prior statement. The effect of  metanoia, says Robert A. Harris, is  to provide emphasis (by fussing over a term and redefining it), clarity (by providing the improved definition), and a sense of spontaneity (the reader is thinking along with the writer as the writer revises a passage) (Writing with Clarity and Style, 2003). EtymologyFrom the Greek, change ones mind, repent Examples and Observations Kreuz Market is the ultimate barbecue restaurant- no, scratch that- barbecue experience in Central Texas (and therefore the world).You might have heard a pin fall- a pin! a feather- as he described the cruelties  inflicted on muffin boys  by their masters . . ..(Charles Dickens,  Nicholas Nickleby, 1839)To Put It a Better Way . . .  [W]ithout that association, that sense of membership in something- or to put that a better way, without a sense of belonging and participation in a group effort, the employee loses focus on what were trying to accomplish.(Unnamed president of a media company quoted in The Servant Leader, by James A. Autry. Prima Publishing, 2001)Let Me Correct That . . .Shortly after I came to Washington I was told in a way that showed me it was no loosely thought out- let me correct that statement. I was told in a serious way that Mr. Finletter- or rather, I was told by Mr. Finletter that he had serious question as to the loyalty of Dr. Oppenheimer.(David Tressel Griggs, witness at physicist J. Robert Oppenheimers hearing before the Atomic Energy Commissions Personnel Security Board, May 1954. In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer: The Security Clearance Hearing, ed. by Richard Polenberg. Cornell University Press, 2002) Or More Properly Speaking . . .The meal, when beaten up, is used for thickening broths, and rolled up into bolsters about a foot long and two inches in diameter, and then wrapped in plantain leaves, and tied round with tie-tie and boiled, or more properly speaking steamed, for a lot of the rolls are arranged in a brass skillet. . . . [T]he whole affair is poised on the three cooking-stones over a wood fire, and left there until the contents are done, or more properly speaking, until the lady in charge of it has delusions on the point, and the bottom rolls are a trifle burnt or the whole insufficiently cooked.(Mary H. Kingsley, Travels in West Africa, 1897)For my own part, cried Peregrine, with great eagerness, I appeal to Miss Sophys decision. But why do I say appeal? Though I am conscious of having committed no offence, I am ready to submit to any penance, let it be ever so rigorous, that my fair enslaver herself shall impose, provided it will entitle me to her favour and forgivenes s at last.(Tobias Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, 1751) The Persuasive Value of Metanoia- Metanoia can have mild persuasive value. The speaker may utter a less controversial claim, then revise it to make it stronger. This brings the reader along more gently than announcing the stronger claim on its own. Or conversely the stronger claim may be offered first but then reduced to something less ambitious that seems easy to accept by comparison. . . .Metanoia can create an impression of scrupulousness, as the speaker starts to say one thing but then feels obliged to take the initiative in correcting it. (It also can suggest overscrupulousness, as when the speaker fusses too much.)(Ward Farnsworth, Farnworths Classical English Rhetoric. David R. Godine, 2011)-  Metanoia can serve a variety  of rhetorical ends. Stopping to correct oneself disrupts the flow of discourse, drawing attention to and emphasizing the revision.  Or, in a move similar to  paralipsis, retracting a statement allows the speaker to introduce an idea or claim and then avoid responsibility for having done so.  Sometimes strengthening an  initially mild or uncontroversial statement (or qualifying an initially strong one) can persuade an audience by making the speaker seem more reasonable.(Bryan A. Garner,  Garners Modern English Usage. Oxford University Press, 2016) Finding the Right Word[I]t seemed to me that there was a safe and unassailable foundation for our claim to interfere on behalf of British subjects, and that was the right which every State possesses to protect its subjects in another State from wrong. That was a right which we possessed in an unusual degree in South Africa owing to the peculiar position of the country- a country where there were two races side by side, both of them determined in their opinions, with a history of their own, and jealous of their independence. Perhaps independence is not the right word to use. I mean, rather, jealous of the equality of their rights.(John Wodehouse, Earl of Kimberly, Address in Answer to the Queens Speech, Oct. 17, 1899)I Should Say . . .I rather was minded to make known to you that I- or, I should rather say, we, and Mr. Crawley pointed to his wifeshall not accept your plainness of speech as betokening aught beyond a conceived idea in furtherance of which you have thought it expedient t o make certain inquiries.I dont quite follow you, said the major.(Anthony Trollope, The Last Chronicle of Barset, 1874) Pronunciation: met-a-NOY-ah