Research proposal Mobile Phone Service Provider

Introduction Customers are the most important part of any business, there cannot be a business without clients. This research paper presents a proposal for strengthening the customer experience in a growing form of business. The proposal will begin by reviewing on the literature on strategic marketing as addressed by porter in his presentation of marketing strategy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Research proposal: Mobile Phone Service Provider specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Michael porter postulates five forces of assessing the competitive strength and position of a business. This strategy will be used in exploring options available for wallmart private company. The proposal further present research questions for the study to be carried out. These are the questions which will lead the researcher while proceeding with the research process. Research objectives form the plans of intention and will be stated in a measurable way. These objectives are achievable objectives and relate to the area of study. Methodology to be used in the research proposal is a quantitative method which will involve collection of data in a measurable way. Data regarding customer’s preferences will be collected and scrutinized using statistical tools. Philosophy of research is the guiding factor to achievement of objective and for that reason forms a key principle for the research. This research paper will present core view for the research in customer care services. Data collection methods to be highlighted in this proposal are observation and case study of wallmart business centre. Ethical issues that results from the methods used in data collection will also be discussed in the research proposal. Before analyzing data, limitations of the research will be discussed. The limitations validate the reason for the research in the private investment mentioned. To sum up the research, analysis of the data will b e conducted and conclusion made. Literature review Michael porter suggested five forces which drives the market. These forces are: existing competitive contention between suppliers, threat of innovative market entrants, bargaining power of buyers, influence of those supplying the business, and danger of products which are substitutes (Porter, 2000). In the model external forces are stronger than internal forces in a business. It is important to integrate the analysis of the business in conjunction with SWOT meaning Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The treat of substitute products or services Mobile phone service provider faces a number of substitute products available in telecommunication industry. This was a research conducted by (Creswell, 2003). The main issue discussed by the researcher was that existence of the common produc ts and services raises the probability of customers shifting those products. The motivating factor to shifting to these alternatives is the relative prices of the substitutes and nearness to the substitutes. People were able to subscribe to a specific communication service provider because of the different rates. The services were also readily available to any person in need. Migration from one service provider to the next was also easily executed. The treat of new competitors In any market segment where profitability ratio is high, businesses are drawn into that that market by high profit margins (Porter, 2000). The inflow of new entrants prompts a reduction on the prices of common goods and ultimately decreased profits in the business. In communication industry, existence of patent rights and other form of communication barriers reduces the number of new entrants while those who have low scores in the market can exit easily. High initial costs of investment have the effect of redu cing the number of entrants (Creswell, 2003). One of the major points to note is the level of customer loyalty to established products in the market. If a company has to build the confidence of the customers, then it is obliged to establish brands that best suits the customers. This was an inference made of consumption of beer in the market. Methodology used in the study was an interview conducted in a local club. It was clear that customers have an attachment to a specific drink. The government also regulated the market by the use of price floors. Setting of minimum prices for a commodity affects the purchasing power of the target group. If a government wants to reduce consumption of a specific product, has to employ high price floor. Bargaining power of buyer This is the ability of the buyer to exert pressure on the business organization to reduce the prices of the products it offers in the market. If a buyer has potentials of purchasing large volume of the products, it is most li kely that prices will be reduced in form of discounts (Porter, 2000). This is a form of pressure initiated by the buyer to the company to cut down on their price levels.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Research proposal: Mobile Phone Service Provider specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More If substitutes are present in the market, providers of a product or are obliged to cut down on their prices if they intend to make sales. Another important aspect to note is the potentials of the company to innovate a differentiated and unique product in the market. Qualitative research by Patton (2002) on consumption of beauty products indicated that more ladies preferred a new invention in the beauty industry. Products which have been differentiated with high level of graphics are more likely to win more consumers. Power of suppliers in bargaining This is marked by the inputs to the market. Research done on car manufacturing compan y revealed that there exist many suppliers of car parts and other services (Coghlan, 2003). The existence of many substitute suppliers impart positively on the firm since it is guaranteed a continuous inflow of raw materials. This also assist accompany to minimize fluctuating cost of inputs. Vertical integration also goes along in cutting down on cost relate to competition from suppliers (Porter, 2000). SWOT analysis SWOT analysis reveals the both the strong points and the weak points of an organization in question as follows; Strengths Financial stability of a firm, the available liquid cash, the assets. The market niche of the company, the stability of the market niche. The brand used by the company, the patents and trademarks. Weaknesses The extent of liabilities of a company. The geographical limitation of the company. The rate of employee turnover in the company. Opportunities The chances available to breach the market gap. The new market innovations at the disposal of the company, the strategies that the company can employ in order to acquire a substantial market niche. The potential source of financial support available for the company Threats The number of new entrants to the market. The innovativeness of the company’s competitors. The unpredictable changing needs of the company’s consumers. Research question This is a more general term focusing on the area of research to be done. The research question will offer a direction in which the research will be done consequently motivating the researcher to address real issues for the study (Lewis, 2003). In this research proposal, a valid research question is: what can the company (wallmart) do to improve on the quality of customer care services provided to customers? The research question formulated is based on secondary material and derived from the introductory and literature review.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Objectives of the research Objective of the research forms part of the statement of intention stated in a measurable and achievable way (Thompson, 2005). The objective of this research proposal is to determine objectively ways of stimulating contact with the customers through a customer experience method. The research will thus show ways on enhancing this customer experience. In essence, the intention of this research is to enhance a customer oriented business entity that will be subject to the needs of the customer. Given the growing concern and the need to study the constant changing needs of a consumer, being customer oriented will therefore demand all possible spheres in the study of what is commonly called consumer behavior. The consumer behavior has been studied extensively since early 60’s when the world of business started concentrating more on the needs of the consumer and starting to concentrate on them in order to acquire substantial market niche. Research method S o as to be able to collect data on the research proposed, quantitative data method of research will be used. The sequence of the research ways and methods are as outlined below. Philosophy of research It important to concentrate on philosophical issues in research since it helps a researcher to refine and specify the research method (Meyer, 2007). This forms a clarification process of the strategy to be used in the research. For this reason it validates the type of evidence gathered, their sources, and how it helps answer the research question. The philosophy will also help the researcher to evaluate methodologies to use in the research therefore avoiding unnecessary wok by deducing limitations of a specific method (McGee, 2005). Finally the philosophy of the research ultimately leads to exploration of new approaches to a research. In this research, the philosophy to apply is the relevance of the study. Customer care services forms the basis where the business can either succeed or fail. The objective of the business is to make profits through more sales. This can be achieved by finding ways of streamlining contact with the customers. Research in the field of customer care is thus relevant. The second philosophy of the research is the ability to present quality work after the research is done. Quality research will be achieved by collecting relevant data, analyzing them and finally interpreting the findings in an appropriate manner (Saunders, 2004). In consideration of the fact that the research entails a lot of personal contact with the customers, it then calls for a lot of integrity when the research is in progress. Following a continuous change in marketing strategies and a recent shift to customer based advertisement through electronic media (e-marketing) the research must be approached with dynamism and ability to appreciate different perspectives (Smith, 2003) The end result of this position is progress of the research to a level where the findings are v aluable to organization. Wall mart therefore will benefit from the inferences of the research through advancement of the customer care experiences. Approach of the research A combination of both qualitative and quantitative approach to research will be used in the study of available techniques to. Qualitative approach to use in the research will involve interviewing marketing managers of successful companies (Silverman, 2000). A specific organization chosen is commodity dispensing centers like supermarket chains. The choice is supported by the fact that they value interaction with the customers. Observation is also made when customers are entering the supermarket and how they are treated while shopping. Quantitatively data will be collected on the number of complains submitted by customers per week and the steps taken by the chain in responding to the complaints. In the analysis section, probability of a customer finding a response to the complaints is calculated by dividing number of complains that the company has responded to with the total complains. In doing this, an important statistics can be acquired to support the need to create a procedure for handling customer complain. Descriptive research will also be collected in a banking sector to investigate what the bank tellers know about customer satisfaction. The method to use in the research is a survey to be conducted in one of the renowned Barclays bank. Bank tellers will be described as they continue with their work of attending to clients. Methods of collecting data and their procedures Quantitative data will be collected by obtaining data from the records of complaints entered in the books of the chain supermarket. The following table is relevant as a too to use in entering data. Days of the week No of complaints Responded to complaints Probability of getting a response(response/complains) Sales Level(units) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday To enter the prob ability section, a simple arithmetic is carried out by dividing number of complaints responded to by total number of complaints per day. The probability will therefore indicate the chances that customers are satisfied after shopping in the chain supermarket. This is therefore a clear indication of a customer based means of doing business. The data collected are crucial for wallmart business so as to device methods of supplementing on customer care service. To collect qualitative data, interview questions will be mailed to marketing managers of 2 chain supermarket in a busy town. Structured interview questions in form of a questionnaire are suitable for the study. Some of the questions to be responded to by the manager include: what marketing strategy is employed by the organization in an attempt to increase sales level? Does the organization offer free sample to customers? Does the company have package its products to customers satisfactory? Does the company have a toll free communi cation line where the customers place their complaints? Ethical issues Ethics generally refer to the code of conduct in any business transaction, ethics are meant to be a guideline for an organization in question or any other form of business entity. There are professional ethics and organizational ethics. Professional ethics are normally unique and practiced within the profession in question, professional ethics could include; accounting, technology, medicine and so forth. In an organization, ethics govern the daily conduct of the entire human resource in the organization. They can be widely classified as research ethics and professional ethics. This definition is supported by Smith (2003) where he states that research ethics mainly addresses interaction between the researcher and the area being studied while professional ethics lays emphasis on principles followed while conducting a research. In summary, the ethics that apply to Wallmart are both organizational and professional. T he reason for this is because of the fact that the firm’s employees are both subject to the rules of the organization and their independent profession. Limitations of research The quality of the results of the research is influenced by the existence of other variables. Qualitative research is limited by confidentiality of marketing strategies used by organizations. It is worth noting that for a competitive firm, data and other information linking the business to the customers must be kept safe (Dewit, 2004). The managers are more likely to be reluctant in availing such kind of intelligence. It is therefore appropriate to state clearly that the purpose of the research is purely academic and no such confidential information will spill to competitors. As a result of the turnover of employees from one company to the other competing company, it is sometimes difficult to safeguard the business secret from reaching a completing firm. Another limiting factor is promptness of the resp onse by interviewee. Managers are busy by nature of their work load. This means that response to questionnaires is minimized. To improve on the response rate, questionnaire is attached with a letter requesting to source information for an academic writing. A compiled report will also be sent to the company which thus forms a tool for appraising its services. This step will recognizes a relevant factor for any research that it must aim at benefiting the participants in the research and not the researcher alone (Dewit, 2004). Time period for the research is longer since participants take time to respond. Analysis of the data Quantitative data collected and recorded in the table above is analyzed using mathematical tools. Probability will indicate the chances of a customer getting response from the company. A higher probability shows that customer’s needs are relevant to the business and that a faster rate of response would motivate more customers to go shopping in the chain sup ermarket. Statistical tool of correlation will be used in an attempt to draw relationship between response to customers and increase or decrease. Quality of packaging inspires customers to visit the business area. Such an analysis tool will be of great use in the case of wallmatt. It also aid in the decision making process on the possible ways of enhancing customer experience in order to increase the company’s sales as a result of increased customer satisfaction. Conclusion This research proposal has presented a detailed discussion of a way the research on improving customer care service in wallmart can be improved. The paper first reviewed literature on porter’s competitive model. In the model, the market operates under five forces namely: existing competitive contention between suppliers, threat of innovative market entrants, bargaining power of buyers, influence of those supplying the business, and danger of products which are substitutes. This is compared with SWOT analysis which compares such characteristics as: Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats. Porter brings forward that the external forces are stronger in any business set up. This form part of the reason why businesses concentrate on customer care services ( toll free telephone lines, quality packaging, and advisories). The proposal that has been put forward by this proposal will aid in the decision making process that involves customer satisfaction and possible ways of increasing customer satisfaction in the company. References Coghlan, D and Brannick, T. (2003) Doing Action Research in your own organization. New York, Sage.pub.Co. Creswell, J. (2003) Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. California, Sage Publications. Dewit,B and Meyer,R. (2004) Strategy :process, content and context. California, McGraw-Hill. Lewis, P and Thornhill, A. (2003) Research Methods for Business. London, Sage publications. McGee, J, Thomas, H and Wilson, D. (2005 ) Strategy Analysis and Practice. Texas, McGraw-Hill Education. Meyer, R. (2007) Mapping the Mind of the Strategist: A Quantitative Methodology for Measuring the Strategic Beliefs of Business Executives. Rotterdam, ERIM Research Foundation. Patton, M. (2002) Qualitative research evaluation methods (3rd edition). California, Sage Publications. Porter, Michael E. (2000) Competitive strategy: techniques for analyzing industries and competitors. New York, Free Press. Saunders,M, Easterby-Smith, Thorp,R and Lowe,A. (2003) Management Research. Texas. Sage Pub.Co. Silverman, D (eds) (2000) Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London, Sage publications. Smith, N. Craig. (2003) Corporate social responsibility: Whether or how? California Management Review Journal, 45(4), 23-34. Thompson, H, John, L and Martin, F. (2005) Strategic management : awareness and change. 5th Edition. Kentucky, Thomson Learning. This essay on Research proposal: Mobile Phone Service Provider was written and submitted by user Kane Mendoza to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

buy custom The Political Parties essay

buy custom The Political Parties essay The American health market like the normal commodity market has changed its focus from providing quality services to maximizing the quantity of services provided to maximize profits, which they have succeeded in, but at the expense of the peoples welfare. There is a significant difference in the quality health care provided by salaried doctors and that provided by doctors who were paid per service, with the salaried doctors exhibiting better quality service delivery. These incentives have also caused many doctors to turn their backs on patients who cannot afford their services, which beats the purpose of being a doctor. The quality of healthcare in the United States relative to that of other countries has been a major issue. A free market approach to healthcare much like the market for other commodities has been argued by one political advocacy to result in low quality healthcare as doctors compromise the quality of healthcare in favor of quantity and has been found to result in higher mortality rates (Hoffman, 2003). The cost of healthcare in the United States relative to its economy is the highest in the world. There is need for a fiscal policy that will bring the costs of healthcare under control and ensure universal coverage of health care in America in the long run. The inconsistent coverage in health care has been a major concern. For example, a 2009 Harvard study found that there were more than 44800 deaths in the United States every year cause by lack of health insurance. It was also found that there were thousands of others who died annually due to lack of medical care. The following essay covers the current health care condition in America and the stance of political parties in regards to the same and to reforms. Health reform has been discussed and debated by political parties in the United States for a long time with every party having a different opinion from the other and sometimes from the public. All Americans agree that there is need for health reform in America but few are willing to pay for it. There also seems to be a lack of consensus on the best approach with approximately 40 percent being democrats, 30 percent being republicans and 30 percent being independent (Birn, 2003). The main difference in the stance taken by the political parties is whether to improve the quality of health care by giving the public control over health care, an approach advocated for by the republicans or to provide universal coverage and allow for government intervention, the democratic approach. While majority of Americans think that health care reforms should be addressed now, they cannot seem to decide on the timing. In light of other urgent matters such as the economic condition of the country the majority of the democrats think that the health care reform issue should be tackled immediately, while the majority of republicans think that at the moment health care reform is not affordable (Wainess, 1999). When it comes to the question of raising money to cater for health care reform, the democrats favor government based funding. They support the ideology of increasing taxes for the wealthiest and also on unhealthy health practices such as smoking. The republicans on the other hand recommend that Americans be charged with the responsibility of funding this reform. The Republican stance Therepublicans unlike the Democrats believe in giving the power to make decisions to the people rather than to the government. When it comes to health reform therefore their focus is on the patient and his needs and wants rather than the government. Their main goal is the provision of better quality health care at lower costs. They disagree with the democrats goal of offering increased access without lowering costs. Republicans claim to have a bill that is workable and that will cover all Americans without costing the tax payer any money. This bill, the Empowering Patients First Act which they proposed as a replacement for the amendment of the Senate bill was rejected by the Senate Finance Committee. Their reasons were that this bill would not reduce the number of people without insurance cover and was feared to actually reduce health insurance coverage since it would do away with mandated coverage rules that are in operation in some States. The insurance companies would than benefit from more government funds by coming up with new insurance subsidies. The republicans however, maintained their stand since they beleve that charging the public with this responsibility is bound to increase doctors accountability and to increase competition therefore reducing costs. For a long time the republicans have been against government control in the health sector and advocate for private medicine practice as opposed to socialized medicine. The republicans objectives in advocating for less government involvement include encouraging the promotion of health and the prevention of diseases, protection of the citizens from restructuring effort that would result in rationing or complicated health care, create a cooperative environment among the health providers, the patients, the stakeholders and payers in the health care system and eliminating government interference between the health care providers and their patients (Williamson, 1994). Their stance basically is one of increasing the patients control, their accessibility and affordability of health care. They also disagree with the democrats policy of increasing taxes for whichever class and government subsidies instead of lowering costs. They advocate for patients empowerment and reducing government intervention therefore curbing the bureaucracy that comes with the involvement of the government. Their argument against the involvement of the government is the lack of progress so far in light of their intervention. Their goal is to improve the quality and coverage of health insurance at lower costs. In their view, health care provider and American citizens, not the government is key to real health reform. They believe that Americans have the right to an affordable health care plan which meets their needs. Therefore it is imperative that insurances be made more affordable by lowering premiums, and more secure. They also advocate for the employees choice to own coverage apart from the one offered by the employer or one linked to the job. The patients, not the insurance companies need to have the upper hand and the insurance companies need to strive to keep patients business as opposed to the patients striving to keep their insurance covers. Republicans are concerned about the inequalities exhibited in the current tax system. In the current tax system the high income employees enjoy better health tax benefits compared to other Americans who cannot afford a health care plan. Part of their goal is to ensure all Americans receive equal tax benefits, whatever the means of their insurance. Tax reform is another strategy that would reduce health care costs significantly. Inefficiencies in healthcare have been partly perpetuated by a lack of clarity in regards to health insurance costs and the bearer of these costs in employment. Health insurance provided by providers is currently exempted from tax and it has been argued that taxing employer based health insurance would increase the tax revenue significantly. The Economist, in November 2009 estimated the increase in tax revenue in the event that employer based health insurance was taxed to be 215 billion dollars. Tax payers are more likely to change the system or their behavior that will impact on demand for health care services. Besides ensuring individuals are in control of their health care, Republicans are committed to helping lower cost, improving quality of care as well as helping Americans adopt a healthier life and a culture of wellness. They also advocate for preventive measures such as vaccines and improved nutrition. An example is strategy suggested in aiding medical cost reduction is measures towards lowering obesity. Preventing overweight and obesity issues prevents a large number of diseases related to these conditions whose treatment is rather costly such as heart disease, cancer among others. Therefore lowering obesity is bound to significantly reduce healthcare costs. They also advocate for less smoking and consumption of alcohol (Willimson, 1994). This is bound to lower the demand for health care services and therefore lower its prices. They also advocate for equal treatment of mental health care with physical health care. Access to health care should not only be limited to those seeking physical health care but also to those seeking mental healthcare. One of the strategies that the republicans advocate for that is bound to lower costs is increasing competition. This can be achieved by providing the citizens with perfect information concerning health care so that they make informed decisions about health care and health providers. This should increase competition and consequently lower costs. The republicans believe in the betterment of medical research especially by funding it. This would be accomplished by using comparative effective research among other tools. This would ensure that there is a body that is charged with the specific task of ensuring that the medical and healthcare field was at its best at all times. It would also be responsible for carrying out regulatory measures to ensure the healthcare system was based on quality service provision rather than quantity. Incentives presently being used by the health care system have been criticized as aiding in increasing health care costs. One of their major problems with current incentives is that doctors get paid for the number of services provided rather than receiving a constant salary. While this is aimed at encouraging them to provide more health services it could also cause them to compromise on quality services in bid to maximize the quantity of health care provided and in turn increase profits. Fully insured patients also contribute to the high health care costs since they have no incentive to consider minimal costs when choosing among alternative treatment methods. This has the effect of increased premiums by the insurance companies to all. The republicans stress the importance of appreciating the health providers who do a good job and rewarding them. They should be paid for the quality of work they provide and not by the number or tests run or the cases they treat. The use of technology can be used to improve record keeping by making it digital therefore easy to store and to access. Technology is devoid of human error therefore making it more reliable. It encourages low costs, more efficient record keeping and more accurate treatment. Recently a lot of funds have been directed towards improper payments that amount to medicare fraud. These crimes are highly lucrative for the perpetrators and are often difficult to trace. However, seeing as the amount of money that is lost to these fraudulent cases amounts to 60 billion dollars every year, there is need to address this issue and adapt measures to apprehend the perpetrators while preventing the likelihood of their successful perpetration. Thorough auditing needs to be done and more transparency and accountability measures implemented if these monies are to be saved (Cook, 2007). These fraudulent practices besides costing the government a lot of money, may lead to lawsuits directed at the doctors often. Lawsuits often have the effect of increasing insurance rates and consequently increasing the costs of health care. The Democrats stance The democrats most consistent advocacy for years has been increasing health care coverage in the United States by advocating for access of health care to everyone. They have fought for the public to have some basic assurance and security in health care. A research study in Health Affairs found that 50 percent of personal bankruptcies were a result of medical bills, a finding that indicated the inconsistency in health care coverage in the United States. Over the years a couple of the presidents of the United States have taken measures towards the achievement of this goal, and most recently President Obama increased health care coverage to include four million children who do not have insurance cover. Therefore it advocates for public funded systems which have been found to result in high quality healthcare. This group has also criticized the quality of managed care and that of health maintenance organizations. The shortage of doctors and nurses in the United States is another issue of concern for the democrats. A shortage of medical practitioners means healthcare services will become scarcer and therefore increase in cost. With an average of 2 to 3 doctors for every a thousand people, the doctors are swamped as it is. A deterioration of this statistic would mean less accessibility to quality medical care in addition to increased health care costs. They therefore advocate for the training of more doctors and nurses since the more they are the more likely the public security in health care since it means more doctors are available per a particular number of people (Cook, 2007). Another measure that the democrats have advocated for is the bill passed concerning insurance coverage for persons with pre existing conditions. In the near future, uninsured adults who lack insurance on the basis of pre existing conditions will be able to acquire insurance coverage via a new program. Buy custom The Political Parties essay

Theodore Roosevelt and the New York Police Department

Theodore Roosevelt and the New York Police Department Future president Theodore Roosevelt returned to the city of his birth in 1895 to take on a task that might have intimidated other people, the reform of the notoriously corrupt police department. His appointment was front-page news and he obviously saw the job a chance to clean up New York City while reviving his own political career, which had stalled. As the president of the police commission, Roosevelt, true to form, vigorously threw himself into the task. His trademark zeal, when applied to the complexities of urban politics, tended to generate a cascade of problems. Roosevelts time at the top of the New York Police Department brought him into conflict with powerful factions, and he did not always emerge triumphantly. In one notable example, his widely publicized crusade to close saloons on Sunday, the only day when many workingmen  could socialize in them, provoked a lively public backlash. When he left the police job, after only two years, the department had been changed for the better. But Roosevelts time as New York Citys top cop had been raucous, and the clashes he found himself in had nearly brought his political career to an end. Roosevelts Patrician Background Theodore Roosevelt was born into a wealthy New York City family on October 27, 1858. A sickly child who overcame illness through physical exertion, he went on to Harvard and entered New York politics by winning a seat in the state assembly at the age of 23. In 1886 he lost an election for mayor of New York City. He then stayed out of government for three years until he was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison to the United States Civil Service Commission. For six years Roosevelt served in Washington, D.C., overseeing the reform of the nations civil service, which had been tainted by decades of adherence to the spoils system. Roosevelt was respected for his work reforming the federal civil service, but he wished to return to New York City and something more challenging. A new reform mayor of the city, William L. Strong, offered him the job of sanitation commissioner in early 1895. Roosevelt turned it down, thinking the job of literally cleaning up the city was beneath his dignity. A few months later, after a series of public hearings exposed widespread graft in the New York Police Department, the mayor came to Roosevelt with a far more attractive offer:  a post on the board of police commissioners. Enthused by the  chance to bring much-needed reforms to his hometown, and in a very public post, Roosevelt took the job. The Corruption of the New York Police A crusade to clean up New York City, led by a reform-minded minister, Rev. Charles Parkhurst, had prompted the state legislature to create a commission to investigate corruption. Chaired by state senator Clarence Lexow, what became known as the Lexow Commission held public hearings which exposed the startling depth of police corruption. In weeks of testimony, saloon owners and prostitutes detailed a system of payoffs to police officials. And it became apparent that the thousands of saloons in the city functioned as political clubs which perpetuated the corruption. Mayor Strongs solution was to replace the four-member board that oversaw the police. And by putting an energetic reformer like Roosevelt on the board as its president, there was cause for optimism. Roosevelt took the oath of office on the morning of May 6, 1895, at City Hall. The New York Times lauded Roosevelt the next morning but expressed skepticism about the other three men named to the police board. They must have been named for political considerations, said an editorial. Problems were obvious at the outset of Roosevelts term at the top of the police department. Roosevelt Made His Presence Known In early June 1895 Roosevelt and a friend, the crusading newspaper reporter Jacob Riis, ventured out into the streets of New York late one night, just after midnight. For hours they wandered through the darkened Manhattan streets, observing the police, at least when and where they could actually find them. The New York Times carried a story on June 8, 1895 with the headline, Police Caught Napping. The report referred to President Roosevelt, as he was president of the police board, and detailed how he had found policemen asleep on their posts or  socializing in public  when they should have been patrolling alone. Several officers were ordered to report to police headquarters the day after Roosevelts late night tour. They received a strong personal reprimand from Roosevelt himself. The newspaper account noted: The action of Mr. Roosevelt, when it became known, made a sensation throughout the department and as a consequence, more faithful patrol duty may be performed by the force for some time to come. Roosevelt also came into conflict with Thomas Byrnes, a legendary detective who had come to epitomize the New York Police Department. Byrnes had amassed a suspiciously large fortune, with the apparent help of Wall Street characters such as Jay Gould, but had managed to keep his job. Roosevelt forced Byrnes to resign, though no public reason for the ouster of Byrnes was ever disclosed. Political Problems Though Roosevelt was at heart a politician, he soon found himself in a political bind of his own making. He was determined to shut down saloons, which generally operated on Sundays in defiance of local law. The problem was that many New Yorkers worked a six-day week, and Sunday was the only day when they could gather in saloons and socialize. To the community of German immigrants, in particular, the Sunday saloon gatherings were considered an important facet of life. The saloons were not merely social but often served as political clubs, frequented by an actively engaged citizenry. Roosevelts crusade to shutter saloons on Sundays brought him into heated conflict with large segments of the population. He was denounced and viewed as being out of touch with the common people. The Germans in particular rallied against him, and Roosevelts campaign against saloons cost his Republican Party in the city-wide elections held in the fall of 1895. The next summer, New York City was hit by a heat wave, and Roosevelt gained back some public support by his smart action in dealing with the crisis. He had made an effort to familiarize himself with slum neighborhoods, and he saw that the police distributed ice to people who desperately needed it. By the end of 1896, Roosevelt was thoroughly tired of his police job. Republican William McKinley had won the election that fall, and Roosevelt began concentrating on finding a post within the new Republican administration. He was eventually appointed an assistant secretary of the Navy and left New York to return to Washington. Impact of Roosevelt on New Yorks Police Theodore Roosevelt spent less than two years with the New York Police Department, and his tenure was marked with nearly constant controversy. While the job burnished his credentials as a reformer, most of what he tried to accomplish ended in frustration. The campaign against corruption proved essentially hopeless. New York City remained much the same after he left. However, in later years Roosevelts time at police headquarters on Mulberry Street in lower Manhattan took on legendary status. He would be remembered as a police commissioner who cleaned up New York, even though his accomplishments on the job didnt live up to the legend.

History Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

History - Research Paper Example The Minoan civilization is the oldest Greek and the oldest European civilization. Many characteristics define the Minoan civilization. One, there are palaces everywhere to be found and it stretches to the whole entire island. Every city has no walls around it. There is no fear of foreign attack and no domestic enemies of war. Every road is paved. It is during this time that the first flushable toilet is made since France in 1701 AD. The Minoan civilization is also engaged in a lot of trade and is rich and healthy. Every home has two stories. The Minoan civilization declines due to many factors. In 1628 BC, there is a massive volcanic eruption, which is two hundred miles away. The explosion and the waves destroy the Minoans’ city. It is felt from China all the way to California. By 1500 BC, the Minoans tries to rebuild their city. The problem is that they cannot rebuild because of a weakened city. In 1450 BC, the Minoan world is invaded by a civilization, the Mycenaeans. The Mycenaeans will finish off the Minoans’ world. They were the second oldest group of Greeks. In 1871 AD, Heinrich Schliemann goes and seeks the legendary city of Troy. He carries with him one book entitled Iliad written by Homer. In the same year, he goes to Western Turkey in Hissar. There he finds a gigantic mound. He begins to dig straight down and discovers nine ancient cities. Some of them are older than Troy. 1873, he states that he discovers the legendary city of Troy and he goes to search for the legendary Greek king, Agamemnon who destroys the city of Troy. He later goes to Peloponnesus in 1878 and he discovers five bodies which he thinks is the legendary king, but is not. He instead discovers the city Mycenae and the Mycenaeans. The Mycenaeans build cities on top of hills which are about nine hundred feet high. There are gigantic walls around their cities. The walls are

Model of Albert Memorial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Model of Albert Memorial - Essay Example Built around 1863 by Sir George Gilbert Scott, model of the Albert Memorial still remains to be an authentic emblem of neo-Gothic architecture till date. The plastered and gilt model neatly wears a polished gander testifying to the facsimile of the original Memorial tower located in Kensington Gardens in the English capital.2 The model was commissioned by Queen Victoria to commemorate Prince Albert, her beloved husband who passed away in 1861. This essay is going to discuss the key points related to the model of Albert Memorial and not the Memorial itself. These points will pertain to the designing and production of the object as well as the technical aspects of the neo-Gothic style of architecture. The literature studies will involve exhaustive analysis of relevant sources, including images, critiques, historical accounts and other informative data. The model of Albert Memorial depicts a seated figure of Prince Albert shielded by a covering which is adorned with symbolic figures of angels. It is topped by a cross and positioned on a platform having ornamented horizontal bands between the architrave and the cornice. Figures of poets, painters, architects and authors are carved on the friezes with moulded plaster. ... It was orchestrated by the fact that middle class segment of the society gained ascendance following steady decline of the aristocratic upper class. The Industrial Revolution that shook the whole of Europe during this time also opened up new job avenues for the skilled craftsmen. Subsequently, both the elite class and the growing middle class could share a common point of interest ahead of the revivalistic phase during Queen Victoria's regime. In essence, the Industrial Revolution captured the spirit of the Aesthetic movement in the British society.4 Veblen (2004: 194) argues that the flurry of products conforming to the genre of industry arts was not caused by some arbitrary movement in aesthetic competence. Rather it was very much an acquired skill mastered through proper grooming of the workers within a systematic framework.5 Thus it would be justified to claim that the deployment of skilled workforce by Queen Victoria for the task of building the Albert Memorial model corresponde d to the norms of the transition from the Elizabethan to the Victorian era. Figure 2. Red House, Kent: Aesthetic Movement (Strickland and Handy 2001: 101) Mainly cast plaster is used to build the model, with a metallic framework to provide support. As far as decoration is concerned, an array of architectural techniques is incorporated to make it look like the original Memorial. The triangular gables beneath the covering are affixed with gilded and pied paper works representing mosaic. Granite effect is created through a scagliola-like decoration vested in the column shafts, the model floor, bases of the four corners, and the steps. The sculptured band around the base and other portions of the model are painted with a thick layer of

Not yet forgotten Essay Example for Free

Not yet forgotten Essay There have been many wonderful periods of time in my life and the one I have chosen to talk about here is high school. Not the English type of high school, but the Romanian one: those four years before university. Before I had got there, I had already got used to the idea that school is an unlikely place for friendships to occur and it cant get any better than boredom and stress. Nevertheless, it was with hope and confidence that I stepped into the high school entrance. From the very first day I could feel something was going on well. I had a cheerful feeling and I was very comfortable and motivated. People would mind their own business and, if they had to choose, would rather be nice to each other. It was there that I really met people who appreciated me and with whom I could get on. Each morning here I must make clear that I am a night owl I got up with a smile on my face, even if outside was still dark. I would then take the bus and watch the sunrise on my way to the last station. The buses at that time of the day were terribly crowded and despite the fact that us pupils had special buses on which others werent allowed to board, no-one respected that rule. Afterwards, I would have to walk to the high school for about ten minutes past a great statue of a Romanian revolutionary and fighter which had different backgrounds, depending on the weather. The statue was in front of a cathedral for which the city is famous: an enormous, astonishingly beatiful Orthodox cathedral built in the middle ages. It was a very energizing feeling watching so many people go to work or school in the centre of the city. The buzz managed to nudge me from my semi-conscious state of mind in which I was still, due to the early hour of the morning when I had lessons and had to get up. It is true that the spirit of a place is given by the people in it. Obviously, not all my classmates were great friends, but those who were taught me lots of things about peoples behaviour and what really counts, directly and indirectly. They let me know that I can really be loved for who I am and that being yourself is worth it. The teachers were, for the first time ever, happy to teach us and be part of the education system. The lessons were fun, informative and, although quite tiring, we would all leave the high school at the end of the day with a smile on our face, if not laughing. That single year of high school was definitely one of the most rewarding experiences I have had until now. Sometimes my friends and I would skip classes and go to a pub in the city centre, but these naughty adventures will take their place in another story, another time.

The Negative Effects of Power Rangers on Children Essay -- Media Viole

The Negative Effects of Power Rangers on Children "Master Sword†¦.. show your power." When Ranger Mike encounters trouble, he calls on his power source for a transformation. He is then empowered with sword in hand ready to fight the giant dinosaur from a distant planet (Haim, 1999). The show continues entertaining children with many more similar scenes of fighting. Children of all ages are attracted Power Rangers' television programs, movies, and toys. Because of the amount of violence, Power Rangers has raised concerns for parents and professionals. Power Rangers are a group of teenagers who discover their call to save the world from injustice. When they need to fight they simply call upon their power, transform into a superhero then fight. They will fight by using karate chops and fancy moves of martial arts—flying and jumping through the air. Other than their karate moves, they are powerless unless they transform into their outfits—each uniform a different color. It is only by their super power god that they can access their powerful swords, and fight the enemy. After every act is won, they of course are unharmed, they transform back into their normal human beings and life goes on (Haim, 1999). Some consider Power Rangers as harmless simply because it is a child's program and just a show. Contrary to this, evidence shows that it does harm children in more than one way. Children are not able to perceive it as fantasy, but rather real because of the real-live people and scenery. Whether the children perceive it as real or not, children are influenced heavily by the show resulting in aggressive behavior. Parents, teachers, and the Christian community notice the increased aggression and are concerned ... ... National Association for the Education of Young Children. --------- and Paige, N.C. (1996). Disempowering The ‘Power Rangers’. Education Digest 61 (9) 17-21. Retrieved October 25, 2001 from MasterFILE Premier database. Marks, A. (1998). What Children See and Do: Studies of violence on TV. Christian Science Monitor 90 (99) 3. Retrieved October 26, 2001 from MAS Ultra School Edition. Stanley, T.L. (2001). Power Rangers Still Have a Kick. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2001, from Newspaper database. Teachers are beginning to fight back against Mighty Morphin Power Pupils. (1995). Curriculum Review 34 (6) 11, Retrieved October 25, 2001 from MasterFILE premier database. White, D. (1999 June). â€Å"Violence is not Child’s Play: Parents fight an uphill battle in teaching non-violence to their children. Christian Social Action 12, 30-32.

Pride and prejudice Coursework Letter Essay

Dear Mrs Bennet, I hope that all your family is in good health. I am ashamed to confess that inquiring about your family is not the main reason of writing to you but it is nevertheless a matter which I believe is of great importance to your family. I believe that it is my duty to inform you about the recent events at Hunsford. I am sure that you will be delighted to hear that your daughter Elizabeth had been proposed to by Mr Darcy. However, it is regretful that I must inform you of Lizzy’s rejection of Mr Darcy’s marriage proposal. Yesterday in the afternoon, Mr Collins, Elizabeth and I were both invited for tea at Rosings. However Elizabeth could not accompany us because it was clearly evident that she had a migraine. At first Mr Collins was most perturbed by Elizabeth’s decision not to go to Rosings but I finally encouraged him not to ‘press’ her anymore ‘seeing that she was really unwell’. Yet Mr Collins could not stop to remind her of how displeased Lady Catherine would be. However, on our return I went to check on Elizabeth and I was shocked to see her look paler than ever. She had dark red eyes with puffed up cheeks, as if she had been crying. When I asked her what had happened she burst into tears, and proclaimed that Mr Darcy had visited her in our absence and she then revealed that she had rejected his offer! The reason that Eliza gave for her rejection him was because of his ‘abominable pride’ and ‘conceited’ manner. Yet I do believe he sustains all of these ill features. However, on the contrary Mr Darcy is a secure man. His wealth is of immense amount, à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½10,000 a year! As we both know, Eliza has previously made mistakes, for example turning down Mr Collins, and now Mr Darcy! She has made some ill decisions in her life and we both know well of her that she can sometimes act foolish. Yet, Eliza is my best friend and so my purpose of writing to you is to ask you to advise your daughter to marry such a man of stature. How many men can she turn down? If she carries on the way she has she will lose a future of security and wealth. Mr Collins and I are financially stable and I am fully secure. Yet, I wish I could say the same for Eliza, if she gets married. Mrs Bennet, it is both familiar to us to get married as soon as possible and grasp every opportunity as it comes. ‘When you are secure’ then there will be free time to fall in love. But Eliza contradicts these opinions which both to you and myself are so imperative. She wants to marry for love yet this cannot always be the case. She does not want to marry for financial security. Mr Darcy is such a wealthy and well connected man. It is up to you Mrs Bennet to advise your daughter to not regret making dreadful decisions. I thought that I had to write about this as Eliza is my good friend.

Marijuana Should Be Banned

Marijuana is a type of harmful drug that is made from the plant called cannabis, and it’s the illegal in most areas around the world. It’s usually smoked as a cigarette or in a pipe. Many people believe that marijuana should be banned because it has bad effects on brain and body. However, others think that everybody deserves the freedom to use marijuana. Whether or not marijuana should be banned is one of the most controversial topics. First of all, many people argue that marijuana can be use as a type of medicine to treat cancer or AIDS.However, marijuana can be very addictive. When the users are addicted to marijuana, it is very hard to quit. It begins to control their lives. In order to overcome the addiction, they have to practice abstinence, which is extremely difficult because it causes sleeplessness, anxiety, or depression. Therefore, it’s better not to use marijuana than practicing abstinent. Also, it increases heart rate and bad for our lungs. Secondly, people support marijuana because it is a very popular agricultural product.The countries that sell marijuana will have more money. However, many Americans believe that the use of drugs is morally wrong. If marijuana is known as a type of drug, the use of marijuana is immoral. In some religions such as Buddhism, taking drugs is against the religious codes as well. Next, it is individuals’ choices and rights to decide whether or not they should use marijuana. The government has no right to prohibit the use of marijuana as long as it doesn’t harm other people except those that use marijuana.People who want marijuana to be banned strongly believe that crime and violence in America increase due to the illegal buying and selling of this substance. If the government prohibits it, there will be less crime, and it will be safer for the society. In conclusion, after looking at both sides, I think marijuana should be banned. Therefore, it is safer for everybody. In my opinion, th e use of drug is never right. It makes the users happy, but it can destroy their lives if they can’t quit. It’s the effect after taking marijuana that matters.

Borax-Free Slime Recipes

Borax-Free Slime Recipes The traditional slime recipe calls for glue and borax, but you can make slime without borax, too! Here are some easy borax-free slime recipes. Borax-Free Slime Recipe #1 You may see this slime called goo. This is non-toxic slime that flows when you pour it or set it down but stiffens if you punch it or squeeze it. Ingredients: 1/2 cup liquid starch1 cup white glueFood coloring Method: Mix together the liquid starch and glue.Add food coloring if you want colored slime. Borax-Free Slime Recipe #2 Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups flour1 cup cornstarch1-1/2 cups waterFood coloring Method: In a saucepan, mix together the cornstarch, 3/4 cup of water, and the food coloring.Heat the mixture over low heat until it is warm.Stir in the flour, a little at a time, until all of it has been added.Stir in the remaining water. Remove the slime from the heat and allow it to cool before playing with it. Borax-Free Slime Recipe #3 Ingredients: 2 cups cornstarch1 cup warm waterFood coloring Method: Stir the cornstarch into the warm water, a little at a time until all of the starch has been added. The reason for using warm water instead of room temperature water is because this makes it easier to mix the slime without getting any clumps. You can add a little more starch if you want a thicker slime. Add a small amount of water if you want a runnier slime. Also, the consistency of the slime is affected by temperature. Warm slime will flow more readily than cool or refrigerated slime.Add food coloring to achieve the desired color. Borax-Free Slime Recipe #4 This slime is electroactive. If you take a small piece of polystyrene foam (e.g., Styrofoam) and rub it on dry hair or a cat, you can put it near the slime and watch the material edge toward the foam or even break off and stick to it. Ingredients: 3/4 cup cornstarch2 cups vegetable oil Method: Mix together the ingredients and refrigerate the slime.When you are ready to play with the slime, stir the ingredients together (separation is normal), and have fun! The slime will be thick when it is fresh from the refrigerator but will flow more readily as it warms up. You can use temperature to control the consistency of the slime or you can add a bit more cornstarch for thicker slime or a small amount of additional oil for thinner borax-free slime. Storing the Slime You can store the slime from any of these recipes in a sealed container, such as a bowl or a plastic bag. The slime is good for a couple of days at room temperature or at least a week if stored in the refrigerator. Why Make Slime Without Borax? There are a few reasons why you might want to make a slime without using borax, aside from the obvious reason that you might not be able to find this ingredient. Borax is reasonably safe, but it is not an ingredient you want kids to eat. Also, borax has been known to cause skin irritation. Borax and other boron compounds are toxic to insects and can be harmful to plants (in higher amounts), so non-borax slime may be a greener type of slime, with less of an environmental impact than the traditional slime.

Analysing Product Development Within Dell Computers

Analysing Product Development Within Dell Computers The Product Development at the Dell Computer Corporation case can be summarized with just its name, product development. The case focuses on development of Dell’s personal computers, highlighting the area of the laptops. The personal computer industry can be dated back to the 1830’s and Charles Babbage with his invention of the first digital computer. However with limitations of materials and marketing his vision mainly stayed on what is called â€Å"the drawing board.† It was not until the time period of World War II when a factory size computer was created by army engineers, they were named Mark I and Colossus and they were 50 feet in size. Through the 1960s and the 1970s only the government, mainly for defense, and big business had the opportunity to use computers. As technology increased and microchips replaced the wires and transistors, and financial availability became friendlier for consumers the microcomputer revolution began. In the 1970s and 1980s Appl e Computer was a successful leader in a commercialized interface that was easy to use. Apple set the technological pace for cramming as much new technology in to their products as possible. IBM who was always trying to play catch up with Apple kicked off its traditional corporate based computer line, with strong direct sales and service. Dell also released its own branded personal computer in 1981. During the 1980s personal computer sales grew from nothing to $40 billion dollars. It was in 1983 when Dell Computer was started by Michael Dell, who at this point in time was a freshman at the University of Texas. He would upgrade IBM compatible computers and go door to door selling them. The success was overwhelming for Dell, and he moved off campus and dropped out of school, with the initial idea of returning back to school if there was failure with the business. However, with $180,000 in sales during his first month the idea of going back to school never entered his mind. The next ste p for Dell was to buy and assemble his own brand name personal computers and get them directly to the customers. This is where Dell’s principle to eliminate the middle man began. With this premise in mind, high growth rates and attractive margins the building of the Dell name began. Soon, Dell would start a 24 hour complaint hotline and they would offer a supply of backup replacement equipment. By 1990, Dell computers had a distinctive line of its own personal computers which won several trade magazine awards for service and products. By 1990 microcomputers accounted for 40% of all computers sold. And there was major competition the brands helping to drive down the costs of manufacturing as well the cost for the consumers. With the development and success of Dell and their direct to consumer sales as well as their laid back sales manner, imitators such as Gateway 2000 and CompuAdd began business. While focusing on the competition Dell expanded in to the retail market attempti ng to gain more revenue. However, this was unsuccessful since Dell overshot the target budget of sales, finding them in a cash crunch. It was then decided on that that needed to do something different. They needed to stand out again

The popular english accents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The popular english accents - Essay Example Accent is descriptive of pronunciation and not vocabulary or grammar. English speakers who are not native to the UK tend to integrate the phonemic and intonation inventory into their English pronunciation from their mother tongue. Among the native speakers, there exist many accents. Some of these accents from specific regions, for example, the Pennsylvania Dutch English, can be identified easily by particular characteristics. There are further variations that can be found in the regions discussed in this report; for instance, the towns that are found less than 16 km from Manchester like Salford, Oldham, and Bolton posses varying accents that all form the collective Lancashire accent (Giegerich, 2011: p28). However, in extreme circumstances, they are different such as to be noticed by listeners, not from the area. People from various regions have a lot of room for misunderstanding; the manner in which one word’s pronunciation in a specific accent will sound different when said in another accent. For example, the word petal when pronounced in American English is different from its pronunciation as pearl by the Scottish. Methodology This research will utilize a methodology that was first used by Ainsfeld and Lambert in the late 50s and early 60s. The methodology was further refined by Bourhis and Giles and involves the important feature of matched guise that employs one person speaking in two accents that are different (Yan, 2009: p716). All attempts were made minimizing the paralinguistic variables like number of hesitations and reading speed. However, paralinguistic variations do occur, despite this minimization on these variables. Therefore, it was important to consider this, especially because of the monotonous reading style in the recordings. The practice voice used in the study was meant to familiarize the listeners with the questions they were to fill in the questionnaire found in the appendix. The study was interested in impressions that were create d in listeners by the speaker. Often, it is possible to tell where the speaker is from using the voice alone, for instance, when one hears a stranger talk on the radio or even on the telephone. The listeners were given recordings of various speakers with the speaker saying similar things and were obligated to pay attention to the way the person sounded rather than the content of the speech (Yan, 2009: p717). After hearing each speaker, the subjects, were expected to take a moment to think and then answer the questions in the questionnaire according to their impression. The subjects were not expected to take too much time in answering but were, rather, expected to give their first impressions with no wrong or right answers (Yan, 2009: p717). Discussion The United Kingdom, probably, is the nation that is most obsessed with accents in the entire world. With accents that are believed to have been shaped through many years of history, few nations that speak English have as many varieties of the language in a space as small as the UK (Donn & james, 2011: p25). The following were the accents that were identified during the study. Received Pronunciation This accent is the closest we have to a standard accent in the United Kingdom. While it originated from London English, at present, it has no specific region of origin. This accent is especially common in Oscar Wilde plays, Merchant ivory films, and Jane Austen adaptations. Received