Precise Software Case Analysis

PRECISE SOFTWARE CASE ANALYSIS Problem: When and how to introduce an end-to-end new product to the market? Issues: 1. Should we (Precise) introduce a new product in Open World conference 2000? What could be the impact if we delay to offer an end-to-end solution in the performance management space? 2. What is the best selling strategy for the new product? 3. What is the best pricing strategy for the new product? 4. Should we maintain a single sale force or separate sale force dedicated to the new product? What kind of commissions and how much authority should we set up for the sales force regarding to the new product? 5.How can we deliver the value of the new product to meet our customer expectation and solve our customer problems? 6. How to grow and compete in order to be a leader in the market on a much broader level? Industry/Market Analysis: Database management software referred as performance management market where efficiency and effectiveness are really important. There are a l ot of opportunities due to the need of IT system from the companies. Nearly every company in the industrialized world spent a significant amount of money every year on software purchases ranged from $99 to $10million. The software market estimated to be $4. billion in 2003 compare with $2. 4billion in 1999. However, the market was fragmented. Products were differentiated principally in two ways. On one hand, products differed widely in terms of underlying resources and platforms with they are associated. On the other hand, available products also differed in terms of the functionality they offered. There are few major competitors in this market and the industry need high intensive labor cost. It usually takes long time to develop new product in this industry. Effective advanced technology and product, which can solve the problem for the companies, are very important to success in the industry.Time is another important key to determine whether business will success or fail. Companies in this industry should improve their technology quickly to catch up the ever-changing information technology trend as well as dig the problems of the companies to present the right problem-solve products. One of the largest segments of the market was for software to manage the performance of Oracle databases. A true end-to-end market seemed to be quite large and there was no current direct competition because none of the companies offered an end-to-end solution yet. Consumer Analysis:Database administrators (DBA) are the main targets for Precise. The former usually are well trained thus capable of recognizing the products value. Many DBA’s were authorized to purchase a product range under $25,000. Precise looked for companies had sales of at least 100million and had a business model that required database-intensive applications. DBA need to report to the CIO and need to improve the job performance in order to make performance application efficiently as well as satisfy the b usiness unit head. They are usually budget-limited when they purchase the product.IT Reliability and effectiveness are the other main factors to concern for users. Regarding to the end-to-end management tool service, business firms using enterprise-wide applications have a desired demand. They require the enterprise applications such as ERP and CRM, which were 10million and above. The applications were distributed across many locations and highly data intensive. Firms depended critically on the ability to deliver information quickly, will be the main targets for the new end-to-end product. Competitor Analysis: The three biggest competitors in the software market were Oracle, BMC Software, and Quest Software.Oracle is provides â€Å"Oracle Optimizer† as a part of its basic database package helped to execute SQL statement it received in the most efficient fashion and also offer an add-on package to help measure efficiency. BMC Software has a large range of products. Its revenue grew rapidly since 1998 and Patrol Product line, which target on performance management and availability market, provided timely and accurate data. Quest Software offered around 25 different products, with some of the functions offering products relevant to Precise. Marketing Mix Analysis: A) Product Analysis:Precise offered the software that helped its clients to manage the performance of their information technology (IT) systems. Precise is in the performance management and availability market. Its products are designed to manage the performance applications utilizing Oracle database. The company had focus on a small range of core products but provided users high quality that promised. Precise offered the software license and services. The main products were insight products, SQL and Presto. Precise/SQL accounted for 86% of all Precise’s software licensing fees.The company has strong trained account reps with very strong relationships with key clients. End-to-end response time is extremely important to ensure the system ran efficiently and effectively. All of the available products focused on the performance of each of the components of the system. The sales cycle is 6 to 12 months on average. Precise realized from the feedback of its consumers that they should provide right solutions to its clients rather than the products. However, a full-functionality end-to-end performance tool needs a long time to be developed.It’s going to take six and nine months to get a basic product with purely monitoring only. The fully functional product will accomplish in 2 years. B) Price Analysis: It has one-time license fee with annual maintains and service contracts, priced 15%-20% of the one-time licensing fee. Average price of Precise /SQL had been between $15,000 and $25,000. Precise often offered discounts around 25% which allowed sales force to sell the product easier as well as DBAs can make their decision easily to purchase without approve by the CIO. I n addition, price can be varied greatly depending on the customers and other factors.They charged more for higher-powered computing environments, which means the price is based on the value that the customers receive from the performance management. C) Distribution Analysis: There are three common channels for distributing commercial software applications such as direct sales, value-added resellers (VCRs), and systems integrators. VCRs and systems integrators earned a margin of about 30-35% on the software sales. And original equipment manufacture (OEM) agreement is popular in smaller niche areas. Precise sells its products through a duel-channel distribution system.Internationally, the company sells through both VARs and system integrators in most countries. 17 account executives are hired to do direct sell and also sell through distributors in most countries, and each is paid a salary of $75,000 and a 5%-9% rate high commission. The average sale of each rep is $800,000 annually an d earned $300,000 for the highest. Therefore, the operating expenses are extremely high (sales and marketing is 35% of the total operating expense) and made the operating loss since 1996. About 55% of its revenue comes from the direct channel and 45% come from the resellers.Precise had a client list of about 400 companies and each sale rep was well trained to sell the products. D) Promotion/ Advertising Analysis: Reps in Precise are the main factor in selling the products. Precise purchase industry lists with the names and phone numbers of key contacts in the target firms and give it to reps. Reps can call the main clients and meet them and try to keep a good relationship with the people who make decisions. Reps are high motivated and professional to sell the products because of related training and high commission strategy.They have an effective sales tool that reps can offer to put the product on the potential buyer client’s system to demonstrate what the product would do. In addition, Precise conducted a survey of ten Precise/SQL clients drawn from a range of different business to find main benefits of their products and able to generate an expected ROI for the purchase. Options: A) To launch a new product in 2000 ROI Analysis Pros: – To be the first one get into the end-to-end market and to be able to announce the new product in the conference with many motivated and qualified prospects gathered in the room at one time. Precise will become a much broader level brand. – Gain more revenue at the beginning with no competition so far in the market. Cons: – New products will attract competitors to get in the market. – There is not enough time for reps to be trained properly to sell the products. – If the new product cannot satisfy the clients, it will destroy the brand image as well as make competitors catch up and run over the Precise. – The new product can only be â€Å"generally available† at this time. There will be much more problem and risks.B) To launch after fully-functional Pros: – Have much more possibility to satisfy customers with fully functional product in term of effectively and efficiency – Its reps will be fully trained to get ready to contribute in selling the new products – If consumers satisfied with the products, Precise will be a leader in the market and increase its profits in the long-term. Cons: – Competitors may launch a similar new product in this market before Precise. – A small range of the products may slow down Precise to be a real broader level brand

Early Christianity Essay

Christianity is one of the biggest religions in the world and is followed mostly all over the world. One of the first of the Christians was the followers of Jesus Christ, a Jew, who taught the way to live for each and every individual. He taught the concept that he is raised from dead that made people to consider the divine. He was celestial and showed people the way to deliverance. This concept increased the number of christens in the Rome and at the end of the fourth century it became the utter religion of the Rome. What were the reasons for the fast spread of Christianity? There were a number of them. Mostly because of the teachings of Jesus, as it tells that there should be love in between all the human beings and there should be equality as well. This encouraged the poor and needy ones to convert. His concept of life after death attracted the people who were feared of there deaths. Decent revolution was another reason for all to be attracted; no matter they are poor or rich. Now what were the diverging views of the roman and Christens? Romans have a concept that a person should live a best possible life in this world and should live a luxurious care free life where as Christianity was not having this concept. According to them a person should live through deliverance so that they could have the best of the life after death. Greek have some valid reason which actually made the Christens to think that was intelligence is through lonely time. This threatened christens that there followers might decrease. This was when church interpretation came into act so that the right thing should be guide and what is the real meaning of bible should be examined. Our acts can not save us from the fire of hell. It is only the teachings of the Jesus which can actually save us from the hell which could make us enter the heavenly life after death. What was the origin of the unity of the human race? What was the origin of human sinfulness? According to Augustine it was the teachings of the Jesus Christ which actually was the origin of the unity of the human race. Jesus taught them that there will be no inequality between the poor and the rich and they are equal to the God. They should live for salvation instead of pleasure. They should love each other and should give respect to each other. No richer people have right to be superior and no poor are inferior to the wealthier one. All are equal and all are human. The only thing they should care for is the life after death and people should live more for that than this life. This concept actually was the origin of the unity as after this there was unity in all race of human. No blacks were accused of being blacks and no whites were to be superior. This was the main origin of equality in human race. Augustine thinks that the desire of people to live as commanded by God so that they could achieve heaven is the main origin of the human race or human equality. Those who lived for this world and they don’t care of the life after death actually gives birth to the human sinfulness. The desire to be wealthier and to increase the standard of living made human to be sinful. The thought of being better than others increased there sinfulness. This desire made them to do more and more sinfulness and actually origin the word of sinfulness. This actually was origin from roman people who wanted better in this life. What are the two cities, city of God and City of men, according to Augustine? What are there implications on the Christen teachings? There are two cities according to Augustine. City of men means this world that is the world according to which a person is judged. It is the world where you can get your pleasure. Whereas the City of God is the life after death, where a person is judged according to there lives. This is the life of heaven or hell and is immortal whereas city of men is temporary and will be finished when Jesus will come again. City of men is dishonest whereas city of God is ideal. This gives christens the concept of life after death and tells them that everyone is judged according to its deeds. It also tells us that this world in not eternal and will be finished as the Jesus will come where as the life after death is forever so we should care for that life. This gives christens the concept and belief in life after death. Who can measure the happiness of haven? Then it tells about the heaven where all will be happy and satisfied and they will be able to do whatever they want. They can live through there desires. Everywhere will be satisfaction and it is a place of spirits. There would be no evil at all. Later christens started hating Jews as they thought that hating Jews is right. As God hates Jewish people so they also started hating Jews. They stopped going to occasions of Jews. Saints started teaching Christens against Jews and that the Jews are the worst of the people. There is a disease in Jews that may cause some Christian’s attraction towards them. This disease is needed to be cured. Now what is this Disease? This disease is not a medical disease. It is about the ‘Judaizing disease’ that means spreading of Judaism. They are to launch on christens to attend there festival and to fast with them. Some of the Christens who thinks that Jews have the same thinking as they have will go for it and will attend there festivals. This will cause people to accept Judaism. This is the fear of some christens and they wanted this disease to be finished. The disease is the spreading of Judaism not any medical disease and it should be finished with the help of the teachings of Bible by saints.

IP Internetworking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

IP Internetworking - Assignment Example However, as a result of the gigantic growth in the internet industry and the forecasted exhaustion of the available addresses, a better IP version (ipv6) that uses 128-bit in 1995 was developed. The addresses of the IP are binary numbers, but are mainly displayed in notations that human-readable like 172.12.243.1 for the IPv4 and for IPv6 as 2001:db8:0:1234:0:567:8:1 and mainly stored as text files. The use of IPv4 is that it limits the addressing space to about 2^32 mainly unique addresses. IPv4 also reserves addresses for particular purposes like multicast addresses (~270 million addresses) or private networks (~18 million addresses). The representation of IPv4 is mainly in dot-decimal notations consisting of four decimal numerics, ranging from 0 to 255 and separated by dots like 172.16.254.1. Every part of the four numerics symbolizes a collection of 8 bits attached to the address. In technical writings, various addresses of the IPv4 can be presented in octal, hexadecimal, or binary representations. During the early phases of IP development, network administrators clustered the IP addresses to two parts, which were the host number and network number portion. The most crucial eight bits in the address was the network number, while the rest were denoted as host identifier or rest field and were associated with hosting numbering in a network. Due to the growth in technology and internet, the method was outdated and researchers introduced the architecture of the classy network. The design of the classful network allowed for the design of the fine-grained sub network and an increased number of the individual network assignments. The starting three bits of the most crucial octet in the IP address was stated to be a class. There were three classes defined A, B, and C addressing of the universal unicast. Depending on the derived class, the network identification is based on the octet boundary sections associated

Legal aspects of sounseling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Legal aspects of sounseling - Research Paper Example oks and principles of academic knowledge which are not adequate resources in assessing the developmental level at which their fellow colleagues operate (Bentler, 2008). Counseling is a dynamic process that generally deals with the wellness, career and personal growth of individuals in diverse and multicultural settings. In the end, the counseling program should empower the mental health and the overall wellness of the individual. State and national legislation is an essential part of information that they need to have, as it is primary to their daily operation. They are therefore legally responsible for civil and criminal offences if found to be in violation of client’s rights and or societal rules. Following ethical standards of professional organization that the counselor is affiliated to, and obtaining malpractice insurance will protect the counselors legally and give them a base to vindicate what they do (Tabutt, 2007). â€Å"The law can serve as an essential tool for great effectiveness, accountability and also provides support for local capacity building.† ( Poulisson, 2006) Sound policies that reflect legal requirements and considerations need enforcement by the counselors to act as preventative measures and as responsive measures too. A counselor to client relationship is a delicate relationship and therefore the counselor must provide a safe environment hence negligence accrues from a breach of this safety. The importance of the legal aspects of counseling is that the counselors have the guidelines to know how they should react in different situations and where feedback on handling difficult situations needs reiteration. In many situations, the need for ethics information has the highest ranking. There should be substantive due process where actions ought to have a relation to the institution’s interests in protecting and helping the client. In some cases, situations presented might not respect the substantive due process and hence has no

Cloud Computing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example Cloud computing services address these issues and provide a source for using computing resources without purchasing them. The computing resources can be attained dynamically as per the needs of the company. The computing resources can be released when the need for greater IT infrastructure ceases to exist, therefore the resources do not have to be actually bought. Cloud computing environments offer almost unlimited levels of scalability and mobility. The attainment and release of the resources are convenient and fast processes. Computing resources consist of a diverse range of virtual devices and applications, like virtual servers, data storage, operating systems, software applications and virtual platforms. Along with the major success and acceptance of the concept of cloud computing, a significant portion of users feel threatened in trusting the service providers with their intellectual assets. Therefore, the prevailing security and privacy issues related to cloud computing have be en discussed in the paper, along with its advantages as compared to the traditional form of computing and data centers. The paper also includes few recommendations for improving the protection of the intellectual assets of the users. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. Cloud Computing 1 3. Success of Cloud Computing 5 4. Comparison of Traditional Computing and Cloud Computing Data Centers 7 4.1 Advantages of Cloud Computing 8 4.1.1 Level of Scalability 8 4.1.2 Level of Mobility 8 4.1.3 Level of Maintenance and Updates 10 4.1.4 Disaster Recovery 11 4.2 Disadvantages of Cloud Computing 11 4.2.1 Level of Control and Privacy 11 5. Factors to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Data Centers 13 6. Physical Aspects of Cloud Computing Data Centers 13 6.1 Issues with Traditional Data Centers 13 6.2 Innovative Solutions in Cloud Computing Data Centers 14 7. Challenges in Cloud Computing Systems 17 8. Recommendations 18 9. Conclusions 19 Bibliography 22 Table of Figures 1 Figure 1: Different fact ors related to Cloud Computing Systems 4 2 Figure 2: Comparison between traditional data center and cloud computing data center 7 3 Figure 3: PUE of Microsoft from the year 2004 to 2007 16 Table of Tables 1 Table 1: Top 10 Technologies of the year 2011 6 1. Introduction Computer technology has seen remarkable development and continuous improvement ever since it has been invented. The mode of life has been changed by the respective invention. Every field and industry has been revolutionized by the integration of computers. The field of education has been improved by the advent of e-learning management systems, whereas the field of medicine has witnessed greater accuracy and reliability due to the usage of more efficient medical equipments. In the same manner, the field of business has been given a more formalized structure due to the incorporation of enterprise data centers and information management systems. Enterprise data centers supported the needs of organizations for many years . A change was felt necessary when the needs of the customers began increasing at an exponential rate. The advent of internet has broken geographical barriers, due to which the whole world is considered to be a single platform. Consumer has access to global products and services, which makes it vital for companies to provide commendable and uninterrupted services to their clients. The increasing competition in the markets has urged the companies to adopt innovative ways to meet the increasing needs of the cust

Discuss the view that, due to the phonological and orthographical Coursework

Discuss the view that, due to the phonological and orthographical assimilation they undergo, borrowings into French are often difficult to distinguish from native words - Coursework Example There are two aspects of history that can explain the phonological and orthographical assimilation that the French language underwent. Firstly, the ethnic, technological, political and other factors that affected the language.Secondly, the grammatical and phonological changes that the French language had to undergo. French orthography is composed of the punctuation and spelling of the French language. It is a combination of historical and phonemic principles. Most of the spellings are based on the pronunciation of Old French and this has stayed the same for a long time. However,there were enormous changes that took place regarding the pronunciation of this language. This resulted in a sophisticated relationship between sound and spelling2. This was evident in the vowels, an array of the silent letters and many homophones. For example, ceint/sein/sain/cent. There were attempts to respell some of the words using the Latin etymologies which further increased the silent words for example tens instead f temps. This is compared to the English word â€Å"tense† that was originally spelled as vint. Nonetheless, there are a set of rules that are used to govern French orthography that will create room for accuracy when producing French words. One imperative way of handling nomination is to borrow word, more specifically when it is borrowed to the referent at he same time. However, native mormphemes can be substituted with a foreign word, and we get a calque or a loan translation which is semantic borrowing only. There are various types of loan translation that can be distinguished however,the essence is clearly anological: French arriver and English arrive can be matched more or less in their semantic range however, the French Verb meant also to attain success. Hybridization plays an important part loanwording. Evidence of the strong effect of the French on Middle English is

Social Media Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social Media - Research Paper Example The content of the posts on the social media account also adds to the success of the channel of advertising. They should be enjoyable, clear, and informative to the audience not only on the product and sales but also on other aspects. Quotes and jokes are included in the posts to ensure that they are interesting; hence, they attract maximum followers. Being relevant and current is also an important component of social media advertising. Content is frequently updated to ensure that it makes sense mainly depending on the audience. Additionally, it reduces the risk of monotony that not only leads to reduced followers but also loss of the potential buyers to consume the product (Evans, & Mckee, 2010).. Conciliation- When using this method to solve a dispute, the third party gives offers on the solution that vary depending on the variables of the conflict. Law provisions are considered in conciliation (Wankel, Marovich, & Stanaityte, 2010). The best method of resolving customer disputes occurring from purchases from social media provided business links should be negotiation. This is because it offers the best for both parties after negotiating the most favorable terms. The method also ensures that the solution will enhance a stronger bond between social media and business. The federal government can best control the transactions on social media by regulating the number of viewers of the social media posts. Federal government regulates and monitors the number of viewers the sales will also be regulated. The government also introduces policies, rules and procedures to be followed by the firms that use the social media for advertising and selling of either goods or services. The three main branches of government are the executive, judiciary, and the legislature. Making laws is the main function of the legislature (Lathrop, & Ruma, 2010).

Management Systems & Financial Information for Decision Making Assignment

Management Systems & Financial Information for Decision Making - Assignment Example Additionally, key information regarding revenue and company’s overall performance help them in their regular decision making (Tesco, 2014a; BT, 2014a). Managers and executives operate at middle level and operational level within a corporation. They are essentially responsible for a variety of operational, strategic and investment related decision making on a regular basis. However, all these decisions require accurate, consistent, timely and reliable financial information regarding firm’s activities. For instance, managers at Tesco are responsible for sales forecasting and projections and for this purpose they need information such as past revenue data, sales volume and so on. Another illustration can be, if an operational manager wishes to minimise operational cost at BT, then the manager will require information related to various general and operational expenses. Such information can be obtained only from the financial statements of BT (Tesco, 2014a; BT, 2014a). Owners and partners are ultimately held responsible for proper functioning of a business firm. Organisations such as BT and Tesco are public corporations that are managed by group of shareholders where primary decision making is done by board of directors and chairman of the company. Board of directors including the chairman are responsible for framing strategic decision such as merger and acquisition, expansion to new market, new product development and undertaking new projects. All these activities require capital and scope of future prospect for the firm. Board members generally evaluate capital structure of the company, returns on investment and overall financial position of the firm from financial prior taking long term strategic decision. Owners are mostly interested in liquidity and solvency of a firm so that they can pay off various creditors and investors (Tesco, 2014a; BT, 2014a). Organisations such as Tesco and BT have a number of

Marketing transportation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Marketing transportation - Essay Example However, cross-docking is even faster than this. Cross-docking is a process that receives a product and then ships it straightaway, without the need for storage. For space, even though things may look neat and tidy with a spacious design, it actually means that takes longer to retrieve and store items. The best scenario is to follow the example of PDI Logistics. This company maximized the use of space by providing very cramped aisles. Money was saved from using existing space available, and these savings were used to pay for specialized trucks to track and store goods. Because technology was utilized, labor costs subsequently went down. Warehousing security can be improved by carefully selecting security guards that have previous experience of the job. For facilities, a mix of fences and cameras should do the job. For processes, the handling process should be as quick and efficient as possible so that the chance for damaged goods is

Social Media Technology Essay Example for Free

Social Media Technology Essay 1.0Introduction Bhanot (2012) defined social media technology as the â€Å"media for social interaction that can be used in web based and mobile technologies†. In addition, web based and mobile technologies can make the communication into interactive conversation. The most popular social media among the users are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and so on. Besides, the social media technology is not for the public users to interact other user only but the social media technology provides internal social media to the organizations such as Salesforce. com (Andzulis et al., 2012). Social media is a new trend in this era. It is because social media is an easy way to get information, knowledge, news and others that useful to the users than conventional media such as newspaper, magazines and so on. In addition, the information in the social media is not expensive and easily to access compared than the conventional media (Bhanot, 2012). The statistic shows that the users of the social media had been increased year by year. Facebook has more than 175 million users that are registered in 2009 but has been increased to 845 million users that are registered while Twitter has over 465 million users that are registered. According to Kaplan and Haenlien (2010), the history of social media was starting 33 years ago. In 1979, Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis from Duke University had been created â€Å"Usenet† which is social media that allowed users to post public messages. Besides, Bruce and Susan Abelson had created â€Å"Open Diary† which is an early social media. The â€Å"Open Diary† is a community of the online diary writers. Social media technology is closely related to Web 2.0 and user-generated content. According to Kaplan and Haenlien (2010), Web 2.0 is a platform where the social media is evolving. Web 2.0 allows the users to interact and collaborate among the users in social media. Web 2.0 is the platform where the users can share the information with other users and the other users can continuously edit or modified the information. According to Constantinides and Fountain (2008), Web 2.0 is a collection of open-source which has the knowledge and market power of the users in business and social process and Web 2.0 allow the users to share, disseminate and editing the informal content. User generated content is refer to media contents in the media technologies. Web 2.0 allows creation and exchange of user-generated content in a virtual community. Web 2.0 can be classified into five main categories which are blogs, social network, communities, forum / bulletin boards and content aggregators (Constantinides Fountain, 2008). Nowadays, the business method has been changed compared than the traditional method which is face to face in selling or buying. The world has been changing and technology was evolved. The method of business change into a virtual selling or virtual buying compared than traditional business method. In this information technology era, organizations are regularly to make their business using internet or online network. There are two types of business that use the internet or online network as a medium for running their business which is an electronic business (E-Business) and E-Commerce. E-Commerce is the process of buying and selling of product or services that use the internet or online network. E-Business is like E-commerce but E-business is more than E-Commerce. E-Business is not just buying and selling product or services using the internet but E-business are the wide perspective of E-Commerce. E-Business includes servicing the customer, cooperating with business partner, supply chain management, and process with electronic transaction. Nowadays, organizations are trying to identify the new way to maximize their profit using social media technology platform. The behaviour of the workers and the managers to maximized profit can be changed with the use of social media technologies (Turban Volonino, 2012). Social media technology can help organizations to maintain and improve competitiveness in the industry (Levin, Hansen, Laverie, 2012). In addition, social media are use by wide area of business includes human resources, supply chain management, marketing and sales and others area that used social media technology (Turban Volonino, 2012). The organizations also can use the social media technology to their marketing research plans. Nowadays, many organizations have realized the usefulness of the social media technology in running their business and they try to adapt this new technology slowly. According to Andzulis et al. (2012), the Ford Motor had hired 40 employees that are social media practitioners to promote their new car model which is Ford Focus. The employees had been given opportunity to drive test the car and the video have been uploaded in Facebook and other social media website. 2.0Risks of Social Media Technology in Business Enterprise The organizations or firms must understand the risk in using social media technology in their business. The risk using social media as a platform in business is greater than a business that uses traditional ways (Boz Unal, 2011). There are many hidden risks in using social media and the organization should realize the risks of the social media before implement it. The organization must realize that the employees can abuse the social media technology with access to their favourite social media and chatting all the time with their friends. From the recent research, 76 percent of the respondents had access their Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter at least once a day (Dutta, 2012). Some organization had blocked the social media and sacking their employees when the employees had been caught because of accessing the social networking sites at work. By blocking the social media make the employees cannot get the information and knowledge that are required in their job. In addition, the employees cannot access the social media communities and the employees cannot share and received any information, knowledge or experience in the social media. Thus, the productivity in the organization can be decreased. The risk that can make negative impact to the organization is when people start to say the negative or untrue things about the organization. People are easily trust to the untrue things from the unreliable source. According to Boz Unal (2011), word of mouth is the influential thing and its become more influential to the people in the social media technology. The customer or the competitor may review the organization in negative writing about their product or their services. For example, people give their negative opinion about Proton and their car new model which is Proton Preve in the social media network. A picture of Proton Preve was uploaded in the social media. The picture is about the people that are not satisfied with the quality of this car. Furthermore, this issue discussed on the forums on the website and many of them give negative opinions about the quality of this car. This may affect the persons decision whether to buy that car or not. Indirectly, this may affect the organization in terms of sales or profit. The other risk of the social media technologies is the sharing information with other users on social networking sites (Boz Unal, 2011). Besides, the employee may make a mistake by giving their opinion about their organization in social media. The confidential information about the organization can be leaked when the employees share their opinions in the social media. Besides, the competitor can learn the relationship between the clients and the organization (Giamanco Gregoire, 2012). The competitor will know the early-stage opportunities and try to snatch the client from the organizations. 3.0Productivity of Work by Using Social Media Technology One of the power using social media is the social media technology can enhance productivity in business enterprise. Using social media technology such as Facebook or twitter can enhance productivity among the employee by sharing the knowledge and experiences. The knowledge that the employees get from the social media can help others employees to solve problems (Iyer et al., 2011). From the research that had been conducted, the employees used the social media at work are objectively to support their organization’s goals and build up the name of their organizations (Dutta, 2012). After that, a research had been conducted, 72 percent of organizations are using social media as medium in their business and 90 percent of the organizations had reported that they had benefited by using social media technology (Social Media Enhances Productivity, 2012). This result can be a sign that the social media can be a channel to communicate among the employees. From Dutta (2012), the advantage using social media is easy to access to the information because of the speed to get the information had been increased It is because the social media can save time to seek information and then can enhance productivity in the workplace. Besides, the social media such as Twitter can help the employees to choose an alternative way to go to the offices when there is a traffic jam. This can help the employees to go to the office on time and indirectly can enhance the productivity of the organization. The relationship with the customer can be built by using social media technology (Iyer et al., 2011). This will help the organizations to analyse and learns the problems of the products or services when the customer tells their experience when using the products or the services. After that, the organizations will know the customers experiences when using the organization’s products or services. The relationship can make the customer loyal to the organizations. It is because with a strong relationship between customer and the organization, the customers will satisfied with the products of the services of the organizations. Furthermore, in the customer service department, the social media technology can save cost and time the organizations and the customer. The customers just use their social media such as Facebook to ask question or make a complaint about the product or the services. The customer does not waste their time to meet the customer service face to face but the customer services can answer or explain the customer problem easily using social media technology. For example, Celcom Axiata Berhad is a Malaysia’s mobile telecommunication company that uses this social media channel to interact with their customers. Celcom Axiata Berhad had two types of online customer service which is on their website and in their Facebook. Celcom customer services can answer directly to inquiries from the customer using their online customer service. By using social media technology, Celcom customer services spend less time answering calls from the customer. In addition, the Celcom customer services can reduce their time to read and composing email by using social media technology. From the research that had been done, the customer service can reduce 25 to 30 percent of their time by answering emails from the customer (Bughin, Chui, Manyika, 2012) and can free their time by 7 to 8 percent to do other works (Social Media Enhances Productivity, 2012). 4.0Social Media Technology as the Promotion and Marketing Strategy Normally, the conventional advertising is in one way conversation (Wetsch, 2012). Nowadays, it has been changed in the advertising on the social media. Advertising on the social media can allow two ways conversation compared than conventional advertising that involve one way conversation only. The customer can give their opinion straight forward to the organization about the advertising using social media technology. The customer can communicate directly to the organization about the promotion or advertising (Mangold Faulds, 2009). Today, the organization had realized the benefits using social media technology. Social media technology is the new marketing for the organization to reach the communities of customers that they are targeting. Instead of that, the organization had used social media strategy in their marketing plan. According to Boz and Unal (2011), it is a powerful strategy when the organizations use social media platform to promote the organization business. Nowadays, many organizations use social media technology to promote their new products or new services. The organization use social media to promote their business because it can save a lot of money and can save time. Before this, the organizations promote their business or advertising their business in mass media such as television, radio, newspaper, magazine and others. The advertising or promotions that use mass media actually more costly compared than using social media. Besides, the advertisings that use television, radio, newspapers and magazine is not really relevant anymore in this modern era. For example, Al-Ikhsan use Facebook platform to promote their new products. Recently, Al-Ikhsan had their warehouse sales and they use social media technology to tell the people about the warehouse sale. Thousands of people were coming to the Al-Ikhsan warehouse sales. This situation occurs because the customers have wide access to the information by using social media (Mangold Faulds, 2009). Besides, the word of mouth communication is the most powerful thing in social media to influence someone. The users of social media have the capability to tell hundreds of the people at the same time. Face to face communication and mouth of word communication had less impact compared than social media (Mangold Faulds, 2009). This will be the proof how the social media technology can successfully help the organization to make publicity and their promotions. 5.0Recommendations The organizations must have a backup plan to prepare the risks in implementing social media technologies in their business. The organizations must not avoid using social media technologies in their business because of the risks. But, they should think to overcome this problem. In addition, a social media technology gives many benefits to an organization and it can maximize the profit and revenues of the organization. There are several recommendations to the organization to overcome the problems of risk in using social media technology and to improve organizations reputation. The organization should develop a strategic planning to overcome this problem. The organization should understand how to interact with customer or clients when using the social media. It is because the reputation can be affected by how the organization interact with the social media. Besides, the organization should advise their employees to communicate ethically and show respect to others when using social media technology. The organizations can enhance their employee’s productivity by using social media as a platform to interact with their customers. The organization should improve the system of customer services using the social media so that the productivity can be enhanced. The productivity can be increased when the employees gave their feedback quickly to the customers that ask a question in social media. The customers will satisfied and they felt that they are appreciated by the organization. So, the customers will be loyal to the organization. The communication will be improved between the organization and the customer when the organizations implement the social media technologies as the platform to approach their customers. The social media are new channel to make promotions or to advertise a business. The cost to advertise in mass media is actually higher and very expensive. The organization should consider using social media as a new channel to promote their business. It is because the cost is very cheaper than using mass media to promote their business. Besides, the organization can directly interact with the customer and can directly ask the customer opinion. When the organizations use the media mass as the channel to promote their business, they do not know how the readers or the viewers respond when seeing their advertisement. Thus, the organization must realize the advantages using social media as the channel in promoting their business compared to other channels. The organization should analyse whether the social media are successfully implemented or not. Besides, the organization can analyse their target market using social media platform. The preferences of the customer can be accessed easily with social media technology. Thus, the organization would understand the preference of their customer. In addition, the organization enables to get new market target and stay focused to the existing target market. It is important to build the relationship with the customer. In return, the customer would be loyal to the organization and try to promote to their family and friends when they are satisfied with the services of the organization. Instead of analysing the customers, the organization should analyse about their competitor and their competitor target market. It is useful information to make the organizations survive in the business and to maximise profit and the revenues of the organization. The important thing is the organization should make su re that social media aligned with the goal, objectives and vision of the organization. 6.0Conclusion In the information technology era, the users of the social media had increased year by year. Thus, the organizations should use this opportunity to implement the social media in business. Furthermore, social media is the important platform for an organization to survive in the business. Many organizations had been realized the importance of social media in their business and they try to implement social media technology in their business. The traditional method in business is not relevant anymore in this modern era. The organization cannot ignore the how powerful the social media technology because the social media contain the knowledge, information and experience of the people. All the information can be sought in the social media and it is faster to get the information. Besides, the social media give many benefits to the organization compared to conventional media. The benefits using social media technology include in recruitment, customer relationship, enhance the organization productivity, enhance decision making among the employees and in the marketing plan of the organization. But, the organization should realize the risk in using social media. The organizations must have a backup plan to prepare the risks in implementing social media technology in their business. The organizations must not avoid using social media technology in their business. Thus, the organization should develop a strategic plan to avoid the risk. The risk using social media just like a small part but the organization can get a huge of return by using the social media technology. References Andzulis, J. M., Panagopoulus, N. G., Rapp, A. (2012). A Review of Social Media and Implications for the Sales Process. Journal of Personal Selling Sales Management, Vol XXXII, No. 3 , 305-316. Bhanot, S. (2012). Use of Social Media by Companies to Reach their Customer. SIES Journal of Management,Vol. 8 (1) , 47-55. Boz, M., Unal, D. (2011). Successful Promotion Strategy in Destination Tourism Marketing Through Social Media; Queensland, Australia Case. Regional Science Conference with International Participation , 467-472. Bughin, J., Chui, M., Manyika, J. (2012). Capturing business value with social technologies. McKinsey Quarterly, Issue 4 , 72-80. Constantinides, E., Fountain, S. J. (2008). Web 2.0: Conceptual Foundations and Marketing. Journal of Direct, Data and Digital Marketing Practice, 9 , 231-244. Dutta, S. (2012, Winter). Enterprsee 2.0: Let the Revolution Begin! Rotman Magazine , pp. 66-71. Giamanco, B., Gregoire, K. (2012, Jul/Aug). Tweet Me, Friend Me, Make Me Buy . Harvard Business Review , pp. 88-93. Iyer, B., Parise, S., Raiaqopal, S., Davenport, T. H. (2011). Putting Social Media to Work at Cognizant. Ivey Business Journal, Vol. 75 Issue 4 , 18-21. Kaplan, A. M., Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the World, Unite! The Challenges and Opportunities of Social Media. Business Horizons, 53 (1) , 59-68. Levin, M. A., Hansen, J. M., Laverie, D. A. (2012). Toward Understanding New Sales Employees Participation in Marketing-Related Technology: Motivation, Voluntariness and Past Performance. Journal of Personal Selling Sales Management, Vol XXXII, no. 3 , 379-393. Mangold, W. G., Faulds, D. J. (2009). Social Media: The New Hybrid Element of the Promotion Mix. Business Horizons, Issue 52 , 357—365. Social Media Enhances Productivity. (2012, Nov/Dec). Electric Perspectives , Vol. 37 Issue 6 , pp. 17-18. Turban, E., Volonino, L. (2012). Information Technology for Management 8th Edition. John Wiley Sons. Wetsch, L. R. (2012). A Personal Branding Assignment Using Social Media. Journal of Advertising Education , 30-36.

Climate Change And Its Impact On Ski Industry Tourism Essay

Climate Change And Its Impact On Ski Industry Tourism Essay This essay talks about the presence of climate change and its impact on ski industry which is dependent activity on weather conditions. Global warming has been considered as a mega risk and it has a tendency to be permanent and therefore it is extremely complicated to measure its outcomes. As Nicholls (2006) mentioned, climate change is nowadays strongly accepted by many worlds scientists and governments as an issue of tremendous alarm for the people worldwide. This essay considers different models of possible impacts of global warming on different parts of the world. Steyger and Mayers (2008) said that since the 1990s the likely dependence of snow tourism to climate change has received greater alertness in the media. Increasing number of authors focus on this matter as well as on the adaption strategies of ski resorts. This paper demonstrates that global warming is a problem which forced majority of ski resorts all over the world to respond to weather changes in order to survive. Essay talks about options that are available to ski resorts and brings on the discussion of their usage and their effectiveness. Ski resorts all over the world are likely to experience a loss of snow consistency and that is why supervision of ski regions has to be more conscious when it comes to future of snow conditions in their geography area. Global warmings impact on ski industry Models of projected outcomes of global warming Climate as well as the natural environment associated with weather change can likely to impact open-air leisure and tourism. Businesses linked to skiing industry are largely exposed to the projected impacts of global warming because skiing is an activity dependent on climate conditions. Bricknell and McManus (2006) considered that it is one of the first and the most visibly impacted industries by the risk of global warming worldwide. Folland et al (2001) as mentioned in Moen and Fredman (2007) stated that annual snow cover level in the northern hemisphere has decreased by approximately 10% since 1966 and also that previous decade was wetter and warmer compared to the prior 30-year period in whole Europe. Global warming has already affected and will most probably carry on with affecting physical and natural systems all over the world. As Moen and Fredman (2007) refered to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2001), the expected effects of global warming include a proposed boost of globally averaged outside temperature by 1.4 to 5.8Â °C between years 1990 and 2100 which would also possibly lead to sea level rise of 0.88m globally. ZAMG (2007) as cited in Breilings and Charamza (1999) found out that because of global warming the line of usual snowfall steadiness will raise by about 150 m of altitude per 1Â °C of warming. For better picture, low attitude ski resorts are those below 1800-2000 m and thus, the majority of ski resorts in the world. Not to mention Breilings and Charamzas (1999) estimation that a 1Â °C rise in average temperatures with winter drought may reduce the duration of snow cover by 50% at altitudes in range of 1400 1600 m. For example, Moen and Fredman (2007) estimated that no more than 63% of the entire Swiss ski regions will be snow consistent once a temperature raise by 2Â °C, not to mention the impact in the worst case and thus, in increase of temperature by 5.8Â °C, taking to account IPCCs model. If we link these few findi ngs together, we may conclude that in the worst circumstances, the natural snow dependability will rise by 870m of altitude by year 2100 which would mean that ski resorts of altitude about 2000m may end up with as much snow as altitudes in regions about 1000m today. Larsson (2003) concentrated his research on climate change adaption in Canada and the findings are very similar to of those in Europe. He used model of McCarthys (2001) research which estimated that global warming in Arctic land areas may become theatrical by year 2080. Summer temperatures would increase by 4.0-7.5Â °C, winter temperatures by 2.5-14.0Â °C. These numbers are even more. If these predictions are about to be fulfilled, it would lead to melting of permafrost, leading to soils with condensed bearing capacity in ice rich areas and active regions of irregular permafrost. Additionally as he found out, the global warming effects may decrease periods of extreme cold and on other hand increase frequency of extreme heat in North America. Growing sea levels and danger of rainstorm course, and thus danger of coastal flooding, variations in timing, regularity and severity of flooding linked to rainstorms are likely to become a reality. Moen and Fredman (2007) mentioned that according to Mendelsohn and Markowski (1999), global warming would most likely have an effect on outdoor leisure in three ways in the future. These include accessibility of leisure possibilities throughout longer summer seasons and shorter winter seasons. The comfort in general, satisfaction of leisure activities and the quality of the leisure experience. These kind of changes will generate winners as well as losers as diverse sorts of outside recreation activities involve dissimilar climatic conditions. These outcomes are though generalisations that may be applicable at collective level, whilst it would expect large district and neighbouring variations between different tourism activities. All of the above findings are alarming for winter tourism destinations and therefore managements of ski areas have to be very aware of possible impact of climate change on their ski spots as the snow is fundamental aspect of ski tourism. Snow conditions as a key factor Winter tourism is in many ways reliant on natural features such as terrain, elevation or vertical fall. On other hand, even more significant features are weather conditions, and thus temperatures, airstream and snowfall. With decrease in snow cover, whatever the terrain or vertical fall may be, it is almost impossible to develop any ski opportunities. More authors agreed that snow cover is a key variable for consumers to decide where to ski. Suggestions that impacts on global warming on winter tourism can be significant are apparent from research from different parts of the world. For example, Fukushima et al (2002) as expressed in Moen and Fredman (2007) formed the interactions connecting air warmth, rainfall, snow intensity and the amount of skiers at seven different ski resorts in Japan. They found out that the number of skiers decreased by 30% when temperature increased by 3-C. Godfrey (1999) found out that one of the most important aspects influencing destination choices of Engl ish skiers going to Canada is snow conditions. These findings strengthen an argument that snow conditions and snow cover may be regarded as the most important factor for any ski resort. As discussed and illustrated before, the phenomenon of global warming may, and most likely will have a huge impact on snow conditions in mountains and ski areas and thus it will also have significant influence on businesses of new as well as matured ski destinations. Majority of them started to feel impacts of global warming and they are trying to find solutions in order to respond to weather changes so they have better chance to survive and keep their businesses alive. The question is, is all it possible even without not enough natural snowfall? Adaption by ski industry Artificial snow-making Steiger and Mayer (2008) concentrated their research on Austrias and Swisss ski industry and stated that technically created snow is the most used alteration approach for unusually hot winter seasons. Nicholls (2006) who researched climate change and its impact on outdoor tourism in Europe said that key technological alteration to snow absence is the implementation of artificial snow-making facilities. Moen and Fredman (2007) considered that the most general adaptation to snow-deficient winters in Sweden is also artificial snow-making. The practice of snowmaking is increasingly characteristic for the Australian ski industry too (Bricknell and McManus, 2006). Snowmaking may be used not only to influence ski season durations but also to reduce snow changeability throughout the season. This is viewed as an insurance policy for overcoming the unreliability of seasons and dealing with the potential impacts of climate change. Snowmaking could be considered short to medium-term adaptation a pproach, not just for low altitude ski destinations but as well as for financially strong year-round resorts at higher altitudes (Nicholls, 2006). For instance, in Austria almost 60% of the ski areas are covered by artificial snow-making facilities (FSO, 2007 in Steyger and Mayer, 2008). But the distribution of snow-making cannot be related to global warming as trends in tourism, status, and competitive advantage are crucial features. Steiger and Mayer (2008) said that ski resorts are forced to build up snow-making capabilities with cost for their financial strength as warm winters are becoming more common than in the past. However the possible assistance of this machinery to the practicability of winter tourism destinations have yet to be formed by researchers as the significant expenditures are linked with this measure. For instance, approximately 27% of ski resorts in Switzerland have a reduced cash stream already and most do not seem to be viable without help (Seilbahnen Schweiz 2006 in Steiger and Mayer, 2008). Elsasser and Burki (2002) and Scott et al. (2003) as described in Nicholls (2006), stated that snowmaking ameniti es are costly to assemble and preserve, and need significant amounts of water and power to work. For that reason, many of the small and middle range ski resorts would not have enough money for the implementation of such technology. Usage of snow-making technology In preparation for the skiing season of 2006-2007 the Austrias Tyrolean ski industry invested EUR 55 million in snowmaking, with EUR 270 million in overall investments even though, the past winter seasons had brought sufficient snowfall yet at lower elevations (Tiroler Tageszeitung 2006 as illustrated in Steyger and Mayers, 2008). This points out that while the operators observe climate circumstances as regularly too blurred and uncertain, they are well aware of global warming and are searching for adaptation strategies. Also, medium-term investment strategies are not tailored, as there is a lot of confidence in the improvement capacities of snowmaking machinery with a clear perceivable hole between weather change and economic investment phases (Mayer et al 2007 in Steiger and Mayer, 2008). As they mentioned, while the poor winter seasons at the end of the 1980s sparked artificial snowmaking in Tyrol, additional distribution was not related to weather unpredictability and global warm ing scenarios. On other hand, there is tendency to supply even naturally snow consistent ski resorts in high altitude areas higher than 2000m or in even 2500m with snow-making amenities. These elevations may be regarded as naturally snow consistent even in pessimistic global warming scenarios. As they said, snow-making amenities can be also used as promotion instrument to be a magnet for tourists, to build reputation and to maintain prices higher than it would generally be. These resources could perhaps be used in more sustainable way than just unnecessary usage of water wealth and other detriments of snow guns. Snow-making guns are not necessarily used in order just to make ski slopes usable for longer period of time. Main enthusiasm for the unique diffusion of snowmakers are that snowmaking should secure tourist capacity consumption, cable car companies revenues, and images of resorts in which domestic as well as international ski rivalry go on. Furthermore, it ought to guarantee broad environment for teaching and exercising of winter sports. How is global warming related to diffusion of snow-making facilities? Austrias case is different as there are many high-altitude ski resorts but Bricknell and McManus (2006) interviewed CEOs of three different ski resorts in Australia on this issue. CEOs assured that snowmaking technology may help to negate projected climate change impacts. The CEO of one resort suggested that, under global warming, snowmaking conditions may be unaffected or even improved because drier colder nights are good for snow-making which would assist the long term viability of the industry. The CEO of second resort noted that snowmaking is a necessary investment regardless of the potential impacts of climate change due to current consumer demands on the industry. CEO of third resort however, argued that global warming could have significant impact on artificial snow-making as this technology still depends on climate conditions and thus it still would not necessarily overcome the issue. Global warming and artificial snow-making Global warming may influence snowmaking in few ways. Decrease in natural snowfall would require more snowmaking; increase in average temperatures would decrease the length and amount of possibilities and boost the expenses of making snow; and variations in rainfall may distress the water supply for snowmaking (Scott et al., 2006 in Moen and Fredman, 2007). Analyses in North America have exposed that artificial snowmaking can significantly lessen the pessimistic outcomes of climate change but only if the temperature stays adequately low (Scott, 2006; Scott et al., 2006 in Moen and Fredman, 2007). Nicholls (2006) stated that artificial snow-making needs certain climatic surroundings, as for example minimum temperatures to be met and hence, this system may in several circumstances be prohibited beside the increase in warmth related to the global warming. The most important thing about snow-making is that snow guns and their usage are limited by weather conditions (Steiger and Mayer, 2008). High-quality snow can be accomplished with snow creation starting below -6Â °C at average humidity. On top of that, snowmaking conditions are prejudiced by warmth and wetness; if the air is wetter, lower temperatures are required. With recent snowmaking tools snow can be produced below -5Â °C. Fliris (1974) weather tables as expressed in Steiger and Mayer (2008) demonstrate a strong connection between -2Â °C daily average temperature and -6Â °C daily lowest temperature (Nicholls, 2006). Days reaching the threshold of -2Â °C daily average temperature are defined as prospective snowmaking days with best snowmaking conditions. Additionally, snowmaking is only considered realistic if it can poise out the loss during snowmelt. Therefore for majority of low-altitude ski resorts this strategy does not patch up the issue of global warming for long term and they have to start to look for other strategic options in order to overcome the problems of peak season shortness and falling visitor numbers as a result of climate change. Moen and Fredman (2007) adopted from Burki et al (2003) some other adaption strategies ski resorts may consider. Apart from snow-making, resorts could concentrate on different activities in order to fulfil consumer requirements and to survive on competitive business market. Slope development and operational practices At active ski areas, slope expansion alterations consist of: slope contouring, landscaping, and the defence of glaciers. Contouring or flatting ski slopes could be grooming slopes in the summer season to eliminate rocks or shrub vegetation, to reduce the snow deepness needed to operate and represent a cost saving approach for snowmaking (Scott and McBoyle, 2007). Land contouring can also be used to capture snowmelt and top up snowmaking tanks during the winter. Strategic placing and planting of tree cover can capture moving snow and to some extent gloom ski slopes, which would reduce snowmelt and snowmaking needs. Additionally to the adjustment of already operating skiable environment, the expansion of new skiable terrain in climatically privileged sites is generally cited as an alteration to climate change. The development of north facing slopes, which retain snowpack longer, is one strategy too. As Scott and McBoyle (2007) realised, more authors agreed that expansion of ski areas i nto higher elevations, with generally more reliable snow cover, where a longer ski season is possible, seems to be one of the key climate change adaptation strategies considered by ski area operators in the European Alps. Thirty six ski areas in Austria were awaiting authorisation to develop their operations into higher elevations in 2002- 2003. Wolfsegger et al. () as illustrated in Scott and McBoyle (2007) said that expanding to higher elevations was the third most favourite global warming adaptation choice by Austrian ski area managers, after snowmaking and sharing snowmaking costs with the accommodation industry. Nicholls (2006) also agreed that strategy of development of higher altitude ski resorts is option that tends to be of favour for existing ski resorts. Large ski corporations over smaller, family-owned businesses tend to use this strategy. Although, such improvements would present a host of ecological and safety concerns which the industry would need to deal with in order to uphold the industry in a viable approach. These comprise bigger pressure from new production as well as improved waste creation. Also due to mountain terrain or height this strategy is in many cases impossible. Other option is to cooperate or expand into areas with more reliable snow which may on other hand diversify income structure of resorts. Scott and McBoyle (2007) said that high elevation mountain environments are particularly sensitive to disturbance and opposition from the public and environmental groups may pose a significant constraint on this adaptation strategy in some locations. Marketing incentives and new product developments Bricknell and McManus (2006) suggested that many resorts use strategy of flexible ticket pricing policy and thus reducing ticket prices in order to attract more skiers. Scott and McBoyle (2007) mentioned that ski companies have already begun to experiment with incentives or guarantees to overcome skiers reluctance to book a ski holiday because of uncertain snow conditions. In the winter of 1999-2000, for example, the American Skiing Company promised visitors to its six New England region ski resorts a 25% reduction on their next vacation if the ski area failed to open 70% of their ski runs during the Christmas-New Year holiday period. Warm temperatures that season forced three of the six resorts to pay customers rebates (Keates, 2000 in Scott and McBoyle, 2007). Another strategy could be to develop non-snow related activities in winter or to become all season destination as more choices could attract more tourists and it could bring other benefits. All year round tourism could be developed by providing climate independent tourism such as conference or educational tourism. Nicholls (2006) mentioned that the building of conference amenities combined with the contribution of a broad variety of outside leisure activities during the seasons may provide resorts with a balanced, constant source of revenue that is less dependent on weather conditions. On other hand, the expansion of such substitutes needs an primary lay out of funds which may go beyond the capabilities of smaller ski businesses. Over the past three decades, many ski areas in North America have diversified their operations beyond traditional ski activities to include the provision of skiing and snowboarding lessons, accommodation and retail sales (Scott and McBoyle, 2007). The Economist (1998) referred to the alteration of major ski resorts in North America from ski areas to winter theme parks, as the Disneyfication of the winter sports industry (Scott and McBoyle, 2007). Non-skiers represent an important market at ski resorts. Williams and Dossa (1990) estimated that 20-30% of visitors to ski resorts in Canada did not ski during their visit (Scott and McBoyle, 2007). They also pointed out that in season 1974-75, lift tickets stood for almost 80% of profits for the usual ski area in the US. Nowadays, lift tickets stand for not even than half the profits, as other activities have risen in significance. Therefore to diversify the market and also to decrease the pressure of demand on ski lifts, this strategy see ms to be very supportive for existing ski resorts with capabilities to do so. Many ski resorts have made substantial investments to provide alternate activities for non-skiing visitors. For example snowmobiling, skating, dog sled-rides, indoor pools, health and wellness spas, fitness centres, squash and tennis, games rooms, restaurants, retail stores and many others. Moen and Fredman (2007) agreed, developing alternatives to skiing during winter is well recognised strategy to overcome falling visitor numbers into ski areas; however he pointed out, that it is also problematic as many of these alternatives are reliant on snow conditions or ice-covered lakes and thus dependant on climate conditions. All year round tourism The most promising strategy in order to completely overcome the problems of global warming may be to develop all-year round tourism. Moreover, offset pessimistic financial effects as of global warming, such a strategy would as well have optimistic public effects on conventional winter destinations as seasonal dissimilarity in employment prospects are bridged over. A number of ski resorts have further diversified their business operations to become four season resorts, offering non-winter activities such as golf, boating and white-water rafting, mountain biking, paragliding, horseback riding and other business lines. At many larger resorts, real estate construction and management has also become a very important source of revenue. On other hand, as Bricknell and McManus (2006) stated, the development of summer tourism needs long term preparation in order for them to develop appreciation in this market. The resorts will have to contend with each other and with summer destinations such as coastal locations, which would be in many cases very tough, especially where coastal summer tourism takes place. The expansion of tourism into the summer season in sequence to support or to swap snow tourism may also direct to environmental conflicts. Activities that resorts may want to promote, such as bike riding and horse riding, could unintentionally leak out into regions of preservation where they are forbidden. These kinds of activities are also known to worsen environmental issues, such as erosion and the spread of exotic species. If these forms of tourism increase in popularity, the carrying capacity for these mountain destinations must be re-evaluated to encompass their potential impacts. Role of public sector The public good characteristic of climate change creates complicated challenge for financial and political organizations. The lack of an unchanged weather is not connected to growing prices and is not necessarily measured to the top valued consumers. To maintain well-organized policies, inputs from financial estimations of global warming impacts are essential. Such financially viable measures consist of direct economic impacts to the economy as well as benefits to the contributors. For instance, Scott et al. (2002) as described in Scott and McBoyle (2007) used spending records to present approximation of the possible economic impacts from g oobal warming on skiing in Canada, whilst Richardson and Loomis (2005) calculated the effects of climate on motivation to pay to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. Many authors put some efforts to place an economic value on global warming impacts to tourism and outside leisure. For example, as Scott and McBoyle (2007) said, Meier (1998) approxima ted the cost of global warming for the 4 season tourism in Switzerland at USD 1.1 1.4 billion by the year 2050. Scott and McBoyle (2007) said that better weather forecasting would make available an enhanced foundation for risk assessments and tactical business choices, as well as the timing of seasonal openings or when to begin artificial snowmaking. Negotiations with ski operators in eastern North America propose that the industry does not presently use seasonal forecasts in their operational decision-making and substantive enhancements in forecasting accurateness would be necessary before these products would achieve a level of realistic value for the ski industry. Some ski operators yet think about five to seven days forecasts as too untrustworthy for operational decision-making and applied forecasts from different countries or classified services instead of governmental forecasts (Scott and McBoyle, 2007). Announcements to the community through the media could be a further aspect of forecasting that could be improved in some areas. Ski operators occasionally have adversarial interaction wi th a number of neighbouring media for the reason that of what they recognise as inaccurate exposure of weather conditions and forecasts that they disagree cost them business (King, 2005 in Scott and McBoyle, 2007). Government support to the ski industry has taken place in the variety of discounted energy costs, long-standing leases of communal lands and infrastructure fundings, but the industry has not gained from the kinds of backing programs offered to other climate-sensitive trade sectors such as for example, sponsor harvest insurance for the agriculture sector. In the future, skiing based tourism economic losses consequential from unpleasant climate circumstances may be adequate for government concern and support in some cases. Government participation in the ski industrys prospect could perhaps take a number of forms. Direct involvement could come throughout financial assistance, cover support or marketing proposals. Ultimately, government policies linked to land and water use, and energy and revenue spending could impact skiing operations positively. Government financial assistance for snowmaking was greatly supported by Austrian ski area managers, whilst government assistance for financial losses because of poor winters was only to some extent supported (Wolfsegger et al, 2005 as demonstrated in Scott and McBoyle, 2007). Conclusion This essay discussed the problem of global warming and its projected impacts on ski industry all over the world. It demonstrated that climate change is broadly accepted as a mega risk, particularly for businesses dependant on weather conditions. Numerous ski resorts, especially those that are established at lower elevations could face serious problems if climate change forecasts are about to be accurate in the future. Among limited supply of downhill ski resorts, coupled with an existing high demand for the activity, it would possibly lead to yet other remarkable increase in prices and environmental pressures. Ski resorts have several strategy options to consider when it comes to problem of not sufficient snow cover in their geography area. Some tend to use artificial snow-making facilities, some aim to diversify their business portfolio by offering a new products and developments of new tourism attractions. The most promising strategy to overcome global warming problem, as regarded by few authors, was to become an all-year round tourism destination. However, all of these adaption strategies tend to go hand in hand with the issue of sustainability which should be taken more seriously as all developments take place in extremely sensitive environments. The essay demonstrated that adaption strategies are increasingly used already by ski resorts in many parts of the world and that sometimes these are not even related to global warming. The most commonly used adaption strategies are not without ecological and financial costs. Water usage from natural water bodies can lesser water intensities and influence fishing harmfully. Power needs are high as well and inversely linked to warmth, and will thus sustain higher expenditure the warmer the temperatures get. By means of this type of disorder of demand to ski regions with higher altitude, ecological loads upon the nearby environments would be enlarged. This paper only fairly points out issues that come along with new developments and expansions of ski regions and these should be further discussed and analysed.

Into The Wild, by Jon Krakauer :: Into the Wild Essays

The tone is set in this chapter as Krakauer uses words to create an atmosphere of worry, fear, and happiness in McCandless’s mind. â€Å"The bush is an unforgiving place, however, that cares nothing for hope or longing†(4). McCandless is on the path of death, which creates worry and fear for the young boy. â€Å"He was determined. Real gung ho. The word that comes to mind is excited,† (6). Alex is very excited and care free, which Krakauer used to his advantage in making the tone of Alex’s mind happy. The author creates tones to make the reader feel the moment as if the readers were sitting there themselves. Krakauer uses dialogue and setting to create the mixed tones of this chapter. As one can see from the quotes and scenery the author uses tones that are blunt and are to the point to make the reader feel as though the emotions are their own. Krakauer uses plenty of figurative language in this chapter. He uses figurative language to support his ideas,t o express the surroundings, and tone around the character. To start the chapter he uses a simile describing the landscape of the area, â€Å"†¦sprawls across the flats like a rumpled blanket on an unmade bed,† (9). This statement is used to make reader sense the area and set the mood for the chapter. The use of figurative language in this chapter is to make a visual representation in the readers mind. â€Å"It’s satellites surrender to the low Kantishna plain† (9). The personification is used in this phrase is to make the reader believe and feel that the location is far away and so far that technology surrenders to mother nature. It is important for the reader to be aware of the distance that is so far from civilization. A lot of epigraphs used in the book also show figurative language. â€Å"The land itself was a desolation, lifeless, without movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even that of sadness†(9). Jack London is mentione d quiet a bit in this book and he also uses many forms of figurative language. The personification used above in the epigraph was meant to seem that the land was empty and had no life going on. â€Å"Wisdom of eternity laughing†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (9), is also personification that can suggest to the reader that the end of forever will never happen and so eternity is mocking everyone in its path of destruction.

Trafficking from Africa to Europe :: essays research papers

Morocco’s slum swarm with desperate African refugees risking their lives to go to Europe. The human smugglers are their rescuers - because all legal roads to the European Union end blind. In this essay I will look in the situation on the Straight of Gibraltar and see how the smugglers work. This summer I went from Tangier, a harbor city in the north of Morocco, to Ceuta, crossing the border from Morocco into Spain. The control was extremely tight and it took a very long time to get permission to enter Ceuta because we went through passport check 3 times. Around us, there were a high fence, which was impossible to jump over, and there was police everywhere, also in the sea where they were constantly on patrol. It was really strange to go from a poor, messy place, cross the border and suddenly be in the European Union. And even more strange to look back and imagine all those refugees and poor people behind us, for whom to enter Europe is their biggest dream, though they aren’t getting permission to cross the border because they have a passport from the wrong country. In the slum district of Tangier most of the refugees begin their risky journey to Europe, crossing the dangerous Straight of Gibraltar. This place is also where the Moroccan mafia works and a lot of money is being earned. A human smuggler can in one night earn $ 10,000, which is more than a yearly wage for a Moroccan fisherman. But the work can be very dangerous. Many of boats have gone down because of the strong currents in the straight and because the boats are always extremely overloaded. If you ask a human smuggler, this is not what they are most afraid of. As a result of the European Union’s police cooperation, the Spanish coast patrol has increased the hunt for illegal Moroccan sailors and the punishment for human smuggling has been increased. If you get caught in smuggling people, you will now get 2 to 3 years of prison in Spain and even more in Morocco. Before, it was only Moroccan refugees who crossed the straight, but today people come from very distant places such as Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Mali and other West African states. The price they have to pay is $ 1000 for the 14-kilometer-long journey, but the smugglers only get one-third of that amount. The rest is for the Moroccan mafia which job it is to make the contact to the Africans and organizes the trips.

A Very Brief History on the Existence of God Essay -- Philosophy, Des

The subsequent essay will provide a brief overview on the existence of God from Renà © Descartes through Immanuel Kant. First, section (1), examines Descartes’ proof for the existence of God. Section (2), explores G.W. Leibniz’s view on God’s existence in addition to his attempts to rectify the shortcomings of Descartes’ proofs. Before continuing, it is imperative to understand that both Descartes and Leibniz believed that the existence of God could be proved via reason. The remainder of the essay then examines two additional philosophers, David Hume in section (4) and Immanuel Kant in (5), who contend that God’s existence cannot be rationally proven. (1) Being a devout Catholic, Descartes undeniably believed in God. He makes this clear in the letter of dedication preceding Meditations on First Philosophy. He writes that we must â€Å"believe in God’s existence because it is taught in the Holy Scriptures, and, conversely, that we must believe in the Holy Scriptures because they have come from God† (Descartes, 1). Nonetheless, in the actual Meditations Descartes casts doubt on everything, including religion in his search for absolute certainty. In the Third Meditation, however, Descartes provides his first rationalistic proof for the existence of God. In doing so, he first doubts the very existence of God, conceding that he does â€Å"not yet sufficiently know if there is even a God† (25). He then deliberates on this issue, pondering â€Å"whether there is a God† (25). However, even though he questions God’s very existence, Descartes maintains his innate idea of God. After some deliberation, h e concludes that because he has an innate idea of God, (which is not fabricated by the mind or drawn from the senses), it must be God who endowe... ... to exist, then a necessary being does exist. 6. It is possible for a being to have all perfections. 7. Therefore, a necessary being (God) does exist. (3) (3) On the contrary, David Hume did not believe an argument could establish the existence of God. In fact, Hume attacks both Descartes’ and Leibniz’s methodology for establishing the existence of God in the following: â€Å"there is an evident absurdity in pretending to demonstrate a matter of fact, or to prove it by any arguments a priori. Nothing is demonstrable, unless the contrary implies a contradiction. Nothing, that is distinctly conceivable, implies a contradiction. Whatever we conceive as existent, we can also conceive as non-existent. There is no being, therefore, whose non-existence implies a contradiction. Consequently there is no being, whose existence is demonstrable† (Bailey, 79).

Musicandlyrics

In living life in general, music plays a very important part in our lives. Through time and history, music has not only shown the culture of man in general, but also it has shown an essential reflection of what passions has driven man through time. Music is the window of expression to what each person feels in their lives in general. As we all know, it is through music that we share our common passions and in the lyrics that we verbalize which words appeal to us. This is pretty much what the plot of the movie Music and Lyrics by Marc Lawrence revolved mostly about. How music and lyrics composition is the reflection of passions and aspirations in the life of Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) and Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore). In the flow of the story, Alex Fletcher, a former band member of a hit 80’s band is trying to relive his glory days by singing with a famous singer; Cora Carmen to advance his own career. Cora agrees to do this if he makes the perfect song that they can duet to in her upcoming album. Alex at once tries to work at the song but struggles to find the lyrics given that he himself lacks what it takes of making the perfect lines to a hit song due to lack of passion in his own day to day life. In the process of racking his brains out in finding the perfect words to a song, Sophie; his plant lady comes waltzing in Alex’s house humming the perfect words that strikes Alex’s ears. He tries to convince Sophie to work with him at once and when she helped him out in making the perfect song, she also helps him out in a much more important thing he needed help in; his very own passions in life. In the process of making the song, Alex and Sophie gets really close as the stories of their lives unravel and frustrations are poured out. With Alex’s downfall in the music industry and Sophie’s mishap with dating a guy who ends up using her character in a book which traumatizes Sophie as all her frustrations in that relationship felt like was opened to the general viewing of the public eye. In the course of all this Sophie teaches Alex what it means to truly write a story of our lives through a song. She not only helped him in coming up with the words, she also thought him how to make it the proper way, through living your own life well and writing to sing about it. Eventually they come up with the song and Cora likes it but wants to put a modern twist to the melody so she can dance to it. Sophie doesn’t think that this is a good idea since it cuts out the essence of the song, this is where things get ugly when Alex refuses to tell Cora their opinions to the modern twist fearing that she will reject the duet contract. Sophie gets disappointed in Alex given that they have already reached an intimate relationship in the course of time that the spent together. This is when Cora requests for a another verse in the song and Sophie comes up with the perfect words to describe the scenario the two lovers were caught in; â€Å"There are moments when I don’t know if it’s real or if anybody feels the way I feel. I need inspiration, not just another negotiation.† This is where Alex realizes his mistake and makes it up to Sophie by making his own song of apology to her which he sings in Cora’s concert and convincing Cora to keep the song that he and Sophie made just at it is. All in all, I think this was a feel good movie where in the reality of the politics of show business and the music industry is also reflected. It also reflected the typical day to day drama that women deal with in love and lost specially with Sophie’s role as she felt like she’s been used and betrayed by two men; her ex and at one point even Alex Fletcher. It depicts traditional roles that women still play in society these days. The erotic pleasure in film, its meaning and in particular, the control place of the image of woman will be interwoven. Mulvey, Laura † Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema † 1975 Although there are different depictions that may be derived from the love story of Sophie and Alex or why Alex and Sophie fell for each other, the drama of their relationship and fear for entering a new intimate relationship reflects what most of use deal with in day to day life. The perceiver may find deeper or â€Å"explicit† meaning. The perceiver decides what the core of the film is from her own perspective. While one might see the crux of Saving Private Ryan as war is hell’, another might see it as saving one saves us all. â€Å"Chapter 1A: Making Films Mean† October 7, 2007 As a viewer, I loved the story line because it once again reminded me that no matter how complicated love and life can be, people are capable of making things work. That’s the beauty of romantic comedy films, no matter how redundant the plot can get, you keep on watching it for the very same reason; it’s â€Å"feel good factor†. I also found the lyrics of   Way back into Love and its lyrics very captivating so I really felt like the movie’s title gave justice to the show. I do think that the movie was quite typical especially with the variety of different plots that are emerging in the movie industry now-a-days. It was far too predictable for a contemporary movie, but given the genre of the show, I felt like I was supposed to be typical in order to captivate its target audience. It’s the type of movie that will be fun to watch with your family friends and loved ones wherein your quality time will be maximized not only by the feel good factor of the plot but also the comedic effect of the story line. The narration and the film technique was also pretty typical given that the plot of the movie didn’t really call for anything special work with the cinematography and the likes. I found the music video’s of POP also refreshing as it took me back to a trip to memory lane with the style and music of the band.. The setting was also perfect for the plot as Alex’s apartment and the surrounding locations did fit in perfectly in making the infamous song that they had to make for Cora. I also found the set of characters for the movie and the storyline brilliantly pieced in specially matching the lyrics of the song way back into love. It was like I was being taken into a journey with Sophie and Alex as I felt like I was being part of that song that they were making. No wonder the song became a hit once the movie hit the cinemas. The storyline captured the heart and soul of the drama of life and love and pieced it in to the song that everybody is still humming to months after its release. The characters were also perfect specially with Cora who did depict your typical popular pop star in dire need to dance to any of their songs. As simple as the movie was, it was a wonderful journey to the backstage of life and music and how it fits perfectly well together. I think it would give people a deeper appreciation for music. I also think that the movie also calls for a political challenge to artists and songwriters to write more about real things in life. This is because lately I have noticed the invasion of dance songs that has just connotations of sex, rage, unhealthy self image and vices to the point that it is no longer helping ourselves and the people around us in our modern day society. Music and Lyrics I think has a lot to show and tell us if we really read into the deeper meaning of what the movie had to offer. It was also refreshing that a love story has been put in the middle to buffer the point of embracing the heart and soul of the artistry of poetry and music. I really appreciated it given that I am a music lover myself. The soundtrack is a refreshing mix 80’s songs and modern dance in line with the story’s plot. It is a must see for people ready to unwind and enjoy catering to both young and old since the music is really bound to transcend generations as it has been shown in the film. Music and Lyrics has successfully fused the best ingredients in life; Love, Drama, Life, Music and Words! Just try singing to its soundtrack with your eyes closed while recalling scenes from the film and you will know what I mean when I say the movie could reach your soul if you let it. Just like how music has for many people and generations.   

Western Civ Continuous or Discontinuous

Is Human Development Continuous or Discontinuous? Human Development is lifelong, continuous and discontinuous and goes in so many different directions throughout a lifespan. It is plastic, multidisciplinary and is embedded in a changing socio-historical context. I truly believe I live in a continuous development pattern, as I believe the rest of us hope our children to follow in our footsteps of continuity. Sigmund Freud addresses continuous versus discontinuous in the understanding of mental illness. We tend to wonder if a mental illness if just an ordinary person taking something to an extreme, or if it is just a matter of degree. I think there is a difference in the way someone with a mental illness experiences reality. There are so many different kinds of mental illnesses so it is far more complicated than a single entity. There is even debate out there as to what exactly is considered a mental illness versus what is not. I guess to some it is all in the eyes of the beholder. What do we know about Sigmund Freud’s theory? His Psychoanalytic Theory is an intrinsic struggle between ego, id and superego. In children, it focuses mostly on the manifestation of disorders as seen from individual case studies. This theory has psychosexual stages which include oral (birth-1year), anal (1-3yr), Phallic (3-6yr), Latency (6-11yr) and Genital (Adolescence). This theory is unique in that it is a kind of lifespan and states that behavioral manifestations are a result of internal struggles. This theory emphasizes on the role of early experiences on child development and the mediating role of parents. Sigmund Freud proposed that if the child experienced anxiety, thwarting his or her sexual appetite during any libidinal (psychosexual) development stage, said anxiety would persist into adulthood as a neurosis, a functional mental disorder. The biggest problem with this theory is that it is hard to verify. A continuity life is one that basically believes of having stages of development. From infancy and learning to walk and talk to adolescence and making decisions on your own a person living a continuity life accepts life as it changes and adapts to it. Whether it be first day of kindergarten and learning to read to becoming a first time parent we accept that something new is about to happen in our lives and adjust for the change. I don’t know how often people would not accept the stages of life and move forward with the stages/changes but o feel it’s important to do so. Another theory from the text I found interesting with respect to continuity was in the sensorimotor period (behavior reflecting on actions) to the formal operations period (perfection of development) are part of Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. The cognitive development theory is one that I found to be quite interestin g. This theory suggests that a child could adjust to the surroundings based on what was happening at the time; that the stage of a child’s life and growth is a continuous process. The stages, according to Cleverley & Phillips Piaget’s theory suggest that â€Å"whenever a difficulty was encountered, it threw the child out of mental equilibrium, and the child was then forced to make some addition to its mental apparatus; cognitive accommodation occurred. † (pg. 87). In other words, what I think this means is that whenever an event would occur in a child’s life that was of a difficult nature, it would force the child to adjust to the situation and then move forward. Ultimately, every decision that is made (whether these decisions are made during infancy, adolescent or adult) these decisions impact the next stage of life. It’s clear that the cognitive theory of Piaget is one that the stages of development occur in the cognitive state of mind. Discontinuity on the other hand appears to me to be more a religious theory and a basis that there are not necessarily stages to life but events and that the events occurring don’t necessarily predict how the future outcome of that individual might be. The idea behind a discontinuity life is that the events or obstacles that a person is faced with are the pre mapped out plan of god. According to Augustine’s theory that all children are born in sin and act of free will it is my understanding that Augustine’s theory is a theory of discontinuity. This is because discontinuity is having a life with â€Å"personal decision, freely chosen, that will profoundly change the direction of one’s life. (Module Commentary – Historical Antecedents II)    From what I’m understanding Augustine’s theory on discontinuity is that a decision has the ability to significantly impact the outcome of one’s life. According to module commentary research suggests that the past of an individual doesn’t necessarily suggest what the outcome of that person may be. When looking at my life and trying to determine whether my life would be of continuity or discontinuity I have to admit I struggled with the differences. I think that I my life could be either actually. However, after reading the text I would have to say that I would think the majority of my life is continuous in that my life has been full of stages. From infancy to adolescence and then into adult hood these were distinctive stages to which I lived through and made distinctive decisions. I recall events during my childhood such as my parents divorcing that helped me to comprehend and realize that life isn’t perfect. Instead of pitying on the fact that my parents were no longer together and revert back to being an infant (i. e. inability to cope with life and depend on others to make decisions for me and becoming depressed) I opted for the continuity approach and accept the event and move forward. I will say I’m one of five siblings and I can tell you that my youngest brother reverted and fell in a life full of bad decisions with severe impacts and he struggles with moving forward and accepting life as it is. I graduated high school and went off to college. My first child was born while I was in my associates program in college but I kept plugging along with my studies determined and focused to get what I was working so hard for. I had many relationships that ended badly, however, I didn’t revert to a life of pity but rather felt the pain, dealt with the impacts of my decisions and moved forward. Every stage in my life whether it be when I was a child and care free to being a mother of two beautiful children and full of responsibility I’ve realized that my life is continuous. I will keep moving forward with all the events and stages that take place in my life. I do believe these events have the ability to mold a person just by the decisions that were made. I believe that people can have an event happen in their life that in turns has a drastic impact. Take the death of Ivan Ilych for example. He struggled with an illness and then was given the opportunity to reflect on his life and to see things differently. This man had an incredible transformation. In essence what I’m suggesting is that while my life is continuity I am married to a man whose life to me appears to be of discontinuity. The more I learn of what his faith and beliefs are the more easily it is to find complications between the two. According to Cleverley & Phillips â€Å"descriptions of typical behavior can only be made in the context of a theory, because what is to count as typical behavior very much depends upon the point of view of the observer, and furthermore, the language that is used to describe the behavior is usually orrowed from theory, or may have political or ideological connotations. Thus, what the observer sees in children depends upon what model he or she brings along. † (pg. 96). Therefore, I take this to mean that how a person views either their life or the life of someone else is a matter of opinion by the basis of what their foundation of knowledge is based on and what they bring into your l ife with. References: Cleverly, John & Phillips, D. C. (1986) Visions of Childhood. Influential Models from Locke to Spock