Building of the Holocaust Memorial Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Building of the Holocaust Memorial - Movie Review Example ions of the gay and lesbian population, and not including these people in this Holocaust memorial could make it seem like they are less valued by the German people, like their murders were less of a travesty than the murders of Jews. On the other hand, many point out that the main targets of the Holocaust were Jews, and the main ideology and iconography of the Nazi party were anti-Jewish, and it is thus important to single out the attacks on Jews against the attacks on everyone else, and perhaps give other people who were victims of the Holocaust their own memorials to honour their deaths. One of the most interesting sections of this video is the opinions of the original architect and designer of the memorial on what has been done around it. One of the biggest disappointments for the designer was the fact that other people chose to put an underground informational center (the Ort) as part of the installation. He was against this decision, and it is interesting to see how even the lead designer of a project like this does not necessarily have complete control over their project. â€Å"Building the Holocaust Memorial† is an interesting take on the construction of an important site in Germany. It shows that even a simple act of goodwill, like building a memorial to the victims of one of the most atrocious assaults on humanity in history can be fraught with political and ethical difficulties, and that nothing is as simple as it seems on the

Receiving a Scholarship Essay Example for Free

Receiving a Scholarship Essay The Great Being saith and I quote: â€Å"Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom†.   Madam Chairperson, Members and Officers of The Grand Bahama American Womens Club, ladies and gentlemen, students, good evening. It is an honor and with great humility I stand before you today, to encourage those candidates selected that will go forward and to thank those that assisted me in the past from this fine club. SCHOLARSHIP is defined as a â€Å"commitment to learning.† Scholarship is NOT an inherited quality, but one that is acquired and developed as a result of responsibility, diligence, and dedication. A scholar is willing to spend hours in reading and study, knowing the lasting benefits of a cultured and educated mind. From the detailed works of Aristotle, to Shakespeare and Darwin, the information and the wisdom available to students today is absolutely priceless. Candidates, I once sat where you are. Let me take you back on my journey, in hopes that it will encourage and motivate you to remain focused on the endeavour that you are about to embark upon. I received the Scholarship for the school year commencing September, 1993. I was advised at the time that the scholarship was for one school year, but with good grades, that year could turn into another year. So, I made the commitment first to God and then to myself to succeed, and with hard work, dedication and determination I was able to achieve the grades, earning the scholarship for five years up to my graduation in 1997. The scholarship allowed me to attend Freeport Anglican High School the now Bishop Michael Eldon School, where I received a quality education in an environment conducive to learning, and a foundation that prepared me for studies beyond High School. This scholarship was not only an opportunity for my fees to be funded by persons other than my parents but an opportunity to realize that if a group of individuals actually believed in my success, then I too must also realize my potential and believe in me. But let me also confess that at times I got frustrated and overwhelmed and just didn’t feel like studying or reading, and so that mischevious child within would surface. I remember one year a few weeks before exams I went home and told my mother that the grading system at school had changed and if you got a F on your report card it meant  FANTASTIC, E meant EXCELLENT, D meant DISTINCTION C meant CREDIT B meant BAD and A meant AWFUL. Well, based on that piercing stare I got from my mother, I immediately studied as I should and made the grade. So I encourage you the recipients, to unlock your potential and make the most of your talents for the future. So many of us dare to dream of where we will see ourselves in a certain amount of years, what we dream to become, and what career path we desire to pursue. Be assured that education alone can unlock, unravel, and ensure that all dreams, desires and aspirations are achieved and materialized. Remember it was Norman Vincent Peal that said â€Å"what ever the mind can conceive and believe it can achieve.† Dreams are the stepping stones to the future, it will open the doors of opportunity allowing you to utilize your full potential. Dreams will ignite in you the spirit of persistency. Nothing in this world can take the place of Persistency. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talents. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistency and determination alone are omnipotent. An honor such as this is a wonderful way to recognize and celebrate the choices, and sometimes the sacrifices, you have made. But I believe that what should make you and your parents the most proud is not the actual honor itself, but what you had to do to get it. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, The reward of a thing well done is to have done it. However, do not rest on your laurels alone, but continue to strive towards even loftier goals. Your achievements embody a positive attitude backed by purpose. The only way to achieve your purpose is to take small actions everyday. In the end, they all add up. Scholarship is much more than just getting straight As. It is a life-long love of learning. In the end it is a sum of small choices. Each time you decide you WANT to learn something, the experience will be so rewarding that the next time becomes easier. Soon, learning becomes a habit. At that point, your desire to learn makes getting As easier while taking the focus off the grades. The knowledge can still be hard to gain, but knowing youve mastered a difficult subject is an awesome reward. Suddenly the world around you becomes richer and full of learning opportunities. You are being given an opportunity. Opportunities are only meaningful if people have the capabilities, the resources, the aspirations to make the most of them. Aspiration matters in every aspect of education:  the aspirations of parents for their children from their very earliest years; the aspirations of young people, whether they are going to seize the opportunities available to them; the aspirations of course of teachers, of schools, of local government setting high expectations for achievement; the aspirations of society placing the highest possible cultural value upon learning itself; and of course aspirations of government that sets long term ambitions and mat ches those ambitions with the necessary investment over the long term to realise them. In a world where violence and hatred seems to be taking over, I quote â€Å"Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess† end quote. Many children are exposed to violence in their communities, in their families, and in the media. Exposure to violence crosses socioeconomic and cultural boundaries, occurring in all groups within our society, and this exposure to violence can have significant effects on children during their development. The most important protective resource to enable a child to cope with exposure to violence is a strong relationship with a competent, caring, positive adult, most often a parent. But with the support of good parenting by either a parent or other significant adult, a child’s cognitive and social development can proceed positively even with adversity. Violence is in our communities, but ensuring that our children are equipped with and education that enables them to determine right from wrong, then we are one step closer to finding a solution. Families, regardless of their composition, are uniquely structured to provide the attention, nurturing, and safety that children need to grow and develop. So candidates you have an opportunity to become the solution to this crumbling civilization around us. Through your education, you will look upon your environment, your community and your country with new eyes and new vision. To not take advantage of this opportunity that has been afforded to you, as you have been hand picked out a selection of many qualified applicants. Take this opportunity to push yourself even harder than before. To excel further in all subjects, to be an example to all your classmates. Knowing that the strategic choices that you make today are going to be critical for your long term prosperity. Make the American Women’s Club proud  of the selection made here today. Make learning your life, and success your destination. At this time I would like to say a special thanks to The Grand Bahama American Women’s Club, a club that fosters pioneering initiatives to encourage local young people to think about education and higher learning and for extending such an opportunity to me, an opportunity that honestly, â€Å"thank you† doesn’t really convey how appreciative and grateful I am for having been given the opportunity extended to me by this Club. Once again candidates, I close in saying and I quote â€Å"To strive, to persevere, ensures ultimate and complete victory† end quote. And remember as Mother Teresa said, Life is a promise; fulfill it. Thank you all very much.

T.K.Maxx Strategic Analysis

T.K.Maxx Strategic Analysis T.K Maxx is one of the famous European off- price retailer with more stores, more variety of products and quality brands. T.K Maxx is part of the TJX companies which is known as the off-price retail chain in the United States. Retail concept of United States came to the United Kingdom in 1994 because the first T.K Maxx was opened in Bristol in 1994. As of June 2009, T.K Maxx had 247 stores across Europe, 212 stores in the United kingdom, 13 in Ireland, 18 in Germany and 4 in Poland (Source: Official website T.K. Maxx).T.K Maxx is the 10th largest fashion retailer in the UK (Source: TNS Fashion Tracker). T.K. Maxx is the UKS fourth favorite retailer, the third favorite clothing retailer and the UKs shoe retailer for 2009 (Source: Verdit Retail Group). III. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats 3.1 Strengths Affordable price and quality product is the demand of the more customers and T.K Maxx has the positive impact of customers. T.K Maxx encompasses a wide range of sectors and people may have little options but to buy new clothes and other accessories they choose for T.K Maxx. The falling cost of goods over the past decade has encouraged consumers, to buy goods more often than in the past. The UK retail marketing benefits from a strong tradition in fashion and design. T.K Maxx also affected from this. 3.2 Weakness Sales are seasonal, Most of the expensive items like coats, party wear and different gifts are required mainly in Christmas time. Many large retail companies wear established and it is difficult for competition and to established new T.K Maxx stores. The recession has also sparked price war that is further eroding profit margins. 3.3 Opportunities T.K Maxx chain that offer relatively cheap items should do well during the recession. UK residents continue to spend less on clothes than Europeans because there is a potential for continued growth in the overall market. Mainly men spend less on clothing than women, and there is scope to encourage men to take a greater interest in fashion. T.K Maxx provides the quality product in discount price which becomes the opportunity to those people who have low income. Thus, it is easy to make customers change their buying behavior by special characteristics of the products. A product with special features demonstrated in appropriate places can draw customers attention and result in their buying decision. 3.4 Threats The growth of the retail market shows little symbol of slowing in business because of more competition. Then the choices of the customers may decrease. The decrease in the value of the pound could cause the cost of retail market of T.K Maxx also because the imported clothes and other accessories will rise, which could result in lower sales volumes. A prolonged and deep recession may cause shopping habits to change in the long term, with a new emphasis on saving. Consumers may reduce to spend more money on clothing and other areas of consumption. The growth of the cheap production and the higher competition could affect the overall business. IV. PESTLE Analysis The external factors have a great impact in the sector of business. The external factors which affect the business are dealt under PESTLE analysis. PESTLE stands for political, economical, social, technological, legal and environmental factors. 1. Political factors: Politics is the art and science of government. The policy of government directly affect to the company. Similarly, T.K Maxx is affected by the tax policies, trade restrictions, political stability, tariffs restriction etc. 2. Economic factors: The global recession and economic downturn has reduced the sales of retail products and other home accessories. At present most of the people are jobless. The unemployment rate for October to December 2009 was 7.8 per cent, unchanged on the quarter. The number of unemployed people fell by 3,000 over the quarter to reach 2.46 million. The number of people unemployed for more than 12 months increased by 37,000 over the quarter to reach 663,000, the highest figure since the three months to September 1997. The number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance (the claimant count) increased by 23,500 between December 2009 and January 2010 to reach 1.64 million, the highest figure since April 1997. This monthly increase in the claimant count was preceded by two consecutive monthly falls. (Source: Office for National Statistics ) Increasing in unemployment affect to the business. This is also affecting the T.K Maxx Company. T.K Maxx have branded themselves as selling to everyone and therefore offer a range of products and services from Value to Finest prices thus appealing to all segments of the market. 3. Social factors: Society and culture is an important factor that must be given emphasis by any business. Now a days most of the people are becoming sophisticated and crazy in fashionable clothes and shoes. T.K Maxx provide these fashionable clothes and shoes in afford able price. Also customers have positive effect towards the quality product of the T.K Maxx Company. 4. Technological factors: Technology offer companies a new way to communicate with consumers. Technology can reduce costs and improve quality of product, online shopping, online gift card competition ,T.K Maxx fan from face book , CCTV recording for security etc. are the example of technology which are used in T.K Maxx. Customers can select and order for goods from the nearest T.K Maxx store according to their choice using technological instrument. 5. Environmental factors: To keep the neat and clean environment inside every T.K Maxx stores, cleaners are provided by the Initial Company of UK. Initial company provides training to the cleaners to make tidy as well as to recycle the waste. 6. Legal factors: Age restriction, increasing in the minimum wage, variety of employment law for employee (student 20/10 hours, full time workers 40 hours) are example of recent laws which affect to the company. Change in trade policy, health and safety, product safety are the legal factors. V. T.K Maxx Strategic Marketing To develop a new business strategy T.K. Maxx developed a promotional campaign that emphasized big labels small prices and love T.K. Maxx. To connect customers within the business it provides 60% discount in different items. Also to attract customers T.K Maxx produces products according to the choice and interest of the customers. T.K Maxx is trying to increase number of stores near about 275 in the United Kingdom and Ireland also approximately 300 stores in Germany. While we consider in to the strategic marketing process, T.K Maxx aims at building customer satisfaction .Also for successful market it gives more focus on building brand. T.K Maxx makes sure that all staffs are motivated and all pulling in the same direction to fulfill the objectives of the company. It has a unique business approach .Customers are empowered to buy all sorts of brands and labels, various qualities like big and small, a range of colors ,styles and sizes. The most important part is that customers can get e xceptional value. As a sales promotion technique T.K Maxx organized some monthly promotions. To enter in the promotion customers aged over 18 need to sign up in the online .Every month one person will get the top prize i.e. TK Maxx gift card of  £250 to spend in TK Maxx UK. 1. Sport Relief [emailprotected] competition 2. Sport relief face book competition 3. Sport relief online T-shirt competition The major competitors of TK Maxx are Tesco PLC, Primark stores limited and George clothing. The development of an effective marketing strategy depends upon an understanding of the working of the market place, of customers needs as well as appropriate mix for the market segment and prevailing environmental conditions. Also understanding of the needs, wants and behavior of customers are the most important factors in designing a marketing strategy. T.K Maxx is always trying to fulfill these factors for the development of effective marketing strategy. Advertisement is also one of the effective communication tools for marketing consumer products in T.K Maxx. Television, newspapers and internet are the medium of advertisement of T.K Maxx. Similarly, T.K Maxx fan which is provided in the face book of T.K Maxx is also the attraction of the customers towards this company. For the promotion of the company T.K Maxx has participated in some charity works which are given below: In the UK in 2007, T.K. Maxx was an active participant of Comic Relief, having been the sole retailer of the Red Nose Day t-shirts which generated  £2 million to the Comic Relief cause. In 2009, T.K. Maxx was again the sole retailer of the Red Nose Day t-shirts with exclusive designs by Stella McCartney, raising a total of  £3,200,589. T.K. Maxx also works with the Woodland Trust by starting to charge for plastic carrier bags in August 2008 and donating the proceeds to the Trust. The proceeds have allowed the Woodland Trust to plant 30,000 new trees on a 15acres (60,703m2) site near Elmstead Market, Essex. The usage of carrier bags from T.K. Maxx has reduced by 73% since the scheme was launched. Since 2004, T.K. Maxx has held a Christmas card recycling scheme in conjunction with the Trust. (Source: www.tkmaxx.co.uk) 5.1 Problems 1. Staff availability: It is nearly difficult to get assistance, especially on a Saturday or during a sale. It is a discount designer retailer store which does not offer the same level of service as a Ralph Lauren outlet. 2. Security: The computer systems of T.K Maxx were targeted by hackers in Watford and Massachusetts from which about 45.7 million accounts were stolen. Those customers who used their card between January 2003 and June 2004 were affected from this problem. 3. Stains and holes: some retail items in the T.K Maxx appear worn. So customers should do full check before paying for the item. Returning it with marks could prove tricky. VI. Conclusion From the analysis of the study it can be concluded that T.K Maxx has the positive impact of the customers because it uses a concept called off price to sell designer and high street goods at a discount up to 60 percent on recommended retail price. This will help to T.K Maxx to sell huge amount of its product in a short time and to provide new, fresh and fashion able products to the customers. Since the company is offering clothing designs for all age groups which depend on the needs and demand of their customers. The result of the PESTLE analysis carried out on the macro-environment of T.K Maxx company indicated very significant effect for the industry and company itself, it can be concluded that the business of T.K Maxx Company is expected to be feasible and grow faster. The sector of the retail is one of the most competitive in the business world so that effective marketing strategy is required in order to be successful. Availability of the quality products, good customer service and promotion of the T.K Maxx shows the effective marketing strategy of the company. This will provide a better idea of how to market products and improve customers base. VII. Recommendation From the above analysis and conclusion I would like to suggest some recommendations for the improvement of the T.K Maxx Company. 1. Full check of clothes and goods should be performed before sending the items to the T.K Maxx stores to sell because they may be damaged or worn. 2. T.K Maxx stores are situated in the European countries and United States only. To expand in its business and to provide good customers service it is recommended that the stores of T.K Maxx should open in developing countries also. To reduce the waiting time of customers in queue to pay for items T.K Maxx should increase more staffs. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cartwright, R. (2002) Mastering Marketing Management, Palgrave Frain, J. (1999) Introduction to Marketing 4th edition, London: Thomson Business Press http://www.tkmaxx.com 14 Feb 2010 at 00:35 http://www.tjx.com 17 Feb 2010 at 15:37 About T.K Maxx. T.K Maxx Retrieved 26 Feb 2010 20:26

Ancient Romes Animal Cruelty for Entertainment :: essays research papers

â€Å"The Romans are often characterized as loving violent and cruel entertainment in the amphitheatre. It has been suggested that the games served the dual purpose of providing entertainment for the people and maintaining the political status quo.† In today’s society, the killing of humans and animals usually means a jail term, and seeing someone die is not something people go and see for fun. Violence was glorified in Rome hundreds of years ago. All the crimes they committed were condoned, accepted and glorified. There were four different genres of such entertainment in the games held in amphitheatres (Amphi-theatres are outdoor arenas. "theatres in the round": Amphi- meaning "round" in Greek.) : Gladiatorial combat, the theatrical execution of foreigners, beast shows, as well as chariot racing. Watching someone or a beast kill another was applauded for the method, skill, or artistry used in the slaughter. The games themselves provided ways for Rome to demonstrate the power of their empire, as huge investments of wealth, time, and emotion was put into the games. Death became a spectator sport with the viewers and the viewed both contributing to a wild and gory performance. Already by the late Republic magistrates were spending huge amounts of money on these games. The Latin word for gladiatorial games is Munus which means obligatory offering. This reflects the origin of these games as funerary offerings to the dead. While magistrates in the Republic may well have put on ga mes to gain popular favour, this was in their private capacity and not as magistrates. Only gradually did the gladiatorial shows come to be assimilated with the games put on by magistrates. While the most popular games were 'chariot racing' and simulated naval battles, fights in the amphitheatres, shown in these mosaics include gladiator V gladiator, gladiator V animal (pic 2) and animal V animal, were a common feature. Less common, but not infrequent was the release of wild beasts from the pits into the arena where hundreds of criminals had earlier been positioned. These spectacles all deeming to be very entertaining to spectators. Throughout the history of the Republic, there was a difference between the gladiatorial contests and other forms of spectacular entertainment. The Romans did not invent the concept of gladiatorial fighting; there is some uncertainty as to the exact source. One ancient source says it was the Etruscans, a non-Indo-European people who lived directly north of the Romans.

British Virgin Islands and Bermuda

The British Virgin Islands (BIV) and the Bermuda are British colonies with a high degree of internal self-government. Both countries have been designated as a British Overseas Territory and although they are still technically under British rule, they have exercised control over their own state affairs. Demography The Virgin Islands is an archipelago of more than 40 islands, of which 16 are inhabited. It has strong ties with the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as it is geographically situated in between these countries.As per the latest data in the CIA Factbook, the male-dominated BIV has a population of 23,552 (July 2007 estimate) with nearly two per cent growth rate. Given its history with the US, the official language is English and almost ninety per cent of the population are Protestants. The Virgin Islands has one of the most stable economies in the Caribbean. Some 45 per cent of its income is generated from tourism. In 2005 for example, more than 800,000 tourists, mainly from the United States visited the Islands. It also relies on light industries and offshore financial centers.The Bermuda on the other hand, was first inhabited by English colonist in the early 17th century. It belongs to the group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina in the US. The Bermuda is a small country, roughly one-third of Washington D. C. Like the Virgin Islands, its official language is English although a significant number of its more than 66,163 (July 2007 estimate) population speaks Portuguese. The major religions are Anglican and Catholic. The Bermuda boasts of the highest per capita income in the world, more than 50 per cent higher than that of the United States.Its primary income generator is their robust international business sector. Government and Politics The Bermuda is the oldest Britain’s colony. For five years now, it ahs been a self-governing territory of the UK. Bermudans are entitled to enjoy dual citizenship and have the right t o live and work in Europe (Sanders, par. 5) The system of government in Bermuda is that of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency. The official head of state is the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, while the Premier is the head of government.The Queen appoints a Governor to represent her in Bermuda. Bermuda’s political framework is very similar to that of the UK. Like most democracies, it has two legislative chambers: the House of Assembly and the Senate. Bermuda is independent of the UK in all internal matters and makes its own set of laws (Forbes, par. 11). British and UK laws do not apply in Bermuda. Bermuda laws are generally much more restrictive to non-nationals. The Bermuda, however, is dependent on Britain for defense, external affairs and internal security.Like Bermuda, the BIV is also self-governing in most internal matters. According to its amended Constitution of 2000, their head of state is also the Queen and her appointed governor is in charge of th e country’s external affairs, defense, internal security and public service. On all other matters except those, the executive council ahs authority. The executive council is headed by the governor, chief minister, an attorney-general and three other ministers. In both the Bermuda and Virgin Islands, the Queen remains to be the most important figure.The governor she appoints is also given much value considering the structure of their government and their political framework. Their legislature and executive councils, however, have autonomy to the states’ internal matters. Independence The issue of independence has been a recurring subject of debate in both countries. In Bermuda, independence has been discussed since the mid-1960’s when Britain was anxious to get rid of all its colonies. In 2004, the ruling Progressive Labour Party has Created the Bermuda Independence Commission.Its main concern is to educate people about the gains and losses of independence. Despi te the arguments for independence, however, opposition on breaking links with Britain has been strong. A November 2006 poll shows that 65 per cent of Bermudans were against breaking ties with Britain (Jones, par. 2). This is 17 per cent lower than the 57 per cent in July of the same year. The issue of independence however is expected to be a major point when Bermuda holds its elections in January 2009. Independence was rejected in a 1995 referendum by 75 per cent voters.The main argument against independence is the fact that Bermuda enjoys a high degree despite its being a British colony. Its economy has been robust. As former Premier Sir John Swan likes to put it, â€Å"With the Americans to feed us and the British to defend us, who needs independence† (Sanders, par. 10). In British Virginia Islands, although there is no formal movement toward full independence, its possibility is a central topic of public debate and party politics. Despite self-governance, the Bermuda and V irgin Islands politics is still very much similar to that of its crown country.Bermuda’s political, as well as social economic institutions have shown resiliency and stability. Despite this, however, its political framework has not fully been independent of Britain. This is because it was Britain who instituted its political system. The Queen and her appointed Governor is an active force in the affairs of the state so much so that the Westminster style of government is still very much felt. The same thing applies to the Virgin Islands. Its politics is British in origin and even with a high level of autonomy, the framework of government is still very much like its crown country.Its colonial relationship with the United Kingdom lets it operate in a constitutional democracy with the executive authority vested in the Queen. British influence is all over Bermuda and the Virgin Islands. Their national anthem is both â€Å"God Save the Queen† and the Queen’s birthday i s observed as an official public holiday. Their Constitutions are drafted the British way. Branches of government such as the executive and judiciary also demand Britain’s participation. And although these colonies have been handling internal matters of government by themselves, their external affairs are still Britain’s problem.Until a significant portion of government is still controlled by Britain, Bermuda and the Virgin Islands will still bear the same political structure—one that has its democracy of its own but deems considerable interference from the crown country as a must. Anglophone countries Anglophone nations share the same historical, cultural, and political characteristics attributed to the historical experience of the United Kingdom. Generally, it includes territories and former colonies of the UK which have English as the national language.But with its loose definition rooted on history and culture, it may also mean countries which use legal syst ems based on Common Law or simply Great Britain or British-settled countries. They also share similarities in civil rights and personal freedoms. In short, the Anglosphere â€Å"is not a club that a person or nation can join or be excluded from, but a condition or status of a network† (Bennett, par. 3). However, because of its imprecise boundaries, the Anglosphere as a network civilization does not have its corresponding political form.Its union is based firmly on culture and does not take any political outline. Notice that the forms of government in these English speaking countries are different. Some take the republican form, some are constitutional monarchies, while some are parliamentary democracies. The idea of a â€Å"Anglosphere government† has been subject to debate. The basic argument is that merging these countries and making it like a European Union of sorts would be a great development in the onward progress of English-speaking supremacy.However, others arg ue that the particular genius in this union is the fact that it has remained apolitical and non-governmental. Forging the Anglosphere as one solid government, they say, may only lead to the centralization of power. Anglophone countries handle their government differently. Their link to the atmosphere has not so far affected the way in which they run their politics. The Anglosphere is not a government of its own and it refuses to be. English-speaking countries who have joined the sphere have existing government structures that they chose to pursue despite â€Å"membership† in the union.The so-called â€Å"anglosphere challenge† however has earned buzz in the recent years. It is said that these political entities, though loose, is a force to reckon in the time of technological and scientific change provided they remain true to the traits that bonded them together in the first place—a strong, independent civil society, adherence to the rule of law, its people and i deas and openness and receptivity to the world. Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados Unlike the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago is completely independent from Britain.It takes the form of a unitary state with a parliamentary democracy modeled after that of its former crown country. In 1976, soon after it broke ties with Britain, it adopted its own republican Constitution. The Queen is thereby replaced with a president elected by the Parliament. Since then, the general control and direction of its government rests on the cabinet, led by the prime minister. Barbados, for its part, gained independence from Britain in November 1966. It subsequently adopted the Westminster parliamentary system of government with a governor-general representing the British monarch.Its 1966 Constitution also provides for a bicameral parliamentary system headed by a prime minister and cabinet. Since breaking ties with Britain, responsibility for organizing the government has been evenly divided between its two major political parties that are both centrist social democratic parties that date its roots back to the British labor movement. The main difference between the overseas territories (Bermuda and Virgin Islands) and the two former colonies (Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados) is the extent to which Britain interferes with their affairs of government.Former colonies may have chosen to adopt British influence in its political structure but it is completely in control of both its internal and external affairs. The overseas territories, on the other hand, may have been granted self-governance but it does not have total control of its government, especially its defense and external affairs of government. Works Cited Bennet, James. â€Å"Orphans of the Anglosphere. † Albion’s Seedlings. (21 November 2005). 09 September 2007. < http://anglosphere. com/weblog/archives/000145. html>. Forbes, Keith.â€Å"Bermuda and Great Britain: A self-governing British Ove rseas Territory with its own laws. † Bermuda online. 09 September 2007. . Jones, Dan. â€Å"Poll finds opposition to Independence rises. † The Royal Gazette Magazine. (28 November 2006). 09 September 2007. . Sanders, Ronald. â€Å"Bermuda: Independence or not? † Caribbean Net News. (08 March 2005). 9 September 2007. .

Advertising and Marketing Research

Market research is any organized effort to gather information about markets or customers. It is a very important component of business strategy. [1] The term is commonly interchanged with marketing research; however, expert practitioners may wish to draw a distinction, in that marketing research is concerned specifically about marketing processes, while market research is concerned specifically with markets. [2] Market Research is the key factor to get advantage over competitors. Market research provides important information to identify and analyze the market need, market size and competition. Market research,as defined by the ICC/ESOMAR International Code on Market and Social Research, includes social and opinion research, [and] is the systematic gathering and interpretation of information about individuals or organizations using statistical and analytical methods and techniques of the applied social sciences to gain insight or support decision making. [3] Market Research is a systematic, objective collection and analysis of data about a particular target market, competition, and/or environment. It always incorporates some form of data collection whether it be secondary research (often referred to as desk research) or primary research which is collected direct from a respondent. The purpose of any market research project is to achieve an increased understanding of the subject matter. With markets throughout the world becoming increasingly more competitive, market research is now on the agenda of many organisations, whether they be large or small. The Market Research Process To conduct market research, organisations may decide to undertake the project themselves (some through a marketing research department) or they might choose to commission it via a market research agency or consultancy. Whichever, before undertaking any research project, it is crucial to define the research objectives i. e. what are you trying to achieve from the research? and what do you need to know? After considering the objectives, Market Researchers can utilise many types of research techniques and methodologies to capture the data that they require. All of the available methodologies either collect quantitative or qualitative information. The use of each very much depends on the research objectives but many believe that results are most useful when the two methods are combined. Quantitative Research Quantitative research is numerically oriented, requires significant attention to the measurement of market phenomena and often involves statistical analysis. For example, a bank might ask its customers to rate its overall service as either excellent, good, poor or very poor. This will provide quantitative information that can be analysed statistically. The main rule with quantitative research is that every respondent is asked the same series of questions. The approach is very structured and normally involves large numbers of interviews/questionnaires. Perhaps the most common quantitative technique is the ‘market research survey’. These are basically projects that involve the collection of data from multiple cases – such as consumers or a set of products. Quantitative surveys can be conducted by using post (self-completion), face-to-face (in-street or in-home), telephone, email or web techniques. The questionnaire is one of the more common tools for collecting data from a survey, but it is only one of a wide ranging set of data collection aids. Qualitative Research Qualitative research provides an understanding of how or why things are as they are. For example, a Market Researcher may stop a consumer who has purchased a particular type of bread and ask him or her why that type of bread was chosen. Unlike quantitative research there are no fixed set of questions but, instead, a topic guide (or discussion guide) is used to explore various issues in-depth. The discussion between the interviewer (or moderator) and the respondent is largely determined by the respondents' own thoughts and feelings. As with quantitative techniques, there are also various types of qualitative methodologies. Research of this sort is mostly done face-to-face. One of the best-known techniques is market research group discussions (or focus groups). These are usually made up of 6 to 8 targeted respondents, a research moderator whose role is to ask the required questions, draw out answers, and encourage discussion, and an observation area usually behind one way mirrors, and video and/or audio taping facilities. In addition, qualitative research can also be conducted on a ‘one on one’ basis i. e. an in-depth interview with a trained executive interviewer and one respondent, a paired depth (two respondents), a triad (three respondents) and a mini group discussion (4-5 respondents).