The Idea of Poverty and How to Fight It - 992 Words

The idea of poverty couldn’t be farther from appealing to the public. When one thinks of â€Å"poverty†, one can easily imagine the neighborhood hobo who, even though one may feel sorry for, he/she would much rather continue enjoying one’s designer clothing and suitable shelter. However, not only does the public fear the idea of becoming poor, but also the stockbrokers, the government and generally those who are acutely aware of the poverty’s effect on the economic status of a country. The idea of poverty’s effect on economic costs is based off the assumption that those in poverty reduce the overall productivity of a nation, resulting in a lower gross domestic product and lower productivity. While core characteristics of poverty may be similar†¦show more content†¦Steadily, the UK’s poverty rate began to decline and is currently resting at 22%. London is the richest part of Britain and it is often referred to as the engine of the nat ional economy. On the other hand, it also has the highest poverty rate. One of the biggest issues that the UK faces is child poverty. There are currently 3.6 million children living in poverty, an environment that could be detrimental their education. The â€Å"War on Poverty† is a concept first introduced by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 and it was proposed mainly in retaliation to the national poverty rate at an imposing 19%. The legislation led Congress to pass the Economic Opportunity Act which was to establish the administration of local funds against poverty. The plan was intended to prepare citizens to successfully compete in the ever expanding economy. Johnson believed in the idea that opportunity was imperative to solving the poverty problem. Consequently, the legislation was focused largely on educational skills for adults who had not completed their secondary education. Other features of this legislation tried to increase employability of young men and women between th e ages of 16-21. The core qualities of Johnson’s fight against poverty are emulated in the Head Start program, originating in 1965 with the sole purpose of promoting school readiness for children born into poor families. Additionally, Johnson’s war on poverty lead to theShow MoreRelatedArgumentative Essay On Poverty825 Words   |  4 Pagesultimately affects everyone? Poverty. The big bad wolf of an issue. Something we never consider until we dig ourselves into a hole. But what about us as a society, surely something must happen to the body when we are plagued with a disease as such. If someone below the poverty line suffers, can someone thats well above it be suffering as well because of a cause and effect relationship. After reading these New york times articles, as well as thinking a great deal of the idea of poverty in contrast to the mindsetRead MoreWhy People Who Escape Poverty Retain Poor Spending Habits Essay1493 Words   |  6 PagesWhy People Who Escape Pov erty Retain Poor Spending Habits Growing up in poverty has a significant effect on the brain. While poverty affects many aspects of the brain processes, spending patterns are greatly impacted by the mindset of poverty which in turns affects quality of life.  Occasionally, those in poverty make it out. Despite gaining a  higher socioeconomic class, quality of life can still be influenced by the impact of  poverty. This is because those  who grew up in poverty continue their impulsiveRead MorePoverty Has A Significant Effect On The Brain Essay1457 Words   |  6 Pages Growing up in poverty has a significant effect on the brain. While poverty affects many aspects of the brain processing, spending patterns are impacted which affects quality of life. Occasionally, those in poverty make it out. Despite gaining a higher socioeconomic class, quality of life can still be influenced by the impact of poverty. This is because those who grew up in poverty continue their impulsive spending habits when they move into the middle-class because poverty leaves an enduring impressionRead MorePoverty Is Not A Country Exclusive Issue1164 Words   |  5 Pages Poverty, what is it? Poverty cannot be defined by just one definition. Poverty is a serious worldwide issue that is affecting all of our lives in the world. In Fact,Did you know nearly half of the world’s population, more than three billion people, live on less than two dollars and fifty cents a day. Just think, If you were given that same budget could you survive? Would you be able to live the same lifestyle that you do? The answer is most likely no and this is a mind blowing statistic. StaticsRead MoreThe Socialization Of Poverty : America1402 Words   |  6 PagesThe Socialization of Poverty Imagine America different from what we know. A different yet real America, which existed in the past, an American governed by hate and cruelty, fully equipped with racial segregation policies. Imagine parents, struggling for their children s education but being denied access because of the color of their skin. Imagine constant disapproval, crime, and suspicions towards someone because of their status, or something beyond their control. Today, we find America changedRead MoreChild Poverty1664 Words   |  7 PagesChild Poverty, Is there a Solution? Introduction Child Poverty has been an ongoing issue throughout the world for decades. Weve seen it become a problem dating back the great depression, World War I and World War II. Also the problem of child poverty is a huge concern in other ends of the world. In this paper I will talk to you about child poverty at a glance fallowed by poverty levels in different places. Lastly I will touch on the Illinois and Chicagos child poverty level. We allRead MoreExamples Of Racism In A Raisin In The Sun1672 Words   |  7 PagesSun, a negative legacy is left on modern drama due to the many examples of poverty and the message of money in the novel; though some people may believe that the play was an accurate depiction of the African-American lifestyle and their culture, they are wrong to believe this impractical belief because it leads to many white people assuming the welfare of many African-Americans and grouping them into one social class. Poverty in the novel left a very pessimistic legacy, as it shows the contrastingRead MoreEconomists Estimate Wealth And Poverty1736 Words   |  7 PagesBrian Curtis English Comp 2 April 23, 2016 Wealth and Poverty Economists estimate wealth and poverty in many ways. The most three common measures are income, possessions (accumulated wealth in the form of money, securities, and real estate), and socioeconomic metrics. Actions in the last category go beyond financial data to account for health, food, infant mortality, sanitation, and other phases of human well-being. Usually, wealth and poverty measured regarding income. Information on income is readilyRead MoreEssay on The Root Causes and Solutions to Poverty676 Words   |  3 Pagesmore strongly in certain things, all of our ideas on poverty fall on the same path. Unfortunately, as reality points out, is that inside the walls of the White House, where it is commonly believed that actual progress is happening, ideas on poverty revolve around stock exchange, whose ideas only benefit those who get elected. Subsequently, these elected officials lead a group or campaign in a worthless round of unethical ideas that instead of helping poverty, inc reases U.S. debt. It is also commonlyRead MoreA Moral Issue Of Poverty1602 Words   |  7 PagesA Moral Issue Poverty has been evident since The Great Depression in the 1930’s. Since then, there has been an attempt to lower poverty level, though only a 2.5% decrease has been seen since 1965. It is argued that we do not need another war on poverty since nothing has seemed to help, but this is an issue that affects everyone. As Mark Bittman stated in his article â€Å"Why We’re Fasting† â€Å"This is a moral issue; the budget is a moral document.† Poverty can be improved if more emphasis is added to helping

The World Of Genetic Engineering - 1968 Words

A large majority of Homo sapiens do not appreciate the existence of bacteria, as evinced by the myriad hand sanitizer bottles ubiquitous in daily life, boasting, â€Å"Kills 99.9% of germs.† This is a highly rational response to the group of microscopic organisms, of which it is true many are malignant to maintaining homeostasis as agents of disease. However, bacteria are essential to the world’s functioning, with important roles and many benefits. Recently, scientists studying certain bacteria have found a mechanism in their immune systems that can alter the very code of life, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). This new tool is called Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9), and has revolutionized the world of genetic engineering. CRISPR/Cas9 is less expensive, more accurate, and more effective, making this method much more amicable and available to the common geneticist compared to former techniques such as Transcription Activator Like E ffector Nucleases (TALENs) and Zinc-Fingered Nucleases (ZFNs). This availability and potential applicability to the human genome raises important questions about ethics and modification of subsequent generations of humans. CRISPR has brought bioethicists and scientists together to demarcate the limits of genetic modification. Most agree aberrations to the human race as a whole may result in unforeseeable and irrevocable effects. Although genetic engineering performed on human beings is indubitably an avenueShow MoreRelatedApplication Of Genetic Engineering On The World1606 Words   |  7 PagesApplication of Genetic Engineering on Taro Adam Mohamed 10/23/2015 Introduction The field of genetic engineering is very promising, pertaining to the future of agriculture around the world. Research in this area is allowing for more and more improvements to the various aspects of a crop such as yield, visual quality, taste, nutritional value, disease immunity, and cold resistance, as well as many other benefits. A further understanding of both the genetics of crops and how to influenceRead MoreGenetic Engineering: Brave New World1012 Words   |  5 PagesGenetic engineering has been around for many years and is widely used all over the planet. Many people don’t realize that genetic engineering is part of their daily lives and diet. Today, almost 70 percent of processed foods from a grocery store were genetically engineered. Genetic engineering can be in plants, foods, animals, and even humans. Although debates about genetic engineering still exist, many people have accepted due to the health benefits of gene therapy. The lack of knowledge has alwaysR ead MoreGenetic Engineering and a Brave New World1694 Words   |  7 PagesGenetic Engineering is one of the current hot button topics of our world today and its also the fundamental theme in widely know novels such as Brave New World and My Sister’s Keeper. But what exactly is Genetic Engineering? What exactly does Genetic Engineering entail? Genetic Engineering in its self is a mammoth and board field, yet not many people actually know or even understand the diversity that Genetic Engineering entails. When most people perceive the slightest sound of the word GeneticRead MoreGenetic Engineering : A World Where Autism And Downs Syndrome1270 Words   |  6 PagesGenetic Engineering Imagine a world where autism and downs syndrome are a thing of the past, and where there is no shortage on food for anybody. Over the years mankind has developed and improved technology to save more and more lives through the manipulation of the DNA that makes up all living organisms. However, there are those who oppose this approach. Despite the risks and ethical concerns, genetic engineering holds the potential to benefit humanity through both direct and indirect means. InRead More Genetic Engineering and the End of the World As We Know It Essay1405 Words   |  6 PagesIts The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) --- From a Song by REM Having completed the Human Genome Project, scientists now seek to uncover the secrets of the human proteome (Begley 1). It is guesstimated that the proteome, meaning all the proteins, will involve up to 1000 times more data than the genome did. But this again brings us to the question: What will the scientific and medical communities do with all this information? deCode Genetics, partnered with Roche HoldingRead More Genetic Engineering: Our Key to a Better World Essay1128 Words   |  5 Pages What is genetic engineering one might ask and why is there so much moral controversy surrounding the topic? Genetic engineering as defined by Pete Moore, is the name given to a wide variety of techniques that have one thing in common: they all allow the biologist to take a gene from one cell and insert it into another (SS1). Such techniques included in genetic engineering (both good and bad) are, genetic screening both during the fetal stage and later in life, gene therapy, sex selectionRead MoreEssay on Genetic Engineering Can Be Beneficial in the Modern World1924 Words   |  8 Pageshave now applied what they have learned in the study of genetics to help modify and improve the properties of plants and organisms that we can benefit greatly from. Genetic engineering can be beneficial for humanity in the modern age as they are considered safe, able to support the demand of resources by the ever-increasing human population, and provide potential cure to many incurable diseases and p ossible life extension. Genetic engineered products that have been approved for use in theRead MoreGenetic Engineering in Donny and Ursula Save the World by Sharon Weil666 Words   |  3 Pagesgoes on† (Robert Frost). People from the beginning of civilization have cultivated crops ranging from methods of fermentation to classical selection for desired traits. In essence, genetic modification is not a new concept only conceived in the twentieth century; it has been occurring for millenias. Genetic engineering is only a step forward as the latest form of gene selection utilizing biotechnology, which merely catalyzes processes that previously required generations upon generations to that ofRead MoreAn Enhanced Genotype: Ethical Issues Involved with Genetic Engineering and their Impact as Revealed by Brave New World2301 Words   |  10 PagesEnhanced Genotype: Ethical Issues Involved with Genetic Engineering and their Impact as Revealed by Brave New World Human society always attempts to better itself through the use of technology. Thus far, as a species, we have already achieved much: mastery of electronics, flight, and space travel. However, the field in which the most progress is currently being made is Biology, specifically Genetic Engineering. In Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, humanity has taken control of reproduction and biologyRead MoreBenefits Of Genetically Engineered Food1240 Words   |  5 PagesThe alteration of plant and animal genetic codes for the ultimate purpose of increasing food abundance is an increasingly popular, yet controversial practice in the 21st century. Genetic engineering of food is done for a number of reasons, the biggest of which is increasing food supplies in the world, especially for the third world countries. However, there are arguments and even activist movements against genetic engineering of food, which begs the question â€Å"why is genetically engineered food so

American Revolution The Great British Army Conquered...

Jiewan Hong Ms. Seydewitz U.S. History 11 November 2015 American Revolution Essay After the Great British Army conquered parts of the American colonies, they thought it would be easy to conquer all of the colonies because of their huge advantages against them. However, the British was wrong. Starting from about 1763, the American colonies were taken under control by a new British ruler, King George III. He was such a tyrant because he tried to do everything he could, to defeat and claim the America’s lands. He created new laws that were unjust and unreasonable for the Americans. Some laws were so painful to the Americans that some of the colonists started protesting against the British government and the Parliament. The laws created by†¦show more content†¦The harsh controls by the British towards the colonists led to a revolution by the Americans because of the unjust law called the Quartering Acts. Parliament declared to the colonists that they were responsible and required â€Å"to house and quarter the officers and so ldiers in the barracks [for the British]†(Parliament). The Quartering Act instantly drove the colonists into disapproval. The angry colonists started to protest. They were furious about how they were the ones required to pay the funds for the British soldiers. They didn’t understand why they had to pay for beer and wine for the British troops, because those items were unnecessary for the war. Colonists tried to disobey and protest against the British government, however, the British government threatened the colonists that the Quartering Act would tax them even more if they were to disobey. Even so, the Patriots did not give in to the government. As a result, the Quartering Act made tempers rise from the Patriots. As the Quartering Act is proven to drive the colonists into ferocity, so did the Boston Massacre. The American Revolution took place because of the major event, the Boston Massacre. â€Å"Order quickly broke down, and the†¦ soldiers fired into the crowd. When the shooting ended, several people were dead and more were wounded†(Witness of Boston Massacre). In March 5,1770, a noisy

Persuasive Essay On Abortion - 1656 Words

Parental consent is currently required for a minor to receive an abortion because parents believe young adults are incapable of making such an important decision because they are not mature enough (Maradiegue 2). However, if a young adult is responsible enough to have safe sex, then they should be able to determine if they want an abortion. Parents do not have absolute veto over the young adults decision, but if the young adult wishes to go against their parent’s decision they must receive approval through a clear and convincing evidence, which allows the daughter to prove she is â€Å"mature or that the abortion is in her best interest prior to waiving the state’s parental involvement requirement† (â€Å"Parental Involvement†). A teenager should†¦show more content†¦It is important for a young adult to be able to make her own decision without her parents consent because her parents restrict her freedom. If young adults have unprotected sex, then it is the fault of failed sex education for not teaching them how to be safe. The teenager who is pregnant is scared of what her parents and peers may think and will shy away from telling them because she does not want to feel hated or like she disappointed them. If parental consent is no longer a requirement across the country, teens who become pregnant will be able to access safe abortions without having to face their parents. Some parents do not want their daughters to have an abortion due to religious beliefs. However, if the teen believes an abortion is in her best interest, her parents should not be able to restrict her of her freedom, causing her to face the consequences of becoming a young mother. The options of the clear and convincing evidence and judicial bypass is helpful to the young mothers who wish to have an abortion, but parents do not. However, since not all state offer these options, it forces the young mother to either tell her parents or have the child. If paren tal consent is removed, then the laws which remove parental consent for minors would not be needed because young adults would be able to access abortions on their own, immenselyShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay About Abortion993 Words   |  4 Pagesin two peoples perspectives. The story consisted of a daughter (Deb) and mother’s perspective after the death of her father. The purpose of this layout is to show how they are both grieving in individual ways. Writing for the persuasive was presented as an essay on why abortion should be accessible in every country, and to also outline the shame women receive. Purpose Purpose for writing publication- Purpose for writing a real-estate article was to inform a potential buyer on the house showed. AlsoRead MoreAbortion Persuasive Essay1119 Words   |  5 Pages To begin with, there has always been an extensive issue with the topic of abortion, why? Well, it’s a tough subject and can get extremely emotional and very defensive. Honestly, people just need to open up their eye’s and understand that its murder and not just a choice. It is murder because two can create a blessing and the choice of aborting it, is more like a sacrifice for the reason a mother can’t carry a baby for nine months. Whether a person is a minor, young adult, or an adult and is inRead MoreAbortion Persuasive Essay755 Words   |  4 Pagesinstead these babies are torn limb by limb, burned, and many other tortuous methods to end the precious life. Abortion is murder and is not only very cruel to the unborn baby but it also harms the mother. Pro-choice is an escape from the harsh reality that a baby is being murdered, and in my eyes a life should only be terminated if God himself is ready to call them home. One reason why abortion is wrong is because they are many other safe solutions that would give the child a chance at life. AdoptionRead MorePersuasive Essay On Abortion917 Words   |  4 PagesAbortions in Texas consist of ending a pregnancy of an unborn child before it can live out of the mother womb. However if the pregnancy ends not on purpose before the twenty four week mark then technically it would be considered a miscarriage. Though inducing the abortion on purpose has caused a lot of controversy over the past century. Deliberately putting people on one of two sides of this issues, of either being for it, which would be considered Pro Choice. Or in the other category of the ProRead MorePersuasive Essay On Abortion1635 Words   |  7 Pagessolve this issue the option of abortion was brought to the forefront by scientists and advocates such as Dan Savage who mentioned that abortion should be mandatory for the next 30 years in or to control the population. (Ertlet) For countri es such as the U.S. with a growth rate being 1.6%, the proposal of widespread abortion is highly recommended as mentioned by obstetricians and gynecologists. (MumfordKessel) Who now leaves the question as to if the option of abortion should be used as a means ofRead MorePersuasive Essay On Abortion1228 Words   |  5 Pagesmillion pregnancies each year in the United States, 1.6 million end up in abortion† (Hern). Because of the numerous traumatic psychological, physical, and overall irresponsible behavior or actions constantly encouraged due to abortion, it should be banned, and forever illegal. Killing one’s own fetus has been linked to psychological distress which has been channeled into many different cases of substance abuse. â€Å"Induced abortion has been linked to increased rates of substance abuse, especially amongRead MoreAbortion Persuasive Essay804 Words   |  4 Pagesfamily with someone. Often times accidents happen in which people didn’t plan for, and can lead to many financial problems or neglect of one’s child because the parents weren’t prepared to be parents. This is why there should be the option of abortion. Abortion needs to be an option for everyone because it helps from long lasting mental states, infection, economical problems, and or having conceived from a non consensual circumstance. Pregnancy is a hard and unforgiving to the woman’s body. In factRead MorePersuasive Essay On Abortion954 Words   |  4 Pagesand nations who destroy life by abortion and euthanasia are the poorest. I do not say legal or illegal, but I think that no human hand should be raised to kill life, since life is God’s life in us, even in an unborn child.† Do you know what abortion really is? Abortion is the ending of pregnancy by removing a fetus or embryo before it can survive outside the uterus. Abortion seems to be more common in today’s society. Numerous amounts of individuals support abortion, and do not realize how it affectsRead MoreAbortion Persuasive Essay736 Words   |  3 Pagesfavor of abortion rights. The decision was 7-2, it stated that it showed a â€Å"right of privacy.†Abortions have been performed for thousands of years all around the world, even though many women died from it. Women nowadays have a choice of whether they want to get an abortion. Abortions do come with risk, one of them being death, but women should still have a right and say what they want to do with pregnancy and not be judged by others for doing so. Today the debate across the world is if abortion shouldRead MorePersuasive Essay On Abortion1321 Words   |  6 Pagessomeone who may be suicidal or who is suicidal himself/herself. As for taking away fetus’ lives, the damage that abortion makes on life can be proven with the statistics. According to Casey, â€Å"over the past 44 years, one-sixth (60,000,000) of the American population has been killed by elective abortion. Twenty-five percent of African-Americans are killed in the womb America,† (Should Abortion Be Legal n.p.). The figure 60,000,000 is a depressing number considering that these children could have been future

Zara Porter Analysis free essay sample

The diamond approach to the competitiveness of Korea’s apparel industry Michael Porter and beyond Byoungho Jin Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, USA, and Hwy-Chang Moon Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea Abstract Purpose – The Korean textiles and apparel-related industry has played a major role in the country’s development; however, this sector’s competitiveness is decreasing due mainly to labor costs. As with the country’s economic development, the new sources of competitive factors need to be strategically developed and cultivated. The purpose of this study is to explore what constitutes a country’s competitiveness in the global apparel market after losing its labor competitiveness and how a country effectively achieves it. Design/methodology/approach – This study employs two competitiveness models, Porter’s diamond model and a generalized double diamond model, as a theoretical framework. Along with two theoretical models, this study employs extensive literature reviews, examples of successful firms, and four interviews with field practitioners in the Korean apparel industry. Findings – Beginning with Porter four determinants (factor conditions, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, and firm strategy, structure, and rivalry), new sources of competitive advantage factors are suggested for the evolving industry. The generalized double diamond model incorporates international activities, which may occur either within a country or outside a country. Utilizing generalized double diamond model, the future directions and solutions for the industry with the identified new competitive factors were suggested. Originality/value – Based on the models and the identification of new competitive factors, the Korean apparel industry is reviewed, and recommendations are made for its continued growth in the global marketplace. Implications pertaining to the creation of a dynamic self-reinforcing diamond system were also suggested. Keywords Competitive advantage, Textile industry, South Korea, Modelling Paper type Research paper Introduction The textiles and apparel-related industry has played a major role in the development and economic success of South Korea (Korea, hereinafter. . This important industry cluster in Korea has accounted for 41 percent of its total exports during 1970 and nearly 30 percent during the 1980 (Dickerson, 1999; Porter, 1998). Korea represents the fifth largest exporter of textile and apparel-related goods in the world, followed by China, Italy, the US and Germany (Korea Federation of Textile Industries, 2002). However, its contribution to both the Korean and inter national competitiveness is The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www. emeraldinsight. com/1361-2026. htm The diamond pproach 195 Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management Vol. 10 No. 2, 2006 pp. 195-208 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 1361-2026 DOI 10. 1108/13612020610667504 decreasing due to an increase in labor costs. During 2002, while it still maintained major trade surplus and remained as the country’s largest employer, it only accounted for 10. 1 percent of the exports, as compared to 41 percent during 1970 (Korea Federation of Textile Industries, 2002). In 2000, the hourly wage of Korea was $5. 73, as compared to $0. 41 in China, nearly 14 times higher than that of China. Due to high labor costs, more clothing companies have sourced clothing for domestic consumption from lower wage countries (Korea Federation of Textile Industries, 2005). Cheap labor serves as a developing country’s competitive tool in global markets. However, as in the Korean case, cheap labor lasts for only a short time. As with the country’s economic development, the new sources of competitive factors need to be strategically developed and cultivated. Therefore, knowing what constitutes new sources of competitive advantage is critically important to set a future direction. The purpose of this study is to explore what constitutes a country’s competitiveness in the global apparel market after losing its labor competitiveness and how a country effectively achieves it. Diversity between nations typically reflects different environmental conditions, which in turn affects the strategies, directions, and challenges of a specific industry. Therefore, it is essential to understand competitive factors within a specific country. This study chose the Korean apparel industry as it has passed the first phase and is actively seeking global competitiveness. This study employs two competitiveness models, Porter’s diamond model (Porter, 1998) and a generalized double diamond model (Moon et al. , 1995, 1998), as a theoretical framework. Along with two theoretical models, this study employs extensive literature reviews, examples of successful firms, and four interviews with field practitioners in the Korean apparel industry. The four interviewees were selected from leading Korean apparel and retail companies and all were at the rank of director or higher. The interviews were conducted from August 2000 to August 2001, in Seoul, Korea. Interview questions included general firm information, the firm’s challenges/successes, and future goals. Each interview was one hour in length and taped, with the interviewee’s permission, for further analysis. This study consists of three parts. Beginning with Porter (1998) diamond model, new sources of competitive advantage factors are suggested for the evolving industry. The second part of this paper introduces the generalized double diamond model (Moon et al. , 1995, 1998) to provide future directions and solutions for the industry with the identified new competitive factors. The last section concludes how a dynamic self-reinforcing diamond can be created, and suggests future studies. The unit of analysis for this study lies in the Korean apparel industry as a whole, not individual Korean apparel firms, following Porter (1998) example. That is, the purpose of this study does not lie in generalizing strategies for every Korean apparel firm. Porter’s four determinants and new competitive advantages To investigate why nations gain the competitive advantage in particular industries, Porter (1998) conducted a four-year study of ten important trading nations and suggested â€Å"the diamond model. Porter concluded that a nation succeeds in a particular industry if it possesses a competitive advantage relative to the best worldwide competitors. His model consists of four determinants: factor conditions, demand conditions, related and supporting industries, and firm strategy, structure, and rivalry. As this study looks into an apparel industry it is essent ial to interpret competitive factors within this industry and to examine what constitutes new competitive factors JFMM 10,2 196 as the industry evolves. Porter (1998) competitive advantage factors are summarized, and new sources of competitive advantages are suggested. Factor conditions According to Porter (1998), factor conditions refer to the factors of production that are necessary to compete in a given industry. He grouped the factor endowment into a number of broad categories, such as human resources, physical resources, knowledge resources, capital resources and infrastructure. He further discriminated among these factors: basic factors versus advanced factors, and generalized factors versus specialized factors. A basic factor is passively inherited, such as climate, unskilled and semiskilled labor, while advanced factors include conditions a nation creates, such as highly educated personnel. He suggested that competitive advantage based on basic or generalized factors is unsophisticated and often fleeting, contending that advanced or specialized factors are necessary for more sophisticated forms of competitive advantages. The advanced or specialized factors can be created through factor-creating mechanisms such as public and private educational institutions. Nations succeed in industries where they are particularly good at creating and upgrading the needed factors. Porter (1998) also argued that the standard for what constitutes an advanced or specialized factor tends to rise continuously as the states of knowledge, science, and practice improve. Thus, we suggest that new competitive factor conditions in apparel industry lie in advanced or specialized factors. Basic factors such as cheap labor for production are no longer viable in achieving competitive advantages since those factors can be successfully secured through global sourcing. Global sourcing has been considered a critical component in achieving competitive advantages (Frear et al. , 1992). Numerous apparel firms in countries where the apparel industry is advanced, such as The Gap, Liz Claiborne, Nike, and The Limited, source labor as well as raw materials globally without owning any production facilities. Then, the most necessary new factor conditions to compete should be sought in advanced or specialized factors, such as skilled human resources (e. g. creative designers), and production and process technology that are specific to global sourcing and management (e. g. EDI, information technology). These new sources of competitive factors can be easily observed in the most advanced fashion countries. France and Italy boast about their creative designers, and the US is active in developing production and process technologies such as quick response technologies and, currently, the Demand-Activated Manufacturing Architecture (DAMA) project (Techexchange, 2005). Demand conditions This determinant refers to the nature of home-market demand for an industry’s product or service. Porter (1998) views demand conditions in terms of the size of the home market and sophisticated and demanding buyers. That is, if the size of home demand is large, firms will invest to reap economies of scale. In countries where the domestic buyers (either industrial buyers or consumers) are the world’s most sophisticated and demanding, companies are forced to meet high standards, to upgrade, and to respond to tough challenges. Porter (1998) sees a wide variety of reasons for unusually demanding needs: social norms, distribution channels, and national passions. For example, the distribution channels of Italy contribute to the higher levels of consumer sophistication (Porter, 1998). That is, in Italy, shoes, clothing, The diamond approach 197 furniture and lighting are sold in greater proportion through specialty stores than in other nations. These sophisticated retailer’s pressure Italian manufacturers to constantly introduce new models and reduce prices. Italians are also known for their sophistication about clothes, food, and fast cars, the areas in which Italy had international success. The French have a national passion for the fashion industry, and it is no surprise that this country keeps its globally competitive position. Porter (1998) acknowledges that the size of domestic demand in a particular industry may be important to national advantage where there are significant economics of scale or learning, but he considered the presence of sophisticated and demanding buyers more important. As an industry evolves, domestic consumers demand diverse and higher levels of needs, such as creative designs, services, or brands along with competitive prices. In countries where the apparel industry is less developed, functionality and availability of apparel items may be enough to satisfy consumer needs. As the industry advances, domestic buyers demand a higher level of design to suit their taste as well as various items that are needed in their diverse lifestyles (e. g. time, place, occasions). These higher levels of needs can be epitomized in a brand since it encompasses creative design, service, as well as the diverse needs of different target markets. Branding in the apparel industry is even more critical since differentiation and evaluation among items often depend on the brand of the items. Brand here does not mean just trademark. Rather, it broadly covers what branded apparel conveys: a symbolic meaning or a unique design. In the countries where the industry is globally competitive, many brands are globally recognized. For example, France possesses the LVMH group, a giant fashion group that has 60 prestigious brands including Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Celine; Italy owns famous global brands such as Prada, Versace, Giorgio Armani, Missoni, and Benetton; England, Burberry and Hermes; Germany, Jill Sander, Hugo Boss, Escada, and Adidas; and the US, the Gap, Calvin Klein, Donna Karen and Polo Ralph Lauren. Related and supporting industries Porter (1998) asserted that the presence of supplier and related industries within a nation that are internationally competitive provides benefits such as innovation, upgrading, information flow, and shared technology development which create advantages in downstream industries. Therefore, national success in an industry is particularly likely if the nation has a competitive advantage in a number of related industries. One of Porter’s examples for this factor is the Italian ski boot industry and its close relationship with the leather industry. Because of the high quality of its leather, Italy can succeed in producing world quality ski boots. However, in today’s global apparel environments, raw materials are largely sourced globally, so having competitive supplier industries within a nation may not be as important as Porter (1998) suggests. Instead, related and supporting industries at the front-end, such as buying office, advertising, and information technology that support coordination of global sourcing or efficient management of the global supply chain, may be more important. For example, Liz Claiborne, Inc. sources from as many as 31 different countries using 240 factories. Therefore, coordinating the production and efficient communications with suppliers becomes critical. For this reason, most US apparel companies own buying offices overseas, which assist and coordinate global production and management. Hong Kong keeps its competitive position not because of factor or demand conditions but because of efficient coordination of apparel JFMM 10,2 198 manufacturing. Hong Kong serves as a business-networking center for apparel manufacturing (Lui and Chiu, 2001) with the production headquarters of large retailers like The Gap. Hong Kong’s first and largest buying office, Li Fung, was founded in 1906 and provides integrated service in what they call â€Å"a virtual factory† or â€Å"a private label manufacturing program. † This service includes assistance in product design through materials sourcing for its manufacture to the handling of logistics for delivery to the customer (George, 1998; Magretta, 2000). Firm strategy, structure, and rivalry The last determinant is firm strategy, structure, and rivalry, referring to â€Å"the conditions in the nation governing how companies are created, organized, and managed, as well as the nature of domestic rivalry† (Porter, 1998, p. 107). Porter contended that nations tend to succeed in industries where the management practices and modes of organization favored by the nation are well suited to the industries’ sources of competitive advantage. For example, many Italian firms are relatively smallor medium-sized firms that are privately owned and operated like extended families. Italian firms usually employ focus strategies, avoiding standardized products and operating in small niches. Consequently, Italy is an international leader in footwear and wool fabrics in which economies of scale are either modest or can be overcome through cooperation among loosely affiliated companies. Domestic rivalry is, arguably, the most important because of its powerful effect on all the other determinants. Porter took note of geographic concentration, which magnifies the power of domestic rivalry: the more localized the rivalry, the more intense the competition. One important source of competitive advantages in the apparel industry has been high quality design. Italy, France, and the USA have succeeded because of their innovative designs. However, a new and different source of competitive advantage in the apparel industry, agility, should be added along with high quality design. The apparel industry has been characterized by extensive and diverse sources of uncertainty due to fluctuating demands from fashion, and seasonal change and varying in style preferences. In response to market instability, apparel firms should react rapidly, thus â€Å"agility† becomes a means of achieving competitive advantage. Agility in the fashion business means more than just speed. Agility also means a firm can respond quickly, canceling lines that do not sell, avoiding clearance sales, and operating with small stockrooms and lower inventory holding costs (Mcguire, 2001; Vitzthum, 2001). Agility is the competitive weapon that Zara uses to achieve its success: it takes less than two weeks for a skirt to get from Zara’s design team to a store in Paris or Tokyo. Design-to-delivery is as much as 12 times faster for Zara than for its competitors. With shorter lead times, Zara can ship a greater variety of goods more frequently (twice a week compared with once every 12 weeks) than many of its competitors. Thus, those countries where their strategy, management style and domestic rivalry accommodate â€Å"high quality design with agility† will gain new international competitiveness and sustain their current positions. Table I summaries traditional and new sources of competitive advantage factors. In addition to these four determinants, Porter (1998) suggested two external determinants: chance and government. Chance events just happen; however, the nation with the most favorable â€Å"diamond† will most likely convert chance events into competitive advantage (Porter, 1998). Government can influence each of the four The diamond approach 199 determinants either positively or negatively. The complete diamond system is presented in Figure 1. Extending Porter’s determinants through internationalization As internationalization often explains national competitiveness in small countries like Korea, most of the new competitive factors can be maximized through â€Å"internationalization. † Therefore, the Korean apparel industry is further analyzed Porter (1998) determinants Traditional competitive advantage factors New competitive advantage factors Factor conditions Basic factors: such as unskilled labor and raw materials Advanced factors: skilled human resources such as creative designers. Specialized factors such as production and process echnologies that are specific to handling global sourcing and management (e. g. EDI) Demand conditions Demanding functionality and availability of apparel items Demanding higher levels of needs such as brand name and service Related and supporting industries Presence of internationally competitive back-end supplier industries (e. g. raw materials producers) Presence of internationally competitive front-end industries that efficiently coordinate global supply chain management (e. g. buying office, advertising, information technology) Firm strategy, structure, and rivalry Organization and strategy of most pparel firms are suited to industries’ source of competitive advantage: high quality design Organization and strategy of most apparel firms are suited to industries’ source of competitive advantage: high quality design plus agility Table I. Traditional versus new competitive advantage factors using Porter’s diamond model (1998) Figure 1. Porter’s diamond model JFMM 10,2 200 using Moon et al. ’s (1995, 1998) generalized double diamond model. Moon et al. (1998) argue that sustainable value added in a specific country may result from both domestically owned and foreign owned firms. In addition, they contend that as today’s sustainability often comes from geographic configuration spanning many countries, firm specific and location advantages present in several nations can contribute to a nation’s competitiveness. Therefore, these international activities, which may occur either within a country or outside, a country need to be incorporated in the explanation of national competitiveness. Figure 2 presents the generalized double diamond model, where the inside diamond represents the domestic situation and the dotted line denotes the international dimension. The difference between the international diamond and the domestic diamond represents international or multinational activities (Moon et al. , 1998). Unlike Porter, if we double the diamond using domestic plus international activities, the above identified new sources of competitive factors can be maximized through â€Å"internationalization†. Below we further analyze the Korean apparel industry with the aid of the generalized double diamond model. Korean factor conditions The competitive advantage factor of the Korean apparel industry has mainly been cheap labor. However, as wage costs rose, the country began to outsource labor and raw materials globally. Acknowledging that unskilled labor is no longer a viable factor, Korean companies all alike are eager to create change. Education is the top priority of all Korean parents and a proven proactive factor for the development of the Figure 2. The generalized double diamond The diamond approach 201 Korean economy (Chung et al. , 1997; Porter, 1998). At the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Koreans represent a significant portion of foreign students. The training of creative designers would be a new competitive advantage. This new factor can be achieved through internal development or internationalization. For example, the Korean apparel industry can: . Work toward higher international recognition of its designers. . Hire foreign creative designers to work for them. . Co-develop designs with foreign creative designers. Korean designers are starting to gain some recognition. Hanii Yoon and Gene Kang of Y Kei, received a rising star award in the women’s apparel category during 2002. The award is annually, given to eight brilliant, creative, and promising designers, by the Fashion Group International of the US (Winters, 2003). To gain international recognition, more Korean fashion designers present their design lines in Paris and Tokyo collections. Younghee Lee has presented her line in the Paris Pre? t a Porte collection more than 20 times for 11 years. Icinoo was invited to the Tokyo collection during 1990, and she also has presented her lines in Paris since 1993. Judging from the national zeal for education and fashion, Korea is likely to be in a favorable position to produce creative fashion designers. Another new competitive factor for this dimension is production and process technology. Generally the Korean technology infrastructure matches that of most advanced nations (Porter, 1998). Especially in the internet industry, Korea ranks the third in the world in internet, just after the US and Canada (Ipsos reid, 2002). In terms of broadband access such as cable modem, DSL, and other broadband technologies, Korea ranks first as of September of 2002; whereas, the USA ranks sixth, Japan ninth, Germany twelfth, France sixteenth, and Italy twentieth. More than 20 out of 100 Koreans have broadband internet access at home (OECD, 2002). However, for specialized production and process technologies that are specific to global sourcing and management such as EDI, the Korean apparel industry has invested less at the industrial and national levels for two reasons. First, the size of the Korean apparel industry is relatively small: only $11 billion compared to $200 billion, or approximately one twentieth of the US market. The benefits obtained through such investments may not be significant in the smaller market. Second, the land size of South Korea is half that of the Florida peninsula. Therefore, the benefits of having process technology are significantly less than a country with a large land size. Once the Korean apparel industry has bigger markets by expanding internationally, companies may recognize the importance of production and process technologies to handle large volume orders more efficiently. Korean demand conditions Korean consumers are notorious for being demanding. As one manager of a multinational company operating in Korea once confessed, â€Å"once we can satisfy Korean consumers, then we are sure of our success in other countries, too.

Music Appreciation Essay Example For Students

Music Appreciation Essay What type of song is it? Five Knacks for Ladies, is a madrigal a poetic song. The song is about the singer who presents himself as a humble peddler Which of the songs was composed by Franciscan Bossiness, or Francis of Bosnia? Se maim per marginalia (If ever in wonder), was written by Franciscan Bossiness. He was a composer of many pieces for the lute and voice, and this was one of his most famous and moving compositions. What is a lute? What is the history of the lute? When was the lute used? The lute was stringed instrument used during the Renaissance. It was pear-shaped, with a neck. It resembled a guitar due to the way it was held and the way it was played. During the Renaissance, the lute held the highest respect of all musical instruments. What is a harpsichord? Where were these instruments often found? The harpsichord was an instrument used from the 16th century to the mid-18th century. They tend to sound balanced and symmetrical because they are frequently made up of two phrases of the same length. Classical composers interest in expressing shades of emotion led to the wide spread use of gradual dynamic change crescendo and decrescendo. Most of the mature keyboard compositions of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven were written for the piano rather than the harpsichord, clavichord, and organ, which had been featured in Baroque music. The basso continuo was gradually abandoned during the classical period because more ND more music was written for amateurs who could not master the difficult art of improvising from a figured bass. Examine 156-157) 2. Describe the orchestra of the Classical era? The classical orchestra evolved during the classical period. It was a standard group of four sections; strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. In the late instrumental works of Mozart and Haydn, an orchestra might consist of the following; Strings: 1st violins, 2nd violins, violas , cellos, double basses; Woodwinds: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons; Brass: 2 French horns, 2 trumpets; Percussion: 2 timpani. Each section of the classical orchestra had a special role. (Examine 157-158) 3. Discuss the role of music and the composer in classical society. Composers in the classical period worked during a period of violent, political, and social habeas. Musicians were strongly affected by changes in society and in the careers of the three classical masters and the slow emancipation of the composers can be traced. In some cases composers had spent most of their lives serving wealthy aristocratic families. Joseph Hayden was considered a skilled servant or game keeper. He wore a uniform and composed music for His Highness as ordered. Mozart born twenty-four years later could not bear being treated as a servant so he broke from his court position and went to Vienna to try his luck as a freelance musician. He was successful for years, his popularity declined and he died in debt. Beethoven, a few years later, was able to work as an independent musician in Vienna. He was successful through a wider middle-class market for music and a commanding personality that prompted Music Appreciation Mark By Dorian advanced, more people made more money. Merchants, doctors, and government officials could afford better homes and better food. The prospering middle class anted more than material goods and sought out theatre, literature, and music. Because palace concerts were usually closed to the middle class, towns people organized public concerts where they could hear the latest symphonies and concertos. During the second half of the 18th century public concerts mushroomed throughout Europe. In London a concert series ran from 1765 to 1781 conducted by one of Bachs son, Johann Christian Bach, who had settled in England. Composers in the middle-class period wrote pieces that were easy for armature musicians to play and understand. They turned from serious to comic opera. From the heroic and hydrological plots deer to the nobility to middle-class subjects and folk like tunes. (Examine 159) 4. Discuss the four main sections of sonata form. A sonata form movement consists of three main sections; the Exposition, where the themes are presented; the Development where the themes are treated in new ways; and the Recapitulation, where the themes return. These three themes are often followed by a concluding section, the coda. (Examine 161) 5. What are Theme and Variations, Minuet and Trio, and Rondo? The form called Theme and Variations was widely used in the classical period, either has an independent piece or as one movement of a homophony, sonata, or sitting quartet. In a theme and variations, a basic musical idea the theme is repeated over and over and is changed each time. This form may be outlined as theme A-variation 1 (A)- variation 2 variation 3 (A), and so on; each prime mark indicated a variation of the basic idea. The form known as Minuet and Trio, or Minuet, is often used as the third movement of classical symphonies, string quartets, and other works. Punk Rock Music EssayHis music like his personality is robust and direct; it radiates a healthy optimism. He had a love for nature and was a master at developing themes. He could build a whole movement out of a single main theme, creating contrasts of mood through changes in texture, key, rhythm, dynamics, and orchestration. He produced comic effects from unexpected pauses and tempo changes from sudden shifts in dynamics and pitch where a soft them is suddenly punctuated by a loud horn. He produced 104 symphonies along with 68 string quartets are considered the most important part of his enormous output. Examine 173-174) 11. Discuss the most amazing child prodigies in history born in Salisbury, Austria. At 6 he could play harpsichord, violin, improvise fugues, write minuets, and read music perfectly at first sight. At the age of 8 he wrote a symphony, at 11 an oratorio, and at 12 an opera. Between the age of 6 and 15 he was continuously on tour. He played for aristocrats, empresses and kings in Vienna and London. At 15 he returned home, which was ruled by a new prince-arch bishop. The arch bishop was a tyrant who didnt appreciate Mozart music and gave him a subordinate seat in the courts orchestra. He tried repeatedly over the next decade to find suitable position elsewhere with no success. The tragic irony of Mozart life is that he won more acclaim as a boy wonder than as an adult musician. Having begun his life as an international celebrity and he could not stand being treated like a servant. The prince-arch bishop forbade him to give concerts or perform at the house of the aristocracy and his relationships with his patrons went from bad to worse. At age 25 he broke free and traveled to Vienna to be freelance musician. The first few years were successful. Mozart was among the most versatile of all composers. He wrote masterpieces in all musical forms of his times, symphonies, string quartets, piano concertos, and operas. His music conveys a feeling of ease, grace, and spontaneity, as well as balance, restraint, and perfect proportion. Yet mysterious harmonies bring dark moods that contrast with the lyricism. Mozart fuses power and elegance in a unique way. His compositions sound effortless and were created with miraculous rapidity. He completed his last 3 symphonies in only three weeks. Examine 176-178) 12. Discuss the life of Beethoven and his music. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in Bonn, German into a family of musicians. By the age of 11 he was serving as an assistant to the court organist, at 12 he had several piano compositions published, at 16 he played for Mozart. Shortly before his 22 birthday he left to study piano with Haydn where he spent the rest of his life. Although his studies with Haydn were not entirely successful he went secretly to another teacher. In 1889, three noblemen committed themselves to give him an annual income the condition he had to remain in Vienna. Disaster struck during his 29th year where his hearing was weakened and the doctor could not do anything to halt it. As his hearing weakened so did his piano playing. By the time he was 44 he had stopped playing in public. Beethovens demand for perfection meant long and hard work. Sometimes he worked for years on a single symphony, writing other works within the same period of time. He carried a music sketch book everywhere Jotting down ideas and revising and refining old ones. His most popular works are the nine symphonies written for larger orchestras than Heydays and Mozart. Each is unique in character and style. There is a curious alternation of mood between his odd-numbered symphonies which tend to be forceful and assertive than his even-numbered numbers which are calmer and more lyrical. His 32 piano sonatas are far more difficult than the sonatas of Haydn and Mozart and exploit the stronger, tonally improved piano of Beethovens time drawing many new effects from it. While most of Beethovens important works are for instruments, his sense of drama was expressed in vocal music, including two masses and his only opera, Fidelity. (Examine 188-191) Examine, Roger. Music: An Appreciation. De. Seventh. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Kick. 20 June 2013.