Biometric Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Biometric - Research Paper Example However, research has shown that the mismatched identification in a whispered speech is due to the phonemes hence providing an unvoiced consonant will prevent this mismatched in whispered identification. Key Words- Voice, Phoneme, Biometric Authentication I. RESEACH QUESTION/PROPOSAL A feature information of enrolled person’s biometric information in biometric authentication is normally enrolled as templates that are stored by secure databases and anti-tampered devices. However, the disadvantage is that biometric information is irrecoverable once compromised. Therefore, there is need to give such information special attention in order to ensure they are safely stored. Also due to increased internet penetration and access by many people has raised a need for the implementation of online biometric authentication i.e. a uniform, secure and reliable method of biometric authentication. Therefore, the research proposal in this case is to identify alternatives for the password-based authentication used in most smart devices today. This kind of authentication is vulnerable and can be compromised hence a proposal to focus and introduce better authentication ways i.e. biometric that uses one’s unique biological and psychological features. ... Mobile devices are being stolen daily, which puts in danger important information that had been stored before. [1]. Therefore, a user will hope that his/her password is strong enough not to be decoded. Biometric authentication is giving a natural alternative to passwords. The wide variety of input sensors that mobile devices include nowadays like microphones, camera, PS, touch screens helps with the implementation of biometric authentication. Businesses are requiring an easy to use but secure authentication for their mobile devices in their corporations as well users around the world. Many of the biometric authentications are strong, but others have their limitations. [2] This paper will discuss and will show an improvement in the authentication of voice recognition. I. BACKGROUND Biometric can be classified in to two major categories based on their characteristics i.e. Behavioral Biometric and Physiological Biometric. Behavioral biometric is the study of the differences in how peopl e do things while physiological biometric is the study of physical uniqueness of individual, which is unlikely to change very easily [3]. A. Importance of Voice Authentication Most of the biometric authentications works with sophisticated equipment that requires the physical presence of the person. For example, Retina biometric authentication needs a camera; which are contained in most smartphones. TABLE 1 PHYSIOLOGICAL BIOMETRIC AND BEHAVIOR BIOMETRIC Physiological Biometric Behavioral Biometric Voice Scan Iris Scan Finger Print DNA Matching Facial Scan Retina Scan Hand Scan Keystroke Scan Signature Scan Gait Recognition However, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) which is complement with ANSI/IESNA RP-27.1-96 and IEC 60825-1 standards for radiation have

Dual Protection - Design and Copyright Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Dual Protection - Design and Copyright - Essay Example Besides, under what circumstances can dual protection are offered. Body Firstly, it is important to understand the differences between copyright protection and design protection. Though both are intellectual property and both aim to protect the rights of the IP holder, the objectives and techniques of protection of each would differ. The copyright protection would aim to protect the designer from any abuse of his or her rights whether or not the particular property has been registered or not. On the other hand, the industrial design would aim to provide security to the industry. Hence, simply based on their means of protection, there would be divergences. With relation to the duration of protection, copyright laws ensure an almost perpetual protection, whereas the design laws would only protect for a specific duration. Design laws have to be renewed every 5 years and to a maximum of 25 years in total. Hence, even if copyright and designs could be applied simultaneously, once the desi gn term is over, hardly anybody would be interested in the copyright existing. Another important difference is regarding the infringement processes associated with the design. Designs do offer protection even from innocent violators who may not know that a particular design is already registered and is protected. On the other hand, copyright provides for a wider fair use circle that would effectively protect innocent and non-commercial users. By the very nature of the mechanism of protection, it can be asserted that both designs and copyrights are present for different purposes. The next important difference is the extent of protection, though copyright would protect only expressions of ideas and not ideas, it protects the design in every conceivable form including when it may be used in a 2-dimensional or a 3-dimensional form. However, a design would only protect the appearance or the aesthetic appearance to the article for which it is registered. The final difference noted is that copyright does not require a registration process due to which 99% of all designs are actually registered by this mechanism. This has lead to protection of designs for longer duration and in all conceivable forms3. The dual level of protection has arisen from the definition of artistic work4 under the copyright Act and the general definition of design under the Design Act (Section 1)5. The criteria for fulfilling copyright, is that the work should be original and should have been created by the author, and there it is not necessary that the work be registered. Artistic work more often represents visual representations of intellectual work or ideas to be presented in a material form. One possibility is that drawings or works of craftsmanship which is in fact artistic work may also be design drawings of industrial products or articles of manufacture of various goods. Copyright law offers certain rights to the owner including the right to make copies of the work, the right to distribu te or communicate the work to the public, the right to translate or reproduce the work from one form to another (e.g. from a 2-dimensional work to a

Soldiers and civilians alike Essay Example for Free

Soldiers and civilians alike Essay This essay will consider a poem and an extract from two different authors, each writing about events in the First and Second World Wars The first piece to be considered is a poem called Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen. In this poem, Owen describes the atrocities of war by describing a group if men returning from the front line, experiencing a gas attack in which one of them dies and then goes on the address the people back at home and ask them whether war is actually as noble and as glorious as it is made to be. Owen portrays the soldiers by using similes and metaphors. In lines 1 and 2, Owen uses words like: Old beggars and Hags to give a visual description of the soldiers walking back from the front line. This shows how young soldiers have aged though the hardships of war. They have been reduced from proud and strong young men in the prime of their lives to old beggars literally the lowest of the low. They are bent double not only by the heavy equipment they are carrying (the average soldier in WW1 used to regularly carry weights in excess of) but also by the experience of war itself. Own goes on to describe how they were trudging, not walking or marching but that they cursed through sludge. Cursed is not actually a word to describe movement but shows how every yard of the way brought obscenities to the lips of these men who have had enough of the appalling conditions. The phrase An ecstasy of fumbling is an unusual one. Typically used in association with joy, it is possible Owen used the word ecstasy to portray the adrenalin rush caused by the panic of the gas attack. It is as almost as if the soldiers. Own the goes on to describe how one man dies. In recalling this scene, he uses the phrase: In all my dreams before my helpless sight. This and an earlier reference to Haunting flares, suggests that Own suffered from nightmares in consequence of war. Own uses very graphic and disturbing imagery in lines 17-24, describing how the man dies under the gas attack. For example, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. and He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. These quotes tell us that the narrator sees the man suffering at the peril of the gas; he refers to the gas as a green sea, and describes the man drowning. In the last few lines of the poem, Own sends a very clear message that death in war is not, as is often described, glorious or honourable but is in fact gruesome and ghastly, scarring to those who witness it.

Hotel chocolat an internationalisation strategy

Hotel chocolat an internationalisation strategy Hotel Chocolat (HC) was founded over 15 years ago with one goal: to make a better type of chocolate available to UK consumers bored by the mediocrity of that available (Hotel Chocolat, 2009). HC started as a catalogue business. Following the success of this business, the company set up an award winning website with the first of many HC stores appearing on the high.street in 2004. Since its success in the UK, HC has applied an export strategy to the US via an online ordering site. This strategy enabled the company to minimise risk before fully committing to foreign direct investment (FDI). Once adequate demand for the product was assured, HC opened its first American store in Boston and now has plans to further expand throughout North America. There are currently 43 stores located in the UK with an additional 23 operating inside John Lewis stores. It is likely that the company has expanded as far as it can domestically and should now focus its attention on international markets. In order to assess HCs ability to internationalise the following should be considered. HC is Britains fastest-growing private company with 225% sales growth per year (Fasttrack100, 2008) and sales equating to  £18 million in 2008. From this, one may infer that HC does indeed have sufficient resources for internationalization. However, it is questionable whether the company is prepared to undertake large-scale investments, due to the self-funding expansion strategy pursued so far. This essay will now present an internationalisation strategy for HC by applying theory and drawing upon personal contact with the Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO), the UK Trade and Investment team (UKTI) and HC representatives, as well as quantitative data from secondary research. Global figures for chocolate sales provide compelling incentives to further internationalise. In 2008 global chocolate sales were $62.16 billion (Datamonitor, 2009a). Contrasting these figures with the UK shows enormous sales potential. Currently the UK confectionary market is valued at $13.4 billion, with chocolate sales accounting for 67.5%. More tellingly, however, are the records for annual growth of market value between the years 2004-08 (Datamonitor, 2009b) which show a decided slow-down in the rate of growth. Although the economic down turn will have played its role in the calculation of these figures, we can be confident that the UK chocolate industry is operating within the mature stage of the product life cycle. This is problematic for HC as Kotler (2008 p.575) argues: A slowdown in sales growth results in an overcapacity of competition, which can ultimately lead to a decrease in profits. Furthermore, the domestic chocolate industry is dominated by Cadbury, Mars and Nestle who collectively hold a 59.8% market share (Datamonitor, 2009c). Expanding internationally into previously untapped markets may be the best solution to leverage any potential losses felt domestically as Hill (2009, p.426) states; Expanding globally allows firms to increase their profitability and rate of profit growth in ways not available to purely domestic enterprises. An essential part of any internationalisation strategy is the country screening process in which hundreds of possible countries must be systematically eliminated. There are numerous ways to do this and, when done professionally, a vast amount of research will be undertaken before any decisions are made. HC, as previously stated, have already begun expansion into North America and have made plans to expand into the Middle East (Retail week, 2009; Walker, 2009). For these reasons, we will not be considering either region. Europe will also be ruled out as the European luxury chocolate market is already highly saturated with rival brands from Belgium, France and Switzerland (RTS, 2009). The next mass filtration stage was to view the political stability scores (CIFP, 2007) of the remaining regions and leave only those scoring highest. This stage virtually eliminated Africa and Latin America, leaving predominantly the Asia Pacific region. Finally, the remaining countries were ranked in ord er of GDP per capita (CIA World Factbook, 2008) and all but the top eight were eliminated. This left: Hong Kong, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. Scrutinising these eight countries and drawing upon a variety of unequally weighted factors a country attractiveness index was formulated for each. Ultimately Japan was found to be the optimal host country with the greatest index score. Haak recently published that: no company can afford to neglect the dynamic Asian economic region (Haak, 2008 p.1). Within this region, Japan in particular assumes a key position (Haak, 2008 p.1) due to its sheer size and its wealthy and sophisticated consumers (JETRO, 2008). In order to formally evaluate Japans attractiveness as a host country, certain aspects of Dunnings eclectic paradigm have been applied. Focusing on ownership and location factors; the decision to fully invest in Japan can be justified (Dunning, 1988). Furthermore, location factors can be broken down into three advantages: economic, political and social. Japan is considered a major world financial hotspot with the 2nd highest number of millionaires residing there and household consumption expenditure figures exceeding those of most nations. This goes hand in hand with high consumer purchasing power and a demand for high quality produce. Perhaps one of the strongest reasons for investment in Japan is its potential as a gateway to the Asian-Pacific markets. As these markets grow rapidly, the economic integration between countries in the region continues to strengthen. This links to an ownership advantage that HC can achieve. Entering the Japanese market will allow access to other Asian markets over time and provide economies in both scale and scope. In recent years government policies have become an increasingly important factor affecting FDI (Brewer, 1993). The Japanese government have various foreign investment policies which incentivise investment. Japan, once restrictive of trade, has now shed this image and is attracting increasing levels of FDI. Whereas most national governments focus on financial incentives, the Japanese government follows a 3-step model which provides support for potential investors (Watanabe, 2003). As discussed later in this essay, this type of incentive reduces the need for foreign firms to access local knowledge by means of joint venture (JV) or merger. Knowledge of national cultures is commonly seen as a prerequisite to the effective entry into new markets (Chinta, Capar, 2007p.213), and is stated as such in the Scandinavian process model. However, various studies have found no support for this hypothesis (Barkema et al, 1996). It could also be argued that Japan is culturally equidistant between all nations, thus rendering the Scandinavian model redundant in this unique case. Ronen and Shenkar (1985) identified eight culturally homogenous blocks of countries, suggesting that firms benefit more from experiences in other countries within the same block. Japan, on the other hand, was not allotted a cluster and according to Barkema et al, (1996), no cultural block is appropriate for Japan. Therefore, Japan was allocated its own exclusive cultural block. This suggests that it would not be possible for a firm to gradually build experiential knowledge for Japan. This would partially support the decision for HC to immediately enter the mar ket. However, this argument suggests that knowledge of Japan would not increase understanding of other Asia Pacific markets, as previously thought. Nevertheless, the extent to which Japan does not belong to some larger cultural block is disputable. Western investors are often scared off by the uniqueness of the Japanese business model. However, this uniqueness can provide a host of opportunities to foreign firms wishing to access Japans wealthy consumers (Kensy, 2001). Porters diamond theory can be applied to Japan in order to assess its competitive advantage as the host country. In terms of inherent endowments such as land, labour and population size, it may appear that Japan is economically disadvantaged in comparison to large Asia Pacific states such as China. However, Porter argues a nations competiveness depends on the capacity of its industry to innovate and upgrade (Porter, 1998, p155). Based on these assumptions it can be recognised that a significant national comparative advantage is held by Japan. Immediate competition in the Japanese chocolate market is low but promises to grow significantly (Datamonitor, 2009d). This appeals to both Porters 5 forces model and the Diamond model, as it provides easier entry followed b y greater pressure to innovate and gain a global advantage. It is now worthwhile to consider any disadvantages, in order to gain a greater understanding of the risks involved. The Japanese market, as discussed, is one that is culturally unique. Therefore, in order to survive, HC would have to invest time and money reviewing cultural practices and adopt new management styles to suit Japan. Referring to Porters five forces analysis, the threat of substitute would seem to be an inherent problem in most markets, with Japan being no exception. Theoretically, HC would expect to face competition from alternative industries in the gift and snack markets. A recent report by Datamonitor (2009d) stated: confectionery products are vulnerable to the threat from substitutes such as savoury snacks and fresh fruits, due to low switching costs and consumption patterns in different geographies. In reality, competitive rivalry is deemed as moderate in this market, with branding contributing to a high level of customer loyalty. Therefore, price elasticity and pr oduct differentiation only play a small part in the competitive rivalry of the confectionery market (Datamonitor, 2009d). According to the electronics maker Canon Once a company is active in the Japanese market, it is three times harder to fail in business (Melville, 1999, p.113). However, Melville also notes that: it is three times harder to become successful in Japan in the first place. To summarise; Japan deserves the special attention of international companies, which in recent years have often neglected this economic heavyweight in an often blind enthusiasm for the Chinese market (Haak, 2008, p.3). The high GDP and considerable spending power of Japan provides the perfect marketplace for a high quality, innovative product. As long as risks are considered and the market is entered into carefully, there should be no reason why HC cannot reap the benefits. In an analysis of what motivates firms to move into new markets, Buckley suggests, there are three key motives: (1) Market seeking FDI, (2) Resource seeking FDI (3) Cost-reduction or efficiency seeking FDI. (Buckley, 2000 p.146). Buckley also believes that for any firm interested in investing in Japan, one of these key goals must be met. Furthermore, the main motive for any FDI into Japan will typically be market seeking. This is especially the case for any firm producing consumer goods such as HC. It is essential to understand the competitive landscape of the confectionary market in Japan, in order to formulate an optimal market strategy for HC. Japans confectionary market consists mainly of local companies offering a multitude of brands producing chocolate and sugar-based products. 48.1% of the confectionary market is dominated by three companies: Lotte Group, Meji Seika Kaisha, Ltd. and Ezaki Glico (Datamonitor, 2009d). So where can HC fit into this market? Most confectionery products are mass-marketed and manufactured in great volume to reduce costs so as to provide competitive prices whilst making a profit. Potentially, a more cost friendly option for the company is to enter the market in a small-scope, for example, by making high-value, low-volume products in a craft process rather than a mechanized process. (Datamonitor, 2009d). Coincidentally, this fits HCs high quality/exclusive brand image. Japans demographics provide a wide variety of potential consumers for HC. The primary target group is Japans silver market: the older, free spending portion of the population. Japan has an aging population and hence a growing market segment for HC. This group already has high buying power and furthermore, JETRO are forecasting growth of â‚ ¬30billion in the market for senior citizens. Another suitable segment in Japan is that of unmarried women over 30 (Haak, 2008). This group is largely luxury orientated and represents a financially promising market segment for HC to exploit. Moreover, in the experience of the UKTI, Japanese consumers are attracted to products that are healthy, high end and quintessentially British. All of these factors will contribute to HCs competitive advantage over Japans local producers. This essay will now discuss the possible strategies that HC could undertake, applying both theory and practical knowledge to formally review all available modes of entry. The mode of entry decision is crucial to any company, as it can have an ongoing effect on a firms international performance (Chung and Enderwick, 2001 p.443) it is therefore important to formally evaluate all possible modes. International market entry modes can be classified according to level of control, resource commitment and risk involvement (Kim Hwang, 1992). Table 2 takes these three classifications and applies them to specific modes of entry. As well as the classifications used in table 2, it is essential to consider culture and how a mode of entry fits in with the companys long-term objectives. When firms enter into a foreign market, they must contend with the national culture. However, when firms partake in JVs, they face double layered acculturation (Barkema et al 1996; Zacharakis, 1993); this can pose problems for a firm and increase the associated risk. JVs also require a great deal of capital, effort and trust. Additionally, JVs with Japanese firms may be particularly risky as learning effects may be asymmetric in JVs Japanese managers focus more on learning and less on information sharing (Barkema et al, 1996, p.164). Nevertheless, the knowledge needed to operate in a foreign market is not easily acquired, and in the early stages of market entry a native partner is strongly recommended to provide access to local market knowledge. Therefore, we propose HC should consider an agent distribution model, focusing largely on Japanese department stores. This should not however be the first stage of the internationalisation process. The Uppsala stage model stipulates organisational learning [through gradual] small steps whereby firms increase their international involvement up through the establishment chain (Bakema et al, 1996 p.152). In short, Uppsala urges firms to export before they create subsidiaries. Exceptions can be made when firms have experiential knowledge from markets with similar conditions, however, as discussed earlier, this cannot be the case with Japan. Therefore, we propose that as a first step, HC should extend their online ordering system by setting up a Japanese version of their website. This will allow HC to measure demand and increase brand awareness in the host market. By using this safe progression, HC will be in a position to both gauge the risks and benefits of the venture while at the same time acquiring cultural knowledge, incrementally increasing levels of exposure to corporate and national culture. Kim and Hwang, (1992) suggest that a firms familiarity with the host market relates to the mode of entry. As previously discussed, Japan is unlike other cultures and any strategy undertaken needs to be low risk and allow the firm to test the water with the host market. The use of an agent enables the company to avoid the financial and cultural risks associated with JVs for example. This is a more realistic strategy for HC due to their lack of size and international experience. Additionally, by appointing an agent, HC can retain control over their marketing mix and gain access to existing distribution networks. A crucial consideration when using an agent is to find a local party with a good reputation. Often agents will cover a specific territory and therefore as part of their strategy, HC should select a Japanese city in which to focus their internationalisation strategy. By observing successful moves made by close international competitors such as Godiva, it would seem that Tokyo wo uld most likely be selected (Godiva, 2009). Complications may arise if an agent is working for other companies that have conflicting interests to HC. In order to overcome such potential problems, HC should partake in a due diligence process. Careful selection criteria should be implemented to ensure that the agent has relevant expertise and appropriate business standing in line with HCs business interests. This market entry strategy is further supported when we consider withdrawal and divestment strategies. As Buckley notes, It is important for a firm to choose, at the outset, strategies whose exit costs are low (Buckley Casson, 1998, p.39). It is widely known that agent distribution models have low withdrawal costs relative to JVs, mergers and the like. By starting at the end and securing a strong exit strategy HC can significantly reduce the impact that would be felt by the organisation were the venture to fail. In conclusion, based on theory and the practical advice gained from a personal meeting with the UKTI, HC should first provide a Japanese version of their website in order to export to Japan whilst gaining knowledge of the local market and consumer demand. Once adequate demand is ensured, HC may proceed to employ an agent in order to develop brand recognition before finally opening a store in Tokyo. Since HC currently has a strong relationship with the UK department store John Lewis, it might be suitable for HC to pursue a similar strategy in Japan by joining a high-end department store, possibly with branches in other Asia Pacific locations. If the model proves to be successful, then by being in Japan, HC can reach other Asia Pacific locations, which, although not close in cultural space, are linked by a network of department stores. It is important to discuss the limitations of this report and offer suggestions for further study. One fundamental limitation of this report lies within the country screening process. It was only possible to base the primary stages upon political stability rankings, whereas it would be far better practice to cross reference a larger number of factors. Also, for the sake of originality it was not sensible to include any regions that HC had already considered. In doing this we may have disregarded some very appropriate locations. Factors such as cultural differences required proxies that, naturally, come with a degree of inaccuracy. The proxy used to estimate cultural distance was the percentage of British expats in the target locations. The power of this proxy is well supported, however, it is clearly arguable and a more powerful proxy could be employed with detailed national studies that could take into account: institutional style, business practices, media, etc. During the market a nalysis of the chocolate industry it was not possible to find specific data on the high quality chocolate industry performance, therefore, it was only possible to approximate levels of luxury chocolates being produced and consumed in both the UK and Japan. Finally, in a recent Financial Times presentation (Rowe, 2009) it was explained that you really have to walk the streets of the country to get a feel for what is the most suitable mode of entry. Theory and second hand knowledge of a country can only play a limited role in both the country screening process and mode of entry choice. In reality, a company should never base business decisions on secondary research alone. References BARKEMA, H, J BELL, J PENNINGS. 1996. Foreign entry, cultural barriers, and learning. Strategic Management Journal, 17, pp.151-166. BREWER. 1993. Government policies, market imperfections and foreign direct investment. Journal of International Business Studies, 24(1) pp.101-120. ANDERSON, E, H GATIGNON. 1999. Modes of foreign entry: a transition cost analysis and propositions. In: PJ Buckley, PN Ghauri The Internationalization of the firm. 2nd ed. Surrey: International Thomson Business Press. pp.185-207. BUCKLEY, P.J. P.N. GHAURI. 2004. Globalisation, Economic Geography and the Strategy of Multinational Enterprises. Journal of International Business, 35(2) pp.81-98. BUCKLEY, P. J. 2000. Multinational Firms, Cooperation and Competition in the World Economy, New York: St. Martins Press, LLC. p146. BUCKLEY, P.J, M CASSON.1998. Models of the multinational enterprise. Journal of international business studies. 29 (1) pp 21-44. BUSINESS LINK. 2009. Joint Ventures and Partnering [online]. [Accessed 3 December 2009] Available from: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCESitemId=1075411648 CHINTA, R, N CAPAR. 2007. Comparative Analysis of Managerial Values in the USA and China. Journal of Technology Management in China. 2(3) pp.212-224. CHUNG, H, F, P ENDERWICK.2001. An investigation of market entry strategy selection: exporting vs foreign investment modes a home host country scenario. Asia pacific journal of management. 18 pp433-460. CIA WORLD FACTBOOK. 2008. Country Comparison to the world GDP per capita (PPP) [online]. [Accessed 25 November 2009]. Available from: -https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworldfactbook/fields/2004.html?countryName=JapancountryCode=jaregionCode=eas#ja CIA WORLD FACTBOOK. (2007a), GDP Purchasing Power Parity [online]. [Accessed 16 November 2009]. Available from: http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gdp_pur_pow_par-economy-gdp-purchasing-power-paritydate=2007 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK. (2007b) Wealth Distribution [online]. [Accessed 16 November 2009]. Available from:- http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_inc_dis_ric_20-economy-income-distribution-richest-20 CIA WORLD FACTBOOK. (2007c) Household Final Consumption Expenditure [online]. [Accessed 16 November 2009]. Available from:- http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_hou_fin_con_exp_etc_con_2000_us_percap-constant-2000-us-per-capita CIA WORLD FACTBOOK. (2007d) Gross National Income Figures per Capita [online]. [Accessed 16 November 2009]. Available from:- http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gro_nat_inc_pergdp-gross-national-income-per-gdp COUNTRY INDICATORS FOR FOREIGN POLICY. 2007 Country ranking table 2007 [online] [Accessed 17 November, 2009]. Available from: http://www.carleton.ca/cifp/app/ffs_ranking.php DATAMONITOR. (2009a) Global Confectionary: Industry Profile, September2009 [online]. [Accessed 15 November 2009]. Available from: http://0-web.ebscohost.com.wam.leeds.ac.uk/bsi/pdf?vid=7hid=2sid=5654ae24-75d3-4528-984a-df5a7c0f6b0a%40sessionmgr12 DATAMONITOR. (2009b) Confectionary in the United Kingdom: Industry Profile [online]. [Accessed 15 November 2009]. Available from: http://0-web.ebscohost.com.wam.leeds.ac.uk/bsi/pdf?vid=8hid=2sid=5654ae24-75d3-4528-984a-df5a7c0f6b0a%40sessionmgr12 DATAMONITOR. (2009c) Industry Profile via Business Source Premier: Confectionary in the United Kingdom: Industry Profile [online]. [Accessed 15 November 2009]. Available from: http://0-web.ebscohost.com.wam.leeds.ac.uk/bsi/pdf?vid=8hid=2sid=5654ae24-75d3-4528-984a-df5a7c0f6b0a%40sessionmgr12 DATAMONITOR. (2009d) Confectionary in Japan: industry profile [online]. [Accessed 22 November 2009]. Available from: http://)-web-ebscohost.com.wam.leeds.ac.uk/bsi/pdf?vid=5hid=13sid=710afe6e-4889-b92b86cbe86f10a3%40sessionmgr4 DUNNING, JH. 1988. The eclectic paradigm of international production: a restatement and some possible extensions. Journal of International Business, 19(1) pp1-31. FAST TRACK 100, League table and research. The Times. [online] [Accessed 27 November 2009] Available from: http://www.fastrack.co.uk/Fastrack2002/migtration/dbsearch.asp?siteID=1 GODIVA. 2009. History of Godiva. [online] [Accessed 4 December 2009]. Available from: http://www.godiva.com/about/faq.aspx HAAK, U.M, R HAAK. 2008. Market Entry in Japan. UK: Palgrave Macmillan. HOTEL CHOCOLAT. (2009a). The Story of Hotel Chocolat. [online] Accessed 15 November 2009]. Available from: http://www.www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/The-Story-of-Hotel-Chocolat-Athestory/. HOTEL CHOCOLAT (2009b) Hotel Chocolat Store Locations. [online] [Accessed 15 November 2009]. Available from: http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/chocolate=stores-Achocolatestore. HILL, W. L. 2009. International Business: Competing In The Global Marketplace, New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. p.426. KENSY, R. 2001. Keiretsu economy-new economy? Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. KIM, W.C. and P. HWANG. 1992. Global Strategy and Multinationals Entry Mode Choice. Journal of International Business Studies. 23(1), pp.29-53. KOTLER, P., et al. 2008. Principles of Marketing: Fifth European Edition, Essex: Prentice Hall. p.575. JAPANESE EXTERNAL TRADE ORGANISATION. 2008. 10 reasons to invest in Japan: sophisticated consumers with high purchasing power and discerning tastes [online]. [Accessed 22 November, 2009]. Available from: http://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/whyjapan/10a_2.html MINTEL. 2008. Chocolate Confectionary UK Report [online]. [Accessed 15 November 2009]. London: Mintel. Available from: http://academic.mintel.com/sinatra/oxygen_academic/search_results/showdisplay/id=227700 MELVILLE, I. 1999. Marketing in Japan. Butterworth-Heinemann: Oxford. PALEPU,K, T KHANNA, I VARGAS, 2005. HAEIR: Taking a Chinese company global. Harvard Business School Publishing. pp 1-26. PENG, S. 1995. International joint ventures vs. wholly owned subsidiaries. [online] [Accessed 3 December 2009]. Available from: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3674/is_199504/ai_n8729617/ PORTER, M.E. 1998.On competition. UK: Free press. PORTER, M.E. 2008. The five competitive forces that shape strategy. In: M.E PORTER, On competition. USA: Harvard Business School publishing Corporation pp.1-35. RETAIL WEEK. 2008. Hotel chocolat to launch stores in the gulf in overseas growth drive, [online] [Accessed on 10th November 2009]. Retail week.19 June. Available from: http://www.retail-week.com/hotel-chocolat-to-launch-stores-in-the-gulf-in-overseas-growth-drive/1571234.article. RONEN and SHENKAR, 1985. Clustering countries on attitudinal dimensions: A review and synthesis. Academy of Management Review, 10(3), pp.435-454. ROWE, S. 2009. Financial times master class presentation: Marks and Spencer: the global opportunity. 4th November 2009. RTS. 2009. Challenging time for chocolate confectionary. [online]. [Accessed 12 November 2009]. Available from: http://www.rts-resource.com/news/challenging-time-for-chocolate-confectionery/ WALKER, K. 2009. Hotel Chocolat. [Email]. Message to: J.Astin. 2nd November 2009. WATANABE, O. 2003. Efforts to attract foreign direct investment in Japan. International conference of the Japanese investment council, 22nd, Japan 30th January. WELCH, S.L, G.R.G BENITO, B PETERSEN. 2007. Foreign operation methods: theory, analysis, strategy. Edward Elgar Publishing ltd: Cornwall. ZACHARAKIS, A. 1993. The double whammy of globalisation differing country and foreign partner cultures. The academy of management executive 10(4). pp.109-110.

Neil Young In Halifax :: Free Essay Writer

Neil Young in Halifax   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I was getting ready for school one morning when my father said that my cousin Jennifer was on the phone and she wanted to know if I wanted a ticket to the Neil Young concert coming up in Halifax. I said I did and I kind of forgot about it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was Halloween night and I was listening to an old Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young album when I looked at the release date when I realized that in a mere five days I was going to witness a legend in his finest form. Some say the Neil Young is playing the finest guitar of his life these days. Some people say that he's just an old man who can't sing, never could sing and should have retired a long time ago. I on the other hand see him differently. He is man who doesn't care about his appearance, doesn't care about what other people think about him. He is an entertainer. He is a healer. He is a Canadian. He is a man. When I picture myself at fifty I picture myself like him. We left for the concert on Tuesday morning and we arrived in the city at about noon. My uncle drove me and my cousin Edward up. We bummed around the city for a while and then we went to Jen's place where we were staying. There were a few other people from Inverness staying there as well. My uncle, Edward and I left for the concert at around quarter to seven. We kind of got lost. We got to the show at around seven thirty. While we were in line waiting to get in I could here the band that was performing. It was then that I realized what I was about to experience. I stumbled to my seat, half looking a my feet, half looking at the band on stage. I can't remember their name but they were good. As soon as we sat down the band ended their set and the lights came on. Then we just sat their for a while and I saw a lot of people that I knew from Mabou.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The lights went out and the place started to rumble with excitement. Moist came out on stage and started playing their set. When the band started to play Push I ran down to the front along with just about everyone else. But we were pushed back by the security. So we just sat in our seats for the rest of their set. The lights came back on and their were a bunch of guys on stage who were

The Weakness of Human Nature in Dantes Inferno Essay -- Human Weaknes

Dante's "Inferno" is full of themes. But the most frequent is that of the weakness of human nature. Dante's descent into hell is initially so that Dante can see how he can better live his life, free of weaknesses that may ultimately be his ticket to hell. Through the first ten cantos, Dante portrays how each level of his hell is a manifestation of human weakness and a loss of hope, which ultimately Dante uses to purge and learn from. Dante, himself, is about to fall into the weaknesses of humans, before there is some divine intervention on the part of his love Beatrice, who is in heaven. He is sent on a journey to hell in order for Dante to see, smell, and hear hell. As we see this experience brings out Dante's weakness' of cowardice, wrath and unworthiness. He is lead by Virgil, who is a representation of intellect. Through Dante's experiences he will purge his sins. Within Canto 1, we see Dante leaving a dark forest. This forest represents all the human vices and corruption, a place similar to hell (canto 1, line 1-5, Alighieri). Dante wants to reach the hill top, where is sunny and warm, rather than be in the damp and cold forest. The hill top represents happiness and is a metaphor for heaven. But his path is stopped by three animals: a leopard (canto 1, line 25, Alighieri ) , lion (canto 1, line 36 Alighieri ) and she wolf (canto 1, line 38-41, Alighieri ). Each one represents a human weakness: the leopard is lust, the lion pride and the she wolf is avarice. They show that on the earthly plain human sin is a continual and harmful temptation. These animals try to strip him of his hope, his hope in the fact that he will some day be in heaven with God. They are temptations to lead him away and block his way to the hill top. Th... ... shall see, will change and become the man that Beatrice wanted, and it's all by choice and by rejection of hell and all that the dark forest entails. Work Cited Alighieri, Dante. "The Inferno." The Divine Comedy. Trans. John Ciardi. New York: First New American Library Printing, 2003. Work Consulted Lummus, David. "Dante’s Inferno: Critical Reception and Influence." Dantes Inferno. Engerda: Arun, 2000. 63-79. Print. Internet Sources Consulted Brown, Sapphire M. "Referenes to Dantes Inferno." Humanities 360. 8 Jan. 2009. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. â€Å"Dante Alghieri and The Divine Comedy.† Vision.org. Vision.org: 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. "Dante Alighieri." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. Wetherbee, Winthrop. "Dante Alighieri." Stanford University. Stanford University, 29 Jan. 2001. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

James Rachels and Psychological Egoism Essay

Psychological Egoism pertains to the doctrine where the object of all human actions is for the attainment of their self-interests. It occurs even in a situation wherein the acting agent seems to do a particular thing for the benefit of other people because it the very idea that he has able to do good for others may bring satisfaction to him. Psychological Egoism tends to create a bad characterization on the nature of man. It appears that man, in its state of nature, would only act so as to gratify his own interests and get all the things that would satisfy or that are pleasurable for him. As introduced earlier, the mere act of helping other people, just like sacrificing one’s enjoyment for the benefit of other people may showcase the principle of psychological egoism. To reiterate the point of the psychological egoism, all the ends of man is directed towards the attainment of pleasure. Hence, the reason why a person sacrifices his own enjoyment is for his own sake, or for his won pleasure. Therefore, he is not being unselfish but still selfishly acting. In this manner, the concept of altruism may not really be possible for the very reason, as presented above (that all acts are geared towards the gratification of self-interests even if an action seems selfless) that there is no really such thing as selflessness but always involves one self. Many people have been hooked with this belief that man is naturally selfish (negative or positive selfishness is still a form of selfishness). As a result, people try to use the principle of psychological egoism to defend their criminal or unjust acts. As how asserted, they are justly doing what their nature asks them to be – that they are acting naturally. But as how Socrates proved Glaucon wrong for saying that an unjust life is always beneficial than a just life, James Rachels attempted to evaluate the arguments held by the advocate of the psychological egoist in saying that man by nature is selfish and that it is natural that all his actions should be for his own pleasure. Rachels’ refutation against psychological egoism starts in his distinction of what it is to be called as selfish and what it is to be called not selfish. For Rachels, selfishness implies that all actions that are for the benefit of oneself and not considering their effects to other people. At the same time, Rachels elaborated the very idea of not being selfish. Not being selfish pertains to an act in which the acting agent considers the feelings or the welfare of other people recognizing the fact that he might do what could give him more pleasure but doing the other act so as to arrive at mutual or common benefit. The common misconception that most people have in considering the doctrine of psychological egoism is that for an act to be named as unselfish is to be able to bring advantages to other people but not getting anything from it. This is obviously the misinterpretation which tends to mislead those who find psychological egoism plausible. Rachels suggests that unselfishness does not necessarily mean absence of any advantage for the acting agent. The idea of being unselfish is that a person might only do things for his own good without taking into consideration other people’s well being but because he recognizes that others may also do the same action against him (considering the concept of justice), then he would not just act for his own sake. What Rachels want to emphasize in the book is the fact that the issue is not on the problem if selflessness is really possible. But what he sees is the fact that selfishness and unselfishness is really different from each other. The mere fact that a person consider how his friend would feel is he will stay with him during his hard times would really not make him selfish. Though he feels happy for helping his friend it does not follow that he isa acting egoistically. He satisfies himself and at the same time he brings good to his friend. And that is unselfishness for Rachels. The arguments of Rachels are so significant in a sense that he really brings out the object of the debate and the misconception imposed by the principle of psychological egoism – that is the distinction of selfishness from unselfishness, and the irrelevance of selflessness in the discussion. Rachels’ recommendations or interpretations against the psychological egoism is viable for the simple reason that one should consider the welfare of others in order that he could also expect that in return, others would also do the same thing. For Socrates, that is what the concept of justice is all about; and the same thing for Rachels. In essence, Rachels’ arguments against the doctrine of psychological egoism presuppose that man is not naturally bad or evil as how the advocates or proponents of psychological or ethical egoism say. He implies that the genuine nature of man is the fact that he looks for other people, he has compassion for them, and he recognizes that he does not only live for himself. In return, the greater good is achieved because if everyone would have the same attitude and realization about the world and mankind then all would be confident that they would not be unjustly treated by others or simply used as means to their ends. To sum up and conclude, Psychological Egoism proved nothing but the truest essence of justice. Rachels successfully shared a very interesting and very enlightening truth about the flaws of the psychological egoism. The debate was not if selflessness is possible or not. But the main argument is whether man could act unselfishly which Rachels proved to be possible. Considering the welfare of other people and at the same time being benefited by the same act was a very delightful idea that was effectively conveyed through Rachels’ arguments.