Snake Of The Soul Essays - Fiction, Snakes, , Term Papers

Snake Of The Soul ?Snake? is one of Lawrence's most famous poems. Although the poem seems to be about an encounter with a snake, the true theme of the poem is the conflict between emotional behavior and learned behavior. This conflict is displayed through setting and symbolism. The poem begins with a very narrative voice and is a pleasure to read for that reason. Lawrence is exuberated in expressing his reverence for nature. In the first three stanzas of the poem the setting is established and the movement of the snake is described. The poem took place in a garden near his house because the boy was in pajamas and under the shade of ?a great dark carob-tree.? The movement of the snake is described by the alliteration of the s sound in the words straight, softly, slack, and silently. Symbolism is used throughout the poem. The garden in which the poem takes place can be a symbol of the Garden of Eden, and the snake, a symbol of the devil. A snake is a symbol of evil, but a snake is also a symbol of enlightenment and wisdom according to ancient civilizations. The snake, however, is the ultimate symbol of tension. The tension in the young boy is caused because he has to make a decision. When he encounters the snake, he is posed with the question to kill the snake or to let it leave unharmed, to act upon his human education or his instinct. While the snake is drinking at the trough, the boy's emotions are in conflict. Even though the boy was scared, he was even more honored that the snake should seek his hospitality. Once the snake started to leave, the boy's time was running out. He had to make a decision. Because of his ?accursed human education,? he decided to act in an evil way and throw a log at the snake. Does this suggest that the snake is not evil, but the so ul in man is inherently evil? Or is the snake evil because he was retreating into the evil darkness of hell symbolized by the hole in the fissure? Once the boy threw the log at the snake, he immediately regretted it, revealing ?I thought how paltry, how vulgar, what a mean act?I wish he would come back, my snake.? After the boy threw the log, he recognized the innocence of the snake noting, ?And so, I missed my chance with one of the lords/ Of life.? This illustrates man always trying to rob the dignity from all Godly creatures, and how petty it is. Through this poem, Lawrence has illustrated his point about strife and the clash of opposites. The symbols used in this poem are very ambiguous because they can be interpreted many ways. The snake can be a symbol of evil, enlightenment and wisdom, or tension. The boy battles through many emotions in this poem, finally coming to the realization that men are inherently evil. Bibliography N/A English Essays

Free Essays on Pricing

Understanding Cost & Pricing for Profit Introduction Pricing your product or service is one of the most important business decisions you'll make. You must offer your products for a price your target market is willing to pay–and one that produces a profit for your company–or you won't be in business for long! There are many approaches to pricing, some scientific, some not. This article provides a framework for making pricing decisions that takes into account your costs, the effects of competition and the customer's perception of value. A quick note about how the terms "cost" and "price" are used in this article: o Cost is the total of the fixed and variable expenses (costs to you) to manufacturer or offer your product or service. o Price is the selling price per unit customers pay for your product or service. So, when customers ask, "How much does it cost," your answer is your price. The Fundamentals: Price Floors and Ceilings Think of cost as the floor–you must set prices above the floor to cover costs or you will quickly go out of business. (If you decide to set prices at or below cost it should be for a temporary, specific purpose such as to gain market entrance.) Think of customer "perceived value" as the ceiling–this is the maximum price customers will pay based upon what the product is worth to them. This is sometimes described as "what the market will bear." Perceived value is created by an established reputation, marketing messages, packaging, sales environments, etc. An obvious and important component of perceived value is the comparison customers and prospects make between you and your competition. Somewhere between the floor and the ceiling is probably the right price for your product or service; a price that enables you to make a fair profit and seems fair to your customers. Consequently, once you understand your cost floor and your value price ceiling, you can make an informed decision about how to pr... Free Essays on Pricing Free Essays on Pricing Understanding Cost & Pricing for Profit Introduction Pricing your product or service is one of the most important business decisions you'll make. You must offer your products for a price your target market is willing to pay–and one that produces a profit for your company–or you won't be in business for long! There are many approaches to pricing, some scientific, some not. This article provides a framework for making pricing decisions that takes into account your costs, the effects of competition and the customer's perception of value. A quick note about how the terms "cost" and "price" are used in this article: o Cost is the total of the fixed and variable expenses (costs to you) to manufacturer or offer your product or service. o Price is the selling price per unit customers pay for your product or service. So, when customers ask, "How much does it cost," your answer is your price. The Fundamentals: Price Floors and Ceilings Think of cost as the floor–you must set prices above the floor to cover costs or you will quickly go out of business. (If you decide to set prices at or below cost it should be for a temporary, specific purpose such as to gain market entrance.) Think of customer "perceived value" as the ceiling–this is the maximum price customers will pay based upon what the product is worth to them. This is sometimes described as "what the market will bear." Perceived value is created by an established reputation, marketing messages, packaging, sales environments, etc. An obvious and important component of perceived value is the comparison customers and prospects make between you and your competition. Somewhere between the floor and the ceiling is probably the right price for your product or service; a price that enables you to make a fair profit and seems fair to your customers. Consequently, once you understand your cost floor and your value price ceiling, you can make an informed decision about how to pr...

Bikers, Emo, Graffiti

Very often young people refuse to recognize the official culture. Instead, they become the supporters of the so called youth subculture. A youth subculture is a youth-based subculture with distinct styles, behaviors, and interests. Youth subcultures offer participants an identity outside of that ascribed by social institutions such as family, work, home and school. It is generally known that subculture is the culture of people, who are dissatisfied with their place in society. One of the first forms of protesting against the society of grown-ups was the HIPPIE movement.The hippie subculture was originally youth movement that began In the united states during the early asses and spread around the world. These people inherited the counterculture values of the Beat Generation, created their own communities, listened to psychedelic rock, embraced the sexual revolution, and used drugs such as marijuana and LSI to explore alternative states of consciousness. Hippies led a primitive life and the slogans of were Life is love and Children are the flower of life. Their idol was J.Tolkien, whose epic trilogy. The Lord of the Rings became the guidelines for Hippies. Hippies were not aggressive and wanted freedom. Hippie fashions and values had a major effect on culture, influencing popular music, television, film, literature, and the arts. One of the first forms of protesting against the society of grown-ups was the Hippies movement. The young Americans, protesting against the war In Vietnam, organized their communes. Another famous forms of subcultures are Bodybuilding, Memo, straight edger, Graffiti. Hip hopper.One of the newest subcultures is STRAIGHTEDGES. Roll;anally being a Straight edge meant that you didnt drink, smoke or take drugs. These days straight edger also participate in animal rights retests, follow a vegetarian diet and are involved In environmental and political issues and protest. Music also plays an important role. Straight edge bands originally grew out of the punk rock movement In the asses. Over the years straight edge popularity has increased, but attention has also been focused on the narrow- mindedness of some straight edger.Straight edge kids make a statement with their fashion as well as with their philosophy. A tidy appearance is popular, with baggy trousers and T-shirts. Tattoos are a popular statement of straight edge membership, s are pierced ear lobes with large holes. Bags taken from students at a high school In Utah contained chains and heavy chain necklaces. Perhaps it is the lack of any 1 OFF philosophy. Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy; an individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of Judges, who assign points based on their appearance. The muscles are revealed through a combination of fat loss, oils, and tanning (or tanning lotions) Inch combined with lighting make the definition of the muscle group more distinct. Rhea most well-known for being a bodybuilder is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Memo is a style of rock music typically characterized by melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics. Today memo is commonly tied to both music and fashion as Nell as the memo subculture.Usually among teens, the term memo is stereotyped with Nearing skinny Jeans, sometimes in bright colors, and tight t-shirts (usually short- sleeved) which often bear the names of memo bands. Bright colors, such as blue, pink, De, or bleached blond, are also typical as highlights in memo hairstyles. Memo has been associated with a stereotype that includes being particularly emotional, sensitive, shy, Introverted, or angst-ridden. It has also been associated with depression, self-injury, and suicide. The Goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries.It began in the United Kingdom during the early asses in the gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The Goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify. The Goth picture has associated tastes in music, aesthetics, and fashion. Gothic music encompasses a number of different styles. Styles of dress within the subculture range from death rock, punk, androgynous, Victorian, some Renaissance and Medieval style attire, or combinations of the above, most often with black attire, makeup and hair.Graffiti (singular: graffito; the plural is used as a mass noun) is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property. Graffiti is any type of public markings that may appear in the forms of simple written words to elaborate wall paintings. In modern times, spray paint, normal paint and markers have become the most commonly used materials. Sometimes graffiti is employed to communicate social and political messages. To some, it is an art form worthy of display in galleries and exhibitions; to others it is merely vandalism.Hip hop as a cultural movement manifest in B-boning :breakfasting), graffiti writing, Digging and emceeing is an artistic commitment to seize freedom from oppressive social conditions. This artistic commitment inherent in hip hop culture expresses a reality of human transcendence which was originally born UT of the creative impulse and cultural improvisation of the oppressed African American, Afro-Caribbean and Latino American communities of New York City(with the South Bronx as the center) in the late asses.It was DC Africa Bumboat that outlined the five pillars of hip-hop culture: Mincing, Digging, breaking, graffiti writing, and knowledge. Other elements include beat boxing, hip hop fashion, and slang. Since first emerging in the Bronx, the lifestyle of hip hop culture has spread around the Nor. Sometimes the representatives of other different youth subcultures take their beliefs to different extremes. Such groups as Skinheads or Heavy Mentalists are intolerant to the other people.Heavy bots, short hair-does braces frighten for many [ears the representatives of the decent society. Metadata (or headband) is a Interchangeably with the term hasher. However, the metal culture expands across the globe and is not limited to this. Metatheses affirm their membership in the subculture or scene by attending metal concerts, buying albums, and most recently, by contributing to metal websites and by growing their hair. The long hair, leather jackets and band patches of heavy metal fashion help to encourage a sense of Identification within the subculture.Like the music at its cultural core, these fashions have changed over the decades, from tight blue Jeans, motorcycle boots and black t- shirts in the late asses and early asses to black Jeans and army fatigue pants, military-style coats, and shaven or short-clipped hairstyles in the asses and asses. Rhea punk subculture is a subculture based around punk rock. It includes music, ideologies, fashion, visual art, dance, literature and film. The punk subculture is centered around listening to recordings or live concerts of a loud, aggressive genre of sock music called punk rock, usually shortened to punk.Although punks are frequently categorized as having left-wing or progressive views, punk politics cover the entire political spectrum. Punk-related ideologies are mostly concerned with individual freedom and anti-establishment views. A Nazi punk is a neo-Nazi who is part of the punk subculture. Nazi punks often wear clothing and hairstyles typically associated with the majority of the punk subculture, such as: liberty spike or Mohawk hairstyles, leather Jackets, boots, chains, and metal studs or spikes.However, Nazi inks are different from early punks, such as Side Vicious and Sioux Sioux, who are thought to have incorporated Nazi imagery such as Swastikas for shock or comedy alee. A skinhead is a member of a subculture that originated among working class {Touts in the United Kingdom in the asses, and then spread to oth er parts of the Nor. Named for their close-cropped or shaven heads, the first skinheads were greatly influenced by West Indian (specifically Jamaican) rude boys and British moods, in terms of fashion, music and lifestyle.Originally, the skinhead subculture was armorial based on those elements, not politics or race. In addition to short hair, skinheads are identified by their specific clothing styles. Its necessary to say, that all the subcultures are not so frightening, as it may seem. It is interesting to note, that every subculture follow a cycle. At first it magnetized youth. Many adopt it for fun. Then, it stops to express serious idea. In the end, it becomes a colorful part of urban culture. Dear parents , dont worry! Your dear Kids will grow -up soon and hell forget about his games/ Im sure Hell become a normal member of the society!

Response Journal 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Response Journal 5 - Essay Example According to the CNN article, Transocean, the owner of the rig is blaming BP for its missteps which caused the spill. In the said article, Transocean pointed out that the explosion was the result of "a succession of interrelated well design, construction, and temporary abandonment decisions" that "compounded the likelihood of its failure," (CNN). If the claims of Transocean are true, we can conclude that an engineering decision was partly to blame for the spill. In fact even BP’s investigation revealed a failure in engineering design. As we all know, this spill caused widespread harm to the people, the environment and the wildlife of the region. A major implication of the engineering decisions in this incident is its effect in the environment. Marine life has been largely devastated. The aquatic food chain was disturbed causing the death of a multitude of organisms, several varieties of fish and other sea creatures. The economic implication of the spill is that the people whos e livelihood depends on the ocean now risk losing their means of survival. The social implication can be seen in how the spill affected the health of the workers at the rig and the people within the vicinity. Another important implication of the engineering decisions that led to the oil spill is in the area of politics. Government must have the will to restore the Gulf to its previous healthy condition.

Compare the scandal involving President Clinton with Nixon's Research Paper

Compare the scandal involving President Clinton with Nixon's Watergate. What were the key similarities and differences - Research Paper Example In June 1995, a scandal began during the latter half of his second term involving Monica Lewinsky, 21, who came to the White House as an unpaid intern in the office of White House Chief of Staff, Leon Panetta. In November 1995, she got involved in a sexual relationship with President Clinton. Barely a month into the relationship, Lewinsky was moved to a paid position in the Office of Legislative Affairs, handling letters from members of Congress. She frequently ferried mail to the Oval Office. Around April, 1996, Lewinsky was transferred to a job as an assistant to Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon, by Evelyn Lieberman who was then the Deputy White House Chief of Staff. Lieberman told the New York Times later that the move was due to â€Å"inappropriate and immature behavior† and that Lewinsky demonstrated a lack of attention to work. At the Pentagon, Lewinsky met Linda Tripp, a career government employee. Around summer 1996, Lewinsky began telling Tripp during casual conversations about her relationship with President Clinton. Tripp reported these conversations to literary agent Lucianne Goldberg, who advised her to secretly record them. Tripp convinced Lewinsky to save the gifts she received from the President and the dress that got stained during one of her sexual encounters. About a year later, in the fall of 1997, when the relationship was over, Tripp secretly began taping the conversations with Lewinsky in which she explicitly talked about her alleged affair. Around October 1997, Tripp, with help from Lucianne Goldberg, met with Newsweek’s Michael Isikoff, Kucianne & Jonah Goldberg at Jonah’s apartment in Washington, where they listened to a tape with the Tripp/Lewinsky conversation. In October 1997, Lewinsky interviewed with U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Bill Richardson for a low level public affairs position in New York. She was offered a job but she declined. In early December that year, Lewinsky left the Pentagon. Later that month, Bett ie Currie, President Clinton’s personal secretary, got in touch with Vernon Jordan, a friend of Clintons, to place Lewinsky in New York. Vernon Jordan obliged and introduced Lewinsky to several leads. Lewinsky allegedly had over 9 sexual encounters with the President in the Oval Office during the period between November 1995 and March 1997. On December 17, 1997, Lewinsky was subpoenaed by lawyers for Paula Jones, who was suing the President on sexual harassment charges. She submitted an affidavit in which she declared that she never had any sexual relationship with the President. She also, allegedly attempted to persuade Tripp to lie under oath in the Jones case. Tripp, instead, gave the tapes to Kenneth Starr, who was the Independent Counsel investigating the Whitewater & Paula Jones case. Lewinsky made her final visit to the White House on December 28, 1997, when she and the President had a private meeting. During this meeting, the President allegedly encouraged Lewinsky to be as evasive as possible in her responses to any of the questions in the Jones’ lawsuit. On January 16th 1998, Kenneth Starr contacted United States Attorney General, Janet Reno, seeking permission to expand his probe to investigate possible impropriety on the part of the President. The Attorney General gave her consent and submitted a request to a panel of three Federal judges. The judges agreed to allow Kenneth Starr to formally investigate the possibility of subornation of perjury and obstruction of justice

orld Trade Organization Essay Example for Free

orld Trade Organization Essay On November 30, 1999, major governments met at a World Trade Organization (WTO), ministerial meeting at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Washington. During this meeting an enormous public protest took place in the streets of Seattle. The protestors were representing human rights groups, students, environmental groups, religious leaders, labor rights activists and members of numerous other groups. The groups were not only from the United States, but had come from all over the world. All of these people were peacefully protesting the practices of the WTO in the name of free trade. The protestors stated that the WTO upheld trade practices that allowed child labor, low wages and environmental destruction. The WTO justified these practices in the name of free trade. Tens of thousands of people were in Seattle to protest peacefully, and the protests did start peacefully, but they did not end that way. A small number of anarchist groups were in Seattle to cause civil disobedience and acts of vandalism and property damage. These groups conducted deliberate acts of vandalism on corporate offices in Seattle. The Seattle Police Department did not have the number of officers, even with help from other departments, to handle the number of protestors. The officers used pepper spray, tear gas, stun grenades and eventually rubber bullets to try to unblock congested city streets. Some of the anarchists fought back by breaking windows and vandalizing storefronts. Dumpsters were pushed out into intersections and they were lit on fire and tires on police cars were deflated. The National Guard was finally called in, but did not get to Seattle until the next morning. Once the WTO packed up and went home, the protestors packed up and went on their way. When the meeting finished, businesses had suffered millions of dollars in damage and lost sales, over 500 people were arrested. No deaths were attributed to the protest and no one was seriously injured. There was controversy over city response and the Seattle police chief resigned. The anarchist protestors felt the protest was a success. Before the Seattle Protest, there was almost no mention of anti-globalization in the U. S. media but the protest had forced the media to report on why anyone would oppose the WTO. Good or bad, the message of the protestors was broadcast to the world.

Roles of Women in Vedic Culture Essay -- Sexual Marriage Papers

Roles of Women in Vedic Culture Vedic culture seems to have conflicting views regarding its attitude towards women, specifically its attitude towards a woman’s sexuality. This conflict can be seen by contrasting the ways in which women are treated in sacrificing rituals with how they are treated in a more intimate atmosphere, such as lovemaking, which is still often treated as a ritual in and of itself; ritual regarding fertility, love, and childbirth. To represent the roles of women in ritual, Stephanie W. Jamison has written â€Å"Sacrificed Wife, Sacrificer’s wife, which is a description and evaluation of women’s roles in ritual and hospitality in ancient India. â€Å"The general subject of [Jamison’s] book is the conceptual position of women in early Indic culture, but it is not designed as an inclusive overview of women in ancient India and all the institutions and attitudes affecting them. Rather it focuses on a single, apparently marginal female role-the activities of the wife in solemn ritual†¦ and isolates a set of conceptual functions the wife fills in ritual practice† (Jamison 4). To get a more expansive view of women’s roles in ritual, it is important to also consider other texts, perhaps including what is known as a â€Å"sex manual† for the roles of women in other aspects of their culture. The â€Å"Kama Sutra† will help to provide a contrast between the roles of women in solemn ritual, and the roles of women in sex ritual, since sex is often viewed as just as ritualistic as the Srauta ritual, described in Jamison’s text. The two texts, combined, will illuminate a contrast between the differing views of women, as Jamison’s book illuminates negative attitudes towards a woman’s sexuality and inequalities in the participatio... ...arding a woman’s sexuality, whereas in the â€Å"Kama Sutra† the woman’s sexuality is appreciated as a beautiful thing, and as a thing that is capable of being used in a positive way for both the woman and her partner. Certainly there are even moments of inequality apparent in the â€Å"Kama Sutra†, but, there are also passages that describe the importance of equality, and yet others that describe the duties of a man to please his wife. Whereas women are treated as deviants for their sexuality in ritual, they are praised for it in the bedroom, revealing a conflict in male minds as to how they feel about a woman’s sexuality, confused about whether they want a virgin or a whore. Works Cited Dane, Lance. The Complete Illustrated Kama Sutra. Inner Traditions. Singapore. 2003. Jamison, Stephanie W. Sacrificed Wife, Sacrificer’s Wife. Oxford University Press. New

The Lesson of Romeo and Juliet

Stephanie Lloyd Ms. Christenson English 9 May 19, 2010 The Lesson of Romeo and Juliet What happens when you are in love with an enemy of your family? In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet this is just the case. Romeo and Juliet are two teenagers madly in love with each other, yet their families are at war. The two of them take all the risks to be together and deceive their parents time and time again. Many spectators of this play say that the lesson of Romeo and Juliet is that children should not deceive their parents. This is not the lesson at all. The lesson of Romeo and Juliet is that if love is strong enough, you’ll die for it. In the play, Juliet and her nurse do numerous things to keep Romeo and Juliet together. Romeo has Juliet tell her nurse to get him a ladder so that he can climb over the walls of the Capulet’s to see Juliet at night. The two of them are not afraid to do anything they have to for them to be able to see each other. Romeo and Juliet went as far as to go to Friar Lawrence and get married. Their love was so strong that they were willing to take the chance of losing everything just to be together, even if it meant dieing for on another. For example, in the play the Capulet’s, Juliet’s family and the Montague’s, Romeo’s family are at war. The two families hate each other, yet when Romeo and Juliet fall in love the nurse does everything to help hide it. Juliet tells her nurse that she is in love with Romeo, and the nurse keeps it a secret because she knows what would happen if Lady Capulet or Capulet, Juliet’s family found out. Juliet’s nurse knows that if she is caught hiding this secret that she will be severely punished. She helps the two of them be together even though she fears the risks of doing so. The nurse is more of Juliet’s mother than Lady Capulet is. This is the main reason that she helps Juliet so much. The nurse even gets Romeo a ladder so that he will be able to climb over the walls of the Capulet’s so that he can see Juliet at night. She hides everything from the Capulet’s, tells them lies about where Juliet is when she is seeing Romeo, and at night when Juliet is talking to Romeo and Lady Capulet is coming the nurse warns her so that the two of them wont get caught together. Yes the two of them were deceiving their parents, but they were doing it for love. They did not just do it because they could, it was simply for the love that they had for one another. When you read this play you can feel the emotion through the words Romeo and Juliet speak. As another demonstration on how the lesson of this play is â€Å"if love is strong enough you will die for it†, Romeo and Juliet went against all odds and got married. The two of them went to Friar Lawrence and asked him to marry them. They all knew that this was extremely forbidden because of the war between the families. Friar Lawrence did not want to marry Romeo and Juliet at first, but then he thought that maybe it would end the feud between the two families. Romeo and Juliet, if caught, could have been in more trouble than they had ever imagined. They took this risk because they loved each other and wanted to be together at all costs. These two teenagers did everything they could to be together. The things that they told each other were the most powerful words of love that two people could exchange. Romeo and Juliet’s love was so strong that they were willing to do anything to stay together. Right before the two of them had planned to have sex to claim each other in their marriage, they were caught. Romeo was banished from Verona for having relations with Juliet. Capulet then told Juliet that she was to marry a boy named Paris. Juliet was heartbroken about this and tried everything that she could to get the wedding stalled so that she would have time to go and find Romeo. Juliet went to Friar Lawrence to ask him for some advice on what she should do. He gave her a potion that would make her sleep for 42 hours but everyone would think that she was dead. Juliet and Friar came up with the plan for Juliet to drink it the night before her wedding. The next day when no one could wake her everyone would think that she was dead. They would then have a funeral and Juliet would wake before they buried her and go to find Romeo. Things went wrong with the plan though. Friar had sent Romeo a letter telling him that Juliet would be alive, but it never got to him. Romeo returned to Verona and found Juliet. She had already taken the potion and Romeo thought that she was dead. In his eyes, if she was dead then he could not go on living. Romeo killed himself right before Juliet woke up from the affects of the potion. When Juliet woke up and saw that Romeo had killed himself she was devastated. She had lost the love of her life that she had done so much to be with. Juliet killed herself when she saw Romeo because she knew that she would be with him in heaven. The two of them were finally together in a place where no one could tear them apart. If love is strong enough, you’ll die for it. This is the real lesson of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet and her nurse did everything they could to keep Romeo and Juliet together. The nurse gave Romeo a ladder to be able to see Juliet at night. Romeo and Juliet even got married behind their families backs. This play shows just how strong love can be and how much two people can care for one another. Many think that they have a strong bond with another person, but a lot of the times it turns out to be nothing. Romeo and Juliet is a case of true undying love for another person. This play shows everyone what love truly is. Its not just something you say because you can, its something you say because you mean it. If you really love someone you’ll do anything to be with that person. Is the love you have with someone else strong enough to die for?

Preparation For Early Christianity Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  The name of Christ (from the Septuagint word â€Å"Anointed One† or â€Å"Messiah†) can not be treated like just a symbol, it’s the name of our soul.   Christianity, in its turn, has become not only the one of numerous crucial periods in the history of humanity but the most blessed period in our history.   But as any historical and ideological period Christianity and the main stages of its development has always been an object of great quantity of works and discussions. And it   could not   be in other way as speaking about Christianity we mean the historical phenomena of global importance, we mean the Faith whose followers are millions of people in the contemporary world.   Justo Gonzales is one of few who managed to present a very clear and detailed picture of the preparation for Early Christianity. In the â€Å"The Story of Christianity† by Gonzales the preparation for Early Christianity is not only highlighted in strict connection with the history of those times but is given without any personal judgments of the author. The first chapter of â€Å"The Story of Christianity† is called â€Å"The fullness of time† and that is a very suitable name. The birth of Christianity took place in the times when the ideological and geographical situation was really â€Å"full†.   Gonzalez does not judge any doctrines or events- he just gives a detailed analytical synthesis of Early Christianity development starting from the first years of existence of Christianity up to the end of Reformation area.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  The birth of Christianity has become the most out standing period in the history of this religious current of millions.   The ancient science of Rome gave to the first roots of Christianity which got powerful development after coming of Christ.   The genius minds of Roman Empire had already proclaimed partially   what Christ brought with him then, just in their pagan interpretation it was not well finished and explained.   Socrates and Plato already had spoken in their works about the life after death and Socrates proved in his believe in life after death by accepting death voluntarily. â€Å"Plato’s teacher, Socrates, had been condemned to death as an incredulous corruptor of youth. †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gonzalez 1984, 16) – that was his punishment for declaring philosophy which was claimed as destructive. The further development was unavoidable. The borders of Roman Empire have not become an insuperable obstacle for Christianity. And that is quite reasonable:  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"†¦ Since trade flourished, travel was constant; thus Christianity often reached a new region, not through the work of missionaries or preachers, but rather through traveling traders, slaves†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gonzalez 1984, 14). With the development of empires new and news areas got under influence of Christianity.   Nevertheless, we must point out the one of the main sources which helped Christianity to overcome the field of the Roman Empire – Judaism has become a cradle of Christianity, it has become a launching platform for its early period: â€Å"The Early Church Diaspora Judaism For centuries before the birth of Jesus, the number of Jews living away from Palestine had been increasing† (Gonzalez 1984, 12). In his book Gonzalez pays special attention to Judaism. There were many different establishments among Judaism (the Zealots, the Essenes, etc.), some of these currents of Judaism being the synthesis of ancient pagan faith and Hellenistic culture. But precisely these initial roots were awaiting for the Holy Word of Christ to grow up and overcome the boards of long-suffering Palestine.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bibliography Gonzalez, Justo. The Story of Christianity: Volume One: The Early Church to the Reformation. New York: HarperOne, 1984.

Category Management Essays

Category Management Essays Category Management Paper Category Management Paper Working Paper: Category Management (CM) in Indian Marketing Context M Scalem† , Divyanshu† Ã¢â‚¬   † Management Information Systems [MIS] Department, Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIMC), Joka, Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata, West Bengal State, India 700104. Email: [emailprotected] ac. in † Ã¢â‚¬   Consultant, i2 technologies India Pvt Ltd, Andheri (East), Mumbai, State of Maharashtra, India 400 096 Email: [emailprotected] com Abstract Category management has been a potent tool for transformation of retail industry worldwide, especially the US. The USP of Category management is in the fact that instead of the emphasis on brands within a single category of products thereby enhancing competition within a category, it takes a holistic view of the category and attempts to maximize profits for the whole category. By doing so, it professes to optimize profits of the individual brands within the category also. In India, the modern retail industry is in a nascent stage but with a huge potential and a rapid growth projected in near future. There is much scope for venturing into category management, given its proven applicability in the West and its feasibility in transforming Indian retail industry. This paper proposes a strategic framework for implementation of Category Management in India as also the guidelines for doing the same. Keywords Category, Category Management, Indian Retail Industry, Category Captain, Retailer-Supplier Relationship, Retailer-Consumer Relationship. 1. INTRODUCTION Category Management can be defined as a retailer-supplier process of managing categories (distinct manageable group of products) as Strategic Business Units (SBUs), producing enhanced results by focusing on delivering consumer value. Category management was developed as a strategy for retailers to successfully compete in each retail category for the shopper’s loyalty and money. Traditionally, retailers used to assign buyers to purchase brands of specific manufacturers instead of making all purchases within a particular product category. Category Management approach, on the other hand, has put orward a new method of doing business for the retail industry. It recognizes the interrelatedness of products in the category and focuses on improving performance of whole product category rather than the performance of individual brands. The traditional brand–oriented buyers are replaced with category managers who are responsible for integrating procurement, pricing and merchandis ing of all brands in a category and jointly developing and implementing category based plans with manufacturers to enhance the outcome of both parties (Pellet, 1994; Progressive Grocer, 1995 a and b; Supermarket news, 1997). A category is defined as a distinct manageable group of products that consumers perceive to be related and/or substitutable in meeting a consumer need (FMI, 1995) and the Category management insists that retailer’s categories, rather than the manufacturer’s brands, become the focus of management resources. The operating assumption of category management implies that performance in a category at the retail level will result in improvements in the suppliers’ performance whose brands are sold through the category. The category management theory posits that retailers can maximize their sales in the category through an optimal mix of brands, SKUs, and pricing that is determined from the consumer’s perspective and is based on historical sales data (Gruen, 1998). Once the retailer’s sales in maximized in the category, the equilibrium established within the category would be the best-case scenario for each individual brand. 2. CATEGORY MANAGEMENT vs. BRAND MANAGEMENT The approach discussed above runs counter to the manufacturer’s brand management paradigm that views positive result mainly when the brand managers’ SKUs gain shares in the category. Brand management approach postulates that brands require a dedicated advocate to maximize their market potential. It encourages a type of â€Å"Darwinian† environment in which the strongest brands survive. In case a brand is weakening in the market, the brand management principle says it is better to have a sister brand take its position rather than some other brand in the same category. As opposed to the holistic approach of category management, brand management encourages intensification of competition within a category. Competing brands within a category actually give rise to a lot of cannibalization problems where a lot of resources are wasted on countering each other’s competitive moves. This problem would get more severe when consumer loyalties are diminishing and hence this is both a challenge as well as a business problem. 3. INFLUENCE OF ENHANCED RETAILER POWER ON CATEGORY MANAGEMENT The greatest factor that holds category management as the paramount strategic policy of future and keeps it somewhat favorably compared to brand management is the increasing power and sophistication of the retailer. Whereas traditional retailers may have relied on the manufacturer for information and expertise, contemporary retailers are often in a position to dictate marketing policy to the manufacturer. This change has created a two–pronged effect (Zenor, 1994): a) The retailer has started taking many decisions regarding pricing, advertising, merchandising, promotion etc. traditionally associated with the brand manager. b) The strength of the retailer increases the importance of the sales force for presenting a united effort across the firm’s product line. Both these effects have led to the transfer of power away from the brand–management group and coupled with this is the rising interest of retailers in category management. In the recent past, studies have shown the increasing interest of retail chain operators into category management. In a report (Progressive Grocer, 1996), 83 % of retailers viewed category management as the most important issue facing them. In another study (Chain drug review, 1997), Category Management initiatives were shown to be the most important reason behind retailers improving their technology systems. Such trends seem to continue; with its implications on the way principles of category management are getting shaped. 4. THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR CATEGORY MANAGEMENT A very popular report (Category Management Subcommittee et al. , 1995) presented the process of applying category management principles to practice. This report essentially contains the how-to of Category management and lays out eight critical steps that are necessary for a proper implementation of CM by a retailer. We present this framework here to facilitate the understanding of the strategic structure and process surrounding CM to evaluate the outcomes of its implementation effectively. Step 1: Category definition This step determines the products that constitute a category, sub-category and major segmentation. At this step, the retailer assigns products to the various categories based on factors such as consumer usage and packaging. The category definition should include all products that are either highly substitutable or closely replaced. So, there may be a category of soaps with a sub-category of toilet soaps; or there may be a separate category for toilet soaps altogether. Similarly, there may be a category for soft drinks and a separate one for soft drinks in cans, or the second one may be a sub–category. Step 2: Category role This step assigns the category role based on a cross-category analysis that considers the consumer, distributor, supplier, and marketplace. Designing a category role gives the retailer a perspective to allocate resources among various categories. Traditionally, four category roles have been identified and are as follows: a) Destination Categories: These are the ones in which the retailer positions itself as the store of choice to the consumers by offering better value. b) Routine Categories: These are those that the consumer purchases as matter of routine. Toothpastes, soaps etc. form part of this group. Figure 1: The Category Management Strategic process c) Convenience Categories: These are the categories that the consumer finds convenient to pick up at a neighborhood retailer rather than go to a distant retailer offering better value. Stationery products, and certain commodity items form part of this group d) Seasonal/Occasional Categories: These are purchased infrequently or seasonally. Seasonal fruits and similar food items are part of these groups. Some of the seasonal categories may become part of the destination category group in that season for the retailer. Step 3: Category Assessment This step involves gathering and analyzing historical data and relevant information and then developing insights for managing the category. At this stage, a detailed assessment of the sales, profit and return on assets opportunities is done on the basis of an analysis of categories’ components including elements such as sub–categories, brands and SKUs. Step 4: Category Scorecard This step involves establishment of performance measures to evaluate program execution. At this stage, baselines and targets are established. The category role matrix is used here along with other parameters such as GMROI (Gross Margin Return on Investment), return on inventory goals, service levels and so forth. Step 5: Category strategies This step involves the development of marketing strategies for the category. Category marketing strategies can be classified into demand-chain and supply-chain categories. The strategies regarding cash generation, traffic building, profit, transaction, image, and excitement creation come under the demand-chain strategies. The strategies regarding merchandising flow and transaction costs come under the supply chain strategies. Step 6: Category tactics This step involves the determination of optimal category pricing, promotion, assortment, and shelf management that are necessary to achieve the agreed-on-role, scorecard, and strategies. Literature (Category Management Report, 1995) proposes that pricing policies should be applied to the current prices to develop price changes and set overall price changes for the category. Promotional prices should be applied in the development of a promotional plan that includes frequency of promotions and recommended price points. Step 7: Category Plan Implementation This is the stage where the action happens by virtue of implementation. The implementation plan includes what specific tasks need to be done, when each task should be completed, and who is to accomplish each task. The implementation of the category plan is perhaps the most vital linkage in the entire chain. Step 8: Category review This step involves the regular management of the intended results of the overall plan. Reviews should be scheduled at established intervals and listed in the implementation plan. Choice and implementation of category strategies is one of the keys of category management process. Retailers practice category management with several ends in mind, but increasing profitability, increasing revenue and optimizing item mix are some of the most important strategies (AC Nielsen, 1998). With such a strategic framework, the performance of category management is dependent on the strategic and operational efficiencies of the implementation procedure. A lot of factors decide the performance of a particular category functioning under the purview of category management. 5. STRATEGIC MODEL FOR PERFORMANCE OF CATEGORY MANAGEMENT As has been discussed above, a lot of inputs have to be factored into, while devising a model that guides the performance of the category management procedure. Essentially, the performance depends upon the three basic groups involved in category management and the kind of relationships that. These three groups are: a) Consumers, b) Retailers, and c) Suppliers. Category management is provided its operational form at the retail outlet level. Thus the retail outlet, and by consequence, the retailer becomes the central figure in category management strategy formulation and implementation. The consumer is obviously the key to all decision-making and the suppliers form the third part in the sense that they have to perform most of the category management tasks. The two relationships that are keys to category management performance are: (i) Supplier – Retailer Relationship (ii) Retailer Consumer Relationship We propose a model to illustrate the overall interaction of these entities and the effect of the interrelationships as shown graphically in the adjoining figure. We present the performance model of the supplier and retailer relationship to formulate the category management strategies and their implementation. This implementation is mostly reflected at the retail outlet, which is the point of sale as well as the point where consumer choices are manifested. At the retail outlet, the consumer – retailer relationship comes into the picture and the consumer is offered enhanced value through category management. We also propose a model to illustrate the entities and effects of Retailer-Consumer relationship which leads to consumer satisfaction. Consumer satisfaction, if achieved, props up category growth to fulfill the final objective 5. 1 SUPPLIER – RETAILER RELATIONSHIP Even though category management is primarily a retail strategy, the influence of manufacturers and suppliers cannot be negated. It is the manufacturers who have developed the expertise required to determine the efficient assortment, pricing, promotions, and placement of the various brands and sizes of each SKU for the category. Such expertise, coupled with proprietary consumer data, and syndicated market data, enables the manufacturers to pitch their ability to play the role of Category Captain. The concept of Category captain, extensively employed in US, is to implement category management. The Category Captain is a supplier who forms a strategic alliance with the retailer to enable the retailer to develop consumer insights, satisfy consumers and improve performance and profit across the entire category. He is, most often, also the leading manufacturer in the category and the essential task for him is to provide solutions to the retailer that is optimal for the whole category and not only for his own brands and SKUs. Once the retailer identifies the category captain, the retailer provides its proprietary sales information at the store level for the entire category. The category captain then develops the category plan and the strategies for the whole category, including the SKUs of its own, the store brand, as well as competitor brands. Such a plan might actually result in de-listing of many SKUs including some of the captain itself. In such a scenario, the relationship between the retailer and the category captain assumes much significance. The model presented here (Gruen et al. , 20000) illustrates the effects of components of such relationship on performance of the category. Effect of Supplier–Retailer relationship on category performance Where Pi are the postulates: P1: Greater brand management / sales conflict leads to greater supplier opportunism P2: Greater the pre – planning agreement, lesser is supplier opportunism P3: Greater the pre – planning agreement, greater is the plan objectivity P4: Greater the pre – planning agreement, greater is the retailer system trust P5: Greater the pre planning agreement, greater is its implementation P6: Greater the opportunism, lesser the category plan objectivity P7: Greater the objectivity, greater is system trust P8: Greater the system trust, greater is plan implementation P9: Greater the plan implementation, greater is the category performance P10: Greater the objectivity, greater the category performance The above model has a host of processes that comprise of the supplier–retailer category implementation model. Combined with the processes are the postulates that signify the inter-linkages between the processes. We hereby present a brief description of the processes and the postulates. The processes can be categorized in three segments: a) Drivers of category performance ) Antecedents of category performance c) Relationship parameters a) Drivers of category performance These are the factors that aid in enhancement of category performance, if properly implemented. (i) Objective category planning: The chief strength of category management is its reliance on data. The plan then must fully consider the available data and syndicated market area data. A category plan is considered objectiv e when it fairly considers the store and market –level data so that the interest of the consumer is fully accounted for. The incentive to maintain a minimum objectivity of category plans is that by using actual sales data and by incorporating knowledge of the consumer’s needs and wants, the plan should deliver the assortment, placement, and pricing of the SKUs in a manner that enhances the performance of the category. (ii) Category plan implementation: Implementation refers to the actual carrying out of the category plans on the retailers’ shelves. As a mediator between plan objectivity and category performance, the role of implementation is critical. b) Antecedents of category performance i) Brand management / Sales conflict: This is determined by the extent to which the firm’s brand managers place pressure on their own firm’s sales function during the category planning process to favor their firm’s brands. Such a conflict finds its genesis in the essential policy differences between brand management principles and category management principles. (ii) Opportunism: It is the degree to which the supplier firm places its interests above the joint interests above the joint interests of the relationship with the retailer. It also connotes the category captain taking undue competitive advantage of its position in the category. The tendency towards opportunism is best described by the Agency theory. c) Relationship parameters (i) Retailer’s â€Å"System Trust†: This can be defined as the willingness of the retailer to rely on the category captain’s policies. Such trust is essential to category plan implementation and lack of such trust retards category performance. (ii) Supplier / Retailer preplanning agreement: This process involves establishing common objectives, agreeing on the approach, and gaining buy-in from all parties involved in the category management process. (iii) Supplier / CBD team resource commitment: This is the final key factor. It can be considered to be the input of resources and personnel by the partners into the category management partnership. Thus we have seen how supplier – retailer relationship affects category performance. Now we proceed to explore the other relationship in category management, which is between retailer and consumer. 5. 2 RETAILER–CONSUMER RELATIONSHIP We hereby propose a model to signify the aspects of this relationship. Consumer satisfaction has been assigned the utmost importance as the determinant of category performance. We have divided the model into two basic segments, viz. Strategies for enhancing consumer satisfaction and Benefits of consumer satisfaction. While the former deals with the strategies that the retailer should adopt to generate enhanced consumer satisfaction, the latter deals with the impact of enhanced consumer satisfaction on retailer’s macro objectives. I. Strategies for enhancing consumer satisfaction The above model takes into account two broad strategies for enhancing consumer satisfaction. These are: a) Product centric strategies: The product centric strategies at the retailer level include the strategies regarding availability of an optimal product range. The two postulates proposed here are: (i) Product mix: An optimal product mix comprising of a broad product range, optimal price range and innovative and new products enhances consumer satisfaction (ii) Supplier management: An optimal assortment of suppliers in various categories, coupled with proper inventory management policies followed by retailer/supplier enhances consumer satisfaction b) Consumer centric strategies: The consumer centric strategies are those that are devised to positively affect consumer preferences for a particular category. The two postulates proposed in this category are: (i) POS management: The point of sale is the key to the process of consumer choice. We postulate that an effective POS management, comprising of creation of brand awareness at POS, Planogram management, merchandising, and POS promotion enhances consumer satisfaction by offering him more choices. (ii) Services offered: The effectiveness of services offered, including after sales services, trade promotional programs, and relationship marketing enhances consumer satisfaction. II. Benefits of consumer satisfaction Consumer satisfaction has been postulated as the key determinant of category performance. The two key areas that are affected positively by consumer satisfaction are presented by way of our hypotheses as: a) Category growth: We postulate that greater the magnitude of consumer satisfaction with a category, greater is the category growth. Greater category growth has a direct bearing on enhanced profits of the supplier. Hence consumer satisfaction leads to enhance supplier benefits. b) Enhanced retailer assets: We postulate that enhanced consumer satisfaction causes greater purchases from the retailer outlet and hence offers competitive advantage to the retailer. This leads to enhanced retailer assets. Thus enhanced consumer satisfaction leads to greater benefits for the retailer. We iterate that although the importance of retailer consumer relationship has been tried to be mapped in the model we have provided here, the hypotheses need to be validated through market research and consumer patterns. 6. CATEGORY MANAGEMENT SCENARIO IN USA Category management as a concept has been endorsed and applied in the US in a major way. In a recent industry study (Cannondale Associates) where the current practices in category management were assessed by over 250 retailers and manufacturers, including Wal-Mart, Winn-Dixie, Publix, Kelloggs, Kraft Foods, Quaker Oats and Tropicana, it was found that the findings could be grouped as per the lines of the following: â€Å"†¦To survive in todays consolidating environment, retailers and manufacturers need to improve their collaboration with trading partners using the newest technologies, be alert to evolving views of private label and trade promotion efficiencies, and incorporate frequent shopper data analyses. According to the study, both retailers and manufacturers attributed double-digit sales growth to category management. Efficient Assortment ranked as the category management skills component of most concern to those surveyed, while Category Definition/Role, Category Strategy, Shelf Management and Pricing ranked high as well. One of the major reasons for evolution of the whole concept of category management in US is the evolution of strong retailing industry and strengthening of the power the retail chains have over manufacturers. The retail chains have grown to become huge business enterprises in themselves. Thus there has been a shift away from the brand management concept of the manufacturers.

The History of Knitting - UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

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