Compare the role of interest and pressure groups in the UK, France and Russia Essays

Compare the role of interest and pressure groups in the UK, France and Russia Essays Compare the role of interest and pressure groups in the UK, France and Russia Paper Compare the role of interest and pressure groups in the UK, France and Russia Paper Without the ability to access the government directly many outsider groups turn to protest politics or direct action to voice their opinion. The structure of the British political system, with its unitary state and limited separation of powers, is relatively closed, with restricted access available for pressure groups to obtain. However, within the UK, policies are generally formulated by governments after the relevant inside interest groups have been consulted. This has led to a large, but organised and formal array of interest and pressure groups within the country. In contrast, the French system of interest groups has traditionally mistrusted interest groups. The development of interest group activity was hampered by the elite conception of the proper role of the state. However, more recently new patterns of interest group behaviour has emerged, based around autonomous associational activity4 and a decline in protest politics. Unlike the UK, main economic and social groups are highly fragmented. For example, trade unions are not differentiated functionally under one umbrella organisation such as the TUC in the UK. The large organisations which are in place for unions are often internally divided creating more problems for the French system. Similarly, Russia is hindered by poorly organised and incoherent interest groups. Pressure groups with strong links to the Soviet-party state often perpetuate influence. Other groups are notoriously weak and find difficulty gaining support due to the restrictions placed on the media. Corporatism is a relationship between the state and interest groups in which major decisions on domestic matters emerge from discussion between the government and a few peak associations. 5 In return for their influence these favoured groups are expected to ensure the compliance of their members. Russian pressure groups are well known for internal influence and corruption of the government. The separation between public and private sectors, so central to the organisation of interests in the West, has not emerged in this democracy and this has led to an unnatural balance of power. Many private entrepreneurs compete for wealth which can be extracted from previously state-owned industries. Although Trade Unions have broad membership, they are co-opted by management and government and avoid direct links with non-governmental political parties. This means they are limited in their influence and can be quickly overruled by more influential players such as the financial industrial groups. The government allows tacit abuse of union power if it means they will gain support. In France there have been a limited number of examples of corporatism between unions and government. In agriculture a close relationship developed between the state and the FNSEA (National Organisation of Small Farmers.) French officials handed the organisation a set of selective incentives with which to consolidate support in the countryside. Despite the lack of trust in pressure groups from the French government there have been a number of examples of corporatism in the French system. Therefore it can be concluded there are still a few features of corporatism in France. In contrast the UK can be catagorised as one of the least corporatist countries. The problem lies more with individuals. Although large financial donations must be declared, there is no specific upper limit to the extent of a group or individuals generosity to a political party. Evidence of this was apparent in the run-up to the 1997 General Election, when the Labour party was offered i 1 million from Bernie Ecclestone, the Chief Executive of the FIA. Thus, when the issue of tobacco sponsorship legislation was addressed in the Commons after the election, it was little surprise that its abolition was set back five years. Apart from corruption and close government relations, pressure groups seek to gain support and influence by employing protest politics methods. Historically it is the trade unions who are likely to instigate direct action. France has a strong tradition of protest politics. There is a relatively small trade union movement in France and it is clearly focused on direct consultation with the administration, particularly since the strengthening of presidential government and the weakening of the National Assembly in the Fifth Republic of 1958. Although the trade union is now seen as a far more legitimate social actor6 than was previously the case in France, there is a decline in members of unions. At its high point in 1975, only 24 per cent of the French workforce belonged to a union, this fell to just 13 per cent in 19897. Regardless of this, the country does have a history of direct action, demonstrated by the rebellion of students and trade unionists during the political troubles of May 1968. Indeed, pressure politics has always moved readily to the streets in France, resulting in a reputation for mass demonstrations and public disruption. Similarly, there is a history of industrial action and protest politics in the UK. For example, the Countryside Alliance marches in 2002 and the General Strike in 1926. However, the amount of direct action is clearly less than that of France as the system of negotiation between the government and groups is fully integrated. The Russian system is known more for crime related to policy decisions rather than direct action from the public masses. The operation of the secret police (FSB) has created an atmosphere of fear within Russia and has made public marches and protests near impossible. Therefore although there is a history of disruption and unrest in Russia, characterised by the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, the current situation does not allow enough freedom for groups to voice their opinion in protest politics. Overall a number of similarities and differences can be identified in the pressure groups of the UK, France and Russia. These can be attributed to the different political and historical backgrounds of each of the countries. For example, it is impossible that the Russian system would be as democratically liberal at the UK after the previous authoritarian state. However, the current style of personal rather than institutional8 pressure politics does not look all together hopeful for the future in Russia. Similarly, the tradition of protest politics within France is unlikely to subside. Regardless of how the pressure groups within each country gain power, they all influence government. Their role in each country is of key importance to policy decisions. Therefore they are a very influential force for governments to deal with. Resources R. Elgie S. Griggs (2000) French Politics Debates and Controversies (London 2000) J. Forbes N. Hewlett (1994) Contemporary France (Essex 1994) R. Hague M. Harrop (2001) Comparative Government and Politics (Hampshire 2001) A. Heywood (2002) Politics 2nd Ed . (Hampshire 1997) W. Grant (2000) Pressure Groups and British Politics (London 2000) M. Olson (1982) The Rise and Decline of Nations (New Haven, Conn. : Yale University Press, 1982) J. Richardson (1993) Pressure Groups (New York 1993) S.White et al, (2001) Developments in Russian Politics 5 (London 2001) 1 A. Heywood (2002) Politics 2nd Ed . (Hampshire 1997), p272 2 M. Olson (1982) The Rise and Decline of Nations (New Haven, Conn. : Yale University Press, 1982), p78. 3A. Heywood (2002) Politics 2nd Ed . (Hampshire 1997), p422 4 R. Elgie S. Griggs (2000) French Politics Debates and Controversies (London 2000) p 147 5 R. Hague M. Harrop (2001) Comparative Government and Politics (Hampshire 2001) p 161 6 J. Forbes N. Hewlett (1994) Contemporary France (Essex 1994) p35 7 A. Heywood (2002) Politics 2nd Ed . (Hampshire 1997), p278.

60 Words for Types of Restaurants

60 Words for Types of Restaurants 60 Words for Types of Restaurants 60 Words for Types of Restaurants By Mark Nichol This post lists dozens of words, many adopted from foreign languages that describe a specific type of restaurant. (Restaurant itself stems from a Latin verb meaning â€Å"restore.†) 1. bar: an establishment where liquor and sometimes food are served 2. bar and grill: an establishment that features a bar but also serves food 3. barroom: see bar 4. beanery: slang for an informal restaurant 5. bistro (French, â€Å"proprietor of a tavern†): a small, informal restaurant, bar, or nightclub 6. boà ®te (French, â€Å"box†): see nightclub 7. brasserie (French, â€Å"brewery†): an informal restaurant, often one serving French food 8. buffet (French, â€Å"counter†): a self-serve restaurant; also, in British English, a small informal restaurant at a railway station 9. cabaret (French; ultimately from Latin camera, â€Å"chamber†): a restaurant that serves liquor and features live entertainment; also, the entertainment at such an establishment 10. cafà © (French, â€Å"coffee†): a small, informal restaurant 11. cafeteria (American Spanish, â€Å"coffeehouse†): see luncheonette; also, an informal, self-serve restaurant 12. caff (British English slang for cafà ©): see cafà © 13. canteen: a snack bar or small cafeteria; also, a bar or store at a military post, an informal social club, a flask for carrying liquids, or a chest for carrying or storing bottles or utensils 14. chophouse: slang for restaurant 15. coffee shop: a small, informal restaurant 16. coffee room: see coffeehouse 17. coffeehouse: an informal establishment that serves coffee and often refreshments 18. delicatessen (German, â€Å"delicacy†): an establishment where already-prepared food is sold and sometimes served; often abbreviated to deli 19. diner: an informal restaurant, originally one resembling a dining car on a train 20. drive-in: a restaurant, usually one serving fast food, that serves food ready to eat in one’s parked car or packaged to take home 21. eatery: see luncheonette 22. eating house: an informal restaurant, often one serving inexpensive and/or mediocre food 23. estaminet (French, â€Å"tavern†): see cafà © 24. fast-food place: an informal establishment where prepared food is served quickly 25. food court: an area within a shopping mall with multiple fast-food restaurants 26. food truck: a truck or van that serves prepackaged food or food cooked in the vehicle 27. greasy spoon (American slang, from the notion of a place with unclean eating utensils): see â€Å"eating house† 28. grill: an informal restaurant 29. grillroom: see grill 30. hamburger stand: a small fast-food restaurant specializing in hamburgers 31. hash house: an inexpensive restaurant 32. hashery: see â€Å"hash house† 33. hot dog stand: a small fast-food restaurant specializing in hot dogs 34. inn: see tavern; also, sometimes one offering lodging 35. joint: slang for an informal restaurant or bar; also, slang for prison or a disreputable entertainment venue, and has multiple other unrelated meanings 36. lunch counter: see luncheonette; also, a counter inside a store at which food is served 37. lunch wagon: see diner 38. luncheonette: a small restaurant that offers lunch, often self-serve 39. lunchroom: see luncheonette; also, a room at a school for eating lunch sold there or brought from home 40. nightclub: an establishment serving food and drink and featuring live entertainment 41. nightspot: see nightclub 42–43. nitery (or niterie): see nightclub 44. pizzeria (Italian, â€Å"place where pizza is served,† from pizza, â€Å"bite†): a restaurant where pizzas and other Italian dishes are served 45. pothouse: see tavern; also, as pot house, a house where marijuana is grown and/or sold 46. pub (short for â€Å"public house†): see tavern 47. rathskeller (obsolete German, â€Å"council cellar,† from its origins as an establishment in the cellar of a town hall): a restaurant or tavern, usually one located in a basement 48. ristorante (Italian, â€Å"restaurant†): a restaurant serving Italian food 49. roadhouse: an establishment outside city limits that may serve food as well as liquor and features live or recorded music 50. saloon: see bar 51. supper club: see nightclub 52. snack bar: an establishment at which snacks are served at a counter 53. soda fountain: an establishment or area within a store for serving beverages, ice cream, and sometimes food 54. steakhouse: a restaurant specializing in beef dishes 55. taqueria (Spanish, â€Å"place where tacos are served†): an informal restaurant serving Mexican food 56. tavern: an establishment where liquor and sometimes food are served 57. tea shop (British English): see teahouse 58. teahouse: a restaurant where tea and refreshments are served 59. tearoom: see teahouse 60. trattoria (Italian, â€Å"establishment of a restaurateur,† from a word for treat): a small restaurant, usually one serving Italian food Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? 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Interpersonal Intelligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Interpersonal Intelligence - Essay Example They easily empathize with other people, sensitive to their emotions and moods and understand them well. Social gatherings are greatly enjoyed by them. This explains why they have many friends and they like engaging in team sports (Personality Max, n.d.). Cherry went on to say that because of these characteristics, people with a high interpersonal intelligence will be successful in the fields of psychology, philosophy, guidance counseling, sales or politics (n.d.). Most religious leaders, nurses, therapists, community organizers, teachers and mediators are people with interpersonal intelligence. One can learn to develop his interpersonal intelligence by participating in community organizations, taking a leadership role in group activities, taking up a team sport or informally tutoring other people. Enhancing one’s listening and communication skills are also essential to develop interpersonal intelligence. Cherry, K. (n.d.). Gardners theory of multiple intelligences. Retrieved January 10, 2012, from psychology.about.com Web site:

Book report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Book report - Essay Example hat our inability to perform simple duties such as opening doors or switching on lights does not originate from us and we are not incompetent but rather it is because the design of the product we are using does not meet human needs and also does not take into consideration principles of cognitive psychology. This book also indicates the need for developing good designs and illustrates simple steps that can be followed to achieve this. It also highlights and discusses the situations that lead to forming of bad designs. Simple things that we use daily in our lives that are perceived to be very easy to use have now proved to be quite complicated as technology advances. An example that the author gives in the book is that of a door. The different designs that have been used in different types of modern day door have made it difficult for the author to use them. The difficulties that the author experience with the door have become popular making doors which often cause confusion to be referred to as "Norman doors" the authors name. Some designs require one to push or pull the door in a given direction while for others one needs to slide the door so as to be able to open it. The first chapter of the book influences designing positively. The author talks of important but simple aspects of design that a designer needs always to put into consideration for his or her design to be effective. Designed products need to be very safe, efficient and should satisfy individuals when it comes to actual usage. The author talks about two crucial attributes of a good design. These are discoverability and understanding. The design made should enable the user to determine what actions are doable and where and how the user can carry them out; that explains discoverability. In understanding, the user of the product should be capable of knowing what it is all about and how it is meant to be used. While designing their products designers should aim for not only beauty, but also utility,

Legal and Illegal Immigration in the U.S. Essay Example for Free

Legal and Illegal Immigration in the U.S. Essay Immigration Immigration in the United States has grown to an all time high. Now when someone hears the word immigration they automatically think of illegal immigrants from Mexico. But its people from all countries, legal and illegal. I will give my reasons why the United States should place more restrictions on immigrants. When the two World Trade Center towers where destroyed everyone immediately thought of terrorists. Later United States intelligence linked it to Osama Bin Laden. Bin Laden had his people from his army come to the United States and get information on how to carry out his plan. The terrorists even trained on U.S. soil to get more knowledge on how U.S. machinery, security, and aviation works. Now those terrorists came to America legally. Most of the immigrants come here illegally. I think that the U.S. should place troops on the Mexican boarder and the Canadian boarder to minimize the number of illegal immigrants entering the country. Now someone may argue that immigrants contribute to the strong U.S. economy by filling jobs, and even paying taxes. And that tighter restriction would compound the economic harm from the terrorist attacks. But the truth is the nation cant afford to have immigrants in the county when INS cannot track them. Furthermore more the immigrants have taken job opportunities from the native-born Americans, and lowered wages. Im sure that if the United States doesnt fix this problem the unemployment rate will grow much higher in our country. I feel that the United States should place much more restrictions on the people coming into the U.S. Legal and illegally. I have already said that many immigrants have taken many job opportunities away form the native born Americans and that the U.S. cant afford to track them. Now Im not saying that we should ban people from our country, but our nation needs to screen people much better then the way they are now.

Marlow Vs. Willard Essay -- essays research papers

Marlow vs. Willard Charles Marlow and Captain Willard have many characteristics that would make them alike and different. Marlow, from the novel Heart of Darkness, was a man who was on a mission through Cambodia to find Kurtz. Captain Willard, from the movie â€Å"Apocalypse Now†, was a man on a mission to exterminate a fellow member of the United States Armed Forces, Kurtz. â€Å"Apocalypse Now† is a Vietnam parallel of the novel Heart of Darkness. While both these men were on a search for a man, they both went through many difficult hardships on the way. Both of the men had different backgrounds before they began their journey. Marlow was an experienced sailor, while Willard was an experienced warrior. Willard was a man who went to hell and back in Vietnam. His soul was already corrupted and only got worse while his journey to Kurtz continued. Marlow was a man who just wanted a job. His experience in sailing was the reason he got into his mission. Marlow takes the place of a captain who was killed by natives while on a similar journey. Willard was a man who was picked by the secret service. He was looked at because of his strong history in the military. The history of both men was important for each of them to go their perspective missions. The surroundings for each man were unique. While both Marlow and Willard had to put up with natives, they had crews that were different. While Marlow had a crew with mostly natives, Willard had a crew of American soldiers who were serving their country. Willard’s crew was comprised of mostly young men who had no idea what they were doing. â€Å"Come on all of you big strong me,† writes Joseph McDonald, â€Å"Uncle Sam needs your help again†(Class handouts, McDonald). This would describe the men that were with Willard. None of them knew where they were headed or why they were leaving, all they knew was they were serving their country. Marlow’s crew knew that they were trying to figure out what happened to the ivory supply. Marlow had a crew full of mostly natives. Their respective ships were different too. While Marlow cruised on a French steamer, Willard was on a boat provided by the military. Both men had a unique surrounding that helped each respective tale. Both Marlow and Willard became obsessed with a man by the name of Kurtz. Marlow wanted to meet Kurtz very bad. He was so fascinated with his accomplishments that he... ...urtz. Marlow could tell that Kurtz was dying while Willard knew what he had to do and that was kill Kurtz. Willard had doubts about killing Kurtz but after seeing Kurtz’s camp he knew what had to be done. Marlow knew that Kurtz had a good reason to do what he did but the ways he did them was not moral. The plundering of ivory was not good. Marlow and Willard both went through a substantial change after meeting Kurtz. The mystery that both Marlow and Willard had about Kurtz was all over. They met this man that was on their minds since leaving for their missions. One cannot tell, if Marlow and Willard were disappointed, of the states they found Kurtz. Willard at one point was even considering joining Kurtz. Willard finally realized the power of the jungle and how it took in Kurtz. Willard and Marlow are both very similar but have differences as well. Throughout â€Å"Apocalypse Now† and Heart of Darkness, each character went through many conflicts. While the sailor and the soldier went on their search to find Kurtz, they encountered many different obstacles. I believe that Willard went through a rougher time then Marlow, but one can only imagine the struggles that encountered Marlow.

Marks and Spencer

Abstract Currently, the retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) is not only well-recognized among the UK citizens, although its branches are well established across the globe with many product categories available. During recent years, it has been found that the sales growth of Marks and Spencer’s merchandising, which has been its oldest and most important sector, has been in decline while the growth of M&S’s food sector has increased at an impressive pace. This study will attempt to find the factors responsible for the declining sales in clothing and the rising growth in food of Marks and Spencer, and hope to shed some lights on which areas the company should focus on to fix this decline in sales. The method will rely on the literature reviews of article from credible sources as well as published books. The paper will be analysed in two sections: factors affecting a sales slump in clothing, and factors affecting the rapid sales growth in the food department. 1. Introduction Established in 1884, Marks and Spencer has grown from a single-market company to a multinational corporation that has many branches around the world, including in England, the United States, and Thailand (www.marksandspencer.com, 2014). Not only has the 130-year-old corporation expanded across the globe, but it has also increased its product diversity as well. Although it began as a merchandising business, M&S currently sells a range of products, including women’s lingerie, sportswear, cosmetics and food. However recent sources, including Ahmed (2014), Ficenec (2014) and Pinnington (2014) have observed that the sales of the clothing division of M&S has been declining in recent years while that of the food department has increased; for instance, Ahmed (2014) at the BBC found that clothing has gone down by 1.5 percent in 2014, while a like-for-like sale of food has gone up by 1.7 percent in this time. Ficenec also added that the decreasing sales in the clothing department has be en going on for up to three years. As of late 2013, the sale of food accounted for more in the total sales of clothes, with 55 percent against 45 percent respectively (Ruddick, 2013). For the clothing department, this event could be classified as relative product failure (Dibb et al., 2006). Though one may argue that the drop in sales might be an industry trend for that year, Primark was found to receive a 5 percent like-for-like increase in sales during this time (Ruddick, 2013). Therefore, marketing problems in M&S’s clothing department have emerged as an interesting research topic. This report will discuss several marketing factors that could account for the widening sales gap between Mark and Spencer’s food and clothing divisions, focusing primarily on the UK. The study is divided into two discussions of the factors affecting the sales slump in clothing and will discuss the factors affecting the rapid growth in sales for the food department. Elements analysed in this paper include marketing variables, such as: target markets and customer profiles, price, quality and product positioning. Finally, a conclusion on the relevance of the examined factors towards the sales diversion will be made. 2. Literature review Marketing strategy can be defined as an organisation’s strategy that combines all of its marketing goals into one comprehensive plan. A good marketing strategy should be drawn from market research and focus on the right product mix in order to achieve the maximum profit potential and sustain the business. According to the Business Dictionary (2014), the marketing strategy is the foundation of a marketing plan. Marks & Spencer is one of the oldest supermarkets in the UK. Established in 1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in Leeds, the company became the first British retailer to make a pre-tax profit of over ?1 billion. It has delivered to more than 30 countries from its UK site and has 8 International websites and 644 UK stores (www.marksandspencer.com, 2014). Various sources, including Ahmed (2014), Ficenec (2014) and Pinnington (2014) have observed that Marks & Spencer as a company has been expanding and diversifying its products so that it includes foodstuffs as well as clothing and plastic materials. 3. Methodology This study took place in Middlesex University on the pre-sessional programme in August 2014. It was completed by a group consisting of three people from the pre-sessional course, these were: Mohammed, Maram and Buk. We chose Marks and Spencer Company from FTSE 100 because M&S is one of the most popular and oldest companies in the UK. It also offers a wide range of products such as food or clothes. Once we had selected this company, we performed research in the library to find out the factors that made sales grow for Marks and Spencer, and why this was greater for food than clothes. After that, the researchers interviewed others at Middlesex University. We performed secondary research by using websites and search engines, like Google scholar. We also looked at a database of Middlesex University as well as library catalogue to find sources that were related to our research and supported our ideas towards answering this question. We found many credible sources such as journals articles, books, newspaper and website. ? 4. Findings The researcher explored for sources that would be useful for this report. Three articles were found that are used in this report and were widely useful because they provided updated information. Further information was extracted from the company website, which was cited as particularly useful for historical information about the company and its origins, and also its subsidiaries. Moreover, it was found that book were used to provide general information and the views of academic sources. From these sources, it was identified that there is clear disparity between the sale of food and sale of clothing in Marks and Spencer Company. This was observed from various sources, including Ahmed (2014) who notes that while food sales were on the rise, clothing sales were falling. Ahmed from the BBC found clothing sales have dropped by 1.5 percent in 2014, while like-for-like sales of food rose 1.7 percent. However, there are several reasons for this disparity which will be explored in the foll owing section. 5. Discussion and Analysis There is a clear disparity between the sale of food and clothing in Marks and Spencer Company. Various sources such as Ahmed (2014) from the BBC saw that while food sales were on the rise in M&S, clothing sales were falling. Ahmedfound that the sale of clothing dropped by 1.5 percent in 2014, while like-for-like sales of food rose 1.7 percent. However, there are several reasons for this disparity. The first factor, or the reason for the success of the food sales in M&S, is the diversity of items in the food range and also the quality of the food. These were identified as the most important reasons that helped promote the sale of food products at M&S. The company’s success in the sale of food can also be attributed to the popularity of microwavable foods, which have provide to be the most popular product in the food sales (Tresidder, 2010). A further reason that can be attributed to the success of the food sales in M&S is due to the marketing campaigns surrounding them. The advertising for the food can be seen as one of the primary reasons for the success of the food sales in M&S. The adverts appear on websites, television and marketing texts and all have an effect on promoting the M&S food products to consumers. As a result, the company actually relies on the M&S logo to attract consumers along with the company slogan – â€Å"this is not just food.† Kress (1996) and Van Leeuwen (2001) describe how this could be a good way to market the product and is a modern way to attract consumers. Furthermore, this marketing campaign can contribute to create effective promotional images on the TV which will lead on to higher sales of M&S food. Among the factors that have helped the growth of sales of food products is the location and quality of the product. These are all factors that have been cited as attributing to the increase in sales of food products; however, the decline of the sale of clothing products is not entirely associated with the success of the food products but, more so, poor handling of the clothing line. For example, it has been argued that M&S clothing range has been guilty of poor product positioning, both in stores, shop windows and in marketing texts (Tresidder, 2010). Furthermore, the clothing department website has been criticised for being overly complicated and difficult to navigate (Ahmed, 2014). Therefore it could be suggested that the M&S clothing department learn the lessons of effective pricing, advertising and use of branding tools, such as slogans, used by the food department, to halt this decline and reverse the movement of their sales growth. 6. Conclusion In conclusion, M&S has faced several issues in the Department of clothing, as sales fell dramatically; yet the sale of food products continue to rise. Several contributing factors to this pattern have been discussed, including effective branding, marketing for the food products, and poor product positioning of the clothing items. However, 7. Bibliography Ahmed, K. (2014) â€Å"M&S chief Bolland says results ‘not good enough’†, BBC News Business, 8 July 2014. Accessed online at: http://www.bbc.com/news/28205935 [accessed 03/08/2014]. Dibb, S. (2006) Marketing: Concepts and Strategies, Houghton Mifflin Company: ISBN. Ficenec, J. (2014) â€Å"Question share tip: Hold Marks & Spencer on strong food sales†, in The Telegraph, 9 July 2014. Accessed online at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/10955632/Questor-share-tip-Hold-Marks-and-Spencer-on-strong-food-sales.html [accessed 03/08/2014]. Marks and Spencer, Official Website. Accessed online at: http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/?intid=gft_company [accessed 18/08/2014]. Marks and Spencer Abstract Currently, the retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) is not only well-recognized among the UK citizens, although its branches are well established across the globe with many product categories available. During recent years, it has been found that the sales growth of Marks and Spencer’s merchandising, which has been its oldest and most important sector, has been in decline while the growth of M&S’s food sector has increased at an impressive pace. This study will attempt to find the factors responsible for the declining sales in clothing and the rising growth in food of Marks and Spencer, and hope to shed some lights on which areas the company should focus on to fix this decline in sales. The method will rely on the literature reviews of article from credible sources as well as published books. The paper will be analysed in two sections: factors affecting a sales slump in clothing, and factors affecting the rapid sales growth in the food department. 1. Introduction Established in 1884, Marks and Spencer has grown from a single-market company to a multinational corporation that has many branches around the world, including in England, the United States, and Thailand (www.marksandspencer.com, 2014). Not only has the 130-year-old corporation expanded across the globe, but it has also increased its product diversity as well. Although it began as a merchandising business, M&S currently sells a range of products, including women’s lingerie, sportswear, cosmetics and food. However recent sources, including Ahmed (2014), Ficenec (2014) and Pinnington (2014) have observed that the sales of the clothing division of M&S has been declining in recent years while that of the food department has increased; for instance, Ahmed (2014) at the BBC found that clothing has gone down by 1.5 percent in 2014, while a like-for-like sale of food has gone up by 1.7 percent in this time. Ficenec also added that the decreasing sales in the clothing department has be en going on for up to three years. As of late 2013, the sale of food accounted for more in the total sales of clothes, with 55 percent against 45 percent respectively (Ruddick, 2013). For the clothing department, this event could be classified as relative product failure (Dibb et al., 2006). Though one may argue that the drop in sales might be an industry trend for that year, Primark was found to receive a 5 percent like-for-like increase in sales during this time (Ruddick, 2013). Therefore, marketing problems in M&S’s clothing department have emerged as an interesting research topic. This report will discuss several marketing factors that could account for the widening sales gap between Mark and Spencer’s food and clothing divisions, focusing primarily on the UK. The study is divided into two discussions of the factors affecting the sales slump in clothing and will discuss the factors affecting the rapid growth in sales for the food department. Elements analysed in this paper include marketing variables, such as: target markets and customer profiles, price, quality and product positioning. Finally, a conclusion on the relevance of the examined factors towards the sales diversion will be made. 2. Literature review Marketing strategy can be defined as an organisation’s strategy that combines all of its marketing goals into one comprehensive plan. A good marketing strategy should be drawn from market research and focus on the right product mix in order to achieve the maximum profit potential and sustain the business. According to the Business Dictionary (2014), the marketing strategy is the foundation of a marketing plan. Marks & Spencer is one of the oldest supermarkets in the UK. Established in 1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in Leeds, the company became the first British retailer to make a pre-tax profit of over ?1 billion. It has delivered to more than 30 countries from its UK site and has 8 International websites and 644 UK stores (www.marksandspencer.com, 2014). Various sources, including Ahmed (2014), Ficenec (2014) and Pinnington (2014) have observed that Marks & Spencer as a company has been expanding and diversifying its products so that it includes foodstuffs as well as clothing and plastic materials. 3. Methodology This study took place in Middlesex University on the pre-sessional programme in August 2014. It was completed by a group consisting of three people from the pre-sessional course, these were: Mohammed, Maram and Buk. We chose Marks and Spencer Company from FTSE 100 because M&S is one of the most popular and oldest companies in the UK. It also offers a wide range of products such as food or clothes. Once we had selected this company, we performed research in the library to find out the factors that made sales grow for Marks and Spencer, and why this was greater for food than clothes. After that, the researchers interviewed others at Middlesex University. We performed secondary research by using websites and search engines, like Google scholar. We also looked at a database of Middlesex University as well as library catalogue to find sources that were related to our research and supported our ideas towards answering this question. We found many credible sources such as journals articles, books, newspaper and website. ? 4. Findings The researcher explored for sources that would be useful for this report. Three articles were found that are used in this report and were widely useful because they provided updated information. Further information was extracted from the company website, which was cited as particularly useful for historical information about the company and its origins, and also its subsidiaries. Moreover, it was found that book were used to provide general information and the views of academic sources. From these sources, it was identified that there is clear disparity between the sale of food and sale of clothing in Marks and Spencer Company. This was observed from various sources, including Ahmed (2014) who notes that while food sales were on the rise, clothing sales were falling. Ahmed from the BBC found clothing sales have dropped by 1.5 percent in 2014, while like-for-like sales of food rose 1.7 percent. However, there are several reasons for this disparity which will be explored in the foll owing section. 5. Discussion and Analysis There is a clear disparity between the sale of food and clothing in Marks and Spencer Company. Various sources such as Ahmed (2014) from the BBC saw that while food sales were on the rise in M&S, clothing sales were falling. Ahmedfound that the sale of clothing dropped by 1.5 percent in 2014, while like-for-like sales of food rose 1.7 percent. However, there are several reasons for this disparity. The first factor, or the reason for the success of the food sales in M&S, is the diversity of items in the food range and also the quality of the food. These were identified as the most important reasons that helped promote the sale of food products at M&S. The company’s success in the sale of food can also be attributed to the popularity of microwavable foods, which have provide to be the most popular product in the food sales (Tresidder, 2010). A further reason that can be attributed to the success of the food sales in M&S is due to the marketing campaigns surrounding them. The advertising for the food can be seen as one of the primary reasons for the success of the food sales in M&S. The adverts appear on websites, television and marketing texts and all have an effect on promoting the M&S food products to consumers. As a result, the company actually relies on the M&S logo to attract consumers along with the company slogan – â€Å"this is not just food.† Kress (1996) and Van Leeuwen (2001) describe how this could be a good way to market the product and is a modern way to attract consumers. Furthermore, this marketing campaign can contribute to create effective promotional images on the TV which will lead on to higher sales of M&S food. Among the factors that have helped the growth of sales of food products is the location and quality of the product. These are all factors that have been cited as attributing to the increase in sales of food products; however, the decline of the sale of clothing products is not entirely associated with the success of the food products but, more so, poor handling of the clothing line. For example, it has been argued that M&S clothing range has been guilty of poor product positioning, both in stores, shop windows and in marketing texts (Tresidder, 2010). Furthermore, the clothing department website has been criticised for being overly complicated and difficult to navigate (Ahmed, 2014). Therefore it could be suggested that the M&S clothing department learn the lessons of effective pricing, advertising and use of branding tools, such as slogans, used by the food department, to halt this decline and reverse the movement of their sales growth. 6. Conclusion In conclusion, M&S has faced several issues in the Department of clothing, as sales fell dramatically; yet the sale of food products continue to rise. Several contributing factors to this pattern have been discussed, including effective branding, marketing for the food products, and poor product positioning of the clothing items. However, 7. Bibliography Ahmed, K. (2014) â€Å"M&S chief Bolland says results ‘not good enough’†, BBC News Business, 8 July 2014. Accessed online at: http://www.bbc.com/news/28205935 [accessed 03/08/2014]. Dibb, S. (2006) Marketing: Concepts and Strategies, Houghton Mifflin Company: ISBN. Ficenec, J. (2014) â€Å"Question share tip: Hold Marks & Spencer on strong food sales†, in The Telegraph, 9 July 2014. Accessed online at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/10955632/Questor-share-tip-Hold-Marks-and-Spencer-on-strong-food-sales.html [accessed 03/08/2014]. Marks and Spencer, Official Website. Accessed online at: http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/?intid=gft_company [accessed 18/08/2014]. Marks and Spencer Case Study: Marks and Spencer, Ltd. (A) Marks and Spencer has a reputation of greatness and quality in the U. K. Their five tenets of operating principals are the cornerstone of the company’s strength in the industry. They fostered strong human relations with its customers, suppliers, and staff through offering selective range of high-quality merchandise at reasonable prices, encouraging suppliers to use top-notch modern technology, growth, and cooperation to enforce the highest standard of quality.Breaking down Porter’s Five Forces identifies the competitive forces in Mark and Spencer: 1) Suppliers: M&S is not dependent on suppliers as other stores are, due to M&S producing and selling its own branded products. Raw products are supplied, which is an advantage for its margins. They have an astounding and long (some relationships dating back to 40 years) reputation with their suppliers, which allows for discounts. 2) Buyers: Buyers have a substantial influence by shoppin g around, forcing M&S to continue in supplying high quality garments and food products at reasonable prices. ) Threat of Entry: Even though M&S has a very loyal customer base, online shopping was just at the early stages in the early 1990’s along with other super markets establishing a one-stop shop for all customers’ needs. 4) Substitutes: Threat of substitutes is high due to buyers’ looking for cheaper alternatives in other competitive outlets. Also, because M&S focused on essential clothing, and less on fads or trendy lines, competitors were quicker to react in offering more trendy clothing lines. ) Competitive Rivalry: M&S has fierce competition from other food, clothing, and home wares retailers; such as supermarkets Tesco, Asda, and J. Sainsbury. Due to M&S commanding market strength in the U. K. , M&S expanded overseas. They had shared success in other countries, but also were also presented with challenges. For instance, France viewed M&S brand as old-fa shioned. Looking at Exhibit 13, the market share of clothing and footwear by age group were as followed: 15-24 age group (5. 9%), 25-44 age group (13. 9%), 45-64 (21. 3%), and 65+ (23. 6%).M&S focused on getting more of those younger buyers into the stores where they see first-hand the service they provide; but if M&S focused less on fad and trends (which is attractive to the younger demographic) the efforts in marketing are wasted. Out of the five locations in France, only Paris was showing promising performance. With M&S strong performance in U. K. , it can’t expect its brand presence in U. K. to spill over to other countries. As noted, M&S never reached its full potential even though it acquired/purchased interests of other department stores.What if M&S invested more into marketing and â€Å"perusing the public to buy† instead of just relying on the products to sell itself? What if M&S invested more into clothing lines that follow trends and fads, to tap into the yo unger demographic? For instance, take chains such as H&M or Forever 21: offering affordable trendy clothing that cater to younger buyers. M&S can still offer well-designed and quality clothing lines, but now attract the younger and older buyers that are into trendy fashions; but it is very crucial they don’t abandon their loyal customer base.What if M&S closed stores that had small market share and minimal profit (some territories in Austria and West Europe), and invested more into extending the market share in other countries? Also, during the 90’s, the world-wide web came into existence along with online shopping, allowing M&S to extend its services and marketing (which I was surprised there was no mention of it in the case). Source: Marks and Spencer, Ltd. (A) (1994). HBR 9-391-089, by Cynthia A. Montgomery Marks and Spencer Case Study: Marks and Spencer, Ltd. (A) Marks and Spencer has a reputation of greatness and quality in the U. K. Their five tenets of operating principals are the cornerstone of the company’s strength in the industry. They fostered strong human relations with its customers, suppliers, and staff through offering selective range of high-quality merchandise at reasonable prices, encouraging suppliers to use top-notch modern technology, growth, and cooperation to enforce the highest standard of quality.Breaking down Porter’s Five Forces identifies the competitive forces in Mark and Spencer: 1) Suppliers: M&S is not dependent on suppliers as other stores are, due to M&S producing and selling its own branded products. Raw products are supplied, which is an advantage for its margins. They have an astounding and long (some relationships dating back to 40 years) reputation with their suppliers, which allows for discounts. 2) Buyers: Buyers have a substantial influence by shoppin g around, forcing M&S to continue in supplying high quality garments and food products at reasonable prices. ) Threat of Entry: Even though M&S has a very loyal customer base, online shopping was just at the early stages in the early 1990’s along with other super markets establishing a one-stop shop for all customers’ needs. 4) Substitutes: Threat of substitutes is high due to buyers’ looking for cheaper alternatives in other competitive outlets. Also, because M&S focused on essential clothing, and less on fads or trendy lines, competitors were quicker to react in offering more trendy clothing lines. ) Competitive Rivalry: M&S has fierce competition from other food, clothing, and home wares retailers; such as supermarkets Tesco, Asda, and J. Sainsbury. Due to M&S commanding market strength in the U. K. , M&S expanded overseas. They had shared success in other countries, but also were also presented with challenges. For instance, France viewed M&S brand as old-fa shioned. Looking at Exhibit 13, the market share of clothing and footwear by age group were as followed: 15-24 age group (5. 9%), 25-44 age group (13. 9%), 45-64 (21. 3%), and 65+ (23. 6%).M&S focused on getting more of those younger buyers into the stores where they see first-hand the service they provide; but if M&S focused less on fad and trends (which is attractive to the younger demographic) the efforts in marketing are wasted. Out of the five locations in France, only Paris was showing promising performance. With M&S strong performance in U. K. , it can’t expect its brand presence in U. K. to spill over to other countries. As noted, M&S never reached its full potential even though it acquired/purchased interests of other department stores.What if M&S invested more into marketing and â€Å"perusing the public to buy† instead of just relying on the products to sell itself? What if M&S invested more into clothing lines that follow trends and fads, to tap into the yo unger demographic? For instance, take chains such as H&M or Forever 21: offering affordable trendy clothing that cater to younger buyers. M&S can still offer well-designed and quality clothing lines, but now attract the younger and older buyers that are into trendy fashions; but it is very crucial they don’t abandon their loyal customer base.What if M&S closed stores that had small market share and minimal profit (some territories in Austria and West Europe), and invested more into extending the market share in other countries? Also, during the 90’s, the world-wide web came into existence along with online shopping, allowing M&S to extend its services and marketing (which I was surprised there was no mention of it in the case). Source: Marks and Spencer, Ltd. (A) (1994). HBR 9-391-089, by Cynthia A. Montgomery

Horses by Edwin Muir Essay

The poem Horses by Edwin Muir uses imagery and figurative language to create and associate the the themes such as nature, machine, power and myth. Edwin Muir uses a variety of language tools such as Paradox, simile and metaphor to create a particular effect. He conveys his feelings through the poem and to link to the past. In addition, Muir’s use of rhyme scheme with the repetition of words puts emphasis on certain lines which in turn provides development for the tone. The Rhyme scheme for the poem is AABB thorugh out the poem that gains interest from the readers. Muir uses many literary devices. In the phrase,†Lumbering Horses in the Steady Plough† he uses Enjambment comparing the Horses on a steady plough to a bare field. The effect created by the use of enjambment is that the feelings or memories of the poet are still ongoing and this is reflected. The enjambment helps the poem flow into the next line. The word â€Å"lumbering† is defined as moving in a slow, heavy manner. There is consonance in the words Those, Horses, plough. The Consonance creates a more subtle effect with the repetition of the o’s. The word containing 3 syllables slows down the rhythm of the sentence. The term ‘steady plough’ means a device pulled through the even ground in order to break it open into furrows for planting. The poet implies that he still has a fear of Horses by expressing his childhood dismay for Horses. The use of the ‘Perhaps’ denotes his uncertainty or possibility and he does not wish to be too definite or assertive in the expression of an opinion. The word ‘Childish’ refers to a silly or suitable for a child. He is referring and relating to the past to deliver evidence to fear. There is internal rhyme in the words some and come that adds particular emphasis and quickens the pace of the Rhythm in the phrase. The phrase contains alliteration in the words ‘childish’ and ‘come’. The Alliteration emphasizes the words giving the sentence a good sense of Rhythm and sound. The writer uses alliteration in the phrase ‘standing still’ in order to suggest the silence, calmness and fixed position of the Horses. The alliteration creates the effect of silence by associating it to the theme of the text such as a Machine. He compares that the Horses are showing signs of movement and yet they are standing still. He uses simile to create a vivid mental image and to carry on the effect of the Horses’ effortless behaviour and power. Consonance adds to the effect by the words seem, standing still. It increases the Rhythm of the sentence and combines with the Horses steady movement. To describe the Horses movement ‘up and down’, the and in the line slows the sentence down by the amount of syllables and by connecting two clauses. The contradiction in the line where Muir describes the Horses movement but claims that it is standing still brings out a humorous effect. The line has a total of ten syllables which is a normal spoken sentence.

The eNotes Blog No Accounting for Taste A Bunch of Over-Educated People Confess BookHatred

No Accounting for Taste A Bunch of Over-Educated People Confess BookHatred Y U NO see this book is HORRIBLE? I just asked my group of friends on Facebook to tell me what book they HATE that everyone else seems to love. Well, it has been roughly one hour and we are up to  EIGHTY-TWO comments. Now, to look at the list you would think this was NOT a group of people holding approximately one-third of the nations student debt. You would not suspect that the  lowest  degree among thesecontributors is a Masters. No, to look at this list would be to assume an IQ level hovering around say Kardashian. I am here to tell you that even those of us who consider tweed to be sexy and elbow pads to be all-the-rage can admit that there are certain works that we just cannot stand.   Some are classic, some we are forced to teach, some are foisted on to us via book clubs. Whatever the case, you will either take umbrage or comfort in the forthcoming admissions: Moby Dick  by Herman Melville Erudite Explanation: Ughhh The Fountainhead  by Ayn Rand If there are more than 79 pages, this grad student will never find out. Repeated attempts all stop there. A Confederacy of Dunces  by John Kennedy Toole Pulitzer-Schumlitzer. PFFFT. Edith Wharton. All of it.   Nattering in drawing rooms. If only WHARTON had been killed by a runaway sled. The Great Gatsby  by F. Scott Fitzgerald It  pains  me to put this here but poor ol Jay, Nick, Daisy and the rest of the West Egg Gang got at least three thumbs down. A fellow professor gently expresses her reasoning:   Everyone loves that book, but I hated it. I hated it when we read it in high school, and I hated it when I re-read it in grad school, because I had to teach it. Lord of the Flies  by William Golding   Clearly it is a good thing our semesters are over: Kids dont just stop being psychotic animals because an adult shows up. Pride and Prejudice  by Jane Austen Male friend intones OHHHHHH Mr. Darcy!! (I detect sarcasm.) Jane Eyre  by Charlotte Bronte   I wish they wouldve both died in the fire. So, this is just a sampling of the long-held vitriol among our kind. What did you hate that you were forced to read? Or who do you think listed here is completely wrong and should not be allowed to instruct Our Nations Youth? We really want to know!

Top 10 ancient towns and villages worth visiting and exploring

Top 10 ancient towns and villages worth visiting and exploring The most beautiful ancient towns and villages that boast a vast historic heritage Our world is full of astounding ancient cities that have survived more than just time. They became famous for their vast historic and cultural heritage. There are a lot of things in these everlasting places that are worth our attention. Just get ready to take a walk and explore these must visit ancient villages and towns.   Alberobello, Puglia, Italy Alberobello, in the region of Puglia in southern Italy, is a unique and picturesque holiday destination that can impress everyone with its unusual districts of trulli. A trulo is a hut with white-washed conical roof which were built by the local people in the distant past with the purpose to avoid taxes. That settlement fooled the authorities in such way – it just didn`t have a status of a town because those huts could be easily dismantled. These days, travelers can wander the narrow streets, experience the historic spirit of this site, and admire the original architecture. Trakai Island, Lithuania Trakai is the historical capital of Lithuania where you can visit the only island castle in Eastern Europe. Trakai Island Castle is an incredible architectural example of Gothic style which was built by Lithuanian dukes in XIV century and served and their residence. Nowadays, people can visit various cultural events that are held in this gorgeous place. The Knight Competition is the most popular among the foreigners.   Its historical center is also famous for its numerous lakes. Ronda, Malaga, Spain Despite being a grooving town Ronda retains much of its historic charm and uniqueness. This place won`t stop fascinating its visitors from all over the world. It is famous for its dramatic and breathtaking views and escarpments. A 100m deep canyon EL Tajo will definitely impress you with its gorge. Ronda is a birthplace of modern bullfighting which people glimpse once a year at Feria Goyesca. Marburg, Germany Marburg is a romantic German riverfront town that dates back to the 9th century. It is considered to be a cultural center of Europe with its beautiful Renaissance and Gothic architecture. The gorgeous Marburg Castle overlooks this medieval university town. There are a lot of places of interest for tourist, students, and scientists here. Fenghuang (Phoenix Ancient Town), Hunan Province, China Fenghuang is situated in the area of breathtaking natural beauty where water, mountains, and blue skies prevail. It is considered to be the most beautiful town in China. You will be definitely impressed with its elegance, rich culture, air of mystery, and primitive simplicity. Fenghuang is a perfect example of what villages used to be to the onset of modernization. Piodao, Portugal Piodao is a historical schist village in central Portugal, which is considered to be one of the most charming and picturesque villages in the country. Piodao is indeed a unique site due to its houses that are arranged in the form of an amphitheatre. Locals are very proud of their beautiful medieval town with its outstanding views, historic architecture, and magnificent mountainous landscapes. Songzanlin, Shangri-La, China Songzanlin is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan which attracts a lot of tourists from the whole world due to its mysterious atmosphere, unique Tibetan architecture, and magnificent treasures. It is interesting that this monastery`s complex, which is surrounded with stunning nature, makes an entire little town. Its well-preserved frescos, wonderful golden lamps, Tibetan lections, and golden figures of Buddha josses make this monastery one of the most famous temples in China. Bergamo, Italy Bergamo is a northern Italy treasure. This beguiling eastern Lombard city has a lot to offer: A wealth of art, amazing nature, historic architecture, breathtaking views, and some fine dining.   The amazing terraced gardens and slopes planted with various floras make this town popular holiday destination. The old upper city – Citta Alta – is where most of the tourist attractions can be found. Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India Jodhpur is a delightful blend of the modern and the traditional. It is one of the largest and most populated cities in Rajasthan. It marks its origin back to the year of 1459 AD. This city is popularly known as the Blue City because its havelis, palaces, forts, houses, and temples are built in vivid shades of blue. There is always something to see here. That is why it is also the favorite tourist destination. The main things visitors like to discover in Jodhpur are fabrics, handcrafts, and spice markets. Civita di Bagnoregio, Province of Viterbo, Italy Italy`s Civita di Bagnoregio is a Jewel on the hill. It was founded by Etruscans more than 2,500 years ago. This city is included in the list of 100 Most Endangered Sites because its population has dwindled to just six residents. Tourists are welcome by these friendly local people. You will discover the impressive nature, historic architecture, and stunning panoramic views here.

Use r(which is a software) stata or excel to do the assignment - 1

Use r(which is a software) stata or excel to do the - Assignment Example This supports the model, which supposes that education is a factor of labor production The scatter plot assumes a downhill pattern as we move from left to right. As the values in the horizontal axis increase, those in the vertical axis decrease. The trend line drawn also depicts a negative linear association with outliers on either side. The data are scattered all over indicating a t-statistics of less than 0.5 hence weak correlation detected. From the analysis, showing the strong correlation and positive relationship, one can conclude that there is a possible association between education and labor production in any country. This supports the model, which supposes that education is a factor of labor production. The analysis supports the theory that level of education is not a factor for infant mortality. In which case, education only serves as a growth factor and not as a factor which can reduce the number of infants’ deaths. From the scatter plot, the pattern depicted assumes an uphill pattern as we move from left to right. As the values in the horizontal axis increase so do those in the vertical axis. The trend line drawn also depicts a linear association with outliers on either side. Consequently, the aspects show a linear association between the two variables. The cluster also insinuates a t-statistics of more than 5 hence the strong correlation detected. This analysis supports the theory that there is a possibility of relationship between higher levels of education and domestic saving rates. The scatter plots drawn above, shows that levels of education act as one of the major factors influencing growth in a country. First, the possibility of its relation to domestic savings rate shows that a country with greater level of education is likely to witness growth. This is because the increased savings put a country in a better place for exploiting every opportunity that proves beneficial towards growth. Further,