The Gilded Age Essays

The Gilded Age Essays The Gilded Age Essay The Gilded Age Essay The changes that occurred in the Gilded Age led to shaping American into the superpower and well respected international country that it is recognized as today.The most important changes were the discovery of uses of copper, the assembly line production technique and the completion of thefirst transcontinental railroad. The uses of copper that were introduced during the Gilded Age allowed the development of necessities of life as we know it in the United States today.Because of its ability to transmit electricity and sound, it is used in telephone and telegraph systems and electric lighting technologies that were developed and introduced during the Gilded Age.It is almost impossible to imagine what our present day lives would be like without telephones, computers and other electronic devices that evolved from the inventions that developed from the discovery of uses of copper during this great period. Henry Fords use of the assembly line in manufacturing thefirst cars in large numbers would survive and evolve to being one of the most efficient techniques of manufacturing otherwise complex and time-consuming products.The assembly line, which is still in use in many factories today, would cut the time of production and would also cut down the skills necessary to build and manufacture products.Before the assembly line, for example, a product would be crafted by a skilled person who possessed the knowledge of making the product.It would take a long time to manufacture because the manufacturing would be done alone or by a few workers.The assembly line would have a line of workers who would do just one function of the manufacturing process.For example, one worker would only put on a tire and thats what that one worker would do all day long.The assembly line would, in turn, require only laborers, instead of skilled workers, to be used. The Gilded Age Essays The Gilded Age Essay The Gilded Age Essay The Gilded Age – Immigration Urbanization Immigration and Urbanization during the Gilded Age were without a doubt a major issue. Many of the political leaders were Immigrants themselves when they started from the bottom. The controversy with them is whether or not they held on to their roots. Urbanization during the Gilded age had a horrible impact for the lower class. Their living environments were beyond unpleasant. Having open sewers also created diseases and contamination. The amount of poverty during this time was very high. The Urbanization of cities separated the classes causing an even bigger mess. The rich and poor no longer lived in the same areas. Instead they each had their own suburbs. (B) Mass amounts off people were homeless, crime rates grew at a fast pace, and children were left starving. All these problems happened because of the urbanization. While the poor were living miserable lives, the rich had all they could ask for living the good life. (D) The Streets were also a very filthy place in any weather condition. When it rained it turned into slimy conditions. When it didn’t rain, the streets were full of dust. The sprinkling in the summer made the dust into mud and then that mud was turned into dust by the winds. No matter what time it was always an unpleasant setting. Sewers were clogged by the grease that came from the wagon axles, pavements couldn’t even be viewed because of the mass amounts of dust. The open sewers filled the air with an unpleasant smell on every land. Once the citizens were tired of it all the voters soon influenced their political leaders to do something about it. O) We’ve seen these types of influences by the voters in the present day as well. The pros of living in a democracy is that with the will power of the people things can be changed for the better. Religion was also a big craze during this time. Reverends during this time focused on converting citizens to Christ’s Religion. They came up with a belief in religious remedies. These remedies were said to purify a man’s whole be ing. They swore they had converted many foul men and women by sanctifying them. They claimed that by doing this, it would free them from committing any social sins. Desires for drinking, anger, pride, and love were also â€Å"removed† and healed by the blood of Christ. (K) These different types of religions were also a reason as to why different groups were separated. Immigration during this time was good for those who employed. Not so good for those who were employed by them. When big amounts immigrants arrived at one time, those in the industry lowered the wages knowing that the new immigrants would work for any salary. Long hours and very little pay most likely exhausted the workers. Conditions were not the best even though the companies claimed they were. Q) These problems are still slightly seen today. Immigrants are still being paid whatever the employers want and it’s obviously not fair at all. It is such a shame that there is still no solution to this problem. Cultural differences also separated many couples. They might have started loving each other while in one of their countries and eventually gotten engaged. The opinion s of others could also have caused these separations. The fact that couples from two different places could have been the cause of the very judging opinions of others. Those opinions from others could also have created the same thoughts about their partners. (V) The knowledge that some of the people who were joined could have benefited the governments but because of the judgment it became otherwise. All of these factors contributed the bad times during the gilded age. We still see many of those problems in the present day. It makes us think about the different options that we have in order to change these repeated troubles. It is up to the young generation to think these things through. With many contributing great thinking minds anything can be solved

The History of the Zamboni Invented by Frank Zamboni

The History of the Zamboni Invented by Frank Zamboni The fourth Zamboni every built they simply called it No. 4 sits  enshrined in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame  in Eveleth, Minnesota, along with its creator and inventor, Frank Zamboni. It stands, fully restored, as a symbol of the integral part this ice-resurfacing machine has played in professional hockey, as well as ice-skating shows and in ice rinks around the country. Always Amazed Indeed, Zamboni, himself, who died in 1988, is also enshrined in the  Ice Skating Institute Hall of Fame and has been honored with about two dozen awards and honorary degrees. He was always amazed about how (the Zamboni) became associated with the game of hockey, with ice, with whatever, said Zambonis son Richard in a video marking the 2009 induction ceremony. He would have been surprised and pleased about being inducted into the (ice hockey) hall of fame. But, how did a simple, tractor-like  machine  used on an ice-skating rink to smooth the ice as the Associated Press describes it come to be held in such high esteem in the ice hockey and ice skating worlds both in the U.S. and globally? Well, it started with ice. Iceland In 1920, Zamboni then just 19 moved from Utah to Southern California with his brother, Lawrence. The two brothers soon began selling block ice, which local dairy wholesalers used to pack their product that was transported by rail across the country, according to the Zamboni companys informative and lively  website. But as refrigeration technology improved, demand for block ice began to shrink and the Zamboni brothers began to look for another business opportunity. They found it in ice skating, which was skyrocketing in popularity in the late 1930s. So in 1939 Frank, Lawrence, and a cousin built Iceland Skating Rink in Paramount, a city about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles, notes the companys website. It was, at the time it opened in 1940 with 20,000 square feet of ice, the largest ice skating rink in the world and could accommodate up to 800 ice skaters at one time. Business was good, but to smooth the ice, it took four or five workers and a small tractor at least an hour to scrape the ice, remove the shavings and spray a fresh coat of water onto the rink and it took another hour for the water to freeze. That got Frank Zamboni to thinking: I finally decided Id start working on something that would do it faster, Zamboni said in a 1985 interview. Nine years later, in 1949, the first Zamboni, called the Model A, was introduced. A Tractor Body The Zamboni was, essentially, an ice-cleaning machine placed on top of a tractor body, hence the APs description (though modern Zambonis are no longer built over tractor bodies). Zamboni modified the tractor adding a blade that shaved the ice smooth, a device that swept up the shavings into a tank and an apparatus that rinsed the ice and left a very thin top layer of water that would freeze within a minute. Former Olympic ice-skating champion Sonja Henie saw the first Zamboni in action when she was practicing at Iceland for an upcoming tour. She said, Ive got to have one of those things, recalled Richard Zamboni. Henie toured the world with her ice show, carting along a Zamboni wherever she performed. From there, the machines popularity began to soar. The NHLs Boston Bruins bought one and put it to work in 1954, followed by a number of other NHL teams.   Squaw Valley Olympics But, what really helped the ice-resurfacing machine shoot to fame where iconic images of a Zamboni efficiently cleaning ice and leaving a smooth, clear surface at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California. Since then, the name Zamboni has become synonymous with the ice-resurfacing machine, notes the hockey hall of fame induction video. The company says that about 10,000 of the machines have been delivered worldwide each one traveling about 2,000 ice-resurfacing miles a year. Its quite a legacy for two brothers who began selling blocks of ice. Indeed, notes the company website: Frank often pointed out to rink owners a comment indicative of his own lifelong mission: The principal product you have to sell is the ice itself.†

League Of Denial Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

League Of Denial - Movie Review Example For instance, the NFL changed the kickoff laws in which the team starting the drive moved to the 35-yard line (Fainaru-Wada and Fainaru 27). This was in an effort to reduce tackles at the end zones before conversion of scores. The NFL should have been proactive in offering monetary and medical assistance to prior NFL players by requiring all teams to insure their members. Similarly, the NFL should facilitate medical and financial assistance to players who get injured during matches. This can be achieved by having stand-by ambulances to offer first-aid services when concussions occur (Fainaru-Wada and Fainaru 25). I do not believe that the NFL has lost popularity due to the acknowledgement of the head traumas because all sports personalities experience injuries. It is also a good gesture to inform the public and would-be players of the head injuries and to warn them of the same. As a result, the NFL did not lose popularity since other sports do not acknowledge the occurrence of injuries. However, the NFL will lose revenue due to this type of publicity because the sponsoring companies would not like to associate with risky sports. Similarly, the fan attendance of the games might drop for fear of witnessing players being stretched off the pitches because of head injuries. This shows that publicity should always convey positive information to the public and manage the negative issues (Fainaru-Wada and Fainaru

African exploration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

African exploration - Essay Example The article has got a number of issues discussed regarding the European and East Africans during the age of exploration. This has raised several important points which are of interest and need to be elaborated.The majority of the visitors coming to the African exploration were surprisingly not from the European explorers, in stead, they were the Africans, Arabs and Swahilis in particular. The changes taking place as a result of exploration were tremendous including various structural changes that were evident. All these things were clear and visible during and/or after the exploration by the Arabs and the Europeans. These points individually are explained below.The explorers coming to the east African exploration were composed of European explorers and the east Africans. The formation and the number of explorers were surprisingly strange. The majority of the explorers were east Africans, Arabs and Swahilis in particular. They had a huge adaptability to the culture of the African area . The explorers coming from Europe and other areas also relied on Arabs and other Africans for guidance and routes for help and support.They took detailed accounts of the societies they encountered as they planned to give a complete account of the regions they were traversing. The degree of satisfaction of the obtained knowledge depended upon the individual explorer's perspective and interests and tended to vary fro explorer to explorer.In the second period of exploration under discussion, 1856-70, the number of people with Indian backgrounds rose. In a taken sample, around 54 percent of the people joining in that period were of Indian background. The other segments of people in that period increased. Men with army connections increased as compared to those with naval men. Number of men with missionary activities increased. The number of administrators increased in the period whereas the number of scholars was relatively small. The practical, administrative and functional memberships seem to have become even more marked in that period. The composition of the people and their professions was changing with the changing time periods and particularly in this period. The creation of infrastructure and the relevant setup was to make the enforcement of law and order better. The people who were given to slavery were to be relieved from that and the civilization was to be established there. The east African cohesion was pretty much visible in the traversing of the European and other African voyagers. Besides the justification provided for the discovery and exploration of east Africa, the hidden motives were very much there with the British people. They were not disclosed as the justification was reasonably acceptable. The motives of the east India company and the British explorers were multifold with a focus on reaping the benefits from the east African products and produce. The exploration of course resulted in a direct contact of the British explorers and the Africans. The Arabs were an integral part of the exploration. They were adaptive to the changed culture of east Africa. The Arabs and the Swahilis adjusted themselves to African conditions, culture and the social and political norms in the African region, even when they were in dominating position. There was an implicit alliance between the Arabs and the Europeans. They helped each other in the exploration and Europeans heavily relied on the Arabs for support and guidance in the region. The British government advanced money for the cause of

My Summer Vacation Essay Example for Free

My Summer Vacation Essay Relaxing out in the sun in the middle of a lake that stretches for miles and miles, is probably one of the most amazing things you could ever see in life. The best part about that, I get to enjoy that every summer. Every summer my family goes to a small cabin on Lake Rainy in Canada. The most memorable time I have ever had with my family was at our family cabin in Canada. It was the summer of 2007 and also one of the hottest trips weve had at our cabin. One of my favorite things about the cabin is that it has no electricity unless we have the generator on. My brothers whined about that for the first couple days! Bubba even tried to convince Aunt Linda to turn on the generator just so he could watch a movie. With no success with my aunt he asked Uncle Tom and got his way. After the kids got the idea that there would be no more turning the generator on for little things like charging their Game Boys, things actually started to get better. With almost all technology set aside we did things unheard of in this day in age. One night we decided we were tired of being bored and I thought my little brother to play Kings Corner, they didn’t like that game very much. I decided it was time for a little easier game; it would have to be easy to catch Bubbas attention. Uno was the game we played most nights. Playing Uno at the cabin was great, the entire family was ordered to play by my Aunt Linda and since she is the boss, no one would have even thought otherwise. Don’t get me wrong we didn’t spend all of our time indoors. We went swimming very frequently, most of the time just to stay cool. It was usually too hot to go fishing, unless you had a death wish. One day when it was cool enough to fish, Kelsey caught the most beautiful Walleye I have ever seen. My little cousin Kimmy wasnt to excited about eating fish so the made her chicken every night we had fish. (This was most nights. ) The only thing I hated about Canada honestly was leaving. On the last day were at the cabin everyone is usually pretty sad to be leaving. It was always nice to get home, but as soon as we would get home we would instantly start to miss watching the sunset on a lake that stretched for miles and miles.

Film Adaptation of Antigone :: essays research papers

The film adaptation of Sophocles’ Antigone portrays the text substantially well in several ways. The filmmaker’s interpretation encourages the audience to be discerning as their perception of the Greek tragedy is enhanced. The play becomes profound and reverberant because of the many interesting elements of production. These include musical score, set design, and the strategic costuming – all of which advocates an improved comprehension of Antigone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The musical score proficiently provides the viewers with a sense of what is happening in the scene which could not be communicated through text. Dramatic music is played for Creon’s entrance; this immediately communicates to us that he is a man of great importance and power. When Antigone enters after being arrested, the music is dynamic and tense. This conveys the seriousness and desperate atmosphere of the scene. The score is also a representation of the varying moods of the characters. An example of this is when Antigone is anxiously trying to appeal her sentence. The music makes the audience drawn is drawn to feel sympathy and pity her when she is preaching her views on death. For instance, a solemn melody is played when Haemon’s dead corpse is brought to King Creon. Creon grieves by himself as he is overcome with devastation caused by his foolish actions; his emotions are intensified by the sorrowful and sombre background music. The music is abl e to complement the play, while accentuating the more significant events.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The design of the set is the most essential element of the production because it serves as the backdrop for the entire play. When the film starts, there is a wide shot of the Theban palace. There are two very large portraits of Creon hanging from the ceiling; this instantly establishes that Creon is the ruler of the state. The set depicts the castle’s massive foyer which contains a large staircase. Either than that there are hardly any props; this is advantageous because the presence of props and ornate decorations would divert the audience’s attention away from the dialogue and happenings of the play. Furthermore, the ambience in the palace becomes dark and bleak the moment Antigone commits suicide. This reflects the despondent mood and foreshadows Haemon’s suicide. The set of the play is successful in generating a suitable atmosphere and is reflective of the chaos that will occur.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A significant aspect of the play is the acting and wardrobe, because it helps demonstrate the personalities of the characters.

Portfolio Committee Essay

Dear Professor: UIC Writing Center is open to every UIC students who need help with their writing papers; at the same time, UIC also has lots of ESL students who view English writing paper as the most challenging task. How can Writing Center become more effective for ESL students? Mandy, Duong, and I would like to give some suggestions for Writing Center tutors from the perspectives of ESL students. We used a power point and brochures to help us express our voice. Before starting the power point, we went to the writing center and had an interview with the tutor. We asked questions about the tutoring procedures and the differences between tutoring a native English speaker and an English Language Learner. After that, we knew that most ESL students have the basic English skills when they got accepted to UIC. Therefore, tutors can communicate with them by speaking simple English and ESL students will have no problems in understanding. However, not a lot ESL student would like going to Writing Center for help. What keeps ESL students away from Writing Center and how can Writing Center help more ESL students become more successful in their writing papers? There are many barriers for ESL students coming to Writing Center. For example, many ESL students have no confident with their English, and they feel shameful and timid when talking to tutors who are English Native Speakers. If students talk little, tutors will stop explaining because tutors assume students know that. As a result, many ESL students found Writing Center was useless for them and stopped coming. Making tutors and ESL students communicate and understand each other better is the key to make a successful tutoring session. My group suggests tutors make a goal with ESL students together at the beginning of the session based on what ESL students need and to be enthusiastic. We want our power point to explain the barriers and to give suggestions in short. We put key points to remind ourselves when presenting. We also want to the text  and pictures have the equal amount so that our audience can have better understanding of our presentation and listening to us. We selected some key points from the power point to make our brochure for audiences to take away and read. We used simple words to make sure everybody could understand our brochures and used a lot pictures to attract audiences. The presentation was short, and very few people asked questions. It may be due to the fact that my audience is tutors who have learned those tips in their classes. If I could have a chance to improve my presentation, I would make prepare more to talk and ask questions instead asking my audience to give feedback. Sincerely yours, Lin

Bajaj Capital- Training, Recruitment and Selection

cRECRUITMENT, PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL AND TRANING AND DEVELOPMENT IN BAJAJ CAPITAL 1) RECRUITMENT PROCESS AT BAJAJ CAPITAL FORMALITIES AFTER THE JOINING BY THE HR Reference check v Validation v Entry in the Joining Kit Tracker v Preparing the Partial Kit v Getting the kit signed v Dispatching the kit to  the corporate office STEP BY STEP RECRUITMENT PROCESS AT BAJAJ CAPITAL * Short listing of the candidate by the TM. In case of internal recruitment then they should assure that they have fulfilled the criteria. And in case of external recruitment they should follow the  process note forwarded to them by the HR  Department. The interview needs to be conducted very properly; selection of the candidate should be done only he satisfies the criteria for that post. Proper care should be  taken while selecting a candidate. * After  the  interview  is  conducted  and  reference  check  of  thecandidate is done, the papers need to be processed to the HR  Department. W hen processing the papers the TM should ensure that the following documents are  there:–Interview Assessment Sheet-CV-Appointment letter of the  previous company-Salary slip of  last two months-Reference Check form On receiving the papers at HR, entry needs to be made in the documents received tracker. If all the documents are complete then the IP Code, (CV Code) needs to be allotted to it and then the papers should be forwarded to the respective HR Cluster Heads. In case any documents are pending then the candidate needs to be called for the  papers. * On receiving the complete documents, the HR needs to negotiate the salary with the candidate and close the offer. On closing the offer  the an offer mail is to be sent to the candidate stating his post, salary, date of joining and as to what documents they are to bring along with them. On the day of joining, the candidate needs to fill the joining kit and the  online  PDF  Form. The  kit  contains  inform ation  about  the candidate i. e. their personal details, education qualification, work  experience, and other information that are required  by the firm. The online PDF Form contains general details such as name, address, identification mark, place of posting, etc. * Once through with the kit, the documents are to be collected and should see that the kit is properly filled i. e. the date of joining, place of posting, and that they have signed where required. On receiving the complete kit, the joining kit tracker needs to be updated. The tracker contains information such as the BDF No, name, address, contact details, position & location of the candidate, his previous work experience, his account No, & PAN No. , the date of joining and the date of dispatching the kit to the corporate office * Once the tracker is updated, the kit needs to be validated. It is done in  order  to  generate  the  SAP  Code  of  the  employee. Duringvalidation  information  su ch  as  the  post  &  the  location  of  the employee, SAP Code of their reporting authority and their CTC is required. After all these formalities, the partial kit is to be prepared and the kit needs to be signed by the HRM, then the kit is to be dispatched to the corporate office . Job opportunities may be identified by studying jobs and determining the knowledge and skills each one requires. Once career paths are developed and employees are identified on the career ladder, it is possible to inventory the jobs and determine where individuals with the required skills and knowledge are needed or will be needed. Beyond recruitment, organization also needs to consider the progression of employees through a series of jobs.In this way they can manage not only the immediate contribution of individuals to the organization, but the long term contribution throughout their career. In order to be successful, a career management program must receive the support of top managemen t. The program should reflect the goals and the culture of the organization, and managerial personnel at all levels must be trained in the fundamentals of job design, performance appraisal, career planning and counseling. The objectives and opportunities of the career development program should be announced widely throughout the organization.We often think that successful people plan their careers out and then work toward their goals in a very logical, sequential manner. Although some successes are designed and implemented this way, others are created through insight, preparedness, and taking advantages of opportunities as they rise. 2) PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL Performance appraisal is the process of obtaining, analyzing and recording information about the relative worth of an employee. The focus of the performance appraisal is measuring and improving the actual performance of the employee and also the future potential of the employee.PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL IN BAJAJ CAPITAL In the Bajaj Capital the performance appraisal is called performance improvement process (PIP). THE PIP SHARED BY MBO IN BAJAJ CAPITAL MBO- Management by objective has been defined as â€Å"a process whereby the superior & subordinate managers of an organization jointly identify its common goals setting for each individuals & gives largely & use the measures as guides for operating the unit & assessing the contribution of each & its members.GOAL SETTING- The goals are defined in clear, precise & measurable terms. They should be challenging yet attainable. A thorough analysis of internal environment(strengths & improvement area) and (opportunities & threats)of the organization is made to made to set these goal. The goal is set for financial, customers, people, process etc. PERFORMANCE TARGET- On the basis of organization goal, performance for each employee may be decided on the of organizational charts & job description.Every subordinate writes down his own performance goal which are work relat ed & career oriented. His manager also writes down the goal he thinks the subordinate should satire for. The employee of all levels are involved in goal setting. Action plan required to achieve the goals are also decided through consultant among an employee & his superior. Joint goal setting & joint goal setting & joint action planning are essential elements of appraisal through MBO.PERFORMANCE REVIEW- Frequent performance review meeting between the mangers & the subordinate are held Initially, monthly reviews may be used & then extended to quarterly reviews. In the reviews meeting, progress is assessed, improvement area & constraints are identified & steps to be taken to improve performance are decided. Subordinate actively participate in the process. It leads to self control by the employee. GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING SIX MONTHLY & YEARLY APPRAISAL REVIEW 1.Objective of review is to help improve individual performance & thereby business performance. 2. Two hour workshops to be indu cted each year one month before above reviews (5th & 11th month of appraisal year). 3. HRD group to devote one month (each for half yearly &yearly review) fully focused to complete all reviews. 4. HRD facilitator to be present during review &fill up check list to help improve process in future. Initially recommended to slant for 1st 3rd 1-4th &l-v level. 5. HRD facilitator to be senior in level than appraise. ) TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT:- The various training programs used in Bajaj capital that encourage people to maximize their full potential through training & development programs which are tailored to suit the business needs of their partners are:- a) Basic & Advanced Mutual Fund Training:- Training provides a firmer foundation of understanding for how mutual funds work and how they interact with other investments in client's portfolio. Additionally, the designation adds prestige and lets their clients know they can be confident in their recommendations. ) AMFI training: – AMFI, Association of Mutual Funds in India, is an industry association, formed in 1995, for the overall growth of the mutual fund industry. It is also responsible for testing and certification of intermediaries, including individual mutual fund advisors. So as an individual, one cannot indulge in selling of mutual funds, till he or she has cleared AMFI exam and thus is certified. In other words, AMFI test is the gateway to the ever growing mutual fund industry and takes you one step closer to providing complete personal finance solutions to your clients. ) Certified Financial Planner: – A Certified Financial Planner professional takes a holistic view of financial life of an individual and provides strategic advice in regard to investment, insurance, tax, retirement and estate needs. Unlike product sellers who represent the interest of manufacturers of these products, a Certified Financial Planner professional works for the consumer, and does not have any particular product in mind when approaching a client. ) Registered Financial Planner: – Registered financial training is provided to empower the account holder of Bajaj Capital Advisors Network in the field of financial planning by imparting them technical knowledge with a practical approach based on Registered Financial Planner model with emphasis on case studies embedded with soft skills element. e) Soft Skills: – The Soft Skills Training programs encompass a wide range of skills that most organizations find to be integral and necessary part of everyday business.From basic communication skills to strategic management, a gamut of training programs are offered to address every business training need. f) Sales techniques: – Sales technique training is provided to increase the productivity of the sales. This training develops knowledge and use of the key selling skills that have the greatest impact on increasing sales productivity. All other sales training is incomplete without first learning these skills. g) Business Coaching: – Business coaching is a type of personal or human resource development.It provides positive support, feedback and advice to an individual or group basis to improve their personal effectiveness in the business setting. Business coaching includes executive coaching, corporate coaching and leadership coaching. h) TAX Advisory: – A tax advisor is a financial expert specially trained in tax law. Organizations usually require tax advisors to minimize taxation, to avoid learning the details of tax law in complicated financial situations themselves or to learn the details of tax law from a professional advisor.

How To Do A Competitive Analysis In Three Easy Steps + Free Template

How To Do A Competitive Analysis In Three Easy Steps + Free Template So your boss has come to you and said you need to do a competitive analysis. Maybe youve never done one before, or maybe its been a while and you need to brush up on your skills before you conduct another one. Either way, weve got your back. By the end of this post, you’re going to Learn what a competitive analysis is (and why you should care) Easily be able to conduct your own competitive analysis (because I’m breaking it down into three easy steps) Get an example of what one looks like (for easy reference later) AND be able to download your very own competitor analysis template down below. Let’s get to it. Learn How To Do A Competitive Analysis In Three Easy Steps + Free TemplateWhat Is A Competitive Analysis? If you've never done a competitive analysis before, this is a good place to start. Every business that I know of has competitors. (This isn't just for the Nike's of the world, because the smaller you are, the more vulnerable you are to the competition.) The smaller you are, the more vulnerable you are to competition, so get to that competitive...Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your competition is important to the success of your business. Besides better understanding the environment your business operates in, conducting regular competitive analyses also helps you: Understand how you can improve your own promotional tactics†¦ Forecast the future of the market (especially related to the economic climate)... Better target current customers†¦ AND helps you read new audiences. Said another way - conducting a competitor analysis is crucial to how you decide to operate your entire  business. Recommended Reading: How to Complete a Social Media Audit in 9 Steps (Free Template) Competitive Analysis Definition According to Entrepreneur, the competitive analysis definition is this: â€Å"Identifying your competitors and evaluating their strategies to determine their strengths and weaknesses relative to those of your own product or service.† Competitor analyses are more complex than just figuring out what your competitors are (or are not doing). They're about taking what you learn and improving your own business. After all, data that doesn't drive change is just a number. Data that doesn't drive change is just a number. Here's how to do a competitive analysis right.So without further ado†¦ Let’s jump into how to do a competitor analysis! How To Do A Competitive Analysis Performing a competitive analysis might seem like just  another task on your ever-increasing to-do list. And, while it might seem daunting at first, they're not that complicated and they are really beneficial. And to prove it - I’ve broken down how to do a competitive analysis in THREE (yes, just three) easy steps. Step 1: Identify Your Competitors This is an obvious first step. To start, perform a Google search of the products/services YOUR business offers, and take note of the results. For example, if you sell camping materials, you would type â€Å"camping tents, lantern, camping equipment, etc.† into the search engine, and then review the results, and compile a list of companies who also sell camping materials. It's important to be realistic about who your actual competitors are. Here are a couple of examples: If you’re a small business owner with a local brick-and-mortar women's clothing boutique, your competition is not the men’s retail store across the street (even though they are also selling clothing). The competition you should really focus on would be another women’s clothing store who is selling the exact same product as you. They are the ones who will have the largest impact on your success. OR If you’re a marketing agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota, your direct competition is other similar-sized marketing agencies in the area - not Ogilvy (a major advertising agency) in New York City. And once you feel confident about your pool of competitors, it’s on to the next step! Recommended Reading: 90 of the Best Marketing Quotes to Prove Every Point Step 2: Research Your Competitors After you’ve identified who your direct competitors are, it’s time to research them! This step is often the most time-consuming of the three, but it's also is the MOST important step. The data you collect here will directly impact the outcome of your analysis. The first phase of the research should be focused on the business of your competitors. Things you should look for include: Pricing strategies. Sales format. I.e. online or physical location? Product offering Next - you need to figure out why a customer would choose to purchase from your business and not one of your competitors. The best way to do this is to survey new /current customers. Recommended Reading: The Best Free Marketing Proposal Template That Will Get a Yes Here are a few questions you could ask new/current customers: What other business were you considering before you picked us? What do we have that our competitors did not have? Is there anything you wished we did have that our competitors do have? This honest feedback is one of the best ways to figure out how you stack up against your competitors in the eyes of your customers. Finally, you need to dig into their marketing materials and comb nearly every aspect of their website, social media and email communication. Here are the major things you need to consider: What are they doing with their marketing content? What are there overall strategies when it comes to demand generation, PR / social media, and product marketing? Who is their target audience? (I.e. Young professionals? College students? Professional marketers?) How many followers do they have on all the social networks? How are they positioning themselves in the market? (I.e. Are they the highest / lowest $$$ option?) Recommended Reading: The 30 Best Content Research Tips That Will Make You More Influential Step 3: Compare Your Business The last step is to compare yourself with your competitors. The best way to do this is by performing a SWOT analysis for each competitor, which helps you identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and in turn, identify your future opportunities and threats (this is where the term SWOT comes from). Once you’re done, you will have a clear picture of how you stack up against your competitors, and have all the information you need to decide what changes need to be made to optimize your business.

Ten ways to practice self care at work

Ten ways to practice self care at work When you hear the phrase â€Å"self-care,† you might think of personal things like meditation, indulging in something decadent, yoga, a spa day, or taking time for a good book. But when you think about how much of your time you spend at work, it makes sense to broaden that definition of self-care to include your professional, hardworking self as well. Here are 10 ways you can help expand your self care regimen into your workday. 1. Set boundaries This can be one of the hardest things to do (gotta answer that 10 p.m. email!), but when work bleeds over into other aspects of your life, it can be a major source of stress. Start by setting no-work zones in your life, whether that’s not checking email on a Saturday, or turning off your phone by a certain time every evening. 2. Make your desk a zen space.A clean, organized desk can reduce stress as well, and help put you in a good working headspace. Whether that means completely Kondo-ing your desk or simply deciding whether y ou need a ton of paper files instead of a digital archive, getting stuff out of your line of vision can help you feel more organized and on top of things. 3. Take walk breaksBeing deskbound can lead to all sorts of health issues, like back pain, weight gain, and plain old stress. If you can, schedule little breaks where you get up and walk around. If you can’t go outside, a loop around your office will do. Plus, you’ll have the extra incentive to be more social if you’re circulating. 4. Rethink your lunch hourYour lunch hour doesn’t have to be just about lunch. Think of it as a â€Å"free period,† like back in school. Eating is key (hey, it’s in the name), but think about how to maximize your time. If your gym is nearby, consider a quick workout. Go out and grab a coffee. Find a quiet spot and meditate. Whatever helps you recharge for the afternoon, consider it part of your lunch routine. 5. Be a social butterflyHow many people do you work w ith that you’d consider a friend, not just an acquaintance who happens to be in the same place for 40 hours a week? Being more proactive about saying â€Å"hi† as you pass someone in the hall or waiting for coffee can help you make inroads with coworkers. It may seem like awkward chitchat at first, but making time to talk with people can help make your work relationships more fulfilling. 6. Be proactive about what you needFeeling overwhelmed? Bored because you need more challenging work? Have a simmering conflict with a boss or coworker? If you want to make sure you’re taking care of yourself, it’s important to be proactive and attack issues as they come up. This is not to say you should be hyper-aggressive about everything that doesn’t feel like it’s going your way, but if you take an active approach to evaluating and fixing issues, it can boost your confidence, productivity, and general satisfaction levels at work. 7. Stay hydratedThis is a self-care strategy that works in every walk of life. And at work, it can be especially hard to remember to stay hydrated, since you may not be especially active while you’re working during the day. Investing in a water bottle and keeping it topped off throughout the day, can help you build good hydration practices instead of turning to coffee, soda, or other drinks that should be kept in moderation. 8. Go analog at least once a dayHow much of your day is spent staring at a screen? Every day, set aside some time to do tasks that require you to look away from your computer and phone. Maybe it’s writing down a task list for the day. Maybe it’s jotting down notes ahead of a meeting to gather your thoughts. Our digital tools are very handy, but they also cause eye strain. It does your eyes and your brain good to get a break from screentime every once in a while. Your email will be waiting when you come back a few minutes later, don’t worry. 9. Dress the part You know the old saying, â€Å"dress for the job you want†? I’d expand that to be dress for the work life you want. Wear things that make you feel confident and ready to go. Taking a little extra care with your outfit in the morning can help boost your mood throughout the day. 10. Set challenges for yourselfOne of the most lethal threats to productivity is boredom. Regularly set realistic challenges for yourself. Try building a new professional skill that can help you later on with a promotion. Learn how a particular process at your company works that you’ve always been curious about. Set a goal of reading a certain number of industry-related articles per week. Whatever will keep you focused and engaged, add it to the list!We spend so much of our time working. With the stresses and monotony of the work day, it’s easy to lose sight of the things that will make us happier. You have the power to make your work day smoother and more fulfilling, so it is defin itely worth the effort.

Michael Porter's change of view Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Michael Porter's change of view - Essay Example He said that, most managers’ defined competition in a narrow way like it only occurred among direct competitors (Porter 2008). Nevertheless, competition for profits basically goes afar establishing industry rivals that include other competitive forces such as customers, suppliers, potential entrants and substitute products. Although, there are different companies undertaking different objectives, the core factors that shape the market with profitability are similar. The only way to understand industries is by analysing the industry through the use of underlying structures that are related to the five forces. 2 The role of business in the society Any business must have a role in society. In essence, businesses create prosperity where healthy businesses need a healthy community. Moreover, there has been an over growing alertness of major challenges that are in the society. In particular, there has been the lack of sufficient resources and capabilities form the government and non profitable organization to handle these challenges (Kotter 1996). However, more of the public sees business as prospering at the outlay of the society and even though there has been notable corporate citizenship activities the legitimacy of business has gone down amicably (Paton and McCalman 2008) ss Fig 2; The connection /disconnection between Society and Business. 3 The five forces Porter’s five forces tool is simple but powerful especially when it comes to evaluating the business because it help in understanding both the strength of the current, competitive position and the strength of the position in which one is aiming to achieve in the market. It enables one to take advantage of the present situation of strength to improve any situation that is associated to weakness. Moreover, it is used to identify new products, services and/or businesses that have the potential of making a profit. This analysis presumes that there are five crucial forces that determine competitive p ower in any given situation (Porter 2008). 1 Supply power Supply power allows you to understand how suppliers accelerate prices in the market. This is particularly present in the number of suppliers with regard to key input, the exceptionality of their products/services, they strength plus the control they have over you. Moreover, the issue of switching from one supplier to another is also witnessed. Essentially, the few choices you have in suppliers, the more need of suppliers’ help especially due to their power. 2 Buyer power Buyer power gives a chance to evaluate the easiness in which buyers can bring prices down. It is mostly influenced by the number of buyers’ especially individual buyers in one’s business including the cost of them moving from one buyer to another. However, dealing with few powerful buyers can be challenging as they may be forced to dictate purchasing terms to the seller. 3 Competitive Rivalry Competitive Rivalry indicates the number and a bility of competitors that are present. In case, several competitors are offering equal attractive products /services, then there is a likely hood of little power in the situation. Suppliers and buyers have the greatest impact in the market, in that if they are not offered good

ECONOMICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

ECONOMICS - Essay Example The price of coffee in Cote d’Ivoire will tend to be high locally while in Vietnam, the prices will be low as much will be imported. 2. (a) The law of one price will hold in the case of rice traded freely in U.S and Canada. For the law of one price to hold, the market should be free from any trade barrier. The relative price is less than one. (1/1.04=0.9615) (b) The law of one price will not hold in the case of sugar traded in Mexico and the U.S. This is due to the imposition of quota by the U.S government o imports. The relative price is less than one. (1/93.05=0.0107) (c) The law of one price will hold in the case of Big Mac sold in the U.S and Japan. This is due to the fact that the good is identical. The relative price is less than one. (1/12.93=0.0773) (d) The law of one price will not hold in the case of haircuts in U.S and the U.K due to the fact that there is no good being traded internationally. The relative price is greater than one. ... .12 Canada(C$) 1.04 1.09 -0.05 1.16 -0.02 Denmark(Krone) 5.17 8.26 -3.09 5.34 -0.17 Eurozone(euro) 0.69 0.93 -0.24 0.72 -0.03 Japan(Yen) 93.05 89.6 3.45 92.6 0.45 Mexico(peso) 12.92 9.24 3.68 13.8 -0.88 Sweden(Krone) 7.14 10.9 -3.76 7.90 -0.76 The change in exchange rates is not consisted with the PPP implied exchange rates. The failure of the Big Mac Index to correctly predict changes in the nominal exchange rate between July 2009 and Jan 2010 can be attributed to the fact that, the demand for the big Macs products is not uniform in all the countries. The price of the big Mac varies significantly from country to country due to the difference in commercial costs such as advertising and transportation costs. 7. (a) Korea Japan Rate of Inflation Rate of Inflation 12/6=2% 2/1=2% (b) The expected rate of depreciation will be, (2.5-2.0)/2.0=0.25% (c) New inflation rate in Korea 15/6=2.5% (d) The increase in money supply will lead to a decrease in the price level and an increase in the exc hange rate. (e) Suppose the bank of Korea want to maintain an exchange rate peg with the Japanese Yen, they will have to choose a money growth rate of 14% to keep the value of the won fixed relative to the Yen (f) In order for Korea to implement a policy that will ensure appreciation of the won against Japanese Yen, they need to set a growth rate between 12% and 16%. This is because the range will allow for a steady growth with low rate of inflation. 11. (a) Importance of having a nominal anchor. Nominal anchor such as exchange rate is that it provides a simple approach that can easily be understood by all members of the public. It also provides a quick means of curbing high inflation rate. A major drawback according to Obstfeld and Rogoff, (1996) is that it leads to loss in the independent