Gold Rush essays

Gold Rush essays The California Gold Rush was one of the most important events in the 19th century. Without it America would not be as populated and economically strong as it is today. The California Gold Rush brought many foreigners into the United States and triggered migration to the Western Coast. The California Gold Rush taught people that failure was okay and made people take risks. The California Gold Rush was the Las Vegas of the 19th century. The California Gold Rush blew the United States economy sky high and gave America a very useful and attractive resource. The California Gold Rush started at John Sutters Mill in the beginning of 1848. The first gold, discovered in January, 1848. Now if Mrs. Wimmer California Gold Rush possesses a piece which has been found earlier than mine Mr. Marshall can tell, as it was probably received from him. I think Mr. Marshall could have hardly known himself, which was exactly the first little piece, among the whole. As soon as the first piece was discovered the word spread and many within the area joined. Within time many people came from many different places within and outside the United States. People came to California to escape poverty, become rich, to cover their debts, and to try to go into early retirement. Many Argonauts were left by their spouses for going to California and were criticized by many for not helping their family. From 1848 to 1852 Californias population grew from 14,000 to 223,856 . The spread of Gold Fever was extremely rapid due to the fact that the United States had just won the Mexican War. The press (media) also had a big part in the California Gold Rush because it made people believe that every single gold digger that came to California would become a millionaire in no time and with very little effort. The news spread outside of the United States and soon immigrants started coming from countries such as China, Chili, M...

Dark Energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dark Energy - Essay Example Ideally, it is the volume of space that consists intrinsic basic energy. It is equivalent to vacuum energy in reality since it is the energy density of unfilled vacuum. The general relativity theory denotes that the energy will have an effect on gravity (Wang 76). Cosmological constant is characterized by negative pressure that is equivalent to its energy density. As such, it causes acceleration on the expansion of the universe. Quintessence refers to the hypothetical form of energy that can be attractive or repulsive. It is a scalar field that has its equation defined by the ratio of pressure to its density. Attraction or repulsion of this energy is dependent on the kinetic to potential energy ratio (Morrey Bsc & Morrey 112). Quintessence serves to solve part of the problems accruing from cosmological constant. Unlike cosmological constant, quintessence is a dynamic equation that varies with time. In addition, it differs from cosmological constant from the fact that it forecasts a slower increase in rate of expansion of the universe. The third alternative idea stems from the string theory. String theory stipulates that an atom’s elementary particles are dimensional swinging lines (Amendola and Tsujikawa 64). It is a quantum theory of gravity. The theory comprises configurations that define all observed basic forces and matter, but have zero cosmological constant. The methods employed in determine the above ideas are geometry of space, exploding stars and the late- time integrated Sachs- Wolfe effect (Amendola andTsujikawa 340). Exploding stars is ideally the supernovae. Type la supernovae offer a standard candle for the measurement of the distance to galaxies that are much far away. It combines the information with redshift; a measure for the speed at which galaxy recedes. Conclusively, astronomers have inference that there is a factor that is contributing to the increased velocity of the recession of galaxies. The geometry

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

Business analytics - Research Paper Example Imagine an organization in which the marketing department requires key reports from the technology department. Clearly, the issue of latency can be a factor that can delay essential decision making. With the boom of e-commerce, this has become even more pivotal. For many decades, companies have established itself as one of the most premiere companies internationally. Business Analytics (2014) In order to harness the growth of customers worldwide, McDonald’s has created data warehousing that has allowed the company to understand the customers, track inventory, and monitor financials. All of these components are integrated in one dashboard that has harnessed BI. A centralized information from all the sources (e.g. point-of-sale (POS) system, equipment monitoring, etc) where all sorts of information, real-time feeds and legacy information, can be monitored and analyzed in most efficient and precise way via data warehousing. Oracle ERP system, which can handle most day-to-day business functions, would serve as the hub. POS and other devices use business Analytics software to gather sales information and marketing data, which is then transferred to an Oracle database for analysis would help organizations have robust information of their business processes and assist them monitoring the progress of their business in the terms of sales, revenues, inventory management, staff allocation, location of the business in terms of which is profitable or unprofitable, and also gives them the head start to mitigate any risk.

Analysis of the microeconomic theory of supply and demand Research Paper

Analysis of the microeconomic theory of supply and demand - Research Paper Example An individual quantity demanded is the amount of goods a consumer is willing and able to buy at a particular price while a market quantity demanded is the total amount of goods that all buyers in the market would be willing and able to purchase at a particular price (Robert and Marc). One will realize that demand focuses on the buyer’s choice but not actually the amount that the buyer will purchase and the use of price is stressed in defining the quantity demanded. Market demand is the sum of all the individual demands for a particular good or service. Since market demand is derived from individual demands, it is affected by all the factors that affect each buyer in the market. For that reason, market demand can be said to depend on an individual’s income, taste, expectations as well as prices of related goods. A demand schedule usually shows what happens to the quantity of goods demanded with the variation in their prices with all the other variables affecting the dema nd held constant. Individual demand curves are summed up horizontally to come up with the market demand curve. The law of demand states that the price of a good will rise as the quantity falls, with all factors held constant (ceteris paribus). This becomes so evident when something becomes expensive in the market since people will buy less of it. This observation applies to virtually everything that people buy in the market including magazines, nuts, foodstuff education and the rest. The price and quantity then exhibit a negative relationship in all these goods and services-when quantity rises, the price falls and when quantity fall, price rises. The law of demand was then derived by economists from this negative relationship between price and quantity which was a regular phenomenon in the market. This law only applies when all other factors influencing the buyer’s choice remain unchanged and only price of the good changes. Demand schedule is a table with a list of different quantities of a product demanded at different prices, all the other factors affecting demand decision held constant. For instance, demand schedule will show us that when the price of a bottle of maple syrup is $3.00, the quantity demanded will be 2000 bottles per month and as the price increases to $4.00 per bottle, the quantity demanded will be 1500 bottles per month and the rest are shown in the table below. One will clearly notice that the demand schedule obeys the law of demand: as the price per bottle increases, the quantity demanded will reduce. Demand schedule for Maple Syrup in a given market Price per bottlee) Quantity demanded (per month) $1.00 3,000 2.00 2,500 3.00 2,000 4.00 1,500 5.00 1,000 When these values are plotted in x and a y ax, a curve is formed which is referred to as the demand curve as shown below: Price ($) 5 4 3 1500 2000 Quantity demanded Demand curve therefore, is a curve that shows the relationship between the prices of a good and quantity demanded at s uch prices with all other factors affecting demand held constant. Each point in the demand curve shows the quantity that buyers will buy at a specific price. The demand curve is also observed to follow the law of demand and according to the law of demand, graphically, the demand curve slopes downward. There exist a variety of events in the market that affect the choice of a buyer. Some of these events will cause a movement along the demand curve

Advertising Strategy Impact On Consumer Buying Behaviour Marketing Essay

Advertising Strategy Impact On Consumer Buying Behaviour Marketing Essay Introduction: Understanding the advertising strategies is an important which determines the consumer motivation towards the purchase decision making. Depending on the nature of the product consumer will follow a certain distinctive stages which will form the purchase decision making process. Consumer purchase decision making process starts with problem recognition like identification of a problem or unfulfilled need of the consumer than the search for information. They can search information by different ways like impulse purchase decisions, internet, advertising etc. Then they will evaluate the alternatives and finally make the purchase decision. The final part of purchase decision making process include post-purchase evaluation. This is a very important sector for all the marketing managers to satisfy their after making the purchasing decision by checking whether the products meet the level of expectations or not. Advertising is a paid, mediated form of communication from an identifiable source which is designed to persuade the receiver to take some action at now or in the future. (Richards and Curran, 2002) 1.2 Problem Definition: Advertising strategy has an impact on consumer buying behaviour. Advertising strategy is a campaign developed to communicate ideas about the product and services to potential customers for convincing them to buy those products or services (www.enotes.com). the advertising strategy should be built in a rational and intelligent manner will reflect business consideration like overall budget and brand recognition and objectives such as public image enhancement, market share growth. 1.3 Rationale: Retail industries in UK are facing problems of understanding the consumer behaviour. Consumer interest to a particular product can be increased by their advertising strategy. Advertising strategy should be made in such a way which will understand the consumers mind and satisfying the needs and wants of the consumers. I want to use this study to protect customer rights and to increase awareness in customers mind. Also I want to raise the issue of establish societal marketing concept by the company, where a company should play an ethical role in the society for the benefit of society and normal consumer. 1.4 Organizational Background: This research is based upon Tescos advertising strategies to motivate their customers. Tesco is one of largest retail industry in UK. In the year 2000 Tesco has launched in UK. At the year 2001, Tesco launches `Customer Champions in many stores an in many implement a new labour scheduler to further improve service for customers and Tesco becomes the leading organic retailer in the UK and reaches to  £1 billion price cuts. In 2002, Tesco enters to Malaysia and offers Free-From products designed for customers with special dietary needs. In 2003, Tesco entered in Turkey and Japan in order to expand their business. Day by day Tesco is increasing their business in different areas and in 2004 Tesco enters in China and launched own-brand Fair trade range and Broadband. At this time tesco.com become the first major British supermarket to enter music and download music. In the year 2005, Tesco Home plus launches and Tesco announces annual profit of  £2 billion and Tesco exists the Taiwanese market in an asset swap deal with Carrefour involving stores and operations in the Czech Republic. In 2006, Tesco Direct launched and in 2007 Tesco opens Fresh and Easy in the US. In 2008, Tesco announces plans to establish cash and carry business in India and acquires 36 hypermarkets in South Korea from Homever. Tesco also launched discount brand and personal finance acquisition in this year. In the year 2009, another advertising strategy club card re-launched in the UK with  £150 million investment offering customers the opportunity to double up their vouchers. (www.tescoplc.com, 2010) 1.5 Research Background: At present, retail companies are giving aggressive advertisement to attract customers which impacts great changes on customers buying pattern. Sometimes their advertising strategy leads to un-ethical issues in the society. So, general customers and people in the society have been affected by enormous advertisement. This study will explore that issue. 1.6 Research Questions: What is the concept of advertising and consumer buying behaviour in the context of retail industries? What is the impact of advertising strategy on consumer buying behaviour in the UK retail industry? What is the impact of Tescos advertising strategy on the buying behaviour of its customers? 1.7 Research Objectives: Critically review literature on advertising and consumer buying behaviour in the context of marketing and business strategy in the UK retail industry. Collect and analyze the data obtained through questionnaires targeting Tescos customer and interview the managers. Literature Review 2.1 Indicative Literature Review: The aim of this chapter is to demonstrate knowledge of relevant literature. Identifies key debates, concept and theories. Following two key points are the backbone literature of the proposed research topic: Advertising Customers buying behaviour The aim of this literature review in this report is to identify the literature gap. 2.2 Advertising: One of the major goals of advertising must to generate awareness of the business and its products. Once the business is established and its products are positioned in the market then the advertising will increase and develop consumer loyalty to the product. Definition of advertising: Advertising is any paid form of nonpersonal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods, or services by an identified sponsor. (Kotler Armstrong, 2004) A dictionary definition of advertise would be to make known: to inform. All advertisements can be seen to offer information, and can be regarded as communications about products, services and organizations. Viewed in this way, advertisings purpose can be seen as communication, but since all advertisements contain persuasive elements directed at the ultimate purpose of a sale, advertising must also provide motives. Consumers must be moved towards purchase; ideas must be communicated.(Geoff Lancaster et. all,2002) 2.3 Advertising Decisions: Marketing management must make four important decisions when developing an advertising program, and evaluating advertising campaigns. Campaign evaluation Communication Impact Sales impact Message decisions Message strategy Message execution Budget decision Affordable approach Percent of sales Competitive parity Objective and task Objectives Setting Communication objectives Sales objectives Media decision Research, frequency, impact Major media types Specific media vehicles Media timing 2.4 Advertising objectives: There are some major objectives of making the advertising such as building brand image, providing information, persuasion, supporting marketing efforts and encouraging action. An advertising objective is a specific communication task to be accomplished with a specific target audience during a specific period of time. Advertising objectives can be classified by primary purpose whether the aim is to inform, persuade, or remind. (Kotler Armstrong, 2004) Following table will illustrate core advertising objective. Informative Advertising Telling the market about a new product Describing available services Suggesting new uses for product Correcting false impression Informing the market of a price change Reducing consumers fears Explain how the product works Building a company image Persuasive Advertising Building brand preference Persuading customer to purchase now Encouraging switching to your brand Persuading customer to receive a sales call Changing customers perception of product attribution Reminder Advertising Reminding brand preference Keeping customer to purchase now Encouraging switching to your brand during off seasons Changing customers perception of product attributes Maintaining its top-of-mind awareness 2.5 Setting the Advertising Budget: After determining its advertising objectives, the company next sets its advertising budget for each product. Four commonly used methods such as; affordable approach, percent of sales, competitive parity, and objective and task. A brands advertising budget often depends on its stage in the product life cycle. For example, new products typically need large advertising budget to build awareness and to persuade consumers to try the products. In contrast, mature brands usually require lower budgets as a ratio to sale. Market share also impacts the amount advertising needed: Because building the market or taking share from competitors requires larger advertising spending than does simply maintaining current share, low-share brands usually need more advertising spending as a percentage of sales. 2.6 Developing Advertising strategy: Advertising strategy consists of two major elements: creating advertising messages and selecting, advertising media. In the past, companies often viewed media planning as secondary to the message-creation process. The creative department first created good advertisements, then the media department selected the best media for carrying these advertisements to desired target audiences. 2.7 Creating the Advertising Message: Good advertising messages are especially important in todays costly and cluttered advertising environment. Just to gain and hold attention, todays advertising messages must be better planned, more imaginative, more entertaining, and more rewarding to consumers. Message strategy is the first step in creating effective advertising messages is to decide what general message will be communicated to consumers- to plan a message strategy. Message execution is the second step. The advertiser has to turn the big idea into an actual ad execution that will capture the target markets attention and interest. The creative people must find the best style, tone, words, and format for executing the message. Any message can be presented in different execution styles, such as; Slice of life Lifestyle Fantasy Mood or image Musical Personality symbol Technical expertise Scientific evidence Testimonial evidence or endorsement. 2.8 Selecting Advertising Media The major steps in media selection are: Deciding on reach, frequency, and impact. Choosing among major media types. Selecting specific media vehicles. Deciding on media timing. 2.9 Advertising Evaluation: The advertising program should evaluate both the communication effects and the sales effects of advertising regularly. Measuring the communication effects of an ad- copy testing tells whether the ad is communicating well. Copy testing can be done before of after an ad is printed or broadcast. Before the ad is placed, the advertiser can show it to consumers, ask how they like it, and measure recall or attitude changes resulting from it. After the ad is run, the advertiser can measure how the ad affected consumer recall or product awareness, knowledge, and preference. 2.10 Importance of Advertising strategy: The importance of advertising strategy are the following:- Advertising strategy will help to reach the large number of customers across different geographic markets. Effective advertising will allow larger audience to be reached with specific messages. Depending on media used, cost of reaching individuals can be lowered compared to other forms of communications. Advertising can be used to provide information for consumers at different purchasing stages. Advertising strategy will be effective in awareness creation at early stages of new product launched. Advertising strategy include a wide range of media to carry the advertising. 2.11 Advertising strategy framework: For the development of the advertising strategy it is useful to use different theoretical framework which are the following:- Hierarchy of effects model: This model will help to clarify the objectives of the advertising strategies as well as the objectives of a particular advertisement. It is also helpful to identifying the communication strategy. This model describes that a business buyer or a consumer moves through a series of six steps to make a purchase like awareness, knowledge, liking, preference, conviction and the actual purchase. (Kenneth E. Clow and D. Baack, 2002) Means-End Theory: The second theoritical model of Advertising strategy called the means-end chain. An advertisement contains a message or a means to lead the consumers a desired end state. Here the end-states include the personal values. The purpose of the means-end chain is to cause a chain reaction in which viewing the ad leads to the consumer to belief the product will achieve one of these personal values. The means-end theory model suggests that there are five elements in creating advertising like the product attributes, consumer benefits, leverage points, personal values and the execution framework. This model is designed to move the consumers through these five elements. Thus, the attributes of the product should be linked to the specific benefits consumer can derive and these benefits can lead to the attainment of a personal value. (Kenneth E. Clow and D. Baack, 2002) Leverage Point model: The hierarchy of effects model and the means-end chain approach are associated with leverage point methods. A leverage point is such a feature in the ads that lead the viewers to transform the advertising message into a personal value. To construct a quality leverage point, the marketers tries to build a pathway connecting a product benefit with the potential buyers value system. (Kenneth E. Clow and D. Baack, 2002) Verbal and visual images: The final type of advertising model is called verbal and visual images model. Here the degree of emphasis is given on the visual elements. Visual images often lead to more favourable attitudes toward both the advertisement and the brand. Visuals also trend to be more easily remembered than a verbal copy. Visual elements will be stored in the memory as both pictures and the verbal copy. This dual processing makes it easier for people to recall the message and also visual images are usually stored in the left and right hand sides of the brain while verbal messages are tend to be stored in the left side of the brain only. (Kenneth E. Clow and D. Baack, 2002) 2.12 Customers Buying Behaviour Consumers around the world vary tremendously in age, income, education level, and tastes. They also buy an incredible variety of goods and services. How these diverse consumers connect with each other and with other elements of the world around them impacts their choices among various products, services, and companies. (Kotler Armstrong, 2004) 2.13 Models of Consumer Behaviour Buyers black box Buyer Buyer Character- Decision Istitcs Process Marketing and other stimuli Marketing Other Product Economic Price Technological Place Political Promotion Cultural Buyer responses Product choice Brand choice Dealer choice Purchase timing Purchase amountConsumers make many buying decision every day. Most large companies research consumer buying decisions in great detail to answer questions about what consumers buy, why they buy, how and how much they buy, when they buy. Marketers can study actual consumer purchases to find out what they buy, where, and how much. But learning about the whys of consumer buying behaviour is not so easy the answers are often locked deep within the consumers head. This figure shows that marketing and other stimuli enter the consumers black box and produce certain responses. Marketers must figure out what is in the buyers black box. Marketing stimuli consist of the four Ps: product, price, place, and promotion. Other stimuli include major forces and events in the buyers environment: economic, technological, political, and cultural. All these inputs enter the buyers black box, where they are turned into a set of observable buyer responses: product choice, brand choice, dealer choice, purchase timing, and purchase amount. The marketers want to understand how the stimuli are changed into responses inside the consumers black box, which has two parts. First, the buyers characteristics influence how he or she perceives and reacts to the stimuli. Second, the buyers decision process itself affects the buyers behaviour. (Kotler Armstrong, 2004) 2.14 Characteristics Affecting Consumer Behaviour Consumer purchased are influenced strongly by cultural, social, personal, and psychological characteristics. For the most part, marketers cannot control such factors, but they must take them into account. 2.15 Cultural Factors: Cultural factors exert a broad and deep influence on consumer behaviour. The marketer needs to understand the role played by the buyers culture, subculture, and social class. Cultural Culture Subculture Social class Social Reference groups Family Roles and status Personal Age and life-cycle stage Occupation Economic situation Lifestyle Personality and self-concept Buyer Psychological Motivation Perception Learning Beliefs and attitudes 2.16 Types of Buying-Decision Behaviour: There are four types of buying-decision behaviour such as: Complex buying behaviour: Consumers undertake complex buying behaviour when they are highly involved in a purchase and perceive significant differences among brands. Consumers may be highly involved when the product is expensive, risky, purchased infrequently, and highly self-expressive. Typically, the consumer has much to learn about the product category. Dissonance-reducing buying behaviour: It occurs when consumers are highly involved with an expensive, infrequent, or risky purchase, but see little difference among brands. Habitual buying behaviour: It occurs under conditions of low consumer involvement and little significant brand difference. Variety-seeking buying behaviour: consumers undertake it in situations characterized by low consumer involvement but significant perceived brand differences. In such cases, consumers often do a lot of brand switching. 2.17 The Buyer Decision Process: Post purchase behaviour Evaluation of alternatives Information search Need recognition Purchase decision Need recognition: The first stage of the buyer decision process, in which the consumer recognizes a problem or need. Information search: The stage of the buyer decision process in which the consumer is aroused to search for more information; the consumer may simply have heightened attention or may go into active information search. Alternative evaluation: The stage of the buyer decision process in which the consumer uses information to evaluate alternative brands in the choice set. Purchase decision: The buyers decision about which brand to purchase. Post purchase behaviour: The stage of the buyer decision process in which consumers take further action after purchase, based on their satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Research Methodology 3.1 Introduction A good research methodology gives a clear picture of what the aims of the field work should be. In the main, the purpose of the primary research would be to identify some of the key issues behind the Tescos advertising strategy. This methodology chapter will begin by briefly looking at the theoretical underpinning underlying the carrying out of a marketing research activity. Thus it can be argued that regardless of the nature of the study, understanding the nature and limitations of various data collection methods can enable a researcher to better understand the data collected and the limits of their interpretation. Following this review, the chapter then goes to consider the choice of method and its implementation, with the entire attendant stages involved. 3.2 What is Marketing Research? Johnson (1994 cited in White 2003, p21) defined research as a focused and systematic enquiry that goes beyond generally available knowledge to acquire specialized and detailed information, providing a basis for analysis and elucidatory comment on the topic of enquiry. Any type of researches, including both marketing and academic research, contains the basic characteristics of a research activity. Cooper and Schindler (2006, p4) have argued that marketing research is a systematic inquiry that provides information to guide marketing decisions. 3.3 The Marketing Research Process The research process is the route map of any type of research. Aaker et al (2004, pp 43-5) have argued that by and large any research activity or study contains seven steps, as follows: (1) Agree on the research process. (2) Establish research objectives. (3) Estimate the value of information. (4) Design the research. (5) Collect the data. (6) Prepare and analyse the data. (7) Report the research results and provide strategic recommendations. 3.4 Qualitative Research Following the broad overview above, this section now briefly looks at the type of approaches in use in practice. 3.5 Definition Once a research approach is decided, researchers will need to focus on the research methods. Hague (1992, p120) argued that marketing research surveys include two main groups. They are quantitative and qualitative researches. Denzin and Lincoln (2003, p4) considered that generic definition of qualitative research could be described as qualitative research is a situated activity that locates the observer in the world. 3.6 Qualitative versus Quantitative In terms of the differences between them, Wright and Crimp (2000, pp 374-5) argued that qualitative research uses description by words and pictures, while quantitative research uses measurement and number. Hague and Jackson (1999, pp 17-8) believed that quantitative research emphasizes accuracy whereas qualitative research emphasises understanding rather than simple measurement. Hague (1992, p123) also argued that qualitative researches enables researchers to better understand the subject matter more so than quantitative researches. In conclusion, quantitative research emphasises the accuracy and quantity dimensions. On the other hand, qualitative research emphasises the nature or quality aspects. Given the nature of the problem posed in this study, it can be argued at this stage this study will utilise a more qualitative approach since we do not understand the reasons for the present push of Abu Dhabi as a destination and where exactly it will be positioned in the minds of consumers. 3.7 Quantitative Research Quantitative research methodology deals with areas that can be expressed in numbers. It will tell researchers, for example, what proportion of the population uses luxury cars and what their ages and occupations are; what it will not do very easily is tell researchers why those people prefer such cars. Main quantitative research techniques are; Survey Questionnaire 3.8 The Survey Survey involves the systematic application of representative sampling, questionnaire design, information collection and statistical analysis techniques to obtain data which describes aspects of a market in as much detail required by the research user. The size of the sample is determined by a combination of factors including the structure of the market being examined, the level of detail required and the accuracy levels required at the overall cost of the research. (Malhotra, 2004) Figure : A classification of survey methods Traditional TelephoneTelephone InterviewingPP Personal Interviewing CC Computer Assisted Telephone InterviewingSS Survey MethodsEE Electronic Interviewing II In-HouseMM Mall Interviewing MM Mall InterceptCC Computer Assisted personal InterviewingMM MailMM Mail panelEE E-mailII Internet Source:Naresh.K.Malhotra, 2004 3.9 The Questionnaire They are a valuable method of collecting a wide range of information from a large number of respondents. Good questionnaire construction is critical to the success of a survey. Inappropriate questions, incorrect ordering of questions, incorrect scaling, or bad questionnaire format can make the survey valueless. A useful method for checking a questionnaire for problems is to pretest it. This usually involves giving it to a small sample of respondents, then interviewing the respondents to get their impressions and to confirm that the questions accurately captured their opinions.(Burns Bush, 2003). McDaniel and Gates (2005, p318) believed that questionnaire is a set of questions designed to generate the data necessary to accomplish the objectives of the research project. To design a questionnaire, they proposed a ten-step process as follows: -Step one: Determine survey objectives, resources and constraints. -Step two: Determine the data collection method. -Step three: Determine the question response format. His basic format of a questionnaire is closed-ended questions. Its main consideration is that it is more convenient for the respondents to utilise. But as will be seen in Appendix, this study used mainly open-ended questions because of the problem being investigated. One of the advantages is that it can provide more clues to analyse and judge the response (Aaker et al 2004, p320). -Step four: Decide on the question wording. -Step five: Establish the flow and layout. -Step six: Evaluate the questionnaire. After the first draft, the questionnaire should be reviewed. The main purpose is to make sure that all questions will collect necessary data which will accomplish the aim of the study. -Step seven: Obtain approval of all relevant parties. -Step eight: Pre-test and revise. -Step nine: Prepare the final copy. -Step ten: Implement the survey. 3.10 Sampling Methods Aaker et al (2004, p373) believed that sampling is useful when the population size is big, the cost is limited and time is limited. They argued that time spent on each would be limited if sampling is used properly and hence the quality of responses would be improved. In terms of the suitable situations of using each, Aaker et al (2004, pp 387-90) argued that non-probability sampling can be used in exploratory research as follows: judgemental, snowball, convenience, and quota sampling. For this study, judgemental sampling method is chosen mainly for the time limitation. 3.11 E-mail Survey More recently, the use of the e-mail survey method has become more common place. Aaker et al (2004, pp 167-8) are of the view that there are some advantages in collecting primary data by this means. The include: (1) It is speeder than the traditional postal mail. This study has benefited from this means since it was possible to contact potential respondents and solicit their co-operation well before the interview took place (2) It usually saves many of the costs involved in regular mail surveys (3) There are no intermediaries. E-mail is usually read only by the recipient, so that the respondent chosen by the researcher is usually the one to answer the questions (4) It is more convenient for the recipient. 3.12 Choice of Data Collection Method and Its Implementation In this study quantitative research method will be used to get accurate output from the study. The key element is face to face interview. The process is given below: 3.13 Face-to-face interviews (with an interview schedule/open-ended questions: See Appendix 1) with selected Tescos customers and line managers charged with responsibility of trading in the Tesco store. It was felt that given the time it took to respond to a request for interview that a questionnaire survey would have been far less satisfactory. In addition, in that part of the world face-to-face encounters are considered more respectful particularly when attempting to elicit answers from operational managers and customers. Nevertheless, the process was cumbersome and entailed constants with customer service in order to fix dates and diaries. The process took well over three months (from August to October, 2010). The researcher is of the view that the responses elicited do provide a good overall picture of the advertising strategy and its impact, was useful to the study. Hypothesis Statement: Problem question: How do advertising strategies impact on consumer buying behaviour? H0: Advertising strategies have an impact on consumer buying behaviour. H1: Advertising strategies have no impact on consumer buying behaviour. Limitations of the Research: The limitation of this research is to submit this project within a short period of time and for that reason some of the important issues may have not been discussed on this research. Another limitation can be limited sources of secondary information available in the market and thats why this research can not use a major sources of information in order to make an extensive project. PROPOSED TIME-TABLE: Following table will illustrate the possible deadlines and dates to complete the proposed dissertation properly on time. AREAS WK 1 WK 2 WK 3 WK 4 WK 5 WK 6 WK 7 WK 8 WK 9 WK 10 WK 11 WK 12 Identification Of Issue Literature Review Research design

Heideggers Critique of Cartesianism Essays -- Philosophy Papers

Heidegger is one of the few Western thinkers to have succeeded in going beyond the Western philosophic tradition. Because his radical criticism is believed to have fractured the foundations of modern philosophy, his thinking is usually at the center of the controversy between the defenders of the tradition and those who wish to break with it and start afresh. In the heat of this debate, the question of Heidegger's place in relation to that tradition in general and to Cartesianism in particular has been neglected. I wish to address the question by focusing on the major aspects of Heidegger's critique of Cartesian philosophy and the modern tradition. I will first show that the strength of his criticism lies in its all-encompassing penetration of the foundations of modern philosophy, running through both the ontological and epistemological channels. Ontologically, Heidegger presents a critique of subjectivism; epistemologically, he discredits the correspondence conception of truth and i ts underlying visual metaphor. I will then look at his view of history and the meaning of his concept of "overcoming" in order to show that his aim is not to destroy the tradition, but to provide a wider basis for it by rescuing forgotten elements imbedded in the tradition itself. Finally, I will show that in this process of "overcoming," Heidegger did not really depart from the tradition, but absorbed some of its basic tenets, as his concept of death echoes major elements of Cartesian doubt. 1. The Critique of Subjectivism One of the major features of Heidegger's thinking is his criticism of Cartesian subjectivity. According to Heidegger, in regarding the ego cogito as the guarantor of its own continuing existence and as the basis of all things... ...d: Basil Blackwell, 1980); Abbau can be find Heidegger's Basic Problems of Phenomenology (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1982); Verbindung is discussed mainly in "The Principle of Identity," in Identity and Difference (New York: Harper and Row, 1969, pp. 23-41); for Uberwindung see Heidegger's Nietzsche. (4) Nietzsche, vol. 4 p. 97. See Aristotle's words: "that which is called a substance most strictly, primarily, and most of all, is that which is neither said of a subject nor in a subject, e.g., the individual man or the individual horse." (Aristotle's Categories, 2a 11-13). (5) Heidegger, Basic Problems of Phenomenology p.111. (6) Heidegger M., Discourse on Thinking New York: Harper and Row, 1966, p. 7. (7) Nietzsche, vol. 4, p. 106. (8) Heidegger, M. History of the Concept of Time, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1992, pp. 316-317.

History of the Phantom of the Opera Essay

In 1911, Gaston Leroux published Le FantÔme de l’Opera, the now famous book that gave birth to the legend of the Phantom.   Leroux had been fascinated by the mystery and design of the Paris Opera House.   As a theatre enthusiast, he had toured all the levels of the Opera House including a visit to the underground lake, cellar and hidden passageways. The mysterious events at the Paris Opera House which ignited Leroux ‘s interest began with Napoleon III’s call for a new opera house to be built in Paris in 1860, after he had survived an assassination attempt one evening when returning from the Opera.   The construction of the Opera House, faced many delays and construction stopped during the Franco Prussian War. After the war, the then unfinished Opera House was occupied by the working class who used it as a warehouse, observation post, communications center, military post and a powder store.   The cellar was once used as a torture chamber.   The new Paris Opera House was finally finished in 1875.   Finally, adding to the mystery, an unfortunate incident occurred in the Paris Opera House in 1896, a counter-weight of six and a half ton chandelier fell from the ceiling, killing a patron. Gaston Leroux always claimed that the ghost in the story was true, based on his investigations and tours of the Opera House.   He is quoted as saying: â€Å"The Opera ghost really existed.   He was not, as was long believed, a creature of the imagination of the artists, the superstition of the managers, or the absurd and impressionable brains of the young ladies of the ballet, their mothers, the box-keepers, the cloak-room attendants, or the concierge.   No, he existed in flesh and blood, though he assumed all the outward characteristics of a real phantom, that is to say, of a ghost.†Ã‚   (Leroux, G, n.d) In 1925, began the chain of events that would give rise to the phenomenon of the Phantom.   Universal Studios made the first film of the book – the silent movie, Phantom of the Opera, which starred Lon Chaney Snr.   A second version of the film, this time with sound and color, starring Claude Raines was produced in 1943.   Followed by a Spanish version in 1962, and a 1974 version starring Herbert Lom and Heather Sears. The Phantom was produced twice on stage in 1935 and 1975, without much success. Then, in 1986, the legend of the Phantom of the Opera would become one of the most famous stories in the world, when Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Musical – Phantom of the Opera hit the stage in London.   In the 21 years since the Musical began, it has broken all theatre records and is now the longest running Broadway Show in History. The success of the musical spurred the movie industries interest again in 2004, with a moderately successful movie called â€Å"Phantom of the Opera† based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s opera.   Critical acclaim for the movie has been varied. The Phantom has outlived his creator who died in April 1927 and has become iconic to the 20th and 21st Century.    History of the Hit Musical – The Phantom of the Opera   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical The Phantom of the Opera opened in London’s Majesty Theatre on 9 October 1986.   In the original London Cast, â€Å"The Phantom† was played by Michael Crawford, and â€Å"Christine† by Sarah Brightman (then wife of Andrew Lloyd Webber). The original creative team of the Phantom was: Harold Prince  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Director Cameron Mackintosh  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Producer Andrew Lloyd Webber  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Composer, Book, Co-orchestra Maria Bjà ¶rnson   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Production Designer    While Andrew Lloyd Webber had already been phenomenally successful with productions like Evita and the Sound of Music, â€Å"The Phantom† made stars of the actors and creative team members. The musical is still running 21 years later (2007) in London, Broadway (N.Y) and touring worldwide.   The Phantom has won over 50 awards including 3 Olivier, an Evening Standard Award, 7 Tony’s and 3 Outer Critic Circle Awards. At the time of writing, it is estimated that over 80 million people have seen the musical, with total ticket sales of over $3.2 billion.    Reviews of the Phantom of the Opera: The Daily Mirror’s first review of the Phantom of the Opera in 1986: It’s fantastic, fabulous and phantasmagorical! It’s fantastic, fabulous and phantasmagorical! From the eerily flickering lights that greet you outside Her Majesty’s Theatre to the last, glorious curtain call, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-awaited new musical, Phantom of the Opera, is a triumph. The special effects are among the most spectacular ever seen in the West End. The music is very bit as memorable as one would expect from the man who wrote Evita, Starlight Express and the rest. But most of all, the show belongs to Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, who soar and swoop through their hugely demanding roles like eagles. After all the well-publicised false starts and back-biting, Lloyd Webber has created a musical which deserves to be around well into the next decade. The story is based closely on the original novel of 1911 – unlike most of the Phantom of the Opera films which have been made over the years. Michael Carwford’s Phantom hides his hideously disfigured face by skulking in the stage caverns and pools deep beneath the Paris opera. His passion for music is the only thing which gives his life meaning until he becomes obsessed by Sarah Brightman’s Christine – a young opera singer whose beauty is matched only by the purity of her voice. He coaches her in secret while visiting dreadful catastrophes on anyone who refuses to advance her career. A hanged scene shifter is suddenly hideously dropped on to the stage in the middle of a performance. A vast crystal chandelier crashes on to the audience. As the phantom becomes more fiendish so Christine becomes increasingly mixed in her feelings towards him. A dreadful climax is fast approaching. The eerie sets of the unfolding drama – great stages filled with mist and shining candles – are interspersed with all the colour and spectacle of the operas being prepared and presented at the theatre. Despite all the â€Å"ghost train† theatricals the greatest thrills of the show come from Michael Crawford. He not only sings superbly but also captures the torment of the Phantom perfectly. If you only see one show this year, make sure it is this one! (Blake, J, 1986) In 2002, The Times wrote: Long-runners One answer is obvious: Maria Bjà ¶rnson’s stunning designs. The story, based on Gaston Leroux’s novel, begins on the Paris Opera’s stage in 1911. The building is dusty and neglected, the stage festooned with great swags of grey fabric. Old theatrical props are being auctioned off. Then, as the auctioneer announces the final lot — the opera’s enormous chandelier — the dustsheets fall away, the scene seems almost to dissolve and the theatre travels back in time to 1881 before our very eyes. It’s a vision of gaudy grandeur: gas lamps flicker, red velvet glows in the light and plaster nymphs and satyrs frolic on pillars. The opera is dogged by misfortunes that are rumoured to be the work of the Phantom, a malevolent figure who haunts the theatre. This sinister creature has become obsessed with Christine Daaà ©, a pretty chorus girl. But only cadaverous Madame Giry, the formidable ballet mistress, knows the terrible secret that lies behind the mask the Phantom wears. The musical’s best sequence occurs when the Phantom leads Christine through labyrinthine passages to his lair beyond a hidden lake underneath the building. As their boat glides over the misty water, surrounded by flickering candles, the effect is breathtaking. The problem is that this spectacle takes place early on and nothing afterwards can really compete. Harold Prince’s direction is slick and Gillian Lynne’s choreography effective, but Lloyd Webber’s music is often trite and dated. There’s little depth to any of the characters, either, yet the musical’s central relationship intrigues. For while Christine is Beauty to the Phantom’s Beast, she is haunted, not only by the opera ghost, but by the memory of her dead violinist father. This lends a pleasingly perverse Freudian twist to the erotic tension between the two characters, and the performers John Owen-Jones and Celia Graham make the most of it. Not only are they both excellent singers, they are fine actors too. Graham brings both passion and a childlike neediness to her portrayal of Christine. Owen-Jones uses his rich, powerful voice to great effect, crooning one moment, spitting bitterness the next. But the real star of the show is Bjà ¶rnson’s work. The designer died earlier this month, aged 53, and if Phantom has stood the test of time, it’s because of her. It is not the music audiences will remember; it’s the opera’s chandelier swinging crazily over the stalls, or a masked figure crouched menacingly over a gilded angel. And for those images alone, this show is still worth seeing. (Marlowe, S,   2002) The New York Times revisited the Phantom in 2005 and wrote this review: New York Times revisits the Phantom Old and Ghostly but Still a Hoot The paint on the balconies of the Majestic Theater looks chipped and the electronic drum machine sounds like something left over from a music video from the 1980’s. But â€Å"The Phantom of the Opera† really shows its age (17 years and running) when the signature special effect is presented. Musicals have opened and closed in the time it takes that chandelier to lumber to the floor. Looking like one of Ed Wood’s teetering flying saucers, it crashes to the stage with the force of a shopping cart, the biggest, most extravagant anticlimax in town. Seventeen years later: Sandra Joseph and Hugh Panaro are now playing the roles of Christine and the Phantom. Under the fearsome shadow of Hugh Panaro in â€Å"The Phantom of the Opera.† But what do you expect? It was designed during the Reagan administration. For a top-of-the-line chandelier, you will have to wait for the $40 million production of â€Å"Phantom† opening in Las Vegas next spring. But if the technology of the Broadway show seems a bit quaint, the real news is that the rest of the production has grown old gracefully. Judging by sheer invention, emotional punch and onstage talent, the venerable blockbuster still beats out almost all of the whippersnappers currently on Broadway. Maria Bjornson’s flamboyant gothic design and Harold Prince’s fantastical staging still have the gleam of finely polished professionalism. Led by the current Phantom (there have been 10 after Michael Crawford), Hugh Panaro, an up-and-coming musical theater star who finds the right mix of shock and schmaltz, most of the cast retains the freshness of opening night. That does not mean that Andrew Lloyd Webber haters, a large and very grumpy contingent, will be won over. Sorry, â€Å"The Music of the Night† hasn’t changed. Nor has Charles Hart’s bumbling lyrics (â€Å"You have brought me to that moment when words run dry†). But for those sentimental souls looking for a popular entertainment to transport them to a baroque, romantic new world with a powerful smoke machine, â€Å"Phantom,† I’m happy to report, still delivers the goods. Which is especially impressive, given that not long ago, the musical seemed to be on its last legs. By the fall of 2003, its peers â€Å"Miss Saigon,† â€Å"Cats† and â€Å"Les MisÃÆ' ©rables† had faded away. Ticket sales were down and rumors of its demise were common around Broadway. Flash-forward to today: crowds are lined up around the corner to see the show, which regularly sells out. Last week, 99 percent of the seats were filled. In January, barring a strike, disaster or nuclear holocaust, â€Å"Phantom† will eclipse â€Å"Cats† as the longest-running show in Broadway history. What happened? For one thing, it received a boost from Joel Schumacher’s film version of the musical, which opened in December. Even though it wasn’t a smash hit, the movie introduced a new audience to the show (as evidenced by the large number of young girls at the Majestic) and reminded old ones how superior the musical is. In fact, the bombastic film may be the only thing that makes the musical look understated. Mr. Prince, who continues to oversee casting and reportedly checks up on the show every few months, deserves credit for tending to it with care. When the box office dipped, he never panicked and cast a former Backstreet Boy for a short-term boost in sales. Unlike so many long-running shows, â€Å"Phantom† has not resorted to stunt casting. Although don’t be surprised if Mr. Panaro, who has been rumored on theater Web sites as the choice to star in â€Å"Lestat,† Elton John’s vampire musical heading to Broadway next season, becomes a household name someday. A young, charismatic actor, he brings a maniacal energy and Grand Guignol charm to the tortured Phantom. In his hands, the show concentrates more on the horror than the romance; but only once does he turn to the audience and growl – which, considering how scenery chewing this role could be, counts as admirable restraint. Surrounding him is a solid supporting cast who deliver disciplined performances free of the lazy flourishes that sneak into a role when an actor becomes bored by repetition. As the diva Carlotta, Anne Runolfsson flashes a hundred-watt smile and shows off a richly textured voice in the opening song, â€Å"Think of Me.† Jeff Keller and George Lee Andrews, the only actors with major roles who have been with the company since the beginning, are marvelous as the nervous theater managers who made the mistake of buying the Paris Opera House. In 2001, Mr. Prince had them switch roles to keep things fresh. Sandra Joseph (who doesn’t perform Wednesday evenings or Saturday matinees) is perfectly competent as Christine, although in her scenes with the Phantom she can come off as a bit bland. As her other love interest, Raoul, a terribly underwritten role, Tim Martin Gleason provides a strong voice and a stiff performance. In the romantic songs, one’s mind easily wanders to the bitingly funny Lloyd Webber parody in â€Å"Spamalot,† which droned on and on until the stars looked tired of their own voices. Then again, the winking and eyebrow-raising in satirical musical comedies like â€Å"Spamalot† and â€Å"The Producers† are part of what makes the proudly melodramatic and unironic â€Å"Phantom† a nice change of pace. The musical may seem as if it is from a different time, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. (Zinoman, J, 2005) Personal Review:    The Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera captures your attention right from the start and then you will be you will be drawn into a mysterious world of horror, romance and tragedy. Your journey keeps you spellbound through resonating songs sung by a handpicked cast, Maria Bjornson’s magnificent sets and costumes to both delight and frighten you. Gaston Leroux’s gothic novel comes to life through Andrew Lloyd’s Webbers’ Phantom.   The musical beautifully combines a mixture of genres, performed through opera, leaving the audience entrapped in a tragic tale of love. Whether you are recovering from fright or floating on Phantoms’ songs – this musical will keep, you entertained, wistful and somewhat disturbed leaving you thoughtful as to who should triumph in the end. New fans and old are still being enraptured by the phenomenon of The Phantom.       Works Cited: Blake, J, (1986) It’s fantastic, fabulous and phantasmagorical!, The Daily Mirror U.K. Retrieved 04/18/2007, http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/poto/news_mediareviews_story.php?id=38 Leroux, G. n.d. Quotation Phantom of the Opera Official Site. Retrieved 04/18/2007, http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/poto/show/the_show_history_filmography.php Marlowe, S, (2002), Long Runners, The Times, UK.   Retrieved 04/18/2007 http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article805339.ece Zinoman, J, (2005), New York Times revisits the Phantom: Old and Ghostly but Still a Hoot, The New York Times, USA.   Retrieved 04/18/2007 http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/poto/news_mediareviews_story.php?id=216    Bibliography: Paris Opera House (n.d.), Music of the 19th Century Paris, Opera. Retrieved 04/18/2007 http://gallery.sjsu.edu/paris/music/opera/opera_house.html The Phantom of the Opera (n.d.), Official Website.   Retrieved 04/17/2007, http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚