Where Is Central America the Countries of the Region

Gambling Is A Big Problem - 911 Words

Gambling Essay Imagine a family member had a gambling problem and was never around to care for his family. Gambling is a big problem in the world today and people lose their money that way. The problems are money problems, health issues, and suicide risk. People always have problems with money problems because they will gamble until they have nothing left to gamble with. It’s a problem because all the money that people are spending could be going into stores so they can provide food and clothes for their family. â€Å"When family members learn that savings, property or belongings have been lost, it can make them feel scared, angry and betrayed† (Effects of Gambling). Some people gamble so much they can go bankrupt. â€Å"In extreme cases, problem†¦show more content†¦The solution that the people have come up with is to find another activity that gives the players the same feelings that gambling does.  ¨Distract yourself with another activity, such as cleaning your house, going to the gym, or watching a movie ¨ (Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling). People can reach out for other people s advice and suggestions to help with people s gambling problems.  ¨People can call a trusted family member, meet a f riend for coffee, or go to a Gamblers Anonymous meeting ¨ (Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling). It gives people physical and mental health problems. â€Å"This can include anxiety, depression and stress-related problems such as poor sleep, ulcers, bowel problems, headaches and muscle pains† (Effects of Gambling). The third problem is that from gambling people can have temptations to go suicide. â€Å"Rates of suicide are higher for people who gamble excessively, and for their family members. The people most likely to attempt suicide are those who also have mental health problems (like depression) or who heavily use alcohol or other drugs† (Effects of Gambling). Suicide risks from gambling have gone up over the years because teens get all the anxiety and depression from playing. â€Å"A study undertaken in Hong Kong in 2010 found that of the 233 gambling suicides in the city over the course of a year, 110 of the victims

Diesel Swot free essay sample

The solid consumer perception of the brand ethics and quality product offering back then set an immediate competitive advantage around the introduction of the additional items added to the clothing range. The Diesel brand portrays a lifestyle, something for the consumer to buy into rather than just buying a piece of clothing and this is reflected in one of their tag lines to ‘make people feel different and provocative’(Ennic Gilli Fort 2005). They themselves are passionate about the products they create and their commitment to produce quality, comfortable and trendy clothing have undoubtedly helped to build the consumers trust and belief in them and what they stand for. These brand qualities are carried right through their range and the consistent brand promises they emit only add to the success of selling their products. Diesel continues to diversify their collection and since 2000 have launched a premium sunglasses range, popular fragrances, wrist watches and even a hotel chain! The move to extend the brand outside a clothing range has allowed them to widen their target market and acquire customers from segments they may not have with just as a clothing brand. We will write a custom essay sample on Diesel Swot or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The product extension can also increase the retention of their current customer base by offering even more desirable consumables and in turn build on the consumer’s emotional feeling to want the products. The Brand name itself is carried forward to the new product categories and this can potentially give an immediate competitive advantage in a sometimes overcrowded marketplace. Another benefit for Diesel is the trust created between the customer and the brand through quality consistently in their clothing, the customer knows what to expect from their purchase. This trust can be seen as an emotional attachment which in turn can strengthen consumer loyalty to Diesel. Pricing: Premium pricing can give the perception that Diesel is a more of an exclusive brand but also, the brand success can allow their products to fall within the premium price range thus only increasing the bottom line through the sales of high margin products. The result of selling high margin products which ultimately leads to a greater cash flow, and this allow Diesel to incorporate above the line marketing campaigns in to their marketing strategy. A healthy budget can be set aside for these mass campaigns only strengthening the brand further. People: I think undoubtedly the dedication, passion and creativity of Diesel’s workforce shows through in their brand and also makes them a desirable brand to be employed by. Place: Diesel flagship stores and selective distribution of their products are another benefit for Diesel. The stores embody the core image of the brand and the marketing within these stores is to focus on channelling this image to the customer on entering the store. Promotion: Diesels strong brand which exudes passion and energy is clearly shown in their marketing strategy. Using a combination of ‘above the line’ and ‘below the line’ marketing techniques, their promotions are always aimed at engaging the customer and creating a two way dialogue. Both methods are beneficial to the brand but in different ways. Through Diesels above the line campaigns, they can reach the mass market and attempt to push the lifestyle aspect they really believe in. This can be seen in their advertising campaigns consistently, where the images used can be thought provoking, sometimes bold and occasionally controversial, the most recent ‘Be Stupid’ campaign being an example. The idea is to encourage the customer to interact with the brand, the lifestyle, on the chance if they like it, they’ll also like the products. The launch of Diesel U Music in 2001 is a prime example where engagement and interaction with the customer is key to its success, ‘A year ahead of MySpace Diesel:U:Music ventures online forming one of the fore runner digital music communities’ (Diesel, 2012) Benefits for the consumer: Price: Quality and price transparency amongst the range of products mean the customers know what to expect from their purchase and can trust the brand. Consumers are willing to pay for quality goods and they then benefit from the quality. Product: It could be said that wearing Diesel clothing says something about the person who wears them, the consumer may feel it gives them status. The consumer’s personality may be expressed through the clothes they wear, and Diesels distinctive clothing range focuses on quality and identity but at the same time their marketing campaigns embody a funky vibe that it’s cool to be uncool with slight comical aspect. Mazurek 2011) The consumer can also engage with the brand and can feel part of the lifestyle portrayed through the ad campaigns. There can be a perception in the wearers mind that the clothing can enhance their self-image and thus fulfil the need for self-expression. Consistency, consumers know what to expect from the premium product they’re purchasing Diesel consumers know what to expect when they purchase a Diesel product. There is a clear quality and price transparency which builds a trust between the customer and the Diesel brand. This can mean there is less risk involved when the consumer comes to making decisions in the buying process. The customer’s perception of the brand must encompass value and promises of quality, clearly Diesel consumers benefit here as Diesel deliver on both. (Jacobson 2010) Q2. Conduct a comprehensive SWOT analysis on the Diesel Company. Note this question also requires you to research the company history. SWOT Definition: Situation analysis in which internal strengths and weaknesses of an organization, and external opportunities and threats faced by it are closely examined to chart a strategy. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Internal Internal Positive Positive Negative Negative External External Strengths: Diesels brand identity is global, and its presence is over 90 countries worldwide backs this up. They have worked hard developing and refining what the brand stands for. The tag line, ‘For Successful Living’, born from the 1991 global marketing strategy represented the brand perfectly and paved the way for the fashion phenomenon that followed. Matt Haig 2004) Creative and passionate staff are a positive for any company and with Diesel the fact that their workforce are fully committed and believe in the brand itself shows through in their products and promotional campaigns. Rosso’s leadership skills drive the workforce, he is admired and it could be said he is a very inspiring character. According to Lipke (2010) Renzo was named as a Global Leader by Millennium Promise, a social group who were set up in 2005 by two me n, Jeffery Sachs and Ray Chambers, their aim is to halve worldwide poverty by the year 2015. Rosso serves as an ambassador for Millennium Promise and also provides funding for the project. And in the words of the founders himself Jeffery Sach’s â€Å"To have Renzo on your side is energy and creativity and ingenuity and reach. When you have someone who is world-class energy and world-class creativity, it makes a huge, huge difference†. (David Lipke 2010) Weaknesses: Diesels premium pricing strategy can be seen as a disadvantage to them as an item is only worth what a consumer is prepared to pay for it. The perception of quality and brand image must shine through in the products and meet the expectations of the customers. If these expectations are not met the risk is in not retaining and producing a loyal customer. This analogy can also feed into the fact that they do not own the majority of the stores retailing their products. The lack of control over the concession stores means that Diesel has to trust and rely on the individual retailers to promote products the Diesel way. This can mean that the Diesel image portrayed to potential customers is not consistent with the brand guidelines. Opportunities: Brands often use celebrity endorsements in order to heighten brand awareness and drawn attention to mass marketing campaigns. According to Spielman (1981), the use of a celebrity in an advertising campaign can make the ad more distinguishable and give a sense of sincerity. A celebrity endorsement is an obvious opportunity for Diesel as a global brand to make their products even more desirable however it could be debated whether their campaigns would ever actually require an endorsement as they are quite successful as they are. Threats: The black economy and the sale of counterfeit goods can seriously damage a brand image. Companies can experience a profit loss and the consumer is exposed to low quality products which can in turn affect brand loyalty. It is estimated by Reconnaissance International, a publishing/consulting firm, the black market costs the global economy $500 billion and proceeds have been used in criminal activity which in itself is a huge issue. (Brian H Murray 2004) The recent worldwide economic downturn has been more than a concern for most organisations. As a lot of consumers have tightened their purse strings, demand for certain products fall and the clothing industry is certainly not immune to the crisis. Back in 2009 Diesel seemed to have escaped the negative effects of the downturn according to their CEO (at the time) in this statement, and also had no intention of trimming prices either â€Å"A lot of brands will go out there with lower pricepoints. But is Apple discounting the iPod? No. Is Diesel going to screw around with our denim? No. It’s a short-term economic blip, we’re still up single digits this year. We’re going to attack the market with innovations, not cost reductions. † Good to hear some positivity, however I fear no one is out of the woods just yet. Q3. Discuss using Diesel and other related clothing brands as examples, the benefits and limitations of premium pricing. In your opinion, what impact do you feel the global economic turndown has had on the premium clothing industry? Definition Premium Pricing: Premium pricing is the practice of keeping the price of a product or service artificially high in order to encourage favorable perceptions among buyers, based solely on the price (Gittings 2002). Pros and Cons of Premium Priced Clothing Pros: It can be argued that premium pricing can create demand for a product. In Diesels case the decision to reduce, by 40%, the number of outlets where the Diesel products are sold meant they could carefully choose where the products are available thus creating more demand. This was a strategic and deliberate move, which chose stores where consumers were will willing to pay a premium price for the perceived luxury items. As the distribution on some products halved, pricing doubled on other products which only made the items more exclusive and they weren’t as widely available. Diesel was able to advertise in high-end magazines and boosted their advertising budget considerably after the move. . (Malone 2005) The G-Star Jeans brand is another example of where premium prices are charged based on the consumer perception of the brand. The brand positions itself as creating authentic, innovative, avant-garde clothing. With unique qualities clearly identifying their jeans and the continuous innovation to stay on trend, they have built up a strong consumer following which allows them to charge premium prices. (www. infobarrel. om, No date) For both, a premium pricing strategy can also result in a healthy profit margin! Cons: Premium pricing strategy can have a negative side in that it is assumed that the consumer will pay the price. The risk can be that the consumer expects a high quality product and if those expectations are not met a bad buying experience is felt. Another disadvantage is that competitors can undercut prices and this can potentially lead to a los s of sales. Selective distribution in order to make the products more exclusive and therefore keep at premium prices can also lead to a narrower segment of the market accessing the products. Giddens, Parcell, Brees 2002) Effects of the global economic downturn on the premium clothing industry, in my opinion: I think the downturn in the global economy has had a heavy impact on the fashion and clothing industry in relation to companies. On trend and branded clothing tend not to be on the priority list when a consumer comes to purchasing new clothes these days in my opinion, there’s just not enough pennies in the pocket and I think customers will search for bargains more often than not. This can obviously have a negative impact on the overall profits of high end product thus potentially forcing the brand to undercut prices in order to sell. Another negative effect I believe is the loss of jobs in local areas where clothing is manufactured. Any company in a time of crisis will strive to keep buying and production costs at a minimum to increase profit margin. This has seen clothing organisations, in for example the US, source material from cheaper overseas countries such as China and have the garments manufactured abroad also, for example Vietnam.

Submarine Escape Procedures Essay Example

Submarine Escape Procedures Essay Michael Menor Professor Cady English 151 25 February 2013 Submarine Escape Procedures There are many catastrophes that can affect the operation of a submarine; fire and flooding can crimple a submarine completely if either is not resolved quickly. Submariners are trained to combat all forms of fire and flooding in different scenarios that are closely monitored in Submarine School. As a last resort, sailors are also trained in submarine escape in the very rare occasion that they must escape from the ship. Submarine escape is only effective at depths less than 600 feet; escape any greater depth would be impossible. Michael Menor deployed with two nuclear fast-attack submarines; the USS Santa Fe and the USS Albuquerque; during his four and a half year enlistment in the United States Navy. He is well versed in submarine escape and hopes that this will give you an understanding on how to escape from the depths of the sea. Every ship is equipped with two escape trunks, or hatches as some may call it; one forward and aft, both of which have similar dimensions and operation procedures. We will write a custom essay sample on Submarine Escape Procedures specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Submarine Escape Procedures specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Submarine Escape Procedures specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Each trunk is able to hold two escape personnel. The Submarine Escape Immersion Equipment; also known as a SEIE Suit; is a last resort option if a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle, or DSRV is unable to save personnel from a disabled submarine. The suit is a single piece construction capable of controlling pressure to prevent decompression sickness, or â€Å"the bends†, which is a side effect of rapidly ascending from ocean depths. Each suit is also equipped with a life boat that is contained within a pouch attached to the left hip. Familiarity with the escape hatch valves is not required; all operations are handled by personnel from within the ship. For the purposes of this procedure we will call these personnel â€Å"Supervisors,† since they are usually experienced supervisory personnel with the knowledge of operating the escape hatch. Depending on where the casualty, is you will always want to choose the escape trunk that is not in the affected compartment. Whether it is flooding in the forward compartment; your escape will be in the aft escape trunk in the Engine Room. The same pplies to a casualty in the aft compartment; your escape will be via the forward escape trunk. During this procedure you will be performing all actions from within the forward escape trunk. On the rare occasion that submarine personnel are not able to stop flooding in the engine room that leaves the ship sinking into the depths, and laid to rest on a sea shelf 500 feet below the surface. You will then need to don a SEIE suit by placing both feet into the suit and taking the zipper, which is placed on the outer side of the left leg and pulling this up until it is at your belly button. As you would put on a coat; place both arms into each sleeve equipped with rubber gloves and flip the hood onto your head. You must then pull on the zipper, which continues upwards centered on your chest, and up to the hood. One common issue that can occur is the zipper getting stuck, or feeling as if it will not budge—remember that it was designed to keep water out of the suit—if this happens you will need to request the assistance of someone else. Now that you have the suit on you will need to make your way to the escape hatch ladder and climb into the 6 foot cylindrical space, which is only designed to hold two escape personnel; the two of you will be standing directly across from each other with your backs against the bulkhead. There is a charging hose attached to the left arm of your suit, attach this hose to the charging manifold on the bulkhead (wall) located to your left; the charging hose will inflate your suit to create a bubble barrier between you and the outside pressures of the ocean. Remember this is your source of oxygen, so continuing to keep the charging hose connected during your time in the escape hatch is crucial. As your suits are being charged please keep your feet away from the lower hatch as the Supervisors begin close and seal it. Once it is confirmed sealed a rush of water will begin to flood the hatch. Due to the buoyancy of your inflated suit you will begin to float; do not let this happen. To prevent this there is a handle to your right that you will be able to use to maintain your grip and keep you anchored safely. Supervisors will then pressurize the hatch to match the outside pressure outside of the hull. The first person that entered hatch will be the first one to escape; once the hatch is clear the second person will wait 30 seconds and follow to prevent getting entangled with one another. Since you are the lucky one to enter first, you will get to escape first. Supervisors will open the upper hatch; continue to maintain your grip until the upper hatch has reached its fully opened and locked position. Supervisors will use a wrench or hammer to knock on the lower hatch three times. This will give you the signal that the upper hatch is clear and you can escape. Release your grip from both the handle and the charging manifold. Allow the suit to take over as its positive buoyancy lifts you out of the hatch and upwards to the surface. The suit is designed to maintain proper atmospheric pressure for your safety during the ascent; as you will be traveling about 30 feet per second. Upon reaching the surface ensure that you are floating on your back, while in this position you need to reach into the pouch on your left hip and remove the life raft; pull on the yellow handle and allow the raft to self-inflate. Once inflated pull yourself onto the raft; during this time you can unzip the hood of your suit. The raft comes equipped with a drogue, water desalination kit, and equipment such as smoke signals, and flares to assist with your rescue. Congratulations on your successful escape; now you will wait for rescue personnel to find you and the others from your ship. At the surface it is highly recommended to regroup with other personnel from the ship and tie your rafts together. This will create a larger object for rescuers to spot during their search.

Free Essays on Kafka Vs. Camus

Ethical issues in the Stranger vs. those in the Trial Preface: I am a big fan of Kafka and his writings, and as I read through the Stranger I was struck at how the two were very similar. The following attempts to explain these similarities. The Stranger, written by Albert Camus, and The Trial, written by Franz Kafka, are two books that have been critically acclaimed since the time that they were published. There are critics that claim that The Stranger is a dull book, and is not even a read-worthy book. Other people claim that it shows us how society actually acts upon people who do not want to be like the rest of society. The Trial falls under the same kind of criticism; but both books, although written by different writers in a different à ©poque, fall under the same kind of genre: Imprisoned Lives. In both The Stranger and The Trial there are many people who influence the protagonists in a positive and in a negative way, but none of those characters are as important as the priest. The priest, being of the same profession in both books and trying to accomplish the same kind of tasks, have a totally different effect on the two protagonists. In The Stranger the priest changes the whole attitude that Meursault has to life, whereas in The Trial the priest tells Joseph K. how his life actually is. "Why do you refuse to see me?" This question was asked by the priest and was meant for Meursault. Normally, if a person is convicted to death, he will see a priest before the sentence is executed. Meursault did not do that. He profusely refused to see the priest and why should he? He "did not believe in god." Meursault did not care, as he did not care if his mother died, or if someone proposed marriage to him. This of course went totally against the rules and ethics of society, which cannot permit such kind of behavior. But why does Camà ºs characterize Meursault like that? Why did he create such an outsider to society? Camà ºs created such an... Free Essays on Kafka Vs. Camus Free Essays on Kafka Vs. Camus Ethical issues in the Stranger vs. those in the Trial Preface: I am a big fan of Kafka and his writings, and as I read through the Stranger I was struck at how the two were very similar. The following attempts to explain these similarities. The Stranger, written by Albert Camus, and The Trial, written by Franz Kafka, are two books that have been critically acclaimed since the time that they were published. There are critics that claim that The Stranger is a dull book, and is not even a read-worthy book. Other people claim that it shows us how society actually acts upon people who do not want to be like the rest of society. The Trial falls under the same kind of criticism; but both books, although written by different writers in a different à ©poque, fall under the same kind of genre: Imprisoned Lives. In both The Stranger and The Trial there are many people who influence the protagonists in a positive and in a negative way, but none of those characters are as important as the priest. The priest, being of the same profession in both books and trying to accomplish the same kind of tasks, have a totally different effect on the two protagonists. In The Stranger the priest changes the whole attitude that Meursault has to life, whereas in The Trial the priest tells Joseph K. how his life actually is. "Why do you refuse to see me?" This question was asked by the priest and was meant for Meursault. Normally, if a person is convicted to death, he will see a priest before the sentence is executed. Meursault did not do that. He profusely refused to see the priest and why should he? He "did not believe in god." Meursault did not care, as he did not care if his mother died, or if someone proposed marriage to him. This of course went totally against the rules and ethics of society, which cannot permit such kind of behavior. But why does Camà ºs characterize Meursault like that? Why did he create such an outsider to society? Camà ºs created such an...

Information Management - Midterm Assessment Essay

Information Management - Midterm Assessment - Essay Example All these categories should be cohesively used and are vital for the achievement of any enterprise. Different concentrations of analytics give insight to various factors. For example: knowledge on customer preference, location and retention (Farasyn et al. 2011: 67). The biggest weapon that P&G had was arguably top notch analysts who did not take the traditional ways to do things as the one and only rule. Tores, Perssini, McDonald and the rest of the team were a group of forward thinkers, risk takers and a team that valued transparency, qualities that are all paramount in analysis. They did a big job of introducing and encouraging an analytical culture and environment in the company (Davenport, Thomas, Marco Iansiti, & Serels 2013: 5). 1. Provision of up to date data- before analytics was adapted in P&G, historical data was relied upon for analysis and statistics. These meant problems were not seen as they emerged but periodically after the storm had passed. Analytics helped to provide up to date data, all the market changes or consumer behavior changes are easily noted, and problems nipped at the bud as soon as they appeared. An excellent example is seen in the North America Laundry detergent Market case study, if the market growth was not noticed in time, P&G would consequently lose that potential market to competitors had they not addressed the issue of supply in time (Davenport 2006: 98). 2. Marketing strategies- analytics provide a good way to formulate marketing strategies to yield the best result. P&G decided to start with North America, Ohio and roll out to the rest of the regions after studying the consumer’s behavior to the new compact powder. From the findings, the team was able to know which stores to supply a new product with. Even though, initially the sales were difficult to track due to stores that had stocked the older version of

Crisis Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Crisis Management - Research Paper Example This report will present a brief overview of crisis associated with the companies that is, organizational crisis will be the main area of study. In addition, this report will also present insights of the modern crisis management techniques adopted by organizations around the world. Furthermore, the report will also throw light on the cases where companies have faced crisis situation and how they dealt and overcame that situation. In this context the company which has been chosen to depict the importance of crisis management and also to reveal how the company surmounted the situation is Nokia. After that, depending upon the findings of the literature study a conclusion will be drawn. Finally some recommendations will be also provided by which will assist companies to address different forms of crisis. Defining Crisis Eminent scholars have stressed on the fact that crisis is a threat to organizations, an unexpected element and short periods of risk (Akers, 2007, p.11). It can affect ev ery segments of the social order that include educational institutions, non profits, churches, business, families, government etc. This study will however focus on the issue in the context of an organization. For an organization crisis can be illustrated as an anomalous and uncharacteristic situation or perception, which is beyond the control of an organization and also threatens to impact their operation. Several cases have also pointed out that if a possible crisis is identified at the initial stage, it will have least impact or the impact can be minimized to a large extent. On the other hand if a company fails to determine the possible crisis at the initial stage, it can adversely affect the operation of an organization. Even in some cases, a crisis can also threaten the survival of a business. Hence for them to survive and operate effectively in the market place, superior crisis management techniques and tools should be in place (Fearn-Banks, 2010, p.2). Defining Crisis Manageme nt Crisis management is simply defined as a systematic effort to circumvent or manage the crisis that an organization may face during its lifetime. The concept of crisis management was initiated during the 1980s, when large number of environmental and industrial disasters took place (Barton, 2007, p.5). In order to manage a crisis effectively an organization should consider a systematic approach towards the improvement process as it is indispensable to safeguard the reputation of company along with its brands. Therefore companies should enlighten their customers about the happening and to some extent is necessary for survival (Khodarahmi, 2009, p.524). Additionally, eminent scholars such as Appelbaum, Keller, Alvarez & Bedard (2012) added that relatively modern concepts such as strategic planning can also be effective in managing organizational crisis to a satisfactory level. The authors also put emphasis on the fact that a number of US corporations are employing this concept to for ecast and deal with the issues, threats or problems that are beyond the operating control of the firms. Discussion Eminent scholars such as Dinant and Miller have identified seminal researchers in the same field of study. They categorized the study into two major groups namely macro and micro sizes. The primary intention of their study was to offer insights regarding the most committed