Information security Essay Example for Free

Information security Essay Most organizations today are adopting and integrating technologies in their production with an aim of improving production, efficiency, profitability and the competitive advantage in the market. This has been accelerated by the increasing globalization and innovation of new technologies which pose a major competitive threat to many organizations. Also, formulation of environmental standards as well as increased expectation on the standards and quality of goods and services by both the government and customers has also necessitated adoption of new technologies to ensure this is met. New technologies in use today like the web 2. 0 and also the new internet as well as wireless technologies have led to increased efficiencies as well as increased productivity for most organizations. However, despite the advantages which accrue from introduction and use of new technologies in organizations, they pose major security threats to an organization. Data hijack by criminals as well as terrorism threats are some of the challenges that organizations are facing during new technology implementation processes (Bazelon, Choi Canady, 2006). Security issues in regard to new technologies implementation in an organization Security is a top concern for most business since it may lead to destruction of a company’s reputation thus affecting the competitiveness of an entity. With increased globalization and increased terrorist threats, security risks have increased posing a major threat to most organizations. One of the major threats that companies face while implementing information technologies are the risk of losing or protecting sensitive data. Information technologies especially via internet and other wireless technologies are accessible globally which poses a major threat to an organization. Organizations hold private and sensitive information regarding their employees, production processes and also marketing strategies which are vital for competitive advantage. However, with technology implementation, and the dynamism in technology, such data may be accessed by unauthorized individuals causing a business great harm in terms of profitability. This also exposes the employees as well as an organization’s customers’ at risk of fraudulent activities via technologies. Information security experts insist that just like information networks operate or cross borders with no regard for the provincial and national boundaries, also security vulnerabilities and threats pass in the same way thus necessitating greater and stern security measures to ensure that the threats are minimized (Hinojosa, 2005). Another threat that organizations are facing is terrorist attacks and threats. Currently, there are many terrorist groups which operate globally and they employ high technologies to carry out their tasks and to harass businesses and employees as well as the customers. An increase in global terrorist organizations in the world that are connected via the new technologies poses a major security threats to most organizations in the world. Terrorists may not only be interested with soliciting the financial and production processes of an organization, but also the structural and day to days activities of an organization with an aim of identifying weak areas or points which could be used to attack an organization. This is made possible by new technologies which enable then to tamper the security measures taken by an organization to ensure that it is protected (Sussman, 2008). Phishing and data mining is also another information security risk that is faced by organizations during implementation of technologies in an organization. Phishing refers to the unauthorized use of personal information of another person which is obtained through networks. It also involves alteration of an individual’s computer software with an aim of obtaining the computer owner’s personal information by scrupulous individuals and for the purposes of defrauding the person or harming their reputation or career. With implementation of new technologies in an organization, the entity is enabled to sell its goods and services online and all the transactions are carried without having to meet the customer or the client. While making the payments, a client gives his private financial data depending on the mode of payment which he or she uses. Computer criminals have a way of tampering with or gaining access of such information which they can manipulate to make purchases while pretending to be the clients. The business thus faces a risk of being sued by a client on such grounds and for lack of adequate protection measures. This has increased the cost of implementing technology especially with different cases of security breach being reported today. Organizations are supposed to ensure that the private information of their clients and employees are well protected and that their privacy is upheld despite the cost this may involve (Ena, 2008). Risk of loss of important documents by an organization has also been a major security issue while implementing information technology. Apart from the risk of terrorist threats and phishing, an organization also faces the risk of losing vital information through dangerous programs such as the viruses which are transmitted via the internet and other networks. If such programs find their way to the computers and other technologies in a company, a company may risks losing most of its vital information as these programs corrupts the whole network system in an area. This could be dangerous for and organization as it may lead of reduced productivity, increased costs and reduced earnings (Blankespoor, 2005). With increased awareness of information security threats increasing in the world, the attackers have changed their tactics posing even a major threat to an organization. Most of the attackers are usually professional information technologists who invent new methods of accessing data from an organization despite the security measures taken. As mentioned earlier, technology is changing at a very high speed and so are the security threats to an organization. The dynamism of technology is a risk which cost organizations heavily as they try to keep pace with it. While implementing new technologies, organizations are also faced with the problem of testing the validity of the technology. Most of the cases involving security breach end up being the problem in an organization. IT companies exonerate themselves by arguing that lack of adequate security policies in an organization are the major causes of any cost that an organization may incur (Wallace, Lusthaus. Kim, 2005). Conclusion Information technology is a major strategy that has enabled most of the businesses to perform well in terms of growth and expansion. New technologies have been on high demand in the recent past especially as most organizations go global which necessitates networking. Technology improves the efficiency, effectiveness and the overall productivity of an entity. However, it poses major threats to the privacy of a company as well as its clients and employees. Stern security measures should be taken to ensure that technology implantation in an organization does not turn out to be more costly. This can be done though formulation of technology security policies and procedures to ensure privacy is upheld.

Tata Motors A Business Strategy Report Marketing Essay

Tata Motors A Business Strategy Report Marketing Essay Tata Motors Limited, Indias largest automobile company, is the leader by far in commercial vehicles, and the second largest in the passenger vehicles market with winning products in the compact, mid-size car and utility vehicle segments. The purpose of this report is to study and analyze the internal and external environments of the automobile industry in India. The analysis should enable us to assess the current as well as previous strategies of the company and redesign new strategies for further optimization. Key Findings The research shows that Tata Motors has successfully implemented Low-Cost Strategy by providing unmatched value for its customers money. With 50 years of experience, the company has successfully served varied needs of its customers by providing an extensive range of products. Tata Motors is a pioneer in RD department which allows it to constantly innovate and discover new technologies. Recommendations Considering the emerging economy and changing consumers spending, implementation of Low-Cost Strategy might not benefit in the long run. Consequently, it is recommended that the company should follow differentiation strategy and focus on providing unique goods and services to win over the market from the rivalry players. By bringing revolutionary changes in the market, it would not be unrealistic to think of a future where customers would willingly pay for the added value to the product. Introduction Outline of Business under study Tata Motors, a subsidiary of the Tata group, was formerly known as TELCO (TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company). The group takes its name from the founder Jamsedji Tata and has its headquarters at the Bombay House in Mumbai, India. Established in 1945, Tata Motors has more than 4 million vehicles driving on the Indian roads. It was the first Indian company from the engineering sector to be listed in the New York Stock Exchange. It made its place amongst the worlds top three passenger vehicle makers and is currently the leader in commercial vehicle. It also stands as the fourth largest truck and second largest bus manufacturer. The company employs 23,000 workers, who are directed by the vision to become the best in its operations and product while staying intact with the business ethics and value system. The multinational often hits the headlines because of its takeovers and mergers, especially with the recent acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover (Tata Motors 2011). External Analysis of the Automobile Industry Ever growing Indian population and hence the workforce, has increased the number of independent earners. This favourable trend provides a greater scope for the development of automobile industry in India. During 2008 the industry had a share of up to 3.9% in countrys GDP, which is expected to rise to 10% by 2016 (India Retail Report Q1 2011). Consumer spending on transport is also expected to experience an upward trend and advance by 73.2% in 2007-2015. Also, increased investment by the government for improved road infrastructure has further led to a growth in multi-axle vehicles (Euromonitor International 2008). Reason for studying Tata Motors Tata Motors is lately the most talked about company. Over the years it has emerged as a low cost vehicle manufacturer with prime focus on innovation. In divergence to its strategy, it would be interesting to learn about its new ventures in the luxury market. The study therefore focuses on closely scrutinising and reviewing its current tactics and verifying for any scope for improvement. Strategic Analysis Methods Techniques for Data Collection For the execution of this research, we conducted an in-depth study of the available secondary data. The gathered information was verified with the online company records, reports and official websites. Tata Motors Internal Records and Annual Reports Companies internal records helped us analyzed its current position by revealing its earnings until 2010 and understanding its past strategies and actions. Online Databases Data retrieved from EBSCOhost database, Factiva database and e-books available online at Deakin library and google scholar proved to be extremely beneficial. Online Websites and Other Resources Reliable articles, magazines, statistical trends, government websites and other relevant online sources like financial express, further enlightened our knowledge about the company. Text Book and Lecture Notes The textbook Exploring Corporate Strategy by Gerry Johnson provided us with the framework to go about this project. Study guide and lecture notes were also valuable source for information. Business Strategy Statement Tata Motors aims to emerge as the world-class automobile leader with the remarkable price-performance ratio in combination with hyper-efficient engines to acquire the large market share internationally. Tata Motors mission is to create an organisation that people enjoy working for, doing business with and investing in. It focuses on customer needs to provide them a range of innovative products and maintain long-term relations, by working closely with its workforce and business partners. The companys purpose is to consistently create shareholder value by generating greater returns and to foster long lasting ties with the vendors and channel partners (Global Reporting Initiative 2010). The companys objective is to invest INR28.8billion over the next few years for increasing its production and INR60billion for the expansion of the existing manufacturing plants and in setting up vehicle testing facilities (Automotive Manufacturing Solutions 2010). Tata Motors unmatchable ability to manufacture low cost vehicles provides the company with a greater scope of earning high profit margins and enjoys a greater market share. Economic slowdown has hyped the competition to provide low priced but the best quality vehicles. Understanding rural Indian economy and growing incomes of the farmers, Tata Motors view increased opportunities for its commercial sector (Thakkar 2010). Nevertheless Tata Motors have a range of upcoming Jaguar and Land rover cars for the luxury brand buyers to capture the higher-income/premium customer segment. This could create a greater success for the company in near future. Tata Motors have remarkable advantages of manufacturing in India when compared to other MNC competitors. It benefits from the low labour cost, extensively skilled and interwoven backward and forward linkages, boosting IT engineering, strong auxiliary industry, substantial knowledge of the market, improving infrastructure and increasing domestic demand. Tata Motors aspires to be a world-class maker of quality vehicles by striking balance between the needs of its customers, employee, suppliers, investors and the community as a whole. Analysis of External Environment of the Business Macro Environment analysis Economic Factors: The Indian economy has experienced constant growth due to the increasing per capita income, which grew by 14.2% in 2006-07. The total consumer spending increased by 73.9% during 1995-2007 this is expected to reach 58.2% in 2007-2015 (Euromonitor International 2008). According to the World Factbook (2011), Indias inflation rate rose to 11.7% in 2010 driven by increasing food and fuel prices. Moreover, rising commodity prices and hardening interest rate has posed immense pressure on costs and margins of Indian manufacturers (Mitra Sen 2011). Figure 1: India GDP Source: Index Mundi 2011 Demographic Factors: Indias total population of 1.19 billion constitutes 70% potential buyers, which are below 35 years. It is seen that 130 million people had been added to the working population between 2003 and 2009. This indicates an increase in number of people with lesser dependency. The trend is likely to add value to vehicle demand with a shift toward high end cars (Automotive Mission Plan 2006). Figure 2: Vehicle Sales in India Source: India Retail Report Q2 2011 Political-Legal Factors: Indian government has taken several incentives under the current 11th five year plan (2007-2012) to boost the automobile sector. The Finance bill 2006 has reduced the excise duty on the small cars and duty on raw material which is now 5-7.5% as compared to the previous level of 10%. The Ministry of Finance announced 150% weighted deduction under the income Tax Act for in- house RD expenditure for all sectors (Anand 2009). The government has introduced a National Automotive testing and RD Infrastructure Project (NATRIP) which is based on building world class testing and RD infrastructure for vehicles in the country for automotive safety, emission and performance standards in India. Moreover, the Government has allocated a part of its budget for the improvement of road infrastructure (Planning Commission 2006). Environmental Factors: Increasing consciousness about global warming requires production of fuel efficient vehicles. Moreover, diesel fuelled locomotives pose greater threat to the environment as compared to the CNG vehicle (Centre for Science and Environment 2011). Furthermore, Recent disclosure of Euro V standard by the European commission requires India to revise its emission standards (Automotive Mission Plan 2006). Recently legislated carbon tax on coal producers has provided a source of financing clean energy research and development (Building Green Business 2010). Technological Factors: The automobile industrys spending on RD has increased from US$54.58 million to US$214.26 million in last four years which is 0.8% of the total nations GDP (The Financial Express 2008) (Ramanathan 2011). Furthermore, NATRIP is aiming to integrate the strengths of IT and electronics with the automobile engineering sector (Planning Commission 2006). Impact of Macro Environment on Business: Overall, developing economy with growing working population and consumer spending indicates an increase in the consumer demand, subsequently a growth in the automobile industry. Other prime factors contributing to this trend are improved expenditure on RD, boosting IT and reduced duty on raw materials. However, the escalating fuel and commodity prices and rising interest rates can obstruct industrys progress. Thus PESTEL analysis shows that mainly the economic and demographic factors are likely to be the main drivers for the advancement of automobile industry in future. Industry Analysis Threat of new entrant: Emerging Indian market is attracting automobile companies from all over the world. International car rental firms are posing a greater threat with nearly twelve brands, expected to enter the market (Gupta Shekhar 2010). However, Tata Motors enjoys economies of scale and level of experience, thus challenging for the new entrants. Figure 1: Five force framework Source: Johnson, Whittington Scholes 2011 Bargaining power of buyers: Increasing disposable income and availability of better alternatives have raised the customer expectations and array of choice. This has led to a decline in consumer loyalty towards particular vehicle brand. Indian consumers are now enjoying the greater bargaining power (Gupta Shekhar 2010). Bargaining power of Suppliers: The Indian auto component industry has witnessed a strong growth during 1995-2005, subsequently making automobile one of the fastest growing Industry. Increased availability of supply sources has lowered suppliers bargaining power. This can be seen in Tata Motors extended forward and backward vertical integration of its value chain through acquisition or creation of steel, manufacturing and retail operations (Zahrai 2009). Rivalry between Competitors: Indian automobile industry is highly competitive with three major players, namely Maruti Suzuki, Tata and Hyundai. Tata Motors and Hyundai Motors have nearly equal percentage of market share, although less than Maruti Suzuki. An important factor, which adds fuel to the competition, is that all major vehicle providers are highly competent to pursue opportunities with aggressive strategies. Figure: Market Share of Passenger Vehicle Providers (2010-2011) Source: Adapted from The Economic Times 2011 Threat of Substitutes: Automobile industry in India may fear the rapid development of public transport, most economical and speedy being metros. The analysis infers that four forces are strong enough to make this industry less attractive. However, to survive Tata Motors need to closely monitor the competitor actions and respond quickly to the changes in customer needs and expectations. Strategy Canvas Source: Adapted from Taylor 2011 Critical Success Factors The Critical Success Factors will enable Tata Motors to gain competitive advantage over the competitors to enter the blue ocean. Economies of Scale: Reaping the benefits of economies of scale, Tata Motors has been able to establish itself as a successful low cost provider (Business India Intelligence, 2008). Diversification: Tata Motors product line ranges from worlds cheapest car to expensive models such as Jaguar and Land Rover to trucks passing the million unit output mark reaping the benefits of economies of scale (Maekawa 2008). Innovation: Today the company employs over 2000 engineers and scientists, providing a leading edge in RD. This endowed technological capability has allowed constant innovations, thus serving the unique needs of the customers (IBEF 2010). Analysis of Internal Environment of the Business Companys Capabilities and Strengths Tata Motors have distinctive capability due to its comparative advantage in producing low cost cars, which is out of the reach of competitors. The value chain for Tata Motors starts with the IT teams innovation as a tool for business growth. Primary Activities Inbound logistics such as Tata Power Co., Tata Steel help them gain economics of scale. RD, designing, manufacturing, assembling, Kaizen TPM teams for testing and packaging to improve its operating efficiency. To capture significant market, it provides variety of light and heavy commercial, utility vehicles, and passenger cars. Tata distribution Company limited (TDCL) provides logistics support for distribution. The company optimized its cost on sales and marketing to ensure awareness about their latest launches. Easily reachable service centres, 24 hours IT Service desk and Tata AIG insurance finance facilities provide an ease to the customers (Tata Motors 2011). Support activities Tata constantly strives on innovation by providing its employees with a room for development through vocational and cross-functional training programs. Its HR process has been automated for far reaching profits. Competitive Strength of Business Tata Motors give tough competition to other players in automobile industry with its strong low cost strategies like production of Tata Nano. These schemes provide value for service to customers. SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Strong domestic player with a turnover of approximately $15,771.6 million in 2009. Extensive range of commercial and passenger vehicles with several variants to suit customer preferences. INR50,154million expenditure on robust research and development (RD) capability with Strong engineering skills in designing. Enjoys Low labour cost by manufacturing in India. Ultra cheap Nano, which was designed to replace the two wheelers with an affordable four-wheeler, was their greatest achievement. Tata Motors had debt of INR435, 815 million at the end March 2009, which unable cash inflow and degrades creditworthiness. General public associate Tata as low price and hence low quality, however this image may not do well in the premium sector. Inferior labour productivity and lean production. . . Opportunities Threats Technical know-how may transfer from Jaguar Land Rover and also the premium brand can benefit from reduced cost. Emerging market of India with increasing income levels. Infrastructure development in India will further increase the vehicle demand. Fuel efficient and eco friendly cars may find its way into the market. The price of raw materials is increasing and the company cannot pass the burden to its non-affluent customers. Rising fuel prices may have an adverse effect. Cost of meeting environmental regulations. Global financial crisis of 2007-08 has lead to financial crunch thereby rising the interest rates. Developing markets has attracted severe competition which could jeopardise Tatas position. Source: Datamonitor 2010 Strategy and Culture Tata Motors have a distinct way of doing business, more profoundly known as, The TATA way. The most deeply engraved value in the company is trust. The companys logo, leadership with trust personifies peoples belief in the brand. Thus the company respects the trust embedded in it by many and strives to honour its commitments. Other five core values that underpin the Tata way of doing business include integrity, responsibility, unity, understanding and excellence (Tata Motors 2011). The corporate governance of the company originates from its rich legacy of ethical, fair and transparent governance practices followed since ages, even before they were made mandatory by fostering highest standards of professionalism, integrity, honesty and ethical conduct (Corporate Sustainability Report 2008). Information and power passes through a vertical hierarchy with CEO being the foremost authority. The vice chairman of Tata Motors, Ravi Kant, attaches greater importance to communication. He strongly believes oral communication helps one understand the behavioural pattern. As a leader, the body language, communication style and the way of treating employees matter the most because the followers observes and take their own cues. Friendly relations with workers allow easy flow of ideas, thereby encouraging greater yield. Further, Code of Corporation Disclosure Practices confirms transparent declaration of its operations (Business Strategy Review 2010). Company successfully integrates advanced international HR management processes by retaining local managers in recent acquisition and transferring few senior managers from India. This makes exchange and adaption to new expertise easier while maintaining the companys core values. Quality has always remained the cornerstone of the Tata way of business; as such a formal system to scale the performance of different companies was introduced. TQMS help companies under the Tata group to conduct and enhance its business endeavours especially in relation to business excellence and ethics. Further, JRD Quality Value Awards named after the late chairman of the group, JRD Tata where incorporated for ensuring and encouraging quality consciousness. The award acknowledges the company within the group that achieves highest level of quality and excels quality management (Tata Motors 2011). Such practices entrench a learning environment that would consequently help achieve leadership in the marketplace by constantly striving to become the best. Strict fellowship of companys culture has allowed it to smoothly adhere to its strategy. Business Strategy Choice Tata Motors has constantly strived to be a low cost leader in the automobile market. Thus by employing Low cost strategy, it has made its presence felt especially in the untapped and developing markets like India. The most evident example is that of the ultra-low cost Nano. However, with increasing interest rates, raw material and fuel prices the company may not be able to sustain this strategy in the long run. Nevertheless, macro environment analysis suggests that economic growth and rising disposable incomes may increase the potential luxury vehicle buyers. Thus, TATAs acquisitions of Jaguar Land Rover seem to be a sound decision. Also, the ever-increasing competition in the industry requires Tata to implement Differentiation strategy. In accordance to this strategy, the company must focus on providing unique goods and services to win over the market from the rivalry players. This would allow the company to enjoy a premium price that the customers would willingly pay for the added value to the product. Implementation of this strategy can be a piece of cake for Tata Motors if it duly considers the following- Strategy execution Indulge in aggressive RD to ensure innovations that can add value to the product at minimum cost. This will include designing sophisticated eye-catching models. Adopt sustainable practices and maintain healthy relations with all the members of the value chain and constantly upgrade their knowledge by encouraging a learning environment. Conduct surveys to keep the company updated with the current demands of the buyers and meet them much before the rivals. Rising awareness about global warming and ever increasing fuel prices will see a growth in the green car sector. Thus adding super efficient engine and eco friendly vehicles to the companys portfolio will win a greater market. Improving the budget Regardless of the growing profits, the company must focus on getting rid of the substantial debts and avoid deals that may degrade their creditworthiness. Focus on improving global sales for speedy recovery of fixed cost. Outsourcing Outsourcing of trivial operations is worth the expenditure as it allows the company to concentrate on vital jobs required to stimulate differentiation. Ensuring Improvement The company must encourage interaction between the supply chain members for constant up gradation of the market demand and quicker delivery, thereby directing efforts towards the improvement of production time cycle. Promoting customization, where buyers can customize their vehicles as per their desire, can be an attraction for experimenters. Capturing greater chunk of market by launching altered models with varied prices for each segment. Conclusion The study shows a brighter future for the automobile industry in India. However, vigorous scope for the development of this market has attracted many players. Availability of numerous alternatives and substitutes has further increased customers expectations. Also, the growing youth market comprises of the experimenters, who desire up gradations and new innovations in their possessions. All these analyses provide Tata Motors to become more sensitive to the needs of the buyers and ensure is execution much before the rivals. The company must constantly explore new markets and ensure new innovations because the risk takers are the profit makers. Over and above the company can segment the market and have something for everyone in order to capture a major proportion of the market. Understanding the immense competition where every automobile company is fighting to become the best, Tata Motors is required to build additional competencies. The brand must stabilise its position as a leader in the commercial vehicle market and set new trends in the passenger. The recommended differentiation strategy will give the company a leading edge through its careful implementation and execution.

Gore Vs. Bush :: essays research papers

Gore vs. Bush Foreign Policy Ø  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  CHINA Bush would like to redefine the relationship between China and the United States to become one of competitors, not partners. Both Bush and Gore feel that the free market will most likely produce more individual freedom in China and he also supports increased trade with them. They also agree on defending Taiwan against aggression from the mainland, supporting the One-China Policy that has defined our relationship with them for a number of years. Gore believes that china should be encouraged to be a prosperous society by inducting them into various international institutions. He also feels that the U.S. should be a mediator between China and Taiwan. Ø  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  RUSSIA Bush opposes any further monetary assistance to Russia from the International Monetary Fund because he says he fears that government officials will pocket the money. Gore says he supports providing financial assistance to the Russian government so that they can become a free market democracy. He feels that both Russia’s and China’s threat to the U.S. is in their weaknesses, not their strength. Richard Nixon also argued this point. Ø  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  MIDDLE EAST / ISRAEL Gore and Bush both agree that the Israeli-Palestinian peace process needs to be moved forward. Bush says that the U.S. embassy should be moved from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem and he wants to work at re-establishing weapons inspection in Iraq. Gore vows to keep working with U.S. allies so Saddam Hussein isolated and to eventually get him out of power. He also said he would use military forces against Iraq if it ever became necessary. Ø  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AFRICA Both Bush and Gore feel that free trade will aid in building democracy and economic development in struggling Third World Countries. Gore supports debt forgiveness to the poorest of these nations and Western aid to help in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS in Central and Southern Africa. Ø  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  OTHER Both Bush and Gore support the Good Friday Accord in Northern Ireland, which calls for both sides to lay down arms. Gore wants to assist dialogue between North Korea and South Korea, and India and Pakistan. Bush wants to increase trade and investment with India making it a secure force in Asia and aid Australia with its peacekeeping efforts in east Timor. Military Ø  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both candidates are in favor of increasing the pay for military personal and also for increasing benefits. Gore wants to enhance military readiness by maintaining a strong force, which will result from increased training. Bush feels that morale is low in the military.

Not Revolutionary Enough Essay -- American History, The American Revol

For years, tensions between the colonies and England had been escalating. New taxes, unkept promises, and a more prominent presence of British soldiers set tempers rising within the colonies. Rebel groups such as the Sons of Liberty began appearing throughout the troubled colonies. While looking back at this time, historians can predict the Revolution several decades before it happened. When it was all said and done, a new country was born with a brand new institution of government. However, this so-called revolutionary war as more of a social uprising than an actual revolution. A revolution is a social construct that not only creates something brand new, but also eradicates the old system. A revolution must take the old society’s rules throw them out a window and start from scratch with ideas no one has ever thought of before. Moreover, revolutions do not tend to be organized, and even the better-organized ones fail because of corrupt leadership or just the inefficiency of the system. One aspect in society being changed is not a revolution. In addition, these changes cannot be toddler-sized steps; they have to be over the edge steps. For decades before the America’s have been slowly evolving. The idea of actual representation as opposed to virtual representation was beginning to take hold, and after the Revolution, the newly founded country turned to this new idea of actual representation (Van Lanen, 9/26). Therefore, the new form of government the United Stated founded was actually an improvement on their colonial governments. Radical change did not happen in American, however a progressive change that took time to take hold happened which is well outside the ideas of a revolution. An example of a real revolution would be ... ...volution that did not extend the hand of liberty to all inhabitants living within their borders. The American Revolution did create a new system of government that the world had never seen before. The ideas of unalienable rights, and property requirements for voting were groundbreaking for the era. However, almost every ideal the Americans introduced were modified versions of another system. Notions, such as actual representation, democracy, and compassionate marriages, all stemmed from another source. The Enlightened thinkers influenced the writers of the Constitution and Declaration, thus their ideals are found within the documents. Indeed, the Revolution changed the societal and political lives of its citizens, but the change was not enough. Other examples from history show much more radical revolutions, in which the American Revolution just does not compare.

What Is Psychology? :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s fast paced society many people have a tough time dealing with their problems, this is where the psychologist comes into play. Psychology by definition is, the science dealing with the mind and the mental and emotional processes. A lot of times, the psychologist will use the scientific method in finding a diagnosis for the patient. They will determine if they see a pattern, make a hypothesis and make conclusions to help the end result. I feel that psychology has an excellent claim to being called a science. The human brain is so complex, we need to definitely study it so we in turn can find out more about our creator.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From a Christian perspective, I feel that psychology has its benefits; however if the psychologist thinks that he/she is solving all of the problems is totally wrong. God put them in a position where they could help others fix their problems; if they misuse that power they are basically betraying God. On the other hand, understanding why God made our minds the way he did will only give us a better understanding of him. When God created us he gave us intelligence so that we could have a personal relationship with him. As Christians it should be one of our goals to find out more about this branch of science. Thus, I feel overall that psychology has a major potential to help us understand what it really means to be totally committed to Christ.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When looking at the other sciences, the â€Å"hard† sciences tend to use more physical proof then patterns discovered. Science by definition is the state of fact or knowledge. To leave science that wide open would be a mistake. That is why we see the many different divisions of science. Though each has a different area of study, they all do form one giant puzzle. Scientists in every field use some sort of scientific method to solve their problems. If they didn’t relate, we would see many contradictions between all the sciences.

Theories of Translation Essay

1. Introduction Translation, oral or written, is probably as old as the spoken or written word. Throughout the ages, famous writers have tried their hand at â€Å"the art of translatingâ€Å". Translation is usually defined as the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by the means of an equivalent target-language text. It can be also described as an expression of a sense from one language to another as well as transmission of a written or spoken language to another. However, it is a very broad notion that can be comprehended in a lot of various ways. It is also a multi-staged, creative process. Translation offers us the experience and attitudes of another culture or mentality. We cannot imagine a world without the translations of literary master pieces from all countries. The role of translation is to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers among nations. It is a key process in the development of global connectedness. A translator has several identities. First, a translator is a reader, who should know the text and its social and cultural background. He/she should also try to understand the original author`s feelings and thoughts about life and art. Secondly, a translator is a writer, because he must master two or more languages, and have the professional writer`s knowledge about the languages. Thirdly, a translator is a creator who is able to understand the source text well and to recreate the text which is faithful to the source text. If he is a real artist and a good craftsman, his work may even surpass the original. Fourthly, a translator is a researcher. The literature translation is dependent on literature study, which is the premise of translation. A translator`s four identities are mixed and integrated. Nevertheless, regardless of the degree of embellishment, translation cannot avoid altering the work. An American professor, scholar, linguist and polyglot, Werner Winter wrote that perfect translation was impossible. In his opinion, words, like marble, have certain intrinsic qualities that are indivisible from the form they take. That`s why he compares the translator to a sculptor who attempts to replicate a marble statue without the benefit of marble. But, translation is a worthwhile enterprise, despite the built-in flows. Because of our curiosity about other cultures, translation will likely never go out of fashion. Globalization overcomes spatial barriers, thus resulting in the mobility of people and objects; and a proper contact between different linguistic communities. It is manifested not only in the creation of global market, but also in the significance of travel and international movement of people (mass tourism, business travelling, migration and exile) and in the consolidation of a global communication system that distributes images and texts to any place in the world. These developments emphasize the significance of translation, which has been a key of global communication for decades. Some language theorist emphasize that translation has been neglected in the current literature on globalization. However, although the practice of translating is long established, the study of the field developed into an academic discipline until the second half of the twentieth century. Before that, translation had normally been an element of language learning in modern language courses. (Munday, 2001:7). The globalization theory focuses on mobility and deterritoriallzation, trying to obscure the complexities involved in overcoming cultural and linguistic barriers and to make the role of translation less important. However, many scholars indicate that translation helps us not only to get a better insight into the world, but to get to know ourselves better. The practice of translation comprises the selection and importation of cultural goods from outside a given circuit, and their transformation into terms which the receiving community can understand, if only in linguistic terms, and which it thus recognizes, to some extent, at least, as its own. And because each translation offers its own, over determined, distinct construction of â€Å"otherness† of the imported text, we can learn a  great deal from these cultural constructions – and from the construction of self which accompanies them. The paradigms and templates which a culture uses to build images of foreign offer privileged insight into self- definition. (Riccardi, 2002:17). 2. Theories of Translation There are many translation theories because translating can be viewed from a lot of various perspectives. Some translators claim that they have no theory of translation. But many linguists emphasize that every translator has his own theory of translation. Some persons object to a theory of translation; first of all, because it  seems unnecessary or even misleading. This is seriously true of some wrong theories of translation, but everyone has a theory of translation as to what one should do, how it should be done, and why. Such a theory may be overt or covert; it may be well defined or only vaguely felt. The truth of the matter is that everyone does have a theory of what one should do in translating, and many of these theories are quite inadequate. Good translations inevitably represent effective theories; in other words, organized sets of principles and procedures. A theory,  however, is more than simply a list of rules, for no list could ever cover everything which a translator must or can do. The theory is an organized set of principles pointing the way to finding proper solutions. (Jin and Nida, 2006:7). Translation theorists are usually worried about differences between literary and non-literary text, between poetry and prose, etc. There are many different theories of translation. One reason for that is the fact is that the process of translating can be seen from a lot of various points of view. The other reason is that translating has existed since the beginning of human history. Many language experts point out that traditional translation theorists divided translation into two types. Traditional translation theorists divided translation into two types: literary and non-literary. In literary translation (i. e. , the translation of literature) the translators were both concerned with â€Å"sense† and â€Å"style†. But in non-literary translation the emphasis was on sense. It was meant not to be â€Å"word for word† but â€Å"sense for sense† translation. In the later half of the twentieth century with the advent of Structuralism, Deconstruction and Reader-Response Criticism, Translation Studies took a new turn. (Das, 2008:27). Even nowadays, despite the great variety of translation theories, we don`t have any complete theory of translation. The main reason for that is the fact that translating is utterly a process which depends upon numerous disciplines: neurophysiology, communication theory, psychology, cultural anthropology and linguistics. Actually, it seems inappropriate to speak of â€Å"theories of translation†, since all that has been achieved are several sagacious perspectives on this complicated attempt. If we want to understand the nature of translation, the processes and procedures associated with all kinds of translations must be the center of our attention. Besides, we should point out different attitudes towards the complex task of translating, particular directions which provide good comprehension of interlingual communication. The four major perspectives on the problems of translating are: the philological perspective, the linguistic perspective, the communicative perspective and the sociosemiotic perspective. They should be regarded as complementary and supplementary. On the other hand, they show a historical development of translation. When there are differences in translation, we ask ourselves which of several translations should be the right translation. However, many scholars emphasize that different translations at different points in time â€Å"reflect different style and different ideas about translation†. (Rubel and Rosman, 2003:14). 3. Philologucal Perspective on Translation During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Europe, the philological perspective on translation was first and foremost concentrated on â€Å"faithfulness† of translation. The philological theories of translation were based on a philological approach to literary analysis and they were concerned with all kinds of stylistic features and rhetorical devices. This approach emphasizes: 1. the source of the thematic and formal features of the text; 2. the stylistic peculiarities of the author; 3. the thematic strructure. The philological approach to translation is source-oriented, author-centered and it does not examine the reasons that account for certain translation behaviour. The philological theories of translation have been concerned primarily with literary texts. Generally, the scholar`s discussions were about the degree of freedom that should be allowed, particulary in the case of Bible translation. Nevertheless, many translators accomplished masterly in combining sensitivity to style. Ocatavio Paz explained the most imprtant limitations of the philological perspective. In the field of verbal expression, Paz defines the function of words both in a poetic and prose text and †here again the emphasiz is on the recognition of the plurality of meaning†. (Schulte and Biguenet, 1992:7). Words create connotations that reflect multiple ways of interpreting the text. A lot of language experts protested strongly against the domination of philology and its methodology in translation theory, with the result that many people began to recognize the necessity of a more linguistic orientation for translation theory and practise. 4. Lingustic Perspective on Translation The developement of linguistic perspective can be attributed to two principal factors: 1. the application of the rapidly expanding science of lingustics to several different areas of intellectual activity (language learning, cognitive antrophology, and semiotics), and 2. machine translation. Linguistic theories of translation are based on a comparision of the linguistic structures of source and receptor texts rather than on a comparision of literary genres and stylistic features. Linguistic approach refers to the approach which makes linguistics the key in translating. Linguistics and the growth of linguistically oriented theory are closely related. Linguistic perspective reflects the trend of language study. Translation studies fought for a proper place of its own. Linguistic approach has largely contributed to the initial scientifization of translation studies. Through the use of transformations, Noah Chomsky and his collegues added a new influental sphere to language structure. Several philosophers have made their indirect improvements of the linguistic perspective as well. A lot of books on translating and on correlations in language structures were published during this period. However, this approach to translation has tended to neglect the semantics of lexical structures. In the second place, this kind of perspective depends too much on the ideal speaker and hearer. There are no such ideal individuals, and the translator must be concerned with the various types of limitations that actual speakers and hearers have. In the third place, linguistic approach to translation neglected verbal communication, and language cannot be discussed as though verbal communication occurs in a cultural vacuum. 5. Communicative Perspective on Translation. Dissatisfaction with a strictly linguistic approach to translation is evidenced in Eugene Nida`s relating translation to a communicative theory, rather than a specific linguistic theory. The book From One Language to Another (de Ward and Nida, 1986), made the communicative approach predominant. When one proceeds from the level of gramatical categories (which are largely implicit) to the level of words, which are symbols for dynamic and explicit features of culture, one is obliged to interpret the meaning of such linguistic units in light of the cultural context. That is to say, the meaning of a unit must be described in terms of the sum total of what it signals in all the contexts in which it is used. (Nida, 1975:6). The communicative perspective demonstrates the significance of several fundamental elements, such as: source, message, receptor, feedback, noise, setting and medium. It also analyzes the problem of encoding and decoding. Communicative approach focuses upon various processes in communication and because of that the relation between sociolinguistics and translation is a very natural one. Any approach to translating established on communication theory has to give great attention to the paralinguistic and extralingustic characteristics of oral and written messages. For persuasive and good outcome, form and content must be inseparable. Eqivavalence is also Nida`s preoccupation. He rejects †free† versus †literal† debate in favour of the concept of formal and dynamic eqivalence – a concept that shifts the emphasiz to the target audience. Eugene Nida`s scientific approach has evolved into a quest for a more systematic classifications of all translation theories, which should be based on linguistics, philology and semiotics. 6. Sociosemiotic Perspective on Translation Sociosemiotic approach to translation has been undertaken by de Ward, Nida and Toury. Language must be viewed as a shared set of habits using the voice to communicate. Language experts point out that the existence of shared values and of regular communication patterns requires empirical investigation. To the extent that speakers share knowledge of the communicative constrants and options govering a significiant number of social situations, they can be said to be members of the same speech community. Since such shared knowledge depends on intensity of  contact and communication networks, speech community boundiers tend to coincide with wider social units, such as countries, tribes, religious or ethnic groupings. (Gumperz and Hymes,1986:16). Scholars indicate that members of the same speech community need not all speak the same language nor use the same lingistic forms on similar occassions: All that is required is that there be at least one language in common and that rules governing basic communicative strategies be shared so that speaker can decode the social meaning carried by alternative modes of  communication. (Gumprez and Hymes, 1986:16). On the other hand, the primary concern of the translator is to transfer the meaning of the source language to the target language. Meaning is the point of departure and the end product of translation operations. It is neither possible nor desirible to reproduce every aspect of meaning for every word in a source text. We have to try, as much as possible, to convey the meaning of key words which are focal to understanding and developement of a text, but we cannot and should not distract the  reader by looking at every word in isolation and attempting to present him/her with a full linguistic account of its meaning. (Baker,1992:26). Semiotics is the scientific study of properties of signing systems, whether natural or artificial. In its oldest sense, it refers to the study within philosophy of sign and symbol systems in general. The modern use of the word covers the investigation of patterned human communication in all its modes. Sociosemiotic approach to translation uses a realistic epistemology that describes the real world. Its starting point is verbal creativity. Sociosemiotic perspective also appreciates the adaptility of the language, the blurred limitations of usage and the ambiguity of meaning, which makes language such a sophisticated tool for dialogue. Besides, this approach is fundamentally interdisciplinary, regarding the multiplicity of codes. In linguistic communication, as in any other communication, there are at least five essential elements involved: 1. the topic (the message transmitted), 2. the code (the system of symbols with which the message is processed and sent out),  3.  the sender (the encoder of the message), 4. the receiver (the decoder of the message), 5. the channel of contact (between the sender and the receiver). Each of these categories of sociosemiotic meaning is related primarily to one or more of these five elements. The complete indications of sociosemiotic theories of translation, are only now appearing. However, they possess the potential for becoming very important perceptives for more definable and adequate outcomes. 7. Conclusion These four major perspectives on the problems of translating do not ivalidate one another. On the contrary, they contribute to a better understanding of interlingual communication. These diverse approaches to the problems of translating are essentialy matters of different perspectives. If the focus of attention is on particular texts (and especially if these are of so-called literary quality), the underlying theory of translation is best regarded as philological. If, however, the focus of attention is on the correspondance in language form and content, that is, on the structural differences between the source and receptor languages, the corresponding theory may be regarded as linguistic. If the focus is on translation as a part of an actual communication process, the corresponding theories may be regarded as communitave. If the focus is on plasticity of language, the corresponding theories may be regarded as sociosemiotic. The purposes of translation are so diverse, the texts so different, and the receptors so varied that one can readily understand how and why many distinct formulations of principles and practises of translation have been proposed. All who have written seriously on translating agree that translators should know both the source and the receptor language, should be familiar with the subject matter, and should have some facility of expression in the receptor language. In discussing the various theories of translation, it is important to recognize that these theories are seldom developed in comprehensive form. In most cases, the theories are far more implicit than explicit. But, many scholars point out that a good transltion can be recognized very easily. In fact this type of translation is distinguished by its elegance and  concision, its attention to natural word order, to the deployment of clauses and phrases more frequently used than their formal equivalent in source language: a good translation is deft, neat and closely shadowing its original. (Newmark, 1991:34). However, the fact that patterns of human behaviour are constantly subject to change means that literary taste and judgement with respect to types of translation also change. There is, therefore, no permanent set of criteria for judging the acceptability of translation, but change also implies fluctuation in judgement. Accordingly, one must expect that over a period of time not only will the attitudes of many people change with respect to a translation, but the same individual may react to a particular translation in different ways at different times, depending on his own emotional state or needs. It seems to me that language experts will perhaps invent some new approach to translation. However, despite the fact that scholars have different opinions about perspectives on translation, translation will never cease to exist. Good translators love their work because it is useful and creative. They love exploring the wods, which are a mirror of their times – of the events, the preoccupations, the inventions and discoveries. Every word represents a treasure of mankind`s wisdom. In my opinion, we can learn so much from the act of translation when we are involved in the process. We can learn about our own writing, our language, foreign language and about language itself. Bibiliography 1. Baker, Mona. (1992). In Other Words. London: Routledge. 2. Das, Bijay Kumar. (2008). A Handbook of Translation Studies. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers &Distributors. 3. Gumprez, John and Hymes, Del. (1986). Directions in Sociolinguistics. New York: Basil Blackwell Inc. 4. Jin, Di and Nida, A. Eugene. (2006). On Translation. Hong Kong: City University Hong Kong Press. 5. Munday, Jeremy. (2001). Introducing Translation Studies. New York:Routlege. 6. Newmark, Peter. (1991). About Translation. UK:Multilingual Matters. Ltd. 7. Nida, A. Eugene. (1975). Language Structure and Translation. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 8. Riccardi, Allesandra. (2002). Translation Studies: perspectives on emerging discipline. Cambridge: The Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. 9. Ruber, Paula and Rosman, Abraham. (2003). Translating Cultures. Oxford:Berg. 10. Schulte, Rainer and Biguent, John. (1992). Theories of Translation. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press. Contents 1. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 1 2. Theories of Translation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 3. Philological Perspective on Translation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 5 4. Linguistic Perspective on Translation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 6 5. Communicative Perspective on Translation†¦.. 7 6. Sociosemiotic Perspective on Translation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 8 7. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 10 8. Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 12 9. Contents†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13

Assignment: Wal-Mart Essay

Wal-Mart, the retail icon, taking on yet another strategy when sitting somewhat comfortably, (a business is never comfortable or should not be so comfortable), especially when the one to â€Å"beat.† Advertising strategy is as any strategy and that is with risk. An example of such risk is investing and the risk tolerance for each individual, conservative, moderate, or aggressive specific to goals. Wal-Mart is able to take the aggressive stance but not necessary because of their national, soon-to-be (?), global success but can never consider permanent. As said, it is much more difficult to remain on top than to work towards the top. The latest advertising campaign is one of a surprisingly risky and unique platform for Wal-Mart. Still attempting to disassociate itself from the negative image of a discriminatory violator of employee rights and participant of extensive bribery allegations gave way to an, as interpreted, defensive almost challenging response from a seemingly naà ¯ve, oblivious, and loyal Lee Scott, CEO or one only too aware and guilt driven angry. That is giving the CEO the benefit of the doubt unless privy to undocumented evidence to refute the crimes allegedly committed. A lengthy investigation into the bribery allegations includes that sometime in January 2006, the case had reached a critical juncture. Wal-Mart’s leaders were again weighing whether to approve a full investigation that would inevitably focus on a star executive already publicly discussed as a potential successor to Mr. Scott, (Barstow, David, 2012); the same quoted in the latest ad campaign. Wal-Mart’s ethics policy offered clear direction. â€Å"Never cover up or ignore an ethics problem,† the policy states and some who were involved in the investigation argued that it was time to take a stand against signs of rising corruption in Wal-Mart’s global operations. Each year the company received hundreds of internal reports of bribery and fraud, records showed. In Asia alone, there had been 90 reports of bribery just in the previous 18 months. After years of investigation that turned up evidence upon evidence to validate corruption and illegal activity, ultimately resulted in â€Å"swept under the rug† acceptance and closing of the investigation. With the closing of another â€Å"money=innocence† case offers the opportunity to focus on the latest advertising campaign left to surmise its intent. Somewhat biased after a brief research of Wal-Mart remarkably did not affect the initial perception and is as thus: In response to, â€Å". . . when special-interest groups and critics spread misinformation about Wal-Mart, the public deserves to hear the truth, everyone is entitled to their own opinions about our company, but they are not entitled to make up their own facts.† * The intent here is a â€Å"We are so confident in our innocence of unsubstantiated allegations we can be so bold to force a code of ethics we abide by and cannot be reasonably denied upon and challenge anyone attempting.† A portrayal of morals and ethics defended is one perception. * The possible negative impact is the audacity Wal-Mart has to tell anyone what or how to think, act, or live. * Attempting to reach further than their established target market, a newspaper ad appeals to a different market that as of yet not a typical Wal-Mart shopper can validate this new strategy. * Creative execution, as interpreted, is the driving force of such a bold and challenging advertisement. Its effectiveness of this campaign has not rendered statistics to my knowledge, but as an already not impressed by pricing, customer service, and the whole Wal-Mart shopping experience consumer, this advertisement does not improve their chances of my being a regular if at all customer. For a value shopper that I consider myself avoids Wal-Mart for reasons aforementioned and the cleanliness factor, the employees lack of knowledge of products and location of products, and the much too often out of stock issues encountered leaves desperation the only reason to shop in a Wal-Mart. Works Cited Barstow, David. (2012, April 21). Vast Mexico Bribery Case Hushed Up by Wal-Mart After Top-Level Struggle. Retrieved from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/business/at-wal-mart-in-mexico-a-bribe-inquiry-silenced.html?pagewanted=all