Monitoring Internet Communication

The Internet has for many become a symbol of freedom – freedom of communication, human interaction, and flow of information. People all over the world can with ease submit their ideas and feelings to this virtual medium and retrieve from it the equally free ideas of other people. However, some claim that Internet communication does not have to be as free as it is. Instead, it needs to be monitored to prevent its usage as a medium for terrorist organisations, drug dealers, fraudsters, and other criminal or unlawful groupings. Others point out that Internet is virtually the only way for people with oppressive regimes to access information that will present them with an objective picture of the outside world. While there are reasons for both points, free speech should take precedence in democratic nations, and therefore Internet monitoring is a harmful practice. Such monitoring is in fact a violation of free speech, one of the inalienable human rights. Generations of thinkers and revolutionaries lost their lives for the triumph of democracy that is only possible with free speech as one of its cornerstones. If the American journalists, for instance, had been deprived of the right to criticise Presidents, senators, congressmen, and other political leaders, it is hard to imagine what the nation would have turned into. Constant monitoring of political leaders is what gives the nation a chance to remain democratic. On the other hand, nations like China are banning certain websites to blind their citizens to what is going on in the rest of the world. This shows that freedom of speech is a hallmark of a democratic nation, and monitoring Internet communication violates these rights. Giving an individual person the right to know constitutes the respect of the autonomy of an individual. A human being has the right to access information pertaining to different spheres of life and should not be restricted in this ability by the opinion of the few. Since, if Internet communication is to be monitored to ban, for instance, pornographic material, the question arises: who will be the people that will decide what is pornography and what is not? The Ancient Greek statues could easily be termed inappropriate by some medieval priest. Putting access to information at the judgement of a few obscure individuals will make these people make decisions for all, and there is no guarantee that their judgement will help society make better choices. A popular objection that without monitoring Internet content someone â€Å"might unknowingly visit a Web site with this material and cause him- or herself mental harm† does not seem valid either (Garlock, 1999). The problem is that Internet is like life in the sense that it encompasses a great deal of its variety and glory. You cannot shield yourself from harmful influences in life any more than you can on the Internet. If someone is disgusted, for instance, by the site of the sick and the crippled, no one will remove them from streets just to please the person. Similarly, the Internet has to contain images and information about the outside world that reflects its diversity. Therefore, no one can isolate oneself from harmful influence on the Internet since they reflect real life. Thus, monitoring Internet communication is hardly a valid idea. In the political realm, it will lead to restriction of freedom that can bring about the emergence of un-democratic regimes oppressing ill-informed citizens. On the other hand, giving people a free medium is one of the ways to save them from the state’s propaganda machine by letting them see alternative viewpoints. Monitoring is also a bad idea because it will put the individual at the mercy of a select group that will perform the monitoring in accordance with their own ideas and perceptions. Finally, the idea of using Internet as a means of protecting people from undesirable content does not hold simply because no one can hide in a ‘hole’ from real life. The only option is to go to sites that you yourself think proper for you and avoid troublesome content. With respect to others, one can paraphrase Voltaire’s words: â€Å"I disapprove of what you post, but I will defend to the death your right to place it online†. References Garlock, A. (1999). Internet Censorship. Retrieved April 25, 2006 Wollstein, J. Freedom of Speech Under Siege. Retrieved April 25, 2006, from http://www.serendipity.li/cda/freespee.html

Marketing Segmentation of Adidas

Adidas is a major German sports apparel manufacturer, which was founded in 1948. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe and the second biggest sportswear manufacturer in the world, after Nike. The company's clothing and shoe designs typically feature three parallel bars. The company revenue for 2009 was listed at â‚ ¬10. 38 billion. The market segmentation; targeting and position play an important role in this company. This essay will use the three factors to analyze this company. Market segmentation Market segmentation was to dividing a market into distinct groups of buyers with different needs, charactistics or behaviour who might require separate products or marketing mixes, the company will first identifies different way to segment the market and then develops profiles of the resulting market segments. As market consist of many buyers, they may differ in their wants, buying attitudes and buying practices, so a seller might design a separate market program for each buyer. Adidas mainly focus on demographic and psychographic segmentation. So Adidas develops their brand in 3 different styles according to the segmentation. Demographic segmentation refers to dividing the market into groups based on demographic variables, such as sex and age, which this method has long been used in clothing market. They branded products into range of male, female and kids, according to age and life cycle segmentation and gender segmentation, after all they can have products that can fit to almost every demographic possible. Adidas has a branded range of male and female clothing, shoes or body-care and eyewear, which all three brands of Adidas; Performance, Originals and Style also provide products for this segment. Ppsychographic segmentation was to dividing the market into groups based on social class, life style or personality characteristics. Adidas focus on social class because people within a given social class tend to have similar buying behavior. People interest in many goods is affected by their life style and many goods they buy are expressions of their lifestyle, people who loves outdoor activities and sporty style will tends to buy Adidas products. By using personality variables to segment markets, giving their products personalities that correspond to consumer personalities. From the fundamental marketing concepts, it is important to satisfy customers need and meet their expectations, in orders to keep royal consumer. Adidas has did a successful job in this area, because many people who are experiencers and image drivers believes that Adidas provides products which are fashionable, good looking and can be functional too. So Adidas Originals was designed to focus on fashion and life-style. Adidas segment customers like athletes, gym regulars, sports enthusiasts, brand freaks and image seekers. Adidas often have work with different athletes, which produce products that enhance performances. Adidas Performance currently manufactures several running shoes, football kit and associated equipment, being official outfitter of NBA, golf equipments, training and more other sports. Adidas also featured with Y-3 and Adidas NEO Label provided crossover products with different brands that customers who loves either brands would also attracted to buy their products. Market targeting Market targeting is evaluating different market segments, a company must look at three factors: segment size and growth, segment structural attractiveness, and company objectives and resources. (Kotler et al 2010, p277) After evaluating different segments, Adidas adopts market coverage strategy which is differentiated marketing. For using this, Adidas decides to target several market segments, and separate offers for each. (Kotler et al 2010, p278) Thus, the company of Adidas has three different types of product for ustomers, which are Performance, Originals and Style. Here is the table shows three sub-brands of Adidas. Brand of Adidas | Target market| Performance| the customers who like sports. it’s everywhere around the global where sports are simply played, watched, enjoyed and celebrated. | Originals| focuses on streetwear and lifestyle fasions. | Style| Y-3 targets a forward-thinking fashion consumer. SLVR is the smart fashion sportswear label within adidas Sport Style. NEO label is targeted to appeal to the fashionable teen (12- to 16-year-old) who is fully engaged in life, be it through social networking, family, friends, outdoor or sporting activities. | (Adidas group 2009) Those brands allow Adidas to address multiple consumer needs, exploit market opportunities from various angles as well as be less affected by one-dimensional market risks. Considering each sub brand, it uses market coverage strategy which identifies as a market coverage strategy in which a company goes after a large share of one or a few submarket. Kotler et al 2010, p279) For example, Adidas Orginal promotes classic style. It comprise the side collection of numbers of items such as sneakers, clothes, eyewear an watches. In addition, it promotes for different gender, also it targets on customers refer to their lifestyle, which are interest, hobbies and personality , for example, the people like skateboarding would like Adidas Original. adidas Originals with its Trefoil logo has become a relevant part of many people’s lives, whether they are skaters, rockers, artists, musicians, sneakerheads, sports fans and so on. In 2011, Adidas Originals promotes a new line which is denim collection. Market positioning After the market segmentation and market targeting, the next step is market positioning, positioning played an important role for a company to get success and the definition of positioning is designing the company’s offering and image to the mind of buyer (Kotler et al, 2010 p. 280). From the definition of positioning we can easily understand positioning is not what company do to the product, it’s what company do to the mind of consumer elative to competing products, therefore, company can through a valuable proposition, positioning provide the reasons for purchase in the mind of the customers. Firstly, Adidas is a company focus on producing and selling sports goods, which include footwear, clothes and some sports equipment. Therefore, Adidas invested a lot of money to major sport events and major sports clubs around the world to promote and positioning the impression of the Adidas’s sports products as the world leading high quality and most popular sports producer. In addition to using celebrity and well-known club to endorse products, Adidas also constantly using innovation of technique to improve the quality of product, and employ world’s best designers to make their products more popular. As a result, Adidas positioning their products more popular and high quality in consumers mind. Secondly, Adidas is now positioning their new products to be â€Å"faster†. For example, the new basketball boots â€Å"Dwight Howard Superbeast† which was represented by NBA basketball star Dwight Howard is the lightest professional basketball boots in basketball history. This boots make the basketball players run much faster and make stronger move than wearing other shoes. (No author, July 2010) As well as football boots, the â€Å"F50† football boots that represented by the best footballer in this decade Leonardo Messi is one of the lightest football boots in the world. (No author, March 2010) Thirdly, relative to competitors such as Nike, Adidas is more focusing on basketball such as NBA, Adidas is the main provider of all home kits and away kits of 20 teams in NBA, this make Adidas the best producer of basketball wearing products in consumers’ mind. In conclusion, Adidas has become a world leading producer of sports wear by positioning themselves as high quality, popular, and faster. Conclusion In conclusion, market segmentation, targeting and positioning, which are the three important factors in Adidas Company’s marketing. Market segmentation, you should focus on demographic and psychographic segmentation, Adidas can develop brand in 3 different styles, and it can result in get more profit from different style customer. Adidas target on the customers who like sports, such as FIFA World Cup or the NBA All-Star Gam. It can be seen that Adidas have more chance in big money events; it can help the company improve brand equity and enhance the company target. Adidas positioning on sports goods is high quality and popular, it is very suitable for the younger. If Adidas Company fully to use market segmentation, targeting and positioning three steps, I believe that Adidas becomes the first brand in the world in the future. ReferenceKotler, P, Brown, L, Burton, S, Deans, K ; Armstrong, G, 2010, Marketing, 8th Edn, Person Australia, Frenchs Forest NSW.Adidas group 2009, Adidas strategy, viewed in 12 May, http://adidas-group.corporate-publications.com/2009/gb/en/structure-and-strategy/global-brands-strategy/adidas-strategy.htmlAdidas March 2011, viewed in 12 May,Adidas July 2011, viewed in 12 May, ; http://www.adidas.com/au/basketball/;

Case study stage q Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Stage q - Case Study Example In addition, the essay also relays policies aimed at to bringing the centre into a 21st century complex hence have a high competitive advantage in the market. Porter’s Five Forces Model Buyer’s Power This is the customer’s ability to purchase the UR UMUC Healthy fitness center’s products at reasonable prices compared to other corporations (Baltzan, 2013). In UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center, increase of the buyer’s power will significantly boost business’s performance. Therefore, the business will yield to the setting reasonable prices intended to attract large client pool. Supplier power This is the power by suppliers to supply the centre with required quality equipment at a much higher price (Baltzan, 2013). The supplier power brings a neutral impact to the business. The above force is also not vital and ought not to appear among the institution’s strategies. Threat of substitute products or services This brings out how the customers c an switch to the competitors’ services and products at the expense of UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center merchandise (Baltzan, 2013). This force negatively affects the fitness centre because it reflects to high loss rate in the centre. It is also fundamental to include strategies and policies that attract competitors’ customers to opt for our products and services. ... Yes, it is vital to consider the factor while devising strategies of avoiding competition against UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center as well as come up with ways of competing with new entrants. Rivalry among existing competitors The intensity of rivalry between competitors is a major determinant of the UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center’s success (Baltzan, 2013). This factor neutrally affects the centre as UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center can be the most preferred destination by numerous customers. The force ought to be included in the strategy making process to ensure the centre does not incur major losses due to competition. If the company’s competitors provide quality services and attractive products, the centre is most likely to have higher losses. Porter’s three Generic Strategies are vital in a business to ensure they have attained high competitive advantage (Baltzan, 2013). In order for UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center to improve and achieve a 21st century standard, I opt to employ the differentiation Strategy. This entails the business should strive to become unique in the market than its competitors (Baltzan, 2013). The strategy also encompasses emphasis on branding, advertising, design, service, quality, and new product development (Baltzan, 2013). For instance, UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center can be exceptional in providing the best customer service in the industry via studying its client’s behavior. In addition, we can be unique by providing Wi-Fi services in the centre to achieve technological advancement level, hence ensuring the clients feeling the institution not only avails the required necessities, but aids them to be in touch with whom they love or need. The most important business area which UR UMUC Healthy Fitness Center ought to improve is the

International Human Rights Protection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

International Human Rights Protection - Essay Example However, with not all countries adhering to the provisions of convention with sincerity, the convention has not been able to bring about the necessary effect, and thus, discrimination of women has continued unabated even in literate and well-developed societies. The implementation of the 1979 UNGA convention was a creditable effort in bringing out human rights concerns of the female half of the humanity. The convention specified meaning of equality and also the means to achieve it. As per Article 1, discrimination has been spelt out as "any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex ... in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field." The agenda is then spread over fourteen such articles including human reproduction aspects and their rights therein. While cultural and legal status of women receives maximum attention, their rights to education, employment, economic and social activities are also critically assessed. It also declares full equality of women in civil and business matters and that any instrument restricting such legal capacity shall be null and void. Marriage, family relations and rights with regard to choice of spouse, parenthood, personal rights and command over property receive deta iled description. In reproductive function, it requires shared responsibility for child rearing, maternity protection and child care. Society's obligations in areas like provisioning of child care facilities while women performing public life have been clearly spelt out. Cultural patterns which define world as a man's world globally also need to be amended through proactive initiatives by respective societies with assistance from their governments. Essential Drawbacks The essential drawbacks in implementation of the provisions of the convention lie in the fact that while states have an obligation to implement the convention; there is no accepted way of penalising a state that willingly or unwillingly does not conform to implementation of these provisions. While states with better track record have achieved better human development in terms of lower poverty, better education or uniform laws for all citizens, most developing or undeveloped countries have failed to satisfactorily ensure women's empowerment due to lack of national will, inadequate policy implementation and deep rooted traditional issues which are dificult to tackle. While the list of difficulties being faced is too long to be included in this section, some such aspects along with specific articles of the convention are discussed in succeeding paragraphs: Traditional view of subordinate position of women in most societies has been the biggest roadblock across the world. Articles 2(f), 5 and 10 (c) relate to traditional attitudes regarding women being subordinate to men. Besides physical violence and mental torture, this also causes lower levels of education, neglected skills, unequal work opportunities and minimal political participation. These also propagate pornography and use of women as sexual objects than as individuals. Article 6 requires elimination of women trafficking and prostitution.

Combining Content, Argument, and StructureThe Workshop Research Paper

Combining Content, Argument, and StructureThe Workshop - Research Paper Example As such, she or he is unable to perform optimally in the workplace. Similarly, the anti-harassment policy will ensure that all workers operate on a level-playing ground where they all enjoy their rights as they work. Infringing a worker’s rights hampers their output. For example, the workers will not feel at ease while visiting some of the offices in the workplace. This is equally important to the CEO in ensuring the performance of workers improves (Strauss, 2011). For example, when workers are treated fairly and equally, it hugely boosts their morale thereby leading to higher output per worker. Where there is harassment, unfairness and inequalities it is difficult to instill teamwork resulting in overall organizational failure. It is critical to instill sexual harassment policies in a working environment owing to a number of reasons. First, people have rights which should be upheld and duly protected. Sexual harassment interferes with a person’s rights (Baker, 2007). Secondly, sexual harassment goes a long way in negatively affecting people’s lives both the perpetrator’s and the victim’s. Without respect for individual workers an organization will experience high staff turnover as workers seek better working environments. Communicating about sexual harassment or other forms of disrespect should not be a problem. The CEO should first sensitize the workers on the need for a firm anti-sexual harassment policy. Above all, this is a criminal offense that is punishable by law. After sensitization, the CEO should give a memo listing and elaborating the need for the anti-sexual harassment policy. The CEO could also indulge occasional emails and letters to update the workers on how the p olicy is changing the

MRI (Classical theory Magnetic resonance) Essay

MRI (Classical theory Magnetic resonance) - Essay Example n electromagnetic laws a nucleus spining around its own axis with an electric charge will cause a small magnetic moment (composed of spin and charge) (Donald W et al. 2010). The rotation (spin) of the nucleus is perpendicular to the axis of the nucleus magnetic field. In short, vector (Figure 1) is used to describe the magnitude (amplitude) and the direction of the magnetic moment (Westbrook, Roth & Talbot 2005). When the atomic mass number is odd an example is Na 23. Another example is 7Li. It has seven atomic mass number 3 protons and 4 neutrons and thus will give rise to an MR signal. The spin (I) for 23Na and 7Li will be 23⠁„2 and 3/2, respectively. For example, 14N has seven protons and seven neutrons (Z=7 and A=14). The spin (I) for 14N will be However, if the atomic number and atomic mass number are even, then there is no magnetic moment and thus no MR signal (for instance, 114Cd is composed of 48 protons plus 66 neutrons, Z=48 and A=114) (BROWN & SEMELKA 1999; Donald W et al. 2010). It is important to know that the vectors of the MR active nuclei in the absence of the main magnetic field will spin randomly; thus, the random directions of the nuclei will affect the magnitude of the net magnetic moment. The probability of the net magnetic moment approaching zero is when there are many nuclei aligned in different directions If RF pulse is applied at the resonance, then the protons can absorb that energy at the quantum level, a single proton jumps to higher energy state. At the macro or classical level, to an observer in the external laboratory frame of reference, the magnetization vector spiral down towards the xy plane. Now to see the behavior of the rotating frame when a RF pulse is applied from external source ,we keep this thing in minds that pulses are often labeled by their tip angle which can be any value of angle but most of the times the 90o and 180o. The tip angle is dependent on both the magnitude of the externally applied magnetic field and

HRM processes and practices in UAE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

HRM processes and practices in UAE - Essay Example UAE has significantly developed in the recent past and in a very short period of time it has become an example of economic growth. UAE has been attracting investment from all around the globe and it is being considered one of the best avenues for business expansion. The analysis conducted in the paper would try to provide sufficient foundation for the fact that UAE is a suitable avenue for the expansion of business. Socio-Political Background of UAE UAE has been providing routes to international business for centuries and it has been providing access to 1.5 billion consumer markets in West Asia, Africa and East Europe. Thus, it can be said that UAE has been a suitable avenue for international business expansion for a very long time. However, in the recent past, the infrastructural development in UAE has made the country even more feasible for business expansion in the UAE. The economic development in the country makes investment in the country profitable in short term. Over the past 26 years, the economy of the country has swelled by more than six times. In numerous cases, the investment in a business in a country does not turn out any profits for years however the accelerated economic activity in the UAE ensures that investment in the country would turn out profits in a shorter period of time (Oxford Business Group). The political environment in UAE is also feasible for business expansion as the visionary leadership of the UAE is diverting all its efforts towards industrial and economic development in the country. The leadership of the UAE has been really encouraging towards international businesses who intend to invest in UAE. Therefore the political environment of UAE is feasible for the establishment of business in the country. The country is one of the top producers of oil and this fact adds up to the feasibility of the country as a business expansion avenue. Dubai International Airport offers 300 flights on a daily basis to and from around 100 destination s therefore managing a business in UAE would not be a problem since it would be possible to be available in the UAE at any time. Business Environment in UAE Due to the increased economic development in the recent past, UAE has become the center of attention for international investors. A number of international business have started operating in UAE and due to presence of organizations from all around the world, the business environment in UAE is not static. The business environment in UAE is dynamic and it responds towards the increasing international investment in the country. The following factors would shed some light upon the business environment in UAE: Organizational Structure The organizational structures in the UAE are dynamic as business can have complete foreign ownership. Local businesses have an Eastern influence therefore they have hierarchical structures, however it is not necessary for all the organizations to have a hierarchical structure and the line of command can be shortened by adding channels of communication among different levels (Hvidt, 2007). Industrial Relations Industrial relations in UAE are influenced by the political environment of the country. UAE is a federation therefore there are no political parties or elections. Due to lack of any political pressure, the industrial relations are not founded upon unions or any political parties. Due to the increasing economic developm