Analysis Business Market of The Ventura Boats †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Analysis Business Market of The Ventura Boats. Answer: Introduction: Through the analysis of the Ventura Boats Case study, the reports develops the understanding regarding challenges present in business market. The nature of business of Ventura and review of business process, challenges and opportunities increase the knowledge regarding strength and weakness of the company. The analysis of the threat and opportunities with support frommarketing theories also helps in recommending alternative strategies that Ventura Boats can take in the future to revive their business. SWOT analysis of Ventura Boats: Strength: Ventura Boats mainly deals with designing high quality small-sized luxury boats. However, their specialty is that they build the boats in traditional hand-build ways from traditional materials. Their main strength is that as their business have prospered till now, they have a strong reserve of cash. Strong cash reserve is likely to provide positive implications in the area of long-term strategic growth and future market share. It is also indicative of strong performance of the company till now (Enqvist, Graham and Nikkinen 2014). Weakness: One of the major weak point of Ventura Boat is that despite the availability of newer and efficient technologies in materials and manufacturing processes, the company has still not embraced new technology. The technology used for manufacturing the boat is very outdated and this is the major reason for decline and low demand of many of its product in the Australian market. Secondly, the dependence on traditional methods and materials to build boats is likely to hinder their growth in overseas market too. Opportunity: The possibility of minimum restrictions imposed by overseas government on the use of traditional boats is an advantage for Ventura boats. They can use this opportunity to expand their traditional business in overseas market. This will help them to overcome the challenges of domestic markets. As there is a prediction that Australian government legislation is likely to restrict the use of some of their traditional boats, they can seize the opportunity of fewer restrictions on traditional boats in overseas market. This will help them to expand their business as well as legalized their traditional products for many more years to come. The other advantage of doing business overseas is that the company may offer unique products that may not be available in that region and the product may become a high demand products among new base of customers. This is likely to mitigate threats in business. Secondly, shifting business to overseas might give great exposure to the company which will eventu ally benefit their business (Hohentha et al. 2014). Threats: Considering the decline in many of the traditional boats produced at Ventura Boats, the company could have used their experience in industry to adapt new and efficient technologies to make innovative products. However, this move of Ventura Boats can be threatened by the illegalization of many of their current products. Thus means a decline and loss in business not just for Ventura, but also for all traditional boat manufacturing companies too. The research by Habtay. and Holmn (2014) also suggest that antecedents of disruption can differ based on the type of technology or market driven business model used in firms. Threats and Opportunities Analysis: By conducting the SWOT analysis for Ventura Boats, the main factor that has been identified to be a major threat in its business is the lack of application of advanced and efficient technologies in materials and manufacturing process for boats. This is indeed a great threat for the company because technology can provide both tangible and intangible benefits to business that influences customer demand. If a company remains updated with the use of technology in its services, it can positively influence business operations. If the Company is capable enough to offer new products with the use of advanced manufacturing material and technology, it is likely to facilitate value creation of the firm too (Jaakkola and Alexander 2014). However, dependence on traditional methods and no efforts towards innovation in business process can hinder the cash flow as well as shrinkage of service or products in target market. Ventura Boats have not yet manufactured any new boats with advanced technology and this is likely to affect customer utility and customers demand for product too. This is because product innovation is found to be directly linked with customers demand and engagement with a company. Traditional methods of manufacturing products or service cannot the capture the depth of customer responses and it affects the creation of loyal customers too (Cui and Wu 2016). Customer satisfaction and customer loyalty are two important elements ofmarketing theory and practice. A customers loyalty towards products can be maintained if the company is updated with current demands of customers. This is in relevance with the customers demand theory which states the relationship between customers demand for products and their prices (Jahanshani et al. 2014). Hence, more the effort is paid towards increasing the consumers demand towards a product, the more likely is the opportunities of business growth and prof itability. In the context of Ventura Boats, lack of application of technology is a major disadvantage for them. They need to understand that the capacity for new technology is likely to accelerate economic growth and reach new customers in a new way too. This approach would instead support Ventura Boats to further strengthen their business and find ways by which they could penetrate newer markets by the production of new models. They can also use lesser restrictions of traditional boats in overseas government to sustain competitive advantage in business. This is particularly important for business manager of Ventura Boats because recognizing the appropriate opportunity in business can help them to take more targeted approach towards fulfillment of business goals. Ventura Boast can use the opportunity of lower restriction of traditional boats overseas to boost sale in overseas market (Achtenhagen, Melin and Naldi 2013). Recommendations for strategic alternative for Ventura Boats in the future The dependence on traditional products and little application of advanced manufacturing technology and materials is the major limitation that can affect the business of Ventura Boats in the future. A strategic alternative business options recommended for Venture Boats to save their products form decline in the Australian market is that they must focus on investing on technological infrastructure to contribute to manufacturing innovation. Adaption of new processed in marketing and shifting to advanced methods in producing boats can also give them the advantage of producing high quality goods and minimizing cost expense too. It can also increase their ability to become more competitive by realizing efficient business operations through the use of technology. Focusing on existing technology in boat manufacturing can help them to fulfill unmet needs that earlier led to the decline of the products. Integration of technology in both products and business processed is a step towards competi tiveness and value creation (Adner and Kapoor 2010). Another recommendation for Venture Boats is that they must engage in market analysis of target overseas country to protect their traditional product. In this case too, use of technology will support them to enter untapped market and stay ahead in the competition. The knowledge regarding business practice, cultural factor of target country and demand of specific features in product can help companies to successfully conduct business internationally. However, moving business to international market is always associated with risk and business decisions should be made by considering about culture, legal and regulatory barriers, Government assistance for business and economic feasibility of the new market. This strategy can help Ventura Boats to conquer untapped markets and increase the demand of their products too (Cavusgil et al.2012). Conclusion: The report summarized the strength and weakness present in the Ventura Boats company. The analysis of the weakness and threats present in the company with support from marketing theories and concept has helped in recommending effective alternative strategy for company. Role of technology and tactical moves to conduct business in overseas market can be an effective step for Ventura Boats to shift its business and protect the quality and demand of their boats in domestic as well as international market. Reference Achtenhagen, L., Melin, L. and Naldi, L., 2013. Dynamics of business modelsstrategizing, critical capabilities and activities for sustained value creation.Long range planning,46(6), pp.427-442. Adner, R. and Kapoor, R., 2010. Value creation in innovation ecosystems: How the structure of technological interdependence affects firm performance in new technology generations.Strategic management journal,31(3), pp.306-333. Cavusgil, S.T., Ghauri, P.N. and Akcal, A.A., 2012.Doing business in emerging markets. Sage. Cui, A.S. and Wu, F., 2016. Utilizing customer knowledge in innovation: antecedents and impact of customer involvement on new product performance.Journal of the academy of marketing science,44(4), pp.516-538. Enqvist, J., Graham, M. and Nikkinen, J., 2014. The impact of working capital management on firm profitability in different business cycles: Evidence from Finland.Research in International Business and Finance,32, pp.36-49. Habtay, S.R. and Holmn, M., 2014. Incumbents responses to disruptive business model innovation: The moderating role of technology vs. market-driven innovation.International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management 11,18(4), pp.289-309. Hohenthal, J., Johanson, J. and Johanson, M., 2014. Network knowledge and business-relationship value in the foreign market.International Business Review,23(1), pp.4-19. Jaakkola, E. and Alexander, M., 2014. The role of customer engagement behavior in value co-creation: a service system perspective.Journal of Service Research,17(3), pp.247-261. Jahanshani, A.A., Hajizadeh, G.M.A., Mirdhamadi, S.A., Nawaser, K. and Khaksar, S.M.S., 2014. Study the effects of customer service and product quality on customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Micro + Soft - The Split Of An Empire Essays - Competition Law

Micro + Soft - The Split Of An Empire Micro + Soft - The Split of an Empire Kendra Phelps BUS 415.3 / Business Law Rob Goodwin July 5, 2000 Table of Contents I. Introduction: The Allegations and the Laws 3 II. Introduction: The Proof 4 III. Trial 5 Table 1 6 IV. The Proposal 8 V. Microsoft's Response 9 VI. The Foes and Their Thoughts 11 VII. Current Status and Discussion 12 VIII. Recommendations 15 References 18 Micro + Soft - The Split of an Empire Could the megalosaurus business that was conceived in 1975 really be split in two - or three? This is what U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson has decreed in order to put a stop to the monopolistic shenanigans that Microsoft calls business as usual. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and 20 states are suing Microsoft Corporation in one of the largest antitrust lawsuits brought about since the investigation and ensuing breakup of AT&T in 1984. If Judge Jackson gets his way, Microsoft (MS) could very well be two different companies sparring with each other. I. Introduction: The Allegations and the Laws Essentially, the plaintiffs are charging Microsoft with the following three violations: 1) Microsoft has waged an criminal campaign in defense of its monopoly position in the market for operating systems designed to run on Intel-compatible personal computers (PCs). More specifically, the plaintiffs contend that Microsoft violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act by engaging in a series of exclusionary, anticompetitive, and pillaging acts to maintain its monopoly power. They also assert that Microsoft attempted, although unsuccessfully to date, to monopolize the Web browser market, which is also in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. Finally, they claim that some specific measures taken by Microsoft as part of its campaign to protect its monopoly power, specifically, tying its browser to its operating system and entering into exclusive dealing arrangements, are also a violation of the Sherman Act, Section 1 . II. Introduction: The Proof The plaintiffs have already shown at trial that MS possesses an extremely dominant, persistent, and increasing share of the relevant market. Microsoft's share of the worldwide market for Intel-compatible PC operating systems currently exceeds 95 percent, and the company's share would rest well above 80 percent even if the Mac OS were included in the figures. The plaintiffs also proved that the applications barrier to entry protects Microsoft's dominant market share. This barrier ensures that no Intel-compatible PC operating system other than Windows can attract significant consumer demand, and the barrier would operate to the same effect even if Microsoft held its prices substantially above the competitive level for a protracted period of time. Together, the proof of dominant market share and the existence of a substantial barrier to effective entry create the presumption that Microsoft enjoys monopoly power. Microsoft did not create the barrier to entry all by itself, the consumers' preferences helped this along, however, Microsoft took specific predatory measures to make sure that its product attracted the market and ultimately trapped the market. Section 2 of the Sherman Act prohibits the act of monopolization. This means that the act itself is unlawful, not monopolies. It states that Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or person, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony. Here is the law - the plaintiffs found the proof. They found it in many of MS's actions and in their contracts with distributors and they have written testimony, records, and even admissions by MS of their many actions. Yet, MS still maintains that it is not a monopoly. Unfortunately for MS, there are only two defenses to the allegation of monopolizing that have been acknowledged. One is the defense of innocent acquisition, meaning that they somehow gained acquisition (or purchased) because of superior skills or foresight and that it wasn't calculated or targeted. The second defense for monopolizing that is recognized is a natural monopoly. This means that there would be a very modest market that could only support one competitor, such as a small town coffee shop, newspaper, or video store. Obviously, Microsoft doesn't fit into either category, and if it did fit into one of

Are You Too Sick For a Midterm Sample Essay?

Are You Too Sick For a Midterm Sample Essay?When it comes to taking the SAT or ACT, you may not be as sick as you thought that you were. You might think that the exams are a complete rip-off of students that were not as healthy as you thought they were, but you are wrong.This is because you have to take the right tests for your age group. Those who were healthy will have no problem at all. Those who were sick can certainly take the exam, but there is no way that you can find out exactly what you need to do for your test.Some of the better Arizona high school students often fail out of their classes simply because they did not know the difference between the practice tests and the actual test. If you have been putting off that official exam, then it is time to make up your mind and go to the testing center.It is highly recommended that you take these tests during the early part of the school year. After all, if you failed to study properly for the tests during the last quarter of the year, then it is not only going to be tough, but it is also going to be difficult to get into the top 10 percent of the class. Getting through the entire semester is going to be much easier if you can get through your last quarter of the school year with flying colors.It is recommended that you get started on your studying two weeks before the tests come out but don't need to wait until the end of the semester. In fact, it is recommended that you start doing a few tests right after you get done with your homework. This is a great way to get in some extra practice for the actual tests.Some of the best students that have been sick for the past few quarters are Arizona high school students. If you have missed out on a couple of quarters of study, then your chances of passing this test might be limited. Just make sure that you focus on reading and understanding all of the answers.You also want to make sure that you pace yourself when it comes to taking these tests. You should take two e xams per month, and you can take the test in the afternoon or evening when you have the time. Not only will this help you to understand the material better, but it is going to help you relax and sleep better while you are studying.You should take this exam in the morning, preferably while you are still tired from a night of studying. If you are not sure that you can pass this exam without sitting down and writing, then you might want to just skip the exam. Even if you are too sick for the midterm, you can take the test on paper, if you do not feel well enough to drive to the testing center.

Free sample - Type 2 Diabetes. translation missing

Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 DiabetesValentine (1998) defines Type 2 diabetes as a lifelong disease that is characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood. Through research, Type 2 diabetes has been found to be the most common form of diabetes. This type of diabetes is caused by the problem of the body making less insulin or not utilizing the available insulin appropriately. Insulin is very important as it helps to move excess blood glucose into cells so that it can be stored as fats and later utilized for energy production. In case excess blood sugar is not absorbed into cells for it to be converted into fats, a problem called hyperglycemia takes place which is characterized by the build up of abnormal high levels of glucose in the blood. Normally, as the levels of glucose in the blood stream increases, the pancreas is triggered to produce more insulin. But in this case the insulin becomes inadequate that it cannot keep up the demand of the body (Clarke, et al. 2003).  Ã‚  Ã‚   Research findings by Levin, et al. (2005) show that insulin resistance cases are mostly experienced by those individuals who are overweight. This is because fat usually interferes with the ability of the body to utilize insulin. Most of the thin people who are affected by this disease are the elderly especially aged above 45 years of age since their body organ system is weaker that it cannot easily convert the fats in the body into energy to allow insulin work effectively. In some cases genetics and family history play a significant role in acquisition of this common type of diabetes such that the disease is inherited by the progeny if the parents were affected. Ethnicity is another risk factor, for instance Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans have been found to have increased rates of diabetes (Lasser, et al., 2006). By Poland, et al. (1998), it is apparent that the choices individuals make in a daily basis determine their physiological well being.   There are a number of steps to enable an individual have a healthier lifestyle which can reduce or prevent the possibility of developing Type 2 diabetes as well as pre-diabetes. These can comprise of maintaining a healthy weight, eating a healthy and balanced diet, ensuring that one does regular physical activities, by avoiding smoking cigarette, and by keeping one’s health in check. So that an individual can maintain a healthy body weight, it is advisable to exercise the body regularly as well as eat the foods which can provide the body with healthy diet, one should also talk to the concerned healthcare givers regarding the appropriate weight that they should have at that particular time, and it is better for an individual to learn how to calculate their Body Mass Index (Pearlin, 1992). To ensure a healthy and balanced diet, it is advisable to eat a diet constituting a variety of foods for instance protein rich foods, green vegetables for vitamins, and carbohydrates. Plenty of fruits and vegetables should be eaten daily especially 5 to 10 vegetables and fruits per day. Meals with high fiber content especially soluble fiber should be consumed to enable the hormone insulin perform well. This is because the soluble fiber slows down the release of ingested food into the intestine and prevents the blood sugar from elevating rapidly. Thus for the patients of Type 2 diabetes, taking enough soluble fiber is often very important as they will be allowed to take a smaller amount of diabetes medication. Eating less salt and fats can also ensure  Ã‚   physiological well being of an individual’s body as the accumulation of fats hinders the insulin from carrying out its function of converting glucose into fats. The amount of alcohol that an individual consumes should also be limited since a lot of it can result into high blood pressure and consequently bring about the risk of Type 2 diabetes (Gropper Smith, 2008).  Ã‚  Ã‚   Regular physical activities ensure less fats around the body organs and tissues hence insulin finds conducive environment to work in. It’s advisable that an individual should be active for a period of at least 30 minutes daily. Activities that build strength, flexibility, and endurance are very significant and should be included, and it will be very important if an individual enjoys the activities. Smoking is another dangerous behavior to the well being of an individual since the nicotine narrows the blood vessels and consequently increases blood pressure which is another risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Some people absorb the second-hand smoke as they get new the smoking zone but never realize that they well be affected the same way the smoking people will be affected. There it is advisable to keep distance from the smoking zones to avoid the consequent effects (Poland, et al. 1998). It is very important to keep one’s health on check, for instance getting enough bed rest by sleeping. Getting enough sleep enables the brain to relax and regain energy for various body activities. Through research findings, it has been found that reduced quantity of sleep can weaken appetite regulation and the metabolism of glucose resulting in amplified risk of obesity which at long run will bring about diabetes. Consecutive nights of interrupted sleep seem to put individuals at increased risk of getting infected with type 2 diabetes. Being active is also very crucial since physical activities reduce stress which could otherwise hinder the normal functioning of the body’s organ system. Managing high blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol reduces the tendency of being attacked by Type 2 diabetes (Pearlin, 1992).   Indubitably, it is very important for an individual to be engaged in regular physical activities for at least 30 minutes every day. This can considerably reduce the amount of fats in the body which could otherwise reduce the activity of the insulin hormone.   Regular exercises also enhance quick oxidation of excess sugars hence reducing the level of glucose in the blood to normal. Measures like regular physical activities have also been found to bring about health problems to individuals especially when they are sick. It is not advisable for an individual to exercise when for instance their blood sugar level exceeds300 mg/dl, they have difficulties with breathing, they are sick in whichever way, their urine have got ketones, or they are experiencing any prickling, numbness or pain in their legs. If one’s medication is peaking, it is also important not to exercise (Frank, 2005). The fruit diet has been found to reduce the incidences of Type 2 diabetes in the world population. Due to misconceptions, this has been found to have its shortcomings to the well being of an individual. There should be a specification on the type of fruits and vegetables that should be taken in plenty and those which should be taken in low quantities. For instance, some fruits contain more sugar than others such that if fruits with a lot of sugar are consumed in large quantities every day, the level of sugar in the blood stream will increase hence putting an individual into the risk of becoming diabetic. It is advisable that a serving of fruit should contain carbohydrates amounting to 15 grams. Therefore it is advantageous to consume low-carbohydrate fruits since they can be consumed in plenty thus reducing the incidences of Type 2 diabetes (Levin, et al. 2005).   According to Lasser, et al. (2006), in America a special type of food called pizza is usually very important in preventing diabetes. So, most of the individuals in the American population eat the pizza in a daily basis since it is a healthy food containing complex carbohydrates, proteins, and vegetables. By research findings, it has been found that when eaten too much, pizza has its own shortcomings to the American population in spite of it being a balanced diet. This kind of food increases blood sugars to shoot up when eaten too much and as a result can cause diabetes. Pizza is also classified under the food with high fat content. Foods with high fat content like pizza can cause a delayed absorption of carbohydrates for some hours after one has eaten and as a result, the level of blood sugar will be kept elevated for about 8 hours (L. Henry, 2002).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Among the types of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is the most common in any given human population. It can be distinguished from the other types of diabetes such that it can attack an individual even when insulin hormone is normally produced in the body. Type 2 diabetes comes into being when the insulin does not carry out its task effectively, that is, it does not convert the excess sugars in the blood stream into the form that can be stored for future use. It has been found that the factors which increase the accumulation of fats in the body enhance the incidences of Type 2 diabetes, for instance consuming a lot of fatty foods, and some times staying idle without doing physical activity. Also those factors which can increase the blood pressure, causes the disease, for example tobacco smoking, and alcohol consumption.

Analysis of the American Reality, Possibility, and Dream found in “Nickel and Dimed” and “The Outsiders”

Analysis of the American Reality, Possibility, and Dream found in â€Å"Nickel and Dimed† and â€Å"The Outsiders† Every American is familiar with the concept of the American Dream. It is the social myth at the very core of the nation’s identity. Unlike other countries, the United States is not rooted in a shared ancestry, history, or language. Instead, Americans find their unity in a common aspiration—the hope of a better future for themselves and their children in the Land of Opportunity. This is the vision that drove the Puritans to brave the sea, inspired the founding fathers to sign the Declaration of Independence, and continues to bring immigrants teeming into the country. The American Dream is deeply rooted in the culture and psyche of the United States and its citizens. It is a common theme in literature as American authors struggle to interpret the social myth in light of reality. One of the most beloved discussions and deconstructions of the American Dream is a novel written by Susan Eloise Hinton when she was only sixteen. The Outsiders chronicles the story of seven boys and their struggle to overcome the stereotypes forced on them by their community. Through the eyes of adolescence, Hinton analyzes the American Dream by addressing the gulfs that separate the Dream from reality, and the reality from the possibility of achieving the Dream. Another book with a similar purpose is Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America. Unlike The Outsiders, Nickel and Dimed is a nonfictional account of Ehrenreich’s experiences as she attempts to support herself by working various blue collar jobs. Ehrenreich accuses America of abandoning the working poor who, she argues, are unable to support themselves on current minimum wage salaries. Furthermore, her expos? shows an economic system that encourages the abuse and dehumanization of its low-income workers. Even while she stresses the importance of financial stability to the fulfillment of the American Dream, Ehrenreich spends a large portion of the book illustrating how a lack of humanity, in the system and between the classes, is the root cause of the large gap between rich and poor. While Hinton and Ehrenreich approach the American Dream from two very different perspectives, both conclude that a mutual respect and understanding between all pe ople, regardless of class, is essential to fully restore the Dream for all Americans. The United States of America was founded on the notion that â€Å"life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness† should be available to every citizen. The belief that these rights are available to every citizen is a great American myth. In his book The American Dream: The Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation, Jim Cullen calls this â€Å"idea that individuals have control over the course of their lives†¦ the very core of the American Dream, the bedrock premise upon which all else depends† (10). Hinton and Ehrenreich both attack the validity of the myth that equal opportunity is a reality in America and identify it as a source of prejudice and misunderstanding between the classes. Ehrenreich’s opinions about poverty, before she began her undercover journalism research, correspond strongly with the way average middle and upper class Americans think. She describes how she â€Å"grew up hearing over and over, to the point of tedium, that ‘hard work’ was the secret of success† (Ehrenreich 220). When she attempts to support herself as a blue collar worker, however, she finds that â€Å"you [can] work hard—harder even than you ever thought possible—and still find yourself sinking ever deeper into poverty and debt† (Ehrenreich 220). In his book, Beyond the American Dream, Charles Hayes describes how the disconnection between the myth and reality stigmatizes the poor: The higher the level of social position reached†¦ the more the people on that level seem blinded by the relative advantage of their position. For example, the middle class expects the bottom level to simply go out and get a job, failing to see the dist inct advantage they themselves maintain through quality education and social connections. The typical middle-class businessman†¦ sees himself as deserving while he sees those at lower economic levels as being lazy and undeserving. (18-19) During her experience as a temporary member of working class America, Ehrenreich found the work exhausting, both physically and emotionally. Working as a maid, she describes the â€Å"exercise† as â€Å"totally asymmetrical, brutally repetitive, and as likely to destroy the musculoskeletal structure as to strengthen it† (Ehrenreich 90). Many of her coworkers work through pain, malnutrition, or pregnancy in order to keep their jobs and because they can’t afford to take unpaid days off. Several of the maids have injuries, treated and untreated, due to their work. Despite the prevalent idea that the poor can break free from poverty simply by working hard, Ehrenreich’s coworkers endure body-breaking work without having the opportunity to save enough to change their situation or seek out a different job. Like Ehrenreich, Hinton also argues that equal opportunity is a myth that contributes to prejudice. In The Outsiders, Ponyboy, the narrator, lives in a world divided by social class. The poor kids living on the East side, labeled â€Å"greasers† by the rest of the community, endure a multitude of stereotypes and stigmas. Ponyboy, and the other boys who make up his adopted family, or gang, know the labels well. On their way to a fight, they â€Å"embrace the stereotypes† (Inderbitzen 360), chanting: â€Å"‘I am a greaser†¦, I am a JD and a hood. I blacken the name of our fair city. I beat up people. I rob gas stations. I am a menace to society. Man, do I have fun O victim of environment, underprivileged, rotten, no-count hood!’† (Hinton 144). Despite their willingness to unite under these stereotypes, however, Ponyboy’s account of events brings the reader to a different understanding of the greasers. One member of the gang, in particular, allows the reader a fresh perspective on these dehumanizing stereotypes. Dally, who has â€Å"spent three years on the wild side of New York and had been arrested at the age of ten,† is the hardest kid of the group: â€Å"tougher, colder, meaner† (Hinton 19). Even Ponyboy, though he respects Dally, doesn’t like him. The tough fa?ade rapidly crumbles, however, when Johnny, Dally’s friend, dies from injuries sustained while rescuing children from a burning building. â€Å"‘That’s what you get for tryin’ to help people, you little punk,’ Dally blurts at Johnny’s body, ‘that’s what you get†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (Hinton 157). Dally’s own life circumstances have taught him that selflessness, such as Johnny’s heroic efforts, results only in personal disaster and pain. Since his childhood, Dally has learned to meet the world with a cold detachment in order to survive the harsh, inner-city streets. Whe n he loses the only person who had slipped past his defenses and grown close to him, the pain overwhelms Dally. He pulls an unloaded gun on the police, forcing them to shoot him. Though Dally embodied many of the stereotypes forced onto all greasers, ultimately he was just a child trying to protect himself in a world where no parent had ever cared for him. The great tragedy of his death is that Dally still had the potential to be an extraordinary person. In him, Johnny saw a strong, â€Å"gallant† hero (Hinton 84), someone to look up to. Dally’s efforts to save Johnny from the fire at the risk of his own life provide a glimpse into the person he might have become had the circumstances been different. Unlike the labels suggest, Dally was not ruined beyond repair or redemption by his environment. He was still a human being, and, as such, he still had the ability to choose who he might have become. The myth, therefore, perpetuates stereotypes that prevent empathy and guid ance from being given to kids because they are viewed as already beyond help. Despite the myth of equal opportunity, the American Dream is still carried in the hearts of poor and rich Americans alike. Ehrenreich and Hinton each comment on what the Dream looks like through the eyes of the poor and compare it to the Dream as interpreted by the middle and upper classes. After examining the Dream of each class, both authors conclude that the Dreams are complimentary, not antagonistic. In Nickel and Dimed, the viewpoints of those struggling with poverty come in the form of interviews with Ehrenreich’s coworkers. Near the end of her job as a maid, Ehrenreich asks the women who she was working with how they felt about the owners of the houses they clean, â€Å"who have so much while others, like themselves, barely get by† (118). Answers two of the women give shed light on a commonality in the Dream held by each person struggling with poverty. Lori responds, â€Å"All I can think of is like, wow, I’d like to have this stuff someday. It motivates me and I don’t feel the slightest resentment because, you know, it’s my goal to get to where they are† (Ehrenreich 118). Colleen’s answer is somewhat different: â€Å"I don’t mind, really, because I guess I’m a simple person, and I don’t want what they have. I mean, it’s nothing to me. But what I would like is to be able to take a day off now and then†¦ if I had to†¦ and still be able to buy groceries the next day† (Ehrenreich 119). Though Lori and Colleen have different Dreams, the need for economic security is common to both. Without enough income to begin saving, the poor are trapped in their current situation without hope of escape. Even the ability to find a higher paying job is severely limited by lack of time, energy, and transportation. The smallest disaster could push their delicately balanced lives over the edge and leave them without either a job or money. The Dream of the rich, as expressed in Nickel and Dimed, comes from the author’s own perspective. Both Ehrenreich’s desire to research and write the book, as well as comments she makes about her own state of mind, reveal her own, middle-class Dream. Reflecting upon her â€Å"savior complex,† Ehrenreich admits, â€Å"Even my motives seem murky at the moment. Yes, I want to help Holly and everyone else in need, on a worldwide basis if possible. I am a ‘good person,’†¦, but maybe I’m also just sick of my suddenly acquired insignificance. Maybe I want to ‘be somebody,’†¦, somebody generous, competent, brave, and perhaps, above all, noticeable† (Ehrenreich 99). The need to matter is one she constantly wrestles with while preforming the menial tasks required of her from the various blue collar jobs she works. In order to cope with each of her jobs, Ehrenreich either finds meaning in it or creates meaning from pure fanta sy. In what she calls a â€Å"psychic flotation device† (108), Ehrenreich pretends, â€Å"I am not working for a maid service; rather, I have joined a mystic order dedicated to performing the most despised of tasks, cheerfully and virtually for free—grateful, in fact, for this chance to earn grace through submission and toil† (108). Unlike those who risk going hungry day by day, with no foreseeable route of escape, Ehrenreich is not really in any danger of starvation. Her basic needs are met and her current situation is only a charade. Her Dream focuses much more heavily on the upper levels of Maslow’s hierarchy: belonging, esteem, and self-actualization (â€Å"Need-Hierarchy Theory†). It is, in fact, these needs that have driven her to spend time living as one of America’s working poor. By temporarily giving up her privileged position, Ehrenreich is fulfilling her own Dream of doing meaningful work and being somebody who matters. In The Outsiders, the Dream of the lower class is expressed through the narrator. Like Ehrenreich, Ponyboy also shares with the reader his own fantasy: I loved the country. I wanted to be out of towns and away from excitement. I only wanted to lie on my back under a tree and read a book or draw a picture, and not worry about being jumped or carrying a blade The gang could come out on weekends, and maybe Dallas would see that there was some good in the world after all, and Mom would talk to him and make him grin in spite of himself†¦ She could talk to Dallas and keep him from getting into a lot of trouble. (Hinton 56) Like Colleen and Lori, Ponyboy also desires a certain amount of economic stability and freedom, but his Dream goes much deeper than that; he also wants peace. In his neighborhood, torn apart by social class, the greasers cannot even walk alone without fear of being jumped by the socs, kids from wealthy families who â€Å"had so much spare time and money that they jumped [greasers] and each other for kicks, had beer blasts and river-bottom parties because they didn’t know what else to do† (Hinton 51). Ponyboy’s idyllic version of the country represents his Dream for the world: a place where nobody has so little money that they are â€Å"hardened beyond caring† (Hinton 67) like Dally or so much money that they have nothing left to work for, like the socs. In his Dream, he is once again cared for by his parents. He is allowed to enjoy his childhood rather than wrestling with adult problems in an adult-less world. The Dream of the upper class is related by the soc Cherry Valence who confides in Ponyboy, telling him that being rich isn’t all it’s made out to be: ‘We’re sophisticated—cool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is for real with us. You know, sometimes I’ll catch myself talking to a girl-friend, and realize I don’t mean half of what I’m saying †¦ Rat race is a perfect name for it,’ she said. ‘We’re always going and going and going, and never asking where. Did you ever hear of having more than you wanted? So that you couldn’t want anything else and then started looking for something else to want? It seems like we’re always searching for something to satisfy us, and never finding it. Maybe if we could lose our cool we could.’ (Hinton 46) Cherry’s Dream, ironically, is to have a Dream—something to strive for. Like Ponyboy, she lives in a world consumed by money, only, rather than having too little, she has too much. The class culture she grew up in demands she meet social expectations, never letting her true self shine through. In talking to Ponyboy, she is able to make a genuine connection with another human being because she does not have to worry about keeping up appearances or fitting into cultural stereotypes. Just as Ehrenreich was able to fulfill her Dream of bettering the world and doing something meaningful by entering into the world of the working class poor, Cherry also found her Dream fulfilled when she stepped outside of her own social class and befriended a greaser. For both Hinton and Ehrenreich, the only way to restore equal opportunity to America and allow each individual the possibility of living the American Dream is through mutual friendship and respect between social classes. Works Cited Cullen, Jim. The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation. New York: Oxford, 2003. Print. Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. New York: Henry Holt, 2002. Print. Hayes, Charles, D. Beyond the American Dream: Lifelong Learning and the Search for Meaning in a Postmodern World. Wasilla, AK: Autodidactic Press, 1998. Print. Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. New York: The Viking Press, 1967. Print. Inderbitzin, Michelle. â€Å"Outsiders and Justice Consciousness.† Contemporary Justice Review. 6.4 (2003): 357-352. Web. 29 Dec. 2011. Need-Hierarchy Theory.A Dictionary of Psychology. Oxford Reference Online. Web. 25 Jan. 2012.

Strategic Management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Gerontological Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gerontological Project - Research Paper Example Tertiary prevention goal involves creating realistic short and long-term goals for healthy weight loss with the active participation from the patient. For this patient, pain is an issue that will prevent her from engaging in any exercise regimen and thus it has to be dealt with first. Chronic pain occurs in 25 to 86% of the elderly population and leads to â€Å"falls, deconditioning, malnutrition, gait disturbances, and overall slow rehabilitation† (Herr, 2002). Managing pain is a multi-dimensional process that involves pharmacological and non-pharmacological management (Herr, 2002). According to Messier et. al (2004), a combination of exercise and weight loss resulted in improved physical activity and reduced pain in overweight elderly with knee osteoarthritis. The exercise program that this patient can safely participate in could involve exercise three days per week, which consists of â€Å"an aerobic phase (15 minutes), a resistance-training phase (15 minutes), a second ae robic phase (15 minutes), and a cool-down phase (15 minutes)† (Messier et. al, 2004). Motivation and a desire to change are key components in the initiation of and continuity in an exercise program.