United States the Interloper Essays - War In Darfur,

In the years of past the United States has intervened in many overseas wars and dilemmas. On the warrant that the United States believes their values and ethics are the beliefs of the world. Darfur would be one example where the United States should keep to its own borders. Darfur is being called in a state of genocide by some. In ?Genocide Is Occurring in Darfur? an article by Andrew B Lowenstein, he states ?To be found culpable for genocide, one must commit certain criminal acts, such as killing or causing serious bodily or mental harm; and - this is a key part - these acts must be committed with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group?(p1). Is the United States not doing this in Iraq? Has United States not single out one ethnic religious group and committed mass killings against them? So this begs the question, why is United States not accused of genocide? In the United States if murder is committed, that person is arrested and put on trial for his or her crime. With undeniable proof he or she is sentenced to prison and in some states the death penalty. Then that person can make many appeals towards their case. For a person on death role it takes a lot of years before that person is put to death. Lowenstein interviewed many people from Darfur, he claims a male survivor told him a Janjaweed leader said ?kill all the blacks in this area?(p2). Lowenstein also claims a female told him she heard ?kill? the ?Zaghawa people?(p2). Lowenstein being an international lawyer should know eyewitness accounts are not very reliable. Everyone sees an event a different way or here?s what was said and put in their own words. Lowenstein does not provide any real hard evidence that genocide is being performed in Darfur, just what some people have told him. Lowenstein never entered Darfur borders. Lowenstein states, ?The U.N.?s decision was particularly significant. Unlike other groups, which merely failed to weigh in the question, the United Nations affirmatively declared that the Sudanese government had not committed genocide?(p1). So United States could enter Darfur borders and start a war on the basis of he said or she said, that?s just what it would be, United States starting a war. Darfur has done nothing to United States, has posed no threats or made any accusations to do harm to the United States. In ?The United States Should Not Intervene in Darfur? by Justin Raimondo he adds, to lend a helping hand the United States should grant more visas, leave politics to their own country and hold American morals to its own boundaries (p4). The United States (for whatever reason) feels their ethics and morals should be that of the world, but why should it, is it because United States is the strongest and economical country in the world? So does this give the United States the right to say do it our way or we will kick your ass? That?s the problem with power; over time it becomes a controlling factor that one?s way is the only way. In trying to save Africa, (because that?s what the United States would call it) what effect would it have on the American people? The Iraq war and Desert Storm war have driven the price of oil to skyrocketing prices. Making the American people pay higher prices at the fuel pumps. The five largest imports in 2009 from Africa were mineral oil, oil, cocoa, wood, rubber and electrical machinery (ustr.gov). If United States starts a war in Africa how high will the cost of these products become? How much will the American people have to pay to finance this war? Raimondo states, ?That our intervention will likely as not lead to more starving African babies?(p4). As this is true for when the United States starts a war like in Iraq foods supplies are stopped. Not to mention if the United States were to start a war in Darfur. Darfur would know well in advance that the United States were going to start a war with them by the media coverage and intelligence. If in

Racism Towards Native Ams Film essays

Racism Towards Native Ams Film essays There is an old African proverb which states that until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunters. This seemingly simple phrase has proven itself accurate time and time again throughout all histories, including that of America. The natives of the land now known as America are of course, the lions, and the European settlers of this land, the hunters. As the glorious hunters sweep through the savage lands, inhabited by the backwards lions, they did their best to convert and save the lions; or simply destroy, destabilize and dehumanize them. While the destruction is clear, and the destabilization is also rather apparent, in the many Indian reservation policies passed throughout American History, the dehumanization of Indians is often much more covert. An initial background relating the situation of the natives in the eyes of the European settlers, will be followed by a detailed look at the main Indian movies throughout the history of film, and the s tereotypes shown within them. Also, an inspection of recent films with relevant subject matter will be discussed. These three peices will show that the racism expressed in cinema, specifically towards Native Americans, is predominantly institutional and unintentional racism. First, it is important to note that from the beginning of the European explorations in the Americas, reports were written in regards to the savage nature of the indigenous peoples. In these writings, however, there were also typically references to the honorable, even noble, nature of the Indians. However, as land became the chief desire of the Europeans, treaties were written, which is of particular importance, in that it recognized the United States recognized each tribe as a sovereign nation (by definition ). From the initiation of the USA as a nation, until the relative end of westward expansion, literally hundreds of these treaties were written, and agreed upon by bo...

Infalation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Infalation - Essay Example Many types of inflations can have a wide range of different influences, consequences and amends. There is no rigorously binding definition of arrays of situations in cost increase; still some clues can be given as it follows: Extreme High Inflation could array anyplace between 50% and 100%.High Inflation is a condition in which the price increase of, 30%-50% in a year. Both types can be static or hazardously speed up to enter in a hyperinflation state. Cost Push Inflation this occurs when rise in the costs are came about to the consumer which causes increased prices. Higher prices can develop from rise in the prices of the confinement, increasing interest grades or increasing import prices. Demand Pull Inflation this happens when the issue for commodity and services surmounts the supplying. In this case, the increase need extends to an increase in the cost of the under supplied commodities and services, i.e. too much money is tracking too few commodities (Gert D et al, 2000.p.83-107). Recipients of funds as the original value of refund falls overtime, all other become equivalent. Holders of real pluses such as place or any land whose assess can keep pace with the increasing cost level. On the other hand, the most adverse affect of inflating is that it cramps the economic growth. Inflation brings down the original value of money capital overtime. It scales down the will to save and interest. Hence, it apprehends the economic build up of the society (M.Jeya Chandra et al, 2005, p.723-730). Inflation impacts different groups of people unevenly. The big producers and the businessman can attain a lot from the inflation. Inflation is greatly poignant the common man. In the recent days, the prices of all goods like rice, vegetables, meats, fruits etc are increasing rapidly that a common man has to think first before buying all these things. Cost of all these are raising but the income of a common man is not rising according to it. Hence, the common man is in financial obligation due to this inflation. We see many cars

Swans Reflecting Elephants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Swans Reflecting Elephants - Essay Example Swans Reflecting Elephants is similar to a brain teaser, or an optical illusion, which is what Dali was aiming at when he painted this piece. At first glance, the painting seems to consist of three swans sitting on a lake. They are surrounded by leafless trees, suggesting that the painting takes place in autumn, and some cliffs, and a few stray clouds drift across the sky. Despite the washed-out appearance of the colors, it is a very serene image. However, the closer that one looks at the painting, the more of the subject matter that they can make out. While the image is clearly that of swans sitting on a lake, a second, more closer examination of the piece reveals that the swans and the trees behind them reflect elephants on the lake. The bare trees become the legs of the elephants and the swans become their trunks and bodies. The perfect placement of the trees and swans allow for this double image, essentially offering two paintings, or two stories, in one. In his Swans Reflecting Elephants, Salvador Dali wanted to show that life is not always what it seems at first glance. His use of the double image, with the swans fading so seamlessly into elephants, reveals that our perception can pick up on aspects or features of life that are not immediately recognizable. This is similar to finding constellations among a smattering of stars, or picking out images or designs in the stucco of walls. Our eyes are capable of finding more than just the original image. Furthermore, Dali gives evidence.

Organizational culture and IT infrastructure in concurrence with Essay

Organizational culture and IT infrastructure in concurrence with knowledge management - Essay Example A culture does not typically change quickly, but in order to keep up with technology, an adaptable culture must be designed. In conducting the research for this paper, the focus has been placed on the following objectives: To identify and define organizational culture, IT infrastructure, and knowledge management. To create a framework of understanding on how these three aspects of an organization are effectively integrated. To conduct an analysis of these three concepts and formulate a working concept on how best to design and implement them within an organizational structure. Introduction The creation of IT infrastructure is designed to facilitate the management of knowledge in regard to how IT is implemented and in what ways the hardware and software will need to be attended. The choices that are made at this time will affect how responsibility is distributed and where responsibility will be held in regard to keeping systems up and running. Responsibility is in direct correlation t o knowledge and the level to which knowledge is managed and disseminated and can only be held when appropriate knowledge has been disseminated. Organizational culture is in direct alignment with how knowledge is managed and in how the IT infrastructure is designed in reference to its effective use. Literature Review Organizational culture is defined by Martin (2001) as a way to â€Å"explain ‘how things are done around here,’ the ways in which offices are arranged and personal items are or are not displayed, jokes people tell, the working atmosphere (hushed and luxurious or dirty and noisy), the relationships among people†¦aspects of working life† (p. 3). One of the primary factors in how a organizational culture is created is through the affect that leadership has upon the nature of the traditions, habits, and belief systems within a system. According to Schein (2004), â€Å"Culture is both a dynamic phenomenon that surrounds us at all time, being constant ly enacted and created by our interactions with others and shaped by leadership behavior, and a set of structures, routines, rules and norms that guide and constrain behavior† (p, 1). IT infrastructure is the â€Å"equipment, systems software, and services used in common across an organization regardless of mission, or project†¦the foundation on which mission, program, or project specific systems and capabilities are built† (Leonard, 2009, p. 139). Part of that structure is defined by the way in which the culture of an organization is developed and how that has influenced the management of information. In creating an IT infrastructure, an organization must also construct a way in which to manage the knowledge of its use at the various levels that this specific knowledge must be shared and integrated into formal use. According to Khosrowpour (2004), â€Å"Communication between IT and business should be pervasive throughout the organization, informal, regularly occu rring, and use rich methods such as e-mail, video-conferencing, and face-to-face†(p. 442). The report goes on to relay the idea that an important awareness has been reached about the connection between the organizational culture and the IT infrastruc

Foucauldian Discourse on Punishment

Foucauldian Discourse on Punishment Foucauldian Discourse on Punishment It is noteworthy that the power and techniques of punishment depend on knowledge that creates and classifies individuals, and that knowledge derives its authority from certain relationships of power and domination (Sparknotes, 2006). However, it is in the works of French philosopher Michel Foucault on penal institutionsthat the idea of punishment as part of a discourse of power is made explicit. In this paper, I will critically assess Foucault’s discourse concept on punishment as well as Bentham’s panopticon theory demonstrating the extent of Foucault’s concept towards punishment. Disciplinary institutions are, by and large, places where power is exercised and coursed through various mechanisms. Without doubt, it is in Discipline and Punish (1977) that Foucault’s concern with discipline and surveillance becomes even more pronounced than his other genealogical works. In this work he examines the progressive sophistication of disciplinary mechanisms such as punishments employed in prisons that are in fact, upon closer scrutiny, representative of the same progression of disciplinary mechanisms in society. He undertook an examination of power relations using the penal institution as a take-off point, for the primary reason that it is here where the different disciplinary techniques used in the exercise of power are more evident. At the outset, he shows how torture and execution was made a public spectacle; with the condemned man being paraded in a manner deemed suited to the crime he committed. Interestingly however, public tortures and executions soon became a ‘hidden’ affair, with the condemned man being transferred secretly from one place to another in a manner as inconspicuous as possible, using plain carriages with no particular distinguishing mark indicating that the cargo was a convicted felon. Nevertheless, Foucault points out the concern that the institution has with the ‘body’, a preoccupation that the prison has in common with the asylum and the hospital and, upon close examination, with other institutions as well(Foucault, 1977, p.25). The shifting of torture and execution from the public to the private realm (resulting in more economical disciplinary techniques) subtly demonstrates how mechanisms of discipline evolve and take other forms. In an interview, Foucault states: What I wanted to show is the fact that, starting from a certain conception of the basis of the right to punish, one can find in the work of penal experts and philosophers of the 18th century that different means of punishment were perfectly conceivable. Indeed in the reform movement†¦ one finds a whole spectrum of means to punish that are suggested, and finally it happens that the prison was in some way, the privileged one (Foucault, in Lotringer, 1989, p.286). Using the prison as an example, Foucault demonstrates how such disciplinary institutions utilize different techniques to form ‘docile bodies’: a direct coercion of the body to produce both productive subjects and instruments with which to channel power (Foucault, 1977, p.136). This is a positive perspective of power, because through subjection and subjugation, the individual at once becomes a productive body through direct bodily training. There is a purpose to an institution’s exercise of power, depending upon the nature of that institution; at most, what can be said insofar as purpose is concerned is that institutions all aim at producing ‘docile bodies’ in whatever form the latter may take. Again, this depends on what type of individual an institution intends to fashion. Docile body simply refers to the type of individual that is trained and disciplined in the context of a power relation in an institution. In discussing productivity, it can be understood to refer to the capacity of institutions to produce individuals of a specific type, utilizing punishments as mechanisms. In their book, Michel Foucault (1984), Cousins and Hussains write â€Å"that imprisonment is also enveloped in a mechanism of power† (p. 173). Foucault sees discipline, therefore, as combinative: it functions to combine elements, in this case, individuals, into a uniform mass not through the individual variables found in each element, but through the characteristics imposed upon it because of the space it occupies. Hence, the space defines the capabilities of each individual, which in turn contribute to the collective function of the mass. As it were, the individual is trained through its designation or position, the series that is relevant to his codified space, and through the issuance of a systematic order or command from the authority (Foucault, 1977, p.166). In the following part, it will be made evident that for Foucault, the institutional role of the prison-model of society paves the way for control and observation. At the end of the chapter entitled Panopticism, Foucault explicitly stated: The practice of placing individuals under ‘observation’ is a natural extension of a justice imbued with disciplinary methods and examination procedures. Is it surprising that the cellular prison, with its regular chronologies, forced labour, its authorities of surveillance and registration, and its experts in normality, who continue and multiply the functions of the judge, should have become the modern instrument of penality? Is it surprising that prisons resemble factories, schools, barracks, hospitals, which all resemble prisons? (p. 228). In this particular passage, Foucault outlines the mechanisms that the prison uses in controlling criminality. On closer examination, what he in fact outlines are the mechanisms that operate within different social institutions. This is a noteworthy point, since the institutions that he mentioned, i.e. factories, schools, barracks, and hospitals, all function in essentially the same way as the modern prison. These all use specific procedures and techniques to discipline subjects. Jeremy Bentham’s concept of the â€Å"Panopticon† became an influential model for modern day architectural efficiency. In short, the prison that he envisioned in the late 18th century was to be constructed in such a way as to have the individual cells arranged in a circular manner, with an observation tower at the centre of the formation, light coming from the outside of the cells illumines the inmate for whoever is staying at the observation tower, while the observer in the tower itself remains hidden from the cells’ occupants (See. Figure 1). This arrangement reverses, yet makes even more powerful, the traditional notion of incarceration that is, the putting away of criminality. Thus, to assume that someone is in the observation tower even if there is no one there is the full effect of the â€Å"Panopticon†. Foucault (1977) further clarified: Hence the major effect of the Panopticon: to induce in the inmate a state of conscious and permanent visibility that assures the automatic functioning of power. So to arrange things that the surveillance is permanent in its effects, even if it is discontinuous in its action; that the perfection of power should tend to render its actual exercise unnecessary†¦ in short, that the inmates should be caught up in a power situation of which they are themselves the bearers. (p. 201) It can be seen that central to the effective use of the panoptic principle is the efficiency of surveillance mechanisms. The latter should function in such a way as to force the recipient of disciplinary power to keep watch over his/her own actions, because of the fact that s/he is being observed by the authority figure. The concept of the gaze is what makes discipline work. In the panoptic model, visibility becomes the central principle that governs incarceration. In other words, For Foucault, the â€Å"Panopticon† represents the way in which discipline and punishment work in modern society. It is a diagram of power in action because by looking at a plan of the â€Å"Panopticon†, one realizes how the processes of observation and examination operate (Sparknotes, 2006). To my way of thinking, by and large the foucauldian concept of discourse towards punishment is an explicit, objective and realistic extensive concept with an array of persuasive arguments and insights on power and techniques of punishment that reflect the modern penal system and simultaneously the various mechanisms of observation and examination. On the whole, what is made evident at this point is that punishment in Foucault should be understood as something much broader than simple retribution. Instead, punishment is an act that is subsumed under the notion of discipline, or training. As such, the prison institution is designed to re-form a criminal into an individual who can be reintegrated into mainstream society, in order to be made useful and productive once more. As already mentioned, the mechanisms used by society are by and large the same mechanisms of discipline used in institutions such as the prison. Within this larger framework, it is implied that the notion of punishment, in all its forms, operate as a part of a purposeful social design within which all other theories become possible. What is positive about such a societal setup is the fact that techniques such as punishments are not entirely negative or prohibitive. Relations of power are important for Foucault because of the positive effects borne out of it. As a final positive note, consider what he says that is summed up best in an interview: It seems to me that power is ‘always already there’, that one is never ‘outside’ it†¦ But this does not entail the necessity of accepting an inescapable form of domination†¦ To say that one can never be ‘outside’ power does not mean that one is trapped and condemned to defeat no matter what (Foucault, 1980, p.141). While Foucault did not agree with the prison per se as the best form of punishment, he saw in the prison a mechanism that, as used by the society, functions as a state mechanism for internalizing discipline. That means the individual would be responsible for governing or disciplining himself from within. Every time the person â€Å"feels the gaze† (i.e. domination), he would be forced to govern himself. In other words, the effects of discipline are felt even though the disciplinary power is absent. The prison is therefore not simply a place for punishment, but a model of an effective mechanism. Bibliography Cousins, M. Hussain, A. (1984)Michel Foucault. New York: St. Martin’s Press. Macey, D. (1994) The Lives of Michel Foucault. London: Vintage. Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish. Alan Sheridan Trans. New York: Vintage Books. Foucault, M. (1989.) What calls for Punishment? In: Lotringer, S. ed. Foucault Live. New York: Columbia University, pp. 279-292. Foucault, M. (1980). Power and Strategies. In: Gordon, C. ed. Power/Knowledge. New York: Pantheon, pp. 134-145. Sparknotes. (2006). Michael Foucault: Discipline and Punish. Available: Last accessed 1 March 2007. Panopticon (Prison’s Plan) Figure 1 From Discipline and Punish, 1977

Essay --

Where; where hR, hF are the normalized gray level histograms of xR and xF, respectively. The joint gray level histogram of xR and xF is denoted by hR,F, and L is the number of bins. xF and xR correspond to the fused and reference images, respectively. I(xR;xF) indicates how much information the fused image xF conveys about the reference xR. Thus, higher the mutual information between xF and xR, there are more chances that xF resembles the ideal xR. D. Entropy (EN);- Entropy can be used to measure the difference between two source images and the fused image. The entropy of an image is a measure of information content. Entropy is the average number of bits which have a need of quantize the intensities in the image. It is represented as follows : where p(g) is the probability of grey-level g , and the range of g is [0,.....,L-1].High information content of image would have high entropy. High entropy of fused image indicates that the it contains more information than the original image sources. V. PROPOSED SOFTWARE DESIGN Interactive software is developed to do the reliable monitoring and management of Fusion process. The system software is made using MATLAB .We are taking two images image A and image B after the process of Counterlet transform. We get one output fused image. VI.CONCLUSION With this we conclude that contourlet Transform can be used to fuse two dimensional images and represent them more efficiently, which makes the fused images more clear and more informative. Contourlet Transform overcomes the drawbacks of traditional Image Fusion schemes by using ALM. The Experimental results using this technique of IF show that it can preserve more useful information in the fused image with higher spatial ... ....7, pp . 372-377( 2009) 12) Yi Yang ,Chongzhao Han ,Xin Kang and Deqiang Han â€Å"An Overview on Pixel-Level I mage Fusion in Remote Sensing,† Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Automation and Logistic,vol 6, no .4, pp .2339- 2344 feb (2007) 13)image code,† IEEE Transactions on Communications, vol. 31, pp. 532–540, 1983. 14) R. H. Bamberger and M. J. T. Smith, â€Å"A filter bank for the directional decomposition of images: theory and design,† IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 882–893, 1992. 15) G. H. Qu, D. L. Zhang, and P. F. Yan, â€Å"Information measure for performance of image fusion,† Electronic Letters, vol. 38, no. 7, pp. 313–315, 2002. 16) H. Tian, Y.-N. Fu, and P.-G. Wang, â€Å"Image fusion algorithm based on regional variance and multi-wavelet bases,† in Proc. of 2nd Int. Conf. Future Computer and Communication, vol. 2, 2010, pp

The Impact of Branding Strategies of New Luxury Brands on Nigerian Young Customers: A Study of Tiffany Amber

Executive Summary: The global fashion industry is a highly evolving market with diverse needs and innumerous wants. While the tastes of consumers may differ, the aim of the luxury fashion brand industry is to associate brands with feelings of prestige, importance, status, and grandeur for customers. While the Western fashion industry is highly developed, the Nigerian fashion industry is slowly progressing into prominence as young affluent Nigerian consumers begin to appreciate Ankara fabric. However, these young affluent Nigerians are also highly comfortable with wearing Western labels, which makes it highly important for Nigerian fashion brands to appropriately brand their product lines to appeal to young Nigerian customers. This study focuses upon the impact of branding strategies of luxury fashion brands in Nigeria upon young consumers and aims to discuss the various branding strategies used and their effectiveness. The study aims to apply special emphasis upon the brand Tiffany and Amber which is known for its uniqueness and use of luxuriant fabric and vibrant colors. With the use of a closed-ended questionnaire, the study is designed to be both qualitative and quantitative in nature as it will contact 60 Tiffany and Amber customers through email for their opinion regarding the brand prominence and branding strategies employed by Tiffany and Amber and their effectiveness. The study will conclude by providing recommendations according to the data obtained. Chapter 1: Introduction1.1 Introduction:Fashion is an evolving term which may have a different context in every culture and may be redefined frequently. It is also a concept which may be defined differently by each individual and may be used as a source of expressing his/her personality. Hence, the fashion industry has a wide scope all over the world and is filtrated by numerous designers attempting to gain their market share by becoming the favorite of the fashion conscious (Okonkwo, 2009a). While fashion trends evolve and the tastes of various target markets differ, designers and brands have used specific branding strategies in order to increase their appeal to consumers and influence them into purchasing their products and wearing their styles (Ahmad, 2011). As different designers target separate target markets, the fashion industry is dispersed according to consumer characteristics which include gender, age group, socio-economic class, occupation, and the type of clothing needed amongst innumerous other characteristics(Okonkwo, 2007b). Accordingly, as the world has fashion hubs which are countries or cities which promote and spread fashion, such as Paris, the West can be considered the global hub for the remaining world as most successful designers attempt to influence the Western fashion market to gain recognition. While Nigerian or African fashion was not highly prominent in the West previously, Nigerian designers have gained recognition and formed their own luxury brands (Okonkwo, 2009a). This dissertation will seek to explore the branding strategies of Nigerian luxury brands, specifically Tiffany Amber, in context of socio-economic class, magnitude of fashion, age group, and other relevant factors which influence the branding strategy of a luxury brand. Accordingly this proposal will commence with an explanation of the background of the topic and the company Tiffany Amber and continue by stating the rationale for the study, research objectives/aims, and the research questions. The next chapter in the proposal will contain a brief literature review covering some of the main points in the literature concerning branding strategies of fashion luxury brands and summarizing the points that the dissertation will seek to explore. The proposal will commence with describing the research design and methodology including methods of data collection and data analysis and conclude with a short summary of all the relevant crucial points in the proposal.1.2 Background:Fashion is not a necessity but is usually a luxury exploited by and available to consumers who are willing to purchase fashionable clothes and have the resources to do so. One of the largest groups of consumers who are influenced by fashion are the young generation or young consumers and this particular target market is also known to spend the most upon purchasing fashionable clothing. Accordingly, designers of luxury brands incorporate different branding strategies within their marketing plan in order to increase their influence upon young consumers (Kotler, 1988). This study particularly focuses upon studying the impact of branding strategies of new luxury brands upon young Nigerian consumers belonging to the upper-middle class and those who have the resources to afford luxury clothing and have access to luxury fashion brands. The study will discuss their fashion choices with relation to luxury and non-luxury brands and their reasons for choosing fashionable clothing such as maintaining an image, looking young, and price and status amongst other factors. Society has always classified individuals according to a number of characteristics and accordingly given them labels such as frontrunners and followers, powerful and weak, elite and poor, and many other universal social categorizations (Kotler, 1988). Thus, individuals are then classified according to factors such as treasure, prestige, capability, education, profession, and even place of residence. These separate factors together form the classification of socio-economic class which is one of the most important consumer characteristics in luxury fashion clothing Tynan et al, 2010). Accordingly, African luxury fashion brands are seeking to make their impact upon the Western fashion market by adopting various branding strategies to appeal to the affluent youth. While the development of African fashion has previously been slow, African fashion brands are gradually entering the Western fashion market featuring Nigerian designers in the lead (Jennings & Ude, 2011). Designers such as Deola Sagoe, Violet Hecksher, and Adebayo Jones have all made their mark as high-end fashion brands which provide and design clothes in the categories ofhaute dressmaking, avante garde, and bridal fashion clothing. They produce commendable work in their own design fields and clearly communicate their brand image in their collections and customer service, representing concepts such as reliability, custom fitting, vibrance, entertainment, and comfort (Chavelier & Mozzalovo, 2008). However, Deola Sagoe exceeds the limitations of other Nigerian fashion designers and features a highly innovat ive high-end fashion line which is not seen elsewhere within the realms of Nigerian fashion. Thus, it is evident that Nigerian fashion has been thriving for some time and has made commendable progress in the last five years. Previously, Nigerian designs such as Ankara were not used daily and Nigerian designers were not paid much regard. However, now consumers under the age of 40 have begun to appreciate the beauty of Ankara and regularly wear garments designed by Nigerian designers. Designers have currently become proud of the country-of-origin of their products and often promote this feeling of patriotism by labeling clothes with emblems saying â€Å"Proudly Nigerian† (Keller & Lehmann, 2006). Due to the new popularity of Ankara fabric and the skills of fashion designers, the Nigerian fashion industry has currently taken a whole new path and is on the road to success, putting Nigerian fashion designers in a better position to target the youth and develop appropriate branding strategies to promote their luxury brands. This dissertation seeks to explore these branding strategies, specifically those employed by the luxury fashion brand, Tiffany Amber (Wilcox et al, 2009).1.3 Company Background:The brand, Tiffany Amber, was incorporated in the fall of 1998 by the brand’s owner and founder, Folake Folarin Cokar, who lived most of her youth in Europe exploring various fashion trends and fashion philosophy in order to later transmit her fashion sense and passion in her new brand. Unlike other Nigerian luxury brands, Tiffany Amber is specifically designed to suit the modern African woman and offers a unique blend of traditional African design with an international aesthetic which is part of the brand’s unique selling proposition. The brand is also widely known for its ultra feminine cuts and pieces created with the most luxuriant fabric and specific emphasis to detail. Unlike other African fashion designers, Tiffany Amber has successfully made a mark in the global fashion market while winning numerous awards and featuring its designs at the New York Fashion Week. The brand’s success can be attributed to a number of things which may include the brand’s specific emphasis to detail and femininity or the brand’s branding strategy of featuring itself under a foreign brand name rather than a local Nigerian brand name (Anheir & Isar, 2008).1.4 Rationale for the Study:While Western fashion and the fashion industries of other countries are well-developed, Nigerian fashion is a newly emerging concept and a newly prosperous industry. Thus, while all major fashion brands indulge in strategized marketing and promotion of their brands, there is little insight into how Nigerian luxury fashion brands adopt branding strategies to make consumers more aware of their brand and increase their prominence. Moreover, while the youth are highly appreci ative of Nigerian fashion in Nigeria, there is a need to understand whether Nigerian designers are effectively targeting the youth and increasing the prominence of their fashion brands or whether there is need for improvement in their branding/marketing strategies (Cayla & Arnold, 2008). While this would not have been an issue previously, with the current success of Nigerian fashion and its penetrating prominence in the Western fashion market, it is essential to study whether Nigerian luxury fashion brands such as Tiffany Amber are effectively using branding as a source to increase consumer awareness (Ahmad, 2011). If branding strategies and marketing plans are not coordinated and presented effectively, it may affect the success and acceptance of Nigerian fashion amongst young consumers. This was not previously a highly researched topic as the Nigerian fashion industry was not highly prominent and was not given due regard, hence there is little insight into this area of research (Shukla, 2011). This study can shed light upon whether the Nigerian luxury fashion market is effectively using branding strategies to gain prominence amongst young consumers and whether young consumers are aware of various Nigerian brands. It can also shed light upon the different types of branding strategies used in the Nigerian fashion industry and how these can be improved to exploit the opportunities available for Nigerian fashion amongst young consumers, if they are not currently being used at optimum level (Phau & Prendergast, 2000).1.5 Research Aims:Principle Research Aim: Exploring the depth of Nigerian fashion culture and the use of branding strategies by luxury brands to gain prominence amongst young consumers.Research Objectives:Aims to critically analyze and explore fashion culture in Nigeria as well as the contemporary fashion industry Aims to critically analyze the development and success of luxury fashion brands in Nigeria and their strategy of targeting young consumers Aims to explor e brand awareness of luxury fashion brands amongst young consumers in Nigeria Aims to critically analyze and explore the branding strategies of luxury fashion brands in Nigeria Aims to explore the branding strategy employed by Tiffany Amber and effectively make recommendations for improvement in light of the information gathered in the studyResearch Questions: Primary Research Question: What types of branding strategies are used by Nigerian luxury fashion brands and are they effectively targeting and increasing brand prominence amongst young consumers?Subsidiary Research Questions:What does fashion culture in Nigeria represent Are young consumers aware of various luxury fashion brands in Nigeria What branding strategies are being used by Tiffany Amber and how can they be improved to increase the brand’s acceptance by young consumers1.6Hypothesis:H0: young Nigerian customers are not aware of brand prominence of luxury fashion brands. H1: young Nigerian customers are aware of brand prominence of luxury fashion brands Chapter 2: Literature Review2.1 Concept of Branding:A brand name is a source of recognition for a product range which gives it a distinct identity and differentiates it from the products of competitors. If it were not for the concept of branding, it would not be possible for fashion designers to gain recognition in the industry and set themselves apart from their counterparts offering similar clothing and styles. A brand name represents a number of concepts and is a source of equity for a business which adds value to the business beyond the value of its material assets. Moreover, it is also a source of communication between the customer and the brand owner which gives off several cues to the customer regarding the product (Amankwah et al, 2012). A brand name is particularly important in the fashion industry and all luxury fashion brands are dependent upon the development of their brand name in order to add value to their brands. For example, Louis Vutton produces a leather handbag which is produced at a cost of approximately ?150 including the cost of overheads, but the bag is sold at a price of ?750 because of its unique style, the brand’s equity, and the brand associations that arise in the minds of customers when purchasing the brand (Wissinger, 2009).The luxury fashion brands industry aims to associate feelings of prestige, importance, power, hi-fashion, and uniqueness within customers regarding the brands they purchase. Thus, the industry’s main aim is to develop their brand name through branding strategies to represent concepts which are highly attractive for affluent customers and influence them to pay a high price for their products while also frequently purchasing their products (Fillis & Remtschler, 2 006). 2.2 Branding Strategies:In order to promote their luxury fashion brands in the eyes of customers, brand owners and managers implement a number of branding strategies. The branding strategies include extending the brand life cycle, increasing brand prominence, creating a brand image and brand position in the market, using celebrity endorsements, and using a foreign brand name amongst other innumerous branding strategies (Atwal & Williams, 2009). Many brands attempt to attract customers through constant innovation and offering completely new looks. Thus, this leaves customers guessing and at a stage of surprise as they are not sure of what to expect from the brand. While this strategy can significantly increase customer interest, it can also be harmful in the sense that it may cause brand confusion for customers and they may not be able to associate an appropriate image with the brand. Some brands attempt to increase their sales by increasing brand prominence and ensuring that customers are well aware of their brand. This may involve sponsoring events, featuring the brand in movies, advertisements, and basically ensuring the brand name is visible wherever possible (Ahmad, 2011). While this may be effective in ensuring that customers are well aware of the brand and it is at the top of their minds, but it may also cause customers to think that the brand has lost its uniqueness if the brand is made too prominent and is featured in the wrong places (Danziger, 2004). Many brand managers feel that their brand will sell itself if the correct brand image is projected and the brand is positioned appropriately. This is one of the most important branding strategies for luxury brands as this determines their identity in the market and how they are perceived by customers. Luxury fashion brands often prefer to create a brand image of uniqueness, importance, high status, and exquisite style. However, they may differ in the manner that they position themselves in the market as some brands may wish to position themselves as traditional brands while others may wish to project themselves as contemporary brands for example (Wilcox et al, 2009). Another very popular branding strategy for luxury fashion brands is using celebrity endorsements or hiring brand ambassadors which are well-known people who represent or use the brand in order to promote it to customers. This is usually considered an effective strategy in the case of luxury fashion brands as using celebrity endorsements often adds an aura of prestige and status to the brand (Keller & Lehmann, 2006). One of the popular branding strategies in brands originating from less developed countries is adopting a foreign brand name in order to give the brand a more Westernized image and possibly even hiding its country of origin. This is one of the strategies adopted by numerous Nigerian fashion designers, such as Tiffany Amber, and touches upon the next topic of the country of origin effect (Tynan et al , 2010). 2.3 Country of Origin Effect:The country of origin effect is seen within brands originating from different countries and how consumers perceive them based upon their c ountry of origin. For example, it may be difficult for a Chinese fashion designer to name a global fashion brand under a Chinese name and then effectively compete with other fashion brands such as Zara, Marie Claire, and numerous others as Western consumers may not be able to completely relate to the brand. It may also be difficult for consumers to associate themselves with the brand or perceive it as a high quality brand. Hence, many brands originating from less developed countries are made to adopt a Western name in order to at times hide their country of origin or relate to customers more effectively. This practice is often seen in Nigerian brands and may be a cause for their recent success in the global market, including brands such as Tiffany and Amber. Accordingly, these brands give off specific psychological cues to customers (Cayla & Arnould, 2008).2.4 Psychological Effects of Branding:Customers wearing branded products often choose to wear these brands because they give the m psychological satisfaction more than for the specific quality or style they offer. For example, a consumer wearing a simple dress which is not branded may not feel as confident as a consumer wearing a dress with a specific emblem or logo on it (Okonkwo, 2007b). Moreover, brands give customers a sense of belonging and may give them the feeling that they belong to a specific group of people who use a particular product. Thus, many consumers feel that they are cool, stylish, of high status, rich, or fashionable because they are wearing a particular brand. Hence, consumers, specifically young consumers in the contemporary fashion market, feel that they are recognized through the brands they wear. The same situations holds true for Nigerian consumers (Danziger, 2004). 2.5 Nigerian Young Consumers:Young Nigerian consumers are becoming increasingly affluent and have a substantial amount of discretionary income to spend upon fashion clothing. Moreover, with the increase in education and a wareness, Nigerian consumers are increasingly becoming fashion conscious and feel highly comfortable wearing Western labels. However, with the current prominence of Nigerian fashion, some young consumers are beginning to wear Ankara fabric and appreciate Nigerian fashion (Kawamura, 2011). However, a lot of the young generation may not be explicitly aware of Nigerian fashion brands and thus may not be targeted properly. The Nigerian fashion industry is in danger of losing such individuals to the Western fashion industry if the correct branding strategies are not implemented and young consumers are not given the feelings of prestige, honor, status, and style while using the brand (Jennings & Ude, 2011). These concepts must be explored in greater depth within the dissertation. Chapter 3: Research Methodology:3.1 Research Philosophy:The research conducted will be exploratory in nature as it seeks to investigate a topic which has previously not been explored in great depth. The study will be designed to be both qualitative and quantitative in nature as it will rely upon qualitative data in order to derive an outcome regarding the branding strategies employed by Tiffany and Amber and other luxury brands and also use a quantitative questionnaire in order to derive an outcome regarding the perception of young Nigerian customers of Tiffany and Amber (Kawamura, 2011).3.2 Research Design:The research will be designed in order to gain maximum in-depth information regarding the branding strategies of luxury brands and also provide a degree of control to eliminate interviewer/researcher bias and other problems associated with only qualitative research. Hence, the research design will depend upon both qualitative and quantitative data and both primary and secondary d ata. Primary data will be gathered through the means of a questionnaire conducted with Tiffany and Amber customers and secondary data will be collected for the literature review through online databases, journals, books, websites, magazines, and other sources (Berg, 2004).3.3 Research Strategy:The research process will begin with the collection of data for the literature review and critical analysis through online databases, journals, and other relevant sources after which a conceptual framework will be formed against which the new data collected is to be analyzed. According to the findings in the literature review, a comprehensive questionnaire will be dispersed to 60 Tiffany Amber young customers (under the age of 40) to gain their opinion regarding their knowledge and association with the Tiffany Amber brand. The data will then be analyzed and compared to the results obtained in the literature review in order to arrive at a conclusion (Berg, 2004).3.4 Data Collection Method:The most appropriate data collection method for this study would be to first gain explicit permission from Tiffany and Amber to contact their customers regarding the study and get a list of email addresses of approximately 60-80 young customers from their database. As some customers may not be willing to participate in the study, approximately 80 customers will be sent questionnaires through email out of which 60 responses will be used for the purpose of the study. The method of email will be used to promote convenience and promptness of responses (Patton, 1990).3.5 Data Analysis:As the questionnaire will be closed-ended, the data obtained from the questionnaire will be analyzed through the use of statistical software such as SPSS. This software is chosen for its appropriateness and accuracy in analyzing such data. The data involving single variables will be presented in the form of bar and pie charts and frequency tables. The data involving two or more variables will be presented in the form of statistical correlation analysis.3.6 Quality of Research:The research needs to ensure validity and reliability and in order to increase the quality of research, it is essential to ensure that the information is interpreted without interviewer bias/resp ondent bias. Questions should be designed to ensure that they are not loaded or leading questions and arouse a level of interest within the respondent in order to avoid dishonest responses due to boredom (Patton, 1990).3.7 Ethical Considerations:There may be a few ethical considerations that must be made when conducting the study which include the situation in which Tiffany Amber may be reluctant to speak of or disclose its branding strategies. Moreover, customers may also be reserved of answering personal questions for fear of misappropriation. In order to reduce the influence of these issues, respondents must be guaranteed anonymity and the researcher must ensure that he/she informs the respondents that he/she is not directly associated with Tiffany and Amber.3.8 Limitations:The limitations of the study include the fact that the study focuses only upon a single Nigerian brand, Tiffany and Amber, and results cannot be generalized towards other brands. Moreover, the sample populatio n used is not representative of all the Tiffany and Amber customers and also does not represent the opinions of the customers of other luxury brands (Cooper & Schindler, 2003).3.9 Timetable: The time table shows the most time spent on activities such as reading literature, drafting the literature review, awaiting tutor feedback, and acting on the final feedback given. These activities are given the most emphasis because they are crucial points in the research process and require extensive time to complete. It is highly essential to spend ample time exploring as much literature as possible in order to develop a full-fledged conceptual framework. Hence, approximately a week and a half is required in order to properly read all relevant sources. Drafting and writing out the literature review is likely to take approximately two and a half weeks as it is essential to appropriately form the arguments and the critical analysis as this is the main foundation of the research. As supervisors and tutors are likely to have a number of students to advise, it will take them some time to provide feedback and thus this is also a milestone in the research process. Analyzing the data is likely to take a shorter period of time than the other activities as it certain statistical functions must be used on SPSS and the data must be interpreted accordingly. The most important part of the research process is acting upon final feedback and ensuring the dissertation is up to the mark in all regards which includes activities such as proofreading, formatting, and correcting any mistakes. Chapter 4: Conclusion In a highly diverse and enticing fashion market, it is essential for Nigerian brands to promote brand awareness and prominence as Western brands do in order to ensure that they continue to appeal to young consumers. In order to do so, they may use a number of branding strategies that have preliminarily been explored in the literature review and will be explored in more depth and detail in the dissertation. However, as Western brands gain increasing prominence and implement effective branding strategies, it is becoming more essential for Nigerian designers to implement highly effective branding strategies to appeal to the youth (Kotler, 1988). With the example of Tiffany and Amber, the study will aim to appropriately explore the branding strategies that this particular brand employs and provide recommendations for improvement accordingly. This study can also lead to further research around the topics of how Nigerian branding strategies are different from the West and understanding how young Nigerian customers perceive the branding strategies of the West compared to those of local brands. Thus, this information can be highly beneficial for the fashion industry to develop a more strategically appropriate marketing plan and become as competent and prominent as Western fashion brands. The study can also lead to studies in other sectors of the developing Nigerian market such as accessories, technology, home decor, and others. References Ahmad, S. (2011). Globalisation and brands.BRANDS AND BRANDING. Amankwah, A. M., Howard, E. K., & Sarpong, G. D. (2012). â€Å"Foreign Fashion Influence on the Ghanaian Youth and its Impact on the Local Fashion Industry.†International Journal of Innovative Research and Development. Vol.1(11) pp.562-575. Anheier, H. K., & Isar, Y. R. (Eds.). (2008).Cultures and globalization: The cultural economy. Sage. Atwal, G., & Williams, A. (2009). â€Å"Luxury brand marketing–The experience is everything!.†Journal of Brand Management. Vol. 16(5) pp. 338-346. Berg, B. L. (2004).Qualitative research methods for the social sciences (Vol. 5). Boston: Pearson. Cayla, J., & Arnould, E. J. (2008). â€Å"A cultural approach to branding in the global marketplace.†Journal of International Marketing. Vol.16 (4) pp.86-112. Chevalier, M. & Mazzalovo, G. (2008.) Luxury Brand Management, a world of privilege 1st ed. Singapore; Chichester: John Wiley. Cooper, D. R., & Schi ndler, P. S. (2003). Business research methods. Danziger, P. (2004).Why people buy things they don’t need: understanding and predicting consumer behavior. Kaplan Publishing. Fillis, I., & Rentschler, R. (2006). â€Å"Creative marketing: an extended metaphor for marketing in a new age† Jennings, H., & Ude, I. (2011).New African Fashion. Prestel. Kawamura, Y. (2011).Doing research in fashion and dress: an introduction to qualitative methods. Berg. Keller, K. L., & Lehmann, D. R. (2006). â€Å"Brands and branding: Research findings and future priorities.†Marketing Science. Vol. 25(6) pp.740-759. Kotler, P., (1988) Marketing Management: Analysis, Planning and Control. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Musso, E. (2012).Trendy Growth: Fashion as a Function for Development in Africa (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Colorado). Okonkwo, U.( 2009a.) â€Å"The luxury brand strategy challenge.† Journal of Brand Management. Vol. (5-6). pp. 287-289 Okonkwo, U., (2007b.) Luxury Fashion Branding. Trends, Tactics, Techniques 1st ed. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan. Patton, M. Q. (1990).Qualitative evaluation and research methods . SAGE Publications, inc. Phau, I., & Prendergast, G. (2000). â€Å"Consuming luxury brands: the relevance of the rarity principle.†The Journal of Brand Management. Vol.8(2) pp.122-138. Shukla, P. (2011). â€Å"Impact of interpersonal influences, brand origin and brand image on luxury purchase intentions: measuring interfunctional interactions and a cross-national comparison.†Journal of world business. Vol. 46(2) pp. 242-252 Tynan, C., McKechnie, S., and Chhuon, C., (2010). â€Å"Co-creating value for luxury brands.† Journal of Brand management. Vol. 63. pp. 1156-1163 Ueltchy, L., and Laroche M.,( 2004.) â€Å"Co-branding internationally. Everyone wins?† Journal of Applied Business Research. Vol. 20(3) pp. 91-102 Wilcox, K., Kim, H. M., & Sen, S. (2009). â€Å"Why do consumers buy co unterfeit luxury brands?.†Journal of Marketing Research. Vol. 46(2) pp.247-259. Wissinger, E. (2009). â€Å"Modeling Consumption Fashion modeling work in contemporary society.†Journal of Consumer Culture. Vol.9 (2) pp.273-296.

The Best MBA Programs in the World

The Best MBA Programs in the World The best MBA programs in the world equip their students with the skills and support necessary to launch and/or advance a business career. Each of the MBA programs on this list provides rigorous coursework, experienced professors, extensive career support, and a global perspective. Stanford Graduate School of Business Founded in 1925, Stanford Graduate School of Business is located in Stanford, California. The schools two-year full-time MBA program provides students with a world-class general management education. The curriculum encourages innovation and collaboration. Each student is also required to participate in a global experience. Some of the options that are available to students include Global Management Immersion Experience (GMIX), faculty-led Global Seminars, Global Study Trips and self-directed experiences, such as a global internship or an independent study course. London Business School Located in London in the United Kingdom, London Business School is widely believed to be the best non-U.S. business school. The MBA program is not only prestigious, it also offers flexibility that cant be found in every program. Students can choose customize the curriculum based on their desired career path and complete the program in 15, 18 or 21 months. London Business School also offers many unique opportunities, including a Global Business Experience and an Entrepreneurship Summer School. Harvard Business School Established in 1908, Harvard Business School is one of the most recognized names in business education. The full-time MBA program at Harvard Business School places a heavy emphasis on real world experience. Students learn through the case method, which allows them to evaluate real business scenarios and decide how they would respond to the types of problems and challenges facing todays businesses. They also participate in personal leadership activities and team-based projects. Harvard Business School is located in Boston, Massachusetts but has global research centers located all over the world. It takes two years of full-time study to complete the MBA program. INSEAD INSEAD is not as old as some of the other schools on this list (it was founded in 1957), but it is consistently ranked among the best business schools in the world. The school has campuses in Fontainebleau, France (Europe campus), the Buona Vista district of the city-state of Singapore (Asia campus), and Abu Dhabi (Middle East campus). Students choose their preferred campus at the time of application, but can choose to spend one of three periods studying at another campus. INSEAD offers an accelerated full-time MBA program that takes just 10 months to complete. The curriculum is rigorous and places an emphasis on management preparation. The Wharton School Along with Harvard Business School and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Wharton School is consistently ranked among the best U.S. business schools. The Wharton School was established in 1881 and is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The MBA program provides good preparation in general business and leadership, but it is known primarily as a finance school. It takes approximately 20 months to complete the Wharton MBA program. Students can choose from nearly 20 majors and customize their education by picking and choosing from more than 200 electives. Columbia Business School Established in 1916, Columbia Business School is located in New York City. It is one of just six Ivy League business schools in the world and is known for being highly selective. The Columbia Business School MBA program takes approximately two years of full-time study to complete. Courses teach business theory that is applicable to real-world business situations. Students are encouraged to learn from the faculty as well as their peers. The MBA program has a core curriculum, but students are allowed to choose a specialization so that they can graduate with knowledge in an area that matches their career goals. University of Chicago Booth School of Business Located in the Hyde Park area of Chicago, Illinois, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business was established in 1898. It is the second oldest business school in the United States. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business MBA program combines theory and experiential learning to teach students how to analyze problems and create solutions. The school offers above average preparation in economics. The school has produced more  Nobel Laureates in the Economic Sciences than any other business school. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business MBA program takes two years of full-time study to complete and consists of 20 classes and an experiential leadership development program. University of Cambridge Judge Business School Formerly known as the Judge Institute for Management Studies, the University of Cambridge Judge Business School was established in 1990 and is widely recognized as one of the best business schools in the world. The schools full-time MBA program, often called the Cambridge MBA, is a rigorous program that takes just one year to complete. The University of Cambridge Judge Business School seeks to prepare students to lead teams on a global scale. Students participate in a lot of class discussions and participate in a Global Consulting Project requires them to consult for client companies and make touch business decisions with real outcomes. University of California at Berkeley Haas School of Business Founded in 1898, the University of California at Berkeley Haas School of Business, also known as Berkeley Haas, is one of the oldest business schools in the world. The full-time MBA program at Berkeley Haas is  21-month program. The curriculum has a heavy focus on management and leadership fundamentals. Students take 12 required courses and then choose electives to tailor their education to their chosen career path.  They also get the opportunity to participate in team projects and leadership development opportunities. IESE Business School Founded in 1958, IESE Business School is the graduate  business school of the  University of Navarra. The school has campuses in Barcelona, Madrid, Munich, New York City and Sao Paulo. The IESE MBA program includes a core curriculum with a focus on business fundamentals, internship programs that are designed to enhance entrepreneurship skills and electives that allows students to tailor their education to their career goals. Students who enroll in the IESE MBA program can choose from a 15-month MBA program or an 18-month MBA program.   Yale School of Management Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the Yale School of Management (SOM) was established in 1976. Students who enroll in the Yale School of Management MBA program must complete an integrated core curriculum. Each course within the core curriculum teaches management fundamentals, problem solving and ethical thinking. The Yale School of Management calls this approach to business education a raw case because it is based on the needs of real world organizations in modern business. The MBA program takes approximately two years of full-time study to complete.   University of Oxford Said Business School Formerly known as the Centre for Management Studies, the University of Oxford Said Business School was established in 1965. The University of Oxford Said Business School MBA program, also known as the Oxford MBA, takes one year to complete. The program emphasizes responsible leadership and is known for offering solid preparation in entrepreneurship and global business. Students study within a dynamic research environment and are encouraged to learn how to think logically and lead with purpose. MIT Sloan School of Management Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the MIT Sloan School of Management was established in 1914. The MIT Sloan MBA program is designed to encourage innovation. The school calls this approach action learning. Students participate in subject-based labs that allow them to apply classroom learning to real world situations. Every MBA student participates in a on-semester core that includes coursework in economics, accounting, leadership communication, business statistics and organizational processes. Students then complete 144 units of electives. The MBA program takes approximately two years of full-time study to complete.   Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management Established in 1908, the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management is located in Evanston, Illinois. The MBA curriculum at Kellogg combines a core curriculum that focuses on general management with electives that allow students to customize their education. MBA students are also given the chance to participate in global experiential learning opportunities. Kellogg School of Management has 37 exchange programs across 20 countries. Student can choose from a one-year MBA program and a two-year MBA program.   China Europe International Business School Co-founded by the Chinese government and European Union (EU) in 1994, the China Europe International Business School  (CEIBS) is known for its academic rigor. It is located in Shanghai, China. Students who enroll in the CEIBS MBA program complete a core that focuses on managerial foundation skills, business fundamentals, and special topics in China management before choosing a concentration in general management, finance or marketing.  Students can choose from a one-year program or a two-year program. Cornell University's Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management Established in 1946, Cornell Universitys Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, also known as Johnson, is an Ivy League business school located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a performance learning approach that combines classroom learning with practical experiences, such as  Kaizen projects.  Johnsons MBA program combines a core curriculum with flexible electives that allow for complete customization. Students can choose from a one-year program or a two-year program. Duke University Fuqua School of Business Established in 1969, Duke University Fuqua School of Business is located in Durham, North Carolina. The MBA program at Fuqua has fewer core courses than most business schools. This approach allows students to begin taking electives sooner than normal. MBA students can customize their education by choosing electives in 14 different concentrations. The Fuqua MBA program takes approximately two years of full-time study to complete. National University of Singapore Business School Established in 1965, the National University of Singapore Business School is located in Singapore and is widely recognized as one of the best business schools in the Asia Pacific region. The MBA program at National University of Singapore Business School focuses heavily on global business. It integrates Western business models and Asian leadership tenants. Students take core classes in management and then choose electives to tailor their education. National University of Singapore Business School MBA program takes 17 months of full-time study to complete. International Institute for Management Development Established in 1990, the International Institute for Management Development  (IMD)  is a Swiss business school known for providing top-ranked executive education. It is located in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IMD MBA program is designed to give students a global mindset through a combination of practical experience and thought leadership. While enrolled in the program, students take core courses and apply what they have learned through projects and labs. The IMD MBA program takes one year to complete. ESADE Business School Established in 1958, ESADE Business School is a global academic institution that is located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ESADE employs a flipped-learning methodology. This teaching method allows students to learn basic concepts prior to participating in face-to-face sessions. The ESADE MBA curriculum encourages students to think creatively, customize their education and participate in international experiences. Students can complete the ESADE MBA program in 15, 18 or 21 months.

Visas y licencia para trabajar como arquitecto en USA

Visas y licencia para trabajar como arquitecto en USA Varias visas permiten a arquitectos internacionales trabajar legalmente en Estados Unidos, con independencia de si se ha obtenido o no la licencia estatal para esta profesià ³n. En este artà ­culo se explican cules son las visas de trabajo de las que se pueden beneficiar los arquitectos, dependiendo de sus circunstancias personales. Adems, por su importancia, tambià ©n se alude a cà ³mo es la carrera de arquitectura en Estados Unidos y cules son las opciones para los arquitectos internacionales para obtener una licencia en este paà ­s. Visas de trabajo y residencia permanente para arquitectos Para decidir quà © visa es la ms conveniente hay que mirar a las caracterà ­sticas de cada una con sus ventajas e inconvenientes y tambià ©n a las peculiaridades del arquitecto. Estas son las visas que se podrà ­an utilizar: En primer lugar, la visa H-1B para profesionales y modelos. Esta puede considerarse como la visa por excelencia para estos casos. Sin embargo tienen el gran problema que en la mayorà ­a de los casos est sujeta a un cupo mximo anual de visas que se pueden aprobar, dejando sin opciones a un buen nà ºmero de profesionales. En el caso de los chilenos destacar que tienen a su disposicià ³n la versià ³n H-1B1 que prcticamente les garantiza que siempre hay una visa disponible para ellos si cumplen los requisitos.   Las visas de la familia H-1B tienen adems la gran ventaja desde el punto de vista migratorio de que son consideradas como de doble intencià ³n, es decir, permiten legalmente buscar de forma activa una tarjeta de residencia permanente para quedarse a vivir y trabajar en los Estados Unidos. Otra visa a destacar pero que aplica solo a mexicanos es la conocida como  visa  TN, creada  al amparo del Tratado de Libre Comercio (NAFTA). Para esta categorà ­a no hay là ­mite anual de visas que se pueden conceder y pueden ser utilizadas por arquitectos. Una gran visa abierta para todas las nacionalidades es la que se conoce como visa O, para personas con habilidades extraordinarias en los campos de Negocios, Artes, Educacià ³n, Deportes, Cine y Televisià ³n y Negocios. Los mejores arquitectos con reconocimientos notables podrà ­an tener opcià ³n a obtenerla. Otra visa disponible es la E-2 de inversià ³n. Es decir, se tendrà ­a que crear una empresa y esta compaà ±Ãƒ ­a contratarà ­a al arquitecto. Estas visas estn sà ³lo abiertas a los ciudadanos de determinados paà ­ses. Por otra parte, los estudios de arquitectura de otros paà ­ses pueden crear subsidiarias en los Estados Unidos y enviar con una visa de la familia L a sus ejecutivos o arquitectos que ya tiene empleados. Y, finalmente, otra opcià ³n de visa es la J-1 de intercambio. Permite un entrenamiento en Estados Unidos de hasta un mximo de 18 meses. Al arquitecto en prcticas se le paga al menos el mà ­nimo que habitualmente se abona a arquitectos locales con los mismos conocimientos y experiencia. Architect-us es una de las empresas que se dedica a poner en contacto a arquitectos internacionales y estudios locales para este fin. Finalmente, tambià ©n es posible obtener la tarjeta de residencia permanente por trabajo si una empresa estadounidense patrocina al arquitecto extranjero. Y en casos muy excepcionales de excelencia profesional es posible el auto patrocinio. Carrera de arquitectura en Estados Unidos En Estados Unidos, se puede estudiar arquitectura en una universidad acreditada por la NAAB y pueden ser estudios de licenciatura o de maestrà ­a. Una vez completados los estudios, es necesario realizar tres aà ±os de prcticas bajo el control de un arquitecto, es lo que se conoce en inglà ©s como IDP. Posteriormente, hay que aprobar un examen conocido como ARE que es muy amplio y abarca conocimientos de arquitectura per se pero tambià ©n de construccià ³n. El siguiente paso es obtener una licencia de Arquitecto Registrado (RA, segà ºn sus siglas en inglà ©s). Los requisitos para esta licencia varà ­an de estado a estado. Quà © hacer cuando los estudios de arquitectura se han realizado en otro paà ­s La licenciatura de arquitectura estudiada en otro paà ­s no se reconoce en Estados Unidos, excepto en el caso de Canad.   Las opciones para trabajar con las que cuentan los profesionales sin licencia que se encuentran en esa situacià ³n son varias. Es frecuente que se trabaje bajo la supervisià ³n de un arquitecto con licencia y que se utilicen descripciones profesionales como diseà ±ador, arquitecto en prcticas, etc. Otra opcià ³n es estudiar  una maestrà ­a en arquitectura en los Estados Unidos y luego seguir los pasos que siguen los estudiantes de arquitectura estadounidenses y, adems, convalidar los estudios realizados en otro paà ­s y, en ocasiones, la apostilla de la Haya. Pero hay ms opciones que ofrece el Consejo Nacional de Arquitectura (NCARB, por sus siglas en inglà ©s). En concreto, es posible seguir dos caminos diferentes. En primer lugar, el Foreign architect path to certification. Esta opcià ³n no es admitida por todos los estados. En segundo lugar,  los que no tienen tanta experiencia trabajando pueden seguir lo que se conoce como el Standard Path. Comprende, entre otros, los siguientes pasos: convalidacià ³n de crà ©ditos con realizacià ³n de los pendientes, prcticas laborales, rendir el examen del ARE. Este test tiene la caracterà ­stica de que sus resultados son tambià ©n aceptados por todas las provincias canadienses.   Finalmente, verificar la normativa de cada estado, ya que cada uno tiene jurisdiccià ³n en materia de quià ©n est autorizado a firmar como arquitecto. Y esto aplica tambià ©n a los territorios de la Commonwealth, como Puerto Rico, Guam, Samoa e Islas Và ­rgenes Americanas.

Module 5& Essay 1 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Module 5& 1 - Essay Example reated four classes which each had a set of rights and duties: they were, in order of decreasing wealth, the Pentacosiomedimni, Hippeis, Zeugitae, Thetes). These classes formed groups that eventually became the governmental bodies in a democracy. First of these bodies was the Ecclesia or Assembly, where all citizens, whatever their designation, were entitled to participate. The Ecclesia became the sovereign body, whose task it was to promulgate laws and decrees, elect officials, and hear appeals from the courts. The second group was the Boule of 400, the council of citizens tasked to run the day-to-day affairs of the city and prepare the business of the Ecclesia. Only citizens from the upper three classes could qualify to be a member of the Boule, and membership was bestowed by election. Each citizen was entitled to serve for only one year, and may serve only twice in his lifetime. Every month, 50 men are chosen by the boule of 500 from among themselves to served in the prytany (the leaders of the Boule), and every day a new leader is chosen by the 50 from among themselves. Except for holidays, the Boule met every day. Another group, the archons or magistrates was reserved for the two higher income groups, and they occupied the higher governmental post. The retired archons then comprised the Areopagus, who oversaw and called attention to any improper actions of the Ecclesia (Kurt A. Raaflaub, Josiah Ober, and Robert W. Wallace, Origins of democracy in ancient Greece, 2007). The laws eventually created by the Ecclesia eliminated slavery of Athenians by Athenians, established rules and procedures for legal redress against abusive archons, and determined political privilege based on productive wealth rather than noble birth. This early democratic system was eventually adapted by the Romans. Many of the basic principles of rule by the people were adopted; Rome had its Senate which took the place of the Assembly, and its decimviri took the place of the boule.

TLMT313 WEEK 7 FORUM Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

TLMT313 WEEK 7 FORUM - Assignment Example The flow of goods includes both incoming goods and outgoing goods. Mr. Canil assures its global partners the supplies will arrive on time. Further, the PPG Industries manufacturing headquarters is strategically located in Pittsburgh, USA (PPG, 2014). The company’s products include paints, glass products, optical supplies, coatings, and fiber glass items. Mr. Camil monitors and resolves delivery bottlenecks and delays. Consequently, the goods arrive on time. Furthermore, the Supply Chain manager and other officers of PPG Industries responsibly implement global health, safety and quality standards (Smith et al., 2013). The same manager ensures the production process as well as the final products comply with all environmental protection standards. Similarly, the supply chain manager complies with the global safety health standards. The Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) Industries continually sets into motion a feasible global supply chain management plan. The company’s global supply chain is grounded on complying with global health and safety standards. The same entity delivers high quality environmentally compliant supply chain products. Evidently, the Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) industries company implements timely effective and efficient supply chain delivery