Kodak and Fujifilm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Kodak and Fujifilm - Essay Example In 1965, Fujifilm descended into the US, establishing its quarters in New York, in 1966 it set itself up in Dusseldorf to manage business in Europe, in 1987 it introduced itself to Germany, and so on until it had its industries scattered across the globe, from Japan, to the Middle East, to North America (Fujifilm Global, Corporate History). According to Shigetaka Komori and Shegehiro Nakajima, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer respectively, of Fujifilm, "Once, our overwhelming core business was photographic film, but we have now evolved into a company which is continually growing in a number of new strong business fields." These "new" fields that Fujifilm is expanding into include studying the "fine chemistry which controls elaborate chemical reactions, mechatronics, optics, electronics, software and a wide array of manufacturing technologies." Fujifilm is not just a photofilm industry that deals with only camera related products, rather, as Komori and Nakajima cont end, Fujifilm even caters to producing "highly functional materials such as LCD materials; medical/life sciences such as pharmaceuticals, functional skin care cosmetics and nutritional supplements; graphic arts such as printing materials and equipment; optical devices such as camera phone lens units; digital imaging such as digital cameras, digital printing, and Photobook." For Fujifilm, the ultimate goal is to "make a broad contribution to society through products and services using our leading-edge, proprietary technologies," and "aim to be a company which can respond to any changes with corporate excellence on a global scale," (Fujifilm Global, Message from the Chairman and President). Moving onto Kodak, American inventor George Eastman founded his photofilm company in Rochester, New York in 1982 (Sparkes, Kodak: 130 years of history). In 1900, Kodak launched its Brownie camera, bringing the camera into the hands of the masses of society, and in 1969, the Appollo 11 mission even made use of Kodak film. Sparkes also mentions that in 1975, Kodak was the first to build a digital camera and in 2005 it was "the largest seller of digital cameras in the US, with revenue reaching $5.7bn." Kodak's plan was to "make photography as convenient as the pencil," and the official US Kodak website further states that Kodak is "known not only for photography, but also for images used in a variety of leisure, commercial, entertainment and scientific applications. Its reach increasingly involves the use of technology to combine images and information--creating the potential to profoundly change how people and businesses communicate." Rupert Neate in his "Kodak falls in the 'creative destruction of the digital age," makes a very poignat statement that now "it is the end of the "Kodak moment." Michael Krigsman in his piece on "Goodbye Kodak, Hello Fujifilm," also makes a similar comment that "After 131 years great American photographic icon, Eastman Kodak, filed for bankruptcy w hile Japanese FujiFilm rises toward greatness." Clearly, there has been a sharp decline in the success of Kodak despite

The Fashion Industry - Zara Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Fashion Industry - Zara - Coursework Example The paper "The Fashion Industry - Zara" will look into the marketing environment of Zara. The fashion industry is greatly effectually by the political variable that’s are present in different nations. According to Holmquist (2003), there is certain liberty when it comes to the quantity of material import related to the fashion industry. This is a positive approach for them, especially in the Euro zone. Zara creates very good social connections and is also involved in CSR activities that has helped Zara a good brand name in the global political environment. The government is involved in the changes that affects the environment at large. The fashion industry is rapidly changing with the several trends that keeps on changing from a day to day basis. However, they also involve a lot of environmental wastage (Allen, 2013). According to Allen (2013), that the per capita income or in other words the GDP is also an important decision making factor for the fashion industry. UK in this case, has a strong GDP and that is why all the companies are concentrating on entering the UK market. However, there are different market where many people also prefer to buy cheap apparels. The economy of Europe is rising gradually and that is why the future is bright for the fashion and retail industry especially because the rise in the disposable income in the general public, gives them the opportunity to buy the fashionable clothes to stay with the current trend of the market. From the point of view of the currency.

The Issue Of Bilingualism With Psycholinguists

The Issue Of Bilingualism With Psycholinguists Bilingualism is a controversial issue that psycholinguists vary in the way they define it due to its multidimensional aspects. It should be carefully viewed with great consideration to certain variables appearing in the coming definitions. Auer (1995), states that bilingualism can be referred to the linguistic competences in more than one language. This bilingual competence can be accessible via the analysis of well-formed sentences involving two languages which may be treated as a window on the bilingual mind (Auer, 1995, p.115). Clearly, psycholinguists deem bilingualism as hidden competence in bilinguals minds, and it can be revealed as bilinguals produce utterances. Conversely, Saunders (1988) declares that bilingualism has different associations in peoples minds. Some people assume that bilingualism is native-like control of two languages which is later on called true bilingualism (p,7). However, bilinguals who have no native speakers competence in both languages reject this def inition utterly. Some linguists stress that this definition is restrictively limited to bilingual individuals who master their two languages completely. Dual monolingual is also a term used to refer to bilinguals mastering two languages as if they were native speaker monolinguals in both languages. However, Saunder (1988) argues that many bilinguals comprehend a foreign language without being able to speak it fluently. Therefore, linguists define bilingualism as the ability to speak two languages at any level of competency. After all these various arguments regarding bilingualisms nature, it is clear that bilingual individuals have different degrees of competence in the second language. Saunder (1988). Colin Baker Sylvia Prys Jones (1998). Encyclopedia of Bilingualism and Bilingual Education. UK: Multilingual Matters Ltd. (in the library). *Definition of bilingualism: According to Baker Jones (1998), when asked about bilingualism, most people believe that they know the answers of the following questions, what is bilingualism? How can a bilingual be defined? They would say that a bilingual person is the one who speaks two languages. However, defining bilingualism and bilinguals is more difficult than what the people think. Bilingualism involves a number of dimensions. There are five main issues that show the difficulty to define bilingualism very concisely. Also, they show that there might be degrees of bilingualism which vary in the same person over time. There is distinction between ability in language and use of language. They are two separate things. For example, a bilingual person has the ability to speak two languages very fluently, but he or she uses and practices only one of the two languages regardless whether it is the native language or the second language. Another bilingual person has the ability to speak two languages but he or she has some problems in speaking one of the two languages regardless whether it is the native language or the second language, but this person uses and practices both languages regularly. This distinction can be referred to the degree of difference between proficiency or competence of language (ability) and function of that language (use). Proficiency may vary in a language. For example, the abilities of a bilingual person will vary in using a language among the four skills of that language (speaking, listening, reading, and writing), where that person might be very good in speaking A language but when it comes to writing, the person will use B language to write or read, because his or her ability of writing in A language is weak or low. Another bilingual person might have good abilities (proficiency) in speaking and writing of a language, but he or she cannot use and practice (speak or write) that language, so he or she tends to use another language. This is called receptive competence. Few bilingual people are equally proficient in both languages, but one language tends to be stronger and better developed than the other language. It is called the dominant language and it is not necessarily to be the first or native language. Few bilinguals possess the same competence as monolinguals in either of their languages. This is because bilinguals use their languages for different functions and purposes. A bilinguals competence in a language may vary over time and according to changing circumstances. For example, a child starts to learn a minor language at home or in the childhood. As time goes, he or she learns another language in the school or community and he or she will gradually will lose the minor language, because it is out of use and that person became away from the childhood; the situation where the minor language is used. Leonard Bloomfield (1933). Language. UK: GEORGE ALLEN UNWIN LTD. In the extreme case of foreign language learning, the speaker becomes so proficient as to be indistinguishable from the native speakers round him. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦In this case where this perfect foreign language learning is not accompanied by loss of the native language, it results in bilingualism, (the) native-like control of two languages. (P. 55-56). Romaine, S (1995). Bilingualism (2nd ed.). UK: Blackwell Publishers. Proficiency and function are the factors which are related to the terms of categories, scales and dichotomies in defining and describing bilingualism. In one side of the issue of the definition of bilingualism, there would be a definition like Bloomfields definition (1933 p, 55-56) In the extreme case of foreign language learning, the speaker becomes so proficient as to be indistinguishable from the native speakers round him. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦In this case where this perfect foreign language learning is not accompanied by loss of the native language, it results in bilingualism, (the) native-like control of two languages. This definition identifies native like control of two languages as being the norm for bilingualism. In the other side, Haugen (1953 p, 7) shows that when a person of any language can produce complete meaningful sentences in another language, he or she would be a bilingual. According to Mackey (1967 p, 555), there are four aspects should be taken into account when defining and describing bilingualism. They are overlapped to each other and cannot be treated separately. These aspects are degree, function, alteration, and interference. The degree of bilingualism indicates the proficiency and competence of language, which is the extent to which the bilingual knows each of the languages. The part of function focuses on the use and practice a bilingual has for the languages. How much each language is used and practiced by the bilingual? Alteration concentrates on the extent to which the bilingual switches between the languages (code switching). And interference is the degree to which a bilingual manages to keep the two languages separate or fused. The four questions are overlapped to each other and they cannot be treated separately. For example, a bilinguals knowledge of a language will to some extent specify the functions to which it is put; and the vice ver sa. The contexts in which bilinguals have the opportunity to use language will affect their competence in it. Josiane, F. Hamers Michel H. Blanc. (2000). Bilinguality and Bilingualism (2nd edition). UK: Cambridge University Press. Hamers Blanc (2000) mention a number of definitions of bilingualism, but they are not satisfied with any one of them because they are one sided as they assume. Moreover, they highlight unidimensionality as being one weakness of bilingualism because when defining it, only one dimension would be taken account, ignoring other sides of bilingualism. For example, a definition of bilingualism may concerns competence, without the other significant dimensions. ( p, 3 23). Hoffmann (1991) mentions the same previous point in the way that the most remarkable and significant feature of bilingualism is the multi-faceted phenomenon of it which is expected to be the point of difficulty when defining bilingualism from one dimension. At first sight, the concept of bilingualism seems to be non-problematical and easy to be defined. However, when moving deep down on the many variant definitions of bilingualism, one can recognise how difficult it is to define a bilingual. According to Websters dictionary (1961), bilingual is defined as having or using two languages especially as spoken with the fluency characteristic of a native speaker; a person using two languages especially habitually and with control like that of a native speaker and bilingualism as the constant oral use of two languages. Many people view bilingualism as the ability of speaking two languages perfectly; like native speakers. This approach comes in one side of bilingualism and it is related to Leonard Bloomfield (1953: 56) who defines bilingualism as the native like control of two languages which concentrates on the dimension of proficiency in language. In contrast, on the other most different side there is a definition of Macnamara (1967a) who defines a bilingual as an individual who acquire a minimal competence in only one of the four skills in a language other than the mother tongue. Between these most two distinctive definitions, there is a collection of other definitions of bilingualism, for example, Titone (1972) defines bilingualism as the individuals capacity to speak a second language while following the concepts and structures of that language rather than paraphrasing his or her mother tongue. The previous three distinctive definitions show the degree of difficulty in providing a concise definition of a bilingual and bilingualism, because those three definitions themselves lack specifity and clarity in the main points on them like native-like competence, minimal proficiency in a second language, and following the concept of structures of the second language. (p, 6-7). Hoffmann, C. (1991). An Introduction to Bilingualism. UK: Longman. An oft-quoted definition is found in one of the early books on modern linguistics, Leonard Bloomfields Language, first published in the USA in 1933. Bloomfield pays special attention to users who become so proficient in the new language that they cannot be distinguished from the native speakers and he considers these users are bilinguals. He relates bilingualism to those individuals who speak a second language with high native level of proficiency. According to Hoffmann (1991), Bloomfield has a clear notion of bilingualism, but there is some contradiction on his definition of bilingualism. For example, if a degree of perfection cannot be defined in bilingualism, so how could Bloomfield talk of perfect foreign language learning? Bloomfield To be removed Opposite of Bloomfield General To begin with

Physical Medicine :: Health Treatment Psychiatry Rehab Essays

Physical Medicine PHYSICAL MEDICINE PHYSICAL MEDICINE also called PHYSIATRY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, OR REHABILITATION MEDICINE, medical specialty concerned with the treatment of chronic disabilities and with the restoration of normal functioning to the disabled through physical modes of treatment, such as exercise. This specialized medical service is generally aimed at rehabilitating persons disabled by pain or ailments affecting the motor functions of the body. Physical medicine is one means employed to assist these patients to return to a comfortable and productive life, often despite the persistence of a medical problem. For centuries man used such natural physical agents as hot springs and sunlight to treat his ailments, but the development of physical medicine as a specialized medical service took place largely after World War I. Two factors influenced its growth in the 20th century--epidemic poliomyelitis and the two world wars--both of which created large numbers of young, seriously handicapped persons. Physical medi cine was definitively established through the American physician Howard A. Rusk's efforts to rehabilitate wounded soldiers during and after World War II. Physical medicine then became available for the treatment of patients with such diverse problems as fractures, burns, tuberculosis, painful backs, strokes, nerve and spinal cord injuries, diabetes, birth defects, arthritis, and vision and speech impairments. Physical medicine is closely associated with orthopaedic surgery, but it is also prescribed by physicians and surgeons in all branches of medicine. Physicians who specialize in physical medicine are called physiatrists. The objectives of physical medicine are relief of pain, improvement or maintenance of functions such as strength and mobility, training in the most effective method of performing essential activities, and testing of function in various areas. Tests cover such fields as muscle strength, degree of joint mobility, breathing capacity, and muscular coordination. The therapeutic means most commonly employed include heat, massage, exercise, electrical currents, and functional training. Since the 1970s these basic means have been supplemented and enhanced by psychological counselling, occupational therapy, and a variety of other treatments which may be used in concert to help the disabled person achieve the fullest possible life despite the persistence of his medical problem. Heat is used generally to stimulate circulation and to relieve pain in the area treated. It may be applied by infrared lamps, shortwave radiation, or high-frequency electrical currents (diathermy); by hot, moist compresses or immersion in hot water (hydrotherapy); or by ultrasound. Massage primarily aids circulation and relieves local pain or muscle spasm.

Document Analysis of John Brown’s Address to the Virginia Court

John Brown’s address to the Virginia Court Origin: The address given by John Brown to the Virginia court was his final words before execution on charges of treason. The charges were given because of a raid that he directed with the intent to take federal weapons which is an act of treason. On October 16th-18th, 1859, the radical abolitionist John Brown led a group of white and black men, including two of his sons, on Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown’s goal was to seize the federal arsenal, arm the local slaves, and fight a way into the North as described in this primary source in court.This raid was not surprising because of his abolitionist background and insanity as described by the Robert E. Lee who led the Union Army that suppressed the revolt. The group held up in a fire department and was attacked by Lee’s soldiers. The failed attempt resulted in Brown’s capture, trial, and execution on December 2nd. This episode of slave resistance was the last major rebellion contributing to the secession of the South and, eventually, the Civil War. Purpose: John Brown had a a few purpose for delivering this address.Obviously, it was given in response to charges accumulated from the raid, and the address also makes several points explaining his defense. Brown stated that he did not intend to fire a single gun but wanted simply to take slaves from plantations and lead them to northern states or Canada. Brown also stated that he did not induce the others involved in the raid to join him which lessened his crime in his mind. To the charges he addressed, â€Å"I never did intend murder, or treason, or the destruction of property, or to excite or incite slaves to rebellion, or to make insurrection.Though he denied the charges, one can infer that Brown really did want a slave uprising to occur in the South due to his strong abolitionist morals and beliefs. If the raid were to be successful, Brown would not stop with those slaves, but rather continue his forced manumission of the South. Brown’s impression of the trial was one of satisfaction, but he argued that â€Å"it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty [of death]. † He made this argument because his intent was not to start this uprising but, instead, to be an act of defiance that he knew would indirectly cause a mass insurrection in the South.Value: John Brown’s address is not a historical landmark and was a less significant historical document that had minimal aftermath; however, it provides a specific example of responses in court giving insight into how acts of slave resistance are dealt with legally. Brown gives this document a unique texture because of his eloquence in court compared with his savagery in the raid. Overall, he is given the status of a martyr with his words: â€Å"I submit [to death]: so let it be done! † Brown reveals a very different side of his personality in which he is a dignified martyr.He predicts that slavery will never end peacefully in the country whose â€Å"rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments†. Historians can use this document today to show people strong in their beliefs who act upon them, and although some failed in their efforts, their cause was strengthened. Limitations: The address made by John Brown contains several limitations that affect its credit as a historical source. A significant limiting factor is that there is only one opinion to explain the raid. Brown had a biased opinion mainly because of his childhood having been greatly influenced with abolitionist morals and beliefs.One would think that Brown’s address would be biased in spite of his numerous accusations, but he speaks as if he had nothing to lose. The aiding and abetting criminals in the raid would not have delivered a speech as dignified and passionate as Brown’s but would obviously be similar in their renditions of the event. To fully understand Brown’s ra id, historians would need to consult Robert E. Lee’s notes. After viewing both sides of the story, a historian can either choose a side or make an inference that incorporates both.

Employee Compensation and Benefits Essay

Black Corporation, an innovative new technology corporation, has just hired John as the director of their Human Resources Department. As HR Director, John has been tasked with hiring an Administrative Assistant/ Secretary for the advertising department and to develop an employee compensation and benefits package that will be used for that position upon hire. He must elaborate on Black Corporation and the type of organization for which he is designing the package and develop an employee compensation and benefits package for this new position. He must be able to support his ideas the compensation/benefits package. This is the first time that John has had the task of hiring for Black Corporation and he will need quality resources to assist him to ensure that he is able to make the process as smooth and effective as possible. What type of Organization is Black Corporation? To begin with, John has recently been hired by Black Corporation as the director of their HR department. John has may years of HR experience and is also a certified Senior Professional in Human resources. BC is a brand new addition to the technology industry, which has just introduced an innovative communications device called the Talk Tablet. This device is a cellular telephone that is also a tablet that can be used for Internet access and app purchases. The head of Advertising, Mary, is in the process of launching a multi million dollar ad campaign and is in need of a Administrative Assistant/Secretary to assist her. Although BC has been open for less than a year they have established their stake in the industry with their ability to enhance current products and out sell many of its competitors. They are also known for employee satisfaction. BC considers its employees their greatest asset and offers excellent benefits and compensation. They are a very competitive employer; therefor e their employees are all experienced professionals in their area of expertise. The Administrative Assistant/Secretary Compensation Package Next, John has to develop the compensation/benefits package for his new hire Elizabeth. According to  BLS.gov the median pay in 2012 (the most updated reporting) for an AA/Secretary is $35,330 or $16.99 per hour. (â€Å"Secretaries and Administrative Assistants,† 2014) BC prides itself in hiring and retaining the cream of the crop in all of the areas they employ. They will pay Elizabeth a base salary of $61,000, due to her experience in this industry and position, and her performance will be evaluated in 90 days for a compensation increase. The base salary for an entry level AA/Secretary will be $51,000. This is $975 more than one of their competitors Apple Inc., according to Glassdoor.com (â€Å"Apple AA hourly pay,† 2014) Additionally John will decide on the benefits package. Susan Hatchfield, management and organization development consultant, who specializes in human resources, explains that â€Å"health insurance is the foundation of a comprehensive employee benefits package. Health insurance is the preferred employee benefit of the majority of people who work. [†¦] No comprehensive employee benefits package would be complete without employer paid time off from work. [†¦] Short-term disability insurance ensures that an employee will still receive a percentage of income if they cannot work due to sickness or a disabling injury. [†¦] Long-term care is an insurance policy that protects an employee from loss of income in the event that he or she is unable to work due to illness, injury, or accident for a long period of time. [†¦] Various dental insurance plans are available for employers to offer as part of a comprehensive employee benefits package. [†¦] Vision insurance is a lower cost addition to a comprehensive employee benefits package that is provided by employers. [†¦] Life insurance is an appreciated component in a comprehensive employee benefits package. [†¦]† (Heathfield, 2014, para. 6) All of these benefits will be the basis for the package for the Administrative Assistant/Secretary. Health, dental and vision insurances will be competitively priced with BC covering the majority of the premiums. The short term and long term insurance and a basic life insurance policy will be provided to the employees at no additional cost. BC will also provide a 401(k) investment option to allow employees to invest in their retirement with a 7% match to all investments. They will also allow an employee stock option with the improved dividends of the corporation. She will be given paid time off on a tiered scale, 4 weeks to begin with as well as a 2 day increase every 3 years with a maximum of 6 weeks. All major holidays will  also be paid with additional days off for some selected holidays. The package will include 12 stress/sick days per year. Elizabeth has been an AA/Secretary for the Advertising director with Google for 10 years and is excited to make the transition to Black Corporation. Google is the dream gig for many young professional according to a survey conducted by CB S News. Amy Levin-Epstein, of CBS News’s Money Watch reports that Google offers â€Å"a standard package of fringe benefits, but on top of that are first-class dining facilities, gyms, laundry rooms, massage rooms, haircuts, carwashes, dry cleaning, commuting buses – just about anything a hardworking employee might want.† (LEVIN-EPSTEIN, 2011, para. 2) They even offer free beer. With this in mind, John needs to develop a package that can offer some of the great fringe benefits that Elizabeth is used to. Although BC is a fairly new company they have invested in a state of the art facility, and they have done their research. They incorporated all of the amenities that Google offers as well as onsite training facilities and the option to go to school on campus to earn certifications and degrees. In conclusion, John has completed his task. He has hired Elizabeth as the Administrative Assistant/Secretary for Mary and he has developed a compensation package for the AA/Secretaries of Black Corporation. Elizabeth will start after she submits her 2 weeks notice. References Apple Administrative Assistant Hourly Pay. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.glassdoor.com/Hourly-Pay/Apple-Administrative-Assistant-Hourly-Pay-E1138_D_KO6,30.htm Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, †¨on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm (visited June 16, 2014). Heathfield, S. (2014). What’s In a Comprehensive Employee Benefits Package? Retrieved from http://humanresources.about.com/od/compensation-structure/tp/employee-benefits-package.htm LEVIN-EPSTEIN, A. (2011). Google Job Perks: Top 10 Reasons We Want to Work There. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-job-perks-top-10-reasons-we-want-to-work-there/