Developing Software Within A Hypercompetitive Market

As a result of the Software Development Industry struggling to deal with the complexities of developing software within a hypercompetitive market, projects continue to fail at an alarming rate. According to the Standish Group s CHAOS Manifesto 2012 report, project statistics across the United States and Europe were analyzed to determine if the projects were successful, challenged or failed. The results of the report found that only 37% of all IT projects were successful (on time, within budget and included the required functionality); 42% were challenged (delivered late, over budget and/or with less functionality then required); and 21% failed and had to be cancelled prior to completion and/or were never implemented (Standish, 2012).†¦show more content†¦Looking at these individually, the internal component focuses on the performance of internal processes that drive the business. Internal measures would include quality levels, productivity, cycle time and cost. Within in novation and learning the emphasis is on the future success of the organizations people and infrastructure. The key performance measures would be focused on employee satisfaction, market innovation and skills development. The financial component measures the results that matters the most to the organizations shareholders. These measures include profitability revenue growth, return on investment, economic value added and overall shareholder value. The last component which focuses on the customer is needs, satisfaction and market share that would be focused on satisfaction ratings and repeat business (Evan 2005). Components of a Balanced Scorecard (Organization Overview) Overall, the balanced scorecard aids an organization from the standpoint of identifying the right measures and aligning them to the vision and strategy. The model allows for the setting of target and resource allocation for short term planning; communicating strategies; aligning team and individual goals to strategies; linking rewards to performance; supplying feedback for organization learning; and ensuring a

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere Essay - 627 Words

Kevin Gable 8/30/10 Engl 1167 Communication Drinking Coffee Elsewhere is a very interesting story that brings up a number of thought-provoking issues in a relatively short format. Among these are questions of race, identity, and stereotyping. The narrator of the story is a young woman named Dina who feels lonely and confused in her new surroundings. As a poor, African American female at Yale (which the narrator portrays as a rich, male, and subtlety racist institution) she has difficulty adapting to the expectations of the university. From the very beginning, her differences set her apart from her classmates, until, from her point of view, she becomes a pariah, invisible and despised by the community. Of course, one must view†¦show more content†¦Dina, disgusted by her classmate’s insipid choices, states that she would be a revolver. This response, obviously meant to shock and discomfort her peers, earns Dina her psychiatric evaluations. Many other examples occur throughout the story. In a meeting with the psy chiatrist, the doctor asks Dina about her sexual history. This question create tension in different ways, such as sexuality, class, relationships, and shame. Typically, Dina invents a ridiculous story about losing her virginity spontaneously and foolishly. Because of her stereotyping attitude, Dina assumes that the white, male doctor would expect her, a poor, black girl, to do these sorts of things. She derails what could have been an important and intriguing discussion of Dina’s insecurities into what she thinks the doctor expects. Later, he calls this attitude her survival mechanism of a â€Å"black living in a white world.† It’s an interesting assertion, if not entirely fair to the people of all races who succeed without such pointless and insulting tactics. Ultimately, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere is a story of regret. At the end of the tale, Dina gives a heartfelt reminiscence of her college days, now long past, and the opportunities she missed and friendships she broke. One person in particular, Heidi, could have been a close and important friend. Instead, Dina’s harsh and unpleasant demeanor severed a deep connection. In fact, Dina’s quick andShow MoreRelatedDrinking Coffee Elsewhere Essay982 Words   |  4 PagesRacism in Drinking Coffee Elsewhere In ZZ Packer’s book entitled Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, we get to see how African Americans cope with their different situations dealing with family, friendship, religion, and the pursuit of prosperity in the world. Within the short story collection there is a story named after the title, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, where we get to see the pressures put on a young African American woman, Dina, that causes her to resort to near complete isolation of herself. DinaRead MoreCoffee Is A Supply Of Money1622 Words   |  7 Pagesor used to produce wealth. Coffee is cultivated in over 70 countries, however is most effectively grown in the equatorial regions of the world such as The Americas, Africa, Southeast Asia and India. It can in some cases be grown in subtropical regions as well. Coffee is a resource that is grown on bushes (therefore being a renewable resource), varying on value depending on its quality and type (two most common types being Arabica and Barista). Secondly only to oil coffee is the second most valuableRead MoreCoffee Is A Supply Of Money, Material, And Analysis1639 Words   |  7 Pagesor used to produce wealth. Coffee is cultivated in over 70 countries, however is most effectively grown in the equatorial regions of the world such as The Americas, Africa, Southeast Asia and India. It can in some cases be grown in subtropical regions as well. Coffee is a resource that is grown on bushes (therefore being a renewable resource), varying on value depending on its quality and type (two most common types being Arabica and Barista). Secondly only to oil coffee is the second most valuableRead MoreStarbucks’ International Operations Case Study1636 Words   |  7 Pagesalready penetrated and the company could open new stores or create joint ventures. Joint ventures let the company to have bigger control over business than licensing. The companies they decided to cooperated with had experience with selling food or coffee and the money to support the expansion. It seems to be more safe than granting a license to an individual that may not have any knowledge of the business. However, neither of these strategies gave Starbucks full control of their activities, costsRead MoreStarbucks : Target Market And How Was Starbucks1218 Words   |  5 Pages When Starbucks started their target market were people who enjoyed coffee not just for an energy boost from the caffeine, but people who enjoyed sitting down and drinking a well-prepared cup. Upon visiting Italy and falling in love with the coffee bars and the experience that they offered, Schultz envisioned a place between your home and work where you could sit and enjoy your coffee. Starbucks wanted to control their coffee from â€Å"raw green beans to the steaming cup† this meant that they had toRead MoreStarbucks : A Strong Shaper Of A People Essay1306 Words   |  6 Pagesfor great coffee, genuine service and community connection transcends language and culture. With expansion and growth, come several challenges. Therefore, Starbucks stores in China, India, Russia, Mexico, South Africa or Italy have certain unique characteristics such as environment, prices, In January 1999, Starbucks entered the mainland China market by opening their first store in the China World Trade Building, Beijing. Starbucks is creating a coffee culture in a traditional tea-drinking societyRead MoreEssay about Brand Identity Planning of Starbucks Coffee Chain1940 Words   |  8 PagesBrand Identity Planning of Starbucks Coffee Chain The starbucks brand has been credited with changing the way Americans drink coffee, the way they perceive it how much they are willing to pay for it. It has been a dream run for starbucks coffee once its brand identity became well known, understood liked. But the process of building a successful brand is slow, tedious, resource consuming risky. I have in the following report outlined the starbucks branding strategy on the basis of theRead MoreBrownies661 Words   |  3 PagesBrownies: Bibliography and Further Reading Brownies: Pictures Copyright Brownies: Introduction PrintPDFCite . â€Å"Brownies† is a story by ZZ Packer, a young African American writer. It appears in Packer’s short story collection, Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, which was published in 2003 to great acclaim. The story is about a Brownie troop of fourth-grade African American girls from suburban Atlanta, Georgia, who go to summer camp. At the camp, they encounter a troop of white girls and believeRead MoreZz Packer Essay examples650 Words   |  3 Pagesancestors had behind, and realize that on the inside we are all the same. Works cited Angelou, Maya (1928-). Encyclopedia of World Biography. Thomson Gale, 1998. Academic OneFile. Web. 20 Mar. 2011. Packer, ZZ. Brownies. Drinking Coffee Elsewhere. New York: Riverhead, 2003. 1-31. Print.Read MoreCoffee And Its Effects On The World s Most Widely Consumed Beverages And One Of The Globe2735 Words   |  11 PagesCoffee is one of the world’s most widely consumed beverages and one of the globe’s most internationally traded commodities, prized highly as much for its pharmacological effects such as a useful source of caffeine as well as for it sociological role amongst consumers (Topik, 2009: 81). And yet historically coffee consumption never really grasped a strong role within Asian geographies, a region of the world highly dominated by tea as the go-to-beverage historically and socially. Thus it makes the

Marketing Management Strategy in Bread Talk Bakery Case Study

Question: Discuss about the Marketing Management Strategy in Bread Talk Bakery. Answer: Introduction The company taken here is namely as Breadtalk, which mainly produces different food and beverages. The company is founded in the year of 2000, and the number of available stores is around 836 all over the world (Breadtalk.com 2016). The founder of the organization is George Quek and Katherine Lee. The net current asset of the company is about 149.933 million. Along with this, the total income of the company is about 16.177 million. The company started its business procedure from the basic market segmentation. The segmentation is based on demographic and geographical perspectives. In this case, a bread market is divided into small subsets containing homogeneous group rather cluster of clients. The variables or assessment factors are religion, family income, age, sex, occupation, etc. Thus, it can be said that, for the business to business marketing followed by BreadTalk, is entirely dependent on this organizational entities. The other target marketing is based on certain other segment ation categories such as- behavioral segmentation, geographical segmentation, multivariate account segmentation, cultural segmentation etc. Figure 1: BreadTalk (Source: Breadtalk.com 2016) This is one of the top listed Singaporean Bakery company, currently which is facing different problems regarding sales and marketing (Kotabe and Helsen 1998) due to its declining products. This report will discuss various suitable theories, frameworks, and techniques rather professional models that are related to different major marketing plans. Among various techniques, most appropriate one will be taken for granted to improve its commercialization and sales not only in South East Asia but also in all over the world. Situation Analysis (Marketing Audit) of BreadTalk Market Audit During the marketing audit along with different interrelated situation assessment, it is found that current position of the company is declining due to the production of some poor quality food (Jain 1989). Market planning is a theoretical overview that defines the particular development progress process, tactics and strategies those are required to evaluate the objectives of the company (Zou and Cavusgil 2002) but this company is following all of them in a perfect progressive manner. The entities related to the marketing planning process are all interconnected to each other. The business segmentation of BreadTalk group of Limited revenue structure from the geographical aspects is shown below: Development of Geographical Revenue value Singapore $70,000 China $140,000 Hong Kong $210,000 Row $280,000 Figure 2: Revenue structure (Source: Ryu, Jang and Cho 2014, pp-155) Mainland China is in the top most level and the other competitions are shown in the graphical diagram. Figure 3: Competitor Assessment of BreadTalk Bakery (Source: Ryu, Jang and Cho 2014, pp-155) Internal Analysis (SWOT Analysis) From the internal analysis it is defined that the improvement in the sales and profitability market share falls under the category that is known as internal market analysis (Norris 1992). In the external market analysis it is found that the micro environment and the macro environment analysis fall under the different category review (Wicaksono et al. 2007). From two of the assessment processes, SWOT analysis is done to obtain the underlying objects of the company's market planning. Figure 4: SWOT analysis (Source: Kumar and Rajan 2012, pp-130) Gap Analysis Apart from this, it can also be said that the business analytics method that is needed to determine the current revenue structure of the company is factor analysis and gap analysis. Gap analysis in a business analytics process that determines two conditions: the conditions are as followed: What is the current position of the company? Where does the company want to pick up its position? The Gap analysis of BreadTalk, defines that the current status of the company is declining due to some of the entities such as quality of the products, price of the products, variations in the products, services by the corporation, non-friendly services provided by the company and the product affordability by the consumers of the enterprise. It can be demonstrated that the external analysis is simultaneously required for the examination audit technique of the company. In addition to this, the marketing and sales of the enterprise also define the sustainability, flexibility and profit generated from the marketing aspects and different assessment processes. From the overall view and other known facts the position of the company can be defined easily. Norris (1992) opined that the factors come under consideration for the evaluations are as followed: legal, economical, cultural, political and technical and social. Altogether the collection of the elements is known as the PESTLE analysis. From the factor analytical point of view it can be said that there are several factors those needed to be prcised for the position structuring (Peng 2013). In the competitive business market, the current status of BreadTalk is not satisfied at all. In order to improve the overall structure of the company it is needed to acquire certain active strategies. At the same time, the perfect execution is also necessary to get a satisfactory result from the analytical perspective (Kalish, Mahajan and Muller 1995). Before any factor implementation the core need is to improve the imperfect entities that affect the maintenance of the position of the company in the competitive bakery marketplace. Porters Five Forces Analysis This analysis is also applicable to calculate the existing competition of the enterprise (Chen, Liang and Yueh 2014). In order to achieve one of the best positions in the competitive marketplace the rivalry measurement among the Singaporean bakery world in imperative. The five forces are as followed: The threat of substitutes: The Bakery farm took under consideration for marketing analysis namely as BreadTalk bakery has the biggest threat in the marketplace is Starbucks. Starbucks is one of the very famous coffee shops, which has its individual unique tasted food products. Thus, it can be said that the threat to the existing company here is Starbucks and other pastry and bakery making companies. From the revenue structure of the company it is defined that some new threats are certain known international bakery companies such as Duke Bakery International Plaza, Postre Bakery Caf, Delcie's etc (Doole and Lowe 2008). The company must attain certain protections against imports of the substitutes. Therefore to solve this problem the company should make itself aware of the other existing companys products. Threats of new entrants: Some of the other companies are also coming forward, which has become the threat to BreadTalk (Srinivasan 2014). In order to mitigate these issues the company must obtain some of the best marketing models so that the sales and the sales and the marketing structure of the company reach the best of the position. Generally in this case the declining products are dream pastry. Thus, the company must obtain the high level of barriers to the new entrants and a limit of protection to the foreign entries. Bargaining power of the buyers: The bargaining power of the buyers also misbalances the benefit level of a particular company. The equity theory measurement is paramount to calculate the overall profit level, sales and the marketing of the enterprise. The fundamental entities related to BreadTalk are the weak consumers protections laws and regulations and the segmented and small local level buyers (Jain 1989). BreadTalk should obtain different regulations and protection laws for the related poor users. It can also segment low level of local consumers. Bargaining power of the suppliers: the acronym can also be implemented as market of investment to the company, but the leading problems occur due to certain potential factors such: The degree of different inputs Effects of the investment cost. Presence of all the inputs The ratio of concentration Other advanced level intensity ratio Intensity of rivalry: There are certain potential factors which are essential to calculate in the industrial competition study (Bradley 2005). The competitiveness in an existing market some possible factors are needed to be analyzed such as: With the help of some invention obtaining sustainable competition Advertising Transparency degree Interrelated concentration ratio Impact of competitive strategies Figure 5: Porters five forces (Source: Chen, Liang and Yueh 2014, pp-5) Marketing Objectives of BreadTalk (SMART Objectives) Marketing planning is one of the most important diagnostic essential functions that are needed profoundly oriented to almost every organization (Alden, Hoyer and Lee 1993). The selection of the model and the model regarding isolated tactics are necessary to be undertaken by the company business analyst in a proper way (Zou and Cavusgil 2002). It the choice of the model went wrong then the entire efforts will go in vain. Specific This is one of the primary objectives that are acquired by the corporation to produce best quality food for the consumers (Kalish, Mahajan and Muller 1995). The quality maintenance of the food is imperative for any company. If the company does not maintain the quality of the food, then it will be tough for the company survives in the competitive business marketplace. In order to produce good quality food the investment level of the firm must be enhanced (Doole and Lowe 2008). Then only the ingredients required for the production of food will call as quality food. As the company is facing several competitions in the market, the bakery products of the company should contain unique flavor and incredible taste at the same time in order to attract consumers from various zonal regions (Peng 2013). Therefore, most of the important objectives for this bakery company is to produce good quality of foods. Measurable As per the assessment of the BreadTalk bakery the piece level of the company is comparatively higher than other baking organizations situated in Singapore (Coghlan 2015). Thus, in order to mitigate this issue the company is currently perusing certain activities. Initially, the company has certain manufacturing kitchen equipment, but those are time-consuming and used to take huge money for the maintenance (Kotabe and Helsen 1998). Therefore, the company is currently buying some advanced equipment those have advanced technologies and also take less for the preparation of the foods. Therefore, another important objective for this bakery company is to provide proper price ranges of foods. Achievable In order to achieve a huge number of consumers, the company is currently acquiring an expert group of highly experienced chef those who will provide good as well as various quality foods (Wicaksono et al. 2007). Apart from this, the company is also receiving advanced technical equipment and good quality ingredients for unique taste. Therefore, one of the most important objectives for this bakery business is to produce a variety of foods. In the Singaporean market the need for baking is very much high but from the economic perspective it is also known that the price will rise when the demand will rise simultaneously and at the same time when the demand will less that time also the piece will increase. For the consumer aspect if the price of bakery products is high then it is very evident that the users will avoid it. If they can easy obtain the same quality products at the lower price, then the customers will prefer that company. The Company used to provide all friendly and reliable services to the consumers. From the environmental aspects the report analyzed that in the North West zone, the company can provide its services with any complaint from the users because they have a friendly service for the clients of the enterprise (Coghlan 2015). But in a case of the southern east zone, the services provided by BreadTalk are not at all friendly for the customers. As the services are not friendly enough thus, from the different analysis, it is defined that user-friendly ambiance is vital for the development of the position of any company (Doole and Lowe 2008). As the company is declining for its products therefore beside the product improvement, a customer friendly service is also another primary objective of the enterprise. Therefore, one of the most important targets for this bakery business is to provide user-friendly services of foods. Realistic From the year 2000 onwards the company is providing a variety of food that includes different delicious desserts, biscuits, cookies, and pastries. There are many businesses situated in Singapore, which are producing different bakery foods, but the quality and the variation of the foods are advanced than Breadtalk (Doole and Lowe 2008). Though the company is having over 136 of outlets all over the world while it's time to face competition the rate of interruption is always very high than all others. Thus, the variation in food is paramount. Time Currently almost all the Singapore based bakery companies are providing excellent services to the consumers offline as well as online services regardless of the geographical location of the customers (Hooley and Beracs 1997). Not only this but also it provides a twenty-four seven service. BreadTalk Bakery Company is acquiring certain technologies that improve the service technique of the company (Metzger 2014). Initially, they do not have the facility to provide anytime anywhere services, but now they have the facility. Thus, it is possible for the company to provide excellent and efficient services to the consumers. Therefore, one of the most important objectives for this bakery company is to produce a variety of foods. Affordable ranges: The pastry and the other chocolate cakes produced by the firm range very high. Due to its expenses middle-income belonging people are unable to buy the products. Thus, affordable price of the products is critical for the company. If the consumers can obtain the same things at the lower price from other bakery shops, then the clients will not buy products from the enterprise. In order to mitigate this issue, the company is trying to decrease the price of the goods so that it would become affordable to all the consumers (Ehrnsperger and Pihlgren 2015). The other competitive companies in Singapore have an appropriate price range that is readily available for the clients of the products. Thus, from the logical business point of view, it is defined that management audit is needed to make a balance between the commercial investment and its respective outcome or benefits (Metzger 2014). Therefore, for BreadTalk bakery another objective of the company is to range its prices in an affordable one. Marketing Strategies and Programs of BreadTalk (7Ps Analysis) There are several marketing models followed by different marketing groups (Javaid 2014). The programs based on the marketing strategies are analyzed with the help of the Porters five forces, PESTLE'S analysis, 4P marketing model, and 7P marketing model, Belbin's, etc. Among many of the marketing strategies, the best-taken option is known as the 7p marketing model. BreadTalk Company uses 4p marketing model, but the report suggests one of the most famous models is 7p marketing model (Zou and Cavusgil 2002). As the 7p marketing model has some advantages and also extended features which the 4p marketing model does not contain. According to Bradley (2005) among different marketing theories and models the best solution suggested is the 7p marketing mix. The products produce by the company should be satisfactory to the customers or else the company will undoubtedly face a loss (Alden, Hoyer and Lee 1993). In order to bring benefits to the farm, the structure modeling and designing approach need constructive suggestions and concentration from other high level management authority of the company. Before producing any of a food product, the company must target certain cluster of consumers. This will do with the help of marketing mix and market segmentation (Leonidou, Katsikeas and Samiee 2002). Once the product produces by BreadTalk Bakery Company launched in the market, some steps are required to be followed to overcome the issues arising regarding their marketing and sales. Some matters come under consideration for the commercialization sales. The product target Expectation of the consumers for the particular product Advantages level over other competitive bakery products produces by other companies Different selling points measurement Planning to make the position of the manufactured product within the competitive marketplace The existing model used by the bakery company is 4p marketing model, and the factors which are important to be analyzed are product, place, price and promotion. The components of the marketing mix are served to the consumers of the company leading products (Ehrnsperger and Pihlgren 2015). In the 4p marketing model there are only four elements that come under consideration but in a case of 7p marketing model, there are seven components that are needed to be measured to calculate the overall marketing and sales of the company products. The objectives of the 4p marketing mix model help an organization to provide effective outcomes to the marketplace (Norris 1992). While the BreadTalk Company is using this model they concentrated on the availabilities: Production of the products as per the consumers need Affordable price range Availability of the products at all the outlets of the company Availability of the product information to the consumers all over the world regardless of time and the geographical location: 7p Marketing Mix Analysis Here, the report suggested BreadTalk Company to implement 7p marketing mix in their model designing approach (Knight 2001). The questionnaires indicated above can be answered in a well-organized manner only if these questions analyzed. There are about seven elements found in a 7p marketing mix (Leonidou, Katsikeas and Samiee 2002). The answers to the questions help an organization to build a perfect design. The 7p marketing mix model has strictly interrelated to the product strategies also (Biswas et al. 2012). The components of the 7p marketing mix are as followed: Price: In this model, there are lots of different price fixing strategies available. This approach is made to attract the consumer all over the world (Metzger 2014). A whole pricing procedure is beneficial to the company as well at the same time. Every organization offers a particular charge for individual products. It is termed as the second most important components in the process of the marketing mix. The price fixing of a particular product is paramount in order to satisfy the consumers of the company. There are some factors which are needed to be measured for the price fixing. The factors are as followed: Demand for the product in the market Cost of the product Ability for payment of the products Price fixed for the same product in other companies Legal and economic restrictions Even it can be said that the product produces by the corporation must have a perfect price value as it makes a powerful effect on the consumer need (Keegan and Schlegelmilch 2001). It also affects the profit calculation of the firm. Promotion: The promotion of any product is the ultimate resulting outcome of all the components (Srinivasan 2014). The summation of the components can move up the string and down string as well. If the company is running in benefit, then it will be known as up line and vice versa. If the products produce by the corporation meet all the requirement of the customers then the marketing efforts given by the organization is said to be useful. But in case if it does not reach the requirements as per the consumers' choice then the effort will be in vain (Keegan and Schlegelmilch 2001). Majorly it can be defined that the promotion is the outcome of the summation of all other components of a 4p marketing mix. People: For the provision of the services most of the essential ingredients are the people rather the consumer of the products (Ehrnsperger and Pihlgren 2015). The customers of the products give the final acumen about the provision and the delivery structure. Process: According to Sengupta and Chattopadhyay (2006) In BreadTalk bakery to avoid any confusion efficient service is needed to be treated. The information and the data flow of the process must follow a proper way. Otherwise, it will cause the interruption in the process. Physical evidence: The physical evidence mainly describes the service destination of the product served by an organization (Leonidou, Katsikeas and Samiee 2002). It is precisely interrelated to the operation made by the retailer shops. Products: Product leads to the manufacturers of breadTablk. The pastries and bakery products that are mainly produced by the company are judged with the help of gain received and at the same time, the customer feedback. If the feedback gives positive vibes to the management team, then the product will be determined as lining user-friendly (Srinivasan 2014). Breadtalk products are declining in the competitive market. Thus, they must obtain new and advanced strategies (Nguyen 2015). Products take different forms while it is launched in the competitive marketplace (Srinivasan 2014). In other words, it can be said that it is referred to the services and products offered by any of an organization. The consumers do not pay for any of a tangible product rather they spent money for their satisfaction (Kogut, B., 1993). As BreadTalk is a bakery company the products are required to be tasty in order to achieve more consumers and also to satisfy the existing customers. Products can also be desc ribed as a cluster of benefits to the company. Thus, it can be said that assemble of all the factors should be done in proper and well organized, proportional manner else different organizational loss will arise. Place: The term place in the 7p marketing mix defines the source of the manufacture of the declining products (Putra and Harijanto 2015). The Company produces its products for the sake of the customers need. Therefore, the availability is paramount for any of them (Metzger 2014). It is the third most crucial element in 4p marketing mix model designing. This term is related to the anytime anywhere services offered by an organization. It is essential that the pastries and bakery products should be available in South East Asia (Norris 1992). The manager of the company is bound to make the profit from the southeastern zonal region (Kalish, Mahajan and Muller 1995). Therefore, they must open some more outlets over there so that the consumers belonging to that section will be able to avail the products whenever the need. Apart from this, the convenient profit can also be made if the service is found to be user-friendly. Again BreadTalk can also offer franchises to the nearby southeastern z one (Javaid 2014). If it is restricted to the company to sell its products directly to the consumers then, they can take the help of third-party selling team. If the company provides the facility of third party retailer holds, then it will be beneficial to the consumers and to the company itself. Figure 6: 7p marketing mix model (Source: Chen, Liang and Yueh 2014, pp-3) Marketing Monitors and Controls After calculating all the marketing elements it is found that previously the company used 4p marketing mix model, but in this case, the components of 4p are not much advance (Kotler 2009). Therefore the report suggested BreadTalk bakery company implements 7p marketing model so that the company could attain the significant amount of benefits (Doole and Lowe 2008). The marketing monitoring process monitors the entire process flow of BreadTalk. The top managerial team scans the overall stem from the source to the ultimate destination (Ehrnsperger and Pihlgren 2015). The methodologies focus on all the relevant business analytical factors. The structure design to the profit gained by BreadTalk is controlled and monitored by the financial and audit team. Figure 7: Images of marketing environment (Source: Biswas et al. 2012, pp-260) Conclusion and Recommendations At the end of the report it can be said that the suggested marketing model is constructive enough to ensure the increment in sales for BreadTalk. In this report, the practical outcomes of the models are discussed elaborately so that the managing director of the company in the southeast region will understand the efficiency of the design correctly. In this report, all the marketing models, porter's five forces, PESTLE analysis and difficulties facing the company are also discussed in a well-organized manner. The current revenue of the organization implies that due to the declining products it is becoming difficult to obtain a good position in the competitive market for BreadTalk bakery. But if it follows the 7p marketing mix model in order to launch its products in the market then the benefit structure will increase. The constructive recommendations for BreadTalk are as followed: Advertisement through different medium such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Local Cable TV Channel, Banner, etc. Improvement of food quality Catering approaches in organizations Increment of number of Outlets including staff Positive environment for the consumers References Alden, D.L., Hoyer, W.D. and Lee, C., 1993. Identifying global and culture-specific dimensions of humor in advertising: A multinational analysis.The Journal of Marketing, pp.64-75 Biswas, B., Ullah, M., Absar, N. and Manchur, A., 2012. A comparative analysis in the macro and micro nutrient compositions of bakery food products available in the Chittagong city corporation, Bangladesh.Nutrition Food Science,42(4), pp.256-260 Bradley, F., 2005.International marketing strategy. Pearson Education Breadtalk.com (2016).BreadTalkGroup- Home. [online] Available at: https://www.breadtalk.com [Accessed 5 Jul. 2016] Chen, C.C., Liang, C. and Yueh, H.P., 2014. The business policy and strategy of online marketing: A case study of the Sinyi Township farmers association in Taiwan. InInternational Conference on Business and Information (BAI2014), International Business Academics Consortium, Osaka, Japan. July(pp. 3-5). Coghlan, D., 2015.Competitive Dynamics In The Irish Bakery Industry: A Study Of The Antecedents of Competitive Action in the Irish Bakery Industry Through the Lens of the Awareness-Motivation-Capability Model(Doctoral dissertation, Dublin, National College of Ireland). De Mooij, M., 2013.Global marketing and advertising: Understanding cultural paradoxes. Sage Publications Doole, I. and Lowe, R., 2008.International marketing strategy: analysis, development and implementation. Cengage Learning EMEA. Ehrnsperger, K. and Pihlgren, J., 2015. Marketing of free-from products in Swedish bakeries and patisseries Erramilli, M.K., 1991. The experience factor in foreign market entry behavior of service firms.Journal of international business studies,22(3), pp.479-501 Hollensen, S., 2001. Global Marketing: A market-responsive approach. Hooley, G. and Beracs, J., 1997. Marketing strategies for the 21st century: lessons from the top Hungarian companies.Journal of Strategic Marketing,5(3), pp.143-165. Jain, S.C., 1989. Standardization of international marketing strategy: some research hypotheses.The Journal of Marketing, pp.70-79 Javaid, J., 2014. Marketing Research Innovative Product Launch in Indian Sanitation Industry. Johansson, J.,K. Global Marketing: foreign entry, local marketing global management. Boston: Richard D. Irwin, 2000. ISBN 0-07365863-4 Kalish, S., Mahajan, V. and Muller, E., 1995. Waterfall and sprinkler new-product strategies in competitive global markets.international Journal of research in Marketing,12(2), pp.105-119 Keegan, W.J. and Schlegelmilch, B.B., 2001.Global marketing management: A European perspective. Pearson education Knight, G.A., 2001. Entrepreneurship and strategy in the international SME.Journal of international management,7(3), pp.155-171 Kogut, B., 1993. Designing global strategies: Profiting from operational flexibility.Readings in International Business, The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, pp.195-213. Kotabe, M. and Helsen, K., 1998. Global marketing management.New York Kotler, P., 2009.Marketing management: A south Asian perspective. Pearson Education India Kumar, V. and Rajan, B., 2012. Social coupons as a marketing strategy: a multifaceted perspective.Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science,40(1), pp.120-136. Leonidou, L.C., Katsikeas, C.S. and Samiee, S., 2002. Marketing strategy determinants of export performance: a meta-analysis.Journal of Business research,55(1), pp.51-67. Metzger, K., 2014.Business analysis of UK supermarket industry. GRIN Verlag. Mwangi MM.Adoption of green marketing strategies by fast moving consumer goods manufacturers in Nairobi city county(Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi). Nguyen, Q., 2015. Business Plan For Online Bakery Concept. Norris, D.G., 1992. Ingredient branding: a strategy option with multiple beneficiaries.Journal of Consumer Marketing,9(3), pp.19-31. Peng, M.W., 2013.Global strategy. Cengage learning Putra, G.K. and Harijanto, R., 2015. The Impact Of Customer Value Proposition Towards Purchase Intention Of Chesa Cup.iBuss Management,3(2) Renko, N., Sustic, I. And Butigan, R., 2011. Designing marketing strategy using the five competitive forces model by michael e. Porter-Case of Small Bakery in Croatia.International Journal of Management Cases,13(3), pp.376-385. Ryu, S., Jang, W. and Cho, H., 2014. China Market Entry Strategy Of Paris Baguette.Journal of Business Case Studies (Online),10(2), p.155. Sengupta, K. and Chattopadhyay, A., 2006. Importance of appropriate marketing strategies for sustainability of small businesses in a developing country: case of bakery chains of Kolkata, India.Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics,18(4), pp.328-341. Srinivasan, R., 2014.Services marketing: the Indian context. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.. Wicaksono, A., Kotier, P., Kartajaya, H. and Huan, H.D., 2007. Think ASEAN! Rethinking Marketing toward ASEAN Community 2015 Zou, S. and Cavusgil, S.T., 2002. The GMS: A broad conceptualization of global marketing strategy and its effect on firm performance.Journal of marketing,66(4), pp.40-56

The Shawshank Redemption Essay Thesis Example For Students

The Shawshank Redemption Essay Thesis The Shawshank RedemptionFor my film analysis, I chose the movie The Shawshank Redemption. FrankDarabont directed Shawshank and wrote the screenplay based on the novel RitaHayworth and Shawshank Redemption by author Stephen King. The movie was made in1994 and produced by Niki Marvin. The movie stars Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins as two convicts servingtime in a New England prison named Shawshank. Tim Robbins plays a man namedAndy Dufresne, a banker, who gets convicted of murdering his wife and her loverand is sent to prison in Shawshank. Andy eventually becomes good friends with afellow convict by the name of Ellis Boyd Redding(Morgan Freeman) who is able toget anything for anyone within reason. The story follows the prison life ofAndy Dufresne and his eventual escape from Shawshanks walls. The movie follows a formalistic style of direction under Frank Darabont. He interweaves scenes with nice fluid shots. The shots are not jarring or roughcut. Darabont tends to take the story at a distance allowing the characters toestablish their traits to the audience instead of pushing a barrage of anglesat the audience. The position of the camera is intricately placed in all scenes. The movie is a perfect example of classical cinema. The most unique part about the style of the movie is in thecinematography by Roger Deakins. The whole story looks like it was filmed witha blue filter. The filters give a special beauty to the scenes, which in turncauses more dramatic feelings for the audience. With this filter the movietends to bring out the two different colors of blue and brown. The blues of theuniforms are all the more dramatic compared to the drab brown buildingssurrounding the prisoners. The colors also produce dramatic irony in the lastscene of Red and Andy on the beach. The blue and brown colors that once gavefeelings of confinement and despair in the prison are now colors of freedom andhappiness. The lighting that goes along with the scenes are also interesting. Thewhole movie is shot primarily in high contrast with the exception of the guardswho are mostly in the shadows. The lighting that follows the guards present adarkness to their characters, they are displayed as harsh and villainy. Theviolent scenes all take place in the shadows as well, with low key light. Thelighting of these scenes give a sense of violence without actually showing itin the film. The screenplay written for The Shawshank Redemption is exact and precise,everything in the movie complements the development of characters and presentsunderlying motifs such as prisoners dependence from long term incarceration,prisoner camaraderie, and feelings of hope in hopeless situations. The plot hasa smart climax that is not fully understandable until the last few scenes. Theending is a total surprise as to how Andy escapes from Shawshank. The movie isbrought together with the clever narrations by Red(Morgan Freeman). Byhaving Red narrate, the audience quickly identifies with the prisoners, thereare certain common traits that the characters and audience share that producesympathy for the incarcerated criminals. The use of narration also brings out asense of fate. The use of a narrator also helped tremendously as to explainingthe details of how Tim Robbins character escapes from the jail. The dialogue is also clever and witty at times. The movie has manymemorable quotes such as when Andy tells red, On the outside I was alwaysstraight as an arrow, I had to come in here to be a crook and You either haveto start living or you got to start dying. Some other quotes in the movie area little more subtle like when the warden hands Andy his bible back with thewords, Salvation lies from within. Only at the end of the movie do we findthat Andy had hidden a rock pick in the bible that the warden had given him. .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 , .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 .postImageUrl , .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 , .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3:hover , .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3:visited , .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3:active { border:0!important; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3:active , .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3 .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub730d05b563b49054f65bb06b210d2c3:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Education In France EssayOne of the best scenes in the movie is when Andy is looking through somerecords that the state has just sent to the prison. He decides to play therecord on the intercom and locks himself in the room so the guards wont stophim. The camera goes through a montage that captures the prisoners love for asimple thing such as listening to a record. The montage consisted mostly ofpanning shots with a crane shot mixed into it. The montage was made fluidlywith the camera moving at the same speed in all the shots. The director tookspecial notice to the actors expressions by using many close-ups in a moviethat does not consist of many close-ups. The lighting on this scene was evenlyilluminated, there were no shadows evident. The director wanted to get thefacial expressions and convey there feeling of yearning for simple freedoms. The mise-en-scene for this montage was strategically done to express thenumber of prisoners the music was reaching. The prisoners are all evenly spacedout in the courtyard with the crane shot moving up enhancing the idea that themusic is reaching great masses of people. The music in the montage has thefaint static that makes the audience aware that the music is coming from theintercoms. The music also helps add to the atmosphere of the scene causing asurrealistic feeling of calm. The acting is also done quite well. The reactionsof the prisoners turns from surprise to appreciation in a realistic way. Another scene worth noting in this analysis is the scene in which acharacter named Brooks(James Whitmore) feeds pigeons in the park. The audiencelistens to the man recite a letter in which he has recently sent his friends inprison. The acting by Whitmore resembles that of a lonely old man. The lightsource in the scene seemingly comes from the sun, causing the trees to caststreaks of shadows onto the character. What makes this a particularly goodscene is the directors choice of angles. The camera at first pans along theground, giving us a full shot of the pigeons eating seed. It then tilts up intoa low angle shot of the old man. The camera gently slows to a close-up of themans facial expression. Darabont then shows us a full shot with the mansitting on the bench all alone. This scene conveys a sense of emptiness to theaudience which is dramatic and memorable. Overall, Darabont uses affective methods of filming, causing theaudience to feel Andy Dufresne desperation, sense of hopelessness, and finallyhis exhaltation after escaping from prison. The movie is a modern example ofthe classical style of cinema.

Participant Observation of City Cultures Essay Example

Participant Observation of City Cultures Essay Ethnography has become a very popular approach to social research, alongside other kinds of qualitative work. It is the study of a way of life and was introduced by anthropologists who studied marginal or isolated cultures, such as the study of Trobriand Islands by Bronislaw Malinowski. Anthropologists believed it to be fundamental to get as close as possible to the societies they were investigating; hence, ethnography bears a close resemblance to the routine ways in which people make sense of the world in everyday life. Some researchers regard this as it basic strength; others see it as a fundamental weakness. Participant observation is a means of gathering information; it allows the researcher to experience the culture under examination. It is a research technique that has been adapted to meet the requirements of sociologists and is used frequently to gain detailed qualitative results. In its most characteristic, form it involves the ethnographer participating, overtly or covertly, in peoples daily lives for an extended period of time and collecting any data that concerns topic of the investigation. In overt observation, researchers declare their true identity and purpose whereas a covert participant observer is hidden or disguised. Some researchers argue that overt observation is the best way since it avoids participation in immoral or illegal behaviour. Furthermore, the investigator can freely ask questions without arousing suspicion. However, being open in a study may affect the behaviour of the participants as they may become more self-conscious. Thus, covert observation is less likel y to disrupt the situation being observed since the researcher appears to be another member of the group, for example, a certain researcher, William Chambliss, had to maintain secrecy when conducting a study of an organised crime; if his true identity was revealed the crime may have been prevented. However, this does question the ethnicity of the study since informed consent is not given. In either case, observation can work well in situations where there is no pre-selected sample population and where the behaviour in question is hidden or deviant. We will write a custom essay sample on Participant Observation of City Cultures specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Participant Observation of City Cultures specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Participant Observation of City Cultures specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Ethnography aims to shed light on the meanings and intentions behind social behaviour. In this investigation I wish to study the Piccadilly train station which is based in the Manchester city centre. I have picked this urban space because it is a place which depending on what day and time I choose, can be a very busy environment which could contain active and dynamic participants. I have decided to carry out my study on a Friday evening for an hour, as this would be a busy time in the train station; both students and employed adults may be travelling back home. Moreover, it is a safe environment in which I can remain concealed since I wish to carry out a covert observation. I will study the main foyer of the train station as a site for cultural inquiry. For example, to what extent are youth subcultures a form of resistance to the socio-economic circumstances of young working-class people? Since it is a public space for cultural identities to meet, combine or even come into conflict, I wish to see whether this participant observation reveals cultures of marginal or deviant groups. Result of observation Train stations are an everyday aspect in many peoples lives and since I carried out my study on a Friday evening at approximately seven oclock, it was a very busy time. The train station is a form of public service and is open and available to anyone who is wishing to travel; it is not religiously or educationally bound in any way. Piccadilly train station is a large station; it contains various high street stores, supermarkets, food places and bars. However, I was observing the actual train area, so in terms of interaction, participants communicated with those they knew. Apart from that, participants interacted with staff members when purchasing tickets or making enquiries. Predominantly, I identified two main categories in which my participants fell into; there were a large number of students and also many working adults. Any children present seemed to be accompanied by adults. Many students were on the own but there were also small groups of them. Whilst waiting in queues or for the trains, I noticed that a lot of students used their phones; if they were not engaged in calls, they were probably just browsing or text messaging. It seemed as they were quick to get bored whereas most of the adults were content with the waiting. I also noticed that more females, particularly the working adults were carrying books and magazines, presumably for their journeys; however, I did not see any males holding any reading material. There were cultural roles visible in the train station. I noticed a series of actions that most of the participants seemed to be following. I found that as soon as participants entered the station, most of them went to the large screens to view the allocated train times. This area was also a meeting point for a lot of the groups of students. Next, participants would purchase their tickets; most of them went and joined long queues, few would go over to the purchasing machines but this was quite rare. There were two queues, one for those who were travelling on that day, and one for future travels. Both were very long, the former queue being significantly longer than the latter. Finally, participants either caught their trains or waited for their arrivals. Some participants spent their time waiting by going into the supermarkets or getting food, one group of students went to the bar, but the majority of participants waited in the waiting area. The general norms of behaviour in the station were everyday aspects such as queuing and the general politeness strategies in conversation between participants and staff members. Since it was busy in the station at that time, many people were rushing which caused participants to push by each other, thus frequent apologies were made although there was an incident when a male participant accidentally pushed by an old female participant, nearly knocking her over and did not stop to apologise. This was noticed by other participants as well and comments were being made on how that was rude. This was the first form of deviance I noticed in this study. Another occasion where the norm of behaviour was violated was when two young female participants cleverly pushed into the queue. This was noticed by the female participant they pushed in front of, but she remained quiet even though it seemed to bother her. A final incident occurred when a large group of participants both male and female, presu mably students, became rather loud in the main foyer of the station; they attracted a lot of attention from other participants. They began to disrupt the public crowd as they were becoming boisterous, eventually security guards told them to quieten down or leave; they left shortly after. Conclusion When playing my role as an observer, I was quite confident in what I was doing. I was not bothering anyone and I did not interact with anyone at any time during the study. Since the environment I was in was extremely busy and most of the participants were rushing around the area, I was not noticed by anyone; I was able to blend in with the environment I was in. When considering my results, certain questions as to whether this account of behaviour is considered valid, or whether another researcher would observe the activity in the same way. This leads to many methodological problems with this observation. This process of investigation is one that is dependent on the role and position observer adopts while observing. Those who employ a participant strategy could overplay their role and affect the groups behaviour. There is also the risk of going native where they become more a full member of the group and less an observer. Thus, valid interpretation is a crucial requirement to enable good observational sociology. A certain researcher, Stanley (1990) has stated: the project which drives the writing of ethnography is different from that which drives the doing of social life. Ethnographic description is actually not, and cannot be, literal description.1 Thus, observational studies may not be entirely free of biasing effects and the validity of this study can be questioned. Gilbert and Mulkay (1984) argue that: no one interpretation of social action can be better than another whatever method is used to record or observe it because all social actions have numerous meanings, each created by and dependent on the interactive context in which it is constructed.2 Hence, this takes into account that my study and its results were unique in their own right. Conversely, some researchers, especially those who support the use of positivist methods may view participant observation as unscientific since the findings cannot be checked because the study cannot be replicated; some may view it as a subjective research method rather than an objective one. Additionally, ethical issues arise since no informed consent was given, as this study was a covert observation. In regards to deviant behaviour and marginalisation, there was one focal group that broke the rules of the norms of behaviour. This may have been because the participants were in a group and so felt they had the power to be different; solidarity between the participants in the group added to their confidence and may have given them the ability to embrace a deviant culture. In reference to the incident when the two female participants queue-jumped, the reason the other female participant remained quiet may have been due to the social pressure the two females were giving; she may have felt intimidated by them. In order to find out whether youth sub-cultures forms are resistance to the norms of behaviour in particular social contexts, I would need to study urban spaces that may entail more interaction between the participants themselves. In the train station, much of the activity was patterned which illustrates that a norm of behaviour has already been established in this environment. Culturally, there were unsaid rules that the participants followed; nevertheless there will always be some forms of deviance within society.

Sample Essay on Why You Want a Job - Find Out What You Need to Get That Job

Sample Essay on Why You Want a Job - Find Out What You Need to Get That JobTo start with a sample essay on why you want a job is the first step to getting that job. A sample essay is what is used when employers are evaluating candidates. Therefore, it is imperative that you create a sample essay on why you want a job that includes the right details and topics.A sample gives you a feel for how a real company would be run. It may take you some time to get your creativity flowing but this will give you a very good basis for what to write in your own essay.The sample of a sample essay on why you want a job must include some elements of your personality. You can include a sample story about your past or where you had the happiest moments in your life. It is the first and most important part of a sample.This will provide a common background for you. This gives the employer the ability to recognize you from what you have written. These two elements of a sample essay are absolutely essential .Another important thing that you should include is your strengths. All businesses need applicants who have something unique to offer them. There are many strengths that you should include.One of the most useful things that you can include is your knowledge of your strengths. Your employer wants to know why you are the best candidate for the job. They want to know how you have mastered your strengths so that you will be a success.Another thing that you should include is your achievements or the advantages that you can offer. You should state the advantages and not simply enumerate what you do not have. For example, if you are a born writer, you may state how you have written two books which you hope to write another.Employers want to know how you gained the knowledge and experience to be able to do this. Make sure that you add what you need to the sample essay on why you want a job. Remember that the more you state the advantages and skills that you have, the better chance you have at getting that job.

Writing Tips How to Use Commas and Semicolons

Writing Tips How to Use Commas and Semicolons â€Å"Comma v.  Semicolon? Aaargh!! I’ll just pick one†¦ I figure I have a 50% chance of getting it right.† Does this sound like you? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s raise your average with these writing tips. Did you know you can HEAR the difference? The first thing I like to talk about with commas vs. semicolons is the sound of them. Commas are a pause with an invitation to continue, whereas semicolons are a full stop. You will be able to hear the difference. Read the following sentences aloud, paying attention to the *sound* of the punctuation: [CORRECT] In high school I was certain of my academic strengths; the daughter and younger sister of doctors, I excelled in math and science and dreaded every English course I was ever forced to take. [CORRECT] I took a wide variety of classes, from psychology and sociology to business and criminal justice, hoping to find something, whether it were a class or a specific topic, that captivated my interest. [CORRECT] Addison’s Disease is a chronic adrenal insufficiency that leads to liver failure, kidney failure, effusions, and in some cases, death; I was determined that it would not kill my brother. Can you hear how your inflection goes up with each comma, and down with each semicolon? The upward inflection of the comma makes us think there is something more coming. The sound of a semicolon, on the other hand, is often the same sound that comes along with a period. It is more final. If you didn’t get that the first time around, go ahead and read the sentences above again, until you hear it. Why is it useful to know how a punctuation mark sounds? It allows you to read your sentence aloud and to determine whether you’ve chosen correctly. If you have a semicolon in your sentence but the inflection sounds right going up, you know to switch it to a comma. And vice versa. Also, on a more basic level, if you find yourself pausing and inflecting upward and yet you have no comma there at all, add one! Here’s an example: [INCORRECT] I have learned a lot about myself, and my capabilities throughout my career. See how you want to pause and inflect upward after â€Å"capabilities† because of the comma after â€Å"myself†? Add a comma! [CORRECT] I have learned a lot about myself, and my capabilities, throughout my career. Or just delete the comma after â€Å"myself† and the inflection changes: [CORRECT] I have learned a lot about myself and my capabilities throughout my career. One more example: [INCORRECT] Although, I had many successful closings, there were always a few that were unsuccessful. Why put a comma after â€Å"Although† when you would not pause here when speaking? [CORRECT] Although I had many successful closings, there were always a few that were unsuccessful. I hope this lesson listening for commas v. semicolons was helpful. Category:Grammar Writing TipsBy Brenda BernsteinOctober 24, 2010 8 Comments The Essay Expert says: October 26, 2010 at 8:59 am Thanks for the comment Jackie. Now listen for whether you want a full stop or a pause between Good Stuff and I often struggle. Could these be two sentences standing on their own? If so look at using a semi-colon! Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: October 26, 2010 at 11:42 am Ill work on that Beth! Log in to Reply Eric Nilsson says: June 27, 2012 at 11:40 am Dear Essay Expert, I dont quite agree with the comment that a semi-colon represents a full stop; I see it rather as a long pause. A full stop is a period and, when you think about it, a semi-colon is a combination of a pause and a stop (period on top and comma on bottom). Perhaps, because I love commas, I could be considered a Comma-adore (pronounce the a sound only once). Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: June 27, 2012 at 11:47 am Thanks for your comment Eric. In my mind, the semi-colon, when used to separate what could be two full sentences, is closer to a full stop than to a pause; in a list of long items, the semi-colon inserts a long pause. My opinion: When used to separate two potentially distinct sentences, the semi-colon serves to connect two thoughts so related to each other that a period would serve as too wide of a separation. Log in to Reply Xelor says: March 20, 2019 at 6:05 am Dear Ms. Bernstein, Kudos and thanks for sharing your inflection-based pedagogy for comma and semicolon use. I found myself tutoring a teen for whom the sentence-structure approach learning rules about and how to recognize independent and subordinate clauses, appositives, parenthetical remarks, and coordinating conjunctions was as recondite as quantum mechanics. Moreover, I know well enough how to punctuate and had helped my own kids (all grown now) master a smattering of grammars nuances, I was anxious over the prospect of having to help a child who hadnt fully grasped the basics; thus I Googled for guidance. Using the search term inflective comma, I noticed your site among Googles first few results. It is just what the doctor ordered. I delivered an overview of what commas and semicolons do, telling my charge that if what precedes and follows the punctuation mark he inserted can stand alone as a complete sentence, use a semicolon; otherwise, use a comma. Imperfect guidance, yes, but given where the boy was, it seemed as fitting as any place to start. Next, I had him read this webpage, whereafter I clarified bits about which he inquired. Lastly, after telling him its called punctuation because its the written indicator of changes in a speakers voice, I suggested he simply speak his sentences in his head and listen for the pauses, variances in tone and emphasis, and so on, and simply toss in a comma where his inflection changes. What a difference! The young man, in mere minutes, went from period-only punctuation to near perfect. He was a little comma happy, but, hey, he used them, and, in turn, his voice came through, which, most importantly, means readers can unequivocally discern his meaning. The boys bright, his thoughts coherent, and on the strength of that, hes been a B-student; however, his poor punctuation has kept him from being an A-student. Hes got a graded writing assignment due Friday, so well see what happens and go from there. With any luck, hell soon be ready for em dashes, hyphens and ellipses. Whoo hoo! So, on his behalf and mine, thank you for maintaining this website. It was an inspirational godsend for me and a palpable aid for the young man Im tutoring. As didactic Internet content goes, one cant ask for more. Cheers, Xelor P.S. I dont know how the boy, whos a tenth grader, became a poor punctuator; maybe he skipped class on those days. Who knows? Its obvious, however, that between about the seventh and tenth grades, none of his teachers have acted to correct what is clearly but a mechanical issue, one that, given the boys manifested acumen and critical thinking skill, could long ago have been corrected. Perhaps they felt his earning Bs was good enough to obviate their bothering to intervene? In any case, their omission thus has unquestionably resulted in the boys grades and GPA being lower than he deserves. Who knows what impact that may have on his college prospects? Whatever affect it has, it likely wont be positive, and thats a doggone shame. Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: March 20, 2019 at 6:21 am Thanks so much for sharing this story, Xelor! As a blogger, I never know what impact my writing will have, and I’m so thrilled I helped in this way. Your message was very well punctuated btw! Watch out for affect/effect 😉. Log in to Reply Xelor says: March 20, 2019 at 7:28 am Youre welcome. Im glad, then, that I bothered to share a little anecdote affirming for you that your contribution to the Internet has positively affected at least two people. The affect error is my bad; I didnt carefully proofread my remarks, behavior, or lack thereof, really, thats typical of my postings on the Internet. Failing to proofread results occasionally in my publicly making errors I know better than to make. The affect/effect error is an unusual one for me insofar as Im an old school dude who thinks impact is only a noun and effect is both a noun and verb. FWIW, affect/effect sentence began as I dont know how thatll affect his college acceptance outcomes, but in revising it, I left affect, but I cant say why. Worse, in my mind is the omission of a coordinating conjunction yet would have done nicely in the sentence that begins with moreover. Oh, wellwe all make mistakes, but hopefully not too many. LOL God bless and all the best, Xelor Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: March 20, 2019 at 8:25 am Hi Xelor, I figured there was an explainable oversight here. I am all-too-familiar with errors that come from editing. And I definitely observed that your grammar is meticulous! By the way, I try to keep impact as a noun as well. Log in to Reply