Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free Essays on Red Badge Of Courage

Henry’s Greatest Failure: Fleeing From Battle The trials of war force young men to make decisions that they may not be ready to make. In Stephen Crane’s Red Badge of Courage, Henry is faced with many challenges. Many elements of his manhood are challenged. Some of those elements are courage, bravery, and integrity. Fleeing from war because of his fear for his life and leaving a tattered soldier whom he hardly knew were his hardest challenges. Henry’s greatest moral error is his flight from battle because running away from a war is much more cowardly than leaving the tattered soldier to his death. When the rebel forces were charging the union forces, many of the northern fighters had second thoughts about fighting. They had battled hard the previous day and they had their minds set on resting for a while before clashing with the rebels again. Henry observed other soldiers running from the battle as he was watching the fight break out. As was quoted about one young man running, â€Å"There was a revelation. He too threw down his gun and fled. There was no shame in his face. He ran like a rabbit† (Crane 32). While he was running wildly towards the back of the pack â€Å"like a proverbial chicken† (Crane 32), other men were standing their ground and fighting. The commitment of joining the army is to give your life for the cause of the war. Instead of staying and fighting with his fellow brothers of war, he fled the battle and left them all to die. When Henry found out that the union army had held their position, he was â€Å"amazed and angry. He felt that he had been wronged† (Crane 35). He knew what he had done was wrong, and now he felt bad about it because his fellow fighters that had stayed held off the rebel attack. He did not want to think about it in this way though. He thought that he did his job by saving his own life. â€Å"He had considered the time, he said, to be one in which it was the duty of ever... Free Essays on Red Badge Of Courage Free Essays on Red Badge Of Courage Henry’s Greatest Failure: Fleeing From Battle The trials of war force young men to make decisions that they may not be ready to make. In Stephen Crane’s Red Badge of Courage, Henry is faced with many challenges. Many elements of his manhood are challenged. Some of those elements are courage, bravery, and integrity. Fleeing from war because of his fear for his life and leaving a tattered soldier whom he hardly knew were his hardest challenges. Henry’s greatest moral error is his flight from battle because running away from a war is much more cowardly than leaving the tattered soldier to his death. When the rebel forces were charging the union forces, many of the northern fighters had second thoughts about fighting. They had battled hard the previous day and they had their minds set on resting for a while before clashing with the rebels again. Henry observed other soldiers running from the battle as he was watching the fight break out. As was quoted about one young man running, â€Å"There was a revelation. He too threw down his gun and fled. There was no shame in his face. He ran like a rabbit† (Crane 32). While he was running wildly towards the back of the pack â€Å"like a proverbial chicken† (Crane 32), other men were standing their ground and fighting. The commitment of joining the army is to give your life for the cause of the war. Instead of staying and fighting with his fellow brothers of war, he fled the battle and left them all to die. When Henry found out that the union army had held their position, he was â€Å"amazed and angry. He felt that he had been wronged† (Crane 35). He knew what he had done was wrong, and now he felt bad about it because his fellow fighters that had stayed held off the rebel attack. He did not want to think about it in this way though. He thought that he did his job by saving his own life. â€Å"He had considered the time, he said, to be one in which it was the duty of ever... Free Essays on Red Badge Of Courage RED BADGE OF COURAGE Red Badge of Courage Physical and emotional pain is what the tattered solider illustrates in the book. The tattered solider pain comes from all of the horrible things associated with war. Him going crazy brings emotional pain and the physical pain is brought on by the endu rances of war. "There was a tattered man, fouled with dust, blood and powder stain from hair to shoes, who trudged quietly at the youths side". The tattered solider also characterizes the toughness people can endear. Even through the harshness of war people will find something inside of them, overcome it and not let it bother them. The tattered solider goes out and lives through the tough endurance's of war but he finds something inside of him to live through it. The perfect solider is what Jim Conklin brings to the book. Jim never complains about war and fights as good as the next man. Many of the people look up to Jim because he is so strong willed. The regiments almost look up to Jim in a spiritual way find ing peace inside of them when they think of him. It is a tragedy when Jim dies because of all of the moral inspiration he gave the regiment. True to his character Jim dies a quiet and peaceful death not distributing any of the regiment. Wilson represents the two sides of human nature. In the beginning of the book Wilson is a mean tough guy that no one liked. This outward act of being tuff is just a cover of the true nature of Wilson. It is natural for people to cover their true natur e in front of new faces. Towards the end of the book Wilson starts to care about Henry. hen Henry is injured and he doesn't try and fight the other men anymore. True to human nature once times start getting more difficult and Wilson becomes more comforta ble with his surroundings he transcends into the calm compassionate person he really is. All of the characters in the Red Badge of Courage represent some aspect of man either physically or emotionally...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Mantis Shrimp Facts (Stomatopoda)

Mantis Shrimp Facts (Stomatopoda) The mantis shrimp is not a shrimp, and except for the fact that its an arthropod, its not related to the praying mantis, either. Instead, mantis shrimps are 500 different species belonging to the order Stomatopoda. To distinguish them from true shrimp, mantis shrimps are sometimes called stomatopods. Mantis shrimps are known for their powerful claws, which they use to bludgeon or stab their prey. In addition to their fierce hunting method, mantis shrimps are also known for their extraordinary sense of sight. Fast Facts: Mantis Shrimp ï » ¿Scientific Name: Stomatopoda (e.g., Odontodactylus scyllarus)Other Names: Stomatopod, sea locust, thumb splitter, prawn killerDistinguishing Features: Eyes mounted on movable stalks that can move independently of one anotherAverage Size: 10 centimeters (3.9 in)Diet: CarnivorousLife Span: 20 yearsHabitat: Shallow tropical and subtropical marine environmentsConservation Status: Not evaluatedKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthropodaSubphylum: CrustaceaClass: MalacostracaOrder: StomatopodaFun Fact: A strike from a mantis shrimp claw is so forceful it can shatter aquarium glass. Description There are over 500 species of mantis shrimps in a range of sizes and rainbow of colors. Like other crustaceans, the mantis shrimp has a carapace or shell. Its colors range from brown to vivid rainbow hues. The average mature mantis shrimp is around 10 centimeters (3.9 in) long, but some reach 38 centimeters (15 in). One was even documented at a length of 46 centimeters (18 in). The mantis shrimps claws are its most distinctive feature. Depending on the species, the second pair of appendage- known as raptorial claws- act as either clubs or spears. The mantis shrimp can use its claws to bludgeon or stab prey. Vision Stomatopods have the most complex vision in the animal kingdom, even exceeding that of butterflies. The mantis shrimp has compound eyes mounted on stalks, and can swivel them independently of one another to survey its surroundings. While humans have three types of photoreceptors, a mantis shrimps eyes have between 12 and 16 types of photoreceptor cells. Some species can even tune the sensitivity of their color vision. Peacock Mantis Shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) eyes. Sirachai Arunrugstichai / Getty Images The cluster of photoreceptors, called ommatidia, are arranged in parallel rows into three regions. This gives each eye depth perception and trinocular vision. Mantis shrimps can perceive wavelengths from deep ultraviolet through the visible spectrum and into far red. They can also see polarized light. Some species can perceive circularly polarized light- an ability not found in any other animal species. Their exceptional vision gives the mantis shrimp a survival advantage in an environment that can range from bright to murky and allows them to see and gauge distance to shimmering or translucent objects. Distribution The mantis shrimp lives in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Most species live in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Some species live in temperate marine environments. Stomatopods build their burrows in shallow water, including reefs, canals, and marshes. Behavior Mantis shrimps are highly intelligent. They recognize and remember other individuals by sight and smell, and they demonstrate an ability to learn. The animals have a complex social behavior, which includes ritualized fighting and coordinated activities between members of a monogamous pair. They use fluorescent patterns to signal each other and possibly other species. Reproduction and Life Cycle On average, a mantis shrimp lives 20 years. During its lifetime, it may breed 20 to 30 times. In some species, the only interaction between males and females occurs during mating. The female either lays eggs in her burrow or carries them around with her. In other species, shrimp mate in monogamous, life-long relationships, with both sexes caring for the eggs. After hatching, offspring spend three months as zooplankton before molting into their adult form. A peacock mantis shrimp carrying its egg ribbon, Anilao, Philippines. Brook Peterson/Stocktrek Images / Getty Images Diet and Hunting For the most part, the mantis shrimp is a solitary, reclusive hunter. Some species actively stalk prey, while other wait within the lair. The animal kills by rapidly unfolding its raptorial claws with an astounding acceleration of 102,000Â  m/s2 and speed of 23 mps (51 mph). The strike is so quick it boils water between the shrimp and its prey, producing cavitation bubbles. When the bubbles collapse, the resulting shockwave hits prey with an instantaneous force of 1500 newtons. So, even if the shrimp misses its target, the shockwave can stun or kill it. The collapsing bubble also produces weak light, known as sonoluminescence. Typical prey includes fish, snail, crabs, oysters, and other mollusks. Mantis shrimps will also eat members of their own species. Predators As zooplankton, newly hatched and juvenile mantis shrimp are eaten by a variety of animals, including jellyfish, fish, and baleen whales. As adults, stomatopods have few predators. Several species of mantis shrimp are eaten as seafood. Their meat is closer in flavor to lobster than shrimp. In many places, eating them carries the usual risks associated with eating seafood from contaminated waters. Conservation Status Over 500 species of mantis shrimps have been described, but relatively little is known about the creatures because they spend most of their time in their burrows. Their population status is unknown and their conservation status has not been evaluated. Some species are kept in aquaria. Sometimes they are unwelcome aquarium denizens, as they eat other species and can break glass with their claws. Otherwise, they are valued for their bright colors, intelligence, and ability to craft new holes in living rock. Sources Chiou, Tsyr-Huei et al. (2008) Circular Polarization Vision in a Stomatopod Crustacean. Current Biology, Vol 18, Issue 6, pp. 429-434. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.02.066Corwin, Thomas W. (2001). Sensory adaptation: Tunable colour vision in a mantis shrimp. Nature. 411 (6837): 547–8. doi:10.1038/35079184Patek, S. N.; Korff, W. L.; Caldwell, RL. (2004). Deadly strike mechanism of a mantis shrimp. Nature. 428 (6985): 819–820. doi:10.1038/428819aPiper, Ross (2007). Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-33922-8.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Genocide in Rwanda and Burondi Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Genocide in Rwanda and Burondi - Assignment Example What is genocide? The term Genocide according to history books was unknown prior to 1994. It is a word formed by a Polish-Jewish lawyer describing the Nazi policies of systematic murder and the destruction of European Jews. It comes from the Greek word geno that means a race or tribe, and cide, a Latin word that means to kill. Accordingly, in coming up with this word, he thought of â€Å"a coordinated plan or action to destruct the foundations of the life of a national group, or annihilating the groups themselves†. He appealed this to the United Nations; thereafter, the United Nations considered â€Å"genocide† as an international crime. It is then defined by the UN as† â€Å"referring to violent crimes committed against groups with the intent to destroy the existence of the group. (US Holocaust Memorial Museum Updated 11 May 2012). Genocide, as an international crime includes any of the following action: acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part , a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. The crime of Genocide in Rwanda Politics and ambition started it all. The first conviction of Genocide was given in 1988 by the International Criminal Court for Rwanda to Jean-Paul Akayesu, a local President of Democratic Republican Movement. He was found guilty of charges against humanity for acts he made while being a mayor. Akayesu was sentenced to a life imprisonment. On this date too rape became an addendum to the list of genocide crimes. (US Holocaust Memorial Museum) Akayesu was the town Mayor of Taba from 1993 to 1994. Initially, he led the town peacefully, fostering the local economy, had control of the police, and a well respected man until a group of oppositionists started the turmoil. At first he was hesitant to join but was compelled to because he was afraid of opposition, and was also scared to lose his position. Since then, he was one among those who instigated violence, incited the people to join mass killings and turned the former quiet place into a scene of violence, rape, torture, and murder (US Holocaust Memorial Museum). Rwanda in 1994 has a population of seven million composed of three ethnic groups: the Hutus (85%), Tutsi, (14%) and Twa (1%). The United Human Rights Council reported that the Hutus extremists’ political group kept on blaming the Tutsi group for various reasons including: â€Å"the country’s increasing social, economic, and political pressures. Tutsi civilians were also accused of supporting a Tutsi-dominated rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Through the use of propaganda and constant political maneuvering, Habyarimana, who was the president at the time, and his group increased divisions between Hutu and Tutsi by the end of 1992. The Hutu remembered past years of oppressive Tutsi rule, and many of them not only resented but also feared the minority.† But why should the Hutus have resentments to a minority group like Tutsi? First let us begin with the description of the past of the two warring tribes. Roseber, Jennifer,

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The impact of automation Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The impact of automation - Term Paper Example on on the society is an increase in the mechanical power available to an individual owing to the presence of new opportunities and the decreased demand for labour. The opportunities that arise from automation, especially with fabricators are participation in the development, use, repair, and distribution of fabricators, software, and related hardware. The other impact of automation on the society is the increased productivity 100 or 1000 times per machine operator reducing the demand for skilled labour at workplaces (Johnsen, 1976). The effect is an increase in the level of pervert since the extra workers have to be dismissed to pave the way for the machines and affecting the standards of living negatively. The level of unemployment in the society in the economy increases owing to the increased use of machines in completion of tasks previously undertaken by humans. Automation results in better product quality through reduction in human errors in the production process. Automated of inspection and assembly methods result in the improvement of the durability of manufactured products as exemplified with the production of cars, refrigerators, and televisions that have been shown to last longer than previous models owing to automation (Burns, 1993). Quality products from automation result in the value for money for the consumers and less money are spent on replacement and repairs. The standards of living in the society improve with the increased automation of production processes and methods. The other impact of automation has been the increased possibility of recycling of older products for new product models aiding in the reduction of wastes in the society (Burns, 1993). Examples are the introduction of recycling of used Apple products under the reign of Steve Jobs and the recycling of brake shoes and engine blocks in the automotive industry. Structural unemployment emerges and increases as a result of automation resulting in the reduction in consumer and disposal

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Toyota Prius Essay Example for Free

The Toyota Prius Essay The microenvironment consists of actors close to the company that affect its ability to serve its customers- the company, suppliers, marketing, intermediaries, customer markets, competitors, and publics. During the introduction and sale of the Toyota Prius, four major sectors of the microenvironment attributed to its success: The company, suppliers, marketing intermediaries, and publics. Toyota’s customer driven marketing strategy is largely responsible for its success in the hybrid car market. Forward thinking and focus on the societal and marketing concepts allowed for the company to deliver superior customer value to its customers. Management’s focus on the world’s dependence on gasoline and perceived customer value proved to be useful tools in understanding the more environmentally conscious and non-affluent mindsets of consumers. Sleek Asian- inspired design, a roomy interior, and expensive interior options and features usually only found in luxury vehicles, provided customers with the superior value of luxury at a desirable price. Toyota’s value delivery network is also crucial to daily operations. The timely delivery of cars to manufactures helped to avoid bottlenecks and supply shortages which are often seen with products gaining rapid market share. Delays, labor strikes, and loss of suppliers can seriously disrupt the supply chain, cost sales in the short run and damage customer satisfaction in the long run. Working closely with its suppliers, Toyota is able to strengthen relationships to insure it receives the lowest costs; thus, providing more customer value for its customers. Marketing intermediaries such as media publics, government publics, and the general public play a pivotal role in Toyota’s Prius sales. Due to the economic and environmental forces facing the world today, media publics depict the company as doing a good service for the world, gaining governmental support and enticing the general public to purchase the Prius with the sense that they are doing their part to reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels and preserving the environment. In 2007 Toyota sold 181,000 Priuses in the US alone, a 70 percent increase over 2006 sales with little promotional effort. This implies that media, government and the general public played a large role in creating customer awareness, and Toyota’s dedication to its customer driven marketing strategy and value supply chain provided its customers with the best value. Which technical and economic forces affect the marketing of the Toyota Prius? The economic environment consists of factors that affect the consumer’s purchasing power and spending patterns. Marketers must pay close attention to major trends and consumer patterns in domestic and global markets. One economic force facing the entire world is our dependence on gasoline and the price that it costs. For Toyota, the release of the Prius was designed to gain market share by doing exactly that: saving the consumer money on gasoline purchases. While the national average per car in 2001 was 25 miles per US gallon (9.4 l/100 km) in the United States, the Prius boasted as staggering 42 miles per gallon. With the current strain on North American consumers, high unemployment, companies downsizing due to technological advances, recessions, and price inflation, it is not hard to see why consumers would favor a car that saves you money at the pump. Not to mention, the price of gasoline was a record $4.12 in 2008 and during that time the financial meltdown had left many consumers out of work and looking for ways to make ends meet. Gasoline is a finite commodity, and it is prone to drastic swings dependent on the global macroeconomic picture and supply chain distributions. Toyota understands that customers don’t like to be held sway to these forces and it will continue to imply this strategy in its marking to insure future sales. Technical advances also played a very important role in Toyota’s success. The Prius’ combination of power sources, a rechargeable battery, and low gas consumption made it instantly appealing to consumers. Without the technological advances in hybrid systems and lithium batteries, the Prius would be much less effective and would not have gained market share so quickly. Advancements in LED screens, GPS, touch screen displays and other high tech gadgets made them more affordable, giving the Prius the interior of a luxury car at an appealing price. Though as technology advances and once luxury items become more common place and affordable, new advancements in technology might pose a threat to the company in the future. Toyota must reinvest in research and development in hybrid technology to maintain its current market share. A value network is defined as the network made up of the company, suppliers, distributors, and ultimately customers who â€Å"partner† with each other to improve the performance of the entire system. A value network for a company as big as Toyota plays a critical role in delivering customer satisfaction. The Toyota Prius value delivery network begins with the company Toyota itself. Strong management, design, and marketing must all coalesce to ensure that the Prius is designed and marketed properly. Internal research, development and innovation are crucial in maintaining market share and increasing share of the customer in such a competitive industry. Day to day operations must run smoothly at Toyota in order for it to focus on new product ideas and promotional efforts. However, many companies must look beyond their own value chain and focus on external factors facing the company. Once Toyota is ready to proceed with the construction of the Prius, it must work closely with supp liers. Relationship management is crucial in receiving external parts such as LCD screens, dashboard displays, sound systems, and other features of the luxurious interior of the Prius at lost cost. This is crucial in maintaining an attractive cost to consumers. Timely delivery of these parts is also of extreme importance as faulty products could cause costly recalls and delays of product deliveries could set Toyota’s production behind schedule, delaying distribution, and ultimately damaging the reputation of the company and hurting sales. The companies that Toyota chooses to affiliate itself with, is also of extreme importance. New technological advances in RD design could help give Toyota an advantage over its competition and faulty equipment could cause costly recalls. Toyota must continually strive to improve its product and actively manage its business portfolio to achieve its goals and increase its long term share of the marketplace. With a total of 2.8 million Priuses having been sold worldwide as of October 2012, Toyota knows that distribution is a huge part of its success. Customers flock to showrooms and car dealership to get their hands on Priuses. Toyota knows that its customers must be able to purchase their products easily and that waiting lists and other delays could hurt the relationship with its customers. With strong competition from other electric car manufactures such as the Chevy Volt and the Tesla Roadster, proper manufacturing, timely and cost effective deliveries of products to Toyota, and global distribution of its products is the key to generating customer satisfaction and ultimately increasing market share. What is the market orientation of the Prius? The Prius shares characteristics of three of the five major market orientations: the product concept, the marketing concept, and the societal concept. Toyota shows that it is deeply dedicated to improving product quality, performance, and innovation. In the competitive world of the electric car, innovation is extremely important. Toyota has displayed this with the improved gas conservation and better battery power of the newer models of the Prius. The company also knows the needs and wants of its customers more so than its competitors. This dedication to the marketing orientation is a big reason why the Prius is one of the best selling cars in the world. The marketing orientation that stands out for the Prius is its dedication the societal concept. Toyota knows that gasoline is a finite commodity and that the days of the gas guzzling SUV’s are coming to an end. Toyota’s dedication to long term societal and environmental effects is one of the key points of the marketing strategy for the Prius. Its saves the consumer money, but it is also better for the environment. Forward thinking, such as environmentally stable, eco-friendly green cars is clearly the wave of the future for the automobile industry. Toyota’s dedication to the societal orientation will insure that the company stays focused on the long term effects of its products and will be better prepared for future challenges. A company’s â€Å"value proposition† is the set of benefits of values it promises to deliver to customers to satisfy their needs. Toyota’s Prius has differentiated itself by offering a solution to consumers who are uncomfortable with the current price of gasoline. By focusing on cleaner, greener energy, the Toyota Prius has captured market share from many of its competitors in the automotive industry, and left many companies wondering how they can reduce their carbon footprint and improve their image. The value to owning a Prius doesn’t stop at the pump. The Prius is stylish, roomy, and packed with luxury options in the interior creating a strong sense of satisfaction for customers. Toyota is selling a vehicle, but it is also selling an experience. It ultimately lies in the satisfaction customers get from driving the product and the feeling that is created knowing that you are doing your part to save the environment. Why buy a Prius? It’s simple. In a world as congested and polluted as the world we live in today, why not do your part to save our environment and reduce global warming? The answer to many consumers questions is: the Prius. Works Cited Kotler,Armstrong,Cunningham,Thrifts: Principles of Marketing 8th Canadian Edition, Pearson Canada, 2010. Print. Fuel economy, January 29th,2013 Patrick Dehaan, Jason Toews, Feburary 2013 http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx Toyota Prius sales, February 7th, 2013

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Complementary: The Sacred and the Secular Essay -- Religion, Chinese I

Contrary to common belief, religion is composed of both religious—divine reverence, and irreligious elements—politics and philosophy. Reciprocally outlining Chinese ideals, this complementary blend of religious and irreligious elements allude to harmony of opposites without conflict. However, widely interpretative, the Western term â€Å"religion† prevents clear distinction between religion and philosophy when applied to Ancient Chinese religion, Confucianism, and Daoism. Though each equitably dissimilar, each sector influenced the upbringing of the other politically, while continuing to uphold similar purposes of perceived harmony. Therefore, this paper’s analysis of Ancient China’s concept of Ganying, Confucius’ concept of Social Hierarchy, and Daoist practice of internal and external alchemy reveals a progressive religious influence on State, and simultaneously deems philosophy as only an appurtenant to religion. During the Shang Dynasty, Ancient Chinese religion served as the premise to political structure and reign. The first divination process involving oracle bones, or tortoise shells and ox shoulder bones, introduced the idea of Shang diviners. This recognition of power paved way for the separation of social classes, resulting in the elite and popular class. The elite were considered literate and cultivated, comprising the upper class. In opposition, the popular class was that of the lower class, illuminating indigenous values. Exemplifying a religious connotation, prescriptively, the diviners’ chief role during the divination process prompted importance of ancestral worship and sacrifice. Illustrating the concept of ganying, diviners would attempt to provide ancestors with proper sacrifices to induce spiritual fulfillment—s... ...d with qi, jing, and shen, this alludes to the Daoist conservation of blood, semen, and breath. The practitioners preserve these humanly essences through meditation implemented with fasting and breathing techniques (305). These Daoist exercises later influenced and embellished the practice of taji, boxing, yoga, and sexual practices. From China’s most primitive state to its most culturally flourished, when describing Ancient Chinese religion, Confuscianism, and Daosim, individuals regard these practices as a â€Å"philosophy†, or â€Å"way of life†, instead of a religion (105). However, each equally embodies a perennial philosophy—different elucidations symbolize a single, universal truth. Therefore, if religion outlines both religious and irreligious aspects, and concurrently depicts a way of life, one can assert philosophy as an additional â€Å"interpretation† of religion.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Bugsy Malone and a short comparison Essay

In this scene when Peter comes back and surprises them, it almost as if they expect every thing they have said to have not happened, which is typical of children, they are relieved to see Peter and are happy. Further on in the scene John tries to regain his pride by pretending he knows about the way the ‘wop’ got out ect. At the end of the scene John and Peter join forces as I were to go to the top and find out what id happening, this part was played quite well, it was difficult because the lines all sound the same and remembering them was not easy, the rest of the group stayed in character really well. The last few scenes are very short and consist of John and Peter scaring the rest of the group buy pretending they have been caught, the rest of the group played this part very well, and acted as children would in this kind of situation, Me and Fraser were not on stage a lot but played it fairly well when we were. This entire play was very difficult to perform because of lines, accents and movement ECT. We tried to use space effectively and we used costume to add to the effect. I think that over all we did quite well performing this piece. Bugsy Malone and a short comparison As I do not know much about Bugsy Malone, I will only write a brief part on it, the basic out line of this story is that children who are put into adult situations, in the reverse to Blue Remembered Hills, are gangsters who fight against each other throughout the play, Bugsy is the leader f one gang. The gangs compete with things to try and get better than the other gang, instead of using guns, they use paint guns and water pistols. I think in comparison to Blue Remembered Hills this shows the small amount that children and adults know about each other’s roles in life. The two are very similar in the way that the ‘children’ in Blue Remembered Hills are put in a very childlike situation, and the ‘adults’ in Bugsy Malone are put in a very adult situation, I both play the characters have very different fears and emotions to one another and these are expressed well throughout both plays.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Boeing Learns

Boeing Learns From 787 Mistakes: Using Technology to Create Supply Chain Success Introduction The Boeing Company is one of the largest Aerospace and Defense enterprises in the world. Presently headquartered in Chicago, Illinois; they have contributed to some of the largest breakthroughs in aviation technology † breakthroughs that greatly enhance the lives of the world's people. Boeing began as a small startup in 1916; but by the Korean War, defense efforts had grown Boeing to one of only 23 companies with $1 Billion in annual revenue.Boeing parlayed this growth into being ne of the premier designers and manufacturers of commercial aircraft. Designs such as the 707, 737, and 747 cemented their role as the leader in the industry until 2003 when Airbus first surpassed Boeing in annual sales and order backlog. (Nolan 2012) CEO Phil Condit saw Airbus making progress well prior to 2003, however. In 1996 Condit determined that the Boeing Company needed to be refocused in order to comp ete with the European conglomerate.Airbus had an advantage in innovation and manufacturing because it used collaboration amongst many suppliers to roduce quality aircraft in the most cost effective way possible. In order to continue in its global leadership position, Condit set Boeing along a path to leverage their core competencies, â€Å"with detailed customer knowledge and focus on operating lean and efficient systems. † This plan would be called the â€Å"2016 Strategy' and it would see Boeing change its relationship with suppliers from third-party contract-based to close, strategic partners. Nolan 2012) In future designs, Boeing would rely on these partners to not only build, but also design subcomponents for aircraft. Boeing knew hat it must have a way of coordinating the design process among all suppliers, which cleared the way for a powerful Enterprise Resource Management (ERP) tool. Boeing selected Exostar's Supply Chain Management Solution to coordinate the design and supply chain for the first project under the 2016 Strategy, the 787. (PRNewswire 2013) The 787 was conceived as a revolutionary design that would be a replacement for the aging 767, cost about the same, but be 2 more tuel efficient.It would accomplish this by utilizing a construction of 50% composite – something never before attempted in the commercial aviation arena. In summary, Boeing was endeavoring to build a brand new clean-sheet aircraft from materials never used, using methods never attempted, and using a supply chain more far reaching than ever experienced by the plane maker. In retrospect, it may be easy to see why the 787 has had so many problems. The problems are so large that Forbes was prompted to publish an article titled, â€Å"What Went Wrong at Boeing. (Denning 2013) Boeing has worked through most of its supply chain woes and has delivered over 60 787s to date. Boeing is now designing a next generation version of its supremely popular 777, the 777-8/9. B oeings desire to reduce costs and production time by relying risk-taking suppliers to design and produce major aircraft components has led to many failures and cost overruns in the 787 program. In order for Boeing to avoid the pitfalls of the 787 program, Boeing must take the lessons of the past in concert with good technology to ensure good management of the new 777 supply chain.Literature Review Boeing's move toward a supply chain that relied on utilizing risk-taking suppliers for the 787 was meant to reduce the design timeframe and shorten the production cycle, owever it actually placed the future competitive ability of Boeing in peril. The present paper specifically focuses on the practice of outsourcing design of the aircraft to the aforementioned suppliers and how improper oversight of the process led to delay, cost overruns, and the loss of intellectual property. The literature reviewed during this investigation is both peer-reviewed and Journalistic in nature.The following r eview is presented in a logical flow to show why Boeing chose this new strategy, some select major problems that occurred, and finally the actions that were taken to rectify those problems. Christopher S. Tang and Joshua D. Zimmerman (2009) begin their Journal article, Managing New Product Development and Supply Chain Risks: The Boeing 787 Case, by laying out the drivers for the 787 design strategy. In the 1990s, Boeing had decided that it must offer more customer value to compete with EADS' Airbus in the commercial aircraft industry.Ultimately, Boeing settled on designing a new mid-size, wide body Jet that would offer a superior passenger experience and burn 20% less fuel. To bring the Jet to market faster and cheaper, Boeing wanted to move away from its role as a manufacturer and become ore of a systems integrator. Tang, et al. say this strategy intended to save $4 billion in development cost and shave 2 years off the design period. (Tang, Zimmerman, ; Nelson, 2009) Boeing refers to these risk-sharing partners as â€Å"Global Supply Partners† (6SP).During an interview with World Trade; Steven Schaffer, then vice president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes' Global Partners, said the name change â€Å"reflect[ed] a deeper business relationship. † (Bernstein, 2006) In Chapter 8 of Cases on Supply Chain and Distribution Management: Issues and Principals, the nature of he relationship is further discussed. The suppliers are called â€Å"risk-sharing†, because they invest much of their own money into the success of the final assembled product. In fact, Boeing was able to get $4. billion of the $10 billion design budget from 6SPs around the world. These suppliers nave significant risk since they don't see any income until the aircraft are delivered. (Garg ; Gupta, 2012) In a seminal ex post analysis of the 787 outsourcing plan, Ehsan Elahi (2012) of the University of Massachusetts Boston asserts that improper monitoring and suboptimal supplier ele ction led to the appearance of many â€Å"hidden costs† and that Boeing didn't have an adequate understanding of the operational risks associated with outsourcing new product development.He concludes that these oversights led to poor stock performance, a drop it Boeings credit rating, and late delivery penalty payments for customers. The research by Elahi in the UMASS paper, along with his contribution to the Chapter in Miti Garg and Sumeet Gupta's book, lays out a great case for how too much reliance on outside design can lead to a loss of intellectual property. On pages 67-169 of the book, Elahi discusses how these partners were given the opportunity to learn how to build aircraft from composites without Boeing retaining any exclusivity rights.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Harley

Harley Executive Summary The rate at which the world economy is growing is making companies to adopt management strategies which will enable them to increase their global market share as well as remain competitive and profitable in the global market. This paper will therefore discuss the various ways in which companies are shifting from their traditional means of production so that they can manage to catch up with the advanced means of production which will enable them to increase their productivity and competitiveness.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Harley-Davidson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The paper will focus on the operations of Harley-Davidson and the manner in which the company has been able to cope with the growing competition in the motorcycle industry. The paper will also illustrate the complexity that is associated with the global market and how it has influenced the performance of Harley-Davidson. The pa per will show the manner in which Harley-Davidson has adopted different management strategies that have enabled it to recover from the effects of the 2008 financial crisis. The paper will also stipulate the inefficiency that is associated with Harley-Davidson production process. It will also show the various strategies that Harley-Davidson should adopt in order to increase its competitiveness in the global market. The paper will also demonstrate how Harley-Davidson understands the competitive nature of the global market and how the company has been able to emerge as one of the most profitable companies in the America. Introduction With the rate at which the world economy is growing, companies are being forced to look for strategies which will enable them to increase their market share and hence remain competitive and profitable. Many organizations are being driven out of business because of their inability to adopt the production processes which are being adopted by the modernized c ompanies. Therefore, in order for organizations to boost their competitiveness, they are implementing strategies aimed at improving their marketing, management, and manufacturing techniques (Dess, Lumpkin, Eisner, 2009). With the complexity that is associated with the global market, businesses are implementing measures to enable them learn about effective business management strategies so that they can manage to keep producing products which meet the needs of their customers. Technology is changing together with the global market trends thereby making the tastes and preferences of consumers to change considerably. As a result, organizations are being forced to design products which meet the tastes and preferences of the modern consumer (Elliott Percy, 2007). However, they will find this strategy possible if they take time to learn about the needs of the modern customers. Organizations are therefore shifting from their traditional ideas and focusing on developing products that rhym e with the tastes of the consumers in the modern world.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The companies that have been resistant to change are finding it difficult to catch up with those companies which have incorporated technology in their production process. Though shifting from the traditional means of production is an expensive undertaking, it is worthwhile if a company wishes to remain in business for a long time. There are many companies which have been able to shift from their traditional production processes and they have hence been able to satisfy the needs of their consumers. An example of a company that has been able to shift from traditional means of production is Harley-Davidson. The company has been in existence since 1963. Since then, the company has been known to provide its customers with products that meet their specifications. The company’s main activities include the manufacture of motorcycles (Gamble Schafer, 2012). It has therefore been able to design motorcycles tailored for specific markets. The main classes of motorcycles that the company has been able to produce successfully include cruiser, touring, and performance motorcycles. These classes of motorcycles have been able to meet the different riding needs of the customers (Gamble Schafer, 2012). This paper will therefore carry out a case study analysis of Harley-Davidson and illustrate the various management strategies that the company should adopt to enable it to remain a dominant player in the motorcycle industry. The paper will also discuss the various challenges that the company has encountered while trying to take its operations to the international market as well as the effects of the global recession on the profitability and competitiveness of the company. Harley-Davidson Contemporary Strategy Analysis Company overview The revenues of Harley-Davidson declined significantly as a result of the economic recession that hit the US major markets between 2008 and 2009. The effects of the economic recession declared many people jobless while the purchasing power of the consumers also reduced significantly. The international market was also hesitant to purchase products from the US thereby reducing the number of motorcycles that Harley-Davidson sold to the overseas markets (Stermer, 2007). The effects of the global recession made the demand of motorcycles to reduce by 12.7 per cent. This reflected a 15.1 per cent reduction in the revenues that the company had made the previous year. This is an indication that the stability of the financial market plays a very important role in ensuring that the sales of a company remain constant. With the credit crunch that was encountered in 2008, Harley-Davidson was forced to finance its operations using loans (Schembri, 2009). This made the liquidity of the company to go down significantly.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Harley-Davidson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Harley-Davidson as a very profitable company Though Harley-Davidson is one of the most profitable companies in the world, the company has not been effective in its production processes. Since its establishment, the company has always been faced with the problem of insufficient production capacity. It has therefore not been able to meet the demands of its customers. This is a major weakness for any business enterprise. Customers of a company should not be made to wait for a long time for the products they demand to be processed (Schembri, 2009). However, Harley-Davidson has been unable to meet the demands of its customers. The delay in the production process has therefore made the company to lose a large number of customers. Harley-Davidson customers are forced to look for other companies that have the ability to supply the products that they dem and in time (Stermer, 2007). Therefore, to be able to retain its customers, Harley-Davidson needs to increase its production capacity to enable it supply its customers with high quality products when they demand them. Consolidating plants It is important for an organization to ensure that its manufacturing plants are consolidated at a common location in order to reduce the costs of production and also to improve the efficiency of the production process (Smit, 2000). However, the manufacturing operations of Harley-Davidson are dispersed. For example, the company manufactures its engines in Milwaukee and Wisconsin while the engines are assembled in York, Kansas City and Missouri (Fred, 2008). Therefore, in order for the company to cut down on its costs of production, it needs to develop a single facility which can manage to merge the engine manufacturing and assembly operations. This way, the company can be able to achieve a cost leadership advantage thereby enabling it to increase it s market share significantly. However, because of the company’s inability to keep its costs of production down, Harley-Davidson has been unable to expand the sales of its high-priced motorcycles outside the US market. Participating in riding activities In order for motorcycle companies to improve the riding experience of their customers, it is important for the managers and employees of different organizations to participate in organized riding activities together with their customers. This gives the customers a feeling that the products they purchase will meet their needs (Hitt, Ireland, Hoskisson, 2010). As a result, Harley-Davidson participates in HOG activities to enable it communicate with its customers (Cooney, 2005). This way, the managers and the employees are able to interact with their customers thereby convincing them about the importance of purchasing motorcycles from the company. These kinds of activities therefore serve as marketing tools for the company. Effic iency in the manufacture of different types of products A company should be efficient at manufacturing all types of products which can enable it to capture a substantial share of the market (Hopkins, 1999). However, Harley-Davidson is only efficient at manufacturing super heavy motorcycles but it is not able to design small bikes. This is an indication that the company is weak in terms of implementing certain production processes. In addition, it has been noted that the company is not able to incorporate research and development in its production process. The company also limits its ability to invest in new technology. The recent drop in the market share of Harley-Davidson can therefore be attributed to the technological backwardness of the company (Neghina , 2009). Technological backwardness is therefore a major issue that the company needs to address in order for it to increase its market share.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Importance of technology In order for a company to emerge successful in the global market, it needs to make use of the advancements in technology to enable it design products that are appealing to the customers’ eyes. Technology also facilitates the manufacture of quality and efficient products. It is therefore important for Harley-Davidson to invest in up-to-date means of production to ensure that the products it produces are efficient and that they respond to the needs of the customers. For example, it is true that the market share of Harley- Davidson motorcycles in Europe was the lowest in the year 2007 compared to the market share of Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and BMW (Hopkins, 1999). This is because the customers in Europe are more sensitive to technology while the consumers in the US market believe that Harley-Davidson incorporates the American culture in its manufacturing process. Therefore, in order for Harley-Davidson to increase its market share in the European region, it needs to make use of technology to enable it customize motorcycles for the European market. New Models A company can secure a significant market share by providing its customers with new models. Once new products are introduced in the market, the existing customers are the first to purchase the new models (Hitt, Ireland, Hoskisson, 2010). Harley-Davidson is well known for introducing new models in the market. As a result, it is able to increase its sales revenue and market share. However, this is not a very effective strategy because not all customers stand ready to replace their old models. Therefore, the introduction of new models alone may not enable the company to increase its revenue and market share to the levels that is desires. To increase its market share therefore, it is important for the company to ensure that the new models it introduces into the market incorporate the latest technology. This would motivate the customers to purchase the products and hence bo ost the company’s profitability. Emphasis on comfort The products that consumers purchase should be able to offer them comfort. It is therefore important for companies to design products which offer customers comfort while using them. Companies should therefore customize their products in a way that meets the specifications of the customers (Schembri, 2009). To increase the sales of its motorcycles therefore, Harley-Davidson customizes products for the customers who need certain specifications. Customers are therefore able to gain maximum satisfaction while riding the motorbikes. This strategy has enabled the company to win over a significant number of customers. Distribution networks The distribution network of products plays a very important role in determining whether an organization can manage to deliver products to its customers on a timely basis and at an affordable price. The channels of distribution used determine whether the customers can manage to gain access to the products that a company produces. Therefore, it is important for an organization to ensure that the distribution network it adopts makes it easy for the customers to access the products at a cheaper price. It has been noted that Harley-Davidson competitors implement distribution networks which are less costly and more efficient in Europe. As a result, the competitors have been able to acquire a larger market share in Europe because of the efficacy of their distribution networks (Cooney, 2005). Therefore, in order for Harley-Davidson to market its products in Europe successfully, it needs to carry out a study about the European market and determine which distribution network to implement. After sales services There are certain services that a business is supposed to offer in order to make people trust in the products that the organization produces. To ensure that customers keep coming back for more products, the management of Harley-Davidson ensures that the customers are accorded p re and after sales services. This way, the customers are able to get all the information and help that they need to begin using the products. In addition, Harley-Davidson offers test-ride services as well as rider instruction classes. The company also rents motorcycles to its trusted customers (Stermer, 2007). As a result, the company has been able to win the confidence of the customers thus making the customers to trust in the products that the company manufactures. This state of affairs has led to an increase in the market share of the company especially in the US. Addressing complexity The process of manufacturing motorcycles is complex. To address this complexity, Harley-Davidson created the Harley-Davidson University whose goal was to ensure that the employees within the organization became competent in dealing with all the products that the company manufactured. Since then the company has been able to boost the knowledge of its employees by showing them how they can come up wi th high quality products that would meet the needs of the customers. The company has therefore been able to manufacture motorcycles which are very competitive in the world market. It is therefore the responsibility of an organization to invest in projects which can boost its production potential. Customers are therefore confident in the motorcycles that Harley-Davidson manufactures because they are sure that the motorcycles are manufactured by experts. Diversification of business practices Before the credit crunch which hit the US market in 2008, Harley-Davidson used to give financial services such as supplying credit, insurance and extended warranties to its dealers. This activity used to generate huge profits for the company. For example, the profit that was generated from this activity was approximately 12 per cent of the total revenue. However, the credit crunch made it difficult for the company to securitize its customers loans (Neghina , 2009). Therefore, it is true that thoug h diversifying in various profit generating activities in a business enterprise is a commendable idea, it is important for an organization to ensure that it can manage to secure its customers from uncertainties. This way, the customers would be confident in the operations of the company and hence trust in the products it produces. However, the inability by Harley-Davidson to secure the loans of the customers made the customers believe that the company was not strong enough to address their needs. This state of affairs made many people to stop believing in the quality of the products that the company offers thus leading to a reduction in the company’s sales. Expanding operations to overseas markets Any company that wishes to gain recognition in the global business environment should expand its operations to overseas markets. This would increase the market share of the company and its sales revenue. However, Harley-Davidson has concentrated so much on the American market. The E uropean market share is very small. To make it easy for Harley-Davidson to acquire a substantial portion of the European motorcycle market, the company should establish headquarters in Europe which would be responsible for monitoring all the activities that the company undertakes in the region. The company should also expand its overseas dealership network. For example, Harley-Davidson made $1.75 billion non-US sales in 2008. These sales reflected 31 per cent of the revenue that the company had earned globally (Elliott Percy, 2007). This is an indication that the markets which are based out of the US also have potential to make the company become competitive. Company operations should rhyme with objectives It is the duty of every manager in any organization to ensure that the operations that the organization undertakes are in line with its objectives. For example, Harley-Davidson engages in practices such as Just-in-time scheduling, Total Quality Management, Computer Aided Manufact uring, and devolution of responsibilities to ensure that its productivity and efficiency remain high (Hopkins, 1999). Such practices are effective in that they make it possible for the manager to detect any flows within the organization and hence implement corrective measures before any serious damage can be realized. Positive relationship between employees and managers The manner in which employees relate with their managers determines whether the productivity of an organization rises or falls. The most successful organizations are known to facilitate effective communication between the employees and the managers. The employees are given the freedom to express their opinions on how they feel that their organization should be operated. Therefore, to ensure that the employees remain motivated, Harley-Davidson ensures that the managers and the employees are able to exchange ideas freely regarding how the productivity of the organization can be improved. This process has been effective in fostering cooperation between the employees and the managers thereby enabling the organization to increase its productivity and efficiency. Understanding competition Any company that wishes to succeed in the global market should understand what is meant by competition and how it can cope with it. For example, Harley-Davidson is well known for increasing its product range and geographical scope to capture a large market. However, the major challenge that is facing the company is the rate at which its products are being imitated by its competitors. In addition, competitors such as Honda, BMW, and Suzuki are known to share technology, marketing skills, engineering capabilities, and distribution knowhow thereby making it difficult for Harley-Davidson to successfully diversify the products that it offers to its customers (Hitt, Ireland, Hoskisson, 2010). This scenario is more prevalent in the European market because this is where Harley-Davidson has less impact. Conclusion From the analysis therefore, it is evident that Harley-Davidson is one of the most successful motorcycle companies in America. Though the company is one of the most profitable companies in the world, there are various key measures that the company should implement to enable it compete effectively in the global market. The company should ensure that it embraces technology, foster positive relationship between the employees and the managers, diversify its products range, expand operations to overseas markets, give the customers pre and after sales services, lower costs of production, seek loyalty from customers, and ensure that it offers the consumers new products and models. This way, the company will be able to increase its competitiveness in the global market. Reference List Cooney, J 2005, Why and How Harley-Davidson has Maintained Consumer Brand Loyalty. Web. Dess, G G, Lumpkin, G T Eisner, A 2009, Strategic Management: Creating Competitive Advantages, McGraw-Hill Irwin, London. Elliott, R Percy, L 2007, Strategic Brand Management, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Fred, A 2008, Harley Davidson Case Study Building Brand Communities. Web. Gamble, J E Schafer, R 2012, Harley-Davidson. Web. Hitt, M A, Ireland, R D Hoskisson, R E 2010, Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization Concepts, Cengage Learning, New York. Hopkins, H D 1999, Using history for strategic problem-solving: The Harley-Davidson effect, Business Horizons, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 52-60. Neghina , C 2009, Harley Davidson Case Study Building Brand Communities. Web. Schembri, S 2009, Reframing brand experience: The experiential meaning of Harley–Davidson. Journal of Business Research, vol. 62, no. 12, pp. 1299–1310. Smit, P J 2000, Strategy Implementation: Readings, Juta and Company Ltd, New York. Stermer, B 2007, Harley-Davidson Motorcycles: Everything You Need to Know, MotorBooks International, New York. Harley Background Marketing is an important exercise in both services and goods industry; it ensures that target customers access goods and services a company manufactures. Marketing involves processes that determine the kind of products or/and services of interest to customer then the company knows exactly what to manufacture or trade in.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Harley-Davidson Motor Company Marketing Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Other than advising a company on the kind of products to make, marketing goes further and establishes the right method, channels, strategies and systems to get the products/services to target market (Mullins, Walker, 2010). The American motor cycle industry is one of the fast growing economic sectors where motor cycles are used for various functions like trade, transport, sporting, as security officials automobiles, and sometimes for leisure. Harley is an international mo tor cycle manufacturing company based in the United States of America; the company is respected for making reliable heavyweight (over 750 cc) motorcycles and genuine motorcycle accessories. The automobile industry has been ventured by cheap aftermarket sales that compete with original accessories; the market is favoured by the cost and the room for customizing once motor vehicles offered by the automobile. The challenge by the secondary industry offers a challenge to Harley-Davidson Motor Company; report is a marketing plan that the company can adopt to compete effectively in the market. Company overview Harley-Davidson Motor Company was founded in 1903 by three childhood friends by the names William Harley, Arthur and Walter Davidson; the initial idea was to make racing bikes with engines however they advanced their idea to have the bikes used for transport. In 1905, the company had started to be recognized and advertising its products in media in the United States; currently the c ompany has its head quarters at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States and headed Keith E. Wendell, the company’s chief executive officer.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In 2010, the company recorded total sales of US$ 4.46 billion which translated to US$ 259.7 million; of the amount about thirty percent was derived from sale to foreign markets. As at December 2010, the company had 6302 members of staffs distributed in its outlets (Harley Official Website, 2011). Executive Summary No single statement can explain what is marketing; briefly, it is a link between customers and a company, the feedback from either side is crucial in improving goods and services produced. Harley-Davidson Motor Company is facing an increasing competition from aftermarket accessories, thus the marketing team has found it important to develop a marketing plan to form the base of an aggressive marketing for the products. The main target market that the plan will focus on are existing customers, which the plan will embrace customer relation management strategies to build, maintain and manage customer loyalty; the second fold will focus on automobile users where the company will aim at convincing buyers to use its genuine parts; this will embrace strategic marketing tools like communication marketing strategies (MARCOM). The last target market that the company will focus is diversification of its market base, to use this approach; the company will make use of blue ocean marketing strategies. The report will also include the suggested marketing budget for the launch of the strategy. Target Market The campaign strategy will be divided into three main target groups differentiated by their behaviour as far as use of Harley-Davidson Motor Company spare parts and those from after market sellers. The first category encompasses customers of Harley-Davidson Motor Co mpany spare parts; they can be seen as people who have loyal to the company and have the characteristic of using genuine products. The main focus on these customers involves enacting measures to maintain current market base and improve the relationship with the customers. The main activities that will take place focusing on this target market are the following: measure approach; this is an approach where information from customers is collected; the information is on the level of satisfaction that customers are getting from the company.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Harley-Davidson Motor Company Marketing Plan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The second move will be to manage products and service delivery, what the customers are finding as correctly done should be reinforced and what they find as wanting should be rectified. With the feedback from the customers, then the company can decide on ways to impro ve service delivery; by service delivery, the company should be interested on the level of service that aftermarket accessories suppliers are giving then aim at surpassing the level set. The second target market segment that the company will be looking at is the â€Å"undecided customers†, they are people who buy either Harley-Davidson Motor Company genuine spare parts or sometimes buy after market products. The reason for their behaviour should be determined by a market research. It is likely that they buy the available product, thus policies that make genuine parts available should be made. The third target market that the management should look into is the untapped market; this is market that is less competitive with the aftermarket products. To venture into this, it can be through robust marketing campaigns that sells both bikes and spare parts. The company can decide to open its own market where they sell bikes then later on reinforce the use of genuine spare parts. Comp etitors The main competitors that the company will have to deal with are aftermarket sellers; they are people who sell spare parts or body and engine parts that can fit certain models of Harley-Davidson products. There are many reasons why some people prefer to use these products other than using the genuine parts. One of the post quoted reason why some people prefer after market products is because they are made by specialists thus they are of high quality, other people prefer them because they are less costly than genuine parts. The above two reasons happens to be the strength of competitors; Harley-Davidson company should embrace the challenge and aim at countering the strengths of the companies. To challenge the competitors, the company should venture in programs that improve the quality of their spare parts, in the case there is a certain modification that can breakeven when made as an accessory, and then the company should adopt such an accessory.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Price has always been an issue when marketing for commodities, there may come sometimes that Harley-Davidson products are expensive than those of the aftermarket, the management has two interventions to make; one ensure than the price of accessories represent value for money. The second intervention that the company should ensure is that it has attained high quality products and efficiency in their products. The best weapon to counter competition rests in understanding customers, providing high quality products, aggressive marketing that educate users on differences, and products differentiation. Product or Service The subject of the matter in this marketing plan is the sale of genuine motor cycle parts; the accessories involve engine parts, body parts, and other related accessories like bolts and nuts. When creating the products, the company should be aware of the model and the demand that the parts will have in a specific area. The products aims at offering repair accessories owne rs of Harley-Davidson products, it aims at winning customer loyalty in the market filled with aftermarket products. Different model of bikes require different repairs parts, thus they need to be made available; one of the main characteristic that the product will be selling to the people is its originality, quality, guarantees, and genuineness. When developing and improving the products, the sales book will of great use as it will help the company analysis the market, on where is a certain product or certain model of bike; with the clear understanding, and then campaigns will be focused on the particular area that has a certain machine (Vorhies, Morgan Autry, 2009). Marketing Budget When making a marketing strategy, there is need to develop the budget that various activities involved will fall under. Budget follows some costs heads that is a consolidate figure involving different individual costs. The following budget will be incurred: Activity Cost (US $) Research and collect ion of data 20,000 Staffs subsistence and other fixed costs 10,000 Experts and professional fees 500 Structure and infrastructures laying 5,000 Policies support costs (they include costs of advertising, promotion etc) 5,500 Follow up costs 500 Total 41,500 The above costs heads involves costs that can be classified under the heading. Description of Location Since there are different models of bikes, the location of market will be determined by the model and type of spare parts that may be applicable to the particular area. When the above has been determined, the locations that will make them accessible will be determined by the marketing team. Some of the suggested places that the parts can be stocked include garages, supermarkets, automobiles accessories shops, and the bikes distributing channels. The main reason for determining the location is to ensure that the goods reach to the target customer at the right time in a form that is acceptable. With the suggested pla ce in mind, the marketing team should come up with the best transport, supply and logistics methods that should be implemented to get the goods to the customers. The right channel of communication should ensure that the company’s products get to the target market in the shortest time possible. The nature of some of Harley-Davidson products users is that they are likely to attend motor shows and other promotional events, the management should set a budget that can be used to market the products one on one in these places (Lyus, Rogers Simms, 2011). Pricing Strategy Price is an important marketing parameter that should be looked into when making a marketing strategy; it is through the price of a commodity that the company meets its expenses and gets a gain form the sale. There are two main elements that an effective price should have; the price should be high enough that the company will get some profit from the sale and the price must be affordable. Harley-Davidson products m arketing team will have to undertake a market price review where they will compare the costs and prices that competitors are able to sell, when they note them, they can work back and set their prices. In the situation of Harley-Davidson products, the best pricing approach to use is the premium pricing approach, under the method the management sets a price that is slightly higher than the prevailing price; the reason for the high price is both psychological and economical. From the psychological part, some people believe that quality is expensive thus they are likely to buy the products; the second reason is because the price set should represent quality offered by the company (Hsuen-Ho Jia-Wei, 2010). Summary and Implementation Plan The implementation stage has a number of processes that will be involved, they are as follows: Marketing research Marketing research involves the marketing team undertaking a desk and field research that determines the company’s rate of performan ce verses the rate at which aftermarket products are selling. The information offers the background that the strategy will be built on; the gaps realized should be analysed and meanings derived from them. The initial market research offers the team an overview of the areas they should address in the strategy. Analysis of data The initial stage was involved in the team collecting volumes of qualitative and quantitative data; the data from customers, bureaus, and internal information and industry reports should be reviewed to ensure that the problem that the company is facing is well understood. It is through problem and gap analysis that the company can come up with the most effective solutions. Strategy development With the data and problem well interpolated, there is need to have systems that are focused on the problem. The three main target markets needs different approach thus the marketing team should be clear on the approach to use and at which point they will have to quality a certain employee to the next higher level. Policy enactment and implementation Specific strategies to address a certain issue needs to be enacted through policies and infrastructures; the infrastructures needs to be put in place. For example to maintain customers there is need to have effective communication systems where the company can get feedback on various issues. Enforcing, monitoring and controlling When all is good to go, the management should ensure that it has enacted policies to maintain an improved relationship with customers. The policies enacted should be improved appropriately so that they do not fall out of relevance. In the implementation stage, the management should have the policy of marketing mix in mind; the following sample of an applicable marketing mix can be used: Diagram 1: The above diagram gives a guide of the areas that the management should look into when enacting the marketing strategy (Day, 2011). Conclusion An effective marketing strategy is a comp etitive advantage tool; Harley-Davidson Motor Company should embrace tools of strategic marketing to remain competitive amidst increased suppliers of aftermarket repair accessories. The company should embark on effective communication campaigns that create awareness and differentiation of its products; it should also embrace the concept of â€Å"Blue Ocean† to widen its market base indirectly. For an effective marketing campaign that can stand competition, Harley-Davidson Motor top and line managers need to support efforts made by the marketing department; on the other hand the marketing department should work closely with research and development segment for more informed decisions. References Day, G. (2011). Closing the Marketing Capabilities Gap. Journal of Marketing, 75(4), 183-195. Harley Official Website.(2011). Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Retrieved from https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/index.html Hsuen-Ho, H., Jia-Wei, T. (2010). A Model of Marketing Strategic Alliances To Develop Long-Term Relationships for Retailing. International Journal of Business Information, 5(2), 151-172. Lyus, D., Rogers, B., Simms, C. (2011). The role of sales and marketing integration in improving strategic responsiveness to market change. Journal of Database Marketing Customer Strategy Management, 18(1), 39-49. Mullins, J. W., Walker, Jr., O. C. (2010). Marketing management: A strategic decision making approach. Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Vorhies, D. W., Morgan, R. E., Autry, C. W. (2009). Product-market strategy and the marketing capabilities of the firm: impact on market effectiveness and cash flow performance. Strategic Management Journal, 30(12), 1310-1334. Harley Overview The onset of the 21st century saw the inception of the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company. The motorcycle manufacturing firm started off its operations in Wisconsin, United States of America (Harley-Davidson, 2006). Although it had a small beginning, Harley-Davidson has grown to be a renowned global market leader in the manufacture and sell of heavy duty monocycles.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Harley-Davidson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company successfully went through the hard economic times of the 1920s, which was largely contributed by its unwavering strong background in leadership, marketing and customer satisfaction (Armstrong Kotler, 2011). One of the major challenges faced by Harley-Davidson in its history of successful operation in United States is when the government failed to instituted as well as monitor market forces of demand and as well as quality checks which led to the inf lux of cheap imports into the U.S market. However, this just marked the beginning of a long journey for Harley-Davidson bearing in mind that the motorcycle manufacturer continued with the uninterrupted production of motorcycles with engine capacities above 750cc (Harley-Davidson, 2006). Customer satisfaction was and has been key to this overwhelming market presence. On the other hand, Harley-Davidson is still struggling to penetrate the lightweight motorcycle market. The competition is tough in this line of production and unless the company transforms its value proposition, it may completely miss out on the yet to be tapped profitable lightweight motorcycle market. In this paper, the case study of Harley Davidson has been discussed in terms of the marketing capabilities of the company (Harley-Davidson, 2006). In addition, some marketing strategies that can be adopted by the motorcycle firm have been proposed using relevant marketing theories. Harley-Davidson case study summary and m arketing theories One of the outstanding features of Harley-Davidson is the creation of brand loyalty among its chronic customers. As part of its fundamental marketing strategy, the company has developed a culture of consistent liking and consumption of its heavyweight motorcycles among the long term customers.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As a result, it has managed to maintain its clients for a considerably long period of time in spite of the ever prevailing market competition (Armstrong Kotler, 2011). The most integral ideal being cherished towards customer loyalty is the ability of the company to critically consider the needs of its consumers. Harley-Davidson has a strong belief that customers from its most valuable asset add therefore should always be given the first priority. The department of marketing has put up efforts of reaching out not only the old customers but also the high end market that has not been tapped yet. In order to achieve the best customer loyalty, it has taken the marketing department significant amount of time to study and analyze the needs, tastes and preferences of consumers. The ease with which customers can purchase Harley-Davidson products has been enhanced. In any case, the company believes in serving its customers with a touch of their emotions. In other words, passion drives the marketability of the heavy duty motorcycles (Armstrong Kotler, 2011). The feelings of customers are studied, their perceptions and reactions towards the company products are also evaluated in a regular customer care initiative. Due to such an approach in marketing, the management at Harley-Davidson is quite convinced that they will also venture and conquer the light duty motorcycle market. Moreover, the marketing strategy is also viewed as the reason for the success behind the Harley Owners Group (HOG) that has grown to a 900,000 membership scheme. The sale of motorcycles per se is not the sole duty of Harley-Davidson; the motorcycle manufacturing firm has laid more emphasis on the needs of its customers to experience independence and a free purchasing environment. Customers should feel to be buying Harley-Davidson products without being coerced or technically convinced through advertisement without their own will. If this philosophy is anything to go by, then it implies that Harley-Davidson has a cultivated a buying culture of its motorcycles, a phenomenon absent in other brands (Armstrong Kotler, 2011). Therefore, customer experience, according to Harley-Davidson, goes beyond the manufacture and sale of motorcycles; it is a unique lifestyle of its own kind.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Harley-Davidson specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Customers do not just buy for the sake of meeting their needs; they also do it as part and parcel of their lifestyle. Marketing a brand as a lifestyle product is an uphill task, so to speak. Harley-Davidson is not naà ¯ve of this fact. Consequently, the motorcycle manufacturing firm has set up rigorous marketing tools and devices to enable it maintain and reach out for the untapped markets. Through its marketing department, the company has imitated a high-powered team of individuals charged with the responsibility of marketing Harley-Davidson brand. For instance, there are quite a number of travel adventures that the firm has organized in the past. These adventures are meant to develop consumption and liking culture for its products. Both the existing and non-customers are usually invited to take part. The company also offers other after-sale services to customers. The marketing strategy adopted by Harley-Davidson is not void of relevant marketing theories in daily practice. Firstly, the brand name ‘Harley-Davidson’ has proved to be a very effective auto ma rketing tool for several decades now. Customers have been deriving satisfaction out of the motorcycles manufactured by the company. the fact they have built formidable trust around the brand of the company makes it possible for them to remain loyal in their purchases (Harley-Davidson, 2006). In addition, the consumption experience by Harley-Davidson’s customers is one of its own kind since the firm makes sure that the general and imperative needs of the customers are catered for. it is against this backdrop that the company’s brand name is not only popular, it is also a household name that both active and potential customers would like to identify with. On the same note, decision making by customers is yet another area that the marketing department has put more focus on. It is crucial to observe that the purchasing trend of customers is largely driven by the nature of decisions they make (Kotler, Roberto Lee, 2002). This can be explained from the utility theory of dec ision making.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The utility is paramount in marketing. Consumers will consider the best outcomes as the main driver to their decision making (Gilmore, 2003). The theory tends to perceive customers as rational beings who are not skewed on their choices but would rather settle at a particular brand since the anticipated results suit their needs well. Hence, optimum benefit is instrumental for customers. The utility theory is pragmatic on the usefulness of the product being purchased rather than the cost price of the product. Indeed, Harley-Davidson has taken this into consideration since the company has ensured that its heavy duty motorcycles are not just within the expected standards by customers but also of high quality. This has been laced with the marketing philosophy of selling with passion and touching the customers’ feelings right at the point of sale. However, consumers may lack rationality when making purchasing decisions in some cases (Baker Saren, 2010). Besides, the various intrin sic inputs that may influence decision making patterns when buying may not be easily recognized by customers. Such a limitation among customers when making decisions may not be fully addressed by utility theory. Hence, satisficing can be used to flesh up the limitations of utility theory. The satisficing model elaborates that the process of decision making does not continues once the anticipated outcomes are met. Drawing from the Harley-Davidson marketing experience, there is a higher probability that its chronic customers do no longer makes purchasing decisions when acquiring their purchases from the company since they are outside the brackets of utility theory. At this juncture, it is worthy to note that successful marketing should go beyond utility theory. Consumers can remain loyal to a particular brand irrespective of stiff competition from market rivals. Similarly, the use of a marketing theory referred to as consideration is a vital tool in marketing strategies. According to the theory of consideration, customers play an equally integral role as the identity of a business organisation (Gummesson, 2002). The theory further stresses that the decision making process by a firm should consider the relative value of consumers since they form a subset of a firm without which any decisions made may lack utility. The Harley-Davidson video case study emphasizes the momentous contribution and role of customers in the company. All the strategies are developed around the consumption experience of consumers. The marketing theory of involvement is yet another strong standing point for Harley-Davidson (Kleinaltenkamp Ehret, 2006). One way of attracting and sustaining the attention of customers is by involving them in most company activities that elicit fun and great feeling. The management at Harley-Davidson has made every attempt to involve its pool of customers as well as the prospective ones in lively activities like adventurous riding exercises. Sponsorship of suc h events by Harley-Davidson is a marketing decision I the right step. As mentioned earlier, the motorcycle manufacturing firm is not merely buying the advertising space for marketing its products; it is also in the process of creating a consumption culture of its heavyweight motorcycles alongside building a lifestyle from it. Case study questions How does Harley-Davidson build long term customer relationship? The management at Harley-Davidson value customer relationship as the foundation of business growth. In achieving this, two main building blocks are used. To begin with, the company employs customer satisfaction in its bid to create long term relationships. Unless customers are satisfied by the services and products on offer, it will be practically impossible to maintain their loyalty for long. Secondly, Harley-Davidson is very critical on the value of customers. It is common knowledge that customers who are treated with dignity, a sense of passion as well as liberty are highly likely to remain put with a particular brand (Sheth, 2006). The company values the choice, liberty and independence of its customers, attributes that go a long way in enhancing customer value. Moreover, Harley-Davidson has also made use of the Harley Owners Group (HOG) as a building block for long term customer relationship. For instance, the company has from time to time organized and sponsored outdoor events to boost the relationship between the company and customers and also among customers themselves. Besides, the numerous publications by the company have been viable outreach tool for harnessing customer relationship. What is Harley-Davidson’s value proposition? One of the value propositions for the company is that the price tag is rather on the higher end. The sale of heavy duty motorcycles costs more than the sale of lighter ones with engines capacities below 750cc. although the high price tag may be viewed as slightly disadvantageous to the company; it is indeed the bu siness strategy for Harley-Davidson. Specializing in this line of production attracts the high end of the market. This may be more profitable than dealing with lighter machineries. Besides, the motorcycles cannot be used during bad weather in addition to the fact that there are usually non-monetary costs associated with safe keeping of the motorcycles is yet another value proposition for the company. Nonetheless, the best value proposition should be the benefits received by the consumers of Harley-Davidson brand. Joanne Bischmann in the video case study attempts to emphasize the value received by customers (Harley-Davidson, 2006). As note in the video, customers stand to benefit from freedom, free will, and self-expression as well as the fun and full enjoyment brought about by the company products. Customers are not just buying the motorcycles, they are also interested with the value proposition derived from the purchases. Relate the concept of customer equity to Harley-Davidson. Ho w does Harley-Davidson’s strategy focus on the right relationships with the right customers? Customer equity is well covered under the derived profits as well as loyalty. There are other numerous possibilities through which Harley-Davidson could derive its profits. However, the company is not merely focusing on the other varied channels; it has laid more emphasis on building long term customer relationship through authenticated friendship. Its chronic customers who should also be profitable is the core concern for the company in as far as customer equity is concerned. This profitability is derived from the high-margin products from Harley-Davidson. As part of focusing on the right customer relationships, the company has largely focused on the delivery of three main marketing variables namely customer value, brand stability as well as retention equities. In order to maintain the brand quality and focusing towards the right customer relationship, Harley-Davidson continually ins pects and modifies its products to meet the expectations and needs of customers. Recommendations In spite of the global presence of Harley-Davidson in the manufacture and sale of heavy duty motorcycles, the company can still make a few more strides in capturing both the high and low-end markets. Firstly, Harley-Davidson should devise other competitive marketing strategies that will successfully land them in the light commercial motorcycles bearing in mind that the previous attempts by the company to venture into this market failed. This can be achieved by changing the consumption culture of its long term customers (Baker, Graham Harker, 1998). They should be educated on the relative benefits of embracing lighter motorcycles. The value proposition for the company should go beyond passion for its customers. It is vital for Harley-Davidson to focus on new markets through rigorous marketing campaigns like the internet, billboards and other mass media channels (Wierenga, 2008). Relying on old customers per se may not be sustainable for a long period of time. Finally, Harley-Davidson should also diversify its production portfolio as one way of minimizing market risks. The company can attain this by incorporating the manufacturing of both the heavy and light commercial motorcycles in its plant. References Armstrong, G. Kotler, P. ( 2011). Marketing: an introduction, (10th ed.), New York: Pearson Prentice Hall. Baker, J.M., Graham, P. Harker, D. (1998). Marketing: managerial foundations, South Yarra: Macmillan Publishers. Baker, J.M. Saren, M. (2010). Marketing Theory: A Student Text, London: Sage Publications. Gilmore, A. (2003). Services marketing and management, London: Sage Publications. Gummesson, E. (2002). Total relationship marketing, Oxford: Elsevier Science. Harley-Davidson (2006). Video Case. Web. Kleinaltenkamp, M. Ehret, M. (2006).Relationship theory and business markets Journal of business and industrial Marketing, 21(2): 63-64. Kotler, P., Roberto, N. Lee, N. (2002). Social marketing: improving the quality of life, London: Sage Publications. Sheth, N.J. (2006). Does marketing need reform?: fresh perspectives on the future, New York: M.E. Sharpe Inc. Wierenga, B. (2008). Handbook of marketing decision models, Rotterdam: Springer Science.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Racial Wealth GapHistory and Current Trends

The Racial Wealth GapHistory and Current Trends The racial wealth gap refers to the substantial difference in the wealth held by white and Asian households in the U.S. compared with the vastly lower levels of wealth held by Black and Latino households. This gap is visible when looking at both average and median household wealth. Today, white households hold on average $656,000 in wealth- nearly seven times that of Latino households ($98,000) and about eight times as much as Black households ($85,000). The racial wealth gap has significant negative impacts on the quality of life and life chances of Black and Latino people. It is wealth- assets held independent of ones monthly income- that allow people to survive unexpected losses of income. Without wealth, a sudden loss of job or inability to work could lead to loss of housing and hunger. Not only that, wealth is necessary for investment in the future prospects of members of the household. It provides the ability to save for higher education and retirement and opens up access to educational resources that are wealth-dependent. For these reasons, many see the racial wealth gap as not just a financial issue, but an issue of social justice. Understanding the Growing Racial Wealth Gap In 2016, the Center for Equality and Diversity, together with the Institute for Policy Studies, released a landmark report that shows that the racial wealth gap grew considerably larger in the three decades between 1983 and 2013. The report, titled The Ever-Growing Gap, reveals that the average wealth of white households nearly doubled over that span of time, while the growth rate for Black and Latino households was far lower. Black households saw their average wealth increase from $67,000 in 1983 to $85,000 in 2013, which, at less than $20,000, is an increase of just 26 percent. Latino households did quite a bit better, with average wealth growing from just $58,000 to $98,000- a 69 percent increase- which means they came from behind to pass Black households. But during the same period, white households experienced a growth rate in average wealth of about 84 percent, climbing from $355,000 in 1983 to $656,000 in 2013. That means that white wealth grew at 1.2 times the rate of growth for that of Latino households, and  three times  as much as it did for Black households. According to the report, if these current racialized rates of growth continue, the wealth gap between white families and Black and Latino families- currently about $500,000- will double by 2043 to reach a staggering $1 million. In these conditions, white households would enjoy, on average, an increase in wealth of $18,000 per year, while that figure would be just $2,250 and $750 for Latino and Black households, respectively. At this rate, it would take Black families 228 years to reach the level of average wealth held by white families in 2013. How the Great Recession Impacted the Racial Wealth Gap Research shows that the racial wealth gap was exacerbated by the Great Recession. The report by CFED and IPS points out that, between 2007 and 2010, Black and Latino households lost three and four times more wealth than did white households. Data shows that this is largely due to the racially disproportionate impacts of the home mortgage foreclosure crisis, which saw Blacks and Latinos lose their home at far greater rates than did whites. Now, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, 71 percent of whites own their homes, but just 41 and 45 percent of Blacks and Latinos do, respectively. The Pew Research Center reported in 2014 that the disproportionate home loss experienced by Black and Latino families during the Great Recession led to unequal wealth recovery in the recessions aftermath. Analyzing the Federal Reserves Survey of Consumer Finances, Pew found that though the housing and financial market crises that fueled the Great Recession negatively impacted all people in the U.S., during the three years that followed the end of the recession, white households managed to recover  wealth, while Black and Latino households saw a significant  drop  in wealth during that time (measured as median net worth for each racial group). Between 2010 to 2013, during what is described as a period of economic recovery, white wealth grew by 2.4 percent, but Latino wealth fell by 14.3 percent and Black wealth fell by over a third. The Pew Report also points to another racialized disparity: that between the recovery of financial and housing markets. Because whites are much more likely to be invested in the stock market, they benefited from the recovery of that market. Meanwhile, it was Black and Latino homeowners who were disproportionately hurt by the home mortgage foreclosure crisis. Between 2007 and 2009, according to  a 2010 report from the Center for Responsible Lending, Black mortgage suffered the highest rate of foreclosure- nearly twice the rate of white borrowers. Latino borrowers were not far behind. Because property constitutes the majority of Black and Latino wealth, losing a home to foreclosure for those households resulted in a near-complete loss of wealth for most. Black and Latino homeownership continued to  decline, as did their household wealth, during the 2010-2013  period of  recovery. Per the Pew Report,  Federal Reserve  data shows that Black and Latino households also experienced a greater loss of income during the recovery period. The median income of racial minority households dropped by 9 percent during the recovery period, while that of white households fell by just one percent. So, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, white households have been able to replenish savings and assets, but those in minority households have not been able to do so. Systemic Racism Caused and Fuels the Growth of the Racial Wealth Gap Sociologically speaking, its important to recognize the socio-historical forces that placed Black and Latino homeowners in situations in which they were more likely than white borrowers to receive the kinds of predatory loans that caused the foreclosure crisis. Todays racial wealth gap can be traced all the way back to the enslavement of Africans and their descendants; the genocide of Native Americans and theft of their land and resources; and the enslavement of Indigenous Central and South Americans, and theft of their land and resources throughout the colonial and post-colonial periods. It was and is fueled by workplace discrimination and racial pay gaps and unequal access to education, among many other factors. So, throughout history, white people in the U.S. have been unjustly enriched by systemic racism while people of color have been unjustly impoverished by it. This unequal and unjust pattern continues today, and per the data, seems only destined to worsen unless race-consciou sness policies intervene to make change.