Collapse Of The Mayan Civilization - 1024 Words

Patricia Licea-Chavez 10/27/14 History 2 Collapse of the Mayan Civilization There were multiple reasons for the collapse of the Mayan civilization. Some of these reasons are environmental damages/overpopulation, natural disasters, and warfare.(The) Out of these the most likely reason for their collapse was war. (Cartwright) Within this war there were also the battles that were going on within its civilization, the offerings that they made to their gods, and the campaigns to resist the Spanish conquest. In the beginning the Mayans were thought to be a very peaceful civilization. It was also a rare occasion when they got into an altercation with another tribe. But recently historical anthropologists have discovered new meanings to the inscriptions on the stonework on the Mayan site of Dos Pilas. These new finds have told us that the Mayans were very violent people. The Mayans thought that war was very important because it gave them prestige when they took over neighboring city-states and captured prisoners to either enslave or make them sacrifices. One of the rituals the Mayas had was to give offerings to their gods. They would fight amongst themselves, while Venus was in sight. Venus was supposed to bring signs of destruction and mess up the government. The Mayans would also sacrifice themselves by playing a game, the ball game. This spiritual game was played with decapitated heads used as the ball. The game was also a â€Å"sequel† to triumphant battle. The enslaved soldiersShow MoreRelatedWhy Did the Mayan Civilization Collapse?2267 Words   |  10 PagesTo gaze upon the majestic ruins of the Mayan civilisation which collapsed over a thousand years ago, one is often stirred with wonder and a deep sense of curiosity (Diamond, 2005, p157-8). What happened to this great empire and what brought about its demise? The tremendous task of erecting such elaborate and colossal structures was clearly performed by the hands of a well-organized and adept group of humans (Crist and Paganini, 1980, pg24). Their empire occupied a vast area of roughly 325000 squareRead MoreEssay on Did the Mayan Civilization Collapse as a Result of Drought?1016 Words   |  5 PagesEver since the collapse of the once powerful Maya civilization, people have been trying to find out what caused it. Authors of the article, “Climate and the Collapse of Maya Civilization”, which include Gerald Haug, Detlef Gà ¼nther, Larry Peterson, Daniel Sigman, Konrad Hughen, and Beat Aeschlimann propose a theory that the Mayans collapsed because of an extended dry period between 760 and 910 A.D. These scientists set out find the answer as to why the Maya civilization collapsed. ThisRead MoreIs The Classic Mayan Civilization?1558 Words   |  7 Pagesof Anthropology, a collapse is defined as â€Å"†¦a drastic decrease in human population size and/or political/economical/social complexity, over a considerable area, for an extended time.†(AOC) With Mr. Tainter’s definition of collapse, I will be focusing on one specific civilization, what led to their falling as a society and elaborate on some theories as to why collapses may occur. The development that I am going to be discussing is the Classic Mayan civilization. The civilization was located in MexicoRead MoreEnd of Mayan Civilization1143 Words   |  5 PagesEnd of Mayan Civilization Samuel Nathaniel H. Stansbury HUM 111 11/3/2012 The mystery concerning the fundamental explanation for the collapse of the Mayan Civilization has been a major focus for researchers in the fields of anthropology and archeology for a considerable period of time. At the very core of this mystery of the Mayan collapse was the question of how could such a strong, stable civilization that had flourished for approximately twenty-seven hundred years disappear without a clearRead MoreMaya Civilization Collapse1311 Words   |  6 PagesThe example of societal collapse in which I will be making reference to throughout this essay is the Maya civilization. The Maya civilization is, â€Å"probably the best known of all early American civilizations.† (Fagan, 1995) It was at its strongest point between AD 300 AND 900. Around AD 900 was the time of its collapse. This civilization was developed in a densely, tropical forest on either highlands or lowlands. Today to visit a Mayan site, people would go to the modern Mexican state, capital ci tyRead MoreThe Fall of the Mayan Empire Essay1517 Words   |  7 Pages The fall of the Mayan Empire The collapse of the Mayan Empire is one of history’s greatest mysteries. It was one of the most advanced and developed civilizations of its time period, reining during the Pre-Classic period and into the Classic and Post-Classic Periods (2000 B.C. – 900 A.D.). The territory stretched from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, down to modern day El Salvador in Central America. Its achievements were monumental for the era, being the first empire communicating with the useRead MoreCollapse of Civilizations1323 Words   |  6 Pagesfactors that lead to the collapse of civilizations are almost directly related to those that created it. Archaeologists characterize collapse by a number of elements, some of which we have evidence for, others we do not. Most archaeologists are unsure of exactly what caused the decline of most civilizations in the ancient world, yet there are many clues to some of the events that could have contributed. The collapse of the ancient Roman Empire, the Mesoamerican Mayan, and the Egyptian culturesRead MoreThe Ancient Civilization1622 Words   |  7 PagesThe intrigue of The Mayans has always existed through the telling of their ritualistic practices or their calendar, but the fall of such an advanced civilization is perhaps the most intriguing story of all.To understand what causes great civilizations, it is vital to note the process of collapse in other civilizations, such as the great Roman Empire. Differences in time period, geographical landscapes, and other circumstances mean no direct correlations are possible, but the outstanding point ofRead MoreEssay The Maya Civilization904 Words   |  4 PagesMaya Civilization The ancient Maya once occupied a vast geographic area in Central America. Their civilization inhabited an area that encompasses Mexicos Yucatan peninsula and parts of the states of Chiapas and Tabasco, as well as Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. From the third to the ninth century, Maya civilization produced awe-inspiring temples and pyramids, highly accurate calendars, mathematics and hieroglyphics, and a complex social and political order (Collapse...Read More Collapse of Civilizations Essay1292 Words   |  6 Pagesfactors that lead to the â€Å"collapse† of civilizations are almost directly related to those that created it. Archaeologists characterize collapse by a number of elements, some of which we have evidence for, others we do not. Most archaeologists are unsure of exactly what caused the decline of most civilizations in the ancient world, yet there are many clues to some of the events that could have contributed. The collapse of the ancient Roman Em pire, the Mesoamerican Mayan, and the Egyptian cultures

Globalization And Its Effects On Society Essay - 1076 Words

In modern societies, globalisation has become an issue having various impacts on many nations around the world. The issue can be described as â€Å"a process in which physical, political, economic, and cultural barriers separating different regions of the world are reduced or removed, thereby stimulating exchanges in goods, services, money, and people.† (Hamilton Webster, 2015, p.5). On the one hand, globalisation has numerous good effects on the development of countries, such as diminishing trade barriers, obtaining more international investment, enhancing economic conditions of countries. (Mehlika, 2015, p.5). Nonetheless, there are still some bad outcomes of globalisation negatively affecting the power of nation states with respect to politics, economy, and society. The author strongly agrees that globalisation has frustrated the power of nations for three main reasons. Firstly, politics of countries have been affected by the expansion of globalisation during the 21st century. It is clear to see that globalisation is likely to decline the significance of nation states. In particular, the appearance of many international organisations, including WTO, European Union, and ASEAN, have diminished functions and the sovereignty of nation states, so as to facilitate various international agreements. (Mehlika, 2015, p.8). For example, Turkey is a member of the EU and this has negatively affected the democracy of the nation. Turkey had to change some of their policies to followShow MoreRelatedGlobalization And Its Effects On Society939 Words   |  4 Pages Globalization can be described as the interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations (http://www.globalization101.org/what-is-globalization/). For the past century, there have been countless debates over whether the effects of globalization are positive or negative. The topic of globalization is seen as one of the most debatable topics in our current society and is often discussed during political debates before elections. This paper will focus on theRead MoreGlobalization And Its Effects On Society1011 Words   |  5 Pagescalled globalization. Globalization has reformed almost every industry and affects billions of lives whether you realize it or not. Around the world, people view international trade as a good thing but this is hindered by concerns about its side effects. To find the balance between pros and cons associated with globalization, citizens everywhere need to know how globalization works. This includes its effects on the e nvironment, culture, political systems, and overall the wellbeing of societies aroundRead MoreGlobalization And Its Effect On Society1546 Words   |  7 PagesJoona A. Pang Ant 126 The term globalization is so saturated with conclusive idealism that such economic philosophy can only appear to intend principles of fairness or freedom. Before the 18th century, the belief was that societies were in a state of decline amongst ancient civilizations. However, during the Enlightenment period, the notion of progress became pervasive, which eventually prompted sociological and cultural revolution, the Western stage theories of progress. In the course,Read MoreGlobalization And Its Effect On Society Essay2301 Words   |  10 PagesGlobalization is the process in which economic, political, social, and cultural differences are lessened by the exchange of goods and ideas across national boundaries. Greater interactions among countries eliminate the barriers created by distance. The speed and scope of globalization led to differing opinions about the positive or negative impacts on society. Proponents of globalization argue that free trade and free movement of labor al lows more variety of consumer goods, allocation of skilledRead MoreGlobalization And Its Effect On Society1240 Words   |  5 PagesGlobalization and the use of new technologies and how it strengthens or weakens global inequalities Globalization is a very important force in the new world and it continues to impact the lives of individuals as well as groups world over. The role and affect of globalization has broadened over time. It has resulted in the lessening of trade barriers, integration of the economy of the world, increase in opportunities for groups and individuals alike and an increase in the economic well being andRead MoreGlobalization And Its Effects On Society844 Words   |  4 Pagestextbook on globalization for example opened my eyes to I am truly affected by globalization, from the clothes I have on my body to the laptop, books and cell phone I have at my fingertips. Companies are able to make the most profit and keep prices reasonable if they globalize. Even though globalization is shown to be a positive advantage for the core countries that are industrialized commercialism versus the developing countries that rely on labor given to them. In doing so, globalization has causedRead MoreGlobaliz ation And Its Effects On Society Essay1780 Words   |  8 PagesSociety has proven time after time to have the inherent tendency of turning a blind eye upon its flaws, particularly when putting people benefiting from privilege and power in jeopardy of being questioned. Peeling back the reasons which justify the way cultural expectations and behaviors of our society are normalized unveils fundamental issues rooting from discrimination towards race, gender, social class, and age. Globalization has been coined with a face of a positive, bright, progressive futureRead MoreGlobalization : Positive And Negative Effects On Todays Society1582 Words   |  7 Pagesbeing more globalized. Globalization is the process of interaction amongst people, businesses, governments of different countries and nations, and is driven and or influenced by international trade and international business. Technology has been one of the largest contributing factors to the reason why the world is becoming mor e globalized. Globalization has both positive and negative effects on the environment, societies, as well as today’s cultures. Cultural globalization refers to the processRead MoreThe Effects of Globalization on US Society and Economy Essay1359 Words   |  6 Pagesetc. The effects of the changes are not so clear, since it is hard to predict how each sector would affect the other and how society will be affected. However, analyzing past and present occurrences provides some information for experts to interpret society’s reaction in the future to different transformations. Globalization can be seen as a process in which societies around the world come together and expand through the combination of different forces. This paper will explore the effects of globalizationRead MoreGlobalization: Its Effects on our Society Today A Brief History1435 Words   |  6 PagesWhat Is â€Å"Globalization†? Globalization is the growth, expansion and integration of different systems such as economics, culture and politics on a global scale. Western countries went to third world countries and persuaded their citizens by blaming their economical and social problems on their technological backwardness rather than the exploitative nature of their political system. By accomplishing this, the western countries gain entry into the nations and trade technology for resources and labour

Strategic Analysis free essay sample

School of management University of Bradford Model code: MAN0208M A Strategic Analysis of AXA Industries: Insurance/Financial Services Word Count: 2314 (not including Tables or Executive Summary) Executive Summary This report has to do with the investigation into AXA insurance company including internal analysis, external strategic analysis and strategy formulation. It is designed to analyse the whole organisation and make recommendations related to the problems. AXA is a French global investment, retirement and insurance group. The AXA Group involves five operating business segments: Life Savings, Property Casualty, International Insurance (including reinsurance), Asset Management and Other Financial Services. This report is focused on AXA insurance. The main investigation approach is to use the text book as a secondary resource to analyze the specific theory about PESTLE analysis and Porters Five Forces analysis. At the same time, some useful sources as secondary information are researched from the Internet and some professional theory about external and internal analysis and strategy formulation come from library books. Through the investigation, there are four main parts related, but each part has detailed contents around different topics. The first part will introduce the company summary. PESTLE analysis, industry life cycle, Porters Five Forces analysis and key competitors will be introduced in the second part. After that, the report will show internal analysis including value chain and SWOT analysis. Finally, the part will focus on strategy formulation and making recommendations respectively. After a full strategic analysis of both the external and internal factors affecting the business, it is clear that there are key drivers in the markets. These drivers are customers need, differentiated products and quick response to new technology. Consumers are becoming more price sensitive and eager to locate the best deals on the market. These are the areas that the business needs to focus on and develop in the future. Based on the findings of this report, it is clear that AXA has a dominant position in the market. However there are a few points could be improved, and profits could be potentially increased if the business implemented a number of recommendations. The recommendations are to continue the expansion into international markets, improve and develop its products, develop more complete marketing systems and take new technology into consideration. Carrying out these recommendations would result in having a larger consumer base and an increase in profits. Key words: External and Internal Analysis, Strategy Formulation, Recommendations Contents Executive Summary 2 1 Company Summary 4 1. 1 Company Background 4 1. 2 Current Market Position 4 1. 3 Current Financials 4 2 External Strategic Analysis 4 2. 1 PESTLE Analysis PESTLE Analysis Conclusion 5 2. 2 Industry Growth/Life Cycle 6 2. 3 Porters Five Forces Analysis 7 2. 3. 1 Porters Five Forces Analysis Conclusion 8 2. 4 Key Competitors 9 2. 4. 1 Pricing Decision 9 3 Internal Analysis 9 3. 1 Value Chain Analysis 9 3. 1. 1 Value Chain Analysis Conclusion 10 3. 2 SWOT Analysis 10 4 Trends 11 5 Strategy Formulation 11 5. 1 The BCG growth-share matrix 12 5. 2 Corporate strategies 12 6 Conclusions 13 7 Recommendations 13 8 References 14 9 Appendices 16 List of Tables and Figures Fig. 1 Current Financials 4 Fig. 2 PESTLE Analysis of AXA 5 Fig. 3 The Industry Life Cycle Model 6 Fig. 4 Porters 5 Forces Model 7 Fig. 5 Pricing Decision 9 Fig. 6 Value Chain Analysis 9 Fig. 7 SWOT Analysis 11 Fig. 8 The BCG growth-share matrix 11 Fig. 9 Statistics about average insurance spend 16 Fig. 10 Key Competitors 17 Fig. 11 Pricing Analysis 20 Fig. 12 AXA financial statement 21 1. Company Summary Company Name: AXA Industry: Financial services Type of Business: Societe Anonyme Owner: Henri de Castries Number of countries AXA presented: 57 Number of Employees: 160,000 1. 1 Background AXA insurance, a French organisation is owned and operated by the AXA Group, whose currently served area is worldwide. According to the annual report, the main operational activities involve five different business segments namely Life Savings, Property Casualty, International Insurance (including reinsurance), Asset Management and other Financial Services (including banks). AXA is one of the most famous brands being a multinational company focusing mainly on insurance. Their services have also expanded, with a range of insurance available to buy. The main aspects are personal and business insurance. To be more specific, personal insurance involves car, pet, home, travel insurance and business insurance includes Employers’ liability insurance, Public liability, Commercial landlord insurance and so on. Besides, there are other types of insurance which are shop insurance, Fleet and haulage insurance etc. 1. 2 Current Market Position AXA Group Market Capital: ? 43. 46 billion. (Yahoo, 2013) Investments from insurance activities: â‚ ¬605,823 million. (AXA, 2013) Average insurance spend per Head in UK: 4475 US dollar per capital (OECD, 2012). Please see Appendix 1 for the statistics about different countries’ average insurance spend. 1. 3 Current Financials Figure 1: Current Financials of AXA. AXA Insurance ( in euro million) AXA Group ( in euro million) Total Revenue 84926 90,126 Total Asset 51298 761,849 2. External Strategic Analysis The environment is what gives organizations their means of survival. In the private sector, satisfied customers are what keep an organization in business; in the public sector, it is government, clients, patients or students that typically play the same role. However, the environment is also the source of threats. Environment change can be fatal for organizations. ( Johnson, Scholes, Whittington, 2008) The PESTEL model can be used to help us identify these issues and understand how they may affect AXA’s success. 2. 1. PESTEL Analysis Figure 2: PESTEL Analysis of AXA Political Economic Social -Legislation (on taxation and employment law) -Relations between government and the organisation Government is increasing its funding to the industry and easing regulations for employment. -Foreign Trade regulations Economic conditions have the highest impact on a business, regardless of what trade it is in. Total GDP and GDP per head -Customer expenditure and disposable incomes level -Unemployment -Currency fluctuations and exchange rates -Cyclicality (stage of business cycle) -Stock market trends -Shift in values and culture (Buying habits) -Change in attitude to lifestyle More and more people are buying insurance. Their attitudes toward work, leisure, career and retirement have changed. -Education and Healthcare People are paying an increasing attention to their health. -Family size and structure -Age distribution and life expectancy rates Technology Environment Legal -Social Media The social media explosion has offered the opportunity for increasing interaction with the consumers. -New patents and products Due to the new age in technology, companies have completely developed new products. -Identify research initiatives These factors can affect AXA, but not thoroughly change its trade and profit pattern. The reason is that these factors affect agricultural business much more directly. -Competition law -Employment and safety law -Government policy (trade control, tariffs) 2. 1. 1 PESTEL Analysis Conclusion PESTEL is a fundamental tool of making market plan and strategy. PESTEL analysis has two basic functions for a company. The first is that it allows identification of the environment within which the company operates. The second basic function is that it provides data and information that will enable the company to predict situations and circumstances that it might encounter in future. (Yuksel, 2012) The key factors that influence the company are: The attitude towards insurance. Despite the changes that have taken place since 2005 the weakness of sterling and the financial crisis that destroyed so much of the value of the UK financial services industry the UK insurance market remains the largest In Europe and the third largest in the world. In 2005, 2007 and 2009, survey respondents were most interested in convenient insurance cover in 2009, 72. 4% of respondents agreed that they will use the most convenient means to get insurance cover, up from 70. 8% of respondents in 2005, but down from 83. 7% in 2007. The survey reveals that consumers remain strongly influenced by the reputation of insurers, while the role of brokers remains important to them. New entrants to the market for direct insurance have been accepted by consumers but only to a limited extent. (Keynote,2013) Disposable incomes level If people have more disposable income, they have more tendencies to spend more to live comfortably and purchasing expensive products which ultimately lead them insured safer. Disposable incomes level changes the way people live. In conclusion, AXA is a very well-established company. By doing PESTEL analysis, the company can customise its strategies in various market from various segments point of view. In this way, AXA can cover all bases and will always be a leader in financial services. 2. 2 Industry Growth/Life Cycle The nature of corporate strategy will change as industries move along the life cycle. To explore the strategic implication, it is useful to start by identifying what stage an industry has reached in terms of its development. For each stage in the cycle, there are some commonly accepted strategies. (Lynch, 2006) Figure 3: The Industry Life Cycle model (Lynch, 2006) Traditionally, insurance companies, whether they focus on life, health, or property and casualty, have not demonstrated a significant degree of creativity or originality in their product offerings, and have been relatively slow to respond to new market opportunities. Customized, niche products in life, health and property are the next phase in insurance. Capitalizing on that trend will require dynamic product life cycle models designed to quickly take advantage of fluctuating market and customer demands, as well as information systems and data to help identify, predict and manage to those demands. ( Duffy, 2013) 2. 3 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis Michael Porters (1980) five forces framework is a rich, in-depth assessment of the underpinnings of competition and profitability in an industry. (Dobbs, 2012) The five forces are the threat of entry, the threat of substitutes, the power of buyers, the power of suppliers and the extent of rivalry between competitors. People consist of those forces close to a company that affect its ability to serve its customers and make a profit. A change in any of the forces normally requires a company to re-assess the marketplace. (Research and Markets Adds Report, 2013) Figure 4: The framework of Porter’s Five Forces Analysis. (Lynch, 2006) Bargaining power of Suppliers: Number of suppliers High competition among suppliers results in reducing the price to producers. Switching Costs The easier it is to switch suppliers, the less bargaining power they have. The degree of substitutability between the products of various suppliers and the amount of product differentiation Unique service makes it hard for producers to find a substitute. Bargaining Powers of Buyers: Number of Customers Buying Volumes Incentives (for example, promotions) Brand identity (reputation) Switching costs. Limited buyer information availability When buyers have limited information, they are at a disadvantage in negotiations with sellers. Threat of New Entrants: Time and cost of entry (Financial requirements) Brand loyalty Technological requirements Government policy Products quality and differentiation Threat of Substitute Products: Low cost of switching to a substitute product Brand loyalty Competitive Rivalry within an Industry: Very competitive and rapidly expanding industry Many similar ideas within the products Companies such as Allianz and MetLife 2. 3. 1 Porters Five Forces Analysis Conclusion Looking at the five forces for AXA, the following conclusions can be made: 1) Threat of Substitution – The threat of substitution becomes high when there are more insurance companies available in the world. Customers are more likely to buy the product when there are some incentives such as promotions. As European two biggest insurance companies, Allianz is the biggest threat. 2) Threat of New Entry – This threat is low as the barrier costs of entering the market at such a scale as AXA would be extremely high. AXA is one of the biggest financial service company in the world. 3) The Power of Buyers – This threat is high due to the reason that consumers are very price sensitive and very likely to switch brands if cheaper. It is difficult to differentiate products or services, then competition is essentially price-based, and it is difficult to ensure customer loyalty. (Lynch, 2006) 4) The Power of Suppliers – This threat is low because there are a large number of suppliers in the market that can provide what they need. 5) Competitor Rivalry – This threat is high due to the considerable number of competitors in the industry that AXA operates in. The most important issue that need to be considered is: Reduce the threat of substitution and keeping customer loyalty, AXA must consider continuous incentives and keep its high-level service quality to beat the competitors. 2. 4 Key Competitors Please see Appendix 2 (Figure 8) for an analysis of the key competitors in the market. Due to the awareness, perceived value about the benefits of insurance and influence form the government for the certain reasons more and more insurance organizations have come up in the market and hence resulted in more rather intense competition is prevailing with the insurance sector. ( UKESSAYS, 2013) 2. 4. 1 Pricing decision Figure 5: Value Chain Analysis based on Porter’s Value Chain. (Lynch, 2006) The basic considerations: cost and competition. Beyond this basic structure, the factors that will influence pricing include price elasticity, stage in the product cycle and strategic role of price. (Lynch, 2006) Please see Appendix 3 (Figure 9) for details of pricing analysis. 3. Internal Analysis 3. 1 Value Chain Analysis The value chain is a series of interrelated set of value creation activities. Michael Porter has raised this important concept and established the enterprise value chain model. Value chain analysis can help companies learn where to build and play their strengths and create higher valued-added. (Liu, 2013) The goal is to identify which activities do and do not create value for the business. Figure 6: Value Chain Analysis based on Porter’s Value Chain. (Lynch, 2006) 3. 1. 1 Value Chain Analysis – Conclusion AXA has placed all the right resources in the right places. Besides, the value of a firm is no longer solely based on a traditional financial analysis of the asset base and profit margin. The added-value chain converts the definition of value from profit margin alone to the sum of net margin plus brand equity and other intangible assets. (McPhee, 2006) Value chain emphasises on the operation flow. By integrating business process, company can minimise the impact factors and uncontrollable costs, making budgeting goals more scientific and reasonable, more effective budget control, which is good for companys future competitiveness. These critical factors are: Customer Satisfaction – offer high quality products and service to ensure customer loyalty. Innovation – The chain must make sure that their products are developed continuously, and moving with trends and technology. Effective operation –To allocate resources reasonably, resulting in a comprehensive budget management. 3. 2 SWOT Analysis A SWOT analysis focuses on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to a business. SWOT is used to identify cultural impediments and advantages and external governmental roles as well as internal company issues. (Helms Nixon, 2010) The purpose of SWOT analysis is to offer an opportunity to the company to balance its strengths against its competitors weaknesses, and optimise its opportunities within the market. Figure 7: SWOT Analysis of AXA. Strengths Opportunities Strong brand name and good financial position Major leaders in casualty and property sectors Worldwide branches Quick response to new technology Good reputation Expansion in more countries More choices for customers Change in politics or economy Weaknesses Threats Stiff competition from other insurance companies Less profits compared to its competitors Products not differentiated Changing government’s regulations Financial crisis like recessions Legal issues Too many insurance companies to choose from 4. Trends From a less scientific perspective, trends can represent the direction an industry is taking. AXA is a company with good reputation around the world. Although there are a lot of competition in the financial service industry, good reputation is the core competitiveness. Besides, there are a variety of products offered by AXA to meet customers need. The most important is that the assets of AXA is continuously increasing according to the annual report. Please see Appendix 4 for the AXA financial statement. 5. Strategy Formulation 5. 1 The BCG growth-share matrix The BCG growth-share matrix analyses the range of products possessed by an organisation (its portfolio) against two criteria: relative market share and market growth. (Lynch, 2006) Figure 8. The BCG growth-share matrix Portfolio analysis is used for making future strategic investment decisions for diversified streams of business for a firm. This analysis will help the corporate firms to do efficient resource allocation for securing future competitive positions. (Srivastava Prakash, 2011) Based on the matrix, AXA could decide which portfolio they should promote. Overall, the general strategy is to take cash from cow to fund stars and invest in future new products that do not even appear on the matrix. Typically in many organisations, the dogs form the largest category and often represent the most difficult strategic decisions. (Lynch, 2006) 5. 2 Corporate strategies There are new and increasing demands on todays organization. Organsations need to have instant access to customers, to colleagues and to highly sophisticated information about their performance. Organisations are required to create increasingly sophisticated products, delivered to increasingly demanding customers, across continually re-forming boundaries. Besides, managers must stay alert for the technological changes that will make products obsolete, service substandard, or prices noncompetitive. Everyone now faces a speed requirement created by a dizzying rate of unpredictable, discontinuous change. (Beyerlein, Freedman, McGee, Moran, 2003) By now, you have a detailed understanding of your business and its operating environment. You can have fun devising a strategy, setting objectives, turning them into an operating plan and documenting it. (Stutely, 2012) It is important to understand the customer, and respond to customer needs Establish the reputation of a product Focus on the companys position in the market. (Return on investment and Risk of losing the investment) New product development Pay attention to the role of government 6. Conclusions AXA is one of the market leaders in the financial service sector. It is performing well despite economic pressure, and it is expanding its portfolio annually. Now customers are very price sensitive, and the products are prone to the threat of substitution. To be more specific, Consumers ultimately hold the power in this market and can very quickly switch the brand without any costs or inconvenience. The key drivers are customers needs and competitive products. Both of these drivers are important to consider when devising future strategies. The critical factors that may influence the performance of AXA are customer satisfaction, new differentiated products and adoption of new technology, along with excellent service and quality of insurance at a competitive price will ensure the good performance. AXA has a bright future, and the brand has a good reputation. After carrying out these strategies, the company could cement its market position and make more profits. 7. Recommendations 1) Continue the expansion into international markets. Continue with the expansion into foreign markets and ensure the business is aware of different cultural market needs. 2) Continue improve and develop its products. New differentiated products are the competitive advantages for the company, which can boost customer loyalty. Develop more complete marketing systems. Company should communicate with customers on a more frequent and tailored basis. To be more specific, to increase personal connection with customers to make them feel respected and cared for. In that way, it can improve customer loyalty and build on existing brand. Besides, companies need some marketing techniques to capture new customer data and analyse it. 4) Take new technology into consideration. Offer relevant product to satisfy customers needs.

Census Interview Essay Example For Students

Census Interview Essay Mike Martin4/27/1999ES 114The four census questions that I asked my interviewee were short in content and in number, but I obtained some valuable information. It seems that in the United States we are eager to classify people according to race. The census form suggests that people belong to one of five general categories. (White, Black, American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander, or Other.) The form lacks a mixed-race category or an I dont know category. I agree entirely with Websters notion, Perhaps race refers to that which is produced through racial classification. In other words, the fact that everyone seems to fit into a single racial category is the result of the system of racial classification used in the United States. It is not the objective placement of individual human beings in natural biological categories. (1993)Through my interviewing, and the use of the U.S. Bureau of the Census questions, I in turn, created a racial identity for my classmate. The very first question that I asked, What race do you consider yourself to be? seemed to set the stage for a systematic classification. My classmate looked down at his arm, and remarked,Well I am obviously white, as far as I can see He was quick to point this obvious fact out to me. I mentioned the possibility of having some of the other races in his family heritage, but he assured me that he was almost sure that he was entirely European decent. I again mentioned the fact that Europe had a mix of heritage in its people, but once again he commented that this was not likely the case in his family. It seemed that he had thought about, examined, and even sorted this answer before I had even asked the question. I will admit that the Census form did not offer the interviewee many possible answers to this question, and it certainly did not offer him a choice of mixed heritage. My interviewee answered the question of being from Hispanic/Spanish origin with a very definite no. This question clearly ruled out any c hance of mixed heritage. So it seems, that from the view of the government, my subject is strictly white. These two questions clearly racialized him as white. However, the very next question asked him to identify his ancestry or ethnic origin. My interviewee identified himself as German-Irish. It seemed that the more time he had to think about his family, the more diverse his answers would become. He constructed his identity with regards to what his parents had told him growing up. These were the predominant origins of his family; therefore this is what he identified with. I discovered that this was a close-minded way of determining ones social identity. All kinds of problems began to surface. People seem to selectively forget little aspects which they may actually not want to identify with. My interviewee wanted nothing to do with being racially mixed. He wanted to take pride in being a majority German. The Irish that he mentioned was one relative on his mothers side of the family. It really isnt that significant, were his exact words. The only way that he knew for sure that all this identification was correct, was through the words of this parents and grandparents. What if they had left little bits of information out of their stories? What if their parents had left little bits of information out of their stories? My point is that selective forgetting could magnify through generations. I also should note that my interviewee took pride in describing his family life. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, but he seemed to use it in a different way. He used examples of his familys success and their commitment to bettering their lives as reasons for their success, or rather as an explanation for why they worked so hard. I sensed that he derived pride about his ethnicity from these examples that he provided. I dont see anything wrong with this type of self-esteem, but I thought that he explicitly identified with these factors. My interview confirmed the inte rpertations of sociologist Sharon M. Lee. She points out that four dominant themes prevail in racial classification. .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad , .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad .postImageUrl , .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad , .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad:hover , .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad:visited , .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad:active { border:0!important; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad:active , .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud7674a99248443bac195704653b2e0ad:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Art Institute Culinary Arts Essay Example 1. A preoccupation

Julius Caesar`s Women Essays - Cultural Depictions Of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar`s Women Portia and Calpurnia are the two main women in the story of Julius Caesar. They had two totally different parts in the story. One was kind of a servant wife and the other was a equal but not equal wife. Shakespeare shows the two characters as supportive figures but not very important ones. Portia is the wife of Brutus. Portia considers herself as an equal to Brutus. They share a mutual relationship and they both contribute to it. No one is better or considered better. They had shared a perfect relationship up until the point when the conspiracy of killing Caesar started. Portia figured it out pretty easily that something was wrong with Brutus because they had such a close relationship. She begged him to tell her and when Brutus said that he couldn't then she knew that their relations had faded a little. Of course, Brutus ended up telling her what was going on. This quote resembles there relationship. "By all your vows of great love and that great vow Which did incorporate and make us one, That you unfold me, yourself, and your half, Why you are heavy, and what men tonight Have had resort to you;" This quote tells the reader how much she cares for Brutus. Calpurnia on the other hand is the total opposite in the eyes of the husband. She is the wife of Caesar. Caesar treats Calpurnia as if she was the scum level of his servants. He orders her around and never pays any attention to her. One example of this was when she warned and begged him not to go to the capitol that day. She had a feeling that something was going to happen and sure enough did. (Caesar was stabbed by the Senate who had been planning against him.) Therefore, the two important wives in the story had two totally different roles. One was a servant woman and the other was a equal but one that was left out of the most important thing that was ever done by her husband. They were both similar in that they both had husbands that were deeply involved in the conspiracy, and the major difference between them was how they were treated as wives.

Ancient Mayan Warriors and Warfare

Ancient Mayan Warriors and Warfare The Maya were a mighty civilization based in the low, rainy forests of southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize whose culture peaked around 800 A.D. before going into steep decline. Historical anthropologists used to believe the Maya were a peaceful people, who warred upon one another rarely if at all, preferring instead to dedicate themselves to astronomy, building, and other non-violent pursuits. Recent advances in the interpretation of stonework at Maya sites have changed that, however, and the Maya are now considered a very violent, warmongering society. Wars and warfare were important to the Maya for a variety of reasons, including subjugation of neighboring city-states, prestige, and capture of prisoners for slaves and sacrifices. Traditional Pacifist Views of the Maya Historians and cultural anthropologists began seriously studying the Maya in the early 1900s. These first historians were impressed with the great Maya interest in the cosmos and astronomy and their other cultural achievements, such as the Maya calendar and their large trade networks. There was ample evidence of a warlike tendency among the Maya - carved scenes of battle or sacrifice, walled compounds, stone, and obsidian weapon points, etc. - but the early Mayanists ignored this evidence, instead of sticking to their notions of the Maya as a peaceful people. As the glyphs on the temples and stelae began to yield their secrets to dedicated linguists, however, a very different picture of the Maya emerged. The Maya City-States Unlike the Aztecs of Central Mexico and the Inca of the Andes, the Maya were never a single, unified empire organized and administered from a central city. Instead, the Maya were a series of city-states in the same region, linked by language, trade, and certain cultural similarities, but often in lethal contention with one another for resources, power, and influence. Powerful cities like Tikal, Calakmul, and Caracol frequently warred upon one another or upon smaller cities. Small raids into enemy territory were common: attacking and defeating a powerful rival city was rare but not unheard of. The Maya Military Wars and major raids were led by the Ahau or King. Members of the highest ruling class often were military and spiritual leaders of the cities and their capture during battles was a key element of military strategy. It is believed that many of the cities, especially the larger ones, had large, well-trained armies available for attack and defense. It is unknown if the Maya had a professional soldier class as the Aztecs did. Maya Military Goals The Maya city-states went to war with one another for several different reasons. Part of it was military dominance: to bring more territory or vassal states under the command of a larger city. Capturing prisoners was a priority, especially high-ranking ones. These prisoners would be ritually humiliated at the victorious city: sometimes, the battles were played out again in the ball court, with the losing prisoners sacrificed after the â€Å"game.† It is known that some of these prisoners remained with their captors for years before finally being sacrificed. Experts disagree about whether these wars were waged solely for the purpose of taking prisoners, like the famous Flower Wars of the Aztecs. Late in the Classic period, when the warring in the Maya region became much worse, cities would be attacked, looted and destroyed. Warfare and Architecture The Maya penchant for warfare is reflected in their architecture. Many of the major and minor cities have defensive walls, and in the later Classic period, newly-founded cities were no longer established near productive land, as they had been previously, but rather on defensible sites such as hilltops. The structure of the cities changed, with the important buildings all being inside the walls. Walls could be as high as ten to twelve feet (3.5 meters) and were usually made of stone supported by wooden posts. Sometimes the construction of walls seemed desperate: in some cases, walls were built right up to important temples and palaces, and in some cases (notably the Dos Pilas site) important buildings were taken apart for stone for the walls. Some cities had elaborate defenses: Ek Balam in the Yucatan had three concentric walls and the remains of a fourth one in the city center. Famous Battles and Conflicts The best-documented and possibly the most important conflict was the struggle between Calakmul and Tikal in the fifth and sixth centuries. These two powerful city-states were each dominant politically, militarily and economically in their regions, but were also relatively close to one another. They began warring, with vassal cities like Dos Pilas and Caracol changing hands as the power of each respective city waxed and waned. In 562 A.D. Calakmul and/or Caracol defeated the mighty city of Tikal, which fell into a brief decline before regaining its former glory. Some cities were hit so hard that they never recovered, like Dos Pilas in 760 A.D. and Aguateca sometime around 790 A.D. Effects of Warfare on Maya Civilization Between 700 and 900 A.D., most of the important Maya cities in the south and central regions of the Maya civilization went silent, their cities abandoned. The decline of the Maya civilization is still a mystery. Different theories have been proposed, including excessive warfare, drought, plague, climate change and more: some belief in a combination of factors. Warfare almost certainly had something to do with the disappearance of the Maya civilization: by the ​late Classic period wars, battles and skirmishes were quite common and important resources were dedicated to wars and city defenses. Source: McKillop, Heather. The Ancient Maya: New Perspectives. New York: Norton, 2004.

Elephant Toothpaste Chemistry Demonstration

Elephant Toothpaste Chemistry Demonstration The elephant toothpaste chemistry demonstration is a dramatic demo which produces copious amounts of steaming foam that sort of looks like the toothpaste an elephant might use. Heres how to set up this demonstration and a look at the reaction behind it. Elephant Toothpaste Materials The chemical reaction in this demonstration is between the hydrogen peroxide and the potassium iodide solution. The detergent captures the gases to make bubbles. Note the hydrogen peroxide solution is much more concentrated than the kind you can buy at a pharmacy. You can find 30 percent peroxide at a beauty supply store, science supply store, or online. 50-100 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solutionSaturated potassium iodide (KI) solutionLiquid dishwashing detergentFood coloring500 mL graduated cylinderSplint (optional) Safety Wear disposable gloves and safety glasses. Oxygen is evolved in this reaction, so do not perform this demonstration near an open flame. Also, the reaction is exothermic, producing a fair amount of heat, so do not lean over the graduated cylinder when the solutions are mixed. Leave your gloves on following the demonstration to aid with cleanup. The solution and foam may be rinsed down the drain with water. Elephant Toothpaste Procedure Put on gloves and safety glasses. The iodine from the reaction may stain surfaces so you might want to cover your workspace with an open garbage bag or a layer of paper towels.Pour ~50 mL of 30% hydrogen peroxide solution into the graduated cylinder.Squirt in a little dishwashing detergent and swirl it around.You can place 5-10 drops of food coloring along the wall of the cylinder to make the foam resemble striped toothpaste.Add ~10 mL of potassium iodide solution. Do not lean over the cylinder when you do this, as the reaction is very vigorous and you may get splashed or possibly burned by steam.You may touch a glowing splint to the foam to relight it, indicating the presence of oxygen. Variations of the Elephant Toothpaste Demonstration You can add 5 grams of starch to the hydrogen peroxide. When the potassium iodide is added, the resulting foam will have light and dark patches from the reaction of some of the starch to form triiodide.You can use yeast instead of potassium iodide. Foam is produced more slowly, but you can add a fluorescent dye to this reaction to produce elephant toothpaste that will glow very brightly under a black light.You can color the demonstration and make it into an Elephant Toothpaste Christmas Tree for the holidays.There is also a kid-friendly version of the elephant toothpaste demo that is safe for hands. Elephant Toothpaste Chemistry The overall equation for this reaction is: 2 H2O2(aq) → 2 H2O(l) O2(g) However, the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen is catalyzed by the iodide ion. H2O2(aq) I-(aq) → OI-(aq) H2O(l) H2O2(aq) OI-(aq) → I-(aq) H2O(l) O2(g) The dishwashing detergent captures the oxygen as bubbles. Food coloring can color the foam. The heat from this exothermic reaction is such that the foam may steam. If the demonstration is performed using a plastic bottle, you can expect slight distortion of the bottle from the heat. Elephant Toothpaste Experiment Fast Facts Materials 30% Hydrogen PeroxideConcentrated potassium iodide solution OR packet of dry yeastLiquid dishwashing detergentFood coloring (optional)Starch (optional) Concepts Illustrated This demonstration illustrates exothermic reactions, chemical changes, catalysis, and decomposition reactions. Usually the demo is performed less to discuss the chemistry and more to raise interest in chemistry. It is one of the easiest and most dramatic chemistry demonstrations available. Time Required The reaction is instantaneous. Set-up can be completed in under half an hour. Level The demonstration is suitable for all age groups, particularly to raise interest in science and chemical reactions. Because the hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizer and because heat is generated by the reaction, the demonstration is best performed by a science teacher with chemical experience. It should not be performed by unsupervised children.