Study case Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Case Study Example Question on firm’s use of the services would help her to identify firms with opportunities for her proposed ventures while questions on who makes final decisions, criteria for selection of service provider, and evaluation criteria are important to identifying the most viable opportunities for Donna’s proposed enterprise. The research indicates that a majority of the studied firms, and by generalization, a majority of firms in the area, does not use consulting services. For those that use the services, the CEO, general manager, or the manager are the most influential decision makers. In addition, the firms have not been using consultancy services for marketing purposes and reputation, experience, and prices are the major decision making criteria. Further, large consulting organizations are preferred and performance is evaluated based on people’s acceptance of the rendered services. For the firms that had not used external consultancy services, they cited no need for such services. I were in Donna’s position, I would proceed with the intention to establish the marketing consultancy firm. I would target the companies that have not been using the services and awareness creation on the need for the services would be my marketing strategy. This would be my short-term strategy as the organization grows, as I would also be trying to capture large firms. I would also strive to develop professional relations with firm’s top executives such as CEOs, general managers and managers to understand their tastes and preferences for service providers and services. My actions would aim at entry into the market and expansion of market

Managing Professional Intellect Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Managing Professional Intellect - Case Study Example The case study "Managing Professional Intellect" discusses what is the professional intellect and how can the organization develop and in what ways can we leverage this professional intellect since a number of leaders and managers in most organizations have created systematic answers to questions concerning professional intellect. Accor group of hotels (China) is one of the major hotel groups in the world. It commands an economy which is constantly growing in most parts of the country. Ibis Hangzhou in Shanghai China is one of the leading hotels of the group. This hotel group offered a good environment for the study of the manner in which information is exchanged between the workers, administration and their customers. It also provides a good opportunity for one to learn the nature of questions asked as well as the kind of knowledge which is shared around. The major reason for selecting this hotel is because it is in the service industry where there is a lot of exchange of information exchanged between customers and stuff workers because of the nature of the services offered. The stuff has to communicate and handle the customers who choose to use their services thus there is need of using information and employ the necessary knowledge to deal with every situation. The hotel was also selected because of the hos pitality it offered for one who is willing to conduct any study there. It offered a good environment for one to make enough direct observations of the required information. 1.20 Study of the Knowledge shared and information exchanged in the Hotel. The Study would cover observation the manner in which the stuff workers of the hotel interact with each other and their customers, the way they approach the customers and the manner in which they approach and respond to each other and the administration. It would also study the manner in which Ibis Hangzhou hotel as an organization share and manage the knowledge they have and the kind of questions asked by the workers to clients as well as the questions asked by the administration to the workers. The aim of this would be to investigate the kind of knowledge and information employed in the hotel environment, how this information and knowledge is managed and how it assists the organization generally. The study would be carried out by participating in the hotels daily operation for a whole day. This would involve interacting directly with the customers and the employees while making direct observation and recording of their behavioral reactions to different individuals. There would also be interview of certain customers and workers within the organization to find their perception of the kind of services hence information provided within the organization. The way every information or question was asked and responded was keenly noted as well as the manner in which the customers were treated was also noted. This was necessary it would enable the researcher in evaluating the kind of information and knowledge is available within the organi

Competitive Analysis of the Global Toy Industry

Competitive Analysis of the Global Toy Industry Welcome to the colorful world of teddy bears, singing dolls, miniature pianos that play nursery rhymes,  battery operated cars and stuffed dogs and rabbits that walk, talk and shake hands. In one word: Toys. Toy merchants of yester years gave shape to the creative fancies and dreams of young ones and growups  alike. The world market has seen various upheavals due to changing consumer preferences, new fads,  technological advances and trade liberalization. Countries like China have marveled the world with their  low cost manufacturing expertise while at the same time astonished them with their quick imitation,  leading all the gigantic players of the world to act on their feet and formulate strategies to counterattack  them and safeguard their shares. India too has seen a shift in focus from traditional board games like Chess (Shatranj) and Ludo (Paasa)  and sports like cricket to video games and consoles, puzzles, and Monopoly. The traditionally scattered  market has shown signs of consolidation with the entry of companies like Reliance ADAG and Mahindra   Mahindra who are both expanding the market and adding sheen to it. India as a developing economy  is a hotspot for MNCs like Mattel and Hasbro which have now become household names with Barbie  and Monopoly respectively. Big retailers of the world which exclusively cater to this segment include Toys R Us and Hamleys, which  house the best brands of the world and add a service dimension to toys. This document discusses the various classes of toys, the current global scenario for toys, how China has  affected the global toy industry, Indias market and its growth prospects. CATEGORIZATION Toys and games can fall in one of four general categories:- 1. Traditional toys: the category is essentially stagnant with 6296 manufacturers and the growth  being consistent over the years. In 2007 revenues were $21.2.billion (US Market) and $22.3  billion in 2006. It includes: Action Figures Accessories (G.I.Joes) Building Sets (Lego Sets) Dolls (Barbies) Games Puzzles (Monopoly) Plush (Soft Toys) Vehicles (HotWheels) 2. Video games: one of the fastest growing segments with revenues of $18.9 billion which is 51,2%  higher than its 2006 revenues. It includes:- Youth Electronics (PS2, X-Box) Gaming Parlours (Jammin, TimeZone) 3. Casino Games: Slot machines were introduced by casino games manufacturers which have  ultimately benefitted the video game industry. Mostly offered by hotels. Toy Industry : Present and the Future 2010 KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies Research 4. Accessories and Others: Includes traditional games including sports items and educational toysfor infants, which is also a fast growing industry GLOBAL SCENARIO The US, China and Japan rank among the top 3 countries in terms of toy sales worldwide; their sales  being US$21.5 billion, US$4.9 billion, and US$5.8 billion respectively. Other countries with a significant  toy sector include Germany, Brazil, France, India, Australia and Canada. Though the recession influenced  toy sales, the sector did witness growth of about 3.6% with sales reaching $80 billion. The worlds largest toy manufacturer and exporter China makes 2/3 of the worlds toys; the export  value of Chinese toys in 2009 was US$7.8 billion. Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Shandong  are the foremost production and export bases for toys in China, accounting for more than 90% of the annual sales of Chinese toys. Chinas plush toys enjoy a large share of the total sales in European American market. But the low  prices are also responsible for a low profit margin. However it entails high labor costs and therefore  manufacturing costs are pretty high. Wooden toys also have a significant share of 10% and plastic toys  are suffering due to the continuously rising price of raw materials, quality and safety issues, etc. Chinas  intellectual toys too have a broad prospect, but relevant standards need to be released so as to  guarantee the healthy development of the market. In 2009, in pace with the upgrading of technology, the toy export industry has witnessed several  changes: developed countries have diverted their demands of toys to toys such as adult toys, high-tech  electric toys, intellectual educational toys from traditional medium and low-grade products like plastic  toys and stuffed toys. Electric toys and online toys produced with high new technology have become  the new development orientation. MAJOR PLAYERS WORLDWIDE Mattel Inc.:- Mattel sells products under a host of well-known brand names such  as Barbie, Matchbox, Fischer Price, and Hot Wheels. Hasbro :- Produces popular board games such as Clue, Monopoly, and Scrabble. Its other  products include the Transformers, Mr. Potato Head, Play Doh as well as licensing agreements  with brands such asStar Wars and Marvel. JAKKS Pacific:- Produces traditional toys under licenses for brands such as Cabbage Patch  Kids, Care Bears, andHannah Montana, a particularly big earner for JAKKS in 2007. Other big names include Russ Berrie and Company, RC2, Action Products International and  Corgi International. Toy Industry : Present and the Future 2010 KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies Research Together, Mattel Inc. and Hasbro Inc. have less than 40% of the market, which analysts expect will  grow at a compound rate of roughly 2% annually. INDIAN SCENARIO Currently there are about 800 Indian games and toy manufacturers, exporters and suppliers in the small  sector of India, with a turnover nearly $2.5 billion. This includes manufacturers of electronic toys, soft  toys, educational games, toy cars, rattles, dolls, plush toys, computer games, brain teasers, children  puzzles etc. The total toys and games market in India stands at around Rs.2500 crore, of which Rs.250  crore is in Chennai. Total Market Size: Rs.2500 crore Market Structure: 35% Organized Sector, 65% Unorganised Sector Duties and Taxes: Excise Duty: 12.5% CST(Central Sales Tax): 4% Global Export Contribution: 0.4% Governing Body: Toys Association of India (TAI) Compared to European and American games and toy markets, Indian toy volumes are very low, mainly  because toy buying is a relatively urban phenomenon. Most toy manufacturers are from the  unorganised sector, who in turn sell their toys and games to big traders who market these toys. The total export market for toys and games is around Rs.18 crore. The export volumes are low because  of the quality norms abroad. Manufactured toys for export have to conform to EN 71 norms, the  European standards. The toys have to be non-toxic and safe to sell abroad. $0.00 $5,000.00 $10,000.00 $15,000.00 $20,000.00 $25,000.00 2009 (Million $) 2009 (Million $) Toy Industry : Present and the Future 2010 KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies Research Mattel, Lego and Funskool are three of the major players in the Indian toy industry. The toys and games  available in India are a mix of both fun toys and educational tools. They include dolls, puzzles, electronic  games, handmade toys, soft toys, board games, computer games etc. Indian wooden toys are of good  quality and comparable to international standards. The demand for fun toys is greater than that of  educational toys since parents usually prefer buying educational toys for their children. MAJOR INDIAN PLAYERS Zapak Games: It is a part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. Zapak Games operates in two  categories Game CD Toys. It is the leader in Games CD in India. It holds licenses for leading kids  properties from Cartoon Network, Nick, Disney, Pogo etc as well as represents some of the leading  global toy companies in India. The product distribution is across all toy stores and retail chains in the country through the traditional  mom n pop outlets as well as large format key account stores. We had the opportunity of seeing  some of these toys with Landmark outlets across the city. It acts as the merchandizing and licensing arm of Zapak Digital Entertainment Ltd. They are also in an association with Spin Master Ltd. which according  to NPD is the third largest toy company in North America. Mahindra and Mahindra Mom Me outlets across the city are operated by Mahindra which hosts  educational toys for children. It also has the marketing rights for Lego brand of toys and soft toys from  Disney. Some small players are: Prasid Toys Pvt Ltd. Delhi based Little Genius Toys Ltd. (Wooden Educational Toys) Leo Plast EFFECT OF CHINA ON INDIAN TOY INDUSTRY From a 2,000 players a few years ago, barely 800 survive today, it is believed that nearly 40 per cent of  toy companies have shut shop since Chinese products started flooding into the Indian market. Even as  the unorganized sector has been most hit, some of the other players like Mattel, Funskool (joint venture  between MRF Tyres Hasbro Intl), Mahindra Intertrade (markets the Lego and Disney range of toys)  and a few others are forced to fight back with a string of innovative strategies. Compared with an average Rs 35 per kg a Chinese toy maker spends, an Indian manufacturer spends Rs  65 per kilogram for raw materials. High excise duties and taxes including local taxes that vary greatly add  to their woes. Indian companies have not made efforts to market their products in a planned manner and while some  Indian companies are trying to combat the threat from Chinese toys by slashing prices by 10 to 15%;  others are strengthening their distribution skills in smaller towns, where the reach of imported toys is  still limited. INDUSTRY GROWTH Finding the right niche marketing limited to premium segment  Indian consumers are gradually becoming less price sensitive, but are ready to pay for something they  believe has a value proposition. They are realizing that toys help in the all round development of a child. Take the $6-billion Mattel Inc. for instance, after a runaway success with Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher  Price, it has introduced the Harry Potter range of toys which caters to the premium segment. With its  Fisher Price range, Mattel is also launching developmental activities along with toys associations,  pediatricians and playschools to educate parents on how toys help the child in understanding the adult  world better. Glocalization Go Global Act Local Almost all major players, have launched an indigenous range of competitively priced soft toys range, to  cater to the growing market. Mahindra Intertrade, for instance, launched Soft Wonders, to cater to the  economically sensitive customers. Similarly, Mattel has launched Star Beanies for Indian market and  Funskool has launched soft toys. Act Faster than the Fastest These players have also spruced up legal activities against spurious products and taken actions to make  the vigilance stricter. They try to bring in designs faster than the Chinese can imitate. For instance, once  the market gets flooded with fake products with Mickey or Donald motives, be it on cups, bottle, plates,  tiffin boxes etc, Mahindra Intertrade would quickly launch Mickey in sportswear and shift the demand. Such marketing skills a range of strong brands have enabled them withstand the Chinese threat and  allowed them to play a crucial role in growing the market. TRENDS Online Buying In 2004 when Mattel registered on Indiatimes, Rediff and Baazee, they discovered that when kids did  not look for toys online, their parents (on the lookout of discounts) did. Also online shopping for toys  accounted for approximately 2% of total sales, that is Rs 21.24 crore in 2005-06. $74.00 $76.00 $78.00 $80.00 $82.00 $84.00 2007 2008 2009 2010 $78.30 $77.50 $80.28 $83.90 USD (Billion) Mall practice Malls are an undisguised blessing for the toy makers. In a mall one gets better shelf space to exhibit  products, and the entire range can be displayed with the add ons which then have a good chance of  being sold to the potential customers. Better sales tracking is another advantage one gets from the  malls. In 2005, Mattel opened two 1,200 sq ft Barbie stores in Mumbai. Approximately 35% of the sales  for Funskool and Mattel take place at the malls. Fusing Entertainment with toys Mattel has produced five movies to promote its existing range of toys, whereas Funskool, its rival has  been using existing movies like batman to create a new range of toys for itself. Toys for Men Mattel has also launched toys for men. It featured models of premium cars including BMW 645 Ci,  Ferrari Scaglietti; and Williams and Renault in its Hotwheels Collectibles; having a price ranging from Rs  999 to Rs 1,999. Changing Demographics Demographic variables like greater divorce rates, due to which kids get two sets of toys; increased  buying power per child due to 2 income families; and increasing involvement of grandparents are all  influencing the growth rate of the toys. THREATS/HINDRANCES/CHALLENGES Raw Material Costs There is a rise in the raw material costs, due to an increase in the manufacturing costs for  traditional toys Manufacturing Costs Most of the traditional toys are made from plastic resin. Petroleum, whose price is continuously increasing, is one  of the main components of plastic resin. This has a negatively impact on the manufacturing costs . Changing Consumer preferences Nowadays, customers prefer electronic games to traditional table games. This trend is not beneficial for  the traditional game equipment manufacturers. Revenue of the Video Games Industries and Traditional Toys ($ in billions) Industry 2004 2005 2006 2007 Video Games 9.9 10.5 12.5 18.9 Traditional Toys 22.4 22.2 22.3 21.2 Toy Industry : Present and the Future 2010 10 KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies Research In India, toys arent perceived as developmental. So toy manufacturers take advantage of impulse  purchasing trends and the pester power of kids works in advantage for the toy manufacturers.Indian  parents perceive expenditure on toys as a waste of money. Educational games like Scrabble and toys for  pre-school children and infants are an exception to this belief. Impact of Recession Only when the consumers have enough disposable income to afford luxury goods, they buy toys. A  struggling U.S. housing market, rising oil prices and other factors have limited their income. The toy  industry was also affected by this trend, as its overall revenue decreased. Declining profits due to emphasis on product safety Product safety is another major concern of the toy industry. This was discovered when there was a rising  number of product recalls in the second half of 2007. So while companies put more focus on their higher  margin core brands, the positive margin implications from this shift are offset by quality and safety  testing, as well as higher costs for raw materials.   Competing with large brands Small manufacturers which form the bulk of the unorganized sector are unable to brand and market  their products, which has been a critical disadvantage for them. With a large number of players in the  market, only the international brands have a strong brand recall. Here, manufacturing competency isnt  the real concern since most of the branded players outsource their requirements from Indian  manufacturers. However, lack of marketing acumen and an expertise to cultivate brands is found to be  lacking in most indigenous companies. NEW STRATEGIES Coupling toy launch with movies and vice versa Transformers, Shrek, etc Art Attack a Television series by Hit Entertainment has also entered the toy market. It showcases  Do-It-Yourself arts and crafts in their videos and has now made them available in DVD formats  across major stores. They also merchandise their creative works through books. Cradle catching: In 2005, Mattel entered into a partnership with diaper brand Huggies. By this  move, Mattel targeted its potential audience at their birth place, and even before they were  born at the maternity homes.When the mothers visit the doctor for the first time, they are given  a medical file, as well as well as the information on the different phases that a child is likely to  pass through as it grows which helps in selecting toys from the Fisher Price range that fits each  growth phase ie. crawling, sitting, standing, etc. Within a very short period of time, they claimed to have targeted 600,000 mothers by having tie  ups with 300 pediatricians and 50 gynecologists, across the top six Indian cities. Also, another  innovative technique used by Mattel is a toy directory which is placed in retail outlets that  informs parents about the best toy for each age group. CASE ANALYSIS: TOY INDUSTRY AND BUYING TRENDS CASE #1 HAMLEYS, PHOENIX MILLS MALL, LOWER PAREL, MUMBAI Hamleys, the worlds iconic toy maker from UK, has set up a 21000 sq ft outlet spread over three floors in  Mumbai, its first branch in India through franchise agreement with Reliance Retail. The tie-up is valid for  20 years. The company plans to invest Rs.150 crore in the next seven years to set up 20 more stores  across the country, including tier-II cities. Brands Other than Hamleys own-brand range of toys, imported brands such as Mattel,  Hasbro, Disney, Fisher-Price, Playmobil, Leapfrog, Mecchano ,, Scalextrics, Hornby, Maisto,  Burrago, and Lego are also present in the store. Segments The shop has been divided into segments catering to infants, young boys girls,  teenagers and adults. It has a Barbie Doll House and Barbie Salon and Spa for young girls. Grand Racing Track for RC Cars, London Double Decker Bus, Safari Jeep for young boys. Petals Pods-Play area and Bear Tree House are for infant and pre-school children. Science Molecules, Candy Shop, Disney Castle, Experiential gaming stations, Party rooms  area are for teenagers. A KodakExpress studio has a shop-in-shop strategically placed in the center of the shop to  capture moments at Hamleys. Prices The price varies from as low as Rs 200 to as high as Rs 30,000 depending upon the  requirements and preferences of the customer. Most products are priced on the higher end of  the spectrum keeping the affluent urban folk in mind. Age Group It caters to infants, young boys and girls and teenagers. Board Games are popular  with adults also. MANAGERS VIEWS The shop is one of its kinds in Mumbai, since it is an exclusive toys only outlet with all kinds of toys  under one roof. The trends noted by them are that parents are more interested in buying toys and  games that offer educational value to their children; and children too are more interested in games that  offer intellectual stimulation. Children have moved from the traditional sports of cricket and kabaddi to  gaming consoles and Scrabble. Also adults are a growing segment with them fraying towards traditional  games such as Mancala a French board game, Monopoly, and Poker for which they buy Poker chips.   Workshops are organized to engage the children and merchandise related to new films are sold every  now and then to offer something new to the customers. CUSTOMERS VIEWS Customers always find it a delight to visit Hamleys since it offers so much variety . A few of the  customers just come with their children to provide some entertainment and spend time in the shop.   They appreciate the display of the store and the hygiene maintained in the store. Also, though a few  products were manufactured in China, they didnt mind buying them if they were sold in Hamleys since  the name offered credibility to the product. The range and variety of toys offered by them is also  unmatched. ANALYSIS COMMENTS Layout: The layout of the store is very carefully planned with the store being divided into a girls section  and a boys section. Educational board games, interior decoration kits and games for adults are placed in  the center of the shop. The section which caters to toys for toddlers is separate, and the floor above  only houses gaming consoles, CDs and educational books. Staff: A large number of staff take care of the customers needs and are specially trained to provide entertainment to their most important consumers the kids! The manager himself caters to customers  and entertains all doubts and queries to help them purchase what best suits their requirements. Store Aesthetics and marketing: A lot of effort has been taken to enhance the visual appeal of the store  through visual merchandizing and display walls. Most toys are displayed and little remote controlled  cars and helicopters zoom in and around the store some of them hovering above ones head or new  cars that stick to the walls. The store has a facility for gift wrapping their products, and children and  adults alike are allowed to touch and operate various toys in the store. CASE #2 MOTHER AND ME, R CITY MALL, GHATKOPAR, MUMBAI Mother Me is a Retail store owned by Mahindra Group, which caters to the need of Pregnant women,  infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers learners. Its toys section is huge and is gaining popularity day by day. Following are the details of its toys section:- Brands:-Fischer price, Funskool, Mattel, Lego, Disney V-tech Segments:-Soft toys, Wooden toys, Metal toys Plastic toys Prices:- 350 5000 Age Group 0 9 Yrs MANAGERS VIEWS Following are the points which Store Managers told us. They prefer to keep toys of price range 350 to 5000. Mother and Me use SAP for inventory replenishment. They have kept the toys according to their type (wooden toys at one place soft toys at another  place) rather than age group wise (toys for 0-5 yrs at one place). According to them toys which are able to connect to Indian traditions are highly in demand, eg.   Indian Barbies. Maximum complaints they receive are against Chinese toys and toys manufactured in China. CUSTOMERS VIEWS We received the following feedbacks from customers. Most of them buy toys once a month. Fishcer price is preferred by most of them Most of them prefer plastic toys over metal Wooden toys Most of them are not in favour of Chinese toys despite of the low of cost. Most of them were in favour of interactive toys. Some Customers stressed the need of toys, which inculcate the values necessary in human  society were against the toys, which resembles the violent figures or creature. ANALYSIS COMMENTS From the information provided by store Managers feedbacks from customers we analyzed that the Toy Industry has a bright future ahead but only if it meets the challenge of providing better quality Interactive toys, which not only make learning easy but also help in cultivating the  values necessary in human society. Light weight Plastic toys as they are easy to handle more resistant to wear tear. Value for money, as most of the parents feel toys overly priced. CASE #3 LANDMARK, PHOENIX MILLS MALL, LOWER PAREL, MUMBAI Landmark is a one s top destination for s hopping for toda ys youth. It consists of books, s tationery, garments, merchandize, music, toys, movies, gaming, Technology products and other gift items. Brands -There were various brands present in the store and a few of them are as follows Mattel,  Disney, Fisher-Price, Zapak and Lego are also present in the store. Segments The shop has been divided into segments where toys for infants, young boys and  girls and teenagers can be found. It also has a sports section and board game section. Prices The price varies from as low as Rs 200 to as high as Rs 15,000 depending upon the  requirements and preferences of the customer. The pricing is not exorbitant in Landmark and  most of the toys are priced by keeping the Indian customer in mind. Age Group It caters to infants, young boys and girls and teenagers. Board Games are popular  with adults also. MANAGERS VIEWS Maximum profit is generated from the infants toy section of the store. Selling one item from the infant  section is equivalent to selling 3-4 items from the others sections. Boys prefer hotwheels,cricket kit and  board games and girls are still hooked onto Barbie dolls. Toys are imported from France and Germany  and most of them are made in India. CUSTOMERS VIEWS Toys are ideal gifts for young children and they dont even cost a fortune when it comes to buying them.  Customers dont mind paying for the latest and most popular toys for the kids. ANALYSIS COMMENTS Landmark has been doing a good job of catering to the growing toys market and plans to introduce  more imported toys in future. The Sports goods have a prominent place in Landmark and a lot of  importance has been given to the sports and board game section. FUTURE OF TOYS Predicting the future is never easy. The future of toys specially very difficult to predict . You never know  when an old favorite toy will make a sudden resurgence into the mainstream or a new technology will  bring about yet another revolution in toy technology. Generally speaking, video game consoles would predictably always rise to the top of wish  lists. However, classic toys often come back to take over the lists for top toys. In recent years, weve  seen old comic book characters and action heroes rise to the top again after being in the bottom of  comic bins for years. This years Iron Man 2 brought back an old action favorite, and action figures and  cars are available with an Iron Man twist. Other movies like Transformers have done the same. Old favorite cartoons are also being brought to the forefront. A few years ago, a new Teenage Mutant  Ninja Turtles movie in CGI was released, and this past year, Transformers were all the rage. It wouldnt  surprise me to see He-Man or the Thundercats rise up to become live action or CGI movies themselves. If they do, expect them to corner the toy market after the movie is released. It would also be prudent not to underestimate the power of toy fads that are still going strong even 12  years later. Pokemon first got big in 1998, and has been a huge hit with video games, playing cards, and  T.V. shows ever since. It has been hard for toy manufacturers to dethrone Pokemon, because its such a  huge hit among kids and even young adults who grew up playing the game. Its very possible that it  could last for another 12 years or more. (What do you think of Pokemon? Indeed, toy inventors are pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence, speech synthesis, wireless  communications, and networked virtual reality. Whats more, they are figuring out how to cram huge  chunks of realistic graphics, dialogue, and sensory cues onto tiny, inexpensive computer chips. The toy  industry is really at the mercy of technology for the limits it can go to. There are only so many  interesting ways for them to reinvent dolls like Mr. Potato Head before kids are no longer  interested. Dolls like Furby were a step in the right direction, but the fad did not last for very  long. Technology working its way into the toys of the future will bring in a wider audience of interested  kids, but it has to be directed at toys that are more than just popular, but are fun too. The future of toys is bright and exciting. Any new innovation could shape the kinds of toys kids play  with. You can bet that the toys of the future are going to have something of the past, however. AUGMENTED REALITY: JET FUEL FOR THE IMAGINATION The future of toys almost undoubtedly belongs to augmented reality. Mattels i-Tags, will use Augmented Reality will be included with action figures the company will make  for Titanic director James Camerons blockbuster film, Avatar. Augmented reality is an overlay of digital information or imagery on top of real-world objects. WIKIPEDIA: Augmented Reality is a field of computer research that deals with the combination of realToy world and computer-generated data (virtual reality), where computer graphics objects are blended into real footage in real time. Think about it. The possibilities are just about endless, and could mean a whole new life for the kinds of  toys that kids at first play with a lot, and then quickly abandon. By embedding special software in imagery that can be placed just about anywhere on a toy, toy makers will now have an incredibly wide  range of virtual things to add to their physical toys. TOYS OF THE FUTURE ELECTRIC POP UP BOOKS Electronic Popables by Jie Qi is a pop-up book that lights up as you interact with it, producing the most  beautiful and dynamic pop-up pages ever. As you begin to go flip through the book open pages, pull  tabs, press pressure points and fold objects different LED lights will blink away on all over the page. They  can be a very efficient means of connecting holistically with the technology savvy kids. HORIZON HYDROCAR TOY The hydro car is a case in point. It does not depend on  batteries or electricity. Surprisingly this car produces  its own energy, running entirely on water. It is not only  Hydrocars functionality, but also its trendy, scientific  design that sets it apart. SCRIBBLE BOTS Scribble Bots is just a concept at the moment, but the idea is that children  can connect with their friends through the official website and share their  drawings, artwork and also the artistic process. The Scribble bots toy can  record and recreate movement so anyone with a scribble bot can download  your drawing and their scribble bot will draw it right for them, then and  there. TOUCH SENSITIVE VIDEO GAMES Usually, a lot of people do not see any fun in playing with  buttons and joysticks. This concept of touch sensitive games  employs touch sensitive silicon that simulates the terrain in a  game, empowering the users to feel their way through. No  major video game manufacturers are using technology quite  like this as of now, but we could see such technology being  used in the future. PARROT AR DRONE QUADRICOPTER Flying helicopter toys meets handheld video games with the Parrot  AR Drone Quadricopter. This isnt a simple chopper that flies around  the corner and crash because you cant see it. This device has a  built-in camera that lets you see everything from an iPhone or other  similar smart phones. Since joysticks are outdated, this toy uses  tilting gyroscopic controls, tilting the AR Drone as you tilt the  iPhone. MINDFLEX Remote controls are a thing of the past. Toys of the  future use mind control! Mindflex is a telekinetic  obstacle course that uses brainwave activity to move a  ball. Were not really sure how it works, but we like to  believe its because we have sci-fi like psychic powers. MILO The next biggest innovation in the toy world does not  belong to the genre of barbies or remote controlled cars or  thought controlled machines, but a virtual best friend. By  late 2010, Microsoft would release a new add-on for the  Xbox that will replace contr

The Love Of Hamlet For Ophelia in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay example --

The Love Of Hamlet For Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet Hamlet is without any reservations, one of Shakespeare's most mystifying plays. Although the play has a concise story, it is filled with many uncertainties relating to different issues behind the plot. The reader is left with many uncertainties about the true feelings of prince Hamlet. One question in particular is, did Hamlet really love Ophelia? This dispute can be reinforced either way, however I believe Hamlet was truly in love with Ophelia. Support for my decision comes from Hamlet's treatment towards Ophelia as shown throughout the play, but especially in Act 3, Scene 2, and at Ophelia?s grave in Scene 1 of Act 5. This play is about the troubles encountered by young prince Hamlet as he tries to seek revenge for his father?s murder. Hamlet discovers the murder of his father, as well as the adultery and incest committed by his mother and uncle. This results with Hamlet retaining a very embittered and cynical outlook on life. "Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His cannon 'gainst self-slaughter -- how weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world." (1.2.131-134). Throughout the play, Hamlet teaches the audience the depths of his depression through soliloquies. Hamlet not only regards the world with pessimism, but he also has suicidal feelings. Hamlet displays thoughts of self that questions the worth of living. The foremost cause for his exasperation and aggravation is the fact that his mother and his uncle, Claudius immediately got married right after his father?s death. His mother's actions seem to be what repulses Hamlet most as he yells, "frailty thy name is wo man!" (1.2.146). Hamlet has developed a burning hate towards his mother and women in general. It is this fuming mind-set that is responsible for his terrible treatment towards dear, innocent Ophelia in Act 3. Once Hamlet discovers the cause of his father?s death, he disguises himself by acting nutty to mask his true objectives of revenge. By doing so Hamlet is now able to do whatever he wants to, without being questioned of his behavior. He does this on one occasion during a visit with Ophelia. Ophelia later relays this meeting to her father, telling him that Hamlet was not properly dressed, "and with a look so piteous in purport as if he had been loosed out of hell to speak of horrors-he comes be... ...itter reaction to her denial prove his feelings of love. Although Shakespeare may not have made it excessively clear, the popular belief supports Hamlet's love for Ophelia. So indeed, Hamlet did love Ophelia, and evidence is also in the play that she did love the prince. When Laertes tells Ophelia to beware of Hamlet's love, she does not deny her love for Hamlet but responds that yes she will be careful. As for the song, no part of any of Shakespeare's plays is ever thrown in simply because it was popular at the time. When Ophelia sings that sing in her mentally disturbed state she is revealing the nature of her relationship to Hamlet and his promises of love. In the end, Ophelia had no plan, plot or motive that drove her crazy, the loss of her lover and her father was too much for her to bear. I think Shakespeare made it a point to be for inconsistent to add to the many mysteries of Hamlet's character as well as allow readers to relate to Hamlet?s complex mind. That is what makes a play so interesting to a reader?s mind?when one can place themselves in the shoes of the main character. Work Cited: Shakespeare. Hamlet. New York: First Signet Classic Printing, 1998.

E learning system

E-learning is another form of distance learning where education and training courses are delivered using computer technology. Typically, this means that courses are delivered either via the Internet, or on computer networks (linked computers). With the increased availability of PC's and Internet access, E-Learning is a web application uses JSP. The database is Oracle log.This online application enables the ND users to register online, select the subject, read the tutorial and appear for the exam online. A person Is given three attempts to pass a paper. In subjects containing more than one exam, the candidate should take tests in a particular sequence and also he can attempt the next test only if he has completed the previous papers. The correct answers for the questions are displayed after the exam. The date of the registration, date of exam, number of attempts, test results etc. Re stored in the database. 1. 2 Purpose: – Education through the Internet, network and a computer Is E-learning. This helps In network enabled transfer of skills and knowledge. Learning refers to use of electronic applications and processes to learn. This is a web based application which can be hosted in the website of any training institute. The students will be able to register online, read the course material and write online exam. Certificates also will be issued online. The objectives of this project are . To provide distance learning To make It convenient for people who have other commitments Cost reduction Reduced paper work Computer evaluated tests 1. 3 Understanding Of Existing System : Shows educators and trainers how to adapt teaching methods and materials to make use of the Internet. Including a framework showing how to apply Internet technology progressively as skills and confidence grow, the project demonstrates the route from adapting materials to developing a virtual course.Nowadays, when people are not having time to visit an institute. Therefore, the software i s designed to provide the education through Internet. The project â€Å"E – LEARNING† helps the common world in any field they are to get the knowledge what they want even sitting at their places. This helps them to spare time In their busy schedule and save their time during transportation. 1. 4 Tools/Environment used.

Poverty in America

Poverty in America Free Online Research Papers Poverty There has always been a problem in America that continues to grow each year. This problem is known as poverty. To understand people from poverty, one must understand what poverty is. Ruby Payne defines poverty as, â€Å"the extent to which an individual does without resources.† In this paper, I will describe what the impact of poverty has on learning. There are eight resources that are recognized by Ruby Payne. The first resource that is recognized is Financial. Financial is defined as having the money to purchase goods and services. Second, is Emotional and this is defined as being able to handle situations emotionally through internal resources such as perseverance, choices and stamina. Third, is mental. Mental is having the acquired skills and mental capability to deal with everyday life. Forth, there is Spiritual. Spiritual is when a person believes in a greater purpose and direction. Fifth, is Physical and this is when a person has physical health and can get around. Sixth, is Support System and this is having backup resources available to access in times of need that are external resources such as: friends and family. Seventh is Relationship/Role Models and having everyday access to encouraging adults that can help children develop positively and they do not engage in negative behavior. Eight and lastly is Knowledge of Hidden Rules. Knowledge of hidden Rules is having the knowledge of the silent habits and signs of a group. There are two types of poverty described by Payne. These are Generational and situational poverty. Generational poverty is described as being in poverty for two generations. When a person comes from generational poverty, they tend to believe that someone owes them a living. Situational poverty is described as being in poverty do to a situation or situations such as but are not limited to: death, chronic illness, and divorce. When a person comes from situational poverty, they tend to have pride and do not like to ask for assistance. There are many characteristics of poverty. Poverty characteristics will surface at school and impact learning because students are very disorganized, lose papers and make excuses for why they do not have homework. Another characteristic of poverty that will impact learning is that they will not do homework or assignments and if they do it will only be part of it. Children from poverty tend to be aggressive physically. They like to handle situations their own way and laugh when they are disciplines. They also want to entertain by telling stories, etc. These children cannot monitor their own behavior because they do not feel they are doing anything wrong. They usually have trouble getting started on assignments, tasks, and anything else required of them. They have no procedural self-talk. Cueing or signals exist among groups and classes. Groups can be racial or ethnic. These hidden rules have an impact on school and work achievement. The hidden rules consist of the following: possessions, money, personality, social emphasis, food, clothing, time, educations, destiny, language, family structure, worldview, love, driving forces, and humor. Someone from poverty would believe money is for spending, while middle class would manage the money and the wealthy would invest. This is an example of the hidden rule differences among classes. Support systems are family or friends. Support systems are how one copes with daily living, problem solving options, knowing where to get information and how to use it, relief, people, resources and positive and procedural self-talk. Schools use support systems for children of poverty. Some schools have homework support. In homework support, the school has tutors to help children with their homework until it is finished and then a late bus or parents take the children home. Anther example of a school support system for children of poverty is supplemental school wide reading program. This is also known as accelerated reader programs, also known as AR. In AR, students read books and are tested on the computer over what they read. In this program, students are not penalized for what their parents cannot help them with. Discipline has been used for years to teach children to not get caught doing something they are not supposed to do. However, this does not create a desirable change. To effectively discipline children of poverty the two anchors are structure and choice. In this program, expected behaviors are clear as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior. In this program, children can choose how they want to act but are aware of the consequences if they choose the lesser of the two. The ability to plan and systematically go through data comes from cognitive. This is a strategy that is built form mediation. Mediation is the identification of the stimulus, assignment of meaning and a strategy of identification. Cognitive strategies come from input, elaboration, and output. Instruction should be on learning and in the cognitive strategies and be part of the curriculum. One of the aspects of language is register. There are five registers in every language of the world. The five registers are as follows: frozen, formal, consultative, casual and intimate. In the formal register, the goal is to get to the point and in casual register a person talks round and round then gets to the point. The problem that is caused or what impacts learning is tests are in formal register. In order to have formal register, one must have vocabulary and sentence structure. Most educators become frustrated with students who use casual register because they cannot get straight to the point. Casual resister is how poverty students communicate and one way to help them learn formal register. Have students write in casual and translate to formal. Make sure students understand that learning formal register can benefit them in the future to attain a better paying job or get better scores on tests. Patterns of living are realty affected by poverty. In generational poverty, most marital arrangements are common-law and most divorces come from leaving. These marriages are not recognized as legal and they do not usually have anything to split. The mother is the center of the family. Family history is usually hard to track due to the lack of marriage and most times the uncertainty to who the father is. Economic realities have a big affect on poverty children. Most of these children do not have adults that can help them with their homework. These children do not value education and will not unless we as educators build relationships with them to help them to value education and learning. To escape poverty, children need to value educational and how to use formal register to assist them with test scores. This is also important in persuading people to hire them. Therefore, poverty has a big affect on learning. Research Papers on Poverty in AmericaStandardized TestingPETSTEL analysis of IndiaThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andPersonal Experience with Teen Pregnancy19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaTwilight of the UAWComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito

Sample College Transfer Essay for Admission

Sample College Transfer Essay for Admission The following sample essay was written by a student named David. He wrote the transfer essay below for the Common Transfer Application in response to the prompt, Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve (250 to 650 words). David is attempting to transfer from Amherst College to the University of Pennsylvania. As far as admissions standards go, this is a lateral move- both schools are extremely selective.  His letter will need to be extremely strong for his transfer application to be successful. Key Takeaways: A Winning Transfer Essay Have a clear academic reason for your transfer. Personal reasons are fine, but academics need to come first.Stay positive. Dont speak badly of your current school. Emphasize what you like about your target school, not what you dislike about your current school.Be meticulous. Grammar, punctuation, and style matter. Show that you put time and care into your writing. David's Transfer Application Essay During the summer after my first year of college, I spent six weeks volunteering at an archaeological excavation in Hazor, site of the largest tel (mound) in Israel. My time in Hazor was not easy- wake-up came at 4:00 a.m., and by noontime temperatures were often in the 90s. The dig was sweaty, dusty, back-breaking work. I wore out two pairs of gloves and the knees in several pairs of khakis. Nevertheless, I loved every minute of my time in Israel. I met interesting people from around the world, worked with amazing students and faculty from Hebrew University, and became fascinated with the current efforts to create a portrait of life in the Canaanite period. Upon my return to Amherst College for my sophomore year, I soon came to realize that the school does not offer the exact major I now hope to pursue. Im majoring in anthropology, but the program at Amherst is almost entirely contemporary and sociological in its focus. More and more my interests are becoming archaeological and historical. When I visited Penn this fall, I was impressed by the breadth of offerings in anthropology and archaeology, and I absolutely loved your Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Your broad approach to the field with emphases on understanding both the past and present has great appeal to me. By attending Penn, I hope to broaden and deepen my knowledge in anthropology, participate in more summer field work, volunteer at the museum, and eventually, go on to graduate school in archaeology. My reasons for transferring are almost entirely academic. I have made many good friends at Amherst, and I have studied with some wonderful professors. However, I do have one non-academic reason for being interested in Penn. I originally applied to Amherst because it was comfortable- I come from a small town in Wisconsin, and Amherst felt like home. Im now looking forward to pushing myself to experience places that arent quite so familiar. The kibbutz at Kfar HaNassi was one such environment, and the urban environment of Philadelphia would be another. As my transcript shows, I have done well at Amherst and I am convinced I can meet the academic challenges of Penn. I know I would grow at Penn, and your program in anthropology perfectly matches my academic interests and professional goals. Analysis of David's Transfer Essay Before we even get to Davids essay, its important to put his transfer into context. David is attempting to transfer into an  Ivy League  school. Penn is not the most selective of the countrys top universities, but the transfer acceptance rate is still around 8% (at Harvard and Stanford, that number is closer to 1%). David needs to approach this effort at transfer realistically -   even with excellent grades and a stellar essay, his chances of success are by no means guaranteed. That said, he has many things going for him - he is coming from an equally demanding college where he has earned good grades, and he seems like the type of student who will certainly succeed at Penn. He will need strong  letters of recommendation  to round out his application. Now on to the essay... David is responding to the prompt on the Common Transfer Application: Please provide a statement (250 words minimum) that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve, and attach it to your application before submission. Lets break down the discussion of Davids transfer essay into several categories. The Reasons for Transfer The strongest feature of Davids essay is the focus. David is pleasingly specific in presenting his reasons for transferring. David knows exactly what he wants to study, and he has a clear understanding of what both Penn and Amherst have to offer him. Davids description of his experience in Israel defines the focus of his essay, and he then connects that experience to his reasons for wanting to transfer. There are lots of  bad reasons to transfer, but Davids clear interest in studying anthropology and archaeology makes his motives seem both well thought-out and reasonable. Many transfer applicants are trying to move to a new college because they are running away from some kind of bad experience, sometimes something academic, sometimes something more personal. David, however, clearly likes Amherst and is running towards something- an opportunity at Penn that better matches his newly discovered professional goals. This is a big positive factor for his application. The Length The Common Transfer Application instructions state that the essay needs to be at least 250 words. The maximum length is 650 words. Davids essay comes in at around 380 words. It is tight and concise. He doesnt waste time talking about his disappointments with Amherst, nor does he put much effort into explaining the things that other parts of his application will cover such as grades and extracurricular involvement. He does have a lot more space left to elaborate, but in this case the letter gets the job done well with few words. The Tone David gets the tone perfect, something that is difficult to do in a  transfer essay. Lets face it- if you are transferring it is because there is something about your current school that you dont like. Its easy to be negative and critical of your classes, your professors, your college environment, and so on. Its also easy to come across as a whiner or an ungenerous and angry person who doesnt have the inner resources to make the most of ones circumstances. David avoids these pitfalls. His representation of Amherst is extremely positive. He praises the school while noting that the curricular offerings do not match his professional goals. The Personality Partly because of the tone discussed above, David comes across as a pleasant person, someone who the admissions folks are likely to want to have as part of their campus community. Moreover, David presents himself as someone who likes to push himself to grow. He is honest  in  his reasons for going to Amherst- the school seemed like a good fit given his small-town upbringing. It  is, therefore, impressive to see him so actively working to expand his experiences beyond his provincial roots. David has clearly grown at Amherst, and he is looking forward to growing more at Penn. The Writing When applying to a place like Penn, the technical aspects of the writing need to be flawless. Davids prose is clear, engaging and free of errors. If you struggle on this front, be sure to check out these  tips for improving your essays style. And if grammar isnt your greatest strength, be sure to work through your essay with someone who does have strong grammar skills. A Final Word on David's Transfer Essay Davids college transfer essay does exactly what an essay needs to do, and he includes the features of a strong transfer essay. He clearly articulates his reasons for transferring, and he does so in a positive and specific way. David presents himself as a serious student with clear academic and professional goals. We have little doubt that he has the skills and intellectual curiosity to succeed at Penn, and David has made a strong argument about why this particular transfer makes a lot of sense. Odds are still against Davids success given the competitive nature of Ivy League transfers, but he has strengthened his application with his essay.