The Human Tragedy Essay Example for Free

The Human Tragedy Essay The Human Tragedy Shakespeare’s, Othello, met his tragic demise as a result of the combination of fate, forces beyond his control, and his own fatal flaws. From a Classical Greek standpoint, Othello was a victim of destiny and of forces for which he could not control, which is the premise of a tragedy. For example, Greek Classicist, Aristotle wrote, â€Å"All the elements of an Epic poem are found in Tragedy, but the elements of a Tragedy are not all found in the Epic poem. It was Othello’s fate to kill his wife, Desdemona, and then to kill himself as it was his predetermined destiny, determined by the highest of powers and forces beyond his control. For example, Othello could not control with whom he fell in love him, Othello could not control his skin color and he could not control the envy and jealousy that Lago had towards him, all of which contributed to his final demise. Although there were forces of nature and higher powers that Othello could not control, he most certainly could’ve controlled his jealously, pride and mistrusting attitude. Had Othello trusted Desdemona, he would not have succumbed to the gossip about Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Had Othello been secure in his own skin and had he not been jealous, then perhaps the story would’ve ended differently; but, in the end, as fate and destiny always precludes, Othello and Desdemona would’ve eventually died one way or another. For as Othello says in Act III, Scene III, Lines 275-276, â€Å"’Tis destiny unshunnable, like death: Even then this forked plague is fated to us when we do quicken. †

Greek and Eygptian Mythology Essay Example for Free

Greek and Eygptian Mythology Essay The Greeks myth of creation is one of the oldest theories to date. Dated back to 753 BC in Rome and have a lot of similarities to the Egyptian myth of creation. The Egyptians documented their beliefs on stone carving inside temple walls. Greek and Egyptian myths of creation Gaia is known as the mother goddess. In the beginning the world was ruled and formed by a female. Females were soupier to males and were thought to be powerful and have all the knowledge. (greek mythology, 2010) The Greeks believed that Chaos is born out of darkness from the Unknown. Gaia or the earth emerges from Chaos. (ancient-mythology. com, 2009) Gaia separates heaven from the earth, water from the land, air from the airless space. From the depths of Gaia comes, Tartarus and Eros. Chaos also gives birth to Erebus, the Darkness of the Underworld and Nyx, Night. Gaia also gives birth to Uranus, The Sky and Pontus The Sea. Uranus fertilizes Gaia with rains and from Gaia spring the mountains, the water, the animals and plants. (ancient-mythology. com, 2009) In the beginning there was only water it was a chaos of churning, bubbling water, that the Egyptians called Nu or Nun. It was out of Nu that everything began. (ancientegypt. com, 2012) As with the Nile, each year the flood caused chaos to all creatures living on the land, so this represents Nu. Eventually the floods would recede and out of the chaos of water would emerge a hill of dry land. This is celebrated as the first day of their existence every year. The Egyptians also believed the sun or god Atum was a creator god. That Atum arose out of the Nu and with nowhere to stand created a hill. The creation of this hill was bringing light to the darkness of the chaotic water. Atum was alone and wanted children but with no mate he couldn’t reproduce. It is said he joined with his shadow and created a son and daughter. Different worlds in Greek and Egyptian mythology In Greek mythology there are different worlds. The underworld or the afterlife of their myths was ruled by Hades. (ancient-mythology. com, 2009) Mortals passed through the underworld where they awaited judgment. If they lived a life that displeased the gods they were punished. People in Greece would place coins on the deceased eyes when they were buried to pay the toll into the underworld. These coins were to pay the boatman on the ferry needed to cross the river in Hades known as Styx. (greek mythology, 2010) The boatman was said to be evil and feared by all that passed through Hades. There were many parts of the underworld such as the Elysian Fields or paradise. There was also Asphodel Meadows that was a place of shadows, where souls of mortals that led lives of equal good and evil rested and Tartarus or hell. (ancient-mythology. com, 2009) The Egyptians had really intricate beliefs about life after death. Death was not considered to be the end of one’s life, rather it was considered to be a necessary stage that someone has to go through in order to enter an aspect of complete bliss and eternity. This was dependent on the way the individual lived their lives. (egyptianmyths. net, 2011) The Egyptians have their own criteria for judgment to which each individual will be judged and awarded his destination in the afterlife. This would take place in the Hall of Two Truths. (ancientegypt. com, 2012) Anubis was a cruel god that was considered to be the spirit of the dead. He would be the judge along with forty two other gods and judges that would judge each soul. The gods were classified into different categories. Amongst them were gods that exclusively governed the underworld. Egyptians priests were known for developing many myths and legends about life after death and it was these stories that drove the Egyptian afterlife beliefs. This is why the Egyptians had elaborate burial rituals the purpose of which was to ensure the preservation of the dead bodies and their soul. Some of the most important burial rituals included the process of mummification, the making of the tomb, the casting of spells and death masks. (ancientegypt. com, 2012) The Egyptians perceived the sky as a roof placed over the world it was supported by columns placed at the four cardinal points. The Egyptians thought that the Earth was a rectangle. That it was longer from north to south and that the surface bulges slightly and that the Nile was its center. On the south there was a river in the sky supported by mountains and on this river the sun god made his daily trip. (egyptianmyths. net, 2011) The stars were suspended from the heavens by strong cables, but they had no explanation for their movements. Mythology to explain nature occurrences The Greeks depicted god to explain the unexplainable. They had several gods that took the form of rain, wind, fire and other occurrences they couldn’t explain. The god Poseidon was the water god. He was a brother to Zeus and Hades and ruled the water. (ancient-mythology. com, 2009) Greeks blamed him for floods, earth shakes and droughts. He was visualized with a titan that he could control the waters and earth with. They believed that Zeus was the king of the gods who lived on mount Olympus. He was the ruler of the weather and the sky. He created thunder and lightning when he was angry with the mortals. (greek mythology, 2010) The Greeks believed there were four gods of directional windsBoreas was known as the North-Wind, Zephryos the West-Wind, Notos the South-Wind, and Euros the East-Wind. (ancient-mythology. com, 2009) They were also closely connected with the seasons. The Egyptians myths are a central base of the Nile. The Egyptians believed that the gods would flood the earth every year at the same time. They believed this was necessary to have their crops grow after the water receded. They based their yearly calendar around the flooding of the Nile. (egyptianmyths. net, 2011) Every year they would prepare for the flooding and celebrate the waters rising. The Egyptians believed that everything was on a path of cycle. Comparing Greek mythology with Egyptian mythology. The Egyptians and the Greeks had similar creation myths. They both believed that a single god erupted out of chaos. Egyptians myths believe it was out of water that the first male god was created. Where Greeks believed it was out of darkness the first goddess was created, known as the earth. Both myths believe that the first god sprung life from their selves and created more gods. They also both have several gods to explain nature occurrence. Both myths have several gods that control the rain, wind and sea. There are many myths documented throughout time. Some that try to explain where or how we all got here. Many religions hold on to these myths for validation and a sense of conformity. Greeks and Egyptians are no different. These myths have been around for century’s and rarely vary from one generation to the next. References ancient-mythology. com. (2009, september). Retrieved from http://www. ancient-mythology. com/greek ancientegypt. com. (2012, spring). Retrieved from http://www. ancientegypt. com egyptianmyths. net. (2011, June). Retrieved from http://egyptianmyths. net greek mythology. (2010, october). Retrieved from http://www. greekmythology. com/

John Rambo and Jack Ryan: Men America Can Count On? :: essays research papers

John Rambo and Jack Ryan are two amazing men. They are honest, trustworthy, heroic, never crack under pressure, and stand for truth, justice, and the American way. Sylvester Stallone and Harrison Ford do their best attempting to make the audience believe that men such as Rambo and Ryan actually exist. Try as they might, not even Stallone or Ford can convince me that men of this caliber actually live. Rambo is able to not only foil his corrupt, superior American officer trying to sabotage his mission, but eliminate an entire army of Vietnamese and Russian soldiers, and save a handful of POWs. Jack Ryan defies the entire government and the largest Colombian drug cartel because he stands for the â€Å"truth.† Sorry, but I am not buying it. An interesting aspect of the two films, Rambo / First Blood Part II (George P. Cosmatos, 1985) and Clear and Present Danger (Phillip Noyce, 1994) is the differences the two men display, despite the fact that what they represent is extremely similar. John Rambo is more of a renegade, a decorated soldier of the Vietnam "conflict," with only his mentor Colonel Trautman at his side. He was jailed for blowing up a small town in Oregon (a detail from the first film). The mindless, fickle public would then overlook all of the great things he did in the war because he blew up an "innocent town." On the other hand, Jack Ryan is an important member of the CIA, a very noble position to hold. It is also revealed in the film that Jack Ryan is a very noble man, not violent unless absolutely forced to be. Little could change society's view of him. Within their own films, Rambo and Jack Ryan are the only men capable of "saving" America from the evils that plague it . The difference is that Rambo is looked at as a violent killing machine, whereas Jack Ryan is seen as a man who will do only what is necessary to "do the right thing." In a simple plot comparison, Danger seems much more in-depth and intelligent than Rambo. Rambo is sent to get pictures of POW’s, and must not engage the enemy in combat. Jack Ryan has to uncover the scandal, and the twists and turns that are ahead, with many characters being introduced over many locations. However, upon closer inspection, it appears that Danger is only hiding under a lot of technical jargon and piles upon piles of details.

Guillvers Travels :: essays papers

Guillvers Travels Literary Techniques Socrates stated, "The unexamined life is not worth living." From the beginning of a man's life, he looks for a purpose or a calling that he has been placed on the earth to fulfil or become. Authors throughout the ages, aware of this knowledge, write with the intent helping man search inside his self to examine the purpose of his existence. Swift uses many techniques to spark this analysis. One technique Swift uses in Guliver's Travels is juxtaposition. An example of juxtaposition comes when Swift lands Gulliver on an island of giants. The comparison of the giants to Gulliver causes the reader to realize what small importance a single man has in the world. "...showing how diminutive, contemptible, and helpless an animal was man in his own nature..." (141). As Gulliver explains what he reads in an giant book, he explains how man cannot effectively protect himself from his surroundings. "...unable to defend himself from the inclemencies of the air, or the fury of wild beasts..." (152). Gulliver then reads that the author believes that man should have originally been made larger and more robust. Swift explains this to show that one man is a very small fish in a very large pond. Another example of juxtaposition lies when Gulliver and the Houyhnhnms are compared. This comparison illustrates how inhumane and savage mankind can act. Gulliver tries to explain the conc ept of war to his master. "Millions of Yahoos might have been killed in the whole progress of it, and perhaps a hundred or more cities taken, and thrice as many ships burnt or sunk" (265). The master did not understand this concept and could not believe that man could kill his own kind such as they do. "He asked me what were the usual causes or motives that made one country go to war with another" (265). Swift attacks the ridiculousness of war here. "Difference in opinions hath cost many millions of lives..." (265). Examples of Gulliver as the ingenuous narrator are numerous. Acting as an ingenous narrator becomes natural for Gulliver, being a naive and innocent person by nature. An example of this lies when Gulliver dances around in front of many people. "I turned about several times to the company, paid my humble respects, said they were welcome, and used some other speeches I had been taught" (111). Guillvers Travels :: essays papers Guillvers Travels Literary Techniques Socrates stated, "The unexamined life is not worth living." From the beginning of a man's life, he looks for a purpose or a calling that he has been placed on the earth to fulfil or become. Authors throughout the ages, aware of this knowledge, write with the intent helping man search inside his self to examine the purpose of his existence. Swift uses many techniques to spark this analysis. One technique Swift uses in Guliver's Travels is juxtaposition. An example of juxtaposition comes when Swift lands Gulliver on an island of giants. The comparison of the giants to Gulliver causes the reader to realize what small importance a single man has in the world. "...showing how diminutive, contemptible, and helpless an animal was man in his own nature..." (141). As Gulliver explains what he reads in an giant book, he explains how man cannot effectively protect himself from his surroundings. "...unable to defend himself from the inclemencies of the air, or the fury of wild beasts..." (152). Gulliver then reads that the author believes that man should have originally been made larger and more robust. Swift explains this to show that one man is a very small fish in a very large pond. Another example of juxtaposition lies when Gulliver and the Houyhnhnms are compared. This comparison illustrates how inhumane and savage mankind can act. Gulliver tries to explain the conc ept of war to his master. "Millions of Yahoos might have been killed in the whole progress of it, and perhaps a hundred or more cities taken, and thrice as many ships burnt or sunk" (265). The master did not understand this concept and could not believe that man could kill his own kind such as they do. "He asked me what were the usual causes or motives that made one country go to war with another" (265). Swift attacks the ridiculousness of war here. "Difference in opinions hath cost many millions of lives..." (265). Examples of Gulliver as the ingenuous narrator are numerous. Acting as an ingenous narrator becomes natural for Gulliver, being a naive and innocent person by nature. An example of this lies when Gulliver dances around in front of many people. "I turned about several times to the company, paid my humble respects, said they were welcome, and used some other speeches I had been taught" (111).

Johnson & Johnson Global Business Environment

Johnson & Johnson: Successfully Strategizing for the Changing Global Business Environment I. Introduction Johnson & Johnson is the world's largest healthcare company. Founded in the United States in 1886, the company has been profitable for 75 straight years and currently operates 250 subsidiary companies in 57 countries. Its products fall into three segments: pharmaceuticals, with 39% of total sales; medical devices and diagnostics, with 36%; and consumer products, with 25%. Additionally, the company employs 119,200 people worldwide and sells its products in 175 countries.A truly global corporation, Johnson & Johnson has securely positioned itself to overcome the challenges its ever-changing business environment poses, as well as take advantage of the opportunities presented. With a focus primarily on Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical segment, this paper seeks to explore the complex multinational environment within which the company operates as well as the opportunities and threats that the environment poses. Next, the paper will analyze Johnson & Johnson's current positioning, describing its value-chain and competitive positioning.The paper will close by evaluating how Johnson & Johnson both can seize these opportunities to realize the goals of the company. II. Analyzing the Environment In industries as competitive as pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer goods, analyzing the environment is vital for being able to make sound strategic decisions. Since Johnson & Johnson strives to anticipate the external factors that affect its international business environment, as well as adapt to those changes, it is important that it understands the environment in which it is operating.The two sets of external forces that face the company are competitive and contextual. A. Competitive Environments – Five Forces Model Michael Porter’s five forces model provides a way of analyzing Johnson & Johnson’s competitive environment. Due to a lack of available information about the bargaining power of suppliers as it applies to Johnson & Johnson, this paper will address the four other forces: the threat of new entrants, the threat of substitutes, the bargaining power of customers, and the rivalry among industry competitors. 1. The Threat of New Entrants – High Barriers to EntryThe threat of new entrants is not of particular concern to Johnson & Johnson. Barriers to entry, especially in the industries of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, are extremely high if not unsurpassable. The world’s top pharmaceutical companies have extensive manufacturing capabilities, distribution systems, and economies of scale that have been built up over decades and would be virtually impossible for a new entrant to replicate. These top firms also have patents that protect their current products, as well as established research pipelines that ensure the continual development of new products.Also, they have strong brand names and la rge marketing budgets with which to defend them. Finally, the exceptionally high capital requirements for founding a pharmaceutical company and the sharp retaliation that new entrants could expect from the established competitors render the threat of new entrants very low. The medical device industry has similarly high barriers to entry. While entering the consumer goods market is easier, relatively, the vast number of competitors makes this industry very competitive, thus a strong brand name is vital for standing out.As the world’s most respected company according to Barron Magazine, new entrants to the consumer goods market do not pose a threat to Johnson & Johnson. 2. The Threat of Substitutes – The Rise of Generics The threat of substitutes is much more problematic than that of new entrants, especially in the pharmaceutical segment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that generic drugs be bioequivalent to their brand name counterparts, making them seri ous substitutes. Once a patent expires, generic manufacturers are quick to reverse-engineer the formerly proprietary drugs and sell generic versions at a fraction of the cost.Virtually all the top pharmaceutical companies, Johnson & Johnson included, face an influx of upcoming patent expirations. The impending loss of sales when generic versions of the drugs inevitably become available is a serious threat to the profitability of many players in the industry. For example, Risperdal, a drug for schizophrenia made by a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson’s called Janssen-Cilag, was a significant source of profits, with sales that totaled $3. 5 billion in 2005 and surged 21% percent in the first quarter of 2006, to $1. 2 billion.However, when the patent for Risperdal expired in December of 2007 and became available in generic form in October of 2008, the company’s revenue from pharmaceutical sales stagnated. In fact, in July of 2007, Johnson & Johnson announced plans to elimin ate up to 4,800 jobs, citing patent expirations as the main motivation to trim the workforce and thus save money. If the company does not prepare for the difficult transition between enjoying market exclusivity and losing that security as those patents expire, it will face more negative consequences. 3. The Bargaining Power of Buyers – Influence of GenericsIn the pharmaceutical industry, buyers include patients, medical doctors who prescribe drugs, pharmacists, hospital boards, insurance companies, and other health authorities. The bargaining power of patients goes hand in hand with the threat of substitutes. When drugs are patent-protected, pharmaceutical companies enjoy a monopoly where they can set prices to include high profit margins. Since there are few to no substitutes for their products during this time, customers have little choice but to pay these prices, especially if their lives depend on the drugs.However, once cheaper, generic versions of the drugs become avail able, buyers gain more power. Patients’ switching costs, an important element in determining the bargaining power of buyers, are fairly low, and price-sensitive buyers will likely switch to generic versions once available. Johnson & Johnson’s main tool in combating this problem is its strong brand name. Many customers have more trust in brand name products and are willing to pay extra for this perceived security. The other groups within buyers of pharmaceutical products, while fragmented, have more power than patients.Within the American healthcare system, insurance companies and health maintenance companies (HMOs) have considerable bargaining power, as they decide which drugs to endorse and provide. Since they have an interest in lowering costs, they exert a strong downward pressure on drug prices, partly due to the threat of the availability of generics. European governments’ national healthcare systems have a similarly high level of power, if not higher due t o strict price controls. Thus, pharmaceutical companies have a need to establish successful relationships with these groups and market towards them heavily. 4.The Degree of Rivalry – Fierce and Changing Competition Competition in the pharmaceutical industry is intense and growing in intensity. While the numerous competitors remain fairly fragmented, mergers and acquisitions have increased rivalry, as the top firms’ areas of expertise began to overlap. Rivalry is especially intense in saturated markets, such as the pain reliever segment, in which Johnson & Johnson competes with its products Tylenol and Motrin. In growing markets, innovation is a key driver of competition since pharmaceutical companies depend on â€Å"blockbuster† drugs for a large proportion of their revenue.With only one out of every 10,000 discovered drugs approved to be sold, stakes are high to find the cash cow drugs that recuperate the increasingly high costs of development. Since â€Å"me too† drugs are not as profitable, innovation drives the race to be first-to-market. While the main competitors in the pharmaceutical industry are concentrated in the United States, Europe, and Japan, an increasing number of players – especially generic drug manufacturers – are appearing in developing countries, such as China and India. These companies are driving the shift in the industry toward becoming more commoditized.Also, numerous biotech upstarts, which are smaller, more agile, and have lower overhead costs than their conglomerate competitors, are growing in power and taking market share. As the dynamics of the industry change, the established companies will find themselves facing stiff competition from all sides. B. Contextual Environment – PEST Analysis A PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) analysis is a useful tool for understanding the larger environment within which the company operates. Companies can use this tool to identify a multitude of important aspects of their environments that may impact their businesses. . Political Environment – Changing Politics and Policies First, the politics on local, regional, national, or international scales can exert strong forces on businesses. Since Johnson & Johnson operates worldwide, it must keep track of the political developments that may affect its business. For example, in the Czech Republic, health care is the subject of a major political debate. Changes in the healthcare system may affect to whom Johnson & Johnson needs to market, and with whom it needs to negotiate if the company wants its products covered by the Czech healthcare system.Also, Johnson & Johnson should be aware that the Czech Republic has a weak Parliament that will change in 2010’s elections. The company needs to anticipate which policies may shift under the new government. Finally, Johnson & Johnson should be aware that the Czech Republic will serve as president of the Council of the European Union for the first six months of 2009. This is the best time for the Johnson & Johnson branch located in the Czech Republic to lobby for any policy changes regarding the company’s interests and the business environment. 2.Economic Environment – The Crisis and the Euro The economic climate is also important for Johnson & Johnson to analyze in order to predict when its business may face challenges, as well as when it can seize an opportunity for growth. Operating in the European Union and larger European community means that Johnson & Johnson has felt the effects of the current economic crisis. Aware of the crisis, the company has been able to plan for its impact, and fortunately, the effects on Johnson & Johnson have not been severe, as medical products remain necessities even in periods of economic downturn.In respect to the Johnson & Johnson branch in the Czech Republic, the economic environment is one that quickly transitioned from a communist, plan ned economy to the free market. Though the Czech Republic has embraced free market principles since the fall of the Soviet Union, it is important that Johnson & Johnson recognize that this change was relatively recent, and certain aspects of working in the Czech Republic may still be affected by this history. Finally, discussions surrounding the use of the euro and the benefits and disadvantages of a common currency are debates that Johnson & Johnson should be aware of in this time period.While Slovakia adopted the euro in January 2009, the Czech Republic has kept its own currency. A switch to the euro in the Czech Republic could have a wide range of effects, some positive and some negative, and Johnson & Johnson should understand the implications for its business if that change occurs in the Czech Republic. For example, adopting the euro would make transactions with other countries more convenient, and Johnson & Johnson should be prepared for a possible increase in transactions or the speed in which transactions take place in order to take advantage of the opportunities this change could provide.It should also be ready for the numerous practical difficulties with tasks such as accounting that may occur with a change in currency. Keeping these economic scenarios in mind is the kind of forward-thinking that is crucial to Johnson & Johnson's success. 3. Social Environment – Aging Population and Public Health Problems There are two major social changes on the horizon that will both affect Johnson & Johnson as well as provide tremendous opportunities. The first is the aging population.The gigantic baby boomer generation, consisting of those born between 1946 and 1964, has had a huge social and economic impact on the world since its birth. This trend will continue as the generation is beginning to enter old age. The influx of senior citizens will create huge demands throughout all realms of medical care. Johnson & Johnson can expect to see increased sales ac ross all three of its segments – pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, and consumer goods – in the coming decades, and must plan production accordingly to be able to meet the needs of this huge generation as they enter their most medically-dependent years.Additionally, in order to cater to the aging population, Johnson & Johnson is pioneering developments in preventative medicine as well as less invasive surgery techniques. Another major social change affecting Johnson & Johnson is the phenomenon of surging rates of various health problems, especially in developed societies but spreading worldwide, from obesity and diabetes to cancer and mental disorders. Though highly problematic for society, companies in medicine-related industries such as Johnson & Johnson are finding themselves with an increasing number of people to treat and cure.As a company that invests heavily in research and development, Johnson & Johnson has the opportunity to lead the way in find ing ways to address these serious public health issues. 4. Technological Environment – Promising New Fields As many pharmaceutical drug markets become saturated and the blockbuster drug strategy becomes obsolete due to the major changes occurring in the industry, innovation and breakthrough medical technologies are essential for finding blue oceans in which to compete.Predictive medicine, which entails predicting diseases based on genetics and preventing them, and personalized medicine, which involves managing a patient’s health based on his or her individual characteristics as opposed to following the more traditional â€Å"standards of care† model, are growing fields into which Johnson & Johnson can expand. The company’s strong emphasis on research and development and its leadership in the medical devices and diagnostics segment put it in an excellent position to become a frontrunner in making new discoveries in these promising new technological fields. C. Determining Threats and Opportunities 1.Threats – The Uneducated Consumer and Mergers and Acquisitions One of the biggest threats facing a company like Johnson & Johnson is the uneducated consumer. Especially within the consumer products and pharmaceuticals markets, with the increasing availability and lower cost of generic products, a key component of continued competitiveness is the discerning consumer who has preferences when it comes to treatment options. Johnson & Johnson must continually work hard to make sure that people are aware of its products and the quality that it ensures through effective branding and promotional practices, as well as consumer education.Patent expirations are also a constant concern for Johnson & Johnson as proprietary information is an integral part of sustained revenue streams. Mergers and acquisitions (M) present both potential opportunities and threats for Johnson & Johnson. The company has pursued M that have served to expand the compan y’s resources and help penetrate new and diverse markets. For example, Johnson & Johnson recently acquired Mentor Corporation in order to expand its operations in to the aesthetic and reconstructive medicine market.Also, an important new medical product called the Fibrin Pad was developed with the cooperation of three Johnson & Johnson-owned subsidiaries. These are just a couple examples of how Johnson & Johnson is able to both grow and innovate through M. On the other hand, M between other companies in the healthcare industry have the potential to upset Johnson & Johnson’s value chain and competitive advantages. Johnson & Johnson must pay close attention to the actions of rival companies in order to maintain its market-leader positions and barriers to entry against competitors. 2.Opportunities – Research, Synergies, Emerging Markets, and the Aging Population Johnson & Johnson’s greatest opportunity is found in its heavy investment in research and develop ment. This is especially important for its medical devices and diagnostics and pharmaceutical divisions. It is necessary for the company to be on the leading technological edge when it comes to medical devices to ensure that it can offer the most accurate and up-to-date machines available. As for the pharmaceutical sector, patent expiration and generic drugs demand constant innovation and addition to Johnson & Johnson’s pipeline of products for sustained success.Strong pipelines in its pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors are a major source of confidence in the company’s long-term success. With eight new late-stage compounds in the pharmaceutical sector and the introduction of several new products to new markets in the medical devices sector, Johnson & Johnson seems to be advancing its pipeline quite progressively. It also strives to be a consistently innovative company, and around 40% of its current products have been developed within the last 3-4 years. In 2008 , Johnson & Johnson spent $7. billion on research and development. The reinvestment of 11% of sales in to R, versus the industry average of 3%, demonstrates a source of competitive advantage for the company. Synergies between product branches are yet another source of opportunities for Johnson & Johnson. Through the well-coordinated efforts of its pharmaceutical and consumer products divisions, Johnson & Johnson was able to make the formerly prescribed drug Zyrtec available as an over-the-counter drug, which came to be the company’s most successful product launch in 2008.This is yet another example of how the company is able to pool its resources in order to find ways to fulfill both the needs of both its customers and stakeholders. Other opportunities for Johnson & Johnson are present in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia, India and China. Its products are currently available to only 25% of the world’s population. However, through its decentralized management app roach and the adjustment of its products and strategies to match local needs and preferences, Johnson & Johnson is reaching an ever-increasing consumer base.One method Johnson & Johnson has been able to reach a broader consumer base through is the de-featuring of products, such simplified blood-glucose meters, which allows for access to lower-income customers and dampens the parasitic effect of cheap substitutes. One final opportunity exists in the demographic trend towards an ageing population. People are living longer, and because of this, new types of medical needs are arising all the time. Many types of medical treatments and surgeries are being developed and becoming more commonplace, such as hip replacements and plastic surgery.Patients want to be able to fix their ailments and expect a quick and uncomplicated recovery afterwards. It is up to Johnson & Johnson to develop and provide the best possible equipment and supplies to do this and fulfill the company promise of customer success. III. Establishing European and Global Opportunities A. Expansion into New Markets – Developing Countries Despite the many challenges of working in both the European and global business environments, it is clear that these environments also allow Johnson & Johnson to strengthen and continue to grow its business.With income and living standards on the rise in many European countries such as Turkey and the Czech Republic, where sales have already increased, and across the globe in developing countries like China and India, Johnson & Johnson has many opportunities to sell its products in new markets or expand more in markets it has previously penetrated. In order to take advantage of the broadening market field, Johnson & Johnson has begun to offer products that will appeal to people in less affluent nations. Its objective is clear: make products that are affordable for most of the world.To do this, Johnson & Johnson has created de-featured versions of products that can be sold at a lower price, thus becoming accessible to more patients. B. Domestic Market Defense – Competition and Mistakes While Johnson & Johnson expands to serve more customers in new markets, it must also maintain its secure position domestically. Though the consumer segment only accounts for only 25% of its total sales, the company realizes that keeping up its reputation and remaining a household name will help it as it moves into foreign markets. To put it simply, Johnson & Johnson must remain synonymous with quality, safe products.Next, Johnson & Johnson must be ready to compete with an even greater number of competitors, such as Pfizer, Merck, Novartis and Eli Lilly. Despite being the world's largest healthcare company, it still faces competition and has run into problems when it has attained the market lead, grown too confident in its product, and then lost the lead. Because Johnson & Johnson has twice lost its lead with one particular product, a heart stent, it now seems aware of this problem in its business strategy and therefore will be prepared for similar situations as it continue to penetrate new markets.IV. Analyzing Johnson & Johnson’s Current Position A. Value Chain Analysis – Synergies, Cost Reductions, and Relationships A value chain analysis of Johnson & Johnson reveals several key sources of value generation. Johnson & Johnson consists of 250 companies that operate in 57 countries worldwide. The widespread nature of its operations and decentralized management practices allow for a high degree of local autonomy and adaptation. This makes Johnson & Johnson very efficient in discovering and reacting to changing consumer demands across the globe.Also, the convergence of knowledge and information from branches across the globe gives the corporation a great advantage in the development of new products and technologies. Flexibility and detailed, location-specific knowledge coupled with heavy investments in technology, most n otably IT, are the main production-based value drivers of the corporation. They allow for timely, adaptive responses to changing needs and the ability to achieve first leader power in emerging markets. Johnson & Johnson is making progress in finding ways to reduce costs.Standardization initiatives in its pharmaceutical sector enabled the company to streamline operations and cut costs by $1. 6 billion in 2008. Cost savings are also created by means of acquisitions. For example, Johnson & Johnson’s acquisition of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare is expected to generate up to $600 billion in â€Å"cost synergies† by unifying the efforts of the two companies. Johnson & Johnson also emphasizes the importance of relationships with both its consumers and employees in its company credo.A talented and dependable workforce is important for innovation and efficiency in operations for any corporation. The company demonstrates its desire for employee welfare with healthcare services and carefully developed online resources. With an employee turnover ratio of less than 5%, Johnson & Johnson demonstrates that it is capable of attracting and retaining the right kind of people to help it remain successful. B. Competitive Positioning – Differentiation and Resource Allocation As stated in the annual report, Johnson & Johnson is a company focused on broad-based human healthcare.It offers a plethora of products throughout its pharmaceutical, medical devices and diagnostics, and consumer products divisions. These products are made in response to both local and global consumer demands, representing solutions for many different customer segments. These factors are evidence that Johnson & Johnson has chosen the competitive strategy of differentiation. Using this strategy affords Johnson & Johnson a sense of prestige and quality and this is evident in its pricing practices.However, the company does use competitive pricing strategies and is continually trying to find ways to lower costs without sacrificing quality or reputation. Johnson & Johnson is constantly seeking to expand its product portfolio across all divisions and spends large amounts of money in R&D to that end. A Johnson & Johnson representative said, â€Å"Be the first, be the best. † This is the most effective way for the company to enter new markets and secure a strong position by being the first to offer the right products in the right locations in a time efficient manner.Johnson & Johnson’s ability to perform these actions successfully is due to the sprawling nature of its subsidiaries and the amount of resources dedicated towards making sure that they all work with each other and share information. Johnson & Johnson holds a very strong competitive position versus other corporations due to the amount of its resources and depth of its operations. It is able to maintain its position as market leader in several product categories, as well as penetrate emerging markets, be cause of its ability to adapt quickly and intelligently.The company must remain vigilant, however, as complacency can result in loss of market share. V. Assessing Effectiveness and Conclusion In today’s fast-paced business environment, any firm needs to consistently reevaluate its strategic positioning, but in industries as competitive as the ones in which Johnson & Johnson competes, continual evaluation is vital for long-term success. By any quantitative measures, Johnson & Johnson is a very successful company, and the fact that it has earned a profit for 75 straight years suggests that there is a definite plan for long-term success.The company’s famous credo, known as â€Å"Our Credo† and written by former chairman Robert W. Johnson in 1943, may have a role in this success. The credo outlines Johnson & Johnson’s responsibilities to its customers, employees, communities, and finally its stockholders. It also establishes the principles that guide the comp any, from making high quality products and recognizing employees’ merit to protecting the environment and experimenting with new ideas. Johnson & Johnson’s credo has endured, unchanged, for over 65 years. While it does not explicitly state long term goals, the principles within it express the company’s intrinsic values.According to the company’s website, â€Å"Our Credo is more than just a moral compass. We believe it’s a recipe for business success. The fact that the Johnson  & Johnson is one of only a handful of companies that have flourished through more than a century of change is proof of that. † Johnson & Johnson has indeed flourished. It consistently tops the corporate reputation charts and is a role model for social responsibility. Moreover, the company is clearly prepared for the many challenges its ever-changing international business environment poses.Due to its strategic positioning and eye on the future, Johnson & Johnson will likely survive another century. REFERENCES Academic Visit to Johnson & Johnson, Prague, Czech Republic. â€Å"2008 Annual Report. † Johnson & Johnson Gassman, Oliver, Gerrit Reepmeyer and Maximilian von Zedtwitz. â€Å"Leading Pharmaceutical Innovation. † Springer â€Å"The Global Pharmaceutical Industry. † Duke University â€Å"Mental health drug market tapped out? † CNNMoney. com â€Å"Our Credo Values. † Johnson & Johnson. â€Å"Patent Expirations Behind J&J Cuts, C&T Looks Closer at Patents. † Cosmetics and Toiletries

Article 6 of the European Courts of Human Rights

â€Å"The common law always contained due process principles. Article 6 of ECHR merely provides a new way of thinking about them as human rights. † Discuss.. Article 6 of the ECHR builds up a body of principles that relate to fair trial rights in regular courts. Nevertheless, an essential question which applies to both special tribunals and courts still remains whether they operate with sufficient fair trial guarantees. The term ‘due process’ refers to the legal obligation that a state must respect and provide all of the legal rights that are owed to a person.Due process balances the power of law of the land and protects the individuals from it. For example, when a government harms a person without following the exact course of the law, this constitutes a due process violation. The common law is a law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals as opposed to statutes adopted through the legislative process issued by the executive bench. I t does contain due process principles as well as other basic human rights but it is to a certain degree. The European Court of Human Right which is located in Strasburg was established by the European Conventions on Human rights.It hears complaints that one of the 47 member state has violated the human rights written in the convention and its rules. Complaints can be brought by an individual or other contracting state and the court can also issue advisory opinion. Article 6 of the European Courts of Human Rights focuses basically on the right to a fair trial. Section 1 of the Article states that â€Å"In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law.Judgment shall be pronounced publicly but the press and public may be excluded from all or part of the trial in the interests of morals, public order or nat ional security in a democratic society, where the interests of juveniles or the protection of the private life of the parties so require, or to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the court in special circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice.. † The Section 2 of the same act states that â€Å"Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.Section 3 explains further that â€Å"Everyone charged with a criminal offence has the following minimum rights: (a) to be informed promptly, in a language which he understands and in detail, of the nature and cause of the accusation against him. (b) to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence. (c) to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing or, if he has not sufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interests of justice so require. d) to examine or h ave examined witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him.(e) to have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court. † The reaction of the common law courts to the European Court of Human Right is seen in the response of two very important cases of H v. Belgium and James v. UK. In H v. Belgium [1987] H was a Belgian citizen who had been struck off the roll of the Antwerp Bar.H has tried unsuccessfully to be reinstated. The court held that there has been a breach of Article 6 by the tribunal that had considered H’s re-admission. The court’s reasoning was based on 2 grounds: firstly, there was no right to challenge the tribunal’s decision. And secondly, the decision was not adequately reasoned. In James v. United Kingdom [1986] the applicants were the trustees of the Duke of Westminster. The estate contained certain properties that had been let to tenants.The tenants had made use of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 to buy the properties from the estate. The trustees complained that both the compulsory transfer and the prices received for the properties amounted to a breach of, inter alia, their Article 6 rights. The courts held that there had been no breach. The courts argued that: (a)Article 6 does not require that there be a national court with competence to invalidate or override national law. It does not guarantee any particular content for ‘civil rights and obligations’ on the substantive law of contracting states. b)In so far as the applicants considered that there was non-compliance with the leasehold reform legislation they had unimpeded access to a tribunal competent to determine the issue.In cases which determine civil rights and in criminal cases, it protects the right to a public hearing in front of an independent and impartial tribunal within reasonable time, the presumption of innocence and the other minimum rights for those charges in a criminal case such as: adequate time and facilities to prepare their defense, access o legal representation, right to examine witnessed against them to have them examined, right to the free assistance of an interpreter. Mainly most of the Convention violations that the courts find are excessive delays, in the violation of the â€Å"reasonable time† requirement. Another significant set of violations concerns the â€Å"confrontational clause† of Article 6 which protects the right to examine witnessed or have them examined. In this aspect, problems of compliance with Article 6 may arise when national laws allow the use in evidence of the testimonies of absent, anonymous and vulnerable witnesses.The response of the English courts to the Article 6 of ECHR was seen in the case of Fayed v. United Kingdom [1994] where the court argued that, â€Å"A fair balance had to be struck between the demands of the general interest of the community and the requirements of the protection of the individual’s fundamental rights. It’s not always easy to trace the dividing line between procedural and substantive limitations of a given entitlement of a domestic law. And in the case of Osman v United Kingdom [2000] allegations were raised about the alleged failure of the police to protect right to life and lawfulness of restrictions on right of access to a court. The appellants argued that thru k government had deprived them of a right of action in negligence against the police. The ECHR found that the appellants had been deprived of the right of access to the court. The ECHR went on to argue that Article 6(1) embodies the ‘right to a court’, of which the right of access, or the right to institute proceedings before a court in civil matters.The Article 6 of the ECHR is merely provided for thinking deeply about the rights to a fair trial more seriously as it could be ea sily breached by the courts. If it had been kept as a common law, the full rights of the individuals to an independent and impartial tribunal would have been not granted. And as a result of that, many individuals who have been accused of a crime would have been falsely imprisoned on the basis of not enough representation or unjust representation.

The Control Large Players Have on Mass Media - 850 Words

Mass media, with its functions to inform, to educate and to entertain, is one of the most important issues in the United States because of the way it has been manipulated to cater the demands of various groups, such as partisan bias, sensationalist journalists as well as the government. Such is the problem for the modern and enlightened public; since people now have access to various areas to get news reports, the media apparently lacks the way to properly distribute truthful and factual information about events happening locally and internationally and those that are included in the sphere of public interest. Control and manipulation as well as the inability to access information about the matter, lay as the major obstacles that disable†¦show more content†¦Although it was disclosed that it crashed into the sea with no survivors left (Branigan 2014), people were misinformed through the three-week course of finding the lost airplane. This is an example of framed news reports since after various analyses, opinions that were published, and even conspiracy theories, the Malaysian government concluded that it has crashed into the sea without revealing any solid evidence – such as the black box – making a lot of information about it hidden from the public. Another important issue that concerns the revelation of truth to the public is that media is being controlled by powerful groups. â€Å"Powerful groups, especially governments and large corporations, shape the news in range of ways†¦ Advertising is another powerful influence on commercial media† (Bhargava 248) shows that advertising has a big influence over the news that relayed to the public. Commercial media, in its form, enables the public to know information about a product which is often stated as news – regardless of whether the information is fabricated. This often gives credibility to the product despite its harmful effects to the human situation, and more often th an not, is paid for by large corporations and even the government. This is an issue that destroys media democracy since it does not yield or reveal the truth behind the product or an event – usually when something is destroyed or harmed by it, aShow MoreRelatedViolent Video Games and Their Effects on Adolescents794 Words   |  3 Pagesunits)† (Improving Economy). To many, the violent video game industry has turned all adolescents into mass murderers. However, they’re absolutely wrong. Very seldom do adolescents who play violent video games commit acts of violence, and the ones who do usually have a mental disorder. Instead of blaming the tragedies that occur on violent video games, the news media should explain to people that a large percentage of young males play violent video games, indicating that the two are uncorrelated. 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Feminism, Abortion And Contraception - 1217 Words

I recently spoke with the doctor who delivered me into this world nearly eighteen years ago. He s been a friend of the family years, even before I was born. Now retired, he had delivered newborns for over thirty years. I recently asked him what the ratio was between older and younger women giving birth these days. He replied, â€Å"More older women than you d think... every once in a while, you might see some poor 16 year old girl having a rough time, but usually 20 to 30 year old women with an occasional 40 year old having another kid.† That was the answer I was expecting. Between 1970 and 1986 the women in the United States 30 to 39 years of age having their first child doubled, and the number of women 40 to 44 years old having their†¦show more content†¦Children were seen as a cause of women being interpreted as secondary citizens, and that a woman could be her best if she at least chose to have children later in life. As most feminists at this time were white, e ducated women, feminists seeking encouraged women to become educated, go to college, and/or start a career (Welles-Nystrom). A 1982 poll conducted found that 86% of women who gave birth after 28 years of age, were quoted agreeing they wanted it all, and desired to become a career woman and a housewife (Poelker and Baldwin). Though a career or college education may not necessarily be the top priority for all women, today, it usually comes first as financial stability for anyone is obviously important. Who wants to take care of a kid in college anyway? School is hard enough. That’s a good two to eight years where a kid is going to get in the way; especially if one doesn’t have any other family for support, and starting a career can also be equally as difficult. I wouldn’t want a kid either if I was a woman seeking a college education or a career. Having a child later in life gives a woman the option of having a child when she is ready, not the child. Furthermo re, in the early seventies, the Supreme Court in the case of Roe v Wade made abortion legal. Just twenty-five years later, the total number of abortions totaled nearly 37 million. During those years