STAR Early Literacy

STAR Early Literacy is an online adaptive assessment program developed by Renaissance Learning for students typically in grades PK-3. The program uses a series of questions to assess a student’s early literacy and early numeracy skills through a simple process. The program is designed to support teachers with individual student data quickly and accurately. It typically takes a student 10-15 minutes to complete an assessment and reports are available immediately upon completion. There are four parts to the assessment. The first part is a short demonstrative tutorial that teaches the student how to use the system. The second part is a short practice component designed to ensure that the students understand how to manipulate the mouse or use the keyboard correctly to answer each question. The third part consists of a short set of practice questions to prepare the student for the actual assessment. The final part is the actual assessment. It consists of twenty-nine early literacy and early numeracy questions. Students have one and a half minutes to answer each question before the program automatically moves them to the next question. Easy to Set up and Use STAR Early Literacy is a Renaissance Learning program. This is important because if you have Accelerated Reader, Accelerated Math, or any of the other STAR assessments, you only have to do the set up one time. Adding students and building classes is quick and easy. You can add a class of about twenty students and have them ready to be assessed in about 15 minutes. Designed Well for Students to Use The interface is straightforward. Each question is read by a narrator. While the narrator is reading the question, the mouse pointer turns into an ear directing the student to listen. After the question is read, a â€Å"ding† tone indicates that the student may then select their response. The student has two choices in the way that they select their response. They can use their mouse and click on the correct choice or they can you the 1, 2, or 3 keys that correlate to the correct answer. Students are locked into their answer if they use their mouse, but they are not locked into their answer if they use the 1, 2, 3 select methods until they hit enter. This can be a problem for younger students that have not been exposed to manipulating a computer mouse or using a keyboard. In the top right-hand corner of the screen, there is a box that the student can click to have the narrator repeat the question at any time. In addition, the question is repeated every fifteen seconds of inactivity until time runs out. Each question is given  on a one and a half minute timer. When a student has fifteen seconds remaining a small clock will begin to flash at the top of the screen letting them know that time is about to expire for that question. A Good Tool for Teachers STAR Early Literacy assesses forty-one skill sets in ten essential literacy and numeracy domains. The ten domains include alphabetic principle, the concept of word, visual discrimination, phonemic awareness, phonics, structural analysis, vocabulary, sentence level comprehension, paragraph level comprehension, and early numeracy. The program also allows teachers to set goals and monitor a student’s progress as they move throughout the year. It allows them to create an individualized instructional path to building on skills they are proficient in and improve upon their individual skills in which they need intervention. Teachers are also able to use STAR Early Literacy throughout the year quickly and accurately to decide whether they need to change their approach with a particular student or continue doing what they are doing. STAR Early Literacy has an extensive assessment bank that allows students to be assessed multiple times without seeing the same question. Reports STAR Early Literacy is designed to provide teachers with useful information that will drive their instructional practices. STAR Early Literacy provides teachers with several useful reports designed to assist in targeting which students need intervention and what areas they need assistance in. Here are six key reports available through STAR Early Literacy and a brief explanation of each: Diagnostic - Student: The student diagnostic report provides the most information about an individual student. It offers information such as the student’s scaled score, literacy classification, sub-domain scores, and individual skill set scores on a scale of 0-100.Diagnostic – Class: The class diagnostic report provides information related to the class as a whole. It shows how the class as a whole performed in each of the forty-one assessed skills. Teachers can use this report to drive whole class instruction to cover concepts in which the majority of the class shows they need intervention.Growth: This report shows the growth of a group of students over a specific period of time. This period of time is customizable from a few weeks to months, to even growth over the course of several years.Instructional Planning - Class: This report provides teachers with a list of recommended skills to drive the whole class or small group instruction. This report also allows you to gro up students into four ability groups and provides suggestions for meeting each group’s specific learning needs.Instructional Planning - Student: This report provides teachers with a list of recommended skills and suggestions to drive individualized instruction.Parent Report: This report provides teachers with an informational report to give to parents. This letter provides details about each student’s progress. It also provides instructional suggestions that parents can do at home with their child to improve their scores. Relevant Terminology Scaled Score (SS): The scaled score is figured based on the difficulty of the questions as well of the number of questions that were correct. STAR Early Literacy uses a scale range of 0-900. This score can be used to compare students to each other, as well as themselves, over time.Early Emergent Reader: Scaled score of 300-487. Student has a beginning understanding that printed text has meaning. They have a rudimentary understanding that reading involves letters, words, and sentences. They also are beginning to identify numbers, letters, shapes, and colors.Late Emergent Reader: Scaled score of 488-674. Student knows most letters and letter sounds. They are expanding their vocabulary, listening skills, and knowledge of print. They are starting to read picture books and familiar words.Transitional Reader: Scaled score of 675-774. Student has mastered alphabet and letter sound skills. Can identify beginning and ending sounds as well vowel sounds. They likely have the ability to blend so unds and read basic words. They can use context clues such as pictures to figure out words.Probable Reader: Scaled score of 775-900. Student is becoming skilled at recognizing words at a faster rate. They also are beginning to understand what they are reading. They blend sounds and word parts to read words and sentences. The Bottom Line STAR Early Literacy is a respectable early literacy and early numeracy assessment program. Its best features are that it is quick and easy to use, and reports can be generated in seconds. A key issue with this program is that for younger students who lack mouse skills or computer skills, the scores may be negatively skewed. However, this is an issue with virtually any computer-based program at this age. Overall, we give this program 4 out of 5 stars because the program provides teachers with a solid tool to identify early literacy and early numeracy skills that require intervention.

Why Hemp Prduction Should Be Legal in the Us Free Essays

Uses of Hemp and its Potential Contributions to the United States Hemp is a crop that has been used for many things for many years. The fibers are used for things such as clothes, construction materials, paper, carpet, oil, food, cosmetics, food, and many other things. The hemp industry has been around for as long as ten thousand years. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Hemp Prduction Should Be Legal in the Us or any similar topic only for you Order Now There was a piece of hemp fabric found from around eight thousand BC showing its importance to many civilizations throughout the years. Nowadays, hemp is an agricultural commodity in many nations. Canada is known to be one of the largest hemp growers in the world and use it for a large number of industries. Some countries export hemp products all around the world and use it as a vital part of their economy. The United States is among the few countries that does not permit the production of hemp. The value of hemp has gone unrecognized for many years in the U. S. Out of the industrialized countries in the world, the U. S. is the only country to ban the growth of this crop. The legalization of hemp production in The United States would put many farmers back to work as well as create a very ecological and environmentally safe alternative to multiple harmful industries. From when Europeans first came to North America till the Middle of the nineteenth century, hemp was grown all over. Its availability was useful for many families and companies. Hemp was also grown by two of our first presidents because of its versatility and efficient uses. The Declaration of independence was in fact, written on hemp paper. Hemp was actually a required crop in the Colonial times. It became a commodity and was an overall great use of land. The name â€Å"cannabis† comes from a variation of â€Å"canvas† because of hemps use in sails for boats. Before cotton, hemp was very common in forms of fibers which could be used for twine, paper and many other things. Once people came out with cotton gins and other very efficient ways to harvest and make fabric out of cotton, hemp became a less competitive material. Also, imported materials began to take over the hemp industry. Throughout the 1930’s, people realized the euphoric effects of the plant and began to isolate and genetically develop the leaves and flowers to get a plant that produced large amounts of the desired chemical. This plant is known as marijuana. This is when laws began to pass restricting restrictive laws that only allowed the industrial use of cannabis in the form of hemp. During World War Two, the federal government actually paid farmers and encouraged them to continue to grow hemp. Its availability was greatly taken advantage of during the war. Between the war and the late 1950’s, other synthetic fibers for various materials were a competitive industry causing less and less hemp growth in the United States. Also, many efforts were made by the public to illegalize drugs. This contributed to the fade out of hemp use. Mass, 2009) The Controlled Substances Act was passed in 1970 making hemp illegal to cultivate without a permit. These permits were very difficult to get through the DEA. From this point on, all hemp products come from other countries or the hemp materials used to make things are also imported. Now days, about half of the states in the nation are pushing to legalize the industrial uses of hemp. They are c onducting studies to consider the economic and environmental value of hemp. These states want to be able to grow hemp industrially based on state law. They would like to be able to do so without a permit from the federal government. This would override the Controlled Substance Act unless they redefine hemp as not a controlled substance. Hemp cannot be hidden in fields. It is very tall and grown very close together for maximum stalk. Hemp fibers come from the stalk of the plant therefore leaves and flowers are of no use to hemp growers. Hemp is also harvested before the plant even begins to seed. This differs from marijuana in the sense that marijuana growers spread out their crop to maximize leaves and flowers. Marijuana is usually grown for the seed and flower buds solely for the high. Hemp on the other hand is never grown for smoking. The purpose of growing hemp is for the multitude of uses of the stalk fibers. When looking at hemp from an environmental standpoint, it is a very healthy crop for the earth. From planting all the way to using its products, hemp is a very environmentally friendly plant. As it grows, hemp fertilizes the soil through its complex and deep root systems as well as the top soil that comes from the shedding of leaves. The soil, the water and the air are not polluted during the growth of hemp. Pesticides are rarely used giving clean water runoff. This differs from crops like cotton because when cotton is grown, the soil becomes nutrient deficient and the soil becomes less desirable. There have been farmers who claim hemp has steadily been grown in the same locations every year for nearly one hundred years. Many people are concerned about the use of trees for paper. Hemp would be a great alternative to this issue as well because the amount of pulp a farmer can get from hemp over a season is much more than timber. Trees take many years to grow and hemp is replenished in a matter of months. The process of turning hemp into paper uses much less contamination in the pressing and bleaching processes. Other interesting facts about hemp paper are described in Hemp: The New, Old Fiber Makes a Comeback for Clothes, Fabrics and Home Furnishings. â€Å"Hemp fiber paper resists decomposition and does not yellow with age when an acid-free process is used. The long fibers in hemp allow hemp paper to be recycled more times than wood-based paper. † (Mass, 2009) The rapid growth speed of hemp makes it one of the most efficient crops in the sense of yield per acre. Hemp can produce 250 percent more fiber than cotton and 600 percent more fiber than flax using the same amount of land† (Mass, 2009). In further comparison of hemp and cotton, the fibers that are obtained from hemp stalks and bark, include the very long bast fibers. These types of fibers are stronger and a better insulator. After the harvest, the goal is to make the crop into some sort of textile that can be dis tributed to other companies for various uses. This process is extensive for any crop however; the processes used in hemp cause significantly less damage to the earth than other materials such as cotton. The process does use a large amount of water that will become more efficient in the future but compared to processes for other textiles, hemp is a better choice ecologically. Going into the uses for hemp, it is not destructive to the environment which shows it is a great alternative to many other materials that share the same uses as hemp. Some of hemp’s uses that are ecologically more efficient than others are; paper products, textiles, molded plastics, body care products, construction, livestock feed and breeding, nutritional supplements, essential oils, medicines, food and many more. Small, 2002) With clothing, hemp is warmer than cotton and breathes better than cotton, leather and other materials widely used for clothing. â€Å"Hemp’s fiber molecule has a shaft-like structure that allows it to: wick moisture off the body and dry quickly; allow the wearer to feel warmer when wet, even in cold conditions; keep the wearer cool, comfortable and fresh, even in very hot and/or humid conditions. † (Mass, 2009) One material made from hemp that is very versatile, is plastics. John Wolodko, an advanced materials program leader gives his word on plastics, â€Å"This is traditionally made from fiberglass†¦ Products made from biocomposites work as well as those made from conventional materials, with the advantages of being lighter and less expensive. The ability of environmentally friendly products to compete with non-renewable products like fiberglass makes for a competitive and promising future for the biocomposites industry. † (Edmonton, 2009) Plastic is used in so many things from lawn chairs to automobile body parts to toothbrushes. This new process for plastics would be a fantastic alternative to the previous fiberglass methods. As an antibacterial fabric, hemp clothing is good for people with allergies to some chemicals that are included in the processes of other clothing materials. It also won’t begin to smell bad as fast as other materials. A big positive quality of hemp is that it is completely biodegradable as well as very strong and resistant to the wear and tear of daily life. It is great for people who are outside in nature a lot due to these qualities. Hemp can also be converted into a fuel in the form of pellets or liquid gas. This energy source, according to the U. S. Department of Energy, â€Å"requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all hemp products†. Fuel and energy is a major concern in our country and hemp could contribute significantly to the problems we face. Countries such as Great Britain and Germany had hemp bans like the United States but have lifted those in the last 20 years. Farmers in Europe are subsidized for their hemp output by the EU. Canada allows hemp production for commercial use and it is a large part of their economy. Hemp is a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to a wide variety of the United States industries and the legalization of hemp production on the commercial level would be a great addition to our country on an environmental and economic level. References Bourrie, M. (2003). Hemp: A Short History of the Most Misunderstood Plant and its Uses and Abuses. Firefly Books. Edmonton, A. (2009, October 31). Unconventional Crop – hemp – could sprout new industry. Troy Media. Retrieved October 29, 2010, from Unconventional crop – hemp – could sprout new industry Read more: Unconventional crop – hemp – could sprout new industry | Troy Media Corporation http://www. troymedia. com/? p=4791#ixzz14R5QAUP7 Mass, E. (2009, May). Hemp: The New, Old Fiber Makes a Comeback for Clothes, Fabrics and Home Furnishings. Natural Life, 127, 36-38. Retrieved November 1, 2010, from EBSCO database. Small, E. and D. Marcus. 2002. Hemp: A new crop with new uses for North America. p. 284–326. In: J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds. ), Trends in new crops and new uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA. How to cite Why Hemp Prduction Should Be Legal in the Us, Papers

Dbq free essay sample

Albany Plan of Union. The history of colonial efforts to cooperate or unite demonstrates that the colonies had no strong or sustainable need for a common government. All of those plans never went into effect but that doesnt mean that they didnt want to unite. In the following paragraphs Im going to state why I think this statement is wrong by using documents A, B, and C. Document A describe the New England confederation and the Articles of Confederation. The articles simply implied that they needed to unite so they could protect each other from common enemies such as the Native Americans, the Dutch and the French. The union was merely a business arrangement.By 1662 the union was very weak and by 1684 it had dissolved all together. Even though It was Just a business arrangement I feel that they did try to make it work because if you have a ion then you can have one big army and they would be able to protect each other better than If they werent one big union. We will write a custom essay sample on Dbq or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page William Peens plan of union Is Document B. Penn saw a need for military and economic cooperation among the colonies so he proposed his plan of union in 1697 but it never was implemented.His plan of union explained how the the uniting of the Northern parts of America would be more useful to the crown and would be more useful to the peace and safety of the people. HIS plan had seven major points. They were: 1 . That two persons of substance from each colony would make a congress of the Union. 2. The Kings Commissioner, for that purpose specially appointed, shall have the chair and preside in the Congress. 3.The Congress would meet in the Colony of New York, as It was the central Colony geographically, thus making It easier for the representatives to attend. 4. New Works Governor would serve as the Kings High Commissioner during the session, after the manner of Scotland. 5. All of the colonies would meet once a year, more often in times of war, to debate and resolve ouch measures for their better understanding and the public tranquility and safety. 6. The business of this Congress would be to hear and resolve Issues of contentment between the Colonies. 7.That in time of war, the Kings High Commissioner would serve as the Commander in Chief of the combined forces of the several Colonies. The Albany Plan of union was created by Benjamin Franklin in 1754. He proposed that one government be formed In America and that each colony could retain Its present constitution. The plan is noteworthy in several respects. First of all, Franklin anticipated many of the problems that would beset the government created after independence, such as finance, dealing with the Indian tribes, control of commerce, and defense.In fact, It contains the seeds of true union, and many of these ideas would be revived and adopted In Philadelphia more than thirty years later. It never went into effect because people were unwilling to give up control over their powers 1 OFF I dont agree with the statement because the whole point of the Constitutionand the Articles of Confederation before handwas to unite the colonies because they ere much did have common purposes and interests.If they didnt have those common purposes and interests wed probably wouldnt be united to this very day. They knew they couldnt stay separated forever. There would eventually come a day when they would have to Join together as one and so these plans were pretty much people calling out to everyone else sa ying that its time we come together because if were united were going to be very strong and we will be able to share our common purposes and interests and protect each other from danger.

Nazi Art As Propaganda Essays - Adolf Hitler, Fascism, Nazism

Nazi Art As Propaganda Nazi Germany regulated and controlled the art produced between 1933 and 1945 to ensure they embodied the values they wished to indoctrinate into the German people. The notion of ?volk' (people) and ?blut und boden' (soil and blood) was championed in paintings to glorify an idealized rural Germany and instill a sense of ?superiority' in the Nordic physicality. Highly veristic and asthetisized works romanticized everyday subjects and reiterated redundant stereotyped Nazi ideals of the human body and its purposes in the Reich. Paintings of Adolf Hitler valorized and his image to heroic status, even to the extent of deification, elevating him to a god-like status. By promoting Hitler as superior to the average person, the artist made Hitler a mythological being who, if followed with unconditional religious piety, would lead the Germanic race to an ideal future. The architecture, or so-called ?ideology in stone', was also a vessel for political ideology. The monumental buildings served to construct a pseudo-history to authenticate the stable, strong and righteous nature of the ?thousand year Reich'. Thus, art in the Third Reich was merely a form of propaganda that insidiously promoted the superiority of the Nordic race, the need for loyalty and obedience and the invulnerability of the German nation. Images of the Nordic peasant endorsed a return to a pre-industrial idyllic rural Germany. The oil painting ?Kalenberg Farm Family', by Adolf Wissel, depicts an intimate domestic situation of a family relaxing, presumably after a day of ?working the land', in a tranquil natural setting. It is an easily accessible work, that the Dadaist Duchamp would label ?retinal art', as it is an aesthetically motivated and stylistically anti-modernist piece. The rich warm colours are inviting, serving to emphasize the serenity and timelessness of the scene. The composition is extremely ordered, controlled, and dignified, there is no indication of social unrest under the rule of the Third Reich, it is an ideal Utopia where the every day person a subject worthy of intense interest. This is a blatant celebration of the virtues of a simple rural life (that in reality did not exist) as it presents the family in such positive and reverent way, a stereotyped ?perfect' standard for German families to aspir e to. This was an extremely popular subject as indicated by the multitudes of paintings that were similar in genre, for example ?Rest During the Harvest' by George Gunter, and ?Farm Girls returning from the Fields' by Leopold Schmutzter. Hitler said that art should be the ?expressions of the soul and ideals of the community' and these painting certainly do present the ideals of life that the National Socialists chose to privilege. These values in turn, like a circulatory motion encouraged the feelings and values of the German people who saw it, by instilling a sense of national pride in a wholesome and righteous life dictated by the Nazi values. Nazi ideology is also illustrated by ?Ploughing', by Julius Paul Junghan; this is more specifically linked to the notion of ?blood and soil'. A person who works with the land achieves a spiritual unity with it, so that they become a part of the natural world and integral to both the continuances of its fertility and yours. The painting displays this ancient German ideology that was appropriated and extended by the Nazis to rationalize the policy of Lebensraum or ?living space' so that the superior Nordic race could control over and order the land of other inferior nations. The oil landscape painting depicts a man reigning three sturdy workhorses with an archaic plow. The eyes are drawn from the three horses to the ?intellectual' force behind the action with sweeping converging lines, thus ploughing the land is a collective action, shared between farmer and animal, working towards a better field, or in symbolic terms a better Germany. Again a highly romanticized image of life entwined with nature is presented to manipulate the viewer, it forces them to connect hard work to achieve a collective goal (plowing the soil ready for planting) with moral righteousness. This theme is reiterated repeatedly almost to exhaustion in such works as ?Ploughing in the Evening' by Willy Jackel, and ?The Sower' by Oskar Martin-Ambach. The Nazi ideals are

Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid with Personal Pronouns

Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid with Personal Pronouns Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid with Personal Pronouns Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid with Personal Pronouns By Maeve Maddox Among the oldest words in English are the personal pronouns I, you, he, she, it, we, and they. Two of the personal pronouns, you and it, have only one form that is used as either subject or object: See that goat? It bit me. (It is the subject of the verb bit.) I hear a bee. Do you see it? (It is the object of the verb see.) There’s a poisonous spider. Step on it! (It is the object of the preposition on) You agree with Charlie on everything. (You is the subject of the verb agree) That car just missed you. (You is the object of the verb missed.) This information must remain between you and me. (You is the object of the preposition between.) Five of the personal pronouns have two forms each: a subject form (I, he, she, we, they) and an object form (me, him, her, us, them). The most common errors occur when subject and object forms are reversed. Two additional errors that seem to be increasing are 1.) replacing a personal pronoun with a pronoun ending in -self and 2.) using a personal pronoun in a context that calls for a possessive adjective. Mistake #1: Object form used in place of subject form Incorrect: In the next several weeks, my colleagues and me will be discussing the appropriate way to do that. (Jay Inslee, Congressional Record) Correct : In the next several weeks, my colleagues and I will be discussing the appropriate way to do that. The subject forms I, he, she, we, and they are used as the subject of a verb. Here are models of correct usage: We went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. (subject of the verb went) The children and I had a lovely time. (subject of the verb had) My colleagues and I will be discussing the plan. (subject of the verb will be discussing) Mistake #2: Subject form used in place of object form following a preposition Incorrect: She made each child feel special by taking pictures and spending quality one on one time with they and the dog. (A testimonial written by a person who has an M.A. degree) Correct : She made children feel special by taking pictures and spending quality one on one time with them and the dog. When the object of a preposition is a pronoun, the object form is required. Reminder: Prepositions include such words as with, to, in, on, under, and between. Here are two examples of correct usage: The butterfly alighted on her. (object of the preposition on) She gave the horse to Jack and me. (object of the preposition to) In the sample sentence, a social worker made children feel special by spending time â€Å"with them.† Misake #3 Subject form used in place of object form following a transitive verb Incorrect: Rodgers then followed she and her daughter out of the grocery store. (New York Daily News) Correct : Rodgers then followed her and her daughter out of the grocery store. When the direct object of a transitive verb is a pronoun, the object form is required. Here is an example of correct usage: The supervisor commended him for his contribution. (direct object of the verb commended.) The transitive verb followed requires the object form her. Mistake #4 Subject form used in place of the corresponding possessive adjective Incorrect: Susan announces she and her husband’s plans to divorce in front of Atticus’s family. (Downtown Abbey site) Correct : Susan announces her and her husband’s plans to divorce in front of Atticus’s family. Note: The personal pronouns have corresponding possessive forms. The possessive adjective forms are my, your, his, her, its, our, and their. They stand in front of the noun that is â€Å"possessed.† For example: Jack is his friend. (possessive adjective that corresponds to personal pronouns he and him) Sally is her friend. (possessive adjective that corresponds to personal pronouns she and her) She is a subject form and cannot be used as a possessive adjective. Susan announces plans for the impending divorce. They are â€Å"her husband’s plans.† They are â€Å"her plans† as well. Mistake #5 Reflexive pronoun used in place of personal pronoun Incorrect: Both  my wife and myself felt  so much happier after watching this movie. Correct : Both  my wife and I felt  so much happier after watching this movie. Pronouns that end in -self or -selves are called â€Å"reflexive pronouns† or â€Å"emphatic pronouns.† Here are examples of their correct use: The boy cut himself with the hedge clippers. (reflexive pronoun) The mayor herself delivered my newspaper today. (emphatic pronoun) There may be occasions when the emphatic form is wanted for a rhetorical flourish, but in ordinary speech, replacing a personal pronoun with one ending in -self or -selves is nonstandard usage to be avoided. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Common Mistakes category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Writing Prompts 101For Sale vs. On SaleForming the Comparative of One-syllable Adjectives

STRATEGIC AUDIT OF A CORPORATION Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

STRATEGIC AUDIT OF A CORPORATION - Assignment Example In 1955, Sony successful released its first commercial transistor radios that dominated both domestic and international market, hence building international recognition in the field of electronics (Nagle 45). In 1958, TTK was changed to Sony, a Latin word which means sound. This was in line with the fact that the company initially opted to specialize in sound and electronic gadgets before undertaking a massive restructure in the line of its products. Given the increasing competition and market dominance, the company was forced to advance from mere production of digital and analogue electronic and communication devices. After conductive a comprehensive market search, Sony invested in advanced technology in the production of electronic with the latest innovation being the discovery of computer video gaming consoles. Besides, Sony has heavily invested its resources on technological integration and innovation that has made the company be successful in producing modern technology devices including laptops, video recorders, and PlayStations (Sony 92). The modern computer gaming is considered as one of the most successful technological innovation ever made by Sony. The popular PlayStation games have attracted interest from a large number of youths and from the sales of these games, Sony has made a great progress in terms of profitability and financial performance. PlayStations among others are examples of consumer revolutionary products launched by Sony. Sony ventured into console computer games in 1994 through Sony Computer Entertainment department (Nagle 51). This department is charged with the responsibility of developing, publishing, marketing, and distributing PlayStation software. SWOT Analysis of Sony PlayStation This involves investing internal and external factors and how these environmental factors impacts on the market performance of Sony. Strengths Having established itself as one of the most successful companies, Sony has since then developed a strong pos itive reputation and brand name among its potential customers internationally (Nagle 65-9). Sony is a multinational corporation that has emerged as one of the most respectful and successful firm in the field of electronics. Besides, Sony has therefore developed strong customer base and loyalty owing to the quality of its other products such as T.V, DVD and other electronic devices. For this reason, the introduction of PlayStation will heavily attract a good number of consumers from the current customer base of Sony. A survey conducted among the consumers in 2011 tagged Sony as being the most value corporation especially in Asia. Secondly, having been in this field for decades, Sony boasts of strong skills and expertise production techniques that are essential in developing quality computer gaming consoles. This implies that the company is associated with quality products that make it more preferred by the consumer. Through its technical and professional experts, Sony’s consol e games are very quality and diversified depending on the needs of the consumers. The company therefore produces games of high definition quality to match the taste of the consumers. Sony Company is synonymous for its technological excellence and rich heritage of technological expertise that is has made in successful in this competitive market for decades. Through such skills, Sony has managed to guarantee its customers quality gaming products. Sony Company always

At the time of the Gate Gourmet strike British Airways lost the input Essay

At the time of the Gate Gourmet strike British Airways lost the input of an essential key supplier with huge consequences for the firm - Essay Example On the other hand, British Airways outsourced its in-flight catering to Gate Gourmet as a way of minimising operational costs through the provision of minimal wages and offering working contracts without pensions, holiday or sick leave pay. The result of this was that British Airways was able to register more profits for itself at the expense of the immigrant workers that worked for Gate Gourmet. The strike action began one morning after the Gate Gourmet women of Indian origin came from their tea break and found other workers that had replaced them because the new employees were willing to work for even lesser pay as compared to the former workers (Hickey 2005). As a result of this, the baggage handlers stormed out of their workstations in protest over the sacking of these women and the ill treatment that they had received from their employer. This led to the closure of the Heathrow Airport for at least forty eight hours in which the media took the opportunity to highlight the disgru ntlement that customers had experienced during the time of the strike. Ideally, the job of a continuity manager is to ensure that an organisation returns to efficient capacity in service delivery as soon as possible while also making sure that a company’s customers are not affected much by the discontinuity. Essentially, strike action tends to be a confrontational crisis in which workers that have no job satisfaction use this as a venue for expressing themselves as provided for in the labour laws (Laws 2013, p. 93). The fist step is to ensure that passengers scheduled for short overhaul flights access food through their food vouchers, meaning that the strike should not ground them. The handling of this should be with a standby team that a continuity manager should ensure that an airline has in place in the vent that such a situation occurs in