The Broken Sword of the Empire Review Essay Example

The Broken Sword of the Empire Review Paper Essay on The Broken Sword of the Empire What is the Soviet Union? Empty shelves, downtrodden population, poverty, economic inefficiency, lack of democracy, rotten state? The list goes on and on. Myths about the country with which the disappearance was not more than 20and years, more and more. Watch TV, and the next Svanidze says the backwardness of the USSR in the industry, about the bloody gebnya, a crushing defeat in the Cold War. Over and over again in the head is driven idea of ​​the backwardness of the USSR, the full technical superiority of the West. Maxim Kalashnikov done a great job in his book. He showed other USSR. Hidden from the eyes of an ordinary citizen, a strong technological power. Ideas that seemed unattainable and which have been implemented. Kalashnikovs book is not just an emotional description of what it was in the USSR, and that specifically lost in exchange for dermokraty. This techno-opera, techno anthem of Soviet weaponry and the industry! A few examples are examples, Almaz, 3-seater manned spacecraft, armed with 23-millimitrovoy cannon to destroy enemy satellites; Skif-D, essentially the same thing, only armed with a chemical laser; plasma gun and a plasma shield; incredibly huge plane Mriya (the one of 2012) to display the Buran in orbit, unique missiles, military aircraft, navy, and much more. Episodes of unparalleled heroism of the Soviet soldiers and scientists fill this book and make proud of their compatriots. Soviet victory in space, technology, science, industry, all hushed up. And only sometimes pos sible to learn something. We will write a custom essay sample on The Broken Sword of the Empire Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Broken Sword of the Empire Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Broken Sword of the Empire Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Another important detail. Unlike the West, the USSR created all alone, focusing on its domestic market. West also share the costs between the two countries. For example, Japan, manufactures high-tech and automobiles, heavy industry there. US computers, military industry and the car industry, given that the US has oil and other minerals, they prefer not to touch them. Resources were drawn from the third world countries. In general, every western country, took over part of the technological, industrial and financial burden. And the Soviet Union produced a whole series of consumer goods, functioned all the necessary industrial facilities (factories) was mined minerals, carried out scientific and technical work and all these things one country! All the rest of the world to do together, we have made ourselves, and have done so much better West. Remember, the whole strength of present-day Russia, as well as the rest of the CIS, held on the Soviet heritage. But the Soviet Union collapsed. Why? The book is the answer to this question. Elite. Or rather the ruling elite. Indeed, a flock of sheep (in any case is not about people, but about the destruction of the country after the revolution) controlled by a lion (not talking about Stalin), better herd of lions (read above), driven ram (by someone too happy call a sheep, its the range of the 80). West was crafty, they understand that can not stand against the Soviet Union in an open battle. Therefore, they conducted psychological treatment of our country, and especially of our elite. They showed us pictures of life in the US and in Europe, and the whispered give up their country, and you will live also. Intellectuals, who lived in the Soviet Union, having received an excellent education in the USSR, taking advantage of the benefits of the USSR, living in houses and cottages provided by the USSR, the hated scoop, and all the forces fought against him. And so at the helm of the greatest Empir e (aka Soviet Kalashnikov rarely calls) were weak, helpless and frightened people. Therefore, it is easy to give up the leadership of the USSR position after another, so the citizens of the country so indifferently reacted to the collapse of the state. Country betrayed, destroyed, crushed, sold, dismembered. ?. In the name of what P.S After the collapse of the Soviet Union, especially in the West, there was a sad saying: All that the West said about the Soviet Union, was a lie. All that the Soviet Union talked about the West was true  »

Case Study EasyJet Essays

Case Study EasyJet Essays Case Study EasyJet Essay Case Study EasyJet Essay Essay Topic: Easy Marketing This report will consist of an analysis of EasyJets macro and micro marketing environment. Macro-environmental factors include; political, economical, social and technological changes to the environment, i.e. the external marketing environment. The micro-environmental factors on the other hand include groups of people directly affected by the companys decision; for example; stakeholders, competitors, intermediaries and customers, i.e. the internal marketing environment. Using these I will then go on to conduct a SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis will enable me to look EasyJets strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and in turn allow me make strategic recommendations for the future. In order to help do this, the report will be based on collected and analysed data about EasyJet and will look in depth and analyse what this means to Tesco as a European conglomerate. Background to EasyJet EasyJet was launched in November 1995 by a Greek called Haji-Ioannou with a fleet of two Boeing 737-300 flying from London to Glasgow and Scotland. Today it operates with 72 aircraft, offering 125 routes from 39 European destinations. The defining way that EasyJet was able to establish itself into such a successful airline is largely due to its base concept of offering a low cost, no-frills service. It believed that as the demand for short-haul air transport was price-elastic, reducing prices would mean more people would fly. This might be a reason why EasyJet was able to undercut its rivals as traditionally airline concepts are based on the fact that airline traffic grows in line with the economy and that cutting prices will only lead to a decrease in revenues. EasyJets revenue in 1998 was  £77 million and in 2006 this figure had risen to 1,619.7 i(easyJet.com) EasyJet keeps costs low by eliminating the unnecessary costs and frills associated with traditional airlines. This is don e by through numerous methods: use of the internet to reduce distribution costs, maximise the utilisation of substantial assets, ticketless travel, no free lunch, efficient use of airports and paperless operations. Easyjet.com is the main brand name ii(keynote.com) and its mission statement is To provide our customers with safe, good value, point-to-point air services. To effect and to offer a consistent and reliable product and fares appealing to leisure and business markets on a range of European routes. To achieve this we will develop our people and establish lasting relationships with our suppliers. (easyjet.com) EasyJet is now the UKs leading low-cost airline and the second-largest in Europe after Ryanair. It continues to facilitate its strategy of growth, for example, with the addition of the Airbus and GB airways at a cost of  £103.5 million iii(news.bbc.co.uk), currently it looks like it will just go from strength to strength? EasyJets external marketing environment (STEP analysis) In order to conduct a STEP analysis, firms need to review the environment in which they operate. The following factors play a major role in the airline industry today i.e. political-legal, economic, socio-cultural and technological. Social Factors Whilst being a dominant low-cost airline, and the second largest in Europe, EasyJet has not won over all members of the public. Currently the French and German community are proving a problem. This is because there is a general reluctance to use credit cards over the phone and Internet. (Hattee J. (2000).) Currently 95% of all tickets are sold over the internet iv(easyJet.com). The idea of cheap flights generally appeals to the public. However, the promotion of prices through for example newspapers and Teletext that are unrepresentative of the actual cost on another day/time, are likely to deter or antagonise customers. It has actually been in the news recently that airlines such as EasyJet should only advertise prices that show the actual cost i.e. includes all taxes etc, a ploy used before to draw in customers. Technological Factors EasyJet is faced with balancing technological advancements, for example, the use of the internet on distribution and cost synergies from industry consolidation, and the risk of rising costs and competitive pricing. EasyJet was one of the first airlines to embrace the opportunity of the Internet when it sold its first seat online in April 1998. Now approximately 95 % of all seats are sold over the Internet, making easyJet one of Europes biggest Internet retailers. v(easyjet.com) Technological developments in the field of e-commerce and aircraft manufacture are vital in allowing EasyJet to maintain an advantage over its competitors. EasyJet now offers paperless operations as the management and administration of the company is undertaken entirely on IT systems which can be accessed through secure servers anywhere in the world enabling huge flexibility in the running of the airline. Also passengers instead of receiving tickets now get emails containing there travel details and booking reference online. This has greatly reduced the costs of issuing, distributing, processing and reconciling millions of tickets each year. vi(easyJet.com) Economic Factors There are likely to be increases in fuel costs, congestion and other environmental restrictions. The risk of terrorism is likely to have an impact on insurance costs i.e. they will go up and the system of security implemented i.e. much greater/more alert. Globalisation should continue to boost traffic in the long-term and the introduction of the single currency in Europe is likely to bring more business to EasyJet as Europe becomes more integrated. Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the founder of low-cost airline easyJet, believes that the euro has reduced the currency risks of running a business in Europe and that must lower costs and hence prices for consumers. vii( www.time.com) Political-legal Factors The political environment concerns the role of the government and the extent to which it intervenes in an economy. Political issues, such as the threat of ongoing war in the Middle East, and more recently issues in South America have driven up oil prices. They have also been going up due to the threat of a cold winter. As a result this reflects on the cost of aviation fuel. Whilst these political factors have a direct impact on the economy, such as increasing fuel costs, increased congestion, environmental restrictions, higher security, and insurance, they are intrinsically linked with social-cultural effects i.e. impacting upon the attitudes towards air travel. Due to terrorist attacks such as September 11th, airlines such as British airways have stopped flights to certain countries (particularly in the middle- east), in fear of another attack. This has had a domino effect whereby it has caused a political stir, with Britains believing that they maybe the next victims of a terrorist attack. Airlines have lost a lot of money as they are no longer going to certain destinations. I believe the implication of certain security measures have also had an influential effect on customers. As ordered by the Transportation Security Administration, new security screening went into effect due to the foiled British terror attacks. The primary restriction was the carrying-on of liquids or gels including beverages, shampoos, sun tan lotions, toothpaste and hair gel. Passengers were permitted to have baby formula and/or breast milk, prescription medicine with a name matching that of the traveller, and non-prescription medicines. Any beverages purchased past the security checkpoint must be consumed prior to boarding any aircraft. Philip Fanara, Jr., Ph.D. CFA, from the department of finance, insurance, and international business, expresses his view that airlines may lose some customers due to the new regulations being an inconvenience. viii(www.thehilltoponline.com) EasyJets internal marketing environment Competitive analysis EasyJet faces stiff competition from airlines such as Ryanair, BMIbaby, MyTravelLite and Buzz. Virgin Express, Hapag Lloyd Express, Germanwings and Air Berlin already are or might become competitors as a result of future expansion plans. Ryanair (EasyJets main competitor) is the only one of these companies so far to have succeeded and shown a continuous annual profit. In September 2006 it made  £235 million and in September 2007 the figure had risen to 291 million, a 24% increase. ix(www.ryanair.com) Suppliers EasyJet currently has two suppliers, Boeing and Airbus. An important part of easyJets strategy is to operate a modern fleet and based on the current business model, requires easyJet to acquire a significant number of further aircraft whilst achieving a low total fleet operating cost. Between 2003 and 2007 there were 12 aircraft deliveries under the Boeing contract. However, 120 aircraft deliveries were made under the Airbus contract in this same period. x(www.easyjet.com) Airbus was looked more favorably upon as it offered significantly better value than Boeing, the Airbus Contract enables it to purchase Airbus A319 aircraft at a price approximately a third per seat below the price for the Boeing 737-700 aircraft delivered to it under the Boeing Contract in August 2002. Other factors included fact that the Airbus had agreed to provide extensive support to the Company, especially with regard to training for easyJets pilots, cabin crew and maintenance personnel. Also, Airbus has put arrangements in place in keeping with low cost operation i.e. Airbus A319 aircraft maintenance will not exceed the cost of maintenance for its Boeing 737-700 aircraft. xi(EasyJet.com) Media The media have provided a link between the airline EasyJet and the public. Press releases portraying special deals and new routes available Im sure have proved beneficial to EasyJet in terms of attracting new customers. For example, deals of the week are advertised which are ideal for those on a budget who need some inspiration when looking for a holiday destination or for those looking for a last minute getaway at an affordable pricexii(www.easyjet.com) and also routes, easyJet to launch flights to Jersey!EasyJet, Europes leading low-fares airline, today announced it will launch two new routes to Jersey from Liverpool and London Luton next spring, with daily flights commencing on 31 March and 21 April respectively. xiii(www.easyjet.com) Press is generally good for EasyJet. Environmentalists With the number of flights leaving the UK set to double or triple by 2030, environmentalists have put airlines at the centre of the debate on global warming, a development that could lead to restrictions being imposed on the industry. The Conservatives have unveiled their `Greener Skies proposals. Among the suggestions are the introduction of VAT on fuel for domestic flights and higher tax rates for frequent flyers. xiv(www.keynote.co.uk) Customers Travel is now a priority for todays consumers, however the youth market needs addressing. The outlook for consumer expenditure looks extremely healthy, which will continue to sustain leisure spending. With holidays and additional short breaks now the UKs top two expenditure priorities (23% and 22% respectively), this multiple trip culture has become so ingrained that it will require a major downturn to change this. In Mintels Holiday Lifestyles Responsible Tourism UK, Leisure Horizons January 2007, some 22% of respondents stated that even the disappearance of low fares would fail to change their habits. The 25-44-year-olds are currently the core low-cost market and despite the budget connotations, the no-frills market is actually driven by the wealthier socio-economic groups splashing out on multiple trips.xv(http://academic.mintel.com)

Polynesian Questions and Answers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Polynesian Questions and Answers - Essay Example allotted $15 million annually to aid them. This brought about the sudden change in the people and had significantly impacted on their culture but did nothing to enable them to implement a self-sustaining economy (Dunford and Ridgell, 1996, p. 60-62). The people came to be overly dependent on the financial aid extended to them and started the commotion fuelled by greed and disparity primarily because of the mismanaged resources that landed constantly on an ill-prepared group of people. The concept of family before the advent of dependency in Micronesia had drastically changed over the last decades. The social unit was characterized by nuclear families that lived together in a compound with harmonious relations with each other. Hezel describes this community where in Chuuk for example dwellings would be in a single cluster of land where extended family units live and in this area there would be what is called a fanang which is basically a cookhouse where the families would take turns i n cooking the meal enough for every member of the nuclear family. The will also be an uut which serves many purposes such as a meetinghouse or a dormitory for the unmarried men as well as a place for them to learn. Other islands would entail similar practices such as Chuuk where most would be centrally matrilineal such as Marshalls and Pohnpei. This would take its turn and change when Western imposition found its way to them (Hezel, 2001, p.9-10). It was in 1991 after having been bona fide member of the United Nations when the Federated States of Micronesia had to elect their own government officials in a legislature who will choose among themselves the person to represent them as president. The people were allowed to migrate to the United States of America where approximately 2,000 flocked to Guam, Hawaii and mainland United States, a great block settling in the two previously mentioned U.S. territories (Dunford and Ridgell, 1996, p. 90-91). The people found this mass migration to be a necessity in order to provide for their underprivileged families by sending them remittances from foreign land instead of staying in a direly impoverished country. With many of its productive citizens abroad labouring on foreign land, Micronesia suffered continued economic immobility for lack of effective economic policy carried over from its years as a trust territory. The islands became excessively dependent on the annual budget provided by the United States and they were not able to cultivate a sense of economic stability since aid regularly comes their way. Father Hezel maintains that though a great number of Micronesians have settled in U.S. soil, many still find themselves deeply rooted to their native land. â€Å"Anyone who thinks that Micronesian emigrants abroad simply vanish one day never to be seen again need only to scan the departure area of a return flight to the islands to discover that this is far from the case (Hezel, 2001, p.159). The mass of Micronesians who were able to immigrate to the United States affects health care and education in the sense that they add up to the government expenditure necessary to finance public education and health care. Most of them have found a permanent home far from their native land and this equates to additional families that rely on government support to live according to decent