Instant Global Radio, Or Web Radio, Is The Latest Manifestation Of The

Instant global radio, or Web radio, is the latest manifestation of the Internet's multimedia successor, the World Wide Web. Improved technology and content are turning Web radio into a mass medium. (Hickman 30) The Web radio concept is mainly underlined by the concept of Webcasting, or broadcasting station content over the Internet. Online users who visit the Web pages of Webcasting stations can find archived and live audio covering news, business, sports, and many different types of music. (Thomas 38) Although the most prominent reason for the increase in Web radio activity is advancement in related technology, there are multiple other reasons. The key has been the development of software that allows a digital recording stored on a computer to be transmitted over the Internet and played instantly and continuously as it is received by the listener's computer. (Your Very Own 516) This technique is known as streaming, and was pioneered by RealNetworks. In the streaming process, the digitized clips are sent over the Internet as a stream of compressed data packets. (O'Malley 64) Free audio-player software that works with Web browsers then decompresses and assembles these packets at the user's computer and automatically plays them back as they are received. Streaming systems typically use a buffering system that stores an extra few seconds worth of data to prevent Internet "hiccups" from disrupting the steady flow of audio ? not unlike the shock-protection systems on portable compact disc players. (O'Malley 64) As reported in 1995, listening to broadcasts on your computer is akin to dialing in a tinny transistor radio on the fringes of reception area ? even with hotshot multimedia speakers. (Silverthorne A1) Advancements have made it so Web-based audio now offers near-CD quality, even over a modem of average speed. (Hickman 30) The broadcast quality depends largely on the amount of traffic on the Internet. (Your Very Own 516) Sites will have varying degrees of quality, and the only way to ensure pure transmission is a fast connection from a fast site. On September 5, 1995, the first broadcast of a Major League Baseball game was made over the Internet on ESPN's Web site. The next week, ABC Radio Net became the first organization to provide live Internet newscasts, with coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial. (Silverthorne A1) These early firsts by big-name network stations sparked the initial interest in Web radio, and the networks have been the biggest contributors towards the widening spectrum of quality content, as well as setting professional standards for content. In Spring of 1998, ABC Radio Network signed a deal with Real Networks to broadcast all 27 of ABC's radio stations on the Web. (Hickman 30) Despite network advancement, the sheer number of Internet-only Webcasters has helped to ensure better content, wider variety, and more Web radio usage. (Thomas 39) Where before there were difficulties with waveband congestion, access to unlimited space for Webcasters has become available through the Internet to virtually anyone, and p ositions even small alternative stations with potential to thrive alongside mainstream powerhouses. (Internet Radio 1) The biggest fans of Web radio include people who have moved away from an area and like to tune in an Internet site to check the news or sports from their previous home town. Web radio also is popular with people who have exotic musical tastes and want to sample sounds that aren't available from traditional broadcasters in their area. In addition, some people like to listen to commentary, or comedy programs playing in the background as they surf other sites. (Thomas 41) Web radio, unlike the old sort, is interactive. Screens can supplement radio sound with song titles, liner notes and banner advertisements. Listeners can chat to each other, rate songs or click on a banner ad to buy a disc of the music they've just heard ? all while listening to the radio. (Internet Radio 1) Many music Webcasters get payment for generating these types of music sales. Audio ads as normally run by traditional commercial stations can take up ten to fifteen minutes per hour. Audio ads on the Web usually take up a mere three minutes. This lost advertising is made up in the visual portion of the Website, and the broadcast itself suffers from little

Hawk Roosting Unseen Poetry Essay

Hawk Roosting Unseen Poetry Essay Hawk Roosting Unseen Poetry Essay `Hawk Roosting` Unseen Poetry Essay This essay will discuss and explain certain techniques Ted Hughes uses, such as personification, in his poem `Hawk Roosting`. To add to this, it will also discuss and try to elaborate upon how this poem is structured and how the way that it is written contributes towards the effect of the poem upon the reader. A main technique that Ted Hughes uses in this poem is personification. There are many examples of this throughout the poem, one of them being `my eyes closed`. This is taken from the second half of the first line of the poem. This is a clear example of personification as it is written in the first person. The word `my` shows this. To add to this, Ted Hughes, in many places puts a pronoun in the first person directly before a part of the body. For example `my hooked head` or `My feet` are both instances where this particular technique within the broad technique of personification is used. The fact that the author includes body parts which are only from the human body makes the hawk seem even more human. If Ted Hughes had written about body parts such as talons or claws, it would have made the creature less human as humans do not have talons or claws. The use of personification also makes the hawk seem very ignorant as if it was in charge. This is so, by the repetitive use of the words `I` and `Me`. Through the duration of the poem the readers are always reminded that the fowl is in charge and can do what it wants. An example of this would be `I kill where I please because it is all mine.` This shows that the hawk thinks that he is in charge, not only through the use of the word `I` but the fact that he says `it is all mine.` Another word which shows this is the word `inspection`. This word is located in the final line of the second stanza. Generally, inspectors are people with quite a high rank as they get to see whether everything is to their liking or not. In other words, they are utterly in charge, and because the hawk is, in this case, comparing itself to an inspector, it again shows that he thinks of himself very highly and that he also thinks that he is totally in charge of everything. The hawk has a slight oxymoronic value to itself aswell, as it says `My manners are tearing off heads`. This is oxymoronic as manners are associated with good things such as saying please and thank you. In this case, the oxymoronic bird thinks of manners in a totally different way. `Tearing off heads` is obviously a bad thing to do, but this hawk associates `tearing off heads` with `manners` when the two words totally contrast. This also again goes back to the point about the hawk being in charge of everything as it is `tearing off heads` and there is no one or nothing which will go in the hawk`s way, and try to prevent it from doing so. In this poem, Ted Hughes makes nature is brutal: it ‘kills’ and ‘eats’. What’s slightly disturbing is that the hawk views these as ‘perfect’ and ‘rehearses them’. This almost gives the feel of a psychopath, yet he is only fulfilling his natural function. The repetition of ‘hookedâ€℠¢ from his head to his feet creates a feel of being captured, evoking his sharp, deadly beak and claws. These are the parts that the hawk emphasizes when he describes himself. The hawk deals in ‘death’. Ted Hughes uses the metaphor of the bird flying directly ‘through the bones of the living’. The uneasy juxtaposition of bones with living creates an unsettling effect, and makes the bird seem almost supernaturally powerful: as if he exists beyond this one moment in time. The hawk lists natural features: ‘sun’, ‘air’ and the ‘tree’, which he thinks exist only in as much as they are of ‘advantage to me’. He also says it took ‘the whole of Creation’ to produce his ‘feather’ and ‘foot’: the juxtaposition of something so huge and old, and biblical against a tiny foot/feather, shows how magnificent the bird thinks he is: as if he is the reason creation exists. This is interesting because it

Whren vs. United States. June 10, 1993 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Whren vs. United States. June 10, 1993 - Essay Example As the police officers in an unmarked car made their first pass, they noticed that the Whren and Brown were in a dark colored Pathfinder truck with temporary license plates, and the driver, Brown kept looked downward to the lap of Whren in the passenger seat. The police officers then made a U-turn towards the Pathfinder, when all of a sudden the Pathfinder suddenly turned right without signaling, and sped off at what the officers describe an "unreasonable speed." Thus the police officers continued pursuit, and in a short while caught up with Whren and Brown at a stop light. The officers identified themselves and as the approached the driver side window, saw that the Whren had in his hands two large plastic bags of crack cocaine. They were subsequently arrested and charged with federal drug charges. At the pretrial suppression hearing, Whren and Brown filed a motion to suppress the evidence on the ground of an illegal search and seizure surrounding the circumstances of the case. They alleged that the police officers used the traffic violation as a pretext for stopping the truck due to the lack of any reasonable suspicion or probable cause to stop them on suspicion of drug dealing. Court Decisions: The District Trial Court denied the motion and conducted trial, resulting in the conviction of Whren and Brown. On appeal to the Court of Appeals their conviction was affirmed. Thus, Whren and Brown brought this case to the Supreme Court on certiorari. Issue: Whether or not the police officers conducted an unlawful search and seizure in this case. Whether or not the police officers violated the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution proscribing unlawful searches and seizures. Ruling: No on both issues. In a unanimous decision the Supreme Court held that as long as police officers have reasonable cause to believe that there had occurred a traffic violation, they may stop any vehicle. In the case at bar, the police officers had reasonable cause to stop Whren and Brown on the basis of a traffic violation because they had made a turn without signaling and sped away from a stop sign at an unreasonable speed. Hence, an actual traffic violation was committed by Whren and Brown, and the resulting search and seizure of the Pathfinder was reasonable, regardless of what other personal motivations the officers might have had for stopping the vehicle. Also, the Supreme Court discarded the allegations of Whren and Brown that they had suffered from anxiety, confusion, and haste which they experienced from the stop and search procedure outweighed the government's interest in traffic safety. Indeed, while the Fourth Amendment requires a balancing test between the benefits derived from a search-and-seizure and the harm it may cause to the person, this test only applies to unusually harmful searches and seizures. In the case at bar there was nothing unusually harmful about this traffic stop. Personal Opinion: With reference to the case at bar, I am in total concurrence with the manner in which the legal and procedural issues were resolved by the Supreme Court. The Constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures embodied in the Fourth Amendment has to be taken in accordance with the underlying circumstances in the case. The evil sought to be prohibited is that of abuse on the part of the arresting officer, in making any search or seizure of a individual's person, house, papers and effects. Indeed, a number of Constitutional doctrines have already held that the applicable case law. Delaware vs. Prouse, United States vs. Martinez Fuerte and United States vs. Brignoni Ponce were all mentioned

Business and Management Research Methodology Essay

Business and Management Research Methodology - Essay Example scheduling the research workload and activities over a stipulated period and being flexible enough to make alterations in it when problems occur; vii. constructing and sustaining the research argument through a long document without resorting to long descriptions that are not embedded in the structure of the argument; viii writing and understanding the purpose of an introduction, a conclusion and an abstract for an academic document; ix writing clearly and imaginatively, and with a sense of authority; and x. using an appropriate referencing system. In order to conduct research in terms of the above mentioned requirements, the work involved may include: the development of an appropriate and interesting research topic; reading the relevant and other appropriate literature; specifying the method adopted for the research; collection or selection of the required data; analysis and interpretation of the data and finally writing up the dissertation as the end product. Deciding on the research topic takes a good deal of time, thought and discussion. In deciding on it, the best help is discussion with the research guide and other faculty members, one's colleagues, journal articles which may point out 'further areas of research', doctoral thesis reading which would give ideas of extending or disagreeing with the thesis propounded in the research thesis. The preliminary reading will not only be useful for choosing the topic but will also be helpful for writing a literature review for the project later on. So careful notes should be kept at every stage. Readings can include article summaries from Abstracts. Label the notes so that somebody else could read and understand them. This should mean that the researcher too, understand them when they are read again. A research statement turns the original ideas into something that can be researched. (Kumar 1996) Research Project After the preliminary readings, the research a proposal has to be formulated. A good way to prepare a research project is to include the categories of the research proposal as the project itself. There should be a proposed title or an initial short statement about what is proposed to be done. The introduction could be shorter than in the research thesis. But it should explain: why is this work is being done what problems are being investigated what questions will the researcher ask what other research is relevant to the work The methodology may be described, but it could be tentative if, at this stage a final decision about the methods of investigation and analysis would not have been made. But describe a range of possibilities that are being considered and how the information collected will be analyzed. A research proposal should also include a rough timetable as to when the different stages of the work are planned to be carried out. Timetable the Research and Report The researcher will have to be able carry out the research work and write it up by the deadline indicated in the

Entrepreneurial characteristics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Entrepreneurial characteristics - Essay Example Risk taking Risk taking is defined as a factor thing or element which exposes a person to a certain danger or which has negative impact on the person. Risk taking in business entails venturing into an idea or activity that might have negative impact on entrepreneur yet the same idea can bring positive outcome to the entrepreneur. Successful entrepreneurs need to have the ability to take risks in order to gain maximum benefits in case the idea succeeds. In many condition, opportunities are full of uncertainties as there are no ways to confirm if the move will be beneficial or not. As a result, many entrepreneurs are unable to venture in such ideas an aspect that makes them lose the ability to succeed. This enables an entrepreneur with this characteristic to fully own the idea and reap its benefits without intense competition (Gerber, 2009). If the idea succeeds, other business people utilize the idea but the entrepreneur who invented it will have created customer trust and barriers fo r the competitors to make use of the idea. This helps him in succeeding in the markets through gaining the largest market share and creating loyalty of the target customers towards the idea or product. One of the entrepreneurs who had taken risks in venturing in business is Michelle Moan. Despite her age she took a risk of investing in making bras that were more comfortable. As a result of going against all odds, she became successful and established MJM international which is one of the leading businesses in the world. The success of Moan was as a result of risk taking in an area that looked unpromising for many entrepreneurs. In 2000 she was awarded a world business achiever award which is a prestigious award given to entrepreneurs who has shown outstanding performance and innovation. This puts a challenge to entrepreneurs to be innovative and create ideas out of a challenge that they might be experiencing or a challenge facing the society. For a successful entrepreneur, an idea d espite how challenging it looks must be analyzed to look at its potential. Response to change Response to change is the act of reacting as a result of a certain change that has occurred in the sector, government or country at large. The world has become dynamic with many changes being experienced each day. For an entrepreneur to be successful he must monitor these changes as they might create an opportunity. New government policies are some of the changes that might create an opportunity for an entrepreneur. When an opportunity unveils an entrepreneur must be quick to respond to it through investing. This provides the entrepreneur with the opportunity to retrieve maximum benefits from the opportunity (Gerber, 2009). Response to change in case of an opportunity is determined by the flexibility of an entrepreneur. A flexible entrepreneur is one who is ready to shift from one way of doing things to another in order to fit in the new procedures that might be of great benefit. The best s trategy for an entrepreneur to become flexible is through setting aside capital that could be used to invest in a new opportunity. Such an act creates a difference between successful entrepreneurs and those who are not successful. In an example, changes in technological levels in the world created an opportunity for Steve Jobs to start Apple Inc which deal with various electronics such as iPod, iTunes, Mac laptops, desktop etc. His reaction was first despite the risks that faced investing in a sector that recorded major failures from previous

Defining And Understanding Social Inclusion Social Work Essay

Defining And Understanding Social Inclusion Social Work Essay There have always been asylum seekers and refugees going back to the World War but in recent years the United Kingdom (UK) has seen a vast number of asylum seekers coming from different parts of the world in search of security from their troubled regimes. As a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Convention the UK has an obligatory duty to receive and protect asylum seekers until a decision has been made on their individual claim (Hepinstal et al, 2004). According to the 1951 UN Convention an asylum seeker is defined as, a person who has crossed an international border in search of safety and refugee status in another country. To get the refugee status under this Convention a person has to present with; A well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion and is outside the country of his nationality and unable or, owing to such fear is unwilling to avail himself to the protection of that country. Too often those seeking asylum travel from their familiar communities to start new life in environments that could be alien to them which makes them vulnerable to social exclusion which is defined by the Social exclusion Unit (SEU),( 2004) as: What can happen when individuals or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime environments, bad health and family breakdown. It is a process that deprives individuals and families, groups and neighbourhoods of resources and services needed for their general involvement and their health and well being (Pierson, 2002). Most of these factors affect the asylum population since they face immigration controls on things that shape them as individuals. This affects their engagement with the society towards expressing their individual needs. For asylum seekers to be socially included in the society certain areas of concern will have to be addressed. This is achieved by firstly understanding what social inclusion means. It is defined by some as, finding ways of preventing and overcoming social exclusion (ncaonline.org.uk). For this to be achieved the following points of views will be discussed on the issues that affect their health and well being, how resources and services from local, regional and national level can support them and the roles and responsibilities of nurses and other health and social care professionals in promoting social inclusion. However the author is going to use different available materials to provide an overview of this diverse group which is often mistaken by the public as a homogeneous group. The author is going to focus on asylum seekers (someone who is still in the process of becoming a refugee) rather than refugees (someone who has been granted the refugee status) because refugees just like o rdinary citizens have wider choices that can socially include them as compared to asylum seekers who do not have the privilege of choice. To whatever the destination an asylum seeker flees to, the journey is rather distressing with fears of being discovered, persecuted and arrested which can affects their mental health and physical well being. It is believed that when they arrive some would have been in good health but, the asylum process itself may entail its additional stresses such as conflict with immigration officials, being denied a work permit, unemployment, difficulties registering with GPs, loneliness and boredom (Hayes and Humphries, 2004). Their mental and physical health may deteriorate within two to three years of arriving due to post-traumatic experiences, unexpected changes, dependency, poverty and poor accommodation (Burnett and Fassil, 2002). Frequently reported mental health problems experienced by asylum seekers include anxiety, depression, phobias and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) which may cause long term problems if not well attended to. These may have been as a result of domestic abuse, multiple losses, torture, witnessing hostile situations and sexual abuse (Jones and Jill, 1998). Since mental health issues are viewed differently in some cultures, healthcare professionals have to be culturally sensitive towards those presenting with problems related to mental health (NMC, 2004). Those with PTSD will require strong advocacy to ensure that they have access to specialist support. However, some of the physical health needs usually suffered by asylum seekers are chronic diseases such as coronary heart diseases and diabetes which may not have been detected because of poor health facilities in countries of origin (Burnett and Fassil, 2002). Some conditions may have been acquired en-route to their destinations such as gastrointestinal problems, respiratory infections such as Tuberculosis (TB), malaria and other communicable diseases such as HIV and AIDS. Asylum seekers may present with fear of being seen as disease carriers which means they may suffer in silence, therefore demonstrating sensitivity towards these people will ensure that they are valued and respected regardless of their illnesses. Offering full medical assessments for the benefit of the individuals will help in detecting any unknown problems and find suitable interventions in promoting their health and wellbeing. Disabilities suffered through torture or war may present health concerns and emotional distress to asylum seekers (Burnett and Fassil, 2002). Those who are disabled will need referrals for assessment of needs where the provision of care may only be granted in regard to their immigration status, which may undermine their basic human needs (Immigration and Asylum Act, 1999). The author argues that this endangers the person with the disability as they will be more vulnerable to social exclusion. Some women seek asylum while they are pregnant. These may have been as a result of domestic violence, rape as well as prostitution as a result of trying to fend for themselves and their families. They may suffer complications due to late registrations, lack of geographical knowledge and support and poor ante-natal care (McLeish, 2002). In some instances when the woman is being abused her needs may not be identified because men are culturally considered as the main speaker of the family risking misdiagnosis of the illness. It will need tactical nursing skills and knowledge of different cultures for the womans needs to be met without disrespecting cultural beliefs and values. Since April 2004 failed asylum seekers have been asked to pay for their hospital charges which can have a negative impact on their mental and physical health. Since one of the core principles of the NHS towards healthcare is that care is regarded as a universal service for all and a basic human right, therefore service should be provided based on clinical need rather than an ability to pay (Kelly and Stevenson, 2006), it can be argued why asylum seekers are refused treatment and asked to pay for their services when they are not even allowed to work for them to be able to finance this need). If health professionals follow this core principal and exercise empathy it will have a positive impact on those who really need care. Accommodation is a key resource in the resettlement of asylum seekers. The areas they are dispersed to may be of great impact to their health and well being. The dispersal process may cause long term damage if they are dispersed to areas that are ill-prepared for their unique needs. There is evidence which shows that asylum seekers may be living in substandard housing that is impoverished, overcrowded and with high risks of fire and spreading of diseases (Garvie, 2001). They have no individual preferences and choices of where they want to live and who to share their accommodation with. While the Immigration and Asylum Act, 1999 makes the care in the community function dependent on immigration status, older asylum seekers who are in need of community care may not be eligible for basic services such as day centre places for those with mental problems, social work support for mental disorders and meals on wheels because they are subject to immigration control which can make their experiences difficult (Cohen, 2001). Okitikpi and Aymer (2000) sited in Pierson (2002) argues that other multi-disciplinary teams such as social workers have an unavoidable political task around the policies of dispersal in order to build broad coalitions in raising local awareness of the legal confinements with which refugee families have to cope. As granting employment to asylum seekers has been observed as a pull factor for more arrivals, asylum seekers in the UK are not allowed to work until they receive their refugee status, even though there is evidence which shows that unemployment does not have any impact on the number of people seeking asylum (Zetter et al, 2003), they are still not allowed to work and have to live on lower than subsistence levels of income as compared to the general public (Hayes and Humphries, 2004). Unemployment makes them more vulnerable to poverty, as they only receive about 70% of normal income support. Those who have exhausted their claims and being looked after under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 only receive non cash vouchers which they can only use in certain supermarkerts where-by no change is given back which will further reduce the amount. This stigmatises, discriminates and violates their basic human rights as they will not have wider choices of supermarkets that sell f ood from their own countries. It is believed that allowing asylum seekers to work whilst awaiting their decisions may reduce negative socio-economic effects on their mental health and enhances their social integration with the society (Hayes and Humphries, 2004). The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offers international protection to displaced asylum seekers with a well-founded fear of persecution by assuring them of certain clearly defined rights (Loescher et al, 2008). It has a responsibility of monitoring and supporting states compliance with the norms, rules and decision making procedures set out primarily by the 1951 Convention. Nationally in the UK, the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) within the Home Office works to provide accommodation and money for everyday essentials. It provides regional funding to the local councils and registered landlords in the provision of furnished accommodation. Firstly assessments are done following the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to check if the person seeking asylum is destitute, so that the level of support needed is clear. NASS can only support those who are awaiting decisions which place those who have been refused status to become destitute and homeless. Voluntary organisations such as Yorkshire and Humberside Consortium for Asylum seekers and Refugees (set up in 2002 co-ordinates with NASS in providing management of accommodation, developing accessible services and promoting integration into new communities (www.harpweb.org.uk). Refugee council provide advice and information in individual languages, emergency accommodation and assistance in different regional areas (www.refugeecouncil.org.uk). Oxfam is also a voluntary or charitable organisation that helps in campaigning for those who are being made destitute by the asylum process to stop them from being deported back to their countries where they may be arrested and persecuted. British Red Cross also help those who are homeless by providing food supplies, clothes and vouchers to buy essentials such as toiletries (www.harpweb.org.uk).

Recommendations To Make The Organization More Competitive :: Business Analysis

The more competitive corporations are in markets, the less the strategies are available to any corporation. All corporations become reactive rather than proactive, unable to impose their will on the market. They cannot control price, they cannot differentiate their product. Competition denies them the resources to acquire other enterprises. In reality cost positions differ, often significantly, and products are perceived to be different, sometimes so different that some are branded. This generates both the scope and resources needed for acquisitions, aggressive price behavior or a major marketing campaign. The specific recommendations the Board is seeking are how: A. to make the organization more competitive: The main outcome of having a competitive strategy advantage is clear. Such an advantage translates into the positive outcomes of a profits earned by our corporation with above average for the industry, instead of a loss less than that earned by others. It does not necessarily mean an above-normal profit since this depends on the nature of our industry. It is easy to recognize when competitive advantage exists, when an our corporation, is competing with another corporation, for the same customers in the same market, is able to earn either a realized, or potential, profit which is higher than that of competitors, or a loss which is smaller. Provided the accounting is accurate, it is not difficult to identify the corporation with a competitive advantage. The result of a better financial performance is made possible by the key characteristic of any competitive advantage, the greater utility or value given to the customer by an enterprise. Customers buy our service either in greater numbe rs or at a higher price because of this greater advantage. Competitive advantage is then the ability to better satisfy our customers than competitors could. The causes of the existence of such an advantage reflect the combined ability to recognize opportunity and therefore position the corporation accordingly, and produce what is wanted at a cost and therefore a price which is acceptable. Both these abilities are the result of the appropriate application of the core competencies possessed by the corporation. B. to provide high quality customer services: The corporation realization of entrepreneurial goals requires, for its success, adequate, even high-quality management inputs. Many of these management inputs involve specialist knowledge of functional areas. The proportion of entrepreneurs and managers required within an enterprise, or indeed the desirable blend of these characteristics within the same individuals, can vary markedly. Recommendations To Make The Organization More Competitive :: Business Analysis The more competitive corporations are in markets, the less the strategies are available to any corporation. All corporations become reactive rather than proactive, unable to impose their will on the market. They cannot control price, they cannot differentiate their product. Competition denies them the resources to acquire other enterprises. In reality cost positions differ, often significantly, and products are perceived to be different, sometimes so different that some are branded. This generates both the scope and resources needed for acquisitions, aggressive price behavior or a major marketing campaign. The specific recommendations the Board is seeking are how: A. to make the organization more competitive: The main outcome of having a competitive strategy advantage is clear. Such an advantage translates into the positive outcomes of a profits earned by our corporation with above average for the industry, instead of a loss less than that earned by others. It does not necessarily mean an above-normal profit since this depends on the nature of our industry. It is easy to recognize when competitive advantage exists, when an our corporation, is competing with another corporation, for the same customers in the same market, is able to earn either a realized, or potential, profit which is higher than that of competitors, or a loss which is smaller. Provided the accounting is accurate, it is not difficult to identify the corporation with a competitive advantage. The result of a better financial performance is made possible by the key characteristic of any competitive advantage, the greater utility or value given to the customer by an enterprise. Customers buy our service either in greater numbe rs or at a higher price because of this greater advantage. Competitive advantage is then the ability to better satisfy our customers than competitors could. The causes of the existence of such an advantage reflect the combined ability to recognize opportunity and therefore position the corporation accordingly, and produce what is wanted at a cost and therefore a price which is acceptable. Both these abilities are the result of the appropriate application of the core competencies possessed by the corporation. B. to provide high quality customer services: The corporation realization of entrepreneurial goals requires, for its success, adequate, even high-quality management inputs. Many of these management inputs involve specialist knowledge of functional areas. The proportion of entrepreneurs and managers required within an enterprise, or indeed the desirable blend of these characteristics within the same individuals, can vary markedly.