Harley-Davidson Inc Essay Example for Free

Harley-Davidson Inc Essay This case study analyzes the differentiation strategy adopted by Harley-Davidson Inc. to differentiate itself from the competition. Further, it will address the issues and challenges faced by Harley- Davidson Inc. due to changing demographics and financial turmoil. And last but not least the case study will give an idea of what strategies Harley- Davidson Inc. could apply in the future so that it could sustain and enhance its competitive position. There are two generic business level strategies to yield a higher rate of profit over a rival according to M. Porter. First, a firm can focus on cost leadership, which generates economic value by having lower costs than competitors. Second, a firm can focus on product differentiation and generates economic value by offering a product that customers prefer over the products of competitors. In other words the firm provides something unique that is valuable to buyers beyond offering the product at a low price. Harley-Davidson Inc. does not focus on cost leadership, but on product differentiation. Its tangible dimensions of differentiation are among other things its classic style that had characterized Harleys since its early years, the ability to personalize the motorcycle according to ones taste, the super-heavyweight cruiser bikes it sells and the wide price range. Moreover, H.D. offers a wide pre- and after- sales service that obliges dealers to carry a full line of Harley replacement parts and accessories and to perform service on Harley bikes, it offers test ride facilities, rider instruction classes, motorcycle rental, assistance for owners in customizing their bikes through dealer-based design centers and chrome consultants, insurance services and exclusive dealerships. Its intangible dimensions of differentiation are its unique image, status, exclusivity and identity. Thus, H.D does incorporate the American lifestyle, stands for individuality, freedom, toughness and adventure and can be seen as the ultimate biker status. Some people might even state that it represents something close to a religion or a family. H.D. created the HOG, a community where Harley Owners meet and interact with other Harley owners and where Harleys employees participate eagerly. That way H.D. could create a strong loyalty among Harley owners by creating a Harley experience and a unique relationship with its customers. Harley still focuses mainly on the Baby Boomer generation, customers that are now age 35 and 54, male and middle class and on heavyweight cruiser motorcycles, which prioritize the statement of style over either comfort or speed. In summary H.D. applied a differentiation strategy wherein it targeted specific products at niche segments (heavyweight cruiser motorcycles). The brand has a cult status among its loyal clientele and characterizes adventure, freedom, tradition and power. By differentiating its product from the products of competitors H.D. was able to command a premium for its products. Further, H.D. resources and capabilities are compared to those of one of his competitors taking the example of Honda. H.D. represents one of the oldest motorcycle brands in the US. They are designed, engineered, assembled and built in the U.S.A. Honda designs and builds its motorcycles in Japan. Whereas Honda is known for the best weight to power ratios, emphasizes speed and power and aims at a younger clientele, H.M. is known for its cruiser motorcycles which prioritize the statement of style over either comfort or speed and are mainly bought by customers between age 35 and 54. Further, H.D. competes with Honda by also building performance motorcycles (Buell Motorcycles) and Honda competes with H.D. by also building cruisers targeting H.D. Due to the smaller corporate size and inability to share RD across cars and bikes H.D.s ability to invest in technology and new products is limited. Thus, most of Harleys product development efforts in the past were limited to style changes, new paint designs and engineering improvements. In contrary, Honda has been continuously pursuing advancement of new technologies and new products. Thus, it puts emphasis on innovation in Fuel and Engine Technology. Because of the advanced nature of their research, Honda has a strong first-mover advantage over competitors such as H.D. It will be difficult for H.D., which does not actively pursue his own research to catch up with Honda. Moreover, Honda does also have a strong brand loyalty (64% vs. 48% Industry Average) and it offers multiple lines (cars, motorcycles, mowers). Further, Honda does cultivate mass production, whereas H.D. offers highly customized products, which allows H.D. to premium pricing. Moreover, Honda successfully continues to broaden the sales distribution base beyond the North American and Japanese markets to Asia, Russia and Europe. H.D. sells the American lifestyle and is rooted in American culture. The European motorcycle market focuses on performance bikes (70%) and not on H.D.s specialty, the cruisers (only 30%). Those circumstances lead to difficulties for H.D. regarding its position in the European market. Difficulties Honda does not have. To extend its European presence H.D. bought the MV Agusta Group, which has two families of motorcycles, a line of exclusive, premium, high-performance sport motorcycles and a lightweight motorcycle to comply with the demand on the European market. H.D. is thus facing the threat of growing advantages of determined competitors. Market shares on the international market continue to grow for other firms. Demographic changes represent a threat to H.D. because of the aging customer base H.D. does have. The owners continue to age (Baby Boomer generation and soon they are too old to ride their bikes. Another threat is the economic recession. Customers are staying away due to less buying power. H.D. had to cut jobs and to close production facilities. Further, EUs motorcycle noise standards and pollution and emission standards that are not up to level of some countries represent a threat to H.D. Because of the aging customer base H.D. should market and position their products to the right market segment. Since the original H.D. customers are soon to be too old to ride their motorcycles H.D. could apply a multi-generational and multi-cultural marketing strategy that also includes young adults and women. In order to survive H.D. needs to supply different types of bikes with different brand images to appeal to different and changing types of customers. H.D. could then further take action in increasing their market share internationally by expanding their current presence and reaching new international markets and creating value for its brand outside the U.S. Further, H.D. should focus on the Harley brand by leveraging unique H.D. strenghts. It should abandon the Buell line of sport bikes and the Agusta line. Moreover, H.D. should develop its technology to increase automation. This will lead to cheaper labor and to a more efficient customization. What H.D. should not do is lowering its customization level since customization also represents one of H.D.s highest assets for their brand. To get access to high-level technological capabilities H.D. could merge with groups like Renault/Nissan who bring Japanese manufacturing skills or Volkswagen, who has excellent Eastern European experience.

A Visitor Management Plan For Central London Tourism Essay

A Visitor Management Plan For Central London Tourism Essay There is no doubt about the fact that London is kind of home for many tourist. Though London as a whole has attracted many tourists internationally, yet the importance of Central London in this matter is very specific. Museums and parks and entertainment horizons of Central London had always been the centre of Attraction for many European and International tourists. The civilisations attached to London and the popular cultures being a part of it make it the most conformable place and an obvious choice to visit, for many tourists. The underlying principle for this project is to derive a Visitor Management Plan for the Central London. The approach is to look into all those perspectives and the arrangements of all kinds of assistance in order to offer the visitors with right kinds of exposure to the areas of Central London. The paper has been designed to grasp and to offer appropriate guidelines and necessary tips for managing with a pleasurable and a very relaxing way of dealing with t he tourism sector of this place. This is an initiation led from the perspective of local tourism management organisations in order to understand the developmental and the systematic strategic plans for offering the area of Central London with the best possible tourism options and to attract visitors here for the betterment of tourism sector in London as a whole. Outline and Analysis of Central London Tourism The British Museum and the British Library in the Central London holds many aspects of literary exposures. These are the places that are most visited by the tourist to see and explore the original manuscripts of classics like the notebook of Jane Austen, Alice in Wonderland, Charlotte Brontes manuscript of Jane Eyre added by the proof all those places that are being explored, dominated and eventually conquered by the British Empire. The British Museum and the British Library are the most renowned and very authentic place that most of the international visitors tries to visit, in order to see things that made history. Central London is very popular for other museums like Victoria and Albert Museum in the area of Kensington. This is the worlds largest museum that holds decorative design and arts, with an abundant collection of 4.5 million objects. The speciality of these museums are integral to the collection of things that are very much close to the cultures of North America, Europe, North Africa and Asia. The best parts of these valuable sites are that they are all free of cost and visitors can make an entry very obviously. This is definitely is a very right kind of approach and as such more and more people are attracted towards it. Keeping the options free to tourists for these cultural and historical assets is a very strong approach and as such can be declared as a strong strategic plan in attaining worldwide popularity. However, minimal charges for these areas can be considered and that should be so minimal that people from any country can afford it. This is a plan that will keep a track of the number of visitor ¿Ã‚ ½s to these places added by some chance to earn a minimal amount for the maintenance of these places. The historical and cultural part of Central London is also comprised of places like Buckingham Palace. It has been estimated that an average of 15 million tourists come to Central London to see this Royal palace every year. In summer season, th e visitors are even allowed to see some rooms of this palace and that is a real treat to them. Visits to Tower of London holding Crown Jewels of England is also very popular and visitors throng here to have the eternal glance of it. Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, London Eye, Covent Garden, Natural History Museum, London Zoo, Globe Theatre, Madame Tussauds and Charles Dickens Museum are some additional must visits for the tourists to Central London. Apart from all these locations, most of the people prefer to visit Central London for its wonderful parks and to wander along. Most of these parks are counted with Regents Park, Holland Park and Corams Fields. The preferences are all about having grass for walk, ball games and picnicking. Though some of the Royal parks are closed at nights and are very much guided by the police, yet the preferences for these places are very obvious and incredible among the tourists. Provisions for skating are made possible in Kensington Gardens along wit h Serpentine Road in Hyde Park. This is a very important provisions that have attracted many tourists and the same applications should be made possible in most of the other parks too. It is necessary to consider that people definitely come to Central London for relaxation, fun and to enjoy their holidays, and thus it s becomes the responsibility of the tourism industry in London to offer people with adequate amount of almost everything. Visitors ¿Ã‚ ½ Bases and Statistics According to Hard, R. (2010) there is a clear declaration about the visitor ¿Ã‚ ½s bases and the statistics to Central London. As per this declaration the total Central London visitors in the year 2007 has been estimated as 25.2 million added by 6.2 million of business visitors. The total leisure and other visitors to Central London has been declared as 11.55 million and 1,353 Central London Hotels were been occupied. The average room occupancy has been calculated as 82.2%. as for the declarations made by the Press Association (2007) over the developmental structure of tourism in Central London, they are pretty sure of its expansion by the year 2012. The most visited places as of now are the museums, theatres and the parks. Yet the expansion as declared by Press association will be inclusive of the Olympic game propaganda that will overcrowd the place for all possible reasons. The following diagram forwarded by Office of National Statistics (2010), will illustrate the occupancy of visitors to Central London more clearly- Figure SEQ Figure * ARABIC 1. Visits to and from UK Source: Office of National Statistics 2010 As shown in the figure from 2008 onwards there is an extremely rise in the amount of visitors to UK, specifically to Central London then people going out from UK or the Central London in particular. As per the three-month trends that have been seasonally adjusted, the assessments are very clear and practically strong in favour of tourism in UK and Central London in particular. In the month of August, 2010 to the month of October, 2010, the estimations led by Office of National Statistics (2010), the number of visitors who visited Central London from overseas was up to 7.5 million. This was an estimation that actually attained a fall of  ¿Ã‚ ½4.2 billion. The rise of people going out of UK has deteriorated from the total amount of people that are getting into the state as tourists. As this assessment gets wider perspective of 12 months during the total number of visits by overseas residents to various places of UK making Central London as the core place attained a rate of 29.6 milli on which is again considered as unsatisfactory. The estimation of visits to the UK by people from various countries has been declared as following- Residents from Europe covered a space of 22.0 million Residents from North America got reduced from 3.5 million to 3.3 million, and Residents from other parts of the world offered an increase of 2 per cent and that attained a rise of 4.3 million It can be well attached that visits to UK, especially Central London has definitely got enormous increase, yet this is an increase that is exclusive of European and North Americans. The rise has been much supported by other countries of the world. Stakeholder Analysis The basic stakeholders who are very important in the process of developing the tourism sector in Central London are identified as National Governing Bodies, Coaching Development and Newham Water Sports Group. These are the associations that are concentrating in adding activities and thematic persuasion to the tourism sector of Central London. The core concerns are predominated by adding entertainment and adequate amount of sports and adventures to all those tourists who wants to be a part of it. The persuasions are also handled to organise diversified tourists ¿Ã‚ ½ interests in different ways. The activities and the sight seeing activities are made better and very much supported by technological and other electronic modes, so that visitors get al kinds of conform and luxury during their travel. As declared by Mayor of Central London in London Gov. UK. (2005), there is the need to improve the IT and the sectors of sophistications in Central London so that it can offer the tourists with all the information that hey want and that too within no time. The demands were led over the application of Sub Regional Development Framework (SRDF) for Central London. The chief objective of this framework has been declared by the Mayor of Central London as- Central London is one of the worlds great places. Londoners and visitors identify with the unique mix of business, culture, entertainment and heritage found at the heart of London. It is a place that contains areas of considerable wealth alongside concentrations of deprivation. This SRDF strikes a balance between the needs of central London ¿Ã‚ ½s residents, workers and visitors as well as reflecting its status as a centre of global business and culture. The approaches are very practical and it is noteworthy that the contributions of the stakeholders, especially that of National Governing Bodies, Coaching Development and Newham Water Sports Group are very predominating. The concentrations are led over the persuasion of regulatory functions. Various examples in this context can be identified in terms of disciplinary action for rule infractions and over the matters of deciding rule changes in various sports that they govern. Governing bodies are structured and restructured in different scopes. The coverage is inclusive of international level, as for instance International Olympic Committee or the national level sports like Rugby Football League. The entire formulations are to promote various sports activities so that the area of Central London can acquire more attentions from the tourists. As these sports get conducted they turn up to be the sources for generating and encouraging more and more tourists to Central London. Pestle and SWO T Application of Pestle and SWOT analysis in this aspect clarifies all those domains that need special attention and cooperation for the overall development of Central London Tourism in the upcoming years. As the concept of tourism in Central London gets analysed under PESTLE, the basic field of analysis are Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors. From political point of view, there is much support led by the governance in developing Central London tourism. The support from local and central governments are very strong in this matter. Economic growth of Central London can be well marked by the increase in the hotel tariffs in last few years. Radical growth in the eurozone economy has been marked. An estimation of  ¿Ã‚ ½15billion each year is definitely is a great hype and this has been much supported by the tourism sector (Rodr ¿Ã‚ ½guez-Pose and Kr ¿Ã‚ ½ijer, 2009). The social dominance too has been much affected by the increase of tourists in Central London. The aspects are very much related to mixing of diversified cultures on the same trend and the sellers too get involved in offering customer-oriented products. As a result there is a kind of intermingleness among various social set ups of Central London that are getting different from the original trends, yet are much acclaimed internationally. Additions of upgrade technological supports in promoting in getting visitors from all over the world are very well generated through Online marketing provisions. It is through online deals that most of the tourists are welcomed and are offered best of the services. The support led by customer care and other scopes are all dominated by upgrade communicative support led by technologies. Against all these facilities the legal peripheries in the activities of Central London are getting stricter. Administration and legislatures are all involved in offering the state with more safe and peaceful legal support. The purpose is to pre vent Central London getting affected by risky outsiders and offering the tourists with the sense of security and safeguards n enjoying their holidays. However, when it comes to the issue of Environment, there is of course a tassel regarding the understanding of pollution and concerns related to the maintenance of good environmental condition n Central London. As declared in the News of European Space Agency (2010) YourAir service has made a prediction about the levels of pollutants that are actually increasing due to the excessive exposure of nitrogen dioxide, added by ozone and airborne particles. It has been further declared that necessary control to this is important as it might lead to diseases like, asthma, heart and lung problems. The role of tourism in creating these pollutants is definitely considered as a major factor. As there is an increase in the tourism sector more and more people gets into the town and as such the environmental balance gets distracted. As per the SWOT that is Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis Strengths Weaknesses The most predominated strength of the Central London tourism is its systematic and strategic persuasion of tourism structure. It is a very experience market in tourism and thus has attained enough success internationally on obvious terms The weakness of Central London tourism lies in the massive expansion of all kinds of business in a small demographical area. There is a huge demand for resources and manpower that is yet to meet by Central London tourism sector Opportunities Threats When it comes to opportunities, the tourism sector of Central London attains enough support from almost all kinds of segments. As it is a highly sophisticated region, it can afford all kinds of developmental and the best of the provisions for the tourist on worldwide basis. As the entire tourism sector of UK is evolving from Central London its responsibility increases and there is a regular demand of competitiveness and excellence led on it. The other areas too are creating enough competition to the Central London tourism and the threats of competitions are getting higher every year. Development of Objectives The developmental objectives of Central London tourism needs to be focussed on short, medium and longer term basis. It is important to note that the functionalities of Central London tourism must follow enough scope of development and economic growth for the country and needs to generate equal emphasis over the resources and the concerns of dealing with natural and human resources. The entire Central London tourism sector need more appropriate synchronisation to make its string enough against the increasing levels of competitions. Every promotional programme can be introduced as per the interests of the tourists and the same can be extended from a smaller zone to larger perspectives. To meet short, medium and longer terms of development, it is necessary for Central London tourism needs to get focus on higher density of building environment added by higher land values, excessive elevation in the daytime population and above all severe concentration over issues like regional and religi ous sentiments. Increasing levels of competitions authorised nationally and internationally should be well handled with a perception to meet the competitive gap with appropriate dominance. The specific developmental objectives can be noted as- Increasing scopes for employment Maintenance of environmental insecurities Implementing situation oriented strategies to the tourism sector Meeting demands of the upcoming markets Offering support to the preservation of resources Dealing with issues that can create political, social or legal chaos Financial planning against the increased value in every aspect Apart from all these, Central London tourism must have right kinds of audit and inspections for offering the entire region with adequate amount of security and systematic developmental proceedings for the maintenance of a good tourism oriented business. Financial support from the stakeholders and the support for exclusive management planning are very important to offer small, medium and longer sustainability to the Central London tourism industry. The demand for apt plan to meet international competition is the core demand in the current hors. Detailed Strategies and Tactics The strategic planning for offering Central London tourism industry with long terms sustainability and short and medium term profitability, there is the need for dealing with the current market trends and demands of the customers. There are some rigid categories that need to be well planned in order to attain proficiency levels in the Central London tourism sector. Application of 4Ps It is through the adoption of marketing mix that the Central London tourism can attain adequate amount of international tourism structure. This is a kind of structure that has been designed with an amalgamated formulation of 4Ps and 4Cs in the process of managing international tourism and the levels of competitiveness created by it. To attain effective results under 4Ps it is necessary for Central London tourism to use all the products and resources as per the detected demands of the market and the related cultural and social backgrounds. By means of 4Ps emphasis need to be led over the determination of Product, Price, Place and Promotion of the tourism perspectives in Central London (Banting and Ross, 1973). In a way everything that is considered as product for the tourist must be customised as per the specific customer. This also needs to be evaluated as per the affordability and the cost of preparation of the product. The design is very strict in terms of the specific places where it will be made available followed by right kind of promotional tools. In terms of promotions the instruments like banners, media to internet needs to be used exclusively so that every individual attains its brand and create the trust to try it. The formulation of 4Ps under marketing mix further needs to get extended by specific importance over People and Process. In this respect the Central London tourism need to laid emphasis over the tourists who are coming from developing countries (McCarthy, 1975). As declared above there is a radical rise in the tourists from developing countries, thus the extended implication of strategic planning must consider the extended People and Process concerns. In most cases it has been found that the tourism sector of Central London hardly offers importance to people from third world. There is a kind of block that sustain in them and that needs to get overcome. Giving importance to the tourists, irrespective of their origin needs to be inclusive in the developmental structure of Central London tourism. Application of 4Cs Implication of Commodity, Cost, Channel and Communication is considered as the root for sustainable success, especially for tourism these tools become mandatory (Koichi 2003 and 2009). Commodity in this case is all about the entire tourism industry of Central London that needs to specify its places like museums and parks as per the preferences or conveniences of the market, here tourists. According to Schullz, Tannenbaum and Lauterborn, (1993) the expenditure and the tour packages are what the Central London tourism sector need to consider as per the rate of currencies of all those countries that are joining in its tourism market. In this case special emphasis needs to be offered over the determination and the specification of monetary standards that prevails in the developing countries. Specialised and customised packages should be made to suit the customers from Asian and the African countries. As these people are participating more in visiting Central London, their conveniences sh ould be considered as per their budget and currency values. The channels that need to be considered are the media that will expose the Central London tourism to the world. In many first world countries internet definitely is the strongest media. However, in the developing countries the demands of the traditional modes of publicity; like television, radio and print media are still very effective. Keeping these conditions under considerations, the Central London tourism needs to explore these domains to reach to the people in the most positive manner. The discriminatory attitudes or the laid back considerations are actually never suggested for a sustainable growth. Restricting the publication and scopes of media by Central London tourism can limit its expansion and thus is very much suggested to consider all kinds of channels to reach the target customers. The ways of communication in the developing and the developed countries are very common. This is the most convenient mode of commu nication and has been established by the social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. As against the traditional modes of communication the international communicative exchanges are more comfortably adopted through internet and Central London tourism need to apply the same for the tourists from both developed and developing countries. Determination of content will differ though; the basic approach needs to remain the same. Promotions through social networking sites and emails will also gain adequate response in the developing countries, built at the same time for wider publicity; it is important and necessary to add the traditional media too. Recruitment and Professional Training The entire Central London tourism needs to get reformed and restructured as per the demands of the customers. There is the need for applying absolute customer-oriented business modules so that the business of tourism can grow in all directions. Central London tourism need to employ more and more professional people and added to these recruitment proceedings there is the need for appropriate kind of marketing training to them so that they can deal with different demographical populations and cultures. The process of recruitment should be very strong and apt training in accordance to the target customer should be arranged. As for instance, communications with the customer for taking visits to Central London tourism can either be outsourced or can be initiated by local marketing agents to get right kinds of responses and persuasions. As more and more people will be approached in their language and as per their communication cultures, the response too will get positive and Central London tourism will expand in its marketing venture in getting more and more tourists. Conclusions Eventually, it can be considered that the tourism sector of London is definitely in good shape, yet is equally much threatened by the lack of resources and the increasing competitions on international front. As this plan gets approach there are many things that needs same specialised attentions and these need to get generated to offer support for long term sustainability of the entire sector. Hopes are very much positive with the persuasion of London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Yet the systematic planning and making space for all kinds of visitors is a great challenge to Central London tourism. There is no denial to the fact that the Central London tourism has been recognised as the best tourism sector that is traditionally, socially and economically has been much acclaimed. From financial point of view, there is definitely no chance of running out of budget, yet possibilities of getting overspent with extreme misuse of financial assts can definitely take place. The entire Cen tral London tourism is in severe need of expert financial consultants and people who can really mange Central London tourism n reference to diversified kinds of people who are getting into the market. The limitations that can be noted in the implication of the advised plan can be pointed out as following- Lack of adequate manpower Increasing risks of environmental pollution Deficiency in making arrangements for huge mass of people Need to compromise demographical expansion Unable to offer adequate international exposure in the developing countries. Against all these limitations, it becomes very mandatory for the Central London tourism to offer specialists in the financial and the management sectors so that regulations and related implications get enough support for each other. There is the severe demand to balance between the amounts earned and to regenerate in long term basis. Negligence in this aspect can result in successive failures and the entire Central London tourism can get trapped by the pressure of international competitiveness.

Physical Education In Secondary Schools :: essays research papers

Physical Education In Secondary Schools My philosophy of physical education in the secondary setting deals with students becoming physically fit. Also that students learn how to communicate with others, especially in a team setting. My philosophy also holds in it different teaching methods. Methods that physical education teachers can use to get the most out of their students. With this philosophy of physical education I plan to use it toward becoming a good teacher. The major reason for having physical education in secondary schools is to lead the students toward a better lifestyles and to be physically fit. There was an article published In 1992 by, The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), stating what "The Physically Fit Person" should consist of. This article states five factors of a physical fit person. One factor is that a physically fit person "has learned skills necessary to perform a variety of physical activities". The second factor, "is the person physically fit". The third factor is "does this person participate regularly in physical activity". The fourth is a physically fit person "knows the implications of and the benefits from involvement in physical activity". The last factor is that a physically fit person "values physical activity and its contributions to a healthful lifestyle". The plan as physical educators is to have each child be a physically fit person, by their exit of high school. This will take some work but I believe it could be done. Another very important issue to be learned in secondary physical education is teamwork. This is a very important aspect in everyday life. This helps people think of others as much, or more, than themselves. Today some work places are going to the team oriented style of work. The worker needs to be able to express ideas amongst his/her teammates and come with solutions together. A good activity that could be introduced in secondary physical education programs is a ropes course. Rope courses are great for students to get into the teamwork mentality. This could help students be dependable on each other and trust each other. Education is not only a necessity, but a major part of life. Some children perceive school as a punishment. Including myself, that was the way I felt as a child. But as I grew older I found out that learning can be fun. Some children seem to take education for granted. When I was a school boy, I never realized how much I was learning. The only thing that got me through school was the two days of physical education that I had per week.

Bismarcks appointment of Minister President of Prussia Essay

Bismarck’s appointment of Minister President of Prussia (1862) was the most important turning point in the course of German nationalism in the period 1815-1919? By 1919 Germany had been united, and the nature of nationalism had changed from a freedom seeking, democratic force into one which demanded popular subservience to the state. German nationalism had clearly changed radically over the period of more than one hundred years and defining the turning point at which it changed is difficult due to the sheer number of factors that impacted upon it as well as the vast number of events and organisations which interfered with its development. Otto von Bismarck would become viewed in later years as the father of German nationalism. When he came to power 1862 the Kaiser was looking for a man who could oppose the liberals and force through a favourable army bill. However, within just nine years Germany would have become united, not without the help, though not always willing, from Bismarck. Bismarck effected the unification of Germany almost single-handedly. However, many of the opportunities which Bismarck actually attempted to manipulate were neither created by him nor very successful. Bismarck did not always manage nationalism as effectively as it is suggested. The Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71 forced to unite with the southern states in Germany when in reality it would have been unlikely that he desired this. Prussia was still attempting to absorb the north German states and to add the southern states, especially with their un-Prussian culture, risked diluting Prussia’s culture too far. It is clear that in 1890 Bismarck was managed by nationalism because he was forced to resign due to the outpouring of nationalist feeling that resented him attempting to hold Germany in check. He represented the old Germany, a Prussian dominated one and in an effort to find a â€Å"German† chancellor he was removed from office. Even the Dual Alliance in 1879 demonstrated how German nationalism forced him to take actions against his will. With his Prussian upbringing his loyalties more likely lay with Russian rather than Austria and the decline of Austria was increasingly clear for all too see, to join the young, powerful Germany with this crumbling empire would do nothing to help the country yet nationalistic feeling in Germany forced the Alliance. Bismarck’s appointment in 1882 was an important moment in German nationalism but the theory that one man had such an impact upon the fate of a nation does not stand so well in light of deeper scrutiny. The Congress of Vienna held in 1815 helped create an environment which would help the growth of German nationalism. Prussia’s gains in the west of Germany were actually intended by the Allies to be a burden. They had given the smallest of the Great Powers the most difficult job as acting as a barricade against France. However, this would backfire on the Allies when it would later become Germany’s massive industrial growth. It also affected the nature of Prussia, whereas she had previously been a predominantly Eastern European power she now had a pan-German outlook, though it appeared to begin with that she had little in common with her western population. The distance between the two main blocks of land meant that transporting goods between the two would prove difficult and this would spur the creation and development of the Prussian Customs Union in 1818 which would later become the Zollverein in 1834. However, when at the Congress of Vienna the Allies faced the question of â€Å"what is Germany† they fell back on historical precedent, the Holy Roman Empire. This can be seen as a retrospective step because it actually excluded areas of both Austria and Prussia, as well as making many of the smaller states much larger. The Congress of Vienna was not a turning point in German nationalism, but without it the nature of Germany could have been very different from that with which we are familiar if it existed at all. The creation of the Zollverein in 1834 was a critical turning point for German nationalism, formed from the Prussian Customs Union in 1818. Thomas Nipperdy described the creation of the Zollverein as â€Å"the outstanding event in all-German history†. Given the basis as a pan-German union it improved the contacts between all of the German states, encouraging them to work together for mutual benefit and broke down barriers between the regions of Germany both officially and culturally. It is often the case that economic unity leads to political as appears to be the case with the EU, formerly the European Economic Community (EEC) and the push for a European constitution. However, German political unity was far from inevitable, many Germans now saw political unity as obsolete because they achieved all the benefits of such a union without the risk of losing any of their own unique regional culture. The Zollverein was also critical in training a new cadre of diplomats for Prussia and teaching them to administer a â€Å"German† organisation, experience which would be invaluable in the post-unification era. Bismarck once declared in a speech to the North German Reichstag in 1869 that â€Å"He who has his thumb on the purse has the power† and by taking the economic leadership of the German states Prussia rose importantly and a Kleindeutsch solution to the German problem became much more feasible. It also struck a double blow in this respect. It not only made a Prussian-led Germany more likely but it made an Austrian-led Germany less likely. Because of her exclusion from the customs union the Austrian economy suffered and her already fragile market became on step closer to failing and this would be one of the major reasons for her defeat to Prussia. The use of the economy mirrored the nature of German nationalism; initially it was a liberal move, the reduction of trade barriers embodied by the introduction of the Zollverein. However, by the time unification was achieved economic policy turned its back on liberalism and the economic protectionism Bismarck employed against Russia helped show how far nationalism had changed. The Zollverein would form the template upon which the German Empire would eventually be founded, a kleindeutsch dominated by Prussia. Some historians even go so far to view the whole of the unification of Germany as purely an economic transaction, that it was not driven by political ideology but by the cold logic of money and economic expansionism. The Zollverein did represent an important twist in the history of German nationalism but it did not utterly change the face of the ideology but simply made the prospect more likely. In addition to this, the success of the Zollverein would provide the necessary environment for the rapid expansion of industry within German and this would have a critical impact upon nationalism. 1848 can very easily be viewed as the critical turning point in the history of German nationalism. It is often seen as a turning point about which history failed to turn, and it is this very failure which makes it such an important date in the history of German nationalism. 1848 presented revolutionary factions within Germany, and other countries throughout Europe, with a window of opportunity. In Paris the Second Republic is established in a welter of violence; in Sicily the Palermo Uprising takes place; in Hungary revolution boils over; Swedish revolutionaries are gunned down by their government and in Ireland the potato famine sparks the Tipperary Revolt. To the established order it appeared that stability was breaking down and anarchy threatened them. It was in this climate of exceptional change that the German revolutionary effort failed. The dithering incompetence of the middle classes, coupled with their glaring impotence discredited liberal politics and any idea of a revolution from below. This would prove potentially dangerous for the development of German nationalism. Divorced from its liberal and democratic roots it became a force of the right and of the paternalist government. This resulted in the desire for individual freedoms being sacrificed for the will of state. The government was paranoid about the dangers of the socialist movement within Germany, but they actually shared many common ideals, most markedly the concept of the priority of the state over the individual. It became obvious that power and change could not be achieved without the power of an army to back themselves; Bismarck summarised this problem in his most famous speech â€Å"the great questions of the day will not be decided by speeches and majority decisions – that was the error of 1848 – but by iron and blood†. Given our knowledge of how German nationalism developed into a violent, racist, militaristic force it is clear to see that 1848 was a seminal moment in its development, the pre-1848 liberal, French-styled nationalism became a force of the militant right. 1848 also represented a turning point for German nationalism in a European context. It appeared that countries were naturally progressing from being authoritarian monarchies to becoming nationalistic, liberal democracies. Germany’s refusal to follow this trend fundamentally altered the nature of German nationalism. This turning point about which history failed to turn left something rotten at the core of German nationalism. The change from idealism to brutal pragmatism, combined with the machinations of Bismarck and the authoritarian government meant that the German people’s cause was subverted and used as a weapon against those European powers who had abused Germany for such a long time. On the 18th of January 1871 the German Empire was proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. This can easily be seen as a turning point in German nationalism, it finally created what the nationalists had been striving for over the past half century. Though it is true that the majority of what then became Germany existed in the North German Confederation created 4 years earlier after Prussia’s victory over Austria it represented a subtle but important shift in the history of German nationalism and the process of reaching the announcement played a very important role in defining the new Germany. Even the date upon which the Empire was announced held special significance, 270 years earlier the first Elector of Brandenburg was crowned King in Prussia. This clearly symbolically established Prussian hegemony over the newly created German Reich. Even the fact that the proclamation was made at Versailles was more significant than simple a quick expediency. Were the proclamation were to be made in Berlin, the capital of the new Empire, it would have most likely been made in Parliament. For Bismarck this would have been intolerable, in his eyes it was the army and their feudal, warlord leaders who had united the new empire rather than the romantic liberals and their â€Å"speeches and majority votes†. The Reich was declared in the home of imperial power, Versailles was the benchmark against which all other symbols of imperial might were measured and it clearly showed how the ruling elite of the new Germany planned to rule the country. It would be easy to say that it was a simple political humiliation for the French to have their enemies declare their new country in the French capital but to do this would ignore the deeper significance of both the time and place it was made. Nationalism within Germany underwent many changes over the period from 1815 to 1919. It suffered from a gradual change from its ideals over the time and it is difficult to differentiate between the impacts that the different potential turning points had on German nationalism. However, the most seminal moment in the history Germany nationalism was when it shifted indelibly from the idealists’ views to the pragmatic views of the industrialists within the country. 1866 can be seen as the turning point in the unification of Germany rather than a turning point in the nature of German nationalism. The failure of democracy in 1848 at a time when many other revolutions had succeeded left many Germans with the view that it would only be through violence and warfare â€Å"blood and iron† that their dreams would ever be realised.

EVISION THE FUTURE essays

EVISION THE FUTURE essays As the 21st century dawns ahead of us, the future holds what seems to be the best advancements of our civilization. Man has come a long way since the first computer was invented. It is from that enormous monster that we have grown off of, (maybe that accounts for the hideous beige metal boxes computers are housed in). Then along came wires and at the present we are beginning the wire-less age. What lies beyond that may be the answer to all of man-kinds problems. Remember "the brick"? Also known as a crude cell phone, it marked the beginning of the cellular age. Because of that phone we now have a giant array of cellular phones and accessories. Sure, theres the ordinary cell phone that looks cool, speed-dials from a phonebook, and had a calendar. This past year it is now considered pass. If you have to live up to the status of a CEO, (or just want to act like one), then having a cell phone with internet capabilities is a must. So as the palm pilot goes in the technological trash-bin, cell phones that have access to the internet are becoming the leaders in the global industry. Rather than snapping on a modem, this new breed of cell phones allows for web browsing. These phones get all the basics such as sports scores, news, stock quotes, e-mail and even book ordering from Amazon.com. In addition, any web page that a developer has designed for Wireless Application Protocol, or WAP. America Online and Sprint PCS have recently cut a deal whereas users can get their e-mail and use Instant Messenger on their internet-ready cell phones. Cell phone makers, due to the rising participation in cell phone web-browsing, are increasing storage space on their phones. They are also making the screens larger so that up to about 11 lines of text can be seen on the tiny screen. These cell phone companies are helping start the wireless revolution that will take the world by storm. The remarkable capabilities cell phones no...

How MS-DOS Put Microsoft on the Map

How MS-DOS Put Microsoft on the Map On August 12, 1981, IBM introduced its new revolution in a box, the Personal Computer complete with a brand new operating system from Microsoft, a 16-bit computer operating system called MS-DOS 1.0. What Is an Operating System? The operating system orOS is the foundation software of a computer and schedules tasks, allocates storage, and presents a default interface to the user between applications. The facilities an operating system provides and its general design exerts an extremely strong influence on the applications created for the computer. IBM and Microsoft's History In 1980, IBM first approached Bill Gates of Microsoft, to discuss the state of home computers and what Microsoft products could do for IBM. Gates gave IBM a few ideas on what would make a great home computer, among them to have Basic written into the ROM chip. Microsoft had already produced several versions of Basic for different computer system beginning with the Altair, so Gates was more than happy to write a version for IBM. Gary Kildall As for an operating system (OS) for an IBM computer, since Microsoft had never written an operating system before, Gates had suggested that IBM investigate an OS called CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers), written by Gary Kildall of Digital Research. Kindall had his Ph.D. in computers and had written the most successful operating system of the time, selling over 600,000 copies of CP/M, his operating system set the standard at that time. The Secret Birth of MS-DOS IBM tried to contact Gary Kildall for a meeting, executives met with Mrs. Kildall who refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement. IBM soon returned to Bill Gates and gave Microsoft the contract to write a new operating system, one that would eventually wipe Gary Kildalls CP/M out of common use. The Microsoft Disk Operating System or MS-DOS was based on Microsofts purchase of QDOS, the Quick and Dirty Operating System written by Tim Paterson of Seattle Computer Products, for their prototype Intel 8086 based computer. However, ironically QDOS was based (or copied from as some historians feel) on Gary Kildalls CP/M. Tim Paterson had bought a CP/M manual and used it as the basis to write his operating system in six weeks. QDOS was different enough from CP/M to be considered legally a different product. IBM had deep enough pockets, in any case, to probably have won an infringement case if they had needed to protect their product. Microsoft bought the rights to QDOS for $50,000, keeping the IBM Microsoft deal a secret from Tim Paterson and his company, Seattle Computer Products. Deal of the Century Bill Gates then talked IBM into letting Microsoft retain the rights, to market MS-DOS separate from the IBM PC project, Gates and Microsoft proceeded to make a fortune from the licensing of MS-DOS. In 1981, Tim Paterson quit Seattle Computer Products and found employment at Microsoft. Life begins with a disk drive. - Tim Paterson

Electric Cars and Electrical Engineers

Electric Cars and Electrical Engineers Electric Cars and Electrical Engineers Electric Cars and Electrical Engineers By Maeve Maddox Jeffrey asks: What is the proper use of the words electric and electrical? I am an engineer and do not know when to use one form or the other.   We say electric car but also say electrical wiring.   If I have a new device: is it an electric device or an electrical device?   Is the equipment in the electric room or the electrical room? Is there a proper distinction or at least a rule of thumb? Merriam-Webster lists electrical as a variant of electric, but the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) makes this useful distinction: electric: containing, producing, arising from, actuated by or carrying electricity. electrical: relating to, pertaining to, or associated with electricity but not having its properties. With this distinction in mind we would speak of an electrical engineer, but an electric typewriter. Etymological note: Essayist Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682) was the first to use the word electric in English. A Latin version, electricus, was coined by English physicist William Gilbert (1540-1603). He took the word from Latin electrum, â€Å"amber.† The Greek word for amber was elektron. Electricity was first generated by rubbing amber. 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Types of RhymeIn Search of a 4-Dot EllipsisCharles's Pen and Jesus' Name