Salt Concentrations on Germination of Seeds

Salt Concentrations on Germination of Seeds Through my research, I decided to use rye, oats and barley seeds because due to the increasing salinity problems, there would be future food shortages due to global warming damaging crops and the increasing human population. The seeds were treated with different salt concentration solutions of sodium chloride, magnesium sulphate, calcium sulphates and bicarbonates. A Chi Squared test was done to find the relationship between each of the different salts concentrations and the germination rate. Experimental Hypothesis: Increasing the concentration of NaCl (sodium chloride) will have the biggest decrease in the number of germinations compared to increasing the other salt concentrations. Null Hypothesis: Increasing the salt concentration will have no effect on the germination of seeds. Dependent Variable: Seed germination rate Independent Variable: The salt solutions and salt concentration Through my intensive research I discovered there were currently major environmental factors regarding to the lack of plant productivity for crop production regions, but through this research I discovered one of the main factors was salinity in soil. Salinity in soil is a major issue for growing crops for most regions of the planet, especially the dry regions where the seed would lack water to grow. The farmers wont be able to cultivate their own crops due to seeds not being able to germinate as crop yield is decreased. However in some cases, if the seed does manage to germinate, the plant would often grow with many ion deficiencies. During my research I discovered a theory, which involved germinating a seed in seawater and it was told it had a huge effect on the seed. So I did research on seawater and compared and I discovered it had variety of different ions dissolved within the water. Furthermore, I also discovered that NaCl (sodium Chloride) was the most abundant ion dissolved in the seawater [6]. To test my hypothesis I will be using 3 types of cereal seeds, which are barley, oats, and rye seeds. Barley crops are very adaptable and can germinate very quickly between 1 to 3 days. Barley is normally grown in the temperate areas as a summer crop, but in the tropical regions its sown as a winter crop. However, Barley is more tolerant than other cereal seeds to soil salinity and also more susceptible to plant diseases [9]. Oats has may uses in food, so its vital to continue the supply for oats in the future, as global warming could affect the yield of oats produced, as oat seeds have greater tolerance of rain than any other cereal [8]. Furthermore, it has a lower summer heat requirement, which is why its more grown throughout the temperate zones, for example Northwest Europe and Iceland. Rye grows really well in much poorer soils than most necessary cereal grains, as its the most valuable crop in some regions. Rye withstands cold better than most grains, so farmers normally grow r ye in the winter, as in spring the crop finally develops [7]. During the 1800s, researchers discovered that plants absorb essential minerals as inorganic ions in water. So basically soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir, but the soil isnt essential for plant growth. The plant roots only absorb nutrients and minerals when the nutrient mineral in the soil has been dissolved in water, so its the same as a plant absorbing the mineral nutrients as inorganic ions. If the required mineral nutrients have been introduced artificially into the plants water supply, the soil isnt required any longer, this is called a Hydroponic. Most terrestrial plants (plants grown on land) can survive or grow using a hydroponic. [3] The advantages of using Hydroponics for food production are: no soil is required water stays within the system and can then be reused which will therefore lowering water costs Can be able to lower to control nutrition levels, which can also reduce nutrition costs Because of the controlled system, no nutrition pollution is released into the atmosphere Stable and high yields Pests and diseases are easier to get rid of because of the containers mobility Can be used in possible places where in-ground agriculture or gardening isnt possible [3] However there are disadvantages of using Hydroponics for food production such as: Since hydroponics conditions consists the presence of fertilisers and high humidity, it creates an environment that stimulates salmonella growth Pathogens attacks including damp-off due to Verticillium wilt caused by high moisture levels associated with hydroponics and overwatering of terrestrial plants. Many hydroponic plants requires different fertilisers and containment systems, which can be very time-consuming and expensive for someone thats setting the whole hydroponic [3] From my knowledge, I know that plant roots up take mineral nutrients by active transport. Active Transport is the movement of a substance against the concentration gradient using energy as ATP. Examples of substance which can also be taken up by active transport are ions, glucose and amino acids. Nonetheless, in my investigation I will also be looking at Osmosis and seeing so its affected throughout my investigation. Osmosis is the diffusion of water (movement of water) across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of a less negative water potential to an even more negative water potential area and this process a non-passive process (doesnt require energy in the form of ATP). The reason Im going to look at the effect of Osmosis throughout my investigation is because according to Muhammad Jamils journal Effect of salt stress on germination and early seedling growth of four vegetables species. It was stated in the journal that salt concentrations is a major contributor to the osmotic e ffect of ions on growth. Furthermore, it was also stated that high salt in the environment could lead to loss of water from cells which the cell undergoes plasmolysis, which even could lead to the death of the cell [5]. Seed Germination is the process in which the plant emerges from a seed or spore and begins growth. Seed germination depends on both internal and external conditions. The most important external factors include water (required for vigorous metabolism), temperature, oxygen and light or even darkness. The structure of the seed consists of a seed coat, which is the covering of the seed, which protects it from any kind of injury, and also the entry of parasites and prevents it from drying. Within the seed theres an endosperm, which is a temporary food supply thats packed around the embryo in the form of cotyledons or even seed leaves. Plants are classed as monocots or dicots depending on the number of cotyledons. The seeds which Im going to use (rye, oats and barley seeds) are monocotyledons. [2] Several factors which prevent the germination of seed include: Over watering can prevent the plant to get enough oxygen Dry conditions can prevent germination, as the seed wont get enough moisture If the seed has very hard coat not enough oxygen and water will be able to get through it Soil temperature can also effect the germination process, regardless of whether its too high or too low [2] Monocotyledon is one of the two major groups of the flowering plants, well other being dicotyledons. Heres a table comparing the two major groups of the flowering plants: Feature Monocotyledon Dicotyledons Number of parts of each flower In threes In four or fives Number of pores in pollen One Two Number of Cotyledons (leaves in the seed) One Two Arrangement of Vascular Bundles In The Stem Scattered Concentric Circles Roots Adventitious Develop from Radical Arrangement of major leaf veins Parrell Reticulate [10] [1] The steps of seed germination: Seed absorbs water and the seed coat bursts. Theres an activation of enzymes, increase in respiration and plant cells get duplicated. A chain of chemical changes starts, which leads to the development of the plant embryo. Chemical energy stored in the form of starch is converted to sugar, which is used during the later stages of the germination process. Soon the plant embryo gets enlarged and the seed coat bursts open. Growing plant emerges out. Tip of root first emerges and helps to anchor the seed in place. Also allows the plant embryo to absorb minerals and water from the soil. If a monocotyledon plant, the primary root emerges from the seed and fruit and grows down. The primary plants primary leaf grows up. Its protected by a cylindrical, hollow structure called coleoptiles. Once the seedlings have grown above the soil surface, the growth of coleoptiles is stopped and its pierced by a primary leaf. [2]

The History of the Coffeehouse :: essays research papers

The first coffeehouse the world had ever seen was founded in Constantinople, just becoming Istanbul in 1475. It was such a huge success that right after it opened, two more appeared. So began a fascination with coffee that would last 300 more years. The reason the first coffeehouse did not open in, say, England, was location. Since Turkey was only a quick sail away from the original brewer of coffee, Arabia, traders could get the coffee to the city with minimal effort. The Europeans were completely out of the coffee trading loop until coffee began to make it’s way into the hands of Venetian traders, leading the Italians to be the first Europeans to found coffeehouses. Slowly, coffeehouses came to open in England as well, the first opening in 1652. However, there was still the problem of transporting all that coffee from Turkey or the Middle East, a costly business. This problem was solved when the Turks, defeated in battle, left sacks upon sacks of the flavorful beans behind i n parts of Europe. This created an abundance of coffee houses in Vienna, where there was large amounts of this left-behind coffee. Eventually, the storehouses began to run low on coffee, now very much in demand with the Europeans. You may be wondering, why didn’t they just grow some coffee? First of all, the merchants who sold the beans knew this, and sold the beans in non growing conditions (such as already ground up.) Secondly, people did try to grow coffee- but on European soil, the beans that were usable floundered and died. If they managed to get usable coffee beans at all, (it was illegal to get them) you wouldn’t have nearly enough to support even the smallest coffeehouse for a week. The Dutch trading companies knew all this, but they came up with a new, radical notion- why not get some beans, but grow them not in Europe but in the East Indies! So the Dutch smuggled a small amount of un ground or processed coffee beans out of the Arabian port of Mocha, then shipped them to Ceylon and the East Indies for cultivation. 30 years later, a French naval officer named Gabriel De Clieu sailed for the Caribbean island of Martinique. When he arrived, he happened to be carrying some un cultivated coff ee beans. (We’ll never know how those got there.) He casually sold it to the locals, unwittingly starting one of the world’s largest coffee producers.

Food Chain, Food Web and Ecological Pyramid

GAYATRI VIDYA PARISHAD COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING (AUTONOMOUS) MADHUARAWADA, VISAKHAPATNAM – 530048 ASSIGNMENT SUBMITTED TO: S. V. RAMANA ————————————————- DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH NAME OF THE STUDENT: VAMSI KRISHNA G ROLL NUMBER:12131A0533 TITLE OF THE ASSIGNMENT: TECHNOLOGY ON EDUCATION ————————————————- DATE OF SUBMISSION: 15-04-2013 INTRODUCTION: The impact of technology on education is immense.In olden days students used to get confined to libraries for any information on the topics given to them but now a days the technology has been improved , students carry portable devices with them such as laptops, mobiles etc. they are also provided with Ebooks which are much more advanced than the textbooks. KEY POINTS: 1. As the technology have been increased producti vity tools such as databases, spreadsheets, graphic programs etc allow students to independently organize, analyze, interpret, develop, their own work 2.Projectors are playing a major role in an students life as teachers have adopted e learning techniques due to which students are understanding the concepts easily. It has lessen the burden of a teacher 3. Technology have been increased so well that the application of scientific calculators have lessen the burden of the engineering students. 4. students can set up language lessons with a native speaker who lives in another country and attend the lessons via videoconferencing 5.With a simple assignment and access to technology, researching and also producing a product that would communicate, students are able to do deep learning on a concept that wasn’t even addressed in their textbook, and allow other people to view it and learn from it. 6. E-books is an electronic device which consists of a lot of information more than a text book. Hence e-book has replaced the textbook . 7. 3D learning has become a reality especially for medical , architech , biology students as it increases their understanding and are able to grasp the concept very easily. . Now a days students are not restricted to libraries and classrooms as they are equipped with portable learning devices such as laptops, pendrives, smartphones etc. 9. In olden days students used to refer a number of books by going to library but now students can get any information on any topic on web for example Wikipedia. 10. Assistive technology can help students who have mental retardation along with students who are low performers, at-risk students or have any learning disability. 11.There are a number of websites such as expert tutorials, mock testes, online testes which increase the confidence of the students facing any type of exams. 12. Presently, classroom learning is increasingly dependent on the integration of technology thus enhancing learning. The cur rent technology uses email systems, data processing and laptop audio/videos webinars. 13. youtube is a great example for homegrown ingenuity as it has many different venues such as entertainment, learning and even commercialization of products. 14.The improvement in technology has been a great help to students in many fields for instance, in the field of fashion technology , one can use different colour patterns , 3D designing etc. so that they can have immediate evaluation. 15. The textbooks have also become very attractive with fine quality and much more advanced than the olden day’s textbooks, which help the students to update the information accurately. 16. In olden days students used to write the information from different textbooks which was a time taking process but now a days students can get any type of information printed instead of writing. 7. Students can incoperate pictures,matter with the help of scanner in their presentation. 18. Open air class room techniques have been implemented so that students engage in hands on learning related to nature topics. 19. Virtual reality technology is an important tool for the monitoring anomalies in structures and to assist decisions based on visual analysis of alternative solutions. It is mostly used in civil engineering. 20. The technology has made it possible for the distance education students to persue degree with good universities.CONCLUSION: Hence increase in technology has brought a great change in education. Students are getting more confident and are able to face the world with no fear. Computers assist in education by providing a wide range of resources, and by tailoring instruction to the individual student, which can seldom be done in the normal classroom. VAMSI KRISHNA G 15-04-2013 SIGNATURE (WITH DATE)

Fern Hill Essays - Film, Cinema Of The United States, Literature

Fern Hill Essays - Film, Cinema Of The United States, Literature Fern Hill The poem Fern Hill by Dylan Thomas explores childhood memories and the melancholy reality of lost youth. Fern Hill compels the reader to come back over and over again to seek more insight into the joy and pleasure of a time of innocence lost. The figurative speech causes the reader to seek the elusive youth and boyhood days of the character and encourages the reader to mourn and celebrate with the writer for the once glorious days of his youth. From the opening line, the memories of boyhood days are revealed. The writer recalls his carefree life. A beautiful playground, a wooded valley full of apple orchards and fresh green meadows, which bring the boy great happiness, happy as the grass was green, can be visualized. Each line is full of boyhood memories. The boy, as many young innocent boys do, pretends many things in his playground, his cloistered world. It is his golden time, his heyday to be young and carefree, to pretend to be prince of the apple towns. There is a sense of such joy in this time in his life; he sings, happily in his home on the farm. And yet amidst this joyful memory, is a sense of sadness as we realize youth and innocence does not last. This reality and sadness begins to become mingled with the joyful memory as we read, in the sun that is young once only, time let me play and be golden in the mercy of his means. Blended with this awareness of reality, more boyhood memories are offered; memories of pretending to behuntsman and herdsman. All our senses are beckoned into the pleasures of this joyful time in the boys life, we are invited to hear the sounds of the calves singing and the foxes barking clearly and coldly, as he plays his horn. We are welcomed to sense the lovely calmness of sabbath days that seem to be slow and quiet as a babbling brook. We are encouraged to visualize the hay fields, as high as the house; to hear the sounds of the wind whistling through the chimneys. We are swept away into our own memories of childhood bedtime, as we are beckoned to hear the valley's sounds, owls, nightjars, and horses prancing in the corral in the dark. A sense of peace and awe is evoked as the writer remembers awaking each morning to the sight of the farm, the meadow white with dew, the sounds of the rooster crowing, the horses whinnying as they walked out of the stables on to the warm, sunny fields. Then the poem brings us back to the present reality; the young and carefree believe they will live forever, that life will always be this carefree; Under the new made clouds and happy as the heart was long, in the sun born over and over, I ran my heedless ways. The reality of life is that life is all too short, that the joy and innocence of youth is all too brief; Nothing I cared, in the lamb white days, that time would take me up to the swallow thronged loft by the shadow of my hand, in the moon that is always rising, nor that riding to sleep I should hear him fly with the high fields and wake to the farm forever fled from the childless land. The last three lines of the poem bring us to the poignant reality of the joys and sadness of life, Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means, time held me green and dying though I sang in my chains like the sea. All good things must come to an end, and when they do you will look back on the times that you had and wish that it was that way forever. To conclude, this poem helps us to appreciate both the joys and the sadness of life. It is in the remembering that we can cherish the joys of what was; it is in the same memories we can be sad for that which is no more, and it is in knowing both, that we realize that we can live life to the fullest. It has something to do with ageing. Dylan Thomas is looking back at his childhood as being carefree and happy as time let him do what he pleased but the whole time he was getting closer to death.

Ryanair vs. Easyjet Corporate and Competitive Strategy Analysis

Ryanair vs. Easyjet Corporate and Competitive Strategy Analysis Introduction There are many low-cost airlines in the world. In Europe, major airline companies, such as Flybe, Wizz Air and Aer Lingus, dominate this space (Dobruszkes 2006). Jet2, Ryanair, and Easyjet are other dominant airline companies in this category.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ryanair vs. Easyjet: Corporate and Competitive Strategy Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Within this space, Ryanair and Easyjet are the two biggest low-cost airlines in the region (Elderman 2014; Dowling 2010). The two airlines are also the most popular low-cost airlines in Europe. Ryanair is an older airline company than Easyjet because its operations started in 1985, while Easyjet’s operations started in 1995 (Freire 2014). Ryanair has evolved from a family owned business into one of the most successful regional brands in the market. The company brands itself as â€Å"Europe’s only ultra low-cost airlinerâ⠂¬  because it is the region’s largest low-cost airline company (Mayer 2008). From 67 operational bases, Ryanair makes more than 1,600 flights daily. It also flies to more than 180 destinations in Europe (Mayer 2008). These destinations spread across 29 different countries in the region. Easyjet is Ryanair’s main rival. Based at London’s Luton Airport, the company travels to more than 700 destinations and has a market presence in more than 30 countries (Mayer 2008). Compared to other leading airlines in the short-haul market segment, the two airlines are among the top ten aviation companies with the highest passenger numbers in Europe. The following table shows this fact. Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Figure One: Position of Easyjet and Ryanair in the global low-cost airline market (Source: Elderman 2014) This paper analyses the corporate a nd competitive strategies of Ryanair and Easyjet. However, to get a correct understanding of this assessment, this paper demonstrates how both companies create value for their shareholders and reveals the strategic choices pursued by both organisations. In later sections of the study, this paper shows the operational areas where the organisational strategies of both organisations converge and diverge. What are the Competitive Positions of both Organisations? Ryanair enjoys a dominant market share in the European low-cost airline market because it was among the first companies to adopt this strategy in the region (Malighetti et al. 2006). However, because it could not protect this strategic approach from duplication by other airline companies, it lost a significant market share to other companies, such as Easyjet. Relative to this development, Ryanair has also adopted a â€Å"red ocean† strategy where it â€Å"steals† customers from other market segments (predominantly the customers of major airlines) (Thomson Baden-Fuller 2010). For example, it has â€Å"stolen† customers in the business class segment (Malighetti et al. 2006). Since the company has succeeded by adopting this strategy, it has proved that a differentiated market strategy is still vulnerable to competition. Researchers such as Kim and Mauborgne (cited in Thomson Baden-Fuller 2010) have always supported a differentiated strategy, but these developments have proved them wrong.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ryanair vs. Easyjet: Corporate and Competitive Strategy Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, a differentiated strategy is not exclusive. Nonetheless, Ryanair commands a stronger market share than Easyjet does. Concisely, Easyjet trails Ryanair air by commanding 31% of the market in the low-cost Airline sector (Air France 2011). Comparatively, Ryanair commands 40% of the market (Air France 2011). This is the biggest market share in the European low-cost airline sector. The diagram below shows the current market shares of Ryanair and Easyjet in the European low-cost market. Figure Two: Ryanair and Easyjet market share (Source: Air France 2011) According to the diagram above, other low-cost airlines command only 29% of the market, while Ryanair and Easyjet dominate the rest of the market. The dominant market share enjoyed by Ryanair also mirrors its high customer traffic because, compared to Easyjet, the company carries 4.5 million passengers, annually, while its rival carries 3,000,000 passengers annually (Dowling 2010). Based on the strategies adopted by Ryanair and Easyjet, it is important to point out that competition determines the success or failure of the strategic approaches adopted by low-cost airlines.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More How do the Two Organisations Create Value for their Shareholders Mennen (2005) says it is important for low-cost airlines to adopt a low-cost structure if they want to create value for their shareholders. This affirmation aligns with the goal of Ryanair, which is â€Å"to firmly set up itself as Europe’s leading low-fare scheduled passenger airline through continuous improvements and expanded offerings of its low-fares service† (Freire 2014, p. 4). Easyjet also strives to become a market leader in the low-cost market segment. Both airlines create value for the shareholders in the following ways. Reinvestment Ryanair and Easyjet have always strived to support their market dominance by increasing passenger traffic through cost containment (Mayer 2008). The companies have also strived to support their leadership positions and create value for their shareholders by maintaining operation efficiencies. Profit reinvestment is a common way that the airlines create value for th eir shareholders (Mennen 2005). For example, Easyjet has managed to do so by using the company’s profits to increase its fleet size and expand into new routes (Mennen 2005). The company has also adopted the same strategy to improve passenger comfort and expand its operational network. Ryanair has also used the same strategy to meet the same goals (Mayer 2008). In this regard, both airlines have reported increased asset values and increased growth figures. Managing Competition According to Dobruszkes (2006), the relative success, or failure, of low-cost airlines lies in two factors – cost leadership and differentiation. Ryanair’s market strategy has focused on cost leadership because it strives to become the best company in the low-cost market segment (Mayer 2008; Thomson Baden-Fuller 2010). Even with these adjustments, the company has still increased its passenger numbers and remained profitable for a long time. The success of this strategy has always depended on the control and management of the four facets of cost management in the aviation sector – â€Å"employee management, equipment and maintenance, customer service costs, and airport handling costs† (Thomson Baden-Fuller 2010, p. 26). By managing and controlling competition in the sector, both Ryanair and Easyjet have generated superior values for their investors. This view affirms the opinions of researchers who say price leadership is pivotal to creating market dominance, compared to cost leadership advantages (Mayer 2008). Market Strength Alignment Focusing on market strength is also another tenet of the airlines’ competitive strategies. For example, Easyjet has maximised its productivity by operating in airports where it enjoys market leadership (CAPA 2014). Half of its seating capacity is in such facilities. Since it trails Ryanair in market strength, in some airports, the company has allocated 29% of its seats to such facilities (CAPA 2014). Ryanair has a lso focused on creating value for its shareholders by focusing its strengths on markets that it enjoys dominance. For example, it has focused on improving its performance in many routes where Easyjet does not service (Easyjet operates in 702 routes, while Ryanair operates in 1,600 routes) (CAPA 2014). This way, shareholders in both airlines get value for their investments through structured competition and increased productivity. What are the Strategic Choices for both Organisations? Ryanair The Low Cost Strategy Experts say Southwest Airlines was among the first aviation companies to exploit the opportunities that existed in the low-cost airline market segment (Dobruszkes 2006; Kew Stredwick 2005). Other airline companies, such as Ryanair, also discovered similar opportunities by leveraging their competitive advantage through the adoption of a low-cost strategy. Through its no-frills strategy, Ryanair discovered that it could be profitable by working 24 hours a day and keeping its aeroplanes in the air often (Dobruszkes 2006). Researchers say when the airline adopted this strategy, it succeeded because it was a â€Å"blue ocean† strategy – no other airline had adopted this strategy before (Ryans 2009). It created a huge demand for the airline’s services because it attracted price-conscious customers who would have chosen alternative modes of travel, or failed to travel at all, because of the high costs of air tickets. Through this strategy, Ryanair became less concerned about existing competition because it was operating in a unique market segment that other airlines had not used before (Ryans 2009). This way, it became profitable in an overcrowded industry. Today, the airline still reaps the benefit of being among the first airline companies, in Europe, to adopt the low-cost airline strategy. Partly, this is why the company commands the highest market share in the European low-cost airline market segment. Since its low-cost strategy sta rted increasing sales, Ryanair has always branded itself as a low-cost airline. Its strategy was to steal customers from dominant players in the airline industry by offering lower ticket prices compared to its rivals. To expand its customer base, the company tried to please all their customers by trying to meet the customer needs of every type of market in the industry (Malighetti et al. 2006). However, the company changed this strategy after realising it needed a differentiation strategy that would set it apart from its competitors. It also realised that its low-cost pricing strategy could not sustain its business because the margins made from such a strategy were low (Malighetti et al. 2006). Of importance, the company lacked a service advantage that would back up its cost advantage (Thompson 2005). After realising these strategic weaknesses, the company decided to introduce an outside perspective on its business model by creating superior value for its customers. In line with thi s strategy, the company also introduced value-added services to its core strategy. In this regard, it transformed its value chain for the better. This restructuring affirmed the views of Mennen (2005) who said a corporate strategy should have more value as a holistic entity as opposed to the sum of its parts. Punctuality and Efficiency Ryanair has always branded itself as an airline company that regards punctuality and efficiency as key segments of its service model (OConnell Williams 2012). The company conveys these advantages to its customers by operating in secondary airports where long queues and complicated security rules rarely inconvenience customers (OConnell Williams 2012). Furthermore, since the airline uses paperless booking, customers can easily buy their tickets and walk to the security gate without enduring any other sign-in rules. Comparatively, customers who fly with major airlines have to contend with these inconveniences, thereby making them less efficient and pu nctual compared to short-haul flight carriers. Based on these competencies, Ryanair has always argued that its success does not only depend on its low-cost strategy because its innovative on-time record and its value-added services also support its growth (OConnell Williams 2012). Observers have also said that its fleet of new aircrafts is another strategic competency that boosts the airline’s efficiency in the airline industry (Dobruszkes 2006; Kew Stredwick 2005). Flying to Secondary Airports Ryanair prefers to fly to secondary cities and pursue an outsourcing strategy to undertake its core production services, such as catering and aircraft maintenance (Mayer 2008). This strategy emerged after learning that many flag carriers use large airports, such as Heathrow, thereby limiting its competitiveness on this platform. Indeed, it would not be able to match the same level of customer service that most customers of long-haul carriers would enjoy if they used the larger airpor ts. Therefore, the company decided to use secondary airports, where their customers would get efficient services. To do so, the company uses a simplified airline network. The low fare strategy intertwines with the low-cost strategy because through lower costs, the company is able to offer low fares to its customers. In line with this low-cost strategy is a simplified pricing structure. EasyJet Similar to Ryanair, Easyjet’s strategic direction came from years of studying the success Southwest Airline (Sull 1999). Borrowing from the Southwest low-cost model, EasyJet operated using one type of aircraft and a point-to-point short-haul travel (Kew Stredwick 2005). Similar to other low-cost carriers, the airline also had no in-flight meals and a rapid turnaround. Another key aspect of its strategic competence was high aircraft use (Thompson 2005). These strategic factors made the airline more profitable than other flag carriers did. Other segments of its working model appear below Direct Sales Although Easyjet borrowed its strategic focus from Southwest Airline, its market strategy differed from Southwest because instead of relying on sales agents to make sales, the Airline relies on a direct sales strategy (Sull 1999). The logic behind this strategic approach is to eliminate commissions by not using travel agents. This approach was a cost-saving strategy. Similarly, the company would have to pay commissions to reservation agents and pay associated operation costs to reservation computers if it used sales agents to make sales. It chose to lower its costs by eliminating these expenses. Complementing its direct sales strategy is the paperless booking model. Low Cost Strategy Easyjet relies on the low-cost strategy because it believes that it cannot successfully compete with large aircraft carriers because they would use their economies of scale to â€Å"crash† the competition. In line with its low-cost strategy, the company also adopted a â€Å"no-fril l† strategy, like Ryanair, by eliminating in-flight meals and reducing the number of aircraft attendants. The company chose this strategy because it did not believe that these services contributed to customer satisfaction (Kew Stredwick 2005). Flying to Primary Airports For a long time, Easyjet has branded itself as a committed airline that strives to optimise customer experience, always. In this regard, it strives to offer convenience to its customers by operating in major airports around Europe. By doing so, it believes that its customers can get around to where they are going in good time. Customers have appreciated this strategy by increasing ticket sales (Kew Stredwick 2005). Discussion The low-cost airline sector has been a ruthless industry for aviation players. More than 20 airlines have collapsed after adopting the low-cost strategy (Air France 2011). Of importance, experts say the European low-cost airline sector is more brutal for low-cost airline companies than t he American market because both markets have different structures (CAPA 2014). The market differences are profound because profitable routes in Europe already have large airline companies that serve them. The European airline industry is also distinct because charter planes play a greater role in the industry, compared to other markets (Air France 2011). Short distance routes are also limited to low-cost airlines because European Union (EU) policies favour train services as opposed to airline services (Air France 2011). Lastly, in Europe, too much competition in the low-cost airline sector offers minimal profit margins for existing players in the industry. Therefore, the risk of overcapacity in the industry is real. This fact shows that this market has limitations that would ordinarily curtail the growth of companies that do not adopt an elaborate strategy. Ryanair and Easyjet understand these limitations and adopted elaborate strategies to navigate the economic challenges of opera ting in the low-cost airline sector (Mayer 2008). To cope with these challenges, both airlines have one dominant strategy that hinges on three factors – low costs of operations, low fares, and low frills. This understanding shows where the corporate strategies of both companies converge Where both Corporate Strategies Converge Cost Leadership and Differentiation According to Malighetti et al. (2006), the relative success, or failure, of low-cost airlines lies in two factors – cost leadership and differentiation. Ryanair and EasyJet have concentrated their corporate strategies on the cost leadership model because they both strive to become the best companies in the low-cost market segment. In this regard, both companies have gained the reputation of being the biggest low-cost airlines in Europe (Wallach 2015). Their â€Å"no frills† strategy has been a core tenet of their low-cost strategy because both airlines do not accommodate passenger meals, pre-arranged sit ting arrangements, or paper-based ticketing services (Malighetti et al. 2006). Therefore, both airlines strive to minimise their operating costs by cutting expenses such as salaries and fuel costs. To do so, both airlines use the single fleet type of operation and optimize flight crew productivity (Air France 2011). Furthermore, the â€Å"no-frill† strategy works by eliminating in-flight services to lower operating costs. However, the airlines employ the smallest number of people to meet the least regulatory requirement stipulated in the aviation sector (Malighetti et al. 2006). Therefore, a key part of their strategy is meeting the minimum contractual obligations required by airlines to their customers. Where both Corporate Strategies Diverge This paper has already demonstrated that Ryanair and Easyjet use the same business model – low-cost strategy. Both airlines also have similar performance indicators in the aviation sector. For example, in 2014, both organisations reported increased passenger numbers (Wallach 2015). However, both companies have unique internal strategies that differentiate their services beyond the low-cost model. For example, both airlines fly to different types of airports. Ryanair mainly flies to secondary airports, while Easyjet flies to primary airports. By flying to primary airports, the latter has had an edge above its competition because its customers can get to their destinations faster than Ryanair’s customers who have to board a taxi, or train, to get to major cities. Evidence of this fact emerges in Paris as a common destination for both airlines. Easyjet flies to Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport (two main airports in the city) (Thompson 2005). Comparatively, Ryanair flies to Beauvais-Tillà © Airport, which is almost one hour away from the city (Ryans 2009). The same example emerges in Rome as a popular destination for both airlines. While Easyjet flies to Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airp ort, which is close to the city, Ryanair flies to Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport, which is far away from the main business district. Summary and Conclusion Easyjet and Ryanair have similar strategies to the extent that they both share the low-cost business model. Furthermore, like Ryanair, Easyjet also bases its corporate strategy on Southwest’s business model. Both airlines have perfected this strategy by introducing new price reduction measures, such as paperless booking. These operational strategies have created immense benefits for the two airlines, including optimizing airline use and increasing airline turnaround frequencies. Both airlines also have similar marketing strategies because besides marketing themselves as low-cost airlines, both companies do not use agents to reach their customers. Stated differently, both airlines use the direct sales strategy to market their services. Comprehensively, the two organisations share almost similar strategi es. Albeit these factors show areas of strategic convergence, both airlines are rivals in the low-cost airline market. Their performance will mainly depend on their ability to sustain their operational models. References Airfrance 2011, Low-cost carriers, http://corporate.airfrance.com/en/strategy/competition/low-cost-carriers/. CAPA 2014, EasyJet: more aircraft come in as more cash to shareholders goes out. Stelios baby is in good hands, http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/easyjet-more-aircraft-come-in-as-more-cash-to-shareholders-goes-out-stelios-baby-is-in-good-hands-187950. Dobruszkes, F 2006, ‘An analysis of European low-cost airlines and their networks’, Journal of Transport Geography, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 249–264. Dowling, T 2010, Ryanair v easyJet, theguardian.com/business/2010/mar/03/easyjet-ryanair-compare. Elderman, H 2014, EasyJet Vs. Ryanair: The Curious Case Of 2 Budget Airlines, http://seekingalpha.com/article/2529155-easyjet-vs-ryanair-the-curiou s-case-of-2-budget-airlines. Freire, A 2014, Ryanair: Strategy Report, slideshare.net/FionaODriscoll/group-3-strategy-and-value-creation-ryanair. Kew, J Stredwick, J 2005, Business Environment: Managing in a Strategic Context Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, CIPD Publishing, New York. Malighetti, P, Paleari, S Redondi, R 2006, ‘Pricing strategies of low-cost airlines: The Ryanair case study’, Journal of Transport Geography, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 249–264. Mayer, S 2008, Ryanair and Its Low Cost Flights in Europe, Books on Demand, New York. Mennen, M 2005, An Analysis of Ryanair Corporate Strategy, grin.com/en/e-book/145623/an-analysis-of-ryanair-s-corporate-strategy. OConnell, J Williams, G 2012, Air Transport in the 21st Century: Key Strategic Developments, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., New York. Ryans, A 2009, Beating Low Cost Competition: How Premium Brands can respond to Cut-Price Rivals, John Wiley Sons, London. Sull, D 1999, ‘Case Study: easyJet’s $500 Million Gamble’, European Management Journal, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 20–38. Thompson, J 2005, Strategic Management: Awareness and Change, Cengage Learning EMEA, London. Thomson, N Baden-Fuller, C 2010, Basic Strategy in Context: European text and cases, John Wiley Sons, London. Wallach, B 2015, A World Made for Money: Economy, Geography, and the Way We Live Today, U of Nebraska Press, Lincoln.

Organisational Transformation in Practice Essay - 1

Organisational Transformation in Practice - Essay Example In this specific instance, the store’s general manager refrained from interacting with employees except when absolutely necessary. Even as there was a limited amount of employees, cliques emerged that hindered workplace efficiency and productivity. The environment had a strong negative impact on my mental and emotional well-being. In investigating these personal factors I implemented Gibbs’ (1988) reflection cycle. Fig. 1 demonstrates Gibbs’ reflection cycle. This cycle begins with a description of the underlining cause of the events and then moves in a clockwise pattern through stages of analysis and reconciliation. These stages are advanced through in the articulation of a patchwork text. Fig. 1 Gibbs Reflection Cycle PATCH II Underlying Causes In analyzing this specific workplace experience of change, I consider that there were a number of underlying causes that contributed to the experience. This specific organizational environment is best considered in terms of psychic elements, as the negative feelings and thought patterns I tacitly accepted and that were distributed throughout the organization occurred at the level of unspoken or unconscious communication. One recognizes this consideration within Michael Diamond’s (2008) concept of the unthought known. ... The consideration of the toxicity I experienced I recognize then can be articulated within this hybrid structural and psychodynamic model. Diamond (2008, p. 357) notes, â€Å"Organizational culture is predominantly unconscious and ultimately located at the core of intersubjective relations that shape values and artifacts at the surface of organization.† In this specific organization, there were great challenges in terms of direct communication between individuals. The cliques that developed greatly hindered organizational communication. It seems in this way the cliques were implemented as an institutional defence, as employees chose to hide behind the group facade. Splitting became a prominent defence as individuals would view another, or a differing group in entirely negative terms. This effected communication through indirect methods. Passive aggressive behavior became prominent among employees. In my personal experience at the organization I recognize that I would frequentl y attempt to schedule my shifts as to avoid specific people. This suspicious and paranoid behavior grew larger the longer I worked at the company. When I did have to work with employees I had previously attempted to avoid a general toxic environment emerged. Rather than having a strong managerial leader to delineate job tasks, there were many arguments among employees as to who would participate in specific tasks such as shelving the aisles or running the cash register. In many degrees these arguments reflected group dynamics and fight or flight behavior. The arguments were simply a means of avoiding work responsibility, but instead reflected power relations within the group. While

Film Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Film - Essay Example Because of this, her husband is disappointed but he believes that he will find a way to take care of his son. He joins an internship program where he does not receive any payment. His condition grows worse when his scanning machines are stolen. In addition, he his later evicted from the apartment. They live in the streets, while there he nurtures his son with love and tenderness. With this, the essay brings out what â€Å"The Pursuit of Happyness† says about the modern day fathers and the cultural and social changes reflected in the film. The movie clearly portrays the close relationship between father and son. Christopher provides psychological and emotional support to his child, although they live in the streets. They both struggle hard to achieve their goals knowing very well that success does not come easily, it needs commitment. Christopher Gardner as a single father tries his best to bring up his son in the right way possible (Nadine 4). Christopher Gardener the main cha racter in the film tries his best to balance his professional and personal life. He and his son endure many hardships for instance sleeping in bathrooms. In one of the scenes in this film Christopher is jailed for ten days for not paying the parking fees this shows how Christopher undergoes hardships with his son. This shows how the society values money than human life. As a result of his state in one of the scenes, Christopher pushes women in the bus so that he can get a chance to sleep in the homeless shelter (Nadine 4). This confirms that, when people are in desperate situations morals ceasing to exist they only focus on solving the problem. By this experience between Christopher and his son, the role of modern fathers is clearly brought out. Christopher Gardner balances his personal life and professional life in this film just as modern fathers do. He provides the support he should provide as a father and still works as an intern. In this essay, Christopher struggles to obtain t he American dream and the true happiness just as the modern fathers do especially in the United States of America. There are some social cultural changes addressed in this film. Individualism, which takes a big part in the American society, is portrayed in this film. Individualism is a common problem in the American History. In addition, it has taken root in modern America as portrayed in the film. This means that most American’s believe that they can achieve their dreams by their own self. In this film, Christopher Gardner struggles to raise his son as a single father. He focuses on achieving his dream as an individual. This shows that individualism is a social issue that still exists in America. The film shows how people are trying to achieve the American dream. Besides the main character, the movie revolves on the life of San Francisco. In the film, people struggle to fight time by moving hurriedly in the streets. The movement of the vehicle and the beeps of horns show how urgency surrounds the whole city. People show casing their talents along the roads show how most people in the city are jobless. The musicians who are seen at the start of the film show how most people in San Francisco use their free time to obtain quick cash. The main character in the film is a victim of the highly competitive society. This is shown by how he struggles in life. Christopher has not sold any bone