The Louvre Free Essays

With a surface of 210,000 m2 of them are dedicated to displays. This gallery holds 35,000 artful culminations and eight distinct assortments. To have the option to visit the whole exhibition hall I needed to go a few times and take over from where I left. We will compose a custom article test on The Louver or on the other hand any comparative theme just for you Request Now What truly entranced me and catch my eye is the Egyptian vestige segment. I was enchanted about this since it had all the insights concerning the volution and way of life of this awesome and entrancing society and human progress. I’m actually keen on considering the Egyptian progress and knowing all the part of this culture and this display assembled all the essential data that I required and I requested to have. The advancement of this human progress was before me in a similar spot. It was a fantasy that turned into a reality. I had all the apparatuses that they utilized In their dither lives before me, I couldn’t accept my eyes. I was watching their dresses and their cosmetics and Jewelry. I was intrigued about their Inventions and manifestations that Inspired us and as yet Inspiring us till today. The Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the Louver historical center houses a significant Egyptologlcal assortments of the world with 50,000 rooms. This area secured each and every insight concerning this stunning individuals. The assortment covers all times of old Egyptian development since the hour of Nagada to the Roman and Coptic Egypt. Among the most well known shows found at the hour of Nagada blade Gebel el-Arak and the scope of chasing. The significant bit of workmanship representing the time thinite is the stele of King Snake. Among every single uncovered stone casket, one finds that of Dioscorides, a Greek general during the rule of Ptolemy VI who chose to be covered by old Egyptian neighborhood customs, deciding to do make a stone coffin. This demonstrated the intensity of this human advancement and how It Influenced others clvlllzatlons. I likewise enjoyed the Islamic workmanship segment since It’s about my religion. The Department of Islamic Art from the Louver, stablished in August 2003, unites the assortments from a territory among Spain and India, dating from the inceptions of Islamic progress (622) until the nineteenth century. This division incorporates a few jewels of Islamic craftsmanship: the al-Pyxis Mughira an ivory box dated Spanish 968, the level peacock, a significant Ottoman earthenware production, particularly the baptistery of St. Louis, one of the most renowned pieces and generally mysterious of all Islamic workmanship, made by Muhammad ibn al-Zayn the mid fourteenth century. Since 22 September 2012, Islamic workmanship are displayed at the Louver in the Cour Visconti. This space permits the presentation of 3000 works from the assortments of the Louver, yet in addition the Musâ ©e des Arts dâ ©coratifs. It is surprising how this area occur under a shade with undulating shapes, reviewing from the modelers Marlo Belllnl and Rudy Ricclottl a â€Å"dragonfly wing† or a â€Å"flying carpet†. Vlsltlng this historical center was a very improving and entrancing experience where I took in a ton of new things about the development that I’m generally energetic about and my own rellglon Step by step instructions to refer to The Louver, Papers

Plans for College and the Future :: College Admissions Essays

Plans for College and the Future What will I accomplish for a mind-blowing remainder? Each individual poses this inquiry at some phase of their life, as a rule during their later adolescent years. As a secondary school junior, I am currently posing myself this inquiry. After extensive idea, I have contrived a provisional arrangement for my future. I understand that a portion of these plans and objectives may change after some time, however with an arrangement, the initial steps of the excursion can start. To set me up for the excursion, I have taken extremely testing secondary school educational program, for example, Honors and Advanced Placement courses. These classes won't just aid my admission to school, yet have additionally helped me to create solid investigation aptitudes and time the executives. While going to school, it is my definitive objective to turn into a specialist, either a podiatrist, radiologist, or plastic specialist. I expect to gain my college degree at the University of Florida, studying science. At that point, I intend to go to clinical school at the University of Florida, also. In the wake of finishing a residency in my forte, I might want to start a clinical practice some place in focal Florida. Important to my life in the wake of finishing my training is having a family. It is my fantasy to turn out to be joyfully hitched and have youngsters. Family has consistently been an incredible piece of my life, and I wish to be a caring spouse and parent. I am likewise anticipating bringing my kids up in the Catholic confidence. As a grown-up, I have various individual objectives. In particular, I might want to claim a home. Additionally, I might want to seek after my inclinations of water-sports by claiming a vessel and my long love of vehicles by possessing a games vehicle. Other individual interests that will influence my years after school are my affection for the outside and the excitement of heading out to numerous new places all through the world. As an informed proficient in my locale, I might want to make a commitment to society and my locale. My experience in long periods of network administration has set me up for this and given me its worth.

ISP Highlights COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

ISP Highlights COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Highlights for ISP concentrators this semester have included the ISP Crisis Simulation and the ISP Faculty Career Panel.   The day-long crisis simulation is held each year as an experiential learning opportunity for students interested in international affairs, diplomacy and military strategy. This year’s crisis simulation centered around a hypothetical U.S. intervention in Syria in which regional powers and non-state actors vied for control. Students on six teams represented either a state (the U.S., Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Russia) or a fictional terrorist organization modeled after Al Qaeda. During the simulation, each team had to devise a strategy that would allow it to accomplish its specific political objectives while dealing with constraints and uncertainty that modeled the risks actual decision-makers might face in a similar situation. By the end of the day, the students had come to understand some of the difficulties associated with operating in a dynamic environmen t with incomplete information and limited time to reach their goals. The Faculty Career Panel featured five ISP faculty members, all of whom exemplify the unique mix of academic, practical and policy expertise to be found within the SIPA faculty. The professors shared reflections on their experiences as U.S. government analysts and advisors at the CIA, the Congressional Budget Office and the Senate, as well as at organizations such as the RAND Corporation, the Brookings Institution and the Aga Khan Foundation. Collectively, their careers have taken them around the world, including to Russia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the former Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo). The professors gave short presentations about their own career trajectories and shared their advice to students newly entering the field. The presentations were followed by a reception during which students had the opportunity to speak with faculty one-on-one and seek advice about their own career aspirations. In addition, SIPA organizations such as the Arnold A. Saltzman Institute for War and Peace Studies and its Center for International Conflict Resolution host a number of events throughout the semester of interest to ISP students.  In January, the Saltzman Institute hosted United Nations Deputy Secretary- General, Jan Eliasson, who spoke of the changing geopolitical and economic landscape that world leaders will face in the years ahead. This week, the Institute will present “A Day in the Life of CIA’s Directorate of Intelligence,” with SIPA Professor of Professional Practice Peter Clement. The Center for International Conflict Resolution at the Saltzman Institute has hosted a number of events on diplomacy, mediation and peacebuilding, including its Alvaro de Soto Conversation Series, which featured Peruvian and UN diplomat Alvaro de Soto and former U.S. Ambassador Chester Crocker on the challenges facing the contemporary field of mediation.

What are the Effects of Representation and Self-regulation...

Introduction Media in its numerous forms is an endemic part of modern life. We are continually exposed to media texts and their representations of gender and sexuality. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in how these representations affect our perceptions of gender and sexuality. Initially I will define what is meant by representation and self-regulation in a media context. Secondly, I will examine debates around these issues including self-identity role models, privacy public interest and censorship freedom of speech. To support this I will analyse three case studies to illustrate how media texts are produced and consumed and what effect this has on the representation of gender and sexuality. Defining terms†¦show more content†¦Our media-rich environment is an immense source of influence on these decisions which is the basis of our self-identity. (Aber.ac.uk, 2001) It is important to note how media texts construct their preferred meanings and what influence this has. Role models should also be considered because they are closely linked with self-identity. A role model is understood to be someone whom one ‘looks up to’ and shares your values and aspirations (Gauntlett, 2002). Gauntlett describes the six types of role model in his book ‘Media, Gender and Identity ’: ‘The ‘straightforward success’ role model: people who have been successful in their chosen field. The ‘triumph over difficult circumstances’ role model: people who have overcome adversity to achieve success often become the most popular role models. The ‘challenging stereotypes’ role model: female action heroes that counter the idea of ‘feminine’ women, and the idea that only men can fill tough leading roles. The ‘wholesome’ role model: these are the ‘role models’ which older generations are comfortable with. The ‘outsider’ role model: rejected by mainstream culture, the outsider role model is a hero to those who reject conventional social expectations. The family role model: thisShow MoreRelatedVisual Representation Is Our Cultural Dictator1876 Words   |  8 PagesVisual representation is our cultural dictator, the general sense of the word is ‘the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way’ (Oxford Dictionaries., 2014). In terms of design it’s ‘the depiction of someone or something in a work of art’ (Oxford Dictionaries., 2014). Representation is constructed of social values; it influences status, class and politics. The ‘circuit of culture’ (Hall, S., 1997, p.1) is the system in which society operates; it includes identity, productionRead MoreJudith Butler in Media Studies3516 Words   |  15 Pages Judith Butler in Media Studies When reading a biography of Judith Butler, a person would typically see a discussion of a highly intelligent philosopher of feminism, political theory, ethical and moral responsibility or gender studies. Her bibliographies are commonly describes as have a career focused on â€Å"research ranging from literary theory, modern philosophical fiction, feminist, gender and sexuality studies, to 19th- and 20th-century European literature and philosophy, Kafka and loss, mourningRead MorePopular Culture And Popular Music2034 Words   |  9 Pagespart of our everyday lives; we are constantly influenced by it as it is a mainstream medium that everyone has access to, it displays different forms or topics everyday for everyone to enjoy. Culture helps us to understand the world that we live in, what is happening in the world at the time, all about society which all contributes to how we understand ourselves. It’s argued that popular culture has been around since the eighteenth century and (Storey 2003, p. 1) states that ‘Romanticisms, folkloreRead MoreUnit 10 Safeguarding5317 Words   |  22 Pagesinvolved can also range from violent physical and psychological abuse through varieties of personal, financial or institutional abuse. Anon, (2014). Task 1.1: Explain why particular individuals and groups may be vulnerable to abuse and or harm to self and others with reference to the case study. Vulnerable: People who are emotionally and physically weak are vulnerable people. e.g. Older people, disabled people, children, People with  mental health  problems, people with learning difficulty, peopleRead MorePorn and Censorship15240 Words   |  61 PagesTraditionally, liberals defended the freedom of consenting adults to publish and consume pornography in private from moral and religious conservatives who wanted pornography banned for its obscenity, its corrupting impact on consumers and its corrosive effect on traditional family and religious values. But, in more recent times, the pornography debate has taken on a somewhat new and surprising shape. Some feminists have found themselves allied with their traditional conservative foes in calling on theRead MoreRacism and Ethnic Discrimination44667 Words   |  179 Pages34 5.1 Socio demographic situation of Indigenous Peoples Afro-descendent communities 34 5.2 Expressions of racism in Nicaraguan society 35 5.3 Manifestations of ethnic discrimination in the cultural sphere 36 5.3.1 Ethnic devaluation and low self-esteem 36 5.3.2 Invisibility in daily public life 39 5.3.3 Ethno-linguistic hierarchy and interethnic conflict 40 5.3.4 Prejudices based on â€Å"awareness of color† 41 5.3.5 Discrimination against use of the mother tongue 42 5.3.6 DevaluationRead MoreIdentity And The Search For The Self Among The Sub Continental Diaspora10173 Words   |  41 Pages Chapter- One Theorising Identity and The Search for The Self among the sub-continental Diaspora in Britain Identity has always been a problematic area of interrogation epistemologically, existentially and politically and it continues to propel our thought. Etymologically, the term is derived from Latin word ‘Idem’ meaning ‘same’ (Oxford Online Dictionary) which means ‘specific quality or condition of being a specific person or an object†.Read MoreThe Effects of Advertising on Children33281 Words   |  134 Pagesany process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Manager, Communications/Media, Australian Communications and Media Authority, PO Box 13112 Law Courts, Melbourne Vic 8010. Published by the Australian Communications and Media Authority Canberra Central Office Purple Building, Benjamin Offices Chan Street, Belconnen PO Box 78, Belconnen ACT 2616 Tel: 02 6219 5555 Fax: 02 6219 5200 Melbourne CentralRead MoreStatement of Purpose23848 Words   |  96 Pagesresearch facilities. Familiarize yourself with the disciplinary culture by identifying the ethos—the values, beliefs, discourse practices, and epistemological assumptions—of a department, program, or college (liberal arts or science and technology). What does it mean to think and write like a member of a specific intellectual community? For example, members of the science community embrace an epistemology—a way of knowing—―consistent with the traditional objective orientation of scientific inquiryâ€â€"Read MoreVerbal and Nonverbal Communication11225 Words   |  45 PagesAs screen and through Bs screen. When B responds to A, B is responding to what she heard rather than what A might have intended. She shoots her message back to B through her own screen of attitudes, values, and so on, through As screen. What is often not understood is that the way we get messages through our screens and through another persons screen often is confusing and distorting in and of itself. We add to what we hear, we fail to hear, and we distort messages according to the modes that

Prejudice, Prejudice And Prejudice - 1074 Words

These days, there is a marked prejudice against prejudice, and understandably so. More often than not, â€Å"prejudice† refers to an â€Å"antipathy based upon a faulty and inflexible generalization.†1 Insofar as prejudice refers to thought or action beclouded by hatred, it warrants condemnation, not defense. However, prejudice also has a broader meaning. According to the Oxford Shorter Dictionary, it is: â€Å"a preconceived opinion; bias unfavorable or favorable.†2 It refers to â€Å"life circumstances† and â€Å"perspective.† Prejudice is any source of judgment whose validity one has not ascertained for oneself. The aspiration to banish prejudice in this broad sense reflects the assumption that rational judgment must be untainted by prejudgments of any kind. This way of thinking about judgment, and the renunciation of fixed ideas it implies, is misguided. Prejudice gives life experiences their subjective meanings. But prejudice can also be both i lluminating and consistent with freedom. The concept of detached judgment (itself a kind of prejudice) was shaped during the Enlightenment (1685-1815). As Hans-Georg Gadamer points out, â€Å"The history of ideas shows that not until the Enlightenment does the concept of prejudice acquire the negative connotation familiar today.†3 The word â€Å"prejudice† actually comes from â€Å"prejudgment,† which means â€Å"[having] either a positive or negative value.† This meaning, he continues, was limited during the Enlightenment â€Å"to the sense of an unfounded judgment† – thatShow MoreRelatedPrejudice1230 Words   |  5 PagesPrejudice Presented By: Nor Anisa Bt. Musa What is Prejudice? * Everyone comes face to face with prejudice at some time or another. * Prejudice is when we recognizethat we feel and act less positively towards others. * The roots of prejudice can be found in the cognitive and emotional processes. * Prejudice may be perceived as acceptable and justified * All inequality and differential treatment is not perceived and responded to in the same way. The nature and origins of streotypingRead MoreGeneral Conception Of Prejudice And Prejudice919 Words   |  4 PagesThe presence of stereotypes and prejudices existed from a long time ago along with the human history – partially often deeply integrated with religion or social status. In 21st century, people are facing with many different stereotypes and prejudices either directly or indirectly. Stereotype is a generalized belief or assumption towards some specific groups or people by the defined attributes or characteristics. Stereotyping can foster prejudice and shape people’s point of views and behaviors ofRead MorePrejudices: Challenging Level Prejudice2250 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"We are each burdened with prejudice; against the poor or the rich, the smart or the slow, the gaunt or the obese. It is natural to develop prejudices. It is noble to rise above them,† Author Unknown. Unfortunately, throughout history our society has become victim to the upbri nging and menacing of prejudices within. The prejudices that our fellow neighbors endure range from scowling facial expressions to violent hate crimes. As far back as the decades go, prejudice has been an ongoing problemRead MorePrejudice Essay - Prejudice, Shame, And Worthless904 Words   |  4 PagesPrejudice Sadness, shame, loneliness, judged, and worthless, these are all feelings that victims feel when prejudice is involved. My brother, Johnny, had never felt any of these emotions before his accident. He is the one, whom everybody wanted to be around. He made everybody laugh, and he was just fun to be around. But things dramatically changed on the day he got into a car accident. He lost his arm. Now everybody looks at him as if he is completely different. Before someone is to be prejudicedRead More Prejudice Essay1566 Words   |  7 Pagespaper I was very excited to find someone with a quite interesting and culturally diverse family background that I think would contribute a lot to the topic of prejudice and stereotype. This paper will discuss the views of stereotype and prejudice of my interviewee and also how the two factors have affected her life. Brown (1995) defines prejudice as a negative attitude, emotion, or behavior towards members of a group as a result of their membership o f that group. This negative attitude, emotion, or behaviorRead MorePrejudice and Discrimination1551 Words   |  7 PagesAnalytical Factsheet on Prejudice amp; Discrimination on Class Inequality Section 1: Executive Summary This essay is about prejudice and discrimination occurring in Singapore context to address Class discrimination. This essay will also show reasons to why prejudice and discrimination occurs and the effects of such inequity can cause to the society. In this case studies possible measures and solutions will be highlighted and suggested. Section 2: The issues and who are involved This essay willRead MorePrejudice in of Mice and Men1582 Words   |  7 PagesIn John Steinbecks novel, Of Mice and Men, there are many example of prejudice. The main types of prejudice shown in this novel are racial, sexual and social prejudice.   This essay is firstly going to look at racial prejudice. There is much racial  prejudice  shown in Of Mice and Men towards  Crooks  the black crippled stable buck. Crooks is more permanent than the other ranch hands and has his own room off the stables with many more possessions than them. This room is made out to be a privilege andRead MorePrejudice, Discrimination, And Discrimination1050 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is Aversive Prejudice/Discrimination All types of prejudice vary in some ways , some people are very blunt and some people merely whisper under their breath or secretly avoid the people they dislike. This falls more in between those line with this being an example of averise racism specifically â€Å" Aversive racists, in contrast, sympathize with victims of past injustice,support principles of racial equality, and genuinely regard themselves as non-prejudiced, but at the same time possess conflictingRead MoreDiscrimination : Prejudice And Discrimination Essay2081 Words   |  9 PagesRunning Head: PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION 1 PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION 8 Prejudice and Discrimination: What?s the Difference? Emily B. Hutchins Salem College Prejudice and Discrimination: What?s the Difference? Prejudice and discrimination are two different actions with similar meanings. A person can have prejudice without acting in a discriminatory manner; however, if someone is discriminating against someone, they have prejudices. A prejudice can start from a stereotype andRead MoreSexism And Prejudice And Discrimination1791 Words   |  8 Pageshence I will be focusing on sexism and present the explanations surrounding this prejudice and discrimination. Sexism is discrimination and prejudice against an individual based on their gender and is still widely apparent in society today although has drastically deteriorated in relation to the past. Most research relating to sexism specifically focuses on women as they have been victim to the majority of prejudice essentially due to their lower status compared to men in relation to business, government

Introduction to Internet Addiction Free Essays

Introduction to Internet Addiction Ten years ago, the only people who spent a majority of their leisure time on the computer were paid members of the technology industry. Today, however, surfing the Web has become a pastime as social and marketable as bar hopping or going to the movies. As the web has become a part of mainstream life, some mental health professionals have noted that a percentage of people using the web do so in a compulsive and out-of-control manner. We will write a custom essay sample on Introduction to Internet Addiction or any similar topic only for you Order Now In one extreme (1997)  Cincinnati case, unemployed mother Sandra Hacker allegedly spent over 12 hours a day secluded from her three young and neglected children while she surfed the Web. For better or for worse, this phenomena of compulsive Internet use has been termed ‘Internet Addiction’ based on its superficial similarity to common addictions such as smoking, drinking, and gambling. Internet Addiction has even been championed as an actual disorder, notably by psychologists Kimberly Young, Ph. D and David Greenfield, Ph. D.. However, at this time the true nature of Internet Addiction is not yet determined. In a true addiction, a person becomes compulsively dependent upon a particular kind of stimulation to the point where obtaining a steady supply of that stimulation becomes the sole and central focus of their lives. The addict increasingly neglects his work duties, relationships and ultimately even his health in his drive to remain stimulated. In some cases of addiction (such as addiction to alcohol or to heroin), a phenomenon known as tolerance occurs, wherein more and more stimulation is required to produce the same pleasurable effect. A related phenomena, withdrawal, can also occur, wherein the addicted person comes to be dependent upon their source of stimulation and experiences dramatically unpleasant (and even potentially lethal — as can be the case with alcohol) reactions when he goes without it. Sources of addictive stimulation can be chemical (as is the case with addictive drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, nicotine and heroin), sensual (as in sex) or even informational (as in gambling or workaholism). What all sources of addictive stimulation have in common is that they provoke a strong, usually positive (at first) reaction in the potential addict, who then seeks out the source of that stimulation so as to obtain that feeling on a regular basis. While many people like to engage in sexual relations, or gamble, or have the occasionally drink because of the pleasure to be had, clearly not all people who do so are addicts. Rather, the term ddiction only applies when someone’s stimulation seeking gets to the point where it starts interfering with their ability to function normally and non-neglectfully at work and in relationships. Mental health professionals are split as to whether or not Internet addiction is real. No one disputes that some people use the Internet in a compulsive manner even to a point where it interferes with their their ability to function at work and in social relationships. What is disputed is whether people can become addicted to the Internet itself, or ra ther to the stimulation and information that the web provides. The controversy surrounding Internet Addiction is precisely whether people become addicted to the net itself, or to the stimulation to be had via the net (such as online gambling, pornography or even simple communication with others via chat and bulletin boards). Some psychologists do not believe in addiction to the Internet itself, but rather in addiction to stimulation that the Internet provides. They suggests that new Internet users often show an initial infatuation with the novelty of the Web, but eventually lose interest and decrease their time spent online back to a normal, healthy amount. Those users who do go on to show compulsive Internet utilization, for the most part become compulsive only with regard to particular types of information to be had online, most often gambling, pornography, chat room or shopping sites. This is not an addiction to the Internet itself, but rather to risk-taking, sex, socializing or shopping. In essence then, the chief addictive characteristic of the Internet is its ability to enable instant and relatively anonymous social stimulation. Addicted† Internet users are addicted to a favored kind of social stimulation and not to the Internet itself, although it is also true that the Internet has made it vastly easier and more convenient for someone to develop such a compulsion. Because the Internet is used by many people as a normal part of their career or education, knowing how to separate excessive from normal use becomes difficult and cannot be accomplished using simple measures such as amount of time spent online in a given period. M ost fundamental in differentiating normal from problem Internet use is the experience of compulsion to use the net. Normal users, no matter how heavy their usage, do not  need  to get online and do not neglect their occupational duties or their relationships with family and friends to get online. Help for Internet related addiction is available from multiple sources. Anyone concerned about serious problem Internet usage should consider consulting with a local licensed psychologist, social worker or counselor, specifically one with experience treating addictions. Cognitive therapy based approaches are recommendable due to their systematic and direct focus on reducing problem use and preventing relapse, and the strong scientific support for the approach. Marital and or family therapy approaches may be useful as well when an individual’s Internet Addiction is affecting their larger family system (such as might be the case when a husband uses Internet-based pornography as his sole sexual outlet, leaving his wife frozen out). More than a few books and self-help resources (such as audio tape sets) are also available for those who want to educate themselves on the problem. Our Internet Addiction Treatment article provides further detail. How to cite Introduction to Internet Addiction, Essay examples

Strategic Management of Popular & Largest Home Furnisher Retailer IKEA

Questions: Analyse and evaluate the current strategic situation of IKEA (emphasising the benefits and problems). You may consider the following aspects:1) What overall strategy the company uses? In your opinion, is this the correct strategy? How responsive is the company to differences among nations? Why the company is active in specific markets and not in others? What are the key challenges facing the company? (1200-1400 words)2) Suggest alternative strategy directions and indicate which strategy you find most promising and suggest how the company may go about implementing this strategy. Answers: Introduction In this research, one of the popular and largest home furnisher retailer IKEAs strategy is analyzed by providing a general and competitive analysis. The corporate strategies are scrutinized with its effect on 313 stores in 37 countries in 2010. IKEA provides a basic model that has not only moved in different places but with success (Lutz, 2015). The IKEA business model presents a broad range of home furnishings with functioning quality and price that makes affordable for people with various tastes, dreams, needs and aspirations (ikea.com, 2015). However, IKEAs corporate strategy will be examined based on the partnership with the customer in specific markets among different nations with responsiveness to key challenges faced by the company. Moreover, devising the strategy from the current strategy, which will be promising at the end. IKEA Generic Strategies for Business The basis of business strategy is based on the strategic management done by the top management of the company involving performance and resources in the external environment to achieve the objectives. Strategic management is based on the competitive organizational environment and knowledge of the firm to take right decisions (Hill et al., 2014). IKEA just like ALDI, one of the upcoming supermarkets in Australia follows a Cost Leadership and Differentiation Strategy. IKEAs main foundation for pursuing a cost leadership strategy is primary to the targeted market segment that is in search for fashionable household furniture and accessories and about customers demand, the company offer a combination of good design, acceptability and functionality at lower prices. The following concept of the company applies to every phase of activities and can be explained with the help of figure 1 (Pena Ricart, 2015). Figure 1 Mapping System Source: (Larsson, 2015) Though IKEA specializes in cost leadership, it also differentiated products that asks its target customers to enjoy the shopping experience in a store while making the customer comfortable in a way by offering playrooms for children in-store, wheelchairs for old customers. However, IKEA offers products and services for minor things that can help IKEA to retain its customers. One of the ways can be with the help of Sweden shops outside stores offering specialty to customers who are young, likely to have children and need to shop outside of standard hours (Wit Meyer, 2010). Situational Analysis A situational analysis is the best guide to study the business strategy of IKEA. However, it can be done by applying different modules and tools like PESTEL, SWOT, and Porters Five Forces, which will briefly elaborate the strategic analysis. PESTEL Political- The political climate of United Kingdom analyze the taxation, tariffs, customer protection legislations and trade restrictions but holds negative regarding labour industry. However, as far as IKEAs business environment is concerned across nations, it is politically stable in Europe and America but does not operate in Africa due to political volatility (Harapiak, 2013). Economic- The economic factors of IKEA is based on industry specific economic growth. However, weakened economies have affected consumers disposable income in Europe and the vast disparity in cost of labour in China and Poland is accessible in US or London have influenced IKEA. Other factors are distinctive in nature with each country referring to wage rates, inflation rates and interest rates (Frynas Mellahi, 2015). Social- The demand for useful low cost furniture is prevalent in inter-country migration, and that is where most of IKEAs business is found. However, IKEA is majorly affected by changing social trends, transportation network, and infrastructure during hard economic times, which leads to the slackening of markets rate of growth but otherwise it provides a positive impact. Nevertheless, the product range of IKEA reflects openness in Swedens healthy life (Ayodele, 2013). Technology- Technology acts as a business tool for IKEA because of adoption of data website to view online catalogues and correspondence with customer service team to keep pace with global networks from suppliers to distributors (Fredman Nilsson, 2015). Environment- IKEA is not only sensitive to the environment but also follows in making the best use of energy and raw materials. The company achieves its overall positive impact by keeping its cost down and achieving its green targets like reducing pollution, etc. (Ayodele, 2013). Legal- IKEA performs its functions in international business where it is governed by many laws and regulations. The threat can be imposed when third parties initiate legal battles that results in implications in consumer rights, court injunctions, damages, and fines. Employee protection acts are also considered legislative issues in some countries (Frynas Mellahi, 2015). SWOT The other tool that can be assessed is SWOT analysis that is given using the figure 2 below. Figure 2 SWOT Analysis Source: (Albarrak, 2012) Competitor Analysis (Porters Five Forces) Figure 3 Michael Porter's Five Forces Source: (Hamid, 2014) Competition in any company is based on competitive forces that define the Porters five forces. Rivalry among existing customers is high when it comes to a global market of markdown furniture and the premier players in the market are namely Euromarket Designs Inc., USA market Cronin, Wal-Mart Stores, Cratel Barrel, Ethan Allen market and many others. Though the competition is great IKEA remains the acknowledged market leader in the industry of discounted furniture (Hamid, 2014). The threat of new entrants is low because IKEA applies a low cost strategy and any firm who enters the market needs to have a unique brand name and vast supply chain in the name of low prices to compete with IKEA, which in insubstantial as the current market is inundated (Leavy, 2102). The bargaining power of buyers is highly strong as the competition is quite high and customers possess a wide variety of substitute preferences. However, the alternatives are here from global retailers as well as local producers of furniture (Ayodele, 2013). IKEAs competitors have the low bargaining power of suppliers because the company maintains long-term commonly beneficial relationships with suppliers to meet the ends of the customer that promptly responds to the changing trends in the market. In addition, IKEA possesses numerous factories across the nations with resources and potential to structure partnership with IKEA. The threat of substitute goods is considerably low because there are not many products and services that can replace home appliances or demand for furniture (Harapiak, 2013). Internationalization of IKEA IKEA applied a risk-reducing approach initially to enter a new potential market. However, in the case of IKEA, a supplier was linked to the Swedish market that could provide political, legal, financial and cultural issues that could provide opportunities and threat in the external market. However, IKEA adopted internationalization expansion through franchising which has relatively small and high-risk markets that applied the intermediate mode of entry where franchisor was responsible for marketing, centralized control, production and R D. Franchising is considered a good way to transpose name, concept and standing (Hollensen, 2014). Nonetheless, if looked at the broader concept, IKEA internationalization has three phases namely explorative internalization, rigid replication, and flexible replication. The timeline can be shown in figure 4 below. Figure 4 Timeline of IKEA's Internationalization Process Source: (Jonsson Foss, 2011) However, IKEAs current replication mode may begin from the difference between IKEAs Idea Concept and Concept in practice. This difference not only highlights the IKEAs thinking of hierarchical process but also throws light on the embodiment of some features to be fixed while others are certified flexible. The term flexibility comes from the dissimilarity in the local market and the need to amend replication under the influence of new and advanced learning. The replication strategy follows two stage of flexible replication. One is explorative, and the other is exploitative in which the future is full of opportunities where it is nourished by IKEA system belief to search for superior solutions (Jonsson Foss, 2011). Internationalization in Europe was different from rest of the world because internationalization in Europe was accompanied by marketing satellite, pure global strategy and country offices. Nevertheless, the same cannot be said for rationalized manufacturing rest of the world where methods like rationalized manufacturing g were used for wholly owned subsidiaries. Franchising in North America is hard to capture because of currency movements, free deliveries, and easy payment options but it was gradually done when certain adaptations were made according to culture and economy. Asia, on the other hand, posed problems like pricing strategy, intense domestic competition, and corruption but it soon was adapted to the creation of supplier relationship (franchising) and understanding of local needs (Goenka, 2010). However, lately, IKEA adopted different modes to entry which is explained in figure 5 below. Figure 5 Modes of Entry Source: (Suwaris, 2013) International Environment The four strategies that IKEA has adopted to deal with international business environment is due to local responsiveness and cost reduction. The figure 6 below explains the strategic choice of IKEA. Figure 6 Strategic Choice Source: (Suwaris, 2013) International Business level strategy- This approach emphasizes the acquiring of markets in advanced economies and the will to acquire more economies especially developing economies to realize the greater gain from the competitive advantage (Suwaris, 2013). Multidomestic Strategy- This strategy involves getting maximum local responsiveness through customization of marketing and product strategy using a decentralized authority structure. This strategy bears high-cost structures and lacks core competencies (Lakshman, 2013). Global Strategy- IKEA has a diverse distributional network that ensures timely delivery of products to retail stores by exploiting control points in the cycle of distribution. IKEA has a significant network of suppliers with close immediacy to raw materials and distributional channels that not only helps in gaining advanced knowledge but continuously enhance operational efficiency and flow facilitation of information. The company on a general view responds to emerging tastes and preferences with more emphasis on product lines that appeal to locally based customers (Mittal, 2013). Transnational Strategy- To meet the conflicting demands of the company, one strategy that needs to be adopted globally is that IKEA deals with both cost leadership and differentiation strategy with a competitive advantage. IKEA relies on standardization of products, and the system is known as democratic design through which producers can meet the demands of the local consumers. Nevertheless, this strategy is difficult to facilitate and implement (Hitt et al., 2012). The figure 7 will help in enlightening the achievement of the translational strategy of IKEA. Figure 7 Transnational Strategy Of IKEA Source: (Suwaris, 2013) Alternative Strategy Directions of IKEA The alternative strategy decisions IKEA has made is in the corporate social responsibility area known by Sustainability Strategy for 2020, People, and Plant Positive. However, this strategy helps in using sustainability in driving transforming business, innovations, shaping investments and letting loose new business opportunities. This strategy will not only strengthen the competitiveness but bring change in society through long-standing access to raw materials, deepening relationships with employees and customers, maintaining and developing supplier base and increasing productivity (Bouvrain Sarka, 2015). However, IKEA has identified three drivers of change that will transform the business making it more sustainable. Firstly by inspiring and enabling millions of customers to live a sustainable life. Secondly, by striving for energy and resources interdependence and lastly creating a better life for the people by extending the code of conduct through value chain (ikea.com, 2015). The adoption of sustainable competitive advantage should possess valuable resources, rare resources, imperfectly imitable resources and non-substitutable resources in the strategy making process. The change can be assessed based on the competitive inertia of the alternative strategic decision taken. Nonetheless, IKEA adopted a sustainable strategy because of the successful competitive practices that are cost leadership and differentiation strategies. Nevertheless, an effective change is possible if it takes place at the highest level of the company, which is the best way of reinventing the marketing strategy. However, the unique methodologies can build up a pertinent theory to tackle the complexity and uncertainty of current markets (Gummesson et al., 2014). An effective way of alternative strategy decision can be based on the efficiency of alternative course of actions. The following actions can be explained with the help of the table below. Alternative Courses of Actions Advantages Disadvantages Developing Research and development Programs Investment in R D will give better ideas on current trends, needs and behaviour of the entire market Expensive in execution and could possibly effect price rate Promotional activities to be implemented Creating attention and store traffic for more sales and customer loyalty Deregulated promotional activities might end up for customer disloyalty due to expectations of loyal customers Merging with potential local companies to strengthen financial competence Experience and knowledge of the maket Conflict of different principles and cultures Source: (Kwong, 2011). Conclusion IKEA is one the popular home furnishing company that has adopted cost leadership and differentiation strategy to meet the demands of the young middle-level customers locally and globally. Different types of tools were applied to check the effectiveness of IKEAs business strategy. 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