Reading the poem Essay Example for Free

Reading the poem Essay In his poem Slough Betjeman uses a number of ways to put across his views. The title itself suggests he feels that Slough is an appropriate title, that a poem on the place deserves no better or imaginative title than just its name because the place is dull and unimaginative also, or that Slough says it all already. The first line of the first stanza means you immediately know what he thinks, his opinion being straight to the point, asking Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough which is a good use of juxtaposition as bombs are never seen as friendly, but in this case they would be if they bombed Slough as they would be doing him a favour. Asking for bombs to fall on Slough is an outrageous, extreme demand which he repeats in the second stanza and in the final stanza to reinforce his plea, and he also uses other extreme terms such as the people have Slough having tasted Hell which shows clear dislike. He is very flippant about asking the bombs to blow Slough to smithereens as if he wants no part of it left and its a reasonable demand. Betjemans phrases such as Its not their fault that they are mad, they do not know and they often go makes it sound like he feels the people of Slough are alienated and are very different to himself, as if they were another species altogether, calling them they, disassociating them from himself, and being patronising about their lives. He also conveys his attitude of Slough by describing what he thinks of the people that live there such as the man with the double chin who will always cheat and always win and who he also refers to as a stinking cad. He is not complimentary about the people of Slough, like the wives with peroxide hair and the men who sit in bogus Tudor bars with nothing better to do. His descriptions of the people help explain why he dislikes Slough, and he is saying that it may be the people who live there that help to make it a bad place, so this is a view he has of Slough. But he also pities the people , saying its not their fault so I think he is unsure himself whether it is the people making Slough a terrible place, or Slough making the people terrible. Either way, he subtly ridicules the people of Slough and their ways of life as he feels the wives sit and paint their nails and the men talk of cars andbelch. Betjeman makes use of repetition such as the first line Come, friendly bombs and, in the second stanza Tinned fruit, tinned meat As repetition is a way of reinforcing and strengthening a statement or opinion. Making everything from the food to the minds and breath tinned makes it sound like the people of Slough are all the same and are dull and lifeless. He also uses alliteration in the form of cabbages are coming and grass to graze which help the lines to flow easily. He uses negative words clusters such as Hell, repulsive, stinking and dirty which show his view of Slough with strong words that appeal to the senses and the imagination of the reader. The tone of the poem is one of dislike, where Betjeman cares so little for Slough that he would cheerfully see it bombed and destroyed. This is a strong image because it must take extreme dislike for someone to want something bombed. The rhyme scheme of the poem also reveals his views because the pattern is AAAB so the first three lines of each stanza flow easily and quickly, and rhyme so the poem seems almost cheerful and happy. But the last line of each stanza is used to put across his point in a harsh phrase such as Theyve tasted Hell and Swarm over, Death! which brings the flowing stanza to an abrupt, harsher sounder end like death, tears, Hell and yell. The majority of the stanzas finish at the end of a sentence and this is used to make strong end statements, then the next stanza will begin again in the slightly humorous tone, ridiculing Slough. The rhythm of the first three lines of each stanza is fast and light, but the rhythm is broken by the abrupt end of each stanza which breaks up the flow to remind the reader of what Slough is like. The rhythm of the poem is also Iambic Pentameter which means that Betjeman has used this to make the stresses of each line land on important words such as bombs, blow and mess so these words are emphasised when reading the poem, and stand out so they are noticed more. Betjeman uses certain phrases to imply that Slough is a fake, manufactured place because of the air-conditioned, bright canteens, the bogus Tudor bars and the synthetic air. He seems to hate the fact that Slough is a place that has been built up with labour-saving homes and has ruined the land so much that There isnt grass to graze a cow meaning they have built over all the land and ruined the landscape. In the final stanza, he wants to bomb Slough again so that it can be turned back into a nice place again where they can grow food and make use of the land, rather than wasting it like it is being misused now. He claims the people are false and materialistic as they do not know the birdsong from the radio and darent look up and see the stars because birdsong and stars are two of the beauties of nature that the people of Slough couldnt possibly appreciate, in Betjemans opinion. Betjeman uses irony in his poem as he describes the polished oak desk belonging to the man with double chin and I think Betjeman has mentioned this because he feels that the land that was there before, has now been destroyed, with the trees all being cut down to make room for the buildings, and as if this wasnt bad enough, the trees have been used to make the desks for the people who are responsible for ruining Slough which he sees as sadly ironic. One of Betjemans key phrases is It isnt fit for humans now which is a strong statement about the state of the place but also the use of the word now at the end suggests how he feels Slough was not always like this and it has slowly been ruined over the years. In this way, I think the poem is tinged with sadness as he feels it has been ruined to the point where there is no way to solve it but to destroy it which is a very emotive, strong view. I think you can sum up Betjemans view of Slough by the line repeated at the beginning and end of the poem Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough.

Range Brands General Target Market Description

Range Brands General Target Market Description Firstly, a brief situational analysis will be given. A short background of the company and a description of the current performance of the enterprise will be provided, before considering the performance of the company ¿Ã‚ ½s closest competitors, current trends and emerging segments in the market followed by a description of the current and desired positioning of Tissot. The poor relative performance and stagnant market share of the company provides the main rational for developing a new marketing strategy for Tissot, aimed at creating a stronger differentiation and more distinctive image for the brand. Secondly, the marketing and communication objectives of the campaign will be stated, before outlining the strategy for the campaign. The aim is to reposition Tissot as  ¿Ã‚ ½sporty, elegant and feminine ¿Ã‚ ½ through a re-launch campaign, using an integrated advertising, direct mail, point-of-sale, PR and sponsorship strategy focusing on the themes social responsibility and creativity. The target markets for the campaign will be 22-35 year old AB working women, as well as the company ¿Ã‚ ½s current and potential new distributors. Finally the report conclude with, details of the campaign outlining the control measures that will be used in the evaluation-phase of the campaign. Contents 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 Company/ Group History and products. 5 2.1 History 5 2.2 Swatch Group Product range 5 3.0 Investigation and analysis 9 3.1 Overview of the UK Market 9 3.2 PESTLE Analysis. 10 3.3 Situational analysis (SWOT) 11 3.4 Differential advantage/ Competitive edge (USP) 12 3.5 Current product range of Tissot 12 4.0 Recommendations 14 4.1 Segmentation Targeting Positioning (STP) 14 4.1.1 Market Segmentation 14 4.2 Marketing objectives and goals (SMART) 16 4.2.1 Marketing Objectives 17 4.2.2 Strategy 17 4.2.3 Target market 17 4.3 Desired Positioning 17 18 4.4 Marketing strategies and programmes (4P ¿Ã‚ ½s) 18 5.0 Conclusion 21 5.1 Evaluation 21 6.0 Reference and Bibliography 21 1.0 Introduction The watches and jewellery market has not been immune to the economic climate and the whole industry suffered in late 2008 and in 2009 as consumer confidence fell and people became more cautious about their spending (Europa Star October, 2010). But on the other hand according to Europa Star report market dynamics such as shifting consumer attitudes has led to a substantial increase in demand, and this trend is expected to continue also in the coming years. According to Europa Star (2010) strong watch groups such as Swatch group, LVMH and Richemont have weathered the storm and have become even stronger. This is evident from the triumphant profit announcements from the Swatch Group, LVMH, and Richemont. In a growing and crowded market, luxury watch manufacturer Swatch group has experienced stagnant sales and a stable market share. The focus of this report will therefore to be outline the current market dynamics and recommend a viable new marketing strategy for Swatch group especially emphasizing on its Tisot Brand. Primarily, a brief situational analysis will be given. A short background of the company and a description of its brands and the current performance of the group will be provided, followed by the analysis of company ¿Ã‚ ½s closest competitors. Further, investigation of company ¿Ã‚ ½s external and internal environment will be followed. After investigating its environment, a detail recommendation for its marketing strategy highlighting key current trends and emerging segments in the market, followed by a description of the current and desired positioning of the brand will be provided. Finally the report will conclude with a summary of the key findings and recommendations. 2.0 Company/ Group History and products. 2.1 History The Swatch Group Ltd. is the number one manufacturer of finished watches in the world. The Group is active in the manufacture of finished watches, jewelry, and watch movements and components. It produces nearly all of the components necessary to manufacture the watches sold under its 19 watch brands and the multi-brand Tourbillon retail label, as well as the entire Swiss watchmaking industry. In addition, it operates its own worldwide network of distribution organizations. The Swatch Group is also a key player in the electronic systems sector. Tissot Brand. Founded in 1853 at Le Locle, the birthplace of Swiss watch making, the Tissot brand is proud to have developed a strong tradition of quality and innovative Swiss watches. The brand is available in over 150 countries. 2.2 Swatch Group Product range Table 1.1 Swatch Group Product Range Range Brands General Target Market Description Prestige and Luxury Range Breguet, Blancpain, Glash ¿Ã‚ ½tte Original, Jaquet Droz, L ¿Ã‚ ½on Hatot, Omega and Tiffany Each of them originates strength and prestige from its own exclusive history, and reinvents components ¿Ã‚ ½ with high-end and supreme excellence targeting for the very highest end of the market. High Range Longines, Rado and Union Glash ¿Ã‚ ½tte Wide series of sophisticated watches placed at the top end of the market. They are characterized by their pioneering spirit, their technological revolution and their considerable involvement in sport and design. Middle Range Tissot, ck watch jewelry, Balmain, Certina, Mido and Hamilton Their extremely keen intelligence of current events  ¿Ã‚ ½ fashion, sport and culture  ¿Ã‚ ½ which is reflected in the definition of their high-quality products, gives them a very high profile in the mid-range market. They practically always occupy the leadership position in their different market niches. The unique characteristics of each brand are reflected in the models that make up its range. Basic Range Swatch and Flik Flak. Two extremes. Swatch on one hand, the most visible of the Swatch Group ¿Ã‚ ½s 19 brands and the most famous plastic watch in the world; and Flik Flak on the other, exclusively reserved for children. Stood in the lowest price segment. The range is consequently immense and aimed at everyone. Private Label Endura Group makes all its expertise available to third-party clients who are not active in the watch making industry, manufacture exclusive for special events, sports etc. providing them with watches that perfectly capture and replicate their image. Source:www.swatchgroup.com Based on the above table the main focus of this report will be the mid-range market, where Tissot brand is positioned. Thus it is important firstly to identify it ¿Ã‚ ½s direct or in this case its internal competitors. The following table describes its internal competitors. Table 1.2 Internal competitors Position: Innovators by tradition the first anti-magnetic watch in 1930; Astrolon, the first watch with a plastic casing in 1971; Rock watch, the first watch with a casing made of alpine granite in 1985, followed by Pearl watch, the first watch with a mother-of-pearl casing in 1986, then Wood watch, the first watch with a casing made of wood in 1987. In 1996, Tissot launched its first autoquartz models with 6-day autonomy and then, in 2001, its famous T-Touch models with seven additional functions activated by touching the watch ¿Ã‚ ½s crystal. Tissot has also built its reputation on an incomparable style and elegance. People the world over recognize the dynamic that has presided over the brand ¿Ã‚ ½s destiny for more than 150 years. Its deep involvement in sport, its role as Official Chronometer at top-level national, trans-national and global events Position: Absolute, contemporary The US designer Calvin Klein and the Swatch Group pooled their formidable talent in 1997 to create cK watch, a watch brand with graphic lines that are striking, refined and contemporary. A new and inimitable type of watch, a fashion accessory watch. Today, over 200 different Swiss-made models designed for men as well as women adorn storefronts in more than 60 countries. Characterized by its essential sexy image that translates refined lines and numerous metal surfaces into sensual curves. Position: A world of elegance From 1987 to 1995, Balmain watches were manufactured under exclusive license by the Swatch Group, which supplied its immense expertise and state-of-the-art watchmaking technology to the brand and the Parisian fashion house founded in 1945. In December 1995, the Swatch Group acquired the exclusive rights to manufacture market and distribute the brand ¿Ã‚ ½s watches throughout the entire world. One of the brand ¿Ã‚ ½s distinctive features is the famous  ¿Ã‚ ½arabesques ¿Ã‚ ½ dial, the stunning design They are synonymous with elegance and refinement, and meet the quality and esthetic criteria demanded by discerning women and men alike. Position: Reliability, precision and innovation The spirit of the famous Certina brand is brought to life by a tradition of uncompromising excellence and the guaranteed use of the finest components and materials  ¿Ã‚ ½ titanium, 316L stainless steel, sapphire glass, and the renowned ETA Swiss Made movements. The company has built its reputation on the quality of the watch movements made by the Kurth brothers. As the Swiss leader in mid-range sporting watches, Certina has become the champion of outstanding quality at an affordable price. The introduction in 1959 of the concept of double security is a significant example of this, raising water and shock resistance to previously unattained levels. Position: A mark of true design Mido ¿Ã‚ ½s ambition is to produce watches that possess characteristics typical of the quality and careful craftsmanship of a Swiss watch, namely timepieces endowed with mechanical movements that are wound either by hand or automatically. Timelessness is the hallmark of its image, which aims to be clean-cut and refined. As a specialist in mechanical watches, Mido offers a variety of models with designs ranging from retro to contemporary, and from classic to innovative. They all meet the brand ¿Ã‚ ½s five strategic criteria: the Swiss-made label; a distinctive identity; a high-precision, high-quality mechanical movement; superior water-resistance, and excellent value for money. Position: A passion for the sky and the movies Launch of the worlds first battery-powered watch, the Ventura. In 1972, Hamilton again amazed the world by creating the first watch with a digital display. The wide range and varied styles of Hamilton watches have provided a valuable resource for Hollywood stylists and costume designers. As well as being worn by numerous actors during filming, the brand is also famous today for its  ¿Ã‚ ½Behind the Camera Awards ¿Ã‚ ½, which honors backstage artists on film sets in Los Angeles. Source:www.swatchgroup.com 3.0 Investigation and analysis 3.1 Overview of the UK Market The UK jewellery and watches market, with the jewellery sector being segmented into the categories of real jewellery (gold, silver and platinum) and fashion/costume jewellery. Total sales of jewellery and watches in the UK fluctuated between 2004 and 2008, and fell by 2.8% in the latter year to finish the review period at  ¿Ã‚ ½4.33bn. (Jewellery Watches Market Report, 2009). Furthermore, as consumers have cut back on spending during the recession, there has been pressure in the market to reduce prices which, combined with lower volumes, has meant an overall downturn in sales. Initially, the luxury end of the market was relatively unaffected by the downturn, but by the end of 2008 and early 2009, it had begun to take effect. (Jewellery Watches Market Report, 2009). The market share in UK is dominated by fashion brands such as Rolex, Omega and Gucci (please refer figure 1.1 below). Please note due to lack of market data the below figure describes data up to year 2005.Figure 1.1: Brand shares in the UK luxury watch market, 2002 and 2005. Source: Mintel report, 2005 3.2 PESTLE Analysis. Political  ¿Ã‚ ½ Removal of quantitative restrictions on import watches lead to a threat in UK. Economic  ¿Ã‚ ½ More people are concerned about their jobs and employment prospects than last year.  ¿Ã‚ ½ 11% growth for the jewellery and watches market over the next five years globally (Mintel, 2010).  ¿Ã‚ ½ Rising gold prices and the recession have led many consumers to buy silver jewellery instead of gold.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Currency volatility means the end of savage price-cutting. Sociological  ¿Ã‚ ½ Importance of the gifting market for retailers, with four in ten adults enjoying receiving precious metal jewellery as a birthday or Christmas present.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Young men aged under-35 are more open to paying higher amounts for a watch as they typically do not wear jewellery to express their individuality or consumer spending power.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Costume jewellery is the smallest sector of the watches and jewellery market, but has grown at the fastest rate. Technology  ¿Ã‚ ½ Watch brands are taking advantage of new technologies such as robots and hi-tech coatings.  ¿Ã‚ ½ A notable trend is the use of unconventional materials in luxury watches such as titanium and ceramics.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Another notable trend is retailers asking fashion brands to design special watches exclusively for their stores. (Innovation Driving Luxury Watch Market ,2007)  ¿Ã‚ ½ Developments in online retailing have contributed to it becoming increasingly transparent for information on pricing and availability. Legal  ¿Ã‚ ½ Regulations fair pricing and health and safety Environmental  ¿Ã‚ ½ Converging the watch ¿Ã‚ ½s main function with health benefits would be one way of helping to create new reasons for purchase. 3.3 Situational analysis (SWOT) Strengths  ¿Ã‚ ½ Brand Image  ¿Ã‚ ½ as an Innovators by tradition,  ¿Ã‚ ½Swiss Made ¿Ã‚ ½.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Unique and Exclusive products  ¿Ã‚ ½ e.g. T-Touch, touch-sensitive sapphire, barometers, altimeters and thermometers.  ¿Ã‚ ½ After sale service Tissot International Warranty and after-sales services  ¿Ã‚ ½ Premier event sponsor and Brand Ambassadors  ¿Ã‚ ½ Strong established Distribution network  ¿Ã‚ ½ Swatch Group has a growing Market share  ¿Ã‚ ½ The Swatch Group occupies a major position in the production and supply of watches, movements and components.  ¿Ã‚ ½ This ensures the integrity of the vertical manufacturing structure; it also guarantees the strength and credibility Weaknesses  ¿Ã‚ ½ Pricing for mid-range market  ¿Ã‚ ½ Small Presence in key market segment  ¿Ã‚ ½ Competitors successfully exploited the lifestyle segmentation which Tissort failed to accomplish. Opportunities  ¿Ã‚ ½ Gifting concept and Seasonality: associating with gifting and relations  ¿Ã‚ ½ Company can expand in to a niche market by launching products suitable for customers in a particular market segment like the youth, gift fashion, sports etc.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Enlarge network of the sales outlets.  ¿Ã‚ ½ World trend for highly fashionable products.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Increase in internet capabilities and increase in online buyers especially in the UK. Threats  ¿Ã‚ ½ World and Local Competition: 25 key luxury brands in the world, with their own branded watches.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Direct internal and external competitors in the mid-range market.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Cheap Counterfeits products.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Decreasing Trends in market. E.g. Use of Mobiles to get the time and the other features.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Worldwide decline in the production and demand of mechanical watches. 3.4 Differential advantage/ Competitive edge (USP)  ¿Ã‚ ½  ¿Ã‚ ½Swiss Made ¿Ã‚ ½ and 100% Market share for Swiss watches  ¿Ã‚ ½ Swatch Group Logistics Unit The Swatch Group Logistics Unit continues to work toward an integrated global Supply Chain Management system. A logistics information platform initially linking virtually all Group brands to the various international subsidiaries has been expanded to reach over 200 agents, providing them with up-to-date information on sales, inventories, and open orders.  ¿Ã‚ ½ European Distribution Centre Swatch Group Distribution has established regional service centers, among them the European Distribution Centre (EDC), enabling the replacement of countless local warehouses and information systems with a common distribution platform.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Swatch Group accords great importance to customer satisfaction, by creating a division dedicated entirely to Customer Service activities. such as the European platform for repairs of high-end products and the implementation of the Groups watch making schools in Shanghai (China), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Glash ¿Ã‚ ½tte and Pforzheim (Germany) and Miami (USA).  ¿Ã‚ ½ Tissot recently introduced a web application called 3D Augmented Reality that will allow to try watches on in front of the computer screen Focusing on the Tissot Touch collection, you will be able to virtually  ¿Ã‚ ½try on ¿Ã‚ ½ a selection of styles and colours. In addition, all the watches will tell the correct time in digital and analogue. (Europa Star, 2010) 3.5 Current product range of Tissot Table 1.3 Tissot Product Line  ¿Ã‚ ½ Global The Tissot T Collection Watch (model T50.1.185.60) is varied. This model is an elegant, womens watch featuring a solid stainless steel case and bracelet with butterfly clasp. With Swiss quartz movement and water resistance to 100 feet, this watch has suggested price of $375. The Tissot Seastar II Automatic Watch (T55.0.483.11) is an elegant mens watch with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal: set on a bi-color bracelet. Water resistant to100 feet, it has a list price of $200. The Tissot PRS200 Chrono Diver Watch (model T17.1.486.34) features: chronograph with ADD and SPLIT functions, 30-minute and 1/10 second displays and 60-second chronograph hand. Its also water resistant to 650 feet. With many other features, this lists for $450. The Tissot Oval-T Watch (model T47.5.385.31) is an elegant womens watch with PVD bracelet and a sapphire glass with quartz movement. Water resistant to 100 feet, it lists for $390. Other Tissot Series Tissot makes dozens of models and series. These include the V8 watch, PRS 200 watch, Heritage watch, Powermatic watch, TXL watch, T Lord watch, Quickster watch, the Atollo watch, the Bellflower watch and many others. Source: www.luxurywatches101.com Table 1.3 Product Range of TISSOT UK Brand Range Number of designs and watches TOUCH COLLECTION 12 T-SPORT 5 T-TREND 4/7 T-CLASSIC 4 T-GOLD 3 T-POCKET 23/44 HERITAGE 4 Each of these brands range offers a wide range of very strongly characterized watches. The attractiveness of the models, their multiple variations, and the combination of multiple specialties, their precision and their quality form an integral part of their fashion appeal, and meet the consumer ¿Ã‚ ½s many and varied needs. The unique characteristics of each brand are reflected in the models that make up its range. Summary of Key Facts Based on the above investigation it is evident that Tissot brand which cater to the mid-range market, has a strong support from the swatch group especially with its distribution network. But also it should be highlighted that esspacially the Tissot brand is not up to date with the current trends, for example catering to the youth, women segment especially in UK. 4.0 Recommendations 4.1 Segmentation Targeting Positioning (STP) 4.1.1 Market Segmentation The consumer luxury watches market can be segmented by: o Gender o Type of watch o Age o Socio-economic group o Life stage of the consumer o Marital status o Working status o Geographical region. The table 1 below lists the key aspects of each type of segmentation in the luxury watches market. Table 1.3: Types of segmentation in the luxury watch market Gender Type of watch Age Socio-economic Life stage Marital Status Working Status Region Men Mechanical 15-24 AB Pre-/no family Married Working London Women Quartz 25-34 C1 Families Not married Not working South 35-44 C2 Third age East/ Midlands 45-54 D Retired Wales / West / South West 55-64 E Yorkshire/ North East 65+ North West 65+ Scotland It has not been possible to obtain information on all the segmentation variables listed above. However, figures relating to gender and type of watch are available. The figures show that the overall market size of men ¿Ã‚ ½s luxury watches is larger than that of women, however this differential is narrowing as the women ¿Ã‚ ½s market is experiencing a more rapid growth than the men ¿Ã‚ ½s market. In terms of type of watch, mechanical watches dominate the luxury watch market. This represents a pronounced difference to the mass market where the quarts-variety is more important. The tables 1.4 and 1.5 below demonstrate these figures, Table 1.4: Luxury watch sales, by gender, by volume, 2001-05, Source: Mintel report, 2005 Gender 2001 2003 2005 (est) % change 000 units % 000 units % 000 units % 2001-03 2003-05 Men ¿Ã‚ ½s 294 56.5 312 56.2 317 56.1 +6.1 +1.6 Women ¿Ã‚ ½s 226 43.5 243 43.8 248 43.9 +7.5 +2.1 Table 1.5: Luxury watch sales, by Type of watches, by volume, 2001-05, Source: Mintel report, 2005 Type of watches 2001 2003 2005 (est) % change 000 units % 000 units % 000 units % 2001-03 2003-05 Mechanical 343 66 367 66.1 375 66.4 + 7 + 2.2 Quartz 177 34 188 33.9 190 33.6 + 6.2 + 1.1 4.1.2 Current Market Position Based on the market information, Tissot was perceived to be: o Elegant and Luxurious o Masculine and sporty o  ¿Ã‚ ½Established in the market ¿Ã‚ ½ and stylish o Innovativeness by tradition The graphs 1-2 below illustrate Tissot current positioning in relation to its competitors. 4.2 Marketing objectives and goals (SMART) The emerging segments in the market reflect where future potential demand might be strongest, and hence which segments the company should be focusing its efforts towards in order to build a profitable customer base. As highlighted in the analysis section, the female market for luxury watches is experiencing a stronger growth than the male market, making this an interesting segment for luxury watch producers. Also the younger market (in particular the 15-24 year olds and the 25-34 year olds) is considered to have great potential because of the importance of style and appearance to this segment, and also their generally higher awareness and knowledge of branding. 4.2.1 Marketing Objectives  ¿Ã‚ ½ Increase the market share of Tissot from 1 % to 5 % over the next 12 months.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Increase the number of distributors in the UK from 33 to 100, over the next 12 months. 4.2.2 Strategy The overall strategy for the Tissot re-launch campaign can be summed up in the following points:  ¿Ã‚ ½ To reposition Tissot as  ¿Ã‚ ½sporty, elegant and feminine ¿Ã‚ ½ through a re-launch campaign of the T-TREND, TOUCH COLLECTIONS  ¿Ã‚ ½ To generate an integrated advertising, direct mail, point-of-sale, PR and sponsorship campaign focusing on the themes: social responsibility and creativity.  ¿Ã‚ ½ To communicate the social responsibility and creativity themes to current and potential new distributors and 22-35 year old AB working women to increase distribution of Tissot watches and increase awareness of the brand. 4.2.3 Target market The Tissot re-launch campaign will be focused towards two distinct target markets:  ¿Ã‚ ½ In order to capture the emerging trends in the market, the consumer segment targeted for the re-launch campaign will be 22-35 year old AB working women.  ¿Ã‚ ½ In addition, a selected group of fine, up-market jewellers and watch specialists will be targeted in order to strengthen Tissot distribution system and thereby support the marketing activities of the company. 4.3 Desired Positioning On the basis of previous investigations it was decided that the desired positioning of Tissot should be  ¿Ã‚ ½sporty, elegant and feminine ¿Ã‚ ½ using Tissot ¿Ã‚ ½s reputation on an incomparable style and elegance. The aim of the repositioning exercise is to create a more distinctive image for Tissot, building on the fundamentals of the brand. Graph 3: Desired position of Tissot 4.4 Marketing strategies and programmes (4P ¿Ã‚ ½s) Product A watch can be describing considering it as three different products the core product, the actual product, and finally the augmented product. Based on the below figure Tissot should focus on its actual product offering especially on branding, style and fashion components. Place Swatch Group Distribution was formed in 2001 with the objective of providing worldwide support to Swatch Group companies in their efforts to stream customers with products in a more speedy, reliable and cost-effective way. Swatch Group products are distributed mainly via a global distribution network that has been carefully selected by Group subsidiaries, or by agents who have been authorized either by a Group subsidiary or directly by the Groups head office. Following methods are used by Tissot.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Monobrand stores  ¿Ã‚ ½ Network of multibrand prestige watch and jewelry boutiques.  ¿Ã‚ ½ airports, notably by running watch and jewelry boutiques As outlined in the strategy section, current and potential new distributors will be approached slightly differently for the new re positioning and re launch.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Current retailers will be contacted by telephone to inform about the forthcoming re-launch campaign.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Large, potential retailers will be contacted by the Tissot sales-force to explain the benefit of stocking Tissot products and inform about the up-coming campaign.  ¿Ã‚ ½ Small, potential retailers will be contacted through a direct mail campaign. Advertising strategy In order to increase awareness of Tissot and to induce demand for the products, a black-and-white print advertising campaign directed towards the target market of 22-35 year old AB working women will be conducted. The slogan underpinning the re-launch campaign will be  ¿Ã‚ ½Create a difference  ¿Ã‚ ½ take the opposite view ¿Ã‚ ½, and this catch-phrase will be featured on all the print adverts as well as other promotional material directed towards retailers and point-of-sale displays. The campaign will be based around celebrity-endorsement, featuring Tissots current ambassadors chosen of the re-launch campaign, reflecting the re positioning strategy, Sporty strong, independent and assertive women with a very distinctive style. The campaign will include a total of 66 inserts of varying sizes in the following publications:  ¿Ã‚ ½ The Financial Times  ¿Ã‚ ½ The Economist  ¿Ã‚ ½ Vogue  ¿Ã‚ ½ Harper ¿Ã‚ ½s Bazaar. The publications were chosen for its up-market readership and high quality print and colour reproduction. It is therefore assumed that the target market of 22-35 AB working women should be well reached through these publications. The frequency of the inserts will change over time to reflect the headway and general build-up of the campaign Sponsorship In the latter part of the re-launch campaign Tissot will sponsor two trade events directed towards professional women. The purpose of this is to promote continued awareness of Tissot, and to function as an additional reminder of the re-launch campaign as the intensity of above-the-line communication will be reduced in the Spring/Summer period. It is hoped that the sponsorship-strategy will enhance corporate identification with the target audience of 22-35 year old working women, thus creating a positive image of Tissot amongst this population. Pricing The pricing structure will reflect its target audience of 22-35 year old working women, creating a positive image as a stylish affordable watch. Also the pricing structure should reflect Tissot ¿Ã‚ ½s essential market position, the Mid range market. 5.0 Conclusion 5.1 Evaluation In order to estimate the relative success of the campaign in terms of its ability to achieve the stated marketing and communication objectives, a number of control measures will be carried out during and towards the end of the campaign. Increase in market share will be evaluated through tracking of unit-sales, using inventory data. The level of sales will be measured in 3 stages: before the launch of the campaign, six months into the campaign and finally after completion of the campaign. Increase in the number of distributors will be assessed by measuring the number of retailers before the launch and after completion of the campaign. Recognition tests will be carried out in order to determine the effectiveness of the advertisement in terms of increasing awareness of Tissot, and also if the media used were effective in reaching the target audience. Correspondingly, the achievement of the campaign in terms of re-positioning Tissot be evaluated using qualitative research obtained during focus-group discussions.

The Mirrors of Classic Physics :: Physics Science Self Identification Essays

The Mirrors of Classic Physics Plenty of conceptions of mirrors are not so different from models in middle school physics. The mirror is a line dividing the ‘real’ from the ‘virtual’, and the image is the same on both sides. It is a plane in three-dimensional space, a slash in textual space, and a boundary to fluid spaces. In physics class, rays of light go from each point of the image and bounce off the mirror in such a way that they seem to have come from the virtual object. These are not the only mirrors. These are instead the only things that count as mirrors. Isn’t there a reflection that follows (or doesn’t) the same physical principles in every non-black object? And, of course, objects are just about never perfectly black, and thus totally non-reflective. Even the ink of a Rorschach blot shines. The mirrors of classic physics demonstrations and occasional philosophical or metaphysical points are perfect flat perfectly reflective surfaces, it is an aberrant mirror that is not so. Yet it takes nothing but glass, silver, and backing to make what often counts a mirror. Glass runs, paint scratches, and backings thrive in the daily devastations of their environs. Further, silver is a rather lustrous and highly reflective metal, but is not perfect at either (thus gold surfaced CD-R’s.) As partially transparent mirrors make abundantly clear, mirrors have color and a backing, even though that color is usually ‘ clear’ glass with silver and then white behind it. The computer monitor and TV screens are reflective, but then so are the reactions of the world in general. Indeed, one might say the bathroom in which a mirror might be installed reflects much more about the face in the visage than a picture (with minimized motion) in the mirror itself. What do the tiles, the toilets, the colors, the lights, the windows and walls say about you before you even get to the mirror. The idea of mirrors and identification requires a throwing back of our world from outside, but it is in just such a move that ‘our world’ is situated as a becoming. All this is not to say that the process of mirror embodied in the particular glass and silver is all a mirror is or can be.

Leaving Daddy :: Personal Narrative

Leaving Daddy The house, all bricks and windows silhouetted by the moon, dwindled to the size of Legos as we pulled onto the freeway. I crouched on the back seat of Momma's green sedan, knees tucked under me, facing backwards with my arms folded under my chin. Cheryl, her body tucked into a ball next to me, folded her sweater between her head and the door to soften the rocking of the car. On my left was Doug, his head lolled back onto the seat and his eyes staring at the ceiling, black hair whipping in the wind from the open window in the driver's seat where Momma's elbow jutted out into the darkness, her hand rising every few minutes to wipe the tears from her eyes. As the last thing familiar vanished from sight, I turned toward the front, my feet reaching out for the space between the driver's seat and the passenger's. Mitchell rode shotgun next to Momma, his rightful place as the oldest. The headlights from the car behind us flashed on the front window, and I could see his reflection, the strong jaw and the defiant eyes that challenged everything. "Why are we leaving, Momma?" he asked. "What did we do?" "It wasn't you, Mitchell. It wasn't any of you," Momma said. "Your daddy and I just need some time away from each other." Her eyes watched the white reflectors dividing the lanes disappear under the car. I knew it wasn't about my older brothers this time. I had overheard enough in those few weeks before we moved to Kentucky to understand that the move away from Louisiana was my family's last gamble to save my brothers from the future that was written as darkly on their skins as the tattoos they had drawn on each other's arms with a sewing needle and ink. We were like two sets of children, Mitchell and Doug, then Cheryl and me-a five-year gap in between us creating a rift we could never mend. Even at seven, I recognized my brothers' power as they swept the rest of us into their path, my sister and I hanging on to the edges of the storm. I thought about the house we had just left, how it had blinked from view like the ending of a cartoon where the edges close in till there is only blackness. Inside was the only bedroom I ever had to myself with a lamp in the shape of a drum, a cat clock that wagged its tail and rolled its eyes, and a vent in the floor through which my sister, in the room next door, would whisper stories to me at night. Leaving Daddy :: Personal Narrative Leaving Daddy The house, all bricks and windows silhouetted by the moon, dwindled to the size of Legos as we pulled onto the freeway. I crouched on the back seat of Momma's green sedan, knees tucked under me, facing backwards with my arms folded under my chin. Cheryl, her body tucked into a ball next to me, folded her sweater between her head and the door to soften the rocking of the car. On my left was Doug, his head lolled back onto the seat and his eyes staring at the ceiling, black hair whipping in the wind from the open window in the driver's seat where Momma's elbow jutted out into the darkness, her hand rising every few minutes to wipe the tears from her eyes. As the last thing familiar vanished from sight, I turned toward the front, my feet reaching out for the space between the driver's seat and the passenger's. Mitchell rode shotgun next to Momma, his rightful place as the oldest. The headlights from the car behind us flashed on the front window, and I could see his reflection, the strong jaw and the defiant eyes that challenged everything. "Why are we leaving, Momma?" he asked. "What did we do?" "It wasn't you, Mitchell. It wasn't any of you," Momma said. "Your daddy and I just need some time away from each other." Her eyes watched the white reflectors dividing the lanes disappear under the car. I knew it wasn't about my older brothers this time. I had overheard enough in those few weeks before we moved to Kentucky to understand that the move away from Louisiana was my family's last gamble to save my brothers from the future that was written as darkly on their skins as the tattoos they had drawn on each other's arms with a sewing needle and ink. We were like two sets of children, Mitchell and Doug, then Cheryl and me-a five-year gap in between us creating a rift we could never mend. Even at seven, I recognized my brothers' power as they swept the rest of us into their path, my sister and I hanging on to the edges of the storm. I thought about the house we had just left, how it had blinked from view like the ending of a cartoon where the edges close in till there is only blackness. Inside was the only bedroom I ever had to myself with a lamp in the shape of a drum, a cat clock that wagged its tail and rolled its eyes, and a vent in the floor through which my sister, in the room next door, would whisper stories to me at night.

Automobile †Transport Essay

There are many different kind of transportation vehicles that changed people’s lives; including automobiles, bicycles, airplanes, and many more. I feel automobiles have affected the lives of Americans the most. They have made it possible for individuals to travel many miles a day. Before the automobile, people in cities had to take streetcars to get anywhere farther than they could walk. People who lived out of town had to get to work on trains. There are many different kind of transportation vehicles that changed people’s lives; including automobiles, bicycles, airplanes, and many more. I feel automobiles have affected the lives of Americans the most. They have made it possible for individuals to travel many miles a day. Before the automobile, people in cities had to take streetcars to get anywhere farther than they could walk. People who lived out of town had to get to work on trains. People who lived on farms or in small villages in the country would come into town maybe once a month in a horse-drawn wagon to do their shopping, but a horse couldn’t walk more than few miles. Automobiles provided greater mobility for people. They provided more choices to live. When choosing a job in the old days people tried to find homes that were closest to their work. Cars made it possible for people to move 20-30 miles or more from the city and drive in to work every day. Through my experiences getting to school from bus is a lot slower than cars. I can wake up a lot later if my dad drives me to school. Cars helped transportation become easier and faster. A person could be transported anywhere either by himself or with his family without stopping to rest to feed their horses. Families could sit in comfort while listening to music. However, cars have brought a negative effect on the world, like pollution from exhaust emissions. Cars also take up a lot of space including parking space and parking lots which replace many buildings. It is more dangerous to drive than to walk because of crashes. The ease of a drunken man driving a car is much more dangerous than a drunken man walking. Automobiles can be more dangerous but it provides a lot. Automobiles have had positive and negative effect on the world and changed many people’s lives. Traveling great distances is not much of a problem for people. It also bought time for many people; walking may take 30 minutes but by car it only takes five minutes. Without automobiles the world would be a whole different world. Roads wouldn’t be paved and traveling would be a great deal harder.

Assignment 2: Case 3-3, Easycar.Com

Assignment 2: Case 3-3, easyCar. com 1. In Western Europe, the rental car industry is made up of many companies competing against each other, but only a handful of companies are actually dominant. According to the text, in most countries, the companies that were dominant were national or regional companies rather than companies that had a strong international presence. Many smaller companies also operated in each different country but generally only operated in a few locations. The rental car industry in Europe can be split into two segments: a business segment and a leisure segment. The text says that the business segment wasn’t very price conscious, whereas the leisure segment was very price conscious. These characteristics can influence how service is delivered in this industry because it’s difficult for a company to enter a new market if they aren’t a national or regional company and aren’t aware of what each segment wants in that market. 2. To keep prices low, easyCar only stocked one type of vehicle at each of its locations, so they didn’t have to buy multiple types of vehicle for each location. When it came to choosing where to put locations, they stayed away from the price airport spaces to avoid higher leasing costs. They also kept their physical locations to a minimum. They usually rented out space in an already existing parking garage and employees worked out of a small cubicle within the garage. Each location generally had about 150 cars, however, since their vehicles were rented 90 percent of the time, they only needed 15-20 spaces to keep the cars that weren’t rented out at the time. This kept the cost down significantly because they didn’t need to keep space for all 150 of their cars. These are just a few examples of how easyCar kept their costs down. 3. I would say that the level of quality that easyCar provided its customers was decent, but people can’t necessarily expect the best from a company that has such low prices. The thing that really got me was the fact that they gave people their vehicles with a relatively low fuel tank. Also, the fact that customers had to take a shuttle to get to the rental car area wouldn’t necessarily be a popular choice. The car was also to be cleaned thoroughly before returned and although it’s always good practice to do a quick cleanup of a rental car, not many companies require a customer to get the car detailed inside and out. These policies don’t really make me eager to use them when I’m looking for a rental car, despite the lower price. 4. EasyCar could be a viable competitor to taxis, buses and trains because of their cheap prices. In some cities, taxis are pretty expensive so if easyCar’s prices are lower, then they would likely be an option that people would choose instead. Buses and trains in Europe aren’t that expensive and trains especially can get a customer to a place they need to be pretty fast, so I’m not sure easyCar would be as much competition for them. 5. By offering cheaper prices for people who make reservations on easyCar. com, the company seemed to be looking at competing with the dominant companies. Their advertising line of â€Å"the best reason to use easyCar. com can be found at hertz. nl† would indicate that their website is better and easier to use than Hertz. To compete with companies like Hertz, they need to have lower prices but they need to have better service.

Criminal Justice Reform Addressing the Core Deficits of the Criminal Justice and Legal System - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 3020 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/02/20 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Criminal Justice Essay Did you like this example? INTRODUCTION The intent behind the criminal justice system includes controlling and reducing crime to maintain public safety, retribution so that people are punished for their wrongdoings, and deterrence, by the imposition of negative sanctions in order to sway people against committing crime. Many founding philosophers have shaped how we view justice and have indelibly defined what justice and punishment is and what those concepts should entail. For example, classical theorist and enlightenment era thinker, Cesare Beccaria believed that, â€Å"[†¦] because people think and act rationally, they will be deterred by a certain degree of punishment, and harsher punishment beyond that is not needed† (Barkan 2015:92). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Criminal Justice Reform Addressing the Core Deficits of the Criminal Justice and Legal System" essay for you Create order Thus, today we are challenged with the task of deterring crime through punishment, but doing so in a manner that exceeds what is necessary. Today, we have failed the ideals of theorists like Beccaria. It appears as though in our pursuit toward a more just system, we have instead formed a criminal justice system that is wrought with deficiencies. Some of these shortcomings include, overpopulated prisons, a broken judicial system that inclines defendants, both innocent and guilty alike, to choose plea deals, the over-incarceration of nonviolent drug offenders, poor prison conditions, and high rates of recidivism. Notwithstanding the vast issues facing all facets of the American Penal System, there are policies we can implement to combat these issues. A few steps toward effective policies include legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana use and lessening sentences for drug crimes can help alleviate mass incarceration. Additionally, treating mental illness outside of the criminal system may help to mitigate mass incarceration as well. Improving prison conditions and better preparing inmates for life after will help reduce recidivism rates, and comprehensive bail reform in all states will ensure that vulnerable populations such as the poor are treated more equitably. LITERATURE REVIEW Reviewing current statistics allows us to keep the state of criminal justice issues in perspective. According to Gramlich (30 January 2018), violent crime in the United States has drastically declined over the past twenty-five years. It is also worth noting that in 2016, the incarceration rate in the United States dropped from its peak of 2.3 million in 2008 to 2.2 million, its lowest in twenty years (Gramlich May 2018). Gramlich (May 2018) asserts that this drop may be attributed to the decline in violent crime, along with changes in prosecution, judicial patterns, and changes to criminal law. These statistics, although accurate, can give us a false sense of comfort in that the prison population has declined, however the fact still remains that even with a total prison population of 2.2 million, the United States still has a significant prison issue. Specifically, the United States makes up five percent of the world’s population, but has about twenty-five of the world’s prison population (Collier 2014). This means that the United States has a higher imprisonment rate than some of the world’s most brutal authoritarian regimes. Additionally, there are clear racial and socio-economic implications that indicate minorities are disproportionately, negatively affect black bodies and other minorities. In regard to race, racial differences in incarceration rates are narrowing, however, blacks still account for thirty-three percent of sentenced inmates (Gramlich 12 January 2018). While there have been some changes, the fact remains that it will take some time to undo the long-term implications that a criminal record has on ex-offenders. Collectively, society has more work to do towards mitigating these disparaging realities. While numbers may change, the fact remains that our system has become more punitive and less rehabilitative. Perhaps no recent case outlines some of the many issues listed above as much as the story of Kalief Browder. Gonnerman (2014) was the journalist to break the story. Gonnerman (2014) explains that on or about May 15, 2010, then sixteen -year-old Kalief Browder was arrested with his friend in connection to a robbery (a backpack), after leaving a party in the Bronx. That night, Browder was searched by the police and although they did not find anything and Browder maintained his innocence, the two were arrested and taken to the Forty-eighth Precinct and questioned (Gonnerman 2014). According to Gonnerman (2014), Browder was interrogated seventeen hours later by an officer and prosecutor. Following the event Browder had a court hearing and was told that he was being charged with robbery, grand larceny, and assault (Gonnerman 2014). Next, according to Gonnerman (2014) Browder was held on $3,000 bail, which neither he nor his family could afford. Truly the details I have outlined do not exhaust the injustices and inhumane conditions Browder was subjected to at the hands of Rikers Island and by the Court System. Ultimately Browder’s case was dismissed, but only after being held on Rikers Island for 3  ½ years (Gonnerman 2014). To name some of the horrors, Browder spent upwards of a thousand days in solitary confinement and he suffered severe mental issues as a result (Gonnerman 2014). Further, he was forced to fight or be beaten by other inmates and did not have protection from guards. In regard to the Court System, Browder had countless adjournments on the case in the prosecutions attempt to stall in order to find the alleged victim that was in Mexico at the time (Gonnerman 2014). Further, according to Gonnerman (2014), after being released Browder tried to reclaim his life, even finding work and attending community college, however he faced violence in his home neighborhood and eventually succumb to his mental health illness via suicide after the article was written. Stories like that of Kalief Browder occur often, but go unheard. One reason his story was sensationalized and aired as a documentary on Netflix is because like many people familiar with his case have commented, his story is an example of everything that can go wrong in the criminal justice system all in one. It is often only through grassroots initiatives or media sensitization that the general population is made aware of the horrors of what actually goes on in some of the country’s worse prisons. Therefore, media can have an important role in criminal justice reform by making the public aware of conditions that are usually hidden. However, efforts are often met with polices that keep reporters away. Huber argues that, â€Å"[m]edia access policies are important not only because they have an effect on who is allowed inside prisons, but also because of what goes on outside prisons† (Huber 2017:247). Here, he argues: [m]edia access policies that restrict face-to-face inmate interviews are unconstitutional because (1) there are no viable alternative forms of communication, (2) media access policies are not neutral, and (3) there is no â€Å"big wheel† problem. Prison restrictions do not operate in a neutral fashion, and instead seek to censor the content of expression; media access restrictions do not fall within the â€Å"appropriate rules and regulations† to which â€Å"prisoners necessarily are subject† and, instead, abridge inmates’ First Amendment rights (Hubert 2017:272). Here, Huber (2017) suggests that the protection of the First Amendment needs to be applied to investigative journalism in order to expose the shortcomings of our prisons so that we can do something about it. Unless we deal with the plights plaguing the criminal justice system, we will continue to hear about more people who had similar experiences to Kalief Browder. In addition to exposing these issues through investigative journalism, I submit that that if we focus on these core issues: drug laws, bail reform, poor prison conditions and mental illness, and recidivism, we will not only begin to see a more equitable system, but we will also have a system that is more effective in fulfilling some of its founding goals, including and perhaps most importantly, deterrence. DRUG LAWS Drug laws should be amended to legalize or in the least decriminalize nonviolent drug offenses such as marijuana use. According to The Federal Bureau of Prisons (2018), 46% of those incarcerated are there on drug offenses. I argue that since many prisons are already overcrowded, we can begin to drastically reduce the number of those incarcerated by legalizing or at least decriminalizing certain drug offenses. Additionally, by allowing states to have control over drugs such as marijuana, they can then tax it and use that money for public services. Additionally, we must look at what can happen when we place nonviolent offenders who have committed victimless crimes in the same place as violent offenders. According to Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory of Aggression, people tend to learn violence and it is learned based on exposure in their environment (Barkan 2015:154). Thus, if someone who was once nonviolent is put into a situation where violence is normalized and sometimes even necessary for survival, they are more likely to learn those norms and continue those acts that are considered deviant to the rest of the population once they are released. This creates the potential for more crime. Therefore, amending drug laws can help reduce overcrowded prisons by keeping nonviolent drug offenders out of prison in the beginning and it may help reduce the recidivism rate. BAIL REFORM According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance as part of the U.S. Department of Justice, between 90-95% of criminal cases are resolved through plea bargaining (Devers 2011:1). In a cash bail system and a judicial system where the wealthy can afford better attorneys, many defendants choose to plead guilty instead of going to trial even if they are innocent to avoid the potential of a lengthy sentence or penalty or to be temporarily released. The story of Kalief Browder is similar, except because he refused to admit guilt and maintained his innocence on principle, he suffered greatly. Many others in his situation choose to plea out even if they are innocent. Luckily, efforts have been made to address the issue of bail. For example, On January 1, New Jersey largely got rid of monetary bail and replaced it with a new bail reform based on a Public Safety Assessment (PSA) (Grant 2017:1). The Criminal Justice Reform (CJR), has, in pertinent part: (a) dramatically transformed the process for making pretrial release decisions, (b) implemented pretrial monitoring through the newly-formed Pretrial Services Program, (c) created procedures and electronic tools necessary to enforce the speedy trial timeframes established by statute, and (d) developed overall technological solutions, including automation and rapid electronic dissemination of information, to efficiently process criminal cases in our state (Grant 2017:1). This new system attempts to administer justice in a more equitable way that does not disadvantage the poor, by focusing on factors such as public safety, whether or not defendant is likely to reoffend, defendant’s ties to the community, and whether or not defendants are likely to show up for court proceedings. However, the system is not without flaws. The report also indicates that revenue for the fiscal year declined 2.4% below the previous year, defendants need access to resources to treat substance abuse, mental illness and to gain housing; and the cost of monitoring is too expensive (Grant 2018:5). Despite the apparent flaws with the Criminal Justice Reform, this is a new program and it may take some time and readjustments in its implementation before it functions smoothly. PRISON CONDITIONS MENTAL ILLNESS Many people who encounter the criminal justice system are simply mentally ill and because of the gaps in other social institutions such as affordable healthcare, they often get involved in criminal behavior and some even self-medicate with drug use. Further, once incarcerated, the nature of prisons tend to exacerbate mental illness, not much unlike Kalief Browder who suffered PTSD and other conditions after his experience at Rikers Island. Some likely causes of this include overcrowding, solitary confinement, a lack of fulfilling everyday tasks, a lack of close relationships and a lack of comprehensive mental health care within prison facilitates. Therefore, it is in our best interest as a society to make efforts to improve prison conditions and to provide rehabilitative tools for prisoners so that they can be healthy, functioning and contributing members of society once released. RECIDIVISM The ultimate goal of the criminal justice system is arguably to deter criminals and to stop crime. However, I argue that since the prison system is largely not rehabilitative in its current state, it creates an ironic cycle wherein individuals are more likely to reoffend after punishment. In fact, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, â€Å"[f]ive in 6 (83%) state prisoners released in 2005 across 30 states were arrested at least once in the 9 years following their release† (Alper et al. 2018:1). There are many theories that try to explain the phenomena, but literature suggests that economics play a significant role. Robert K. Merton’s Strain Theory or Theory of Anomie suggests that when there is a disconnect between the goals of society and a means to achieve it, that disconnection leads to deviant behavior (Merton 1938). We can apply the strain theory to an ex-convict who was recently release. For instance, when an ex-convict does not gain proper training in order to make them hirable while incarcerated and when employers do not want to hire them, they are faced with the challenge of finding gainful employment in order to survive, but not being able to find any work to sustain themselves. As a result, some turn to crime. Sociological research compliments this theory by providing a concrete example of how this works. Devah Pager (2003) created an audit study to find out the employment implications that mass incarceration has on black and white men. Specifically: The basic design of this study involves the use of four male auditors (also called testers), two blacks and two whites. The testers were paired by race; . . . the two black testers formed one team, and the two white testers formed the second team. The testers were 23-year-old college students from Milwaukee who were matched on the basis of physical appearance and general style of self-presentation. Objective characteristics that were not already identical between the pairs—such as educational attainment and work experience—were made similar for the purpose of the applications. Within each team, one auditor was randomly assigned a â€Å"criminal record† for the first week; the pair then rotated which member presented himself as the ex-offender of each successive week of employment searches, such that each tester severed in the criminal record condition for an equal number of cases. (Pager 2003: 946-947). The testers then audited 350 employers by interviewing for open positions. In regard to race, Pager (2003) found that, â€Å"Blacks are less than half as likely to receive consideration by employers, relative to their white counterparts, and black nonoffeners fall behind even whites with prior felony convictions (Pager 2003:960)†. Here, we see this circular pattern in which blacks are both more likely to be incarcerated and are then more likely to be denied employment regardless of any past criminality. Other sociologists have observed the racial undertones of the criminal justice system. Specifically, Alexander (2010) studied the historical parallels between the implications of slavery and mass incarceration. She found six core parallels: legalized discrimination, political disenfranchisement, jury exclusion, closing court doors, racial segregation, and the symbolic production of race. Alexander (2010) asserts that the shift from Reconstruction era to the Jim Crow era mirrors that of the shift to mass incarceration in which blacks are solidified as subordinate citizens, thus forming â€Å"The New Jim Crow,† where blacks are prevented from fully integrating into society after imprisonment. First, Alexander (2010) explains how legalized discrimination is a mechanism used in order to discriminate against blacks. Next, according to (Alexander 2010) political disenfranchisement suppresses black voters who have criminal records. Similarly, closing court doors refers to the colorbl indness embedded in the law where because law is written in race-neutral language, it is often difficult to properly argue unfair laws that have clear negative racial implications (Alexander 2010). Finally, in regard to symbolic production of race, the black body is objectified and becomes associated with negative traits inherent criminality; these negative perceptions help justify over incarceration (Alexander 2010). Similarly, in addition to increasing race and class inequalities in incarceration, mass imprisonment may mark a basic change in the character of young adulthood among low-education black men† (Pettit and Western 2004:154). Further, Pettit and Western (2004) found that black men were incarcerated at such a high rate, that it became a part of a life course. From (Alexander 2010) and Pettit and Western (2004), we can see that race-neutral policies have very tangible outcomes that alter the life course for black bodies. Despite the deeply embedded cyclical nature of recidivism, there are ways to mitigate recidivism rates. Many of these problems and solutions have been viewed from a sociological perspective, but we can and should branch out to other related fields for insight. For example, we can also rely on the work of psychologists who also have concrete solutions. Specifically, Andrews and Bonta (2010) assert that efforts to reduce crime and to deter criminals should focus on rehabilitation of offenders rather than implementing more severe punitive measures. Specifically, â€Å"[their] underlying approach suggests that crime prevention efforts that ignore, dismiss, or are unaware of the psychology of human behavior are likely to underperform in regard to successful crime prevention† (AndrewsBonta: 40). Instead, they advocate for cognitive social learning and counseling to help reduce the chances of ex-convicts reoffending (Andrews Bonta). In addition to behavior changes, policies can be i mplemented to address race-neutral laws that have tangible racial implications. DISCUSSION CONCLUSION Based on the data, it is clear that if we attack the core issues plaguing the criminal justice system, namely drug laws, bail reform, poor prison conditions and mental illness, and recidivism, we can begin to make improvements in crime reduction. This is no simple task because many of the issues have a reflexive relationship. For instance, initial incarceration makes it more likely for someone to reoffend and end up incarcerated again. The mentally ill people who are untreated have a higher chance of being incarcerated and we know that incarceration can exacerbate mental illness. However, the key is that we start somewhere. Just like with New Jersey’s Criminal Justice Reform, it may not be a perfect system, but it is a start and it can lead to even more effective changes. Through continued efforts to push new public policy to mitigate the racial implications in race-neutral policies, grassroots organizations and social entrepreneurship business models such as companies who hir e ex-convicts, perhaps we can continue to better our criminal justice system one small step at a time.

Technology And Its Impact On Society - 1895 Words

It is clear that as our world ages, our technology advances. The youth of today are constantly immersed in technological advancements that promote non stop communication and instant gratification, whether through cell phones, gaming systems, laptops, or MP3 players. But are these technological advancements a good thing? We believe that the growth of technology has negatively influenced the social interactions of today s youth because it isolates individuals from reality, hinders communication, and perpetuates the concept of immediate  ­satisfaction. These electronics are innovations in our life and it is unacceptable for children to be spending so much time using them. Not only does technology hinder the relationship between children and†¦show more content†¦According to the article â€Å"Kids Really Are Different These Days† by Diana D. Coyl , â€Å"Technologically savvy children can use several devices at once, commonly referred to as media multitasking (Wallis 2 006).Some children communicate more through electronic devices and spend less face time with family members and peers. Text messaging and e-mails provide limited or no access to other people’s emotions, and the rich language of nonverbal communication that occurs in real-time interactions is lost. In addition, the quality of family time may be compromised if parents or children are using technology†. In other words, family dinner conversations are affected if family members are watching television, listening to music, checking emails, answering calls and texting. These things will affect their thinking performance. At one level the brain does multitask. People can walk and talk at the same time and people’s brain controls their heartbeat while they read a book. This is multitasking but the brain’s ability to pay attention is not capable of multitasking. Driving while talking on a cell phone is like driving drunk. The brain is a sequential processor and l arge fractions of a second are consumed every time the brain switches tasks. This is why cell-phone talkers are a half-second slower to hit the brakes and get in more