A Thousand Splendid Suns: Analysis

Create questions you would ask the author and at least one of the people in the book. Include why you would ask each particular question, and connect the question to a specific event (quote with page #) in the book. If I were to ask questions to the author and characters, they would be about their experiences. The one question I would ask Khaled Hosseini is, All the characters in this book were granted poetic justice, but why not Mariam? Mariam did nothing monstrous to deserve execution; her act of killing Rasheed was done in self-defense and the defense of Laila. Nonetheless, she suffered the shame and punishment from the government under which she lived in. â€Å"Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam. †pg. 364 Even though Mariam’s execution was injustice in my eyes I believe that for Mariam her death sentence was an legitimate end to her life which had legitimate beginnings. Before her death sentence, she recites lines from the Koran asking for mercy and forgiveness which portrays her humbleness and her dedication to loved ones in her life. I would like to ask Mariam why she refused to call witnesses at her trial. Why did she not try to escape with Tariq and Laila? Calling witnesses to her trial could have proved to be beneficial to Mariam; she might not have been sentenced to death but she didn’t even try. â€Å"Remembering the last time she’d signed her name to a document, twenty- seven years before, at Jalil’s table, beneath the watchful gaze of another mullah. pg. 364 There was still a little hope left her, her dreams were to see Laila and Tariq happy and to watch Aziza and Zalmai grow but just like that she gave it all up. Her life had not ended but she still acted as if there was nothing that could be done; she herself gave up her hopes which contrasted her character at the beginning of the book. Lastly, I would like to ask Kh aled why was Laila not given a chance to attend university and complete her secondary education? It is obvious in the early stages of the book that her dream is be educated and educate others so that she can play a women’s worthy role in their society. Her young self is contradicting to what her character becomes. I wonder why after building her family and living in peace she didn’t have the desire to attend university. She had a good opportunity and I feel it would have benefited her and her family a lot. One question I would ask Laila is why she wanted to move back to Kabul? Wasn’t she done with all the suffering and painful memories she endured there? â€Å"†¦Where do we go from here, Tariq? How long do we stay here? This isn’t home. Kabul is†¦Ã¢â‚¬ pg. 390 I realize it was her homeland, she grew up there and the Kabul they left during the war was now half restored; though why would she risk the lives of her family members and their freedom they obtained in Murree. â€Å"It’s a good life, Laila tells herself, a life to be thankful for. It is, in fact, precisely the sort of life she used to dream for herself in her darkest days with Rasheed. †

Burberry Case Study Essay

1. The Burberry brand has be come a symbol of both luxury and durability. The brand has been repositioned to a niche market between cutting-edge fashion apparel, like Armani, and classic fashion apparel, like Polo Ralph Lauren. Burberry has also excelled in the accessories market, positioning itself between the Coach and Gucci brands. Burberry does not want to be cutting-edge fashion and at the same time, does not want to be viewed as just classic, as this market is already saturated with other brands. Burberry represents â€Å"accessible luxury†, meaning they were fashionable, but also functional. Burberry’s competitive position is sustainable over the long-term providing that the industry itself remains stable. Burberry’s competitors, like Ralph Lauren, have proven that they can maintain their position over the long-term in both low-end traditional and high-end fashion markets so I believe Burberry has the capability to do the same. Burberry maintains its posit ion of fashionable and functional. If they can do this, the barrier to entry for this niche should remain too high for competitors to enter. 2. Since her arrival at Burberry, Rose Marie Bravo set out to make Burberry â€Å"great from a global perspective†. She attempted to do this by implementing multiple key changes to the Burberry brand. These changes include repositioning the brand, updating the product line, establishing flagship stores, expanding the brand portfolio, and promoting the new brand image. Bravo was able to reposition the Burberry brand into the category of luxury brand. She did so by filling an empty gap in the market, between that of classic fashion and cutting-edge fashion. The goal of this change was to attract younger customers while retaining their core customer base. While repositioning a brand is always risky, finding a niche market and not directly competing with these other luxury brands helped Burberry to minimize some of the risk from the change. Burberry also limited risk by catering to both fashion and function. The next change that Bravo made was to update the product line. Bravo and her team drastically cut the number of products from 100,000 to 24,000, eliminating outdated designs and creating a consistent look across all of their products. They began to classify their products into two separate categories: continuity or fashion-oriented. The continuity products, such as the classic trench coat, were expected to have a life cycle that lasted  over a number of years. The fashion-oriented products were designed to react to the newest fashion trends and typically only had a seasonal life cycle. These changes significantly reduced the risk of the Burberry transformation. Burberry had three primary collections: womenswear, menswear, and accessories. The womenswear line expanded from its traditional focus on winter and autumn season to include apparel for the spring and summers seasons as well, appealing to a broader range of customers. The meanswear collection was very â€Å"cross-generational†, spanning from young urban professionals to older, classic men. The accessories collection was not as fashion oriented and also did not have to accommodate different size variations, so therefore it generated less risk than the apparel collections. The establishment of flagship stores has also helped to minimize risk by acting as a testing ground for new concepts and designs before they are distributed to a wider market. Also, Burberry has maintained a strong vision and consistent voice, which has helped establish it’s brand image and maintain its brand credibility. By expanding the brand portfolio from just the company’s core label, Burberry London, into the high end with it’s Prorsum label, Burberry was able to reinforce it’s new positioning in the luxury market. Expanding into this market does come with added risk, given the volatility of the high-end fashion market. The Prorsum label is able to mitigate some of this risk by providing Burberry with a â€Å"laboratory for ideas† that they are able to implement into other areas of their business. Burberry was also able to mitigate the risk of the transition by successfully promoting it’s new brand image. Burberry was able to portray itself as a heritage brand while at the same time associating itself with a trendier, more modern look.

Critically Analyse the Role of Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in Essay

Critically Analyse the Role of Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in the Strategic - Essay Example It is worth mentioning in this context that SMPP of a company comprises of certain specific steps on the basis of which companies should formulate as well as implement plans for accomplishing its objectives in an effective manner. These steps or procedures are required to be adopted by the management of companies with the objective of attaining a better strategic marketing plan inculcating the values of customer tastes and organisational profit objectives. There are usually four phases in an effective strategic marketing plan, which include determination of goals as well as objectives, analysing the situational position in various market segments, formulation of strategies and allocation of resources as well as monitoring process which should be followed in an appropriate manner with the aim of performing business activities effectively (Pajunen, 2012). Emphasising on this particular understanding, the paper will intend to discuss the SMPP strategies current practiced by companies to obtain high degree of customer satisfaction and loyalty. In this respect, the notions as well as perceptions of various authors will be interpreted through a rigorous literature review. Literature Review Strategic Marketing Planning Process (SMPP) The concept of SMPP is identified to be a vital element for companies to improve its competitive position in the global market segments (McDonald, 2006). As stated by McDonald (2006), SMPP is formulated as well as implemented by modern day organisations with the intention of acquiring better competitive advantages in relation to its products and/or services which are offered in the market segments. Companies should also identify their capabilities and business opportunities for conducting their business activities efficiently with the application of SMPP. McDonald (2006) stated that companies should determine market competitions as well as requirements of consumers in target market segments when focusing on SMPP implementation. Companies with the examination of all these factors will be able to perform their business operations effectively and competitively (McDonald, 2006). Moreover, McDonald (2006) also stated that there are certain advantages in accordance with which SMPP is adopt ed. For instance, with the virtues of effective SMPP implementations, companies will be able to identify opportunities as well as threats which are emerging in the worldwide market segments. Companies with the assistance of strategic plans will be able to adopt changes in the business environments in a rapid manner. Furthermore, companies will also be facilitated with the opportunity of allocating its resources in an appropriate manner with the implementation of an effective SMPP approach (McDonald, 2006). In a similar perspective, the article

Was the Paris Peace Conference a failure or a success Essay

Was the Paris Peace Conference a failure or a success - Essay Example There were a number of provisions in the treaty the most controversial and important one was that Germany accepts the full responsibility for the cause of World War 1. It levied heavy economical impositions ($31.4 billion) that took a number of years to pay up. Hence, this led Germany unsatisfied. Though financially weak it was not morally weakened. Therefore the treaty failed to subdue Germany in the right manner so that it later took a hostile step bringing much havoc in the world. 2 The Big Four Delegates from 32 different countries met at the Paris Peace Conference; however, four people took active participation in the drawing of treaties and were known as the Big Four. The members of the Big Four were David Lloyd George, Prime Minister of The United Kindom Georges Clemenceau - Prime Minister of France. Woodrow Wilson - President of the United States of America and Vittorio Orlando, Prime minister of Italy. The defeated countries suffered the conclusions of their talks. Wilson wo rked hard to have his Fourteen Points included in the league. He was specifically concerned about the League of Nations.

Scots Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Scots Law - Essay Example When the company delegated a duty to Fergus, which was an expansion program, it did not examine that Fergus would have undergone various challenges. In addition, the company did not consider the potential benefits that would have come out of each customer. According to the tenements act 2004, the company should always have the capacity to cater for relevant costs (Scotland 2004, p.9). These are costs that result out of reasonable transactions or dealings between the company and a second party. This is irrespective of whether the costs were catered for in the initial budget. The first argument is that, as a sales person, Fergus might have been marketing Ikant. This exists in the view that the company bears social responsibility over his customers and the general society. Marketing and advertisement are factors that have been proven to impact immensely over a company’s revenues and expansion. This, thus, makes the extra costs that Fergus incurred probable in the company’s rational planning. Another reason for the extra costs might have been a possible unwillingness by customers to engage in a meaningful interaction with Fergus. This would have necessitated that he uses the meals as a basis for the interaction. In concluding this, if the company incurred expenses, in the period stipulated, then it is bound to pay for the costs. In addition, the company would be held liable for payment if the court regards the nature of relationship between the company and Fergus. Fergus is a supervisor in Ikant and has been appointed temporarily to aid the company in enlarging its business. In this capacity, he performs the functions on behalf of the directors. This is called the law of agency. He is engaged in an employment bond with the company. He is, thus, said to have acted in good intentions for the company. Even, if he had wrong intentions, it would be difficult to prove that he had wrong intent. Furthermore, the work given by the company to Fergus does not am ount to delegation. It is appropriately described as an assignment. The directors did not, therefore, describe Fergus’s role aptly. According to the quantum meruit rule, the company is entitled to pay on the basis that the restaurant has already performed its role (Scottish law commission 2000). Advising Ikant on problem B In our second problem, a complexity arises between the directors and Fergus concerning the Scottish contract law. It is noted that Fergus normally travels to promote Ikant’s products and receive orders. The court can, therefore, easily establish that Fergus has been consistently undertaking this duty for some time. Fergus, consequently, engages the company in a form of contract. Fergus, in this capacity, is deemed able to represent the company in a valid contract. According to the Contract Act of third Parties of 1999, this is recognizable legally (Ashton 2003, p.29). The company law recognizes that companies should still have physical representation despite the arbitrary nature of the board of directors. If the court establishes that Fergus acted in good faith, then the company is bound to the contract. However, according the delegation rule, the directors shall still be responsible for a breach of contract since Fergus is conducting a role that they ought to perform. In addition, company will gain rescission, if only it was stated in the contract. The contract, in this case, must comply with

Police in the United States of America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Police in the United States of America - Essay Example The police aim to give a safe and secure environment to the public. In order to achieve this objective they are bound to maintain peace in public. They are aimed to save the residents' rights and public turbulences. The police also intend to stop those situations which may end up in public violation and disorder. Police ensures the public of safe and sound environment and expects the public to cooperate with them. In collaboration with other bodies, the police sketch out local safety policies which plan to encourage safer societies, decrease and combat offenses and conflicts, and promote comfort in the localities concerned. Hence if the duties of the police are to be analyzed it can be said that the role of police is to enforce law in such a manner that the public peace is maintained. This is because if law is enforced on the citizens the police department may get an aggressive reply. Thus the police should work according to the requirements of the public. They should take care of th e tiny things which the public need. They should handle situations of violence with care and heed. For e.g. if an angry mob is protesting against a certain situation then the police should not directly use aggressive methods against that mob. This is because if aggressive methods are used against them the public law and order situation could be disturbed. I.e. seeing the brutality of police against that mob another mob could possibly arise and revolt. Similarly in other situations the police department should be careful in tackling the problems of the public. Police officers in the United States are the most severe and troublesome reason of the human rights violation in the state. The infringements continue all around the country, in countryside, suburban, and metropolitan regions of the state, done by a range of law enforcement workers as well as local and state police, sheriff's sections, and federal forces. Police have occupied in unwarranted shelling, cruel beatings, deadly choking, and unreasonably rough behavior. Whereas the quantity of continually offensive officers on any force is in general small, the authorities in charge, together with law enforcement managers in addition to local and central government management frequently fail to take action with certainty to control or penalize such steps. A faction of the police officers is worsening the image of the whole department. And as mentioned above it is quite difficult to bring this faction to justice. Although the other faction of the police officers are quite working according to their standards still there is a need that corruption and racism is removed from the police department in the U.S.A. However it can be said that to a certain extent the police department of the USA has been successful. But as mentioned above the police department in the USA also has some flaws which need to be rectified. As the police are the main law enforcement agency it is their duty to maintain public order in the state. However the stance of the police should not be to enforce laws on the civilian but to maintain the situation of public law and order. If police is taking steps that are causing indiscipline then they must change their course of work. Their aim is

Corporate Social and Ethical Responsibilities of the Caarmania Assignment - 2

Corporate Social and Ethical Responsibilities of the Caarmania - Assignment Example The targeted customers of the company are all car lovers from infants to the elderly ones. We identified that car and speed are real passion for many people and toy cars are one way for satisfying this passion. Therefore, the customer groups of the company include all age groups. Scale model cars are mainly targeted at the elderly people while the radio controlled cars are mainly targeted at the age group below 20. Thus Caarmania intends to be a one-stop solution for the car lovers of all age groups. The ethical responsibilities of the company include selling of toys that are not harmful or hazardous to the customer to whom it is sold. We avoid selling products that are manufactured by materials which are potentially harmful for the customers. We make a good analysis of the material quality of the toys before taking the orders. As a social being we understand our commitment towards the society that we operate. Therefore, we support a recycling system under which we take broken or use less toys from the customers and send them to third-party recycling units. This way the plastic and other metal wastes arising out of unused toys are reduced. In order to encourage the customers for this, we also pay such customers based on the toys that are returned. Caarmania had to undergo various challenges in the initial years of its operation. The main challenge faced by the company is to reach the customers. Unlike other toy retailers, Caarmania is targeted on all the age groups. Therefore, marketing activities had to be carried on to reach all the customer groups. To target children, we focused on schools. We sponsored various events conducted at major schools in the cities. We also conducted painting competitions at the cities where we had presence. This way, we were able to reach the children as well as the parents. The second main challenge we faced is the source of fund for expansion. Though we were established in 2007 we adopted an aggressive strategy on the expansion s ide. We wanted to capture the market before the competitors would. Expanding to other market even before breakeven was a challenge. Funding by venture capitalists helped to overcome the challenge of raising fund for expansion. Now we are well established in all the five cities and the business is doing very well on all these cities. (Alessandro, 2006) Employees and their commitment have been the backbone of the success of our company. We have a total of 80 employees including those who are involved in the transport and logistics. Salespersons represent the largest group among our employees. We treat every single employee as a factor of success of our business. In Caarmania, we address each other by their first name irrespective of their designation. From the observation of what we have practiced over years in our company, we understand that employees are motivated by outcomes and expectations.