ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The Ford Motor Company, often referred to simply as “Ford”, is a US-based multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. In 2018, Ford’s market share amounted to 6.3% with 61 factories operating globally, 32 – domestically, and 6.6 million vehicles sold (Smith, 2020). According to the business analytics dashboard provided by the New York Times, Ford is an absolute leader among the world’s auto and truck manufacturers with a market capitalization of $35 billion (“Auto & truck manufacturers,” 2020). Despite these impressive statistics, a closer look at Ford’s performance reveals some concerning tendencies. For instance, in 2018, Ford’s net income has been the lowest since 2010 (Smith, 2020). Overcoming this difficulty might require discovering new market segments or emphasizing those already targeted by the company. This essay explains how environmentally aware customers and status seekers might be the best market segments to pay attention to for Ford. Segment: Environmentally Aware A brand new era of sustainability is on the rise, and big manufacturers cannot ignore it any longer. The World Health Organization (n.d.) reports that around 12.6 million people die each year of environmental issues; the latter is also accountable for up to 25% of the global burden of disease. The negative impact of environmental issues is becoming common knowledge and a cause for concern for many customers. 81% state that they care whether a company whose products or services they are choosing is environmentally friendly (“Global consumers seek companies that care about environmental issues,” 2018). The level of care and awareness ranges depending on the generation: while only 65% of the Silent generation supported the cause, 80-85% of Millennials and Gen-Zs express their concerns. A new market segment consists of young people living in urban areas in developed countries (Moser, 2015). In the United States, 21% of the population, or 44 million people are adults between the ages of 19 and 35; 85% of them, or 37 million of them are potentially environmentally concerned. They prefer to make well-informed decisions and uphold their own ethical standards (Moser, 2015). This implies that before making a purchase, they are likely to research a company’s background and compare alternatives. One downside of targeting this market segment is that the customers may not be exactly financially stable (Moser, 2015). For the most part, they cannot afford environmentally friendly vehicles from the luxury segments. Lately, one of Ford’s objectives has been investing into green initiatives and reducing its environmental impact,. As Dearborn (2019) reports, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a nonprofit organization specializing in environme
Introduction The construction industry has arguably been one of the major beneficiaries of technological advancements that have been made in the through the years. As a result of this, most facets of the construction industry including building designs have undergone radical transformation so as to make use of new technology. This technology has mostly been in the form of computerized systems which aid designers in their works. Over the years, new computing technologies have become fundamental components in building design and no worthwhile architectural organization can boast of success without the aid of computer systems. Aliakseyeu et al. (2006, p.529) underscores the fact that new technology has resulted in much progress in terms of product quality and process efficiency being made in the design of buildings. While these benefits in the form of higher levels of precision and rapid development of buildings are evident to all, there have been questions as to at what cost these benefits come. Arguments have been advanced that new technology hinders creativity and novelty which are desirable in coming up with building designs. This paper shall set out to assess the truth of this proposition by reviewing arguments made concerning the impact that new technology has on creativity. Arguments made proposing that new technology hinders creativity and those refuting the same shall be reviewed so as to present a balanced view of the subject. The observations made in this paper shall be used to authoritatively state if new technology is indeed hindering creativity in the building design discipline. Argument that New Technology Encourages Creativity Many authorities in building design contend that the design sketching stage is indispensable in the early phases of the design process. Brown (2005, p.166) reaffirms that “Sketching plays a manifold role in design and design education now as much as it did in the computerless days.” It is for this reason that the initial omission of the sketching stage by new technologies was blamed for hindering creativity. However, this is not the case with modern technology which makes room for the sketching phase in the design process. Digital sketching tools have been developed that enable a designer to sketch directly into a computer interface in a similar manner as sketching using a pencil to a piece of paper. Tools such as the Wacom tablet drawing boards and the ANOTO video-based pen which use touch sensitive surfaces to digitalize the designer’s actions have been developed to
Introduction Chinua Achebe published the book “Things fall apart” in 1958. The book’s theme is a description of the European colonization of Africans from an African perspective. The main character is Okonkwo who is a warrior and the village hero. It clearly describes arrival of missionaries in the Igbo community near the end of nineteenth century. It shows how colonialism affected the Africans and their perspectives. The book was different from other African authored books in that it used the European literary tradition, which was very effective. It made a basis on which the other authors that followed took after. Chinua Achebe created a link between the European and the common African. He used English rather than native languages commonly used after. Consequently, he was able to reach a wider audience though at the time most Africans were illiterate. Criticism of the text The book has faced numerous critics since its publication. For the last fifty years, these critics have somehow reduced the face value of the text in the book. The main criticism was that the book should have displayed more awareness of the art of African culture. In addition, it was evident that Achebe avoided European stereotypes and exoticism and their relationship with African’s image and individuality. According to Achebe, it was evident that most African novel critics took novelistic realism at face value. The critics failed to recognize the more delicate workings of the texts they employed while overlooking the assumptions on which they are based on. Moreover, they fail to perceive that realism is an ism. In light of this, there have been various variations in the face value of the text in this book over the years. On the other hand, the critics claim that Achebe’s main intention of writing this book was to emphasize that the pre-colonials spiritual beliefs were not inferior but only different from that of Europeans. For example, in the book, the practices and religious codes of Umuofia people have been unchallenged for ages. This forms another set of variation in the face value of the text in the book. The book’s plot, characters, and structure form another source of criticism. Okonkwo as the main character is critical because he was a classical tragic hero. He has trouble in his life though he had a noble character. The book displays a classical hero having a tragic downfall because of the will of the gods. The feminist critics on the other hand, noted that Achebe gave men cultural roles in the Igbo culture as opposed to women. In addition, these critics depicted that the text displayed a male dominated society. As a result, the face value of the text in the book has reduced as far as women are concerned. Lessons learnt These critics made a reader discover several things. First, it is important for Western readers to read the African literature sensitively. This would drastically reduce artistic and convections critics since they will understand the different social and historical back
Introduction Psychologists claim that psychology and philosophy are different entities because psychology is considered a science while philosophy is considered an art. However, the two are related because psychology originated from philosophy. Psychology originated from philosophy and physiology (Hergenhahn, 2008). It was not until the 1800s that psychology emerged as a distinct scientific discipline. Its earliest history dates back to the works of ancient Greeks. Rene Descartes is credited with developing psychology from the theory of dualism. He postulated that the mind and body are separate entities whose interactions come together to form human experience (Hergenhahn, 2008). Other philosophers who contributed towards development of psychology from philosophy include John Stuart Mill, John Locke, David Hume, Wilhelm Wundt, and George Berkeley Philosophers involved in development of psychology Ancient philosophers who heralded the beginning of psychology as a proper discipline include Rene Descartes, Emmanuel Kant, David Hume, John Stuart Mill, John Locke, Wilhelm Wundt, George Berkeley Aristotle, and Plato (Goodwin, 2008). Rene Descartes made the most notable contribution towards development of psychology from philosophy. With his theory of dualism, he described the mind and body as entirely different entities whose experiences coalesced to impart knowledge (Goodwin, 2008). After this discovery, he developed the theory by describing how the brain works. This was a great contribution to the field of psychology. Western philosophers who contributed to development of psychology include John Locke, George Berkeley, David Hume, and David Hartley. Locke described how people acquire knowledge and understand the world (Goodwin, 2008). He stated that the mind is blank at birth but is later filled with experiences from everyday living. He believed that knowledge was obtained from interacting with the world. Berkeley made his contribution through his analysis of visual perception, which he based on the arguments of empiricist philosophers (Goodwin, 2008). Hume made a distinction between impressions and ideas. In addition, he formulated rules of resemblance. Finally, Hartley developed a model that explained the functioning of the nervous system (Goodwin, 2008). Development of psychology during the 19 th century In the 19 th century, great developments were made in the field of psychology. Wilhelm Wundt published a book that discussed the association between physiology and human behavior (Green et al, 2001). In 1879, he built a laboratory at Leipzig University that served for the sole purpose of studying psychology. The opening of the laboratory marked the beginning of psychology as a separate entity from other scientific disciplines. William James laid a strong foundation by presenting psychological questions that formed a basis for future psychological investigations (Green et al, 2001). James’s thoughts and ideas that were published i
Introduction Portland Drake Beverages (PDB) is a manufacturing company that produces natural organic juices and sparkling water. The company intends to launch a new non-alcoholic, organic, energizing and a hydrating drink called Crescent Pure (Crescent) into three U.S states. The management team found that the beverage could be introduced to the market through several positioning strategies. This study aims at identifying which of the proposed positioning strategies would be most viable in maximizing Crescent’s returns. Positioning Alternatives The suggested strategies were the introduction of Crescent as an energy drink, soft drink, and as a healthy organic drink across California, Oregon, and Washington. The non-alcoholic beverage market in the U.S was approximately $131 billion in 2013 and is estimated to increase to $164 billion by 2018; thus indicating an increase in demand for non-alcoholic drinks. An increase in demand suggests that there is a room for the introduction of additional products across the country. Moreover, the economic recovery from the economic recession shall increase the customers spending power and would further expand the beverage market. As an energy drink, Crescent out-classes the two leading energy beverages, Fright and Razor, in several aspects which place it in a strong marketing position.   * The main customer base for energy drinks is men aged between 18 and 34 years, which is the age group that Crescent found to be the most popular. Moreover, Crescent’s customer base in Oregon would remain loyal to the brand since it is the product’s birthplace.   * The herbal stimulants used in Crescent deliver 80 milligrams of caffeine, which is about half of the amount contained in Fright and Razor. Crescent’s low caffeine level, combined with its lower sugar content, makes it more attractive to the customers as a healthier alternative.   * Considering the current retail market price range of energy drinks, which is anything between $2 and 5$ (based on the can size). The current price for an 8-ounce can of Crescent is $2.76, which is $2.99 less. The lower prices could make it the most affordable, healthy energy drink available in the market. There are several challenges that could hinder the success of Crescent as an energy drink.   * One shortcoming of positioning Crescent as an energy drink is the negative media they get. Within a span of 6 months, 11% of the main consumers of energy drinks r
The names are the vital part of the authentic language. The traditions of naming children tell about the history, social order and mentality of people. The Akan is the prevailing language in Ghana, the country in the Western Africa. The Akan people have very interesting system of naming children. The review of the academic articles can help to get the insight into the Akan names. The aim of this paper is to discuss the peculiarities of the Akan language and the traditions of naming children in particular. The Akan Language The Akan language is interesting from both the linguistic and ethnographic perspectives. Both of them describe the dissemination of the language across the country and among different ethnicities. However, the former is focused on the ethnic groups, for which the Akan is the second language, whereas the later touches upon the ethnicities, which speak the Akan as their native language (Agyekum 2012). The Akan embodies the culture and traditions of the local people. It should be emphasized that the Ghanaian society is multilingual with 76 languages spread all over the country (Agyekum 2012). There are a number of the endangered languages in Ghana. The weight of people who speak the Akan as their native language accounts for 49.1%, whereas the weight of those, who speak it as the second language is 44% (Agyekum 2012). It is interesting to note that although the Akan is the prevailing language in Ghana, it can be referred to the endangered one due to the significant influence of English and other foreign languages on it as well as on the attitude of local people to their authentic language. In addition, the authentic language is used by the Akans in the limited circumstances. It is not the official language of the country. For these reasons, the Akan language requires the steps taking for its documentation and preservation. The Akan Names The Akan language reflects the long history, customs and religious beliefs of the Ghanaian people. The traditions of naming children in Ghana are very interesting. For example, the new family members can be named after the day of the week or after the significant event happened when they have been born. “While western names are predictable, African names are generally not predictable, for until the child is born and under what circumstances it is born, the name cannot be determined with accuracy” (Agyekum 2006, p. 208). For instance, if the child is born during the war, they can be named after the historic event. If you meet the Akan man with the name Bekṍe, it means that he was born during the war. Similarly, the parents can name their children after
Labor is one of the most important assets of any country. Therefore, countries strive to ensure that a sizeable percentage of their population is working. This ensures that these people make a useful contribution to the economic growth of the country. However, it is very difficult for any country to have an unemployment rate of zero percent. Various factors lead to unemployment. In some instances, government benefits that subsidize the income of people who do not have jobs may prevent people seeking employment (Vedder para 10). In some countries, individuals may earn more income from government subsidies than from gainful employment. In the UK, a certain couple declined various job offers since they could make £17,680 annually in government-funded benefits. These benefits included child tax credit, job seekers allowance, housing allowance and child benefit (Atkinson para 1). Therefore, the taxpayer helped in supporting this couple. This is despite the fact that they did not pay taxes. Most countries ensure that employers offer equal employment opportunities to potential employees. In some instances, employers may deny various people employment opportunities due to their backgrounds. In the US, it is illegal for a company to use criminal background in denying a job to any individual. This policy helps in increasing the number people who are in gainful employment. A company should prove that the criminal background would limit the ability of the individuals to perform their duties (Bovard para 5). In some instances, the employment of an ex-convict may have negative effects on the competitiveness of an organization. An organization may use this fact to justify why they do not employ people who have criminal backgrounds. Employers ensure that the employees generate profit to the company. The wages that an employer pays the employees should be less than the income that the employees generate. If the employee adds a low value to the company, it is not beneficial to hire the employee. In addition, the amount of money that an employee generates should offset the overhead costs of the company. This ensures that the company remains profitable (Durden p
Introduction There is a common perception in the society to the effect that non-profit or not-for-profit health care corporations in the United States of America are motivated by their desire to sate the health care needs of the public. This is regardless of the ability of the patients to pay for these services. Further, it is assumed that these organizations do not make profit. But these are just that; perceptions and assumptions. The fact remains that every corporation operating within the contemporary competitive environment needs to have an excess in revenues if it is to survive. This applies to all organizations, whether for-profit or not-for-profit. It is illogical to assume that any organization can survive by spending more than it brings in. Small Stones Health Center: For-Profit or Not-for-Profit? Sanders (2007, p, 2) is of the view that hospital and medical clinics are now looking for new ways to make money now more than ever. This is given the fact that reimbursement from insurers, government hand-outs and donations from well wishers are drying out. Being health care providers, these organizations need to survive so that they can cater for the needs of their clients. Small Stones Health Center, located in Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, is such one organization. Trewyn (2002, para, 1) holds that the centre needs to support its yearly operations, despite the shrink in reimbursements and hand-outs. One way that it had adopted to achieve this is what Landsberg (2004, p, 212) refers to as “medical retailing”. This is the process where the hospital opens a business operation, for example a gift shop that acts as a source of extra revenue. According to Landsberg (2004 p, 2), organizations that make more than five thousand dollars annually are required to register with IRS. Since Small Stones makes more than that, it is registered with this tax body. Under section 501(c)(3) of the 1986 tax code, this organization can be described as a charitable organization providing health care services to the public (Fischer, Wilsker & Young 2007, p4). It can thus be defined as a not-for-profit organization. But technically looking at the operations of Small Stones will prove even to the most cynical of observers that this is nothing less of a for-profit organization. How else can you define an organization that has a constant source of revenue that is in excess of what it uses? Sanders (2007 p, 7) and Snebold (2009 p, 3) are of the view that medical service organizations engage in retail medicine to supplement their income. They sell coffee to the patients, flowers to the visitors and such other activities that are likely to bring an extra dollar. Small Stones has not been left behind. Trewyn holds that the organization acts as a source of information for the patients and other members of the public interested in finding information on topics revolving around health care (2002 para, 3). To this end, it has a library and a bookstore. This is in addition to retailing of other products such as pedometers and recipe books for healthy meals (Sanders 2007, p, 8). It also