ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Preface This literature review sets the stage for research into refining an international expansion strategy for the Anthropologie chain of women’s clothing, gift and houseware stores. Owing to the dynamic and fast-paced nature of the fashion retailing industry, this literature research found greater utility in more recent news and developments from the rival companies’ Web sites and business reportage rather than dated professional journals. The review establishes the background with brief scrutiny of domestic market size and medium-term trends up to the last full year before the current recession arrived in full force. An assessment of strengths and opportunities is drawn by tracing the commercial history, positioning, and retail concepts espoused by the mother company Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie itself. As a benchmark for global expansion, the review also investigates the strengths of the Spain-based Zara that, with the rest of the Inditex affiliates, has emerged as the new global leader in women’s fashion retail. Finally, a brief perspective on East Asian expansion markets is offered and information gaps in the existing literature are pointed out. The U.S. Fashion Retailing Industry On a seasonally adjusted basis, total U.S. retail sales have floundered along at just under $400 trillion (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008a). Though total sales grew strongly in 2004 (up 16.7%), a 7% decline took place the following year and 2006 recovered the prior year’s loss. Last year, women’s clothing (the sector that concerns Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie most closely) reached a shade under $5 trillion, a remarkable 87% up on the prior year (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008b). While this is concededly the best the sector has seen in five years for which full-year reports are available, the fact remains that 2006 saw sales shrink by 21% after a miraculous doubling in 2005. The year before that, however, sales slid 25% between 2003
Definition This is a communication theory that analyses the interaction between different parties during a conversation taking into consideration the words and the actions of the participants. Third party perspective of the conversation conveys information about the interaction while a participant’s point of view conveys the communication patterns involved in the communication process (Leinaweaver 112). Traditions used by the theory The efficiency of the coordination management of meaning theory relies on three vital processes. These steps expound on how we mould social realities through participation in conversation. The first level of interpretation is coherence. All participants unconsciously experience this feature. It refers to the description of how meaning is realized in any conversation (Pearce 47). In other words, we narrate to ourselves stories in order to comprehend the world around us better. For every dialogue we hold, there are our predetermined expectations that assist us in adjusting to each different situations in a unique way. The constitutive rules that govern interactions are useful in interpreting the conversations. Coherence is influenced by different factors such as episode, ethnicity, affiliation or self-concept. The episode refers to the unwritten rules that govern each interaction while the affiliation refers to the relationship that exists between the parties interacting (Anderson 104). Coordination forms another crucial element in an interaction. It recognizes the fact that the actions that take place during the interaction do not exist individually relative to the communication. The combination of different words and actions during the interaction process results in patterns referred to as stories lived. These have an impact on one’s behavior during the interaction, which results in rules of the particular communication process. Coordination, therefore, deals with the set up of these rules, which steer the conversation to the desired direction. The final process in the interaction is referred to as the concept of mystery. In other instances, it is referred to as the unexpressed stories since it refers to the actions or words that remain unexplained during the interaction period. It could be the strong feelings of hatred or attraction that are suppressed during communication (Gudykunst 114). Though these experiences are restrained, they are a vital component of the communication process. Therefore, by applying coherence, coordination and mystery, the foundation for our interactions is attained. From the above, it is evident that the coordination management of meaning perceives communication as interconnections of events in which every participant plays an active role of influencing the other. Illustration The first encounter with a boyfriend or girlf
Introduction Assessment of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) that were introduced by the World Bank and the IMF is an incredibly challenging assignment, particularly from the gender viewpoint. One of the challenges comes from the truth that from the start the SAPs were not targeting gender explicitly; rather they were targeting specific economic variables and only unreservedly assumed that economic reforms, freeing economies from the control of the government, will result in growth which will be beneficial to all. Thus, in principle, the impact of SAPs needs to be assessed from the viewpoint of macroeconomic impact, and thereafter its transmission onto gender. This essay attempts to critically evaluate the economic impact of SAPs on gender in developing countries specifically on women. The essay will define what SAPs are, their economic impact on the countries which implemented them, and their economic aftermaths on women. The paper will also examine the WID and GAD plans on improving the economic status of women finally the paper will give a conclusion basing on the findings reached. The Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) The Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) were initially developed by the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the late 1980s. The main objective of the SAPs was to help those member countries going through economic difficulties. Essentially, the SAPs are a financial loan provided to member states of the WB and IMF who were experiencing economic difficulties. The key objective is to push the state’s economy onto the path of economic development, though with effectiveness and stability Hansen (1991) refers to SAPs as the sustained search of a program of the policy of reforms which is designed to lessen economic and financial inequalities created by domestic or external shocks and to tackle policy deficiencies that are hampering progress towards accelerated economic development. To be given these loans a country is obligated to satisfy particular conditions which are set up by the WB and the IMF. These conditions have in general been underlined by neo-classical economic assumptions and reasoning (Elson, 1995). The neo-classical SAPs are thus founded on the assumption that the market is a better mechanism for organizing and allocating resources than the state. Therefore, the state should have a reduced role and rather than acting as a resource manager should be a market facilitator, assuring that market regulation are adhered to. Once the market is free from state intervention and fully functioning, it is assumed that individuals will act for their benefit and will respond rationally to market signals. On the macro level, this will result in the country’s economic prosperity. To achieve the ultimate goal of the programs, the constituent policies are aimed at  1. reducing domestic demand  2. reducing publi
Open-source software is comprised of a foundation code with patent privileges. A software permit conforming to the open source definition can be issued to clients. Having the product enables clients to utilize, transform, and advance the software for purposes of redeployment. These improvements are done in a shared teamwork spirit. Open-source software is a well-known model of open-source expansion. Content created by the client increases the software status. The initiative has been built up in support of the ‘software at no cost’ campaign. Clients have over the years benefited in terms of reduced investment costs. The initiative informs and promotes the advantages of open source in linking assorted divisions of the open-source society. It forms a standard to protect the society through granting of licenses and other regulatory measures. The software industry can develop into greater heights with a collaborative communal industry. Engineering of customized software can be aided by opening up source codes of softwares. Development in the industry will be realized by this liberation. Market players should be encouraged to open up their source codes for further increase in usability. An expansion in the grade of the software will increase its multiple uses. Firebird is an open-source shared server that has vibrant execution achievements. It has a huge reputation in the industry and media enhancing its general approval of open-source servers (Vaas, 2005). Clients have shown appreciation of the firebird database as it can be used in trading activities systems. Developers of these databases should be encouraged to produce products that are similar to the firebird server (Vaas, 2005). Using a strong database with moderate permit conditions favors the client. Reproduction and mounting onto a server are at no charge. Open-source databases have penetrated the software industry over the years. Industry players are embracing the open-source databases in a proposal to convince clients to opt for their products. IBM, a large computer organization, permitted an open-source database company with a bid to convince Oracle clients to select their new product. This is a clever strategic swing by the organization to collaborate and hence, compete effectively with their rivals. Oracle, on the other hand, has also planned to buy open database software to gear up for the contest (Clarke, 2009). Companies increase their benefits by undertaking into open source databases. The venture is a lucrative area to initiate location of a novel design. The software will also continue to be feasible creating acceptance by the market. Advantages of reliability and exposure to other developers and clients will be realized. Use of open source databases requires continuous engineering to ensure a usable product is available to clients. Total control is required to ensure the trend is in the original desired direction. Competitors should be kept at bay by producing better products. Partnership enhances openness for organizations and allows them to dictate the market trends (Haddad and Bernard, 2007). Organizations that do not follow the inclina
Introduction One of the possible ways to become a good leader is to define several already successful leaders, study their biographies and experiences, and pay attention to the chosen leadership styles. Among the existing variety of excellent leaders with captivating ideas and approaches to lead people, it is impossible to avoid the name of Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, one of the youngest and richest leaders on a planet. He is a co-founder of Facebook that is one of the most famous global social networks. His philanthropic ideals make him recognizable among other current leaders. Zuckerberg (as cited in Harris, 2012) explains that “by giving people the power to share, we’re making the world more transparent” (p.101). There are many things that make Zuckerberg a prominent leader. The current paper aims at discussing the main aspects of his leadership style and the lessons that can be taken from his experience. Mark Zuckerberg is a bright example of how young people can become good leaders using their passion, desire to work, and attention to the details and people and prove that transformational leadership is a unique way to rely on and become a significant figure in the world of business. Key Events Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984, in a family of a dentist and a psychiatrist (Lüster, 2011). He is a second child among his three sisters. Being raised under harsh Jewish traditions and religious aspects, he became an atheist at the age of 13. I think that it was one of his first decisions that introduced him as a person of a free will. Another key issue of Zuckerberg’s biography is his entering Harvard University and meeting students like Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Andrew McCollum, who became the main supporters of his views (Lüster, 2011). Being a young student at Harvard, Zuckerberg created a program just for fun that was able to overwhelm the local network switches of Harvard and deprive all students from access to the Internet (Harris, 2012). After that case, he met the Winklevoss’s brothers and Divya Narendra, who introduced their ideas on a social network for Harvard students. With time, Zuckerberg took the brightest ideas from this group of people and created his own global network that conquered the world. Leadership Approach During the course, I got a chance to learn a number of leadership approaches that discussed interesting ways on how leaders should behave, think, and make decisions. Trait, skills, situational, and behavioral approaches amaze with their possibility to touch upon some aspects of a person and develop them to the required point (Northouse, 2010). However, transformational leadership impressed me with its ability to consider the worth of various charismatic and affective elements and combine them properly so that a leader and the followers get an opportunity to develop, succeed, and share personal ideas to achieve the main goals (Northouse, 2010). Though it was interesting to learn how leadership can
Introduction In the 21st century, the world is experiencing a plethora of humanitarian crises. From the suffering of people in Haiti in the wake of several hurricanes that struck them in 2008 to individuals facing hunger and drought in various states of Africa, as well as the war-torn countries in the Middle East, there are millions of individuals in need of immediate and long-term assistance. At the same time, the world is known for its inequality of wealth, where the richest 10% of people amount for 85% of the world’s total possessions. In that regard, the moral obligation to help those in need falls upon the rich and the influential. Peter Singer and Onara O’Neill seek to propagate charity by tackling one of the most dangerous issues facing underdeveloped countries, that being hunger and famine. Both of them base their arguments on Kant’s categorical imperative, though while Singer determines the necessity for charity as a perfect duty, O’Neill sees it as imperfect and dependent on a person’s perspective and willingness to help. The purpose of this paper is to compare and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these arguments. Singer’s Argument: Not Donating to Aid Agencies is Morally Wrong The argument outlined in Singer’s book, titled The Life You Can Save , is based on three major premises, which are as follows (Singer 17):   * The suffering caused by famine, homelessness, and illnesses is wrong.   * Sacrificing a commodity that is not nearly as important as a human’s life to save it, when an individual is in the position to do so, is also wrong.   * Deaths from famine, disease, and lack of shelter can be prevented by donating to various aid agencies that supply needy individuals with the required premises.   * Conclusion: A refusal to donate to aid agencies is morally wrong. In his book, Singer promotes the more direct forms of aid over others, indicating that health, food, and shelter are the primary needs of all living beings. Only after those are secured, could charity be directed to other premises. In doing so, he follows Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, where all three of these commodities are the basic requirements for human survival. O’Neill’s Argument: We Must Do What We Can Prevent Famine O’Neill’s argument, outlined in his article titled Kantian Approaches to Famine Problems , identifies famine as one of the main issues for humanity because it robs a person of the agency. His main thesis can be presented as follows (O’Neill 111):   * Humanity should be treated not always as a means, but always as an end. This premise grounds the inherent value of human life.   * It is the perfect duty to avoid using persons as a means to an end by putting them in a position where they could not refuse to consent to the opposing part
Nursing is one of the knowledge-based professionals. This is the case because the field embraces new ideas and evidence-based concepts in order to achieve the best health outcomes. Newman (2014) believes that “nursing will always be an ever-changing field characterized by life-long learning” (p. 3). However, the nature and history of nursing has associated with numerous barriers. For very many years, nursing was left in the hands of women. Many people treated nursing as an in-and-out profession (Newman, 2014). Many people in the society also viewed nursing as a tool for preparing women to become responsible homemakers. People described nursing as a low-autonomous field. Nursing education mainly “focused on training rather than intellectual stimulation” (Vieira, Alves, Monteiro, & Garcia, 2013, p. 1129). Research findings and theoretical concepts were ignored thus resulting in stagnation. The early 20 th century was characterized by poor theoretical developments and advancements (Vieira et al., 2013). The concept of leadership was also used differently. For instance, the role of hospital management was to make specific rules. This malpractice empowered different non-practitioners to outline various health regulations. The approach made it impossible for nurses to present their views or grievances. The concept of gender role also forced women to concentrate on their patients’ needs. They did so without promoting new inquiries, analyses, and investigations. Such practitioners also lacked the required resources to transform the nature of nursing. Non-practitioners controlled every financial and health resource. This situation made it impossible for more nurses to accomplish their goals. The society ignored women’s abilities to engage in constructive conversations and decision-making processes (Vieira et al., 2013). Policymakers focused on various practices that could maximize the outcomes of different patients. Nurses were therefore required to focus on such goals without questioning. Every form of rebellion was severely punished. These malpractices created “a profession that fail
The main concern of the article by Matthew Mirapaul is the digital sound used in the games to amplify the gameplay and the entertainment itself. The author speaks about the music that every gamer hears while playing this or that game. There were times when music was not polyphonic but still it was fascinating. Nowadays Games Soundtracks are very emotional and colorful. The sound is clear and real. Nothing reminds me of the times when the tunes were simple. Today Soundtracks play a very important role so it is a must to create a worthy soundtrack. As an example, the author of the article provides a series of games that include music of such kind that it feels like a movie. Professional musicians as well as the whole orchestras are involved in the process of creating a soundtrack. People working on music for games nowadays are much more sophisticated. The main problem a lot of games faced 5 years ago was the lack of the budget and the technology that could help them to produce a high-quality sound as stated by Mr. Thomas the music director of the Vivendi Universal. The technology is said to help to develop the sound as new powerful computers and game consoles can support multiple audio streams. As for the playback process, it should be said that it has become much more pleasant as a great number of tracks for each scene are mixed in an unnoticeable way which gives the gameplay special emotional coloring in each scene. A special track is written for each scene, which in comparison to the “old times” when small tracks were looped or a number of them simply played randomly is absolutely fascinating. Music becomes more and more important in the games. It doesn’t just entertain gamers but also involves them in the gaming process. Mr. Bajakian, a game-music composer in San Rafael, Calif., whose credits include Escape From Monkey Island, said he was working on a fantasy-game project, which he declined to identify, in which clues will be sung by a group of musicians within the game. The games Soundtracks have made their way from simple short melodies up to movie alike serious and fascinating soundtracks.
Scope creep is typically the result of project requirements not being outlined appropriately. As a result, while it proceeds, new issues and stakeholder conditions surface, requiring substantial changes to accommodate them. Ultimately, the project extends substantially beyond its original goals, and large schedule and budget extensions surface. To prevent this phenomenon, it is vital to clearly outline the project’s requirements and discuss all potential contingencies. Then, the emergence of these new demands will not be a surprise to the project manager, and appropriate management procedures will be in place and ready for application. To comprehend the entirety of the project’s requirements, the project manager should identify and engage all of the project’s stakeholders. They need to understand their expectations for the project, which they may not specify adequately in the initial scope outlines. The manager can then document all of these requirements, organize them, and decide which ones they will satisfy. Different stakeholders’ requests will often conflict, while some will have goals that cannot be reasonably accomplished. By resolving these contradictions and limiting the project to achievable targets, the manager can outline a practical scope that is resistant to creep. The last step is to verify this scope with stakeholders and obtain their understanding and approval. Each party involved needs to understand which of their needs will be satisfied and which cannot be accomplished. If they are dissatisfied, they can negotiate to add particular objectives to the project. Disputes between stakeholders with different interests can be arbitrated or mediated by a third party until they resolve. Once this stage is settled, the project can proceed, though the manager should keep monitoring stakeholders and their evolving situations. Scope creep is a substantial issue in many projects, one that has the potential to extend their duration and cost substantially. It is the result of large changes that are not planned for being introduced into the project while it is ongoing. Hence, the first and foremost issue that needs to be addressed is the reason why these new requirements are surprising. The project manager should contact stakeholders ahead of time and identify their requirements to be prepared for future requests. Moreover, they should also manage their relationships with involved parties throughout the project, remaining aware of how their needs change over time. With that said, it is highly challenging to understand and reconcile the entirety of the different stakeholders’ goals. As a result, changes throughout the project’s duration will be unavoidable, and the proj