ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Declining Revenue for the Performing Arts Industry In the presentation three distinct points were made: first that as of 2008 the total amount of revenue for the performing arts industry has been in the decline since the financial crisis, second, that the revenue and participation rate in the theatre industry has been in decline since 2004 and lastly new changes in the way society views entertainment have drastically changed the playing field so to speak of how the performing arts industry works (Arenberg 52). As the presentation started, the recent decline in revenue for the performing arts industry is distinctly related to the start of the global financial crisis. The reason behind this is that the primary source of revenue for the Australian Performing Arts Industry is household disposable income (Wilkins & Wooden 358). HDI (household disposal income) is the percentage of money left over after expenses are paid for; changes in the economy such as a sudden spike in unemployment or economic downturns affect the percentile rate of HDI which in turn affects the rate at which people can go to watch live shows (Arenberg 52). The Live Performance Industry has always been considered a form of luxury, most people tend to watch television or movies rather than theatrical performances due to the difference in cost and it is due to this distinction that problems occurred at the start of the 2008 recession. Consumer spending at the time was driven by the supposed need for survival with various luxuries being the first to be cut from most budgets (Suter 409). As a result, the Live Performance Industry was adversely affected by the economic downturn resulting in a significant drop in ticket sales. While Australia was able to weather the 2008 global financial crisis better than some other countries the distinct lack of global consumer confidence in the economy resulted in cutbacks in consumer spending which further exacerbated the effects of the financial crisis (Boland 56). The theatrical industry has only just begun to recover over the past two years however the effects of the financial crisis show a distinct vulnerability of the performing arts industry to sudden shifts in the global economy (Arenberg 52). This has shown that consumer spending is inextricably linked to the status of the economy and as such the mode of revenue various live performances utilize is at risk of disappearing should another similar crisis happen in the future (Irvine 2). Research into the state of the global economy reveals that on average the economy goes through a cyclical cycle of periods of growth followed by periods of recession. While other industries may be able to cope through their flexible business models the performing arts industry lacks the flexibility some businesses have and as a result, multiple theatre companies have gone out of business due to sudden shifts in consumer preferences (WILLIAM 23). The
The Ottoman conquest of some parts of Europe has long been considered a major loss to the Christendom, especially after the fall of Constantinople under the Islamic rule. Nevertheless, modern scholars agree that the conquest of some parts of the western world by the Ottoman Empire left a symbolic mark in the arts, especially painting, architecture, literature, and sculpture (Auld 239). In addition, the Muslim world in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa experienced significant cultural influence from the European cultures. One of the most significant impacts of the European-Asian cultural exchange was due to the architectural influence of cultures on each other. In particular, the extent to which the Ottoman Empire shaped the European societies is still observable, especially in buildings left behind in some parts of Europe by the Ottomans (Howard 352). Scholars agree that the most significant mark of the Ottoman rule in Europe is the presence of mosques, which were built as a sign of the Islamic conquest of the Christian world. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the Ottoman culture on the Christian world in terms of architecture. Arguably, the architectural influence of the Muslim culture in Europe is a clear indication that Europe benefited socially and culturally from the Ottomans as opposed to the common belief that the Ottomans left only a negative impact because of their desire to expand their religious influence. The Ottoman conquest of various parts of Europe, especially Greece, Italy and surrounding regions, still remains an important part of the European cultural history. To make a clear and in-depth analysis of the Ottoman influence on the European architecture, it is worth looking at a number of buildings and structures in Istanbul, Sophia, Balkans, Greece and Italy in general (Brothers 77). The Sulumaniye Mosque, a major tourist destination in the modern world, provides one of the best examples of the Ottoman architectural culture in the western world. The Mosque is one of the several works of architect Mimar Sinan. It was built between1550 and 1557 AD. Sinan, though rarely mentioned in historical records, had a major influence on various western architects. (Howard 231). In fact, scholars prove that Sinan’s work had a major influence on Michelangelo and Andrea Palladio, the two most influential Italian artists (De-Osa 88). For instance, Sinan introduced the dome design in Italy when he built the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul and the Selimuiye Mosque in Erdine. The design of Michelangelo’s Domer in Rome was a mimic of these structures. The Dome culture became common in Italy, with many architects adopting the dome culture in a number of their works. For instance, the church of
Competition The major competitors to Kudler Foods in France and Germany are Filterfresh Coffee Service and Flavia. A subsidiary of Van Houtte Inc. Filterfresh Coffee Service was the initial pioneer of a one-cup brewing system in the coffee industry. It introduced the technology in 1980. Despite being the pioneers, their organizational and operational structures provide adequate room for improvement (Anderson, 2005). The hopper they use makes it a necessity to clean and re-load coffee beans. Kudler intends to overcome this shortcoming by introducing K-cup, which is more convenient, better, and hence preferred by the clients within the target market. Flavia however more of a threat to Kudler, as its approach is almost similar to Kudler’s. Kudler intends to counter this by offering an increased focus on customer satisfaction. Though unconfirmed, the impending entry of Procter and gamble into the two coffee markets will raise competition considering the company’s popularity (Sherry, 2002). Kudler intends to deal with this by introducing a customer loyalty program whereby customers who consistently use our products receive appropriate rewards, for instance, a free month supply. Kudler will offer better pricing as compared to Procter and Gamble. Filterfresh and Flavia price their Gourmet coffee models at $52 and $53 respectively (Anderson, 2005). Based on existing markets data from other markets, Proctor and Gamble are expected to offer a price range of between $53 and $54. Kudler intends to set a lower market entry price of $50 and later re-adjust the price (David, 2004). Kudler will also use mass retail centers and grocery outlets as selling points to enhance its ability to interact with clients and understand their needs. The major challenge is convincing clients that our Gourmet coffee model comes with better quality as compared to the other brands. Marketing Marketing Objectives Marketing will aim to position Kudler as a strong force in the gourmet coffee market in Germany and France. Additionally, it will focus on client growth and hence the consolidation of a considerable portion of the market. More specifically, Kudler Foods intends to consolidate a market share of not less than 5% over a period of one year. Marketing strategy The market gourmet coffee market in Germany and France is segmented into three broad categories (McCarthy & William, 2005). Previous research by Anderson (2005) amongst gourmet coffee consumers revealed that demonstration through the internet and other public media increased purchase possibilities of the product by 75 – 82%. Advertisement and demonstration campaigns will be used in the marketing of the product. Correspondingly, advertisement/demonstration campaigns will be based on these three categories namely: the aged, the illiterate, and the literate. Kudler will also use pricing as a marketing strategy. Initially, the market price will be set lower than that of its competitors to attract customers. Having initially conducted a study on Gourme
Introduction Though seemingly distant from each other, the languages of the world have a lot in common through being either closely or distantly related to one another, perhaps even having originated from the same ancient protolanguage. Therefore, studying each language in depth and developing a specific understanding of its structures, origins, and development is critical for the analysis of language history. As its name suggests, the Yucatec Mayan language is the Mayan language that residents of the Yucatán Peninsula use to communicate (Santos-Fita et al. 72). Approximately 750,000 residents of Mexico and Belize speak the language (Santos-Fita et al. 73). While it is linked directly to other Mayan languages, Yucatec Mayan shows a wide range of specific features that allow it to be distinguished from other Mayan languages. Phonetic Characteristics Similar to other languages of the Mayan family, the Yucatec Mayan language has five vowels, which include a, e, i, o, and u (Barrett 574). However, each of these vowels can have several phonemic forms depending on its tone and length (Bennet 472). Traditionally, short and long vowels are distinguished, and long vowels are pronounced with either high or low tone (Barrett 577). In addition, there is the option for a rearticulated pronunciation of vowels, as the presence of a glottal stop may change the meaning of a word in which a specific vowel is used (Bennet 472). These characteristics make the Yucatec Mayan language quite similar to other Mayan languages, with the principle of articulation being prominent in the Mayan language family due to the recurrent use of the vowel-vowel sequence (Bennett 472). Therefore, the Yucatec Mayan language is phonetically quite close to the rest of the languages in the family. Phonological Characteristics Apart from glottal stops as one of the distinctive phonetic features of the language, Yucatec Maya is also characterized by its ejective consonants. This type of consonant represents the same glottal phenomenon observed in the pronunciation of vowels (Aissen et al. 19). The sounds of [p], [t], [k], and [b] are often used with pronounced lingual closure (Aissen et al. 19). Therefore, there is a clear distinction between aspirated and ejective sounds in the Yucatec Mayan language. The implosive group of consonants includes plosive and affricate sounds, w
Comparing Generic Characteristics of Counseling When counseling diverse groups, it is common to encounter varying characteristics based on clients’ background, cultural beliefs, family units, experience, and many other demographical factors. When comparing generic characteristics of counseling with respect to culture, it is clear that Native Americans are more reserved compared to the Whites. While the Whites value nuclear family unit, the Native Americans value extended family unit. When counseling these different groups, these are the factors that one must understand. In terms of the language, Curry (2011) notes that most of the Native American languages have disappeared. English is increasingly becoming a common language among most of these Natives. The Whites still have a high social class compared to the Native Americans. When counseling clients from diverse backgrounds, understanding their social class sometimes is critical in defining the approach that should be taken to handle them effectively. How My Approach Would Reflect My Understanding of My Characteristics and That of Clients As a counselor, I know that my approach of handling clients may reflect my characteristics and the views I have towards my clients. My characteristics, attitudes and beliefs have direct impacts on my counseling practice. According to Schellenberg and Grothaus (2009), as we grow up in a given community, there are stereotypes and other cultural beliefs that we get to learn. For instance, there are stereotypes about African Americans, Indian Americans, the Hispanics, and other minority groups. The belief is instilled in us and we grow up associating a given group of people with certain practices. It is common for an African American to be associated with violence in this country. As a counselor, sometimes these beliefs form our attitude towards our clients. We believe that clients from a given ethnic group tend to behave in a given manner. It is not easy to fight such beliefs and attitudes towards certain people. As Pyne (2011) notes, a counselor should be a person who is very open minded. He or she should not classify clients into a certain group that is expected to behave in a certain manner. On the contrary, they are expected to treat every client as unique as possible without any form of criticism. Humans, given that they are judgmental beings, sometimes find it difficult to dissociate their personal feelings with their professional work. Such situations may hamper ability to deliver services to clients effectively. As a counselor, I know it is my responsibility to tailor my approach to be sensitive to clients from diverse characteristics and experience. To do this, I will need to be competent in terms of emotional control. I must have the will power to fight personal beliefs and attitude that I might have developed within the environment I have stayed. I will need to treat each client as a unique person with a unique case that requires a unique solution. Even if the
Richter’s Business Environment The business environment for Richter can be characterized as favorable yet highly competitive. The pharmaceutical industry remains one of the largest in the world, and further growth can be projected as a result of aging populations in many developed countries. The demand for pharmaceutical products and services can be expected to rise steadily (Compeau et al., 2008). The competition in the industry is also stiff because of many large multinationals, which have significant resource endowments. Richter started as a government entity, but the emergence of the free market in Hungary and other Eastern European countries resulted in its privatization (Compeau et al., 2008). Such a move allowed the company to make further expansions both domestically and abroad. The political stability of Eastern Europe means that Richter has been able to operate in those countries without political hindrances The political environment is further improved by the support from the Hungarian government. Additionally, the massive international market for pharmaceuticals can be credited for the global expansion of Richter. The most important aspect of the external environment, however, is the availability of new advanced technologies. Across modern businesses, aspects such as marketing and research and development (R&D) have been revolutionized by IT, which can be manifested in the case of Richter (DiMasi et al., 2016; Zhao & Priporas, 2017). The System Analysis and Software Development (SAP) systems have allowed for centralized IT governance and facilitated the first initial public offering (IPO) of the company. Internally, the business environment for Richter can be described in similar terms. In other words, the size and technical capacity of the company are key drives of growth. As one of the largest pharmaceuticals in Hungary, Richter was able to take advantage of its reputation and brand to fuel further growth (Compeau et al., 2008). Additionally, Richter has always been an innovator, which means it heavily invests in R&D. Therefore, Richter has developed the capability to create and commercialize new products and efficiently utilize the thousands of patents it has registered. Additionally, the diversification of the business portfolio helps exploit additional revenue streams, including generic drugs. Therefore, favorable market and internal conditions comprise the business environment for Richter. Richter’s Business and IT Strategy The IT strategy for Richter lacked before its privatization. In the past, the company used to rely on the traditional approach to managing its supply chain and did not focus on its IT component specifically (Compeau et al.). As a result, Richter’s share value remained at the same level despite the company’s efforts at increasing its value (Compeau et al.). Granted that Richter’s strat
Perception and individual decision making are the notions which determine a human being and his/her mode of life. After watching the movie Blind Side, it is possible to analyze the behavior of Michael Oher who just wanted to live though in this case, the circumstances were rather specific. Being left without parental assistance, Michael Oher had been searching for the main purpose in his life and found it in football. The chance changed the life of this person. Looking at his life, it is obvious that Michael Oher was sure that nothing was going to improve his situation. This was his perception of the situation as well as his individual decision. He used to run away from every family he was adopted by. When Leigh Anne found him, she could not even imagine how possible it was to live in such a way. Still, her perception of the situation was different. Therefore, people are able to look at one and the same situation differently due to differences in perception of the facts. For example, in case of Michael Oher, it is possible to conclude that he got used to this situation, and it seemed better to him to live in such a way than to be grateful to the foreign people who offered him support and home. However, Leigh Anne was of another opinion though she could not understand Michael Oher’s decision as they had different perceptions of the situation ( Blind Side ). When people make decisions, they usually refer to personal experience, and it affects their perception of the surrounding world and some particular situation. It is impossible to judge people taking into account your personal experience as, in this case, a person considers the situation only from his/her personal point of view without referring to another individual’s background. The choice to begin a career of a sportsman was Michael’s decision which was based on personal features. Being a strong man of athletic constitution and possessing great powers of endurance, Michael was sure to achieve much success in football game though he also had to work hard. He understood that his low grades and other factors would not allow him to be a member of the school football team. However, his coach gave him a chance as he saw that this boy could achieve success. Therefore, after reconsidering his personal attitude to studying, Michael improved his grades and became a part of the football team. This decision was well-considered as he wanted to play football, and the only way to achieve that was to progress in his studying. Robbins and Judge are sure that people consider situations from their personal perspectives, and decisions they make are also based on their vision of the situation developed from their past experiences. If one situation seems appropriat
Study Variables A variable is any aspect of research that can influence its outcomes and effects on the chosen sphere of life (Vogt, Gardner, & Haeffele, 2012). In the study under consideration, there are several dependent and independent variables that should be mentioned. A dependent variable is more interesting to a researcher because it turns out to be a part of a hypothesis that should be proved, and an independent variable can influence the dependent one in a variety of ways. As a rule, researchers can manipulate independent variables and measure them as they need (Mitchell & Jolley, 2012). Independent variables in research about the role of a leader in an educational process are as follows: a gender of a leader, ten students in each group, and the tasks given to each group. Dependent variables are student satisfaction with an educational process, the results of the test scores, and the desire to work independently or in groups. In their turn, the independent variables (the students, who perform the role of a leader) can choose different leadership roles (learner, supporter, coach, mentor, etc.) and follow the standards offered (Harrison & Killion, 2007). Operationally, the variables can be measured the way it becomes clear how the presence of a leader can influence the way of how students accept new material and use it in practice. Measurement of Variables The measurement of variables should be properly organized according to the expectations set by a researcher. For example, it is possible to use a nominal scale to measure the effectiveness and readiness of students to become leaders in a particular society. It is possible to use the Kouzes and Posner’s self-scoring instrument (2003) and check if the students understand what kind of work is expected from them. Besides, it is possible to use an ordinal scale to identify if students are satisfied, partially satisfied, or dissatisfied with the presence/absence of a leader in a group. Finally, an interval scale can be offered to check the periods within which students answer questions and give correct or wrong answers. Such measurement can help to understand the details of an educational process and the effectiveness of a leader’s presence/absence in regards to the changes required by the environment (Cohen, Cook-Sather, & Lesnick, 2013). Descriptive Statistics for Variables and the Rationale Descriptive statistics helps to define the way of how the changes of one variable connected to the changes in another variable. One of the possible ways of how to introduce descriptive statistics in current research is to calculate the level of student satisfaction, and the results got from the test scores and present them in a graph (curve) where the results are compared. Another way may be based on the characteristics of team excellence offered by Northouse (2010). Students should fill in the table with their understanding of how the choice of right people, supportive organizational context, coaching, the work of a team, etc. can define the working process and the results. The rationale of the descriptive statistics should be clear. It