ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Madam C. J. Walker was an African American businesswoman and a philanthropist who had a company that dealt with hair products for black women. Her company was known as Madam C. J. Walker manufacturing company and later on in her career life, she founded a beauty training school by the name Leila college for Walker hair culturists. Leila was her daughter. She fits well in American business history because she was the first American woman to become a millionaire through her own efforts. She lived between 1897 and1919 and she became an orphan by the age of seven. She was named Sarah Breed love when she was born and later in her career life came to be called Madam C. J. Walker (Women in History, 2010). The idea of hair products originated from a large black man who confronted Madam Walker with a formula that he alleged would be suitable for making a product that would eliminate baldness. The main reason for this was the fact that the man had observed that Sarah was experiencing hair loss like many American women in her era. In her efforts to find a cure for the scalp disease, which brought about hair loss in order to have a healthier scalp for healthier hair growth, she tried many home remedies and the products in the market and she finally managed to make her own shampoo and ointment that contained sulfur (Women in History, 2010). Madam Walker soon afterwards started selling her products to black women throughout USA and her business picked very fast and very well. Many whites claimed that she wanted to transform black’s hair to that of white but she insisted that her objective was to maintain a healthy scalp that facilitates hair growth for black women. On realizing her potential, she became an inspiration to many black women through lecturing them to promote her business as well as to empower them into business. Throughout her career, she used to practice philanthropy by donating funds to National Association for the Advancement of colored People (NAACP), the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), black schools, organization, orphan homes, and homes for the elderly among others (Women in History, 2010). Historical eras and circumstances experienced by Madam C. J. Walker and her manufacturing company Madam Walker had a big challenge of breaking hair and desp
Introduction Catholic Church is currently facing an allegation of sexual abuse. the moral issues are raised in the allegation. What is the reaction of the clergy? What is the reaction of the faithful? In general, people believe that time changed and catholic needs to change. New customs have evolved. Standards of morality have changed. Society accepts behavior today that it would not tolerate yesterday. Yet, society does not determine acceptable behavior, God does! “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps”(Jeremiah 10:23). Although the moral standards drastically changed sex remains a sin among Christian teachings. According to the bible Exodus 20:14, it says, “Do not commit adultery” although short and in the Old Testament it carries weight. In the New Testament James4:4 says “you adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the word is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” there are many other phrases from the bible about the same issues. They include Leviticus 19:18, Deut 5:18. In the 1Corinthians, 6: 13 talks about sexual immorality while the same in 7:1-19 talks about celibacy. This chapter is very crucial to the catholic faithful. As it states that it is good for a man not to marry for service to God but Paul talks of too much immorality and therefore a need for them to marry. As we have seen Sex is a sin but of late we are seeing in national media about sexual abuse among Roman Catholic priests. This has begu
Anthropologie is a lifestyle retailer in the United States and a subsidiary of Urban Outfitters based in Philadelphia. Its product comprises women’s apparel and a customer base of women aged 30-45 years old. The business issues of their merchandising function include the flow of goods in the store meaning enough inventories in the store and offering diversity every other day, the effect of the economy on Anthropologie as it sells expensive products, and finally the display of merchandise as a promotional strategy. The thesis question explores the possibility of expanding into Thailand and analyzes the market comparing it to the existing market in the US. This requires an industry overview of their competitors, market, and industry trends. The literature review focuses on the U.S domestic market size and trends showing past performance followed by the commercial history of both Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters and experiences with expansion strategies. Spain-based leader in fashion retail, Zara, is scrutinized for global expansion strategies and finally the East Asian market indicating strategic considerations, potential markets, and gaps in the literature review. It covers research design showing the research strategy, the method used, and justifies the choice of qualitative interview method with no questionnaires and open-ended questions. Finally, the study establishes that Anthropologie should expand into Thailand as the market is insensitive to the ever-changing external environment. Thailand’s inflation rate is not high hence products are affordable, have high labor force participation, and have a high rate of private expenditure. There’s also government support to the industry and Thailand citizens appreciate culture and innovativeness. Another fact is the economic relationship between US and Thailand hence growth potential in terms of profitability coupled with the similarity between their consumers meaning similar tastes and preferences. Incorporating e-commerce in marketing strategies ensures successful expansion. Other facts include the presence of a large consumer base in Thailand that can be easily segmented, use of already established distribution outlets, Thailand being a developing country, the firm’s investment in research, tourism, and finally the target customers constituting the largest percentage of the population.
The authors of the article are professionals in their respective fields of study. Sarah Munro is a holder of a Masters’s degree from the University of British Columbia. She is a doula and breastfeeding consultant. Jude Kornelsen on the other hand has a Ph.D., and she is an Assistant Professor in the department of family practice at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Eileen Hutton holds a Ph.D., and she is also an assistant dean in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Mc Master University in Hamilton, Ontario in addition, she serves as an Associate Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The abstract of this article conclusively summarizes the research paper. For instance, the author argues that there is a significant increase in the number of cesarean delivery cases that expectant women choose to have. Such decisions are made by the women themselves and are based on stories they hear from others and also the knowledge that is passed from one generation to another. Such ideas are likely to influence the decision of the expectant women to go for cesarean birth as compared to the normal birth procedures. Stories from close friends, family members, and other sources of information such as the internet, television programs, and video shows have had a great influence on the women and led them to make up their minds on the form of delivery that they would most likely go for. The information gained is always in support of cesarean birth and against normal birth; hence the women choose cesarean birth instead. It is, therefore, necessary for health practitioners, healthcare providers, childbirth educators, and policymakers to be aware of the social influences that impact women’s decisions on the mode of delivery (Munro et al. 2009). According to the authors of this article, there is a need to make truly informed decisions on the mode of delivery by the expectant mothers based on both social and cultural influences. It is also important to incorporate medical knowledge into their decisions. The aims of the study were: to determine the part played by stories of birth told on the women’s view of birth by cesarean section, to determine decisions of birth by cesarean, and to determine factors that contribute to the mode of delivery. Questions asked include: “Tell us about your decisions to have a cesarean section?”, “What sources of information informed your decision?”, “Who had input your decision-making process?” and “Did you experience resistance to your decision?”(Munro et al . 2009). The sample population consisted of seventeen women from urban settings who had previously given birth through cesarean section by choic
Executive Summary Activity The proposed Bozz Café is different from the typical establishments found around Nice, France. The enterprise will adopt a business concept that offers entertainment, socialization, and communication in an ambient setting while delivering the best coffee in the industry. Bozz Café is the answer to the increasing demand for a restaurant that offers a relaxing atmosphere and access to the internet at no cost. Market The business will be located in Nice. Nice is the second-largest city in the southern part of France. It is situated on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and near the Italian border. The city is 71.9 square kilometers. It is estimated to have a population size of 348,721 people. The city is visited by many tourists because of its attractive sceneries and comfortable climate. Bozz Café will offer free internet services in an ambient atmosphere. The main anchor product will be coffee. The facility will offer special blends of coffee as per the customer’s demands. The thinking behind the different brews is motivated by the fact that Nice is a cosmopolitan town. The Bozz Café will apply various marketing strategies to the business. Financial Information The projection is to attain gross sales revenue of $50,000 month-on-month. The company should attain the break-even point by the sixth month. Strengths of the Project  1. No other enterprises are offering a combination of coffee and free internet to customers in Nice, France.  2. There is a vibrant population of students and professionals in Nice, who will form the target market for the café.  3. The investors are entrepreneurial graduates. As such, they have experience in the operations of start-ups.  4. There is an existing gap in the market that can be filled by Bozz Café. Perspectives Besides access to the internet for academic purposes, technological innovation has proved to be an important communication tool. It is a phenomenon that facilitates the transfer of information between different persons. It has turned the world into a global village. The internet café business has spread all over the leading cities, including Nice, France. Europe was one of the first regions to benefit from internet connectivity due to its advanced infrastructure and a highly educated workforce. The gross revenue for the start-up is expected to be $50,000 month-on-month. Proposed Operation The money for the start-up will be raised by the investors. Also, the partners will approach financial institutions for loans to meet the capital outlay of the venture. For the first year of operations, the investors will require $202,500. Out of this amount, $74,500 will go into marketing, while the rest will be used to acquire the premises and cover for other overhead costs, such as the purchase of assets. The five partners will have equal shares in the business. Context Introduction Consumption of coffee in France has registered steady growth in the recent past. The gourmet coffee has registered the strongest growth in the industry. French coffee drinkers are demanding. Wit
The background of the story depicts crisis in the economic status of the US. This was caused by subprime mortgage challenges in 2006. At first the effect of the subprime mortgage problem was bearable as evidenced in the five largest United States investment banks withstanding the storm. However, the situation got severe by 2008 resulting to Merrill Lynch being acquired by North Carolina based Bank of America. In addition, the collapse of Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns followed. This shows very harsh economic turmoil where only few investment banks survived. The period was characterized by difficult financial times when the world had been hit by global financial meltdown. This was further worsened by the failure of the subprime mortgage market. Goldman’s structure was flat. This meant that it had relatively fewer layers. According to the case study, Goldman Sachs bank was run by a “concentric series of coinciding committees.” Managing Directors and partners constituted a standing committee that made every decision. The bank lacked a strict hierarchical structure. The top- bottom chain of command was short and its control had a wide span. During the time of crisis they were able to muscle through due to the speedy nature of the decision making process. This structure also gave way to flexibility in the management, greater communication, heightened team spirit, and less bureaucracy. Fewer layers in the management played a vital role in cutting down costs and this saw Goldman Sachs find its way through the storm (Lisa, 1999). Goldman’s top level management team was comprised of partners. The success or failure of the bank directly affected them. This was as a result of the bank’s rule for them to invest their own money. The bank’s tradition was that of high- risk and high- return investments. The partners were a bunch of overachievers which created a need diligence in the bank’s undertakings. Team spirit was highly influenced by the owners strive for full commitment towards common goals and sacrifice of personal time for the sake of the bank. The owners’ hunger for achievement created a culture of highly ambitious individuals who viewed the bank as a family business and treating it as their own. This complicated the banks replication of practices, deep paranoia, individual ambition, and robot-like team work. The partnership conceived a culture where major decision making processes were done through common consensus. For example, the IPO decision was reached through a mutual understanding of the owners. This took a remarkably long time but was eventually successful (Charles, 2008). One model that Goldman Sachs Bank adopted is the value based management approach specifically aimed at increasing consistency corporate culture, corporate communication, and corporate governance. Coordination of activities in the bank got less formal since their organizational structure was flat. This was characterized by a less strict organizational structure in which the owners became the partners and the top managers. Decision-making had to be done by the partners in unison with the managing directors. Th
Background to the Business Amouage is an Oman company that was founded by the Sultanate of Oman in 1983. It has its headquarters in Muscat, but its products are available in over 65 different countries around the world. It offers a wide range of products. In this study, the focus will be on the firm’s Operations Department and the product of choice will be the perfumes. The Operations Department’s role is to make the products sold by this company and accounts for 40% of the portfolio performance. The firm has a number of strong competitors in the global market. The table below shows sales of perfume made by Amouage in 2013 in markets outside the Oman market. Table 1: Sales. Country  Sales in USD ($) US       429 million      UK       125 million      France   132 million      Italy    56 million       Spain    43 million       Total    785 million       Customer Target The perfumes manufactured by this firm specifically target the rich and upper-middle-class members of society who need a high value on every product they purchase. Customer needs that this department has to focus on can be given in a tabular form below. Table 2: Weighted Customer Needs. Customer Needs                          Weight (Score 1-5) The beauty of the casing                4                  Quality of the perfume                  5                  Functionality                           5                  Availability/reliability of the supply  4                  Price                                   1                   Most of these high-end customers value the quality of the products they purchase but are rarely bothered about the price of the products (Hill & Jones 2012). The price can be reasonably high as long as it delivers the value needed by clients. The Operations Department is capable of delivering high-quality products to meet the needs of the target customers but at high prices. Given that price is not a m
Introduction Marijuana has become a major political issue in the United States. President Obama stated that Cannabis sativa was no longer harmful to its users. The marijuana debate continues in many states across the country. Some states such as Massachusetts have made marijuana a medical drug. Some American states have permitted the use of bhang for recreational purposes. The country is ready to legalize this dangerous drug. Washington has been controlling the politics of marijuana. The public opinion has become a major consideration during every political season in the country. Every American politician is careful to understand the opinion of every citizen. Political Issues of Marijuana A poll released in October 2013 indicated that over 60 percent the population wanted the government to legalize the drug. The above analysis explains why more people are supporting the use of marijuana. The largest demographic groups against the legalization of marijuana include the Republicans and the southerners. Most of the senior citizens are also against the decision to legalize the drug. Most of the Democrats continue to support the legalization of marijuana in the country. The latest statistics explain why more people in the country are supporting the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Every politician is keen to legalize the use of marijuana. President Obama used to oppose the decision. The president is currently embracing the legalization of bhang. This debate has become a critical issue in the country’s politics. The possession of marijuana is a felony in many states. The Justice Department prosecutes every person who possesses or uses marijuana. Every politician opposed to the use of marijuana continues to support its negative effects. Some politicians are also calling for heavy taxes on marijuana users and distributors. I personally oppose the resolution to legalize marijuana. The outstanding fact is that more Americans are supporting the drug. This political opinion might change depending on the policies initiated by the government. More people will continue to support the use and legalization of marijuana. The country stands divided because some people are against the drug. Most of the Democrats support this decision to legalize marijuana. The conservatives still believe that the country should not legalize this
Introduction The book, “The Oxford companion to American food and drink”, by Smith 1 argues that coffee is one of the most preferred beverages all over the world. Coffee is brewed and usually exhibits a dark color and also has acidic flavor due to the brewing process. The preparation of coffee is done from roasted seeds obtained from coffee plants. Individuals drink coffee for various personal reasons. Some drink coffee because they believe it gives them extra energy, especially those who like to stay awake for long during the night. Some people actually are fascinated by the taste and smell of coffee. They just feel good when they can smell the nice aroma and feel the taste on their tongues as they drink coffee. Besides, for non-alcoholic drinkers, taking coffee is one of the best ways to spend time with friends in social joints. In fact, with increase in the number of coffee cafes like Tim Hortons, meeting for coffee has turned into a social event where friends meet to share good moments together. Many people also drink coffee just as a form of habit. Tim Hortons is one of the most common coffee joints in Canada. It serves various customers with varied taste for coffee. It also offers other kinds of drinks the customers can choose from besides coffee. The surveyor issued questionnaires to respondents to find out how customers at the Tim Hortons purchase the company’s beverages and other products. Methods/Procedures The survey focused on Tim Hortons and its coffee customers. Ten participants were randomly sampled to participate in the survey. They were each issued with a structured questionnaire containing matrix questions to answer. The questionnaires contained ten similar questions for every respondent. They were required to answer the questions independently without consulting one another. This was to ensure validity and reliability. The first question asked the respondents the size of coffee they preferred. The responses varied a great deal. Amongst the ten participants, five stated that they preferred medium size; this represented 50% of the respondents. Then three people indicated they preferred small sizes and two indicated that they preferred big sizes. These represented 30% and 20% of the respondents respectively. The respondents were also asked how frequent they bought stuff from Tim Hortons. Three of the respondents indicated that they bought coffee from Tim Hortons always, four indicated that they bought coffee most of the times, one indicated sometimes while two indicated rarely. These statistics represented 30%, 40%, 10% and 20% respectively. A questi