Marketing Plan Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing Plan - Coursework Example At the same time, one can enjoy the great taste of a carbonated drink with perfect nutritional intake. VegShot is being launched by Unilever. The name ‘Unilever’ is familiar to everyone. The name itself represents reliability and ensures quality. Unilever is a British-Dutch multi-national corporation, established in 1890s, which is operating in nearly 180 countries, possessing more than 400 brands. It has 167000 employees, as of 2010, belonging to 22 different nationalities. It is a global market leader in all Food categories including Savory, Spreads, Dressings, Tea and Ice Cream as well as in Mass Skin Care and Deodorants and has very strong positions in different Home and Personal Care categories. Its portfolio ranges from nutritionally balanced foods to indulgent ice creams, affordable soaps, luxurious shampoos and everyday household care products. The vision of Unilever is based upon the four pillars: To create a better future every day. To help people feel good, lo ok good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others. To inspire people to take small everyday actions that can add up to a big difference for the world.

An Introduction To DNA

An Introduction To DNA DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material of eve living organisms including some viruses. It is a dimer consists of two strands that immerse upon each other and appear as a double helix that are linked together covalently with each other. Each strand is made up of similar repeating units called nucleotides. Each nucleotide composed of three different moieties,a 2-deoxyribose sugar,a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base. 1.1.1 2-Deoxyribose sugar The 2-deoxyribose sugar, a major structural component of DNA is a cyclic molecule .The sugars are joined together by phosphate groups that form phosphodiester bonds between third and fifth carbon atoms of adjacent sugar rings.The 5 carbon of deoxyribose sugar is attached to the 3 carbon of the next, and make a network of 3 carbon and 5 carbon.5end of a DNA molecule is characterized by a free phosphate (P) group and the 3 end is characterized by a free hydroxyl (OH) group. It lacks an hydroxyl group at the 2 position as in a ribose therefore a sugar moiety is a 2-deoxyribose. Two free hydroxyl groups are also located on the 5 carbon and 3-carbon of 2-deoxyribose sugar.These hydroxyl groups give a DNA oligomer its designation of 5 and the 3 end(usually accent as three prime end and five prime end). 1.1.2 Sugar-Phosphate backbone The 2-deoxyribose sugar and a phosphate group forms the backbone in the DNA which are highly polar and defines directionality of the molecule. The polar hydrophilic back- bone is surrounded by a core of hydrophobic bases and is important for the stability and structure of DNA. The phosphate groups have a negative charge that gives a concentra- tion of negative charge on the backbone of DNA and also makes DNA,a negatively charge 5 1 Fundamentals molecule. The charge is also neutralised by DNA-binding proteins that contain the pos- itively charged amino acids lysine and arginine, which are attracted to the negatively charged phosphate backbone. See Fig. 1.1. Figure 1.1: DNA backbone 1.1.3 Nucleic acid bases DNA contain four different nitrogenous bases that make monomer of one nucleotide different from other. These bases are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and gua- nine(G). The bases come in two categories pyrimidines and purines. Larger nucleic acids adenine and guanine are members of a class of doubly ringed structures called purines while the smaller nucleic acids cytosine and thymine are members of a class of singly- ringed chemical structures called pyrimidines .A six-membered ring with two-nitrogen molecule formed a pyrimidine structure whereas purine is produced by a nine-membered, ring with four- nitrogen molecule. Each unit of the ring constructing the base is numbered to for specific identification. They are arranged in a particular order along the backbone of DNA to make a long chain of varying sequence that contains the code for proteins.The sequence specifies the exact genetic instructions required to create a particular organism with its own unique traits. 6 1 Fundamentals 1.1.4 Base Pairing in DNA The nitrogenous bases are responsible to form double-strand of DNA in consequence of weak hydrogen bonds and have specific shapes and hydrogen bond properties. The three hydrogen bonds form between guanine and cytosine and then denoted as G.C or C.G,depending on which is associated with the first strand. Similarly adenine and thymine also bond exclusively by pairing of two hydrogen bonds and then denoted as A.T or T.A. This coupling up of nitrogen bases termed as complementarity.,A hydrogen bond donor need an equivalent hydrogen bond acceptor to form a hydrogen bond in the base across from it. Purines are only complementary with pyrimidines because molecules in pyrimidine-pyrimidine pairings are very far from each other that doesnt makes the hydrogen bonding to be established. Purine-purine pairing are energetically unfavourable because the molecules are too close and create an electrostatic repulsion. The only possible pairings are GT and AC. Primary and secondary amine groups or hy droxyl groups are common hydrogen bond donar while carbonyl and tertiary amines are common hydrogen bond acceptor groups. There are two hydrogen bonds between an A:T base pair. One hydrogen bond lie between the 6 primary amine of adenine and the 4 carbonyl of thymine. The other hydrogen bond form between the 1 tertiary amine of adenine and the 2 secondary amine of thymine. On the other hand,G:C base pair has three hydrogen bonds. One hydrogen bond lie between guanine with its 6 hydrogen bond accepting carbonyl and cytosine having 4 hydrogen bond accepting primary amine. The second hydrogen bond also formed between guanine on 1 secondary amine and cytosine 3 tertiary amine and the third formed between the 2 primary amine on guanine and the 2 carbonyl on cytosine. 1.1.5 Directionality The directionality of DNA is vitally important to many cellular processes. since,double helices are necessarily directional(a strand running 5 to 3 pairs with strand running 3 to 5 )and processes such as DNA replication occur in only one direction. The two DNA strands in a duplex are anti parallel and form a chemically stable structure. That is, one strand running from the 5-phosphate to 3-OH is paired with the other strand arranged with its 3-OH opposite the 5-phosphate of the first strand, and its 5-phosphate opposite the 3- OH of the first strand. 7 1 Fundamentals 1.1.6 3 end and 5 en DNA strand is inherently directional.The 3 prime end has a free hydroxyl (or phos- phate) on a 3 carbon and is called as the tail end. New nucleic acid molecules are formed by one end of 3-hydroxyl as it is ligated to the other end of 5-phosphate of a different nucleotide that make it possible to form strands of connected nucleotides.Molecular biologists can use nucleotides that has a deficiency of 3-hydroxyl(dideoxyribonucleotides) to stop DNA replication .The 5 prime end has a free hydroxyl (or phosphate) on a 5 carbon in the sugar-ring and this end is called as the tail end . If a phosphate group bind with the 5 end, ligation of two nucleotides can form, with a phosphodiester bond from the 5-phosphate group to the 3-hydroxyl end of other nucleotide. ligation can also stop if the above process is eliminated. Molecular biologists have an advantage of the above phenomenon to stop ligation of any unnecessary nucleic acid by removing the 5-phosphate with a phosphatase. 1.2 DNA-Ligand Binding The structure of DNA represents a variety of sites where ligands may interact and bind with DNA.The binding interaction between a drug and DNA often leads to a signi_- cant modi_cation of the structure of the DNA and may have an important inuence on their physiological functions associated with several biological e_ects including antivi- ral,antibacterial,antipotozoal and antitumor. Modes of Binding Because of the complex double-helical structure of DNA,drug molecule interact with DNA in a number of modes. A number of forces of varying strength involved in each interaction. Electrostatic forces with the phosphate backbone,sequence sensitive van der Waals interaction and hydrogen bonding interactions that occur between polar atom of bases and hydrogen molecules are incorporated singly or in combination.To understand the mechanism of interaction of each mode,it is best to discuss di_erent binding modes that can act on DNA. (a) External Binding (b) Intercalators (c) Groove binding (i) Major groove binders (ii)Minor groove binders External Binding This type of binding results due to electrostatic forces applied to the negatively charge phosphodiester group along the backbone of DNA for cationic molecule.Ligand charge, hydrophobicity and size a_ect on electrostatic interactions.External binding may also be due to either covalent or non-covalent interactions.This mode of binding is characteristics for major groocould potentially be sampled during simulations where the charge and shape of helical molecules are both changed. Intercalators An important class of molecules that binds to DNA are intercalators,which have been extensively used as a anti-cancer drug.Intercalation occurs due to immersion of a at aromatic drug molecule between nucleic bases contributes to unwind DNA helix(67).The interaction between a positively charged intercalator and a negatively charged DNA can be quite strong and form complex through electrostatic forces.Energy consumed to unstacked the nucleic acid bases which forms a gap between neighbouring base pairs into which the intercalator can _t easily.Because of small binding site,they have a little sequence selectivity and many known intercalators shows limited selectivity for GC base pairs such as ethidium bromide which has a high a_nity towards GC site.Several other drugs such as propidium,proavin, anti-tumor drugs adriamycin and actinomycin D intercalate with DNA. Groove Binders Smaller ligands preferentially binds to minor groove region whereas proteins and other large molecules speci_cally _ts into the major groove region of DNA. They have crescent -shaped conformation due to presence of two or more than two aromatic rings that gives a conformational exibility to the molecule and makes it perfect to _t in the groove. They also possess some functional group that forms hydrogen bonds at lower most part of DNA bases.They perfectly accommodate in the AT rich regions but some known groove binders show little preference towards GC site. Major Groove binders Presence of number of hydrogen bonds on the DNA major groove enhance its recognition potential. Major groove speci_c compounds are alkylating and methylating agents and and N 7 position of guanine in the major groove take part in interaction.one of the most common example is Cis platin which is a well known anti cancer drug. Minor Groove binders The most widely studied DNA interacting agents are minor groove binders that occurs naturally and also synthesize according to their sequence speci_c properties as they have pronounced binding a_nity towards AT rich groove.AT binding site is more thinner and deeper than GC so that all heteroaromatic rings such as furan,pyrole,benzene and Imidazole of minor groove binders twisted and _t better into AT site by applying van der waals force.Hydrogen bonds of bound molecule attached to the AT base pairs to the C-2 carbonyl oxygen of thymine or N-3 nitrogen of adenine.GC base pairs also contain same functional groups but a steric block form by amino group of guanine in GC locations which causes hinderence to the formation of hydrogen bond on guanine at N-3 position and on cytosine at O-2 cabonyl position,prohibiting vad derWaal forces and inhibit penetration of small molecules at GC sites of minor groove.AT site selectivity for positively charged minor groove binders also enhanced due to high negative electrostatic potential as compared to GC site. A number of experimental studies shows that minor groove of B type of DNA duplexes more suitable for binding of small molecules most often with Dickerson-Drew sequence d(CGCGAATTCGCG) and also similar such as d(CGCAAATTTGCG). 1.3.1 Berenil X-ray crystallography proof complex formation of berenil with dodecanucleotides,i.e. d(CGCGAATTCGCG) and d(CGCAAATTTGCG)which in turn shows its preference of binding with AT rich site of DNA minor groove and reside between three (AAT) or four(AATT) base pairs. A number of research on berenil also con_rm its weak interac- tion and intercalating behavior.Hydrogen bonds are also formed between the amidinium groups and adenine N-3 or thymine O2 atoms on reverse strands of a double helical DNA oligonucleotide.Berenil is a curve shape drug which match the helical structure of DNA minor groove. 1.3.2 Pentamidine One of the most clinically important drug,pentamidine is a synthetic antimicrobial com- pound also known aspentamidine (1,5-bis(4-amidinophenoxy)pentane,among all the mi- nor groove binders.It has been use as a secondary drug for treating aids related P.carinii pneumonia.Foot printing and X-ray crystallography shows its pronounced attachment to DNA sites which has minimum four to _ve successive AT base pairs with the charged amidinium group shows hydrogen bonding to O2 of thymine or N3 of adenine on oppo- site DNA strands. It contains two phenyl rings that are twisted after binding with the minor groove by 35ÂÂ ° with respect to each other by van der Waals forces. 1.3.3 DAPI DAPI also called 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole(DAPI) is a synthetic,unfused aromatic compound is widely used in molecular biology as a uorochrome on binding upon AT site of minor groove binder as well as an intercalating drug.upon binding to GC rich sequence without showing any property of uorescence.X-ray structure of DAPI with d(CGCGAATTCGCG)exhibited that the drug span three base pairs and also give a clear picture of parallel attachment of phenyl and indole rings to the minor groove walls of DNA. |||||||| 1.4 UV-Visible Spectroscopy Spectroscopy is a valuable tool in the study of intermolecular interactions. It is a well developed routine technique and plays an important role in analytical chemistry as well as it has widespread application in physics and life sciences. It deals with the mea- surement of the absorption of radiations in the ultraviolet and visible region of spec- trum.Spectroscopic techniques form the largest and the most important single group of techniques used in analytical chemistry,and provide a wide range of quantitative and qualitative information. All spectroscopic techniques depend on the emission or ab- sorption of electromagnetic radiations and used to determine the electronic structure of atoms and molecules. In order to understand these techniques,it is necessary to have some knowledge about properties of electromagnetic radiations and the nature of atomic and molecular energy. The ultraviolet region extends from 10 to 400nm.It is subdivided into near ultraviolet region (200 to 400nm) and the far or vacuum ultraviolet region(10 to 200 nm).The visible region extends from 400 to 800 nm. 1.4.1 Electromagnetic radiations Electromagnetic radiations are produced by the oscillation of electric charge and mag- netic _eld residing on the atom and has its origins in atomic and molecular processes. It vibrates perpendicular to the direction of propagation with a wave motion and can travel in space and does not need a medium like air or water to travel through. There are various forms of electromagnetic radiations e.g. visible,ultraviolet,infra-red, X-rays,microwaves and cosmic rays. They are characterised by frequencies,wavelength or wave numbers. The most familiar form of electromagnetic radiations is visible light which forms only a small portion of full electromagnetic spectrum. Electromagnetic spectrum A plot which shows a number of absorption bands with respect to energy versus wave- length has some properties yield various information and is broken into several regions called as Electromagnetic Spectrum.Di_erent regions of the electromagnetic spectrum provide di_erent kinds of information as a result of interactions. Electromagnetic spec- trum covers a very wide range of electromagnetic radiation that starts from gamma rays and ends on to radio waves. The boundaries between the regions are approximate and the molecular process associated with each region are quite di_erent.The regions in increasing order of frequency are 1/ Radio frequency region ;Nuclear magnetic resonance and electron spin resonance spectroscopy.The energy changes with change in direction of spin of a nucleus and elec- tron. 2/ Micro wave region:Rotational spectroscopy .Change in energy arise from transi- tions to higher energy associated with change in the rotational quantum number of the molecule. 3/Infra-red region:Vibrational spectroscopy The energy changes associated with transitions between vibrational levels of molecules. 4/Vis- ible and Ultraviolet region:Electronic spectroscopy The energy changes accom- pained with valence electrons of molecules. 5/X-ray region: inner electrons of an atom or a molecule invole in order to change energy of molecule. 6/ X-ray region: nuclear excitations necessary for an enegy change. 1.4.2 Law of molecular Absorption:Beer-Lambert law All spectrophotometric methods that measure concentration in terms of absorbance,including detection of proteins and nucleic acids,determine molar absorptivity of metal com- plex,various enzyme essay,describe attenuation of solar or stellar radiation and di_er- ent metabolites based upon two basic rules,which combinely spoken as Beer-Lambert law.This law was basically originate by a French mathematician Lambert,which states that the function of light absorbed by a transparent medium s independent of the inci- dent light assing through it.This shows that logarithm of the decrease in light intensity along the light path with respect to thickness of medium which can be written as follow log10(I0/I) = kl where IÂÂ ° is incident light intensity,I is light path length,k is a medium constant which is further interpret by a Beer,a German Physicist in the same year states that the amountof light absorbed is proportional to the number of molecules of the chromophore through which the light passes.One can also says that constant K is directly proportional to the chromophore concentration i.e. K=eC,e is the molar absorptivity of chromophore and is equal to absorption of 1M of solution at a path length of 1 cm and their unit is M-1cm-1.Now,combinely Lambert-Beer law presented as A = lC, whereby,the term log10(I0/I) is re_ered as absorbance(A),l is the thickness of solution and E is the molar absorption coe_cient. 1.4.3 Electonic transitions in Nucleic Acids Absorption or emission of radiations in nucleic acid causes di_erent types of transitions in UV-visible spectral regions and appear from n-pi* and pi -pi* transitions of purine and pyramidine bases. -* transition Large amount of energy required for the shifting of an electron from a bonding molec- ular orbital to a * antibonding molecular orbital in the UV region.Unsaturated hydro- carbons shows this type of transition and being transprent in the near UV such as methane,heptane and cyclohexane that shows maximum absorbance below 200 nm due to the fact that absorbance is equal to 1 for a thickness of 1 cm below 200nm. Similarly, water in the near UV(A=0.01 for 1cm ,at lambda =190nm)is transparent due to the presence of -* and n-* transitions. n- *transition This type of transition usually occur in compounds having lone pair of electrons and required energy lower than -* transition for the promotion of an n electron from an atom to an * molecular orbital.Moderate wavelength range for this transition is 150 to 250 nm as 180nm for alcohols,near 190nm for ethers or halogen derivatives and in the region of 220nm for amines. *transition Most of the organic compounds have a conjugate system and shows -* transitions with an intense strong absorption band occuring anywhere in the near UV region which depends upon the presence of heteroatoms substituents.These compounds also shows a slightly blue and red shift with respect to its polarity. n- *transition These bands are called forbidden bands having a low molar absorptivity less than 100 and originate from promotion of electron from a non bonding molecular orbital to an anti-bonding *orbital.This transition is more pronounced in molecules having a hetero atom with a lone pair of electron i.e.carbonyl which requires low energy and occur in the regions from 270 to 300 nm. d-d transition electrons placed in incompletely _lled d orbitals of most of the inorganic salts are re- sponsible for transitions of weak absorption and also color and located in the visible region..That is why the solutions of metallic salts of titanium or copper are blue,while potassium permeganate yeilds violet solutions, and so on. 1.4.4 Chemical shift Bathochromic shift change in max to longer wavelength(lower frequency)also change absorption,reectance transmittance or emission spectrum of a molecule mostly due to substitution or solvent e_ect i.e change in polarity of solvent called as bathochromic shift or red shift.Solvent e_ect is weak in less polar compounds as compared to polar one which can stabilise excited form,favours transition and causes a change in wavelength towards longer side. Hypsochromic shift The opposite e_ect of bathochromic shift also called as blue shift as max shift towards the blue end of spectrum.Unbonded electron pair lowers the energy of the n-orbital and increased solvation causes hysochromic shift.Mostly polar solvents such as water and alcohol have pronounce e_ect of hypsochromism due to broad hydrogen bonding between protons and the non-bonded electron pair during solvation. Hypochromic shift reduction in the intensity of uv light without any change in wavelength called as hypochormic e_ect which caused by the entry of an auxochrome which distrots the chromophore.For example ,biphenyl shows lAMDAmax 252nm,Emax19,000,whereas 2,2-dimethylbiphenyl shows Lambda max 270nm,Emax 800. Hyperchromic shift This e_ect leads to an increase in absorption of UV light at same wavelength due to appearance of an au that causes hyperchromic shift.For example,benzene shows B-band at 256nm,Emax 200,whereas aniline shows B-band AT 280nm,Emax 1430.The increase of 1230 in the value Emax of aniline compared to that of benzene is due to the hyperchromic e_ect of the auxochrome NH2. 1.4.5 Chromophore groups Organic compound mostly containing double bond is responsible to produce color and absorption of ultraviolet or visible radiations as single bond is not enough to do that but if many are present in conjugations,sharp color can produce. A single functional group or a collection of functional groups also capable for absorption and they also act as a chromophore. A complex molecule can contain more than one chromophore so the e_ect of conjugation on the chromophore is to shift the maximum absorption to a longer wavelength .i.e. a bathochromic shift or red shift appear with an increase in absorption intensity and the spectrum is strongly upset with respect to the superimposing e_ects of random chromophores. The more the number of carbon atoms on which the conjugated system is spreaded,the more the decrement in the di_erence between energy levels.and accounts large bathchromic e_ect. A very simple spectrum of a compound having one main peak absorbing below 300nm possibly contains a very simple conjugated system Instrumentation in UV-Visible Spectrophotometer UV-Visible spectrophotometer is a very simple to operate and able to perform quick qualitative as well as quantitative analysis.It is usuallay designed around _ve funda- mentals parts i.e. a radiation source,a monochromater(wavelength selector),a samplecell(cuvette),detector and a signal processor (readout device) for measuring the absorp- tion of uv or visible radiations.These components are typically integrated in a unique frame work to make spectrometers for chemical analysis.Two types of UV-Visible spec- trophotometers are generally in use:a _xed spectrophotometer with a single beam and a scanning spectrophotometer with double beams.Single beam spectrophotometers are highly sensitive devices and obtaining a spectrum requires measuring the transmittance of the sample and the blank at each wavelength separately.In the double beam spec- trophotometer,the light split into two parallel beams,each of which passes through a cell;one cell contains the sample dissolved in a solvent and the other cell contains the solvent alone.The detector measures the intensity of light transmitted through the sam- ple cell. Light source The intensity of radiation coming from the light source varies over the entire UV-Vis range.More than one type of source can be used in UV-Vis spectrophotmeter which au- tomatically swap lamps when scanning between the UV and visible range .A deutrium lamp is used for the wavelengths in the UV range,a tungsten lamp is used for the wave- lengths in the visible range and alternatively for the entire UV-Visible region,a xenon lamp can be used. Monochromator Its role is to spread the beam of light into its component wavelengths and a system of slits focuses the desired wavelength on the sample cell.The most widely used dispersing device is a prism or a grating made p of quartz because quartz is transparent throughout the UV range. Detector The detector converts the intensity of light reaching it to an electrical signal.It is by nature a single channel device.Two types of detector are used,either a photomultiplier tube or a semiconductor.For both of which the sensitivity depends upon the wavelength. QSAR and Drug design Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) (sometimes QSPR: quantitative structure-property relationship) is the process by which chemical structure is quanti- tatively correlated with a well de_ned process, such as biological activity or chemical reactivity. For example, biological activity can be expressed quantitatively as in the concentra- tion of a substance required to give a certain biological response. Additionally, when physicochemical properties or structures are expressed by numbers, one can form a math- ematical relationship, or quantitative structure-activity relationship, between the two. The mathematical expression can then be used to predict the biological response of other chemical structures. QSARs most general mathematical form is: * Activity = f(physiochemical properties and/or structural properties) Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) represent an attempt to corre- late structural or property descriptors of compounds with activities. These physico- chemical descriptors, which include parameters to account for hydrophobicity, topology, electronic properties, and steric e_ects, are determined empirically or, more recently, by computational methods. Activities used in QSAR include chemical measurements and biological assays. QSAR currently are being applied in many disciplines, with many pertaining to drug design and environmental risk assessment. Chromophore Organic compound mostly containing double bond is responsible to produce color and absorption of ultraviolet or visible radiations as single bond is not enough to do that but if many are present in conjugations,sharp color can produce. A single functional group or a collection of functional groups also capable for absorption and they also act as a chromophore. A complex molecule can contain more than one chromophore so the effect of conjugation on the chromophore is to shift the maximum absorption to a longer wavelength .i.e. a bathochromic shift or red shift appear with an increase in absorption intensity and the spectrum is strongly upset with respect to the superimposing effects of random chromophores. The more the number of carbon atoms on which the conjugated system is spreaded,the more the decrement in the difference between energy levels.and accounts large bathchromic effect. A very simple spectrum of a compound having one main peak absorbing below 300nm possibly contains a ve ry simple conjugated system such as diene or an enone whereas, if the spectrum is much mixed and also allocated in a visible region,then the molecule must contain chromophore having large red shift such as polyene ,polycyclic aromatic system etc. Solvent Effect Selection of solvent used in UV-visible spectroscopy is very important. The prime requirement for a solvent is that it should be transparent to radiation over full UV range and also not absorb UV radiations in the region of substance whose spectrum is actually analysed .Most of the organic solvents successfully meet that criteria and solvents without having any conjugtion are very convenient for this purpose.Among the solvents ,the water ,95% ethanol and hexane are most commonly used and are transparent in the full uv spectrum. Another valuable requirement for selecting a solvent is that it gives a nice spectrum of a set a absorption bands because polar solvent form hydrogen bonds with solute and the fine spectrum of the complex may vanish but this is not the case for non polar solvents where a fine spectrum often easily appears because of the absence of hydrogen bonding.Polar solvents also shows bathochromic effect which causes a decrease in electronic state. Asecond criteria for agood solvent is its effect on the fine strusture of an absorption band.Ano polar solvent doesnot hydrogen bond with the solute,and the spectrum of the solute closely approximate s the spectrum that would be produced in the gaseous state ,in which fine structure is often observed.In a polar solvent the hydrogen bonding forms a solute solvent comlex and the fine structure may disappear. Athird criteria for a good solvent is its ability to influence th

Pity the Bear in Judith Mintys story, Killing the Bear :: Minty Killing the Bear Essays

Pity the Bear in Judith Minty's story, Killing the Bear   Judith Minty's story, "Killing the Bear," is a rather chilling tale about a woman who shoots a bear to death. The story is not merely a simple account of the incident however. It is full of stories and facts about bears, which affect how the reader reacts to the story. In the beginning, the reader expects the bear to be portrayed as a cold-blooded monster who must be killed for the safety of the primary character however this expectation is foiled throughout the story and the reader sees the bear in a very different light. Due to the stories and facts given about bears throughout the story, the reader comes to pity the bear, but most will still acknowledge the necessity of killing him. The beginning of the story seems very quiet and peaceful. It sets up a scene many people would be familiar with. Even the story about the dog is one most people who have ever owned a house pet would instantly recognize. The woman does seem very vulnerable, however. She is outside in a hammock and the dog seems very little help since "she ended up more his protector than the other way around" (2). The second section sets up frightening images of animals, but they are all in the zoo, so they pose no threat. Yet, this still sustains the reader's original expectation of the bear being a threatening animal. Of all the zoo animals described, the bear seems the most harmless, yet she is still afraid of it. The reader has not been shown any danger yet, but there is still a sense of something about to happen. The only bear we have seen is a "bundle of clothes by [a] dead tree" (5) in a cage at the zoo. The third section of the story returns the reader to the calm security, but then quickly sends the tone of the story into a frenzy. These constant tone changes show the reader how strong and resourceful the woman is, but it also shows us how she can be thrown into a panic easily. We come to have little confidence in the main character's ability to react well if a dangerous situation arises. Throughout the story, "Killing the Bear," the reader is given a number of side notes about bears and the woman's experience with them.

Panera Case Essay

Company is a chain of restaurants, both company owned and franchised, that provides food and beverages with more of a cafe experience as oppose to a traditional fast food restaurant. Panera NAICS code is 722310, which is classified as food service contractors. Food service contractors can be can be classified as cafeterias, fast food restaurants, or regular restaurants just to name a few. In 2007 there were approximately 23,250 establishments in this industry, which was up from 20,693 in 2002 and 18,991 in 1997, which shows that people are continuously opening more and more restaurants each year. Since 1997, the food industry under this NAICS code has seen significant increase in sales. The total number of sales in this industry has more then doubled since 1997, which can be attributed to two things. One of those is that they’re a just more establishments out there in 2007 then there were 10 years ago. The second, and probably most important reason why sales have more then doubled, is that people are just simply going out to eat more as oppose to cooking at home. Success in this industry is predicated on the ability to be able to not only appeal to consumer taste and preferences but continually changing product offerings to keep these customers happy and loyal to your restaurant. More often then not, companies in this industry fail and go out of business prematurely because they are not able to appeal to a wide enough customer base. Obviously you must have great food in this industry, but equally as important is the location, customer service, prices, and time of day that you choose to do business. If you don’t have a handle on these items then you will likely not make it past the first year without taking a significant loss. Due to the fact that there are different types of needs among customers, there is no way one establishment can serve the needs of everybody. Each restaurant must figure out the few things they do well and service those customers whose needs fit into what that restaurants do well. Driving Forces One of the key driving forces in this industry may seem obvious and simple but it is the most important thing in this industry. The restaurants must have good food to satisfy the ever-changing needs of customers. Since customers do have different preferences and these preferences could change at anytime, food companies must figure out a way to not only attract, but also maintain customer who love their food. However, to develop a sustainable advantage on taste alone is not likely when there are so many options when people eat away from home. Price is also a driving force as it is with any industry. A company must be able to provide their products cheaper then their competition or be able to convince their customer base that their products are worth the extra buck. In order to justify customers spending more money on your products, you have to somehow differentiate your product. Typically, companies either make their products healthier or find ingredients that make the products taste better then the competition if they are charging a premium price. If they are unable to convince consumers that their products are worth the premium price then they must figure out a way to drive down costs so they can charge as little as possible. With the economy struggling, this is a viable option for many companies in this industry. The last driving force is in this industry is location. A prime location can make or break a company. A company can have the best food in the world and even offer their products at great prices, but without the ability to get the foot traffic, because of a bad location, the company is doomed before it is even started. A restaurant must pick a location that will be able to service as many people that they have identified as potential customers. For instance, a healthy sub shop may be inclined to locate their business next to a health spa where people workout. The restaurants that are able to find an optimal location give themselves a far better chance to succeed for many years. A great location can be a sustainable competitive advantage and allow companies to outperform their rivals. Key Success Factors One of the key success factors is to be able to adapt to customer taste and needs in this rapidly changing market. To put it plain and simple, people get tired of eating the same thing so in order for a company to be successful, Companies must have a wide variety of product offerings. This is why you see many restaurants introducing new products for their customers to try. They have trail stages to see if these new products will be a hit and if they are then they keep them on the menu. If their customers do not accept them then they take them off the menu and try something else. So not only must you have a great core group of food options on your menu, but you must be able to change up your menu so that customers don’t get bored with the same options. Another key success factor in this industry is customer service. When people elect to eat out instead of eating at home, they expect to be treated well by the restaurant personnel. Obviously the level of customer service changes depending on the place that an individual is eating at. The more money someone is spending then it is likely that they will expect better customer service. Part of going out to eat is the experience and bad customer service can cause a company to lose customer even if their products are top of the line. Location is also a key success factor and a big one at that. Many companies that are unable to acquire a prime location are unable to stay in business. People don’t want to have to go out of their way to go to a restaurant in most cases so if a particular restaurant is not in a convenient place then they will not get much foot traffic. Foot traffic is the only way that companies in this industry can keep up with their financial obligations and turn a profit. I can say from personal experience that I have chosen to go to a restaurant based on convenience of the location and I feel that I am not the only one who has made a decision like this when choosing a place to eat. Porters Five Forces Threat of New Entrants The threat of new entrants in the food service contractor industry is extremely high. The restaurant industry is one of the most entered industries year in and year out. The barriers to open a restaurant are nowhere near as high as other industries and if a restaurant owner can find a niche group of customers in a good location then they can be profitable. However, this is a feat that is much easier said then done. Although it is very feasible for new entrants to enter into this industry, it is definitely not an industry that is easy to have longevity in. The threat of new entrants for Panera Bread is not as high as some of the other restaurants in the industry. They have many established cafes all across the country that have been successful for years and would be hard for new entrants to compete on their level. In local markets a new entrant may be able to undercut the business of one individual store but it would be much more difficult for a start up to undercut Panera in the national or even the regional scene. Also, the fact that Panera Bread has a very aggressive growth strategy makes it even more problematic for new entrants to be able to compete at the level the Panera is on because they are always playing catch up. Substitute Products Substitute products are very prevalent in this industry and it affects all restaurants that are in the food service contractor industry. If you ride down a main street in any decent size city in this country for five minutes you will pass at least one hundred places to eat. Each one of these places is a substitute for one another, which makes this industry one of the most competitive industries that we have. With the number of restaurants growing, there are going to continue to be a plethora of substitute products. Also, items that people purchase at grocery stores and cook themselves are substitutes for restaurants in this industry. Americans are becoming more cognizant of what they put in their body and the best way to be absolutely sure that what you are putting in your body is exactly what you want is to prepare the food yourself. Just like every other company in this industry, Panera Bread is not immune to substitute products and must always account for other companies that offer substitute products. There are many viable eating options for customers in close proximity with nearly every Panera Bread cafe. With this being the case, Panera must always look for ways to continue to bring customers into their cafes instead of those customers picking another option. Panera has been able to offer some unique products that are perceived as healthy which allow them to lessen the threat of some substitutes but it would be nearly impossible to get rid of the threat of substitute products because there are so many options. Perhaps the most difficult thing for competitors to be able to duplicate is the experience that is provided at Panera. Although there are other companies who are able to offer a pleasant dinning experience in the fast-casual restaurant industry, there is no substitute for this type of customer service. Either you have quality service for your customers or you don’t. Power of Suppliers The power of suppliers in this industry is relatively low. This is due to the fact that there are often many possible suppliers to supply the needs of the restaurants. When this is the case, suppliers have no negotiating power to charge extremely high prices and must come to terms with the restaurants that are purchasing the various ingredients that go into their products. If suppliers are able to develop an ingredient that is rare or somehow do a value chain activity better then other supplier then they may have more negotiating power. However, even with this fact, the majority of the power in this relationship lies with the restaurants that are making the purchases. Panera Bread has 17 regional facilities that make all of its dough and then it is shipped out to each individual store. These facilities are owned or franchised out by Panera Bread, which gives them a huge competitive advantage. They control every step of the making of their main ingredient and this obviously gives them all of the power when it comes to purchasing dough. As long as the people who work there are satisfied then they will have no problem with having there dough needs met. They do ensure that these facilities make a profit but obviously not at the expense of Panera Bread. However, with other products that they use such as paper goods, coffee, and sweet goods, they use independent distributors to meet these needs. These suppliers have a very low amount if power when negotiating with Panera. These suppliers likely depend heavily on the Panera account to survive so they must meet virtually all of Panera’s requests if they want to continue to do business with them. Some products that each individual store may have to order on a frequent basis may find that they have a little less negotiating power if a particular supplier is able to delivery these supplies on a timely basis. With this being said, the bulk of the power lies with Panera and not the suppliers. Power of Buyers The power of buyers in this industry is extremely high for various reasons. The main one is that there are low switching costs when an individual chooses to go from fast-casual restaurant to fast-casual restaurant. The only real cost may be one place may be further then the other which brings gas prices into play but typically these types of restaurants are located in similar areas so this is not that big of a factor. Anytime someone is spending money in a saturated market with several options, the consumer has all the power. The only way for restaurants to get some of the power back is to offer products that are perceived to be better then the competition. Panera Bread customers have an extremely high degree of power just like customers that buy food within this strategic group in the market. There are viable options for customers of Panera to choose from which always puts Panera in a position in which they have to convince customers that Panera is the best option to meet their needs. Panera must continue to evolve their menu and keep coming up with new items that keep their customers coming back for more. This is the only way that they can take some of the power back from their customers. Rivalry Among Competitive Sellers Everybody wants a piece of the American Dream in this country and the good thing about this country is that through hard work and dedication, anyone can be successful. With this being the case, there is fierce competition in virtually every industry in our country. The food service contractor industry is no exception to this fact and possibly is more competitive then most other industries. There are major players at every single level of this industry and each individual company is always looking for a slight advantage over their competitors. The fast-casual sector of this industry is rapidly growing and it is likely that we will continue to see more and more companies vying for market share in this industry. The fact that people are spending significant dollars in fast-casual restaurants gives companies in this industry a golden opportunity for continued growth. Panera Bread has been able to carve out a niche in the fact that their dough process is not easily duplicated and nobody has been able to create products quite like Panera Bread. So, in this respect there is not a competitor that is selling the exact same thing that they are selling. However, I feel that Starbucks is a close competitor and they may have some of the same customers. When you think about a place that you can go and hang out with friends or catch up on some work or read a good book, Starbucks definitely comes to mind. In this relationship, Starbucks is definitely big brother and has far more locations around the world then Panera does so they obviously bring in more revenues yearly. Panera is trying to duplicate the atmosphere of a casual place to hang out but they are still playing catch up at this point in time. I also think Chipotle is a competitive rival but for different reasons then Starbucks. Chipotle is a fast-casual restaurant that has been able to create a product that consumers consider different and really tasty. It is a place that you can order and get your food relatively quickly and sit down and enjoy your meal with friends on the inside of the restaurant or outside. Although Chipotle definitely doesn’t have the atmosphere that Panera Bread has, it is very believable that when people are sick of fast food and are looking for a fast-casual restaurant to eat at, these two places come up. I can speak from experience that this has definitely been the case for myself on numerous occasions. Internal Analysis: SWOT & VRIO Framework SWOT Analysis Strengths A. Strong Brand Name B. Atmosphere of Restaurants C. Own Subsidiary for there main ingredient Weaknesses A. Lack of international/domestic presence in comparison to competitors Opportunities A. Expand Domestically/Internationally B. Continue to expand catering activities Threats A. Recession B. New Restaurants Strengths Panera Bread has been able to continually grow and make significant dollars year in and year out because they have many things that they do well. One of these strengths is the brand name â€Å"Panera Bread. † When people think of Panera they automatically think of a fast-casual restaurant with good food. It is somewhere that people can go and not pay significant dollars and walk away being happy with the food that they ate. This is probably the biggest strength that you can have in this industry because if your restaurant name is not associated with quality food then you have no chance of succeeding in the restaurant business. After all, nobody wants to eat food that is not enjoyable going down. Another strength that Panera has is the atmosphere and dinning experience that they provide for their customers. When people think of Panera they think of someplace that can offer relaxation for themselves as well as friends. Its just a great hang out spot where people can catch up on homework, read a good book, and hang out with friends all while enjoying some of the great products that Panera Bread offers. Panera is also able to produce its own dough, which is strength in two ways. The first is the most obvious. They can cut out significant costs when buying from their subsidiary and don’t have to worry about not being satisfied with the end product because ultimately they are producing it. Also, since dough is their main ingredient and what they are famous for they would not want outside knowledge of this trade secret. By producing the dough themselves minimizes significantly the possibility of other companies being able to capitalize on Panera’s trade secret. Weaknesses The biggest weakness that I saw in doing this case study is the fact that they have a lack of an international presence. If they are trying to compete with Starbucks with there dinning experience then they need to be everyplace that Starbucks does business so that customers can choose. This type of expansion could mean more revenues as well as continuing to increase their strong brand name. Domestically they do have a strong presence in the market but they are not at the level that Starbucks is at. Opportunities Panera has several opportunities to improve their position in the market place. One of those opportunities is to continue to have an aggressive attitude about expanding domestically and also to turn some of that energy into international endeavors. Domestically they have a strong presence but if they are going to overtake Starbucks as â€Å"The† fast-casual restaurant then they need to continue to find new markets to put their stores in. Currently they do not have an international sector at all. This is limiting their growth potential significantly and not really giving them a chance to be at the top of the totem pole in their sector of the restaurant business. International expansion could help Panera take their brand name to new heights. Another opportunity they have is to continue to expand their catering sector of their company. In 2004 they started to make a hard push into catering for other locations outside of the stores. By the end of 2005 they saw about 80 million dollars in sales in new sales from this catering sector. The ability to generate these types of sales in this short period of time gives Panera’s management incentive to continue to explore this opportunity. Threats The recession is a huge threat to all businesses that do not provide something that is a basic need for survival. Although Panera does provide food, which is a necessity, they still have to fight with the recession, as people do not eat out as much during tough economic times. Instead, people penny pinch and try to cut down on as many things as possible. Although they could discount their products and possibly generate more sales during this tough economic time, this strategy could make people start to associate their brand as being generic. This strategy would ultimately hurt them in the long run. Another threat would be new restaurants coming into territory that they do business in and undercutting some of their sales. People have ever-changing taste and are always looking for the new â€Å"hot† thing. Since this is the case, new restaurants that are able to get the attention of consumers in the areas that Panera has restaurants in could pose a huge threat. VRIO Framework Sustainable competitive advantage is the key to any company’s long-term success. Are any of Panera’s strengths sustainable? Strong Brand Name Valuable: Yes, a strong brand name in the business world is very valuable. It is especially valuable in the restaurant business because when people associate your brand name with having good food then people are automatically going to come in your place of business to get food. Also, this strong brand name gets people talking about your products and word of mouth advertising is amongst the top if not the top form of advertising. Rare: No, a strong brand name is not rare in the restaurant business. Many other restaurants in the fast-casual sector have a brand name that is associated with good food. This is the reason why there are so many of these types of restaurants out there that are able to perform well year in and year out. Although there are many restaurants that are able to build a strong brand name, there are many more that are not able to establish this strong brand name. Most restaurants fail within the first year because of this fact. Imitated Easily (Immutable): No developing a strong brand name is not easy. It takes years of creating quality products that people grow to love. Another way is to come up with something so innovative that people have no choice but to recognize that food product with your brand name. Both of these scenarios are extremely hard to pull off successfully. Organization: Yes, the Panera organization is very committed to continuing to build their brand name. This is especially evident in how they franchise their company out to other people. Their franchise owners have to adhere to certain rules and regulations in order to open up a Panera Bread restaurant. Atmosphere of Restaurants Valuable: Yes this is a very valuable aspect of their restaurants. The fast casual style gives Panera bread an edge over other restaurants and makes it more then just a place that you can get great food. The amenities that are offered at Panera bread makes it a friendly place to eat as well as do various other activities such as hang out with friends or catch up on work. They opened their doors with the idea that the overall atmosphere is what was going to set them apart from others and give them a competitive advantage and that is precisely what they have been able to do. Rare: Yes and No. This overall atmosphere is available in most coffee shops around the world so from that perspective it’s not that rare. However, it is rare in the fact that they have been able to expand into one of the top brands in this sector and are really only second to Starbucks as far as atmosphere goes. They compete on a level that most coffee shops can’t. Imitated Easily (Immutable): Yes and No. Anybody can set up wireless internet and make a space conducive to hanging out and reading books. So in regard to this it is easily imitated. The part that is not easily imitated that Panera has been able to accomplish is that they are recognized by a large number of consumers as a place to go and do the activities mentioned above. Organization: Yes, the Panera Organization is committed to making their restaurant a place where people can go be in a friendly atmosphere. That was the whole basis of what they thought would create their competitive advantage when they opened their doors. Own a Subsidiary for Their Main Ingredient Valuable: Yes, the fact that they own subsidiaries that make their main ingredient is a huge advantage that they have. They are able to cut down on cost as well as always knowing that their dough’s will be exactly what they are expecting. They don’t have to ever worry about negotiating with outside vendors about prices or any other terms for this key ingredient. Also, they can protect their trade secret that is the ingredients and process of creating their dough. Rare: No, they are most definitely not the first company to own a subsidiary that is apart of the value chain. Many companies vertically integrate to gain some of the benefits that I mentioned above. Imitated easily (Immutable): Yes, this is very easy to imitate. The company must have the capital investment to make this happen but gathering the money is not something that can’t be imitated. Typically what keeps companies from doing this is that they can simply buy the materials needed at a cheaper cost versus creating these materials themselves. Organization: Yes, Panera is obviously committed to making this subsidiary successful. They could have hired out someone else to make their dough’s but then they would risk exposure of their trade secrets and may have to pay more for the dough. The subsidiary not only cuts down on certain costs but also protects their process of making their dough’s. Strategic Cost Analysis: Value Chain Analysis Primary Activities Supply Chain Management Panera Bread uses a subsidiary to supports its supply chain management as well as other independent suppliers. They get their dough, which is their key ingredient, from their subsidiary. This dough is used to make their assortments of breads, which is obviously what they are known for. They deliver the dough to each individual restaurant and then the restaurant bakes the bread so that the bread is fresh when it reaches the consumer. However, they do receive some of its ingredients for its doughs from other suppliers. Also, sweet goods, paper goods, small ware, and coffee are bought from outside suppliers. Panera feels like it is cheaper to buy these products from various suppliers instead of producing them internally or through a subsidiary. Operations Panera prides itself on being different from the pack in the world of fast casual restaurants. They do this by providing a friendly atmosphere in their restaurants in which their customers can come and get more then just food. This operation technique gives them an advantage over your average fast food restaurant but it is still someplace that you could go to get a meal quickly. Another key aspect of their operation is the fact that they are always changing the menu to appeal to the current customers as well as attract new ones. This is something that is necessary for any restaurant and has proven to be something that Panera does well. Distribution In most major cities in the United States you can find a Panera Bread restaurant to eat at. This is the primary activity for Panera to get their products to the customer. In this regard, they compete just like every other restaurant in country. However, they are really starting to pick up their catering sector of their company and this could lead to new customers and more revenue. Not only does catering give them another way to sale their products, but it may also expose individuals to Panera for the first time if they are at the catered event. Support Activities Word of Mouth Word of mouth is a huge support activity for pretty much every successful restaurant in the country. This is especially true for Panera Bread since they really don’t do too much to market their restaurant. They rely heavily on current customer’s positive experiences at their restaurant to spark them to tell somebody else. Through this positive word of mouth they are able to gain loyal customers, which is why they are able to sustain their company. Franchises Panera’s Franchise operations are a huge supplement for their company owned stores and they are able to generate significant revenue from their franchises. There is a significant investment required from a potential franchise owner. The franchises give Panera an opportunity to capitalize on their strong brand name. However, they must keep a close eye on each franchise so that they can maintain the Panera reputation. If they let the franchise operate under the Panera name without any rules then they are exposed to the risk of tainting their brand. Strategic Cost Analysis: Competitive Strength Assessment Panera Bread Chipotle Starbucks Key Success Factors Importance Weights Strength Score Strength Score Strength Score Brand Image 0. 25 9 2. 5 10 2. 5 10 2. 5 Restaurant Atmosphere 0. 2 8 1. 6 5 1 9 1. 8 Word of Mouth Advertising 0. 25 8 2 9 2. 25 8 2 Adjusting Menu To Adapt to Consumers 0. 1 9 0. 9 5 0. 5 6 0. 6 Price 0. 2 8 1. 6 8 1. 6 6 1. 2 Total 1 42 8. 35 35 7. 85 39 8. 1 When performing the competitive strength assessment for restaurants that are in the same strategic group as Panera Bread there were several key success factors that were important. Panera, Chipotle, and Starbucks all performed well in this assessment but with the success factors that I felt were important, Panera did just barely edge out Starbucks. Brand Image was extremely high on the pedestal in the key success factors because in the restaurant business, how the public perceives you will either make or break your restaurant. All three companies performed well in this category but I felt that Starbucks International presence gave them a slight edge over Panera and Chipotle. I rated the restaurant atmosphere as a . 2 because I felt like it was a very important factor by not quite as important as brand image. Chipotle struggles with their restaurant atmosphere in comparison to the other two places however; they are still able to succeed in this industry. They have not put as much importance on their dining experience; where as Panera and Starbucks whole method for differentiating themselves from other fast-casual establishments are creating that warm dinning experience. However, Starbucks also wins this category by a small margin. Word of mouth advertising is a . 25 because this is how you grow as a company. When you are able to get your loyal customers to get prospective customers to try out their products then restaurants give themselves a great opportunity to retain new customers. I thought that all of these places do a good job with generating this type of advertising but based on my experiences, Chipotle gets a little more of this type of advertising then the other two, especially from college students. The only one of these three that really makes a true effort to change up their menu is Panera Bread. They are constantly introducing new things to appeal to their customers. However, I didn’t feel as if this was nearly as important as some of the other key success factors. Chipotle and Starbucks have been able to create a menu that their customers like and are not likely to grow bored of eating which is why they are still successful. Since they don’t put an emphasis on changing their menu much, Panera takes this category relatively easy. Price is important within the restaurant business especially during these rough economic times. People are much more cognizant of where their money is spent. Chipotle and Panera offer quality products at decent prices even in these tough times. On the contrary, Starbucks would be on the pricier side especially when it comes to their food selection. They don’t offer big portions and individuals would likely still be hungry shortly after leaving the restaurant. Panera and Chipotle tied in this category as both of them offer good prices for valuable menu items. Financial Analysis The following are some basic income statements for Panera Bread and Chipotle as well as some financial Ratios. I chose these 2 because they are similar in size and are both considered fast-casual restaurants although they do serve different menu items. I do feel that Starbucks is a competitor of Panera Bread as well but they are a much larger company and there statements would make for a very good comparison. Panera Bread Statement of Operations (% of revenue) 2007 2006 Revenue 100% 100% Total Cost and Expenses 92% 89% Operating Profit 8% 11% Income before taxes 8% 11% Net Income 5% 7% Panera Bread Statement of Operations ($ in thousands) 2007 2006 Revenue 1,066,691 828,971 Total Cost and Expenses 977,801 736,295 Operating Profit 88,890 92,676 Income before taxes 88,890 92,676 Net Income 57,456 58,849 Chipotle Statement of Operations (% of revenue) 2007 2006 Revenue 100% 100% Total Costs and Expenses 89. 5% 92% Operating Profit 10. 5% 8% Income before taxes 10. 5% 8% Net Income 6% 5% Chipotle Statement of Operations ($ in thousands) 2007 2006 Revenue 1,085,782 822,930 Total Cost and Expenses 971,780 754,675 Operating Profit 114,002 68,255 Income before taxes 114,002 68,255 Net Income 70,563 41,423 Ratio Gross Profit Margin Net Profit Margin Operating Profit Margin Panera 2007 .74 .05 .08 Panera 2006 .76 .07 .11 Chipotle 2007 .68 .06 .10 Chipotle 2006 .69 .05 .075 Return on Assets Current Ratio Return on S/E Equity Panera 2007 .08 1. 17 .13 Panera 2006 .11 1. 19 .15 Chipotle 2007 .105 2. 75 .126 Chipotle 2006 .08 2. 92 .087 As you can see both of these companies are doing well and have been able to turn a nice size profit for these past 2 years. However, Chipotle has been able to grow from 2006 to 2007 as their net profit margin went up by 1% whereas Panera Breads has dropped 2%. I think the newness of Chipotle has given them an advantage in these early years but I don’t think it will be sustainable once people get use to the menu. The recession has hurt Panera more then Chipotle but due to the low liabilities that Panera has, they are still able to make a profit in 2007 that is not much lower then the profit from 2006. I believe that the overall dinning experience and the variety of the Panera menu will prove to be a sustainable competitive advantage going forward over many of its rivals and will provide them financial well-being. Business Strategy Analysis: Porter’s Generic Strategy Panera Bread’s goal is to create the greatest amount of value for the customers when they walk into one of their restaurants. The generic strategy that most closely resembles what they are trying to accomplish is Best-Cost Provider Strategy. This is providing quality products at a cheaper price then what you can get elsewhere. Full meals at Panera can be bought for very reasonable prices and there various bread selections give them an advantage over other fast-casual establishments. So on the basis of taste their products can be considered a bang for your buck. Also, they provide an atmosphere known as â€Å"Panera Warmth† which is something that is not provided at many other places. Between the reasonable prices for the quality products and the customer friendly environment, they are able to provide more value for their customers then most other fast-casual restaurants. Corporate Strategies: Diversification Diversification in Panera Bread has been an important aspect since they have been open for business. Starting as a company called Au Bon Pain in the 80s, they would eventually change to the Panera name once it took off. This was a move that allowed them to really expand their brand in the 90s and into the 2000s. Another thing that they did to diversify their company was purchasing majority of Paradise Bakery and Cafe in 2007. Paradise had 70 locations, which gave Panera more restaurants as well as some other knowledge that came along with the purchase. Panera has a very aggressive growth strategy and plan to have 2000 stores open by the en of 2010 in the United States. This type of growth strategy has the potential allow Panera to continue to climb the ladder to being one of the top fast-casual restaurants. Issue 1 A big issue that I see with Panera bread at this point in time is their untapped markets not only domestically but also internationally. They have several major cities that do not have Panera Bread in the city at all which is not allowing them to maximize their earning potential. Also, they have no international presence at all. These cafe style restaurants would likely catch on well internationally considering the success that Starbucks has had with their international establishments. Recommendation Panera Bread should continue with their aggressive growth strategy. They must make sure that they tap into some of the major city markets that they have yet to such as New York City, Washington D. C. , and New Orleans. Panera needs to have several locations in these cities and should make it a goal to have at least 20 in these cities by 2012. Also, they should continue to add restaurants in places like Miami and Seattle where they only have 2 and 5 establishments respectively. In competitive markets in the United States, Starbucks has more then 8 times as many locations as Panera. This is a huge problem is if they ever want to be on the same level as Starbucks. Internationally, they should pick a few countries where cafes are popular and try to tap into those markets. However, internationally I think that they should take their time instead of implementing the fast growth strategy that they have in the United States. I think they should try to have 100 restaurants internationally by 2012. They have to tap into the international market if they ever want to truly compete with Starbucks and they are in a good position financially now to expand slowly in the international market. Issue 2 Another big issue that is lingering with not only Panera Bread but also every single restaurant is the recession. This recession has hit many Americans hard financially and they have not been eating out as much. This decreases the amount of possible business that fast-casual restaurants can get and this includes Panera Bread. They must figure out a way to continue to grow despite the tough economic times. Recommendation 2 There are a number of things that Panera Bread can do to offset this rough economic stretch that we are in. One of those things is to offer discounts on certain menu items but only make this discount good for a certain period of time. This makes people feel like they are getting a deal on Panera’s products and be more likely to pull in during lunch as oppose to packing their lunch. The limited time on the discounts ensures that your products don’t become generic which is also important for when the recession is over.  Another thing that they can do if offer free food to customers after they have purchased so many products from the menu. This gives customers incentive to eat out at Panera even in the midst of a recession.

Organizational Behavior Concepts: General Electric Essay

Introduction Every business has a set of key characteristics or values that make up an organizational culture which is unique to its business. Organizational behavior examines â€Å"the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization’s effectiveness† (Robbins, 2005). The purpose of this research paper is to identify and evaluate General Electric’s (GE) organizational culture, organizational behavior, and customer service standards. We will also uncover how successful GE has been in implementing organizational behavior concepts in the following three categories: (1) motivation, (2) group behavior, (3) organizational culture. General Electric has their organizational values posted right on their website. By doing so, they have provided written expectations to their employees regarding ethical behavior and integrity in the work environment. These values reflect the energy, spirit, and solid foundation of the  company, articulating a common code of organizational behavior. Also, GE’s bold set of management strategies is aimed at increasing innovation and improving productivity to make the company more competitive. GE’s organizational culture is considered one of high ethical standard in the corporate world. According to The Age of Ethics (KPMG, 2007) â€Å"GE now has one of the best ethics compliance programs in existence_†_, says Larry Ponemon, national director of Business Ethics Services at KPMG†. General Electric Since Thomas Edison started General Electric in 1876, the company has steadily grown into a tremendously successful organization and one of the largest companies in the world. Several management and organizational strategies have been used through out the years in order to attain the current status of the firm. When looking at an organization’s cultural appeal, one must first decide what they are looking for; what appeals to me may or may not appeal to someone else. There are a few categories within GE’s organizational culture that appeals to me personally. These categories include but are not limited to: Leadership: It is important for a company to allow leaders to have the freedom and flexibility to contribute their knowledge and expertise in both their daily job and at company levels. â€Å"At the top, we don’t run GE like a big company. We run it like a big partnership, where every leader can make a contribution not just to their job, but to the entire Company† (Immelt, J., 2005). Work Environment: A company should provide a pleasant and vitalizing work environment that is easy to balance with my personal life. â€Å"GE is an invigorating place to work. Ours is a high-performance culture that emphasizes high-integrity business practices as well as work/life balance† (Our Culture, 2008). Training and Education Programs: Successful companies provide additional training and educational benefits that will enhance employee leadership  capabilities. â€Å"We invest nearly $1 billion a year in career development for our employees at every level of professional growth.† (Leadership Programs, 2008). Part of the culture and behavior of GE is the use of sigma six. â€Å"Six Sigma is a highly disciplined process that helps us focus on developing and delivering near-perfect products and services† (Six Sigma, 2008). Sigma is a statistical term that measures how far a given process deviates from perfection. The central idea behind Six Sigma is that if you can measure how many â€Å"defects† you have in a process, you can systematically figure out how to eliminate them and get as close to â€Å"zero defects† as possible. Six Sigma has changed the makeup of GE-it is now the way we work – in everything we do and in every product we design† (Six Sigma, 2008). Within GE, an employee can be certified in Six Sigma, either as a black belt or a master black belt. These titles hold prestige for the employees and add to employee motivation and employment satisfaction. When discussing the organizational culture within a company such as GE, we can break management concepts down into three categories. According to Argenti (2002), organizational behavior in organizations is usually broken down into three main areas: Individual level elements: managing individuals Group level elements: managing teams Elements of organizational structure: managing the organization Not only can the application of organizational behavior principles improve an organization’s effectiveness, organizational behavior provides a manager the information and knowledge needed to manage an effective workforce (Argenti, 2002). With the advent of organizational perspectives, the analysis of why people instill their presence in an organization is not only because of self-aimed goals of growth and enhancements, but also to locate themselves in a social place in accordance to the area of their perceived belonging  (Stroh, Northcraft and Neale, 2002). Motivation Motivation is central to understanding behavior in organizations and a key managerial factor. Two aspects of motivation are structuring tasks to satisfy worker and organizational needs and providing the proper direction for worker actions (Stroh, Northcraft and Neale, 2002). There are a number of factors when it comes to the difference in worker performance. One of these factors is related to different levels of ability among employees. Differences in ability arise from the simple fact that there are significant individual differences that affect work performance. The effort expended by the employees toward the realization of organizational goals greatly depends upon the status of behavioral motivations (Vasu, Stewart and Garson, 1998). GE has implemented theoretical frameworks in order to generate further explanations in behavioral motivation not only of the employees but the organization as well. GE uses a goal-setting theoretical framework_._ Basically, the theoretical concept implicates the application of goals as driving forces that provide the basic idea of what and when to achieve a certain target. Management by Objectives (MBO) is one example that exemplifies the application of objectives in order to achieve the final formulated outcome of the plan, goals (Robbins, 2005). Jack Welch, CEO from 1981 – 2001, set two clear and simple goals for GE and outlined several targets for reaching those formulated goals. The goals were to become the most competitive corporation in the world and to become the nation’s most valuable corporation. Jack Welch created an organization tension in 1981 aimed at motivating these changes by redefining GE’s goals and targets (Cushman, 2003). GE also uses a reinforcement theoretical framework. Reinforcement is used to enhance desirable behavior. The application of reinforcement theory is central to the design and administration of organizational reward systems. Well-designed rewards systems help motivate behavior, actions, and accomplishments, which advance the organization toward specific business  goals. Strategic rewards go beyond cash to include training and educational opportunities, stock opinions, and recognition awards. GE makes good use of the principle of employee participation wherein employees participate in the decisions that determine the methods to be used in the achievement of organizational objectives. GE provides promotions especially for those employees that obtain satisfactory performances as evaluated by the human resource department and approved by managerial committees (Cushman, 2003). Furthermore, incentives vary from salary increase to travel privileges where the main aim is to motivate the workforce. Group Behavior â€Å"A group is defined as two or more individuals, interacting and interdependent, who have come together to achieve particular objectives† (Robbins, 2005). Groups can be either formal or informal. According to Robbins (2005) these two groups are described as: Formal groups – Defined by the organization’s structure, with designated work assignments establishing tasks. In formal groups – Encompass the behaviors that one should engage in are stipulated by and directed toward organizational goals. From 1985 up to the present, General Electric started to place in service work teams in order to facilitate cooperative behavior and leadership as aimed by their high-involvement strategy (Miller, 2002). As far as team building, GE implements a Five-Stage Model for group development within the organization. According to Robbins (2005) the five stages include: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. In addition to these five stages GE has also implemented a pre-stage. According to Miller (2002) the breakdown for GE’s five stage model is as follows: Pre-stage 1: GE screens the capacity of every employee upon application and  all throughout performance in order to disseminate employees in the rightful function. Stage 1: Forming: Upon achieving the rightful components of the team through HR jurisdiction based on employee evaluation, formation of the tem is initiated. Stage 2: Storming: Work teams are in effect given new _property rights_ while being guaranteed a great deal of control over performance standards. Stage 3: Norming: Work teams are given strong guarantees of employment security to ensure that employees do not put themselves out of work by increasing production. Stage 4: Performing: Workers were generally guaranteed opportunities for training, restraining, and promotion. Stage 5: Adjourning: Fourth, compensation schemes have been changed in order to provide equity among work teams in the firm through profit-sharing plans or stock ownership plans. Organizational Culture Organizational culture is comprised of the mind-set, experiences, beliefs and values of an organization and its employees. Currently, there are seven primary characteristics of organizational culture as described by Robbins (2005): innovation and risk taking, attention to detail, outcome orientation, people orientation, team orientation, aggressiveness, and stability. All indications are that GE successfully embodies five of the seven primary characteristics of organizational culture: Innovation and Risk Taking: GE employees focus on innovation as their basis for taking calculated risks for change in the areas of transforming health care, cleaner power generation, exploring nanotechnology, aviation technology, greenhouse gas reduction, and global research facilities  (Innovation, 2008). Attention to Detail: GE employees focus on attention to detail in such areas as customer service, quality and assembly of products, meeting performance targets, enhanced decision-making through training and education. People Orientation: GE considers their more than 300,000 employees to be their greatest asset, and they are â€Å"passionate about making life better with new ideas and technologies† (Our People, 2008). Team Orientation: A significant part of GE’s culture as a global company involves nurturing diverse and cross-cultural teams in such areas as public relations, automotives, global research, nanotechnologies, and marketing (Our Culture, 2008). Aggressiveness: Though GE provides the tools and environment necessary for employees to be aggressive and competitive, it is ultimately up to the employee themselves to demonstrate hard work. Organizational culture essentially provides a company with a concrete anchoring point, even if the meaning it carries is vague and only imperfectly transmitted. An organizational culture also involves the expression of emotion, and by this venting of emotions organizational culture can assist employees in dealing with stress. As GE continues to grow and evolve, the company’s organizational culture will be subject to periodic changes and updates. Conclusion From everything that I have found, it is apparent that GE’s organizational culture is both ethical and customer-responsive. All indications are that GE has obtained its current status through the successful applications of organizational behavior concepts; specifically through motivations guided by specific goals and reinforcement plans. GE has successfully implemented theoretical frameworks through goal-setting, reinforcement, involving  employees in the decision processes and offering incentives such as: salary increases, travel privileges, stock options, and bonus plans. GE has successfully implemented group behavior tactics using the Five-Stage Model, with the addition of the pre-stage described in _Managerial Dilemmas: the Political Economy of Hierarchy_, for group development within the organization. Finally, GE successfully embodies five of the seven primary characteristics of organizational culture. Under CEO Jack Welsh, and current CEO Jeff Immelt, GE was able to communicate their vision of Six Sigma and training and development programs at GE. They were also able to become successful because of a belief in the employees and their talent. One of the most important traits a leader can have besides communication skills is the ability to see the potential of an individual and make that individual not only see it too but also live up to that potential. Based on the above findings, my evaluation of GE’s organizational culture is that they do provide a strong framework for positive attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values that would be appealing to almost anyone looking for job satisfaction and advancement within an organization. Reference: Argenti, P. A. (2002). _The Fast Forward MBA Pocket Reference_. John Wiley and Sons. Cushman, D. P. (2003). Communication Best Practices at Dell, General Electric, Microsoft, and Monsanto. SUNY Press. Immelt, J. (2005). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved May 17, 2008, from http://www.ge.com/company/leadership/index.html Innovation (2008). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved May 28, 2008, from http://www.ge.com/innovation/index.html KPMG, (2007). The age of ethics. Retrieved May 28, 2008, from KPMG Web site: http://www- old.itcilo.org/actrav/actrav-english/telearn/global/ilo/code/ageof.htm Leadership Programs (2008). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved May 18, 2008, from http://www.gecareers.com/GECAREERS/html/us/ourPeople/leadership.html Miller, G. J. (2002). Managerial Dilemmas: The Political Economy of Hierarchy. Cambridge University Press. Our Culture (2008). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved May 18, 2008, from http://www.ge.com/company/culture/index.html Our People (2008). _GE Imagination at work_. Retrieved May 18, 2008, from http://www.ge.com/company/culture/people.html Parhizgar, K. D. (2002). Multicultural Behavior and Global Business Environments. Haworth Press. Robbins, S. P. (2005). _Organizational behavior_ (11 ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Six Sigma, 2008 Retrieved May 31, 2008, from GE Web site: http://www.ge.com/railservices/about/sixsigma.html Stroh, L. K., Northcraft, G. B., & Neale, M. (2002). _Organizational Behavior: A Management_ _Challenge_. New York, U.S: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Vasu, M., Stewart, D., & Garson, D. (1998). _Organizational Behavior and Public Management_. CRC Press.

What Is An Air Pollution Essay Sample Essay Example

What Is An Air Pollution Essay Sample Essay Example What Is An Air Pollution Essay Sample Essay What Is An Air Pollution Essay Sample Essay What cause air pollution Air pollution control is an integral part of environmental management as it is directly related to climate change. The effects of air pollution are often far-reaching and are spatially harder to control once the damage is done. In the United States, state governments are required to adopt air quality control measures through legislative process. These measures are submitted to EPA for approval and then included in each states implementation plans. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), whose mandate is to enforce environmental health laws and regulations, has put in place various measures for air quality control. This measures include setting standards for ambient air quality, determine hazardous emissions and conducting extensive research on appropriate pollution prevention techniques.; The provisions are provided in the Clean Air Act to curb both state and interstate air pollution issues. EPA provides technical guidance for implementation of environmental plans in each state.; More specifically, some of this measures include the following:; Emissions Control EPA has placed standards for emissions from mobile and stationary sources of air pollution like manufacturing industries to ensure use of cleaner fuels and technologies. Additionally, there are economic incentives in banking and trading for using cleaner technologies. This is also combined with the command-and-control regulations that have for long been used by EPA. Controlling air pollution at the sources This is a preventive strategy instituted to reduce or eliminate air pollution at its source. This is done first by identifying sources of air pollution and subsequently ensuring use of approved fuels and raw materials, using non-polluting/less polluting industrial processes and improving process efficiency.; The Clean Air Technology Center This is a vital resource for the prevention and control of air pollution. This center provides a platform for research and use of effective processes. It features wet scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators, condensers, absorbers, mechanical collectors among other clean production mechanisms. It also serves as a resource for research of renewable and cost effective energy resources. EPA encourages industries to reduce emissions and account for these emissions. The Agency also encourages voluntary initiatives to achieve emission reduction through trading programs like the Emission Reduction Credits(ERC). Business operators receive credit for reducing emissions below; the set limits.; Creating Awareness The government also has various mechanisms for educating the public and private sectors on efficient use of clean and renewable energy sources at both local and national levels. EPA provides guidelines for controlling indoor air pollution in households and workplaces. Also, during formulation of air control policies the public is widely consulted to ensure appropriate measures are formulated. Public participation helps to streamline implementation of this laws. Likewise, the same forums are used to communicate, guide and interpret already instituted laws and policies.; Pollution Control Subsidies This comes in form of financial support from the government for environmentally friendly activities.; A polluter is rewarded for reducing emissions either through receiving grants, favorable tax reliefs or lower interest rates. EPA voluntary programs encourage companies to implement environmental best practices which gives them a good public image and encourages more business to follow suit.

Platypus Facts (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

Platypus Facts (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is an unusual mammal. In fact, when its discovery was first reported in 1798, British scientists thought the creature was a hoax made by stitching together parts of other animals. The platypus has webbed feet, a bill like a duck, lays eggs, and males have venomous spurs. The plural form of platypus is a matter of some dispute. Scientists typically use platypuses or platypus. Many people use platypi. Technically, the proper Greek plural is platypodes. Fast Facts: Platypus Scientific Name: Ornithorhynchus anatinusCommon Names: Platypus, duck-billed platypusBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 17-20 inchesWeight: 1.5-5.3 poundsLifespan: 17 yearsDiet: CarnivoreHabitat: Eastern Australian including TasmaniaPopulation: ~50,000Conservation Status: Near Threatened Description The platypus has a keratin bill, a broad flattened tail, and webbed feet. Its dense, waterproof fur is dark brown, becoming paler around its eyes and on its belly. The male has one venomous spur on each hind limb. Males are larger than females, but size and weight varies considerably from one individual to another. The average male is 20 inches in length, while females are around 17 inches long. Adults weigh anywhere from 1.5 to 5.3 pounds. The male platypus has a venomous spur on its hind limb. Auscape, Getty Images Habitat and Distribution The platypus lives along streams and rivers in eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It is extinct in South Australia, except for an introduced population on Kangaroo Island. Platypuses live in diverse climates, ranging from tropical rainforests to cold mountains. Platypus distribution (red: native; yellow: introduced). Tentotwo, Creative Commons License Diet and Behavior Platypuses are carnivores. They hunt worms, shrimp, insect larvae, and crayfish at dawn, dusk, and night. The platypus closes its eyes, ears, and nose when it dives and moves its bill from side to side, much like a hammerhead shark. It relies on a combination of mechanosensors and electrosensors in its bill to map its surroundings. The mechanosensors detect touch and movement, while the electrosensors sense tiny electrical charges released by muscle contractions in living organisms. The only other mammal to use electroreception to seek prey is a species of dolphin. Reproduction and Offspring Except for the echidna and platypus, mammals give birth to live young. Echidnas and platypuses are monotremes, which lay eggs. The platypus mates once each year during the breeding season, which occurs between June and October. Normally, a platypus lives a solitary life in a burrow above the water level. After mating, the male departs for his own burrow, while the female digs a deeper burrow with plugs to control environmental conditions and protect her eggs and young. She lines her nest with leaves and grass and lays between one and three eggs (usually two). The eggs are small (under half an inch) and leathery. She curls around her eggs to incubate them. The eggs hatch after about 10 days. The hairless, blind young drink milk released by pores in the mothers skin. The offspring nurse for about four months before emerging from the burrow. At birth, both male and female platypuses have spurs and teeth. The teeth drop out when the animals are very young. The females spurs drop off before she is a year old. A platypus reaches sexual maturity in its second year. In the wild, a platypus lives at least 11 years. They have been known to reach 17 years of age in captivity. Conservation Status The IUCN classifies the platypus conservation status as near threatened. Researchers estimate the number of mature animals anywhere between 30,000 and 300,000, usually settling on a number around 50,000. Threats Although protected since 1905, platypus numbers have been decreasing. The species faces habitat disruption from irrigation, dams, and pollution. Disease is a significant factor in Tasmania. However, the most significant threat is reduced water availability from human use and droughts caused by climate change. The Platypus and Humans The platypus is not aggressive. While its sting may be fatal to smaller animals, such as dogs, there has never been a documented human fatality. The animals venom contains defensin-like proteins (DLPs) that cause swelling and excruciating pain. Additionally, a sting results in heightened pain sensitivity that may persist for days or months. If you want to see a living platypus, you have to travel to Australia. As of 2017, only select aquariums in Australia house the animals. The Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria and the Taronga Zoo in Sydney have successfully bred platypuses in captivity. Sources Cromer, Erica. Monotreme Reproductive Biology and Behavior. Iowa State University. April 14, 2004.Grant, Tom. The platypus: a unique mammal. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press, 1995. ISBN 978-0-86840-143-0.Groves, C.P. Order Monotremata. In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 2, 2005. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.Moyal, Ann Mozley. Platypus: The Extraordinary Story of How a Curious Creature Baffled the World. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004. ISBN 978-0-8018-8052-0.Woinarski, J. A.A Burbidge. Ornithorhynchus anatinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T40488A21964009. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T40488A21964009.en

Using Epanorthosis in Rhetoric

Using Epanorthosis in Rhetoric A figure of speech in which a speaker corrects or comments on something he or she has just said. A retraction (or pseudo-retraction) is a type of epanorthosis. Adjective: epanorthotic.Epanorthosis is also known as correctio or self-correction. The etymology is from the Greek, setting straight again. Examples and Observations Maybe there is a beast. . . . What I mean is . . . maybe its only us. (Simon in Lord of the Flies by William Golding, 1954)​With a heave of his chest, Croker rose and came walkingor, rather, limpingtoward him. (Tom Wolfe, A Man in Full, 1998)​[A] good heart, Kate, is the sun and the moon; or, rather, the sun, and not the moon; for it shines bright and never changes, but keeps his course truly. (King Henry V in Act V, scene two of Henry V by William Shakespeare, 1600)​I dont like the majority of what I do. I shouldnt say I dont like it, but Im not satisfied with almost everything that I do. (Paul Simon)​You dont think were being . . . I dont want to say sleazy, because thats not the right word, but a little irresponsible, maybe? (Owen Wilson as John Beckwith, The Wedding Crashers, 2005)​Epanorthosis, or Correction, is a figure by which we retract or recall what we have spoken, for the sake of substituting something stronger or more suitable in its pl ace... The use of this figure lies in the unexpected interruption it gives to the current of our discourse, by turning the stream as it were back upon itself, and then returning it upon the auditor with redoubled force and precision. The nature of this figure dictates its pronunciation; it is somewhat akin to the parenthesis. What we correct should be so pronounced as to seem the immediate effusion of the moment; for which purpose it does not only require a separation from the rest of the sentence, by an alteration of the voice into a lower tone, but an abrupt discontinuance of the member immediately preceding. (John Walker, A Rhetorical Grammar, 1822)​ He has lately been at work telling again, as they call it, a most gratuitous piece of mischief, and has caused a coolness betwixt me and (not a friend exactly, but) an intimate acquaintance. (Charles Lamb, letter to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Jan. 10, 1820)​Thence have I followed it(Or it hath drawn me, rather) but tis gone. (Ferdinand in The Tempest by William Shakespeare)​In epanorthosis, or setting right, one thinks better of what one has said and qualifies it or even takes it back, as in Augustines classic Give me chastity and continencebut not yet (Confessions 8.7). Epanorthosis is particularly revealing of the character of the speaker, in this case, of an untrustworthy soul divided against itself and given more to self-deception than to deception of others. (P. Christopher Smith, The Hermeneutics of Original Argument: Demonstration, Dialectic, Rhetoric. Northwestern Univ. Press, 1998)​They have a right to more comfort than they at present enjoy; and more comf ort might be afforded them, without encroaching on the pleasures of the rich: not now waiting to enquire whether the rich have any right to exclusive pleasures. What do I say?encroaching! No; if an intercourse were established between them, it would impart the only true pleasure that can be snatched in this land of shadows, this hard school of moral discipline. (Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Men, 1790)​ I should probably have said at the outset Im noted for having something of a sense of humour, although I have kept myself very much to myself over the last two years notwithstanding, as it were, and its only as comparatively recently that I began to realizewell, er, perhaps realize is not the correct word, er, imagine, imagine that I was not the only thing in her life. (Michael Palin in episode two of Monty Pythons Flying Circus, 1969)