Simulation and Supply Chain Management Parsley Pallets

Critique of The War Against the Poor essays

Critique of The War Against the Poor essays Critique of The War Against the Poor The sociological book, The War Against the Poor: The Underclass and Antipoverty Policy, written by Herbert J. Gans attempts to take a look at and make a case for America waging a war against the poor in the non-traditional sense since the 1980s. This war begin in the 1960s with what he describes as minor conflicts and then became a full scale ordeal in the 80s with the idea of the underclass as its main intellectual weapon of attack. This word has a technical aura that enables it to serve as a euphemism or code word to be used for labeling (59). Gans uses and extends a series of influential articles to decisively demonstrate how the term has served to "stigmatize, harass, and stereotype the poor by questioning their values and their morality," changing them, in result into "scapegoats whom the wealthier peoples can displace" social problems and worries (1 and 129). Through extensive research Gans determines the origins, manner of travel, and wide uses of the label "underclass." In 1963, the under-class indicated a portion of the working class that had become marginalized by de-industrialization. In the 1970s Gans shows how under-class had changed with a racial as well as behavioral indication: he argues that journalists and politicians aided the spread of this connotation. Social scientists also acted as label communicators themselves, as well as legitimators (56). This new attachment to the term under-class was that of poor urban African Americans who allegedly threaten America's traditions with their supposed antisocial behavior. Using data derived from Nexis, a type of professional search engine nexis.com, the diffusion of the underclass label in mapped out through the main magazines and newspapers of the country (although this research is primarily done with case studies). Social scientists legitimized its s...

Case study of Netaporter and Topshop Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case study of Netaporter and Topshop - Essay Example As Net-a-porter is based on online retailing, it is providing the services 7 days a week, 24 hours a day (refer as '24/7') with 120 international designers' luxury goods (clothing, shoes and accessories) to its customers throughout world. During the year 2005 sales was 21.3 million, which was 9.5 million increased compared to the previous year (Net-a-porter Limited, 2006). On the company's website, the front page links to "Home", What's New", "Magazine", "Designers", " Clothing", "Bags", "Shoes", "Accessories", "Gifts", "Sale" and "Explore" pages. These pages provide a wide array of information depending on the links that an individual may click. Among the web pages the most informative and a direct link for the customers is the "Magazine" page. It provides customers the overviews of each month fashion tendencies in six sections; "Most wanted", "IT list", "Get the look", "Style report", "Features" and "Profiles". There are also fully-explained information about the product by size chart (US, UK, FR, IT size), various images, fabrics, washing guide and price. These information adds value to the products and services of the company. Direct links are also provided when a customer clicks on the item in the fashion news sections, it automatically uploads the product information page. In that page you could see the pictures of the products, the detailed description of the product and the small shopping bag just on the top of the product you are reviewing. Once you click the shopping bag it automatically sends the products price and adjust the total in the Shopping Bag on the upper right corner of the page. This gives added convenience to the customer concerned. The customer does not have to waste their time seeking an item among thousand of items that the company carries. Natalie Massenet, founder of Net-a-porter said, "It was always my dream to be able to click on the pictures in a magazine and buy" (Anonymous (e)). 4.2.3.3 Choice The company carries a wide collection of designers products as we could see in its "Designers" page. There are over a hundred designer companies and businesses linked in their respective names. Customers may alternatively browse the page by category aside from browsing by designers. These links alone offers a collection that is robust enough to be browsed in just a day. The more the choices of collection of available products, the better for the company for it satisfies the freedom of choice among its customers. The website is also well designed in the way that it could only present the most appropriate products available for a given customer, for it considers the profile of an individual based on the records kept by the company in its databases. This factors lead the customer for a better line to choose from with the assurance that the choices they made is suited on their individual needs. 4.2.3.4 Delivery System Net-a-porter delivers to more than 50 countries around the world. Since the price of the products are based on UK/EU, non-EU country customers take advantage of the VAT, and the customer will be clearly informed about this during the transaction. It offers free shipping cost for purchases that cost over 1,000 (www.Net-a-porter.com). Table 3,