Side Streets free essay sample

Feet clung firmly to the asphalt, my eyes are bolted straight ahead. My muscles strain to impel my legs forward. The remainder of my body stays still. No breathing in, no breathing out; structures rise and fall afterward. Hues and sounds whirl frantically around me, I proceed at a creeping pace. My life has been an all out haze. My memory comprises of bits of my past, similar to a riddle missing the greater part of its pieces. Everything has been centered around my objective, a vague obscure called the â€Å"future.† Vehicles boom their horns, youngsters chuckle and play on the walkways. Careless in regards to my environmental factors, my eyes stay fixed on my goal, the skyline. Mechanically I stroll on, venturing closer to the convergence ahead. The break of thunder thunders in the sky and downpour starts pouring down over the scene. As my foot ventures into the road, a raindrop arrives over my eye and slides down my skin. We will compose a custom article test on Side Streets or on the other hand any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Frightened, I withdraw and wake from my surprise. Sixteen years I have been strolling. An indication of life: I take in and glance around. Off out there the skyline despite everything looms, except to my correct I see the side lanes. The ways are uninhabited, yet encompassed with life rather than cement and steel. Interest surpasses my being as I stray from my street and adventure out into obscure, prepared to investigate the world, to extend my inclinations, to carry on with my life. While this scene is imaginary here and there, it is totally obvious in others. All through the previous year I’ve put forth an attempt to slow time; to value my environmental factors; to investigate more than my forward way. Composing for the school paper this year has fit me staggeringly well and revived my adoration for composing. As not just an assistant in decoding my sentiments, composing is additionally a solid instrument in passing on my thoughts and suppositions. My gifts in arithmetic and the physical sciences have additionally impacted me significantly. I need to make; I need to investigate. I need to be heard, I need to make individuals think, and I need to affect the world for an enormous scope. Through my instructive undertakings I need my life to develop and change with times. I need to be the main individual through the entryway to tomorrow, driving the charge, not just after the generally accepted way to go. Today, as I remain at this junction, I intend to take the side roads. I need my school understanding to permit me to investigate my reality and build up my inclinations more profound. With the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell I can do precisely this. The examination abroad open doors are unending and will permit me to investigate the physical world further, while the various courses and branches of knowledge will assist me with delving further into the psychological domain. I despite everything don't have the foggiest idea where I am going, yet I am eager to proceed to investigate, and I am persuaded Cornell is the spot to assist me with characterizing my frame of reference.

The work poem

Vive arrived at somewhat farther than a large portion of the book and I have been stuck to the spread since the very beginning. One significant subject that Veronica Roth has all the earmarks of being concentrating on is that acting naturally takes boldness. She made this reality where individuals are arranged into five groups dependent on a solitary test at sixteen years old. In the prior parts, her family is appeared to follow convention and take a gander at leaving the family bad (reference). So when both Caleb and Beatrice Prior choose to pick an alternate group and desert there family, it shows the measure of boldness taken.During the arranging function, Beatrice mixed contemplations moving rapidly show the fortitude engaged with acting naturally, not exclusively to yourself yet to people around you. The story opens up with a reflection. Reflection about mental self portrait and what your identity is. It stars multi year old Beatrice Prior's interest in herself, which isn't basi c for those from Vegetation. At the point when she attempts to get herself she winds up ending up In a risky position, being disparate (unique). Her companions, Will, AAA and Christina appear to be useful as they are fairly untouchables (moves) that are not with the Andorra group.Some forecasts I made were that Four, one of the Dauntless Is the child of Marcus and he Is being pushed by Max to turn into a pioneer and potentially the pioneer of the Dauntless. I accept he may likewise be different and have the attributes from the fearless and the magnanimous, thus the way that Max might Want him to be a pioneer. That is the reason the vegetation administers, since they are Incorruptible. I additionally anticipate that the explanation that Divergence Is prohibited and ousted Is on the grounds that they degenerate the system.Their capacities show the blemish In the framework, and how his dyspepsia society and Its limiting reasoning can't be ordered. In what capacity can somebody really g et themselves when they must be arranged Into five distinct territories, where just one of the attributes can be drilled. Another expectation Is an enormous war between the five groups. They all have total contrasts (denial versus savvy, dauntless versus genuineness..? ) and are cooperating at present, however It just takes one gem waiting to be discovered (different) to break the system.As It appears there are numerous individuals who become factionists, this speaks to neediness and destitute Iranians, they may likewise make an uprising Like In the Hunger Games, which Is ordinarily related Josh The Road Journal As I finish the main portion of The Road, my Minimal considerations are that It's an incredible frustrate. Regarding characters, McCarthy adopts an alternate strategy with regards to characters. No names are given to any of the characters. Nonetheless, this doesn't detract from character improvement. I am enamored with the idea of a dad and child as primary characters.I feel as though it includes a curve the class and gives a greater amount of an enthusiastic viewpoint to the story. Also, it adds a spot to identify with, as everybody as encountered some type of fatherly love. With respect to the characters themselves, The dad communicates a profound love for his child. Exhibited by him hurting anybody that contacts him. Be that as it may, as I read on the dad's wellbeing is breaking down. I stress for their possibilities of living. On the off chance that the dad were to bite the dust, assuredly would his child. He is excessively oblivious of what's going on the planet, just as to tolerating of others.Although I wouldn't care for it, I feel the dad will in the end kick the bucket. As far as setting, McCarthy makes an enormous Showing of passing on an infertile and grisly no man's land. Despite the fact that I still can't seem to become familiar with the specific area, I have a decent comprehension of the landscape. The plot is ordinary of a book of such kind. The characters are attempting to endure, and are Journeying down â€Å"The Road†. Be that as it may, McCarthy pulls out all the stops with respect to showing the abominations people could submit. Certain scenes I discovered fierce to peruse, frequently relating to human flesh consumption. The subject of fatherly love is noticeable inside the primary segment of the book.Considering the principle characters, this topic can be normal. McCarthy puts forth an attempt to underscore the man's adoration for his child. At different focuses in the story it is clarified that the man's whole will to live exists in his child. Before his significant other ended it all, she called attention to ; â€Å"the kid was all that remained among him and death†. The citation clarifies that the main thing that kept the man from self destruction was his child. Moreover, Despite the aversion with savagery the two express, the dad rushes to brutality if his child is hurt. At the point when they experience somebody who takes steps to hurt the kid the dad doesn't spare a moment to murder him.He communicates such musings when he says; † My Job is to deal with you. I was selected to do that by God. I will execute any individual who contacts you. Do you get it? â€Å". All through the story the dad and child make reference to whether they are the â€Å"good guys†. They frequently question the activities of others and themselves. With perusing, I feel McCarthy has put accentuation on humankind and ethics. They talk about â€Å"carrying the fire†, which is the term they use to depict individuals who are good. On the off chance that such a circumstance was to occur in present day human advancement, what degree will individuals go to survive?Would individuals truly endeavor to be good in their activities, or capitulate to coldhearted ethos of endurance? Furthermore, McCarthy continually demonstrates the man's assurance to live. In spite of his children inq uiries on death, and his readiness to bite the dust, the man pushes on. Indeed, even regardless of the exhortation of his better half, he can't stand to see his child kick the bucket. His adoration for his child is too extraordinary to even think about letting him go. I think McCarthy needs us to consider what drives us. What do we love and battle for. That through affection and assurance individuals defeat the most desperate of conditions. That if a dystopian situation were to introduce itself would we abandon life?

How The Build-Measure-Learn Cycle Really Works

How The Build-Measure-Learn Cycle Really Works THE LEAN STARTUP METHODAmong the several known approaches towards creating and managing startups, one of the most popular ones is the Lean Startup Method. This method offers a scientific approach, introducing a systematic way for business owners to engage in new product development. It provides answers on how to set up their startup, and how to steer and turn it, in order for it to succeed and grow.In this methodology, startups will test an idea with the potential users and quickly moving it to come up with a product. It will then obtain feedback on the product from users and adjust the product accordingly, depending on the response or feedback obtained. This method is best embodied in the cycle known as “Build Measure Learn”.Advantages of Using the Lean Startup MethodThis approach provides tools that can be used to test whether a vision works or not. These tools will certainly provide an order to things since it provides a systematic process to ascertain whether to continue purs uing new product development projects or to abandon the idea altogether.Application of the Lean Startup Method will instill in entrepreneurs a certain degree of confidence in their business idea turning into products. Owners will definitely have more faith and positive vibes attached to a product that has passed the initial “experiment”.Using this feedback-focused development process will enable startups to use their resources â€" which are already limited, to begin with â€" in a more effective and efficient manner. Time and labor are considerably reduced, since they are able to put the product to the test and see if it is viable before investing more time and money into it.Since the process is systematic, and it requires fast action and quick thinking, the lean method will allow startups to speed up the new product development cycle.PRINCIPLES OF THE LEAN STARTUP METHODThe Lean Startup Method follows five principles. Entrepreneurs are everywhere.  Indeed, anyone can be an entre preneur, as long as you have a viable idea, the determination to see it through, and the resources to make it happen. You do not have to be in a specific line of work in order to be in a startup. Entrepreneurship is management.  When we talk of a startup, we are not referring to just a single product or service. It is a business â€" an institution â€" and, as such, it also requires management. Of course, not all startups require the same type or approach to management. Depending on the context of the startup, or the line of business or industry it belongs to, it will require a specific kind of management. Validated learning.  Some would say that entrepreneurs create startups in order to make money. But that is not the “bigger picture”. Sure, they will have their eye on the profits, but there is a bigger goal at hand, and that is building the startup into a sustainable business. Fortunately, achieving this goal is something that entrepreneurs can learn about, and this can be done by studying and learning about the market, and various other aspects that have an impact on the business. Innovation accounting.  Being able to quantify things is also important in order to monitor and evaluate or assess outcomes. Thus, startups have to be subjected to a new kind of accounting, in order for progress to be measured. As a result, the business will be able to monitor their progress, make the necessary adjustments, set up milestones when necessary, and prioritize projects and work. Build-measure-learn.  Feedback plays a very important role in every business, and it is especially vital in the case of startups. After turning ideas into products, startups are especially focused on seeing how the customers or the market respond to their products, and to assess whether they should continue or just cut their losses and run. Having a feedback mechanism will definitely help in making this happen.THE BUILD-MEASURE-LEARN CYCLEThe Build-Measure-Learn cycle is a feedback loop that is said to be one of the core components of the Lean Startup methodology. Its goal is to turn uncertainties, assumptions and risks into knowledge or “sure things” that will eventually guide organizations and business towards progress. Through this process, the key unknowns can actually be transformed into knowledge that the startup can use in its product development â€" and business operations, as a whole. This whole process can also be called an experiment.In order to understand how the Build-Measure-Learn cycle works, let us first take a look at its components.Phases of the Build-Measure-Learn CycleThere are three phases to this loop: Build, Measure, and Learn. However, it does not have to be strictly in that order. It is, after all, a cycle. In the book entitled “The Lean Startup”, Eric Ries said that, although the startup’s activities happen in the build, measure, and learn order, planning actually works the other way around.In short, the startup will have to realize what it needs to learn, and then figure out what needs to be measured through the use of innovation accounting. This will eventually reveal whether the startup has gained validated learning or not. Finally, it will then figure out what product must be built.Let us go through the phases of this loop. Before you can start, however, there is a need to “frame” the experiment. This is where you will identify what problem needs to be solved, and how you will run the whole experiment. This entails gathering data and detailing the background of the experiment, formulating a hypothesis and considering the variables of the environment. From there, you can now start with the feedback loop.Phase #1. BUILDIn this phase, the startup’s goal is to build or develop its MVP â€" “minimum viable product”, or the bare minimum product that can be built for the purpose of testing a number of assumptions, or the hypothesis formulated â€" as quickly as possible. Before it can do that, however, the startup must first figure out what the problem that needs solving is.Design the experiment. First, you have to build out the details of the experiment and figure out how everything will fit and mesh together. For this, you must have a solid and reliable method of collecting data, meaning the data gathered must be reliable and actionable.Build the experiment. In this stage, think simple and small. Many startups tend to go big and complicated on the get-go, and they end up being overwhelmed and unable to handle it. It would be better to build the smallest possible increment that will still be enough for you to use to validate or reject the hypothesis you have made previously.Run the experiment. This is where you will collect the data. The most common methods include conducting interviews or distributing questionnaires. In some instances, others may come out with prototypes for testing.Among the activities that Eric Ries identified as part of the Build phase includes conducting unit t ests, usability tests, refactoring, and cloud computing.Phase #2: MEASUREIn this second phase, the startup must then determine whether real progress is being made or not, and this involves measuring the results obtained from the experiment performed during the BUILD phase.Data analysis. Analyze the data obtained from the experiment. What happened? What are the implications of the data to your hypothesis? Make a comparison on what you hypothesized to what actually happeneData organization. Organize your data in a way that will make it easily understood, and for the whole scenario to be easily comprehended by whoever listens to it.Data Presentation. Make your presentation of the data as compelling as possible. You want the members of the organization or the company to be engaged, so make sure you present it in a way that will truly grab their attention and hook them.In order to speed up measuring, Eric Ries suggested conducting activities such as split tests, real-time monitoring, fu nnel analysis, cohort analysis and search engine marketing, to name a few.Phase #3: LEARNThis is where the startup will have to make a decision based on the measurements accumulated: should it “persevere”, or should it “pivot”? Persevere, in this context, means carrying on with the same goals, while pivot entails changing or shifting some, or all, of the aspects of the product strategy. Afterward, you would have to document your findings and share them.The questions that are to be asked in this phase include looking into the knowledge that has been obtained. How should that knowledge be preserved?More importantly, what are the next steps that should be taken by the startup?Ries cited several activities for this phase including, but not limited to, conducting customer interviews, split tests, customer deployment, and smoke tests.The 3 phases of the cycle can be simplified in the following activities.Ask whether the new idea of the startup actually solves a problem for the use rs.Quickly come up with an action or a program that will test the idea with the users. Perform reassessment or reevaluation if needed.Obtain feedback from your us Focus on getting information that is relevant and will be useful in helping you create the product / service that is wanted or needed by the users.Consider the sustainability of the product or service. Will you be able to maintain the current level of engagement or service?Illustrative Example of the Application of the Build-Measure-Learn CycleFor purposes of discussion, let us take a look at a mobile app startup and how it should employ the Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop.Some mobile app startups would follow this process: they have an idea for an app, and they immediately write everything down on their business plan. Next, they design the app on paper, and they would then start writing the code and finish the development of the app. Once it has been finished, they will begin talking to customers and selling the app.Tha t is not how the Build-Measure-Learn approach works.Application of this cycle would follow entail the following steps.The mobile app startup comes up with an idea.The startup comes up with a business model canvas, presented in a short business plan. (BUILD)They start talking with customers and ask them what features they are looking for in an app. (MEASURE)They will obtain the feedback of customers. (LEARN)Using the feedback obtained, they will have to repeat Step 2 and make revisions on the business plan until they get it right.Once they got the business plan right, they would proceed to the implementation of a prototype, or the MVP (minimum viable product) for testing. (BUILD)The prototype is then shown to the customers. (MEASURE)Feedback from customers is obtained and learned. (LEARN)Step 6 is repeated, making improvements on the prototype until they got the app right.THE ZAPPOS STORY Every business wants to succeed; who doesn’t? Unfortunately, not everyone makes it past the one-year mark. Others even do not manage to survive for a period shorter than that. The failure of most startups can be pinned on a number of reasons: lack of funding, poor management, or even a poor business model to begin with. Much of the success of any business, however, would rely on how the owner or the management acts.What decisions do they make, and how do they reach these decisions? What strategies do they employ in managing their startup? These are only some of the questions that would bring to light the reasons why the startup succeeded or fell short of expectations. In this article, we will 1) get a basic understanding of the lean startup method and its advantages, 2) learn about the principles of the lean startup method, 3) overview on the build-measure-learn cycle, and 4) an example of how Zappos used the build-measure-learn cycle.THE LEAN STARTUP METHODAmong the several known approaches towards creating and managing startups, one of the most popular ones is the Lean Startup Method. This method offers a scientific approach, introducing a systematic way for business owners to engage in new product development. It provides answers on how to set up their startup, and how to steer and turn it, in order for it to succeed and grow.In this methodology, startups will test an idea with the potential users and quickly moving it to come up with a product. It will then obtain feedback on the product from users and adjust the product accordingly, depending on the response or feedback obtained. This method is best embodied in the cycle known as “Build Mea sure Learn”.Advantages of Using the Lean Startup MethodThis approach provides tools that can be used to test whether a vision works or not. These tools will certainly provide an order to things since it provides a systematic process to ascertain whether to continue pursuing new product development projects or to abandon the idea altogether.Application of the Lean Startup Method will instill in entrepreneurs a certain degree of confidence in their business idea turning into products. Owners will definitely have more faith and positive vibes attached to a product that has passed the initial “experiment”.Using this feedback-focused development process will enable startups to use their resources â€" which are already limited, to begin with â€" in a more effective and efficient manner. Time and labor are considerably reduced, since they are able to put the product to the test and see if it is viable before investing more time and money into it.Since the process is systematic, and i t requires fast action and quick thinking, the lean method will allow startups to speed up the new product development cycle.PRINCIPLES OF THE LEAN STARTUP METHODThe Lean Startup Method follows five principles. Entrepreneurs are everywhere.  Indeed, anyone can be an entrepreneur, as long as you have a viable idea, the determination to see it through, and the resources to make it happen. You do not have to be in a specific line of work in order to be in a startup. Entrepreneurship is management.  When we talk of a startup, we are not referring to just a single product or service. It is a business â€" an institution â€" and, as such, it also requires management. Of course, not all startups require the same type or approach to management. Depending on the context of the startup, or the line of business or industry it belongs to, it will require a specific kind of management. Validated learning.  Some would say that entrepreneurs create startups in order to make money. But that is not t he “bigger picture”. Sure, they will have their eye on the profits, but there is a bigger goal at hand, and that is building the startup into a sustainable business. Fortunately, achieving this goal is something that entrepreneurs can learn about, and this can be done by studying and learning about the market, and various other aspects that have an impact on the business. Innovation accounting.  Being able to quantify things is also important in order to monitor and evaluate or assess outcomes. Thus, startups have to be subjected to a new kind of accounting, in order for progress to be measured. As a result, the business will be able to monitor their progress, make the necessary adjustments, set up milestones when necessary, and prioritize projects and work. Build-measure-learn.  Feedback plays a very important role in every business, and it is especially vital in the case of startups. After turning ideas into products, startups are especially focused on seeing how the customers or the market respond to their products, and to assess whether they should continue or just cut their losses and run. Having a feedback mechanism will definitely help in making this happen.THE BUILD-MEASURE-LEARN CYCLEThe Build-Measure-Learn cycle is a feedback loop that is said to be one of the core components of the Lean Startup methodology. Its goal is to turn uncertainties, assumptions and risks into knowledge or “sure things” that will eventually guide organizations and business towards progress. Through this process, the key unknowns can actually be transformed into knowledge that the startup can use in its product development â€" and business operations, as a whole. This whole process can also be called an experiment.In order to understand how the Build-Measure-Learn cycle works, let us first take a look at its components.Phases of the Build-Measure-Learn CycleThere are three phases to this loop: Build, Measure, and Learn. However, it does not have to be strictly in that order. It is, after all, a cycle. In the book entitled “The Lean Startup”, Eric Ries said that, although the startup’s activities happen in the build, measure, and learn order, planning actually works the other way around.In short, the startup will have to realize what it needs to learn, and then figure out what needs to be measured through the use of innovation accounting. This will eventually reveal whether the startup has gained validated learning or not. Finally, it will then figure out what product must be built.Let us go through the phases of this loop. Before you can start, however, there is a need to “frame” the experiment. This is where you will identify what problem needs to be solved, and how you will run the whole experiment. This entails gathering data and detailing the background of the experiment, formulating a hypothesis and considering the variables of the environment. From there, you can now start with the feedback loop.Phase #1. BUILDIn this phase, the startup’s goal is to build or develop its MVP â€" “minimum viable product”, or the bare minimum product that can be built for the purpose of testing a number of assumptions, or the hypothesis formulated â€" as quickly as possible. Before it can do that, however, the startup must first figure out what the problem that needs solving is.Design the experiment. First, you have to build out the details of the experiment and figure out how everything will fit and mesh together. For this, you must have a solid and reliable method of collecting data, meaning the data gathered must be reliable and actionable.Build the experiment. In this stage, think simple and small. Many startups tend to go big and complicated on the get-go, and they end up being overwhelmed and unable to handle it. It would be better to build the smallest possible increment that will still be enough for you to use to validate or reject the hypothesis you have made previously.Run the experiment. This is where you will collect the data. The most common methods include conducting interviews or distributing questionnaires. In some instances, others may come out with prototypes for testing.Among the activities that Eric Ries identified as part of the Build phase includes conducting unit tests, usability tests, refactoring, and cloud computing.Phase #2: MEASUREIn this second phase, the startup must then determine whether real progress is being made or not, and this involves measuring the results obtained from the experiment performed during the BUILD phase.Data analysis. Analyze the data obtained from the experiment. What happened? What are the implications of the data to your hypothesis? Make a comparison on what you hypothesized to what actually happeneData organization. Organize your data in a way that will make it easily understood, and for the whole scenario to be easily comprehended by whoever listens to it.Data Presentation. Make your presentation of the data as compelling as possible. You wa nt the members of the organization or the company to be engaged, so make sure you present it in a way that will truly grab their attention and hook them.In order to speed up measuring, Eric Ries suggested conducting activities such as split tests, real-time monitoring, funnel analysis, cohort analysis and search engine marketing, to name a few.Phase #3: LEARNThis is where the startup will have to make a decision based on the measurements accumulated: should it “persevere”, or should it “pivot”? Persevere, in this context, means carrying on with the same goals, while pivot entails changing or shifting some, or all, of the aspects of the product strategy. Afterward, you would have to document your findings and share them.The questions that are to be asked in this phase include looking into the knowledge that has been obtained. How should that knowledge be preserved?More importantly, what are the next steps that should be taken by the startup?Ries cited several activities for t his phase including, but not limited to, conducting customer interviews, split tests, customer deployment, and smoke tests.The 3 phases of the cycle can be simplified in the following activities.Ask whether the new idea of the startup actually solves a problem for the users.Quickly come up with an action or a program that will test the idea with the users. Perform reassessment or reevaluation if needed.Obtain feedback from your us Focus on getting information that is relevant and will be useful in helping you create the product / service that is wanted or needed by the users.Consider the sustainability of the product or service. Will you be able to maintain the current level of engagement or service?Illustrative Example of the Application of the Build-Measure-Learn CycleFor purposes of discussion, let us take a look at a mobile app startup and how it should employ the Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop.Some mobile app startups would follow this process: they have an idea for an app, and they immediately write everything down on their business plan. Next, they design the app on paper, and they would then start writing the code and finish the development of the app. Once it has been finished, they will begin talking to customers and selling the app.That is not how the Build-Measure-Learn approach works.Application of this cycle would follow entail the following steps.The mobile app startup comes up with an idea.The startup comes up with a business model canvas, presented in a short business plan. (BUILD)They start talking with customers and ask them what features they are looking for in an app. (MEASURE)They will obtain the feedback of customers. (LEARN)Using the feedback obtained, they will have to repeat Step 2 and make revisions on the business plan until they get it right.Once they got the business plan right, they would proceed to the implementation of a prototype, or the MVP (minimum viable product) for testing. (BUILD)The prototype is then shown to the cus tomers. (MEASURE)Feedback from customers is obtained and learned. (LEARN)Step 6 is repeated, making improvements on the prototype until they got the app right.THE ZAPPOS STORYZappos.com has been cited by many analysts as a great example of a company that made use of the Lean Startup Method, particularly the Build-Measure-Learn cycle.Now considered to be one of the biggest online shoe and clothing shops in the world, Zappos was founded in 1999 as a startup. It was originally just a site where customers can order shoes. It is not a manufacturer or a retailer since it does not have any shoe inventory. This was the Build phase.When the first orders started coming in, the founders of the startup went to a local store to purchase the shoes that have been ordered and subsequently shipped them to the customers who placed the order. This was where they implemented the Measure phase of the cycle.The Learn phase came in as the founders tried to gauge the interest of the customers in their idea and even obtained their thoughts and reactions to it. Using the lessons learned from the first orders, they made the necessary adjustments and iterations, applied improvements, and continued the cycle.Some could say that this has an element of “trial and error”, and they wouldn’t be wrong.A crucial element in the whole Build-Measure-Learn cycle is the reliance on customer feedback and reactions. It can be said that much of the success of the application of this cycle in the case of Zappos was the fact that the online shoe store makes use of a loyalty business model and utilized relationship marketing heavily.Zappos could have gone another route entirely. It could have started its shoe inventory and simple resold them. However, by using the Build-Measure-Learn approach, it was able to test the waters first, so to speak. Instead of spending a lot of time building its inventory and hiring personnel to handle operations, it stuck to just the founders doing all the work, and getti ng orders first before procuring the shoes. Their first attempt worked, and it was only then that the founders decided to continue (“persevere”) with it. Today, Zappos is no longer limited to the sale of shoes, but is also selling other items as well, and that could be attributed to them “learning” that customers are also interested in buying merchandise other than shoes or footwear.That is not to say that Zappos would have failed if it did not use the Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop. It would probably still have succeeded, but they may have taken more time to achieve the results they wanted. What this feedback loop did for Zappos, however, was to make sure that the process was accomplished quicker. Otherwise, Zappos might have taken longer to become established as the successful marketplace and retail giant that it is today.To summarize, the Build-Measure-Learn loop pertains to the cyclical process of turning ideas into products, measuring the reactions, response, and beh aviors of the customers against the products that have been built, and learning whether to persevere or pivot the idea.

Sony Financial Analysis09 - 5577 Words

Acknowledgement We also extend our gratitude to the writers and publishers and of the books from which parts have been included in my report. Lastly, we would like to acknowledge the Almighty God for his guidance and wisdom throughout the process. | |Table of Contents |Page No. | |1 |Introduction |3 | |2 |Profitability ratio analysis |5 | |3 |Efficiency ratio analysis†¦show more content†¦[pic] Sales Sales for the financial year ended March 31, 2009 decreased by 565.7 or 12.9 percent billion yen to 7729.9 billion yen compared with the previous financial year. The electronics, financial services and game segments incurred operating loss when compared to pictures segment that made an operating profit, though the operating income fell 48.9%, to  ¥29.9 billion. Sales Ratio Cost of sales for the financial year ended March 31, 2009 decreased by 629.5 billion yen to 5,660.0 billion yen compared with the 2008 financial year, and sales ratio increased from 70.9 percent to 73.2 percent as a percentage of sales. Gross Profit Margin Gross Profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2009 decreased by 511.9 billion yen to 2,581.1 billion yen as compared to the previous year though the cost of salesShow MoreRelatedStrayer Bus 508 Assignment 4 (Diversification)1577 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of the PlayStation Network Joe Student Date Business 508 Professor An Analysis of the PlayStation Network Sony Corporation is a well diversified company providing many complementary products and services. Not only does Sony offer electronics through its own website, it has a series of online products and services it offers to its users. The PlayStation Network, a part of the Sony Entertainment Network, is one of these many services. 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Platos Views on the Technology of Writing Essay example

Platos Views on the Technology of Writing In the book Phaedrus Plato offers a lot of criticism for a writing technology that not many of us would ever think as writing technology, let alone criticize it. This writing technology is none other than writing itself. When people think of writing technology they mostly think of the printing press, the computer, the typewriter and such. Yet no one stops to think of writing. Writing has had such a major impact on society that who would ever think that the one of the greatest minds of all time opposed it. Plato was not just a crazy old man afraid of change; his criticism can still be applied today. For many people, writing has always been around. It’s hard to†¦show more content†¦For example, in school when students take notes in class they don’t bother to memorize the information right away as they are listening to it. Students rely on the fact that they took notes and can refer to the notes later on. Consider a student getting ready to do their homework. The first thing that student will probably do is look at his/her assignment book where she wrote down what the assignments are for each class and when they are due. Planners are widely used by students to remember all the assignments for each of their classes and due dates. Many people also use planners for their jobs and daily activities. Some of these people could not function without a planner. Not many people think of planners or notes as promoters of forgetfulness, but they are. Just think of how many people could not remember a spouse’s birthday or an anniversary if the y didn’t have it written down somewhere. Think of how many late assignments student would turn in because they relied solely on memory. Forgetfulness was not the only thing Plato was worried about when it came to writing. He was also concerned about how permanent writing was. When you look at the difference between writing and speech a major difference is how variable speech can be. Plato saw this as a benefit not a detriment. When someone gives a speech there are many people present who serve as witnesses. These people can argue with the orator or point out mistakes.Show MoreRelated The Power Of Writing Essay995 Words   |  4 PagesThe Power Of Writing When I entered this class I didn’t think that we would be discussing the concept of writing. In fact, I never thought the concept of writing was that complicated enough to be discussed in a classroom setting. However, as demonstrated throughout history different forms of communication, such as writing, have shaped and evolved human interaction and invoked societal change. For example, in Walter Ong’s essay, â€Å"Writing is a Technology that Restructures Thought,† Ong acknowledgesRead MorePlato And His Influences On Plato s Philosophy1370 Words   |  6 Pagestheir own impact on Platonic ideas or theory. Heraclitus influenced Plato’s conception of the sensible world. Parmenides and Zeno played a strong role in Plato’s Forms Theory. He used the forms to satisfy the requirements of the metaphysical unity and stability. Also, he mixed Pythagorean ideas regarding the intelligible and the politics from Socrates. Pythagoreans is offend known to have i nfluenced the mathematical aspect of Plato’s ideas. Although, he had a lot of influences, no one top Socrates influenceRead More Literary Utopian Societies Essays1747 Words   |  7 Pagesmet, society must analyze utopias in order to improve their existing environment. Plato’s Republic was the first â€Å"true† work considered to be utopian literature. In fact, the Republic influenced almost all later text written on the subject of utopia (Manuel 7). Although the Republic was one of the most influential works in utopian literature, the society that it represented also had many obvious flaws. 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Platos philosophy on the decent life was based on the confidence that all has an objective or use that is classically suited for asset, beauty, fairness, and excellenceRead MoreA Biblical View of Science, Technology, and Business: Do Utilitarian’s Agree with These Biblical Views?1835 Words   |  8 PagesA Biblical View of Science, Technology, and Business: Do Utilitarian’s Agree with These Biblical Views? Utilitarianism was originated by Epicurus in ancient Greece and is the doctrine that an action is right as long as it promotes happiness, usefulness, and overall pleasurableness. If the action inflicts pain than it is not seen as right. Many of these ideas adapted well with the all of the modernization and changes that were occurring in the technology, science, and business world during the

The Contemporary Society Free Essays

Contemporary society is continually informed of advances in technology, be they in biology, agriculture, education, or nearly any other discipline or aspect of life. It appears technology is directly or indirectly linked to all recent progress. Certainly, many of the daily activities in which humans engage (reading a newspaper, making coffee, commuting to work, etc. We will write a custom essay sample on The Contemporary Society or any similar topic only for you Order Now ) require technological devices. With the apparently increased reliance on and development of technology, it seems prudent to consider the consequences inherent in the use and evolution of it. More specifically, one must examine the extent to which humans–the creators of technology, will become redundant in a society in which machines and the tasks they perform are incapable of being extracted from daily routines. As with nearly all issues, the development of technology is advocated by many while it is strongly opposed by others. Regarding the former, one must not search far for arguments favoring technological progress. Proponents, particularly those favoring medical advances, eagerly enumerate the positive outcomes of technological breakthroughs. Some claim a society in which its members are born free of debilitating conditions or cured of them throughout the life span must certainly be a better civilization, or at least a more humane one. In addition, technological efforts to render crops more plentiful, nutritious, and resistant to pests is proclaimed a constructive step towards moral justice, not to mention efficient use of resources. Few deny the moral obligation of providing third world nations the skills and tools to produce food. On a more superficial yet paradoxically significant level, the conveniences made possible by technology are also cause for celebration. That they free humans of otherwise labor intensive tasks and allow many to enjoy other more ‘worthwhile’ endeavors, such as leisure activities, is beyond question. In fact, without many currently employed machines, humans would not be able to engage in such a wide variety of daily pursuits. Considering the individual, societal, and global advantages available through technological advances, it is not surprising many favor its continued development. Without ignoring or denying many of the mentioned benefits of technology, it is nonetheless possible to persuasively argue that its unbridled expansion can and is eliminating the need for many human activities and purposes. Ironically, while technology may solve some of humanity’s ills (for example, relieving humans from tedious and laborious tasks), by doing such at an alarming pace it is also creating unanticipated and insistent problems. Consider the economic consequences of increased technological use. This trend, although allowing for undeniably greater productivity and reduced costs, gives rise to a potent social issue: mass unemployment. On a nearly daily basis one is informed of human redundancy; business is steadily replacing its human workforce with one derived from technology. It is common knowledge that in many industries, machines are adequate and oftentimes better substitutes for humans. Moreover, as machinery becomes more ubiquitous in the workplace, ‘the role of humans as the most important factor of production is bound to diminish in the same way that the role of horses in agricultural production was first diminished and then eliminated by the introduction of tractors’ (Rifkin 283). The replacement of human workers with machines is not limited to a few companies or industries; it is found throughout a nation’s business network. More than 75 percent of the labor force in most industrial nations engage in work that is little more than simple repetitive tasks’ (Rifkin 283). Such jobs are particularly susceptible to ‘machine takeovers’. In fact, ‘automated machinery, robots, and increasingly sophisticated computers can perform many, if not most, of these jobs’ (Rifkin 283). However, the unskilled labor force, particularly that in the manufacturing sector, is not the only one vulnerable to redundancy. As companies restructure their operations to include more computers and high-tech machinery, middle management positions are concurrently declining (Rifkin 284). In a recent article, The Wall Street Journal reiterates this phenomenon by claiming that ‘most of the cuts are facilitated, in one way or another, by new software programs, better computer networks and more powerful hardware that allow companies to do more with fewer workers’ (Rifkin 282). How to cite The Contemporary Society, Essay examples

The Contemporary Society Free Essays

Contemporary society is continually informed of advances in technology, be they in biology, agriculture, education, or nearly any other discipline or aspect of life. It appears technology is directly or indirectly linked to all recent progress. Certainly, many of the daily activities in which humans engage (reading a newspaper, making coffee, commuting to work, etc. We will write a custom essay sample on The Contemporary Society or any similar topic only for you Order Now ) require technological devices. With the apparently increased reliance on and development of technology, it seems prudent to consider the consequences inherent in the use and evolution of it. More specifically, one must examine the extent to which humans–the creators of technology, will become redundant in a society in which machines and the tasks they perform are incapable of being extracted from daily routines. As with nearly all issues, the development of technology is advocated by many while it is strongly opposed by others. Regarding the former, one must not search far for arguments favoring technological progress. Proponents, particularly those favoring medical advances, eagerly enumerate the positive outcomes of technological breakthroughs. Some claim a society in which its members are born free of debilitating conditions or cured of them throughout the life span must certainly be a better civilization, or at least a more humane one. In addition, technological efforts to render crops more plentiful, nutritious, and resistant to pests is proclaimed a constructive step towards moral justice, not to mention efficient use of resources. Few deny the moral obligation of providing third world nations the skills and tools to produce food. On a more superficial yet paradoxically significant level, the conveniences made possible by technology are also cause for celebration. That they free humans of otherwise labor intensive tasks and allow many to enjoy other more ‘worthwhile’ endeavors, such as leisure activities, is beyond question. In fact, without many currently employed machines, humans would not be able to engage in such a wide variety of daily pursuits. Considering the individual, societal, and global advantages available through technological advances, it is not surprising many favor its continued development. Without ignoring or denying many of the mentioned benefits of technology, it is nonetheless possible to persuasively argue that its unbridled expansion can and is eliminating the need for many human activities and purposes. Ironically, while technology may solve some of humanity’s ills (for example, relieving humans from tedious and laborious tasks), by doing such at an alarming pace it is also creating unanticipated and insistent problems. Consider the economic consequences of increased technological use. This trend, although allowing for undeniably greater productivity and reduced costs, gives rise to a potent social issue: mass unemployment. On a nearly daily basis one is informed of human redundancy; business is steadily replacing its human workforce with one derived from technology. It is common knowledge that in many industries, machines are adequate and oftentimes better substitutes for humans. Moreover, as machinery becomes more ubiquitous in the workplace, ‘the role of humans as the most important factor of production is bound to diminish in the same way that the role of horses in agricultural production was first diminished and then eliminated by the introduction of tractors’ (Rifkin 283). The replacement of human workers with machines is not limited to a few companies or industries; it is found throughout a nation’s business network. More than 75 percent of the labor force in most industrial nations engage in work that is little more than simple repetitive tasks’ (Rifkin 283). Such jobs are particularly susceptible to ‘machine takeovers’. In fact, ‘automated machinery, robots, and increasingly sophisticated computers can perform many, if not most, of these jobs’ (Rifkin 283). However, the unskilled labor force, particularly that in the manufacturing sector, is not the only one vulnerable to redundancy. As companies restructure their operations to include more computers and high-tech machinery, middle management positions are concurrently declining (Rifkin 284). In a recent article, The Wall Street Journal reiterates this phenomenon by claiming that ‘most of the cuts are facilitated, in one way or another, by new software programs, better computer networks and more powerful hardware that allow companies to do more with fewer workers’ (Rifkin 282). How to cite The Contemporary Society, Essay examples