Greece: A Country with a Rich Cultural

Greece is a country characterized by a remarkable history and a rich cultural heritage.   In ancient times, Greece played a crucial role in early civilization that proved to be monumental in shaping both European and world history.   At present, it successfully maintains its distinct culture in the dynamic modern society.Greece is a country with the land area of 131, 957 square kilometers (â€Å"Countries† 302).  Ã‚  Ã‚   Its capital is Athens, which is also one of its major cities (â€Å"Countries† 302).   Other major cities include Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Patras, Iraklion and Larissa (U.S. Department of State).   In 2005, the Greek population was estimated at 11,104,000, ten percent of which consists of immigrants (U.S. Department of State).   Three million of the said population is situated in Greater Athens (U.S. Department of State).In terms of religion, the majority of the Greek citizens are members of the Greek Orthodox Church (â€Å"Countries† 302).   Other religions present in Greek society include Islam, Roman Catholicism and Protestantism (â€Å"Countries† 302).   Greece is characterized by an interesting and diverse culture which is established on customs and traditions, religion, food and wine, and music.   Religion and traditions are closely linked, since the latter is usually based and anchored on the former.   Ironically, the Greeks also believe in superstitions.One of the Greek traditions still honored today at is the name day celebration (Greeka).   The Greeks give more importance to name days than birthdays; those who share a name with a celebrated saint also celebrate in a particular day of the year.   During a certain person's â€Å"name day,† family and friends visit to give wishes and gifts.   At the house, the hostess provides food for the guests (Greeka).Another Greek tradition is the Carnival or the â€Å"Apokries† (Greeka).  Ã‚   This feast occurs within a two week p eriod; it starts on Sunday of Meat Fare and ends on â€Å"Clean Monday† or Kathari Deutera (Greeka). â€Å"Clean Monday† or Kathari Deutera is the first day of Lent; at this time, families usually gather for a picnic and kite flying.   The Carnival is believed to have originated from paganism, and is derived from the merrymaking associated with the god Dionysus (Greeka).   This tradition is characterized by people in costumes partying in the streets.   A Carnival parade is held in Patra, where the festivities take place from day until night (Greeka).Easter is also significant for the Greeks.   In fact, it is considered more important than Christmas (Greeka).   Easter is a celebration that brings Greek families together.   Greek women are tasked to color the eggs red using dye; Godparents also give the children new things, such as shoes and clothes (Greeka).   Even the houses and streets are prepared for this occasion, as both are whitewashed for Easter.   In addition, the Greek family gathers for a feast of roasted lamb, wine and appetizers (Greeka).Music also plays a crucial role in Greek culture.   Music in Greece began as early as Antiquity, as it was an essential part of Greek civilization (Greeka).   The best example would be that of Greek tragedy, in which music was one of its key elements.   The demise of Ancient Greece also resulted in the decline of Greek music.   Fortunately, Greek music reemerged in the 19th century (Greeka).Folk songs also play a large role in Greek history.   The folk songs originated from ancient times (Greeka).   These songs are categorized into two: akritic and klephtic styles of music.   The former originated in 9th century AD. This kind of music conveyed the experiences and hardships of the â€Å"akrites,† or the Byzantine Empire guards (Greeka).   The latter was produced by â€Å"kleftes† or those who fought against the Ottoman Empire.Even though music is an express ion of the gruesome period in Greek history, it also included love songs.   This style of music was believed to have originated between the latter part of the Byzantine era and the early part of the Greek Revolution (Greeka).   Instruments that accompanied the folk songs include the bagpipe, tambourine and lute, just to name a few.   Other important elements of the Greek musical tradition are cantadha, nisiotika and rebetiko (Greeka).Food and wine are also significant in Greek culture (Greeka).   Greece is known for their appetizers and wines.   Mezedes, or Greek appetizers, are crucial in Mediterranean culture, as it promotes friendship through the sharing of food.   Some of the recognized Greek appetizers include the Greek salad or Horiatiki Salata, Tiropitakia, Htapodi and Feta cheese.Greece also produces wines. It is therefore no surprise that Greek alcohol such as Tsipouro and Ouzo are a main component in Greek culture.   Also, meat is almost always present in Gre ek main dishes, while their soups are very much preferred during the winter season.   The Greeks are also famous for the herbs and spices used in their dishes (Greeka).The history of Greece is extensive and thorough.   Greek culture began in the classical era, and proved to be a crucial element in the development of civilization in general (Pounds 326).   The Greek island of Crete was the location for the Minoan civilization, the earliest in Europe (â€Å"Countries† 303).   Greece is also home to the city-states, whose prosperity brought the development of culture in aspects such as philosophy, literature, politics, architecture and art (â€Å"Countries† 303-304).   Greek civilization was at its peak under the control of Philip II of Macedonia and his son, Alexander the Great.   However, the Greek civilization declined when the Roman civilization emerged (â€Å"Countries† 304).Greek history also includes several wars. Civil War erupted following the occupation of German forces from 1941 to 1944 (â€Å"Countries† 304).   Then, under the leadership of Prime Minister Eleutherios Venizelos, Greece officially became a part of World War I in 1917 (Pounds 328).The history of Greece was also marked by the constant change in form of government.   From 1925 to 1935, Greece was a republic (Pounds 328).   Then, Greece became a constitutional monarchy (Pounds 328).   In 1967, the monarchy was deposed by a military coup (â€Å"Countries† 304).   The republic was restored in 1973, which lasted for only a year.   In 1975, democratic elections were held once again.   Six years later, Andreas Papandreou became the first socialist Prime Minister of Greece.   Then, in 1990, a Democratic Party member named Constantine Mitsotakis was elected at the same post (â€Å"Countries† 304).With its extensive historical background, Greece remains a crucial part of world civilization.   With its customs and traditions, Gr eece keeps its diverse and unique culture in modern day society.   Indeed, Greece remains relevant at present through its history and culture.Works CitedBateham, Graham, and Victoria Egan, eds. Illustrated Guide to Countries of the World. Australia: RD Press, 1996.Greeka. 17 March 2008 ;http://www.greeka.com/greece-culture/;.Pounds, Norman J.G. â€Å"Greece.† Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia. 21 vols. New York: Lexicon Publications, Inc., 1992.U.S. Department of State.   17 March 2008 ;https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3395.htm;.

Format For Case Study Assignment Essay

The exercise calls for an analysis of the external environment using appropriate strategic models and frameworks (such as the PESTEL Framework, Five Forces Framework and Industry life Cycle Model), which will be discussed at class lectures and tutorials. This section also requires the identification of the Critical Success Factors for the industry. Finally, deriving from external analyses, you should then discuss the likely opportunities and threats for the subject company. PART II Internal Analysis This section entails an internal analysis which is more specifically concerned with the company relative to its competitive environment. Here, models such as the Competency Framework, VRIN Framework and Value Chain Model can be used to analyse resources and competencies that currently exist for the company (and those which might further need to be addressed) in the pursuit of sustainable competitive advantage. The final part of this section calls for a comparative analysis of the company’s Internal Capabilities matched against the Critical Success Factors for the Industry (as previously identified by you in Part I). PART III Issues & Challenges Facing the Company This section involves providing a synopsis of the issues and challenges facing the subject company which should emerge from both the external and internal analyses. The focus here must be squarely on the current impediments/caveats the subject company is facing in its drive to remain competitive. PART IV Generation of Strategic Growth Options From this vantage point, you will then need to generate a number of Strategic Options (two or three) that the company could pursue in its efforts to continue to grow and develop (and in response to the issues and challenges identified in Parts I and II). The ANSOFF Matrix will be a useful analytical tool here. You should clearly describe each option and provide some rationalisation for your choice. PART V Evaluation of Strategic Growth Options. The purpose of this section is to evaluate each of the strategic growth options (previously identified by you in Part IV) using the SAF Framework. Please note that evaluation must comprise both evaluation criteria and a ranking mechanism in order to emerge with best option/(s) for the company it its pursuit of growth and development. It is not sufficient merely to state your results but rather you will need to provide good analytical justification for your chosen option/(s). PART VI Description of Selected Strategy You will now have selected a chosen strategic option/(s) from among the 2-3 previously selected. You now need to provide more detailed reasons why you have selected this option/(s) (making reference to the evaluation criteria and addressing environmental issues and concerns). Include some discussion of whether your selected strategic option is consistent with the subject company’s generic strategy. Your discussion must also involve an assessment of whether the subject company has the internal capabilities (or access thereto) to carry out this strategy successfully and the resources (or access thereto) required for successful implementation. Discuss also whether this strategy will provide real sustainable competitive advantage for the subject company and/or allow for its growth and development into the future. PART VII Conclusion Provide a brief summary of the major findings arising out of your analyses and leading on to your final recommendations for the chosen strategic option/(s). Include any caveats or challenges the company may face in trying to sustain a competitive advantage over its rivals.

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Summary - Essay Example According to the author, by year 2000, almost half of the American community had access to internet compared to other countries in other continents around the world where only a few people had access to internet by year 2000. Globally, about 400 million people had access and used internet with the wealthy countries leading in numbers followed by the middle economy countries. The poor countries, especially the third world countries had little or even no access to the internet. According to Lee, North America had the highest access to internet while South America, Africa, and Asia had little access to the internet. The author argues that many internet users access the internet by the help of a broadband, which can be either a fixed connection or a wireless network. The fixed connection can be used in offices or even at homes while the wireless connections can be used by gadgets such as mobile phones and the tablets. He further argues that the fixed connections are more efficient in streaming movies and videos compared to the wireless connections, which are usually less effective. In the developed nations such as the U.S., Canada, and UK, both the fixed and wireless connections are common because these countries installed the fixed connections before the discovery of the wireless connections. Lee further states that by 2012, many people around had access to the mobile internet with many users being in the African and other third world countries where there is little availability of the fixed connections. For instance, Egypt, Ghana, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, South Africa, and Nigeria use the mobile internet access more because it is affordable and accessible to low-level income such as farmers citizens in these countries because the system benefits them by enabling them transact any money transfer through the mobile

ENTREPRENURSHIP CAPITAL & THE FIRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

ENTREPRENURSHIP CAPITAL & THE FIRM - Essay Example This is followed by the factors contributing to the planned start-up business and the subsequent running and management of the venture. Influence of Personal Background The interview with the entrepreneur revealed that he is the only child of his parents. As a result, his parents were very attentive to his upbringing. According to Veciana (2007, p. 55), family context and childhood are among the basic factors affecting the decision to create a firm. As he belongs to a developing country, his parents gave utmost importance to his education. He was home-schooled for a year before joining kindergarten. The entrepreneur believes that during this time, he was taught by his parents as well as a home tutor. His father, in particular, often took him along to several parts of the city that he had to visit in the course of business. In this way, he got exposed to various trades from a very early age. His father is probably the very first role model that inspired him to become an entrepreneur. He owned a textile business and the entrepreneur would spend a few hours in the day with his father at the shop. This fits in with Shane’s (2010, p. 149) statement that children of entrepreneurs are more likely to become entrepreneurs themselves. The entrepreneur also reported that his parents did not place many restrictions on him as a child and allowed him to pursue his interests. This encouraged him to be bold and take up challenges. Although the entrepreneur’s parents were affectionate towards him, they also encouraged him to be independent and assume responsibility for his actions. He stated that from the age of three, he began to sleep in a separate room and was responsible for keeping it organized from the age of seven. Even at school, his parents did not interfere when he was punished or scolded by his teachers for not following instructions. He recollects that these influences played a great role in shaping his personality to take up entrepreneurship as a care er choice. As stated by Ginbcus, Vermeulen, and Radulova (2008, p. 23), entrepreneurs tend to be independent and do not have high needs for conformity. This tendency is reflected in the personality of the entrepreneur interviewed. As mentioned earlier, family influences played an important part in shaping the entrepreneur’s eventual career choice. The father being an entrepreneur himself, there was a role model readily available within the immediate environment of the entrepreneur. As a child and even while growing up, the entrepreneur observed his father making business decisions and responding to challenges. During the interview, the entrepreneur stated that observing his father made him aware of the benefits as well as the risks of being an entrepreneur. Sometimes, his father had to make decisions that put the financial future of the family at risk. Sometimes, the risk paid off. But the family also had to face financial difficulties during some periods. The entrepreneur st ated that the determination of his father to persevere and the support of his mother helped them to overcome temporary setbacks. At any rate, the challenges did not deter the entrepreneur from following in his father’s footsteps. In fact, the entrepreneur said that often he felt that his father was not making the right decision. He then resolved that he would not make the same mistakes if he were to run his own business someday. Douglas (2009, p. 7) describes

Descartes and Dreaming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Descartes and Dreaming - Essay Example What he was actually hinting at was the fact that although the concept of sensation could be utilized for different ideas, a difference could take place from other points of view on the object in discussion. In other words, states of being that were realized through the experience of sensation could in fact be found to be an actual illusion. Such as with dreaming. An individual might sense that they are awake and lucid but in actuality they are still dreaming, so, according to Descartes there is no factual way to prove when a person is awake and when they are dreaming, all the time. However, Descartes admittedly pointed out that sense perception did hold value for some states of being. For example, if you are clothed and sitting at the table having a meal with your family, this can not be denied because your senses prove this is what you are doing. You can feel the morsels of food pass your lips, and go down as you swallow. In this regard, senses can be found to be a valid way of dis covering the truth (Monarch Notes 1963). Descartes had the renowned ability to make a person question the truth in the most valid of concepts. As with knowledge, he asked how a person could know for a certainty how the intelligence that they possessed could actually hold any truth How do you know for a certainty This can phase back into the idea of being asleep and dreaming and being in a state of wakefulness. Descartes would ask, "How do you really know" (Monarch Notes 1963). Therefore, sense knowledge alone can not be counted upon to fulfill all the requirements needed to prove the truth to a specific state of being, object, or even a persons existence. If this was totally relied upon, one would never fully know when they were awake or asleep because the senses can fool you. The senses form a type of illusion over the mind in a dreaming state, so in this regard a persons rationalization would be clouded and not wholly fact based. Because it is understood that sense impression is independent of free will, a dream state can not be for certain, nor can a wakeful state (Monarch Notes 1963). However, since human beings are rational thinkers, and we can rationalize the idea of wakefulness, humans thus have the ability to be able to discuss the feelings of being awake and interpret the concept. Nevertheless, in a state of sleep, human beings are not aware when they go to sleep and because of that can not logically state when they are asleep, even though they might be (Kumar 2001). For example, the experience of a dream within a dream has taken place with more than one person. In this type of state you feel your awake when you really are still asleep. So, the senses can be very tricky and inaccurate when trying to solve certain questions about life, spirituality, and objects. It appears that Descartes is right in his belief that there truly is no accurate way to state for sure when an individual is really asleep, and when they actually move into wakefulness. Not if a person is looking for definitive proof, anyway. The same is true for dreaming. Though people do dream (as this has been researched), individually a person can not know that they are dreaming because they can't even prove they are asleep. Dreaming and sleeping or not conscious thoughts, and therein lies the reasoning why they can not be proven when they

The Loyalty Effect of the Tesco Club-Card Toward its Members Essay

The Loyalty Effect of the Tesco Club-Card Toward its Members - Essay Example The marketer factor is also much considered in customer retention while with customer loyalty, the intrapersonal part of customer behaviour is the point of consideration. Moreover, many other reasons were found to prod customers to buy outside of loyalty, for example during sudden change of prices, or when there is a risk involved, or because there is no other choice(www.bestofbiz.co.uk, cited in Morgan et al., 2000). In cases where there is competition among marketers, alternatives made available to customers may make them ex-customers if they fall short of loyalty (Morgan et al., 2000). There are two approaches to defining and measuring customer loyalty as gleaned from literature. Rundle-Thiele and Bennett (2001) describe the stochastic approach as considering the concept in behavioral terms, with the deterministic approach considering it in attitudinal terms. "Stochastic" is defined as having a pattern that can be analysed statistically but not predicted precisely (Reader's Digest Great Dictionary of the English Language, 2001), while "deterministic" has something to do with the doctrine that all events and actions are determined by external forces acting on the will (Ibid). Between these two approaches, there appears little disagreement contrary to the aspect of measuring it (Rundle-Thiele and Bennett (2001). Some 30 years ago Jacoby and Kyner were said to have started the debate which is still going on up to the present time. The drawbacks of the stochastic approach are presented by O'Malley (1998) and Odin (2001). The rather narrow technical definitions of the stochastic approach "does not capture the full richness and depth of the loyalty construct," according to O'Malley (1998) For instance, it does not indicate if repeat orders come about out of habit, or due to situations obtaining, or to psychological reasons on the part of the customer. Instead of a 100 per cent loyalty to a single brand, according to O'Malley (1998) which may characterize only a few, customers tend to select from two or three brands within any product category, which have become their regular fare. On the other hand, according to Odin (2001), a customer who buys the same brand over time is loyal, but that loyalty is too complex to be understood on account of many variables that tend to recur at various times. As such, the concept of loyalty comes at a point where it divides two ways at their end points: loyalty vs. disloyalty necessitating the categorising of the customers into one of these in an arbitrary way. The determinist approach looks at loyalty more as an

Recycled Toothbrushes Make Sense Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Recycled Toothbrushes Make Sense - Essay Example The great advantage to Recycline is that they get raw materials for production at free cost in partnering with Stonyfield Farm. It is cost-effective and time saving as it eases the efforts made on collecting raw-materials through this partnership deal. An array of techniques can be applied for the sales promotion of these recycled products. In the current business scenario people are exceedingly influenced or affected by the power of advertisement. The celebrities appear in advertisements have an intangible influence on people as they attract public to the respective products. So deploying contemporary celebrities will certainly increase the sales. Announcing special offers on product sale is an emerging trend these days which Hudson can also implement as one of his marketing tactics. In addition to product offers, giving price reduction during special events can also promote sales at a considerable range. It is very difficult for a firm to withstand in the modern business world without being highly competitive. As the business trends change, business policies should also be changed. For this, entrepreneur must be up to date with appropriate strategies to meet the challenges of market fluctuations. Since consumer based marketing is the core of current businesses, the company can launch regional outlets in order to be available the products as and when required by consumers. House door delivery is also a suggestive method. The company can also make use of Information Technology to provide services to customers and collect feedbacks from them. At the same time company should maintain quality of the