Similarities between Photosynthesis and Aerobic Respiration

Similarities between Photosynthesis and Aerobic Respiration Photosynthesis and aerobic respiration are both part of a cyclic process of biochemical reactions. Photosynthesis requires the products of aerobic respiration (carbon dioxide and water), while aerobic respiration requires the products of photosynthesis (glucose and oxygen). Together, these reactions are involved in how cells make and store energy. The energy transfers in both processes and in how the gas exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs and the end products that result from each process are somewhat opposite processes, thus aerobic respiration and photosynthesis are in some ways complete opposites of each other. Photosynthetic organisms such as plants use solar energy to reduce carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. During respiration glucose is oxidised back to carbon dioxide, in the process, releasing energy that is captured in the bonds of ATP. Although these two energy producing processes differ in their uses and also their goals, they do have several similarities. Photosynthesis is a chemical process that takes place in the presence of sunlight, wherein plants manufacture their food and build stores of energy. This phenomenon occurs in chlorophyll containing plant cells. Chlorophyll is a pigment found in plant leaves that gives the plant its green colour. Chlorophyll absorbs the light energy and utilises it to produce carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water. These carbohydrates produced are used by the plants as a source of immediate energy for growth, reproduction, and absorption of nutrients. The chemical reaction produces oxygen which is released into the atmosphere. Photosynthesis can be summed up by the following equation: 6CO2 + 6H20 + Sunlight à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚  C6H1206 + 6O2, (fig1 below illustrates the process of photosynthesis) Occurring in the chloroplast light reaction converts solar energy to chemical energy of ATP and NADPH.The light reactions use the solar power of photons absorbed by Photosystem I and II. These are light gathering antennas containing the chlorophyll primarily responsible for absorbing the light. Electrons are also carried from Photosystem I and II via NADPH to the Calvin cycle. The Calvin cycle uses ATP NADPH to convert CO2 to sugar.CO2 enters the cycle leaves as sugar. The sugar product of the Calvin cycle is not glucose but a 3 carbon sugar called 3-Phosphoglycerate. This 3- Phosphoglycerate with the addition of another phosphate group from ATP forms glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate .In order for one of these G3P molecules to be synthesised the cycle must take place 3 times, fixing 3 molecules of CO2.There are 3 phases of the Calvin cycle, the carbon fixation phase, the carbon reduction phase and the regeneration phase. Cellular respiration is the process of oxidising food molecules or breaking down chemical bonds of glucose into carbon dioxide and water. The energy released in the process is trapped in the form of ATP and used by different energy consuming activities of the cell. It is a set of metabolic reactions that unlike photosynthesis which occurs in the chloroplast, cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria. The complete breakdown of glucose into carbon dioxide and water involves two major steps: glycolysis and aerobic respiration. Glycolysis is the anaerobic catabolism of glucose that occurs in all the cells and produces two molecules of ATP. Aerobic respiration is the process in which the pyruvate molecules produced by glycolysis undergoes further breakdown in the presence of oxygen and generates thirty four molecules of ATP. This reaction can be described as follows: C6H1206 + 602 à ¯Ã†â€™Ã‚  6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy (38 ATP)(fig2 below illustrates cellular respiration) Cellular respiration beginning here with glycolysis catabolises glucose into 2 molecules of pyruvate. The net yield from glycolysis is 2 ATP 2 NADH per glucose. Electrons are carried from here to the electron transport chain via NADH. Pyruvate enters the mitochondrion where it gets modified to Acetyl COA. This then enters the Krebs cycle. The Krebs cycle completes the oxidation of the organic fuel to CO2.Electrons produced here are carried via NADH FADH2 to the electron transport chain oxidative phosphorylation. In the Krebs cycle a further 2 ATP is produced. Once there has been a sufficient energy shuttle of NADH from glycolysis, a maximum yield of 34 ATP is produced by oxidative phosphorylation. This then gives a maximum of 38 ATP produced. Photosynthesis is a reduction-oxidation reaction, just like respiration. In respiration energy is released from sugars when electrons associated with hydrogen are transported to oxygen (the electron acceptor), and water is formed as a by-product. The mitochondria use the energy released in this oxidation in order to synthesize ATP. In photosynthesis, the electron flow is reversed, the water is split (not formed), and the electrons are transferred from the water to CO2 and in the process the energy is used to reduce the CO2 into sugar. In respiration the energy yield is 686 kcal per mole of glucose oxidized to CO2, while photosynthesis requires 686 kcal of energy to boost the electrons from the water to their high-energy perches in the reduced sugar light provides this energy. Outlined above are the main differences between the two processes. However, photosynthesis and cellular respiration are two processes that both involve electron transport chains and they both affect concentrations of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere. Both photosynthesis and cellular respiration provide energy to the organisms cells. It is interesting to note the structural similarities between Chlorophyll, that plays an important role in photosynthesis and Haemoglobin that is involved in cellular respiration. Both structures are practically identical except for the fact that haemoglobin has a central Iron atom and chlorophyll possesses a central Magnesium atom. Haemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen in the blood. Where chlorophyll is known for its green pigment, haemoglobin is known for its deep red pigment. Both photosynthesis and respiration are also similar in that they both undergo chemiosmosis. Chloroplasts and mitochondria generate ATP by this same basic mechanism. In both kinds of organelles, electron transport chains pump protons (H+)across a membrane from a region of low H+ concentration to an area of high H+ concentration.The protons then diffuse back across the membrane through ATP syntheses, driving the synthesis of ATP. (fig 3 below illustrates this.) To conclude from this, photosynthesis and cellular respiration are the most vital biochemical pathways to life. They both include cycles, stages and many enzymes to function. Although their similarities can be easily recognised, it is their differences that make them stand apart as opposite processes. Photosynthesis requiring light in order to produce its end product, carbohydrate, and cellular respiration requiring carbohydrate in order to produce its end product energy.

Problem Statement Scope And Limitation Engineering Essay

In this research ZnO thin movie will be doped with aluminum utilizing sol-gel spin-coating method. Then the Al-doped ZnO thin movie ( as seed accelerator ) on a glass substrate will be so superimposed underside of an aligned ZnO nanorod construction which was prepared utilizing sonicated sol-gel submergence technique. The nanorod thin movie parametric quantities will be qualifying through its I-V curve features and besides the optical and optical density of aligned ZnO nanorod thin movie.Introduction1.2.1 Background surveyUV detector or bases for UV detector are of import devices that can be used in commercial and military applications. The applications are including gas detection, infinite research, high temperature fire sensing, air quality monitoring and many more. UV sensors presently used silicon-based sensors and photomultiplier tubings. These stuffs require dearly-won filters and attenuators. However by replacing those engineerings with broad band-gap semiconducting materials such as Zn oxide ( ZnO ) have been suggested [ 1 ] . UV light breathing or having devices, solar cells, gas detector and transparent electrodes are some of the Zn oxide applications. Assorted deposition methods such as chemical vapour deposition, sputtering and molecular beam epitaxy were used to manufacture ZnO thin movies. However, these deposition methods are high production cost because required high temperature processing and vacuity engineering [ 2 ] . In this paper, the intent of this research is to manufacture UV detector utilizing zinc oxide thin movie and qualify the detector public presentations by its electrical belongingss. Furthermore, this research is to qualify aluminium doping concentration and the nanostructure of Zn oxide thin movie. In this research, sol-gel spin surfacing method was used to fix Al doped zinc oxide thin movie and an aligned ZnO nanorod structured thin movies on a glass substrate by the sonicated sol-gel submergence method.1.2.2 Literature ReviewZnO is an n-type semiconducting material with a direct set spread of 3.42eV and because of the O vacancies and intrinsic defects such as interstitial Zn atoms, the electrical conduction of the movies is big [ 3 ] . It is really good stuff for electronic device application due to its broad set spread and big exciton adhering energy of 60meV [ 4 ] . The belongingss of ZnO thin movie can be improve by a doping procedure and tempering procedure [ 3 ] . There are th at focal point on the doping procedure. To improved electrical or optical belongingss of ZnO, ZnO were often doped with group 3, 4 and 5 elements such as Gallium ( Ga ) , Sn and Aluminium ( Al ) [ 5 ] . Al doping is most suited because it ‘s inexpensive, abundant and non-toxic stuff and will bring forth Al doped ZnO thin movie with higher optical transmission and low electric resistance in infrared part [ 4 ] . From the diary [ 6 ] , radio-frequency ( RF ) reactive magnetron sputtering method was used to lodge Al-doped ZnO on the smooth nucleation side of FSD movies by. The electrical belongingss were discussed. The first negatron concentration increased and following decreased with the addition of Al doping concentration. The maximal bearer concentration achieve when the movie is doped with 2at % Al. Hall mobility is reciprocally relative to the Al doping concentration. The high temperature tempering procedure is use to heighten the Hall mobility of the movies [ 6 ] . From the diary [ 7 ] , ZnO thin movies with assorted weight per centums of aluminum and the electrical belongingss were discussed utilizing sol-gel dip-coating method. The conduction shows higher response of the doped ZnO thin movies under UV compared with dark status. Both status cogent evidence that the conduction of ZnO is straight relative to doping concentration. The optical set spread energy is besides straight relative with doping concentration. The transmission of ZnO thin movies is about 75 % when wavelength from 390nm to 850nm. From the diary [ 8 ] , at different dopant concentration the electrical belongingss of Al-doped ZnO thin movies were discussed utilizing sol-gel method. The opposition first lessening with addition aluminum ion concentration. Then the opposition of doped thin movies increased with increasing dopant concentration and it decreases at higher Al concentration. The transmission of ZnO thin movies is about 80 % when wavelength from 370nm to 850nm. The advantage of Ga is an first-class dopant for increasing the conduction and this beginning is less reactive and more resistive oxidization. Based on the diary [ 5 ] , Ga-doped ZnO nanowires were growing utilizing thermic deposition method. The ZnO nanowires have grown uniformly with high output and mean length of each nanowire is about 1.3um. From the XRD form, it can be deduced that the Ga component doped into the nanowires creates a clear widening. The Ga-doped ZnO nanowires have a greater field-enhancement factor than the undoped ZnO nanowires [ 5 ] . Aqueous solution procedure with post-growth rapid photothermal processing ( RPP ) was used to fix Sn-doped ZnO nanorods to develop aligned Sn-doped ZnO nanostructure. Aqueous solution method was chosen in readying of metal oxide nanoparticles construction due to its cost and environment friendly. Rapid photothermal processing ( RPP ) as an options of thermic tempering was combine with aqueous solution due to short rhythm clip, reduced exposure and flexibleness [ 9 ] . Based on diaries [ 6 ] , [ 7 ] and [ 8 ] , the optimal doping concentration of aluminum is 2at % , 5at % and 1.5at % severally. Optimal aluminum doping concentration will gives extremely semiconducting belongingss of Al-doped ZnO thin movie for application UV detector [ 4 ] . A research had done on assorted Al doping concentration and the optimal doping concentration is at 1at % Al. This research will used 1at % Al concentration based on journal [ 4 ] . Aligned ZnO nanorods that were prepared utilizing sonication method are a simple manner and really low cost method compared to other techniques. It besides will growing high quality ZnO nanorod with a little diameter size [ 10 ] .1.2.3 Problem Statement, Scope and LimitationMost people are cognizant of the effects of UV through the painful status of tan, but the UV spectrum has many other effects whether its benefits or damaging to human wellness. Excessively much exposure to UV radiation can impact human wellness. UV application for optical detector used 230 nanometer to 400nm wavelength which is ultraviolet B ( UVB ) which is harmful to human tegument. Since it is harmful to human tegument, metal oxide semiconducting material movies have been considered due to its first-class chemical and physical belongingss. One of them is zinc oxide stuff. Zinc oxide is non merely good in optoelectronic but besides in electrical belongingss. Zinc oxide is so will be doped with aluminum to heighten the Zn oxide thin movie belongingss by utilizing sol-gel spin-coating method. It is of import to take the right method for fixing aligned ZnO nanorod. The range of this research is to look into the electrical belongingss ( I-V feature ) and the optical belongingss of the ZnO nanorod thin movie at different submergence clip. The restrictions of this research are on the solution readying and deposition status which are different for different groups and on the hole parametric quantity.1.2.4 Significant of the researchThe nanomateria ls based detectors are raising the advantage of size decrease and enhanced functionality [ 12 ] . This research will used a simple method to fix an aligned ZnO nanorod thin movie which is sol-gel submergence method which is this method has non been reported by any research group. Furthermore it is really low-priced method.1.2.5 AimsTo fix Al-doped ZnO thin movie as seed accelerator bed. To fix aligned ZnO nanorod thin movie at different submergence clip. To manufacture aligned ZnO nanorod thin movie based UV photoconductive detector. To qualify fancied UV detector.1.2.6 Research QuestionsTo accomplish the aim of this research, some research inquiries would necessitate to concentrate on which are: What is the I-V curve feature of aligned ZnO nanorod thin movies before and after exposing to the UV light? What is the optical and absorbance feature of aligned ZnO nanorod thin movies? How to manufacture ZnO thin movie? What is the factor impacting the nanostructure ZnO thin movie before and after exposing to the UV light?Chapter 22.1 Research Methodology2.1.1 Al doped ZnO thin moviesSol-gel spin-coating method was used to fix Al doped ZnO thin movies. The solution include Zn ethanoate dihydrate ( Zn ( CH3COO ) 2 2H2O ) as precursor, aluminum nitrate nonahydrate ( Al ( NO3 ) 3 9H2O ) as a dopant beginning, monoethanolamine ( MEA, C2H7N14 ) as a stabilizer and 2-methoxyethanol as a dissolver were prepared. The concentration of aluminum nitrate was 1.0at % Al doping and the molar ratio of MEA to zinc ethanoate was fixed at 1.0. At 3 hours before aged at room temperature for 24hours to give clear and homogenous solutions the solution was stirred at 80 & A ; deg ; C. The solutions were so used for deposition procedure by spin-coating technique. Substrates used were microscope on the glass substrates. At room temperature, the spin-coating was performed utilizing 10 beads of solution per deposition with a velocity of 3000rpm for 60s. The movies were preheated in atmosphere ambient at 150 & A ; deg ; C for 10 proceedingss to vaporize the solvent each clip after deposition procedure. The movies were annealed at 500 & A ; deg ; C for 1 hr in air ambient utilizing a furnace ( Protherm ) after reiterating the coating process 10 times. The crystal construction and orientation of ZnO thin movies were investigated by X-ray diffractometer ( XRD ) . The cross-section of the movie thickness is observed by utilizing scanning negatron microscope ( SEM ) . By utilizing UV-vis-NIR spectrophotometer, the optical belongingss of ZnO thin movies were measured in the wavelength scope from 200 nanometers to 1500nm. The electrical belongingss were measured by District of Columbia examining system [ 4 ] . Start Fix the solution of Zn oxide Precursor: Zn ethanoate dehydrate Stabilizer: monoethanolamine Dopant beginning: aluminum nitrate nonahydrate Solvent: 2-methoxyethanol Heat and stir the solution Temperature: 80 & A ; deg ; C Time: 3hr Solution stirring and aging Temperature: room temperature Time: 24hr Thin movie deposition utilizing spin-coating tech. Speed: 3000rpm Time: 60s Temperature: room temperature Solution: 10 beads of solution per deposition Thin movie drying Temperature: 150 & A ; deg ; C Time: 10min Repeat 10 times Thin movie tempering Temperature: 500 & A ; deg ; C Time: 1hr End2.1.2 Aligned ZnO nanorod constructionAn aligned ZnO nanorod construction was prepared utilizing the sonicated sol-gel submergence method on a glass substrate coated with a ZnO thin movie that had been doped with 1at % Al. The sol-gel coating method was used to fix the Al-doped ZnO thin movie as a seeded accelerator that was prepared on the glass substrate. A solution was prepared of 0.1M Zn nitrate hexahydrate ( Zn ( NO3 ) 2.6H2O ) and 0.1M hexamethylenetetramine ( HMT, H2NCH2CH2OH ) in deionized H2O ( DI ) . At 50 & A ; deg ; C for 30 proceedingss utilizing an supersonic H2O bath, this solution was sonicated. The solution was so aged and stirred for 3 hours at room temperature. The sonicated and elderly solution was poured into a Schott bottle, at the underside which had been placed the horizontal Al-doped ZnO thin movie coated glass substrate. The capped bottle was so immersed in a 95 & A ; deg ; C H2O bath for 4 hours. After the submergence procedure, the sample was cleaned wi th DI H2O and allowed to dry in ambient air. By utilizing field emanation scanning electron microscope ( FESEM ) and X-ray diffraction ( XRD ) , the ensuing ZnO nanorod construction was characterized for surface morphology and crystallinity. The optical transmission and optical density belongingss of the sample were characterized by UV-vis-NIR spectrophotometer [ 10 ] . Start Fix the solution in deionized H2O 0.1M Zn nitrate hexahydrate 0.1M hexamethylenetetramine Sonicated solution utilizing an supersonic H2O bath Temperature: 50 & A ; deg ; C Time: 30min Solution stirring and aging Temperature: room temperature Time: 3hr Placed the horizontal Al-doped ZnO thin movie coated glass substrate at the bottom Schott bottle. Poured sonicated and aged solution Submergence procedure Temperature: 95 & A ; deg ; C H2O bath Time: 4hr Clean with DI H2O and dry in ambient air Nanorod construction word picture Electrical belongingss Optical belongingss EndChapter 33.1 DecisionThe electrical belongingss of ZnO thin movie improved when ZnO thin movie was doped with aluminum. Optimum aluminum doping concentration will gives extremely semiconducting belongingss of Al-doped ZnO thin movie for application UV detector. It is of import to happen low cost method. The ZnO nanorods have an mean diameter of 100nm. An mean optical transmission of 78 % was observed. The electrical belongingss and optical belongingss of an aligned ZnO nanorod thin movie were affected when changing the submergence clip. High grade of crystalline, big surface country handiness, a seeable wavelength transparence and high UV soaking up belongingss, this method show it ‘s suited for UV detector application.

“How does Alice Walker’s stories represents heritage conflict in the 1970s?

Alice Walker is a contemporary Afro-American writer who is renowned for her feminist beliefs and the way in which she reflects her views of the heritage of black American women in her prose and stories. This essay explores two of Walker’s works, Roselily and Everyday Use, both of which appeared in Walker’s collection of short stories entitled, In Love and Trouble in 1973. The paper examines the way in which the heritage conflict of the 1970s is represented and symbolized in both of these stories.Alice Walker’s short story Everyday Use, appeared in her. The story was predominantly concerned with the concept of heritage and addresses the way in which traditional values, culture and beliefs can be lost as a result of the pressure or desire to fit into other cultures and belief systems. Within the story conflicting views of the importance of heritage are presented through the characters of the prose and the way in which they interact with the everyday items of their home.In Roselily the theme of heritage is perhaps a little more subtle, with the story containing other, more prominent themes such as isolation and loneliness, male domination and inner turmoil. This story tells the tale of Roselily, an African America woman who is to marry a Muslim man and centers around her thoughts and feelings as the wedding takes place. In Everyday Use, the story is told through the eyes of Mama and key messages and statements are made through the representation of her two daughters, Dee and Maggie.Whereas Mama represents a solid, cautious and thoughtful character, Dee is portrayed as frivolous and superficial, someone who is unable to look beyond the surface of the world in which she lives. Her actions and behavior have a profound effect on her sister who appears to walk in Dee’s shadow feeling ugly and worthless. The main characters of Roselily and, as with Mama in Everyday Things, everything is told from her perspective.Whilst the man to whom she wil l marry is mentioned, he is never named, his presence in the story is there to represent a new life for Roselily, away from her past and her freedom: â€Å"She thinks of ropes, chains, handcuffs, his religion† (Walker, 1). In both pieces of writing the views of the individual characters are utilized to ensure that the importance of the heritage of Afro-Americans is not only recognized but that it is understood in the correct way. In Everyday Things the story is structured around the way in which each of the three characters views their heritage.Dee, successful and intelligent, feels the need to be progressive and modern and expresses embarrassment of her past. She feels that anything that occurred in her past is irrelevant to her current and future life and appears to pick and choose the elements of her background with which she wishes to affinitize herself with. Her African background, for example, exists to her as something through which she can achieve aesthetic or artisti c objectives. An example of this can be seen in the way she changes her name from what she believes to be an American name, Dee, to Wangero Leewamika Kemanjo.Although here her intentions are to try and associate herself with her tradition and background there is an irony to her rejection of the name Dee that, in itself, was more closely aligned with her African roots than she recognized. Further evidence of Dee’s superficial embracement of her African culture can be seen within her appearance and the way in which she attempts to affiliate herself with her African background and make a statement about the culture from whence she originated: â€Å"A dress down to the ground, yellows and oranges enough to throw back the light of the sun.Earrings gold, too. Bracelets dangling and making noises. † (183, Walker). Dee is represented very differently from her sister and her mother and it is clear that their unique perceptions are purposely used by Alice Walker to represent con flicting views of heritage. This is played out through their relationship with the various items that are present in the family home. Whilst not of any financial value, the value that each of the characters places upon them is of significance. The quilts can be used as an example of this.Despite the fact that they have no monetary value to speak of, each daughter would like to have them. Dee sees them as something that she can display in her city residence. They act as a mechanism through which she hopes she can show off her African background to her family and friends. For Maggie, they are everyday objects that she needs to use to survive whilst living in her current circumstances: â€Å"there are no real windows, just some hole cut in the side with rawhide holding the shutters up on the outside† (Walker, 90). Despite their tatty appearance, the quilts are still of use to her in keeping her warm.Mama sees even further into the quilts, for her they represent her past and hold valuable memories of her family: â€Å"In both of them were scraps of dresses Grandma Dee had worn fifty and more years ago. Bits and pieces of Grandpa Jarrell’s Paisley shirts. And one teeny faded blue piece, about the size of a penny matchbox, that was from Great Grandpa Ezra’s uniform that he wore during the Civil War’ (Walker, 93). The quilts represent the history and heritage of the family and the struggles they have endured and overcome in order to survive in their current state.However, through the actions of Mama when she gives the quilts to Maggie, Alice Walker demonstrates her belief that heritage isn’t something to preserved and worshiped as something of the past. It is a living, breathing element of life as it continues to develop and flourish; not in Africa but in present day USA. In Roselily, the writing is structured entirely around the thoughts of the protagonist and she goes through the wedding ceremony. She is looking to her heritage, and her past, in order to make sense of her present and what may become of her in the future.Although the wedding and accompanying issues pertaining to women and their relationship with men takes forefront, the story also contains strong messages about the history and heritage of afro-American women. The story takes place at a time where the rights of blacks and whites in America were considered to be equal. Walker, however, does not seem to be in agreement with this and Roselily’s thoughts and stories clearly depict the lives of black women as being slaves to both men and to the system.For Roselily this is captured by her arduous work in the sewing factory and the many unsuccessful relationships she has had. Despite the civil rights movement she remains a substandard citizen, there appears to be no equality for African-American women. Whilst Roselily yearns for something better for herself and her children, she does not know how this can be achieved, â€Å"Her place will be in the home he has said, repeatedly, promising her rest she had prayed for. But now she wonders. When she is rested, what will she do? † (Walker, 1). Her situation can be seen to be reflective of the turmoil of her ancestor’s past.Her recognition that she needs more but her inability to recognize how she can achieve this is reminiscent of the black civil rights movements and the plight of the black people in their inability to recognize how they have a presence in America whilst maintaining their history and who they were. Whilst the men of this society seem to have achieved their objective of freedom and rights, the women are still struggling and fighting wars of their own. Both Roselily and Everyday Uses can be seen as representative of Alice Walker’s view of what it is to be an African-American.She believes that to be such to be to be both African and American: â€Å"to deny the American side of one’s heritage is disrespectful of one’s ancestor s and, consequently, harmful to one’s self†. (White, 2001). In Everyday Uses Dee sees her African background as something that can make her American self more interesting and appealing to her peers and friends. Her sister, on the other hand, is concentrated on the here and now. She can recognize all too well the struggles of the past and wants to utilize as something she can build upon in order to survive the future.In Roselily the negative impact of the consolidation of Africa and American traditions upon African American women is represented and is more vividly portrayed. Roselily is a women whose past means that she is unable to see a future for herself that doesn’t depend upon the economic support of a man. The fact that the man to whom she is married remains unnamed throughout the story clearly reflects Alice Walker’s concerns lie firmly with women. References: Walker, Alice. In Love & Trouble: Stories of Black Women. New York: Harvest Books, 2003. Wh ite, David. â€Å"White.Aâ€Å"Everyday UseA†: Defining African-American Heritage.. † Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature. 3 Apr. 2009 . White, Evelyn C.. Alice Walker: A Life. New York: W. W. Norton, 2005. Wood, Kerry Michael. â€Å"Literary analysis: African-American women and heritage in Everyday Use, by Alice Walker – by Kerry Michael Wood – Helium. † Helium – Where Knowledge Rules. 3 Apr. 2009 .

Porters Five Forces Essay Online For Free - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2333 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Critical essay Did you like this example? Essay Question: Critically discuss Porters 5 forces model and argue whether the model still has relevance for todays modern business environment. Introduction Strategy is defined as the act of establishing a business direction that will successfully lead an organization into profit (Kaplan and Norton, 1996). Kaplan and Norton (1996) argue that the focal point of strategy formulation is how to effectively draw on business intelligence acquired from an organisations internal and external environment. An organizations unique capabilities, resources and processes are considered its core competences. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Porters Five Forces Essay Online For Free" essay for you Create order These core competences determine the organizations unique position against its competitors within its external business environment (Prahalad and Hamel, 1990). The first step towards analysing an organizations position within a business environment is to consider an overview of the surrounding environment. Such an analysis, identifies the general factors that impact on all market segments that operate under the same economic, technological, political and social environment (Daft, Sormunen and Parks, 1988). While knowledge of these factors provides an indication of the extent that these forces can impact on an organization, a more narrow approach is vital to assess the immediate competitive environment. Porters five forces model (1979) was introduced as a strategy tool aiming to analyze the immediate competitive environment of individual industries. Having been developed as an industry analysis framework, the five forces model, considers the specific forces that determine c ompetition. The impact of these five factors facilitates the competitiveness and economic potential of an industry. This paper aims to critically discuss the model starting with a detailed overview of the framework. Further research and critical evaluation of the theory on whether it still applies into modern business environment will also be considered. Analysis of the 5 forces framework An industry is described as a cluster of organizations sharing the same characteristics and competing in the same business environment (Lummus, Krumwiede and Vokurka, 2001). As industries share the same characteristics, the need to create a strategy tool that would enable the assessment of their profit potential, the impact of underlying drivers and their investment attractiveness was identified. In 1979, Porter recognised this need and proposed a framework which analyses the basic structure which can be extended to every industry. This foundation, constitutes of five essential factors that summarise the most important criteria to consider in order to analyse a particular sectors key drivers of success. Based on such an analysis, a strategy can be formulated proposed on growth factors and certainty rather than scenarios and forecasts. The first force of Porters framework refers to the threat of entry and is concerned with the ease or perplexity to enter a particular indus try. It should be clear that when an industry is difficult to enter, competition is high and existing competitors are very strong. Once potential newcomers decide to enter such an industry, they will not pose a significant threat to existing competitors as they will rather need to overcome existing barriers. Typically, these barriers fall under a set of factors including economies of scale, product differentiation, capital requirements, cost disadvantages independent of size, access to distribution channels and legal constraints.Understanding how these barriers influence access to an industry is important to distinguish the competition level and profitability. For most industries, if the above factors do not constitute significant entry barriers a high threat of new entrants will beimposed (Porter, 1998). The second force considers the threat of substitutes as competitive goods that may replace or complement an organizations offerings. Substitutes, are differentiated from the core product or services that the main competitors within the industry offer. However, they are still categorised as a competitive force as existing customers may switch to them and create an impact on the industrys market share and profitability. Where substitutes offer considerable performance advantages for their price value (price/performance ratio) and are developed by powerful and viable industries, they should be considered a serious competitive factor. The third force discusses the power of buyers referring to the bargaining ability of customers to control a producers or suppliers profitability. This is the case in industries where buyers can exert strong influence to suppliers or producers which ultimately shapes the competitive environment. There are several criteria that determine buyers power. It may be the concentration of power within a small number of dominant customers and when it is easy to switch to another supplier within the industry as their product offerings are not highly differentiated. Additionally, it may consider the buyer competition threat when customers use the purchased good as a production resource for their business. When buyers have the ability to produce the same product or resources themselves instead of buying it from the suppliers, their power is also significant. Also, if buyers buy large volumes of products and are sensitive to lower prices their power is high (Porter, 1998). . The fourth force moves on to the power of suppliers and illustrates how dominant suppliers can reduce organizations power in negotiation for purchasing essential resources and their profitability. Increased supplier power is determined by a number of factors. These factors include concentration of power to a small number of suppliers. This poses challenges for organizations as they will be highly dependent to buying from these suppliers. Furthermore, they will face a significant switching cost if they decide to change supplie r. Where a limited number of suppliers exist within a particular industry, it is considered a very profitable segment. Additionally, suppliers power is determined by their potential to integrate forward meaning the danger to cut out buyers and reach end consumers directly. The fifth force concludes with the competitive rivalry which describes how the other four powers interrelate and shape the structure of competition within an industry. Putting together the impact of these forces, the level of competition as well as the profit potential and overall attractiveness and performance of an industry is determined. There are certain factors by which competitive rivalry is directly affected. If competing organizations are of approximately the same size, competitor balance will be such that rivalry will be intense. When industry growth rate is low, rivalry is likely to be intense. The existence of high fixed costs to operate in the industry and high exit barriers if a firm wishes t o leave the industry will also trigger high rivalry. Additionally, when there is not significant differentiation between the product offerings of individual competitors, the level of rivalry will also be intense. Critical evaluation of the framework Porters five forces model is a classic strategic business tool deployed at industry competition analysis, to assess the prosperity capabilities and environmental influences. However, as industries are dynamic and business characteristics constantly evolve it may be questioned if it is still applicable and reliable (McGahan, 2000). Criticism on whether the framework is incomplete suggests that the multi-level nature of certain industries may affect the accuracy of analysis. Specifically, as discussed in Johnson, Scholes and Whittington (2009) understanding that most industries may need to be analysed at different segments is vital in order to implement a coherent analysis. Referring to the multiple clusters within airline industries as a relevant example, the authors discuss that a successful industry analysis should be applied into each customer segment and market cluster in order to provide a concise picture not just an overview. The dynamic nature of industries is ide ntified as another underlying factor that may cause uncertainty about the suitability of the framework. The fast pace that industries change, may affect fundamentally the circumstances, individual capabilities and overall business environment. This process is defined as convergence and describes how dynamic changes may recreate the industries causing two previously separate industries to merge (Van den Berghe and Verweire, 2000). More specifically, changing circumstances in converging industries may embed such resources innovations (for example technologies) that will enable new product capacities and ultimately widen competition (Malhotra and Gupta, 2001). Bringing together products or services so that they complement each other, may create a powerful way to impose a new competitive force within an industry. Reflecting on complementary products and the potential to combine and reposition them so that they will cooperate rather than compete to each other, Burton (1995) emph asises how this can reshape industry competition. Similarly, ul-Haq (2005) discusses a different approach which suggests that complementary products develop significant business opportunities and initiative for organizations for cooperating rather than competing with each other as the five forces theory suggests. This approach determines an additional competitive force that may provide significant profit potential and competition insight (Brandenburger and Nalebuff, 1995). Hence, it is suggested to be placed as the sixth force to complement the five forces framework (Yoffie and Kwak, 2006). The discussion so far has tended to assume that the five forces framework manages to address critical competition forces within an industry, although several other factors may also be considered in order achieve greater accuracy. In a relevant research, Christensen (2001) supports the value of the framework into the modern business environment. Christensens (2001) conclusion is that the f ive forces framework is an essential strategy tool which can provide a useful insight into all organizations. Even though it is acknowledged that profit circumstances may vary across industries and thus the model can be developed further, it is still considered a sound basis for competitive analysis. Similarly, Grundy (2006) outlines that there is still room to improve the framework and enhance its practical value. It is suggested that the five forces framework has been historically used as a theoretical strategy model with significant influence in mostly academic business management contexts. The authors approach relates with how it can be practically applied into the modern business environment with success. This includes several features including rating the impact of forces and assigning them an importance weight in order to explore how they interrelate and how they create an industry pattern. An attempt to revise the application of the framework in todays business c ontexts should ensure that it manages to incorporate the prevailing circumstances of the era into the analysis. Considering that Internet has become an increasingly powerful factor, Karagiannopoulos, Georgopoulos and Nikolopoulos (2005), attempt to study if this traditional theory is still appropriate for current industry examination. Their findings support the studies discussed above acknowledging the value of the framework as the starting point of competition examination. However, they also stress the influence of several other facts relative to technology innovation and the profit capabilities these create in order to accurately diagnose the changing nature and new patterns of economy and industries. The potential to utilise the five forces framework as the foundation of technology and Internet competition analysis is also confirmed by Siaw and Yu (2004). Conclusion Porters five forces model has been a very influential strategy framework providing guidelines to investigate competition, profitability and investment attractiveness within an industry. The purpose of this paper was to discuss the value of this traditional strategy framework into modern business environments. Providing a detailed examination of the individual five forces, the process of competitive industry analysis was explored. The very process of determining the optimal strategy following the principles of the model was identified. This relates to an assessment of the level of intensity of the individual five forces being the threat of entry, the threat of substitutes, the power of buyers, the power of suppliers and the competitive rivalry between them. Extending this principle into subsequent analysis and evaluation of the framework, more recent research was considered. Major conclusions signify that the defining characteristics of the framework can still be applied with success into strategy and modern business practices. However, good decision making practices should include a set of parameters to obtain a complete and up-to date picture. These parameters are based on the notion that industries are dynamic environments and changing factors directly affect competition as they impact on each competitors capabilities and profit potential. The most crucial to be included in a relevant analysis are then defined as technological innovation and advances, mapping of individual market clusters within industries, convergence and the potential to complement and reposition products. Overall, current strategy research follows Porters five forces framework in competition and industry analysis. The framework is found to be of critical importance in building strategic decisions. A more practical and realistic approach is nevertheless required in order to achieve a less vague and contemporary picture. Reference list Brandenburger,A., and Nalebuff,B., 1995. The right game: use game theory to shape strategy. Harvard Business Review, 73 (4), pp 57-71. Burton, J.,1995. Composite strategy: the combination of collaboration and competition. Journal of General Management, 21(2), pp 3-28. Christensen, C., 2001. The past and future of competitive advantage . Sloan Management Review, 42(2), pp 105 -109. 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