Business Strategy 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business Strategy 2 - Essay Example Mission Statement: Mission statement is a statement which is used to describe why the organization exists and to explain what the company does to achieve the vision. The mission of a company is the one which changes as the organization develops. An example of such a statement is that of Wipro, which reads, ‘Our mission is to be a RF System Solution Provider, through its innovative research and design works for a new world of broadband wireless communications’ (Wipro Techno, 2010). The statement of company highlights its working towards the vision that has been set down by the company. Vision: The vision of a company can be defined as the intended future that the company aims at reaching. This is a long term view and is the basis for all the planning of the organization. An excellent example of this is the vision of Wipro which reads, ‘Contribute for global e-society, where a wide range of information is being exchanged beyond time and space over global networks, which breaks down the boundaries among countries, regions and cultures, allowing individuals to take part in various social activities in an impartial, secure way. Continous effort to enhance people’s lifestyle and quality by means of developing new technology in wireless communication’ (Wipro Techno, 2010). Core Competencies: The core competencies of an organization are the basic knowledge, abilities and skills that a company possess. This helps in classifying the organizations and to learn what the organization is best at doing. For the example of Wipro, as explained by the President and COO for Wipro Infocrossing, Sameer Kishore, ‘IT infrastructure management is our core competency and we will bring a well-proven data center transition and managed services methodology to help CSG meet its goals’ (Wipro Corporate, 2010). Strategic Approach: The strategic approach used by Wipro is one which is goal

Networking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Networking - Essay Example HTTP is usually implemented as one of the application, for both x-stream server software and the client. This HTTP protocol, to govern the way messages are transported between the x-stream server and the client, relies on other protocols. (Hall, 2000) The transport protocol, which manages individual conversation between the x-stream servers and client, is the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). It divides the messages of HTTP into smaller pieces, which are called segments. These segments are sent by the x-stream servers to the destination clients. TCP also controls the rate and size at which the x-stream server exchanges messages with the clients. (Hall, 2000) The Internet Protocol is a common internetwork protocol, which is used in x-stream. It takes the formatted segments from the TCP, to encapsulate them into packets, assigns the correct addresses and chooses best path to get to the destination host. (Forouzan & Fegan, 2006) Physical data transmission on the media and data link management is the two primary functions, which are described by the network access protocols. Packets are taken from IP and are formatted by data-link management protocols to be transferred over the media (Gaffin, 2007).The way signals are transmitted over the media and the way they are implemented by clients governed by the protocols and standards for the physical media. The appropriate standards for the media being used are implemented by the transceivers on the network interface cards. This model explains the processes of segmenting, encoding, and formatting and encapsulates data for transmission via a network. A data stream, which is sent to a destination, from a source, can be segregated into pieces and enclosed in messages travelling to other destinations from other hosts. At any given time, billions of such pieces of information travel over a network. Getting to the

The Business Strategies Of Tesco And Asda Marketing Essay

The Business Strategies Of Tesco And Asda Marketing Essay Porters Five Forces: Named after Michael E. Porter this model identifies and analyses five competitive forces that helps in determination of an organisations strengths and weaknesses. These forces include According to classical economics rivalries between companies must drive profits to zero because of the threat of substitutes. General substitution is able to reduce demand for a particular product, as there is a threat of consumers switching to the alternatives (Porter M. 1980). For example, if Tescos competitor ASDA provides substitutes for their goods then this will drive the price of groceries down for customers of both companies. Buyer power forces prices down. Fortunately the market is disciplined and they have a disciplined approach to price setting which prevents them from destroying each other in a profit war. Bargaining power of supplier may have implications for Tesco and ASDA. Supplier power is demonstrated by suppliers demand that they are paid a certain price for their goods. If retailers dont agree they dont get the goods to sell. But large supermarkets like Tesco and ASDA have an overwhelming advantage over the small shopkeeper. These supermarkets can dictate the price they pay the supplier. If the supplier does not agree they will be left with a much smaller market for their products. The new competitor factor of porter model also does not have much adverse implications on already established supermarket chains like Tesco and ASDA In fact they put up a lot of barriers to entry either implicitly or explicitly. For instance, Tesco may have cornered the market for some specific goods which the new supermarket will not be able to find cheap, reliable suppliers. Tesco and ASDA also has the advantage of economies of scale. They buy goods in bulk or in large volumes thereby considerably lowering the price they pay to suppliers per-item. A new small supermarket chain not well established can only buy a relatively small volume of goods and that will be at much higher rates. Porter theorized that the more products that become standardized or undifferentiated, the lower the switching cost, and hence, more power is yielded to buyers (Porter M. 1980). Tescos Clubcard remains the most successful tool in customer retention strategy and is highly effective in dealing with this problem of bargaining power of customers. PEST ANALYSIS FOR TESCO Political Factors Tesco with its massive operations on global scale is highly influenced by the political and legal conditions of host countries. For employment legislations, the government encourages retailers to provide a mix of job opportunities from flexible, lower-paid and locally-based jobs to highly-skilled, higher-paid and centrally-located jobs (Balchin, 1994). Economic Factors These factors mostly affect demands, cost, and profits and thus have implications for Tesco. They are largely beyond the control of Tesco, but their effects can be profound. Tesco is expected to do well internationally but is highly dependent on UK markets and any slowdown may have adverse affect on Tescos performance. Social Factors Changing shopping trends indicate shift towards one-stop and bulk buying to accommodate this Tesco has increased the number of non-food items available. Changes in population demographic and eating habits means retailers are focusing on products with added-value. Technological Factors The launch of the Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) initiative provided the shift that is now apparent in the management of food supply chains (Datamonitor Report, 2003). Tesco has fully integrated new technologies like intelligent scale, electronic labelling, self check-out machine with its operations. The use of Electronic Point of Sale (EPoS), Electronic Funds Transfer Systems (EFTPoS) and electronic scanners have greatly improved the efficiency of distribution and stocking activities, with needs being communicated almost in real time to the supplier (Finch, 2004). SWOT ANALYSIS FOR TESCO Strengths 1. Increased market share: Tesco already holds major share in the world market and because of strong fundamentals and multi-format will continue to do so. Their main strategy of attracting more customers through various methods like Tesco Clubcard has been very affective in winning customers long term loyalty. 2. Insurance: In fiscal 2003 Tesco Personal Finance became the fastest growing motor insurance provider by crossing the important mark of one million motor insurance policies. 3. Tesco online is the worlds biggest online supermarket with operations in more than 270 stores throughout the country. 4. Brand value: Tesco has a strong brand image, associated with its good quality, trustworthy goods representing excellent value. 5. Tesco has continued to develop a successful strategy to maintain its market leadership position. Weaknesses 1. Tescos high dependence on the UK market may be of concern in future for example, the Morrisons groups takeover of Safeway chain may alter the power balance. 2. Debt reduction: Tesco has aggressive expansion plan which leaves little free cash for any other operations. Opportunities 1. Expansion in non-food retail: Tescos telecom is the latest example of how it can expand in non-food retail industry. 2. Expansion into health and beauty; Tesco currently operates 19 stores with opticians and nearly 200 stores with pharmacies. 3. Tescos massive buying power gives it added advantage of economies of scale. 4. Tesco can further develop its revenue stream of online operation. Threats 1. Lower profit margins because of rising raw material costs for food and non food. 2. Structural changes in domestic markets may trigger price war. 3. Wal-Mart/ASDA challenge: Wal-Marts takeover of ASDA threatened Tescos rank as the top UK supermarket. 4. International expansion is good but is expensive and requires heavy investment. PEST ANALYSIS FOR ASDA Political Factors Like any other supermarket ASDA will also be affected by political factors whether they are new legislation regarding taxes or new employment laws. Thus EU enlargement, the euro etc all may have some implications for ASDA. Economic Factors Factors such as national income, recession, inflation may have some adverse affect on the performance of ASDA. Unemployment is the most influential factor on the economy. It lowers the demand for many goods thereby affecting the demand required for production of such goods. Social Factors The type of goods demanded by consumers reflects their social conditioning. One important factor applicable especially in the UK is increasing ageing population which has increased the costs for firms who are committed to pension payments for their employees because of their staff are living longer. ASDA has started to recruit older employees to tap into this growing labour pool. Technological Factors Technology is a major environmental variable which can help in development of many various beneficial processes and methods for cost reduction like improved efficiency in stock control due to bar coding, self scanning products etc. SWOT FOR ASDA Strengths 1. ASDA after its takeover by world giant Wal-Mart has increased its market share considerably and at present is just behind Tesco in UK markets. 2. Major employer in UK markets thus it has a major pool of talented and experienced work force. It has a focused strategy in place for human resource management and development. 3. Well established brand name with strong social image. 4. ASDAs strategies of smart price, price guarantee offer and ASDA direct have really changed the way customers look at them. Weaknesses 1. In comparisons to its competitors ASDA has low market penetration. 2. Lack of smaller superstores to compete with Tesco express, metro etc. 3. Product recalls which not only affects the business financially but also adversely affects the brand name. OPPORTUNITIES 1. ASDA can widen its product range especially non-food retail. 2. Expansion into European markets. With well established management strategies and strong parent firm like Wal-Mart this is the area where it should focus. THREATS 1. Major threat to ASDA is from its competitors especially Tesco mainly being the threat of substitute products available through the competitor stores at lower prices. 2. ASDAs major market is still in UK, so any slowdown or downturn in UK economy may affect ASDA very badly. 3. Consumer tastes and shopping trends are continuously changing. It is important for ASDA to continuously accommodate those changes if they want to keep their competitive edge. 4. Rising labour cost can also cut into ASDAs profits. SCENARIO PLANNING AND GAME THEORY Every organisation in order to develop strategic options and be future prepared needs to anticipate and think through how different options will impact them. Most organisations therefore use scenario planning and game theory to be future prepared. Tesco and ASDA Scenario 1: My way The conditions: Customers have do it yourself attitude. The society and economy is dynamic with consumers requiring more product information therefore the companies would have to continuously invent new methods to maintain their competitive edge. Products and services have undergone major changes with advanced technology like smart packaging that refrigerates individual packaging, fuelled by cells that automatically turn off on the use-by date. (The grocer, 2007). Consumers no longer trust big brands and do business through network of friends causing major change in retail structure with power balance shifting to individuals with high level of consumer trust. Large supermarkets chains like Tesco and ASDA will have to become logistics expert at local level. Scenario two: Sell it to me Customers have do it for me attitude In this scenario there is high customer confidence, good economy and customers trusting big brands and expecting organisations to solve problems for them. Large supermarkets like ASDA and Tesco do not undergo major changes and still dominate. The only major change that comes is the more personalised touch they give to their businesses like customised products based on the customers nutritional or personal requirements. Scenario three: from me to you. Here we have uncertain economy, less prosperity, environmental disasters, climate change. Consumers have do it yourself attitude as they dont trust the government and large organisations. Brand loyalty is almost nonexistent and customers prefer home grown cheaper solutions. Retail structure is badly affected with high street struggling. Scenario four: Im in your hands The economy is shaky, slow growth, debt crisis, with do it for me attitude of customer. Only trusted brands have survived. Development of new technologies is at much slower pace. It is the most favourable situation for Tesco and ASDA with smaller units struggling to survive with them dominating high streets. They enjoy strong customer trust with compulsory loyalty card schemes. (The grocer, 2007). PORTERS DIAMOND We now with the help of Porters diamond try to identify which of Tesco or ASDA is more competitive. Factors Conditions Tesco gained competitive advantage over ASDA through advanced factors mainly by successful technological integration into their business. Tesco has been successful in using these factors to make themselves more attractive to the customers. It was the first to diversify into various other nonretail sectors like mobile phones, insurance, digital entertainment. ASDA although has embraced these changes but by being first Tesco has gained an upper hand over ASDA. Demand Conditions Tesco was the first one to start own-label products. These are highly appreciated and in demand among the main middle class target group of these supermarkets because of low prices and good quality. Unlike ASDA Tesco stores are differentiated into various formats on basis of sizes and location like Tesco extra, Tesco metro, Tesco express making them easily accessible to everyone locally. Related And Supporting Industries Tesco gained advantage in this third attribute by mainly developing new products and selling it to existing customers. Strategy, Structure And Rivalry Tescos cost leadership strategy has given it a competitive edge over ASDA. Tesco is still continuing with its initial approach of pile it high, sell it cheap. Tesco stores in UK are divided into 6 classes depending upon their size, structure and range of products they sold. These size based structure helps it to serve their main target middle class group more effectively than ASDA. VISION MISSION AND GOALS Tesco Mission statement: Creating value for customers, to earn their lifetime loyalty.(Tesco PLC, our values, 2010). Tescos people centred value, our success depends on people both people who shop with us and people who work with us, explains how they would go an extra mile to win the loyalty of their customers and employees. Their Clubcard initiative has been their most successful customer retention strategy by gaining customers loyalty. ASDA Mission statement: To be Britains best value retailer exceeding customers needs.. always Statement of purpose: To save everyone money, everyday. (ASDA, all about us,2008) Thus according to the mission statement they want to become best retailer with priority on the customer satisfaction. ASDA has been working relentlessly towards this aim laying down various strategies to become market leader. One of these strategies as discussed in SWOT analysis is of price guarantee where the customers can easily do an online comparison with other supermarkets and if they are not cheapest then customer gets a printable voucher redeemable at ASDA stores. This along with ASDA smart price strategy shows their commitment towards their mission statement.

Loss Of Freedom Through Apathy :: essays research papers

Loss of Freedom Through Apathy We do have freedom in this country but we simply choose to ignore it. We live in a democracy, the most just kind of government, where we the people hold supreme power. It is an institution that is a culmination of revolutions, wars, philosophies and heroes. It is the greatest and proudest government in the world. One reason for this is that Americans have a right citizens of Iraq and China and North Korea only dreamed they could have. It took one of the greatest military epics in history for our Founding Fathers to receive this right. It took the marching of thousands for women to achieve this right. It took 400 years of abuse for blacks to finally to win this right. It is the highest and purest form of freedom of speech and as Americans it is our single most powerful instrument of self government. It is the American vote and in this Presidential election it is a right 250 million chose to ignore. This year I had the great opportunity to volunteer my services to the Democratic party. I was excited to work for the Democrats because it was my first ever experience involved with the election. For 17 years I stood as a common bystander to this great American tradition. Volunteering my hours made me feel like I was part of something important. Mostly my work consisted of random polling. I would call people up between the hours of 7 and 9 P.M. and ask them a few questions about the election. With every call I hoped for the best, but it seemed that I was calling people at the time they were most irritable. Most would simply hang up, leaving with a polite "Oh, I'm not interested." Others acted militantly to my calling, slamming the phone in disgust. It startled and in a way disheartened me, the way many of the people I polled seemed totally apathetic to the political world around us. To me, spending a minute answering questions about the future of politics did not seem like too much to ask at all. Yet it continued. "Hello I'm calling on behalf of your congressman Bob Toricelli. I'd like to ask a few questions." "I'm sorry I'm really busy right now. I can't talk." *click "Hello I'm calling on behalf of your congressman Bob Toricelli. I'd like to ask a few questions." "Not interested" *click "Hello I'm calling on behalf of your congressman Bob Toricelli. I'd like to ask a few questions." "I'm tired of hearing about this election." *click If I was calling from a telephone company or some other corporate monster

Colonialism in The Tempest Essay

Background Information: In 1609 a fleet of nine ships set out from England, headed towards John Smith’s Virginia colony, the first English settlement in the New World. One of the nine ships was separated during a violent storm and ended up on Bermuda. These shipwrecked Europeans began colonizing the island and enslaving the native population. Shakespeare’s Tempest is based on this incident. For over a century, a number of critics have tried to interpret the various elements of post colonialism present in the Tempest. In 1818, the English critic William Hazlitt was the first to point out that Prospero had usurped Caliban from his rule of the island and thus, was an agent of imperialism. This view provided the basis for modern interpretations of the Tempest as a post colonial work. Shakespeare’s Tempest is an amalgam of various pots colonial elements: Prospero is a European who has taken charge of a remote island, being able to do so because of his strong magic powers. With these powers, he organizes a life for himself, gets the local inhabitants (Ariel and Caliban) to work for him, and maintains his control by a combination of threats, spells and enchantments, and promises of freedom some day. By taking charge of a place which is not his and by exerting his European authority over the strange non-European creatures, Prospero can be seen as an obvious symbol for European colonial power. However, Caliban is perhaps the strongest symbol of Post colonialism. Caliban, a native of the island, regards himself as the rightful owner of the place. He bluntly states: â€Å"This island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother, which thou takest from me. † He is forced against his will to serve Prospero and Miranda. Initially, Prospero extends to Caliban his European hospitality, teaches him language, and, in return, is shown all the natural resources of the island by Caliban. But Caliban refuses to live by Prospero’s rules, tries to rape Miranda, and their relationship changes to one of master and slave. Shakespeare represents as Caliban as an â€Å"ignoble savage. † When Trinculo first encounters Caliban, he views him as some kind of monster. After recoiling in horror from Caliban, Trinculo considers bringing the monster back to England where he can be displayed in a freak show: â€Å"Were I in England now, as once I was, and had but this fish painted, not holiday fool there but would give a piece of silver: there would this monster make a man; any strange beast there makes a man: when they will not give a doit (coin) to relieve a lame beggar, they will lay out ten to see a dead Indian. † Trinculo is referring to the practice of â€Å"exhibiting† Indians for money in late 16th century England. Such â€Å"freak shows† were highly profitable investments and were a regular feature of colonial policy under King James I. Caliban tries to help Trinculo find food, who might liberate him from Prospero, his current master and lord of the island. Caliban unctuously says: â€Å"I prithee, let me bring thee where crabs grow; And I with my long nails will dig thee pig-nuts; Show thee a jay’s nest, and how to snare the nimble marmoset; I’ll get thee To clustering filberts and sometimes I’ll get thee young scamels from the rock. Wilt thou go with me? † Powhatan, the native chief, had provided the same services to John Smith’s colony. After half of the colonists died in the first year, Powhatan took pity and taught the colonists how to plant corn, beans, pumpkins, and squash. However, once the starving British colonists recovered their strength, they once again set about the task of enslaving the native population. The play ends with Prospero deciding to return to Europe and to decolonize his island and emancipate his slaves. The colonizer sets himself free as well. Prospero not only gives up his island, but relinquishes his magical powers that enabled him to control Caliban.

Response to Don Marquis’ “Why Abortion Is Immoral”

Don Marquis' â€Å"Why Abortion is Immoral† In his essay â€Å"Why Abortion is Immoral,† Don Marquis argues against the morality of abortion on the premise that the value of a fetus' future is so great that it is immoral to take that potential future away from it. Essentially, he contends, abortion is tantamount to murder: killing an individual is prima facie wrong because the loss of the goods of one's future is the worst loss a human can suffer. He calls this potential future a â€Å"future-like-ours,† which is the basis for his contentions.In the next few pages I will delineate the general progression of his argument, and later, will evaluate the plausibility of said argument. Though Marquis makes both logical and compelling claims, there are several concerns and weaknesses that arise from his argument that must be considered. Marquis establishes his argument with the exploration of why killing humans is wrong, in any case. The clear answer, he says, is that k illing is wrong because of its â€Å"effect on the victim† (Ethical Issues in Modern Medicine, 558).Taking one's life deprives the victim of â€Å"all the experiences, activities, projects, and enjoyments that would otherwise have constituted one's future,† and this is the greatest loss that any human can suffer (558). This theory of wrongness can account for why it is also wrong to kill infants and young children, whereas other theories that make narrower claims (e. g. â€Å"It is prima facie wrong to kill only rational agents) do not stand in such cases. There are obvious implications concerning the ethics of abortion with this theory in place.Marquis contends that â€Å"The future of a standard fetus includes a set of experiences, projects, activities, and such which are identical with the futures of adult human beings†¦ † (559). It follows then, that because it is wrong to kill humans, it is also wrong to kill potential humans, and so abortion is prima facie seriously wrong. Fetuses have a viable, valuable future, which Marquis calls a â€Å"future-like-ours. † So, he adds, whether one has â€Å"immediate past experiences or not† does not matter when it comes to killing, because it is the value of the potential future that must be taken into onsideration (561). Marquis goes on to refute other theories of wrongness of killing. One such example is that valuing one's future implies a valuer, but fetuses obviously cannot value their futures, and so their futures are not valuable to them. However, Marquis counters this notion by providing us with an example: one may think during a time of despair that his â€Å"future is of no worth whatsoever,† but he is wrong to think so because â€Å"others rightly see value†¦ in it† (561).So, just because a fetus cannot appreciate its own future, we are aware of the value of its potential future, so abortion is still wrong. Other claims put forth that to be an actu al victim, one requires mentation. However, we still recognize that it is wrong to kill those that are unconscious or in a coma (who have prospects of emerging out of their states), so it follows that mentation is not a necessary condition to be a victim. Marquis' refutations provide for his very strong and compelling argument against abortion.I will grant Marquis that his progression of logic is rational; if a fetus were allowed to fully develop, it would indeed become a sentient being with the capacity of enjoying a prosperous future. However, some ambiguities arise as a result of his claims and it is difficult to say how Marquis would respond. The first concern I would like to address regards the case of a fetus with a debilitating disease. With today's technology, it is quite easy to detect any abnormalities in a fetus very early on in the pregnancy.Say, for example, a couple finds out that their fetus has some sort of affliction that will make him terminally ill. They want to a bort the fetus because they cannot stand the notion of bringing a child into the world that, although sentient and rational, will have a markedly reduced life span and suffer greatly throughout whatever life he has. How would Marquis respond in this case? He might argue that though the child will suffer, he still has a potential future in which he formulate goals, and have experiences and projects.However, we must note that during his argument, Marquis says â€Å"If the patient's future is intolerable†¦ we want our account to allow killing the patient† and that â€Å"it is the value of the patient's future which is doing the work in rendering the morality of killing the patient intelligible† (561). Obviously, a quandary arises. Does the fetus in our example have a future that is less valuable than that of a normal one? Can we justify aborting this fetus, because although he will be rational and most likely capable of having experiences, the scope of his suffering will be exceedingly great?Are we in any sort of position to prescribe the value of someone else's future without knowing exactly how it will play out? So while it is plausible that Marquis would still argue from an anti-abortionist stance due to its potential future, this decision will very probably not sit well with the parents who have to watch their child suffer throughout his shortened life. This is one ambiguity that exists in Marquis' argument that has no easy answer, and is worth noting. We must recognize that cannot say with such conviction that we know what a future-like-ours entails.It seems presumptuous to assert that a future-like-ours is always a positive thing; how can we account for the fetus in the previous example, or an inner-city child essentially having to raise himself because his parents are absent? What about the child who is stuck in a situation with abusive parents, with no one to turn to for help? Though I grant Marquis the soundness of his general argument , and the premise that all fetuses have a potential future, we cannot infer from this claim that this future will necessarily be a positive one.It becomes a murky and essentially taboo dilemma to even ask if the lives of these children are worth living, and if they would have been better off being aborted in the womb. Marquis may still claim that every fetus has a right to life no matter what, but because he does not consider these cases in his argument, it is worth noting that the answers might not be so straightforward and that more complicated cases do exist. The main concern I would like to note regarding Marquis' argument is that he does not once consider the rights of the mother and the value of her future.Although Marquis treats the fetus as an independent being, we must at least recognize that the fetus' life depends on its mother's: it receives all of its nutrition from her and it develops in her womb. So, how would Marquis respond to a situation in which the mother will su rely (or even has the remote chance) of dying in childbirth, even if the fetus will not? Here, we have two potential futures contesting each other, because this is a one or the other situation – either the fetus must die or the mother will in delivering it.Similar to the example mentioned previously of the sick fetus, it is not easy to simply prescribe one of their futures with more value than the other one. An anti-abortionist could possibly make the argument that the fetus' life should be saved because it has a longer future to attain, since the mother has already lived a significant portion of her life. However, one could contend that because the mother is already a sentient, rational being and already has goals and projects set in place for her life, her right to life should take precedence over the fetus, who still has no capacity to value its future.To take away the future of the mother would be more cruel than to take it away from the unaware fetus. Furthermore, what a bout a situation in which the mother is a teenager, and adoption is out of the question? Say, for example, she has to drop out of school and get a low-paying job, and struggles greatly for a significant amount of time trying to provide for herself and her baby. What has happened to her future-like-ours? Both the mother and the child are in dire situations, and it is obvious that the mother would have been in a better current situation had the fetus been aborted, as uncomfortable as that contention may make us.The case of the child, however, is much more complex because again, it is difficult to weigh his suffering with his capacity for potentiating a future. I would not like to argue one way or another, but would simply like to note that it is unclear how Marquis would respond to these predicaments and should have noted such in the essay. As I conclude enumerating the ambiguities that arise from Marquis' contentions, I would like to consider the hypothetical case in which Marquis di d allow for an abortion, in, for example, the case of the fetus that has some sort of debilitating disease.He might contend that the inevitable suffering in the fetus' â€Å"future-like-ours† outweighs the positive value of his potential future, so an abortion in this case would be permissible. However, what does this do for the integrity of the future-like-ours argument? If we can begin to make exceptions like this, where can we draw the line of what constitutes a â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad† future-like-ours? If Marquis begins to allow for such xceptions, it seems to diminish the value of his theory as a whole, because it connotes that the futures of some fetuses are less valuable than others even if they are both capable of having potential experiences, dreams, projects, etc. On a broader and related scope, if an anti-abortionist who argues on the sanctity-of-life theory makes an exception for the abortion of a fetus who was the product of a rape or is in a situ ation where the mother cannot provide for it, it invalidates their entire premise. Both fetuses are innocent and have equal rights to their future.So, if Marquis did make an exception, it would compromise the integrity of his argument. Marquis makes very compelling and interesting claims in his essay, and takes a novel approach in the controversy over abortion. He uses a strong premise that is not too broad or too narrow in scope, as some anti-abortionists and pro-life activists end up doing in their reasoning. However, as mentioned above, ambiguities do arise from his argument, the most significant of which being the consideration of the mother's right to a future.With this considered, it becomes clear that a â€Å"future-like-ours† may not be as clear-cut of an idea as Marquis would like us to think. The essay would have been stronger and more lucid if Marquis considered â€Å"futures-like-ours† that are not exactly futures like ours. By virtue of the sheer breadth a nd variety of experiences that humans experience as a species, it is much more difficult to define a future-like-ours than Marquis delineates in his essay.