America Online and Time Warner Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

America Online and Time Warner - Case Study Example Since then, this merger has been regarded as one of the biggest corporate mismanagement examples in the realm of managing telecommunication network and media companies. The case study unveils a number of issues that are big threats to the telecom sector and media companies globally. In 2010, media analyst Tim Arango of the New York Times attempted to throw some light on the merger between AOL and Time Warner that took place a decade ago from then. In analyzing the reason behind the merger, Arango remarks that at the wake of the 21st century, experts in telecomm and media industries were expected Internet was going to become the main medium of content delivery and entertainment all over the world, replacing and/or amalgamating the various traditional media and content delivery systems of that time. However, this was the main issue with the decision makers at both AOL and Time Warner. AOL’s business outreach and technological equipment and expertise were not as robust as to handle the huge industrial momentum of Time Warner. Probably, AOL managers were thinking well ahead of their time. A scrutiny of scientific literature suggests that Internet technologies were not as advanced at that time as to facilitate all the services needed for international distrib ution of various types of contents. Even in the middle of the first decade of the new millennium, scientists were striving to establish a sufficiently powerful architecture for the purpose of â€Å"pervasive content delivery† (Su and Chi, 82). Clearly, Internet technologies had limited strength during the merger between AOL and Time Warner. The case study thus helps us to understand that we need a really powerful and futuristic computing system to ensure Internet based content delivery of all kinds of information ranging from news to cinemas, weather forecasting to cartoons, and so on. As shown by the case study discussed, technological barriers remain a prominent issue

Critically evaluate the religious conflict in Northern Ireland using Essay

Critically evaluate the religious conflict in Northern Ireland using both contemporary and traditional sociological theories. Examine the ways in which the con - Essay Example The popular perception usually centres on such things as gang warfare, tribal disputes, or religious animosity or perhaps even an inclination for straight-forward mindless violence. As is so often the case, this turns out to be, if not completely misguided, at least a gross over-simplification of a complex human phenomenon. One of the main aims of this essay will be to illustrate not just how popular myths as to the causes of the Troubles in Northern Ireland are misconceived, but also how some of the more serious attempts to understand the conflict have suffered from a limited appreciation of the multiple factors involved. In order to pursue this goal, it is first necessary to identify the main historical precursors that led to the conflict and the various strategies that were engaged by way of resolution. We will then be in a better position to assess the different theoretical frameworks that have suggested a way forward and to ascertain how they might be applied to the political reality of Northern Ireland from the perspective of religion and secularisation. Even before England became a Protestant country, its brand of Catholicism was different to that of Ireland. Irish Catholicism was deemed to be idiosyncratic because it followed the northern Celtic tradition. So, though both countries were Catholic, differences had already begun to emerge in their respective religious identities. Henry II of England was the first to invade Ireland gaining control over the region around Dublin but the expansion of English influence did not occur until the 16th century with the reign of Elizabeth I. It was during this period that the Ulster clans allied themselves against the invading army. By the time of Elizabeth, however, England had already left the Roman Catholic Church. The break from Catholicism was essentially political and not doctrinal, the Anglican and Catholic services remaining almost identical. It was only after Henry VIII's death and the accession of Edward VI did the tendency towards Lutheran Protestantism begin. It was also during Eliz abeth's time, in face of the threat from the Catholic Spanish, that English nationalism became wedded to Protestantism. Eventually, Ulster came to be dominated by the English and Irish leaders sought sanctuary in Europe. Their lands were confiscated and given to colonists from England. As English foreign policy had come into conflict with those of Catholic Europe, Ireland became a convenient 'back door' to European enemies. To counter this problem a program of colonial settlement called the Plantation was embarked upon. Although English settlers were at first encouraged, they were reluctant to take up the invitation and it was the Scots from Galloway, who were already accustomed to travelling to Ulster, who took up the challenge. With the arrival of the Scottish Presbyterians, the native Irish were banished to peripheral lands. There was no deliberate policy of populating Ireland with Scottish Presbyterians as, like the Catholics, they were regarded as dissenters by James 1 of England (Clayton 1998). The counties of Antrim and Down, where Presbyterians were most numerous, did not form part of the Plantation but were