Diversity and Globalization Essay

Women in motion: globalization, state policies and labor migration in Asia is one of the major works by Nana Oishi. As a writer, Nana provides an analysis about labor migration in Asia with a close look at the patterns of female migration from various countries. Certain provisions are made that governs both receiving and sending countries in matters of female migration. Nana is critical in various theories that are conventional in economic theories of migration. A major area she is interested in is the driving factors reflecting in the source country. She is also very much concerned with structuralist theories relating to patterns of labor migration. Nana criticizes household strategies adopted by international migration as it has failed to consider household members as reliable individuals in a position to make independent decisions. The number of female immigrants has increased in the past owing to factors such as poverty, looking for good jobs, globalization effect and family problems (Oishi, 28). Female migration has a number of negative effects which include increased levels of sexual abuse, dislocation in family ties which has a social implication and increased vulnerabilities as a result of low incomes of the unskilled. The receiving country has the right to protect individual’s rights of female migration to avoid violation of human fundamental rights. A number of policies need to be considered but two major outstanding policies are enforcement of dual citizenship laws and dissemination of information with a view of incorporating female migrants in programs and institutional structures. Leaders in the receiving country should establish laws that protect the rights of non-citizens such as female migrants. The existence of such migrants perhaps is an aspect of blessing to the receiving country through various developments. Existence of dual-citizenship laws protects such individuals from discrimination, violence and other forms of human abuse. Once a female migrates to another country, she should acquire citizenship rights of that particular country. The migrant acquires equal rights like any other citizen and thus she is protected from vices such as slavery, sexual abuse or forced labor (Oishi, 60). The receiving countries are supposed to observe friendly legal systems that promote female migrants dignity. Another major consideration as a protective policy that should be adopted by the receiving country is provision of programs that absorbs female migrants in institutional structures. The reasons that results to female migration such as academic advancement, seeking for good jobs and poverty can be resolved through such programs. It is important for the receiving country to clearly understand such reasons for purpose of protecting their dignity. Considering the humanitarian aspect of life, leaders in receiving countries should incorporate female migrants in programs that promote their rights. Enrolling female migrants into institutions allows them to acquire skills and hence be in a position to seek employment. With skills the female migrants can support their own needs without bothering other individuals which is a reason for discrimination. The educational programs also help female migrants to know their rights and feel protected. The McDonaldization of sushi The eating patterns of individuals in the entire world have changed and this is attributed to globalization in the aspect of culture. Food culture is one of the major debates in developed and developing nations which have significance influence on globalization. This is clearly reflected in the argument by Sasha Isenberg in â€Å"The Sushi Economy†. It is an article that clearly reflects on globalized food culture and commerce. In many parts of the world, Macdonald foods have dominated the food sector. MacDonaldization which is a term derived from MacDonald’s has influenced the eating habits of many individuals (Issenberg, 17). This thus is a clear reflection about the influence of globalization in various economic sectors. The spread of various MacDonald fast food restaurants in the world has an impact in the way the global economy is being implemented. The global economy in this aspect relates to diversification of certain aspects of economic fields which promotes establishment of common way of life. In Japan, there are many fast foods stop over that provides both civilians and visitors the capacity to taste their food culture. Development in various economic sectors and establishment of similar practices in the entire economy results to a common way of people’s life. Food culture is one of the most recognized impacts of globalization which is promoted by modernization. The global economy which is influenced by interaction of people from various regions of the world is highly reflected in food culture. MacDonaldization by Sushi thus talks more about global economy which has an impact in many lives of individuals. One major impact of global economy is influence on individual’s life which changes the eating habits. In this aspect, McDonaldization of Sushi reflects clearly on the impact of global economy in eating habits of people. Any person from developed countries traveling in developing nations is in a position to receive equivalent services in the scope of fast foods. This is seen as a major achievement for both state and promotes the growth of global economy. The growth of economy as a result of globalization and food culture has seen various developments in other food items. A more corresponding aspect is in fish as a food stuff which is reaching the same status as MacDonald. Fish as a food stuff is high recognized by nutritionists as a source of proteins that is essential for body building. Another common aspect of fish is its easiness to prepare and serve to customers (Issenberg, 25). In both developed and developing states, the availability of fish makes it to dominate the global markets. Considering these provisions, it becomes very easy for fish to resemble Sushi success. Developing states are seen as the cheap source of quality fish such as Africa and as an influence of globalization in the aspect of transportation it becomes easy to supply the commodity in global markets. The global economy is promoted through consideration of such policies making it easy for economy to grow fast. Diversification of food culture and change in lifestyle resulting from economic development makes individuals to change their eating habits. This promotes a common practice by investors in the hospitality sector. Sushi success as well as establishment of fish as a common food stuff promotes global economy. Globalization and flow of information from different perspectives makes it possible to trade fast foods such as fish through the supermarkets and other retail outlets. Since it is served as take away, travelers and children usually enjoy the food stuffs. Globalization in this aspect has led to establishment of certain policies necessary to transform global economy from one state to another. Works Cited Issenberg, Sasha, The Sushi Economy: Globalization and the Making of a Modern Delicacy, Gotham, 2007 Oishi, Nana, Women in Motion: Globalization, State Policies, and Labor Migration in Asia, Stanford University Press, 2005

What is the crisis in the British family a crisis about? How is the crisis gendered?

The term ‘family' officially evokes the image of a heterosexual, nuclear institution where each member is related to the other by marriage/law or blood, and the state, religion, media and other important institutions in our society encourage this image. However, lived realities are often very different and in recent years this form of the family, which is assumed to be normal and the norm, has been displaced by various other family forms which are labeled as deviant and which are assumed to be the root of current social problems. Hence has risen a ‘crisis' in the British family. This crisis has been highlighted by the various social institutions mentioned above which encourage the heterosexual nuclear family form. Quoting Wright and Jagger, according to them ‘the turn of the century is marked by a growing crisis in the family, a crisis that may prove terminal unless decisive action is taken', and the crisis has been pointed out as the collapse of marriage and the ‘family'. This crisis however is not new and a similar was said to have risen at the end of the 19th century. Like now, the crisis then too had been a rise in social problems and women had been identified as the cause. Single mothers, working mothers, woman opposing the dominant ideology of ‘womanhood' were and are labeled as the cause of the ‘crisis'! As Gittins say, ‘Ideals of family relationships have become enshrined in our legal, social, religious and economic systems, which in turn reinforce the ideology and penalise or ostracise those who transgress it. ‘[Gittins 1992] The crisis in the family can thus be seen as nothing more than a gap between the ideological construction of the family and the diverse realities of family life. [Gittins,1993] The different alternate family forms that have come up and become increasingly common in the last few decades such as the single parent (specially single mother) family, extended families, communes, homosexual families are seen as social threats. This is because they resist the patriarchal ideology that is prevalent in the nuclear family form where the male is all-powerful. Resistance to this form of the family has seen the rise of the gendering of the family crisis with the blame falling on the women. This crisis as mentioned above is not something new and was seen before in the 1890's when the results of it were deemed to be the evils of those times – namely illegitimate children, women not having children, prostitution, homosexuality etc. The family – which by the way was the white, middle class, heterosexist family – was seen to be the buffer against these social evils. In these families the sexual divisions of labor played an important part in the claiming of moral superiority. The industrial Revolution which preceded this period can this be seen as the time when the seeds of change were sown, because even though at this time the ‘domestic ideology' of the middle class was established, working class women became increasingly involved in paid employment working away from home – and hence rose the first crisis. Indeed, the cause of the crisis at this time was seen to be the ‘bad' mother – invariably a working class woman in paid labor. With World War II however, women had to take up jobs and it allowed them more freedom. Gradually the 20th century saw changes in attitudes and legislation – though it did take a very long time. The most important legislative changes were perhaps the right of divorce for women and the decriminalization of gay relationships. These factors were important in the rise in the alternate family forms. The argument that the heterosexual family is the ‘norm' can however no longer be held valid. There is a vast discrepancy between the actual family forms and the ‘cereal-packet family' considered the ideal! In 1961 over half of all households consisted of a married couple with dependent children and in 1992 this proportion had dropped to 24%. In 2001 19% all households consisted of an adult couple and dependent children – the couple not necessarily married. Marriage certainly has become less popular in the last 2 decades. Cohabitation, teen pregnancies, the number of children outside marriage has seen a marked increase. Homosexuality also has become much more widely accepted in society and many homosexual couples live with their children – adopted or from previous relationships. Divorce rates have also shot up dramatically with 1 in every 3 marriages ending in a divorce. These changes have been constructed into a national crisis by the state and the media. The statistics have been used to create moral panic among the people. In Britain, the government whether the New Right or the New Left have supported the ‘traditional family'. In the debates and policies of the New Right or the New Left, there is seen to be a particular connection between deviant family forms and social ills and there can be seen a particular vision of the individual, family and state responsibility. Policy units, the think tanks like the Social Affairs and the Economic Affairs units and the newspapers rather than the academic press stress are the agencies that stress more on the importance of the ‘traditional family values'. [Jagger and Wright, 1999] The lobbyists on behalf of the ‘ normal' family say that government policies and feminist ideologies threaten it. Government policies however far from threatening the nuclear family form strongly support it. In fact the Conservatives called themselves the party of the ‘family' and deviant family forms such as homosexual relationships and cohabitation were actively discouraged. The 1988 Local Government Act stated that it was an offence for local government employees or institutions to promote the acceptability of homosexuality as a family relationship. The Conservatives also shifted away from state provision and the emphasis lay on the family as a source of provision and rhetoric as well as legislation supported this. The moral panic shifted from the unemployed male scrounger to the female lone parent on benefit. The benefits given to single parents were cut down and the Child Support Act was introduced. Refamilisation – by which fathers were tried to be reinserted into the family by being made responsible for his child after separation made life very difficult for those people who had been divorced. This rhetoric of traditional family values however helped the state to back out of much of its fiscal responsibilities! The Labour Governments emphasis has also been on the family. Legislation based on the ‘families role in society' has been passed. As Frazer says, there is ‘an insistent emphasis on ‘the family' as the relevant and significant institution' together with ‘the insistence that rights must be correlated with duties, obligations and responsibilities'. It does seem from the government's emphasis on the family that the terrain of family offers the illusion of a cheap and feasible political program. Other than this emphasizing on family also obscures the failure of the politicians in other spheres such as economics or likewise. The media also plays an important role in this invocation of ‘the family' – the ‘cereal-packet family' being a noteworthy propaganda and the stress on the current ‘crisis'! Religion is another important social institution that encourages the nuclear family maintaining it to be moral and healthier that the other family forms. It has been seen that in all these cases of addressing this crisis by the state, the media or any other institution the focus has been on women as the cause of the crisis and consequently social problems. The single mother is seen as the source of current social evils like poverty, children's indiscipline, crime and juvenile delinquency. Fatherless families are seen to be more of a problem with no one to impose authority and discipline! The discourse of lone/single motherhood as a social threat as it helps to resist close scrutiny of the content of hegemonic masculinity and fatherhood. [Lister, 1996] and conceals the fear that if men lose their relevance to the family life they also lose control over women and children. The traditional nuclear family, which is patriarchal, enforces this ideology through the strict gendered division of labor and other family forms without these gender divisions are not seen as desirable or normal. The traditional family is seen as one in which the male is the breadwinner and the woman is the homemaker – looking after the house and the children. This was in fact the Victorian middle class ideology. Though today women are no longer thought of as not going into paid work, it is still considered that her primary duty lies in looking after the home – thus she has a double burden of her job and housework. Men however have no such responsibilities and the symmetrical family that Young and Willmott talk about in which housework is shared equally between men and women instead of men thinking that they are doing a favour by helping, will take a long time to come if it ever does come at all! These family relationships – the inequality of women in their relationships with men ( in either marriage or cohabitation) is linked to wider social and economic factors and is infact sanctioned by the power of the state. Thus gendered division of labor is a part of the ‘normal' family ideals. The crisis in the family means that this gender division no longer works within a majority of the families anymore. This is the feminist explanation for the rise of a ‘crisis' in the family by the media and the state. The patriarchy that is based on the exploitation of women's unpaid labor at home constructs alternate family forms as a ‘crisis' and blames women as the cause of social problems, advocating the return to the ‘normal, heterosexual, nuclear family' for a better and healthier society!

The Throw-Away Society

The throw-away society From lumpish walkman to handy ipod, from family traditional wedding dress to one-time use paper gown, our society witnesses the globally social revolution of throwing away. Quantity replaces quality and hence becomes the buzzword of the new world. But looking forward and in retrospect, do we really should flood in the throw-away fashion upon which our attitude towards man-made things has altered so much? And what on earth do we throw away? When we throw away the no-more-need things and replenish our refrigerators and wardrobes, we throw away resources. No matter they are patches of fabric to make a new scarf or tons of steel to produce new cars, all of them come from the valuable resources of which the stock depletes severely day by day. News and reports broadcast how scarce our natural resources are becoming, but people still throw away. Few of them have realized that the process of throwing away is the exact procedure to turn resources towards garbages. Furthermore, it is also sometimes too obscure to be noticed that throwing away products also incurs throwing away good memories. A doll you had when you were a little girl would always prompt you the innocent and sweet childhood; an umbrella you used for 4 years in the campus would always remind you of the fresh and brisk university life. When all these similar reminders become less and less, that particular period of life would be more likely to be locked somewhere in your mind, not so easy to be touched again any more. Admittedly, the throw-away society gives us so many choices among which we are prone to be less picky but also more emotionless. We seldom keep a dress for 10 years like our mothers do since all the new styles have emerged and we have so many chances to choose a more delicate one. When we discard the old one, we don’t feel a tiny bit mercy; when we welcome the new one, we don’t sense the joy that much either. It’s believed today that the whole world, material or non-material, is formulated this way, easy and convenient; thus we tend to be less reminiscent of the unforgettable birthday party while we were attired with that particular dress. The dress is still the original one, but the connotation of the dress has changed through your life, for it has been a witness to your growth, your maturity, tear and laughter, ups and downs. The longer you keep it, the more it becomes part of yourself. So many people nowadays complain that they are lost somewhere in their life and they feel onfused and puzzled to forge ahead. It’s a paradox that people want to sustain a whole self but still discard part of himself. Living in the throw-away society, what people eventually throw away is the real self, subconsciously and accidentally. It’s a trend that we will continue throwing away, as it seems to be destined. But during this inexorable process, more reflections are bound to elaborat e and expand on it since we all despise to see a world with complete trash but desperate ourselves.

Characteristics of civilized societies and civilization Assignment

Characteristics of civilized societies and civilization - Assignment Example â€Å"A Labyrinth that housed the Minotaur, a monstrous creature, half man and half bull, the product of the union of Minos’s wife Pasiphae with a bull. Minos exacted from Athens a regular tribute of seven boys and seven girls, who was sent to be devoured by the Minotaur. The Athenian hero Theseus volunteered to stop the grisly tribute. He went to Knossos with the new group of intended victims and, with the help of the king’s daughter Ariadne, killed the Minotaur in its lair in the middle of the Labyrinth. He then escaped with Ariadne and the Athenian boys and girls. Theseus later abandoned Ariadne on the island of Naxos, but the god Dionysus discovered her there and comforted her† (Cunningham and Reich).What aspect of the first chapter most intrigued you?The civilization process/ stage among the Greeks. The process was slow but intriguing because the amount of technology was limited.   The architects came up with different design models including doric and ico nic.How did the physical geography of Greece affect the development of the states?The mountains separated the city states; hence the states were able to develop independently.What are the causes of the many contradictions in Classical Greek mythology?There is no concrete evidence that backs the events in the myths. Distortion of the original events is prone to happen, leading to contradictions.How did the Doric style differ from the Ionic style or order of architecture (consider the base, capital, frieze)? Hoplite- meaning an armed infantry.

Knowledge is generated through the interaction of critical and Essay

Knowledge is generated through the interaction of critical and creative thinking. Evaluate this statement in two areas of knowle - Essay Example People need to only reflect on how whoever writes history develops greater power and it becomes too painfully real how knowledge enhances different forms of power, including political and economic power. How people acquire knowledge and define it, however, is highly debated. The rise of emotional intelligence, for instance, questioned knowledge as pure logic. Feminists aim to call emotions and perceptions as equally valuable sources and components of knowledge. Some also argue of the unification of creative and critical thinking, because they are related and more effective in generating knowledge together (Mayfield 4; Paul and Elder 118). This paper evaluates this belief using the areas of knowledge of ethics and sciences. Knowledge is generated through the interaction of critical and creative thinking. Ethics refer to the people’s guiding principles of what is right or wrong (Means 52). Ethics uses both critical and creative thinking skills. This paper first defines and diffe rentiates critical thinking and creative thinking. In the traditional TOK Diagram, see figure 1 below, the ways of knowing are through emotions, reason, sense perception, and language. Creative and critical thinking are both ways of knowing, but they are closely interrelated (Paul and Elder 118). Critical thinking analyzes and evaluates a particular material, while creative thinking concerns inventing something new (Mayfield 4). Creativity, however, has a â€Å"critical component,† and not just portraying â€Å"imagination† or â€Å"inventiveness† (Paul and Elder 118). In business, for instance, creativity is valuable if it leads to innovation of products, services, processes, and systems. Creativity must also have a critical output too. In connection to the TOK diagram, critical thinking primarily involves reason and language, or the right side of â€Å"knowing† in the TOK diagram. Creative thinking uses emotion and sense perception, or the left side of â€Å"knowing.† Reason and language are often used by sciences, but ethics employ emotion and sense perception too. But clearly, the diagram is a circle. It shows the unity of all forms of knowing for all areas of knowledge. Ethics uses reason and language too. It must be reasonable to be embraced by people, and it must also use persuasive language to convince people of its effectiveness in differentiating right from wrong. Knowers should be able to use all four ways of knowing to arrive at a balanced and ethical decision or option (Paul and Elder 118). Figure 1: Traditional TOK Diagram Ethics cannot be arrived at by using only emotion and sense perception; it also needs the guidance of reason and language. An example is the ethics developed by Immanuel Kant. Kant argues that people should be responsible for their moral actions and they have a duty to act morally (Bartlett 224). This is based on both the emotions of doing what is right and the reason for choosing right over w rong. Emotions are important to ethics, because some people need to feel that they are doing the right thing. For instance, merely following instructions from a superior can seem right, but it can also feel wrong. This can be related to employees of Enron, who followed their corrupt executive managers, because they also wanted to be rich and improve the stock price of Enron. It seems right to be doing this for the company, but it feels wrong, because they are duping their shareholders, as well as their diverse stakeholders. Perceptions are further

Four Internaional Accounting Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Four Internaional Accounting Questions - Essay Example From a creditor’s perspective, they want to be confident that the companies or debt securities their citizens (or the countries themselves) purchase are accurately represented by the published financial statements. 2a. Ever since the onset of modern business and the taxation of corporations, accounting in the US has been rules based. Any major change in the philosophy of accounting will be a challenge. The rules based accounting system dictates exactly how certain transactions should be recorded. The principle based accounting system has few rules. Instead general principles are published and companies are required to ensure their financial statements fairly and accurately represent these principles. I see the main challenge in converting from rules to principles based system will be in the consistency of financial statements. Another challenge will be in educating the investor. Under the principles based system the accountants have much more latitude in the recording of trans actions. For example, depreciation of assets will vary depending on the accountant’s view of useful life.

The Impact of the 2011 Summer Floods in Brisbane Case Study

The Impact of the 2011 Summer Floods in Brisbane - Case Study Example There were two major floods recorded in Brisbane, Queensland in 2011. One included a series of floods which occurred on 10th January in the Lockyer Valley and the city of Toowoomba. This was followed by a devastating flood occurred in the city of Brisbane on 13th January 2011. The Brisbane flood of 2011 was the second biggest flood in the city in the 20th century. The Brisbane Flood was one of the series of floods that occurred in Queensland from 2010-2011. The Brisbane River Catchment area has been a sensitive area with respect to floods (Crompton, McAneney, Chen, Pielke and Haynes, 2010). In the 2011 Brisbane flood, major flooding was noted in most parts of the Brisbane River Catchment, especially in major tributaries of Brisbane River like Bremer River and Lockyer Creek. The flood led to the loss of one life in Brisbane and more than 23 lives in the valley of Lockyer. It was estimated that 18000 properties were submerged by the immensely high flood heights in metropolitan Brisbane and many parts of the Brisbane River Valley. All the houses in the floodplain area were highly damaged with some being completely washed away by the flood. The recorded height of the flood was 14.6 feet in the proper city areas which were estimated to be the 10th highest flood level in the history of floods in the Brisbane city. Major parts of the city were submerged under water and evacuation centers and rescue teams were launched by the government of Australia to manage the disastrous consequences of this flood. The flood not only led to the loss of lives and property but it also had profound impacts on the psychological and physical health of the residents in Brisbane (Alderman, Turner, and Tonga, 2013). In total, more than 200,000 people were affected in varied ways by the Brisbane flood. A commercial loss of around USD 4 billion was recorded across different sectors like tourism, mining, and agriculture. The flood caused the inundation of 3570 business and commercial premises and caused the damage of 1900 kilometers of roads in Brisbane city.

Business Law - commercial Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Law - commercial - Research Paper Example This research will try to address the above issues as they apply in Qatar. A trademark is a legally protected word or symbol which possesses an identifying feature to a specific company, brand or an individual and it should be associated with that specific brand (Gader-Shafran, 2013). Pursuant to decree number 3/1978, Qatar law makers regulate the protection of industrial and trademarks. This law protects the service marks, trademarks, commercial names, group marks, indications of origin and source, registration procedures, marks that are not registrable, renewal of registration, protection period, the effects of registration, fees payable for infringing this law, the disclaiming of a trademark and the transference of property that indicates the penalties and offences that are peculiar to trademarks (Surachman, World Jurist Association, & Conference on the Law of the World, 1997). Trademarks influence the buying decisions of the consumers. It is therefore important for every corporate executive or business person to have a clear understanding of the importance of trademarks to effective and efficient commerce. Firstly, trademarks make consumers to easily find a business entity or corporate entity. This is through the distinguishing feature that a trademark has to the services and products a business has to those of competitors. This makes the consumers to appreciate the quality of the products and services one offers as they create awareness of the brand and goodwill embodied in the trademark. This cuts on the overall costs of promotion, advertising, sales efforts and marketing (Shilling, 2002). Secondly, prevent the confusion that market places create. A trademark protects consumers from confusion as to the origin of services and goods offered by a business entity. This helps consumers to return any defective products they may have bought because they know the source of the products. It also helps consumers

Internship experience at Arabian Building Chemicals factory Essay

Internship experience at Arabian Building Chemicals factory - Essay Example Internship experience at Arabian Building Chemicals factory My major task was to determine the satisfaction level of the employees within the organization through survey and data collection method. ABC Company is one of the emerging Saudi Arab based paint products manufacturing organization. This internship report will try to motivate the employees of the organization to participate in the sample survey data collection method. Primary and secondary data collection method has been implemented to achieve significant data. The report will propose some recommendations if there is any problem with the workplace environment and employee satisfaction level. The Report Methodology and Individual task This internship report has been compiled based on the experiences during the internship at ABC Company. The data and information is gathered from sample survey method, secondary literature sources and text books. I joined Arabian Building Chemicals factory as a management trainee in the human resource department. My internship duration was 2 months. My role was to review the employee satisfaction level and employee loyalty. Introduction Several leading organizations around the globe are trying to implement new unique strategies in order to retain effective and skilled employees. Now-a-days, the organizations are trying to develop effective HRM strategies. HR policy can enhance effective organizational culture and favorable workplace environment. Skilled employees always demand favorable workplace environment and effective communication with the top management. ... This report will determine the ABC Company’s employee satisfaction level and loyalty of employees. Summary of Internship positions, scope, goals and objectives Employee and workplace management in a manufacturing company is a challenging task. This process needs experienced and skilled management team who can manage effective workplace environment by handling the workplace issues with sheer leadership skills. I have joined the company as a human resource management trainee. The human resource manager, sales department manager, general manager and law department manager helped me to learn several practical aspects of HRM. My role was to review the satisfaction level of the employees. Moreover, I had to find out the conflicts and issues with respect to the workplace if they are available. It can provide huge scope for my future career. I am trying to enter in this type of management sector. The 2 months of internship experience can help to provide solutions to the critical cases in my future organization. This internship experience can help me to achieve both professional and personal growth. My key task was to handle the entire questionnaire and the employees who are participated in this data collection process. HRM Process Every business aims at the realization of a particular mission. The mission can be achieved through the adoption of appropriate strategies and when carried out in the proper fashion. This is done by the employees of the organization who are regarded as the biggest assets. It is the task of the human resource management department to understand who should be entrusted with what job and who has the capability to taste success in the times to come. Hence how the people would carry

Digital Media Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Digital Media Assessment - Essay Example The technological advancements including the influence of the media turned the simple lives into a multi-system and multi faceted world. It is evident that media really played a big role in here. From communications to trade and industry to school systems to health lifestyle and even to the micro level such as the household perspective it has employed a bigger development in every aspect. Everything became digital and all. It became the governing and prevailing means of communication which introduced a new paradigm and framework to the society leaving to what is conventional and critical way of doing things. If this can be put into one word this might probably the "communication revolution" of all times (M2 Presswire, 2006). Digital media is the integration of texts, sounds, graphics and data in a more advanced system formed into multi-media and networking. The data and information are carefully formed into multi level of data presented into less, cheap and convenient way of accessing it whether it is music, information or entertainment. It opened to the possibilities of creating gaps and spaces from the message to the messenger and onto the receiver. It created boundaries and fissures that is why this is argued by the theorists who are concerned of the influencing power of the digital media that might possibly become the captain of everything in the world (M2 Presswire, 2006 & Miller, 2005). Digital media was seen as the convergence of the different forms of the digital medium in information and communication and packaged into a single medium which is distributed widely in different parts of the world. It is the union of bits and bytes into a simpler and easier form, as what the media artists say, through the use of a common language, medium and packaging (M2 Presswire, 2006). There are 7 identified characteristics of the digital world identified by Miller (2005) and these are the following: 1. Interconnection. It explains that everything is linked with each other. The threats and opportunities that encountered are interlinked. Several networks have surfaced because of the common interests projected to the communities involved. 2. Multifaceted. Things that are complex and multifaceted as a system can be attributed to the complex environment. It is like a domino effect that when one code struggles everything else follows. This might cause complexities and problems in the business dealings and other complex financial transactions. 3. Acceleration. The introduction of digital media hastens everything we do from business transactions to marketing to capital growth and even in doing simple things at school such as homework and projects. Communication is hastened that is why everything else hastens as well as the development of the new technologies. 4. Intangibility. As digital environment is introduced, more intangibles have come the way. The physical and tangibles are shied away from the users because they are more presented with the convenient way of having these products by using the system introduced to them. 5. Convergence. New ways will be integrated since everything will be in one medium such as the CD and DVD. 6. Immediacy. Everything else is done in faster and easier way so the introduction of the digital era is one solution to respond to the ever changing technological environment without reflecting on the effects it may cause. 7.

Launching the BMW Z3 Roadster Essay Example for Free

Launching the BMW Z3 Roadster Essay BMW Z3 is the first BMW car which is being manufactured in North America which has not been a very big market [roughly around 16%] for BMW because of the inability of the American customer to associate with a foreign brand. Therefore the sales and marketing approach of BMW Z3 will lay the foundations of the future of BMW brand in America. Their phase I was a success, and they had two months between the launch and the product availability to further ingrain their brand image in the hearts of the Americans. So how to strengthen their brand campaign for the coming two months was their main concern. Brand symbol is an important aspect in the automobile industry as it is the brand image that drives the person to buy the automobile and defines the target market and therefore the revenues. This could be supported from the past: their shift in positioning from yuppie status to Ultimate Driving Vehicle led to a 18% increase in sales in one year. For BMW Z3 brand they wanted to preserve their reputation for driving performance but reposition their cars as stylish and fun to drive so that they settle into the minds and hearts of the American public and the vehicle becomes a cultural icon. With the plan of leveraging the excitement and enthusiasm of the customer base in a way that it will draw maximum attention and interest to the brand non-traditional marketing methods were chosen. These methods were more cost efficient because of the psychographic segmentation and delivered to a broader base which was the major intention of BMW. It was also different and unconventional which was what BMW wanted to associate with their unique brand. All their various marketing campaigns which included release of Golden Eye, in which their car was featured as Bonds car, screening in the Tonight Show, Central Park launch event, radio DJ program, Neiman Marcus Catalog Offer and the video were completed by November which were roaring success and helped in building the required brand image which were reinforced through the traditional media campaigning in December. These campaigns were successful as they were able to generate favorable product reviews and they also resulted in 9000 pre-bookings much higher than the expected 5000. As an asset a brand name has to be carefully managed so that its brand equity does not decrease. Therefore BMW will have to take up some brand building initiatives so that the brand name remains in the market. As they have got more than expected pre-orders which is going to strain their existing process there is no point in going for sales increasing marketing strategies. It should be related to customer satisfaction because if these customers become advocates for BMW Z3 they will be able to convince more prospects in their reference groups to become customers. Through these customers BMW can also get data regarding the various cultural, personal, social and psychological factors that drove them to buy BMW Z3 on which they could base their second phase of brand building events. So therefore in January their first initiatives should be to send survey forms and invites for an exclusive test run for the various customers who have placed orders. Then in the month of February have road shows throughout the country where the prospective buyers of the car will have a first hand feel of the car they are going to buy. This will help in building a market through customer referral and building a pull market for the car rather than a push market. Customers could also be given details of their car and the various facilities they get as a package along with the car so that can perceive a higher customer delivered value for their car. In addition the people who attend the promotion shows could be given t-shirts with the logo I have driven BMW 3Z to further increase the brand awareness and strengthen the IInd phase of branding. The car could also be taken out on long drives through the cities where there will be maximum visibility. The above brand campaigns will not be able to generate any leads in the present but will help in bringing twin advantage of brand recall and improving customer rating of the brand.

Hardware and software report Essay Example for Free

Hardware and software report Essay This logo is attractive as it advertises its name in its logo and so it is a useful selling point, this is unlike other logos such as the Apple logo where there is no text. Secondly logo uses two colours and therefore it looks clean and professional and unlike other logos such as the old Fanta logo (which is cluttered and not colour coordinated). Thirdly this logo is a definite improvement for previous BA logos, such as the one released on the Queens Birthday in 1991. However the logo hasnt been updated for just over fifteen years, certainly there have been modifications and improvements, and however BA hasnt changed it completely. A report done by The Economist shows this could be why BAs sales have been dropping gradually over the past decade. This logo represents the British based airline; Monarch. This logo uses two complementary colours, which are purple and yellow. The crown image is very clever because it matches the name of airline. The colours are used to great effect on the crown, the middle part of the crown is filled in with a golden yellow, and the two sides match the purple font. The crown is in a bold shape of an M so that people will notice that it belongs to Monarch Airways. It is extremely simple but also very clever and unique Ryan Air is an Irish Airline company who specialise in cheap flights. This logo is simple and quite plain and dull. The writing is big and bold so that people can read it from a long distance and so that it stands out and it has a short slogan underneath persuading potential customers to fly with them. It also has a small image of a golden harp but its not on the subject of flying, planes, or holidays. The Ryan Air logo is far too plain and doesnt use the beautiful two colours to effect. 2. 2 My Logos 2. 3 My Final Logo Mr Jones chose this logo, because he believed this logo represents the ethos and nature of the company. This is one of the only logos to have the slogan of the company underneath. He believed that this was an essential marketing point, which reflects the company. After research of existing logos (both travel and non-travel) and their colour scheme, I chose brow, yellow, and black. He chose the computer designed logos because they look more professional and pleasing to the eye. Another factor that was imperative to my chosen design is the survey I carried out (see Appendix C for completed survey). 2. 4 Task Evaluation How did you choose what features to include in your logo? I looked at three different logos and evaluated the good and the bad things about each logo, and then created each of my own logos and trying to include all of the good features that I had spotted, to make it as effective as possible. I also created a survey on what customers wanted to see in a logo which has given me more of an insight into customers needs. What hardware and software did you use? To create these particular logos I used: Hardware Dell Dimension DM 051 Software Microsoft Publisher 2007 Microsoft Word 2007 Corel Graphics Designer Internet Explorer 7 (www. logomaker. com) Suggest an alternative way for completing the task and what other hardware or software could you have used? For this task I could have used different programs or I could have edited my drawn designs on the computer Software Microsoft PowerPoint 2003/7 Adobe Photoshop CS2 Hardware Apple Mac (OS 3. 0 Beta) How well did this task work? Overall I think I did quite well on this task, as I managed to use different programs and explore the different features of them, also I looked at the differences in the features between Microsoft Word 2003 and Microsoft 2007, I feel this has benefited me greatly. My logos look professional and smart, and I am pleased and the end result, however I feel I couldve put a slogan on all of the logos, not just one.

Training Needs Analysis

Training Needs Analysis Kymm’s Express Training Plan The purpose of a training needs analysis is to identify performance requirements and the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by the company to achieve the requirements. J, a training consultant, has a meeting with D, the Human Resource Representative, E, the Customer Service Manager and L, the Customer Service Supervisor to determine training needs. In the initial meeting, J, is conducting a preliminary needs analysis. He begins to understand a little more about the department on an organizational level which consists of, what the company’s strategy and goals are, and how training (if any) has been handled in the past. In building this training plan, there will be several key parts that are a must have when building a customer service team. Begin by emphasizing the mission and purpose of the department and the training. MISSION: Stress the importance of creating a universal customer service culture by beginning with upper-level management and actualizing this goal among all staff including frontline personnel. The framework for the customer service culture at Kymm’s Express includes learning what the customers wants; implementing steps to provide for those wants; equipping frontline employees with training, information, empowerment, and motivation; and monitoring success through customer and employee feedback mechanisms. PURPOSE: To provide excellence in customer service through a positive and friendly attitude to all customers and employees through this comprehensive training plan. This plan reaffirms that Kymm’s Express will serve its customers with excellence. It outlines our responsibility to work with customers to improve the practical value of the information and services that it provides, as well as improving the delivery mechanisms used to distribute these. This plan reminds Kymm’s Express employees of the importance of interacting proactively with customers, identifying their needs, and integrating these needs into program planning and implementation. It seems as though the current customer service representatives have received an informal training. When an organization does not spend the time to fully train their employees the consequence is poor service. To make sure that your employees succeed, there needs to be a set of expectations and or goals in place. This non-training method, L could use to develop her employees. Employees want to see how their work contributes to larger corporate objectives, and setting the right targets makes this connection explicit for them, and for L, as their supervisor. Goal-setting is particularly important as a mechanism for providing ongoing and year-end feedback. By establishing and monitoring targets, you can give your employees real-time input on their performance while motivating them to achieve more which can result in monthly and or quarterly incentives. Doing a monthly recognition program for the representatives that has the highest number of sales and positive customer comments and or Aw ard quarterly bonuses for top sellers or make the bonus performance based; for example, you can give bonuses for answering the most customer calls or returning the most emails. State the goals that are going to be accomplished once this training is completed. Goal #1: Achieve Higher Levels of Customer Satisfaction: One of the many findings discovered during the Training Needs Analysis was frustration among the Customer Service Representatives. Some were concerned that there’s not a standard policy or resource to follow that describes in great detail how to pinpoint the core customer problem and either resolve or forward it to another for resolution. Concerns have been raised about their level of training and adequacy in dealing with difficult customers. Since a conclusive correlation exists between lack of skills training and knowledge, our training will target developing usable customer service skills to employees which will result in increased job performance. Goal #2: Create a Uniform Customer Service Policy: We will create a standard Customer Service policy tailored specifically to the Kymm’s Express mission statement. We will mass produce these so that each employee receives his/her personal copy during training. In addition each Customer Service Representative station will be required to have a copy to provide quick reference for customer service representatives. Goal #3: Develop Customer Service Procedural Guidance: We will provide training that equips customer service representatives with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will increase product knowledge, maximize problem-solving resources, and provide exceptional customer service to the Kymm’s Express base. We will develop a ready reference customer service procedural guide; make it readily available in the system of each workstation that will provide immediate direction to customer service representatives to effectively identify a customer’s concern and the process to most efficiently resolve it. Based on the needs analysis and design of training that was previously stated, there are many methods of training that can be added to the plan for Kymm’s Express. To adequately provide quality training that maximizes the customer service representatives potential for improved performance and retention, the length of this training should not exceed seven business days to complete. The training should be done in a non-call center location with access to computers, so that it will allow the customer service representatives the ability to dabble with the system in an offline function. However, if the location is not available it is also ideal to train on the floor. This way it will give the reps more real-life experience of the customer service environment. This will not only equip customer service representatives with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will increase product knowledge, maximize problem-solving resources, and provide exceptional customer service to the Kymm ’s Express, but all of these methods of training gives employees motivation to start the job. It is to be said that people learn more efficiently if they learn hands-on, rather than listening to an instructor. However, this method might not be for everyone, as it could be very stressful. On the Job training consists of coaching, mentoring, job rotation and job instruction technique. Coaching/mentoring gives employees a chance to receive training one-on-one from an experienced professional. Coaching will help to identify weakness and focus on areas which need improvement while mentoring focuses on attitude development. While the customer service reps are conducting on the job training with their supervisor they will be learning the Customer Service Policy, and its use on the floor as well as, how to navigate through the customer service procedural guide. Generally on the job training is more cost effective. However, it is less disruptive to the business. Customer Service Reps will be training with equipment that they will become familiar with on an everyday basis. On the Job t raining should be given to employees after completing a week of simulation and on-the-job training, and completion of a simulated comprehensive exam. All in all on the job training should be an everyday process to be done on the floor, due to everyday changes. Many avenues exist to train employees. The key here is to match the needs of the business with the different training methods. Assess each training method implemented in the organization and get feedback from trainees to see if they learned anything. As I am positive that these methods are very effective methods to build the customer service department, the results may deem otherwise. References Gallo, Amy. â€Å"Making Sure Your Employees Succeed.† HBR Blog Network (2011) October 30, 2013 http://blogs.hbr.org/2011/02/making-sure-your-employees-suc/ Iwan, Lee. â€Å"Top 10 reasons for poor customer service and theirsolutions.† Lee Iwan Accumulated Experience (2007) October 30, 2013 http://leeiwan.wordpress.com/2007/11/13/top-10-reasons-for-poor-customer-service-and-their-solutions/

Imperialism :: essays research papers

‘Examine the Causes of European Imperialism After 1870’ European control and power over other nations was not a new ideal prior to 1870; in fact the process was in place as early as the 14th century. Disease and geography are only two of the factors that prevented European colonisation until the 19th century. Many factors led to the massive rise in imperialism after 1870, both internal and external. European imperialism stems from the capitalistic greed for cheap raw materials, advantageous markets, and good investments. These ideas motivated the search for new markets because Imperialists would rather invest in new markets rather than raise wages of domestic workers. Not only was the cheap production of goods a motivating factor, but the quest for markets to sell manufactured goods contributed as well. Going along with this greed was the drive to expand authority by land acquisition or economic and political control over other nations. The quest for economic domination and advantage Europeans often denied the capitalistic greed as a factor in the cause of imperialism and had other ways of defining the motivation. Many stated that Imperialism was the natural effect of the idea of ‘survival of the fittest.’ This is best represented by Rudyard Kipling in the book ‘White Man’s Burden,’ which describes the notion that European Imperialism was simply the natural way that stronger nations gained power and those unable to keep up would be taken over. The Industrial Revolution also played a huge role in European imperialism. European nations had ease dominating non-Europeans due, in part, to the power retained from industrialisation. The Industrial Revolution provided tools such as guns, railway systems, steamships, and others, making it easier to overcome nations with less technology.

Fate in Eudora Weltys A Worn Path :: Worn Path

Fate in Eudora Welty's A Worn Path    Fate can take control of humans lives and can help humans reach the end of the challenging path. The path is a journey which can not be totally controlled by humans. There will always be obstacles that will rely on fate. The path is a metaphor for life and life is full of obstacle s and risks that Phoenix needed to overcome in this story. Before Phoenix made it down the hill, the bush got caught in her clothes. It shows that you should not judge from the outside and that things are not always what they seem. In life you will come across people and objects that are harsher than you imagine. She also stumbled upon a scarecrow that scared her. This shows that life and the path are both filled with surprises and entertainment. The white man told her that town was far away and that she should head home. But she knew that she must continue for her grandson and it shows that you should not always trust that the advice given is the best.    Phoenix Jackson was determined to travel down the worn path to reach town. Determination was a key factor to her success down the path but I think that fate was on her side and it helped her through. For example, Phoenix crossed a creek by a log. She closed her eyes and it was fate that got her across safely. She came across a scarecrow that momentarily brought happiness to her. When she was walking down the road a black dog suddenly jumped up on her and pushed her to the ground. "A white man finally came along and found her - a hunter, a young man, with his dog on a chain. I think that this shows that fate had brought a person to help lift her up just when she needed it. It also brought an opportunity for her to pocket a nickel she saw. Kindness is very important in the story because it showed that there are many people who are willing to lend a hand to help an old lady. The white man helped her up and a lady helped lace up her shoe. "'Stand still then, Grandma' said the lady. She put her packages down on the sidewalk beside her and laced and tied both shoes tightly." This shows that Phoenix was not too shy to ask politely for help and she received the help that she needed.

Essay --

To most people ethnicity is shown by values, lifestyles, customs, and rituals that are personal to an individual ethnic group or religion. The feeling of belonging to a certain group is a basic need for mankind. In a sense, ethnicity can be separated into two particular categories, a unique social structure and culture heritage passed down from one generation to the next. I come from a Mexican family. This has shown me the many similarities, as well as differences in a Mexican family compared to an American family. From a young age we are taught that the value of family is the most important thing in the world. Most Americans encourage their children to move out after graduation from either high school or college, Mexicans believe that their children should live with them until they are married or around the ages of 25-30 years old. The most important family member in the Mexican family are the elderly. They are given special treatment and attention. For example our beliefs is that the elders shouldn't go to retirement homes. They are welcome in the family and are cared for until there last days. Grandchildren are taught to be respectful and to aways Listen to the elders, especially if they're your grandparents. Most Mexican families are extremely traditional, with the man as the head of the house hold, and the authority figure. Machismo (masculinity) in all latino countries is a huge problem, not only because women are being deprived of their freedom, but because men abuse their power. I asked five Mexican women how they felt about Machismo in Mexico. Two of the five women told me kind of the same thing; They believe that it is not a bad thing, but it depends on the man. The other three were very against it, and they ... ...ing aspect for Americans, because most Americans have their life planed out on a cellphone or on a planner and too often it doesn't include their family. Mexican food is influenced by the ancient civilization. For examples the Mayans ate corn tortilla with a bean paste that covered the tortilla. The Aztec found out that mixing and squishing different types of vegetables makes a savory appetizer they call salsa. They also learned how to make what are now called tamales. When the Spaniards came they brought over milk, rice and other products that were new to Mexico. But have now remained in the cuisine. Mexico has an amazing culture. It is full of wonders and mystery that are yet to be discuss. Mexico just like any other country has its fall backs, but one day Just like the United States it will rise up and be one of the most powerful countries in the world.

American Dream Narrative

Georgeanne Harter AP Language and Composition Tlumack – 2X 11 March 2013 My Personal American Dream In the book, The Epic of America, written in the year of 1931, author James Truslow Adams was the first to give a â€Å"clear† definition of what the American Dream really is. He stated that the American Dream is â€Å"that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement† (Truslow 214).Although his definition describes what the American Dream is, it does not explain what everyone’s American Dream is throughout the world. This is because each person has their own idea of a perfect life, therefore giving them their own distinct Dream and ways to achieve it. For some people, the ideal and perfect life may mean finally leaving their home country and traveling to America to be successful and prosperous. For others, it may mean getting married, having two beautiful chi ldren living in a three bedroom house with a white picket fence.Although several people may have the same outcome they would like to accomplish, it is how they get there that distinguishes them from the rest. As a young, only child, I determined what I wanted my American Dream to be and that was to grow up underneath the influence of my parents and have the perfect family with a dog, but I still have yet to make it there. Sometimes, some people just have to wake up and realize that their American â€Å"Dream† is more like an American â€Å"Nightmare. † I was doing everything in my power to make sure I kept a good realtionship with my mother and father.Seeing as I was only in first grade when I realized what I really wanted my life to be like, I made sure I did everything possible to keep my parents happy, which in turn would be a cause for a good relationship. I was doing well in school and I very rarely ever got into trouble so I figured I was on the right track. It w as one day after I came home from a wonderful day at school, when I noticed things at home were rapidly rolling downhill. Immediately, I came home to two annoyed parents, who no sooner became to argue leading to them both screaming at ach other at the top of their lungs. These arguments came to be more frequent. At that point, being so young and an only child, I thought these occurrence were all my fault and thought it would be best to try and fix things. That plan quickly backfired on me when, one day, my father stormed out of the house with rage. I was lost and confused and wanted things to be better so I could continue with my idea of a perfect life, but it seemed as though my parents did not want to partake in my efforts. I figured sooner or later one of them would give in and that ended up being my father.I knew that he still loved me no matter what but he had to get out of the house. He began to realize the mental damage that these arguments were causing me. When I was seven y ears old, my parents were officially separated and when I found out, it crushed me. Rather than holding my head up high and keeping a positive mindset, I let it hang and attack every perfect thought I ever had in my mind. Immediately following the loss of my father’s presence in the house, I went into a stage of shock. It took me a little while to bounce back because I missed him.He was my best friend and I was his. A while later, the feeling of not wanting to be with my mother grew inside of me, more and more each day I woke, and I was having a hard time figuring out why. Not too long after, my parents officially got divorced. It wasn’t until much later when my family isolated the problem. As hard as it was for me to believe, my mother, Eileen, was actually diagnosed with a mental disorder. It is called Psychosis which is known for its loss of contact with reality. It is marked by delusions, hallucinations, incoherence, and distorted perceptions of reality.Although it was extremely unfortunate for all of us to experience, the disorder answered my question as to why there were so many screaming matches between my parents. Although her mental health was not deteriorating at a fast rate, I quickly realized that I was not interested in living with her anymore. Even though my â€Å"Dream† was pretty much shot, I just was not living my childhood the way I wanted to when I was with her. In the summer of 2006, when I was nine years old, I decided that I missed my father too much and wanted to move in with him.It was nice because I was still attending the same school and still had all the same friends. I loved Eileen very much and I know she loved me too, it’s just that her mental disorder did not allow her to convey it properly. Being at such a young age, I did not realize that she can’t help it. This disorder is who she is and there is really nothing that can stop it. As I tried very hard to free Eileen from my mind, I began to foc us more on my school work and continuing my life with my father and it was great. I was the happiest I had been in a very long time.Several months after I had moved in with my father, he told me that he had met someone while he was at work. He had been talking to her for a while without me knowing of it because he wanted to make sure that it was someone he was interested in having in our life before he introduced me to her. Her name is Mya. When I met her, I immediately noticed everything he loved about her. She was and still is a beautiful, intelligent, and strong woman who didn’t let anything or anyone else define her and I quickly understood that those were the reasons why he was so enamored by her.Before really thinking about everything that was so quickly occuring, I was just estatic for my father because he was finding someone to love and is happy with again. I took a step back and realized that I no longer seemed like my father’s first choice, although he told m e I was. I was acting extremely immature and began to grow a large attitude towards Mya. In my mind, I had to compete with her for my father’s attention. One evening, the three of us decided to go out for dinner. This way I could get to know Mya a little bit better. Needless to say, I blew up and the three of us had an all time low point.We had a long talk about whether or not I could handle something like this in my life. As I was crying my eyeballs out, I expressed my true feelings; that I really wanted her to stay in my life but more importantly my father’s. I was so happy to see him happy and she was the reason why. We agreed on that night that we would focus on building a family bond because not too long later did my father propose to marry her. In the summer of 2007, my father and I moved to Virginia where Mya lived and the three of us found the best house to move into.I was really grateful for her stepping in and taking over as my mother figure, especially since I was at such a young age. Although I still had several attention and attitude problems, they were becoming far and few in between and we were working on having a great realtionship. It was definitely a difficult task, though. Starting my American Dream over again sounded like a good idea so I did just that. I focused in school and did everything I was supposed to do, making my parents happy and also setting up for a great relationship. To this day, I am still experiencing a struggle with Eileen.Due to her mental state, I have a hard time having the mother-daughter relationship that I have always wanted. Even though I know she cannot help the way she is, I have pretty much ceased all communication with her. Her brain is just not wired the same as mine and there is nothing I can do to change that. We think differently and that hinders my plan to becoming successful. It’s just what’s best at the moment. I have Mya now to look up to and although it will never be the same because she is not my biological mother, it is pretty darn close and that’s all I can ask for.Of course I miss and love Eileen, she’s my mother and always will be, but I have to do what I have to do to ensure that I set up a successful life for myself in the future and keeping her out of my everyday life for the time being will allow me to accomplish that. Back then, I thought thought my life was turning into the American â€Å"Nightmare† but I guess the most recent occurrences was just God’s way in telling me to keep my head up because currently, I am on my way to getting back on track to achieve my American Dream. Works Cited Adams, James Truslow. The Epic of America,. Boston: Little, Brown, and, 1931. 214. Print.

Individual and Group Test of Intelligence

Individual vs group test Individual intelligence tests * There are two major types of intelligence test, those administered to individuals and thsoe administered to groups. * The two main individual intelligence tests are the: Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test (see Murphy & Davidshofer, 2001, Chap. 13) Wechsler tests, i. e. WISC for children and WAIS for adults (see Murphy & Davidshofer, 2001, Chap. 13) * These are individual intelligence tests which require one-on-one consultation with the child.The tests involve various verbal and non-verbal subtests which can be combined to give an overall IQ, but which also provide valuable separate subtest scores and measures based on the behavioural responses of the child to the test items. * Some of the content of these tests is clearly culture-loaded, hence there is the:Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children – a more recent test which attempts to minimize cultural bias.The test also attempts to separate crystallised and fluid intellige nce. Group intelligence tests * Group-administered intelligence tests involve a series of different problems and are generally used in mass testing situations such as the military and schools. * Examples of group tests are: Multidimensional Aptitude Battery, The Cognitive Abilities test, Scholastic Assessment Tests * There has been a trend towards the use of multiple choice items.Many of theses tests have separately timed sub-tests. A major distinction made between types of items is verbal and non-verbal. In recent years there has been a trend away from verbal and mathematical items towards non-verbal represented problems in pictures. * Part of the reason for shifting away from verbal-based tests, in particular, is the issue of culture-loading. Advantages of group tests: * can be administered to very large numbers simultaneously * simplified examiner role scoring typically more objective * large, representative samples often used leading to better established norms Disadvantages of group tests: * examiner has less opportunity to establish rapport, obtain cooperation, and maintain interest * not readily detected if examinee tired, anxious, unwell * evidence that emotionally disturbed children do better on individual than group tests * examinee’s responses more restricted normally an individual is tested on all items in a group test and may become boredom over easy items and frustrated or anxious over difficult items * Individual tests typically provide for the examiner to choose items based on the test takers prior responses – moving onto quite difficult items or back to easier items. So individual tests offer more flexibility.

Competitive Position Essay

In this assignment we tried to look into the Baja Auto’s own position in Indian domestic market and how it has performed in last year compare to local rivals. In addition, we suggest company to invest directly in America’s automobile industry as America and India is more or less similar in terms of operating multinational organisations. As, it is a long term investment and high risk strategy for company, we clinically analysed new market scenario and different aspects of it. 1.0 Competitive Position Baja Auto is ranked as the world’s fourth largest two and three wheelers production company. It is in two wheelers and three wheelers Indian market since 1945 and recognised brand across Asia, Middle Eastern countries, Latin America. Bajaj Auto shares 26.70% of two wheelers market in India, fairly behind Hero Honda Motors which has 41.35% Indian customers, and ahead of TVS Motor Company which holds 18.14%. But when it comes to three wheelers vehicles, Bajaj Auto clearly control the majority of the market with 58.60%, much ahead then Piaggio Vehicles 32.70%. Bajaj’s closest competitor in two wheelers market is Hero Honda Motors. Hero Honda sold 3.72 million two wheelers units, almost double then Bajaj, who managed to sold 1.28 million units. Bajaj Auto is the country’s largest exporter of two- and three-wheelers. During 2008-2009, Bajaj Auto’s international sales achieved an all-time high of 772,519 units of two and three wheelers, representing a growth of 25% over the previous year. (Sources: Automobile Industry report -2012, India). Though, there is a huge difference in terms of selling units between three major players of India’s two wheelers, their growth rate is almost similar to each other. Hero Honda Motors enjoys 15.4% growth in 2012, and it was followed by TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto with 13.3% and 13.2% respectively. (Sources: Annual reports of Bajaj Auto, Hero Honda Motors and TVS Motors-2012). In plant wise capacity Bajaj Auto clearly out plays its competitors. Bajaj Auto has 4 active plants compare to 3 of each for Hero Honda motors and TVS Motors. Therefore Bajaj has upper hand in terms of number of units’ productions. Bajaj Auto’s plants are capable of producing 5 million units of vehicles compares to Hero Honda’s 4.75 million and TVS’ 4 . 50 million of units. (Sources: Automobile Industry report-2012, India). Adopted from Automobile Industry report-2012, India. 2.0 Market Entry Bajaj Auto is highly recognised company throughout the world and has vastly experienced management team. In addition, it has its own technology labs, engineering colleges and very strong labour power. Apart from having a fair amount of domestic market share, it is a leading exporter of India. Bajaj is famous for manufacturing two and three wheelers which have good fuel efficiency and strong outer body and comes in very cheap prise compares to other manufacturers. It is right time for the company to move forward and make its own base in well developed country like The USA, which help company to reduce the good amount of money spent on exporting its products to Latin America and Africa and moreover, America itself has huge crowd who are struggling with current worldwide economic downfall and looking for cheap available options. 2.1 Reason for Entering Into the USA Market PESTLE analysis is an useful analysis tool to evaluate future plans and it helps organisations like Bajaj Auto who is going to enter in new business environment to understand the risk associated with its next move .PESTLE helps company to analyse its position, potential and direction in new market place. 2.1.1 Political Situation of the USA It is very important to assess political condition of new working field before moving abroad. It helps company like Bajaj to make its business strategy. America is strong democratic country like India the motherland of Bajaj Auto and this will work company’s favour as it knows the pros and cons of such a political environment. 2.1.2 Economy The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy of the world, with per capita GDP of $49,800. US Business companies have more flexibility than any other part of the world in decision to expand their capita plant. . At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals’ home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. It is lucrative industry to enter for foreign company like Bajaj Auto. 2.1.3 Social America’s population is 316,668,567 which consist of 79.96% white, black 12.85%, Asian 4.43%. 40.2% of America’s population is 25-54years old. 82% population is urbanised and an annual urbanisation rate is 1.2%. 99% of total population is literate. 2.1.4 Technological highly diversified, world leading, high-technology innovator, second largest industrial output in world; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining. Bajaj Auto will enjoy a good amount of success due to technological expansion of the company which is comparably low in India. 2.1.5 Legal America has strong, fast legal system which gives every individual a fair chance to appeal decision of the court. Supreme court is the highest body who makes the final verdict on any legal issue. 2.1.6 Environment Air pollution resulting in acid rain in the US ; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural freshwater resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification. Bajaj Auto developed the technology in recent years and some of its vehicles run on CNG and LPG which reduce the amount of carbon dioxide. This technology gives company an edge over its competitors to gain confidence of the US government to enter into their market. (Sources: http://www.cia.gov/library) 2.2Market Attractiveness DIAMOND MODEL Source: Porter, M. (1990) 2.2.1 Firm strategy, structure and rivalry As mentioned earlier, Bajaj Auto is famous for producing light weight two and three wheelers vehicles which have good fuel efficiency and strong body and it’s new for American population. There is no strong competitor in market at the present that can threat the position of Bajaj Auto in its production range. Bajaj Auto manufactures couple of motorbikes like Pulsar, Duke, and Discover which is heavy but it will not be a good idea to launch them in America as Harley Davidson, Yamaha motors, Kawasaki motors have strong hold on American customers. Bajaj Auto follows hierarchical strategy which resulted in advantages within industries and it helps company to gain upper hand in competition with major players. 2.2.2 Demand Conditions Light motorcycles, the summary say, will outperform other ICE product types and maintain their position as the largest single segment of the motorcycle market in America. This will be due to several factors, including the fastest population growth of any region, the lowest median age and the lowest (but climbing) per-capita GDP. (Source: world demand motorcycles grow). This is good future aspect for Bajaj Auto to succeed in international adventure. 2.2.3 Factor Endowment America has strong and large factor endowments compare to Western Europe. The US has comparative advantages of skilled workers, infrastructure, open market entry for international companies, natural resource and technology. Romalis (2004) provides a quasi-Rybczynski prediction, â€Å"if a country accumulates a factor more rapidly than rest of the world, then that country’s production and exports will systematically shift toward that more intensively use that factor.† The US has well developed technology when it comes to motorbike industry and that attracts Bajaj Auto to gain an entry in this market. 2.2.4 Related and Supporting Industries The US is rich in producing natural resources like iron, lead, petroleum, natural gas. In addition America has the world largest coal reserve with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world’s total.(Source: http://www.cia.gov/library). Strong supply chain of motorbikes engines parts, raw material for motorbike body, leather and machineries are always key factors in success of automobile business and America provides all these features to Bajaj Auto. 2.3 2.3.1 Target Market Young, universities’ students, African and Asian immigrants, middle class families and small vendors should be first priority as a target market for Bajaj Auto as they share large number of total American population (see 2.1.3). Above mention customers have limited resources of income and other responsibilities and therefore they always look out for cheap available option. The kind of two and three wheelers Bajaj Auto produces are low in prise and have high fuel efficiency. These two points will work in company’s favour and manage to pull big crowd. Once company get established, it can launch the range of heavy weight vehicles to provide competition to giants like Yamaha, Royal Enfield, Honda and Harley Davidson.

Analyze the Ways in Which British Imperial Policies

Analyze the ways in which British imperial policies between 1763 and 1776 intensified colonial resistance to British rule and their commitment to republican values. As generations grew up in America, nationalism within the colonies grew towards their new country. These settlers slowly lost their patriotic tie to Great Britain and it’s ruler, King George III. So when the French and Indian War ended in America, and the indebted England needed some compensation from American settlers in the form of taxes, the colonists questioned the authority of England and their ability to rule them. British imperial policies such as the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Townshend Tea Tax caused uproar within the colonies against British rule without colonial representation. This caused unrest and gave rise to republicanistic ideas of an America with political leaders who were chosen instead of born into power. The more taxes Britain sent to America, the more protest was started against their policies. They argued that without colonial representation in Parliament, the government could enforce the taxes legally without taking away their natural rights. Parliament responded with the idea of a virtual representation in Parliament that spoke for all of the king’s subjects. This gave rise to the phrase ‘No taxation without representation,’ which became a rallying point for unhappy colonists against British oppression. Many Americans refused to follow the orders given in policies such as the Quartering Act which required colonists to feed and shelter British soldiers who were stationed in America; and protested the Navigation Laws which deferred colonial trade to Great Britain to gain profit by supporting nonimportation and petitions. As a result, the Sugar Act was reduced and the Stamp Act completely removed within the colonies due to the colonists active disagreement to the use of authority to tax the colonists unlawfully, or so they thought. In England, the British citizens were being taxed just as much, if not more, than the colonists to help pay for the past wars expenses. When Parliament passed a new policy on tea which was harder to resist, the colonists were infuriated. Protests in the streets against the British soldiers for this Townshend Tea Tax led to the first bloodshed early in the Revolution. The â€Å"Boston Massacre† was the killing of eleven citizens on the streets of Boston when a group of sixty colonists led by Crispus Attucks were protesting the new act. The news of this slaughter was spread throughout the colonies by the Committees of Correspondence set up by a rich politician named Samuel Adams. These committees made it possible for information on everything resistance-related to reach all of the colonies in due time. In this way was news of the Boston Massacre spread across the United States which created outrage across the country. As tea was shipped to America under the new tea tax, rebellion stirred in Boston. Colonists disguised themselves and pillaged the trade ships, ruining millions of dollars worth of tea. In response to this, Parliament passed the ‘Intolerable Acts’ which outraged the colonists even further by closing the Boston ports, placing Massachusetts under royal authority, and allowing the Catholic French to settle along the Ohio River Valley under the new policies. Thus continued Parliament to colonist battle as the First Continental Congress met to discuss their rights as subjects under the king and announce the changes they wanted made in the Declaration of Rights which argued that the natural rights of man were being taken away from them under the royal ruling. This was ignored by the British which increased the discontent of overseas authority to the colonial people who called for a change in power. British imperial policies such as the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Townshend Tea Tax caused uproar within the colonies against British rule without colonial representation. This caused unrest and gave rise to republicanistic ideas of an America with political leaders who were chosen instead of born into power. The colonists cried out against their denial of rights as citizens and unjust ruling. These policies increased protest and political disapproval throughout the colonies in a rebellious atmosphere of resistance

T205_TMA02 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

T205_TMA02 - Essay Example And whoever opposes this idea is seen as going through a regression. And even though it has been known that white students don’t necessarily outperform black students while writing the same exam, but the proponents of white supremacy still hold on to their claim to feel superior. On other hand, self-fulfilling prophecy points out how an individual could achieve his/her self purposes while taken into consideration to attitude of the others. Self fulfilling can be better understood through the Pygmalion Effect described below in the diagram (Merton, 1968): 2. The Concepts of Power Visible and Invisible: The concept of visible and invisible power in an organization has been discussed on several occasions. It is interesting to notice an organization works like a system with a structure fashion out to show those in the positions of power. For instance, everyone understands that a company’s president or managing director wields some visible executive power within that organization: they could order the production of a certain product or fire an wayward employee. However, the question about what or who holds invisible power in an organization has been asked on several occasions. Research on organizational management has demonstrated that one of the invisible power-holders in an organization is the culture of the organization. The culture in an organization demands that every employees of the organization conforms to the rules and regulations laid down for their activities (Lockett & Spear, 1980). Another source of invisible power in an organization is the financial capability of the organization. This invisible power of money compels the organization to dream and project its goals within the limits of its financial capability. 4. Peter Senge (1990) says we tend to blame outside circumstances for our problems. Systems thinking says

Broken windwo theory in crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Broken windwo theory in crime - Essay Example For instance, in the real life situation, if the governments of the concerned states ensure that they institute proper monitoring policies, the state will have minimal issues to report that would relate to vandalism, since the urban areas are constantly under check. In fact, this is to mean that the number of rising cases of crimes would reduce on a higher rate, resulting in a situation whereby the country would be a more peaceful place prior to the scrutiny processes. With the introduction of the theory in the early 1980s, it is expected that the beneficiaries of the theory have had immense benefits in terms of the restoring sense in the communal sphere, through reduced occurrences of crime. Over the years, it can arguably be justified to make the assumption that the theory has been a motivation to the complete banning of crime in the public, through restructuring of the policies of crime monitoring. Despite the fact that the theory has been debated on its validity and practicality, it is recommended that the positives of the theory be applied. In the real life setting, the theory can be applied by the police taking part in the initiatives to conduct constant patrols in the streets so as to avert implementation of any kind of crimes that might have been planned. The theory can also be applied practically through establishment of community policing programs. With community policing functional in the society, it is obvious that both parties will join forces in ensuring that crime is forestalled collectively. Studies indicate that the tough economic conditions have resulted in a lot of youths indulging in criminal activities. All these can only be handled if the police forces restructure their policies on handling crime in the society. The costs of prevention can indeed not be measured alongside curbing of the effects. In

Girl, Interrupted Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Girl, Interrupted - Essay Example uding Polly who had self-inflicted burns on her body and face, Georgina her roommate who is struggling to maintain a relationship with her boyfriend Wade who is also a patient in the hospital. Wade is another person that she meets there and he entertains people with stories of his father’s indulging in exploits with CIA. She comes across many more patients who keep her bemused and at the same time the environment at the hospital makes her feels like a captive. Kaysen believes that the hospital is a place meant for her rehabilitation while at the same time she feels that it has taken her freedom away from her. The daily routine dictated by the hospital rules and the complete check on the patients by the nurses at every interval along with no privacy gave way to all sorts of emotions in Kaysen’s persona. James Watson’s visit to the hospital to meet Kaysen indicated how emotionally broken she was when she came to this place. Watson attempts to pull her out of the mental hospital’s environment but her rejection indicates that she is adamant to take the complete treatment. Her past attempt to commit suicide by an aspirin overdose at high-school had worried her the most. Since many creative people have been McLean’s residents, she is convinced that creative minds are liable to mental illness in particular the poets’. The over strictness in the environment has given way to the feeling of imprisonment for Kaysen as she observes the nurses following up on each of the patient’s whereabouts. They take all the things which might cause harm to the patient away from them including earrings. They correspond to the severity of any patient and eventually attend all the activities the patients are collectively involved with. This is the reason why even field trips are restricted and there is a complex system of taking nurses with the patients during these trips. Kaysen has a tendency of drawing conclusion to her own mental health. She categorizes her mind into

Islamic Art history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Islamic Art history - Essay Example history would necessitate understanding the various dynasties and the time when various classes of artwork were presented as it signifies the intent of the artists and the nature of the social structure at the time the art was developed (Lapidus & Grabar, 2010). The early Islamic artwork was majorly used for the legitimization of themes in Islam especially those of religion and the need to have faith in one God. The Islamic calligraphy entailing sections of the Quran or inscriptions of the holy books in the Islamic religion are examples with which the use of artwork was employed in the legitimization of the theme of religion in the society. However, during the nineteenth century and the wake of colonialism, the artwork of Islam was used for opposite purposes. The artwork was developed to sensitize people against the evils of colonialism and violence among the Islamic communities. Islamic painting in the 19th century often portrayed colonialism as an evil act in the community thus calling upon people of the Islamic world to rise against the colonizers as a liberation effort for the Muslims. The shift in the nature Islamic artwork was used in the representation of themes in the society emanated from the change in the mood of the society following colonialism and the perceived erosion of the Islamic culture. Historically, the changes in the representation of the themes by the Islamic artwork was equally influenced by the interactions and influence the form of artwork acquired from other regions and civilizations of the world like the Chinese who at that period were advocating for the disbandment of dynasty rules, thus this forms of movements influenced the Islamic artwork (Schimmel & Rivolta, 2012). In a way that can be seen to be a reinforcement of the theme of religion, the Islamic art in the dynasty of Umayyad represents some of the outstanding pieces of artwork. During this dynasty (661-750), new concepts and new plans were put in place to reform the nature of

Corporate Financial Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Corporate Financial Strategy - Essay Example The decision to make an investment is based on this benchmark. Mostly the companies employ various sources of finance such as equity, preference, debentures, term loans etc. The calculation of WACC is done using the weights of the different components of capital base. There are varying returns for all the sources. As the equity holders bear the maximum risk, the returns required by them is higher than the other investors. This is mainly because in case of extreme situation like insolvency, the equity shareholders have the last claim on the assets of the company. In such situations preference is given to the lenders of the company. Moreover, the declaration of dividends is not mandatory for the companies. A dividend is declared only if the company has surplus earnings whereas the payment of interest cost is mandatory. The company has to honour its debts irrespective of its profitability. This is the reason that the lenders get a lower return as compared to equity holders. But, if the company is highly leveraged, even the lenders become cautious and demand for higher returns. This is the reason that all the companies try to optimize their capital base for minimizing the cost of capital. The cost of capital is the minimum return that a company must earn from the business activities to payoff its investors who provide the necessary capital in the form of shares, debentures and loans. Two sets of information are needed for calculating the cost of capital- weights of the various sources of finance and their respective costs. Many studies have been conducted on the cost of capital which is dependent on the composition of the capital base of the company. The capital structure of a business measures the ability of a company towards meeting the needs of its stakeholders. Modigliani and Miller (1994) highlighted how the value of the firm is not affected by its capital structure as the tax advantage of debt

Doctor Faustus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Doctor Faustus - Essay Example Mann characterizes the changes in his society as a manifestation of rot. It is essential to highlight that the novel is an abstract piece that manifests the dark side of concepts that are accepted as ideal for a changing society. This explains why it profiles the life of a maddened intellectual as a person who is unfit for the good of a society and chastises the nationalist ideals taking over Germany in the fascist era. By breaking into Biblical nuances, the novel announces that the end has come. In the beginning of the 20th century, Germany adopts a dangerous nationalistic attitude that defines the attitudes of her young people. In 1919, Zeitblum and Leverkhun attend a salon in the home of a Munich’s art collector. At this time, the war has destroyed the bourgeois values. This signifies an impressive tiding for Germany as the oppressed classes achieve the platform for socio-economic fulfillment in their lives. The professors of the nationalistic ideal, however, hail the era as a revolution for purifying the German nation. Zeitblum manifests this ideal as a savage attitude that will shuffle back Germany to the Dark Ages. In the changing Germany, family life is highly compromised. In Zeitblom’s account of events, there is a notable death for gratifying love relationships. In turn, marriages can only thrive in the realm of society in excluded rural settings. In such settings, there is a sense of purity that still bars the society from the infected climate that pervades the whole country. Inez and Helmut’s union is central to the understanding of a typical relationship that occurs in the 20th century Germany. In the narrative, Inez chooses Helmet for the security of a bourgeois life that he will eventually bestow upon the family. A tendency towards perfection constrains the development of love in such a family life. As the story develops, it emerges that Inez is in love with Rudi

Molecular Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Molecular Identity - Essay Example The paper, instead, expounds upon the seven cation-coupled chloride cotransporters that have been described to date with specific emphasis placed on KCC2. The cotransporter KCC2 is evident in neuronal processes with specific preference for inhibitory ones where ergic action is relevant. KCC2 action precedes the ergic one as the KCC2 action brings down the intracellular chloride concentration to optimum levels to make it possible for ergic action. The phylogenetic, molecular and structural-functional details of the cotransporters have also been provided with special emphasis on KCC2. The CAD cell line, new in studies like this, has been introduced. The cell line exhibits catecholaminergic voltage dependent currents across membranes. Specific experimentation details have not been provided. A 5708 nucleotide region of the SLC12A5 gene that encodes the KCC2 cotransporter protein was probed with two 20 bp bits, left and right primer details in Appendix, with RT-PCR analysis. The resulting 206-nucleotide insert was perfectly amplified with one complement in the RT-PCR at temperatures varying from C - C. mRNA isolated from undifferentiated and differentiated murine CAD cells were used for the analysis. Electrophoresis of the RT-PCR products through 1.5% agarose gel revealed that most of the inserts had been perfectly complemented once during the RT-PCR producing evidence that the SLC12A5 gene is present in both murine differentiated and undifferentiated CAD cells and that these cells can, thus, later be used as culture media for further study of the KCC2 cotransporter expression and molecular identity. This is of great importance to such study as a suitable cell line has been hard to find so far and the easy manner in which the gene revealed itself in this study assures that this cell line can be a very convenient medium of further such studies Contents: 1. Introduction 8-9 1.1 CAD Cells 9-10 1.2 The Cotransporters (KCC1, 2, 3 & 4) 10-11 1.3 The Electroneutral Cotransporters 11-12 1.4 Cotransporters KCC1 11-15 1.4.1 Genetic Details 1.4.2 Structure 1.4.3 Function and Location 1.5 Cotransporter KCC3 15-16 1.5.1 Genetic Details 1.5.2 Location 1.6 Cotransporter KCC4 16-17 1.6.1 Molecular Genetics with Structural Identity 1.6.2 Function and Location 1.7 Cotransporters: General Features 17 1.8 Cotransporter KCC2 17-24 1.8.1 Phylogenetics 1.8.2 Structural and Locational Implications 1.8.3 Structural and Locational Implications 1.8.4 Specific Neuronal Location 1.8.5 Regulatory Action 1.8.6 Neuron-Specificity 1.8.7 Post- and PreNatal Concentration 1.8.8 Immunohistochemical Analysis 2. Methodology 2.1 RNA Isolation Technique 24 2.2 RNA Isolation Protocol 24-27 2.3 Estimation of RNA Yield 27-29 2.3.1 Vol. Isolated RNA in Differentiated Cells 2.3.2 Vol. Isolated RNA in Undifferentiated Cells 2.4 Primer Design 29 2.5 The PCR Analysis 29-30 2.6 Gel Electrophoresis Technique 30-31 3. Results 31-41 4. Discussion 42-43 5. Conclusion 43-44 References Bibliography List of Abbreviations:- Chloride anion - GABA A type - GABA S type - Potassium cation - Sodium