Issues with Social Development in Adults

In my research on issues of social development in adults, I found change and consistency in social participation plays a key role in early adulthood. I felt the need to choose and touch on this topic because I have the tendency to be a social butterfly and I also lost a dear friend that committed suicide from social isolation. I chose this article because after reading it I felt as if the information was solid and backed up with surveys and facts. I also felt as if the topic was thoroughly examined and the article gave a lot of helpful information about this particular issue with social development in adults. Social interactions and activities play a key role in the physical health and well being in adulthood. It is healthy and fun to be around friends, loved ones, and even relationship partners. Making plans, going out, and being social gives one the since of self worth. Further more, the lack of desire and absence of social contact and participation can cause one, such as in the incident of my friend, to become depressed, self-isolated, and have suicidal thoughts and/or even commit suicide. In the event that I would need to write a research paper on this topic, I would use this article. I would use the article because it has a lot of information about the topic and has many different details and survey information. This would all help my research and provide me with information to include in my paper. The authors, Harry Reis and Yi-Cheng Lin, research was to determine if age-related changes in social relationships and to see if interaction patterns would stay the same from college years to adult- hood. They researched a variety of different things like opposite-sex socializing, intimacy and satisfaction in adulthood, and implications for social development during early adulthood.

Thomas Hardy Poem Interpretation

Poems for essay: Neutral Tones, A Broken Appointment, The Moth-Signal. Interpretation is said to be an explanation or conceptualization of a work of literature or other art form by a critic. Hardy is known for integrating personal events from his life, into his poems that allow the reader to develop a fully rounded view of what he was trying to convey in his work. Love and its effects are one of his most famous themes that are the basis of many of his poems. Hardy tends to use references to many of his loves in his life in his poems especially his first wife Emma.The context from which he writes helps immensely when deducing the meaning of his works. However, knowledge of the poet’s background is not a necessity when interpreting all poems nor does it always influence the interpretation given by the reader; this only true to a certain extent. In the poems: â€Å"Neutral Tones†, â€Å"A Broken Appointment† and â€Å"The Moth- Signal (Edgon Heath)† are all e xamples of poems by Thomas Hardy that does not require awareness of his background to be interpreted by the reader.The poem, â€Å"Neutral Tones† can be deciphered is about a man who loses his true love and thus skews his view of love forever. The first stanza may be interpreted as the setting of which this heartbreaking moment between these two lovers took place. The setting bares no identification needed towards the writer and can be easily interpreted by the reader. The proceeding stanzas basically describe the scenarios in the relationship that led to ultimately the couple going their separate ways and as a result changes the man’s perception of love as the event is relayed from his point of view.This poem is just based on a love gone wrong and does not need Hardy’s background information to be successfully understood by anyone who reads it. His personal detached tone from the poem allows this to be possible. Along with â€Å"Neutral Tones†, â€Å"A Broken Appointment† follows the same trend of love and freedom to be interpreted without having knowledge of his past loves. This poem is about a man who is now reflecting later about the time he was stood up by the woman he loved. This is an issue that happens regularly and does not need to be referenced to sometime in the author’s life to be analyzed thoroughly.This poem was also written generally so it also bore no semblance to the life of Hardy. This goes to show that the background of an author when interpreting a poem is not utter importance. In addition, â€Å"The Moth-Signal (Edgon Heath)†, is another one of Hardy’s poems that lack the need for the context from which the poet writes. In this poem, there is an affair by a woman that is summoned to her lover via a moth being burned in the flames of a candle to indicate her lover was present.Since infidelity is a common issue, the background of Hardy is not needed to influence the interpretation of th is poem. In all of the above mention poems, they all encompassed a plot that was easily identifiable by any reader. The thread of love and heartbreak ran through each and they are all poems that are relatable to all who reads these poems. This gives proof that a poet’s background does not need to be known in order to interpret a poem nor influence its interpretation.

A contrast essay about two professions

From my childhood, I have been interested in the cultural field. I have a dream to be a media person who works creatively with media-related work. So, as my future profession, I am considering two occupations, one of them is Art Director, and the other is Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Manager often called marketing manager. That are my dream professions in future. Competitively the two occupations are related with creative and media industries, and both jobs are well paid have same work environment. Responsibility of an art director and a marketing manager are more alike than we might think. Both professions deal with the large groups of people. An art director works with other designers and artists, and on the other hand, a marketing manager plans programs to generate interest for the art directors, sales agents and financial staff members. An art director produces images for television, radio, film, advertisement, or video games. For example, a film art director carries out the movies artistic vision as defined by the production designer. He or she dose of the draftsman who in charge of design the sets and the construction manager who physically builds the sets. An art director also decorates and props masters to make sure all of the elements mesh, and an art director who is the contact for the special effect team. In fact, art directors are responsible for the visual style, images, and the overall artwork and layouts to make sure everything used on the sets is within the budget. Similarly, marketing manager plan programs to generate interest in a product or service. They work with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff members. For example, marketing managers inspect layouts, which are sketches or plans for an advertisement. However, both jobs duties, and responsibilities are related with almost the same people and both are joined to each other. Art directors, and marketing managers, both have salary structures that are good compared with some other jobs. On the research of the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an Art Director’s â€Å"median pay in 2012 was $80,880 per year, or $38. On the other hand, a Marketing Manager â€Å"median pay in 2012 was $115,750 per year, or $55. 65 per hour†. In addition, most art directors, and marketing managers work full time. However, in 2012, â€Å"about two in five marketing managers worked more than forty hours per week†. Nevertheless, depending on payment and working hours, both jobs are very attractive to me. Work environment is also another most important segment for compering the art director, and marketing manager’s career. An art director works for advertising and public relations firms as well as the motion picture and video industries. In comparison, a marketing manager works in offices close to financial decision management. Marketing managers work under pressure that is unavoidable when schedules change and problems arise, but deadlines and goals still must be met. Furthermore, they work in advertising agencies, public relations offices, and the newspaper offices. In fact an art director usually works in a fast-paced office as well as they often work under pressure to meet strict deadlines which is most important for this job. Competitively, both jobs have environments reliant on their job duties which are very similar. To summarize, compering both jobs responsibilities, salaries and work environments has made attractive for me. Because they have serious fun and creative working areas. Nevertheless, I would like to decide to be a marketing manager. Because it is a very creative career. I know I would be happy with this dream profession.

Key Theories of How Strategy is Developed and Implemented and the Assignment

Key Theories of How Strategy is Developed and Implemented and the Relationship between Strategy, Innovation and Change - Assignment Example The researcher states that the development and successful implementation of effective business strategies are often regarded to be one of the most vital functions of organizational management as it supports them to accomplish the determined goals and obtained the desired outcomes. As stated by Johnson, different strategic levels can be witnessed as existing within a particular organization. For instance, corporate level, operational level, and business level can be identified as three broad categories which are often used in theoretical contexts to segregate strategic levels. The concept of corporate-level strategy has been viewed to be primarily concerned with determining the overall scope of a firm and evaluating its business as well as operational performances. Similarly, the business-level strategy signifies the competencies possessed by an organization and thus plays a vital role in assisting the business to defeat its major rivalries in its targeted business markets. Correspond ingly, the notion of operational-level strategy represents the efficiency of an organization to use its valuable operational resources quite effectively with the purpose of attaining the desired business targets in the most convenient way. As affirmed by Johnson, the conception of corporate strategy is typically described as a procedure that supports an organization’s growth in effectively combining the processes performed within the different functional areas of business through which the attainment of the expected business outcomes is likely to become easier. According to Capon, organizations can obtain numerous benefits by adopting as well as implementing effectual business strategies. The common benefits obtained through strategic effectiveness include sustainable growth opportunities through facilitated stakeholder relationship, better community involvement through enhanced communication, an augmented contribution from organizational members to upraise operational perfor mances and consequently, the successful accomplishment of superior competitive positioning.

Argument about smoking in malls Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Argument about smoking in malls - Assignment Example The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 47 million people in the United States aged above 18 years smoke, and as a matter of fact, over half of this population will suffer disabilities or die (Berton, 2006). Smoking should be banned in malls, as the consequences suffered from smoking and secondary smoking are far too grave. Effects of secondary smoking to non-smokers in Malls Secondary smoking is a condition in which non-smokers inhale smoke from smokers’ act of smoking in public places. Research shows that over 4000 compounds are contained in second hand smoke from smokers of which 200 are poisonous. This is a dangerous trend as the smokers not only put there health in danger but also jeopardize the health of the individuals in the mall. Should the banning of smoking be implemented in malls, many lives would have been rescued from the impending danger that these secondary smoke pose to the general public that use the mall, including children of all ages that s eek various services from the many amenities that are hosted in a mall (Patrick, 2008). A demerit will however be to the businesses in the malls that sell cigarettes. The banning will probably mean that malls will be a no smoking zone, quickly diminishing the market that would be available for the cigarettes that many business premises carry out in these malls. This will also translate to a lot of losses that the government gets from hefty revenues that governments get from the sale of cigarettes. Probable steps in reducing the population that smokes A large fraction of the population worldwide is known to smoke. It is reported that a third of the entire male population worldwide smokes. A lesser statistic is however documented for female smokers though it is steadily rising. By banning smoking or introducing stringent measures about smoking in malls, a large population is bound to eventually lose the habit. This would be a big step to most countries as the number of diseases that a re related to smoking cases is so alarming. It is also established that smoking kills one out of 10 that die globally. There is no doubt at all that reducing the numbers via such an action would prevent numerous deaths and fatal ailments that smokers usually undergo but won’t just stop due to the addiction suffered (Joelle, 2002). The reduction of smokers will however cause a big blow to the manufacturing industries, the government for its revenue and advertising houses that all make huge profits from activities related to smoking or cigarettes in general. There is also a danger of withdrawal symptoms that will be exhibited by most ex-smokers, a condition that always cause irritability and the reduction of concentration, factors that may really affects ones daily activities. Reduced Influence on underage Children and Teenagers Even though it is recorded that a majority of teenagers get into smoking as a result of peer pressure from fellow peers, a large percentage can be infl uenced into the habit just by public exposure in places like malls and public parks. It becomes worse when they see an influential figure publicly smoking in a mall; something that will make them conclude that the habit is cool. Apart from just the influence, teenagers and children are also prone to health hazards that might be impacted by secondary smoking. Should smoking be banned or limited in malls, many kids are bound to escape forced introduction into

Global Implications for Your Profession Fashion Industry Assignment

Global Implications for Your Profession Fashion Industry - Assignment Example The paper "Global Implications for Your Profession Fashion Industry" analyzes Implications of the Corporate Power Global Trends to the Fashion Industry. Consequently, global culture, world economy, and individual lifestyles continually take on new shapes aws the world opens up to trade. The fashion industry is among the many areas that have experienced these dramatic changes as corporate companies compete to produce and market new fashions and clothing to meet the demands of global customers. Corporate power has greatly influenced the fashion industry in terms of variety within locations, uniformity across borders, environmental, and labor concerns.As corporate organizations advertize their fashion goods in magazines, films, and other media channels, a global style evolves now and then across different cultures and borders (Rabine para 2). For example, athletic shoes, T-shirts, blue jeans, and baseball caps find their way to the remotest villages in Africa. African, Asian, and Wester n fashion copy each other in designing their clothing. Almost every large shopping mall around the world is now housing all the styles. Every consumer can be sure to get his or her taste regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, subculture, and profession. Rabine says that customers in dominating Western countries have come to perceive globalization as an abundance of fashions that giant retailers sell. The retailers upgrade inventory and conduct transnational trades at the click of a button or a key.

Cultural Diversity 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Cultural Diversity 2 - Essay Example (Gay, 2003). There is no one single definition of labeling. It is a form of differentiation through which people try to identify and group people with any similarity they may have. (Diller, 2004). However, labeling never leaves a positive impact on the person being labeled since it a one of the major forms of prejudice and discrimination. (Hudak, Kihn, 2001). Moreover, labeling is judgmental. (Gallozzi, 2009). The people being labeled are judged and evaluated in relation to the specific stigma attached to them and become stereotyped. Labeling usually starts with a description and then turns into a stigma later on. (Gallozzi, 2009). For example, Harry always scores good at his tests so based on this fact, it can be said that Harry is intelligent. Here, â€Å"intelligent† is a description. However, if he keeps on scoring good, many people at his school would start calling him a â€Å"nerd† and would start associating everything with him that are thought to be associated with a nerd. Eventually, even the people who don’t know him and haven’t even talked to him once would start judging him based on other peoples’ judgments and harry would be socially known as a â€Å"nerd† even if he is not. This is a label. (Diller, 2004). The most common way of labeling people is through their personal attributes and habits, nationality, religion, culture, ethnicity, etc. (Hudak, Kihn, 2001). People tend to label those who are different from them. (Gay, 2003). It is a part of human psyche to group things and people together and then regard them as the same in order to prevent mental clutter. (Gallozzi, 2009). They prefer to attach similar characteristics and attributes to the entire group of people and things that they have created in their minds so that they do not have to think about every single member of the group individually. In this act of grouping, people often engage in stereotyping and discrimination and most of all, labeling. (All

Atrial Fibrillation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Atrial Fibrillation - Research Paper Example According to Bashore et al (2013), AF occurs in 10% of people above age 80. Generally, AF affects about 3% of the population in Europe and the US. The numbers increased by 1% between 2005 and 2014 In the developing countries, incidence is estimated to reach 0.4% for women and 0.5% for men (Lercari et al, 2014).   In a UK-based study, Framingham revealed that the risk of getting AF after 40 equals to one in six, regardless of sex, and one in for in individuals with a history of heart failure (Cottrell, 2011). The analysis of over 0.5 million cases in England allows to assume that males are more likely to develop AF than females (NCC-CC, 2006). However, there is an assumption that the real numbers are higher, since the screening does not cover the entire population (NHS Improvement, 2009). In the UK, 45.000 new cases are registered annually (Iqbal et al, 2005). Occurrence of AF implies organic lesion of the heart. Common cardiac causes include IHD, rheumatic heart disease, hypertension, cardiomyopathies, and heart failure, while some non-cardiac are the acute infection and lung and thyroid pathology. AF can also be iatrogenic and develop after the surgical manipulations in the thorax (NCC-CC, 2006). Apparently, AF would not develop without the damage to the cardiac tissue. The lesion becomes the reason why extra stimuli are being generated. The reparation processes in cardiac muscle, stretching and proliferation place more pressure on the atria, which, in turn, increases the pressure in the pulmonary veins. Such condition is known to be the precursor of heart failure, atherosclerosis, obesity, and valve disease – the direct causes of AF (Larson, 2009). Age is considered to be a principal risk factor for AF, as the incidence ascends from 0,5-1% of the population aged 50 to 23% of people over 80 years (Westerby and Cottrell, 2011). As far as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and hypertension lead to IHD, they also form a

The 21st century has begun. What changes do you think this new century Essay

The 21st century has begun. What changes do you think this new century will bring Use examples and details in your answer - Essay Example While many people consider technological devices to make our lives easier, they can also have a detrimental effect on our well-being. It’s getting to the stage now where almost no one sends anything by post because it takes too long to reach its destination. This next century could see our virtual lives becoming just as significant as our real lives. Another change that the next century will bring is global wars. Although there have been global conflicts in the previous century, modern technology will result in the types of wars that we have never seen before. Long gone are the days where two armies came together and fought it out on the battlefield. Another element that will make world wars interesting over the next 100 years is the use of nuclear weapons. Countries such as Iran and North Korea have, or will have, the technology and desire to attack nations that they consider to be their enemies. Perhaps the most exciting change of this century will be the advances in medicines. Global sicknesses that were once thought of as deadly will be consigned to the history books. This will result in humans being able to live longer, which may be either a good or bad thing depending on who gains access to these advanced types of medicines. What we do know is that the standard of living will improve for most

Poor Lifestyle Essay Example for Free

Poor Lifestyle Essay In the modern world, the modern urbanites are living in a tense community. Consequently, they might have different kinds of poor lifestyle in their life. According to Woods (2010), poor lifestyles always include smoking, drinking, poor diet and lack of exercise, which perhaps lead to a higher chance of cancer. However, it could be environmental pollution. Health plays an important role in people’s life. Therefore, it is essential to choose the right food or the right healthier way in your life. Moreover, environmental pollution could influence people in their lives as well. This essay will discuss about health issue on quality of life and how environmental pollution affects human’s lives nowadays. On the one hand, the healthy diet is more and more popular in this society. Hamer, Molloy and Stamatakis (2008) claim that there is a connection between the level of physical activity and diet or nutrition that people consume from the different foods. When a person eats immoderately, the calorie would be transformed to fat or cholesterol which is harmful for people’s health. It means that they will become overweight or obese. There are some dangerous factors if they are suffering obesity such as cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, body pain, being out of breath, easily tired and disability. Although people also eat a great deal of fruits or some natural food at the same time, it might be produced some harmful effects. For instance, eating too much animal fat is a main cause of sickness or ill health also our bodies need a little but most of us eat too much. Some people know saturated fat. Therefore, it could make the person get a disease and be overweight (BBC n.d.). However, there are numbers of fats in fish, chicken, eggs, turkey, duck, beans, dog, lentils and foods made from these. Unsaturated fat may be better for the people, but eating too much fat of any type can gain their weight. It is better to buy a small amount of lean meat rather than fatty meat or solid fat. The best way is to eat more fish or different kinds of nutritional food and do not forget to get a high iron intake by eating something like liver and bitter foods. Some traditional meal, they use pulses provide good nutrition, to reduce the use of animals fat in the cooking. (Morbidity, Mortality, 1996) On the other hand, environmental pollution could lead to poor lifestyle as well. The pollution could happen in many different sources such as contaminate water, air, and light. At first, the indoor air pollution will make children and teenager getting diseases. Cooking and heating with solid fuels on some open fires or traditional stoves will produce small particles and carbon monoxide, especially for young children and women. According to the Global Health Risks, indoor air pollution leads to 2.7% of world diseases. (WTO n.d.) Furthermore, air pollution also leads to higher temperature and green house effect. Take Chicago as an example. Many residents feel like it is too dangerous because of the high humidity and air pollution. People with pulmonary and respiratory diseases are very sensitive so they should limit their activitiesï ¼Ë†CDT, 2011ï ¼â€°. Secondly, water pollution would threaten tap water quality. According to the EWG, the biggest sources of contaminants are agriculture and industry. The environmental group finds the water that people drink everyday which contains about 260 chemical contaminants altogether. The pollution will be more dangerous to the citizens and pose a great threat on the human beings. (Larry West, n.d) As suggested above, environmental pollution is divided into several aspects, such as air pollution and water pollution, which might contribute to poor lifestyle. Nevertheless, every kind of pollution will damage our lifestyle so people should be aware of the risks. In addition, the government ought to lay down some laws to stop air pollution. This is because it could avoid deterioration of contamination. However, in developing countries , where pollution is strictly regulated, it still has much more things need to do. In conclusion, health and environmental pollution have a huge effect in the life. Air pollution is known to could affect people’s health as well.If a person had good health, they can do anything they want. As a result, people need to be care about their diet and lifestyle. It could save their health and lead the people more happy. Nevertheless, environmental pollution could affect the person. Even though the people are healthy. All show that poor lifestyle is unhealthy in this community. Reference: 1. Hamer M, Molloy GJ, Stamatakis E. (2008) Psychological Distress as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Events J Am Coll Cardiol. 52:2156-2162 2. Woods T. (2010) , Poor Lifestyle Means Poor life Span, [online] Available at: http://www.emaxhealth.com/1357/poor-lifestyle-means-poor-life-span.html [Accessed 1 August 2011] 3. BBC n,d, The risks of a poor diet and being overweight [online] Available at:[Accessed 31 July 2011] 4. Morbidity Mortality Weekly Report. June 14, 1996; 45 (RR-9):1-33.Guidenlines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating. 5. WTO, n.d, Indoor air pollution, [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 August 2011] 6. CDT, (2011) Pollution alert today, heat index could reach 100 degree, [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 August 2011] 7. Larry West, n.d, Tap Water in 42 States Contaminated by Chemicals, [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 August 2011]

Relevance of International Human Resource Management

Relevance of International Human Resource Management The study of International Human Resource Management is fine if you are going to work in a large Multinational Enterprise, but has no relevance for individuals who are going to work in small firms. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons and appropriate examples to support your answer. This paper sets out to show that the study of international human resource management is of benefit to individuals who are going to work in small firms whether in a management or worker capacity . It is noted that a â€Å"small firm† may or may not be multinational and for the purpose of this discussion it is assumed that the inference is that they are not. This paper will demonstrate that through showing that an appreciation of different approaches to work there can be benefits for the individual employee and the manager. Further benefits will be seen through demonstrating that strict adherence to accepted national customs and culture can have a negative effect on business success. There will also be a discussion on how individuals and businesses need to be aware of the increasingly multicultural nature of the British workforce. To open this debate it is necessary to define what is meant by the term â€Å"international human resource management†. Investigation into the term suggests that the emphasis lies on how to operate the human resource management function in multinational businesses and that it is concerned with the similarities and differences of managing in different countries and how to integrate a business culture across international boundaries. However, it is found that little attention is given to the fact that the UK has an increasingly multinational workforce and whilst they may be subject to the systems, procedures and laws of the UK, they way they think and operate is strongly affected by their personal national culture which may vary significantly to that of the UK. The BBC reports that â€Å"(a) record 582,000 people came to live in the UK from elsewhere in the world in 2004, according to government expertsâ€Å" (BBC 2005, p. not given). They further suggest that this influx is necessary to help the UK economy grow as the majority of these migrants have come to the country to work. The Times newspaper supports this in reporting that â€Å"Britain needed workers for 600,000 vacancies, including low-paid jobs that were often difficult to fillâ€Å" and goes on to say that â€Å"(e)mployers are aggressively recruiting staff from other countries† (Nugent et al 2004, page not given). They also found that 96% of these migrants were employed in full time work (Nugent et al 2004). This shows that the UK workforce is becoming increasingly multinational and diverse. The main arguments for the increase in awareness of international human resource management would seem to stress the pressures on managers working in multinational businesses. As an example of this, Trompenaars et al tell us that â€Å"(i)nternational managers have it tough. They must operate on a number of different premises at any one time. These premises arise from their culture of origin, the culture in which they are working and the culture of the organisation which employs them† (Trompenaars et al 1997, p. 3). However, the writer would argue that the same challenges also face those working in a solely UK based business as they become increasingly likely to be working with and for colleagues who originate from countries other than the UK and have different cultural expectations. To be able to ensure that the working relationship between groups is a productive and positive one, each individual would benefit from an understanding of some aspects of international human resou rce management especially in the area of culture where attitudes towards leadership, motivation, and pay and recognition may vary. A further benefit of awareness of different human resource management practices may be the realisation that UK based businesses may be able to adopt positive aspects of other countries work practices and cultures. Mullins (2005) states, there are benefits to be found in a business looking at how it’s national culture may be limiting their ability to be strategically competitive. He continues by citing Trompenaars who felt that his own work â€Å"helped managers to structure their experiences and provided insights for them and their organisations into the real source of problems faced when managing across cultures or dealing with diversity† (Trompenaars 1999, p. 31. cited in Mullins 2005, p. 43). Against the argument for individuals who are going to work in a small firm studying international human resource management is the range of areas such a topic covers. International human resource managers need to have an appreciation of the laws and policies of the countries their employer operates in and whilst this may of interest to a UK employee, it is not an area they would automatically be able to influence or change. This brings us to the questions of whether rather than international human resource management, what we are discussing is the management of diversity both from the point of view of a manager who supervises the work of a multicultural workforce or the case of an individual worker whose colleagues originate from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Brooks supports this point and states that â€Å"(d)ifferences in national culture may have a bearing on how organisations deal with each other and also on behaviour within organisations which comprise a mix of nationalities† (Brooks 2003, p. 264). Francesco and Gold say that â€Å"managers must develop organizational systems that are flexible enough to take into account the meaning of work and the relative value of rewards within the range of cultures where they operate† (Francesco et al 1998, p. 144) and whilst when saying this, they meant it to be applied to multinational organisations, the same can be said to be true of those working in a multicultural environment nationally based. Mullins agrees with this in saying that â€Å"there are a number of very good reasons why we could usefully understand cultural differences (and similarity) at work, based on new awareness contributing to our own effectiveness and moreover to the accomplishment of organisational goals† (Mullins 2005, p. 44). He goes on to say that â€Å"there could therefore be advantages of cross-cultural awareness which include: increased self-awareness; sensitivity to difference; questioning our own assumptions and knowledge; lessening ignorance , prejudice and hatred† (Mullins 2005, p. 44). As an example, a manager with a predominantly British cultural background may need to adapt their motivational techniques for individuals from cultures where recognition through praise is more highly regarded than a financial bonus. From the writers own experience, a common UK practice of publicising individual performance levels was found to be highly demotivating and a source of unease amongst a predominantly Asian workforce. Adler suggests there are inbuilt dangers where multi-cultural teams operate â€Å"(m)istrust including stereotyping; miscommunication with potential for reduced accuracy and resultant stress; process difficulties, that is failure to agree when agreement is needed or even what constitutes agreement when arriving at decisions† (Adler 1997, cited in Mullins 2005, p. 44). To overcome these potential issues, there must be an understanding and appreciation of the human resource management systems of other cultures as these will influence the work expectations and practices of the workforce. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) see the embracing if diversity as being crucial. They say that â€Å"(t)oday, many organisations are out-thinking and outperforming their competitors by using diversity as a strategy for ensuring long-term success and advantageâ€Å" (CIPD date not known page not given). They support his view by adding that â€Å"(i)n the face of changing demographics, a narrowing talent pool and an increasingly global marketplace, nurturing the creativity, innovation and hidden potential of organisations is vital† (CIPD date not known page not given). A further aspect to be considered is the legal requirement for companies to embrace diversity in their workforce. Since the 1970s there has been an increasing amount of legislation in the UK relating to pay equality and sex and racial discrimination. However, a CIPD survey found that 68% of respondents gave â€Å"legal pressures† as the key driver for diversity in their business (CIPD 2006, p. 3) suggesting rather than an appreciation of the business benefits of embracing diversity, the importance placed on these issues is due more to a fear of the negative publicity and costs associated with legal action as a result of discrimination. The concept of international human resource management has been seen to be mainly the concern of individuals who are to intend to operate across geographical boundaries. It has been demonstrated however that there are many aspects of the subject that are not only applicable to those intending to work for a small firm, but could also benefit them in being able to encourage cultural diversity and adopt good practice from other countries. The increasingly multi national workforce in the UK and the introduction of legislation relating to diversity means that employers and employees must have an awareness of the areas of international human resource management that relate to understanding and embracing cultural differences. References and bibliography. Adler, N.J. (2001). International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior. California, USA: South-Western College Publishing. BBC. (2005). Record immigration levels to UK. Accessed at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4359756.stm on 7/03/2007. Brooks, I. (2003). Organisational Behaviour: Individuals Groups and Organisations. 2nd ed. Harlow: Prentice Hall FT. CIPD. (date not known).The Psychology of Diversity. Accessed at: http://www.cipd.co.uk/CMSTraining/Psychology+of+Management/Psychology+of+Management/PCD.htm on 7/03/2007. CIPD (2002). New research shows international HR managers create global culture. Accessed at: http://www.cipd.co.uk/pressoffice/_articles/20092002135000.htm?IsSrchRes=1 on 9/02/2007. CIPD. (2003). HR’s Contribution to International Mergers and Acquisitions. London: CIPD. CIPD. (2006). Diversity in Business: How Much Progress have Employers Made. First Findings. London: CIPD. Francesco, A. M. Gold, B. A. (1998). International Organizational Behavior: Texts, Readings, Cases and Skills. Harlow: Prentice Hall FT Lucas, R. Lupton, B. Mathieson, H. (2007). Human Resources Management in an International Context. London: CIPD. Markides, C. Geroski, P.(2003). â€Å"Colonizers and consolidators: the two cultures of corporate strategy† in Strategy and Business. Fall Vol 32 p 46-55. Mullins, L.J. (2005). Management and Organisational Behaviour. Harlow: Prentice Hall. Nugent, H. Tendler, S. Patty, A. (2004). Foreign workers snap up the jobs that Britons on benefit reject. Times newspaper. November 11, 2004. Trompenaars, F. Hampden-Turner, C. (1997). Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business. London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing Ltd. Trompenaars, F. (1999). Trans-Culture Competence. People Management, 22nd April, p. 31. Trompenaars, F. Hampden-Turner, C. (2004). Managing People Across Cultures. Oxford: Capstone Publishing Ltd.

The Impact of The Media Throughout History Essay -- The Media

Media has a huge impact on the shaping of the world. For centuries, in all parts of the world, media has been the main source of transporting news and great use for public out cries. Media has helped shaped the modern world since the 1400’s until today. The media comes in many different sources from books, to radio, to television. I will focus on the effectiveness the media has on the world throughout history in religious, political and social context. The first printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1436. Johannes Gutenberg was a goldsmith and businessman from a small town Mainz in southern Germany. This printing press had adjustable wooden or metal letters and was called the Gutenberg press. It wasn’t completely finished until 1440. This press helped the production of books but it also helped with communication with the sciences, arts and religion departments through text. The Gutenberg Bible was the first book to be printed from this printing press in 1452. In 1517, Western Europe there was controversies in religion between Catholics and the Protestants. Martin Luther was a Christian theologian and Augustinian monk who inspired the Protestant Reformation with his teaching. He had intolerance for the Roman Catholic Church’s corruption of Halloween during this period. He used the printing press to create the 95 Theses of Contention to the Wittenberg Church. He believed in finding peace with God and prayer for others souls. The 95 Theses of Contention challenged the views of religion within the Roman Catholic Church. It mentions the nature of the Catholic’s amends for wrong, it questioned the authority of the pope and the convenience of gratification. He eliminated some practices of the Catholic Church by onl... ...re. Act of Uniformity 1559. 8 May 2010. 3 May 2012 . Kipling, Rudyard. The White Man's Burden. England, 1899. Locke, John. The Second Treatise of Government. Macmillan Publishing Company, 1952. Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Kramnick, Isaac. Penguin Books. England, 1774. 71-100. Williams, Ernest E. "Global Competition." Henemann, William. Made in Germany. London, 1896. 1-18. http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/martin-luther.html http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventors/a/Gutenberg.htm http://www.whplibrary.org/newandnoteworthy/2011/02/first_magazine_published_in_am.html http://massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=278 http://merriam-webster.com/info/noah.htm http://inventors.about.com/od/rstartinventions/a/radio.htm http://inventors.about.com/od/tstartinventions/a/Television.htm

Subliminal Advertising :: essays research papers

Throughout mass media there are illegal messages that still appear, such images are also known as Subliminal Advertising. Though illegal, such incidences can never be tried nor taken to a court of law. It is highly impossible and unlikely to notice these messages. However, they are triggered by the subconscience and send neural messages to your brain that you are unaware of, thus making it hard to notice when you are seeing these things. They are illegal because it was believed in earlier incidences that cigarette ads were sending similar messages telling the youths of America to smoke. I have witnessed similar messages called â€Å"Threshold Messages†, these are images that are digitally re-mastered so that you don’t notice what you are seeing but the neural pathways in the human brain hone in on and receive these messages. If you look very carefully at most Liqueur ads you will notice that the nude upper body of a woman is thrown into the ice in a wine ad, or there is the word â€Å"sex† etched into the eyes of a female in a herbal essence ad. However even such images are even unseen to the naked human eye. Unless your light threshold is low, you will not be able to encounter these images, but if you do have a low threshold for light, all you simply need are a little time, patience, and energy. As I was browsing through a Skateboarding Magazine, I had noticed an ad that was a â€Å"Absolute Vodka† ad, I looked all over the add for about an hour, finally I had seen a picture of a skull and crossbones in the ice that was in the glass. Though these images did not appeal to me, think about how they might appear to you average alcoholic or lush. One technique used by most corporations is a technique usually described as using â€Å"buzz words†, this is found more in print than is used on television or radio. If we are scrolling through a newspaper and we see an exciting flashy word, our eyes tend to draw towards it. Companies are entirely aware of this, so they flash words on us like, â€Å"Free,† †New.† †Hurry†. Something about these words makes us want to see what all the fuss is about, and to read the company’s ad. Now when you do read the ad, there will be â€Å"buzz words† embedded into he ad that do not even look flashy.

House Opposite by R. K. Narayan :: Narayan House Opposite Essays

House Opposite by R. K. Narayan The short story, House Opposite by R. K. Narayan is an example of a man and his struggle with his own humanity. The basic plot of the story includes a holy man (only referred to as "the hermit") that is living along with the traditions of an Indian lifestyle. He considers himself to be a very good man, not succumbing to temptations or as it is put in the text, "He rigorously suppressed all cravings of the palate and punished his body in a number of ways." It is indicated that the hermit really did not understand why he was doing any of this however, barring his selfish interest in "spiritual liberation." The conflict in the story is internal; the hermit becomes aware of a prostitute living across the street, and cannot ignore her presence. Throughout the story, the hermit complains about the "awful monster" and regards her as the "personification of evil." This is not the root of the problem however.   The hermit's preoccupation with the prostitute served to destroy him, but unfortunately for him, the blame cannot be aimed at her. Throughout the middle of the passage, the hermit described the features of the prostitute with a particular contempt, yet he continued to look, even leer at her. He continued to think about what went on behind the closed doors, the men that waited around outside the house "smoking, chewing tobacco and spitting into the gutter - committing all the sins of the world according to the hermit." In fact, after the story unfolded, the hermit was so upset that he was "forced" to leave behind his shelter to look for a new place, thinking that he would rather not have a roof at all rather than live near the woman. He could not tend to his proper thoughts, and was not able to keep his gaze on the tip of his nose, as was proper, but only could see the woman.   The interesting thing is that he did not blame himself at all for his problem. In one line the hermit thought to himself, "Difficult to say whether it was those monstrous arms and breasts or thighs that tempted and ruined me†¦" and then proceeded to call the woman names. Why had she ruined his "tapas: all the merit he had so laboriously acquired†¦" The truth of the matter, however, is that not only was the hermit weak-willed, he had no idea why he would even be against this woman's practices, other than it was once said by someone.

Iron deficiency Essay

Iron deficiency is a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood due to a lack of iron. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia in children. You get iron through certain foods, and your body reuses iron from old red blood cells. Iron deficiency (too little iron) may be caused by; an iron poor diet (this is the most common cause) the body not being able to absorb iron very well. Lilly is a 4-year old Caucasian female she suffers from a disorder called Iron Deficiency anemia disorder. This occurs when there is not enough iron in the body. The reason Lily has Iron Deficiency disorder is because of her diet. Iron is the major component of hemoglobin and is essential for its proper function. Hemoglobin is a part of the red blood cells; it carries oxygen throughout the body without enough iron the body produces less and not as many red blood cells form. Lily is a picky eater and only drinking fruit punch and eating starchy foods is a contributing factor to her condition. Some of the symptoms to Iron Deficiency Anemia are blue-tinged or very pale whites of the eyes, blood in stool, pale skin color, and weakness. Lily shows signs of some of these. Even though Lily’s mother is single and on a low budget, there are things, she can do to prevent this. There are iron supplements that can be taken by mouth or given by injection into a muscle or vein. The most important thing in preventing this disorder or or correcting it is to eat iron rich foods such as raisins, meats, (especially liver), fish, poultry, eggs, soup beans, and whole grain bread. Prognosis with change in supplements or iron rich diet most cases the blood counts will return to normal within a couple of months. Davon is a 5-year-old African American whose mother carries the sickle cell trait. Sickle Cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. The sickle cell gene causes the body to produce abnormal hemoglobin. In sickle cell disease, the hemoglobin clumps together, causing red blood cells to become stiff and develop C-shaped (sickle) form. These sickled red blood cells can block blood vessels, reducing blood flow to many parts of the body. This process can result in tissue and organ damage.. Hemoglobin and Iron; each red blood cell contains about 280 million hemoglobin molecules. Hemoglobin is the most important component of red blood cells. It is composed of protein (globulin) and a molecule (heme) which binds to iron. You can understand Darvon’s mothers concern since about 70,000-100,000 Americans- mostly African Americans have Sickle cell disease. About 2 million Americans have sickle cell trait. Sickle cell is inherited and people at risk for inheriting the gene for sickle cell descend from people who are or were originally from Africa or parts of India and the Mediterranean. Blood test can determine whether an individual has sickle cell trait or sickle cell disease. Prevention and lifestyle changes general precautions to prevent and reduce the severity of long-term complications of sickle cell disease, several precautions may be helpful. Have regular physical examinations every 3-6 months. Have periotic and careful eye examinations. Have sufficient rest, warmth, and increase fluid intake. These are critical precautions for reducing oxygen loss and the risk of dehydration. Avoid crowds that increase the risk for infection. Spencer suffers from a condition called Thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which there is a deficient number of circulating platelets. Platelets are parts of the blood that help blood to clot. Thrombocytopenia often divided into three major causes of low platelets: Low production of platelets in the marrow increased breakdown of platelets in the bloodstream and an increased breakdown of platelets in the spleen or liver. Spencer has noticed over the last several weeks an increase in ecchymosis, which is the passage of blood from ruptured blood vessels into subcutaneous tissue marked by a purple discoloration of the skin or bruising. Some of the causes of Thrombocytopenia are accidental eye injury, anorexia nervosa, cirrhosis and liver disease. Treatment depends on the cause of the condition. In some cases, a transfusion of platelets may be required to stop or prevent bleeding Prevention would depend on the specific cause.

A Range Of Problems In The Future Essay

‘The world will have to grapple with a range of problems in the future’ The world will inevitably change as time continues to expose the past’s perception of the future to the now. As the earth ages, generations to come adapt to the new world they perceive to be as It is near impossible for every parent to educate their young on everything they have ever learned; thus attitudes and morals are continually fluctuating. It is undeniable that it has already affected society it is evident throughout today’s problems that were never pondered upon by older generations such as the rapid advances in technology. The future can only change, and will encounter many dilemmas along the way. Earth already has an overwhelming number of human inhabitants, and the world’s population continues to increase. Many people do not want to acknowledge the problem, but ignorance will not change the inevitable consequences of overpopulation. No animal species can exist without adequate food, water, shelter and other essential resources and humans are not exempt from this rule. When the human population exceeds the resources needed to sustain it, the same thing that happens to any overpopulated species; nature will reduce the population through famine, disease, interspecies fighting or a combination of either one. That reality has already affecting people in some Third World countries. Because of cultural, political and religious attitudes, almost no world leader is willing to acknowledge the problem, much less take the necessary steps to resolve it. The underlying cause of almost every environmental problem in the world today is human overpopulation. Air pollution, water shortages, habitat loss, extinctions, and invasive species all are caused or intensified from having too many people in the world. Humans are unique among all animal species in having the ability to solve even a monumental problem like overpopulation. This awareness is existent in George Orwell’s ‘1984’, the effects of extreme totalitarian society have stripped society’s resources and forced them to live in a dystopian environment full of pollution and overpopulation. Such a situation of local overpopulation has existed since the dawn of humanity and is slowly becoming a global existential problem. Technology today has transformed the world and changed how people live in their day to day lives. As advances in technology are generally perceived to be an advantage, it can enable the most malevolent evil. The realm of communications has likewise seen immense change. People are provided with new ways to communicate with each other, such as email and instant messaging which can pose as a breach of privacy if used for the wrong intentions. Documents placed on the internet are sources of information for the rest of the world, and will forever leave a digital footprint. Global positioning satellites allow us to track our exact location and find our way to various destinations; such accessible conveniences can alter the future in foretelling ways. George Orwell’s ‘1984, illustrates a dystopian society ruled by a totalitarian government. This extreme realization portrays a government with absolute power, in which controls every aspect of human life using a number of dehumanising techniques. Orwell’s dark vision poses as a foreshadowing notice, which thoroughly explores the consequences of advanced technology and its misuse. As Oceania’s mechanical citizens are constantly monitored using microphones and surveillance, expunges their right to privacy and to make choices. It is clear that the innovations of technology could escalate out of control, leaving society with no defence against it. Thus, it will ultimately destroy humanity in the pursuit of absolute power. The discovery of DNA has the possibility to lead to major social and scientific issues in society. With new advances in technology, there are increases in the consequences that the new technology will allow. It is evident in Andrew Niccol’s film ‘Gattaca’ that the more powerful genetic engineering becomes the more helpful and harmful it develops. The film depicts a society ruled by ‘genoism’, where your genetics decide your social class in the world with a stressed need for perfectionism. This depressing image where there is no determinism for fate or influence for ethical standards eliminates the right for freedom of choice, that people freely and obliviously exhaust today. The consequences of selective breeding solutions are frequently addressed in past and modern literature. In ‘Jurassic Park’, a scientist exhumes and modifies dinosaur DNA to then create an island inhabited by dinosaurs. Consequently, the impact of unnaturally producing a breed that has been extinct for a long period of time threatened the rest of  the human race’s existence. It is clear that such meticulous science created in the wrong hands has the potential to impact the world permanently. Similarly, a frightening futuristic concept that threatens to dominate society is totalitarianism. The objective of totalitarian government is to limit and regulate every aspect of public and private life. George Orwell’s novel, ‘1984’, exemplifies a society lacking in freedom and expression. His fictional society in the year 1984 stands as a metaphor for a totalitarian society. Communication, personal beliefs, and national loyalty are controlled by the inner party which governs the people of Oceania in order to keep society from rebelling. The concept of also controlling the personal beliefs of the citizens promotes totalitarianism by limiting the form of any emotional or individual expression. The citizens of Oceania were forced to work long days which limited self-expression because they were too exhausted to do anything else. Oceania, where protagonist Winston Smith lives, is ruled by the INGSOC. â€Å"BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU†, the main party slogan of Oceania which makes clear that every action you make is all seen by Big Brother, the big leader. The Inner Party, controlled by Big Brother, dictates several aspects of the people’s life. As a society, Oceania are completely brain washed by the continuous propaganda which is based on false news, a new language which reduces the capacity of using words in a double sensed way named Newspeak and indoctrination, this newborn dialect empowers and respects INGSOC. The overall concept is designed to control personal beliefs of the citizens by limiting their form of expression. Essentially, controlling the communication aligns with the Totalitarian aspects of governing. George Orwell envisioned the lack of communication could possibly result to total dominance and control of the people. As civilization moves toward the point where human life will be irreversibly transformed, it will also have to overcome the potential problems that are carried along with any advancement in technology and government. All of these possibilities portray a pessimistic view of the future which has the potential to accrue into tremendous issues of whom the world will have to grapple.

Mathematics Is Useful

Mathematics Mathematics is Useful Mathematics can benefit everyone in any kind of way. Mathematics is also a necessity. From balancing a checkbook to a simple game of poker, you are using your math skills everywhere. As a cashier, I use my skills every time I go to work. Even though the machine does tell me what change to give back, and what is the total cost of all the products, I have to use my skills to count out the change.I also use my skills when marking down items, putting in coupons, and how much a bag of fruit or meat weighs. I am currently looking for a new phone for my phone plan I have now, I’m using my math skills to calculate how much my phone will be if I do a trade-in. Some more examples of how math is useful in everyday life are calculating a tip, using a recipe, playing pool, building a deck, and investing for retirement. Mathematics is Important Mathematics is essential for science, engineering, and research.Also mathematic proficiency is required for many j obs nowadays. Doing mathematics teaches patterns of problem-solving and insight that transfer to other knowledge domains. The career I chose is the Accounting field, and as you know, Accountants deal with money. Mathematics and accounting go hand in hand, though not as intertwined as people may believe. The purpose of having a strong mathematical background is to increase an accountant's cognitive ability.Many different accounting activities require the use mathematics or mathematical principles. Conclusion Understanding what math abilities are necessary can help individuals prepare for this business process. Accounting activities are full of basic and advanced calculations. These are often necessary to understand what information needs to go into a company's general ledger. Many calculations require basic math principles. Other times, however, many complex issues may require the use of multiple calculations.It is important to have basic math and algebra skills to complete these tas ks and report accurate financial information. References Chartier, T. (December 2012) Math is Everywhere: Applications of Finite Math Retrieved March 26, 2013 from https://www. udemy. com/math-is-everywhere-applications-of-finite-math/ Hobart D. (2007, February 21) What Is the Real Use of Mathematics In Real Life? Retrieved March 26, 2013 from http://www. blurtit. com/q806258. html

A Beach

Wisps of warm tropical air brushed gently against my face as the soft white sand caressed my feet. A warm sheet of humidity enveloped me as my eyes gazed along the long beach that reminded me of a long carpet. Occasional tourists dotted the tranquil beach enjoying the magical sunset while sipping a tropical cocktail. A low rumble followed by a sharp crackle was heard as a Jet Ski raced along the pellucid water like a shark chasing its prey. Smoke trailed from its outboard motor as it continued its rapid advancement along the beach towards the Jetty that stuck out of he shore.I slowly turned back up the road and nonchalantly headed towards the teeming town. Nestled in a quiet street near the heart of the town I decided to try a small cafe that had misty white walls and affable staff. Slowly the day was breaking too close as the sun began to retreat behind the clouds far off in the distance where the sparkling ocean met an empty white abyss. The hustle and bustle of night activity beca me evident as dusk set. Vendors pushed their rattling trolleys along the long walkways that were cramped with tourists setting if on their dally stroll exploring the large network of alleyways. Enjoyed the intricate architecture that so delicately defined the rich culture. The architects here do not design buildings; they merely interpret the traditional rules. As I wandered the town my eyes were drawn to the baroque detail that was infused into the traditional buildings that dotted the streets. I noticed the countless statues of gods that lined the streets, I wondered why this was unheard of from where I came from. The people here played out their peaceful lives, innocent of the litany of excess and lenience that plagued the world around It.However, I was soon to find out that this wasn't going to last for long. Slamming on my hotel room door woke me up hastily the next morning. I peered out of the small hole and was alarmed to see a petrified looking hotel staff. Immediately, I op ened my door and that was when he spilled the dreadful news to me. A tsunami was In bound and was estimated to hit the imperiled coast in less than an hour. A sense of panic inhibited me as I turned around and threw my bag on the bed and began to shove all my clothes In It.For the first time, I was fearful as I knew that the calm waves had stirred from its deep sleep and was coming to shatter the peace and halcyon that seemed to be intertwined into this serene island. Without further distractions I managed to turn on the television and flicked to the first news channel there was. I stared at the screen silently as my body was consumed in shock. The tsunami was going to hit the shore at 300 kilometers an hour in 5 minutes. I fought the panic that had engulfed me and picked up my day pack with all my essentials before running towards the hotel exit.A lonely tear trickled down my red cheeks as I continued running out onto a crowded street. Consternation had seized the whole population as people hastened towards the mall road that led out of town. 1 OFF the top floors and praying for the best. As I looked at my watch I realized that it had been 5 minutes already. A wicked trepidation had paralyses me as I began to picture myself dying. I heard a low rumble similar to that of a Jet ski. However, this was a rumble that brought fear into the eyes of the brave and made the whole island fall silent.I peered out to sea as I dad my way back to the hotel. I stopped walking. My body was glued to the floor. It was an overflowing perpetual of water. A monster. The waves came crashing on to the shore about a mile from where I stood. By the time it had struck I was safely on the sixth floor and was watching its dark blue opaque claws tear up everything in its path. It annihilated the low lying buildings that have stood majestically for years. I was enveloped in a dark blanket that dampened my sense and left me in a bubble.I heard screams for help as the waves surged through th e island demolishing everything like a bulldozer. It was an army that could not be defeated powered by the temperamental mother nature. Silence fell as the waves retreated back to the shore. It dragged with it the roofs of the ancient pagodas and the tangled metal frames of motor vehicles. I stared solemnly as I saw the occasional body floating; lifeless. Cessation hung in the air. This beautiful island had met its watery grave. There were no screams. There was no time. The nebulous ocean had spoken. There was an overhanging silence. A lapse in time.

Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 9

Case Study Example The scope of operations of Bank Solutions Inc. identifies the need for security measures but risk assessment of the company’s operational set up identifies security, interoperability, and operations issues that threaten the organization’s ability to implement DRBC plan and safeguard its data. This report analyses issue around the organization’s system, based on results from its internal report, and recommend IT security controls and government regulations and standards that can safeguard the company’s data. Scope of the company’s operations that identifies data in electronic format and the company’s outdated and untested data system identifies integrity, confidentiality, and authentication as major security issues (The United Nations, 2007). This is because the company’s outdated and untested could be inefficient in detecting and preventing possible internal threats. This also raises authenticity, repudiation, and integrity concerns due to possible arbitrary data alteration (Camara, Crossler, Midha, & Wallace, 2011). Confidentiality is also an issue because of company’s laxity in customization and implementation of disaster recovery and business continuity master plan that mean that stored data is susceptible to breach from employees who are not entitled to access and external threats. Such access can only identify malicious intention and breach of confidentiality (Chhabra, 2013) and lack of regulation on data access suggests this. Operational issues are also evident in the case and implementation of Information Technology governance is an example. Effective governance offers leadership for availability and implementation of necessary frameworks for operations and security of a system (Grajek & Pirani, 2012). Assessment results suggest lack of such governance, leading to application of an outdated and untested system. Identified failure by some facilities to customize and implement DRBC plans also shows lack of effective governance

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 58

Essay Example They were strong dogs tamed for freighting purposes. More so, these dogs have strong endurance and enthusiasm. Alaskan malamutes are friendly, devoted companion, loyal and affectionate that is jovial, playful yet dignified. Natural selection implies that the species that survive and reproduce are the ancestors to the next generation of the specie. Those animals that fails to reproduce, die and will not survive or continue to exist. Therefore, natural selection means nature selects which specie survive in the sense that if their adaptation to the environment helps them to survive since they are able to pass their genes to their offspring’s, but if they cannot fully adapt, they die and get extinct (Darwin 65-6). Scientists state that the first group of beetles appeared during Jurassic era. During this time, major groups of dinosaurs appeared too. Beetles are good adaptors to new environment by changing their lifestyle and feeding habits when acquiring new environment. Beetles managed to survive because they are herbivores. Because the environment cannot support unlimited growth of beetles, not beetles in the forest tend to survive and reproduce to their full capabilities. In this context, the green beetles tend to survive and reproduce because they camouflage and not easily seen by birds but the brown ones are easily seen and eaten by birds thus they reproduce less and hence wiped out. Protein synthesis is the production of protein molecules in accordance with DNA sequences. Protein synthesis takes place many as required. Contrary, DNA replication is the process of DNA copying itself. DNA replication takes place only once in cell generation during the S phase of the cell cycle (Baldi 70). After RNA has delivered the amino acids to increasing polypeptide chain, it leaves the ribosome, goes back to cytoplasm and takes another amino acid. As the ribosome

Financial Markets and Institutions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Financial Markets and Institutions - Assignment Example The basic foundation of a central bank serving as a lender of last resort is that in an economy, panics can occur which leads to bank runs. In such a situation, those maintaining deposits in commercial banks withdraw their funds from the bank as a result of economic speculation or fear over negative economic consequences. During a bank run, commercial banks can become insolvent, requiring the assistance of an institution (the central bank) to ensure that banks maintain liquidity is such a phenomenon occurs. Being the lender of last resort has become controversial, especially considering events during the recent global economic recession where many central banks injected capital into banks that were facing insolvency. Over-reliance on the central bank impacts other sectors in an economy. This essay explores the role of the central bank, emphasising why being a lender of last resort maintains many controversial implications from multiple perspectives. Evidence is that the controversy hails from irresponsible banking management and from poor fiscal policy developments concocted by the central bank itself. Central banks supply liquidity insurance to the commercial banking system which consequently endows liquidity insurance to other aspects of an economy, including corporations. Funds available for this action in a central bank encompasses notes held by public investors and reserves (deposits) sustained by a nation’s banks. These funds are manifested by the central bank as a result of autonomous will assuring that its value is comparable to products and services value in the economy. It is through these activities that an economy achieves macroeconomic stability. Concurrently, the central bank mandates the reserves that must be held by banks to insulate them from potential bank runs. Therefore, the central bank guarantees that commercial banks meet stringent standards of ensuring solvency. However, in 2007, many commercial

Mrs Fields Cookies Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Mrs Fields Cookies - Case Study Example Debbi and Randy while acquiring control of LPB thought that there were many similarities found in the two chains—Mrs Fields Cookies and LPB. According to Randy LPB was, â€Å"a logical extension for the bakery aspect of Mrs. Fields' Cookies† (Cash and Ostrofsky 9). Debbi and Randy saw the affiliation of LPB with Mrs Fields Cookies as a step taken for business expansion as the two chains suited each other. They were interested in combining the two forms of stores. Both of the store chains dealt with bakery items due to which, their combination business was not a destructive step. The senior managers working at Mrs Fields Cookies were given a chance to run the stores of LPB for understanding the working systems of the new chain (Cash and Ostrofsky 10). According to Debbi and Randy, LPB business was similar to their own as they have matching products, same customers, similar managerial issues and challenges and so on. By noticing the two chains, it is quite straightforward to consider that the two have a sameness in many terms, their working procedures, their products, and their consumers are very much alike. The chains are divided into a network of stores operative at various places. This feature also makes them alike in terms of their functional procedures and way of processing. According to my consideration, this affiliation is a prospective one for Mrs Fields cookies and the step of opening combination stores is going to be a successful one. The MIS (Managerial Information System) developed and employed at Mrs Fields Cookies is quite a useful information system as it keeps the capability of connecting all the outlets and stores of Mrs Fields Cookies. Paul Quinn is the director of MIS running at Mrs Fields Cookies (Cash and Ostrofsky 7). Paul Quinn had to report directly to Randy for every kind of information related to stores and outlets. The MIS is very supportive as it enables the managers to have easier options for decision making and informat ion gathering. According to Randy, if machines can do the jobs of people, more people should not be employed as smaller groups play smart.

Development of an internet based housing demand database system for Essay

Development of an internet based housing demand database system for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements - Essay Example The research methodology employed assisted in obtaining data relating to the current business processes in the Department of Human Settlements (DHS), that is to capture the functional requirements of the system and the users’ perceptions of the proposed system to develop an internet based housing demand database system for the KwaZulu-Natal DHS for improved housing service provisioning. Cooper and Schindler state that the research design is necessary for fulfilling research objectives and answering research questions. Research design indicates the techniques to be used in gathering data, the type of sampling to be used and how to deal with time and cost constraints, hence the need to focus on a specific research design. Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill explain that there are two approaches to research, each with its own underlying philosophy and views namely, the quantitative approach and qualitative approach. According to Neill, quantitative research is a type of approach that a ssigns numerical data to answers, confirms evidence and produces findings based on fixed closed questions. He adds that qualitative data sets are made up of non-numerical material such as transcripts or audio-recordings of interviews, field notes of researcher observations, records of conversations, and any kind of social text such as books, newspapers and advertisements. Qualitative research is typically used to answer questions about the complex nature of phenomena often with the purpose of describing and understanding the phenomena from the participant’s point of view. ... Qualitative research allowed the researcher to identify the users’ view of the system and also allowed the researcher the opportunity to understand the users’ personal experience of the system. The following section discusses the target population of the study. 3.4Target Population According to Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009), the population is the full set of cases from which the sample is drawn. The target population for this study was the employees of the housing demand database section, municipality employees and the IT section of the DHS. The target population for the study comprised of 70 individuals. As it was impossible to focus on the entire population, it was necessary to use a sample to obtain the relevant data. 3.5 Sampling According to Welman and Kruger (2005:18), great care should be taken to obtain a representative sample in order to prevent a biased result. There are two types of sampling namely probability and non-probability sampling. Welman and K ruger (2005: 56) explain that in the case of probability sampling, the probability that any element or member of the population will be included in the sample can be determined, whereas in non-probability sampling by contrast, this probability cannot be specified. This study used a non-probability sampling method. The advantage of non-probability sampling is that it is less complicated and more economical in terms of time and cost. The researcher opted for this sampling technique as this allowed her to focus on specific individuals that were familiar with the system (Saunders et al., 2009:237). To develop an IT system, it was necessary to gather the requirements from the users of the system such as data capturers, administrative staff, managers of

Management of Technology in Organization Assignment

Management of Technology in Organization - Assignment Example The sources of change can be categorized in two main criteria; internal and external sources. These sources are the factors that prove to become the driving forces for change in any organization. Lunenburg (2010) explained that internal sources are the factors that emerge from within the organization and stimulate a change. Few internal sources of change can be downsizing, restructuring the organizational hierarchy to achieve greater efficiency and introduction of new technological systems and processes. External sources of change are the ones that affect the organization from the external environment. Such sources include government laws and regulations, adoption of latest technological systems by the competitors, economic changes in the environment etc. Gomes (2009) stated that there might be different nature of changes in an organization, namely structural, technological, strategic and people-centered changes in an organization. Technological change may include the introduction of newer systems and replacement of the old conventional forms of business operations with innovative technologies. Strategic changes may include a shift in strategies that may include downsizing, relocations, changes in the hierarchy of the organization etc. People centered changes may involve the replacement of a CEO with another one; such changes may involve changes in mode of business operations and execution of tasks since the new management will possess a different vision. Introduction of changes in an organization bears great obstacles and hindrances before it becomes a part of the system and people accept it in their routine business operations. Agboola (2011) stated that resistance to changes is one of the most common obstacles in the transition phase. Employee’s attitudes, behaviour and emotions tend to have an impact on the change being introduced in the organization. Lunenburg (2010) explained the Lewin’s model of change

Childbirth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Childbirth - Essay Example The rate of vaginal birth after previous cesarean increased from1989 till 1996 and declined between 1996 and 2003. In the year 2003, 27.6% of all births in the United States resulted from cesarean deliveries. (MMWR, 54(02), 46) An institutional culture that views childbirth as pathological might have contributed to an extent for the increase in cesarean deliveries in the United States. The number of voices urging to make childbirth a human and social, rather than a medical, event signifies this. However, the institutional culture is not the sole reason for these undesirable results. The safety issues of mother and child and medico legal considerations appear to have contributed to the rise. A doctor is more likely to be sued for not doing a cesarean than for doing one. In addition, a high rate of malpractice by the midwives and the insurance costs favored the pregnant women to seek the services of an obstetrician. Childbirth is either by means of a vaginal delivery or a cesarean section. Cesarean sections are carried out by obstetricians. A few alternatives to a normal natural vaginal delivery are there for women in US. They are natural birth with pain medication, aromatherapy at birth, home birth, midwife delivery, birthing centers, water birth and Doula assistance. In a natural birth with pain medication, medication is given to alleviate the

Indian Automobile Industry Essay Example for Free

Indian Automobile Industry Essay These include passenger cars which are divided into following 6 categories depending upon length: 1. Mini – Car length upto 3400 mm – Maruti 800 and REVA 2. Compact – Length between 3401 and 4000 mm – Maruti Alto, Tata Indica, Hyundai Santro 3. Midsize – Length between 4001 and 4500 mm – Maruti Esteem, Tata Indigo, Hyundai Accent 4. Executive – Length between 4501 and 4700 mm – Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic 5. Premium – Length between 4701 and 5000 mm – Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata 6. Luxury – Length above 5000 mm – Mercedes S-class 2. Utility Vehicles: Tata Sumo and Safari, Toyota Qualis. 3. Multi Utility Vehicles: Maruti Omni and Versa 4. Commercial Vehicles These are divided into 2 categories according to the loads they can carry: 4. 1. Light Commercial Vehicles – Gross vehicle weight limit is 7. 5 tonnes – Cargo, Tempo, Mini Buses, and Mini Trucks etc. Major players are Tata Motors Ltd. , Swaraj Mazda Ltd. , Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. 2. Medium Heavy Commercial Vehicles – Gross vehicle weight limit is above 7. 5 tonnes – Cargo, Trucks, Buses, Trailers. Tata Motors Ltd. and Ashok Leyland Ltd are major players. Scope of Study and Methodology. We begin with an overview of the automobile industry followed by a competitive analysis of the â€Å"Passenger Cars† part of the industry on the following criteria: †¢ Product †¢ Brand †¢ Pricing †¢ Distribution †¢ Marketing Communication In each of these contexts, we try to compare the strategies used by players in different segments: from entry level A segment, to most-competitive B-segment to niche SUVs. We cite examples from cars that have been really successful in any parameter as well as the debacles. Finally, we segment the consumer based on our primary research and discuss their distinctive characteristics. On the basis of our study, we infer the critical factors for success in market and derive insights out of the study. To carry out the above study, we carried out: Secondary research: We scoured the internet including industry data from SIAM and IBEF. We referred to old newspaper and magazine articles as required. This was primarily our basis for competitive analysis. Primary Research: To understand the consumer mindset, we carried out a survey. This survey was conducted online as well as in 14-sector market, Gurgaon. The survey had 94 respondents as below: [pic] We supplemented the survey with interviews Customer Relations Manager at Orion Hyundai and Apra-Motors Maruti showroom. Overview of Indian Passenger Vehicles Industry Indian economy has grown at an average rate of above 8% in the last 5 years and services followed by industrial production have made excellent contributions to this growth. Auto industry has contributed to the GDP to the tune of 5%. The Passenger Vehicles (PV) market grew 14% YoY to 1. 76 million units as against 1. 54 million units sold in last financial year(FY 06-07). It is mainly on account of the impressive growth in the passenger car segment which contributed 80% to the total Passenger Vehicle sales in financial year 2007-08. It (PV) was backed by healthy growth in its domestic sales and exports. Domestic sales grew 12% YoY to 1. 54 million units in financial year 2007-08, whereas the exports increased by 9. 4% YoY to 2. 1 lakhs units in the same time. Over the last five years total PV production has increased at a CAGR of 19. 5%, from 7. 2 lakhs units in 2002-03 to 1. 76 million units in 2007-08. The growth was mainly made possible due to 2 major factors: 1. The continuous improvement in the living standards of the middle class, and subsequent increase in their disposable incomes. 2. the liberalization steps taken by the Indian Government such as relaxation of the foreign exchange and equity regulations, reduction of import tariffs, and refining the banking policies have played an equally important role in bringing the Indian Automobile industry to present level. Add to this the easy availability of components and competence; the global auto companies are looking at India as the manufacturing hub for the next generation models. India is poised to become small car hub, not only in terms of production but also product development. Global car majors like Nissan, Hyundai, General Motors, Mercedes Benz and Renault have made huge investments owing to the positive sentiment in the market. Major Manufacturers in Passenger Cars Industry in India are: †¢ Maruti Udyog Ltd. (45% market share) †¢ Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (16%) †¢ Honda Motors †¢ Tata Motors Ltd. (14%) Overall, there is still just 1 car per 100 people in India as against 74 cars per 100 in US. Thus, Indian market has a huge potential in future. Competitive Analysis Product level Analysis. Here, we study the product strategy of automobile industry from a marketing point of view. We begin with a study of customer-value hierarchy, of which the marketer needs to address each of the five levels while planning product offering. Then in product differentiation we study different factors on which car is differentiated. Customer-Value Hierarchy (Product levels): |Core benefit |It is the service or benefit the customer is really buying. In case of automobiles those benefits are | | |convenience, transportation, speed. | |Basic product |At second level the core benefit is turned into basic product. In the case the product is car. It | | |typically includes an IC engine, mechanism to provide motion and steering, chassis. | |Expected product |At the third level, an expected product is prepared which includes a set of attributes and conditions | | |buyers normally expect when they purchase a product. All car buyers expect comfort, safety and | | |functional characteristics (fuel economy, handling, repair frequency etc). Other expectations differ | | |from one segment of buyers to other. For a middle class buyer value for money is important for e. g. | | | Maruti 800 but for an upper class buyer where money is not an issue, prestige is the criteria for e.g. | | |Hyundai Tucson, Jaguar etc. Other expectations include good sound system, leather upholstery, more | | |seating capacity, more power etc. | |Augmented product |It is a product that exceeds consumer expectations. It is created by inclusion of additional features, | | |benefits, attributes or related services that serve to differentiate the product from its competitors. | | |For automobile industry these features include insurance service, test drive, attractive offers, after | | |sales service, availability of service centres, easy financing options such as EMIs, wide dealer | | |network etc. | |Potential product |It encompasses all the possible augmentations and transformations the product or offering might undergo| | |in the future. These include latest technology, design changes etc for e. g. Design of Maruti 800 has | | |changed consistently over the years. | Product Differentiation: |Features |Cars are often offered with varying features that supplement their basic function. For e. g. Hyundai i10| | |(a compact car) boasts of features similar to a sedan. | |Performance quality |Performance is becoming an increasingly important dimension for differentiation. Car companies invest | | |hugely on RD to come up with new improved engines so that performance can be improved. For e. g. Santro| | |Xing considers its eRLX engine as a differentiator. | |Reliability |It is a measure of the probability that a product will not malfunction or fail within a specified time | | |period. Maruti Omni is one such car; it is differentiated as a ‘faithful workhorse’. | |Style |It describes the product’s look and feel to the buyer. It is very important because even before | | |performance people judge a car by its look. Swift DZire from Maruti stable claims itself as ‘the heart | | |car’ with striking looks. | |Design |Apart from look and feel, this factor takes into account the function of the product as well. Maruti | | |SX4 claims of revolutionary European design. | Brand Maruti 800, the entry level car in the Indian market, has long been positioned as the family car. While it competes against bigger B-segment cars, its sales have been cannibalized recently by Alto whose basic model is priced jus Rs. 30,000 above the basic M800. Through the Alto, Maruti is trying to move the consumer up the value chain. M800 has also been targeting the semi-urban and rural areas where it is positioned as an alternative to two-wheeler. To see how to manage an automobile brand through its product life cycle, we look at Santro Xing and Tata Indica. Both were launched around 10 years ago, and have evolved and repositioned themselves successfully. Santro was launched in 1998 as an upgrade for the entry-level car and positioned as a family car targeted at 35-40 year olds. In 2003, the product was refreshed as Santro Xing. The brand now aimed to appeal to the first time car buyers rather than be an upgrade. To catch the young buyers in 25-30 year age group, the brand was positioned as the â€Å"Sunshine car. † Sunshine was communicating two intangibles: Freshness and youthful attitude. The brand moved to a Change your life positioning. Today, Santro is facing declining phase in maturity stage in its PLC. The sales have stagnated and price war from Maruti and a slew of new launches in compact car segment have hurt the sales of Santro. Santro is banking on price cuts and sales promotions to stay afloat. Hyundai has recently launched a new brand i10 to take the place of Santro. Similarly, Tata Motors recently launched the new generation Indica Vista. This is an update on Indica V2’s seven variants. Over the years, Tata has invested heavily in product and brand development, yet the sales of Indica have recently declined. This is because the product has reached the declining maturity stage. And to counter this, Tata’s have gone in for strategy of product modification. Indica Vista is Tatas entry into the luxury hatchback segment which is dominated by Maruti Swift and has new entrants like Hyundai i10. The original Indica has also been retained in the product line. These two product lines together offer a wide choice to the customers from price points of Rs 2. 80 lakhs to Rs 5 Lakhs. The Indica Vista has a new tagline of â€Å"Changes Everything† is used to communicate that the brand has changed. The ads are also more tuned to attract the new generation. However, the core strength of the brand remains its value proposition. In the C and D segment, the cars are positioned on distinct personalities rather than benefits or attributes. For example, when GM launched Optra against heavy-weights such as Honda City and Sonata, it aimed at an emotional positioning platform. The brand, which was targeted at executives in age 30-45, tried to communicate Love, Care and Warmth as its core values. To convey this, Optra used an apt tagline, â€Å"For a special journey called life. † Niche cars use their own unique appeals e. g. SUVs such as Scorpio position on their size and sense of adventure. Thus, we have seen that while brands manage to differentiate from each other through a unique proposition, there is some commonality in how cars are positioned within each segment. Pricing Pricing decisions are management decisions about what to charge for the products and services that the companies deliver. In car industry, the pricing decisions vary from segment to segment. In entry level cars, the companies price the cars low and give all basic features a car would offer. This segment had a monopoly in India with Maruti 800 being the sole player. Maruti has traditionally been employing promotional schemes to increase the sales of Maruti 800 rather than decreasing its price. In compact car segment, the cars cater to the affluent middle-class people who wish to graduate to cars which provide extra glamour compared to entry level cars. Due to fierce competition in this segment price emerges as an important factor affecting the purchasing decision of consumers. Hence the pricing decision is not only dependent on the perceived value of the customer but also dependent on the competitor’s pricing strategies. Maruti’s aggressive price reduction of Alto has displaced Hyundai’s Santro from No. 1 spot in 2004. In Mid-size segment, as the customers’ aspirations are more inclined towards design, advanced features and luxury the car offers, pricing doesn’t play as big a role as it does in compact segment. In fact, there is a tag of premiumness attached to the price in this segment. As an example, Hyundai Elantra’s sales dropped when its price had been reduced from Rs. 10lakh to Rs. 8 lakh. Distribution This section is explained through the study the supply chain at Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL). Logistics goes beyond mere distribution management. It is improving the quality of the supply chain itself to achieve a cost-effective distribution mechanism. This is the philosophy which drives Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL), the countrys biggest passenger car manufacturer. Dependent on over 300 suppliers for some 7,000 components that go into its 9 major models and their 200 variants, the company keeps control over costs at every stage to remain competitive. This is achieved only through close coordination with the vendors. The streamlined state of supply chain at Maruti is achieved through following measures: †¢ It implements innovative material handling solutions which reduces wastage. †¢ It collaborates with its vendors to localize components supply. This not only increases productivity but also removes uncertainties in supply. †¢ The schedule for indenting components is precisely planned so that inventory holding process is optimized. The schedules issued every fortnight are further fine tuned by an online system for replenishment of inventory on an electronic card system. This avoids inventory build up or unanticipated deliveries by vendors as supplies are made only after receipt of the indent card from MUL. This brings inventory management down to the doorsteps of the vendors, who produce only what is indented †¢ The delivery instruction are revised daily and location wise to exactly meet the assembly line requirements. This strategy is adopted to tackle the fluctuating market demand, accentuated by the intense competition in the automobile business now. †¢ Various steps are taken to improve the productivity of operator and machine and reducing and recycling waste. Marketing Communication Hyundai, a Korean car company launched its first car, SANTRO in 1998. They had many challenges as Maruti had a strong hold over the car market, and people were not willing to accept the tall boy car. Moreover the customers were skeptical regarding after sales-service support and spares availability and had limited belief in the Korean car company. Hyundai came up with advertisements which focused on car quality. They had Shahrukh Khan as their brand ambassador. They started with teaser ads but later promoted it as the ‘Sunshine Car indicating freshness and youthful attitude Maruti, on the other hand, concentrated on its wide service network and spare parts availability, Hyundai gave a lot of stress on car features in its advertisement for e. g. Hyundai came up with Zip drive. In 2003 a new trend was seen where in advertisements of Mahindra Bolero, Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Santro, women were seen driving the car. Thus targeting the fast growing working women segment. Hyundai has come up with special schemes for working women. They are also offering loans to women at 0. 75% lower rate of interest than the market rate. MSIL and GM India have introduced special financing schemes to attract customers from semi urban and rural areas. In 2007 when Maruti launched SX4, they positioned it as a ‘manly car’ through their ads. Xeta introduced by Tata was aimed at rendering better fuel efficiency at a competitive price and the ads highlighted it. They aimed to create a unique brand identity in petrol segment and promoted it through ads, print media ads, internet and test drive. In 2002 Hyundai topped TV advertising in 2002 but from 2003 Maruti picked up and came to number one slot. About 50% of the advertisement is done during feature films and news bulletin. For the newly launched i10 Hyundai has aggressively advertised it by posters of i10 throughout the showroom and hanging banners. (see examples of print ads of cars in various segments in Annexure 2) Consumer Segments and their Distinctive Characteristics. Instead of developing segment profiles based on secondary research, we categorised consumers based on our interviews with car dealers and the survey we conducted across various consumer categories. Through this primary data, we identified three broad kind of customers based on their distinctive buying behaviours. †¢ Analytical customer: One who buy car after researching internet and other sources. These customers are aware of the various options available in the market and know what car they need to buy even before their first visit to the dealer. This is usually a middle-class price conscious consumer looking to obtain value for his money. †¢ Confused customer: The biggest category of consumers; those who don’t know which car to buy because they have been the target of a lot of promotions and heard Word-of-Mouth from friends, family and other influencers. These customers have a fair amount of idea of the price and other attributes of the car they want to buy but can’t decide on the actual model. These customers buy the car after a proper need analysis has been done at the car dealer’s showroom. †¢ Copy-cat Customer: The last is the category of the customers who buy a car after seeing a similar car with their friends or neighbours. These people want some exact colour and model and cannot be classified as rational consumers. This category is constituted of those customers who do impulse buying. Further, we look at the consumer for each segment. We observe that in the B-segment a customer usually goes for value-for-money proposition. 67% respondents gave a rating of 4 or 5 to price as a critical factors while buying a car while 74. 4% respondents gave mileage same importance. Most of these people preferred cars priced around 4-6 lakhs. The C and D segment cars sell because their various attributes communicate a certain image. Here, the customer looks for attributes like power, newest technology and exclusivity. Out of the 32 people who rated technology as 5 and 19 people who rated power as 5, majority of them considered buying a car in the price range of 6 lakhs and above. Resale value of the car and the number of service stations is crucial deal-maker. Most of the consumers and the company people also say that the ad campaigns and the endorsements don’t play a major role in deciding which car to buy apart from creating awareness about the launch and availability of the new model. Only 6% of people rated endorsements as 5 as a deciding criteria. SUVs are normally the second or third car in the family. These consumers do not buy on the value proposition but rather on the image proposition. Seating capacity, premium image, innovative features and a need to portray an adventurous image are some of the benefits that a customer seeks from the SUV that he is buying. The survey results also depict that consumers are more inclined towards new models launched in the market including new variants of old cars. Maruti SX4, Hyundai i10 and Maruti Swift are the cars that appeal to most of the respondents. Factors Critical for Success. Selling a car is part delivering product and part providing service. So the car manufacturer has to ensure both quality of the product and the experience of using it. However, we must understand that the typical customer for a B-segment car differs significantly from that of an SUV. His lifestyle, his car usage, and his expectations from his vehicle change. In the B segment, there are three factors critical for success: †¢ Value for Money- This is a price-conscious consumer. For a car, price constitutes one time purchase price, as well as the petrol costs reflected in the mileage. In our survey as well as our talk we the Hyundai dealer †¢ After sales service network- When we asked the Hyundai dealer, what was the one thing a new player needed to provide to compete with them or Maruti, we met one word response: service. In fact, the dealer provided the example of Ford saying, while their cars had great engine and quality, they couldnt compete nationally because of poor after sales service network. Ford has now made a tie-up with Tatas to rectify the same. †¢ Product Quality- Since, the car market works essentially through Word-of-Mouth, it is crucial that you product meets the consumer expectation. Else, you run the risk of losing the customer not only from this car, but your company altogether, and taking additional potential customers with him. As we move into C-segment, value for money becomes lower in priority for the customer. He is looking for a status symbol now. These critical factors come in †¢ Prestige- There must be a buzz around your brand and the brand should have a premium image. †¢ Power The cars in this category have more power giving a better pick-up and smoother drive. †¢ Latest technology- The sedans are known for newest innovative technology and the customers are seen to prefer product innovations. †¢ Safety Safety features have often been neglected in the Indian markets. But typically sedans come fitted with the state of the art safety features. Insights derived out of Study †¢ Buying a car is a family decision- this held true across the board in our survey, with majority of respondents owning one family-per-car. However, the women are not much of an influencer while buying a car- in fact, most hesitated to respond to the survey, pushing their accompanying male ahead. †¢ Hyundais strength is technology and product quality, while people look to Maruti for good after sales service and high resale value. †¢ Dealer-manufacturer relationship is crucial- car companies depend on the dealers to tap the nerve of the local consumers. So the relationship between the company and the dealer needs to be good. In most cases the companies allow the dealers to run local promotional schemes and take other such initiatives. †¢ Endorsements and advertisements have minimal influence on customer decision (the B-segment). From the survey, we infer that when a middle class customer is shelling Rs 4-6 Lakhs from his pocket, he normally does considerable research before buying a car. †¢ Safety provisions- Indian car manufacturers do not provide ABS and airbags as standard safety features in entry level and B segment cars, while they do so in models they export. The consumer is also not demanding these yet. †¢ Cars are still a prestige issue in the semi urban and rural areas. Many consumers in these areas buy those cars which their neighbours have bought. †¢ Car awards and launch of a new model boost up the sales overtime. But the real sales happen only because of the quality of the product and not because of promotion.